Pop Opera

1. Mattinata, song for voice & piano (or orchestra)
   Composed by Ruggero Leoncavallo
   
   
2. Rigoletto, opera Questa O Quella
   Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
   
   
3. Aida, opera Marcia Trionfale
   Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
   
   
4. Rigoletto, opera La Donna E'Nobile
   Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
   
   
5. Il barbière di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), opera La Calunnia
   Composed by Gioachino Rossini
   
   
6. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera Un Bel Di'Vedremo
   Composed by Giacomo Puccini
   
   
7. Il Trovatore, opera Di Quella Pira
   Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
   
   
8. La bohème, opera Che Gelida Manina
   Composed by Giacomo Puccini
   
   
9. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera Coro A Bocca Chiusa
   Composed by Giacomo Puccini
   
   
10. La Traviata, opera Croce E. Delizia
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    
    
11. Carmen, opéra-comique in 4 acts Toreador
    Composed by Georges Bizet
    
    
12. La Traviata, opera Amami Alfredo
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    
    
13. Il barbière di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), opera Largo Al Factotum Della Citta'
    Composed by Gioachino Rossini
    
    
14. La Traviata, opera Brindisi - Libiam Ne'Lieti Calici
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    
    
15. L'elisir d'amore, opera Una Furtiva Lacrima
    Composed by Gaetano Donizetti
    
    
16. La Traviata, opera Di Povenze Il Mare E Il Suol
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    
    
17. Aida, opera Celeste Aida
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    
    
18. Nabucco, opera (Nabucodonosor) Va Pensiero Sull'Ali Dorate
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    
    

Pop Opera,Georges Bizet,Gaetano Donizetti,Ruggero Leoncavallo,Giacomo Puccini,Gioachino Rossini,Giuseppe Verdi,Madacy Records,Art Song (General),Classical Music,French Romantic Opera,Italian Romantic Opera,Opera,Opera/Operetta Collections,Pop,Rock,Vocal

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Average customer rating: Astounding debut album Love it! Bravo Paul Just got mine today and it was well worth the wait! Paul Potts is amazong!

Paul Potts [United Kingdom]: One Chance Manufacturer: Sony / Bmg Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco... The Best of Italian Opera Puccini - Turandot / Franco Zeffirelli - Marton, Domingo, Mitchell, Plishka, Cuenod - James Levine, MET (1988) The #1 Opera Album The Most Famous Opera Arias ASIN: B000SKO0OY Release Date: 2007-07-31

Tracks:

1. Nessun Dorma
2. Time to Say Goodbye [Con Te Partir
3. Amapola
4. Everybody Hurts [Ognuno Soffre]
5. Caruso
6. Nella Fantasia
7. You Raise Me Up [por Ti Ser
8. My Way [A Mi Manera]
9. Cavatina
10. Music of the Night

Album Description

2007 debut album from the winner of the first season of Britain's Got Talent. Potts' winning performance of Puccini's 'Nessun Dorma' is now one of the most watched clips in You Tube's history (10 million+). The album includes that track as well as the equally captivating 'Time To Say Goodbye', a Spanish version of 'My Way' and Italian version of REM's 'Everybody Hurts'. 12 tracks. RCA.

Product Description

This Unassuming Man, a 36 Year Old Phone Salesman from South Wales and Amateur Opera Singer, Stepped Up to the Microphone on Simon Cowell's British Itv Show "Britain's Got Talent" and Literally Stole the Show. Many Anticipated Another William Hung, but Instead Got a Caruso! the Performance Brought the Entire Audience to their Feet, Even Winning High Praise from Cowell Himself. Potts Went on to Resoundingly Win the Competition! his is a Real Rags to Riches Tale, Having Been £30,000 in Debt and Suffering Years of Bullying and Recovering from a Serious Motorbike Accident. His Winning the Competition Got Him Signed to a Lucrative Recording Contract and He Gained Considerable Media Exposure all Over the World. This Debut Album Naturally features the Piece He Auditioned with (Puccini's "Nessun Dorma") as Well as his Heart Stopping Version of "Con Te Partiro/Time to Say Goodbye", the Song He Sang in the Finals, Originally Made Famous by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli.

