You guys have to remember that this is the recording of a PLAY meant to be performed and viewed live. It's not just a standard record which explains why some of the album might feel expository.

I saw this recently at a theatre in Birmingham, England. It rocked

Geth-seh-meh-nee. :) The reuse of themes in musicals (and films, tv etc.) is called Leitmotif and it's very common in musicals, especially by ALW. Length-wise I get what you mean, but when it's on stage you don't really notice it. I guess that's one of the differences between the mediums. And again, please listen to the '74 Movie Soundtrack! It has a better Jesus, and a really cool Judas. And André Previn conducting a full orchestra! Edit: this is one of my favourite musicals of all time, so I'm obviously biased!

Growing up in the '70s this was everywhere. I had a friend obsessed with it and would play it and talk about it constantly (he went on to become a fairly well-known public TV talk show host). So I know this LP well, but probably haven't heard it since 1977.

been a long time fan of "jesus christ superstar" and ian gillan to boot , which was the 1st time i heard of him , before deep purple I dont know how to love him is special

Attending a Jesuit all-boys high school in Winnipeg in the ‘70’s, Jesus Christ Superstar was teaching tool of the “cool” young priests who taught religious studies to a pretty disinterested group of adolescents. We went through every song, every moment, and then compared what was set out in the gospels of the Passion. It was my first exposure to music analysis and criticism, and was profoundly impactful. We had no idea who the singers were, or any links to Deep Purple or anything else…or even if it was “good”; it just was an incredibly liberating way to approach the Bible, the life of Jesus and his disciples, and especially to gain some insight-even sympathy or empathy-for the struggles of Judas, which was a very radical approach. I think it turned on a whole generation of listeners onto an appreciation of “art”, of revealing different perspectives. So in that sense, hugely influential…and catchy. You might also have mentioned in your review how unique an approach this album was…it was a recording and presentation of a West End/Broadway musical before there was a staging of the actual musical. It was entirely an in-studio “concept album”. Pretty radical approach. Only after the success of the album was it presented on stage, to great success. Always special to me. Cheers, JPE

@nodeachunter

Ай бұрын

Ha! Small world. I live 5 minutes away from that high school. Who would have thought Tastes Like Music had such a big Winnipeg following!

@jamesegan2742

Ай бұрын

@@nodeachunter….wow, small world. Yes, in Toronto now, but born and grew up in Winnipeg, and graduated from St. Paul’s in 1977! All the best to you. Cheers, JPE

Best rock album of all time. How can you listen to a soundtrack without watching the show? Come on now.

Oh man one of my all time favourite musicals just from the soundtrack alone And Ive been on a kick for it lately and now yall review it? Great day

Always look on the bright side of life.

I play this album every Easter Sunday.. I love the movie, and I've seen the musical twice on stage.

I was in this musical in college. I was King Herod but the musical director knew I was a fan of Hard Rock/Metal/Goth/Industrial so what he did was completely rearranged the song into this really dark, odd, eerie Front 242 type number. Probably the only time it has ever been done that way but the audience loved it. I wore all black, with black Ozzy-style shades. It was a blast.

@TheGerkuman

Ай бұрын

They change it all time, at least in how Herod sings it (and how he is portrayed). But that sounds even more interesting!

@GarganoA

Ай бұрын

@@TheGerkuman It was so much fun. The musical director was this really temperamental dude but if he liked you, he really wanted to work the material to show you at your best and he nailed this one.

@TheGerkuman

Ай бұрын

@@GarganoA so many different Herods. Chris moyles, Rik Mayall, the one from the film that goes all 'new York gangster' with his accent at the end...

Had this on lp, bought in the early 70's. Been a long time since I have heard it through, you have peaked my interest. As I remember, I really liked it. Thanks for the reminder.

I wasn't sure how this might go for me since typically musical theatre recordings are not my thing but the rock opera element made me hopeful. I think the band is great like you said and there are some cool songs here. I also had a whoa moment with "What's the Buzz?" because a local radio station uses it for a bumper for a regular segment and I never knew what it was from. The first disc was my favourite because I felt like there were more songs, I agree on "Heaven on Their Minds" being my favourite song. I struggled more in the second disc with the more plot based songs and yes, the repetition, definitely agree with that. I debated between a high 3.5 and light 4 and settled on a light 4 in the end. I'm glad I listened though, it's definitely not something I would have checked out on my own and was overall a very nice surprise that I enjoyed it as much as I did.

