Jesus Christ Superstar: The 20th Anniversary London Cast Recording [Cast Recording]

Claire Moore, Keith Burns, Jeff Shankley, Victor Spinetti, Paul Nicholas, Gary Martin, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jesus Christ Superstar (Related Recordings), Tim Rice | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 1992)
• Original Release Date: October 9, 1992
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: RCA Victor Broadway
• ASIN: B000003FD5
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #113,342 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Overture

2. Heaven on Their Minds

3. What's the Buzz

4. Strange Thing Mystifying

5. Everything's Alright

6. Jesus Must Die

7. Hosanna

8. Simon Zealotes

9. Poor Jerusalem

10. Pilate's Dream

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Crucifixion

2. Last Supper

3. Gethsemane

4. Betrayal / Arrest

5. Peter's Denial

6. Argument

7. Judas' Death

8. Pilate and Christ

9. Could We Start Again Please?

10. Herod's Song

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

the 20th anniversary case recording; delightful!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heaven on their minds, September 1, 2001

By 

Stephanie "edenza" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Jesus Christ Superstar: The 20th Anniversary London Cast Recording (Audio CD)

I've heard lots of versions of JCS and what puts this one over the top is quite simply Keith Burns's exceptional performance as Judas. Judas, IMO, is the star of this show. Without a flawless performance from the actor portraying him, this show can fall apart. The raw, electric emotion in Burns's voice brings everything about the character right up into your face. And that's just the vocal. The image I have of him possibly *performing* the role live and in front of me is more than I could bear. Of course, the other vocal performaces are wonderful as well (Claire Moore -- flawless), but to rate an album featuring a performer with this intensity and understanding of a character any lower would be an injustice. Hence, my compulsion to write this little review. Buy it. Enjoy it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A smooth take., February 10, 2001

By 

Edwin Baeyens (Deurne, Antwerpen Belgium) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jesus Christ Superstar: The 20th Anniversary London Cast Recording (Audio CD)

This is the version that takes the rock out of the rock opera. Paul Nicholas (Jesus) has a nice voice, but he isn't a rock singer and this part really needs one. He can't reach the high notes and falls rather flat on some crucial passages. I quite like Keith Burns as Judas and Claire moore as Mary. Victor Spinetti's Herod is very amusing. But most of the other singers seem to lack the passion that is required (listen to the lifeless 'Pilate's Dream' and 'Simon Zealotes').

There are much better versions of Jesus Christ Superstar, but musical lovers who aren't too fond of rock music might prefer this smooth take.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but by far not the best, February 24, 2001

By 

Jacob A. Davis "Writer, Artist, and Theologian" (Louisville, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus Christ Superstar: The 20th Anniversary London Cast Recording (Audio CD)

This recording is a good addition to the collection for Jesus Christ Superstar fans. However, although it has its moments, it lacks that certain magic that makes a JCS recording great. The musical arrangement could be better by far, with no songs surpassing the "okay" status and some (like "Simon Zealotes") turning up awful. Most of the cast is good, especially Claire Moore who is hands down the best Mary Magdelene since Yvonne Elliman, possibly even better than her. She is the best reason to buy this CD. Keith Burns is a good Judas (though there is nothing really special about his performance) and Jeff Shankly is a good Pilate. They are both frankly doing too much of what we've seen before, however (Shankly is practically doing a Barry Dennen impersonation and it shows).
The dissapointments of this album are Paul Nicholas's performance of Jesus (which always sounds as if someone has just gave him a jab to the stomach) and the performances of Gary Martin and Bogdan Kominowski as Caiaphas and Annas (Gary Martin has great bass but sounds as if he is coughing up a loogie and Kominowski does a bad Brian Keith impression). The most interesting part of the recording is the new version of "Could We Start Again, Please". The new lyrics by Tim Rice and the surprisingly terrific pop vocals by Paul (the only moment where he shines in this) and Claire are amazing and you can almost picture Christ rising to the heavens to the Superstar fanfare at the end.