Andrew Lloyd Webber: Jesus Christ Superstar (Limited 50th Anniversary Edition)

CD 1

1. Overture
2. Heaven On Their Minds
3. What’s The Buzz – Strange Thing, Mystifying
4. Everything’s Alright
5. This Jesus Must Die
6. Hosanna
7. Simon Zealotes – Poor Jerusalem
8. Pilate’s Dream
9. The Temple
10. Everything’s Alright
11. I Don’t Know How To Love Him
12. Damned For All Time – Blood Money

CD 2

1. The Last Supper
2. Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)
3. The Arrest
4. Peter’s Denial
5. Pilate And Christ
6. King Herod’s Song (Try It And See)
7. Judas’ Death
8. Trial Before Pilate (Including the 39 Lashes)
9. Superstar
10. Crucifixion
11. John Nineteen: Forty One

CD 3

1. Ascending Chords
2. Damned For All Time / Blood Money – Guide Vocal
3. King Herod’s Song (Try It And See) – Guide Vocal
4. I Don’t Know How To Love Him – Tim Rice And Murray Head Vocals
5. I Don’t Know How To Love Him – Murray Head Vocals
6. This Jesus Must Die – Scat Vocals 1
7. What A Party
8. This Jesus Must Die – Scat Vocals 2
9. Heaven On Their Minds – Instrumental
10. I Don’t Know How To Love Him
11. (Too Much) Heaven On Their Minds – German Single
12. Strange Thing (Mystifying)
13. 1970 Interview Part 1
14. 1970 Interview Part 2
15. John Nineteen: Forty-One (b-side)

Few albums have had an impact on the greatness of Jesus Christ Superstar. Within three years of its release in September 1970, it had spawned a Broadway and West End phenomenon, a London cast album and a box-office smashing Hollywood film, and influenced many different rock operas that followed it.

It made the name of its young composers Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

This release takes us back to a time when these bastions of the establishment were still strictly underground, working with the crème de la progressive rock at London’s Olympic Studios.

The original Jesus Christ Superstar had little to do with The Phantom Of The Opera or Chess; it brought together current or future members of left-wing London bands such as Grease Band, Soft Machine and Fairport Convention. Ian Gillan soon rose to fame as the lead singer of Deep Purple.

This groundbreaking release, compiled with Andrew and Tim’s collaboration, includes a new remaster of the original 1970 double concept album on Abbey Road by Nick Davis (Phil Collins/Genesis) and Miles Showell.

10×10″ boxset CD edition with 100-page booklet containing an extensive oral history of the album compiled and edited by Lois Wilson of MOJO/Record Collector, including new interviews with all the key members of the original recording – plus Andrew and Tim , there’s Ian Gillan, Murray Head, Yvonne Elliman, Mike d’Abo, Alan O’Duffy (engineer) and more plus an essay by Nile Rodgers (CHIC) and Matt Berry (What We Do In The Shadows / Toast Oof London) on what Jesus Christ Superstar means to them. Of great interest to collectors, there is a third CD of nine previously unreleased guide vocals and demos from the project, plus B-sides and rarities; although these are often just snippets, they offer delicious insights into this work in progress. Memorabilia from Tim Rice’s personal collection.

Unreleased material mixed by Nick Davis. Album remastered by Miles Showell and Nick Davis at Abbey Road, November 2020.