Sail [CD-single] [Import]

Product Description
Sampled Beats. Sublime Moment from their Debut 'cold Water Music,' featuring Canadian Singer Kate Rogers. Includes a Reworking by Rae and Christian and a New Track: 'undergound Crown Holders'.

Sail,Aim,Rtd

Average customer rating: I always just loved this band, STYX!!!!!! THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST STYX GREATEST HITS COMPILATION ALBUM THUS FAR. Philosophical Breakthrough Awesome Collection of Styx Groan!

Come Sail Away: The Styx Anthology Styx Manufacturer: A&M ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | 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: The Essential REO Speedwagon The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings The Essential Journey Retrospectacle: The Supertramp Anthology Foreigner - Complete Greatest Hits ASIN: B0001ZMXDG Release Date: 2004-05-04

Tracks:

1. Best Thing
2. You Need Love
3. Lady
4. Winner Take All
5. Rock & Roll Feeling
6. Light Up
7. Lorelei
8. Prelude 12
9. Suite Madame Blue
10. Shooz
11. Mademoiselle
12. Crystal Ball
13. The Grand Illusion
14. Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
15. Come Sail Away
16. Miss America
17. Man In The Wilderness

Tracks:

1. Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
2. Sing For The Day
3. Renegade
4. Pieces Of Eight
5. Lights
6. Babe
7. Borrowed Time
8. Boat On The River
9. A.D. 1928
10. Rockin' The Paradise
11. Too Much Time On My Hands
12. The Best Of Times
13. Snowblind
14. Mr. Roboto
15. Love Is The Ritual
16. Show Me The Way
17. Dear John
18. One With Everything

Amazon.com

Styx may have had their musical roots in the UK's burgeoning late-'60s/early-'70s prog-rock bombast, but they were true pioneers in at least one sense: The Chicago-bred quintet virtually defined the hugely successful "corp rock" boom that followed a decade after prog's original fortunes tarnished. And if that label suggests a certain sense of the formulaic, in Styx it actually denoted a band with sharp ears and a shrewder sense of rock history, attested to immediately here by the Yes-inspired harmonies of "You Need Love" and the staccato rhythms of the Beatles' "Getting Better" on "Winner Take All." This 35-track double-disc anthology charts a course from sudden fame to its sometimes stormy aftermath, spanning the band's 1972 debut and its resilient 2003 comeback contender, Cyclorama. But after working their way up from the Grand Funk-worthy, meat 'n' instant potatoes of "Rock and Roll Feeling" and bald-faced melodramatics of "Lady" and "Come Sail Away" to the gutsier edge of "Blue Collar Man" and "Too Much Time on My Hands," rising tides of punk and new wave began to erode their younger demographic. And by the time "Babe" gave way to the faux techno of '83's "Mr. Roboto," even those sympathetic to the band's hook-rich, prog-lite sensibility seemed restless. Still, their Tommy Shaw-dominate output in the '90s and beyond showcased a band that had subtly matured from their arena-rock cliché salad days. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

I always just loved this band, STYX!!!!!!.......2007-07-25

STYX!!!! What a grrreeaaat band!!!! ...or.....Does my dog need to take a dump after hearing that horrible sound again??
That's the title of this review folks. Face it...You lose, Styx wins...An utterly horrible band takes your money, not once, not twice, but for 35 years they take your money.

O.K., a lot of people think that the band "STYX" is from England, the UK, Britain, whatever. Why can't those dumb Brits just get one freakin' name for there idiotic country, Jesus. Regardless, Styx were just a plain old ridiculous pompous, horrendous, disgusting American band from Chicago. They just tried real hard to sound British. Like for instance, on the stupidest in the world song, "Lady", the singer really squeezes his nards hard and tries to sound like the Queen of England, the UK, Britain, Scottish, whatever. It doesn't work folks, it doesn't work.

Now, lets look at the facts. Most musicians die at an early age unfortunately. The guitar master Jimi Hendrix died in his 20's as did the genius Jim Morrison as well as Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and many many other great musicians, it's so sad. Even regular musicians that aren't famous die early, people you knew in your hometown, from high school, I mean, people die, it's part of life.
However, every dirty stinkin' guy from the band Styx is still alive!!!! Every band member from all those horrible 70's bands is still alive. Styx, Kansas, REO, Journey, they are all alive!!!! WHY?????........BECAUSE THEY AREN'T REALLY MUSICIANS, THEY ARE JUST POSERS. Posers can live forever because they have no internal organs. No brain, no heart, they don't even have a soul, and definitely got no BALLS!!!
They even stole their name from a San Francisco band from the 60's called Butch Engle and the Styx. What a bunch of losers!!!! Like I said at the beginning of the review, my dog needs to take a dump.

THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST STYX GREATEST HITS COMPILATION ALBUM THUS FAR........2007-06-26

I will be writing a review on the legendary masterpiece 2-CD compilation album entitled "COME SAIL AWAY, THE STYX ANTHOLOGY" by one of Rock's all-time greatest premiere bands ever. I give you one of America's favorite sons and one of Chicago's many pride and joy's, S-T-Y-X! "COME SAIL AWAY, THE STYX ANTHOLOGY" was originally released in 2004 on the UTV Records / A&M Records label on a special 2-CD Gold disc set series using the Original Recording Remastered process. As always, if I hear any new additional information concerning this legendary compilation album or the artist, I will edit this review immediately so that you the consumer will get the overall best informative and most accurate review possible.

STYX will forever go down in Rock n' Roll history and be remembered for composing and recording some of Rock's all-time greatest "slow ballads exploding into Hard Rockers" ever. I guess you can say that STYX followed along the same lines and tradition of LED ZEPPELIN and one of their many legendary Rock songs that would forever be the band's signature and trademark Rock anthem, "Stairway To Heaven." "Stairway To Heaven" would start out as a beautifully slow romantic and poetic acoustic arrangement which would end with a fast upbeat and explosive Hard Rock ending that would have you begging for more. In true retrospect, many of STYX'S classic Rock anthems follow the same LED ZEPPELIN formula but would take it a step further. I will mention more about this formula throughout this review. When the original members such as acoustic and electric guitarist Tommy Shaw met up and joined forces with guitarist James Young, keyboardist, vocalist and synthesizers Dennis De Young, bassist Chuck Panozzo and his brother, drummer John Panozzo, STYX would be born and a new era of arena Rock was about to begin and unfold. It was full speed ahead for STYX and the band would delight us for many years to come from 1972 to 2003 with such beautifully slow, poetic and romantic acoustic sound arrangements thus resulting in blowing us away with a fast explosive and electrifying sound fury at the end of their songs with such grace that the band made it look so easy to perform when it really wasn't. Which now brings me to the legendary compilation album I'm about to review for you today. "COME SAIL AWAY, THE STYX ANTHOLOGY" would be the result of the many great Rock anthems that STYX would deliver to all of us during the 1972 to 2003 period. In my opinion, "COME SAIL AWAY, THE STYX ANTHOLOGY" is without a doubt, a true testament of the greatness, pure genius and musical creativity of five extremely multi-talented musicians. This legendary compilation album is also a fine fitting tribute to a great band that was truly indeed, far ahead of their time. This is the story of STYX, their music is their story that speaks for itself.

It is now time to let the music of STYX to do all of the talking and back it up musically as it was truly intended. "COME SAIL AWAY, THE STYX ANTHOLOGY" from 2004 begins with DISC ONE starting with the CROSBY, STILLS & NASH sounding and incredible acoustic turned acoustic and electric Hard Rocker "Best Thing," the fast paced and explosive Hard Rocker "You Need Love," the formula at its best, the beautifully slow, poetic and romantic arrangement which would soon thrust into a Hard Rockin' masterpiece anthem, "Lady," the explosive and energetic Hard Rocker "Winner Take All," the sizzlin' and loud a*s kickin' Hard Rock anthem with a lot of heart and feelin', "Rock & Roll Feeling," the powerfully slow synthesized turned funkish Hard Rocker "Light Up," the synthesized Hard Rocker with a backbone, "Lorelei," the beautifully sounding acoustic arrangement "Prelude 12," which would evolve into the beautifully arranged mild acoustic number which would later explode into a Hard Rock extravaganza "Suite Madame Blue," the a*s kicking Hard Rocker "Shooz," the amazing guitar sounding effects and wizardry developing into a QUEEN-sounding Hard Rocker, "Mademoiselle," the brilliantly sounding acoustic arrangement turned Hard Rocker, "Crystal Ball," the unbelievable synthesized KANSAS sounding Rocker, "The Grand Illusion," the circus like atmospheric synthesized number turned into an acoustic Rocker, "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)," this next song is another fine example of the formula performed to its fullest potential. This beautifully slow STYX stamped trademark song would erupt into the Hard Rock anthem it was destined to become, a masterpiece. The Hard Rocker of Hard Rockers, "Come Sail Away," the daring and in your face Hard Rocker "Miss America" and the beautifully slow mystical and mysterious number growing into another Hard Rock anthem, "Man In The Wilderness." END OF DISC ONE.

