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When I was a teenager, I was not to crazy about the preaching on this in contrast to Superstar.At forty, I am more into music than ever, and for singing and playing, you can't do better than this. These guys are so tight, they take a mix of funk and folk and play it just perfectly. Well, we are not going to figure this one out here, but just LISTEN to the band on Godspell. The singing is excellent--it is too bad all involved did not go out after Godspell had its run and form a band.When I was a baby, I was amazed by the cover of this, crawling towards that black white and red hippie gaze. Godspell was put out in 1971 as a reaction to Jesus Christ Superstar. Where Superstar looks at Christ as a man, Godspell said he was, in fact, the savior. It is actually not funk in the James Brown sense, but more like the program funk you may have heard at the time on, say, Room 222.The bass playing is pristine, but busy, playing every funky counterrhytm with amazing percision, but equally amazing soul.
The lyrics are great and the music is uplifting. I saw Godspell when it first came out and it started me on my love for musicals. Great deal
and wanted to get an idea of the tempo for some of the livelier songs (which is most of them) since it's been years since I've performed it. I think anyone wanting to get an idea of the original essence of Godspell might find this useful. I'm the accompanist for a church production of Godspell, Jr. Although the CD sounds dated it gave me exactly the information I needed; I wasn't looking for super sound quality.
I forgot how much I liked the music as I hadn't seen the musical in years. I just saw a new production of "Godspell" with an updated script (minus the original "Clown Theme") at a local theatre. I ordered the CD right when I got home from the show.
Instrumentation is basic with piano, Hammond M3 organ, acoustic, electric and bass guitar, drums and other percussion. Not to mention have seen it performed at my childhood Presbyterian Church many times and I know the melodies, instrumentation and lyrics by heart. Godspell has a closer similarity to a good old Rock Opera with doses of folk mixed in. Most of the cast is first and second year drama school students so voices are a touch thin and untrained. This recording of Godspell has vibrancy and energy that the later recordings of the musical seems to lack.
It is not a sophisticated recording nor is the cast polished and experienced. It is not a problem however and adds to the charm and realism of the performance. As for where to peg it music wise I can't say its Christian Rock, I find most Christian Rock is overly produced, slick and corporate and lacks soul and emotion. Compare for example `All For The Best' on the 71' verses the London 93' version.I am biased a bit; I grew up with this version. This is the genuine original, the only Godspell album that really ought to carry that distinction.
Listening with headphones reveals thumps often picked up from the piano microphone and other uncontrolled audio aspects. Lest one forget that we were freshly out of the 60's so it has many musical earmarks of that era.
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