Chains

1. Chains

2. Foolish Little Girl

3. I Want a Boy for My Birthday

4. I'm into Something Good

5. Girls Grow Up Faster Than Boys

6. Softly in the Night

7. Don't Say Nothin' Bad About My Baby

8. Will Power

9. On Broadway

10. Old Crowd

Chains,The Cookies,Collectables,Brill Building Pop,Girl Group,Pop,R&B,Soul/R & B,United States of America

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Average customer rating: HOW IS THIS GRUNGE? not that best album in the world, but decent Dirt - a classic album, R.I.P. Layne Staley One of the Greatest Albums of All Time Damn, Absolutely owned by them.

Dirt Alice in Chains Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Grunge | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music $7.99 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 Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $7.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Jar of Flies Facelift Alice in Chains Superunknown Sap ASIN: B0000028M7 Release Date: 1992-09-29

Tracks:

1. Them Bones
2. Dam That River
3. Rain When I Die
4. Down In A Hole
5. Sickman
6. Rooster
7. Junkhead
8. Dirt
9. God Smack
10. Intro (Dream Sequence)
11. Hate To Feel
12. Angry Chair
13. Would?

Amazon.com essential recording

Alice in Chains were initially tagged with the "grunge" moniker, when in fact their haunting, ponderous sound was far closer to the progressive rock of Queensryche. Their second album, Dirt, is a moody, portentous affair, filled with occasionally inspired riffing from guitarist Jerry Cantrell and hair-tossed wailing from singer Layne Staley. Perhaps the band got lumped in with Generation X because their lyrics focused upon depression, death, and drugs. Certainly, titles such as "Down in a Hole," "Junkhead," and "Hate to Feel" didn't leave much room for doubt as to Cantrell's perspective. The quartet did have a slightly lighter, almost poppy side to them, though, as "God Smack" and "Hate to Feel" indicate. Ultimately, Dirt is classic angst rock. --Everett True

Album Description

Millenium digipak edition, with original sleeve and 6 page booklet. 12 tracks including 'Rooster', 'Would' & 'Them Bones'.

Album Details

Digitally remastered millennium digipack edition. Includes a special 6 page booklet.

Customer Reviews:

HOW IS THIS GRUNGE?.......2007-07-31

this whole album is comparable to sabbath's heaviest songs like children of the grave, symptom, or their first, black sabbath. plenty of slow, wah pedal iommi-like riffs and about every song has a guitar solo. if you like metal, you'll like it, and if you like grunge, you will.

avoid nirvana, stp, and pearl jam to get the real deal: 70s metal like
SOUNDGARDEN AND AIC. by the way, this review comes from a straight metal/rock/prog head and grunge hater.

not that best album in the world, but decent.......2007-07-11

I admit- I checked this album out because people were comparing Alice In Chains to Black Sabbath, and people were telling me Dirt was the closest thing to a Sabbath record you will find. Well, not really.

Black Sabbath was much heavier, not to mention mainly focused on writing guitar riffs and adding tempo changes at unusual moments (at least, the original version of the band). The music on Dirt is almost identical to grunge rock, if you ask me. Some people will claim the music on this album is progressive rock, while others will just call it heavy metal. To me, it sounds exactly like the music Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and others were doing at the time- music that's not quite as heavy or memorable as people seem to think.

Dirt feels like a one-dimensional album, though sometimes it works to their advantage. "Them Bones" is a pretty good way to introduce someone who's never heard Alice In Chains before, with a smack of an updated rock sound to kick things off. It's energetic, and a pretty good tune. I think the best melodic moment on the album comes on "Down In a Hole". It has an upbeat vocal melody (despite what the lyrics might reveal) but it's not *that* great. The song kind of gets boring after a couple minutes. The verse melody is pretty good, but the chorus seems average to me which overall hurts the song a little. The overlapping vocal section near the end hurts it too. Actually, repeated listens reveal a rather sappy-sounding track, overall. The frightening lyrics may have been dangerous and unlike anything else back in the day, but now I can imagine grandmothers humming the melody.

"Junkhead" is pretty close to a Black Sabbath track with its dreary tone and atmosphere. Good track. "Rooster" is only worthwhile for the way the singer occasionally blurts out "Yeah, here comes the rooster". I can't get into the rest of the song, even after all these years. As for "Angry Chair", I'm not a fan of the intentionally careless style on the part of the lead singer. Sounds like he's deliberately dragging his vocal style across the verse melody for the sole purpose of being intentionally annoying. I'm not a fan of that. Actually the entire song seems to go back and forth between clumsy and obnoxious vocal melodies. I can't have it both ways, but the "I don't mind" chorus is more listenable. "Would" is more or less the same thing, though shorter.

Overall, I don't consider Dirt a classic album, and don't understand people who do. I guess because there was nothing like it back in the early 90's. I can respect that. I just don't care for the music too much.

Dirt - a classic album, R.I.P. Layne Staley.......2007-07-04

While other people were noting the rise of bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana, the band I felt that was the new great "rock" if you will, was Alice in Chains. Dirt was the 2nd album they had and it has so many songs on it I like I could talk about them forever. With Dirt I just felt like it was good in all aspects, but especially songwriting. Staley and Cantrell are in sync here till the end, and despite the death of Layne a few years ago I still think they had enough albums to solidify themselves for a higher status than so many other bands that seemed to be riding the grunge train later in the 1990's like Silverchair and Creed. Rooster is my favorite song; it is so dark and powerful like most of the material found here, but also because it was a tribute from Cantrell to his father who fought in the Vietnam War. I still go back and enjoy listening to this album often, I just wish Layne could have stayed with us but I am happy for the great material this band produced during their tenure.

One of the Greatest Albums of All Time.......2007-06-30

Alice in Chains is to this day one of the most creative bands of all time and this album is the best way to be introduced to their music because not only is it their masterpiece, but it is the best representation of their music in every way. AIC makes dark, depressing, and creepy music and no other band has ever been able to capture these moods like this band has. It seems that it comes naturally to AIC because they convey these emotions through their songs so perfectly but effortlessly. Jerry Cantrell's spooky guitar playing and backing vocals and Layne Staley's chilling and powerful vocals are the most perfect match music as a whole has ever seen, and is the reason AIC was so perfect and unique in their songs. Their first album was more upbeat and fast-paced while their third and final studio album was extremely slow-paced and almost too creepy. This album, however, is AIC at their prime and contains their best songs including Down in a Hole, Rooster, and their greatest song, Would?. Every time I listen to that song I can't believe how great it is along with the band that made it.

Damn, Absolutely owned by them........2007-05-08

Back when I was young, I enjoyed listening to a ton of 90s bands. Around 1996, my friends were spitting out music from the recently passed grunge scene including Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, and of course...Nirvana (Unplugged) along with a ton of other rock bands of that time (Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, RHCP, etc...)

But there was one band I didn't listen to when I was young. Alice in Chains. It was just 1 year ago when I learned about them and decided to get myself acquainted with the band. I bought the album Dirt after hearing some of their songs on the radio. After just one viewing, I was hooked. Not only is this album quite possibly one of the most under-rated/under-appreciated album of all time, but it could be one of the greatest albums of all time. Almost every single song has a soul to it thanks to the songwriting of Jerry Cantrell as well as vocals by Layne Staley. Songs like Them Bones and Angry Chair gives the music a darker feel while others like Down in a Hole, Rooster, and Rain When I Die pack in a ton of emotion. God Smack is another decent track (and very likely the track where the band Godsmack got their name from)

And Dirt isn't just AIC's best music. There are still the Jar of Flies EP, Facelift, and their Unplugged album (when MTV was still showing music). All are highly recommended. Pretty much anyone should give Alice in Chains a listen...I don't care if you are part of the emo scene or the indie scene or still trapped in the 80s with your hair metal, give Alice in Chains a try. This is the best album really to start with.