DISC TWO picks up right where DISC ONE left off beginning with the a*s kicking synthesized Hard Rocker "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)," the uplifting synthesized mild Rocker "Sing For The Day," the a*s kicking Hard Rock anthem "Renegade," the Rock n' Roll opus with a synthesized and orchestrated Hard Rock sound touch, "Pieces Of Eight," the heartfelt synthesized mild Rocker "Lights," the beautifully slow sounding Rock anthem that would be another STYX stamped trademark song, "Babe," the rude awakening sounding Hard Rocker "Borrowed Time," the beautifully slow and mandolin filled mild song "Boat On The River," one of the most beautifully sounding Rock anthem ballads ever, "A.D. 1928," which would grow and shake Rock n' Roll to its very foundations with the rugged Hard Rocker "Rockin' The Paradise," the synthesized Rocker with a life of its own, "Too Much Time On My Hands," another one of STYX'S trademark Rock anthems, the beautifully sounding and breathtaking mild Rocker "The Best Of Times," the slow a*s kicking Hard Rocker "Snowblind," the synthesized and energetic Rocker "Mr. Roboto," the synthesized progressive Rocker "Love Is The Ritual," the beautifully slow and encouraging song with hope, "Show Me The Way," the beautifully sounding acoustic and orchestrated song "Dear John" and the true STYX Hard Rock anthem that kicks a*s, "One With Everything." END OF DISC TWO. May I also add an important note and highly commend all of the bandmembers on a great job well done. Much of the music contained on this album is extremely difficult to play. However, the band's timekeeping was laid down perfectly resulting in enabling the other bandmembers to join in and harmonize beautifully and perfectly together. WHAT A SOUND!

This legendary greatest hits compilation album is another great album for everyone of all ages to hear, enjoy and appreciate. This compilation album should automatically be considered an necessity to own as a valuable and important part of his or her own personal music collection. This compilation album will definitely prove to stand the test of time and will always be around to be enjoyed, cherished and appreciated for many years to come, NOW AND FOREVER. You can do all of your album researching and purchases either on Amazon com or at your nearest local Borders Books and Music store.

In closing, STYX has successfully continued in entertaining sell-out audiences the world over up to this very day. STYX has also persevered through many band personnel changes through the years but STYX'S own special blend of magical sounds remain fully intact. With this in mind, STYX has forever left their place and mark in Rock n' Roll history and their accomplishments, contributions and achievements speak for themselves and will never ber forgotten. Knowing this, I guess it is safe to say that STYX is here to stay to delight us further with their sound resulting in many more gothic tales and stories within the STYX saga and legacy that would still need to be told and written in pages and chapters. But that, my fellow readers and reviewers, you will just have to stay tuned and read further more about it at a later date. So here's to you Tommy, James, Dennis, Chuck and John. Thanks for the great memories and moments with many more still yet to come. And as the saying goes, "AND THE REST IS ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY," need I say more? Thanks for reading my review and I truly hope that you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have truly enjoyed writing it for your reading pleasure. I also deeply hope that all of you will read all of my other reviews in the near future when time permits. STYX RULES! Long Live Rock n' Roll. Rock out always and take it easy. Forever in Rock, John L.

Philosophical Breakthrough.......2007-05-30

This CD finally proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that there is no God. No benevolent ruler would sit idly by while music this bad was being unleashed on innocent people. A plague of locusts would be much easier to take than this CD.

Styx featured the kind of song writing that only developmentally delayed junior high kids would pen. Then, they performed their songs over a barrage of generic guitars and cheesy synthesizers. The result is the most synthetic, formulated music ever to come out of the corporate music industry.

Awesome Collection of Styx.......2007-01-08

Styx is one of those groups that many people seem to hate, and yet has always done well both in concert and on tour. One likely explanation is that Styx has sung songs that often almost "gimmicky" or too cute for some fans. One example is "Mr. Roboto." Furthermore, their commercial success may turn some critics away because some people have the opinion that commercial success means little or no artistry. Regardless of why the opinions are what they are, Styx had a long successful career and though they had many pop hits they began life with a progressive and harder edge.

As Styx's popularity waned they tried to experiment with their music, which is always dangerous for a long-established group since their existing fans may feel betrayed and the genre they are trying to break into either reviles their music or doesn't recognize what they are trying to do. "Kilroy Was Here," from which "Mr. Roboto" was taken, was such an experiment. "Kilroy Was Here" was a concept album. I think that had Styx been a new group the album may have worked. However, many longtime Styx fans felt betrayed by an album that appeared to diverge from Styx's traditional music. This album marked the end or the beginning of the end for a monster group that had churned out many top 40 songs.

Styx continues to release albums, with two albums released in the 1990's and two released after the beginning of the new millennium. This album covers up to the 2003 release "Cyclorama."

This CD is a significant improvement over "Styx - Greatest Hits." As with the previous release, I'm not sure that all of the songs on the CD are "greatest hits," but certainly they are representative of Styx from the beginning of their career to the end. This CD is much like "Styx - Greatest Hits" in that it makes a great sampler of Styx. However, serious fans will want to move beyond this collection and acquire Styx albums.

Styx has been classified many ways. Some critics call their music prog-lite. Some critics call them arena rockers and glam rockers. I guess I do not understand what any of these definitions mean when applied to Styx. I think many of these songs still have an edge to them. As an example, "Miss America" is a rocking song. "Crystal Ball" and "Renegade" are also rockers on this CD. There are other fast-paced songs, but they are more pop, such as "Fooling Yourself" and "Lorelei."

Ignore the criticism of Styx if you are a fan of Styx. They created their own style of music, which added, not subtracted, from rock music. They did not try to be like anyone else. I think most groups, including Styx, would rather be thought of as creating their own genre rather than fitting into an existing genre. I think in many ways they did exactly that. In the process they created detractors. Oh well. There will always be someone who wants to denigrate a successful artist. If you like what you've heard of Styx's music and are looking for a good overview of their career, this is the CD. If you are looking for early Styx that had yet to be a pop success, try "The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings."

Enjoy!

Groan!.......2006-10-29

Just what we needed. Q:What could be worse than a CD of Styx greatest hits? A: a TWO CD set of Styx greatest Hits! Double the swill! I know there's lots of you Mr.Roboto heads who'll hate me for saying this,but Styx were undoubtably the worst band who ever made it big. Overwrought,overblown,and sappy. Just to be fair,though, Tommy Shaw was a pretty good guitarist. Too bad he didn't have better songs to play on. Miserable.

Average customer rating: Amazing album Has Stood Up Over Time A Transitional Album Definitive L&M-Don't judge a book by its cover

Full Sail Loggins & Messina Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Soft Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Soft Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Oldies | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | 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: Sittin' In Mother Lode Loggins & Messina Native Sons On Stage ASIN: B00000251I Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Lahaina
2. Travelin' Blues
3. My Music
4. A Love Song
5. You Need A Man/Coming To You
6. Watching The River Run
7. Pathway To Glory
8. Didn't I Know You When
9. Sailin' The Wind

Customer Reviews:

Amazing album.......2006-09-08

This album was way ahead of it's time which is why I think it didn't see great commercial success...people just didn't get it. The musicianship is some of the best ever layed down. For starters, the woodwind players on this album are one of the main reasons I pursued a career in music as a woodwind player. Jon Clarke has been one of my idols for a long time. On this album he plays everything from Oboe to Bass Sax. He's truly amazing and this album really shows his talents. Kenny Loggins has been one of my vocal idols ever since this album. His voice continues to amaze me and has only gotten better over the years. The mastering of this album is also amazing. The clarity and balance is wonderful. You can hear every vocal line, every guitar riff, every woodwind line. I still listen to this album almost every day and never tire of it, it is THAT good.

Has Stood Up Over Time.......2005-07-12

When L&M were recording, this album never quite captured me like Sittin' In, which I found to by lyrical, innocent, and romantic. This one is more worldly, expansive, and takes risks. 25+ years later, it holds up well. The reggae, the jazz elements, the nautical themes -- this is fine stuff. If you are new to L&M, I still recommend starting with Sittin' In. But don't neglect this gem, either.

A Transitional Album.......2001-11-21

"Full Sail", the third album by Loggins and Messina, is my second favorite by this talented duo, behind only their fourth album, "Mother Lode". On the first two albums they played primarily light pop music, with enticing bits of country and calypso thrown in to the mix to keep it interesting. On "Full Sail" they begin to stretch out with lengthier instrumental passages that have hints of country-jazz fusion. They would carry this to it's furthest extreme on the next album, "Mother Lode", before retreating back to a more pop sound on their final albums. "Full Sail" features probably the best song of their career, "Watching The River Run", as well as other noteworthy songs such as "You Need A Man/Coming To You" and "Didn't I Know You When". Unfortunately their artistic growth and adventurousness seemed to lead to a decline in their commercial fortunes, so they did not continue to pursue the interesting directions their music had been heading past the fourth album.

