Godspell was the first of the 'Bible Biggies' to hit Broadway. It beat Jesus Christ Superstar (JCS) by a matter of months (although the album of the Lloyd Webber / Rice epic was already a cult hit) and best Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by 12 years (it didn't reach Broadway until the early '80s). As with JCS, Godspell's cast album was a major chart hit too when it was released in 1971, 'Day By Day' reaching no.13 in the Billboard Pop Charts in 1972, and it's this album we now celebrate with a 40th Anniversary Special Edition.

The CD, featured as a double alongside the less-successful film soundtrack from the 1973 movie, has been remastered and features new liner notes by its composer, Stephen Schwartz. Schwartz has recently been responsible for the Broadway mega hit Wicked as well as other Broadway and film successes. But on this album you get to hear where it all started, with what is considered along with Hair to have started the 'Pop Musical'.

It's a good score, there's no doubting that, but for me it's always lacked the maturity of JCS or any of Schwartz's later works such as Pippin. It's a great listen, 'All Good Gifts' and 'Day by Day' being the stand-out tracks for me. The remastering has been done well, benefiting 'By My Side' the most for my ears. The film soundtrack is a different take on the score, and gains you 'Beautiful City' which was written for the film. It still features the same basic arrangements and orchestrations, albeit well played, as it would be several years (and revivals) later before these were expanded in any way.

All in all, a must-have if you don't own either recordings, but one for collectors only if you do.

7

Ian Gude