| 1. U Got a Problem? |
| 2. Game Got Switched - Fat Wilson, Infamous 2-0, Ludacris |
| 3. 1st and 10 |
| 4. What's Your Fantasy - Ludacris, C. Shawna |
| 5. Come on Over (Skit) |
| 6. Hood Stuck |
| 7. Get Off Me - Ludacris, Pastor Troy |
| 8. Mouthing Off - 4-Ize, Ludacris |
| 9. Stick 'Em Up - Ludacris, UGK |
| 10. Ho (Skit) |
| 11. Ho |
| 12. Tickets Sold Out (Skit) |
| 13. Catch Up - Fat Wilson, Infamous 2-0, Ludacris |
| 14. Southern Hospitality - Ludacris, |
| 15. What's Your Fantasy [Remix] - Ludacris, C. Shawna, |
| 16. Phat Rabbit |
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
If you're looking for that typical "bounce baby bounce" Southern flair, then Ludacris's debut is not for you. Instead of working from the usual template, Def Jam South's first man out enlists the likes of hit-makers Jermaine Dupri, Organized Noize, Timbaland and the Neptunes (along with himself) to give the listener an album with a variety of contrasting styles and musical feels. There are the hard-hitting keys and snares on "U Got a Problem," a streetwise freestyle track with more than enough boom for the beat junkies and plenty of lyrics for hip-hop purists. Then a cut or two later, there's the radio-favored "What's Your Fantasy," with its eerie keyboards and pattering drums. UGK, Foxy Brown, and Pastor Troy all stop by to lend a lyrical hand, but Ludacris is the star on this record. He's got a lyrical style and charisma that transcends coastal allegiances. No gimmicks. Funny skits. Moving music. --Kenji Jasper
There is over four hours of music in this set with a colorful and informative booklet.
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.
With great tracks like `Stick `Em Up', the ever popular `Ho' and `Southern Hospitality' Luda has delivered a solid effort that surpasses most rappers third or fourth albums. He's as refined and confident as someone who's been in the game for years and has flow that can rival some of the greatest. Plus, the pairing of Ludacris and Timbaland on the brilliant (and my personal favorite) `Phat Rabbit' was sheer genius. Ludacris is a house hold name at this point, but remembering where he started helps us appreciate this lyrical genius even more!
Ludacris is big into the ho's. Over time he has let the whole Ho thing slowly fade away. I think thats a plus because it shows him to be a respectable artists instead of putting down women. Especially with his new cd where he brings props to women and his Mom.
If you wanna grab this I suggest it because you can see where Ludacris came from. He has gotten more creative beats and gotten better at being...well just Luda.
1. U Got a Problem? - 4/5
2. Game Got Switched - 4.5/5
3. 1st and 10 (Featuring I-20 & Lil' Fate) - 4/5
4. What's Your Fantasy (Featuring Shawnna) - 4.5/5
5. Come on Over (Skit) - No Rating
6. Hood Stuck - 3.5/5
7. Get Off Me (Featuring Pastor Troy) - 3/5
8. Mouthing Off (Featuring 4-Ize) - 4/5
9. Stick 'Em Up (Featuring UGK) - 4.5/5
10. H* (Skit) - No Rating
11. H* - 4.5/5
12. Tickets Sold Out (Skit) - No Rating
13. Catch Up (Featuring I-20 & Lil' Fate) - 4.5/5
14. Southern Hospitality (Featuring Pharrell) - 5/5
15. What's Your Fantasy [Remix] (Featuring Trina, Shawnna & Foxy Brown) - 4.5/5
16. Phat Rabbit - 4.5/5
Overall:
55/65
4 Stars
Ludacris definitely delivers a hot debut. His lyrics are straight fire and he got a great style and voice to grab listener's attention. Theres only a couple tracks that should have been left off but the rest of the album is great.
best tracks:
you got a problem (fast, very luda)
game got switched
ho (tight)
southern hospitality (so good...)
mouthing off
stick em up (real good beat)
There are compilations and then there are "Compilations" beginning with a classic that even the youngsters today recognize "GONE WITH THE WIND" (1939) (Max Steiner), sweeping score that captures the tragic history of the South during the Civil War, one great cue after another, it doesn't get any better than this, nominated by the Academy for Best Original Score...and closing on Disc 4 with "THE INCREDIBLES" (2004) (Michael Giacchino), the big hit in computer animation from Walt Disney & Pixar that once again pit Super-Heroes against the forces of evil...our family of five Supers prove crime doesn't pay, but box-office receipts do...gotta love it!
Silva Screen Classics as usual, has put quality into this 4-CD-Set featuring The City Of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra and the Crouch End Festival Chorus conducted by Kenneth Alwyn, Bill Ashton, Paul Bateman, James Fitzpatrick, Mario Klemens, Derek Wadsworth, and Nic Raine. Recorded in "Dolby Surround" with the new technology of "HDCD", this is a "film-score-buffs" dream, one to treasure now and years to come.
Some selections are missing, but when you think of what Silva has included, it is impossible to please everyone...was happy to see "TOUCH OF EVIL" (1958) from composer Henry Mancini, as I feel this composer deserves all the recognition that has been overlooked recently in the music world...This collection is aimed directly at the "Serious Film Score" music fans and collectors...Silva is as always, perfect in every way...just the way we like 'em!
Total Time: 4-CD-Set ~ Silva America 1181 ~ (5/10/2005)
I have always had a weak spot for (good, or maybe even intelligent) science fiction/fantasy and film music, especially its way of evoking mystery, grandure and wide open spaces. Call it a weakness if you want. But it was maybe really kick started off, for as far as I can remember, with Star Trek. But especially Star Trek II, III and IV - essentially a trilogy - because of their very romantic but very warm, human core, set on the broadest canvasses of unlimited and mysterious outer space. But then there was the music for adding that essential extra dimension of emotion and atmosphere. I am happy that much of the music on this album is from the Star Trek series and films, often equaling or sometimes even outclassing the original recordings.
This kind of music (for the movies) should be seen as an art on its own rights with its own merits and qualities. As such, the musical sequences on these CD's are a beautifully played cross section of some of the most evoking orchestral music for science fiction/fantasy film ever created. And I very much like the nicely blended, wide and deep orchestral soundpicture with enough reverberation to evoke a sense of wide open spaces.
I am quite thrilled by tracks like the evocative music from Dune, truly transporting one to the vastly sands of Arrakis (the music is wonderful, but to my great regret I think the movie itself is a flawed masterpiece at best, alas.). And then there is the very different, goofy music for Ghostbusters (memories of childhood), the spoofy but electrifying music from Mars Attacks (lovingly parodist music, this, with not a little touch of irony) and the happily adventurous, forward driving Theme from Galaxy Quest ('Never give up, never surrender!'), now also used for the internet-based fan-series Star Trek: The Hidden Frontier. On the other side of the spectrum we have the atmospheric music for Enemy Mine (an underestimated 'little' movie), the Theme from The Right Stuff (actually science FACT, not fiction, this film, just like Apollo 13, of course), the eerily attractive music for Species, the original End Title for Alien (not used in the theatrical version of the movie, where it was replaced by music from howard Hanson's Second Symphony), the exquisitely exotic music for Stargate, the sweet and warmly sympathetic, beautifully re-orchestrated, theme for Starman, the title cue for Star Trek: TOS (much more melodiously played than the original! If only a series nowadays could continue to be as thought provoking and as original as Star Trek was during its launch, fourty years ago ...) and a truly overpowering End Titles Suite from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. I especially like the thrillingly grandiloquent rendition here of the music for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. And how nice it is to hear the (thematic) similarities between James Horner's music for The Wrath of Khan, his great break-through as a film music composer, and his (two years) earlier music for Battle Beyond the Stars (which did indeed help him earn the job for writing the music for Star Trek II) ...
But on the 'down side', if one is looking for - for example - the gorgeously expansively played End Titles from Cocoon, it is not included here: one has to acquire the album that 'kicked it all off', so to say, namely 'Space and Beyond', also on Silva Screen. I was very pleased also with the inclusion on that album of some of the music from the series Star Trek: The Next Generation, namely where one of the characters, Tasha Yar, in one of the episodes (Skin of Evil) is saying goodbye to her crewmmates: sweetly sentimental and simple music which I have always wanted to own on CD. I guess that a few cues from the other two sequals ('Alien Invasion: Space and Beyond II' and 'Space3: Beyond the Final Frontier') didn't make it onto this 4 CD collection-album as well, but I guess that it would be the 'better part of the bargain' to opt to buy this 'The Science Fiction Album' instead of buying all three albums separately. Well, of course it is for yourself to ultimately decide what you really want ;-)
If I were to nitpick (which is not easy with such a marvellous project as this one), then I would say that while all music is performed with magnificent grandure and with style, some of it is not performed as crisply and as technically 'on the spot' as some of the original recordings: ensemble is a little slack and the playing somewhat stilted sometimes, losing some of the edge and the originality of the writing. ET and Star Wars spring to mind, but then the soundtracks for Star Wars are traditionally recorded with the magnificent London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestro John Williams himself, and these superior recordings (especially the ones for Episode I, II and III) can't really be bettered, IMHO. Likewise for the music from Star Trek: The Motion Picture, I believe that in the end one really has to resort to the ultimate reference, namely the original recording (which is true in many other instances of 'original recordings'), and then the 20th anniversay colector's edition of this soundtrack on Columbia/Legacy (truly unmissable, this veritable classic of sci-fi/film music soundtracks!).
But all in all this 4CD-collection amounts to probably being the penultimate high quality sci-fi music album collection (I certainly know of no other project that comes as close quality as well as quantity wise), with some of the most memorable musical moments from classic to modern sci-fi/fantasy film captured in lavish orchestrations.
Collection-wise: five *stars*. Playing: generally four *stars*, sometimes more. The recording quality: five *stars*. The music (qualified on its own merits as film music) and its (re)orchestrations: generally five *stars*. In the end this is all highly recommended, and certainly not to be missed by science fiction and fantasy film music fans. Klaatu barada nikto.
