That's Me

Tamara Harris, Manhunt.com, April 2003
Album that you can tell aspires to reach the massive ear reach of Michael Jackson land.

Product Description
Music from the heart for the soul, hear it, feel it, live it. A voice that brings you back to the days of real singing. This album presents a soothing R&B style that combines the old with the new with songs ranging from slow ballads to mid tempo and upbeats.

That's Me

That's Me,Jle,The Song of Songs Inc.,The HOTTEST New R&B. This will surprise you, check it out.

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Average customer rating: Great CD for little ones! Mommy, Daddy, & Daughter Love this CD Fabulous Great collection of favorites, sing along! Best children's CD

Children's Songs, A Collection of Childhood Favorites Susie Tallman Manufacturer: Rock Me Baby Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Children's Music | Styles | Music Sing-A-Longs | Children's Music | Styles | Music Similar Items: Classic Nursery Rhymes Lullaby Themes for Sleepy Dreams Lullabies for Sleepy Eyes 101 Toddler Favorites Toddler Favorites ASIN: B0002TG0LM Release Date: 2004-07-20

Tracks:

1. Ive Been Working on the Railroad
2. Five Little Ducks
3. The Alphabet Song
4. BINGO
5. Big Rock Candy Mountain
6. Pop Goes the Weasel
7. Say, Say, Oh Playmate
8. De Colores
9. Bumblebee
10. Five Little Speckled Frogs
11. 1, 2, Buckle My Shoe
12. Shell Be Coming Round the Mountain
13. Found a Peanut
14. Puff the Magic Dragon
15. Alouette
16. Little Peter Rabbit
17. Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?
18. Monkeys on the Bed
19. Apples & Bananas
20. La Cucaracha
21. Hokey Pokey
22. Old MacDonald
23. Buffalo Gals
24. John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt
25. Down In the Valley
26. Ants Go Marching In
27. Do Your Ears Hang Low?
28. Wheels on the Bus
29. If Youre Happy and You Know It
30. Oh When the Saints Go Marching In
31. London Bridges
32. Be Kind to Your Web Footed Friends
33. Farmer in the Dell
34. Have You Ever Seen a Lassie?
35. Red River Valley
36. Sur La Pont dAvignon
37. Kookaburra
38. Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Album Description

"Children's Songs creatively explores thirty-eight favorites with a symphony of guitars, whistles, banjos, accordions, and other instruments - all cleverly arranged to delight both children and their parents." -ALBUQUERQUE ARTS

"For sheer joy of singing with the kids, it would be hard to beat Children's Songs: A Collection of Childhood Favorites by Susie Tallman and friends … Tallman's strong, clear voice and her playful arrangements of thirty-eight favorites make magic." -SACRAMENTO BEE

"A brilliant collection of thirty-eight classic children's tunes … not only interesting, educational, and fun for kids, it's entertaining for parents. With tunes that span a variety of genres and languages, Children's Songs (the latest in Susie Tallman's award-winning series of children's albums) is a worthwhile investment." -CITY REVIEW

Featuring thirty-eight songs and over seventy-two minutes of music, Children's Songs is a playful symphony of guitars, train whistles, banjos, accordions, clanging spoons, and whistling that will delight and inspire little ones as well as their parents! Playful and educational, this disc combines old favorites with clever new arrangements. Winner of an Oppenheim Gold Award and iParenting Award; Parents' Choice.

Customer Reviews:

Great CD for little ones!.......2007-07-29

I've boughts lots of so-so to terrible CDs for my baby. So, this one was a nice surprise. My daughter (10 month old) loves the music and so do my husband and I. Some of the songs aren't done in the traditional way, but that keeps it fresh.

Mommy, Daddy, & Daughter Love this CD.......2007-07-16

Our two-year old dances to the music and is learning the words to these songs. The voices and music are adorable, and the songs really come to life. The arrangements are catchy. I find myself, my husband, and my daughter singing or humming the songs all the time.

Fabulous.......2007-05-25

Great Music for Children. All the favorite songs we all remember and can sing along. Songs are done well. Children (and adults) all love this tape!

Great collection of favorites, sing along!.......2007-05-21

I love this album because it's chock full of childhood favorites and I can sing along and be silly with my 6-month old. I can't wait until she can sing along too!

Best children's CD.......2007-05-13

All the songs are sung with an original twist. My ten month old daughter loves listening to this in the car (which means I don't have to sing Itsy, Bitsy Spider 50 times in a row) and it helped me learn lots of different songs quickly. I would buy this CD as a present for all my friends with young kids.

Average customer rating: Axe Rufus Wainwright, and it would be 5 stars Yes, it's one of the best albums I own Brokeback Mountain A matter of taste... Perfect, just like the movie...

Brokeback Mountain Gustavo Santaolalla , and Various Artists Manufacturer: Verve Forecast ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Verve | Verve Music Group | Specialty Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Brokeback Mountain (Widescreen Edition) Brokeback Mountain: Story to Screenplay Brokeback Mountain: Now a Major Motion Picture Close Range: Wyoming Stories Memoirs of a Geisha ASIN: B000BEZQ18 Release Date: 2005-11-01

Tracks:

1. Opening - Gustavo Santaolalla
2. He Was A Friend Of Mine - Willie Nelson
3. Brokeback Mountain 1 - Gustavo Santaolalla
4. A Love That Will Never Grow Old - Emmylou Harris
5. King Of The Road - Rufus Wainwright
6. Snow - Gustavo Santaolalla
7. The Devil's Right Hand - Steve Earle
8. No One's Gonna Love You Like Me - Mary McBride
9. Brokeback Mountain 2 - Gustavo Santaolalla
10. I Don't Want To Say Goodbye - Teddy Thompson
11. I Will Never Let You Go - Jackie Greene
12. Riding Horses - Gustavo Santaolalla
13. An Angel Went Up In Flames - The Gas Band
14. Its So Easy - Linda Ronstadt
15. Brokeback Mountain 3 - Gustavo Santaolalla
16. The Maker Makes - Rufus Wainwright
17. The Wings - Gustavo Santaolalla

Amazon.com

Argentina-born, California-based Gustavo Santaolalla helped shape the rock en Español movement by producing Mexican bands Molotov and Café Tacuba , and Colombian singer Juanes. In the late 1990s he made a switch to soundtracks, working on well-received albums for Amores Perros and The Motorcycle Diaries. His instrumental contributions to Ang Lee's tale of two cowboys in love are acoustic guitar-based and, let's face it, a bit on the sonic-wallpaper side.

The vocal tracks, on the other hand, are uniformly lovely, even if the selection of interpreters falls on the predictable side. Linda Ronstadt, Steve Earle, Willie Nelson, and Mary McBride on the soundtrack to a contemporary Western? What a shock! Still, they're all wonderful and Santaolalla wrote at least a couple of classic-sounding country ballads ("A Love That Will Never Grow Old," sung by Emmylou Harris, and "No One's Gonna Love You Like Me," sung by Mary McBride). And don't miss Teddy Thompson and Rufus Wainwright's sweet cover of Roger Miller's 1964 "King of the Road." --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Axe Rufus Wainwright, and it would be 5 stars.......2007-06-13

This album is a mixture of the instrumental theme, which is incredibly beautiful and haunting, and some very solid country songs. I was surprised by how good the other songs were (you still have to like country music, though). There are only two songs that I don't like at all, and those are the two by Rufus Wainwright - one a cover of "King of the Road" (originally by Roger Miller). They are great demonstrations of him at his most nasal and whiny. It sounds like he is a French guy holding his nose and singing too slow. It's too bad, because they are good songs otherwise. I guess if you like him, you're golden; but I can't stand these versions. Fortunately, the rest of the disc is really good.