Average customer rating: One of my Top Ten CDs.. Alright... The Best Jar of Flies Reviewgium Classic: 10/10

Jar of Flies Alice in Chains Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Grunge | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Dirt Alice in Chains Facelift Sap Unplugged ASIN: B0000029F8 Release Date: 1994-01-25

Tracks:

1. Rotten Apple
2. Nutshell
3. I Stay Away
4. No Excuses
5. Whale and Wasp
6. Don't Follow
7. Swing On This

Amazon.com

While not their most definitive album (that honor belongs to 1992's Dirt), Jar of Flies represents an important step in Alice in Chains' recording career. Witness "I Stay Away," which is made up of equal portions of hummable guitar riffs and the spookier, scarier, more grinding elements that most fans associate with Alice in Chains. This song most clearly delineates the dichotomy that was a highlight of the band's sound--Jerry Cantrell's listenable tunes and often gorgeous arrangements (just listen to what he does with "Whale & Wasp"!) and Layne Staley's growling vocals, which are just the teeniest bit flat. The collection as a whole, brief as it is, has an elegance that's unusual for metal. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

One of my Top Ten CDs.........2007-06-26

Got into AIC late but now its among my most-played stuff... Of course Nothing Safe & Unplugged are also great.

BTW, saw the "new" AIC @ the Elect Factory in Philly and while some may say its sacrilege I really enjoyed the show. Hey, they deserve to make a living & they seem to be trying to stay true to the originals... They also incorp a tribute to Layne.

Alright..........2007-05-17

Like what has been said, this album is amazing. Alice in Chains is the only band that I can listen to non-stop and absolutely love. I can listen to the same song over and over, or once every month with the same reaction (if not better). Nutshell is one of the best songs I've ever listened to.

The Best.......2007-05-15

Alice in Chains is definitely one of the best bands to have come out during the 90s. I can listen to their songs non-stop, over and over, without ever getting tired of their songs. Every song, in every CD is good or excellent. No, nothing bad at all about Alice in Chains.

Jar of Flies.......2007-05-14

I had previously owned this recording, but it was on cassette and I had lost it. I really missed it and kept looking for it in stores on CD, but could not find it. I would highly recommend this album to anyone who even minimally likes Alice in Chains.

Reviewgium Classic: 10/10.......2007-05-04

What can I say about this album? Only that I have been listening to it on a consistent basis since practically the time it was released, and I enjoy it as much now as I did then. My musical tastes have changed much since 1994, but one thing remains constant: my love for this album, and indeed pretty much anything and everything done by this band. The strange thing is, it contains what is probably my least favorite Alice In Chains song ("Swing On This"), and yet I still consider it my favorite album by the band, and I still feel confident in giving it a perfect rating.

Yes, I still remember back in the day seeing for the first time the video for "I Stay Away" (you know, back when MTV was kinda-sorta good...compared to now anyway), and being completely entranced by what I was seeing and hearing. I barely knew the band back then, but somehow I felt that I had known them forever. It was everything I wanted and needed to see and hear. And so I discovered Jar of Flies. From the haunting opening bass line and ghostly vocal harmonies of "Rotten Apple," and the heart-wrenching melodies of "Nutshell" and "Don't Follow," to the catchy rhythm of "No Excuses," and the mystifying wailing of Jerry's guitar in "Whale and Wasp," I knew from the very first listen that this was something special...something that would be a part of me forever. There is so much passion at play on this album from all members of the band, and I feel that with Jar of Flies, they were really truly pouring their hearts out in a way they had never done before. Indeed, I feel that "Nutshell" is the defining song of Layne Staley's life, and every time I hear it, I shed a tear for him. It was the first song I heard, the very moment that Layne's death was announced that grim morning years ago, and that will always be the first thing I think of whenever the song graces my ears. I consider this album to be perfect. Perfect in that everything syncs together in such a genuinely meaningful way; perfect in its blend of acoustic and electric; perfect in that it displays the constant progression Alice In Chains had by releasing albums that each had a completely authentic sound that was never repeated.

I have never successfully compiled a satisfactory list of what I would call my "top ten albums of all time," but I know for sure that Jar of Flies would be on that list, and quite high at that, despite the fact that it is not a full-length album. Obviously, this album means a lot to me in a personal way, but all that aside, I feel that this is an absolute must-have in any serious music lover's collection.

Average customer rating: Alice in Chains-Facelift Alice In Chains Debut A Fierce Tour-De-Force of Grunge Metal...4.5 stars... Alice in Chains will always rock! Facelift is fine the way it is, no work required. Needs remastering

Facelift Alice in Chains Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Grunge | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Dirt Alice in Chains Jar of Flies Sap Unplugged ASIN: B00000272N Release Date: 1990-08-20

Tracks:

1. We Die Young
2. Man In The Box
3. Sea Of Sorrow
4. Bleed The Freak
5. I Can't Remember
6. Love, Hate, Love
7. It Ain't Like That
8. Sunshine
9. Put You Down
10. Confusion
11. I Know Something (About You)
12. Real Thing

Customer Reviews:

Alice in Chains-Facelift.......2007-06-27

I didn't care for this CD as much as "Dirt" and "Jar of Flies", but still some good tunes. Love Layne Staley's voice.

Alice In Chains Debut A Fierce Tour-De-Force of Grunge Metal...4.5 stars..........2007-05-02

Four young men from Seattle were in the music business to take over the airwaves with their metal-grunge style and sound. They sold millions upon millions of records in their illustrious career, and it began with a debut full of hard metal blues, a little boogie, and impassioned performances. This young band was known as Alice In Chains and the debut album I'm speaking about is the maelstrom known as FACELIFT. Brimming with enough angst to kick a cow from here to Timbuktu, FACELIFT was heavy on metal and classic rock styles, with an undercurrent of grunge lying underneath it all. Honestly, this is the heaviest album next to DIRT that Alice In Chains ever made.

There are two main ingredients here that make this album sizzle hotter than a firecracker on the 4th of July: Layne Staley's unbelievably amazing and caterwaul vocal performance, and Jerry Cantrell's powerful metal riffs and rip-roaring solos. But, you cannot count out the great rhythm section of bassist Mike Starr and drummer Sean Kinney, who hold their own ever so capably underneath the two stalwarts and they are important pieces themselves.

"We Die Young" is a short burst of aggro-grunge that fires at you at 100 miles per hour, with Cantrell's razor-sharp riffing and Layne Staley's menacing voice growling lines like "scary's on the wall/scary's on his way/watch where you spit/i'd advise you wait until it's over". It brims full of anger yet the chorus shines and pummels at your face. Then "Man In The Box" rips open the door with it's heavier-than-thou grunge riff and Staley's stated scream of "Feed my eyes!". It became a staple on radio thanks to it's catchy rhythm and stellar musicianship, and one hell of a solo by Jerry Cantrell. "Sea of Sorrow" is damn near classic itself, featuring a great chorus between Staley and Cantrell, and yet another great solo by Cantrell, with Kinney and Starr keeping steady pace. Then we dip into the creepy crawl of "Bleed The Freak", again with Staley turning in another great vocal turn, and even the slightly melodic "I Can't Remember" thunders and growls with a quiet intensity lying underneath. Then comes a track like "Love, Hate, Love", which is a chilling tale over Staley's lamenting and musing about doing a horrible thing to his lover, all the while Cantrell shines one of his best solos on the album, and Staley turns in probably the most gut-wrenching vocal performance on the album, especially when he growls in a terrifying scream "Love! Hate! Love!" The chugging dinosaur riffs of "It Ain't Like That" hammer home with a precision of a clock. Then things start to get a little jangly with the boogie-metal of "Put You Down" and "I Know Somethin' (Bout You)", both of which are very damn catchy numbers. It all comes to a close with "Real Thing", which ends the album on a bluesy note, and a crashing finale featuring Layne coughing, most likely for show and not for real.

