Search - Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Ben Vereen :: Jesus Christ Superstar (Highlights from the 1971 Original Broadway Cast)

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."