The moment I ripped off the shrink-wrap and popped it into my cd player was a moment of great trepidation. Believe me when I tell that I've seen my fair share of sub-par orchestral recording in my lifetime. Very often they are in those big super-packs of music, and suffer from poor direction, improper mastering, and sometime even pathetic orchestration (or worse yet have something sounding like a cheap synthesizer and a kazoo in place of a full orchestra). I needn't have worried though. This sucker is fantastic.
Many people who are not audiophiles will probably miss the point of this cd collection. It is not the original versions of the pieces. It is re-orchestrations, mostly by the phenomenal Prague Symphony Orchestra. Many of these themes didn't sound all that hot in there original versions because they were low budget films or were not recorded in high-fidelity. Here they are given the full treatment, mastered with the most loving care imaginable. Often the version found in these cds is SUPERIOR to the original.
Remember the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey? Of course you do. But how many times have you heard a cheap imitation of the original version from the movie, starting too low in volume and ending too high (and missing the essential pipe-organ that gives it that extra oomph)? Well, this first track in the entire collection is not only everything it should be instrumental and timing-wise, but it also has been oh-so-carefully adjusted during the mastering process so that at no time is the music either too low or too high in volume (surely a benchmark for every other recording ever to be made of the piece).
Or what about the theme from the (at-the-time) uber-creepy The Black Hole? The orchestration of this piece of music goes from tiumphant to terrifying and back again, with a splendor and cleanness that I CERTAINLY don't remember being in the original recording.
Then there's the new version of the theme from Independence Day, complete with a violin solo, a far more electrifying ending climax, and a chorus so thunderous that you feel like applauding at the end. Simply indescribable. Kind of like the MIND-BLOWING rendition of the theme from The Last Star Fighter. This has been one of my favorite themes for a long time now, but I've never heard it played like this. I think the original version of the theme is something like 1 minute long, but this new version doesn't just fade out (HAHAHAHA!!!!) THIS version is THREE minutes long, goes through the main theme THREE times, with the final strains being so triumphant and joyous I could not help but feel an electrifying charge the first dozen or so times (come to think of it, I still feel that way). This is superior to the original in EVERY way. AWESOME.
And let's not forget the incredible new rendition of Stargate with it's heavy use of clarinets (for Egyptian effect!) and a triumphant new ending (completely lacking the chanting from the original version. This version is so different that for the first minute it is very hard to tell that it is in fact Stargate. But then the main theme kicks in, and then you get this incredible flute solo for my favorite part of theme (the whole thing is played slower, but arguably more powerfully than the original). My goodness. At first I found the thing so different I didn't like it. But then I listened to it again. And again. And again.
I could go on and on, talking about the fantastic new rendition of Moon Raker, the ear-popping Battlestar Galactica, the classic Star Trek (First Contact has a minute or two of the theme from Star Trek:The Motion Picture before going into the main theme), or the sweet renditions of music from the Star Wars movies (or the music from E.T.).
I have to mention though that this collection was not picked based merely on what people want, or on what is popular. No, the people who made it obviously thought a GOOD music collection was better than a popular one. That's why you get a heartbreakingly beautiful theme from A.I. instead of the main theme. It's why you get music from movies that you probably never gave a second thought to the music (because the movie was lousy). It's why you get Armageddon, Judge Dredd, and Robocop (who would have guessed their music was so COOL when there was all that crazy action and bad-acting going on on-screen).
I said it before and I'll say it again. This cd-set was mastered with tender-loving-care, and it shows BIG-TIME. High-fidelity the likes of which I have not seen since the days when cds were brand-new in the world. Dolby Surround. Perfectly balanced. BEAUTIUFL orchestrations. About the only thing that makes me scratch my head is the weird sound-effect tracks (Oooookay.....). Other than that, it's PERFECT. Obviously they could not include every sci-fi theme ever (no one can), but this collection is REALLY GOOD. A lot of great themes that got away (forgotten gems :), new versions of old favorites, and under-appreciated classics aplenty, but ALWAYS the full and complete versions with nothing cut-out (the theme from Dune is quite extended).
If you love movie music (and sci-fi movie music in particular) you MUST buy this awesome collection). It is not the original recordings. Almost always the new ones are better (if they aren't better they're just equal). This is what you have been waiting for. I for one am going to be buying quite a few cds from this company in the future. Give your ears the treat they deserve. Buy it NOW.
It was worth the wait.
The concept is great. The packaging is great. The recording is great. Disc five is really cool for an ALW aficionado. There are a few real gems on it; my favorites are Petula Clark's "I Could Have Given You More" and "Benedicite."
I've always thought "Gus the Theatre Cat" made a great medley on the piano with "Unexpected Song" and "I DOn't Know How to Love Him," but wished there was an alternate lyric to match the other two songs. Now that I know there *is*, and it's a good lyric, it's a dream come true.
The melody of "Benedicite" is one of my favorites from _Sunset_ (the book mis-identifies it as "SUrrender"; it's actually "The Lady's Paying" and "Eternal Youth is Worth a Little Suffering"). The lyrics are the canticle from Daniel 3, which comes up every odd Sunday in the Divine Office, so it's nice to have cool music to sing it with.
I haven't bought _By Jeeves_ or _THe Beautiful Game_ yet, to it was great to sample them.
There are other parts of the CD taht aren't found in my collection. I like CD 4 "The Hits."
But the selections on CDs 1-3 don't make sense.
First, any self-respecting ALW fan has the Original London Cast of _Phantom_, so six tracks are totally useless. Why not draw from the Canadian cast with Colm Wilkinson? Or pull out some obscure recordings never published.
Why two different tracks with Michael Ball singing "Love Changes Everything", yet they're hardly any different?
On Disc 5 is "It's Only Your Lover Returning," sung by Julie Covington. It's an early draft of the song (Lloyd Webber and Rice went through several suggested titles) and quite nice. The very thing one expects on a Boxed Set.
So why have the Julie Covington "Don't Cry for Me" on disc 1?? The only difference is a few words, but it's otherwise identical. Why not Elaine Paige or Patti Lupone or Madonna?
The _Evita_ section is otherwise the best, choosing a sample from each major recording, though I'd have chosen slightly differently (as above).
There is a great selection of "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" from the Sydmonton festival, using the original music that was changed when _Cats_ went to Broadway_. It would have been nice if they'd included more recordings from Sydmonton, like the original lyric of "All I Ask of You" shown on the second DVD to the _Phantom_ movie.
With so many great actress-singers who've played Norma Desmond, why does the collection beat us over the head with Glenn Close?
Paul Miles Kingston must be set for life in royalties, for the number of albums the original recording of "Pie Jesu" has appeared on. "Amigos Para Siempre" is nice, but it reminds me of Shari Lewis's "The Song that Doesn't End," especially when it's been used on so many compilations.
In short, this is a great collection for the obscure material, if you can get it cheap. But for a boxed set, it's a poor sampling, drawn mostly from the most familiar recordings.
Over the years many compilations of his work have emerged. In the late 80-is and early 90-is it was the "Encore" series and lately the one-disc collection called "Gold". The one in question here can be considered one of the best currently on the market. First, it includes a 3-disc selections from all of his shows, minus the latest one, i.e., "The Woman in White", which, considering the triviality of the score, is no great lost. The fourth disc covers some of his most known songs sung by the famous artists. Then, there is the fifth disc with previously unreleased material, most of which are the songs ALW wrote with Tim Rice for various artists during the 70-is. The disks are all neatly packed in a hardcover book that features 67 pages of pictures and text with information about each of ALW's shows. One of the other assets here is the perfect sound quality, since all of the tracks have been digitally remastered.
Here are my basic impressions and comments regarding the material on the discs:
* Disc #1 has the selections from "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Evita", "Cats" and "Song & Dance". The Superstar material mostly comes from the Concept Recording. Although the songs sound beautiful as always, their orchestration is a bit dated now. Only Steve Balsamo's "Gethsemane" from the 1996 revival cast has a modern rock sound. "Evita" comes with the material from all of the major recordings: London, Broadway and the movie productions, as well as the Concept album. No objections here; since this is one of ALW's most satisfying works, every song is just perfect, although Patti LuPone, the Broadway and overall the best Evita, is left with only a couple of lines. With the selections from "Cats", however, I have some doubts. A plus to the choice of the "Jellicle ball" impressive orchestral sequence from the 1998 movie version and "Mister Mistoffelees" from the 1981 London cast. One of the best known ALW's songs, "Memory", also comes from that album. It's a pretty version and Elaine Paige's rendition cannot be matched, but why include this when the definite version, featuring an 80-piece orchestra and Elaine Paige with much better interpretation, can be found in the same movie version. Thusly, one has to buy Elaine Paige's latest 2-disc compilation "Centre Stage: The very best of Elaine Paige" to get that one. And "Gus the theatre cat" is more a recital than a song, so there was not much point in including that. Marti Webb brings her vocal charm to the "Song & Dance" sequence, Sarah Brightman sings "Unexpected song" with her famous soprano, but as much as I like her version, Bernadette Peters, who was in this show on Broadway is strangely left out here.
* Disc # 2 starts with "Starlight Express". This was never one of my favorite ALW's shows; the plot is even lighter than in "Cats" and the 1984 original cast recording is terribly dated. Yet, here we have one terrific duet, "I am starlight" from the original together with three songs from the later revivals and it seems that fresh orchestrations were just the thing Starlight needed. My favorite remains a touchy ballad, "Next time you fall in love". "Requiem" is the most solemn of all ALW's compositions, written in 1985 to commemorate the death of his father. Placido Domingo's tenor rides together with the chorus all the way through the strong "Hosanna", only to be joined by Sarah Brightman in the final moments of this song. She then gives an echoing deliverance of "Pie Jesu". What can be said of ALW's next show, "The Phantom of the Opera"? A phenomenon in its own right, it's easy to see from the six numbers included here why this is one of the best and most beloved musicals of all time. The cast, the music, the story - everything is perfect. Although "Aspects of love" was never a popular hit, it does have some of the most beautiful love melodies ALW has ever written. "Love changes everything" sung by Michael Ball is probably one of the best tunes ever about love. The rest of the selected material here has a dreamy love flavor and the melodies find their way into your brain in the best Lloyd Webber way.
