More Of You

More Of You

Editorial Reviews

E. Arges
Fresh, touching, healing and inspirational. Kathy's heavenly voice brings new rhythm to praise.

Product Description
Kathy Howard is an insightful lyricist with a rich, clear, powerful vocal style. Her new release -- “More of You” -- delivers a message to soothe the soul and ignite the spirit. From the bouncy, uplifting sound of the title track, to the funky, laid back groove of “70X7” or the clarity and depth of “You Forgive Me,” the listener will identify with Kathy’s lyrics and with her heart. The album’s final track “Your Hand in Mine” most powerfully lifts . . . and lingers.

More Of You

More Of You,Kathy Howard


Highlights From The Phantom Of The Opera: The Original London Cast Recording (1986 London Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Music of the Night????????
  • Great short version!
  • A long time favorite
  • The Best Recording of this Show Available
  • Great CD
Highlights From The Phantom Of The Opera: The Original London Cast Recording (1986 London Cast)

Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Les Miserables (Highlights from the 1987 Original Broadway Cast)
  2. The Phantom of the Opera (Two-Disc Special Edition)
  3. The Very Best Of Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Broadway Collection
  4. The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection
  5. The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast)

ASIN: B000001FLQ
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Overture
  2. Think Of Me
  3. Angel Of Music
  4. The Mirror (Angel Of Music)
  5. The Phantom Of The Opera
  6. The Music Of The Night
  7. Prima Donna
  8. All I Ask Of You/Reprise
  9. Entr'acte
  10. Masquerade
  11. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
  12. The Point Of No Return
  13. Down Once More.../Track Down This Murderer

Amazon.com

Highlight versions of cast recordings are by definition a compromise, and this reduction of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera is no exception. Weighing in at 59 minutes, it's over 40 minutes shorter than the two-disc version, excising many musical scenes that convey the flow and impact of the show (which include, admittedly, a lot of patter and screaming). On the other hand, all the hits are here--"Think of Me," "Angel of Music," the title tune, "The Music of the Night," "All I Ask of You," "Masquerade," and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again"--and Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman are still on hand to make their distinctive contributions to the original London cast. So if you're looking for a convenient, inexpensive single disc that will let you enjoy Lloyd Webber's scrumptious melodies without having to immerse yourself in the action, this just might be for you. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Music of the Night????????.......2007-02-28

I really liked the idea of a highlights cd; however, The Music of the Night is not the same one that is on the original two-disc cd. The words aren't even the same. If you enjoy Music of the Night, skip this cd. Otherwise, this cd would be 5 stars.

5 out of 5 stars Great short version!.......2006-12-06

If you only want to hear the songs from this musical, this one is for you. But if you want the full version, get the 4-disc version. I listen to this version in my car when I'm on the road, but I listen to the 4-disc version at home. Both versions are worth the purchase.

5 out of 5 stars A long time favorite.......2006-08-26

This is one of my most treasured CDs. The voices of the cast are incredible! "Think of Me" and "All I Ask of You" are 2 of my favorites. If you enjoy the story behind Phantom, yu will like this soundtrack.

5 out of 5 stars The Best Recording of this Show Available.......2006-04-21

I think that this is the best PHANTOM soundtrack out there:

1)It has the original Broadway cast, the best.
2)It cuts out the more risqu? parts of the show (believe me, there are some), making it "appropriate for the whole family."
3)The entire CD is on one disc, so you can go through the show w/o switching discs.
4)The only song that the movie soundtrack has on it that this doesn't is "Learn to Be Lonely," which appears in the credits, and isn't really a great song anyways.

5 out of 5 stars Great CD.......2006-03-14

I bought this CD as a birthday gift for my boyfriend. We had misplaced the one that we had and needed a new one. This is one of our favorite cd's. Such beautiful music.
More Than You Think You Are
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • May be Paramount
  • Great Group & great music
  • MB20 Is More Than You Think
  • "Feeling much better, thanks..."
  • This is all I need.
More Than You Think You Are
Matchbox Twenty
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Mad Season
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ASIN: B00006OFTZ
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Tracks:

  1. Feel
  2. Disease
  3. Bright Lights
  4. Unwell
  5. Cold
  6. All I Need
  7. Hand Me Down
  8. Could I Be You
  9. Downfall
  10. Soul
  11. You're So Real
  12. The Difference

Amazon.com

Florida's megaplatinum matchbox twenty prove with their third album to be far more versatile than expected, comfortably outlasting the predictions of naysayers. Reuniting with producer Matt Serletic, the quintet takes credible swings at gospel ("Downfall" features a choir), Traveling Wilburys-type twang ("All I Need"), and big-arena rock with "Disease," cowritten by singer Rob Thomas and Mick Jagger and winkingly recalling Thomas's star turn with Carlos Santana on "Smooth." Pedal-steel great Greg Leisz spruces up several tracks, notably the tearjerker "Hand Me Down," while producer and keyboardist Serletic and percussionist Paul Doucette sprinkle instrumental pixie dust. More Than You Think You Are isn't likely to appease critics, who have consistently accused matchbox twenty of yelling when a whisper would do, but fans of the group are certain to dig these panoramic songs, each drawn in broad, vivid strokes. --Kim Hughes

Album Description

Third album produced by studio collaborator Matt Serletic, features the hit single, 'Disease'. Each CD will include a bonus card, which gives the user access to exclusive documentary footage of the making of the album, premiere access to concert tickets and other bonus material. Atlantic. 2002.

