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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Notes from the Author,
By Ellis Nassour (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Rock Opera: The Creation of Jesus Christ Superstar, from Record Album to Broadway Show and Motion Picture (Hardcover)
This book was an extraordinary adventure for me, as I wrote it {and I did write the ENTIRE book} within two years of leaving The New York Times and setting out on a new area, the world of film and film music and rock and rock opera. I was heavily involved for a year working with, advising The Who, Neil Diamond, Rick Nelson, even Lorretta Lynn and Brenda Lee. I had the distinct honor of introducing Elton John to the U.S. in his first appearances in New York and Philadelphia. Then came my time as manager of artist relations for MCA, and meeting Tim Rice, who's been a friend since, and Andrew Lloyd Webber, who's been an acquaintance since (I'm sure he has some friends, I just don't know that many of them, as they tend to be royalty or very upper class British). I was there with them from one of their first visits to the U.S., when they had very little money and actually had to stay in my apartment, to the debut of their rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar and on to the movie and their other works, such as Evita, Chess, Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, etc.I consider myself so very blessed to have been in the "right" place at the "right" time and to have participated in their/these lives and careers. And if it had not been for Loretta, I would never have renewed my interest in Patsy Cline and written so often of her. Rock Opera:The Creation of Jesus Christ Superstar is worth the price if only for the incredible photo gallery. Of course, I hope you find the writing interesting, too. I am amazed at how many people still treasure this book and how many colleges use it in their theater courses. Ellis Nassour, New York, July 2001
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An unique resource,
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This review is from: Rock opera;: The creation of Jesus Christ superstar, from record album to Broadway show and motion picture (Paperback)
Given the popularity of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's epic rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" it's a wonder there aren't more books about the genesis of the show, but this one captures much of the zeitgeist of the early 1970s creativity and neo-spiritualist revivalism.It's rather like watching a video documentary, but using 70s technology, so set in print rather than film. It has detailed accounts of the original concept album - how it came about, how little people were prepared for its success and fascinating insights into the recording process and the amazingly ad-hoc approach to fitting a symphony orchestra and several rock bands and choirs into a single studio. Moving onto the stage show, we learn about the premiere in front of a handful of invited guests and how radio exposure created both a cultlike following for the as yet unstaged opera, and a condemnation from religious circles. Interesting that in those very early days, it seemed that it was those with doubts about their faith who were most critical. Those confident in their beliefs weren't threatened by a retelling of the oldest story in circulation. Nevertheless, the condemnation only served to heighten publicity and the book goes on to describe the excitement about the original production; the casting, the innovative staging by Tim O Horgan (fresh from shocking Broadway audiences with "Hair"). Audience popularity, stoked by the incredibly successful double album kept the negative theatrical reviews from dampening the young authors' party and the show went on to sell over 700 performances in New York in 1971. It would be another year before London got to see the show and when they did, the more conservative production by Jim Sharman was much more successful than the American version, running for over eight years and making a star out of Paul Nicholas in the role of Jesus. The final part of the book deals with the 1973 movie version of the opera. This was remarkable even by today's standards. It was the eighth highest grossing movie of that year(think about how few movie musicals there are now....) and it was shot almost entirely in Israel - in and among the ruins of the cities that would have been known to Jesus. Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson who had understudied the lead roles in the New York stage production were both nominated for 1974 Golden Globe Awards for their portrayals of Jesus and Judas. The film was the last movie in history to be shot with Todd AO - an extremely high definition widescreen format. The cinematography and the use of a technology pioneered for the sweeping historical epics of the 1950s gave the movie an expansive feel and captured the vastness of the Israeli deserts and the foreboding mountainous landscapes. There are so many fascinating anecdotes throughout the book, I recommend you buy it and dip in to see what you find. I guarantee you will come away with information you didn't know before. If you are a JCS fan, this is an essential buy. As it's out of print, find it NOW before it vanishes altogether...
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sensational,
By Damien Slattery (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Rock Opera: The Creation of Jesus Christ Superstar, from Record Album to Broadway Show and Motion Picture (Hardcover)
This book is a pure joy. Dense with information about the planning and machinations of putting this extraordinary musical together from 1969 to '73. We get a real insider view of the recording industry at the time, and their trepidation at backing such a monumental and controversial project. Author Ellis Nassour had unique access to Rice and Webber, and their many quotes and opinions fill the 242 pages. Refreshingly, it is not a hagiography, so explores the frustrations and missteps along the journey from hit single to the bizarre Broadway production. An interesting inclusion is a detailed account of the staging of that Broadway production, scene-by-scene. Packed with never-before-seen b&w photographs, this is a rich record of this phenomenon of the 1970s. I cannot imagine anyone who loves this unique Rice/Webber concoction not loving and cherishing this book.
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