So after you listen all the way through FACELIFT's 12 tracks, you'll find yourself recovering like a boy who's recovering from a swift and hard punch. That's how I can describe FACELIFT...it's more like a good punch in the face that will leave a little blood in its aftermath yet shines on because it's determined to leave a lasting impression on you. And by all accounts, FACELIFT leaves a big impression from it's stormy brew of grunge metallic, alternative darkness.

Alice in Chains will always rock!.......2007-01-12

Facelift is one of those albums that will forever stand the test of time. Although "Man in the Box" gave Alice in Chains their big break, songs like "We Die Young", "Ain't Like That", "Sea of Sorrow", "Bleed the Freak" and "Put You Down", just to name a few, proved they were no one hit wonder.

Layne Staley's vocals really shine on this album. When do they not, right?

Get this album.....You won't be disappointed!

Facelift is fine the way it is, no work required. .......2006-12-05

Although lumped into the Grunge genre, AIC's debut makes them stand apart from their fellow Seattle peers of that era. Although it has an '80's "guitar album" feel more akin to Van Halen or some of George Lynch's work, it is full of the imagery, tempos, and vocal styles that became AIC staples. There are sludgy, gloom songs (Bleed the Freak, It Ain't Like That, Confusion, Love-Hate-Love, I Can't Remember) but there are also shredders and up-tempo songs, as well (Can't Put You Down, I Know Something). Not to be forgotten is the radio hit "Man in the Box" or the now-prophetic drug song "The Real Thing," a taste of things to come from the "Dirt" album and a view into the problems that would plague the band clear up to Layne Staley's tragic death in 2002. Several of these songs were staples in the 2006 tour and rightfully so...you must have this album!

Needs remastering.......2006-08-17

This album is starting to age. It needs to be remastered. I will buy it again. Overall a great album from begining to end.

Average customer rating: Classic A Comprehensive Yet Flawed Overview of One Of Seattle's Finest... Not Quite the Essential, But The Best Compilation That's Out There... Good Stuff! thanks for a quality cd and fast delivery!

The Essential Alice in Chains Alice in Chains Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Grunge | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Up from the Catacombs: The Best of Jane's Addiction Unplugged Jar of Flies Revelations Dirt ASIN: B0001LYH7U Release Date: 2006-09-05

Tracks:

1. We Die Young
2. Man In The Box
3. Sea Of Sorrow
4. Love, Hate, Love
5. Am I Inside
6. Brother
7. Got Me Wrong
8. Right Turn
9. Rain When I Die
10. Them Bones
11. Angry Chair
12. Dam That River
13. Dirt
14. God Smack
15. Hate To Feel
16. Rooster

Tracks:

1. No Excuses
2. I Stay Away
3. What The Hell Have I (Remix)
4. A Little Bitter (Remix)
5. Grind
6. Heaven Beside you
7. Again
8. Over Now (Unplugged Version)
9. Nutshell (Unplugged Version)
10. Get Born Again
11. Died
12. Would?

Customer Reviews:

Classic.......2007-06-22

This is truly an essential CD if you want to enjoy the great music of A in C.

A Comprehensive Yet Flawed Overview of One Of Seattle's Finest..........2007-05-05

Alice In Chains was a pinnacle Seattle band, and they were part of the Seattle movement that was so prevalent in the 90s, and they carved a niche for themselves in the music world. They had tasted the triumphs of success and they also tasted the bitter pills of defeat (the death of singer Layne Staley was the worst of it all). Many compilations have come to fruition out of the Alice In Chains catalog. MUSIC BANK was the best of the bunch because not only did you get a helping of 3 CDs compiling hits, rarities, and remixes, it included a cd-rom and a comprehensive booklet inside detailing the history of the band itself. Before that was NOTHING SAFE: The Best of The Box, and although it had it's share of the hits, it was merely a sampler and a very small portion of what could have been a huge meal. Then Sony Special products released the pointless 10-track collection GREATEST HITS, which was a complete dud because tons of great songs were left off at the expense of giving the consumer something cheaply manufactured and made. But now, we've got another compilation from Sony entitled THE ESSENTIAL Alice In Chains. Now another question comes to mind here: is this compilation any better? Well, the answer is mostly yes, with a nay for a major single and a few minor hits that were left off this compilation.

The thing this compilation does nicely that MUSIC BANK also did was compile the songs in chronological order. Here's how it runs down on each of the compilations hearty two discs.

On disc 1 you get the pummeling "We Die Young", the classic "Man In The Box", the underrated epic feel of "Sea of Sorrow", and the unadulterated pleasure of the chilling "Love, Hate, Love" from FACELIFT. While these four songs truly represent the meat of FACELIFT, they also represent the origins of Alice In Chains...the majestic building of their monolithic sound and power. Next up we get the entire SAP ep minus that goofy final hidden track, although not in the order of the original ep, which is no big deal because all four songs are excellent tracks. "Got Me Wrong", "Right Turn", "Am I Inside", and "Brother" all blend acoustic and electric nuggets of alternative metal, with "Am I Inside" being a ballad of sorts. From there we dive right into the songs from the masterpiece album DIRT. This is where the compilation runs into a major flaw. You do get the hits such as "Rooster", "Them Bones", "Would?" (found on the end of disc 2), and "Angry Chair". You also get other tracks from dirt like the thrash of "Dam That River", the disorienting title track, and the thundering "God Smack". But my question is why the hell did they leave "Down In A Hole" off of this compilation? What in their right minds made them leave off such a classic song that was a big, big song on the radio and a hit video as well? Well, the folks at Sony must have been smoking crack. This flaw may irk many fans including myself, so it almost renders this compilation completely unnecessary as we have the comprehensive MUSIC BANK. So that's the one major flaw this overview runs into, but it's pretty much the only major flaw here.

Now we go into disc two, which represents the later years of Alice In Chains. We pick up with two fine songs from JAR OF FLIES to start disc two, the shining radio nugget "No Excuses" and the angsty majesty of "I Stay Away". But I think "Rotten Apple" and "Don't Follow" should have been included on this compilation as well, so those are two other more minor flaws here, especially since "Don't Follow" could be heard on the airwaves at that point. But then next we head right into the self-titled "tripod" album, and the slow burn of "Grind", the catchy stomp of "Again", and the folky metallic bluesy "Heaven Beside You" all represent the album quite well, showcasing the classic rock stylings that made the album different sonically from the past Alice In Chains records. Then we get two non-album tracks in remix form, with "What The Hell Have I? and "A Little Bitter", both featured on the LAST ACTION HERO soundtrack. The remix versions sound almost no different from the original versions except that they're sound is a bit heavier and thick than the cleaner metal of their almost mirror counterparts. Then you get two nuggets from the unplugged cd, with the classic "Nutshell" and the quiet dynamics of "Over Now" providing respite from the heavy rock that made Alice In Chains a household name. The compilation comes to an end with 3 more songs, the previously released recordings of "Get Born Again" and "Died", which have bite but sound a little unfinished and leave you feeling the void that has been left from Staley's death. And the last song, the big, mighty majestic roar of the classic hit "Would?" ends the two-disc set with a bang, providing the band's biggest hit and most impassioned performance. It became a staple of 90s radio singles and also was featured on the SINGLES soundtrack. It was among the best of a handful of songs in their catalog.

