JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR MKPS 2011/12 (-70) UK

 

  The breakthrough for composers Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice and the first of many more rock operas and musicals they were involved in. And with all that's come out in those genres since, from them or others,  it's still my favorite and this original setting and recording to my taste still unsurpassed. It is the greatest story ever told and they do it so well. Everything was tops here - libretto, songs, playing, vocals, production and audio. Has been re-issued, re-made, staged, filmed and copied numerous times and still always played somewhere in the world. Shown here is the first UK issue - the place where it all started. Parts of the then rock elite were there. Among others Ian Gillian (Deep Purple), Mike D'Abo (Manfred Mann), Victor Brox (who's sung and played with about everyone), John Gustafson (Roxy Music, Big Three) and the then otherwise not that known Yvonne Elliman and Murray Head doing top performances as Mary Magdalene and Judas. I'm so happy it's still here for me to enjoy and give me goosebumps when I go in deep. Enclosing some of my favorite parts below. MCA UK changed their label design frequently in the early seventies, so for some of their issues it can be hard to distinguish which was first. This copy has earliest matrixes, mothers and stampers and label as shown here. Cover is of unlaminated "envelope" style that can be folded out to a silver star with Jesus images inside and a large glossy paper booklet with lyrics and pics. When I bought this it also came with Decca blue rim stereo inners - don't know if that was customary, but since Decca distributed MCA in England at the time it makes sense. For a mono version - check https://monolover.blogspot.com/2022/09/jesus-christ-superstar-mcam-25001-70.html .   (RÖKÖ*)