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The Wavelength
Monday April 1st, 2024 with Joe Reilly
Tonight we feature Jesus Christ Superstar - the original 1970 recording - in its entirety!

Back in 1970-71 Jesus Christ Superstar was seen as a scandalous representation of Jesus Christ. It caused an uproar and the BBC banned songs from it because it was seen as blasphemous. 50 years later it seems quite tame. Tonight we listen to the entire rock opera - the version that was released in late 1970 and went on to dominate the album charts in 1971 - in fact it was the top selling album of 1971 and narrowly edged out Carole King's Tapestry that year. It's pretty funky at times, a bit psychedelic and certainly corny in some parts - but it was groundbreaking in its day. It's interesting to note that Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice orchestrated the recording of this album because nobody wanted to mount it as a musical production. After the album roared up the charts, plenty of producers came knocking and the musical was eventually presented all over the planet. In 1973, Canadian Norman Jewison created a movie with the music. The movie has its moments, but overall has some major flaws - not the least being the flat characterization of Jesus from the actor Ted Neeley. Ian Gillan of Deep Purple fame had passed on the movie role after doing a great job on the album, because he wanted to be out touring with his band. The cast featured on this recording is as follows (in order of appearance): Judas Iscariot - Murray Head Jesus Christ - Ian Gillan Mary Magdalene - Yvonne Elliman Priest - Paul Raven Caiaphas, High Priest - Victor Brox Annas - Brian Keith Simon Zealotes - John Gustafson Pontius Pilate - Barry Dennen Maid by the Fire - Annette Brox Peter - Paul Davis King Herod - Mike d'Abo Enjoy!
Jesus Christ
Slim Cessna's Auto Club - SCAC 102 An Introduction for Young and Old Europe
Overture
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
Heaven On Their Minds
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
What's The Buzz/Strange Thing Mystifying
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
Everything's Alright
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
This Jesus Must Die
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
Hosanna
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
Simon Zealotes/Poor Jerusalem
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
Pilate's Dream
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
The Temple
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
Everything's Alright
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
I Don't Know How To Love Him
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
Damned For All Time/Blood Money
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
The World Without Us
Pierre-Yves Martel - Weird Studies: Music From The Podcast Canadian
Reflection 1
Louis-Etienne Santais - Reflection 1 Canadian
The Last Supper
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
The Arrest
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
Peter's Denial
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
Pilate and Christ
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
King Herod's Song (Try It And See)
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
Judas's Death
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
Trial Before Pilate (including The 39 Lashes)
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
Superstar
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
Crucifixion
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
John Nineteen Forty-One
The Original Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Recording)
Our Side Has To Win (For D.H)
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d’s Pee AT STATE’S END! Canadian
In A Desert
Tough Age - Which Way Am I? Canadian
Interactive CKCU
Gilles
Good god, is that Brian Keith from Family Affair?

9:23 PM, April 1st, 2024
Anne in Wakefield
What a trip - almost a religious experience : } Just driving back up from Ottawa belting it out. CRAZY how I remember almost all the lyrics - I was obviously deeply indoctrinated hah. Been decades - thanks Joe!

10:06 PM, April 1st, 2024
PB
We took this apart, critically and artistically, in 'Church School'. Good for thinking about meanings of things.

10:36 PM, April 1st, 2024
Joe Reilly (host)
No it's not that Brian Keith Gilles... not at all. Haha. Thanks for listening Anne. And PB I agree... it's an interesting take on Jesus's last days and his relationships with his friends.

10:04 PM, April 2nd, 2024