Album Details

Euro Version with Exclusive Enhanced Video Track of "if You Are Gone", a Live Full Band Performance from Aol Sessions.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars May be Paramount.......2007-01-08

This just may be the best album to come from a 90's band, although, it's kind of funny to say that when 2 out of their 3 released albums hit record stores after 2000. Nonetheless, they are a band from the 90's. They are a band that took rock music and said "let's have fun with it" but at the same time "we're gonna wear our hearts in our throats!" Not ever overdramatic (see Creed, Nickelback, or any of the bands that are an exact fingerprint of them), Matchbox Twenty still manages to pinpoint on all the dramatics of a relationship. Thomas is at his best when writing a hook. Take the first single on here: "Disease." Some don't like it. I do. Why? I remember the first time I ever heard it and thought to myself, "What is going on with this instrumentation/rhythm. I couldn't get a sense of where the beat was with the guitar slipping in and out. So I counted it out (as any musician would) and came to see how irregular his beat was inside a common time signature. I was hooked. No pun intended. "Bright Lights" moves into a different territory. He's dealing with a relationship's death due to a dream followed. Now, as much as I don't agree with his plea for her to "come back home," I can understand his yearning and his sadness, because for some reason, Thomas can write these lyrics that really get to you. "Unwell" is a bonafide MB20 hit. The hook is great, the lyrics maybe his best. "All night, hearing voices telling me that I should get some sleep because tomorrow might be good for something. Hold on, feeling like I'm headed for a breakdown." I have felt this; this feeling of going crazy after a breakup. It is horrible, and Thomas outlines each feeling with such color and darkness. Moving into "Cold" is exactly what it sounds like. This is a cold, hard song, and for me it was a hard sell, because it was so much darker in music tone and atmosphere than Thomas usually creates with his music. However, now it is a stand-out with some very inventive harmonies. "Hand Me Down" a Kleenex please. This is for anyone whoever felt like they weren't good enough for someone. This is by far wins the awards for "most strings pulled on out of the heart." Thomas may not write lyrics that reveal some new uncharted territory of the soul, heart or mind, but with this song, he cements his position as understanding it as well as anyone, and emoting it better than anyone. It helps that he never hides behind any shadows either. The last four tracks on the album are pure fun! Of course they still have the Thomas trademark of emotional disbursement, especially on "Downfall" in which at first we hear just another great rock song, but soon hear the faint strains of a Gospel Choir break out into a full-out Gospel-covered alteration of the same tune. At that moment, I thought to myself, "Hmmm, Rob Thomas could be a genius." It's sad that Rob Thomas is the only one writing such great rock music anymore. Were there 5 or 6 bands out there with originallity such as his, radio would be worth listening to. Until then, I'll XM or iPod all my music so I can tune out Nickelback without turning the station. Rob Thomas has earned his place as the best rock musician to emerge from the 90's. Thank God for him. Thank God.

5 out of 5 stars Great Group & great music.......2007-01-04

I listen to this CD all the time in the car...great vocals and songs that one can relate to. All aroung great music.

5 out of 5 stars MB20 Is More Than You Think.......2006-10-03

Matchbox Twenty finally released their third Mainstream album back in late 2002. MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE was another breakthrough for not just pop rock, but for Matchbox Twenty themselves. The record was a major progression in the band's sound and it is a great display of how the members have matured as musicians. Its obvious that the band was in search for and paid a lot of attention in creating melodies and perfect harmonies for each piece of this record. Keyboards are a major tool in reaching this desired affect for each song, and the guitar also has a lot more recognizable melody lines. The drums are not overpowering and are mainly their for keeping time and giving effects for particular songs. The bass is a melodic filler but is in the catagory of creating sanorities for the band. Chord progressions are still very simple, but the way they're performed is amazing. Rob Thomas has also clearly matured as a singer and pays a lot of attention in creating melodic phrasing and motives. All of these aspects gained the band tons of attention in dealing with airplay, performances, and in promotions. MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE is an amazing piece of work and is beyond doubt worth of being nomminated for several grammies. It is a must have for any music collection.

Stand out tracks include:
"Feel"
"Disease"
"Unwell"
"Downfall"
"The Difference"

5 out of 5 stars "Feeling much better, thanks...".......2006-07-15

The thing is, I was never a fan of Matchbox Twenty, but through the years I became attached to 2 of their songs: "Back To Good" & "Unwell". So I bought their first album to get "Back To Good", and I liked it pretty much, so then I bought this one to get "Unwell", and I like it even better. The first one was sort of Southern-folk-country rock, which was OK, but this one is a mixture of harder rock and good old commercial pop, with all kinds of variety thrown in for good measure. Just as an example, the bridge in "You're So Real" sounds so much like The Beatles, it's scary. The lead guitar work is amazing all through the CD. Kyle Cook is a vastly talented rock guitarist, but I imagine he could play anything he wanted, and I'm sure he is one of the main reasons for MB20's success. Of course, Rob Thomas is the big enchilada. He has terrific songwriting skills, a potent but expressive voice, and all the charisma necessary to be a frontman, with more to spare. Some of the lyrics make me think he should be a psychiatrist. He seems to understand my obsessions ("Disease"), my optimistic rationalizing ("Unwell), my disappointments ("Hand Me Down"). and my acceptance of inner turmoil ("Soul"). And by the way: DO NOT miss the "hidden" track that follows the official 12th track, "The Difference". It is hot and mean musically, and lyrically a sublime depiction of dark defiance in the face of despair.

5 out of 5 stars This is all I need........2006-07-03

Feel - Angsty. Sometimes I swear he's yelling, almost teasing-ish. But I love the guitar that is present in this song, and the chorus is pretty effective. Makes me smile.

Disease - I love the way he sounds like he's almost suffering in this song. Very catchy, though not my favorite. I love the guitar, as I did in Feel.

Bright Lights - I don't know why, but this is probably my least favorite song on the album. Anyways, the piano is great, though I would like a bit more instruments present. The lyrics are very soft and pretty, though I find The Difference to be prettier.

Unwell - Gotta love this song. The lyrics are so funny and interesting, and you can relate, almost. Like he's talking about weird stuff happening to normal people. I love the banjo (?) work in it. One of my favorite songs ever.

Cold - This was one of the first songs I noticed the drums avidly. Lovely, fast-paced song. Catchy.

All I Need - The lyrics are not my favorite, though the beat in the background makes up for it, I think. Though I will admit that "Life ain't no beauty show" makes me smile every time I hear it.

Hand Me Down - My favorite song on this album. Made me feel like there was a story to it, though at the same time, it was just emotion. And of course, the instrumental work was awesome.

Could I Be You - Probably my second favorite song on this album. I love the lyrics, and the beat goes well with it, especially with the piano and the drums.

Downfall - The gospel choir was not expected, but definitely appreciated. Definitely, I think, added to the power of that song. Because it's definitely that - powerful.

Soul - Pretty song. Soft and delicate, slow. I love the way it just casually sinks into a drum beat, and then into his vocals, but still keeps up with the beginning beat. Pretty lyrics, too. Pretty pretty pretty.