Kate Cebrano, John Farnham and Jon Stevens had a #6 hit with Everything's Alright when there was an Australian production in the early 90s. Hell of an achievement for a song in 5/4.

Ted Neeley in the film adaptation blows Gillan out if the water. Probably because he's an actor first and foremost, but he provides the gravitas Joe thinks is missing. The plot is essentially the Passion Play chronicling the last few days of Jesus' life. It's a little more of theatrical piece more than a rock album, despite Webber trotting it out again as a rock show concert spectacle. Check out the various stage productions to see how it works as musical theater.

My deceased dad was an Episcopalian priest and loved this. Good one. Still pretty radical adaptation and lyrics. Great meta movie.

Nobody ever said it was perfect. I like it a little more than you guys. "Dammed for All Time" ROCKS!

One from my childhood booooyyyyzzz so difficult to critique without the memories. It’s of it’s time for sure. Saw it in the west end would have been late 70s I think- as a staged musical. What am I saying here booyyyyzz? Welcome to my childhood and a fair assessment

When I gave this album a listen about ten years ago, here was my main thought: "Hey, this is just like Tommy! Except if the Who hadn't bothered to come up with an original storyline of their own and just took stuff from the Bible." What Pete Townshend did was harder, is what I'm saying. Didn't mind JCS, though.

I have owned this album since the mid 70's. I absolutely love it. I have seen 2 different performances of the play. And I'm also Jewish

Love this album,probably my most listened to album (tied with Prince’s dirty mind)during lockdown,this album was never on my radar until I saw a interview with Matt Berry and he put it in his top ten so thought I’d give it a try.

I'm a born Atheist (aren't we all?) but even so, I consider JCSS to be one of the finest musicals ever written. And this, the original version, is by far the greatest version of them all. A lot of it has to do with the genius idea of roping in Ian Gillan to give voice to the world's most popular hippie. And it also doesn't hurt that Eric Clapton's lovely touring singer Yvonne Elliman lends her silky smooth voice to Mary Magdalene. But the real reason this album rocks is Murray Head's positively unhinged portrayal of Judas Iscariot. By all accounts, this is Judas's show. We mostly experience the story from his skeptical (almost secular) perspective, and considering his ultimate fate, he's also, by far, the most reasonable and sympathetic character in the entire piece. This is, if you will, an Atheist take on the Passion. And it's awesome. The film soundtrack version doesn't even come close, even though Carl Anderson is arguably even greater as Judas, and it also includes the brilliant "Could We Start Again, Please?" which should've been on this album as well, but wasn't.

@oppothumbs1

Ай бұрын

Good review. Judas is sympathetic. Hurray. I wasn't a born Atheist but when I read "the sheep (unquestioning) will have Jesus' love and the goats (questioning types) will have hell-fire, I knew religion had gone too far into the hate those who are different (unless you can convert them). When Jesus says everlasting hell is warranted for those who don't see him as but a man, that is way beyond weird into cruel. It leaves out biology and environment that leaves incomplete free will or little free will. It means all other religions, not just agnostics, are doomed for hell. Of course we all know or should know that non-believers are as moral as believers according to all scientific studies. This fact might be suppressed by religions? That said, I don't know how to love this album. It's pretty good for a musical and I dislike most musicals (because I'm a bad person!), but it has some good songs if I just keep my sensitive mind from thinking how religious might increase good (mostly less worry about imaginary afterlife) but certainly supports so much hate and unending wars. Well these days it's about land grabs, less about religion. Over 800,000 million dead since the 7th century, though most is not from Jesus' followers.

@SpaceCattttt

Ай бұрын

@@oppothumbs1 Religion only exists because people lack the answers to the BIG questions. Why are we here? Where IS here? What's the purpose of life? None of that is known. And not knowing that is not good enough for people, so they make up their own answers. Well, that's what they did, and that's what politicians, dictators and clergymen have exploited ever since. They use people's need to believe to instill fear in them of the consequences that awaits them if they don't, while simultaneously laughing all the way to the bank where they deposit all the donations from the sheep...and they pay NO taxes! I'm not against people believing in religion if that's what they need to do, but religion should never have an influence on society the way it currently does. It should be a personal thing. A spiritual thing. Something that gives you comfort and perhaps guidance. But it never ends there, does it? As for the album, hey, you don't have to like musicals. It's obviously easier to like the album if you do, but as you pointed out, there are a few good songs on it, and I think they can be listened to out of context. They're good pop numbers.

