Jesus Christ Superstar circa 1970 (Orig UK version)

[bfd]

In the spirit of the season..holds up rather well and I'd say perhaps Ian Gillans finest vocal performance....listened to it lately?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOjyGy1NR4Y

[rickawakeman]

My gateway to prog album.

[ronmac]

In the spirit of the season..holds up rather well and I'd say perhaps Ian Gillans finest vocal performance....listened to it lately?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOjyGy1NR4Y

"Gesthemane," in particular, is Ian's finest vocal performance ever.

There are a few parts that don't hold up as well as others ("What's the Buzz?"), but I love every bit of it.

[MudShark22]

The only version of JCS i listen to.

[nosebone]

The only JCS!

[thedunno]

My parents had this album but it was me who played it to death. By far the best thing Andrew Lloyd Webber has ever written. imho of course.

[JJ88]

ISTR Tim Rice saying that it was hearing an advance copy of In Rock with 'Child In Time' which led them to consider Gillan for the lead role. Of course the two hit singles ('Superstar' and 'I Don't Know How To Love Him') don't feature him at all!

Various other 'prog' alumni among the musicians.

[Rarebird]

I remember one of our teachers playing it in the class.

[interbellum]

The only version of JCS i listen to.

Me too (since about 1973). When I heard the film-version I thought the instruments were too low in the mix; it was all about the lyrics and singers. Never listened to that score again.

[ThomasKDye]

Also Ted Neeley is way too wimpy and breathy. Once you've had Gillan, no one else compares.

[Guitarplyrjvb]

Here's a whole thread on this GREAT album!


http://www.progressiveears.org/forum...Original-Album

[Supersonic Scientist]

Still have my original vinyl from back then....played the grooves out of that...and yes, Ian's best vocals ever.

[JJ88]

Also Ted Neeley is way too wimpy and breathy. Once you've had Gillan, no one else compares.

I guess this is the film soundtrack? In the UK there was another cast recording with Paul Nicholas in the lead role. Maybe best known on here for 'Cousin Kevin' in the film version of Tommy? I don't know.

[pb2015]

ISTR Tim Rice saying that it was hearing an advance copy of In Rock with 'Child In Time' which led them to consider Gillan for the lead role. Of course the two hit singles ('Superstar' and 'I Don't Know How To Love Him') don't feature him at all!

Various other 'prog' alumni among the musicians.

I skimmed ALW's autobio where he said he attended Deep Purple's Concerto for Group and Orchestra concert and didn't like the piece, but kept Gillan in mind.

Yes, I didn't know it when I first heard the album way back, but the musicians included guys from Quartermass, Nucleus (later Soft Machine) and such.

[JJ88]

Those jazz-rock guys were first-rate players, probably amongst the best in the UK. Lloyd Webber continued to use musicians from that genre; members of Colosseum II worked on many of his later projects including his solo instrumental work Variations. (He did pay tribute to Jon Hiseman upon the latter's recent death.)

[Rarebird]

Those jazz-rock guys were first-rate players, probably amongst the best in the UK. Lloyd Webber continued to use musicians from that genre; members of Colosseum II worked on many of his later projects including his solo instrumental work Variations. (He did pay tribute to Jon Hiseman upon the latter's recent death.)

On Variations he used Coloseum II with his brother Julian, Rod Argent and Barbara Thompson added.

[fictionmusic]

Me too (since about 1973). When I heard the film-version I thought the instruments were too much in low in the mix; it was all about the lyrics and singers. Never listened to that score again.

yah it was a poorly arranged las-vegas style horn sound if I recall; very disappointing. The original album with a rock band and an orchestra was incredibly well realized.

[Munster]

I only knew the songs from the soundtrack of the movie and was not overly impressed with them at the time. Because of this thread I have gone back to listen to the original studio cast and it has been a revelation. As has been said, Ian Gillan is amazing. But even more so, to my mind, is Yvonne Elliman (who is also on the movie soundtrack) who has the most beautiful voice. Now I can’t get the song Everything’s Alright out of my head. I wake up singing it; but, all in all, that’s not a bad way to start the day IMO!

[Top Cat]

I recently bought mint condition copies on vinyl of JC Superstar and Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds...so happy to have these in my collection and they sound wonderful.