Jesus Christ Superstar (Highlights from the 1971 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording, Original recording remastered]

Andrew Lloyd Webber (Artist), Tim Rice (Artist), Ben Vereen (Artist), Jeff Fenholt (Artist), Yvonne Elliman (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 1, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording, Original recording remastered
• Label: Decca U.S.
• ASIN: B00008QSBZ
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,684 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Heaven On Their Minds

2. Everything's Alright

3. This Jesus Must Die

4. Hosanna

5. Pilate's Dream

6. I Don't Know How To Love Him

7. Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)

8. King Herod's Song

9. Could We Start Again, Please

10. Judas' Death

11. Trial Before Pilate

12. Superstar

13. John Nineteen: Forty-One

Editorial Reviews

This 1971 cast recording, featuring Jeff Fenholt, Ben Vereen, and Yvonne Elliman, is the most requested version of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's classic rock opera.
Genre: Original Cast Recordings
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 1-APR-2003

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally available in the US, August 13, 2003

By 

Kevin Patrick Hill (Michigan USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus Christ Superstar (Highlights from the 1971 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

Argh!! A short six months after I shell out 30 plus bucks for the import from Japan, I see this in stores and on Amazon.com! Any JCS fan should have this one; includes one of the best Judas performances (Ben Vereen) and a very good Jesus (Fenholt) as well.

The "Gethsemane" on this disc is my favorite of them all. Pilate is played by the Barry Dennen. Although he played the role on the Concept Album and the Original Motion Picture, he is at his best on this disc. "Pilate's Dream" is a most haunting version, and he is at his most desperate in "Trial Before Pilate". It is sad that so few of the songs from the show are on this disc, I would have loved to hear Vereen and Fenholt play off of each other on "The Last Supper".

Most of the songs are at a slightly faster clip than on other versions, and the orchestrations are rocking. An interesting approach. Standout songs are: Heaven on Their Minds, Pilate's Dream, Gethsemane, Judas' Death, Trial Before Pilate, and Superstar. 5 Stars!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The one I grew up on!, May 14, 2003

By 

Aunt Nett (Lawrenceville, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jesus Christ Superstar (Highlights from the 1971 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

I'm glad Amazon has seen fit to move this to the top of the JCS list so that others are now finding it. This is NOT just now available - I first ordered it from Amazon at least two years ago for over $30 based solely on the cover picture because it looked like my old album that I got for Christmas in 1972. I wore that thing out over the years and had never been able to find it again until I happened on it at the very bottom of a list of about 30 different JCS items on Amazon. It had absolutely no reviews, so for all I knew it was in Japanese! Took a chance on it despite the price and, sure enough, it was the one I grew up on, just cleaner sounding digitally recorded on CD - and, of course, only the exterior CD text was in Japanese. I was at first disappointed in it when I received it that Christmas thinking my mother had screwed up because it wasn't the familir brown cover with the two angels that everyone else had. But I came to love it and, years later when I couldn't find it, replaced it with the one all my friends had, but lo and behold, I didn't like that one nearly as well as my original Broadway cast album. This one IS Superstar to me, though I'm sure a lot of JCS purists wouldn't agree. I just like the whole feel of the album better. I love Vereen and Elliman (including her version of "I Don't Know How to Love Him", despite what someone else's earlier review said about it) and this version of "Herod's Song" is far and away better than the many other versions I've heard.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Album, But I have some Reservations, April 2, 2003

By 

"spencebway" (Rome, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jesus Christ Superstar (Highlights from the 1971 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

Decca Brodway has finally come out with there long-awaited re-re-mastering of the original brodway cast album of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, after delaying its release several times.
I must say, opun listining to this album, I was Very suprised at the great job Decca had done.
I also have this album on LP and needless to say, they had there work cut out for them. The original release had recorded Vocals and music on the same channel at the same time with the result that the first broadway recording LP [was not good].
However, Decca has remastered that recording and put it on CD.
this recording sounds 300% better the only downside is that the recording is not complete (it wasent originaly.)
Ben Vereen is by far one of the best actors to play Judas, his voice is just perfect and so is his acting. NEVER BORING!
As for Jeff Fenholt, well his voice is really good, Especially in Gethsemane, but his demenor is just soooo borrrring, but he does not hurt the album as a whole, and his falsetto is the best I have ever heard on an album of Superstar.
Berry Dennen is also one of the best Pilates, second only to David Durt (1996 london recording).
Yvonne Elliman is wonderful as usual.
This album has wonderful linear notes and pictures.
Yes it is true that the original Brodway production was Over-done and tacky, but that does not change the fact that this is a great album.