So to the Alice In Chains fan I say only get this to complete your catalog if you want to have everything by Alice In Chains. If you're merely curious about the band and want to get a taste of AIC and not take a bite out of your wallet, then this compilation will serve you well. Although this compilation leaves off a couple of songs that would have made the title "essential" stand true, this compilation does do a nice job of capturing the best parts of Alice In Chains in all their primal, disorienting and bleakly monstrous glory. This was a band whose time was cut short by tragedy, but who ultimately left a huge mark on the music scene. ESSENTIALS is essential for AIC completists, and a good introduction for first timers. But be warned: if you want to get all the hits and get your money's worth, then track down MUSIC BANK.

Not Quite the Essential, But The Best Compilation That's Out There..........2007-04-24

Alice in Chains is my favorite band. There was so much talent in the band, from the incredible, un-imitatable Layne Staley to the guitar-God Jerry Cantrell...The rhythm section featured (first) a talented bassist named Michael Starr and then a great bassist named Mike Inez, with talented drummer Sean Kinney in tow. When it comes to best-of sets (besides the box set), this is the best thing you can get from AIC. Calling it "the essential" was a mistake though, because it's missing "Down in a Hole" and fan favorites like "Frogs" and "Rotten Apple." However, it does have underrated classics like "God Smack," "Dirt," and "Right Turn." If there's someone looking to become an Alice in Chains fan, this is a good CD to get and if you're an Alice in Chains completist, it's also good to check out. Ironically this whole 2-disc, 28-track CD isn't better than their second studio album "Dirt" and any REAL fan of Alice in Chains should start there. I would list all the songs and certain comments about them, but that would take too long and no one needs a comment from me about how good "Man in the Box" and "Rooster" is, so I'll just talk about a few key songs.

Track 4: Love, Hate, Love is a terrific song that has always been one of my favorites. It's very moody and dark, with the occasional cheesy lyrics here and there but still fantastic.

Track 7: Got Me Wrong is much better unplugged, but is a good studio track too.

Track 8: Right Turn features Jerry Cantrell, Layne Staley, Chris Cornell, and Mark Arm all singing (at one point, at once) and is great to listen too.

Track 14: God Smack is one of their most underrated songs and one of my favorites.

Track 15: Hate to Feel...Classic!
DISC 2
Track 3 & 4: Why "What the Hell Have I" and "A Little Bitter" never made one of their studio albums, I'll never know. Classic AIC!
Tracks 10, 11, & 12: Get Born Again, Died, and Would are fantastic. The first two are the last songs the band recorded, before Layne Staley died...The last one is just one of their best songs. The song that made me an Alice in Chains fan.

Overall: This is a great "Essential" album, despite missing essentials.
Layne Staley, R.I.P
1967-2002
GRADE: A-

Good Stuff!.......2007-04-08

Well here comes yet another greatest hits collection of Alice In Chains. This collection is called "the essential" Alice In Chains. So what does this mean for you and I? Well it means that basically you get most of Dirt, a few good songs from the self-titled album, a few tracks from Facelift, a popular radio hit or two from the EPs and a couple of remixes.

I will admit that I found this package to be an enticing double CD of songs that I already knew. Why would I go buy this if I already had the three studio albums etc, especially if this collection is a better freshmen introduction to the band than the previous greatest hits/essential collections I've seen. Well I'm not sure why really, but I did and I liked it a lot.


I never get tired of listening to these songs and this time is certainly no exception. They cover all the highlights here and to include so much of the immortal Dirt album was a great idea. Aside from the fact that every song on that album is brilliant, it lends a nice flow to the entire collection that is also sorely lacking from the other greatest hits packages.

Realistically no hits packages can get every song we fans crave as we all have our favorites. To their credit this band never really had a formula they stuck to. Each release brought something a little different. In the end though, looking back this approach may have also helped lead to the bands demise as it often hurt their music in terms of overall sales. In hindsight it's amazing to look back at Alice in Chains career and see what they accomplished in a short time.

They were a great band for their time and Lane had a vocal delivery that was unique in the way he was able to pull the listener into his world.

R.I.P. Lane, you brought us something special in your short time with us.

thanks for a quality cd and fast delivery!.......2007-02-11

Thanks for the great cd and fast delivery!

Average customer rating: Great unplugged album! Outstanding CD if looking for diff version, laidback version of AIC songs Amazing Band, Amazing Performance BEST CD EVER! Acoustic brilliance.

Unplugged Alice in Chains Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Grunge | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alternative | Live Albums | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Rock | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Jar of Flies Dirt Alice in Chains Facelift Sap ASIN: B000002BM5 Release Date: 1996-07-30

Tracks:

1. Nutshell
2. Brother
3. No Excuses
4. Sludge Factory
5. Down In A Hole
6. Angry Chair
7. Rooster
8. Got Me Wrong
9. Heaven Beside You
10. Would?
11. Frogs
12. Over Now
13. Killer Is Me

Customer Reviews:

Great unplugged album!.......2007-06-27

Nirvana's unplugged album is unmatched, but this album gives it a run for its money. This is a must for any Alice in Chains fan.

Outstanding CD if looking for diff version, laidback version of AIC songs.......2007-06-26

One of my more-played CDs... Nice if you want a variation of AIC classics or a slightly laid-back version of them.

Used this to get others that thought AIC too much for them to reconsider AIC.

Amazing Band, Amazing Performance.......2007-04-04

The Unplugged acoustic series is one of the best concepts to emerge from MTV in recent years, and Alice in Chains' performance ranks among the best of the MTV Unplugged series.

Alice in Chains was one of the heaviest bands to emerge from the Seattle grunge scene in the early 1990's, and listening to albums like Dirt and especially Facelift it's hard to imagine the band in an acoustic setting, stripped of all of the pummeling heaviness of those two albums. But when you consider the more melodic direction the band took with their Sap and Jar of Flies EPs, you knew the idea had potential.

To sum up the band's Unplugged performance in one word - powerful. As much as I love the Alice in Chains studio albums, once you strip the songs down to the acoustic level it exposes just how good these songs really are, and showcases the incredible songwriting talents of Jerry Cantrell. Layne Staley's emotional vocals are another key element of this album's power. The late vocalist had the ability to channel so much of his self-destructive energy into his performances, and this is no exception. No matter what your opinions on addiction, it's hard not to be moved by Staley's singing, particularly on songs like "Down in a Hole" and "Would". Ultimately, I think this MTV Unplugged album is the best of what Alice in Chains had to offer. With few exceptions, I prefer the acoustic songs on this album to their studio counterparts. They just seem to resonate more in the acoustic setting.

In the end, Alice in Chains Unplugged serves as the band's crowning achievement as well as a testament to wasted potential and what might have been. All Alice in Chains fans should own this album, as should anyone who's into alternative rock, grunge, or hard rock in general.

BEST CD EVER!.......2007-03-29

I could listen to this CD over and over again without interuption for the rest of my life. Every song captivates your mind and soul. Greatly recommended to anyone and everyone out there, no matter what genre of music you listen to normally.

Acoustic brilliance........2007-03-02

Due to the health problems of vocalist Layne Staley and other internal conflicts between the band members, Alice In Chains was unable to play any live shows after their Lollapalooza tour in 1993 which they did in support of their masterpiece Dirt. This unplugged album was their first ever show in three years and, given that, it is an unbelievable effort.

