Godspell (2001 National Touring Cast) [CAST RECORDING]

Godspell (Related Recordings), Stephen Schwartz

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 9, 2001)
• Original Release Date: January 9, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Drg
• ASIN: B000055T3P
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #96,012 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals > Revivals

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair are often named as the two best "rock musicals," but Stephen Schwartz's Godspell--which opened off-Broadway in 1971 and on Broadway five years later--is, for many people, a sentimental favorite. The musical style involves consistently catchy pop and is inspirational without being preachy. Instead of presenting a linear narrative, the book is made up of a succession of vignettes illustrating biblical parables through a hippy prism--making it particularly easy to adapt and update. Directed by Schwartz's son Scott, this touring production (including new lyrics by Schwartz senior) is set in a hi-tech environment and incorporates references to video monitors and computers (which form an electronic crucifix). This revival is sometimes marred by weird arrangements (new orchestrations have been made by Alex Lacamoire)--as with the quasi drum & bass beat on "Tower of Babble" or the metallish guitar licks on "Save the People." Still, the performance presents an exuberantly youthful cast and is highly energetic. To hear an equally upbeat but less aggressive update of the show, you might want to check out the 2000 Off-Broadway cast recording. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, Pop Updating of this Musical, February 7, 2002

By	Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been a fan of "Godspell" for about 10 year now. Not too long after I first saw it, I bought the Original Cast Recording, and I've been enjoying it ever since. So I was very hesitant to buy this version. Boy, am I ever glad I did.

Without changing the songs in any significant way, the producers make the show feel contemporary with new arrangements and orchestration, not like it's stuck in the 1970's. I was able to sing along the first time through, while experiencing the musical in a whole new way. It's actually changed my opinion on several songs, most noticeably "Beautiful City" and "Turn Back, O Man."

I was also glad to get the "Prologue" and "Tower of Babble" songs. As far as I know, this is the only recording of these songs, and it's nice to have all the songs for this musical. I was also glad to see "We Beseech Thee" since it's one of my favorites.

This CD hasn't replaced my Original Cast Recording CD. But it's a great addition, and I'm glad I've added it to my collection. If you're a fan of this musical, buy this CD today and enjoy a classic with a modern feel.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really Good!, January 16, 2001

By	Brandon Langeland (Fort Wayne, IN USA) - See all my reviews

I love this play and the Original Off-Broadway Cast, but this CD is a worthy companion. If you want to get the best version of each song, it is squarely between these two. The cast is so awesome and extremely talented. "All Good Gifts" has never sounded better, and "We Beseech Thee," "Light of the World," and "Beautiful City" all have fresh new spins on them which make you want to get up and dance. Even though "Bless the Lord" sounds wierd at first with the grunge touch, Natalie Joy Johnson does such an incredible job singing it that it soon doesn't matter. The only down side to this recording is that they took the wonderful vaudevillian piece, "Turn Back, O Man" and turned it into a porno soundtrack type song. In short, buy this and the Original Cast, and you will have all the "Godspell" you will ever need.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a good look, July 24, 2003

By A Customer

being very familiar with this show - i've seen it a few times and just finished performing it (as "jeffrey") - i was pleased to see another revival of godspell out on the market. i have to admit, at first it didn't strongly catch my attention. the opening is cool - it blends instrumentals from "day by day" with "finale" and a couple of other things. "tower of babble" falters - the techno/dance beat just didn't do it for me. from there on, though, the reworking is nearly perfect. an interesting approach on "bless the lord", where they chose to tone it down a bit and make it groove a little more (compare that to the original), and it came out sounding great. "light of the world" has a sort of funk-bass groove to it, and the harmonies on the chorus ("so let your light...") are excellent. they chose to put "beautiful city" at the beginning of the second act (great place for it), as well as make it rock out a lot more and add in the entire cast (when i did it, it was slow, almost remorseful, with just jesus, and was put right before the last supper). that changed my view of that song altogether. "we beseech thee" is done to a gospel-type style, and it works perfectly (compare that to the hoedown-ish original and 2000's reggae mix). and as always, "finale" is energetic and emotional.

seriously, my only complaint is "tower of babble". besides that, the cast and musicians managed to update "godspell" to rock out, while still preserving all the meaning of the text. i'd recommend buying the 2000 version alongside this one, especially if you're as obsessed with this show as i am! good work, guys.