Definitive L&M-Don't judge a book by its cover.......1999-10-23

Quite simply the best thing L&M ever put down on vinyl. There are good things before and good things after, but Full Sail represents the height of their creativity. It is also a continum of L&M music, starting with commercially cute "Lahaina," to the progressive "Pathway to Glory," to the rock and roll/Calypso meld of "You Need a Man/Coming To You." "Watching the River Run" is a poetic masterpiece which deserves more credit than its Top 40 appearance on commercial radio. The album ends in Beatlesque style with Sailin' the Wind's mild cacophony of seas sounds. A true masterpiece not to be missed

Average customer rating: Sail Away! Randy Newman political science Newman At His Best!! You Can Leave Your Hat On "Political Science" should be the national anthem

Sail Away Randy Newman Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Good Old Boys (Bonus CD) (Dlx) 12 Songs Little Criminals The Best of Randy Newman The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 1 ASIN: B000065DVA Release Date: 2002-05-21

Tracks:

1. Sail Away
2. Lonely At The Top
3. He Gives Us All His Love
4. Last Night I Had A Dream
5. Simon Smith And The Amazing Dancing Bear
6. Old Man
7. Political Science
8. Burn On
9. Memo To My Son
10. Dayton, Ohio - 1903
11. You Can Leave Your Hat On
12. God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind)
13. Let It Shine
14. Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong (Studio Version)
15. Dayton, Ohio - 1903 (Early Version)
16. You Can Leave Your Hat On (Demo)
17. Sail Away (Early Version)

Amazon.com essential recording

Odd man out in California's early-'70s panoply of singer-songwriters, Randy Newman didn't play guitar, refused to confess specific personal dreams and sins, and sidestepped the countercultural trinity of sex, rebellion, and self. Newman dared to be a neoclassical pop survivor, narrative guerilla, and prankster, and no album summarizes these gifts better than this 1973 classic, which found the singer, songwriter, pianist, and arranger spreading his wings to fuse the economy of his songwriting with his lush talents as a composer. The classic title song mingles its elegiac orchestral bloom with the devastating, deadpanned sales pitch of its slave trader protagonist, while elsewhere Newman wraps his whiskey drawl and laconic piano around acerbic meditations on God ("He Gives Us All His Love," "God's Song"), celebrity ("Lonely at the Top"), nuclear Armageddon ("Political Science"), and sex ("You Can Leave Your Hat On"). Sail Away captures funny, tragic, moving American pop at its zenith. Rhino's 2002 remixed, expanded reissue is fleshed out with early versions of "Dayton, Ohio 1903" and "Sail Away," the rarities "Let It Shine and "Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong," and a demo take of "You Can Leave Your Hat On." --Sam Sutherland

Album Description

2002 expanded & remastered reissue of 1972 album with 5 added bonus tracks (all previously unissued) 'Let It Shine', 'Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong' (studio version), 'Dayton, Ohio-1903' (studio version), 'You Can Leave Your Hat On' (demo) & 'Sail Away' (early version).

Customer Reviews:

Sail Away! Randy Newman.......2007-01-09

sigh . . . evidently no longer a Randy Newman fan. (rememberd "Short People" from way back).

Blessings to Amazon!

political science.......2005-08-02

randy's prime is here, his best album along with good old boys, every song is tops from this underated gem.

Newman At His Best!!.......2005-05-17

Randy Newman is an America original. He is one of our greatest singer-songwriters, whose trenchant humor, biting social satire, eclectic compositions and intelligent lyrics have set him far above the pack for decades. Musically adept and diverse in style, Newman has dozens of albums and hundreds of songs in his discography. He has composed movie scores including "Ragtime," "The Natural," "Parenthood," "Awakenings," "Toy Story," and "Pleasantville." His work in the film industry earned him 16 Oscar nominations including his first win for "If I Didn't Have You" from the film "Monsters, Inc."

"Sail Away" is one of my favorite Newman albums (1972), and one of his first. The title song is most powerful. Backed by a full orchestra, the track's wonderfully gentle melody provides a dark contrast to the disquieting voice of a slave trader convincing Africans of the bounty America has to offer. "Ain't no lions or tigers - Ain't no mamba snake/Just the sweet watermelon and the buckwheat cake/Ev'rybody is as happy as a man can be/Climb aboard little wog -Sail away with me." Yep! "It's great to be an American!" In the same vein, "Political Science's" casually genocidal American leader has ambitions of making major changes in the world. "Boom goes London and boom Paree/More room for you and more room for me/And every city the whole world round/Will just be an American town." 1972??? The more things change the more they stay the same.

Newman wrote the sardonic "Lonely at the Top," for Frank Sinatra. "Listen all you fools out there/Go on and love me--I don't care/Oh, it's lonely at the top." He thought Sinatra would love it. Old Blue Eyes did not. So Newman recorded it himself.

The terribly poignant "Old Man" never fails to move me. And the bitter, ironic "God's Song," makes some pithy statements about organized religion. "Memo to My Son" is a paean to parents everywhere - or perhaps the empathy here is for the kids. "Burn On," reminds me of the time Cleveland's Cuyahoga River caught fire. Seriously, I was there. Talk about water pollution! You Can Leave Your Hat On" is a mid-tempo erotic rock song that later became a hit for Joe Cocker.

"Sail Away" is an impressively even album. The music is simply wonderful. And the remastered reissue has an additional 5 bonus tracks. If you're a Randy Newman fan, you can't go wrong with this one.
JANA

You Can Leave Your Hat On.......2005-04-24

Randy Newman is in a class all his own. That's not to say he's the BEST of the best, but he certainly is a raging iconoclast. I mean, a portly, curly-headed, Jewish-raised Californian who arranges for orchestra, writes for children's films, and sings songs about short people, L.A., good old boys, God, and dancing bears... what? Despite its unconventional exterior the music of Randy Newman is some of the funniest, most intelligent in the pantheon of rock/pop/whatever you want to call it.

Although not his earliest, Sail Away was Randy Newman's first album to generate a deal of noise - it remains a favourite of fan and critic alike and to this day his most consistent seller. There's probably a reason for that: namely the quality of this record. Newman has never given in to songwriting formulas or "conventions", staking out territory where his contemporaries seldom tread. So you don't get the archetypical "silly love songs" or teenage angst so common in rock & roll - you get self-deprecating ironies, tales of African slave recruiters, and Simon Smith and his Amazing Dancing Bear, among others.

This idiosyncrasy ranges from the dismal to the ribald and hilarious, and everywhere in-between. For instance, God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind) is a bleakly insightful take on religion; the equally incisive Political Science a side-splittingly funny slice of "foreign policy" courtesy one of Newman's trademark wackos. From a technical standpoint all the performances are outstanding, including the virtuosity of Ry Cooder and Randy Newman's own skills as a pianist among others. His voice may be limited, but he makes the best of it in his deadpan delivery. He's also always utilized orchestras in a unique way - you'd never be able to mistake one of his instrumental passages - and they blend totally naturally into the fabric of the music here. Not an easy task; just ask ELO's Jeff Lynne, one of the few songwriters out there whose orchestral arrangements complement the songs as perfectly as Randy Newman's.

As for the bonus tracks, the two original cuts (Let It Shine and Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong) are both excellent (albeit short), as are the alternate takes; the early version of Sail Away is particularly welcome.

Is Sail Away Randy Newman's best album? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. But I can tell you what it IS: it's comical, it's perspicacious, and, most importantly, it's massively entertaining. So whether you're a newcomer, a longtime fan, or just somebody looking for a bit of good music, you can't go wrong.

"Political Science" should be the national anthem.......2004-12-10

Randy Newman has written many brilliant songs, but SAIL AWAY may well be his finest album. The 2-minute "Political Science" is certainly one of his greatest achievements, and the song is just as timely now as it was in 1973. What makes the lyric so great is that it distills exactly what so many Americans think about the world. It could be your friendly next-door neighbor, who seems like a perfectly nice person until you stumble into a political discussion, and then you realize that he is an immoral monster. It seems to me that "Political Science" should be the national anthem -- it's what large numbers of Americans really think, and if they disagree then they should be forced to change the attitude as well as the policies before they change the song.

I would like to include the entire lyric, but here is a sample:

"We give them money, but are they grateful, no they're spiteful and they're hateful. They don't respect us, so let's surprise 'em, let's drop The Big One and pulverize 'em."

"Boom goes London, and boom Pay-ree, more room for you and more room for me. Every city the whole world round will just be another American town, oh how peaceful it will be, we'll set everybody free ... They all hate us anyhow, so let's drop The Big One now."

