Customer Reviews

Highlights From Jesus Christ Superstar: The 20th Anniversary London Cast Recording

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Not sure why this album has gotten a couple bad reviews, but it is hands down the absolute best version of this show. Our theatre company did the show a few years back, and I listened to every version I could get my hands on. Just listen to the overture, the other albums sound like the composer was drunk. This is most true to the music, I guess other people just like what they are used to. DEFINITELY buy this one (Doesn't have to be the highlights, the full length is awesome), it truly is the best. Just listen to the samples, you will hear for yourself.

This CD is a great collection of some of the best songs from the movie and musical. They were re-recorded in 1992, so the songs aren't exactly the same, but that doesn't mean that they are worse, they are just different. A little more rythimcal.

I am a huge fan of Jesus Christ Superstar- I own the DVD from the 70s with Ted Neeley and have the Original Concept Album, which I love to death. This recording isn't worth buying unless you are a die hard fan like me and you are interested in the sound. Most of the singers cast are not nearly as good as others who have been recorded. The highlight of this highlighted version is probably Claire Moore as Mary Magdaline- although she's not as good as my favorite, Yvonne Elliman, she is quite good. While Keith Burns isn't necessarily bad, he is not up to par with Ben Vareen and the one from the movie. Paul Nicholas really isn't even heard much on this recording as Jesus (ironic, isn't it?), but he seems to be miscast because while he has a good voice, he does not have the right voice for the part. His Gethsemane is good but in a different way in which the song was not intended- it is more full of vibrato and elongated notes. HEROD IS AWFUL. I would go with the movie version or the original concept album from London.

Sound is very uneven. At times volume is so low I must turn it up considerably, then all of a sudden I get blasted when the music gets louder. I have to keep my fingers on the volume control & be ready for a quick adjustment. This is a horrible recording.

I am honestly sorry for writing this, but I feel that people looking for a JCSS recording should stay away from this. I do not like to give bad reviews but I have to for this. I have eight JCSS recordings ranging from 1970 to 2001, and this is the worst recording of the awesome show that is Jesus Christ Superstar that I have heard yet. It is a terrible mix of everything. The sound quality is bad, the volume seems way down all the time. Keith Burns as Judas can hit the notes but just sounds really freaky when he does and has this annoying habbit of hawking a spit wad when he sings. Paul Nicholas as Jesus was the worst casting choice of anyone in the cast. His voice does not mix well with Jesus' music or lyrics in any respect. His voice is way too operatic to be in a rock opera to begin with. Second of all, his voice isn't good to begin with. I didn't even finish listening to the recording it was so bad. I can never listen to all of Gethsemane because it just is a disgrace to the song. I undertsand that Jesus is a hard part to play, but you would think that if this is the official 20th Anniversary cast, they could have found better people to play pretty much everyone. If you are looking for a better recording, try anything else. I personally reccomend either the new movie soundtrack, the 1996 recording, or the original concept recording. But this is no JCSS recording. Sorry.

Jesus Christ Superstar has so many diffrent versions that its hard to distinguish the best version to buy. While this paticular recording is good, its not in the best. The voices are decent, but it seems to lack a certain energy that other recordings have. I would suggest the 1996 London cast staring Steve Balsmao and Zubin Varla. That is the best overall recording that is out there.

SURE, THERE ISN'T THAT MUCH HORRORIBLE SINGING IN THIS HIGHLIGHTS, BUT COME ON! I DON'T KNOW ONE PERSON THAT LIKES THE 20TH ANNERVERSERY OF JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR! EVERYONE KNOWS THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT ALBUM IS WAAAAAYYYYYY BETTER THAN THIS RECORDING! I REALLY LIKE JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, I'M A BIG FAN. I JUST HATE THIS RECORDING MORE THAN ANYTHING! I RATHER LISTEN TO THE JCSS ITAILIAN VERSION THAN LISTEN TO THIS! IF YOU WANT A COMPLETE, SUNG WELL, GREAT JCSS RECORDING, GET THE LONDON REVIVAL CD! THAT CD IS AWSOME! EVEN THE MOVIE RECORDING IS REALLY COOL! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY OFF THIS ONE!