* ALW's first musical, "Joseph and the amazing Technicolor dreamcoat" was more successful in its revival form than the original from the 70-is. The three songs included here are sung by the show stars, Jason Donovan and Donny Osmond. Maria Friedman was not a lucky choice to play the narrator, as the track from the 1998 movie version shows. "By Jeeves" was ALW's only big flop when it came to the stage in the 70-is. The 1995 revival sounds much better though, full of funny numbers in the best manner of the musical comedy. "Travel hopefully" remains one of the show's highlights on this compilation. "Sunset Boulevard" comes next. "Sunset" remains for me one of Webber's best scores; lush and beautiful. I listen to the original cast recording with Patti LuPone all the time. However, here most of the songs are performed by Glenn Close. A big mistake. If you've ever listened the American premiere recording with her, you'll know what I am talking about. She may have a strong stage presence, but her vocal abilities are too limited, and her aggressive approach to the role lacks any subtlety. Therefore, the two big numbers from this show, "With one look" and "As if we never said goodbye" are ruined by the fact she can't sing. The same goes for the American Joe Gillis, who was played by Alan Campbell. Luckily, Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson, the original Norma and Joe from the London production, make their brief entrance here with the "Perfect year"; enough to show how better they are. The funny thing is, on the jacket and inside of it, Glenn Close and Alan Campbell are credited as performers in this song as well. If this was a mistake on ALW's part, it was a good one. The next ALW's show, "Whistle down the wind" was never a critic's dear and yet the audiences rushed in to see it in London. The score brings back ALW to his rock and roll roots of the seventies and the story is quite interesting. But the selections here are not the happiest, since the cast recording boasts with much better songs. And finally, "The Beautiful Game". Again, we have one of those ALW's shows that is worth in its individual parts rather than as a whole. "Our kind of love" and "Let us love in peace" are two catchy ballads. The latter is a nice amalgam version not available elsewhere. The two other tracks here I could live without.
* Disc # 4 has the songs from all the above shows performed by different artists. The assembled tracks have their pros and cons. For example, we have some previously unreleased stuff, like Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's operettic rendition of "The heart is slow to learn", or a stunning and epic "A kiss is a terrible thing to waste" from "Whistle down the wind", performed by The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra. Then again, what was the point in including almost identical tracks as the ones on the previous disks? So we have Michael Ball again singing "Love changes everything" with only a bit different orchestration; Sarah Brightman comes out again with the same Phantom duets, but only with the different male singers. It would be much more appropriate to include tracks from the Toronto Cast of the Phantom, with Colm Wilkinson. Other pop deliverances (Tina Arena's "Whistle down the wind", Barbra Streisand's "As if we never said goodbye", Boyzone's "No matter what" and many more) were wisely chosen. Patti LuPone is again nowhere to be found and Petula Clark's "With one look" sounds too worn-out.
* The last disc is probably the one that will be of most interest to Lloyd Webber aficionados. It consists of entirely previously unreleased material ALW for the most part wrote for various artists during his early years, with Tim Rice. Some of these tunes, not successful as a singles, were later used in his shows. Thus "Down thru' summer" became "Buenos Aires"in Evita, "Try it and see", an unsuccessful attempt for the Eurovision was used for "King Herod's song" in "Superstar" and so on. Some of these songs are nicely made pop songs: "Make believe love", ALW's first recorded composition, for which he provided the lyrics; "Goodbye Seattle", sung by Paul Raven, who later became Gary Glitter; "Come back Richard, your country needs you", from a never made musical, sung here by Tim Rice, or Latin flavored "Magdalena", with Tony Christie singing. My all time favorite here is a song called "It's easy for you", sung by none other than Elvis Presley himself. Lloyd Webber and Rice sent him a demo recording that he accepted and recorded this live version a couple of weeks before he died. It's amazing to hear how his voice remained in the perfect shape. Also, there is a track of Andrew Lloyd Webber singing "Policle dogs and Jellicle cats" while plying the piano. His voice doesn't sound bad at all.
Taken as a whole, this compilation makes a perfect birthday or Christmas present to any fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, or just anybody interested in some of the best tunes from the modern era of the musical theatre; despite the flaws I mentioned above. To the former, it may just be the final addition for the Andrew Lloyd Webber collection.
Opera") and the longest-running show of all time ("Cats"), the man whose homes are filled with three Grammys, five Oliviers, a Golden Globe, and Oscar and too many other honors and hosannas to mention, the man knighted in 1992 certainly doesn't need an introduction. Now Decca Broadway pays tribute to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with "Now and Forever," a spectacular 5-CD set compiled and produced by Sir Andy himself. It's cheaper than a
ticket to "The Producers" ... and more much exciting. This treasure trove contains highlights from all of Webber's shows, and a bonus disc of tunes sung by Betty Buckley, Barbara
Streisand, Jose Carreras, Boy George, Charlotte Church, Madonna, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, even Elvis! A must for lovers of theatre---and good music.
The cuts from the musicals are great but are likely owned by ALW fans as they are on the original cast albums. And I'm glad that there were tunes included from the composers most recent efforts which have yet to make it beyond London (Whistle Down the Wind, Beautiful Game).
My only complaint is the inclusion of way too many tracks by Sarah Brightman. She must've received a great divorce settlement that included having tunes on any ALW collection until the end of time!! Her interpretations of some of the tunes were limp and uninspired. I would've much rather heard casts from around the world rather than yet another song by this disdainful soprano! How about Colm Wilkinson's version of "Music of the Night" from the original Canadian cast of "Phantom"? Or Michael Crawford's version of "Unexpected Song"? What? No Betty Buckley from "Sunset Blvd."? And of course there are songs you KNOW are going to be on the collection before you even listen to it as they have been on EVERY ALW collection for the past decade or so.
A great collection but too much Sarah Brightman!
the 22 VHS tapes issued in the early 1990's (a haphazard collection issued in no particular order of episodes that boasted famous guest stars). Can I please get the whole series on DVD? I have not seen Mother Fear toying with Illya (The Children's Day Affair) in over 40 years.
Indeed, this is an unbelievable collection of three double CDs packages with the complete series soundtrack, and I mean the complete music, not a tune is missing.
And this is the ORIGINAL Man From Uncle music. Let me stress the point: this is the four years ORIGINAL soundtrack with the original recordings as they were heard throughout the series, not a no-name orchestra doing personal versions of the stuff. The audio transfer is very, very good, the music from late episodes is even in stereo.
Each individual CD carries over 70 minutes of music. All in all there you have the four TV seasons main titles and all, absolutely all of TMFU unforgetable music.
This is not a chronological release, meaning, all CDs have a mix of music from all four TV seasons. Volume 1 is heavier on early TV seasons stuff, fans of Jerry Goldsmith will love it. Those of us who prefer what Gerald Fried and later Richard Shores did with TMFU music, then volume 2 is mandatory. If you are a fan, you can't miss any of these six CDs. However if buying all three double packages is too much for you, you must go with Volume 2, no questions asked. Volume three is the weakest of them as it brings "suites" and a whole CD with "The Girl From Uncle" soundtrack, but you have a bonus "Open Channel D" beeper.
Each package is gorgeous, each with a glossy color booklet with extensive liner notes with details on how each tune was written to a specific TV series episode and how it was used onwards. You have bios on the composers, on how the recordings were made, even an overview on how many instruments were available in each of the years the music was recorded.
So, throw away your Hugo Montenegro Man From Uncle CD, this is the REAL thing.
If you're looking for that typical "bounce baby bounce" Southern flair, then Ludacris's debut is not for you. Instead of working from the usual template, Def Jam South's first man out enlists the likes of hit-makers Jermaine Dupri, Organized Noize, Timbaland and the Neptunes (along with himself) to give the listener an album with a variety of contrasting styles and musical feels. There are the hard-hitting keys and snares on "U Got a Problem," a streetwise freestyle track with more than enough boom for the beat junkies and plenty of lyrics for hip-hop purists. Then a cut or two later, there's the radio-favored "What's Your Fantasy," with its eerie keyboards and pattering drums. UGK, Foxy Brown, and Pastor Troy all stop by to lend a lyrical hand, but Ludacris is the star on this record. He's got a lyrical style and charisma that transcends coastal allegiances. No gimmicks. Funny skits. Moving music. --Kenji Jasper
Back for the First Time,Ludacris,Def Jam,Dirty South,Hardcore Rap,Pop,Rap & Hip-Hop,Southern Rap
Average customer rating: 
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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
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Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005BADD Release Date: 2001-05-22 |
Tracks:
- Zulu
- From Russia With Love
- From Russia With Love - 007
- Goldfinger
- The Ipcress File
- The Knack
- Mister Moses
- Thunderball
- The Wrong Box
- Born Free
- The Quiller Memorandum
- You Only Live Twice
- The Girl With The Sun In Her Hair
- Deadfall
Tracks:
- The Lion In Winter
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service
- Midnight Cowboy
- Midnight Cowboy
- The Appointment
- The Last Valley
- Walkabout
- Monte Walsh
- Diamonds Are Forever
- The Persuaders
- Mary Queen Of Scots
- The Man With The Golden Gun
- The Dove
Tracks:
- The Tamarind Seed
- King Kong
- Eleanor And Franklin
- Robin And Marian
- The Deep
- Hanover Street
- The Black Hole
- Moonraker
- Somewhere In Time
- Raise The Titanic
- Body Heat
- Frances
- Octopussy
- The Cotton Club
Tracks:
- High Road To China
- A View To A Kill
- Out Of Africa
- The Living Daylights
- Dances With Wolves
- Dances With Wolves
- Chaplin
- Moviola
- Indecent Proposal
- The Specialist
- The Scarlet Letter
- Cry The Beloved Country
- Mercury Rising
- The James Bond Theme
Customer Reviews:
The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra needs a guitar player!.......2006-11-09
Persuaders Theme!.......2006-03-02
A Variety Of Classics!.......2005-12-06
There is over four hours of music in this set with a colorful and informative booklet.