Is Randy Newman being too sarcastic, too harsh? Just look at the anti-French movement among the republicanus neanderthalis recently -- "nuke France and gimme some Freedom Fries with my burger" -- and it seems clear that if anything he is too kind.

Thank goodness for Randy Newman in times like these. Along with Mose Allison, Stan Ridgway (see my 7/29/04 review of his brilliant latest, SNAKEBITE), and a few other mavericks, he understands America's dark side well enough to deflate its pretensions and hypocrisy with humor, from the inside.

Average customer rating: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra needs a guitar player! Persuaders Theme! A Variety Of Classics! Incredible Barry Collection " one of cinema's greatest composers...John Barry"

John Barry: The Collection Manufacturer: Silva America ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Soundtracks | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Music of John Williams: 40 Years of Film Music Beyondness of Things Jerry Goldsmith: 40 Years of Film Music The Essential Elmer Bernstein Film Music Collection Eternal Echoes ASIN: B00005BADD Release Date: 2001-05-22

Tracks:

1. Zulu
2. From Russia With Love
3. From Russia With Love - 007
4. Goldfinger
5. The Ipcress File
6. The Knack
7. Mister Moses
8. Thunderball
9. The Wrong Box
10. Born Free
11. The Quiller Memorandum
12. You Only Live Twice
13. The Girl With The Sun In Her Hair
14. Deadfall

Tracks:

1. The Lion In Winter
2. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
3. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
4. Midnight Cowboy
5. Midnight Cowboy
6. The Appointment
7. The Last Valley
8. Walkabout
9. Monte Walsh
10. Diamonds Are Forever
11. The Persuaders
12. Mary Queen Of Scots
13. The Man With The Golden Gun
14. The Dove

Tracks:

1. The Tamarind Seed
2. King Kong
3. Eleanor And Franklin
4. Robin And Marian
5. The Deep
6. Hanover Street
7. The Black Hole
8. Moonraker
9. Somewhere In Time
10. Raise The Titanic
11. Body Heat
12. Frances
13. Octopussy
14. The Cotton Club

Tracks:

1. High Road To China
2. A View To A Kill
3. Out Of Africa
4. The Living Daylights
5. Dances With Wolves
6. Dances With Wolves
7. Chaplin
8. Moviola
9. Indecent Proposal
10. The Specialist
11. The Scarlet Letter
12. Cry The Beloved Country
13. Mercury Rising
14. The James Bond Theme

Customer Reviews:

The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra needs a guitar player!.......2006-11-09

Granted, they only need it for one composition (the last one, "The James Bond Theme") but still, without the guitar it's just not the same. Barry didn't compose this one so I suppose it was a bonus and I shouldn't complain, really. The rest of the music on all the CDs is fantastic. Some of the stuff I had heard before without realizing who had composed it. Very enjoyable, to say the least.

Persuaders Theme!.......2006-03-02

Buy it for the Persuaders theme, probably the best TV theme song ever written.

A Variety Of Classics!.......2005-12-06

John Barry has been composing film scores for over forty years and this is only scratching the surface of his productions. Never mind that the entire set is recorded by the Prague Philharmonic; it's pure to Barry's themes. While John Williams compositions ("Star Wars", etc.) are wild and flamboyant and Jerry Goldsmith's (Hoosier's, etc.) are mood pieces, John Barry crosses over all barriers and is amazingly diverse. Barry has recorded most of the exciting James Bond themes, melodramatic classics like "The Lion In Winter' and moody theme hits like "Midnight Cowboy". He also tugs at the heartstrings with compositions from, "Somewhere In Time", "Frances" and "Out Of Africa". He varies his themes for all types of films and few composers capture it so well.

There is over four hours of music in this set with a colorful and informative booklet.

Incredible Barry Collection.......2004-03-11

Any fan of movies will absolutley love this collection. Being a movie buff I couldn't wait to get this boxed set. Knowing Barry from all the James Bond movies, I did not realize his involvement with so many others. The orchestra is magnificent in all these themes. I'm listening to "High Road to China" right now and I'm drifting in the clouds in a Tiger Moth with Tom Selleck and Bess Armstrong. If you are familiar with a movie it will definitely have you seeing it again, if not the scores are still beautiful. Any fan of classical music will be pleased as well. Travellers will defintitely enjoy it for a long drive. I know from when I use to travel that music like this made the miles float by faster. I highly recommend these four CDs even if you just know a handful of the songs.

" one of cinema's greatest composers...John Barry".......2001-07-06

This collection of four compact discs...are worth their weight in GOLD! Barry creates visual moods for each film he scores...romantic, sentimental, action, adventure, suspense and mystery...the list could go on. Strings, brass and lush-velvet arrangements overlay each cue in his distinctive style of legendary scoring...we have ~ "John Barry:The Collection", Silva Screen's release traces 40 years of film music, featuring "The City Of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra" ~ conducted by Mr. Nic Raine (outstanding)..."Crouch End Festival Chorus" ~ David Temple, Choir Master...perform 56 selections, over four hours of symphonic suites with a full orchestra sound...all individually wrapped-up into one neat package...just the way "film-score-buffs" like 'em!

Must ask the following to take a bow ~ James Fitzpatrick (compilation producer), always in their pitching, Reynold da Silva (executive producer), Nic Raine (conductor, arranger, orchestrator & associate producer), a tremen!dous asset to every project he undertakes...and the man who made it all possible...a legendary icon always leading the way in film scoring ~ JOHN BARRY!

Total Time: 258:76 on 56 Tracks ~ SSD-1128 ~ (2001)

You might try other albums from Silva Screen, all worthy of a good listen ~ "The Essential James Bond" (SSD-1034)..."Bond:Back In Action" (SSD-1100)..."Bond:Back In Action 2" (SSD-1119)..."Zulu" (SSD-1095)..."Raise The Titanic" (SSD-1102)..."Walkabout" (SSD-1120)...check out my reviews on amazon.com/music.

Average customer rating: On any list of great "kids" CDs you will love too. great for kids, great for adults! favorite Disappointing Great CD for kids and adults

Sea Music Dan Zanes & Festival Five Folk Manufacturer: Festival Five Rec. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Children's Music | Styles | Music Folk Music | Children's Music | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Night Time Parades and Panoramas: 25 Songs Collected by Carl Sandburg Catch That Train! Rocket Ship Beach House Party ASIN: B0001XAMU4 Release Date: 2004-04-27

Tracks:

1. Strike The Bell
2. Farewell Nova Scotia
3. Cap Cod Girls
4. Shenandoah
5. Blow Ye Winds In The Morning
6. All For Me Grog
7. Leaving Of Liverpool
8. Windy Old Weather
9. Sloop John B
10. Long Time Ago
11. Mingulay Boat Song
12. Deep Blue Sea
13. The Mermaid
14. Rolling Home

Amazon.com

On Sea Music, former Del Fuegos frontman turned kid's music songster Dan Zanes performs a set of old sea shanties in a rough-hewn but charming manner. He takes songs that have been worn smooth from constant use, artfully scuffs them up, and restores them to their former "ragged but right" glory. His performance of "Shenandoah," for example, features some fine Leadbelly-style 12-string guitar picking and an anguished vocal that almost erases the memory of the polite, formal choral arrangements that usually smother the song. And his "Sloop John B" sails along on jaunty banjos and mandolins rather than the slick harmonies of the Beach Boys' version. These shanties were originally created by sailors as work songs, and consequently they have choruses that are perfect for singing along. Zanes is joined on many tracks by an enthusiastic chorus of kids who are obviously having a wonderful time belting out the sometimes salty lyrics. As with all of Zanes's recordings for children, adults are likely to find themselves listening to this wonderful music even when the kids aren't underfoot. --Michael John Simmons

Customer Reviews:

On any list of great "kids" CDs you will love too........2007-03-28

My personal favorite of DZ's "kids" records.

This one *is* great for sing-alongs with the kids, but is a fine old timey record of sea songs that can be enjoyed by anyone. Loose-limbed versions of "Shenendoah", "Sloop John B" and "Cape Cod Girls" are fine and fun.

"Strike The Bell", "Blow Ye Winds", "Leaving of Liverpool" and others are fun sing-alongs as well as good history lessons. My 3.5 year-old and I enjoy this record equally.

It's particularly nice that Zanes' website has the lyrics AND chords -- really helps extend the listening and playing pleasure. I also appreciate that DZ doesn't dumb down the music for kids at all -- you get a real feel of the folk tradition of handmade music here.

great for kids, great for adults!.......2007-02-27

for a fun cd of classic sea shanties, and a kids' cd that you won't get sick of, this is the one. we've given this to many kids (2 and up) and all parents have been very thankful! we've had it for 2 yrs. and we listen to it all the time.

favorite.......2007-01-10

This cd stays in our car stereo for weeks and weeks. We sing a long and our 3 yr old likes it too.