This easily ranks among the finest acoustic albums ever. Even when stripped down to the basics, the band's songs shine with heartfelt emotion and genius compositional skills. Vocalist Layne Staley sounds incredible: the timbre in his sad delivery is so honest and true, and adds to the dark and brooding nature of the songs. "Nutshell", off of their Jar of Flies EP, is interpreted true to its original save for the re-written acoustic bluesy coda by Jerry Cantrell. Staley's voice sounds achingly beautiful here, and the bass really drives the piece. The chorus of "Brother" is infectious and truly haunting in its emotional impact, and the addition of Cantrell's vocals widens its scope. The band is tighter and meaner on "Sludge Factory", with a bass-heavy context and shatteringly heavy acoustic notes. The album's most amazing moment is "Down in a Hole", one of the greatest songs written in the 90's, all genres included. Layne sounds more depressing than ever and turns in an excellent performance - he simply takes the listener on an unmatched emotional journey.

Guitarist Jerry Cantrell is arguably the greatest guitarist that emerged from the Seattle scene, and his songwriting skills remain unsurpassed. Even taken to their very core, his songs generate impossible sonic strength and his playing is out of this world. From his faithful rendition of "Rooster", a song written to his father, to the apocalyptic intro of "Frogs", he amazes both with his unique tone and remarkable ear for melody. He delves deep into experimental music too, particularly on "No Excuses", which seems like an almost re-arranged piece, where he plays a neat solo to complement its evocative flow. This song is also a highlight because of the performance of Sean Kinney, who doesn't miss a single beat. Kinney's kick drums also come out on the aforementioned "Frogs", the longest rendition on this disc. Bassist Mike Inez equally contributes to the album, best heard on "Heaven Beside You" and the intro of the band's hit "Would?".

"Angry Chair", one of the few songs solely written by Layne Staley, finds the band successfully translating this heavy rocker into an acoustic dirge. Staley also plays guitar here and his chorus must have influenced Mike Tramp during his Freak of Nature period quite a bit, given the similarity in his singing the song "World Doesn't Mind". As a matter of fact, Freak of Nature is the only band who comes close to capturing the dark essence of their heavy nature, even doing unplugged sessions, so you may want to give their Outtakes release a listen.

There is also a new song called "Killer Is Me", where guitarist Scott Olson picks up the bass and Mike Inez switches to guitar for a change. At the end of the song, Staley is so excited and overjoyed that he says, "I wish I could hug you all... but I'm not gonna", and the CD ends on a somewhat sad note, as if these were his last words to his fans.

This unplugged album is absolutely essential whether you're a fan of Alice In Chains or not. There's something for everyone here. Unless hopeless bleak music with introspective tone and desperate lyrics turn you off, you owe it to yourself to check it out, as well as the band's studio releases.

Average customer rating: A Solid Swansong Finale Collection From Alice In Chains... One of my all time favorites WHY, OH WHY Couldn't fate have let these guys still be recording? Perhaps the quintessential AIC album Starting to falter just a bit, but still amazing nonetheless!

Alice in Chains Alice In Chains Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Grunge | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Facelift Jar of Flies Dirt Sap Unplugged ASIN: B000002B8A Release Date: 1995-11-07

Tracks:

1. Grind
2. Brush Away
3. Sludge Factory
4. Heaven Beside You
5. Head Creeps
6. Again
7. Shame In You
8. God Am
9. So Close
10. Nothin' Song
11. Frogs
12. Over Now

Customer Reviews:

A Solid Swansong Finale Collection From Alice In Chains..........2007-05-01

Alice In Chains have made quite a name for themselves in the rock world, and they have achieved many successes in their career, but sadly some things just don't last that long, and singer Layne Staley died April of 2002 from a drug overdose. His last studio effort with the band, the "tripod" album as it's become synonomous to be called, is an album full of reflections from a drug addict who has overcome obstacles, but it's also a bold step for the band who blend their metal murky style with classic rock noodlings and folky acoustic segments. It makes for one heck of an amazing collection.

"Grind" is a classic Alice In Chains staple now, complete with chug-chug riff with wah wah effects and wary lines like "in the darkest hole/you'd be well advised not to plan my funeral 'fore the body dies", and the chorus is uplifting with the harmonizing of guitarist Jerry Cantrell and vocalist Layne Staley in full force, as the rhythm section of bassist Mike Inez and drummer Sean Kinney thunders home. "Sludge Factory" is a seven minute epic scope view of a junkie's forethought, and it's a cousin to DIRT's "Junkhead". Elsewhere on the album, Cantrell shines on the foreboding acoustic/electric sizzle of "Heaven Beside You"; "God Am" questions the activities of a deity while a clean grunge lies underneath; "Frogs" sounds like an ominous building storm that crashes to some degree but never really lashes out...it just remains calmly dark for its 8 minute-plus runtime. But the band doesn't abandon it's metal stylings it's so famous for, and the aforementioned thunder of "Grind" is accompanied by the bron-y-ard stomp of "Again" and the cascading grind of "So Close". The album closes with the introspective "Over Now" which is a showcase for Jerry Cantrell's musings over a failed relationship. Not everything on this album addresses the theme of drugs, but it certainly sounds like an album that's an aftermath to a bad night.

But for all the dark majesty of this album, it certainly is one of the most classic and resounding albums of overcoming the travesties of a drug-riddled life. ALICE IN CHAINS turns out to be one of the most introspective albums Alice In Chains has ever made...confessional yet inward, metal yet classic rock, hugely Seattle yet resoundingly refreshing, and it still holds true today.

One of my all time favorites.......2007-04-28

This album isn't nearly as popular, but in my opinion it is just as good as "Dirt". Due to Layne's illness they were unable to tour and promote this gem properly, but it still had some moderate radio hits in the beatiful "Heaven Beside You", the rocking "Again", and the shockingly dark and powerful "Grind". These are great, quintessential AIC songs but the thing is, they are far from the best on the album. Jerry Cantrell has said in interviews that if they had toured to promote the album, "God Am" would have been released as a single, and this breaks my heart. Lyrically and musically I would rank "God Am" as one of the best AIC songs ever. My personal favorite on the album is "Shame in You" a slow, chilled AIC song that gives Layne the chance to show off his amazing voice and Jerry the chance to shred amazing guitar parts in almost bluesy fashion. "Head Creeps" and "Sludge Factory" definetly deserve mention as well: these songs are dark and almost frightening, but feature cool lyrics, guitar work, and Layne's amazing and distorted voice. You will find yourself immediately drawn in a jamming after a single listen. If you like Dirt, please buy this album, you will be surprised how quickly it grows on you.

