Best Andrew Lloyd Webber Cast Recording

The 1996 London recording of Jesus Christ Superstar

Evita

hork said: "The 1996 London recording of Jesus Christ Superstar"

That was the first one I thought of when I saw this thread as well! I also enjoy the 2006 London recording of Evita. OLC of Phantom is pretty good too, but maybe I just say that because I sort of grew up on it.

In this order:

Sunset Boulevard (American Premiere Recording)

Jesus Christ Superstar (1996 Studio Cast)

Evita (New Broadway Cast Recording)

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Original Canadian Cast Recording)

An Oxymoron.

but historically speaking, the original JCSS album, which is a pop culture milestone.

*Aspects of Love

*Sunset Boulevard

*Phantom of the Opera

*Jesus Christ Superstar

*Evita

My favorite is the Canadian Cast Recording of "The Phantom of the Opera". The sound quality and mixing is absolutely superior to the London cast recording, which to me always sounds muddy and super echo-y.

The cast is also fabulous, giving very different performances than Crawford and Brightman (who I also love). The only downfall is that this is a highlights album. If you've never listened to it - I urge you to!

Updated On: 3/4/16 at 07:59 AM

Madonna aside, I love the Film CD for Evita (does that even count?)

On the international side. my two favourite ones are the Hamburg Cats (it's live and wonderful) and the second (1992) Japanese Phantom

My top three:

1996 Superstar

Evita concept album

Evita OBC

Has Evita never been remastered? I'd love it if Kritzerland was able to do it if Webber refuses.

Concurring with Mr. Nowack and Scarywarhol -- the original concept album of JCS is pretty much it for me, especially as far as that show goes. True, it has imperfect notes, rough moments, the orchestration's a little primitive -- it doesn't have that acrylic slickness and polish that marks Webber's later work (especially revivals of this show). There's a rawness you'll find the way you might find in certain points of the best classic rock albums. And not all of the later material that expanded and further deepened the piece is there (I, for one, welcome the extra lyrics in "Hosanna," "The Temple" and "Trial By Pilate," and enjoy what "Then We Are Decided" and "Could We Start Again Please?" bring to the show). But it has passion and drama, in spades, to say nothing of some of the best rock vocals and instrumentation on any album anywhere.

(Only reason I don't concur with nicnyc on the film soundtrack is that it has been very poorly mixed ever since the original LP, and no amount of remastering has corrected those problems, unfortunately. The terrific performances from Neeley, Anderson, and many of the other principals are lost in the muddy sound quality -- the recent 40th anniversary screening tour showcased both the performances and the sound in much better light with its restored digital print.)

I must also say that I don't get the love for the 1996 studio cast at all, unless you're more of a fan of Webber's later work. This, for me, is where the show began its decline. Webber took total control of the proceedings pretty much from here on out, and in my opinion slanted the show more toward musical theater and farther away from rock, to its detriment. There are little things that I like about the newer versions of the show, but they have nothing to do with the performers, for damn sure. (Except for Alice Cooper... that version of "King Herod's Song" nicely straddles the line between rock and vaudeville, and is the only version -- barring that on the JCS: A Resurrection studio cast album -- that has ever sounded to me like it was of a piece with the rest of the score, and not just comic relief stuffed in late in the recording process because they realized the second act was too heavy.)

Updated On: 3/4/16 at 12:30 PM

Aspects OLC

JCS Concept

Sunset OLC

Evita OBC

Phantom Toronto

S&D OBC

Joseph Toronto

Starlight OLC

Personally, I think Kuhn and Hearn are the ONLY reasons to own the OBC of Sunset.