Disappointing.......2006-06-01

I like anything to do with the sea and I bought this CD on the strength of the glowing reviews. Having lived in a port city in England that hosts an annual Sea Shanty festival, I was fortunate to hear some of the best shanty singers around. I had high expectations for Dan Zales and was sorely let down. The music is basic and unpolished, which should be a good thing. Shanties are supposed to be raw, gutsy. But the quality of the music here is downright amateurish -- merely a sing-a-long with the children in the kitchen. I wanted more for my money.

Great CD for kids and adults.......2006-03-29

I played this CD in the car while taking my great granddaughter (8 mos) to work yesterday. The songs were so irresitable I found myself singing along, even with chanties I'd not heard before. Then, from the back seat, I heard loud cooing and chortling noises in a little voice. Morgan was singing along too. Guess this CD is a hit with everyone.

Average customer rating: Well worth the price Not Exactly "The Ultimate" Collection... Where's the chicks?!?! Not quite the ultimate.... Great Music - Questionable Selection

The Ultimate Gilbert & Sullivan Collection Arthur Sullivan , Isidore Godfrey , Royston Nash , New Symphony Orchestra of London , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , Colin Wright , Donald Adams , George Cook , Gillian Knight , Jean Hindmarsh , Jeffrey Skitch , John Ayldon , John Reed , Joyce Wright , Kenneth Sandford , Lyndsie Holland , Owen Brannigan , Pauline Wales , Peggy Ann Jones , Thomas Round , Valerie Masterson , and D'Oyly Carte Opera Company Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Sullivan | Sullivan, Arthur | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Brannigan, Owen | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan Gilbert & Sullivan - Highlights from The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Yeomen of the Guard, Trial of Jury Topsy-Turvy - The Music of Gilbert & Sullivan: From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Topsy-Turvy The Complete Annotated Gilbert & Sullivan ASIN: B000007OU0 Release Date: 1998-06-09

Tracks:

1. H.M.S. Pinafore: We Shall Sail The Ocean Blue
2. H.M.S. Pinafore: I'm Called Little Buttercup
3. H.M.S. Pinafore: My Galant Crew, Good Morning
4. H.M.S. Pinafore: I'm The Monarch Of The Sea
5. H.M.S. Pinafore: When I Was A Lad
6. H.M.S. Pinafore: Nevermind The Why And Wherefore
7. H.M.S. Pinafore: Kind Captain, I've Important Information
8. H.M.S. Pinafore: Carefully On Tip - Toe Stealing
9. H.M.S. Pinafore: For He Is An Englishman
10. The Pirates Of Penzance: I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major - General
11. The Pirates Of Penzance: When A Felon's Not Engaged In His Employment
12. The Pirates Of Penzance: With Cat Like Tread
13. The Sorcerer: My Name Is John Wellinton Wells
14. The Gondoliers: Take A Pair Of Sparkling Eyes
15. Patience: If You're Anxious To Shine
16. The Mikado: If You Want To Know Who We Are
17. The Mikado: A Wand'ring Minstrel I
18. The Mikado: Behold The Lord High Executioner
19. The Mikado: As Someday It May Happen
20. The Mikado: Three Little Maids From School Are We
21. The Mikado: The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze
22. The Mikado: Here's A How - De - Do!
23. The Mikado: From Ev'ry Kind Of Man Obedience I Expect
24. The Mikado: A More Humane Mikado Never Did In Japan Exist
25. The Mikado: The Criminal Cried As He Dropp'd Him Down
26. The Mikado: The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring, Tra La
27. The Mikado: On A Tree By A River A Little Tom Tit
28. The Mikado: There Is Beauty In The Bellow Of The Blast
29. The Mikado: For He's Gone And Married Yum-Yum

Customer Reviews:

Well worth the price.......2006-04-13

I love this CD. No, despite its name it is not the "ultimate" collection, as scarcely could be expected from a single CD. It is heavy on Mikado, as others have stated. It leaves out things I would have included and includes things I would have left out. But the performances are wonderful, traditional and all you expect from G&S. Considering the low price, it is well worth including in your G&S collection ... as PART of your collection. After the disappointment of the godawful Opera World video series (Don't buy it!) this CD is a joy and a relief.

Not Exactly "The Ultimate" Collection..........2004-12-23

It seems that a collection of Gilbert & Sullivan music that has the name "The Ultimate Collection" in its title would boast a wide range of music, but I found the selection disappointing. Half of the tracks are songs from The Mikado, and the other half is divided between five... yes, FIVE other operettas. This means that the representation from each operetta is awfully scant. I would have liked to see less Mikado and more of everything else, and perhaps some highlights from the more obscure operettas (Princess Ida and The Sorcerer, namely).

In addition, while most of the music is very well performed, some of the vocalists either go a bit overboard or, at the very opposite end, seem to lack expression. For example, this Nanki-Poo (in The Mikado) seems to be overly occupied with vibrato. Katisha's voice is annoying, and The Mikado's low voice often seems to lack feeling and humor. The other idiosyncracies, like the very frightening evil laughing during "A More Humane Mikado" and hissing during "Three Little Maids" really bug me.

Then again, I'm new to Gilbert and Sullivan, and was introduced to the music through the Topsy Turvy soundtrack, which has a noticeably less operatic style, and hardly includes "stage noise"... so perhaps all this is the norm. Do listen to the tracks for yourself, though, before you purchase the CD. Personally, I find that the Topsy Turvy soundtrack, while considerably less ecompassing, is much lighthearted and easier listening.

Where's the chicks?!?!.......2003-05-15

It wouldn't be G&S if not for the ladies - so where are they? How could they leave out Mabel's aria - or Josephine's!? The only female aria included on this disc comes from Mikado, which is the least exciting (if G&S could be un-exciting) of the three! Everything else on the recording is great, but I am still quite disappointed.

Not quite the ultimate...........2002-03-25

This is a great collection, but unfortunately it doesn't have songs from all the works of G&S. Most notably, there is nothing from the "Yeoman of the Guard". I still reccommed it however as John Reed is wonderful!!

Great Music - Questionable Selection.......2002-02-05

It's an ongoing challenge to find a recording of Gilbert and Sullivan that combines premium musicality and great theatrical performance. This recording is a true gem on both fronts. My only complaint is that for a "Best of" collection, this compilation is Mikado-heavy and scarcely touches on highlights from other masterpieces, particularly The Pirates of Penzance. This would be my favorite G&S CD of all time, of only it included tracks like "When the Foeman Bares his Steel," "Poor Wand'ring One," and "Dry the Glist'ning Tear," but then again, I guess there's no real consensus as to which are Gilbert and Sullivan's best works, and there are too many to fit on one CD.

Average customer rating: Wonderfull Collection to have but no Orignal Art Work. A fountain of youth for a Star Wars geek This is more of a description of the music than a review for this particular set, really . . . You can feel the Force around you. Quality could be better

Star Wars Trilogy John Williams Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Newman | Newman, Alfred | ( N ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Star Wars | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Soundtracks | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (The Ultimate Star Wars Recording)(1999 Film) The Lord of the Rings: Motion Picture Trilogy Soundtrack (3CD & 18 Trading Cards) ASIN: B0002YCVLU Release Date: 2004-09-21

Tracks:

1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare
2. Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner
3. Imperial Attack
4. Dune Sea of Tatooine/Jawa Sandcrawler
5. Moisture Farm
6. Hologram/Binary Sunset
7. Landspeeder Searck/Attack of the Sand People
8. Tales of a Jedi Knight/Learn About the Force
9. Burning Homestead
10. Mos Eisley Spaceport
11. Cantina Band
12. Cantina Band #2
13. Binary Sunset [Alternate Take][*]

Tracks:

1. Princess Leia's Theme
2. Millennium Falcon/Imperial Cruiser Pursuit
3. Destruction of Alderaan
4. Death Star/The Stormtroopers
5. Wookiee Prisoner/Detention Block Ambush
6. Shootout in the Cell Bay/Dianoga
7. Trash Compactor
8. Tractor Beam/Chasm Crossfire
9. Ben Kenobi's Death/Tie Fighter Attack
10. Batte of Yavin: Launch from the Fourth Moon/X-Wings Draw Fire/Use ...
11. Throne Roon/End Title

Tracks:

1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare
2. Main Title/The Ice Planet Hoth
3. Wampa's Lair/Vision of Obi-Wan/Snowspeeders Take Flight
4. Imperial Probe/Aboard the Executor
5. Battle of Hoth: Ion Cannon/Imperial Walkers/Beneath the ...
6. Asteroid Field
7. Arrival on Dagobah
8. Luke's Nocturnal Visitor
9. Han Solo and the Princess
10. Jedi Master Revealed/Mynock Cave
11. Training of a Jedi Knight/The Magic Tree

Tracks:

1. Yoda's Theme
2. Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)
3. Yoda's Theme
4. Attacking a Star Destroyer
5. Yoda and the Force
6. Imperial Starfleet Deployed/City in the Clouds
7. Lando's Palace
8. Betrayal at Bespin
9. Deal With the Dark Lord
10. Carbon Freeze/Darth Vader's Trap/Departure of Boba Fett
11. Clash of Lightsabers
12. Rescue from Cloud City/Hyperspace
13. Rebel Fleet/End Title

Tracks:

1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare
2. Main Title: Approaching the Death Star/Tatooine Rendezvous
3. Droids Are Captured
4. Bounty for a Wookiee
5. Han Solo Returns
6. Luke Confronts Jabba/Den of the Rancor/Sarlocc Sentence
7. Pit of Carkoon/Sail Barge Assault
8. Emperor Arrives/The Death of Yoda/Obi-Wan's Revelation
9. Alliance Assembly
10. Shuttle Tydirium Approaches Endor
11. Speeder Bike Chase/Land of the Ewoks
12. Levitation/Threepio's Bedtime Story
13. Jabba's Baroque Recital
14. Jedi Rocks
15. Sail Barge Assault [Alternate Take][*]

Tracks:

1. Parade of the Ewoks
2. Luke and Leia
3. Brother and Sister/Father and Son/Fleet Enters Hyperspace/Heroic Ewok
4. Emperor's Throne Room
5. Battle of Endor: Into the Trap/Forest Ambush/Scout Walker Scramble
6. Lightsaber/The Ewok Battle
7. Battle of Endor 2: Leia Is Wounded - The Duel Begins/Overtaking ...
8. Endor 3: Superstructure Chase/Darth Vader's Death/The Main Reactor
9. Leia's News/Light of the Force
10. Victory Celebration/End Title
11. Ewok Feast/Part of the Tribe
12. Forest Battle (Concert Suite) [*]

Amazon.com

Given that it's largely credited with reinventing Hollywood--or at least fostering its overweening box office expectations--it's hard to imagine that the genesis of George Lucas' sprawling, multi-billion dollar Star Wars franchise was once considered a risky studio proposition at best. But Lucas himself has wisely singled out the robust, retro-romantic music of composer John Williams as the unlikely artistic linchpin that holds all of the saga's disparate dramatic, thematic and technical elements firmly together. Boxed together here then are three of the most successful and influential film scores of modern Hollywood, work that draws as much on Williams' masterful sense of classical music history as it does his own well-studied melodic and arranging instincts. Each of the three double-disc collections here contains all of the music written for Star Wars: A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi (and even Alfred Newman's intyroductory "Fox Fanfare"), newly upgraded via Direct Stream Digital remastering that adds stunning new presence and clarity to Williams' rousing, epochal scores. Each chapter also features a lenticular 3-D cover and newly designed fold-out film poster, as well as encoded disc features allowing online access to elaborate new Star Wars screen savers; the ultimate musical compendium of the original Star Wars triptych. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Wonderfull Collection to have but no Orignal Art Work........2007-06-21

This is without any doubt the best musical presentation for STAR WARS trilogy with excellent remastering. Also, wonderfull music to listen.

It was arranged in same order as the movie and i think it has all the music from the films and more. Also it contain the original 20th Century Fox Fanfare recording for each movie which is rare to listen. In this way you can listen and enjoy the way was the music is recorded for each movie at that time without any enhancement, and that for Star Wars truly music lovers.

The only drawback i found that is lacking the orignal art work for each movie which are the finest and best ever. There are wonderful posters from different type, style A, B, C, and advanced, which i was expecting to see them again here or somewere els.

I was hoping and wishing from ( A Long Time Ago ... ) that they release again same original recording for Star Wars and Empire strikes back when they released first time in 1977 and 1980. I don't know why it has been decline ever since. At that time each movie released its sound track in two album with different and excellent arrangement. I believe this is a perfect arrangement and better in term of music listening. Im just hoping releasing them again with finest remastering.

A fountain of youth for a Star Wars geek.......2007-02-13

It has been a long time since I last dared to take out my old Star Wars LP, with its well remembered skips and pops. Now, thanks to the Boxed set of the Star Wars Trilogy, I can listen to it again as it was intended to sound, and as often as I like. It is like revisiting an old friend, but there are differences: for one, there is more music, and it has been restored to its actual running order, unlike the LP which cut and spliced a bit to create rounder, perhaps more balanced listening. But for a true fan of the films, it is deeply satisfying to hear the score in its proper order and entirety, even if at times it can ramble on or shift more suddenly than a typical symphonic work. That being said, John Williams is a master at composing for film, so that even taken out of context it is beautifully listenable.
The major drawback to the boxed set is the complete lack of liner notes or any kind of commentary--one of my favorite features of the old LP were the inserted notes. So much thought went into the score that it demands commentary. Admittedly, I haven't yet been able to access the "unlock and go" feature on the internet, so perhaps the lack of liner notes on the box is rectified there. Another surprise, given the fact that there is room on the CD's to include more music, alternate takes (and even an extended secret "inner groove" on the first disc), is that in the case of episode 6, music that was added for the new edition of the film is included but not the music it replaced. Admittedly this was the least interesting music in the soundtracks, namely the "pop" music in Jabba's palace and the Ewok's chant at the end, but for the sake of completion, it should also have been included. A minor quibble, and more than made up for by the inclusion of the 20th century fanfare and the second Cantina track.
All-in-all, this boxed set is a must for anyone for whom the original trilogy was a special part of their youth. It will instantly bring you back to that state of wonder when you first saw the films, and on repeated listens it will continue to reveal the genius of John Williams.

This is more of a description of the music than a review for this particular set, really . . ........2006-12-30

A New Hope:

What to say about Star Wars? It's all too known to say very much. But let me just point out a few things, instead. The Main Title track, after the fanfare calms, is quoting 'Mars' from Holst's 'The Planets'. "The Dune Sea of Tatooine" is a tribute to Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring'. The bonus track contains several different takes on the Main Title if you sit around and wait--there is a LOT of silence 'til it starts, but it's fascinating to hear the subtle differences from take to take. With "May the Force Be With You" and "Princess Leia's Theme", we have the beginning of the lovely, melodic leitmotifs we have come to associate with Star Wars music.


The Empire Strikes Back:

Both the best movie and the best soundtrack of the original trilogy, in my opinion. Whether or not you agree about the movie, the music here really is the best, from a professional standpoint and not just an "it's pretty!' one. Three huge things happen in this movie, musically: "Han Solo and the Princess", the love theme which is based on "Princess Leia's Theme"; "Yoda's Theme"; and, last but certainly not least, "The Imperial March". I believe the two biggest, most recognisable themes of the saga are the Main Title theme and "The Imperial March", which was constructed from half-developed "evil" cues from 'A New Hope', and also Chopin's "March funèbre, Lento" from 'Piano Sonata No.2 in B flat minor' (trust me, you know it).


The Return of the Jedi:

The only new themes (there are plentiful delectable motifs) to come out of this movie are "Parade of the Ewoks", which nearly succeeds in making the Ewoks themselves cute, and the extremely luscious "Luke and Leia". "The Emperor's Theme", introduced in 'Empire Strikes Back', is emphasised, and voices lace over the epic duel between father and son (not nearly as stimulating as the music or the fight scenes of the prequel trilogy). It is true, there are some slightly embarrassing tracks ("Threepio's Bedtime Story", "Jedi Rocks"), but somehow all is set right by the power of "Victory Celebration" (which evokes much the same in its feeling of somewhat tragic triumph that "Now We Are Free" does in 'Gladiator'). It closes the saga perfectly (and we won't be mentioning the Yub Nub song, thank you very much).


I might also mention that Star Wars themes do wonders for hearing intervals. And that knowing the intervals make relationships between themes throughout the saga that much more interesting.

You can feel the Force around you........2006-08-31

I have never owned these before and I bought them for a SW Themed Party but constantly play them, if you are a fan these are a must own, especially since they include both end tracks for EP.6 the Ewok OE and the new Calypso one from the SE. Finally all of these Disc's are CD Text Capabile.

Quality could be better.......2006-02-14

This is the best way to get the soundtrack collection of the three original films. With some minor exceptions, the tracks are in the same sequence of the films so you can follow the story unfold the same as watching the movies.
The sound quality does leave a bit to be desired overall. Granted there is only so much that can be done from the original recordings, but it seems as though they tried to over-remaster most of the tracks and did not do enough with others. This has left many of the scores sounding thin, bright and shallow. For the price of this boxed set, I would have expected a little bit more time put into making this collection sound better. Ideally, having the entire saga re-performed would have likely offered the best solution for audio purists, though likely not capatured exactly the same feel as the original performance.
Essentially, this boxed set is a trade off between having the original scores of Episodes 4 through 6 and sacrificing the overall sound quality that a John Williams performance deserves.
For a point of reference, my sound system is a B&W and McIntosh combination with the speakers being the same model as what was used in nearly all recording studios at the time of the later half of these films.