You're So Real - I love the way it's sorta off-beat, but still catchy and fun. Awesome; fast. (Yes, I realize that is not a complete sentence)

The Difference - It's one of the better songs on this album, in my opinion. Though my tastes aren't really inclined to romance songs, this one was so sweet you can't resist it.

So Sad, So Lonely - A hidden track in The Difference. (The title So Sad, So Lonely has been widely accepted, though it's really just a hidden track). I love this song. Love it love it love it. It's so fast paced and almost raw, dirty, but good. Awesome. Worth listening through The Difference to get to, even if you hate The Difference (gasp).
Music From A Farther Room
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Nice CD
  • Music from a Farther Room
  • relaxation
  • amazing
  • Talented violinist
Music From A Farther Room
Astor Piazzolla , Maurice Ravel , Richard Rodgers , Paul Schwartz , Jean Sibelius , Traditional , Paul Schwartz , Craig Macintyre , Tariqh Akoni , Tim Curle , Lang Lang , Lee Musiker , Zachary Provost , Lucia Micarelli , Leigh Nash , and Lisbeth Scott
Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Within
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  5. Follow Your Heart

ASIN: B0002GU2NM
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Tracks:

  1. Samarkand
  2. Oblivion
  3. Meditation From Thais
  4. Portrait
  5. To Love You More
  6. Reflexio
  7. Aurora
  8. Lady Grinning Soul
  9. Ravel String Quartet IN F Major: Assez Vif - Tres Rythme
  10. She Is Like The Swallow
  11. My Funny Valentine
  12. Nocturne/Bohemian Rhapsody

Amazon.com

Josh Groban fans who caught the singer's 2004 Closer tour would no doubt take note of Lucia Micarelli, who was the violinist and concertmaster for Groban. Like her boss, who also is executive producer of Music From A Farther Room, Micarelli is a young, attractive, and talented player who has the classical training, but who is also enchanted with pop music. Also like her boss, her strain of classical crossover works thanks to tasteful accompaniment, in this case from arranger/composer Paul Schwartz. The smartly chosen program of material comes from such varied catalogs as David Bowie and Rogers and Hart. Micarelli's playing is emotional without being overreaching, assertive when called upon, and nuanced. When she does go over-the-top pop on Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," it's brief but fun; when she navigates Piazzolla's "Oblivion" she draws upon the song's passion more than its technical requisites. This is a debut with likeable pizzazz, coming in a genre not often enough known for it. -- Tad Hendrickson

Album Description

For anyone who has attended Josh Groban's phenomenal live show, you will have undoubtedly had the pleasure of seeing and hearing his lead violinist, Lucia Micarelli. Lucia came to Josh's tour after appearing with the Trans- Siberian Orchestra playing arenas across the U.S. in 2003. With the close of the second leg of Josh's tour, Lucia is recording her debut album in New York and London with producer Paul Schwartz. Musical selections will range from the works of composers Ravel and Ennio Morricone to David Bowie.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Nice CD.......2007-07-15

This is one of my favorite CDs in my collection. I saw her play in person, and Live is much, much better then the CD.

4 out of 5 stars Music from a Farther Room.......2007-05-22

I heard Lucia Micarelli during a 2007 Josh Groban concert. Her live solo performance in addition to her backgrounds for Groban were mesmerizing. I purchased this album to see if it was as enjoyable as her live work, and I was not disappointed. Micarelli performs a good mix of classical and pop pieces. My favorite tracks on the album are Smarkland, Meditation, Lady Grinning Soul, Portrait, and Nocturne/Bohemian Rhapsody.

5 out of 5 stars relaxation.......2007-05-13

This CD is very well done. I was familiar with old favorites and delighted with new songs. I would like to hear more of the rock songs preformed by her. I think she's got a lot of talent and could possibly do well with the rock songs on a future album.

5 out of 5 stars amazing.......2007-05-07

Lucia has power in her playing. I think that she shouldn't be allowed to play violin this good. Her raw talent is conveyed in every song. She doesn't just stick to classical, as the accompaniment music isn't just strings. I wished she had played a little more in Bohemian Rhapsody. I saw her in concert with Josh Groban and I knew I had to purchase this CD. Lucia is an inspiration and her love for the violin cannot be contained.

5 out of 5 stars Talented violinist.......2007-03-29

When I saw and heard Lucia Micarelli perform with Josh Groban at a recent concert, I was so impressed with her talent, that I immediately went online to see what music of hers was available. Every item on her CD is wonderful, and I'm looking forward to her next CD.
Somewhere over the Rainbow: The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 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

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Similar Items:
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  4. Greatest Hits: Broadway
  5. 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:

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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!

1 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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!!!

5 out of 5 stars "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)
Gershwin Plays Gershwin: The Piano Rolls
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • 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

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Similar Items:
  1. The Gershwin Plays Gershwin: The Piano Rolls, Vol. 2
  2. Essential George Gershwin
  3. Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue - Piano Concerto in F - An American in Paris
  4. Levant Plays Gershwin
  5. 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:

5 out of 5 stars 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.

4 out of 5 stars 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

4 out of 5 stars 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.

2 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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
Les Miserables (Highlights from the 1987 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • BEST OPERA MUSIC EVER
  • Time well spent.
  • Great Score, But Highlights Missing Critical Songs
  • Buy the full version, please
  • Argh Matey!
Les Miserables (Highlights from the 1987 Original Broadway Cast)
Alain Boublil , Claude-Michel Schonberg , and Colm Wilkinson
Manufacturer: Decca U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000084TRM
Release Date: 2003-01-28

Tracks:

  1. Overture/Work Song
  2. I Dreamed a Dream
  3. Who Am I?
  4. Castle on a Cloud
  5. Master of the House
  6. Stars
  7. Do You Hear the People Sing?
  8. A Heart Full of Love
  9. One Day More
  10. On My Own
  11. A Little Fall of Rain
  12. Drink with Me
  13. Bring Him Home
  14. Javert's Suicide
  15. Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
  16. Wedding Chorale/Beggars at the Feast
  17. Finale

Amazon.com

While not overly generous at 55 minutes, the highlights album of the 1987 original Broadway cast recording of Les Miserables is intelligently selected and likely to prove satisfying to most fans. It includes the best-loved numbers of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score, beautiful ballads ("Bring Him Home," "I Dreamed a Dream") and rousing anthems ("One Day More," "Do You Hear the People Sing?") alike, but eliminates some choral numbers ("Lovely Ladies"), redundancies ("Red and Black"), and connective tissue that propels the plot along ("Valjean Arrested," "Come to Me (Fantine's Death)"). Sure, a more perfect selection could have lasted longer than half of the two-disc set's 104 minutes by adding "At the End of the Day" and "In My Life," among others, but it's still a good representation on a convenient single disc. Of course, those who always want to re-create the theatrical experience will never be satisfied with a highlights album.

