Jesus Christ Superstar (The New Stage Production Soundtrack)
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Free Music Notes for Jesus Christ Superstar (The New Stage Production Soundtrack)
Free Music Review: Another addition to a library of a masterpiece...
Hit: 4 Stars
Arguably the one of the greatest (certainly, the most controversial) works of either Andrew Lloyd Webber OR Tim Rice is the conception and the creation of Jesus Christ Superstar. This show has been around the world in many different countries, spawning many cast recordings in many languages and two motion pictures when it comes down to the recorded media.This recording is no exception. Its new instrumental arrangements give the show a whole new feel, different from other cast recordings. The vocals on this CD are superbly done. The cast are so engrossed in their characters that the acting truly takes precedence over their technique. This is definitely a good thing, especially when watching it on the DVD, however it does lose some effect when you can't see their faces.
Glenn Carter: Shines as Jesus, though I do prefer Steve Balsamo's portrayal in "Gethsemane" in the 1996 London Cast Recording, and Ted Neeley's "The Temple." I never expected this guy to be as good as he is, after hearing him as a kind of mediocre Simon Zealotes in the 1996 recording.
Jerome Pradon: As well shines as Judas because of how much emotion is shown through his vocals. Definitely watch this guy on the DVD.
Renee Castle: As Mary, the effect of her performance is quite diminished on the CD but is again great with contributing to the constant triangle between Jesus, Judas and Mary. I still feel that her perforance was much better than Yvonne Elliman's. But I'd take Joanna Ampil's (1996) voice over either one any day.
Supporting Cast:
Tony Vincent as Simon Zealotes: Though Simon only has that one number, Tony Vincent makes this character his own and raises the bar on how good the supporting cast has to be (1st reason why I bought this). Combines great character portrayal with an intense vocal performance unmatched by previous actors. It's hard to compare Simon from the 1973 movie because they come from different styles and interpretations of the script itself. But Vincent is definitely better than Glenn Carter's 1996 performance
Frederick B Owens: This recording truly lacks something because of the omission of the Caiaphas character's numbers. With more bass in his voice than a school of fish ;P, I truly missed his contribution to the cast on the CD.
Fred Johanson: This man is by far the best Pontius Pilate to date. Listen to his performance, and you'll know what I mean. He begins strongly in "Pilate's Dream", in which you can truly hear the distress of his premonition of the man he didn't even meet until that Good Friday in which he found his dream disturbingly came true, in which you hear his frustration in Jesus and in the crowd. Johanson's performance truly shares in the impact Pradon's Judas makes.
All in all, though quite essential tracks are missing from the CD, this is still a great buy. Lloyd Webber and Rice are getting rich of me, as I have the Original 1973 Cast Recording, as well as the DVD, the 1996 London Cast (Steve Balsamo, Zubin Varla, Joanna Ampil), the DVD from 2000, and now the CD.
To close, it's nice to finally hear a real ending to "Superstar", rather than just some fade out... (2nd reason why I bought this)
Free Music Review: An anticlimatic quest, but still good
Hit: 4 Stars
After falling in love with the movie, I went out to a store, searched for the soundtrack, and when I couldn't find it, I had a staff member help me look for it. After at least 10 minutes of searching, I finally found it, and being the stupid person I am, in my excitement I forgot to check how they fit it all in one CD. Of course, I became extremely frustrated that some of my favorite songs, and the most important ones at that, were cut out. By excluding "And so We are Decided" and "Damned for all time/ blood money", it causes much confusion as to why things are happening and who certain people are. For instance, why would Judas commit suicide if he never betrayed Jesus to the soldiers, and where did the blood money come from that he speaks about in his death scene? Of course, I went on ranting to my friends right away, but I decided to keep the CD for what it did have. I still am dissappointed that they left out good music and left in a song like "John Nineteen, Fourty-One", which had little, if any importance. I found that part of the reason I loved the music so much was also becuase of the film itself. The music is better appreciated when you can see what the actors are doing, such as in "trial with Pilate" (the one that they left in becuase of the lashes, and instead took out the first meeting with Pilate,which is aone of my favorites and brilliantly done) and "Herod's Song", along with others. It is just not the same effect, even though I can see it in my mind.
However, it was a good soundtrack in itself. If they would have been willing to spend a bit more money and maybe instead put all of the songs, including the ones they decided to throw out in this CD, it would have been 5 stars from me. But my friend and I agree that the Really Uselful Group could have done better, although we doubt it was them that made the decision, and rather, they let Sony tell them which songs THEY liked. Deeply dissappointed, guys. And Jerome Pradon- how could you let them degrade you like that, along with the other actors, by letting them cut out stunning performances in order to save money? Here's the deal: It doesn't matter how much money you spent on it, because the profits would probably be a lot better if it had those songs. I would have reccomended it to many people, but alas, I only do so to support such fine actors and singers that were way too ignored. Well, now I'm getting upset. So while I don't think you should just not get it at all becuase of a few flaws, I do certainly hope that they will rethink their decisions and would highly reccomend a full soundtrack if they were wise enough to make one.