Average customer rating: the 70s

Casey Kasem: America's Top 10 Through Years - The 70's Various Artists Manufacturer: Top Sail Productions ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Blue-Eyed Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Casey Kasem: Top Ten - 70's Singers & Songwriters Casey Kasem Presents: America's Top Ten - The 70's Classic Rock's Greatest Hits Casey Kasem: America's Top 10 Through Years - The 80's Casey Kasem Presents: America's Top Ten - The 70s #1 Pop Hits Casey Kasem: America's Top 10 Through Years - The 60's ASIN: B00005B53W Release Date: 2001-04-24

Tracks:

1. American Woman - The Guess Who
2. Rich Girl - Daryl Hall & John Oates
3. You're So Vain - Carly Simon
4. Maggie May - Rod Stewart
5. Feels Like The First Time - Foreigner
6. Show Me The Way - Peter Frampton
7. That's The Way (I Like It) - KC & The Sunshine Band
8. Tell Me Something Good - Rufus
9. Dream Weaver - Gary Wright
10. Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac
11. Why Can't We Be Friends? - War
12. My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli
13. Joy To The World - Three Dog Night
14. She's A Lady - Tom Jones
15. Diamond Girl - Seals & Crofts
16. Cat's In The Cradle - Harry Chapin
17. What A Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
18. A Horse With No Name - America
19. Without You - Nilsson
20. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love - The Spinners

Customer Reviews:

the 70s.......2005-09-01

I love the 70s and Casey kasems radio show. I love Rod stewart ,Carly simon, Frankie valli,America and Harry nilson.I also like other artists of the 70s tat are not on this album like John travolta,Paul mccartney, bee gees , John lennon and Elton john. The 70s has great ,great music. FROM A BIG 70S FAN ADAM!!!!!!!

Average customer rating: A Decent Mix The Late, Great 1970's - 20 Top 10 Hits - Singer/Songwriters Fantastic! It will bring you back to the 70s

Casey Kasem: Top Ten - 70's Singers & Songwriters Manufacturer: Top Sail Productions ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Casey Kasem: America's Top 10 Through Years - The 70's Casey Kasem Presents: America's Top Ten - The 70s #1 Pop Hits Casey Kasem Presents: America's Top Ten - The 70's Classic Rock's Greatest Hits Casey Kasem: America's Top 10 Through Years - The 80's Casey Kasem: Top Ten - 60's the Folk Years ASIN: B000066I3L Release Date: 2002-05-21

Tracks:

1. It's Too Late - Carole King
2. Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
3. Chuck E.'s In Love - Rickie Lee Jones
4. Lowdown - Boz Scaggs
5. Your Song - Elton John
6. Moring Has Broken - Cat Stevens
7. At Seventeen - Janis Ian
8. Lay Down Sally - Eric Clapton
9. American Pie - Don McLean
10. Please Come To Boston - Dave Loggins
11. Summer Breeze - Seals & Crofts
12. Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum
13. Poetry Man - Phoebe Snow
14. I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song - Jim Croce
15. Hello It's Me - Todd Rundgren
16. If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot
17. Sunshine (Go Away Today) - Jonathan Edwards
18. That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be - Carly Simon
19. I'd Love You To Want Me - Lobo
20. Year Of The Cat - Al Stewart

Album Description

Subtitled - The Singer/Songwriters. Features 20 top ten hits plus an 8-page, 4-color booklet which includes artist photos and interesting facts about the decade and style.

Customer Reviews:

A Decent Mix.......2004-09-09

This disc highlights several interesting hits from the 70's. I didn't know all of the song names, but when I listened I found I recognized nearly all of them. Softer tunes like Jim Croce's "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song" and Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat" contrast well with mild blues in Clapton's "Lay Down Sally" and classic rockers like "Spirit in the Sky." It's a good mix if you like a variety of styles on one disc.

One word of caution - the version of Don McClean's "American Pie" is cut rather short at 4:10. The original is over eight minutes! It was disheartening and a little ironic to hear the music fade out halfway through the story in a song about "the day the music died."

The Late, Great 1970's - 20 Top 10 Hits - Singer/Songwriters.......2004-05-27

If you grew up in the 1970's with your parent's music - on 8 track, no less, this kickin' CD compilation will transport you back in time. Back in time to the days of cut off jean short-shorts, tube socks, & Trax tennis shoes. Smoking candy cigarettes, eating Lik M' Aid, Boo Berry cereal, cold bologna out of the package, and drinking Coke from a glass bottle.

Singer/Songwriters have a sound all of their own. It's THEIR OWN words that they are singing, so naturally, they have more feeling behind their performances.

1. It's Too Late - Carole King belts out her own tune whilst playing her piano...
2. Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers and his smooth R&B hit single
3. Chuck E.'s in Love - Rickie "The Marble Mouth" Lee Jones rambles on about Chuck E.
4. Lowdown - Boz Scaggs with his hit
5. Your Song - Elton John's ballad that was a huge hit
6. Morning Has Broken - Cat Stevens' and his religious crossover success
7. At Seventeen - Janis Ian and her teenaged ridden angst. Her one hit wonder.
8. Lay Down Sally - Eric Clapton's great country meets rock single
9. American Pie - Don McLean's tribute to "The Day The Music Died"
10. Please Come to Boston - Dave Loggins' sad Hit song
11. Summer Breeze - Seals & Crofts' fun, lazy Summertime song
12. Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum and his funky 60's throwback
13. Poetry Man - Phoebe Snow and her wonderful hit with a song and lyrics that are one of a kind
14. I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song - Jim Croce's follow up hit to "Operator"
15. Hello It's Me - Todd Rundgren is another one hit wonder, but what a great tune
16. If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot's wonderful love song. True GORD'S GOLD
17. Sunshine (Go Away Today) - Jonathan Edwards' one hit Folk song wonder
18. That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be - Carly Simon's hit after Anticipation
19. I'd Love You to Want Me - Lobo's hit after "Me and You and A Dog Named Boo"
20. Year of the Cat - Al Stewart's year was a good one when this tune hit the charts.

This CD is great! I wish that they would release more singer/songwriter CD's for the different decades! I would buy 'em all!

Happy Listening!

Fantastic! It will bring you back to the 70s.......2002-11-06

I put this CD in at work and everyone just raved about it. Every song, we were like, "This is a great song!" I don't recognize all the names on this album, but once I listened to it, I recognized every song. It's a wonderful complilation album, probably one of the best, since I loved every song on the CD and how rare is that?

thanks for reading

**Pandora

Average customer rating: The Best Of Gilbert And Sullivan Pure delight Delicious G&S samplings abound here. Fine Intro to G&S

Gilbert & Sullivan - Highlights from The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Yeomen of the Guard, Trial of Jury Nicholas Folwell , Arthur Sullivan , Marie McLaughlin , Rebecca Evans , Anthony Rolfe Johnson , John Mark Ainsley , Alwyn Mellor , Anne Howells , Barry Banks , Eric Garrett , Felicity Palmer , Gareth Rhys Davies , Janice Watson , Julie Gossage , Neill Archer , Pamela Helen Stephen , Peter Savidge , Richard Stuart , Richard Suart , Richard Van Allan , Sir Thomas Allen [baritone] , Sir Charles Mackerras , and Welsh National Opera Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Sullivan | Sullivan, Arthur | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Allen, Thomas | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Ultimate Gilbert & Sullivan Collection Topsy-Turvy - The Music of Gilbert & Sullivan: From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan The Complete Annotated Gilbert & Sullivan The Gilbert and Sullivan Overtures ASIN: B000003D1Y Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

1. A Wandering Minstrel I
2. Behold The Lord High Executioner!
3. Three Little Maids From School Are We
4. Braid The Raven Hair
5. The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring
6. On A Tree By A River, A Little Tom-tit Sang, 'Willow, Tit-willow'
7. For He's Gone And Married Yum-Yum
8. We Sail The Ocean Blue
9. I'm Called Little Buttercup
10. My Gallant Crew
11. When I Was A Lad
12. Things Are Seldom What They Seem
13. Never Mind The Why And Wherefore
14. Climbing Over Rocky Mountain
15. Poor Wand'ring One
16. How Beautifully Blue The Sky
17. I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General
18. When The Foeman Bares His Steel
19. Ah, Leave Me Not To Pine
20. With Cat-Like Tread
21. Is Life A Boon?
22. I Have A Song To Sing, O!
23. Were I Thy Bride
24. Oh, A Private Buffoon Is A Light-Hearted Loon
25. When A Wooer Goes A-Wooing
26. When I, Good Friends, Was Called To The Bar
27. A Nice Dilemma We Have Here
28. Oh, Joy Unbounded

Customer Reviews:

The Best Of Gilbert And Sullivan.......2004-03-15

At the end of the 19th century (1870's, 80's and 90's) the compatible duo of librettist and composer Gilbert and Sullivan popularized the pre-Broadway entertainment of Savoy opera. These were light operas or operettas whose content was satire and comedy, full of bouncy melodies and beautiful singing, highly entertaining theatrical works staged at London's Savoy theatre. Gilbert and Sullivan did not always get along and in fact there was a time when they ended their professional relationship because personal conflicts surfaced. But they managed to create the world's most beloved light operas, over 40 of them. Their most famous are what I call the Big Three- The H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates Of Penzance and The Mikado. Other works include their first hit Trial By Jury, The Yeomen Of The Guard, Princess Ida, The Gondoliers, Patience and several others. A standard signature of Gilbert and Sullivan was in the colorful cast- a comic actor with a special kind of baritone voice, a canary-like and sweet-voiced coloratura or lyric diva, a mezzo soprano with strong chest register and a lyric tenor as the romantic hero. On this album, English conductor Sir Charles Mackerras, a popular figure in the classical music scene and opera, guides the Chorus and Orchestra Of the Welsh National Opera in generally well-delivered performances of excerpts from the operas The Mikado, The H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates Of Penzance, Yeomen Of The Guard and Trial By Jury. Although I feel that the recordings made by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, with Isodore Godfrey conducting and starring the best cast of the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire- the singers of the 60's and 70's- tenor Phillip Potter, soprano Valerie Masterson, baritone John Reed, Donald Adams and mezzo soprano Christine Palmer. Their version of the Pirates Of Penzance and the Mikado far outshine the Welsh National Opera in technical mastery and vibrant tone color.

But these are fine excerpts. Especially appealing is the famous and cheerful "Three Little Maids From School Are We", a trio that imitates Japanese style melody. Most of the Mikado does this, for it was inspired by Japanisme or the new fashion in Victorian England- everything Japanese, from prints to paintings to poetry. Gilbert and Sullivan simply "Japanized" their English operettas. The Finale "For He's Gone To Marry Yum Yum" is an ebullient and pleasant finale. Not featured here is the domineering and powerful Katisha, a figure who stands out in the Mikado.

The H.M.S. Pinafore is Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular work. The sea chanty "We Sail The Ocean Blue" opens the opera with appropriate atmosphere and it seems to fit perfectly with the other scene in which the Captain greets his crew and they sing his praises "My Gallant Crew..I am the Captain Of The Pinafore". A beautiful melody that seems to come out of a romantic Offenbach tune is "I"m Called Little Buttercup". The finale, not featured here, is also very engaging "For He Is An Englishman" which can almost resemble a British national anthem. The Yeomen Of The Guard was Gilbert and Sullivan's "serious opera" eventhough it remains very Savoyard. The plot deals with Tudor England and takes place at the London Tower. "I have a song to sing" makes use of what can be taken for an English ballad of the Renaissance. Trial By Jury, about the eccentric and hilarious activity of a court trial, has a sextet that although different in composition, has the sextet "Che Mi Frena" from Donizetti's Lucia Di Lammermoor in mind. All in all, an excellent recording sure to delight young and old.

Pure delight.......2003-08-02

--Gilbert & Sullivan--
William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan were a match made in heaven, yet on earth their pairing seems even with hindsight a most unlikely coupling. Both were destined for other things, Gilbert in fact for decidedly non-musical careers. Introduced by a mutual friend, Fred Clay, the fledgling lyricist Gilbert met the military-band-leader's son Sullivan and together continued to conspire to inspire the delights of audiences from high Victorian times down to the present, as their work in musical theatre comedy continues to provide merriment throughout the English-speaking world and beyond.

--The Music--
This collection includes highlights from five of the most popular Gilbert & Sullivan operettas: The Mikado, HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, The Yeoman of the Guard, and Trial by Jury. The arrangements and orchestrations are delightfully energetic and clear; the characterisation and vocal qualities of the leads are perfect for their roles. The haughty if misplaced Lord of the Admiralty has the perfect combination of insecurity and pompous officiousness. The Plaintiff and the Defendant in the Trial are perfectly cast. This is a collection of highlights - at least three but no more than seven songs each, but this gives a good flavour of the music. The recordings on this collection come from complete performances by Mackerras and the WNO.

--Sir Charles Mackerras--
Mackerras is one of the geniuses of the twentieth century musical scene. Having a conducting career that includes the Hamburg Opera, the English National Opera (formerly Sadlers Wells Opera), and the Welsh National Opera (the performers for this piece), he has also conducted major orchestras on the continent of Europe and in the United States. The holder of many major awards and honourary doctorates, he has devoted much time and energy to the preservation and performance of eighteenth and nineteenth century music, as well the restoration of historical musical venues, such as the Estates Theatre in Prague, scene of the original production of Don Giovanni (Mackerras conducted the opera there to commemorate the bicentenary of the death of Mozart).

--Welsh National Opera Orchestra and Chorus--
The seeds of the WNO were planted in Cardiff during World War II by music lovers; the first performances occurred a year after the war's end, with Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci on the bill, with Faust the next night. Popular appeal was so great that the WNO was established, later adding choruses in both Cardiff and Swansea. The professional chorus was established in 1973, with a strength that matches the orchestra. They continue an ambitious performance schedule for recording and live events; Mackerras remains the Conductor Emeritus, as the WNO continues under the direction of Carlo Rizzi. The list of awards the WNO has won over the years is staggering - they are a world class institution by any measure.

--Other performers--
Notable singers such as Richard Stuart, Rebecca Evans, Felicity Palmer, John Mark Ainsley and Anne Howells lead the chorus with stunning vocals and clever characterisations of the parts they play. Many (such as Stuart and Evans) play the leading roles across several of the pieces of the disc.

--Liner Notes--
The liner notes give a good introduction and biographical information about Gilbert and Sullivan, as well as synopses of the five pieces presented here. It does not, unfortunately, include any information about Mackerras, the WNO Orchestra and Chorus, or the other special performers. It also does not include the lyrics to the songs. Were the quality of the CD not so great, this might cost it a star in rating.

--Overall Impressions--
I play this CD in my car, in my home and in my office frequently. It is a great sing-along work and a great comedic relief from the stresses of the day. The music is bubbly and clear; the recording quality is excellent and crisp. I recommend this to any Gilbert & Sullivan lover, any fan of musical comedy, opera and operettas, and anyone who delights in good music.

Delicious G&S samplings abound here........2003-05-06

The first thing I should be saying is "What an infectuous G&S CD." Indeed this is, with this fine sampling of the peppy and bright Mackerras series. I know I have praised its "Mercedes-Benz quality" elsewhere on these pages, but that doesn't stop me from saying that everyone is in fine voice. This generously filled CD may only focus on five operas, but at least you can savour a reasonable choice sampling of delights from each one. Of particular interest is Richard Suart's patter-baritone parts and the soaring lyric soprano of Rebecca Evans. The selection on this disc is filled with a mixture of familiar favourites and lesser-known gems such as the female choruses in Mikado and Pirates. Mackerras is a true G&S conductor, but one who always springs rhythms crisply, and adopts peppy tempo for the fast bits. The one drawback is that this selection is far too infectuous that you'll want to shell out money to buy the full 5-CD Mackerras cycle - an incredible bargain with most of the operas fitted onto one disc each. But still, this is at least a decent G&S sampling for beginners, capped with Steven Ledbetter's copious liner notes. It will leave you wanting to say "dammit I'm going to play it again."

Fine Intro to G&S.......2000-12-30

This is the perfect CD for those who may not be familiar with G&S, or for the initiated who want a smattering but don't have the mother of all CD changers. The difficulty with any G&S Greatest Hits CD is determining which pieces to leave off; while one could easily point to any number equally good bits, it would be difficult to argue about the quality of the choices included. The only problem, such as it is, is that after listening to it I am usually induced to go back and listen to the whole opera anyway. The Mackerras recordings are uniformly excellent. I have read elsewhere the criticism that they are too 'operatic' for light opera. If by this it is meant that the singers are too good, then I leave it to the discretion of the listener when the singing becomes too good to be enjoyable.

Dance Music:

1. Shiny Shak'em Up [Explicit Lyrics]
2. Sickness of Our Age
3. Snoop Dogg Presents Tha Eastsidaz [Explicit Lyrics]
4. Soundtracks for Days [Explicit Lyrics]
5. Steal My Sunshine [CD-single] [Import]
6. Supreme Clientele [Clean]
7. Supreme Clientele [Explicit Lyrics]
8. Talkin' Dirty
9. Tha Bomb-Bay [CD-single]
10. Tha Eastsidaz [Clean]

Dance Music

dance music

Dance Music

Groovin

Seasonal Aire

Paris Blues [Import]

Just Family [Original recording remastered]

Frank's Wild Years

Showdown

Serene Renegade

Milhaud, Prokofiev and Martinu

Renaissance

Mozart Bicentennial Program

Pussy, King of the Pirates

Non-Linear Accelerator

Latin Lounge

Sumi Jo - Prayers / James Conlon

The Essential Dorsey Brothers: 1928-1935