Yes, it's one of the best albums I own.......2007-06-03

I listened to it over and over and over last year. Such quality all 'round.

Brokeback Mountain.......2007-05-13

The product is what I expected. It arrived on time and in the condition advertised.

A matter of taste..........2007-05-08

I didn't really pay a lot of attention to the music in the film, except for in the most intense of scenes. Perhaps this is why I was so, completely, disappointed with this soundtrack. I felt that if it did even half of what the film did for me it would be a worthy buy. My friends, this soundtrack is shat. It's mostly country and folk, which I am plainly not into. If you like these things then check this out - if not, turn away.

Perfect, just like the movie..........2007-04-21

It is so wonderful, relaxing..if you`re thinking in buying...Just do it!

Average customer rating: Food for Thought - Great for Productions Oliver is a classic and meant to be heard and seen. PLEASE SIR! I WANT SOME MORE! Oliver-The Broadway Cast spectacular Broadway album

Oliver! (Deluxe Edition) (1963 Original Broadway Cast) [CAST RECORDING] Various Artists Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Fiddler on the Roof (1964 Original Broadway Cast) Oliver! My Fair Lady (1956 Original Broadway Cast) Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast) Annie (1977 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B0000996JO Release Date: 2003-06-03

Tracks:

1. Overture/Food Glorious Food - The Boys
2. Oliver! - The Boys, Wiloughby Goddard, Hope Jackman, Bruce Prochnik
3. I Shall Scream - Wiloughby Goddard, Hope Jackman
4. Boy for Sale; Where Is Love? - Wiloughby Goddard, Bruce Prochnik
5. Consider Yourself - Crowd, Michael Goodman, Bruce Prochnik
6. You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two - Bruce Prochnik, Clive Revill
7. It's a Fine Life - Georgia Brown, Alice Playten
8. I'd Do Anything - Georgia Brown, Michael Goodman, Alice Playten, Bruce Prochnik, Clive Revill
9. Be Back Soon - The Boys, Michael Goodman, Bruce Prochnik, Clive Revill
10. Oom-Pah-Pah - Georgia Brown
11. My Name - Danny Sewell
12. As Long as He Needs Me - Georgia Brown
13. Who Will Buy? - Bruce Prochnik, Chorus
14. Reviewing the Situation - Clive Revill
15. As Long as He Needs Me (Reprise) - Georgia Brown
16. Reviewing the Situation (Reprise) - Clive Revill
17. Finale

Amazon.com

Lionel Bart's wonderful musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic was the first London stage musical to be transplanted to Broadway with the same kind of sensation it received in Britain-- something that is now common in these post-Cats/Les Miserables times. Although no one from this British cast ever became enormously famous (future Monkee Davy Jones was in the second Broadway cast)--and Sir Carol Reed's film version receives all the critical accolades--this remains the better recording, featuring all the songs cut from the film, while excluding the film's musical interludes that simply seem annoying without the visuals. Just compare Bruce Brochnik to the film's Mark Lester in the title role. Or Clive Revill to Ron Moody's Fagin. Or any of the principals, for that matter--and the differences are remarkable. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews:

Food for Thought - Great for Productions.......2007-07-03

If you are considering a production of Oliver this is a great recording that has good background information. It does skip some of the overture music but the rest of that tracks are well done.

Oliver is a classic and meant to be heard and seen........2007-05-25

Many of these numbers are well known. And the dark tone of the story being told is well represented by the choices made by the actors and their directors. But it IS rough and dark and mournful. Not a road-trip CD, rather a show to see in the theater.

PLEASE SIR! I WANT SOME MORE!.......2007-02-27

I starred in my local summer stock company's production of "Oliver," in the summer of 2005. I used this CD to practice learning the musical numbers, by listening to it on my iPod. It has some very memorable numbers such as "Oom-Pah-Pah," "Food, Glorious Food," "Who Will Buy?" "That's Your Funeral," and "Consider Yourself." The one Oliver song that gets on my nerves. But I just can't get enough of most of this music, after the great time I had in the show. I even listen to the soundtrack on airplane trips and car rides sometimes.

Oliver-The Broadway Cast.......2006-03-17

As an original cast member with Florence Henderson's "Sound of Music" tour 45 years ago, I have a unique perspective about this recording. Even the musical director comments at the end that this version of "Oliver" was not particularly well sung but that the cast had a lot of energy.

Unfortunately,(in my opinion) this energy doesn't translate suficiently to the recording and I agree - it's not particularly well sung. Again, from the perspective of a former child performer singing with other kids, it actually is possible for a group of children to sing together and make pleasant-sounding music. The adults in this "Oliver" aren't up to musical snuff either.

Although I haven't heard it, I'd be willing to take my chances on the original London version before settling for this one (which, by the way, was recorded in an LA studio before it even got to Broadway.)

spectacular Broadway album.......2006-02-15

The cast album to the 1963 Broadway premiere production of OLIVER! was actually recorded during the show's pre-Broadway run in Los Angeles. OLIVER! played to subsequent audiences in San Francisco, Detroit and Toronto before opening at the Imperial Theatre in New York on January 6, 1963. The show played 774 performances before prematurely ending the season to play a 9-month national tour, later returning to New York for a `farewell' run of 64 performances.

As she had done to rapturous acclaim in London three years previously, Georgia Brown played the role of Nancy, and earned similar praise for her performance in New York. Her rich, velvet-tinged voice is especially haunting with the chill inducing ballad "As Long As He Needs Me". Composer Lionel Bart wrote "It's a Fine Life" especially for Brown after learning she had been cast in the role in the London production.

Ron Moody had also scored heavily in London with his tour-de-force turn as Fagin, but with producers fearing his portrayal `too ethnic', the role was taken by Clive Revill for the Broadway premiere. Revill had just come from his celebrated role in IRMA LA DOUCE, and his interpretation of Fagin is every bit as valid as Ron Moody's. Bruce Prochnik is a winsome and wistful Oliver, and Michael Goodman is a delight as the Artful Dodger. Wisely-retained from the original London company were a handful of the first-rate supporting players: Hope Jackman's shrill Mrs Corney; and the up-and-coming Barry Humphries as Mr Sowerberry (Humphries would later graduate to playing Fagin before his beloved alter-ego Dame Edna unleashed herself on the world). The promising young belter Alice Playten was smartly-showcased as Nancy's offsider Bet.

But, the sound mix on the Broadway album has always been rather flat and dull, despite being recorded in the stereo format of the day. Voices and orchestra have no vibrancy or depth, and this was due to the studio in which they recorded it, where the ceiling was very low and the sound did not have the necessary acoustic projection. Nevertheless, the recording has a charm and energy which overrides the technical shortcomings.

This new CD reissue from RCA offers some interesting bonus materials including musical director Don Pippin sharing his memories of the show; Barry Humphries performing "That's Your Funeral" (from the London cast album but left off the Broadway album); and a live recording of Patti LuPone singing "As Long As He Needs Me" (LuPone played Nancy in a short-lived Broadway revival in 1986).

Good value.

Average customer rating: Irish at it's best. Irish Magic Just got your Kleenex Wonderful! The Very Best of the Irish Tenors is just that!

