Stephen Schwartz - Godspell (2000) / New O.C.R.
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CD Details
Artist: Stephen SchwartzBrand: SCHWARTZ,STEPHEN
Edition: Music CD
Format: Cast Recording
CD Release Date: 2001-01-09
Music Label: Varese Sarabande
Soundtracks:
- Prologue
- Prepare Ye
- God Save the People
- Day by Day
- Learn Your Lessons Well
- Bless the Lord
- All for the Best
- All Good Gifts
- Light of the World
- Turn Back, O Man
- Alas for You
- By My Side
- We Beseech Thee
- Beautiful City
- On the Willows
- Finale
Music reviews of Godspell (2000) / New O.C.R.
Music Review: Some hits, some misses
Rating: 3 Stars
This is one of my all-time favorite musicals and {disclaimer} I'm not even Christian. It's high-sprited, positive, sweet and (with one exception that I'll get to later) not preachy. In my opinion, the best version is the movie soundtrack followed closely by the original cast recording.
But onto this version, the 2000 recording of the Off-Broadway revival. Stephen Schwartz himself, the original lyricist, participated in updating the production, including a new prologue which is included on the CD.
To end on a positive note, let's go ahead and get to that parts that were problematic. This version felt a little preachy to me in parts which is (personally) a turnoff but different strokes. I always liked it that they removed my least favorite number, "Learn Your Lessons Well" from the movie but at least the version on here is high-spirited. I just don't find songs about burning in hell to be toe tappers. Some of the female singers suffer from growing up in the Celine/Mariah era. This is most noticeable on Shoshana Bean's rendition of "Bless the Lord." Still you can't help but get chills listening to this number, over-emoting not withstanding.
The Barry White-ish re-working of "Light of the World" was an interesting choice but doesn't really work. And why exactly were the choruses of "Let's have some wine" removed? I'm getting an uncomfortable whiff of evangelical sanitization here. But wait, here come Capathia Jenkins who, if you'll forgive me, sings the hell out of "Turn Back, O Man" and my good feelings were restored. "By My Side" is still starkly lovely and the "Finale" ,which is loyally rendered, still can make you cry. Barrett Foa, who plays Jesus, also has a great voice and presence. The version of Godspell's contribution to the top 40, "Day by Day," is decently done also but-have I mentioned Celine or Mariah already?-it's not my favorite. For the definitive version, seek out the movie soundtrack and Robin Lamont(come to think of it, seek out the late Lynne Thigpen's version of "Bless the Lord" on the same album for Gospel soul that will have Buddhists and Druids dancing in the aisles.)
All in all, some good choices, some questionable ones. A good addition to the Godspell canon but, as they say, if you only buy one version of Godspell, then this isn't the one.
Description of Godspell (2000) / New O.C.R.
No Description Available.Genre: Original Cast Recordings
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 9-JAN-2001
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