WHY, OH WHY Couldn't fate have let these guys still be recording?.......2007-02-08

This group kept getting better and ummhmm...better. At first I thought this was aic's worst output. I wanted a return to the youthful energy of "facelift" or the dark, heavychevy "dirt" or the beautiful acoustic "jar", but this album "aic" is now my favorite alice album closely rivaled by "jar of flies". The reasons it is now my favorite is because each song has layers of extremely well-produced instrumental and vocal sound only to be further layered with complex lyrical play and meaning. Essentially this is a complex output allowing me to listen to it over and over and ,good god ahmighty, over agai For instance, the one song on this album that best represents everything i mentioned above is "headcreeps". The song is musically heavily layered thanks to cantrell's input of busy lead, and rythmn guitar work. The heavy amount of guitar with a sundry of high, low notes hits you like a big ol' fat wall of sound. To add to this, the distortion of Staley's vocal output adds another dimension to the already rich sound of his trademark multi-interval (which have the lower, higher and midrange sound) vocals. To add even MORE complexity to this song one must consider the lyrics. These lyrics seem like they could be interpreted in different ways. I am partial to the religious implications even though the lyrics could easily be referring to the pain of romantic breakup. "live puppets on a string, untangle you from me," and "time to call the doggies off" pleas (to me) to God to release me from a life full of pain or "untangle" your will from mine. "Some day my plane leaves, someway my head creeps," expresses how i'm a goin' crazy in a world created by a god who won't allow me to reach stable state devoid of suffering and painful inconsistencies. "Rise from the dirt i'm in hide in another's skin, stick black dress doll with pin, your mouth takes on my grin," says the pain and insanity of humanity continues unimpeded by the Almighty from one life to the next. The rythmn change toward the end of the track seems to show everything that is somewhat predictable and stable coming apart or complete madness, thus HEADCREEPS! Loads of complexity, prevelent throughtout this lp is what makes this recording kick extreme a*% and it makes me tremendously sad that it had to be their last major studio output. "brush away" is another song I've listened to a silly amount of times, because of the absolute perfect use of staley's vocal talent and cantrell's musical creativity. The layering of acoustic and electric guitar coupled with staley's multi-faceted vocals is unbelievably satisfying. "nothin' song" is yet another tribute to the magic of aic's creativity using dissonant notes (of cantrell's guitar and staley's chorus 'ayieee' in this case) over chunky rythmn guitar work and shifty lyrics, like "started this take at 7:38" (mundane) and "nothing ever stays the same" (philosophical). "Shame in you" is ANOTHER song on this album that uses every once of cantrell and staley's talents creating another stunning track. The melodic sound of cantrell's guitar underneath Staley's well layered vocals (in particular, his high registar in the line "concentratin' on dyin' yeah") gives me freakin' goosebumps every freakin' time i hear it. This lp is irreplaceable.

Perhaps the quintessential AIC album.......2007-02-07

Fans didn't know what to expect in '95 from Alice in Chains prior to this release. After "Jar of Flies," rumors swirled that they had "gone mellow." However, the self-titled "Alice in Chains" dispelled those rumors with such efforts as "Again", "So Close", "Grind", and "Sludge Factory." The band presents their trademark brooding sadness as well with tunes such as "Shame in You", "Over Now," and the radio-friendly "Heaven Beside You." With eerie harmonies and layers of guitar riffs, AIC fans will find this album to be worth their money and quite memorable. Knowing the band's history at this point in time makes this album and its themes even more haunting. A must have!

Starting to falter just a bit, but still amazing nonetheless!.......2006-10-28

This cd along with all the other Alice In Chains releases are top notch. Lane was a tremendous singer who left an impression with the angst of his existence in his delivery. It's to bad he couldn't fight off the demons that eventually took his life. All in all this band was excellent.

They and Soundgarden are the only two grunge bands worth mentioning from that time period with maybe Nirvana tossed in the mix as well. However Nirvana although a very good band in it's own right, couldn't touch Alice In Chain or Soundgarden in my honest opinion.

Alice In Chains was and always will be a great band period!!

Buy it!

Average customer rating: Sure, it's only 10 tracks long... ill "stay away" too...stay away from this. awesome Love This Band alice n chains greatest hits

Alice in Chains - Greatest Hits Alice in Chains Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Grunge | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music $7.99 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 Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $7.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Thank You The Smashing Pumpkins - Greatest Hits - Rotten Apples A-Sides rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003) Unplugged ASIN: B00005MKDW Release Date: 2001-08-28

Tracks:

1. Man In The Box
2. Them Bones
3. Rooster
4. Angry Chair
5. Would?
6. No Excuses
7. I Stay Away
8. Grind
9. Heaven Beside You
10. Again

Amazon.com

From 1999's Music Bank box set and its one-CD compilation offshoot, Nothing Safe: The Best of the Box to a 1996 Unplugged CD, the Alice in Chains titles continue to arrive even while the band--and especially reclusive frontman Layne Staley--stagnates. The quartet's heavy, dirgelike music is aging well, but the 10 songs that comprise Greatest Hits are the basic radio hits. Greatest Hits features no new music, no liner notes, no lyrics, no new photos, and no elaborate packaging. Still, for the rock fan, every song on the disc (five of them penned solely by talented guitarist Jerry Cantrell) is a bona fide hit, from the band's earliest, their 1990 breakthrough "Man in the Box," to the lush orchestration of "I Stay Away" to 1995's dark pop gem "Heaven Beside You." Greatest Hits provides a quick fix for newer fans, but with The Best of the Box boasting 9 of Greatest Hits' 10 songs, plus an additional 5 selections. Skip Hits and go for The Best. --Katherine Turman

Customer Reviews:

Sure, it's only 10 tracks long..........2007-07-16

But so what? I mean, what do you guys expect for less than eight bucks? Surely not something like a two-disc CD set with a bonus DVD of all of AIC's videos? Come on now, people.

I'll admit, I was never a huge Alice fan during their heyday in the early-mid 90s. Nevertheless, the influence that these guys have had on the sounds of many post-grunge/"nü-metal" bands today cannot be denied. AIC is the band that bridged the gap between the fans of 80s hair metal bands like Whitesnake and Warrant and 90s grunge groups such as Nirvana and Mudhoney. What this band has done for rock music as a whole simply can't be downplayed.

"Greatest Hits" collections like these inevitably tend to piss a lot of people off, if for no other reason than the "personal hits," as it were, for every fan are not included. And a lot of folks here have complained that this album consists only of radio singles. But therein lies the problem: Any band's "greatest hits" are, ultimately, those that have done well commercially. Releases like this are meant to be a celebration of that success; nothing more, nothing less. Sure, I would have liked to see "Nutshell" and a handful of other classic Alice songs tacked on here, but to be able to hear such great works as first single "Man In The Box," "Rooster," "Would?," "No Excuses," and "Heaven Beside You" all on one disc is more than enough for me. And for the price that it's going for on here (although you can buy it at Wal-Mart for slightly cheaper...), you certainly can't go wrong.

No, there are no new songs, no bonus artwork, no extensive liner notes, no fancy-schmancy packaging, no useless poster or keychain, nada. In other words, no surprises; just excellent music.

ill "stay away" too...stay away from this........2007-07-02

10 songs on a greatest hits album? what a joke. why buy this when you can buy nothing safe, best of the box and get all of these same songs and them some. i own EVERY AIC album and nothing safe is by far my favorite. dirt is pretty cool too so that may be worth checking into. i didnt care too much for their unplugged set...but seriously, avoid this album like the plague.

awesome.......2007-03-05

Alice in chains was one of the best 90's grunge rock bands This was the only album I owned MAN IN THE BOX/THEM BONES were one of my favorite songs of all. yeah 10 songs but still this album was worth buying for a worthy price of $5 or $7 dollars I play this cd mostly in my car when im in the mood for some nice hard rock grunge metal.


R.I.P Layne Staley.

Love This Band.......2007-02-11

This was my first Alice in Chains CD purchase. I realize, after reading other reviews, that it didn't include many other fans' favorite songs.

However, these songs RULE! Love the ballads and the intense guitar in the same songs. They have a sound all their own.