The Very Best of The Irish Tenors The Irish Tenors Manufacturer: Music Matters ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Moore | Moore, Thomas | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Irish Tenors | ( I ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Tenors | Voices | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Ellis Island The Irish Tenors / McNamara, McDermott, Kearns, Tynan Home for Christmas Sacred We Three Kings ASIN: B000069JJ6 Release Date: 2007-01-08

Tracks:

1. Toora Loora Looral
2. Will Ye Go Lassie Go
3. Spanish Lady
4. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
5. Percy French Medley: Phil The Fluther's Ball, Come Back Paddy Reilly, The Lay Of The West Clare Reailway, Are Ye Right There Michael?
6. Amazing Grace
7. Nearer My God To Thee
8. Danny Boy
9. Fields of Athenry
10. Only The River Runs Free
11. Molly Malone
12. Last Rose of Summer
13. She Moved Through the Fair
14. Maggie
15. New Medley (combination of the 2 medleys

Product Description

1. Toora Loora Looral
2. Will Ye Go Lassie Go
3. Spanish Lady
4. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
5. Percy French Medley: Phil The Fluther's Ball, Come Back Paddy Reilly, The Lay Of The West Clare Railway - Are Ye Right There Michael?
6. Amazing Grace
7. Nearer My God To Thee
8. Danny Boy
9. Fields Of Athenry
10. Only The River Runs Free
11. Molly Malone
12. Last Rose Of Summer
13. She Moved Through The Fair
14. Maggie
15. New Medley (Combination of the 2 medleys)

Format: CD

Amazon.com

In the short time since they grouped together a few years ago to form their sensationally successful trio, the Irish Tenors have already put out an impressive array of recordings and DVDs, including some bona fide gooseflesh-inducing live concert performances. So, if you still have the enviable pleasure of discovering these amazing vocalists--or want to turn a friend on to their musical charms--this compilation CD will do the trick nicely. It brings together such classics as "Danny Boy," "Toora Loora Looral," "Last Rose of Summer," and "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" (featuring John McDermott)--all rendered with the kind of passionate, heartfelt, and harmonious crooning that is their signature style, whether they're singing as an ensemble or as highlighted soloists. And even if you have the complete Irish Tenors, this anthology includes several numbers not found on their previously released CDs. Hard to think of a sweeter treat for a fan of singing too good to ever go out of fashion. --Sarah Chin

Customer Reviews:

Irish at it's best........2007-05-07

This album is really the number two album from this trio. It is very good and well worth the investment. The five star album by The Irish Tenors would have to be Heritage. Both albums rate high in my book.

Irish Magic.......2006-08-21

This is my first CD of the Irish Tenors. And what a joy! I played it as soon as it arrived. I like the blend of their voices,the passion and enthusiasm they bring to this CD. What I find is a real treat is the words to all the songs are in the booklet.I love this CD.

Just got your Kleenex.......2005-12-25

I suggest a box of Kleenex for each person in the room when you play this CD or VHS recording. Mom won't let me play it anymore because she...well, you know what I mean.

Wonderful!.......2005-12-12

When it's cold and frightful here, I play The BOYZ!

So wonderful. So much fun.

Up here in backwash Maine, there ain't much, believe me. But these guys are great. Sincere, care about what they're doing, true artists.

Ah, to go to Ireland again. Well, not unless the price of natural gas recedes!

The Very Best of the Irish Tenors is just that!.......2005-01-22

This recording is wonderful. Ronan's "last Rose of summer" is unique, the Percy French medley shows all three in great voice, Finbar's Maggie is wonderful and the laurels have to go to Anthony for his magnificent rendition of "She moved through the fair", wow!!!!

Well worth buying.

Isaac Chute

Average customer rating: They were right--there is NO business like the show business they did way back when !!! One of the best cds I ever bought. Never Sounded Better Somewhere Over The Rainbow "Hollywood Musicals of the Golden Age are still among us"

Somewhere over the Rainbow: The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals Various Artists Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Ultimate Broadway Only Broadway CD You'll Ever Need The Best Of Broadway (Cast Recording Anthology) Greatest Hits: Broadway That's Entertainment!: The Best Of The M-G-M Musicals - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology ASIN: B000066RO5 Release Date: 2002-06-04

Tracks:

1. Singin In The Rain - Gene Kelly
2. Theres No Business Like Show Business - Betty Hutton, Howard Keel, Keenan Wynn & Louis Calhern
3. 'S Wonderful - Gene Kelly & Georges Guetary
4. Thats Entertainment! - Fred Astaire, Jack Buchanan, Nanette Fabray & Oscar Levant
5. Stranger In Paradise - Ann Blyth & Vic Damone
6. Easter Parade - Judy Garland & Fred Astaire
7. Lullaby Of Broadway - Winifred Shaw, Dick Powell & Chorus
8. Get Happy - Judy Garland
9. Night And Day - Fred Astaire
10. True Love - Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly
11. Honeysuckle Rose - Lena Horne w/ Benny Carter & His Orchestra
12. They Cant Take That Away From Me - Fred Astaire
13. Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet - Nancy Walker & The M-G-M Studio Chorus w/ Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
14. Baby, Its Cold Outside - Esther Williams & Ricardo Montalban
15. For Me And My Gal - Gene Kelly & Judy Garland
16. Puttin On The Ritz - Clark Gable & Co.
17. Hallelujah! - Tony Martin, Vic Damone, Kay Armen, Ann Miller, Debbie Reynolds, Clark Burroughs & Co.
18. Bless Yore Beautiful Hide - Howard Keel
19. Taking A Chance On Love - Ethel Waters & Eddie "Rochester" Anderson
20. As Time Goes By - Dooley Wilson w/ Elliot Carpenter (Bonus Track)
21. Laras Theme (Main Title) - The M-G-M Studio Orchestra (Bonus Track)

Tracks:

1. Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland
2. Its A Most Unusual Day - Jane Powell
3. Wunderbar - Kathryn Grayson & Howard Keel
4. Cant Help Lovin Dat Man - Ava Gardner
5. Going Hollywood - Bing Crosby
6. The Trolley Song - Judy Garland, The M-G-M Studio Chorus
7. Gigi - Louis Jourdan
8. I Got Rhythm - Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney & Co.
9. Aba Daba Honeymoon - Debbie Reynolds, Carleton Carpenter & M-G-M Studio Chorus
10. The Lady Is A Tramp - Lena Horne
11. The Best Things In Life Are Free - June Allyson & Peter Lawford
12. Cheek To Cheek - Fred Astaire
13. A Kiss To Build A Dream On - Louis Armstrong
14. Put 'Em In A Box - Doris Day & The Page Cavanaugh Trio
15. If Swing Goes, I Go Too - Fred Astaire
16. Almost Like Being In Love - Gene Kelly
17. Lets Face The Music And Dance - Fred Astaire
18. Be A Clown - Gene Kelly & Judy Garland
19. Embraceable You - Connie Francis
20. On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe - Judy Garland & Co.
21. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) - Fred Astaire

Amazon.com

The "Golden Age" referred to here spans The Jazz Singer and the advent of the talkies to the death throes of the old studio system in the 1960s. So vast was the era's musical landscape that even this 42-track, double-disc anthology can't encompass all its peaks. Not surprisingly, the bulk of this collection originated with the Tiffany's of the screen musical, M-G-M, a body of work whose riches here encompass both pop-cultural bedrock ("Over the Rainbow," "Singin' in the Rain," "There's No Business Like Show Business," etc.) and some less familiar, if equally delightful star turns: Clark Gable gamely "Puttin' On the Ritz"; the sassy, 1948 original of "The Lady Is a Tramp" by Lena Horne; and a loopy duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban. Fred Astaire's elegant, epochal reign at RKO and M-G-M is represented by "Night and Day," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," and three others, while Metro mainstays Gene Kelly and Judy Garland share equal time and billing. It's not perfect--Cagney's "Yankee Doodle Boy" and/or some Sinatra seem more logical choices than the odd "bonus" duet of Casablanca's "As Time Goes By" and "Lara's Theme" from Dr. Zhivago that close out disc one--but it's a stunning, surprisingly comprehensive primer on the Hollywood film musical nonetheless. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

They were right--there is NO business like the show business they did way back when !!!.......2006-11-18

Everything that happens in life
Can happen in a show
You can make 'em laugh
You can make 'em cry
Anything
Anything can go....

