Which cd version of Jesus Christ Superstar should I get?!?!?

Question:I'm going to try out for my school's production of the musical, and want to hear it beforehand.

Which version should I buy? I would preferably want one that prominently displays the violin parts, since that's the instrument I play.

I could really use help on this, because on iTunes there's so many versions, and when listening to the previews I didn't hear many violins!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm going to try out for my school's production of the musical, and want to hear it beforehand.

Which version should I buy? I would preferably want one that prominently displays the violin parts, since that's the instrument I play.

I could really use help on this, because on iTunes there's so many versions, and when listening to the previews I didn't hear many violins!

Technically from a performance stand point the origina 1970 recording is the best but from the play standards incomplete.

Rice and Webber added another 10 minutes or so for the stage production.

I found the movie soundtrack horrible, so possibly the london or broadway stage version might be the most complete and decent version.

If you don't mind the missing material (an opening sequence with Ciaphas, and extended version with Ciaphas and the high priests, the song Could We Start Again are not in the original) the original brown cover has the best players and performances.

The Ian Gillan version.

THE ORIGINAL 1970 with Ian Gillan as Jesus and Murray Head as Judas. THE best "Heaven On Their Minds"...which is the best song in the opera.

for violin, i don't think it would matter much which version as all should be pretty similar in that respect.

movie soundtrack is a nice one to have

Oh man! You GOTTA get the original cast album(London,Not New York although that one will do in a pinch)

Well, i got the first cast recording and i really don't like it. I would recomend the 1992 version or the movie version. hope i helped!