Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Australian Cast Recording)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Released
  
1972

Label
  
MCA

Release date
  
1972

Producer
  
Patrick Flynn

Length
  
58:36

Artist
  
Andrew Lloyd Webber

Show
  
Jesus Christ Superstar

Genre
  
Rock music

Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Australian Cast Recording) httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenthumb1

Similar
  
Andrew Lloyd Webber albums, Rock music albums

Jesus Christ Superstar or Jesus Christ Superstar – Original Australian Cast Recording is an album released in late 1972 on MCA Records. Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera created by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1970. The earliest Australian version was staged from May 1972 to February 1974. This album features Trevor White (as Jesus), Jon English (as Judas) and Michele Fawdon (as Mary Magdalene). Together with other cast members they performed vocals for a studio recording. It was produced by Patrick Flynn, the show's musical director and a conductor for Opera Australia. The album peaked at No. 17 on the Go-Set Albums Chart in June 1973, while it reached No. 13 on the Kent Music Report and remained on its charts for 54 weeks. It appeared in the top 100 on the 1974 End of Year Albums Chart. In May 1973, the album was awarded a gold record for sales worth $50,000.

Contents

This stage production and resultant album featured a number of notable Australian musicians. Marcia Hines was a hugely popular recording artist during the seventies, being crowned Queen of Pop three years running by TV Weeks readers for three years running from 1976. She is now a judge on Australian Idol. Jon English became a popular entertainer both as an actor and singer. Fellow cast members, Mike Wade on guitar and Greg Henson on drums, were part of English's backing band. Stevie Wright (as Simon Zealotes) was a former member of The Easybeats and he formed a band, Black Tank, with fellow cast members Rory O'Donoghue (as Peter) on guitar and vocals and Ken Firth on bass guitar. Wright then pursued a successful solo career. O'Donoghe was also a TV personality (Thin Arthur) on Australian TV series, The Aunty Jack Show, and its spin-off, Wollongong the Brave. Firth and other musicians for the stage version, Phil Eizenberg on guitar and William "Billy" Miller on vocals, formed The Ferrets in 1975. Also on the soundtrack album were Levi Smith's Clefs' members Michael Carlos and Henson. Carlos, on organ and piano, was also the musical director of the backing band, The Superstars, for the stage show and album, alongside Henson, Wade (ex-Climax), Jamie McKinley on piano and Bruce Worral on bass guitar (ex-Sherbet). John Young (later styled as John Paul Young) who had the role of Annas became a successful solo artist and toured with various fellow cast members as his backing band, The Allstars. The cast recording from the 1992 production won the Aria for Highest Selling Album and nominated for Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album.

Venue

Capitol Theatre, Sydney (1972–1973) followed by a season at the Palais Theatre, Melbourne and a tour of other cities and towns.

Dates

4 May 1972 – February 1974 – 700+ performances.

Production team

Production credits:

  • Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • Book and lyrics by Tim Rice
  • Producer: Harry M. Miller
  • Director: Jim Sharman
  • Executive Producer: Frederick J. Gibson
  • Associate Exec. Producer: Garry Van Egmond
  • Stage Director Sandra McKenzie
  • Stage Manager: Ken Gregory
  • Scenic Design: Brian Thomson
  • Musical Director: Patrick Flynn
  • Associate Musical Director and Principal Conductor: Michael Carlos
  • Costume Design: Rex Cramphorne
  • Sound: John Morrison
  • Dance Director: Keith Bain
  • Principal cast

    Cast credits:

  • Trevor White (Jesus)
  • Jon English (Judas)
  • Michele Fawdon (Mary Magdalene) 1972–73
  • Marcia Hines (Mary Magdalene) 1973–74
  • Arthur Dignam (Pontius Pilate) 1972–73
  • Robin Ramsay (Pontius Pilate)
  • Joseph Dicker (King Herod) Sydney 1972
  • Reg Livermore (King Herod) Sydney 1973
  • Jon Finlayson (King Herod) Sydney 1973
  • Doug Parkinson (King Herod) 1973–74
  • Stevie Wright (Simon Zealotes)
  • Peter North (Caiaphas)
  • John Young (Annas)
  • Brian Withers (Priest 1)
  • Tom Dysart (Priest 2) 1972
  • Peter Noble (Priest 2)
  • Michael Caton (Priest 3) 1972
  • Bill Binks (Priest 3)
  • Rory O'Donoghue (Peter) 1972
  • Wayne Matthews (Peter)
  • Frank Howson, Bill Paton (Stage Attendants)
  • Supporting cast and chorus

    Supporting cast and chorus credits:

  • Pete Bergen
  • Creenagh Bradstock
  • Stephen Campbell
  • Michael Caton
  • Hele Cornish
  • Jennie Cullen
  • Denni
  • Joe Dicker
  • Beverly Evans
  • Margaret Figucio
  • Robyn Fisher
  • Geoff Gilmour
  • Margaret Goldie
  • Nick Hill
  • Phill Hobbins
  • Gary Hoffman
  • Shauna Jensen
  • Paul Johnston
  • Merryn Joseph
  • George Kent
  • Peter Kirby
  • Nick Lush
  • Peter Maloney
  • Natalie Mosco
  • Sharon Murphy
  • Bjarne Ohlin
  • Sue Robinson
  • Shayna Stewart
  • Bonnie Truex
  • Kim Whitehead
  • Musicians

  • Mike Wade – guitar, band leader
  • Ken Firth – bass guitar
  • Jamie McKinley – piano, acoustic guitar
  • Greg Henson – drums
  • Michael Carlos – organ, Moog synthesiser
  • Mike Reed – guitar
  • Steve Doran - Keyboards, Piano
  • Track listing

    All lyrics written by Tim Rice; all music composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

    Singers

  • Jon English
  • Rory O'Donoghue
  • Trevor White
  • Michele Fawdon
  • Peter North
  • Robin Ramsay
  • Stevie Wright
  • John Young
  • Original support cast and chorus
  • Australia Cast (1992 Release)

    The album was also awarded 'Highest Selling Album' at the 1993 ARIA Awards.

    Australian Cast

    Cast
    John Farnham - Jesus
    Kate Ceberano - Mary Magdalene
    Jon Stevens - Judas
    Angry Anderson - Herod
    John Waters - Pontius Pilate
    Russell Morris - Simon Zealotes
    David Gould - Caiaphas
    Musical Director - David Hirschfelder

    Track listing

    All lyrics written by Tim Rice; all music composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

    Chart performance

    "Jesus Christ Superstar ('92 Australian Cast)" debuted at #1 in Australia and remained at #1 for 10 weeks.

    Songs

    1Overture3:53
    2Heaven on Their Minds4:28
    3What's the Buzz / Strange Thing Mystifying4:14

    References

    Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Australian Cast Recording) Wikipedia