The clown with his pants falling down
Or the dance that's a dream of romance
Or the scene where the villain is mean
That's entertainment!

The lights on the lady in tights
Or the bride with the guy on the side
Or the ball where she gives him her all
That's entertainment!

The plot and the hot simply teeming with $ex
A gay divorcee who is after her ex
It could be Oedipus Rex
Where a chap kills his father
And causes a lot of bother

The clerk who is thrown out of work
By the boss who is thrown for a loss
By the skirt who is doing him dirt

The world is a stage,
The stage is a world of entertainment!

This two CD set amply proves that the musical melodies and lyrics from the golden age of the Hollywood musical remain unsurpassed to this day. This generous two CD set offers 42 incredible songs from Hollywood classic musicals. Most of these fine numbers are indeed from MGM, as Amazon correctly notes; but there are some RKO numbers and even a little from Warner Brothers. Thank goodness, though, that most of these songs came from MGM movies; MGM was the only studio that could boast that it truly had "more stars than there are in the heavens."

I love so many songs on these two CDs. Of course, there's the unforgettable classic "Over The Rainbow" sung by Judy Garland; she also performs "Easter Parade" and "Get Happy" on this two CD set and she carries most of the tune for "I Got Rhythm" even though Mickey Rooney helps her a little. I love "Baby, It's Cold Outside" for its' romantic overtones; and Lena Horne's "The Lady Is A Tramp" is flawless! We also get a rare chance to hear Clark Gable sing in "Puttin' On The Ritz;" and Bing Crosby's "Going Hollywood" may be brief but it's a fun song anyway.

There are two "bonus" tracks on the first CD: "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca and "Lara's Theme" from Doctor Zhivago. "As Time Goes By" is a good choice; it is another unsurpassed classic song that brings back memories and touches even the hardest of hearts. "Lara's Theme," however, is from the mid 1960s and I don't consider this period to be part of the "golden age" of Hollywood musicals.

The liner notes are excellent and they offer wonderful photos of the stars as well. The cover art is well done and the reverse cover art tells which movie each song is from and who is performing each song. Moreover, the quality of the sound is excellent especially when you consider that these numbers were recorded quite a few decades ago.

In short, this superlative two CD highlights the glory of the Hollywood musical when a certain type of sophistication dominated professional movie production. I highly recommend this CD for fans of Hollywood musicals, classic pop vocals and fans of the artists and actors who perform on this two CD set.

One of the best cds I ever bought. .......2006-06-07

What an amazon collection of songs! This is bar none my favorite cd just because of the variety and the quality of songs on it. I love music from this era, and this cd is the perfect companion to my life. Love it! Buy it, you won't regret it for a moment!

Never Sounded Better.......2006-03-16

Apart from the great selection of soundtracks, what really makes this compilation top value is the quality of the sound processing. Executed with finesse, these tracks sound better than when first issued and many are unedited, fuller versions: like "Singing In The Rain", for example. Throw in the great price, and this double disc set is a "must have" for all lovers of classic movie music.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow.......2006-02-24

A Sensational CD with Lots of Showtunes that Keep You Happy and makes You Want To Sing Along With!!!

"Hollywood Musicals of the Golden Age are still among us".......2005-07-13

Rhino Records and Turner Classic Movies Music present - "SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW: THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS", some of the long ago musicals and stars that will never be forgotten...a 2-CD-Set covering several decades from 1935-1965 with many of the show stoppers of that time...some rare moments from entertainers that you haven't heard or thought of in sometime.

The lineup is fantastic and gives the listener a variety of what musicals were all about in the "Golden Age of the Hollywood Musicals"
June Allyson, Kay Armen, Louis Armstrong, Fred Astaire, Ann Blyth, Jack Buchanan, Louis Calhern, Bing Crosby, Vic Damone, Doris Day, Nanette Fabray, Connie Francis, Ava Gardner, Judy Garland, Kathyrn Grayson, Georges Guetary, Lena Horne, Betty Hutton, Louis Jourdan, Howard Keel, Gene Kelly, Grace Kelly, Peter Lawford, Oscar Levant, Ann Miller, Ricardo Montalban, Page Cavanaugh Trio, Debbie Reynolds, Winifred Shaw, Nancy Walker, Ethel Waters, Esther Williams, Dooley Williams and Keenan Wynn.

On Disc One 21 Classic Songs from great musicals with songs in alphabetical order:
AS TIME GOES BY - Dooley Wilson with Elliot Carpenter, pianist (1942)
BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE - Esther Williams & Ricardo Montalban (1949)
BLESS, YORE BEAUTIFUL HIDE - Howard Keel (1954)
EASTER PARADE - Fred Astaire & Judy Garland (1948)
FOR ME AND MY GAL - Gene Kelly & Judy Garland (1942)
GET HAPPY - Judy Garland (1950)
HALLELUJAH! - Tony Martin, Vic Damone, Kay Armen, Ann Miller, Debbie Reynolds, Clark Burroughs (for Russ Tamblyn) (1955)
HONEYSUCKLE ROSE - Lena Horne with Benny Carter & His Orchestra (1943)
LARA'S THEME (MAIN TITLE) - M-G-M Studio Orchestra (1965)
LULLABY OF BROADWAY - Winifred Shaw & Dick Powell (1935)
MILKMAN, KEEP THOSE BOTTLES QUIET - Nancy Walker with Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra (1944)
NIGHT AND DAY - Fred Astaire (1934)
PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ - Clark Gable & Company (1939)
'S WONDERFUL - Gene Kelly & Georges Guetary (1951)
SINGIN' IN THE RAIN - Gene Kelly (1951)
STRANGER IN PARADISE - Ann Blyth & Vic Damone (1955)
TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE - Ethel Waters & Eddie "Rochester" Anderson (1943)
THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT - Fred Astaire, Jack Buchanan, Nanette Fabray & Oscar Levant (1953)
THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS - Betty Hutton, Howard Keel, Keenan Wynn & Louis Calhern (1950)
THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME - Fred Astaire (1949)
TRUE LOVE - Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly (1956)

On Disc Two more memorable performances from the Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals:
A KISS TO BUILD A DREAM ON - Louis Armstrong (1951)
ABA DABA HONEYMOON - Debbie Reynolds & Carleton Carpenter (1950)
ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE - Gene Kelly (1954)
BE A CLOWN - Judy Garland & Gene Kelly (1948)
BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE - June Allyson & Peter Lawford (1947)
CAN'T HELP LOVIN' DAT MAN - Ava Gardner (beautiful woman, who my youngest grandaughter is named after...Avalon) (1951)
CHEEK TO CHEEK - Fred Astaire (1935)
EMBRACEABLE YOU - Connie Francis (1965)
GIGI - Louis Jourdan (1958)
GOING HOLLYWOOD - Bing Crosby (1933)
I GOT RHYTHM - Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney (1943)
IF SWING GOES, I GO TOO - Fred Astaire (1946)
IT'S A MOST UNUSUAL DAY - Jane Powell (1948)
LADY IS A TRAMP - Lena Horne (1948)
LET'S FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE - Fred Astaire (1936)
ON THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND THE SANTA FE - Judy Garland & Company (1946)
ONE FOR MY BABY (AND ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD) - Fred Astaire (1943)
OVER THE RAINBOW - Judy Garland (became her theme song for the rest of her life) (1939)
PUT 'EM IN A BOX - Doris Day & the Page Cavanaugh Trio (1948)
THE TROLLEY SONG - Judy Garland & MGM Studio Chorus (1944)
WUNDERBAR - Kathryn Grayson & Howard Keel (two of MGM's favorite singing duos) (1953)

It was once said by the songwriters of that era - "There are two artists you want perform your songs on the big screen, they are Fred Astaire and Judy Garland they sing it just the way we wrote it, for which you will have a guaranteed hit on your hands"...well, this collections certainly has some merit to that statement...because with Judy Garland and Fred Astaire performing seven songs each, there must be something to it.