Incredible Barry Collection.......2004-03-11
" one of cinema's greatest composers...John Barry".......2001-07-06
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: 
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Back For The First Time
Ludacris Manufacturer: Def Jam ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Gangsta & Hardcore
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
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Southern Rap
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
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Pop Rap
| Rap & Hip-Hop
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Similar Items:
ASIN: B00004YWGC Release Date: 2000-10-17 |
Tracks:
- U Got A Problem?
- Game Got Switched
- 1st & 10
- What's Your Fantasy
- Come On Over (Skit)
- Hood Stuck
- Get Off Me
- Mouthing Off
- Stick 'Em Up
- Ho - (skit)
- Ho
- Tickets Sold Out - (skit)
- Catch Up - (featuring Infamous 2-0/Fate Wilson)
- Southern Hospitality - (featuring Pharrell)
- What's Your Fantasy - (remix, featuring Trina/Shawna/Foxy Brown)
- Phat Rabbit
Amazon.com
If you're looking for that typical "bounce baby bounce" Southern flair, then Ludacris's debut is not for you. Instead of working from the usual template, Def Jam South's first man out enlists the likes of hit-makers Jermaine Dupri, Organized Noize, Timbaland and the Neptunes (along with himself) to give the listener an album with a variety of contrasting styles and musical feels. There are the hard-hitting keys and snares on "U Got a Problem," a streetwise freestyle track with more than enough boom for the beat junkies and plenty of lyrics for hip-hop purists. Then a cut or two later, there's the radio-favored "What's Your Fantasy," with its eerie keyboards and pattering drums. UGK, Foxy Brown, and Pastor Troy all stop by to lend a lyrical hand, but Ludacris is the star on this record. He's got a lyrical style and charisma that transcends coastal allegiances. No gimmicks. Funny skits. Moving music. --Kenji JasperCustomer Reviews:
This Cat Is Hella Funny.......2007-03-30
A debut from a rap master!.......2006-12-23
With great tracks like `Stick `Em Up', the ever popular `Ho' and `Southern Hospitality' Luda has delivered a solid effort that surpasses most rappers third or fourth albums. He's as refined and confident as someone who's been in the game for years and has flow that can rival some of the greatest. Plus, the pairing of Ludacris and Timbaland on the brilliant (and my personal favorite) `Phat Rabbit' was sheer genius. Ludacris is a house hold name at this point, but remembering where he started helps us appreciate this lyrical genius even more!
Great start.......2006-09-25
Ludacris is big into the ho's. Over time he has let the whole Ho thing slowly fade away. I think thats a plus because it shows him to be a respectable artists instead of putting down women. Especially with his new cd where he brings props to women and his Mom.
If you wanna grab this I suggest it because you can see where Ludacris came from. He has gotten more creative beats and gotten better at being...well just Luda.
Ludacris - Back for the First Time.......2006-09-14
1. U Got a Problem? - 4/5
2. Game Got Switched - 4.5/5
3. 1st and 10 (Featuring I-20 & Lil' Fate) - 4/5
4. What's Your Fantasy (Featuring Shawnna) - 4.5/5
5. Come on Over (Skit) - No Rating
6. Hood Stuck - 3.5/5
7. Get Off Me (Featuring Pastor Troy) - 3/5
8. Mouthing Off (Featuring 4-Ize) - 4/5
9. Stick 'Em Up (Featuring UGK) - 4.5/5
10. H* (Skit) - No Rating
11. H* - 4.5/5
12. Tickets Sold Out (Skit) - No Rating
13. Catch Up (Featuring I-20 & Lil' Fate) - 4.5/5
14. Southern Hospitality (Featuring Pharrell) - 5/5
15. What's Your Fantasy [Remix] (Featuring Trina, Shawnna & Foxy Brown) - 4.5/5
16. Phat Rabbit - 4.5/5
Overall:
55/65
4 Stars
Ludacris definitely delivers a hot debut. His lyrics are straight fire and he got a great style and voice to grab listener's attention. Theres only a couple tracks that should have been left off but the rest of the album is great.
some must-have tracks.......2006-06-20
best tracks:
you got a problem (fast, very luda)
game got switched
ho (tight)
southern hospitality (so good...)
mouthing off
stick em up (real good beat)
Average customer rating:
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The Incredible Film Music Box
Manufacturer: Silva America ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Herrmann
| Herrmann, Bernard
| ( H )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Mascagni
| Mascagni, Pietro
| ( M )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Mancini
| Mancini, Henry
| ( M )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Nyman
| Nyman, Michael
| ( N )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Rota, Nino
| ( R )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Strauss
| Strauss, Richard
| ( S )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Vangelis
| ( V )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Tone Poems
| Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Opera & Vocal
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Romantic (c.1820-1910)
| Historical Periods
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Italian
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Movie Scores
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Movie Soundtracks
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Star Wars
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General
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General
| Vocal Pop
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| Music
Classic Big Band
| Swing Jazz
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Similar Items:
ASIN: B0007S687Y Release Date: 2005-05-10 |
Tracks:
- Gone With The Wind: Overture
- Citizen Kane: Overture
- Casablanca: As Time Goes By
- It's A Wonderful Life: It's A Wonderful Life
- The Third Man: The Harry Lime Theme
- The Searchers: Suite
- The Bridge On The River Kwai: Colonel Bogey March
- Vertigo: Prelude
- Touch Of Evil: Main Title
- Ben-Hur: Parade Of The Charioteers
- North By Northwest: Prelude
- Psycho: Suite
- The Magnificent Seven: The Magnificent Seven
- Lawrence Of Arabia: Overture
Tracks:
- To Kill A Mockingbird: Suite
- The Great Escape: Main Title
- Doctor Zhivago: Main Title & Lara's Theme
- The Good, The Bad And The Ugly: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
- Once Upon A Time In The West: Jill's Theme
- 2001: A Space Odyssey: Also Sprach Zarathustra
- Midnight Cowboy: Midnight Cowboy
- Get Carter: Main Title
- A Clockwork Orange: Ode To Joy
- The Godfather: Waltz & Love Theme
- Jaws: Jaws
- Rocky: Gonna Fly Now
- Taxi Driver: Suite
- Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope
Tracks:
- Superman: Main Theme
- Alien: End Title
- Raging Bull: Intermezzo From Cavalleria Rusticana
- Raiders Of The Lost Ark: Raiders March
- Blade Runner: End Titles
- E.T.: The Extraterrestrial: Adventures On Earth
- Once Upon A Time In America: Deborah's Theme
- Back To The Future: Main Theme
- Witness: Building The Barn
- Aliens: Main Title
- Cinema Paradiso: Cinema Paradiso
- Glory: Charging Frot Wagner
- Dances With Wolves: The John Dunbar Theme
- Unforgiven: Claudia's Theme
Tracks:
- The Piano: The Heart Asks Pleasure First
- Schindler's List: Main Theme
- Braveheart: End Credits
- Titanic: My Heart Will Go On
- Saving Private Ryan: Hymn To The Fallen
- American Beauty: Any Other Name
- Gladiator: Now We Are Free
- Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring: The Fellowship
- The Girl With The Pearl Earring: Griet's Theme
- Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl: Suite
- Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban: Suite
- Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Letter That Never Came
- Finding Neverland: Impossible Opening
- The Incredibles: Overture
Customer Reviews:
Great Sampling Collection.......2007-07-29
Six Decades of Film Music.......2007-05-13
Excellent collection with fine performances.......2007-03-28
"essential film scores from 1939 to 2004 ~ Incredible Music".......2005-05-16
There are compilations and then there are "Compilations" beginning with a classic that even the youngsters today recognize "GONE WITH THE WIND" (1939) (Max Steiner), sweeping score that captures the tragic history of the South during the Civil War, one great cue after another, it doesn't get any better than this, nominated by the Academy for Best Original Score...and closing on Disc 4 with "THE INCREDIBLES" (2004) (Michael Giacchino), the big hit in computer animation from Walt Disney & Pixar that once again pit Super-Heroes against the forces of evil...our family of five Supers prove crime doesn't pay, but box-office receipts do...gotta love it!
Silva Screen Classics as usual, has put quality into this 4-CD-Set featuring The City Of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra and the Crouch End Festival Chorus conducted by Kenneth Alwyn, Bill Ashton, Paul Bateman, James Fitzpatrick, Mario Klemens, Derek Wadsworth, and Nic Raine. Recorded in "Dolby Surround" with the new technology of "HDCD", this is a "film-score-buffs" dream, one to treasure now and years to come.
Some selections are missing, but when you think of what Silva has included, it is impossible to please everyone...was happy to see "TOUCH OF EVIL" (1958) from composer Henry Mancini, as I feel this composer deserves all the recognition that has been overlooked recently in the music world...This collection is aimed directly at the "Serious Film Score" music fans and collectors...Silva is as always, perfect in every way...just the way we like 'em!
Total Time: 4-CD-Set ~ Silva America 1181 ~ (5/10/2005)
Average customer rating:
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The Science Fiction Album
Various Artists Manufacturer: Silva America ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Soundtracks
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
Star Wars
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
Star Trek
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
General
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B000066HE5 Release Date: 2005-02-08 |
Tracks:
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- Aliens
- Sound Effect - The Nostromo
- Alien
- A.I.
- Armageddon
- Sound Effect - Apollo 13 Lift-off
- Apollo 13
- Back To The Future
- Battle Beyond The Stars
- Battlestar Galactica
- The Black Hole
- Contact
- Capricorn One
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind
- The Day The Earth Stood Still
- Dune
Tracks:
- Galaxy Quest
- Sound Effect - Dogfight in Space
- Enemy Mine
- Ghostbusters
- Gremlins
- Heavy Metal
- Independence Day
- E.T.
