Jesus Christ Superstar (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album)
by Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice

I agree with Freddie55. My rating is based on the superior original studio recording. Ian Gillan, possibly my favorite singer, is as good as he ever was, and Murray Head is just as amazing. Add to them a top-notch rock band and some truly inspired (no pun intended) music, and you have a great, unique album that makes my top 100 of all time. Doesn't quite hold up over four album sides; the last quarter is just okay, but there are enough classic songs and great performances to convert (okay, pun intended) any seventies rock fan. And you don't have to be religious to appreciate the music and the enthusiastic way in which the performers deliver its message. It's really more about the story than proselytism, anyway.

i sort of want to challenge you people to actually listen to this. nobody was born a christian and most people are not christians and although i am a "baptized" christian, RELIGION HAS NOTHING (or at least very, very little) to do with why i have this album rated so highly. it is the music. the songs. the playing. the story. the experimentation. an album of its time, very fine indeed.

From Crumpet 02/13/2018 22:03 | #208049 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

As an atheist who has little but contempt for religion, I still admit that this record is amazing. The instrumentation is on point, the actor playing Judas (Carl Anderson) is perfect, delivering the two highpoints of the album (Blood Money and the classic Heaven on their Minds) and the characters are very well written. I've never been a great fan of musicals, but this shows me why Andrew Lloyd Webber is so well repected.

So, regardless of your religion, creed or tastes, pick this one up.

From Freddie55 TOP 100 COMMENTER 12/28/2009 14:15 | #7902 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

This recording is good enough I guess. If you want a truly spectacular soundtrack though get Jesus Christ Superstar [Original Concept Recording] (1970) with Ian Gillan and Murray Head.

I do think the original album is better overall, mostly because of the clearer production and Ian Gillans magnificent wales. But this version is very close in terms of quality. Carl Anderson is the best Judas, and Ted Neely is the quintessential Jesus (it would have been Ian Gillans if he took the job) and does some parts better than Ian. The main problem with the musical in general is the some of the side cast and antagonists songs, which are good and advance the story, but never reach the cathartic heights of the main casts songs. The main problem of this particular soundtrack is how muddy and low all the instruments are, while the vocals are kicked up a notch. It works great for the movie, but is much more noticable and annoying when listening to it without visuals. It’s still one of the best musicals and rock operas ever made, and only a crazy super fan like me would notice these subtle differences.