Historic Australian Cast Jesus Christ Superstar 70s Live Performance Issued In Full For First Time

Aztec Recorders founder Gil Matthews has issued rare live performance of of Australian cast recording of Jesus Chris Superstar for the first time ever.

The performance was recorded in Sydney in December 1973.

The Australian recording featured a cast of unknowns who would go on to fame in the Australian music industry for the next half century. The cast included Jon English (Judas), Marcia Hines (Mary Magdalene), Trevor White (Jesus), John Paul Young (Annas), Reg Livermore (King Herod) and Stevie Wright (Simon Zealotes).

English died in March 2016 but had been planning the reissue for years. “Jon and I had been working on this project for many years,” says Coralea Cameron, Jon’s manager and partner. “We tried to get the recording out for the 40th anniversary in 2012, but for various reasons, not the least being that the Really Useful Group were bringing their own updated version of the stage show to Australia [starring Tim Minchin], we shelved the idea. We were working on it for the 45th anniversary when Jon sadly and so unexpectedly left us.”

“I was determined that I was going to make this happen for Jon, and indeed for the Australian public who I really felt deserved to hear it.”

Jesus Christ Superstar, original cast recording, is out noew through Aztec Records.

Jesus Christ Superstar track listing

Disc 1
1. Overture
2. Heaven on Their Minds
3. What’s the Buzz/Strange Thing Mystifying
4. Everything’s Alright
5. This Jesus Must Die
6. Hosanna
7. Poor Jerusalem
8. Pilate’s Dream
9. The Temple
10. Everything’s Alright (Reprise)
11. I Don’t Know How to Love Him
12. Damned for All Time/Blood Money

Disc 2
1. The Last Supper
2. Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)
3. The Arrest
4. Peter’s Denial
5. Pilate and Christ
6. King Herod’s Song
7. Could We Start Again Please
8. Judas’ Death
9. Trial Before Pilate (Including The 39 Lashes)
10. Superstar
11. The Crucifixion
12. John Nineteen: Forty One