Free Music Review: See it, then listen to the CD.
Hit: 4 Stars
If you pardon the pun, I am a rather recent convert to JC Superstar.I picked up the JCS original concept album last year and like those around me, this is the standard that I have compared any other versions I have heard to, including the New Stage version, and this is what I am comparing when I am deciding which version is "better" or "worse".
I saw the New Stage version before the original movie version, and prefer it over the original movie, but not to the concept album.
In this production, for the record, I thought that Jerome Pradon did well in the role of Judas. You really have to see the production to see why his voice wavers and occasionally breaks- its the acting. The guy is practically ripping himself inside out to play the part. When you look at the myriad of emotions that cross his face, you get a lot more out of the songs he sings. His Judas on the recording does not match up to the vocal emotions of Murray Head, but then again the original concept did not have the visual acting to carry out as this one does. Pradon is playing the part, not just singing it.
Glenn Carter's Jesus is incredible- no doubt about it. Again, the appreciation for his vocals are greatly enhanced by knowing the look on his face at key lines. The Last Supper and Gethsemane are heart wretching to see and hear.
Fred Johanson is actually a very good Pilate, and the Trial before Pilate (with the 39 lashes) is so emotional it is almost difficult to listen to. You actually get the sense of Pilate needing to stop the flogging before the 40th lash (which is what normally kills a man).
Rik Mayall's Herod has got some pretty bad singing, but at least he seems to recognize this. His version of Herod's song plays on the creepiness of the character playing a part in vaudeville puppet show and speaks in the most sarcastic way that you can imagine. Again the focus is on the acting, not the singing.
I do think that important pieces were cut out unnecessarily. I am glad to have a copy of Can We Start Again, Please- but it didn't need to be there if Peter's denial was going to be cut out.
This is the main thing to take with you when you are considering which recorded version of JCS to try: Are you looking for the best singing or the best acting? The concept album has the former down, this recording has got the latter. Get them both to compare the spectrum.
Free Music Review: 22 years of super fan
Hit: 4 Stars
I have been a super fan for JCS for 22 years, since when I saw it at a theater. I have been really crazy about this music,execpt one thing, I wish it included the Resurrection of Jesus. I was even practiced acting for a year, even though my major field of study at college was sculpture. I wanted be a musical star.Because of that I like too much JCS. And recently I had chance to watch JCS VHS 2001. I really like it. I looked for this CD for long time. Because I could not find this any CD store. I was really happy when I got this CD from AMAZON.com. Glenn Cater was very good at this even though he got a little worse voice than Steve Balsamo. Glenn Cater acted and sang very well. I think Glenn Cater was the best Jesus for JCS so far. He really knew how to sing this music.-Believe me I was trained acting play and I listened to JCS music so many times.- I know about this music. I can see he put his effort in it to make good song. I like the way he sing. Jerome Pradon and Tony Vecent were the best Judas and Simon. Michael Shaeffer(Annas) and the other singer did really well,too. Most of them are very good singers and actors,except Ric Mayall( king Herod), Renee Castle(Mary Magdalene). They are not fit to do this. I really like the song "I don't know how to love him." But not one on this CD.
I think Yvonne Eliman was the best Mary Magdalene for JCS.
Alis Cooper was the best king Herod. They really knew how to sing this music.
I wish this CD include the other important Judas' songs - "Dammed for all time", "Blood money",end part of "Judas death" and "Jesus must die" these were very good music when I watch the VHS.
If you have Home Theater System at home, buying JCS DVD 2001 will be better.
Free Music Review: 22 years of super fan
Hit: 4 Stars
I have been a super fan for JCS for 22 years, since when I saw it at a theater. I have been really crazy about this music,execpt one thing, I wish it included the Resurrection of Jesus. I was even practiced acting for a year, even though my major field of study at college was sculpture. I wanted be a musical star.Because of that I like too much JCS. And recently I had chance to watch JCS VHS 2001. I really like it. I looked for this CD for long time. Because I could not find this any CD store. I was really happy when I got this CD from AMAZON.com. Glenn Cater was very good at this even though he got a little worse voice than Steve Balsamo. Glenn Cater acted and sang very well. I think Glenn Cater was the best Jesus for JCS so far. He really knew how to sing this music.-Believe me I was trained acting play and I listened to JCS music so many times.- I know about this music. I can see he put his effort in it to make good song. I like the way he sing. Jerome Pradon and Tony Vecent were the best Judas and Simon. Michael Shaeffer(Annas) and the other singer did really well,too. Most of them are very good singers and actors,except Ric Mayall( king Herod), Renee Castle(Mary Magdalene). They are not fit to do this. I really like the song "I don't know how to love him." But not one on this CD.
I think Yvonne Eliman was the best Mary Magdalene for JCS.
Alis Cooper was the best king Herod. They really knew how to sing this music.
I wish this CD include the other important Judas' songs - "Dammed for all time", "Blood money",end part of "Judas death" and "Jesus must die" these were very good music when I watch the VHS.
If you have Home Theater System at home, buying JCS DVD 2001 will be better.