Rare first release of John 19:41 from JCS

The first recorded release of John 19:41 from Jesus Christ Superstar was not on the 1970 brown album, but rather on the b-side of the 1969 vinyl 45 single, the a-side being the title song.

Instead of modulating from D minor to B-flat major (with flutes) as the familiar version does, this earlier version takes quite a different path, incorporating the 7/8 tempo and atonal clusters found elsewhere in Webber's writing, to give some clue about what was to follow in the complete work.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jesus
• Christ
• Superstar
• JCS
• Andrew
• Lloyd
• Webber
• John
• Nineteen
• Forty
• One
• irregular
• meter
• psychedelic
• rock
• religious

[batmous]

Anyone notice the last minute of this video is a little too upbeat?

[lilwdy]

I know what you're getting at; it's an abrupt change of direction from the preceding content. But it was not included to further the narrative. The 45 single of Superstar, on which this appears as the B-side, was released in 1969 to see if there was a market for a concept album. There was, and it led to what later became the famous rock opera. The discordance and unusual time signature of the material that troubles you was included as a hint to what the later album might encompass.

[tokaicarl]

@kenny9048 sorry no way is that ted neeley (is it?!)

[Karlfalcon]

I have a copy of this single. The ending caught me absolutely by surprise the first time I heard it. I figure if I'm ever involved in a production of JCSS that we'd use it for the bows music.

[titanium9000]

..brings back tons of memories. Thanks for the great post!

[rujiel17]

Neat!

[mrpeteli]

Saw the play, and bought the album.

But my friend had the 45, and we loved hearing this version.  Probably haven't heard it in over 30 years.

You really can find EVERTHING on You Tube.

[zappahead538]

i have this 45

[iampolsk]

thanks a lot< extremely interesting!