Jesus Christ Superstar (Original London Concept Recording)
It may not have been the first rock opera (the Who'sTommywas released in 1969), butJesus Christ Superstarwas a legendary album long before it hit the stage, thanks toTim Rice's compelling book and lyrics combined withAndrew Lloyd Webber's irresistible music. Telling the story of the last days of Christ from the point of view of Judas (Murray Head), the still-unmatched original cast also starsDeep Purple's Ian Gillan as Jesus and Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene, the role she made into a career (with a cameo on theSaturday Night Feversoundtrack). Decades later, such songs as "Superstar," "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "Heaven on Their Minds," and "Everything's Alright" still retain their extraordinary power.--David Horiuchi