SONG OF THE DAY
“Too Much Heaven On Their Minds” by Murray Head (Jesus Christ Superstar, Decca/ MCA, 1970). Written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
INTERESTING FACTS (from wikipedia)
- The rock opera was first heard as an album before being staged on Broadway.
- The album reached #1 on the Billboard chart in 1971 and served as a launching pad for numerous stage productions on Broadway and in the West End.
- The original 1970 boxed-set issue of this 2-record set was packaged in the U.S. with a special thin brown cardboard outer box which contained the 2 vinyl records and a 28-page libretto.
- Murray Head was made famous by this recording, and went on to small fames as a recording artist. His other biggest claim to fame isthe role of the American on the concept album for the musical Chess. The song “One Night in Bangkok” featured Head on lead vocal.
- The original album has a rock flavor that is very different from Webber’s later work. This is in part due to the emotive singing of Murray Head and Ian Gillan and the playing of well-known rock session musicians such as guitarists Neil Hubbard and Chris Spedding, bassist Alan Spenner and drummer Bruce Rowland. The musical arrangements are often multi-layered, featuring rock and classical elements, and contain many abruptly shifting dynamics and time signatures. Many feel that this is the definitive version of this musical.
- The Broadway show and subsequent productions were condemned by some religious groups. Among many criticisms of the interpretation of John’s gospels and the depictions of a rock Jesus, many also found the character of Judas too sympathetic and some of his criticisms of Jesus offensive.
- A large part of the plot focuses on the character of Judas who is depicted as a tragic figure who is dissatisfied with what he views as Jesus’ lack of planning and is also alarmed by the relatively recent claims of his divinity.
- Carl Anderson is most well-known for the role of Judas, as he played the role in the 1973 Norman Jewison film adaptation of the rock-musical, and many tours of the show since the 1970s up until 2002 (pictured on the left). [I saw him perform the role in 2002 in Buffalo!
LYRICS
(Judas)My mind is clearer now
At last
All too well
I can see
Where we all
Soon will be
If you strip away
The myth
From the man
You will see
Where we all
Soon will be
Jesus!
You’ve started to believe
The things they say of you
You really do believe
This talk of God is true
And all the good you’ve done
Will soon get swept away
You’ve begun to matter more
Than the things you say
Listen Jesus
I don’t like what I see
All I ask is that you listen to me
And remember
I’ve been your right hand man all along
You have set them all on fire
They think they’ve found the new Messiah
And they’ll hurt you when they find they’re wrong
I remember when this whole thing began
No talk of God then, we called you a man
And believe me
My admiration for you hasn’t died
But every word you say today
Gets twisted ’round some other way
And they’ll hurt you if they think you’ve lied
Nazareth
Your famous son
Should have stayed a great unknown
Like his father carving wood
He’d have made good
Tables, chairs and oaken chests
Would have suited Jesus best
He’d have caused nobody harm
No one alarm
Listen Jesus, do you care for your race?
Don’t you see we must keep in our place?
We are occupied
Have you forgotten how put down we are?
I am frightened by the crowd
For we are getting much too loud
And they’ll crush us if we go too far
If we go too far
Listen Jesus to the warning I give
Please remember that I want us to live
But it’s sad to see our chances weakening with ev’ry hour
All your followers are blind
Too much heaven on their minds
It was beautiful, but now it’s sour
Yes it’s all gone sour
Ah — ah ah ah — ah
God Jesus, it’s all gone sour
Listen Jesus to the warning I give
Please remember that I want us to live
So come on, come on, listen to me.
Ah — ah
Come on, listen, listen to me.
Come on and listen to me.
Ah — ah
VIDEOS OF THE DAY
Click here to see/ hear versions of the song by all the great men who’ve played the role of Judas (Murray Head, Carl Anderson, and Ben Vereen’s versions all included!).