Various Artists - Godspell OST [1992 Remaster] (1972)

Posted By : Virginia Plain | Date : 23 Mar 2009 09:02:33 | Comments : 3 |

Various Artists - Godspell OST [1992 Remaster] (1972)
Flac (tracks)+CUE+LOG | 286 MB | Covers (300 dpi PNG)

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William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide wrote:
Godspell, the second musical of the early '70s to be based on the life of Jesus Christ (following Jesus Christ Superstar, which hit the record racks, but not the stage first), was something of a sleeper, opening off-off-Broadway in May 1971, with an original cast album that belatedly became a big success in 1972 after "Day By Day" was released as a single and hit the Top Ten. By then, the show had moved to off-Broadway and was well on its way to a run that would exceed 2,500 performances (and eventually reach Broadway itself). Bell Records, a subsidiary of Columbia Pictures, had released that cast album, and the film company quickly put a movie version into production. Happily, composer Stephen Schwartz retained musical control, and the film, other than using various deserted New York City locations as its set, was quite faithful to the stage version. Five of the ten ensemble performers were retained from the original cast, along with all four of the original musicians, and Schwartz produced the music, as he had on the cast album. As such, the soundtrack album offered him the opportunity to improve upon the cast album, and he did. The key casting change was the replacement of Stephen Nathan, who played Christ onstage, with Victor Garber, a talented young singer/actor who would go on to a distinguished stage career that would include two Stephen Sondheim musicals, +Sweeney Todd and +Assassins. Garber was a stronger singer than Nathan, and that improved things noticeably. Meanwhile, David Haskell stayed on in the dual role of John the Baptist and Judas, and, naturally, Robin Lamont got to repeat her triumph singing "Day By Day." Though Joanne Jonas was an original cast member, she had not sung "Turn Back, O Man," which she here inherited from Sonia Manzano and did well with. With a bigger budget, Schwartz was able to augment the original musicians using key studio personnel such as lead guitarist Hugh McCracken (on "Prepare Ye [The Way of the Lord]" ) and keyboard player Paul Shaffer, along with a horn section and half dozen strings. As a result, he was better able to realize the score's pop tendencies than he had on the cast album. Two songs, "Learn Your Lessons Well" and "We Beseech Thee," were cut, along with a reprise of "Day By Day," and one, "Beautiful City," was added. So, this was a less complete version of the score, but it was much better performed and produced, making this a rare instance in which the soundtrack album is better than the original cast album. (Though the film was not a commercial success and took 25 years to get to video, the soundtrack album reached the Top 40 and stayed in the charts for almost a year.)

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Amazon.com wrote:
As others have said, whether one is a religious person or not, this soundtrack makes you feel good. And if you are a follower of Jesus, it should remind you why. It's joyous and uplifting, and there's not a bad track to be heard. The performances are all first rate and are actually superior to the original Broadway cast recording, IMO.

If you only know Victor Garber from television or movies, you must listen to this recording! He has a beautiful, mesmerizing tenor voice that is filled with all the emotions that Jesus goes through in the film (Buy that too, if you haven't already!). Particularly good is his first song, "God Save the People" as well as the duet with David Haskell (John/Judas, also in the Broadway original) "All For the Best" and the heart-wrenching finale, where he sings, "Oh, God, I'm dead" as he breathes his last. Sadly, David Haskell is no longer with us, so listening to/watching his performance is a poignant experience. The women are wonderful as well, with Lynne Thigpen shining on "Bless the Lord," Katie Hanley's encouraging "By My Side" and, perhaps the most recognizable, "Day By Day" by Robin Lamont. Every track is wonderful, beautifully sung and gently reverent in its own way.

I find myself listening to this CD over and over, whenever I'm in need of an emotional boost. It's cheaper than liquor and much better for you. Fat-free too! ;-)

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Tracklisting:
1. David Haskell & Company. Prepare Ye (The Way of the Lord) (1:57)
2. Victor Garber & Company. Save The People (4:01)
3. Robin Lamont & Company. Day By Day (3:27)
4. Joanne Jonas, Victor Garber & Company. Turn Back, O Man (4:17)
5. Lynne Thigpen & Company. Bless The Lord (2:56)
6. Victor Garber, David Haskell & Company. All For The Best (3:49)
7. Merrell Jackson & Company. All Good Gifts (3:42)
8. Jerry Sroka. Light Of The World (2:50)
9. Victor Garber. Alas For You (1:24)
10. Katie Hanley & Company. By My Side (3:48)
11. Entire Company. Beautiful City (3:08)
12. Stephen Reinhardt, Richard LaBonte & Victor Garber. On The Willows (3:13)
13. Victor Garber & Company. Finale (6:58)

Total Time: 45:30

Line-Up:
- Amahid Ajemian / Strings
- Wayne Andre / Trombone
- Norman Carr / Strings
- Jesse Cutler / Bass, Guitar
- George Devins / Timbales, Tympani [Timpani]
- Victor Garber / Vocals, Performer
- Mickey Gravine / Trombone
- Bira Haas / Strings
- Corky Hale / Harp
- Katie Hanley / Vocals
- David Haskell / Vocals
- Merrell Jackson & Company / Vocals
- Joanne Jonas / Vocals
- Richard LaBonte / Bass, Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals, Performer
- Robin Lamont / Vocals
- Edgar Lansbury / Producer
- Charles Macey / Banjo
- Steve Manes / Bass
- Gilmer McCormick / Vocals
- Hugh McCracken / Guitar
- Jeffrey Mylett / Recorder, Vocals, Performer
- Allen Ralph / Trombone
- Stephen Reinhardt / Keyboards, Vocals
- Elliott Rosoff / Strings
- Stephen Schwartz / Keyboards, Producer
- Paul Shaffer / Organ, Keyboards, Multi Instruments, Tack Piano
- Ricky Shutter / Percussion, Drums
- Irving Spice / Strings
- Jerry Sroka / Vocals
- Louis Stone / Strings
- Lynne Thigpen / Performer
- Don Thomas / Guitar