This collection of musicals still has the magic that we remember from those bygone years...but as long as we have the labels and networks who play and show these wonderful films of yesteryear, they will never be forgotten...hats off to Rhino Records, George Feltenstein (producer) and Doug Schwartz (engineer) and Turner Classic Movies for sharing those 42 selections from 42 films...celebrating decades of the tunes and artists that gave it their all...from what it commonly called "The Hollywood Dream Factory"...The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals is still among us...gotta love it!

Total Time: 2-CD-Set ~ Rhino Records 78323 ~ (6/02/2002)

Average customer rating: More coffee, warden? functiional brain required Hubba hubba George, what a suit! On a Scale of 1 to 5, This is a 27! Everything You Know Is Wrong

Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers! Firesign Theatre Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All? Waiting for the Electrician Or Someone Like Him I Think We're All Bozos on this Bus Give Me Immortality Or Give Me Death The Bride of Firesign ASIN: B00005T7IS Release Date: 2001-12-04

Tracks:

1. This Side
2. The Other Side

Customer Reviews:

More coffee, warden?.......2007-05-13

If you have time for only one Firesign album before you die, make sure it's this one. A prescient, strangely psychedelic (no drugs involved) dissection of America & life in general that will leave you awake all night wondering about who or what's really in charge of this whole peculiar shebang anyway? But of course all their albums are like that. Must be those Canadian writers. The Firesign Theater is the closest thing America ever had to Monty Python, and we owe them a LOT for holding up an unflinching mirror to our loony culture.

functiional brain required.......2007-03-31

this is possibly the best comedy cd of all time. if one wishes to experience a delightful active mental journey as opposed to a more passive "the guy tells a joke and i listen to it" comedy club performance, this is the correct choice.
if you don't have the adventure gene in your body, you might find the performance to be scattered, difficult to follow, and more weird than funny.
one more thing. don't try to listen to this while driving. you will either miss the good stuff on the cd, or miss something important on the road. it would be a waste either way.

Hubba hubba George, what a suit!.......2006-08-28

Firesign Theater has been dismissed as a 60s relic, but listening to DCTD,HMTP repeatedly made me realize it's about the members' nostalgia for the pop culture of their childhood (the Henry Aldrich radio series, Archie comics, Korean War B-movies, etc.)rather than drugs and hippies. Little wonder that at the end of the second side, George Tirebiter reverts to a child running after an ice cream truck. It's also incredibly funny and compulsively quotable, their best sustained effort.

On a Scale of 1 to 5, This is a 27!.......2006-08-14

Being their third release, and the first three albums being their tightest work, Dwarf is often misunderstood. Disjointed snippets? Not in the slightest! Dwarf is the story of an aging George Leroy Tirebiter sitting in front of the television, flipping through the channels only to find each station is showing a story about different phases of his life (complete with commercials). I'm uncertain if George was about to die and this is how his life flashed before his eyes. Regardless, this fine piece of work is often quoted, including an apartment complex near a freeway in Indianapolis posting a sign stating, "If you lived here, you'd be home now." Some material has dated better than other, but still an album that bears repeated listening in order to "catch" half of the jokes, puns, and one-liners that are woven into the text of the album. Buy this album, it is a requirement of the (aptly named) Department of Redundancy Department.

Everything You Know Is Wrong.......2006-07-15

OK. For the uninitiated, apologies for the arcane Firesign reference in the title. As for Dwarf, this is a fabulous CD. It is funny. It is smart. It is subtle. It is stupid. It is arcane. It is endlessly self-referential. It is nonsense.

Here's the problem with translating Dwarf to 21st century sensibilities: nobody has the time to figure out a 45-minute comedy routine that requires repeated listening. And yes, it requires figuring out.

I love this material, as obviously dated as it is. But if you don't have the patience to go with it, if you're looking for easy laughs, it's probably not for you. If you loved it once and aren't sure if you're going to love it again, you might find it ages as well for you as Pixie Stix. (Gak.) But if you got below the surface the first time, or you're willing to spend time with it now, go for it. Go back and don't crush that dwarf one more time.

And just for the record, it would've been five stars--if only this weren't a CD. Part of the original joke was the vinyl medium.

Average customer rating: Great easy listenening Help trying to figure out the title of a song omitted song Where's Van Morrison?! The Royal Tenenbaums Soundtrack

The Royal Tenenbaums (Collector's Edition) Various Artists Manufacturer: Hollywood Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou The Royal Tenenbaums (The Criterion Collection) The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions Rushmore Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ASIN: B000068TNT Release Date: 2002-07-02

Tracks:

1. 111 Archer Avenue - Mark Mothersbaugh
2. These Days - Nico
3. String Quartet In F Major - Ysaye Quartet
4. Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard - Paul Simon
5. Sonata For Cello And Piano In F Minor - The Mutato Muzika Orchestra
6. Wigwam - Bob Dylan
7. Look At That Old Grizzly Bear - Mark Mothersbaugh
8. Look At Me - John Lennon
9. Lullaby - Emitt Rhodes
10. Mothersbaugh Canon - Mark Mothersbaugh
11. Police & Thieves - The Clash
12. Scrapping And Yelling - Mark Mothersbaugh
13. Judy Is A Punk - Ramones
14. Pagoda's Theme - Mark Mothersbaugh
15. Needle In The Hay - Elliott Smith
16. Fly - Nick Drake
17. I Always Wanted To Be A Tenenbaum - Mark Mothersbaugh
18. Christmas Time Is Here - Vince Guaraldi Trio
19. Stephanie Says - The Velvet Underground
20. Rachel Evans Tenenbaum (1965-2000) - Mark Mothersbaugh
21. Sparkplug Minuet - Mark Mothersbaugh
22. The Fairest Of The Seasons - Nico
23. Hey Jude - The Mutato Muzika Orchestra

Amazon.com

The magical triad behind Rushmore's spunky, starry-eyed soundtrack--music supervisor Randall Poster, composer Mark Mothersbaugh, and director Wes Anderson--leaps forward a decade from that beloved soundtrack's '60s gems, in the process adopting a more pensive feel for The Royal Tenenbaums' musical backdrop. It may lack the euphoric sing-along feel of, say, Creation's "Makin' Time," but the rock and folk tracks here perfectly match the film's crumbling characters and their dilapidated relationships. The Ramones' "Judy Is a Punk" is a burst of nostalgic rebellion but surely causes a sad twinge in light of Joey Ramone's untimely death in 2001; gloom-folker Nick Drake's "Fly" and Elliott Smith's excellently depressing "Needle in the Hay"--which is used to chilling effect during a wrist-slashing scene--further deepen the dark thread running through Tenenbaums. But those who prefer the sunny disposition of Rushmore will be thrilled by the calming concoctions of Mothersbaugh, who heralds the coming of a new scene with graceful woodwind/string parts ("Scrapping and Yelling") and playful sitar pieces ("Pagoda's Theme"). Throw in the Clash's squalling "Police & Thieves" and the Velvet Underground's petal-soft "Stephanie Says" and you've got another winning soundtrack from the film biz's most in-tune music lovers. Tenenbaum or not, you can go home again. --Kristy Martin

Customer Reviews:

Great easy listenening .......2007-02-02

I like this soundtrack because its very laid back. Enjoyable songs that help you relax.

