JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (THE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUND TRACK ALBUM)

Everybody has heard of Andrew Lloyd Webber's collaborative effort with Tim Rice named JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR where Webber crafted the absolute perfect music to fit Rice's lyrics creating one of the catchiest and most widely acclaimed rock opera's of all time. While it's often thought of today as a Broadway production turned album and film, it was in fact started as a rock opera album that debuted in 1970 as a rock album following late 60s rock opera debuts by The Pretty Things (S.F. Sorrow in 1968) and The Who (Tommy in 1969). The Broadway play debuted in 1971 and two years later after the phenomenal success of both album and play came the film which in 1973 which was also an outstanding success. This particular release is the soundtrack of the film and just as captivating as the original album.

Generally speaking i really have to love the music on a soundtrack to want to listen to it apart from the visual aspects that are inextricably tied to every cadence and qualifying musical correspondence to the theme at hand. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is one of those albums that holds its own as the original rock opera album, film or soundtrack (haven't seen the play but hear it's good too). Well, i love the original 1970 rock opera but the 1973 film soundtrack does have its own special characteristics that make it an essential supplement to your JC SUPERSTAR experience despite not equalling the overall impact of the first release.

First of all, the production of this release is a lot better and a whole bunch of new tracks were included to make this one a more exhaustive depiction of the story. This includes "Then We Decided" which is conspiracy between Caiaphas and Annas which contemplates the demise of our hero. Also new are extra lyrics in "Hosanna" which is a Mary and Peter duet in "Could We Start Again Please?" There are other differences but have been described in better detail than i care to elaborate upon. All i can say is that i really love listening to this. It does have an early 70s type of dated feel to it but it's done so well that when i have the desire to hear an early rock opera, the JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR definitely hits the spot. The story is an enthralling aspect to understand the philosophy and struggles of the man who managed to get a whole religion to carry on his name.