Re-creating their roles from the London production, Colm Wilkinson plays the heroic Valjean and Frances Ruffelle is the despondent Eponine. Randy Graff (Fantine), Terrence Mann (Javert), David Bryant (Marius), Judy Kuhn (Cosette), Michael Maguire (Enjolras), and Leo Burmester and Jennifer Butt (the Thénardiers) fill out the cast. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars BEST OPERA MUSIC EVER.......2006-11-03

This is the BEST!! I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes this kind of music!

5 out of 5 stars Time well spent........2005-09-14

Each member of the Les Miserables cast stands to deliver this musical to its audience. Within moments we are transported to France during their Restoration. We experience sadness, laughter and, indeed, want to join in their crusade. The music and deliverance, in my opinion, is excellent.

4 out of 5 stars Great Score, But Highlights Missing Critical Songs.......2005-08-05

Composers Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score for "Les Miserables" is simply brilliant and the spectacular Broadway cast, led by Colm Wilkinson, Randy Graff, Terrence Mann, and Frances Ruffelle, help bring this incredible music to life!

While I normally enjoy "highlight" cds, this one clocks in at a mere 55 minutes and could have easily included a couple of additional tunes (thus losing one star). Most notably missing: "At The End Of The Day", "Come To Me", "Red And Black", and "In My Life". The show's most memorable songs, however, are included.

Best tracks:

I Dreamed A Dream
Master Of The House
Stars
Do You Hear The People Sing
On My Own
A Little Fall Of Rain
Bring Him Home
Empty Chairs At Empty Tables

Great cast, great score ... even a good buy. But I would suggest the full double-disc score instead.

2 out of 5 stars Buy the full version, please.......2005-01-20

Highlights are never worth it. You will never get the little in-between songs which make a show complete, montages will be cut together badly instead of being full songs as they should be...so much is left out. This is a fantastic show and deserves to be heard in full.

5 out of 5 stars Argh Matey!.......2004-11-22

"Highlights" albums are not the full show, blah blah blah... THIS TAKES UP ONLY ONE SPACE IN YOUR CD RACK INSTEAD OF TWO LIKE THE FULL RECORDING. I rest my case.
Do You Want More?!!!??!
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • I Do Want More!!??!!?!
  • One of my favorites
  • Pretty good
  • "Yo Philly In The House Yall, Do You Want More?!!!??! (4.5 stars)
  • The Roots - Do You Want More?!!!??!
Do You Want More?!!!??!
The Roots
Manufacturer: Geffen Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Illadelph Halflife
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ASIN: B000003TB6
Release Date: 1995-01-17

Tracks:

  1. Intro/There's Something Goin' On
  2. Proceed
  3. Distortion To Static
  4. Mellow My Man
  5. I Remain Calm
  6. Datskat
  7. Lazy Afternoon
  8. ? Vs. Rahzel
  9. Do You Want More?!!!??!
  10. What Goes On Pt. 7
  11. Essaywhuman?!!!??!
  12. Swept Away
  13. You Ain't Fly
  14. Silent Treatment
  15. The Lesson Pt. 1
  16. The Unlocking

Amazon.com

Typically, we're better off ignoring the boasts of a rapper who claims to describe his own music, but when the Roots' lead voice Black Thought opens up his group's debut album by saying, "You are all about to witness some organic hip-hop jazz," it's a good idea to listen up. Organic is a fitting adjective for a hip-hop crew whose m.o. is as different from the typical studio-locked DJ/MC combo as grass is to Astroturf.

Nothing wrong with a little artificial grazeland, of course, but the Roots are making tasty roughage that blooms into real songs, where raps wind around bass, drums, keys, and horns, and where instruments coil up to voice cadences--where music and lyrics meet and grow together naturally, not coincidentally. You can hear the Roots' heart pump hardest when they pull off the things loops and samples cannot: just check the vocal/instrument interchanges of "Essaywhuman?!!!??!" or the left-turn instrumental digression midway through "Mellow My Man" to witness the living sounds of rap.

The Roots' Philadelphia-based groove collective build slick acid jazz playing around the smooth East Coast rhyming of A Tribe Called Quest and wild West Coast freestyling to create sounds as formless and fluid as jazz, but never unrecognizable as hip-hop. The music picks up where the mad scatting and melodic trills of L.A.'s defunct Freestyle Fellowship left off, and wakes up the tired hype of jazz/rap cross-polination to new possibilities. The roots of this kind of fusion have long been around, though perhaps these Roots are hope for a new dawning. --Roni Sarig

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars I Do Want More!!??!!?!.......2007-07-21

I bought this the day it came out, like it states on the page, January 17, 1995. I was 16. I played this everywhere. School, parties, chillin' in the car. This was the tipping point for any rap that year. 1995, don't get me wrong, was THE year for hip-hop; East/West rivalry, every artist battling out to who is the best, when being the best, was what it was all about.

This is the second album of THE ROOTS, the first being ORGANIX. Which was also a dope album. But for any album produced that year, that is the one people can say," Hey remember Do You Want More!!??!!?!" Everyone will remember.

Proceed, was on everyones stereos, or t.v. and it is the one song, that if I were stranded on a desert Island, I would have with me, because I could not be able to stop listening to it.

As the tracks go...they are all great, but my DOPE TRACKS are...

1. Intro/There's Something Goin' On
2. Proceed DOPE TRACK
3. Distortion To Static DOPE TRACK
4. Mellow My Man DOPE TRACK
5. I Remain Calm
6. Datskat DOPE TRACK
7. Lazy Afternoon DOPE TRACK
8. ? Vs. Rahzel
9. Do You Want More?!!!??! DOPE TRACK
10. What Goes On Pt. 7
11. Essaywhuman?!!!??!
12. Swept Away
13. You Ain't Fly DOPE TRACK
14. Silent Treatment
15. The Lesson Pt. 1
16. The Unlocking

I see it as this is their best, then Illadelph Halflife, then Things Fall Apart, then Organix, then the rest just kinda loop together.