Help trying to figure out the title of a song.......2006-04-17

Hey, maybe you guys can help me, does anyone know the title of the song playing on a radio while owen wilson is getting high (or preparing to do so) with his friends and his dad and brother step in and tell him they want to help him. I really love that song and i have no idea what the title is

omitted song.......2006-02-01

For anyone interested, one song which was omitted from the soundtract which has not been mentioned is:

Emitt Rhodes - Lullabye

A beautiful track played in the scence where Royal is lying in his bed sucking down a shake and reading a book when Chas say "lights out old man" and switchs off the light. One of my fav songs in the movie along side the rolling stones - she smiled sweetly. sadly both songs were omitted but still a beautiful soundtrack.

Where's Van Morrison?!.......2005-03-16

This is a near-perfect collection of 60's and 70's pop and folk. The sad but hopeful vibe of the songs fits the movie's tone perfectly and you can't really agrue with songs like "Stephanie Says." it's also nice to hear the two Nico cuts since Nico's solo work really doesn't get the acclaim it deserves these days. My problem with this album is that it favors symphonic songs from the film instead of pop songs also used in it such as "Ruby Tuesday" and Van Morrison's "Everyone." I'm really bummed about the exclusion of "Everyone" because i thought it closed the movie so well. They should have released the score and the soundtrack separately so all these great songs could be included.

The Royal Tenenbaums Soundtrack.......2005-03-14

The Collector's Edition Soundtrack leaves out two great Rolling Stones' tunes She Smiled Sweetly & Ruby Tuesday. Also left to the winds is John Lennon's Look at Me, the Clash's Rock the Kazbah. The First Edition leaves a few tunes off too but it is a far better Soundtrack. Puckstar

Average customer rating: Wonderful Soundtrack DOLLY WILL NEVER GO AWAY The excitement is there, but..... Goodbye, Dolly! Toxically Corny!!!!

Hello, Dolly! (1964 Original Broadway Cast) (Deluxe Edition) Jerry Herman , and Carol Channing Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mame (1966 Original Broadway Cast) My Fair Lady (1956 Original Broadway Cast) Gypsy - A Musical Fable (1959 Original Broadway Cast) Fiddler on the Roof (1964 Original Broadway Cast) Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B000099SZ0 Release Date: 2003-06-03

Tracks:

1. Prologue
2. I Put My Hand In
3. It Takes a Woman
4. Put on Your Sunday Clothes
5. Ribbons Down My Back
6. Motherhood
7. Dancing
8. Before the Parade Passes By
9. Elegance
10. Hello, Dolly!
11. It Only Takes a Moment
12. So Long Dearie
13. Finale
14. I Put My Hand In [*] - Mary Martin
15. Before the Parade Passes By [*] - Pearl Bailey
16. Hello, Dolly! [*] - Pearl Bailey
17. So Long Dearie [*] - Mary Martin
18. Love, Look in My Window [*] - Ethel Merman
19. World, Take Me Back [*] - Ethel Merman
20. On Recording Hello, Dolly! [*] - Carol Channing
21. When Did You Sense That Hello, Dolly! Would Be a Hit? [*] - Carol Channing
22. On the Title Number [*] - Carol Channing
23. "Dolly Changed Me..."; the Book [*] - Carol Channing
24. Plot [*] - Carol Channing
25. Optimism, And Finding One's Character [*] - Carol Channing
26. Prime of Life [*] - Carol Channing

Amazon.com

Sitting in the balcony at the final preview of this 1964 Jerry Herman show, still very much in school and long before my career as a critic began, I knew somehow that I was witnessing theatrical history. Even as that callow youth, I was certain that Carol Channing had been born to play the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi, the meddling turn-of-the century New York widow who had been adapted from Thornton Wilder's straight play The Matchmaker. Channing has proved me right by playing the role ever since, of course, miraculously only improving with age. Beyond Dolly herself, however, the musical emitted a synergistic exuberance (at least five years before we used the word "synergy"). The supporting cast, including David Burns, Eileen Brennan, and Charles Nelson Reilly, were terrific. Herman's tunes and lyrics were sublimely crafted both to create their characters and stand alone. (The title song took on a life of its own.) The show's designers, librettist Michael Stewart and director Gower Champion, combined to transport the audience to 60 years earlier in little old New York. This wasn't all just my opinion: Hello, Dolly! won a record 10 Tonys. The original cast recording can still take you to that other time and place, even if you didn't see the original show. But, at the risk of offending my inner adolescent, the 1994 revival, naturally starring Channing, was even better--both on stage and on disc. --Robert Windeler

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Soundtrack.......2007-06-27

This is the original recording, with all of the best names included. Wonderful, wonderful music.

DOLLY WILL NEVER GO AWAY.......2007-05-17

Great re-mastering of original BWay cast album with wonderful other Dollys, particularly Pearl Baily who makesHello, Dolly! (1964 Original Broadway Cast) (Deluxe Edition) the title tune her own. It is still a great score and a delight to own.

The excitement is there, but............2007-01-24

Hello Dolly is one of my favorite shows. When you listen to the cast album, you really do--as others have said--feel the excitement of being there on opening night when Broadway history was being made. The wonderful RCA cast album has been a best seller for 43 years. But while I do feel it is necessary for any musical fan to have this cast recording in their collection, this is not personally my "Dolly" album of choice. I have three of the 5 major DOLLY recordings in my collection; this Original Cast, the Barbra Streisand movie soundtrack, and the Mary Martin London cast on LP (the others I do not have are the Pearl Bailey cast album and the Carol Channing revival). My preferred recording is a tie between the movie soundtrack and the Mary Martin album, with this one trailing (not far) behind. As far as the supporting cast are concerned, the original cast wins hand down. But HELLO DOLLY is really about the star, and in my opinion, Carol Channing can't sing...err, croak...her way out of a cardboard box. I realize that that is Channing's trademark, but it just doesn't work for me. As I said, this album is required equipment in any serious musical lover's collection, but I think that I too will "stick with Streisand." And for God's sake, I wish RCA would get off their rump and get the Mary Martin cast album out on CD, and reissue the Pearl Bailey cast album too while they're at it!

Goodbye, Dolly!.......2005-10-30

This Deluxe Edition of the orginal "Hello, Dolly!" has three distinct problems.

For starters, this is not the classic musical that afficianados would have you believe, nor is it Jerry Herman at his best (that honor goes to "Mame"). Rather, this is a fair to middling score with three socko numbers (title tune not included), three rather fine songs (title song included) and the rest either average or inadequate. "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" and "Before the Parade Passes By" are two of the most galvanizing songs ever written for the Broadway stage and no singer can detract from their euphoric energy (though Carol Channing tries -- more on that later). "So Long, Dearie", though slower in tempo than Barbra Streisand's definitve rendition, is a showstopping character song that's both clever and compelling. These three numbers are what gives "Dolly" it's class and they are three of the best things Herman ever wrote. Then we have "Dancing", "Elegance" and (gulp!) the by now overly familiar title song, each an accomplished tune that propels the plot with, well, elegance. The song "Hello, Dolly!" may now annoy as a Broadway warhorse, but it was as fresh as daffodils when it first premiered. The rest of the score, sadly, isn't up to these standards. "It Takes a Woman" and "It Only Takes a Moment" are indistinguished at best, and "Ribbons Down My Back" is downright annoying. Worse still, "I Put My Hand In" is a lackluster opener that pales in comparison to "Just Leave Everything to Me", its replacement in the movie and a bonifide Jerry Herman rouser. And "Motherhood" sounds like exactly what it was, a stage wait for the scenery to move in. Totally expendable.