I think that you gave this album a fair review . You're bang on saying if it had have been about 25% shorter ,, that it would have strengthened the album . I bought it when it first came out , and have a long history with it . I still like it quite a bit , and I like the way that it shifts between the different styles of music throughout the album . Aside from the instances that you pointed out , I think that some of Ian Gillan's best singing is on this album , and of course , Murray Head and Yvonne Ellliman are great . The musicianship is excellent as well . Thanks for the review !!

If the "pitchy notes" you're referring to are when he says "have to know , have to know my lord" right before he screams ? I believe that is INTENTIONAL to show that he is upset about his inescapable fate

I have this and the 73 soundtrack (which I slightly prefer) at five stars... This musical (especially the soundtrack) has been with me as long as I remember. I have my parents copy of the soundtrack in my collection. I didn't pick up the original 1970 recording until the 80s. My Deep Purple friends highly sugested it. I personally still think Ted Neeley nails (npi) the emotion of Jesus better than Ian Gillian, but Ian's vocal are as always incredible. I listen to both versions at least a few times a year. And watch the movie just about every Good Friday.

11 minutes! That’s not even long enough to walk my dog! Anyway, thanks for covering this album. I can’t describe how integral this record was to my childhood. And I was more surprised that Jesus was the lead singer on the Machine Head record I bought. (But I was 9 when JCS came out and 11 when MH came out, so it’s a pretty naturally progression.) There was a time when the Jesus mythos was intertwined with the hippie and back-to-nature movement, so it was more natural than you would have thought for a rock opera (not to mention the success of Tommy, who of course becomes a messiah figure). Compare toothless Christian Contemporary music to this. Miles better. Anyway, I had to giggle at Geth-thus-mane pronunciation, as someone forced to go to Sunday school and church every week. I can’t stand Andrew Lloyd Webber, so that was a surprise when I was older and realized this was one of his early works. There was one minor character’s voice I was obsessed with and wished he had sung in more things. Brian Keith as Annas. (I also had to learn it wasn’t *that* Brian Keith from a tv show called Family Affair; ppl who grew up then will understand.) There was another musical after this called Godspell that was inferior but trying to ride the wave. Didn’t care for the movie adaptation of JCS but did like Ted Neely’s voice.

Check out the Neely Anderson performance

You guys gotta see the play! It’s really awesome, and I’m not religious or anything. Just a really good musical.

Definitely need to check out Carl Anderson and Ted Neeley from the film version. At least their performances of Heaven on Their Minds and Gethsemane. They’re both so good.

Ive got several versions of these songs, I like them all for different reasons. I would put this second to the film soundtrack . As for theatre evita was better better.

I've never heard all of the original 1970 album, but I saw the 1973 film adaptation in its original theatrical release, and my sister owned the soundtrack album of the film. Our mother greatly loved (perhaps still loves) both, and I've heard that version many times. We even attended a staged performance in the early Eighties, which we all enjoyed very much. Today I have come to prefer 'Godspell' over 'Jesus Christ Superstar', which now strikes me as overly angsty, though I do still appreciate the effort overall. I identify as atheist, so neither work resonates for me from a religious perspective, but I still value the musical and entertainment dividends of these pop interpretations of the Christian story. Note: Edited to correct the 1970 date of the original LP, which I had erroneously indicated as 1971.

I have this on OG vinyl. But the real album of the week is Crypt Sermon "The Stygian Rose". Epic doom metal out of Philly.

I think this is a successful rock opera or whatever you want to call it. A musical. It definitely sounds like a classic orchestrated musical much of the time, but there's a lot of groovy rock music mixed in. A little vaudeville and jazz too. I could see how certain nitpicky Christians and scholars might take issue with some of the lyrics, but I think they're generally non offensive. The story line is generally well done. It shows Jesus to be all too human and I do appreciate the abrupt ending at the end of The Crucifixion which suggests that is the final ending - his conscious mind has ceased to exist. I assume the last track called "John Nineteen Forty-One" is a reference to the Bible verse, which merely mentions the tomb. So they kind of left it up to the listener to decide what happens after that. I enjoyed the listen, but there were times when I wasn't enjoying it. Especially the times Murray Head was singing. I'm not crazy about his voice, and I think his singing is off on occasion. He hits some notes that made me wince. I like Ian Gillan, but even he can be a bit too over the top at times on this album. A bit too much. I thought Yvonne Elliman was good. Her performance on "Everything's Alright" is excellent. There's actually a good handful of songs here I would call excellent. But a some of the vocals hold this back. Honestly, I'm not too into this personally, but I think it's well done overall. I did enjoy hearing it twice, and although I'm not likely to go back to it, I do consider it good - 3.5.