Anyway Peace.

5 out of 5 stars One of my favorites.......2007-03-29

I love this group. I love the jazz infused hip hop verses. If you're looking for something mellow with a little edge, then this is the CD for you.

3 out of 5 stars Pretty good.......2006-11-16

As a musician, DJ and a hip hop afficianado, I enjoy listening to these guys. Tariq is a top-shelf, A-class lyricist, while Amhir is wondrous on the percussion. My complaint with this album is the same as my complaint with the first one, Organix. It just doesn't grab me like the rest of the catalog does. To me it seems as though they are still finding themselves creatively. There some excellent tracks here (e.g. Distortion to Static, Silent Treatment) but the coherence isn't quite there. That said, this is STILL a necessary part of the collection, as it offers itself as a prelude to their excellence in the years to come.

5 out of 5 stars "Yo Philly In The House Yall, Do You Want More?!!!??! (4.5 stars).......2006-05-31

This was the second album that I picked up from The Roots (the first was The Tipping Point) and it has to be a real nice album to enjoy from beginning to end. It sounds like that they are at a live secession when recording this, with the instruments and the vocals. The second song gets the album going with the lead single "Proceed I" (There are about 5 different versions of this song on a bunch of 12" singles somewhere) as lead member Black Thought spits two verses, then Malik B finishes up the song. "Distortion To Static" is a song that features a bunch of laughter as the background vocals as the chorus. A standout track would be the song "Mellow My Man" as Black Thought passes the mic to Malik B on both verses. "I Remain Calm" is a loud track with drums. I couldn't decipher what the woman was saying in the back until a previous reviewer said she was saying "What the hell is this?", but Malik B and Black Thought come correct on this one. "Lazy Afternoon" as many people should have realized Black Though spits the same verse 3 times, each with a little more attitude than the previous. Rahzel would do his thing on the interlude "? vs. Rahzel". Another hot track is the title song "Do You Want More?!!!??!" as Black Thought rhymes over some bagpipes and drums that are played throughout the song. My only knock on this song is that Black Thought spits one solid verse and the track closes out with the title repeated with a few ad-libs. I was hoping he or Malik B would add another verse to the song. "What Goes On Part 7" is another laid back Roots style track with some tounge clicking curteosy of Rahzel. "Essaywhumam?!!!??!" gives me a somewhat of a confirmation that this was a live secession being recorded as instruments play and Black Thought handles the vocals, eventhough he doesn't rap. "Swept Away" is a song with a with a snare being played with a soft horn being played through the song, making it another standout. "You Ain't Fly" is a song about dissing some girl that rejected them, and yes ?uestion (now ?uestlove) raps on this song too, so its something worth hearing. "Silent Treatment" is a long song by Black Thought about a female that he liked (The group City High would sample this for that hit song "Carmel" about 4 years ago), as the music gives a relaxing feel. The listener should get out of that relaxed mode as the next track "The Lesson Part 1" as Black Thought and Dice Raw freestyle the entire track (Dice goes on for a good minute). Ursela Rucker would come by and drop a spoken word poem, that you have to listen real hard to understand what shes [really] saying other than the graphic words. I like it, because its somethig different that I've never heard on a hip hop album (whats funny is that Yvette's cell rings interrupting the poem somewhere in the middle). A great way to close the album off with something like this (I don't know and won't get into what the heck Rahzel does after the long silence following the spoken word.)

Overall this is a nice album, and a great experience to listeners to those who like hip hop with the help of live instruments. My only knock is that some songs they can give me a headache such as "Daskat" because of its loudness, but it doesn't take away from the album. I recommend this to all fans of Hip Hop, fans of live music and fans of the Roots, you can't go wrong.

Lyrics: A-
Production: A+ (live instruments)
Musical Vibes: A
Overall: A

Standout tracks: Proceed I, Mellow My Man, Swept Away, Do You Want More?!!!??!, and The Lesson Pt. 1

4 out of 5 stars The Roots - Do You Want More?!!!??!.......2006-05-27

The Roots sophomore album was "Do You Want More?!!!??!". I recieved this album as a gift when it dropped in 1995, and at the time it was an introduction to a whole new genre of Rap I was unfamiliar with. I remember thinking "So this is what Philly Rap sounds like", its far from that simple though, the Roots brought a unique, distinct sound with this live album. After the intro, Black Thought and Malik B shine on "Proceed", a head nodder that has both MC's shining. "Mellow My Man", "I Remain Calm" & "Datzcat" are upbeat cut's where Black Thought and Malik B drop some abstract rhymes. The albums biggest collaboration is "Lazy Afternoon" which features Black Thought, Rahzel, Sista Urban & Rachel Graham. ?uestlove, Rahzel go head to head with the experimental and cool beatboxing "? Vs. Rahzel". Black Thought reps Philly and other cities on the title track "Do You Want More?!!!??!". Backed by some smooth production, and tongue clicking Black Thought, Malik B and Elo team up for "What Goes On Pt. 7". One of my favourite cuts on this release is "Swept Away", this track literally does that as Black Thought, Malik and Cassandra Wilson provide a smooth and memorable joint. Black Thought reflects on getting the "Silent Treatment", and Dice Raw makes his first appearance with "The Lesson Part 1". Ursula Rucker's spoken word poetry on "The Unlocking" closes off the album. Lyrically the Roots would elevate on future joints, production though was excellent. Experimental, creative, jazzy and memorable music makes "Do You Want More?!!!??!" an album worth checking out. Root's fan's can also look forward to "Game Theory" currently scheduled to drop in late August 2006. 3.5.
Way Out West: The Essential Western Film Music Collection, Vol. 2
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Not My Style
  • Rockin' Western Collection
  • Hard to Find Great Western Themes
  • Western Music
  • A great follow-up
Way Out West: The Essential Western Film Music Collection, Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by NewmanAll Works by Newman | Newman, Alfred | ( N ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by RossiniAll Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Romantic (c.1820-1910)Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ItalianItalian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Orchestral PopOrchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Movie ScoresMovie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Television SoundtracksTelevision Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. The Wild West: The Essential Western Film Music Collection
  2. Songs Of The West, Vol. 4: Movie & Television Themes
  3. From Alamo to El Dorado, Vol. 2
  4. The Essential Elmer Bernstein Film Music Collection
  5. The Greatest Western Movie Themes

