:/
1
By Dancing ninjas
This isn't as good as the movie soundtrack.
Seems fine to me.
4
By Hale M.
True, this is very different from the original, but I know I prefer some of the modernized arrangements on this album to the originals. It also generally sounds way more polished and professional than the original. It's worth listening to but not in place of the original, just alongside it.
horrible
1
By boyscout301
no substance
New life to the show!
5
By pianomusicianpiano
This show brought such life and energy when it first was released in the 70's, and this new album makes the show enjoyable for a whole new generation of listeners. I am a long time listener of this show, and at times the arrangements may seem a little 'flat' compared to the ones on the original cast recording. However, I think this album features all star singers and is a pleasure to listen to. I am hoping to see the show return to broadway soon, and see these new arrangements be put into place. Also- the album includes Tower of Babble-- a great tune that is not on most sets... I would strongly recommend this album to new and old listeners alike!
My Personal Favorite Recording
5
By SolitaireInX
I never saw or heard of this show until about 5 years ago when I caught a local production of it, and I was completely blown away by the music. I eagerly sought out the music, but was not a big fan of the 70's versions of "Godspell"; I personally preferred the more recent interpretations. I thought the singers in this National Touring Cast recording were overall quite good, and the arrangements of the songs are excellent.
My personal favorites: By My Side, All Good Gifts, We Beseech Thee, Day By Day, On The Willows, All For The Best, and Finale. Both By My Side and Finale are incredibly moving pieces of music.
If you don't like this version, find one that you do, because regardless of your generation and regardless of which version you enjoy, the message of the show is quite powerful and the songs are beautiful.
New Score for a New Generation
4
By Nick_Ley
I've always said that nothing beats originals. I am not about to say that this recording beats the original, however, it is very true that the original cast recording had become outdated as far as Broadway was concerned. The music of Stephen Schwartz still rings true in the audiences that experienced the show in the 1970's, however, it was definitely time for an update and Alex Lacamoire and company do an absolutely fantastic job with this! The songs are more than just modernized versions of their 1970 counterparts, but rather, totally re-imagined works of great individual value.
Godspell: Great Musical with a Powerfull Message
4
By MusicLovinThespian
Our high school is putting on a performance of Godspell (finally after board approval) and the music is already infecting me after only two weeks and the first act of music (Opening - Light of the World). I bought this album as soon as I learned that we were doing this musical. I fully enjoyed it. The original is good, but this has more personality. The actors/singers put a little of themselves into the songs, which is what it's all about. I'm not saying it's great (Day By Day and Turn Back O Man are not great at all), but this play is so powerful. (Plus, in the original, Jesus sounds like he has laryngitis!)
omg..... -_-
1
By DRealthaGawdess
I HATE this version! I just didn't feel any emotion out of the songs the way I do in the original '74 version. It was more raw, which I think better compliments the time in which these events took place. I don't know, I just think this version is so.....fake, so teched up and whatnot. The original version makes me feel so happy an more eager to learn about the Gospel. That's just me. I know it sounds corny, but then again, so does this version. :x
<3
4
By massiekur1313
I just finished a stephen schwartz show and never had heard of beautiful city before...it should have been in the original as well!!! Fabulous song!!! defientely one of my favorites. If you can only buy one, buy beautiful city!!! Rest of cd is magnificent 2!!! duh!!! its stephen schwartz!!! why shouldn't it be???
Have We Become What Our Parents Were?
5
By keg13206
We love this version!
I never saw the original "Godspell," nor the movie of it. I only saw a student-run production of it, when I was in college 30 years ago, and have only vague memories of it. As a result, I have no memories of a particular cherished version of it to be destroyed. I bought this version of it for my 6yo daughter, after we took her to see a local theatre company's contemporary production of it, which we all loved, and she asked for it on her iPod. Not being able to get that exact version, I chose this one because it was the most recent and the most up-to-date musically.
It's worth remembering that when "Godspell" first came out, many of our parents hated it for reasons similar to the reasons why some of us hate any new interpretation of it. Some even called the show "sacreligious" because it dared to use popular music styles to get its message across. It's fine to love one particular version of a show more than another (I have my own favorite version of "Jesus Christ, Superstar"), but to say that a new version "ruined it," or that the only "real" version of it is the one from 19xx, takes things a bit too far.
I believe that the writers and composers of "Godspell" would be more concerned that the message is still out there, and being introduced to new audiences, than they are with the music staying true to the original (and by now, dated) 1970s score.