- Judge Dredd
- The Last Starfighter
- Lifeforce
- Sound Effect - Crash Landing
- Lost In Space
- Mars Attacks
- The Matrix
- Predator
- The Right Stuff
Tracks:
- Moonraker
- Robocop
- Silent Running
- Sound Effect - Alien Organism
- Species
- Stargate
- Starship Troopers
- Starman
- Star Trek - TV Theme
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture End Title
- Klingon Attack
- Sound Effect - Warp Drive
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
- Star Trek: Generations
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Tracks:
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
- Sound Effect - Transporter Crew
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Main Theme
- Star Trek First Contact
- Star Wars
- The Empire Strikes Back
- The Empire Strikes Back
- Return of the Jedi
- Sound Effect - Battle Stations
- Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace - The Flag Parade
- Anakin's Theme
- The Adventures of Jar Jar
- Duel of the Fates
- The Time Machine
- Things to Come
- The Thing From Another World
- War of the Worlds
- When Worlds Collide
- Total Recall
- You Only Live Twice
- Superman
Customer Reviews:
The penultimate collection ..........2006-12-07
I have always had a weak spot for (good, or maybe even intelligent) science fiction/fantasy and film music, especially its way of evoking mystery, grandure and wide open spaces. Call it a weakness if you want. But it was maybe really kick started off, for as far as I can remember, with Star Trek. But especially Star Trek II, III and IV - essentially a trilogy - because of their very romantic but very warm, human core, set on the broadest canvasses of unlimited and mysterious outer space. But then there was the music for adding that essential extra dimension of emotion and atmosphere. I am happy that much of the music on this album is from the Star Trek series and films, often equaling or sometimes even outclassing the original recordings.
This kind of music (for the movies) should be seen as an art on its own rights with its own merits and qualities. As such, the musical sequences on these CD's are a beautifully played cross section of some of the most evoking orchestral music for science fiction/fantasy film ever created. And I very much like the nicely blended, wide and deep orchestral soundpicture with enough reverberation to evoke a sense of wide open spaces.
I am quite thrilled by tracks like the evocative music from Dune, truly transporting one to the vastly sands of Arrakis (the music is wonderful, but to my great regret I think the movie itself is a flawed masterpiece at best, alas.). And then there is the very different, goofy music for Ghostbusters (memories of childhood), the spoofy but electrifying music from Mars Attacks (lovingly parodist music, this, with not a little touch of irony) and the happily adventurous, forward driving Theme from Galaxy Quest ('Never give up, never surrender!'), now also used for the internet-based fan-series Star Trek: The Hidden Frontier. On the other side of the spectrum we have the atmospheric music for Enemy Mine (an underestimated 'little' movie), the Theme from The Right Stuff (actually science FACT, not fiction, this film, just like Apollo 13, of course), the eerily attractive music for Species, the original End Title for Alien (not used in the theatrical version of the movie, where it was replaced by music from howard Hanson's Second Symphony), the exquisitely exotic music for Stargate, the sweet and warmly sympathetic, beautifully re-orchestrated, theme for Starman, the title cue for Star Trek: TOS (much more melodiously played than the original! If only a series nowadays could continue to be as thought provoking and as original as Star Trek was during its launch, fourty years ago ...) and a truly overpowering End Titles Suite from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. I especially like the thrillingly grandiloquent rendition here of the music for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. And how nice it is to hear the (thematic) similarities between James Horner's music for The Wrath of Khan, his great break-through as a film music composer, and his (two years) earlier music for Battle Beyond the Stars (which did indeed help him earn the job for writing the music for Star Trek II) ...
But on the 'down side', if one is looking for - for example - the gorgeously expansively played End Titles from Cocoon, it is not included here: one has to acquire the album that 'kicked it all off', so to say, namely 'Space and Beyond', also on Silva Screen. I was very pleased also with the inclusion on that album of some of the music from the series Star Trek: The Next Generation, namely where one of the characters, Tasha Yar, in one of the episodes (Skin of Evil) is saying goodbye to her crewmmates: sweetly sentimental and simple music which I have always wanted to own on CD. I guess that a few cues from the other two sequals ('Alien Invasion: Space and Beyond II' and 'Space3: Beyond the Final Frontier') didn't make it onto this 4 CD collection-album as well, but I guess that it would be the 'better part of the bargain' to opt to buy this 'The Science Fiction Album' instead of buying all three albums separately. Well, of course it is for yourself to ultimately decide what you really want ;-)
If I were to nitpick (which is not easy with such a marvellous project as this one), then I would say that while all music is performed with magnificent grandure and with style, some of it is not performed as crisply and as technically 'on the spot' as some of the original recordings: ensemble is a little slack and the playing somewhat stilted sometimes, losing some of the edge and the originality of the writing. ET and Star Wars spring to mind, but then the soundtracks for Star Wars are traditionally recorded with the magnificent London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestro John Williams himself, and these superior recordings (especially the ones for Episode I, II and III) can't really be bettered, IMHO. Likewise for the music from Star Trek: The Motion Picture, I believe that in the end one really has to resort to the ultimate reference, namely the original recording (which is true in many other instances of 'original recordings'), and then the 20th anniversay colector's edition of this soundtrack on Columbia/Legacy (truly unmissable, this veritable classic of sci-fi/film music soundtracks!).
But all in all this 4CD-collection amounts to probably being the penultimate high quality sci-fi music album collection (I certainly know of no other project that comes as close quality as well as quantity wise), with some of the most memorable musical moments from classic to modern sci-fi/fantasy film captured in lavish orchestrations.
Collection-wise: five *stars*. Playing: generally four *stars*, sometimes more. The recording quality: five *stars*. The music (qualified on its own merits as film music) and its (re)orchestrations: generally five *stars*. In the end this is all highly recommended, and certainly not to be missed by science fiction and fantasy film music fans. Klaatu barada nikto.
Muisic of the Spheres.......2006-11-06
The Ulllllltimate Sci-Fi Music Collection.......2005-10-23
The moment I ripped off the shrink-wrap and popped it into my cd player was a moment of great trepidation. Believe me when I tell that I've seen my fair share of sub-par orchestral recording in my lifetime. Very often they are in those big super-packs of music, and suffer from poor direction, improper mastering, and sometime even pathetic orchestration (or worse yet have something sounding like a cheap synthesizer and a kazoo in place of a full orchestra). I needn't have worried though. This sucker is fantastic.
Many people who are not audiophiles will probably miss the point of this cd collection. It is not the original versions of the pieces. It is re-orchestrations, mostly by the phenomenal Prague Symphony Orchestra. Many of these themes didn't sound all that hot in there original versions because they were low budget films or were not recorded in high-fidelity. Here they are given the full treatment, mastered with the most loving care imaginable. Often the version found in these cds is SUPERIOR to the original.
Remember the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey? Of course you do. But how many times have you heard a cheap imitation of the original version from the movie, starting too low in volume and ending too high (and missing the essential pipe-organ that gives it that extra oomph)? Well, this first track in the entire collection is not only everything it should be instrumental and timing-wise, but it also has been oh-so-carefully adjusted during the mastering process so that at no time is the music either too low or too high in volume (surely a benchmark for every other recording ever to be made of the piece).
Or what about the theme from the (at-the-time) uber-creepy The Black Hole? The orchestration of this piece of music goes from tiumphant to terrifying and back again, with a splendor and cleanness that I CERTAINLY don't remember being in the original recording.
Then there's the new version of the theme from Independence Day, complete with a violin solo, a far more electrifying ending climax, and a chorus so thunderous that you feel like applauding at the end. Simply indescribable. Kind of like the MIND-BLOWING rendition of the theme from The Last Star Fighter. This has been one of my favorite themes for a long time now, but I've never heard it played like this. I think the original version of the theme is something like 1 minute long, but this new version doesn't just fade out (HAHAHAHA!!!!) THIS version is THREE minutes long, goes through the main theme THREE times, with the final strains being so triumphant and joyous I could not help but feel an electrifying charge the first dozen or so times (come to think of it, I still feel that way). This is superior to the original in EVERY way. AWESOME.
And let's not forget the incredible new rendition of Stargate with it's heavy use of clarinets (for Egyptian effect!) and a triumphant new ending (completely lacking the chanting from the original version. This version is so different that for the first minute it is very hard to tell that it is in fact Stargate. But then the main theme kicks in, and then you get this incredible flute solo for my favorite part of theme (the whole thing is played slower, but arguably more powerfully than the original). My goodness. At first I found the thing so different I didn't like it. But then I listened to it again. And again. And again.
I could go on and on, talking about the fantastic new rendition of Moon Raker, the ear-popping Battlestar Galactica, the classic Star Trek (First Contact has a minute or two of the theme from Star Trek:The Motion Picture before going into the main theme), or the sweet renditions of music from the Star Wars movies (or the music from E.T.).
I have to mention though that this collection was not picked based merely on what people want, or on what is popular. No, the people who made it obviously thought a GOOD music collection was better than a popular one. That's why you get a heartbreakingly beautiful theme from A.I. instead of the main theme. It's why you get music from movies that you probably never gave a second thought to the music (because the movie was lousy). It's why you get Armageddon, Judge Dredd, and Robocop (who would have guessed their music was so COOL when there was all that crazy action and bad-acting going on on-screen).
I said it before and I'll say it again. This cd-set was mastered with tender-loving-care, and it shows BIG-TIME. High-fidelity the likes of which I have not seen since the days when cds were brand-new in the world. Dolby Surround. Perfectly balanced. BEAUTIUFL orchestrations. About the only thing that makes me scratch my head is the weird sound-effect tracks (Oooookay.....). Other than that, it's PERFECT. Obviously they could not include every sci-fi theme ever (no one can), but this collection is REALLY GOOD. A lot of great themes that got away (forgotten gems :), new versions of old favorites, and under-appreciated classics aplenty, but ALWAYS the full and complete versions with nothing cut-out (the theme from Dune is quite extended).
