Jesus Christ Superstar: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album [Original recording remastered] [Soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This 1974 Norman Jewison film may have been a critical misstep, but some fans actually preferred it to Broadway's rock spectacle. The thing is, Jesus Christ Superstar was first introduced as a two-disc rock opera, not unlike the Who's Tommy, as it even scored several Top 40 hits. While no set matches the original, it's still hard to go wrong with the music, no matter what the source. This also includes the pretty "Could We Start Again, Please," composed for the stage version, and sung here by the original LP's Mary Magdalene, Yvonne Elliman. Ted Neely (Jesus) and Carl Anderson (Judas), meanwhile, have spent two decades on the road, recreating their roles night after night, although they have to now be at least two decades older than Jesus was at the Crucifixion. --Bill Holdship

Jesus Christ Superstar: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album, Music, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Pop, Soundtrack, Soundtracks, Soundtracks & Film Scores

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Jesus Christ Superstar

JCS Soundtrack Album

Webber at one of his best

Judas Iscariot a Cool Guy Afterall

JC SUPES soundtrack : the Ultimate

Jesus Christ Superstar: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album
Andrew Lloyd Webber , and Tim Rice
Manufacturer: Decca U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000062Y2
Release Date: 1998-03-24

Tracks:

Overture - Andre Previn
Heaven On Their Minds - Carl Anderson
What's The Buzz - Ted Neeley/Yvonne Elliman/The Apostles
Strange Thing Mystifying - Carl Anderson/Ted Neeley/The Apostles/Apostles' Women
Then We Are Decided - Bob Bingham/Kurt Yaghijan
Everything's Alright - Yvonne Elliman/Ted Neeley/The Apostles/Apostles' Women
This Jesus Must Die - Bob Bingham/Kurt Yaghijan/Priests/Crowd
Hosanna - Ted Neeley/Bob Bingham/Crowd
Simon Zealotes - Larry T. Marshall/Crowd
Poor Jerusalem - Ted Neeley
Pilate's Dream - Barry Dennen
The Temple - Ted Neeley
I Don't Know How To Love Him - Yvonne Elliman
Damned For All Time/Blood Money - Carl Anderson/Bob Bingham/Kurt Yaghijian

Tracks:

The Last Supper - Ted Neeley/Carl Anderson
Gethsemane (I Only Wanted To Say) - Ted Neeley
The Arrest - Ted Neeley/Peter/The Apostles/Bob Bingham/Kurt Yaghijian
Peter's Denial - Peter/Yvonne Elliman/Women
Pilate And Christ - Barry Dennen/Ted Neeley
King Herod's Song - Johsua Mostel
Could We Start Again, Please? - Yvonne Elliman/Peter/The Apostles
Judas' Death - Carl Anderson/Bob Bingham/Kurt Yaghijian
Trial Before Pilate - Barry Dennen/Ted Neeley/Bob Bingham
Superstar - Carl Anderson/Angels
Crucifixion
Crucifixion

Amazon.com

This 1974 Norman Jewison film may have been a critical misstep, but some fans actually preferred it to Broadway's rock spectacle. The thing is, Jesus Christ Superstar was first introduced as a two-disc rock opera, not unlike the Who's Tommy, as it even scored several Top 40 hits. While no set matches the original, it's still hard to go wrong with the music, no matter what the source. This also includes the pretty "Could We Start Again, Please," composed for the stage version, and sung here by the original LP's Mary Magdalene, Yvonne Elliman. Ted Neely (Jesus) and Carl Anderson (Judas), meanwhile, have spent two decades on the road, recreating their roles night after night, although they have to now be at least two decades older than Jesus was at the Crucifixion. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews:

Jesus Christ Superstar.......2007-07-09

The first time I heard the music was watching the movie when it first came out. I was on a submarine transiting from Faslane, Scotland to Halifax, Nova Scotia for a liberty rest after a Northern Atlantic patrol.
We (the crew) almost wore the sprockets off the 16mm version copy. The music has always hummed in my memory, and many times I have found myself humming or whistling the refrain. Now with todays technology I really can get it going.

JCS Soundtrack Album.......2007-05-18

This was very exciting to listen to - i love the orchestration added in the background....... now i need the words also - great cd - speedy delivery!

Webber at one of his best.......2007-03-14

This CD is outstanding. I have seen the movie, the play and totally enjoy the soundtrack. It's music that you really "feel". Truly, Andrew Lloyd Webber at one of his best!!

Judas Iscariot a Cool Guy Afterall .......2006-10-30

I love this soundtrack. Carl Anderson's amazing performance as Judas is the driving force behind this recording. Ted Neeley provides a good voice and plays Jesus Christ well and I especially enjoy Barry Dennen's Pilate. Although most of the tracks are great, standouts include "Heaven on Their Minds," "Simon Zealotes," "Damned for All Time / Blood Money," "Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)," "King Herod's Song," and "Superstar."