I am now a huge fan.

alice n chains greatest hits.......2007-01-25

i was charged for this producted but never recieved it

Average customer rating: AIC just isn't AIC without Layne SAP A Great EP...Just Too Short...4.5 stars... Saptastic Short but Sweet Short, but essential

Sap Alice in Chains Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Grunge | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Hard Rock & Metal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Jar of Flies Alice in Chains Facelift Dirt Above ASIN: B000002B2X Release Date: 1995-03-21

Tracks:

1. Brother
2. Got Me Wrong
3. Right Turn
4. Am I Inside
5. Bonus Track 1

Customer Reviews:

AIC just isn't AIC without Layne.......2007-07-09

I love this CD. It shows that even heavy grungers can have a semi soft side.

SAP A Great EP...Just Too Short...4.5 stars..........2007-05-02

Alice In Chains FACELIFT was a grunge-metal whirlwind that went platinum and introduced the world to Alice In Chains. When it came time to record a follow up, the band went in the studio and came out with a big surprise. SAP, the band's first ep, was a starkly different collection than it's predecessor, and it introduced us to a vastly more melodic and introspective side of the band.

"Brother" and "Am I Inside" are two of the most haunting cuts written by Alice In Chains (both were written by Cantrell and Staley respectively). "Got Me Wrong" mixes a smooth, melodic side with a blustery chorus, and it was a wisely chosen single. "Right Turn" is a nice jam session featuring vocalists Chris Cornell of Soundgarden/Audioslave fame, and Mark Arm of Mudhoney. The concluding bonus cut on the album is a silly goof that was wisely left off the tracklisting, and although it cracks me up all the time, it might be seen as more stupid than funny (you have to decide for yourself I found it lightly amusing).

So all in all, SAP is a surprising strong and short collection of songs that show a much different side of Alice In Chains. While the bonus cut does nothing to add to the collection itself, SAP still remains a necessity in the grunge back catalog, and most importantly, in the Alice In Chains catalog.

Saptastic.......2006-09-04

A very good attempt at acoustic music by AiC. It gets the following ratings:

Got Me Wrong - 10/10 Best song on the album!
Brother - 9/10 Great song, but I think the unplugged version is better
Right Turn - 8.5/10 Somewhat catchy
Am I Inside - 8.5/ On level with Right Turn
Love Song - ...

Short but Sweet.......2006-09-03

If you're an Alice in Chains fan this short EP is essencial for you. There are some pretty good tracks on this. Even the hidden track is pretty "interesting". Anyway probably the best track from it is of course "Got Me Wrong". The other tracks are pretty good too. Here are some ratings...

1. Brother - 9/10
2. Got Me Wrong - 10/10
3. Right Turn - 8.5/10
4. Am I Inside - 9.5/10
5. Bonus Track 1 - 8.5/10

Overall: 91% A-

This is pretty much just a nice album to own if you enjoy the bands music or find it for real cheap somewhere as I did. It's good for what its worth being a short but sweet EP.

Short, but essential.......2006-08-17

Short, but essential. All the songs here are classic Alice in Chains.

Average customer rating: So amazing Alice in Chains: a music group of immense talent Killer tunes!!!!! Retrospective with Rarities An excellent ride through the Staley era of AIice

Music Bank Alice in Chains Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Grunge | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Heavy Metal | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: Alice in Chains - Music Bank - The Videos Sap Degradation Trip Volumes 1 & 2 Live Boggy Depot ASIN: B0000296JW Release Date: 1999-10-26

Tracks:

1. Get Born Again
2. I Can't Have You Blues (Demo)
3. Whatcha Gonna Do (Demo)
4. Social Parasite (Demo)
5. Queen Of The Rodeo (Live)
6. Bleed The Freak (Demo)
7. Killing Yourself (Demo)
8. We Die Young
9. Man In The Box
10. Sea Of Sorrow (Demo)
11. I Can't Remember
12. Love, Hate, Love
13. It Ain't Like That
14. Confusion
15. Rooster (Demo)
16. Right Turn
17. Got Me Wrong

Tracks:

1. Rain When I Die
2. Fear The Voices
3. Them Bones
4. Dam That River
5. Sickman
6. Rooster
7. Junkhead (Demo)
8. Dirt
9. God Smack
10. Iron Gland
11. Angry Chair
12. Lying Season
13. Would?
14. Brother
15. Am I Inside
16. I Stay Away
17. No Excuses

Tracks:

1. Down In A Hole
2. Hate To Feel
3. What The Hell Have I (Remix)
4. A Little Bitter (Remix)
5. Grind
6. Again (Tattoo Of Pain Mix)
7. Head Creeps
8. God Am
9. Frogs
10. Heaven Beside You
11. Nutshell (Unplugged)
12. The Killer Is Me (Unplugged)
13. Over Now (Unplugged)
14. Died

Customer Reviews:

So amazing.......2007-03-13

Alice in Chains was a great band. I am so happy with my purchase. I like that there are demos on the first disc. Songs I have never heard before.

Alice in Chains: a music group of immense talent.......2007-01-10

This is one very well-put together music collection. 40 plus tracks of gripping, catchy, tracks and tunes that speak volumes of the mindsets of the group members about life and its struggles. It's a shame they ended the way they did. If you want a piece of classic music that's ahead of and within its time, get this collection.

Killer tunes!!!!!.......2006-08-22

AWESOME!!! Everyone and their brother should own this one. I'm a huuuuuuuuuge AIC fan from the beginning. This music collection is a must have for any fan!!

Retrospective with Rarities.......2006-08-01

The Alice in Chains 4-disc box set Music Bank serves as both career retrospective and B-side collection. You get plenty of material from the regular AIC albums, but there is enough bonus material to make the set worthwhile to die-hard fans.

Here's what you get in this box set that you won't find on other AIC releases:

Disc 1 - Get Born Again (the only brand new song produced for this set), 3 early demos from the Alice N Chainz days, demo versions of Bleed the Freak, Killing Yourself, Sea of Sorrow, and Rooster, and a live track called Queen of the Rodeo.

Disc 2 - There are only 3 exclusive tracks on this disc. Fear the Voices is an odd one, sounding like Alice in Chains meets the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It also features a demo version of Junkhead and a track called Lying Season. Despite having just a few new tracks, disc 2 is the strongest in the set, since it contains the most material from Dirt and Jar of Flies.

Disc 3 - This disc rounds out the collection, and features material taken mostly from the band's final studio album. There are a few tracks from the Unplugged album, a few remixes, and the track "What the Hell Have I" which originally only appeared on the Last Action Hero soundtrack. The song "Died" is the only track that isn't available elsewhere.

Disc 4 - This is an interesting item. Music Bank was released before DVDs had completely taken over, so disc 4 is actually a CD-ROM with several of the band's videos and some additional multimedia content. It's a decent addition, but one that was made obsolete when the Music Bank DVD was released a couple of years later.

All told, this box set is likely to appeal only to die-hard Alice in Chains fans who want to own every available AIC release. It's a good collection, if a bit flawed. They could have just as easily added a disc or two and collected the band's entire catalog, or just released a single-CD rarities collection (which would have been a lot lighter on our wallets).

An excellent ride through the Staley era of AIice.......2006-07-05

Some of the other reviews say that the box set was premature and they should have waited until AIC had a few more studio albums out, but most of those reviews were written before the death of lead singer Layne Staley, ending an era in AIC history. The band has since found a new lead singer, but the voice of Layne (or any distinctive lead singer, really) is impossible to replace. This box set is now an excellent ride through the Staley era of Alice, including all of the singles, and many outtakes and demos.

This set appeals to the hardcore fan providing the alternate takes of songs, and the unreleased stuff, and the casual fan with the singles. However, the casual fan might rather consider the 'Best of the Box' CD. I believe it's called 'Nothing Safe'.