If you love movie music (and sci-fi movie music in particular) you MUST buy this awesome collection). It is not the original recordings. Almost always the new ones are better (if they aren't better they're just equal). This is what you have been waiting for. I for one am going to be buying quite a few cds from this company in the future. Give your ears the treat they deserve. Buy it NOW.
SciFi Album gift.......2005-07-20
Away From to be a Collectible Peace.......2004-12-16
Average customer rating:
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Andrew Lloyd Webber: Now & Forever
Various Artists Manufacturer: Decca Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Requiems
| Forms & Genres
| Early Music
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
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General
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Opera & Vocal
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Noels
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
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Requiems
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
General
| Musicals
| Broadway & Vocalists
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Contemporary Musicals
| Musicals
| Broadway & Vocalists
| Styles
| Music
General
| Broadway & Vocalists
| Styles
| Music
General
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
General
| Vocal Pop
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General Christmas
| Holiday
| Miscellaneous
| Styles
| Music
Broadway & Musicals
| Broadway & Vocalists
| Box Sets
| Stores
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The Decca Records Store
| Specialty Stores
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General Christmas
| Holiday Music
| Special Features
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005R5UJ Release Date: 2001-11-20 |
Tracks:
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Overture - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Everything's Alright - Yvonne Elliman/Murray Head/Ian Gilllan
- Jesus Christ Superstar: I Don't Know How To Love Him - Yvonne Elliman
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say) - Steve Balsamo
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Superstar - Murray Head
- Evita: Oh What A Circus/Sing You Fools - Antonio Banderas
- Evita: I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You - Elaine Paige/Joss Ackland
- Evita: Another Suitcase In Another Hall - Barbara Dickson
- Evita: Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Julie Covington
- Evita: High Flying, Adored - Mandy Patinkin/Patti LuPone
- Cats: The Jellicle Ball - Andrew Lloyd Weber
- Cats: Memory - Elaine Paige
- Cats: Gus: The Theatre Cat - Susan Jane Tanner/John Mills
- Cats: Mr Mistoffelees - Paul Nicholas
- Song And Dance: Take That Look Off Your Face - Marti Webb
- Song And Dance: Tell Me On A Sunday - Marti Webb
- Song And Dance: Unexpected Song - Sarah Brightman
- Song And Dance: Nothing Like You've Ever Known - Sarah Brightman
- Song And Dance: Introduction - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Song And Dance: Variations 1 -4 - Andrew Lloyd Webber
Tracks:
- Starlight Express: Starlight Express - El Debarge
- Starlight Express: Crazy - Greg Ellis/Reva Rice/Caron Cardelle/Samantha Lane/Voyd
- Starlight Express: Next Time You Fall In Love - Reva Rice/Greg Ellis
- Starlight Express: I Am The Starlight - Lon Satton/Ray Shell
- Starlight Express: Light At The End Of The Tunnel - The Company
- Requiem: Hosanna - Placido Domingo
- Requiem: Pie jesu - Sarah Brightman/Paul Miles-Kingston
- The Phantom Of The Opera: The Phantom Of The Opera - Michael Crawford/Sarah Brightman
- The Phantom Of The Opera: The Music Of The Night - Michael Crawford
- The Phantom Of The Opera: All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman/Steve Barton
- The Phantom Of The Opera: Entr'acte - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- The Phantom Of The Opera: Masquerade - The Company
- The Phantom Of The Opera: Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - Sarah Brightman
- Aspects Of Love: Aspects Of Aspects - Orchester Der Vereinigten Buehnen Wien
- Aspects Of Love: Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball
- Aspects Of Love: Seeing Is Believing - Michael Ball/Ann Crumb
- Aspects Of Love: The First Man You Remember - Kevin Colson/Diana Morrison
- Aspects Of Love: Anything But Lonely - Sarah Brightman
- Aspects Of Love: Chanson D'Enfance - Sarah Brightman
Tracks:
- Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Any Dream Will Do - Jason Donovan
- Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Joseph's Coat - Maria Friedman/Richard Attenborough/Donny Osmond
- Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Close Every Door - Donny Osmond
- By Jeeves: Travel Hopefully - John Scherer/Martin Jarvis/Don Stephenson
- By Jeeves: When Love Arrives - Steven Pacey/Diana Morrison
- By Jeeves: Half A Moment - Sarah Brightman
- Sunset Boulevard: With One Look - Glenn Close
- Sunset Boulevard: New Ways To Dream - Glenn Close/Alan Campbell
- Sunset Boulevard: The Perfect Year - Glenn Close/Alan Campbell
- Sunset Boulevard: Sunser Boulevard - Alan Campbell
- Sunset Boulevard: As If We Never Said Goodbye - Glenn Close
- Whistle Down The Wind: Whistle Down The Wind - James Graeme/Lottie Mayor
- Whistle Down The Wind: Cold - Everly Brothers
- Whistle Down The Wind: No Matter What - Children/Adult Chorus
- Whistle Down The Wind: The Nature Of The Beast - Marcus Lovett/Lottie Mayor
- The Beautiful Game: Overture - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- The Beautiful Game: The Beautiful Game - The Company
- The Beautiful Game: Our Kind Of Love - Hannah Waddingham
- The Beautiful Game: Dont Like You - Josie Walker/David Shannon
- The Beautiful Game: Let Us Love In Peace - Josie Walker/Omagh Youth Community Choir
Tracks:
- Oh What A Circus - David Essex
- Memory - Betty Buckley
- The Phantom Of The Opera - Sarah Brightman/Steve Harley
- All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman/Cliff Richard
- Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball
- Any Dream Will Do - Donny Osmond
- Amigos Para Siempre (Friends For Life) - Sarah Brightman/Jose Carreras
- As If We Never Said Goodbye - Barbra Streisand
- The Perfect Year - Dina Carroll
- With One Look - Petula Clark
- You Must Love Me - Madonna
- The Heart Is Slow To Learn - Kiri Te Kanawa
- A Kiss Is A Terrible Thing To Waste - The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Whistle Down The Wind - Tina Arena
- No Matter What - Boyzone
- The Vaults Of Heaven - Tom Jones
- Try Not To Be Afraid - Boy George
- Pie Jesu - Charlotte Church
Tracks:
- Make Believe Love - Wes Sands
- Down Thru' Summer - Ross Hannaman
- I'll Give All My Love To Southend - Ross Hannaman
- Believe Me I Will - Sacha Distel
- Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1969 Radio Luxembourg Commercial) - Joseph Consortium/Pete Murray
- Try It And See - Rita Pavone
- Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You - Time Rice And The Webber Group
- Goodbye Seattle - Paul Raven
- John 19:41 - The Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra
- What A Line To Go Out On - Yvonne Elliman
- Disillusion Me - Gary Band
- The Ballad Of Robert And Peter - Tim Rice
- Christmas Dream - Maynard Williams
- It's Only Your Lover Returning/All Through My Crazy And Wild Days/Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Julie Covington
- It's Easy For You (1977 Jungle Room Session Version) - Elvis Presley
- Magdalena - Tony Christie
- Buenos Aires - The Roja Rockers
- Pollicle Dogs And Jellicle Cats - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Mungojerrie And Rumpleteazer (Live At The Sydmonton Festival 1980) - Gemma Craven
- I Could Have Given You More - Petula Clark
- I've Been In Love Too Long - Marti Webb
- Benedicite - The Stephen Hill Singers
Album Description
Disc 1: Selections from Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, and Song and DanceDisc 2: Selections from Starlight Express, Requiem, Phantom of the Opera, and Aspects of Love
Disc 3: Selections from Joseph nad the Amaziong Technicolor Dreamcoat, By Jeeves, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle Down the Wind, and The Beautiful Game
CD 4: 1. "Oh What a Circus" --David Essex 2. "Memory" - Betty Buckleey 3. "The Phantom of the Opera" -Sarah Brightman, Steve Harley 4. "All I Ask of You" --Sarah Brightman, Cliff Richard 5. "Love Changes Everything"--Michael Ball 6. "Any Dream Will Do"--Donny Osmond 7. "Amigos Para Siempre (Friends for Life)"--Sarah Brightman, Jose Caerras 8. "As if We Never Said Goodbye"--Barbra Streisand 9. "The Perfect Year"--Dina Carroll 10. "With One Look" --Petula Clark 11. "You Must Love Me" 12. "The Heart Is Slow To Learn" --Kiri Te Kanawa 13. "Whistle Down the Wind"--Tina Arena 14. "A Kiss Is a Terrible Thing To Waste"--The Metal Philharmonic 15. "No Matter What"--Boyzone 16. "The Vaults of Heaven"--Tom Jones and Sounds of Blackness 17. "Try Not To Be Afraid"--Boy George 18. "Pie Jesu"--Charlotte Church
Disc 5: (All tracks available for the first time) 1. "Make Believe Love"--Wes Sands 2. "Down Thru' Summer"--Ross Hannaman 3. "I'll Give All My Love to Southend"--Ross Hannaman 4. "Believe Me I Will"--Sacha Distel 5. "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: 1969 Luxembourg Radio Commercial--The Jospeh Consortium, Pete Murray 6. "Try It and See"--Rita Pavone 7. "Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You"--Tim Rice and the Webber Group 8. "Goodbye Seattle"-- Paul Raven 9. "John 19:41"--The Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra 10. "What a Line To Go Out On"--Yvonne Elliman 11. "Disillusion Me" --Gary Bond 12. "The Ballad of Robert and Peter"--Tim Rice 13. "Christmas Dream" --Maynard Williams 14. "It's Only Your Lover Returning/All through My Wild and Crazy Days/Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Julie Covington 15. "It's Easy for You" (1977 Jungle Room Session version)--Elvis Presley 16. "Magdalena"--Tony Christie 17. "Buenos Aires"--The Rioja Rockers 18. "Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats"--Andrew Lloyd Webber original demo 19. "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" (Live at Sydmonton Festival 1980)-Gemma Craven 20. "I Could Have Given You More"--Petula Clark 21. "I've Been in Love Too Long"--Marti Webb 22. "Benedicte"-- Stephen Hill Singers
Customer Reviews:
I waited for this for five years.......2006-06-30
It was worth the wait.
