Jesus Christ Superstar Recordings

[Mimi Imfurst]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:04pm

Forgive me if this has been discussed already..

I'm really not a huge ALW fan, but I've been digging JCS recently. I'm just wondering what is the best recording to get? Just so u can understand my cast recording tastes- i love rock, fast rock... i love the rocky revival, i love rent, hedwig, bat boy etc... so with that being said whats the best one to get? Is there more than one?

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:07pm

There's not a perfect one -- for some reason every recording screws up somewhere. The London cast recording with Steve Balsamo's pretty good (but Mary's weak and Judas isn't great.) There's an Australian cast recording that's also pretty strong. In a lot of ways the original concept recording is still the best to get, especially Ian Gillian as Jesus.

[Justice]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:21pm

Go for
Jesus Christ Superstar: A Ressurection

It's the Indigo Girls with a whole bunch of other underground rock artists. It is AMAZING. They take Webber's music and actually make it better than it is. Amy Ray plays Jesus and Emily Saliers is Mary...But the two voices that astound me are Judas and Simon Zealotes (That is by a girl)...and the gospel rendition of the title song is awesome. I recommend that one, as IMO, it is the best recording of JCS out there.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:55pm

I don't care for the Resurrectio recording. There are a couple of good tracks, but I just don't like most of the arrangements of the songs and there are numerous songs with the approximation-style of folk-rock singing. They sing somewhere around the notes, but don't bother to actually hit them.

The original recording is my personal favorite. The performances of Ian Gillian, Murray Head, Yvonne Elliman and Barry Dennen (I was thrilled to see him live as Pilate) are unsurpassed in my opinion. Their voices were so distinctive, they really defined the characterization and style of the piece for me as it was intended. As far as the best updated and complete recording, I like the London revival with Steve Balsamo.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:57pm

But doesn't the original recording omit the song "Can We Start Again Please?" That is a favorite of mine, so I prefer the film soundtrack.

[little_sally]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 3:23pm

I have the original London, original Broadway, film, and London revival recordings and I personally enjoy the original Broadway the most.

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 4:24pm

I,too, fell in love with the original cast album, i.e. the brown cover one. But when the Austrailian cast recording of 1992 or so came out, I was in heaven! Totally new orchestrations, rip roaring vocals and incredible drumming in Virgil Donati. I was hooked!

I am supposed to play this show later this year, hope it all works out! :)

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 5:10pm

I wholeheartedly recommend the newer London cast with Steve Balsamo. He's phenominal, and I personally love the Judas.

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 5:13pm

To me, the original recording is, by far, the finest one. Performances and orchestrations are excellent.

[sanda]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 5:18pm

the 1973 movie soundtrack is the best. The cast is called "dreamcast".

[NCGuy]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 5:21pm

I'm partial to the original recording, also. I love that moment in the score when the orchestra blares out the beginning of "Superstar" immediately after the 39 Lashes; none of the other recordings I've heard give me goosebumps at that part like the original does.

I just listened to the clips on CDNOW of the '92 Australian cast album and I'm really intrigued. Does anyone know if there is a full recording of this floating around out there, or did they only release a highlights album?

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 5:23pm

I hate the film, the performances of the songs (with the exception of Yvonne Elliman) and I hate the orchestrations. So, as this thread proves, it's a matter of taste, and you'll have to make up your own mind. The original recording started it all, however, so it may be a good bet to start there.