ASIN: B000060PBU
Release Date: 2002-03-26

Tracks:

  1. The Hallejuah Trail-Overture
  2. The Alamo-The Green Leaves Of Summer
  3. The Alamo-Davy Crocket
  4. The Big Country-The Welcoming/Finale
  5. The Big Valley-Main Theme
  6. Blazing Saddles-Blazing Saddles
  7. Bonaza-Main Theme
  8. Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid-raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
  9. The Comancheros-McBain/Main Title
  10. Duel In The Sun-Main Title/The Legend/Orizaba
  11. A Fistfull Of Dynamite-Duck You Sucker
  12. For A Few Dollars More-Main Theme
  13. Friendly Persuasion-Thee I Love
  14. Giant-Main Theme
  15. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly-Main Theme
  16. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly-The Ecstasy Of Gold
  17. Gunfight At The O.K. Corral-Suite
  18. Hang 'Em High-Main Theme
  19. The Hanging Tree-Main Title

Tracks:

  1. High Caparral-Main Theme
  2. How The West Was Won-Prelude/The Land
  3. High Noon-Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darlin'
  4. The Jayhawkers-The Lynching/Two Brothers/The Hayhawkers
  5. The Lone Ranger-William Tell Overture: Finale
  6. Nevada Smith-Main Title
  7. Old Gringo-Main Themes
  8. Once Upon A Time In The West-Man With The Harmonica
  9. One Eyed Jacks-Main Title
  10. The Proud Rebel-Main Titles
  11. The Quick And The Dead-End Titles
  12. Quigley Down Under-End Titles
  13. Rio Bravo-Rio Bravo/De Guella
  14. The Scalphunters-Main Title
  15. Shane-Main Theme: The Call Of The Farwaway Hills
  16. The Shootist-Main Title
  17. The Unforgiven-The Need For Love
  18. Viva Zapata-Gathering Forces
  19. The Virginian-Main Theme

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Not My Style.......2007-05-11

This CD has a lot of good songs on it, but it just too bland for our taste. We prefer Western music to sound as though genuine cowboys are singing it - not a fancy chorus!

5 out of 5 stars Rockin' Western Collection.......2006-08-28

For anyone who likes movie/tv music from westerns should purchase this CD. What a wonderful collection of both film and tv with great renditions of each piece. I'm about to purchase Vol. 1 to complete my collection.

5 out of 5 stars Hard to Find Great Western Themes .......2006-03-16

This CD has a number of great western themes that are not in some of the standard lists. For example it includes "The Hallejuah Trail", "Blazing Saddles", and "Giant". This CD also has what I consider the true theme of "The Comancheros". I have been disappointed with some other CDs I have purchased listing "The Comancheros" which had a song rather than this theme. Many of the tracks on this two disk CD go beyond the main theme music and are actually suites. The "Big Country" and "How the West Was Won" are just a couple of examples. It may be a little more expense than some CDs, but not bad for a two disk set. I am really happy with my purchase.

4 out of 5 stars Western Music.......2005-07-29

I enjoy this CD. It has many familiar melodies. Good background for reading, nice to listen while driving. It is also the only CD I've ever found that has the great theme from the movie "Giant."

5 out of 5 stars A great follow-up.......2003-08-29

This is the second collection by SilvaScreen, who are also responsible for "The Wild West: The Essential Western Film Music Collection" (see my review). And it's just as good as the first. There are themes in here that everyone will recognize ("Bonanza," "A Fistful of Dollars"), themes that may not be so familiar ("Duel in the Sun," "The Hanging Tree," the lively "Blazing Saddles"), and even themes you may not associate with Westerns at all ("The Friendly Persuasion"). And no duplication either: when this disc includes a piece from one of the same sources covered in its predecessor, it's a different piece. One great treat: the full lyrics to "Gunfight at OK Corral," which I've never heard outside the soundtrack of the movie itself. The arrangement from "Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid" includes not only the familiar song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" but an overview of the music--seguing almost seamlessly into Bernstein's magnificent "The Comancheros," a rare find indeed. An expensive item, but if you love Western film music, well worth it.
American Dreamer: Songs of Stephen Foster; Thomas Hampson; Jay Unger; Molly Mason
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • It's Dreamy
  • My Favorite Composer of all time
  • An American classic from Hampson that brings smiles and tears
  • OMG!!! More than 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 stars, one of the best album in the world!!!
  • It's simply lovely
American Dreamer: Songs of Stephen Foster; Thomas Hampson; Jay Unger; Molly Mason
Thomas Hampson , Jay Ungar , Molly Mason , Garrison Keillor , David Alpher , Mark Rust , Michael Parloff , Peter Ecklund , John Kirk , Arnold Kinsella , and Stephen Foster
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Foster, StephenFoster, Stephen | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
ViolinViolin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
Hampson, ThomasHampson, Thomas | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
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GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
$9.99 and Under$9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
All Classical Music BlowoutAll Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Foster, StephenFoster, Stephen | ( F ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Hampson, ThomasHampson, Thomas | ( H ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Opera & VocalOpera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Song of Home
  2. Song of America
  3. Harvest Home
  4. Civil War Classics
  5. Stephen Foster Song Book

ASIN: B000002SK7
Release Date: 1992-10-20

Tracks:

  1. Opening Solo Violin
  2. Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair
  3. Hard Times Come Again No More
  4. The Voice Of Bygone Days
  5. Foster Favorites Medley (Ring, Ring The Banjo (1851) Oh! Susanna (1848) Camptown Races (1850)
  6. Open Thy Lattice, Love (1844)
  7. Beautiful Dreamer (1864)
  8. That's What's The Matter
  9. Old Home Medley (Old Folks at Home (1851) My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night (1853)
  10. Molly! Do You Love Me? (1850)
  11. Sweetly She Sleeps, My Alice Fair (1851)
  12. Comrades, Fill No Glass For Me (1855)
  13. Dancing On The River (Nelly Bly (1850) The Glendy Burk (1860) Angelina Baker (1850)
  14. My Wife Is A Most Knowing Woman (1863)
  15. Gentle Annie (1856)
  16. Linger In Blissful Repose (1858)
  17. Ah! May The Red Rose Live Alway (1850)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars It's Dreamy.......2007-01-10

This is a very wonderful recording of Stephen Foster by a master singer.
Foster's songs are of a more innocent and naive time in the American psyche, a time that it would not hurt us to remember, given the wretched brutality of American culture today (something you'll appreciate after listening to this recording).

