Tim Rice And Andrew Lloyd Webber's Revolutionary Album 'Jesus Christ Superstar'Special 50th Anniversary Editions Out September 17, 2021OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASENEWS PROVIDED BY UMe ALBUM REMASTERED AT ABBEY ROAD FORMATS INCLUDE: To mark the 50th anniversary of the 1970 concept double album, Jesus Christ Superstar, it has today been announced that a variety of special anniversary edition albums will be released September 17. This landmark release, which includes full cooperation from the creators Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, features an array of exclusive demos, commentaries, interviews and much more. In 1970, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber released Jesus Christ Superstar as a concept double album. It became a massive global best-seller, topping the US Billboard Top LPs chart in both February and May 1971, as well as ranking at number one in the year-end chart. By 1983, the album had sold over 7 million copies worldwide. However, the journey to international success was far from straightforward. As unknown names in musical theatre, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber were unable to find a producer willing to stage their ambitious idea for a religious-themed rock opera. Eventually, they persuaded MCA records to let them record the score first. Using a full orchestra, and with the outstanding talents of Ian Gillan, Murray Head, Yvonne Elliman and The Grease Band, they created a masterpiece that revolutionized the form of musical theatre. Within a year of its chart success, stage productions of "Jesus Christ Superstar" began to appear all over the world, leading to record-breaking runs in the West End, a hit Hollywood film, Tony nominations and Olivier Awards. Its influence and impact have not diminished: in 2018 the NBC live production of the show, starring John Legend and Sara Bareilles, resulted in Emmy Award wins for Rice and Lloyd Webber (thereby making them two of the 16 people in history to have won an Emmy®, a Grammy®, an Oscar® and a Tony®). Andrew Lloyd Webber said: Tim Rice stated, "I have nothing but fond memories of the writing and recording of Jesus Christ Superstar. We were incredibly lucky; we had a record company and a management team who were willing to take huge risks. Not just in terms of belief in our idea but also in terms of providing a budget to fulfil our musical vision which brought together a rock band, a full orchestra and not just one but two separate choirs." He added, "I'm incredibly proud and grateful to have been part of it all, perhaps more now at 76 than I was at 25." Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and three-time Grammy Award-winner Nile Rodgers has commented on the impact of the musical through his career, stating "Jesus Christ Superstar permeated every part of our lives then. It was a cultural explosion, like an earthquake or asteroid crashing...with Tim, he made a genius work in Jesus Christ Superstar, which was as revolutionary to hippies as Miles Davis' Bitches Brew was to jazz." The special anniversary editions are a celebration of the original 1970 concept double album and its continued success spanning 50 years. With the new editions all having been re-mastered at Abbey Road, fans have a great selection to choose from. There is a 10x10" 3-CD Celebration Box Set with exclusive unreleased material, as well as a 100-page hard-back booklet. Inside, fans can dive into interviews between Lloyd Webber and Rice, essays from famous figures including Nile Rodgers and Matt Berry, the 1970 lyric book, memorabilia from Tim Rice's personal collection and more. Also available are 2CD Digipak set, 2LP gatefold edition which have been half-speed mastered, 2LP gatefold limited edition which comes as a replica of the original 1970 fold-out envelope sleeve. These special anniversary editions are also available in SD/HD versions in deluxe and standard edition. A tribute to an international phenomenon, these special 50th anniversary editions are the perfect way to celebrate the extraordinary legacy of "Jesus Christ Superstar." TRACK LISTINGS 3CD CELEBRATION BOX SET – RIGID SLIPCASE AND 100-PAGE HARDBACK BOOK CD1 Overture CD2 The Last Supper CD3: Blood Money (guide vocal)* 2CD DIGIPAK SET CD1 Overture CD2 The Last Supper 2LP GATEFOLD EDITION - HALF SPEED MASTERED AT ABBEY ROAD BY MILES SHOWELL LP One Side One Overture Side Two Hosanna LP Two Side One The Last Supper Side Two Judas' Death 2LP GATEFOLD LIMITED EDITION LP One Side One Overture Side Two Hosanna LP Two Side One The Last Supper Side Two Judas' Death ALSO AVAILABLE IN SD/HD VERSIONS IN DELUXE AND STANDARD EDITION
Source UMe
August 4, 2021 4:00am ET by UMe |