Search - Andrew Lloyd Webber, London Cast, Tim Rice :: Evita: An Opera Based On The Life Story Of Eva Peron 1919-1952 (1976 Studio Cast)

Brilliant - Just as I remembered it to be

Renee C. Yates | Long Beach, CA | 08/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My mother took me to see "Evita" at the Schubert in Century City, CA, back in 1981 when I was 11 years old and afterward she bought this version of the musical soundtrack. It was played more weekends than I can count as I was growing up. To me, this is THE "Evita". All others pale in comparison. It's the complete version of the play that you won't hear on any other recording - and it's so beautifully done.



Yes, there are lyrics you won't hear on the other soundtracks. Yes, there are elements included that you also won't find elsewhere - but that's the beauty of this particular version. It's the entire play in it's original form before it took twists and turns along the way.



I'd not heard this recording for nearly 20 years and when it was given to me as a gift and I'd played it for the first time, the power and brilliance of Webber and Rice shone through - as well as the outstanding cast of voices. Truly powerful, wonderful and sublime.



I know there are fans of Patti and Mandy, Madonna and Antonio, et al. and to them, they are the epitome of Eva and Che but I have to admit I've been influenced too much by this recording and these voices. Although wonderful in their own right - later versions and stars simply don't do this work justice as Julie Covington and Colm Wilkinson on this recording do.



Plus, I've never been able to get over the little tweaks later versions have contained to supposedly make the musical on the whole better. I don't feel they do although I respect some may argue with me on this count.



Bottom line, I think it's all a matter of personal taste and what you may have grown up hearing. Some who are accustomed to the soundtracks of the later versions may not appreciate this one for what it is. But to me, it's still the best version out there and the only one I truly care to listen to just for the simple sake of enjoying the music. It's sheer brilliance!"

A great piece of music...from a person who is NOT a musicals

Rob Ez | Chicago | 06/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't explain what it is, but "Evita" (the real musical, not the garbage that is the film adaptation) is such a great piece of work. It's unlike many musicals in the sense that its arrangements, perhaps due to the time, are a lot more pop oriented and follow that structure of verse/chorus/verse. I love it and feel that its a mixed bag of songs for every tempo and virtually different keys for all to sing along to.



I have since listened to many different cast recordings of "Evita" and I genuienly believe this original concept album from 1976 is THE BEST! The arrangements are borderline disco-rock and the vocals are impeccable. No one has sang "I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You" with the innocence and seduction as Julie Covington (Eva Perón) has. C.T. Wilkson (Ché) brings much too with his soulful approach to the songs, further complementing the rock edge to the musical. I must say that the Broadway Cast (which was the first I heard) was great too and almost had it right but something about this original recording gets it perfectly.



For you guys getting to know "Evita", BUY THIS RECORDING! It's great and includes 2 songs that were not included on the stage productions "The Lady's Got Potential" and "Dangerous Jade" although the latter had excerpts of it attached to another song in the Broadway version ("Peron's Latest Flame")"

The original and best.

Joseph M. Perorazio | Columbus, OH USA | 11/10/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A very enjoyable version of this 'rock opera', recorded before the show was smoothed out and the score was watered down for its stage debut. Julie Covington brings the appropriate levels of bitchiness and diva bravado to the title role, and "C.T." (Colm) Wilkinson shows us a very different, rougher side of his voice than that from his Les Miz perfomance. Recording quality is good, with a sound very similar to Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar concept album (low production, more of a rock guitar sound). Probably not "the" Evita recording (Patti LuPone's B-Way cast album will no doubt retain that title), but personally I enjoy this recording more, simply because it sounds more like a Rock Opera and less like an Andrew Lloyd Webber spectacle.

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