Trout Mask Replica is an album that I would love to see you guys review. Your reactions would be priceless.

@musicalneptunian

Ай бұрын

Meh. Review Shiny Beast Bat Chain Puller. Cooler title.

Love this album, love the 1973 movie as well, but the sad thing is that there's no perfect version. For the most part, I prefer the album, but my favorite song in the whole thing is Could We Start Again, Please, which originated with the stage show. I have to cut and paste a bit to find the best version. However, both the album and movie are so ambitious and take such big swings that I'll look over the shortcomings.

Gethsemane = geth - sem - uh - nee. It’s in the song.

It does cover the Resurection but it leaves it to your interpretation more in the stage show than the. Movie were the cross is empty and Jesus does not get back on the bus with the other actors

@barrymoore4470

Ай бұрын

That's quite an effective ending in the film. I also liked the whole concept of modern day actors putting on a show and becoming their roles, with the actor playing Jesus remaining bonded with the figure forever.

I definitely enjoyed the album, but I prefer the movie from 1973 which I grew up on, and the director (who also directed fiddler on the roof), did a great job on telling the story at places where in the album it doesn’t work as well. And although I enjoy Murray Head and Ian Gillan, I vastly prefer Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson as their acting, in addition to their singing is superb

Geth-sem-uh-nee Simon ZELL -ut

Geth sem a knee.

4 / 5 (almost 5 / 5 !) (last week, Tweaker : 2 / 5)

More musical album reviews would be great. But are there many "Rock" musicals albums. Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds is superb. I don't think that is a controversial opinion. But is it a full musical? I dunno. I've never heard JCSuperstar. But I saw the og film it was fab. I'm struggling to think of any Rock musicals...well Rocky Horror Show of course. Kind of. Bat out of Hell, maybe.

@barrymoore4470

Ай бұрын

I concur with 'Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds', one of the great albums of the Seventies in my opinion. I think it counts as a musical, and there have been semi-staged performances in more recent years. As for rock musicals, 'Grease' would be another example, as would 'Hair'. 'Tommy' could count too, though that's more properly cited as a rock opera.

I really enjoy this one. Perhaps not everything on the first listen and like pretty much all projects this long... It could have been shorter. I do think most of it is very entertaining though and I like the fast pace of it all. It has some comedy in it which I find welcome. I wonder how many "younger" Deep Purple fans actually have heard this. It feels like something that was huge at the time but has been quite forgotten about from the hardrock public. It's not something I really see when people discuss Deep Purple, Rainbow, Whitesnake and other things within the Deep Purple family. Not sure about my rating. Definitely 4 / 5. Perhaps stronger!

I only knew the melody to the title track way back in early childhood from a childish rhyme I learned that isn't worth repeating.

@179rich

Ай бұрын

But it involves bulletproof underwear.

Actually Joe, it doesn't cover the ressurection.

@TastesLikeMusic

Ай бұрын

You’re right.

Pretty apparent y'all ain't big church guys, considering how you pronounced "Gethsemane" lol

@TastesLikeMusic

Ай бұрын

Pronouncing things has never been our strong suit

@179rich

Ай бұрын

@@TastesLikeMusic It's a tough one, so you get a pass.

I love you guys and your Channel, great work! But in this case you talk about something you obviously don’t understand. Its a work for theater and follows other rules… you should have seen the show on stage before you dive into the whole thing. Still love your show…. nobody is perfect ….

@TastesLikeMusic

Ай бұрын

Except JCS

@martinpa3067

Ай бұрын

@@TastesLikeMusic No

@barrymoore4470

Ай бұрын

Actually, the original 1970 LP was a concept album, with no staged analogue. That was developed the following year, in 1971, when the album was transferred to the theatre (the film adaptation of that following in 1973).