The second problem here is that this may be the worst sung original cast recording in Broadway history. Charles Neslon Reilly's wobbly tenor struggles to maintain pitch, Eileen Brennan's stilted soprano sounds more like light operetta than musical comedy, and David Burns makes his movie counterpart, Walter Matthau, sound like Mario Lanza in comparision. Then there is Dolly, the incomprehensibly overrated Carol Channing. From her first froggy notes in "I Put My Hand In" you know it's going to be rough sledding and, sure enough, she croaks and screeches her way through one song after another, rendering most of what she sings unlistenable. Channing's voice is thin, harsh and completely unequalized throughout its range and she effectively saps all of the charm out of "...Sunday Clothes" and "Parade". By the time the recording has ended, you want to banish this CD to a deserted island. But wait, there's more! An almost unrecognizable Mary Martin starts the "extras" on this disc with a shock. Some of her last recordings, these "Dolly" numbers unfortunately display how Martin's once lovely instrument had deepened and thickened over the years. A full throttle but somewhat tremulous Ethel Merman fairs little better on some poorly recorded songs added to the show when she took over. These two giants actually make the songs Pearl Bailey does on this disc seem all the more astonishing. While arguably not as talented as Martin or Merman (although, in reconsidering this recording and her career, I think I'm entirely wrong in that observation), Bailey hits a home run on each of her renditions and her recording of the title song is absolutely definitive. Someone should quickly get the cast recording of her "Dolly" back in circulation. "She" and "we" deserve it.

The final problen here is a lengthy recent interview with Ms. Channing that has to be heard to be believed. Does she actually think we're buying the idea that she was doing high kicks in the studio while recording her songs? Please! She barely catches her breath between phrases. And her comparing her premonition that the show would be a hit to a passage in the bible is as laughable as it is sacriligious. Yes, she may have done the show over 5000 times, but she lucked into a classic without earning her own classic status. No wonder all she could do was repeat herself for the rest of her career. Stick with Streisand.

And I guess from the reviews of THIS review, disliking Channing is sacriligous. I better watch my back.

Toxically Corny!!!!.......2005-01-22

A lot of my friends wonder why I violently detest Broadway Musicals so much. Well, this particular recording is at least one reason why. Exposed to this piece of Toxic Schlock at a very young age (about 4 I reckon), and ever since, for me it has epitomized EVERYTHING I detest about musicals, the thin corny plots, even cornier songs, people breaking out into song at the most ridiculous times and so much glitz that my system nearly went into toxic shock. The worst part of it all, CAROL CHANNING!!!! This woman CANNOT SING TO SAVE HER LIFE, PERIOD!!!

I've even asked people who DO like B'way what is the deal with her? I hear it's that she has charisma. OK, since when does charisma equal talent (I honestly believe they are NOT the same thing).

And I have even tried to listen to other musicals over the years, and I just CANNOT get the appeal of it on ANY level! I guess this is well-done as these things go (there is work involved), but I just CANNOT understand what the fuss is all about.

Signed,

One perplexed Owl.

Average customer rating: Wonderfully American A Gersh-winner Interesting... but I think I'd prefer a good Gershwin interpreter Gershwin's playing overated The jazzy Gershwin. What a CD!!!!!!!

Gershwin Plays Gershwin: The Piano Rolls Manufacturer: Nonesuch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Tin Pan Alley | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Traditional | ( T ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Gershwin Plays Gershwin: The Piano Rolls, Vol. 2 Essential George Gershwin Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue - Piano Concerto in F - An American in Paris Levant Plays Gershwin George Gershwin: Greatest Hits ASIN: B000005J1I Release Date: 1993-11-09

Tracks:

1. Sweet And Lowdown
2. Novelette In Fourths
3. That Certain Feeling
4. So Am I
5. Rhapsody In Blue
6. Swanee
7. When You Want 'Em, You Can't Get 'Em...
8. Kickin' The Clouds Away
9. Idol Dreams
10. On My Mind The Whole Night Long
11. Scandal Walk
12. An American In Paris

Customer Reviews:

Wonderfully American.......2007-05-14

I've had a copy of this CD for years and love it. The power and optimism of the music is really quite remarkable... regardless of who or what is actually playing here. The arrangement of Swanee is light but rich with major chord trains like you just want to go marching around the room. And American In Paris leads you on a swaying, dischordy journey the deeper you go, as the narrative begins to trade delicacy for passion. (and I love renditions where you can hear the MUSIC and the instruments don't get in the way, like four-voice midi versions of Bach which reveal the eloquence).

When I listen to this CD now, and which is most surpring to me, I hear a profound pride in America - back "before." I play it when I have people over and we put burgers on the grill. This CD is the song of sitting in my back yard with the clouds blowing by and for the moment things feel OK.

"Before" - OK, there is no old perfect Amercia; but I'm thinking of the time before we learned to distill petroleum into toxic pollution, before pride meant vanity and thuggery, before hate-filled invective became public amusement, and before presidents went to war because it was good for business.

A Gersh-winner.......2007-01-07

George Gershwin had a long association with the mechanical device known as the player piano. At the age of ten, Gershwin used a neighbor's pianola to teach himself how to play, by very slowly pumping the foot pedal that advanced the hole-punched rolls, and placing his fingers on the depressed keys. His parents were so impressed by his abilities they enrolled the boy in formal piano studies when he turned 13. Thus, an American genius was born.

The existing films of Gershwin (who died of a brain tumor at age 38 in 1937) show him to be a virtuoso at his instrument. His 1924 acoustic recording of Rhapsody In Blue (with the Paul Whiteman orchestra) is further evidence of this. But no film or recording has what is contained within the album GERSHWIN PLAYS GERSHWIN: THE PIANO ROLLS, and that is-- full fidelity range.

The CD comes in a standard jewel case packaged in a heavy paper slipcover. Biographical liner notes are included along with details on the rolls. The earliest performance in this set is from 1916, made when Gershwin was an 18-year-old song plugger. My favorites here are "Swanee," from 1920, and "An American In Paris," from 1933, which is undoubtedly one of the last significant piano rolls ever made.

Gershwin's dynamic performances are not in the least obscured by the few extra notes added to the piano rolls (such practice was standard in those days). Listening to these recordings is like sitting next to this brilliant man, observing his fingers fly over the keys as he plays some of his best work.

TOTAL RUNNING TIME -- 60:36

Interesting... but I think I'd prefer a good Gershwin interpreter.......2006-05-14

Composers are not necessarily the best performers of their own work. A songwriter's songwriter like Jules Shear or Jimmy Webb comes to mind -- surely the best representations of their songs are on other artist's albums.

This album is charming in its own way -- a taste of the music and performance style of a bygone era. Someone complained that these rolls were edited. So what? I'm going to review the final product, now how it was made. Do you eat sausage? Ask not what's in it!

I like to listen to this CD in short bits -- a few songs at a time. For some reason I find it to be fatiguing if I listen for more than 20 minutes or so. I'm not absolutely sure why this is so. Possibly the meter is just a little too metronomic on many of the songs. This lends a "mechanical" quality to the performances.

Additionally, I felt that the dynamic range was restricted. The music does get louder and softer, because of the piano rolls themselves and because of the computer programming used to read the piano rolls -- the dynamics were deliberately adjusted by the record producers in some spots, if I read the liner notes correctly. And yet. And yet. Still these songs do not dynamically "breathe" fully in and out the way they ought to. I find this disappointing, but I think it has something to do with inherent limitations in piano roll recording technique. I'm guessing.

Taken for what it is, it is an interesting concept, and the sound quality is very pleasant. The performances are very good for piano rolls, but fall short of what a good interpreter could do. Take, for example, the Rhapsody in Blue from Woody Allen's Manhattan soundtrack. Listen specifically to the piano part -- the dynamics and variations in rhythm. This is not by any means the best performance of Rhapsody, but it is better than the Gershwin rolls.