Average customer rating: Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material! Beginner or Expert Very Informative and Enjoyable Frank's view Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra

Instruments of the Orchestra Various Artists Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra | ( M ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra | ( H ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra | ( M ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Op34; Simple Symphony Op4 The Mahler Symphonies: An Owner's Manual (includes 1 CD) The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (Book & CD) Study of Orchestration, Third Edition What to Listen for in Music ASIN: B00006O0NT Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

1. Overture To 'Tannhauser'
2. Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
3. We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
4. Hungarian Dance No.7
5. The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
6. Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
7. But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
8. The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
9. The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
10. Csardas Music
11. The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
12. The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
13. Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
14. The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
15. Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
16. Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
17. The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
18. Tzigane
19. Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
20. Caprice No.24
21. The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
22. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
23. Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
24. Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
25. Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
26. The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
27. The Violin Muted
28. Clair De Lune
29. The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
30. Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
31. The Pizzicato Violin
32. Pizzicato Polka
33. In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
34. Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
35. Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
36. The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
37. The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
38. Hungarian Dance No.4
39. Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
40. The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
41. Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
42. Bolero
43. Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
44. Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
45. Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
46. Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
47. Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
48. Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
49. And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
50. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
51. The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
52. Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
53. The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
54. Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
55. Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
56. The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
57. Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
58. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
59. Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
60. The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
61. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
62. Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
63. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
64. Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
65. Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
66. To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
67. Elfenreigen

Tracks:

1. Introduction To The Viola
2. Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
3. Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
4. Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
5. Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
6. Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
7. The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
8. Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
9. The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
10. Cypresses (No.9)
11. The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
12. Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
13. The 'Period' Viola In Bach
14. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
15. The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
16. Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
17. Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
18. Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
19. Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
20. Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
21. In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
22. Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
23. But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
24. Elfentanz, Op.39
25. Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
26. The Protecting Veil (Opening)
27. A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
28. Flamenco
29. Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
30. Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
31. It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
32. Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
33. It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
34. Symphony No.9 (Finale)
35. Introduction To The Double-Bass
36. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
37. But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
38. Elegy No.1 In D Major
39. The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
40. Capriccio Di Bravura
41. Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
42. The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
43. Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

1. The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
2. Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
3. The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
4. Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
5. The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
6. Sa'Dawi
7. Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
8. Chamber Music No.II
9. The Piccolo - Aptly Named
10. La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
11. From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
12. Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
13. A Variety Of Techniques
14. Chamber Music No.II
15. Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
16. The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
17. From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
18. Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
19. An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
20. Naelden, Naelden
21. The Bachian Oboe
22. Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
23. Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
24. Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
25. The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
26. The Swan Of Tuonela
27. The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
28. Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
29. Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
30. Bolero
31. The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
32. Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
33. As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
34. Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
35. The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
36. The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
37. The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
38. ...And Quite Low.
39. Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
40. The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
41. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
42. But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
43. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
44. Introduction To The Saxophone
45. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
46. The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
47. L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
48. The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
49. Bolero
50. The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
51. Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
52. The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
53. Sax-O-Phun
54. The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
55. Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
56. The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
57. Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
58. Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
59. And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
60. Bolero
61. The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
62. Symphony No.3 (Opening)
63. The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
64. The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
65. Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
66. The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
67. The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
68. Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
69. The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
70. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
71. The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
72. Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
73. Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
74. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
75. The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
76. Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

1. The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
2. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
3. The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
4. Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
5. The Ceremonial Trumpet
6. Fanfare For The Common Man
7. Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
8. Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
9. The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
10. Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
11. The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
12. Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
13. The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
14. Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
15. The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
16. Billy The Kid
17. The Trumpet As Character Actor
18. Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
19. The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
20. Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
21. The Birth Of The Trombone
22. Aenmerckt Nu Hier
23. The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
24. Canzon 12 In Double Echo
25. The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
26. Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
27. The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
28. Hosannah
29. The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
30. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
31. The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
32. The Trombone As Caricaturist
33. Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
34. The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
35. The Horn And The Hunt
36. Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
37. The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
38. Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
39. The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
40. Walter Music (Minuet 1)
41. The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
42. Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
43. Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
44. The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
45. Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
46. The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
47. Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
48. The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
49. Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
50. The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
51. Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

1. Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
2. Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
3. At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
4. Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
5. Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
6. Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
7. The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
8. The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
9. Den Hoboecken Dans
10. Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
11. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
12. No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
13. Gymnopedie No.2
14. The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
15. Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
16. More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
17. Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
18. Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
19. Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
20. A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
21. Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
22. The Birth Of The Bongo
23. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
24. From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
25. Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
26. From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
27. Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
28. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
29. But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
30. Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
31. Taking Advantage Of Tunability
32. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
33. The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
34. Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
35. Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
36. The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
37. Ravel And The Xylophone
38. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
39. Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
40. Introducing The Vibraphone
41. The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
42. The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
43. Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
44. Folk Dances
45. The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
46. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
47. Introducing The Tubular Bells
48. Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
49. A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
50. Carmen Suite (Introduction)
51. But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
52. Introducing The Celeste
53. The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
54. Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
55. Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
56. Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
57. A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
58. The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
59. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
60. The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
61. Petrushka (Russian Dance)
62. The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
63. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

1. Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
2. Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
3. But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
4. Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
5. The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
6. An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
7. Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
8. Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
9. Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
10. Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
11. Mahler's Sleighbells
12. Symphony No.4 (Opening)
13. A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
14. Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
15. Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
16. Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
17. National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
18. And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
19. And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
20. The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
21. The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
22. The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
23. The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
24. The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
25. The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
26. The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
27. The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
28. There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
29. The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
30. Nocturnes
31. Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
32. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
33. The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
34. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
35. The Oboe As Duck
36. Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
37. The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
38. The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
39. The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
40. Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
41. Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
42. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
43. Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
44. The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
45. A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
46. Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
47. A Thunderstorm In A Million
48. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
49. the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
50. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
51. Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
52. The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

1. The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
2. Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
3. A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
4. Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
5. Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
6. String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
7. The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
8. String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
9. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
10. String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
11. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
12. String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
13. The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
14. String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
15. The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
16. Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
17. Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
18. String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
19. The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
20. Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
21. Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
22. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
23. In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
24. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
25. In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
26. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
27. In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
28. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
29. Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
30. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
31. And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
32. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
33. The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
34. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
35. Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
36. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
37. A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
38. Octet In F (Mvt 3)
39. The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
40. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
41. Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
42. Canzon 28
43. Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
44. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
45. From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
46. Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
47. Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
48. The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
49. Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
50. When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
51. Images (Gigues)
52. A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
53. Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
54. The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
55. Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
56. Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
57. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
58. A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

The one complaint I have is the last CD. This deals with the orchestra. I wanted more of a tour of how the orchestra has been used through history up to the present. Instead, it was a tour of how different groups of instruments sound. I thought it could have been better. The other 6 CDs are excellent.

Christian Music:

1. Crossing the Line
2. Destroy Rock & Roll [CD-single] [Import]
3. Diary of [Import]
4. Doris Troy Sings Just One Look & Other Memorable Selections
5. Duke of Earl: the Very Best of the Vee-Jay Years [Import]
6. Dynamite: Encore Collection [Extra tracks]
7. Essence
8. Everybody Knows About My Good Thing [Original recording remastered]
9. Experience [Import]
10. For the Sake of Love

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Fuze

Music Minus One Mezzo-Soprano: VERDI Arias for Mezzo-Soprano with Orchestra

Ought To Be A Law

Freddy Weller's Greatest Hits

Push [CD-single] [Import]

Please Welcome...

No. 4 [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Spitfire [Original recording remastered]

Proving Ground

On the Banks of Helicon: Early Music of Scotland

Rock Island

Progress [Import]

Merengue...Y Que

B.B. King Tribute

Neu!