The 1971 rock opera originally released as an album and finally released  as a film in 1973 came out in DVD this week.  

Guys this was no Passion of the Christ and at it's time rocked the foundation of Christianity as it was scorned and banned by the religious right from almost all denominations of Christianity. Yet the album was a smash and the movie packed the seats.

The story of Christ is portrayed in the opera from the eyes of Judas which touches on some of the most contraversial questions of Christianity from was Jesus a man or a God to was Judas duped by God to do his bidding.  The music is so moving and lyrics so well done that a generation of rebellious youth remember every word and every line.  

Released in an era when rock music was proclaimed the Devils Music by many and the unrest of the Vietnam War racked the fabric of our nation, the movie was a first in too many catagories to list.  Today many proclaim it as the birth of Christian Rock.  

For me seeing and hearing it for the first time in surround a sound was like finally after all these decades combining the album so it would play in sequence with the film.  Today it's a bit difficult to get use to the garb of the era but once you do you find yourself wrapped in some of the best music of an era and a plot on some of the most contraversial topics of all time.

Proclaimed heresey and blasphemy by many while others proclaimed it as the first mass media tool to bring the youth of America to Christ, regardless it is some outstanding music.

You can pretty much know how I feel by my review now where do you stand?

Was it heresey or not?

Tj

 

Even as a Fundamentalist, I had no major problems with Jesus Christ, Superstar, for it may have made a lot of folks think about Jesus in a good way, and there is absolutely nothing bad about that.

How about the surprise Top 40 Hit of all time, by the Edwin Hawkins Singers?

In 1968, an underground FM station in San Francisco playfully played this Gospel song on its airwaves over and over, as a prank.

Instead of being detested, the song was a smash hit, and sold over 7 million records the first year!

What was the name of that song?

Eric The(Trivial)Hun

Quoted: Even as a Fundamentalist, I had no major problems with Jesus Christ, Superstar, for it may have made a lot of folks think about Jesus in a good way, and there is absolutely nothing bad about that. How about the surprise Top 40 Hit of all time, by the Edwin Hawkins Singers? In 1968, an underground FM station in San Francisco playfully played this Gospel song on its airwaves over and over, as a prank. Instead of being detested, the song was a smash hit, and sold over 7 million records the first year! What was the name of that song? Eric The(Trivial)Hun

You're not referring to "Oh Happy Day!" there are you?

Tj

OH HAPPY DAY (Oh happy day)
OH HAPPY DAY (Oh happy day)
WHEN JESUS WASHED (when Jesus washed)
WHEN JESUS WASHED (when Jesus washed)
WHEN JESUS WASHED (when Jesus washed)
HE WASHED MY SINS AWAY (Oh happy day)
OH HAPPY DAY (Oh happy day)
HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO WATCH, FIGHT AND PRAY
FIGHT AND PRAY
AND LIVE REJOICING EVERY, EVERY DAY
EVERY DAY

OH HAPPY DAY...

HE TAUGHT ME HOW...

OH HAPPY DAY (Oh happy day)
OH HAPPY DAY (Oh happy day)
OH HAPPY DAY (Oh happy day)
....

Why, yes, Tom Jefferson, I surely was referring to that song!

Eric The(GospelSinging)Hun

Told you Hun I have in my will I want "Spirit in the Sky" played at my funeral at 80 decibles and then everyone go home and have a beer on me.

Tj

Quoted: Told you Hun I have in my will I want "Spirit in the Sky" played at my funeral at 80 decibles and then everyone go home and have a beer on me. Tj

Yes, 'Spirit in the Sky' was yet another spirtual song that somehow slipped under the radar back in those days!

Eric The(GoldenOldieHimself)Hun

Oh come on, the nuns had us watch it in the auditorium at school one day.

Some great hair in that...

It's probably been 25 years since I've seen that movie. Don't remember much of it but those lyrics,

"Jeeeesus Christ....Super staaaar. Who in the hell do you think you are..."

Have stuck in my mind for a long time. Wasn't exactly sure how to take those lyrics posed as a question except for them coming from Judas wanting to really know if he was the Messiah.

i saw" jcs" performed live. it was a good show, but  "hair" was better.

you guys ever listen to phil keaggy and glass harp?

www.pkfans.com/features/hourglass.shtml

Quoted: Quoted: Was it heresey or not? Tj Welllll.  I'm not sure about that question. But damn, you're old.  You probably even remember Roman Gabriel as a quarterback AND an actor.

LOL, worse I can remember the names of his four linemen and his Stanford days!

Tj

Saw the show on Broadway a couple years ago during it's revival. I still love that music I listened to the vinyl CONSTANTLY in my rebellious teenage years....The gf thought it was funny that I could still mouth all the lyrics after 30 years.....

Quoted: Good grief...I haven't seen the movie since it was released in theatres. Sis had the album and loved it. But I haven't heard it in decades either. May have to go look for the DVD.

Although newly released this week, we picked up our copy for a whopping $10.88 at Hastings which has a web site.

Tj

Quoted: Tell me what you think About your friends at the top Now who d'you think besides yourself Was the pick of the crop? Buddah was he where it's at? Is he where you are? Could Muhammmed move a mountain Or was that just PR? Did you mean to die like that? Was that a mistake or Did you know your messy death Would be a record breaker?

Don't get me wrong (Don't get me wrong now)
Don't get me wrong (Don't get me wrong now)
I just want to know!!!!!

Jesus Christ Superstar!

Tj