Gershwin's playing overated.......2006-04-09

After I heard this cd I bought Gershwin plays Gershwin on the naxos label which arn't piano rolls. Any pianist can tell that many of these rolls are heavily edited and can't be played by a pianists with two hands. On the naxos album that has some of these same songs Gershwin's actual playing doesn't sound very good. Many of Gershwins contempories such as James P. Johnson, Eubie Blake, Luckey Roberts and even Zez Confrey were much better pianists than he was, however they didn't have his melodic gifts as a composer. I would recommend Artis Whodhouse's
transcriptions of Jelly Roll Morton's piano rolls (on the same label) instead because most of those are exactly how he played them and in my opinion Morton was a better musician in every way than Gershwin.

The jazzy Gershwin. What a CD!!!!!!!.......2006-02-23

I got this CD as a gift. I am all for the austrogerman post- romantic music and as imagined Gershwin is not my favourite composer. I know him from his best known works such as the 'Rhapsody", the 'American' and his great songs. This CD is a treasure as mentioned from other reviewers of this site. Gershwin full of passion, his music being jazzy to the very end and that great feeling you get after a great live performance is present all over the length of this 'treasure'. No question about the presence of the music. Not to be missed

Average customer rating: He's an Allright Guy Todd Snider - That Was Me Just a clarification... NOT the very best of collection Good Summary Of Old Stuff But Should Have More New Stuff For Long Time Fans

That Was Me: The Best of Todd Snider 1994-1998 Todd Snider Manufacturer: Hip-O Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Country | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Devil You Know East Nashville Skyline Near Truths and Hotel Rooms Live Songs for the Daily Planet Happy to Be Here ASIN: B000AA4MKO Release Date: 2005-08-30

Tracks:

1. Alright Guy
2. Trouble
3. You Think You Know Somebody
4. Easy Money
5. That Was Me
6. Talkin' Seattle Blues
7. Enough
8. Hey Hey
9. Moon Dawg's Tavern
10. Horseshoe Lake
11. Tension
12. Better Than Ever Blues Part 2
13. Late Last Night
14. Side Show Blues
15. Can't Complain
16. Guaranteed
17. Doublewide Blues
18. Margaritaville

Album Description

If you've never heard of Todd Snider, then That Was Me: Todd Snider 1994-1998 is an introduction. If you're already a fan, then his first compilation, following seven critically acclaimed albums, is a tribute to the wry, honest, brutal and yet funny Snider. Featuring 17 tracks culled from his first three albums plus a previously unreleased cover of Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville"--all digitally remastered from the original master tapes--That Was Me was created with Snider's full participation and includes his own liner notes and detailed songography.

An iconoclastic hero of alt-country, Americana, college radio and modern folk, Snider's influences are the likes of Randy Newman, Bob Dylan and Neil Young. Born in Portland, OR, he moved to Santa Rosa, CA, after high school and learned to play the harmonica. His brother, living in Austin, TX, figured Todd might find a job in a band there so he sent him a plane ticket. After seeing Jerry Jeff play in a local bar, Snider indeed decided that was what he wanted to do with his life.

During a mid-'80s stint in Memphis where he established a residency at the Daily Planet club, he was discovered by Keith Sykes, a member of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band. John Prine then hired Snider as an assistant and eventually had him open shows. When Buffett heard Snider's demos, he signed him to his MCA imprint Margaritaville Records. His debut album, 1994's Songs for the Daily Planet, starred "Talking Seattle Grunge Rock Blues" as well as "Alright Guy," "Trouble," "You Think You Know Somebody," "Easy Money" and "That Was Me."

For 1996's Step Right Up, Snider and his band, the Nervous Wrecks, continued blending bluegrass, blues, folk-rock and country-rock to forge their own distinctive sound. That Was Me reprises its "Enough," "Hey Hey," "Moon Dawg's Tavern," "Horseshoe Lake," "Tension," "Better Than Ever Blues (Part Two)," "Late Last Night" and "Side Show Blues." 1998's Viva Satellite contributes "Can't Complain," "Guaranteed" and "Doublewide Blues." Snider has since issued four albums on Prine's indie Oh Boy Records, including 2004's East Nashville Skyline, and he continues to tour across the country.

Customer Reviews:

He's an Allright Guy.......2007-02-02

This is a nice collection of songs and styles. I really like all of it. It is my first Todd Snider album but it won't be my last!

Todd Snider - That Was Me.......2006-08-24

Todd Snider is a great folky singer/songwriter hippie who sounds like he'd have been perfect for the 1960's. He's definitely unique in today's music scene. He writes really good songs and this CD gives a nice brief overview of some of his best songs over the 5 years. And at a great price too!

For the most part, these are good roots-y Americana folk/country songs for the modern times. He's hilarious as far as writers go. If he were an author, he'd be one of those quirky guys who have a cult following. I enjoyed most of the songs on here a lot. There were only one or two which I didn't care for - and that's pretty good at 18 songs.

If you like cool, unique, weird, talented singer/songwriters, Todd Snider's the guy for you. This is a good introduction to some of his earlier stuff. I would definitely recommend picking up his more recent stuff too.

Just a clarification..........2006-04-06

Another reviewer complained that this wasn't really "the best of" Todd Snider's work, since it doesn't include songs such as "Vinyl Records" and "Statistician's Blues," et al. I agree that those are great songs, but they were released on John Prine's independently owned Oh Boy! label, not on the MCA-Universal mega-conglomerate, which is the company that put out this particular collection. Yeah, it would be great to have all of Snider's "best" work on one collection, but I for one am rather glad that Universal doesn't own Oh Boy! so that that is not possible... But if you want to check out Snider's early work, from the albums he put out in the mid-to-late 1990s, this is a fine single-CD option.

NOT the very best of collection.......2005-11-17

If you are like me, any artist that you really really love, chances are you have every cd/album that this artist ever realeased. And say 10 years or so down the road, this artist comes out with a "Best of" or "greatest hits" cd. You are curious to see what selections were put on it, and except for the one or two cover songs, or maybe a NEW song,(they do that in the hopes of that big fan will buy it for that one or two songs he/she may not have)you say to yourself "THAT IS NOT THE BEST OF" ! Well, when I saw Todd's selections on his "BEST OF CD", I was disapointed. Just to name a few songs that were left off are as follows: "I believe"-"broke"-"vinyl records"-"beer run"-"alot more"-"new connection"-"statistician's blues"- and one that I found online was a song he did called "Plastic girl". If you can find that one or any of the above mentioned songs you will see what I mean. If you like todd's music, don't skimp on this guy. Get all his cd's, you won't ever regret it. Thanks for listening.

Good Summary Of Old Stuff But Should Have More New Stuff For Long Time Fans.......2005-10-19

I significantly agree with the previous review. If you've bought Todd Snider's later CDs, this would be a good introduction to his earlier material (especially since it contains cuts from his "Viva Satellite" CD which is hard to find). Of course, I would suggest that you get his "Songs From the Daily Planet" CD as that is a classic. This CD contains songs from his first three CDs plus a previously unreleased cover version of Jimmy Buffett's "Margartaville" (sung significantly different than how the Parrothead does it).

I'm only disappointed because the above cover version is the only new thing for the fans who have all of his CDs. I'm sure there had to be some more unreleased material out there that could have been added as Todd is known for his cover versions in his live shows. Even if it meant removing a studio track or two, I think you could have a perfect mix of introducing newbies while satisfying the "oldbies".

Another nit is that the liner notes are extremely hard to read that I actually scanned a few of the pages to blow them up to read (no joke). But all-in-all, it is a decent purchase to make.

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