Despite the content (and my lack of exposure to similar rock musicals), I find this to be more of a "rock opera" than either of The Who efforts which seem like a bunch of songs strung together.
I remember the cassette was issued not in the gold and brown label from the original album, but on the old Decca rainbow label. My cousin had the cassette which unfortunately fell apart.
For those of you who missed the interview with Ted Neeley and would like to listen to it, it is now posted at the bottom of the home page at www.wkbo.net, so you can go there to hear it anytime you like! When you visit the site, make sure to turn the currently broadcasting on-air signal OFF, before turning the recorded interview ON.
... Barry Dennen, who played “Mendel” in FIDDLER and went on to star as “Pontius Pilate” in the Broadway and film versions of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, presented the album to Jewison...
Last night I'm watching a 3rd season episode of Batman with Cliff Robertson reprising "Shame" and a new recruit, a Mexican bandit "Fernando Ricardo Enrique Domingues" (FRED) with a big mustache and bigger sombrero, arrives. Only the bandido has a decided British sophisticado accent. It was great. Something out of the Mel Brooks school. Almost fell out of my chair during the end credits; it's Barry Dennen!
I remember the cassette was issued not in the gold and brown label from the original album, but on the old Decca rainbow label. My cousin had the cassette which unfortunately fell apart.
I still have that cassette, which still plays remarkably. I'm a big Lloyd Webber fan anyway, and I think this is probably his finest hour. He's had some other good moments, but it's hard to beat this as a piece. I have most of the "major" recordings of this over the years, but the original studio album is the benchmark with the Grease Band playing on it (including Henry McCullough who died this year). I also like the OLC recording (1972 I think) with Paul Nicholas and the mid 90s revival with Steve Balsamo and Zubin Varla is pretty good.
I've seen several different stage productions over the years, including the recent 'Arena Tour' in the UK with some dubious casting in the main roles and most of it a chaotic mess. I've never been a fan of the 1973 film or Ted Neeley's vocals in the role I'm afraid.
After our house burned down over 10 years ago, this was one of the first albums I replaced. I did so with a cd but had lost my original vinyl album (hubby's as well). I remember what a scandal this was for this Catholic girl in an all girls Catholic high school trying to convince the nuns to listen to it. I won over a few but a there were one or two who tried to tell our parents that we were tempting sin by listening to this rock and roll rabble. My 4' 10' Irish mam promptly told each Sister Busy Body to butt butt out.