The concept is great. The packaging is great. The recording is great. Disc five is really cool for an ALW aficionado. There are a few real gems on it; my favorites are Petula Clark's "I Could Have Given You More" and "Benedicite."
I've always thought "Gus the Theatre Cat" made a great medley on the piano with "Unexpected Song" and "I DOn't Know How to Love Him," but wished there was an alternate lyric to match the other two songs. Now that I know there *is*, and it's a good lyric, it's a dream come true.
The melody of "Benedicite" is one of my favorites from _Sunset_ (the book mis-identifies it as "SUrrender"; it's actually "The Lady's Paying" and "Eternal Youth is Worth a Little Suffering"). The lyrics are the canticle from Daniel 3, which comes up every odd Sunday in the Divine Office, so it's nice to have cool music to sing it with.
I haven't bought _By Jeeves_ or _THe Beautiful Game_ yet, to it was great to sample them.
There are other parts of the CD taht aren't found in my collection. I like CD 4 "The Hits."
But the selections on CDs 1-3 don't make sense.
First, any self-respecting ALW fan has the Original London Cast of _Phantom_, so six tracks are totally useless. Why not draw from the Canadian cast with Colm Wilkinson? Or pull out some obscure recordings never published.
Why two different tracks with Michael Ball singing "Love Changes Everything", yet they're hardly any different?
On Disc 5 is "It's Only Your Lover Returning," sung by Julie Covington. It's an early draft of the song (Lloyd Webber and Rice went through several suggested titles) and quite nice. The very thing one expects on a Boxed Set.
So why have the Julie Covington "Don't Cry for Me" on disc 1?? The only difference is a few words, but it's otherwise identical. Why not Elaine Paige or Patti Lupone or Madonna?
The _Evita_ section is otherwise the best, choosing a sample from each major recording, though I'd have chosen slightly differently (as above).
There is a great selection of "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" from the Sydmonton festival, using the original music that was changed when _Cats_ went to Broadway_. It would have been nice if they'd included more recordings from Sydmonton, like the original lyric of "All I Ask of You" shown on the second DVD to the _Phantom_ movie.
With so many great actress-singers who've played Norma Desmond, why does the collection beat us over the head with Glenn Close?
Paul Miles Kingston must be set for life in royalties, for the number of albums the original recording of "Pie Jesu" has appeared on. "Amigos Para Siempre" is nice, but it reminds me of Shari Lewis's "The Song that Doesn't End," especially when it's been used on so many compilations.
In short, this is a great collection for the obscure material, if you can get it cheap. But for a boxed set, it's a poor sampling, drawn mostly from the most familiar recordings.
Excellent collection but BIG PUBLISHING MISTAKE! .......2006-01-10
ONE OF LLOYD WEBBER'S BEST COMPILATIONS, DESPITE A FEW FLAWS.......2005-03-21
Over the years many compilations of his work have emerged. In the late 80-is and early 90-is it was the "Encore" series and lately the one-disc collection called "Gold". The one in question here can be considered one of the best currently on the market. First, it includes a 3-disc selections from all of his shows, minus the latest one, i.e., "The Woman in White", which, considering the triviality of the score, is no great lost. The fourth disc covers some of his most known songs sung by the famous artists. Then, there is the fifth disc with previously unreleased material, most of which are the songs ALW wrote with Tim Rice for various artists during the 70-is. The disks are all neatly packed in a hardcover book that features 67 pages of pictures and text with information about each of ALW's shows. One of the other assets here is the perfect sound quality, since all of the tracks have been digitally remastered.
Here are my basic impressions and comments regarding the material on the discs:
* Disc #1 has the selections from "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Evita", "Cats" and "Song & Dance". The Superstar material mostly comes from the Concept Recording. Although the songs sound beautiful as always, their orchestration is a bit dated now. Only Steve Balsamo's "Gethsemane" from the 1996 revival cast has a modern rock sound. "Evita" comes with the material from all of the major recordings: London, Broadway and the movie productions, as well as the Concept album. No objections here; since this is one of ALW's most satisfying works, every song is just perfect, although Patti LuPone, the Broadway and overall the best Evita, is left with only a couple of lines. With the selections from "Cats", however, I have some doubts. A plus to the choice of the "Jellicle ball" impressive orchestral sequence from the 1998 movie version and "Mister Mistoffelees" from the 1981 London cast. One of the best known ALW's songs, "Memory", also comes from that album. It's a pretty version and Elaine Paige's rendition cannot be matched, but why include this when the definite version, featuring an 80-piece orchestra and Elaine Paige with much better interpretation, can be found in the same movie version. Thusly, one has to buy Elaine Paige's latest 2-disc compilation "Centre Stage: The very best of Elaine Paige" to get that one. And "Gus the theatre cat" is more a recital than a song, so there was not much point in including that. Marti Webb brings her vocal charm to the "Song & Dance" sequence, Sarah Brightman sings "Unexpected song" with her famous soprano, but as much as I like her version, Bernadette Peters, who was in this show on Broadway is strangely left out here.
* Disc # 2 starts with "Starlight Express". This was never one of my favorite ALW's shows; the plot is even lighter than in "Cats" and the 1984 original cast recording is terribly dated. Yet, here we have one terrific duet, "I am starlight" from the original together with three songs from the later revivals and it seems that fresh orchestrations were just the thing Starlight needed. My favorite remains a touchy ballad, "Next time you fall in love". "Requiem" is the most solemn of all ALW's compositions, written in 1985 to commemorate the death of his father. Placido Domingo's tenor rides together with the chorus all the way through the strong "Hosanna", only to be joined by Sarah Brightman in the final moments of this song. She then gives an echoing deliverance of "Pie Jesu". What can be said of ALW's next show, "The Phantom of the Opera"? A phenomenon in its own right, it's easy to see from the six numbers included here why this is one of the best and most beloved musicals of all time. The cast, the music, the story - everything is perfect. Although "Aspects of love" was never a popular hit, it does have some of the most beautiful love melodies ALW has ever written. "Love changes everything" sung by Michael Ball is probably one of the best tunes ever about love. The rest of the selected material here has a dreamy love flavor and the melodies find their way into your brain in the best Lloyd Webber way.
* ALW's first musical, "Joseph and the amazing Technicolor dreamcoat" was more successful in its revival form than the original from the 70-is. The three songs included here are sung by the show stars, Jason Donovan and Donny Osmond. Maria Friedman was not a lucky choice to play the narrator, as the track from the 1998 movie version shows. "By Jeeves" was ALW's only big flop when it came to the stage in the 70-is. The 1995 revival sounds much better though, full of funny numbers in the best manner of the musical comedy. "Travel hopefully" remains one of the show's highlights on this compilation. "Sunset Boulevard" comes next. "Sunset" remains for me one of Webber's best scores; lush and beautiful. I listen to the original cast recording with Patti LuPone all the time. However, here most of the songs are performed by Glenn Close. A big mistake. If you've ever listened the American premiere recording with her, you'll know what I am talking about. She may have a strong stage presence, but her vocal abilities are too limited, and her aggressive approach to the role lacks any subtlety. Therefore, the two big numbers from this show, "With one look" and "As if we never said goodbye" are ruined by the fact she can't sing. The same goes for the American Joe Gillis, who was played by Alan Campbell. Luckily, Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson, the original Norma and Joe from the London production, make their brief entrance here with the "Perfect year"; enough to show how better they are. The funny thing is, on the jacket and inside of it, Glenn Close and Alan Campbell are credited as performers in this song as well. If this was a mistake on ALW's part, it was a good one. The next ALW's show, "Whistle down the wind" was never a critic's dear and yet the audiences rushed in to see it in London. The score brings back ALW to his rock and roll roots of the seventies and the story is quite interesting. But the selections here are not the happiest, since the cast recording boasts with much better songs. And finally, "The Beautiful Game". Again, we have one of those ALW's shows that is worth in its individual parts rather than as a whole. "Our kind of love" and "Let us love in peace" are two catchy ballads. The latter is a nice amalgam version not available elsewhere. The two other tracks here I could live without.
* Disc # 4 has the songs from all the above shows performed by different artists. The assembled tracks have their pros and cons. For example, we have some previously unreleased stuff, like Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's operettic rendition of "The heart is slow to learn", or a stunning and epic "A kiss is a terrible thing to waste" from "Whistle down the wind", performed by The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra. Then again, what was the point in including almost identical tracks as the ones on the previous disks? So we have Michael Ball again singing "Love changes everything" with only a bit different orchestration; Sarah Brightman comes out again with the same Phantom duets, but only with the different male singers. It would be much more appropriate to include tracks from the Toronto Cast of the Phantom, with Colm Wilkinson. Other pop deliverances (Tina Arena's "Whistle down the wind", Barbra Streisand's "As if we never said goodbye", Boyzone's "No matter what" and many more) were wisely chosen. Patti LuPone is again nowhere to be found and Petula Clark's "With one look" sounds too worn-out.
* The last disc is probably the one that will be of most interest to Lloyd Webber aficionados. It consists of entirely previously unreleased material ALW for the most part wrote for various artists during his early years, with Tim Rice. Some of these tunes, not successful as a singles, were later used in his shows. Thus "Down thru' summer" became "Buenos Aires"in Evita, "Try it and see", an unsuccessful attempt for the Eurovision was used for "King Herod's song" in "Superstar" and so on. Some of these songs are nicely made pop songs: "Make believe love", ALW's first recorded composition, for which he provided the lyrics; "Goodbye Seattle", sung by Paul Raven, who later became Gary Glitter; "Come back Richard, your country needs you", from a never made musical, sung here by Tim Rice, or Latin flavored "Magdalena", with Tony Christie singing. My all time favorite here is a song called "It's easy for you", sung by none other than Elvis Presley himself. Lloyd Webber and Rice sent him a demo recording that he accepted and recorded this live version a couple of weeks before he died. It's amazing to hear how his voice remained in the perfect shape. Also, there is a track of Andrew Lloyd Webber singing "Policle dogs and Jellicle cats" while plying the piano. His voice doesn't sound bad at all.
