Search - Jesus Christ Superstar :: Broadway Original Cast Series

Jesus Christ Superstar
Broadway Original Cast Series
Genres: Special Interest, Pop, Rock, Soundtracks, Broadway & Vocalists

Track Listings (13) - Disc #1
1. Heaven On Their Minds
2. Everything's Alright - Original Cast Recording, Lloyd Webber, Andre
3. This Jesus Must Die
4. Hosanna
5. Pilate's Dream
6. I Don't Know How To Love Him
7. Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)
8. King Herod's Song
9. Could We Start Again, Please
10. Judas' Death
11. Trial Before Pilate
12. Superstar - Original Cast Recording, Lloyd Webber, Andre
13. John Nineteen: Forty-One

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CD Details

All Artists: Jesus Christ Superstar
Title: Broadway Original Cast Series
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Universal
Release Date: 9/8/2004
Album Type: Import, Soundtrack
Genres: Special Interest, Pop, Rock, Soundtracks, Broadway & Vocalists
Style: Musicals
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1

Synopsis

Amazon.com

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar is most familiar from its original concept recording or film soundtrack, so it's a long-overdue treat to have the 1971 original Broadway cast finally available on CD. It's a great listen, anchored by Ben Vereen's powerhouse performance as Judas, complemented by Jeff Fenholt as Christ and, from the original recording and the film, Yvonne Elliman and Barry Dennen as Mary Magdalene and Pilate, respectively. The major drawback, however, is that there's only 44 minutes of highlights, or roughly half the score, so this CD should be considered a complement to the other recordings rather than the definitive version. The selections are intelligent, however, and include the ballad "Could We Start Again Please?" (which was written after the original concept recording) and a puzzling "I Don't Know How to Love Him" in which Elliman either plays with or loses track of the rhythm. The booklet includes photos and notes on the show and the Broadway production. --David Horiuchi

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CD Reviews

Of all the versions, this one is the best. Sorry, purists.

Greg Young | LACAUSA | 06/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I always thought the concept album had a garage-bandy sound to it, and a thin production sound typical of the era (like "Tommy"). The Broadway album is comparatively fuller (still 70's sounding) but makes much better use of the orchestra, and better mixed as well. The string swells sweep you away, the cymbal crashes give you chills. Jeff Fenholt couldn't front Deep Purple, but he makes an excellent Jesus, earnest and conflicted. Murray Head holds nothing to the passion and soul of the great Ben Vereen. Yvonne Elliman is slightly more mature in the role of Mary Magdalene on Broadway and clearly more comfortable, and Barry Dennen seethes and conflagrates as Pilate much more than on the concept album. Overall, more emotion comes through, which figures since they actually performed it in front of live audiences. In a way, the Broadway album is the definitive version because it is from the first performing cast of JCS, not a crew hired for a one-off.

It's a shame the full song list isn't included on the Broadway album, but the highlights really are the best parts, and the song "Could We Start Again", not on the concept album, is Webber & Rice at the top of their show-ballad game."

JCS - the BEST version

Jeffrey W. Schumacher | 07/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This version of Jesus Christ Superstar is the definitive version with regards to musicianship. Although lacking the vocal power of Ian Gillian from the original album, the flow of this album resonates cleaner and has more emotive content. I have loved this version since its release in the 70's."