Jesus Christ Superstar: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album [Original recording remastered, Soundtrack]

Andrew Lloyd Webber (Composer), Tim Rice (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Andrew Lloyd Webber
• Audio CD (March 24, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered, Soundtrack
• Label: Decca U.S.
• ASIN: B0000062Y2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (103 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,837 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #78 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals > General

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This 1974 Norman Jewison film may have been a critical misstep, but some fans actually preferred it to Broadway's rock spectacle. The thing is, Jesus Christ Superstar was first introduced as a two-disc rock opera, not unlike the Who's Tommy, as it even scored several Top 40 hits. While no set matches the original, it's still hard to go wrong with the music, no matter what the source. This also includes the pretty "Could We Start Again, Please," composed for the stage version, and sung here by the original LP's Mary Magdalene, Yvonne Elliman. Ted Neely (Jesus) and Carl Anderson (Judas), meanwhile, have spent two decades on the road, recreating their roles night after night, although they have to now be at least two decades older than Jesus was at the Crucifixion. --Bill Holdship

Product Description

No Description Available.
Genre: Soundtracks & Scores
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 24-MAR-1998

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

93 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Actually Sounded Better on L.P.!, March 30, 2001

By 

Eugene F. Fama (Pacific Palisades, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus Christ Superstar: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album (Audio CD)

I got the dvd of the movie version of Superstar and couldn't be happier. The remastering of both image and sound are so great that you'd forget the movie was made in the early seventies if it weren't for the bellbottoms and hairdos.

It's a shame that the care taken on the dvd didn't translate to this extravagently-priced audio version. The vocals are muffled, as if sung into a plastic garbage pail. Then they're mixed so far forward that the drums and guitar completely dissappear. As a result, the rock numbers and the ballads alike lose their emotional kick. The power of the transitions between songs, like the goosebump causing way "Trial Before Pilate" segues into "Superstar" in the movie, are totally destroyed by a couple of seconds of dead air inserted robot-like between every tune.

I can't understand how anything remastered for cd, repackaged, and sold for over thirty bucks can actually sound worse than a seventies vinyl album. How could they get it so wrong? They didn't even print the lyrics, which I seem to remember in the original l.p.

Buy the dvd and play that instead, with or without the picture. It only costs half as much as the two cd set and the sound is far superior.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Only **Complete** Superstar!, April 24, 2001

By 

Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus Christ Superstar: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album (Audio CD)

I'm a huge fan of "Jesus Christ Superstar," and while I love the original 1970 album, the 1973 movie version/soundtrack album is equally just as powerful. While the 1970 version remains the best "Superstar" recording in several ways, certainly in regards to production and sound quality, the 1973 movie version tops the original recording in one respect at least: it's the only COMPLETE version of "Jesus Christ Superstar." The 1973 movie & it's accompanying soundtrack album present "Superstar" in a wonderfully expanded version that actually builds on the amazing accomplishment that composer Andrew Lloyd Webber & lyricist Tim Rice had already achieved with the landmark 1970 album.For the movie version of "Jesus Christ Superstar," Lloyd Webber & Rice had to write some extra material in order to beef up the film. The extra musical goodies they supplied include "Then We Are Decided," a great song that the high priests Caiaphas & Annas sing, in which they contemplate in private their plans against Jesus. This song is a great addition to the opera, as it delves a bit deeper into these two characters & their motives. That it's almost never performed in any stage production of "Superstar" these days is a very sad ommission. "Then We Are Decided," in my opinion, SHOULD be a part of all future "Superstar" recordings and performances. But for now, it's only available on the movie soundtrack.Other bonus material include an extra lyric for Jesus to sing in "Hosanna," the lovely Mary & Peter duet "Could We Start Again Please?" (which IS included in most of the recent "Superstar" productions, thankfully), and last but not least, a dramatic, extended version of the "Trial Before Pilate" that greatly improves on the shorter, original version. The original "Trial" is fine, but there's a LOT more conflict & drama between Pilate & the crowd in the extended "Trial," as Pilate is shown greatly wrestling with his own conscience over what his final decision on Jesus' fate should be. It's a very powerful moment, indeed. Once again, I'm glad that many productions of "Superstar" lately DO incorporate the extended version of the "Trial."You get a marvelous cast that includes brilliant vocal turns by Ted Neely, Carl Anderson, and Yvonne Elliman in their respective roles of Jesus, Judas, and Mary, and, of course, the classic music & lyrics by Lloyd Webber & Rice, performed here with great passion by the assembled musicians, almost just as good as on the original "Superstar" album. The sound quality, however, isn't all that spectacular---it sounds like everyone is singing through a telephone line! (Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit). But nonetheless, the performances are first-rate, and so is the music. In the end, this is an excellent version of this legendary rock opera, and it's the ONLY version of the musical that's 100% complete. Personally, I suggest buying BOTH the movie soundtrack of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and the original 1970 version, too. They compliment each other very well, and they're the only recordings of "Superstar" you'll ever need to own.

45 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Highly disappointed, July 12, 2004

By 

Anthony "mrwhy" (San Gabriel Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Jesus Christ Superstar: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album (Audio CD)

I am a huge fan of Jesus Christ Superstar and feel that the movie version is the best of all. This is the soundtrack of the movie and it does not do any justice to the movie at all. The quality of the CD is terrible! There really needs to be a re-recording and reissue because this is inexcusable.

If you are a fan of the movie like me, then other than watching the movie, this soundtrack is the only choice, but do not let the five star reviews fool you. You will be disappointed.

If this is going to be your first introduction to Jesus Christ Superstar then please do yourself a favor, skip this CD and get the DVD instead.