The songs are beautifully sung by Mr. Hamspon, and the musical accompaniment with piano, mandolin, tuba, banjo, etc. seems a perfect setting for this period music. I enjoyed the musical interludes of Foster songs (not sung by Mr. Hampson), such as "Oh, Suzanna", "My Old Kentucky Home", and "Camptown Races." They are foot-stompin' and finger-snappin' good in a non-syncopated way.

Mr. Hampson's voice is so beautiful, and he has done such a wonderful job with these song's you'll just have to hear it, and when you do, tell me that you're not dreaming.

I remember reading a quote by John Phillip Sousa that decried the use of syncopation in American popular music. I never understood it until listening to this recording. The richness and intensity of American popular music (as experienced in the work of Stephen Foster) has been lost.
Everything has to be so cool today, thanks to syncopation, and "cool" really means no emotion.

If emotion is what you want, emotion is what you'll get with Stephen Foster's songs. It was a time when the death of loved ones (especially those who died in their youth) was experienced more often (see "I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair" and "Gentle Annie"). And we were not protected from the vicissitudes of fate by myriad government programs, modern medicine and universal prosperity (see "Hard Times").
Husbands and wives had their differences then, as today, (see the amusing song "My Wife is a Most Knowin' Woman") The passion of the Civil War (Foster was a Unionist),is reflected in a wonderful, fun song, "That's What's the Matter."

If you love good music, and you have heart which can be stirred, and you love your country, this is for you.

I love this recording. It has opened up the door to my "beautiful dreams," dreams of bygone days, lost love, and whatever else we pine for.

I wanted to buy several copies for my friends, but somehow I felt that the impact of this recording was so personal, that it could not be shared with others. Not that they couldn't enjoy it, but that I could not begin to share the intense emotion and reverie stirred in my heart by these beautiful songs.

5 out of 5 stars My Favorite Composer of all time.......2006-08-20

Growing up playing his stuff on piano, I love the instrumentality of this CD..the violins give off that wail that he speaks of..I am not sure what it is about Stephen Foster but these verses..grab me like no other..there is so much sensitivity to it..

I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair
Born like a vapor on the summer air
I see her tripping where the bright streams play
Happy as the daisies that dance on her way
Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour

but the violins in this CD make this CD the best out there..
FYI should you be into astrology Stephen Foster is definition of Cancer...Sun and Moon conjunct in Cancer with mars in Scorpio..i love his lyrics..almost to the point of obsession..

5 out of 5 stars An American classic from Hampson that brings smiles and tears.......2006-07-17

Stephen Foster was the greatest American composer of sentimental parlor ballads--he so perfectly imitated folk songs that his music wound up turning into them. In an age of home music-making and later of families sitting around the radio, Foster's songs were a staple, often performed by crossover artists from opera like Lawrence Tibbett. Those were plump, ripe styles of singing, highly flavored by church hymns.

In this 1992 collection of 17 Foster favorites, plus a few rareties, Hampson drops the platform manner and goes straight for heartfelt sincerity. His tone is plain yet sweet, his expression intimate. He is accompanied by instruments redolent of the Victorian drawing room (guitar, fiddle, upright piano), and the mood they create brings tears and smiles of remembrance. This music is embedded in America's genes, and it's wonderful to realize that every note is still alive and throbbing with feeling.

5 out of 5 stars OMG!!! More than 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 stars, one of the best album in the world!!!.......2005-11-25

Simply one word, WOW!!!
Thomas Hampson's voice is simply fantasic. His voice is very different from regular operatic baritone voice, very sweet, and rich. I really cant believe an operatic baritone can sing folk song like THIS good, in my opinion he sounds even better than his opera works in this album. His voice and the background music matches perfectly, the outcome would move u to tears, and u can feel the origin of MUSIC. This album really shows what the word MUSIC means, and the songs simply just ALL beautiful. I like his "beautiful dreamer", "my life is well knowing woman", and "jeanie with the light brown hair" the most. When I listen the songs I would just imagine that I am in the world of past USA, and I can feel the life of the ppl in the past USA~ just like watching an old classic movie, it would touch ur heart and fall in love with this album.

5 out of 5 stars It's simply lovely.......2004-12-14

I didn't know Stephen Foster (I thought): wrong: Oh Susanna, etc, I knew, but had no idea who the composer was.

This CD is a revelation. The melodies are so beautiful, as are the poems, and Thomas Hampson just brings them to life as wonderfully as ever. I especially love "Beautiful Dreamer" - it gives me butterflies - and "My wife is a most knowing woman" - the way he makes the voices and the indignation is just brilliant. If one needed reminding what a brilliant singer Mr Hampson is - this disk does it.
Haunted Heart
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Sublime and ridiculous
  • Eeeeeeeeeeewwwwwww
  • Better than I thought it would be
  • Brava Renee
  • Art is always new.
Haunted Heart
Paul McCartney , Gustav Mahler , Joni Mitchell , Emile Paladilhe , Arthur Schwartz , James ("Jimmy") Van Heusen , Various Composers , Heitor Villa-Lobos , Jimmy Webb , Richard A. Whiting , Stevie Wonder , Guy Wood , Bill Frisell , Fred Hersch , and Renée Fleming
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Foster, StephenFoster, Stephen | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by MahlerAll Works by Mahler | Mahler, Gustav | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Villa-Lobos, HeitorVilla-Lobos, Heitor | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Villa-Lobos, Heitor | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
The Decca Records StoreThe Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:
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  5. Renee Fleming: By Request

ASIN: B0007Z9QUS
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Tracks:

