CASTALBUMS.ORG: REVIEW: Jesus Christ Superstar: Live in Concert – Original Soundtrack of the NBC Television Event

Originally Published on CastAlbums.org.

Jesus Christ Superstar TV SoundtrackFew scores have been recorded as many times in as many different interpretations as Jesus Christ Superstar. Perhaps owing to its origins first as a concept album, then as a concert tour, and then as a world-wide stage musical phenomenon (with each country’s production independently envisioned by its own production team) and film (created simultaneously with and distinct from the stage version), this score has never had a standard mold into which subsequent renditions must fit. Further, the recent NBC “television event” is at least the fifth English-language video production of the material, so there was no pressure to preserve a “definitive” rendition. Continue reading

CastAlbums.org: REVIEW: The Wiz Live! Original Soundtrack of the NBC Television Event

Originally published on CastAlbums.org.

197.pngIt makes sense that The Wiz Live!, the best of NBC’s recent live musical broadcasts, should produce the best album of the three as well. Even so, you might be surprised by just how good this soundtrack is. As exciting as the live show was, there were some iffy notes and more than a few moments of sub-par sound mixing. None of that is in evidence on the album. Superstar producer Harvey Mason, Jr. and co-producer/music director Stephen Oremus have lovingly spun the raw material from the broadcast into recording gold. And despite the addition of effects (most obviously a lot of additional reverb and yes, some auto-tuning) to create a sonic experience more akin to a studio-recorded pop album, The Wiz Live! never sounds overproduced and, oddly enough, comes out more theatrical than the self-consciously pop original cast recordingContinue reading

CastAlbums.org: Review: Peter Pan Live! Original Soundtrack of the NBC Television Event

Originally published on CastAlbums.org.

Peter Pan Live!Broadway Records took a double gamble by releasing the soundtrack to NBC’s Peter Pan Live. By releasing a true soundtrack (rather than a pre-recorded cast album, as the previous year’s Sound of Music Live did), they passed up any chance to sell the album to those of us curious to get a peek at the broadcast before airdate, and they staked their success on a positive reception of the broadcast itself.

While the television production had its moments, it largely seemed dead on arrival: neither the thrilling spectacle NBC dreamed of, nor the campy disaster hate-watchers hoped for. As the broadcast limped along, I couldn’t imagine wanting to revisit this experience on a soundtrack album. I’m glad to report that I was wrong. Continue reading