Jesus Christ Superstar (Highlights from the 1971 Original Broadway Cast)- Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Ben Vereen, Jeff Fenholt, Yvonne Elliman [Audio CD]List Price: |
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| 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 |
| Customer Reviews |
Reviewed by Richard W. Tollefson of detroit, MI. USA on December 23, 2009
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| The CD was delivered in a timely manner and the quality and condition of the product were both more than satisfactory. |
Reviewed by Christopher Simonian on August 28, 2009
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| I have read the reviews and I listened to the album. C'mon. Ben Vereen, good performer, however, this role was too much for him. Fenholt is too opera for this role.
This is a ROCK opera. Fenholt has no feeling, no anxiety in his voice. No pain, no confusion, no anger, no betrayal. He just sings the words. Jesus, is a guy who is thrust into this world believing he is the son of God and that there is a better path out there to follow. Tough sales job, if you ask me. He is now on his final leg. His closest friends deny him, one betrays him and he begins to questions his purpose and God as well. You just don't sing the lyrics. You gotta feel it. Jesus is just a few hours from the beating of his life and then a crucifixion. Ian Gillan puts you into that role. He makes you feel what Jesus was probably going through. Murray Head pleads to Jesus and warns him constantly. It feels like Vereen is trying to hard. And don't even get me started with Ted Neely. UGH! If you are first time buyer, please buy the original with Gillan and Murray Head. |
Reviewed by Jeffrey W. Schumacher on July 14, 2008
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| 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. |
Reviewed by K. Dufficy of McAllen, Texas on November 10, 2006
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| I ordered 2 of the CD's, one for myself and one for a very close friend. They both arrived in exactly condition and in an extremely timely manner. Although this is an older released musical piece, it brought back fond memories and allowed me to recapture moments from my past that were very uplifting. |
Reviewed by Greg Young of LACAUSA on June 1, 2006
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| 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. |
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