Andrew Lloyd & Tim Rice - Jesus Christ Superstar

AVAILABLE ON NOVEMBER 24TH
DELUXE 2-LP 180-GRAM VIRGIN VINYL
SPECIAL GATEFOLD REISSUE

Originally released in 1970 as a concept double album, it soon became a massive global best-seller, topping the US Billboard LP chart in both February and May 1971, as well as ranking at number one in the year-end chart. By 1983, it had sold over 7 million copies worldwide. 

However, the journey to international success was far from straightforward. At first, as they were relatively unknown names, Webber and Rice were unable to find a producer willing to stage their ambitious idea for a religious-themed rock opera. Eventually, they persuaded MCA Records to let them tape the score first. Using a full orchestra, and with the outstanding talents of Ian Gillan (from Deep Purple), Murray Head (who had just left the West End production of Hair), Yvonne Elliman (also from Hair’s British cast, and later on the Eric Clapton Band), and The Grease Band (Joe Cocker’s backing group), they created a masterpiece that revolutionized the form of musical theatre. Within a year of its chart success, stage productions of Jesus Christ Superstar began to appear all over the world, leading to record-breaking runs in the West End, a hit Hollywood film, Tony nominations and Olivier Awards.

Tracklist

SIDE A

1. Overture
2. Heavrn on Their Minds
3. What's the Buzz/Strange Thing Mystifying
4. Everything's Alright
5. This Jesus Must Die 

SIDE B

1. Hosanna
2. Simon Zealotes/Poor Jerusalem
3. Pilate's Dream
4. The Temple
5. Everything's Alright
6. I Don't Know How to Love Him
7. Damned for all Time/Blood Money 

SIDE C

1. The Last Supper
2. Gethsemane
3. The Arrest
4. Peter's Denial
5. Pilate and Christ
6. King Herod's Song 

SIDE D

1. Judas' Death
2. Trial Before Pilate
Including the 39 Lashes
3. Superstar
4. Crucifixion
5. John Nineteen: Forty-One

Cast

A rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice 
October 1970

Ian Gillan: Jesus Christ
Murray Head: Judas Iscariot
Yvonne Elliman: Mary Magdalene
Paul Raven: Priest
Victor Brox: Caiaphas, High Priest
Brian Keith: Annas
John Gustafson: Simon Zealotes
Barry Dennen: Pontius Pilate
Paul Davis: Peter
Annette Brox: Maid by the Fire
Mike d'Abo: King Herod