  1. Haunted Heart
  2. River
  3. When Did You Leave Heaven?
  4. You've Changed
  5. Answer Me
  6. My Cherie Amour
  7. In My Life
  8. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
  9. Wozzeck/The Midnight Sun
  10. Liebst du um Schit
  11. My One And Only Love/This Is Always
  12. Can do Amor
  13. Psych
  14. Hard Times Come Again No More

Amazon.com

While countless fans flock to see soprano Renee Fleming's performances of the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro because she's got the voice and the dramatic ability to handle such meaty roles, the versatile singer throws her fans a curveball on Haunted Heart, singing popular standards and ballads as well as a few altered classical pieces. In her liner notes, Fleming calls this album a "look back at the road not taken" -- she played a weekly gig in a jazz club while in school. Nonetheless, her feel for the material here is undeniable. Interestingly, she drops her voice a full octave from her usual tessitura, and the change reveals a robust gospel-oriented approach filled with dramatic breaths and moans. The lyrical Fred Hersch (piano) and the idiosyncratic Bill Frisell (guitar) provide support, and both are adventurous jazz players who create subtle and uniquely haunting backdrops. It adds up to an interesting cross-section of ideas well carried off by the generous talents of all involved. --Tad Hendrickson

\

Interview with Renee Fleming
Renee Fleming speaks about recent projects, including her memoir The Inner Voice and her recent Handel CD, in our interview.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Sublime and ridiculous.......2007-06-13

The sublime: much of the artistry of this recording is about sound, and the subtle blending/responding of voice with guitar sounds and / or piano sounds. It is in the sensitive musical interplay between the artists where this effort shines. Definitely not recommended for road trips!

The ridiculous: Fleming ended the majority of most phrases in most of the songs with a guttural of some sort which for me becomes irritating to the point of distraction. These punctuations are mostly quite awful: really tasteless, clumsy, and overused big time and I'm amazed at how this ever got released. Without these ersatz testifyin' noises this CD would be stunning.

So, if you have the ability and inclination to edit out this garbage from your perception as you listen I think you'll be glad you experienced these artists at work together. (Unfortunately I'm not up to it).

2 out of 5 stars Eeeeeeeeeeewwwwwww.......2007-06-06

Ugh. Like a manufactured home vs. a stick-built house, Fleming's manufactured (aka "training and technique") blues voice compares unfavorably to other jazz/blues singers/lounge acts. Would not, COULD not, listen to this recording straight through--one big long, breathy, minor key train wreck in the making. Took the CD on a road trip and had to pull over and remove from queue--either that or drive into a wall.

3 out of 5 stars Better than I thought it would be.......2007-04-10

I have to admit, Haunted Heart was a lot better than I thought it would be,especially her recordings of "River", "The Moon's a Harsh Mistress, "My Cherie Amour" and "In my life".
I think this is the most artistically successful recording of Pop/Jazz by a classical singer. I enjoyed it even better than the Anna Sophie Von Otter'/ Elvis Costello CD.
The perspective I am coming from is that of a classical singer who started out as a pop singer/songwriter. I perform and teach cross-genre but love a world class instrument such as Flemming's
I wanted to get the perspective of a friend who used to sing jingles and is also a trained singer but is usually critical of any attempts that opera singers make at crossing -over.
My friend is very familiar with Flemming's voice, but did not recognise it in this context when I played the CD for her. Her reaction was very complimentary, although she did comment that the diction was a bit strange.
She then played it for her brother a well known jazz singer and arranger who had a somewhat negative reaction.He found the singing to be overly dark and round. He prefers a cleaner more 'spoken' approach to this style of singing. I understand this perspective and therefore personally prefer Ella to Sarah as well, but let's not get too picky. Obviously, Rene Flemming is of the Sarah Vaghan School of jazz singing, which is not too shabby.

I will continue to enjoy this CD and will wait for another opera diva to top this one. But, somehow I think the next really good CD of Pop/ jazz from an opera star will also come from Rene.

To those who have been unreasonably mean and negative towards her, I can only say you are not fit to polish her shoes!

5 out of 5 stars Brava Renee.......2007-04-09

This talented woman can sing anything. I really enjoyed this cd with the lights turned down and a glass of wine to relax after a very stressful day at work. Renee could definitely have another singing career outside of opera should she choose. Hearing her drop that gorgeous voice down one octave rivals the best chanteuses in the business - Cassandra Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Regina Belle, Sarah Vaughan, etc. This cd of different musical styles reminds me of Nina Simone and Cassandra Wilson, two great singers whom could interpret any song genre and make their versions special. I loved all the songs and the standouts here are "Haunted Heart", "River", "My One and Only Love", "My Cherie Amour", "Cancao do Amor", and Beatles "In My Life", and "Hard Times Come Again No More".
I hope Renee keeps recording whatever catches her fancy because I'll certainly always listen.

5 out of 5 stars Art is always new. .......2007-03-10

Renee Fleming is an artist bringing us something new, and beautiful. The poor will always be with us as manifest in those who resent other's movement from their established zones. Renee Fleming is a great female voice with accomplishments her detractors will never have, but in their dreams.

I welcome Renee's elan demonstrated with her recent recordings, Love sublime with Brad Mehldau, and Haunted Heart with Fred Hersch and Bill Frissell. Bravery, fun, and talent combined by artists and for people who are listening. Hearing long time favorites Mehldau, Hersch, and Frissell is all the more sublime.

Christian Music:

  1. More Than That (Pop Male) (Karaoke)
  2. 'N Sync's 'Pop & Other Male Hits! (Karaoke)
  3. None Of The Above
  4. Now That's What I Call Music 1992 [Import]
  5. One Word Poetry Contest
  6. Parrot
  7. Penny and Me [CD-single]
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  10. Pop Male Hits (Karaoke)

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For Women Only

Max Rostal 1905 In Memoriam 1991

My Immortal [CD-single] [Import]

Country's Greatest Hits, Vol. 14: Superstars 2

Lost In Trance [Import]

Middlescence

Laß' Mich Heute Nicht Allein - Ihre Gröbten Erfolge [Import]

On the Turntable [Import]

Pure

Hoffmeister: Concerto for clarinet No2; Lebrun: Concerto for clarinet in Bf

Jazz Giant

Mi Salsa Tiene Sandunga [Import]

Mr. Scarface Is Back

Beethoven Symphonies

Reverie