Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Australian Cast Recording)
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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.[1] It was produced by Patrick Flynn, the show's musical director and a conductor for Opera Australia.[1][2] The album peaked at No. 17 on the Go-Set Albums Chart in June 1973,[3] while it reached No. 13 on the Kent Music Report and remained on its charts for 54 weeks.[4] It appeared in the top 100 on the 1974 End of Year Albums Chart.[5] In May 1973, the album was awarded a gold record for sales worth $50,000.[6]
This stage production and resultant album featured a number of notable Australian musicians. Jon English became a popular entertainer both as an actor and singer.[7] Fellow cast members, Mike Wade on guitar and Greg Henson on drums, were part of English's backing band.[7] 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.[8][9] Wright then pursued a successful solo career.[8][9] O'Donoghe was also a TV personality (Thin Arthur) on Australian TV series, The Aunty Jack Show, and its spin-off, Wollongong the Brave.[10] Firth and other musicians for the stage version, Phil Eizenberg on guitar and William "Billy" Miller on vocals, formed The Ferrets in 1975.[11][12] Also on the soundtrack album were Levi Smith's Clefs' members Michael Carlos and Henson.[13] 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).[14] 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.[15][16] The cast recording from the 1992 production won the Aria for Highest Selling Album and nominated for Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album.
Stage show
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.[1]
Production team
Production credits:[1]
- 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:[1]
- Trevor White (Jesus)
- Jon English (Judas)
- Michele Fawdon (Mary Magdalene) 1972–73
- Marcia Hines (Mary Magdalene) 1973–74
- Arthur Dignam (Pontius Pilate) 1972–73[17]
- Robin Ramsay (Pontius Pilate)
- Joseph Dicker (King Herod) Sydney 1972[17]
- Reg Livermore (King Herod) Sydney 1973
- Jon Finlayson (King Herod) Sydney 1973[17]
- 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[17]
- Peter Noble (Priest 2)
- Michael Caton (Priest 3) 1972[17]
- Bill Binks (Priest 3)
- Rory O'Donoghue (Peter) 1972[17]
- Wayne Matthews (Peter)
- Frank Howson, Bill Paton (Stage Attendants)
Supporting cast and chorus
Supporting cast and chorus credits:[1]
- 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
Soundtrack
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Tim Rice; all music is composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber
No. | Title | Vocalist(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Heaven on Their Minds" | Jon English | 3:54 |
2. | "Everything's Alright" | Michele Fawdon, English, Trevor White, cast | 4:07 |
3. | "Hosanna" | White | 2:24 |
4. | "Simon Zealotes" | Stevie Wright, cast | 3:31 |
5. | "Poor Jerusalem" | White | 1:20 |
6. | "Pilate's Dream" | Robin Ramsay | 2:03 |
7. | "The Temple" | White, cast | 5:08 |
8. | "I Don’t Know How to Love Him" | Fawdon | 4:39 |
9. | "The Last Supper" | White, English, cast | 7:52 |
10. | "Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)" | White | 6:48 |
11. | "Could We Start Again Please" | Fawdon, Rory O'Donoghue | 2:28 |
12. | "Trial Before Pilate" | Ramsay, Peter North, White, cast | 6:46 |
13. | "Superstar" | English, cast | 4:19 |
14. | "John 19:41" | instrumental | 3:17 |
Total length: | 58:36 |
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)
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The album was also awarded 'Highest Selling Album' at the 1993 ARIA Awards.[18]
Australian Cast
Cast[19]
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 are written by Tim Rice; all music is composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber
No. | Title | Vocalist(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Overture" | 3:53 | |
2. | "Heaven on their Minds" | Jon Stevens | 4:28 |
3. | "What's the Buzz/Strange Thing Mystifying" | John Farnham, Kate Ceberano, Jon Stevens and Ensemble | 4:14 |
4. | "Everything's Alright" | Kate Cebrano, Jon Stevens, John Farnham and Ensemble | 4:46 |
5. | "Hosanna" | David Gould, John Farnham and Ensemble | 2:10 |
6. | "Simon Zealotes/Poor Jerusalem" | Russell Morris, John Farnham and Ensemble | 5:13 |
7. | "Pilate's Dream" | John Waters | 1:38 |
8. | "The Temple" | John Farnham and Ensemble | 4:37 |
9. | "Everythings Alright (Reprise)/I Don’t Know How to Love Him" | Kate Ceberano and John Farnham/Kate Cebrano | 4:23 |
10. | "The Last Supper" | John Farnham, Jon Stevens and Ensemble | 7:03 |
11. | "Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)" | John Farnham | 5:43 |
12. | "King Herod's Song" | Angry Anderson | 3:16 |
13. | "Trial Before Pilate (Including the 39 Lashes)" | John Waters, David Gould, John Farnham and Ensemble | 5:12 |
14. | "Superstar" | Jon Stevens and Ensemble | 4:41 |
15. | "John 19:41" | instrumental | 2:24 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[20] | 4× Platinum | 280,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Chart performance
"Jesus Christ Superstar ('92 Australian Cast)" debuted at #1 in Australia and remained at #1 for 10 weeks.
Chart (1992) | Peak position |
---|---|
ARIA Albums Chart | 1[21] |
Chart (1992) | Position |
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ARIA End of Year Albums Chart[22] | 1 |
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Stage shows – Jesus Christ Superstar". Milesago. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
- ^ Stephens, Tony (3 November 2008). "Music Made His World Go Around". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
- ^ Nimmervoll, Ed (16 June 1973). "Go Set Top 20 Albums". Go-Set. Waverley Press. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ Ryan (Bulion), Gavin (20 November 2011). "Albums pre-1989, Part 2 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts) – Jesus Christ Superstar". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
- ^ "International News Report". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media: 53. 5 May 1973. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
- ^ a b McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Jon English'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 17 May 2003. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ a b McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Stevie Wright'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ a b Creswell, Toby; Samantha Trenoweth (2006). 1001 Australians You Should Know. North Melbourne, Vic: Pluto Press. p. 84–85. ISBN 978-1-86403-361-8. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
- ^ Rob Johnson & David Smiedt, Boom-boom! A Century of Australian Comedy (Hodder & Stoughton, Sydney, 1999), p.184–237
- ^ McFarlane 'The Ferrets' entry. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ "The Ferrets". Australian Rock Database. Magnus Holmgren. Retrieved 20 September 2007.
- ^ McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Levi Smith Clefs'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 14 April 2004. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
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timestamp mismatch; 19 April 2004 suggested (help) - ^ McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Tully'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 7 August 2004. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'John Paul Young'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 7 August 2004. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ "John Paul Young". Australian Rock Database. Magnus Holmgren. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Original Program
- ^ "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 1993: 7th Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/music/soundtracks/jesus-christ-superstar-1992-australian-cast-recording-highlights/182952
- ^ "Kate Ceberano". Australian Recording Industry Association. ninemsn. 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
- ^ http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kate+Ceberano+%26+Wendy+Matthews&titel=You%27ve+Always+Got+The+Blues&cat=a
- ^ http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-50albums-1992.htm