I also reviewed the film that accompanies this soundtrack and in that review I avoided talking about the storytelling but promised to focus on it in this review of the soundtrack. The first reason I fell in love with this retelling of the Jesus Christ mythology was the dramatic shift in focus and interpretation. As I mentioned in my review of the film I love how the Jewish priests are given more of a voice and that there is some significance placed on the Roman occupation of the Jewish people. I feel like too often Christians don't consider the historical context of their mythology and that there is avoidance of the social and political climate during the period that Jesus was said to have lived.

The other major departure from Christian cannon that I appreciated was the deliberate un-vilifying of Judas Iscariot. Although less convenient for zealous fanatics, this version of the myth is much more compelling. Even though the Gospel of Judas was not in the public mind at the time and it is unlikely that Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Weber had it in mind its recently published translation helps prop up some of the sentiment between Jesus and Judas in this retelling. However, that is where the similarities end between the ancient Gnostic text and this pseudo-psychedelic reshaping of Christian mythology. I do think that this interpretation attempts to make the story more compelling rather than relying on a hodge-podging of standard hero stories as the original does. Carl Anderson performs beautifully under this difficult task--he presents a Judas that is not a sinning thief who sells Jesus out for money but a devout right-hand man who is forced (after much soul-searching) to turn in his mentor to save the cause and to attempt to prevent harm to Jesus. After he sees what his actions have caused for Jesus he is tormented and takes his own life in the midst of feelings of being used and betrayed by God and Jesus himself.

This is definitely a soundtrack that is tied to the time period in which it was released but I find that to be one of its charms. As an example of this, a friend of mine who recently saw this wondered if they had to give back the Batman theme song. I find the music and the energy that it infuses into this very political version of the Jesus myth very enjoyable. Definitely worth many many listens.

JC SUPES soundtrack : the Ultimate.......2006-04-25

Originally issued in 1970 packaged as a double Lp Concept album with Deep Purple's Ian Gillan as Christ back in the days of the short-lived Rock Opera genre -- Jesus Christ Superstar was intially held as a musical play out of compromise and fear from sensoral scrutiny by its writers Timothy Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, as in its stead they opted to issue it on a 2 disc set of vinyl platters thus - until the time when it is finally made into a musical play in London the following year.

This movie soundtrack for the film rendition directed by Norman Jewison comes as the definitive and the most complete version of this work from the songwriting team of Webber and Rice.

Depicting the last seven days of Christ - of all musicals, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR comes as the most impressive, given that not a line from its narrative are spoken, but are all (mark this) SANG! And are not only sang - but each musical piece which consisted this work from Rice and Webber comes as one of the most melodic work that are ever written for any musical, that it even gave the impression for every track within as songs that could stand on their own. This work kind of mixed elements from the lost genre of radio dramas, classical music, rock, and the bravado of broadway musicals all wrapped up and jumbled collectively in one complete package - hearken it is both a concept album and a movie soundtrack all in one.

JCS the motion picture soundtrack also contains an impressive array of musical performances by its (albeit unsung) sessionist players - indeed it contains one of the best bass lines ever recorded that could be heard on the track wherein Ciaphas and Annas the chief high priests are having their discussion about Jesus - the track "Then We Are Decided", which is an exclusive portion found in the soundtrack. Also included is the theme song of the musical "Could We Start Again Please" which never appeared until the Original London Cast rendition came up with the song's first appearance - that presents an intermissionary(sic) segment of sorts having Mary Magdalene and Peter with the Disciples plead the song to Jesus, as a means to give further amplification about the Opera's whole thematical point, or idea that is, in this regard of its lyricist Tim Rice, that comes as more of a theoretical thought regarding the whole matter of Christ's message of coming down here on earth.

Appearing in this third and best version of the rock opera musical are some of its cast from the original 1970 album as well: Yvonne Elliman playing the part of Mary Magdalene, and Barry Dennen who've made several movie appearances lately, such as the praying priest in the James Cameron flick TITANIC - playing the role of Pilate. The appearances of Carl Anderson as Judas Iscariot along with its entire cast/players comes as perfect in every sense of the word for all the versions that are ever assembled for this musical - most notably, Ted Neely - whose voice effectively gives a very distinguishable character to the role on playing the part of Jesus; eventually Neely appeared as a guest back-up vocalist on the song "Run To The End Of The Highway" for the late Christian Artist Keith Green's final LP, JESUS COMMANDS US TO GO, with Green's wife Melody.

Quite ironically, the musical being criticized by certain religious circles, and indeed somewhat profane at certain respect with its unconventional approach of depicting the last days of Christ - many among its cast who participated in this musical throughout its various incarnations actually became 'christians' later on in their career, such as Jeff Fenholt who played the role of Christ in the original London cast rendition, and released several albums under the 'Christian' label.

Also, a little controversy is identified in particular to this movie soundtrack recording that infers certain "allegations" to the phenomenon of backward messages called 'backmasking', as cited within the songs "I Dont Know How To Love Him", "Getsemane (I Only Want To Say)", "Could We Start Again Please", "Judas' Death", and "Trail Before Pilate".

However, upon its stature and composure - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is generally a phenomenal piece in the history of the whole spectrum of musical genres in its entirety.

Nothing short of being monumental, I guess this is the one album that best defines a record album art-ifact.

An absolute classic.

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