Taken as a whole, this compilation makes a perfect birthday or Christmas present to any fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, or just anybody interested in some of the best tunes from the modern era of the musical theatre; despite the flaws I mentioned above. To the former, it may just be the final addition for the Andrew Lloyd Webber collection.
SUCH MAGICAL MUSIC OF THE NIGHT!.......2003-01-19
Opera") and the longest-running show of all time ("Cats"), the man whose homes are filled with three Grammys, five Oliviers, a Golden Globe, and Oscar and too many other honors and hosannas to mention, the man knighted in 1992 certainly doesn't need an introduction. Now Decca Broadway pays tribute to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with "Now and Forever," a spectacular 5-CD set compiled and produced by Sir Andy himself. It's cheaper than a
ticket to "The Producers" ... and more much exciting. This treasure trove contains highlights from all of Webber's shows, and a bonus disc of tunes sung by Betty Buckley, Barbara
Streisand, Jose Carreras, Boy George, Charlotte Church, Madonna, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, even Elvis! A must for lovers of theatre---and good music.
A Must Have for Sir Andrew fans.......2002-05-21
The cuts from the musicals are great but are likely owned by ALW fans as they are on the original cast albums. And I'm glad that there were tunes included from the composers most recent efforts which have yet to make it beyond London (Whistle Down the Wind, Beautiful Game).
My only complaint is the inclusion of way too many tracks by Sarah Brightman. She must've received a great divorce settlement that included having tunes on any ALW collection until the end of time!! Her interpretations of some of the tunes were limp and uninspired. I would've much rather heard casts from around the world rather than yet another song by this disdainful soprano! How about Colm Wilkinson's version of "Music of the Night" from the original Canadian cast of "Phantom"? Or Michael Crawford's version of "Unexpected Song"? What? No Betty Buckley from "Sunset Blvd."? And of course there are songs you KNOW are going to be on the collection before you even listen to it as they have been on EVERY ALW collection for the past decade or so.
A great collection but too much Sarah Brightman!
Average customer rating:
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Star Trek - The Next Generation: Music From The Original Television Soundtrack, Volumes One, Two And Three
Manufacturer: Gnp Crescendo ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Scores
| Soundtracks
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ASIN: B000001OZT Release Date: 1993-04-19 |
Tracks:
- Star Trek: The Next Generation-Main Title - Dennis McCarthy
- Stardate - Dennis McCarthy
- Troi Senses - Dennis McCarthy
- Picard's Plan/First Chase - Dennis McCarthy
- Detaching/Separation - Dennis McCarthy
- Shaken/Court Time/There Goes Da Judge - Dennis McCarthy
- USS Hood/On Manual - Dennis McCarthy
- End Credit - Dennis McCarthy
- Personal Log/Admiral/Old Lovers - Dennis McCarthy
- Caverns - Dennis McCarthy
- Splashing/The Woods/Memories - Dennis McCarthy
- Scanned/Big Guns/Unknown - Dennis McCarthy
- Revealed/Reaching Out - Dennis McCarthy
- Departure - Dennis McCarthy
- Main Title-Version #2 (Alternate M.T.) - Dennis McCarthy
Tracks:
- Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title - Ron Jones
- New Providence - Ron Jones
- Hansen's Message - Ron Jones
- Borg Engaged - Ron Jones
- First Attack - Ron Jones
- Borg Take Picard - Ron Jones
- Death Is Irrevelant - Ron Jones
- Away Team Ready - Ron Jones
- On The Borg Ship - Ron Jones
- Nodes - Ron Jones
- Captain Borg - Ron Jones
- Energy Weapon Fails - Ron Jones
- Humanity Taken - Ron Jones
- Contact Lost - Ron Jones
- Cemetery Of Dead Ships - Ron Jones
- Intervention - Ron Jones
- The Link - Ron Jones
- Sleep Command - Ron Jones
- Destruct Mode/Picard Is Back - Ron Jones
- Picard's Nightmare - Ron Jones
- Star Trek: The Next Generation-End Credit - Ron Jones
Tracks:
- Star Trek: The Next Generation-Main Title - Dennis McCarthy
- Yesterday's Enterprise: Duality/Enterprise C - Dennis McCarthy
- Yesterday's Enterprise: Averted/Richard/Gulnan/Back To Battle/Cmdr. Garrett - Dennis McCarthy
- Yesterday's Enterprise: First Kiss/Not To Be/Empty Death/Reporting For Duty - Dennis McCarthy
- Yesterday's Enterprise: Klingons/Skin Of Teeth - Dennis McCarthy
- Unification I & II: In Case You Forgot - Dennis McCarthy
- Unification I & II: Sarek - Dennis McCarthy
- Unification I & II: Sarek Drifts Away - Dennis McCarthy
- Unification I & II: Another Captain/Food Fight - Dennis McCarthy
- Unification I & II: Victims Of Holography - Dennis McCarthy
- Unification I & II: Sacrificed/Mind Meld - Dennis McCarthy
- Hollow Pursuits: Barclay Mitty - Dennis McCarthy
- Hollow Pursuits: Tissue Samples/Sad Sack/Staff Confab/Hololust - Dennis McCarthy
- Hollow Pursuits: Lady Gates/Swordplay - Dennis McCarthy
- Hollow Pursuits: Madame Trol/Blissful/Out Of Control/Warp Nine - Dennis McCarthy
- Hollow Pursuits: Warposity - Dennis McCarthy
- Hollow Pursuits: Plan 9 - Dennis McCarthy
- Star Trek: The Next Generation-End Credit - Dennis McCarthy
Customer Reviews:
GREAT COLLECTION.......2004-03-29
If you want a good price for good CDs, buy this...........2000-06-18
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Classics Explained: Rite of Spring
Stravinsky , Rahbari , and Brt Po Brussels Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B00007FPFN Release Date: 2003-07-15 |
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Symphony 9: Introduction to Dvorak
Dvorak Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B000069HGK Release Date: 2002-09-17 |
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An Introduction to Schubert's Piano Quintet "Trout"
Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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| Schubert, Franz
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ASIN: B000076FX6 Release Date: 2003-01-21 |
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The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Manufacturer: Film Score Monthly ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Schifrin
| Schifrin, Lalo
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ASIN: B0006SSQ8E Release Date: 2005-01-04 |
Tracks:
- First Season Main Title
- Vulcan Affair
- Deadly Games Affair
- Double Affair
- Project Strigas Affair
- King of Knaves Affair
- Fiddlesticks Affair
- Meet Mr. Solo
- First Season End Title
- Second Season End Title
- Alexander the Greater Affair
Tracks:
- Foxes and Hounds Affair
- Discotheque Affair
- Re-Collectors Affair
- Arabian Affair
- Tigers Are Coming Affair
- Cherry Blossom Affair
- Dippy Blonde Affair
- Third Season End Title
- Her Master's Voice Affair
- Monks of St. Thomas Affair
- Pop Art Affair
- Fourth Season (Main Title)
- Summit-Five Affair
- "J" for Judas Affair
Customer Reviews:
F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C.!.......2006-02-02
the 22 VHS tapes issued in the early 1990's (a haphazard collection issued in no particular order of episodes that boasted famous guest stars). Can I please get the whole series on DVD? I have not seen Mother Fear toying with Illya (The Children's Day Affair) in over 40 years.
At LAST the complete series ORIGINAL soundtrack, the wait is over!.......2005-07-12
Indeed, this is an unbelievable collection of three double CDs packages with the complete series soundtrack, and I mean the complete music, not a tune is missing.
And this is the ORIGINAL Man From Uncle music. Let me stress the point: this is the four years ORIGINAL soundtrack with the original recordings as they were heard throughout the series, not a no-name orchestra doing personal versions of the stuff. The audio transfer is very, very good, the music from late episodes is even in stereo.
Each individual CD carries over 70 minutes of music. All in all there you have the four TV seasons main titles and all, absolutely all of TMFU unforgetable music.
This is not a chronological release, meaning, all CDs have a mix of music from all four TV seasons. Volume 1 is heavier on early TV seasons stuff, fans of Jerry Goldsmith will love it. Those of us who prefer what Gerald Fried and later Richard Shores did with TMFU music, then volume 2 is mandatory. If you are a fan, you can't miss any of these six CDs. However if buying all three double packages is too much for you, you must go with Volume 2, no questions asked. Volume three is the weakest of them as it brings "suites" and a whole CD with "The Girl From Uncle" soundtrack, but you have a bonus "Open Channel D" beeper.
Each package is gorgeous, each with a glossy color booklet with extensive liner notes with details on how each tune was written to a specific TV series episode and how it was used onwards. You have bios on the composers, on how the recordings were made, even an overview on how many instruments were available in each of the years the music was recorded.
So, throw away your Hugo Montenegro Man From Uncle CD, this is the REAL thing.
Dance Music:
- Back in the Day
- Beatbox Records Vol. 1 [Explicit Lyrics]
- BLAK ASASN [Explicit Lyrics]
- Born Freaky [Explicit Lyrics]
- Cathartic Resume [Explicit Lyrics]
- Chapters of Tha Mack for Life [Explicit Lyrics]
- City Is Mine
- Cold Water Music [EP]
- Collector's Item [Explicit Lyrics]
- Da Bumble [Explicit Lyrics]
Dance Music
Daniel Roth Plays Marcel Dupre
Diz Does Everything [Limited Edition] [Import]
Celebrate Faith, Gospel with Gwen Matthews
Concerto for Cello & Orchestra
Give Me a Saddle I'll Trade You a Car [Import]