Customer Reviews:

Astounding debut album.......2007-08-01

This album gets 4 stars because the engineers tried too hard to drown out Mr. Potts in the second selection. I also wish there had been at least one more real opera hit. "Nessun Dorma" is sung really well, including a small chorus in the interlude of the aria. The balance of the album is Italian (or Spanish) schlock. Good schlock, please understand, but standard pop stuff. Sort of a solo version of "Il Divo."

The difference here is Potts himself. His voice is ever so slightly reedy. He does have the timbre and size of voice to pull off his signature tune, "Nessun Dorma", but I'd hate to see him try the entire opera. Unlike say Mario Lanza, when he tackles the more intimate songs, he lets the focus shift away from all-out operatic singing. yet he never gets the "microphone" voice that Boccelli uses at times. Potts is just able to tune his sound to the material at hand. He is always connected emotionally, too, which some greater singers than he is can't say. I have many complete operas in my collection, and yet I bought this album because I found his performing to be quite moving. Pity Paul Potts? Never! He is a real singer and not the product of some over processed sound machine.

Love it!.......2007-08-01

I just received my Paul Potts CD and absolutely love each arrangement - listening to him brings tears to my eyes. After watching him on YouTube, I can visualize his wonderful eyes with such intense focus, and he always steps back and bows to his audience with great sincerity and humility. I will be buying more Paul Potts' CDs for gifts. Thank you, Amazon, for allowing us to preorder this fabulous CD!

Bravo Paul.......2007-08-01

I received my CD today and Paul is fabulous. I don't care if there are those out there who say he is untrained, has a language problem, or whatever. I lived in Italy five years and his Italian sounds just fine to me. We have you now Paul and you aren't getting away. I don't see you selling phones again anytime soon.

Just got mine today and it was well worth the wait! .......2007-08-01

Actually, I'm surprised they got this one out so quickly after his incredible win on Britain's Got Talent. If you are waiting to buy this in the United States, I believe it isn't due for release till Sept but I just couldn't wait.

I know there will be critics of Potts (each to his or her own) but I think the great strength of this CD is that it may (finally) bring opera to the masses again and perhaps that is why they stuck with so many classic works. Potts does a fine job, at least as well (or better) than his performances on television. For those who are longtime opera lovers, they may find fault with some of his notes or delivery but please consider that this man does not have a long career backed by professional production and that the CD was put out rather quickly.

PLEASE BE AWARE THE SONGS ARE SUNG IN ITALIAN. For me, that makes the CD even more special because I can focus on the emotion and not the lyrics.

Here are my favorites and my thoughts:
Nessun Dorma - the song that stunned the world. It says something that this rather humble man's performance was forwarded to people via email, on video sites and had a record number of viewings - and for opera, not even rock or country music! Definitely a surprise that the average person took to this so well, except that his voice was (and IS) truly stunning. This piece is hauntingly lovely.

Con de Partiro (Time To Say Goodbye) - I wish he'd sung without so much accompaniment but other than that, I have no complaints. A love song that I could listen to again and again.

Paul Potts is amazong!.......2007-07-31

I'm one of the 8 million plus viewers of Paul Potts on youtube and I pre-ordered his CD from amazon right after I heard him. I just received it today and am totally blown away by his magnificent voice. The included songs will be familiar to most people, some opera, some popular and all just a total joy to listen to.

I will be anxiously awaiting his future CD's.

Average customer rating: Now it makes more sense... Where's my Philip Glass? This is an unique soundtrack More score, less opera please Best movie soundtrack of 2007

No Reservations Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Glass | Glass, Philip | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: Hairspray (Soundtrack to the Motion Picture) Evening Ratatouille The Best of Paolo Conte Nomad: The Warrior ASIN: B000RHRGQC Release Date: 2007-07-24

Tracks:

1. Truffles And Quail - Conrad Pope
2. Sway - Michael Buble
3. Celeste Aida - Luciano Pavarotti
4. O Mio Babbino Caro - Renata Tebaldi
5. Zoe & Kate Watch Video - Phillip Glass
6. Libiamo Libiamo - Joan Sutherland
7. Via Con Me - Paolo Conte
8. La Donna E 'Mobile - Joseph Calleja
9. Un Bel Di 'Vedremo - Renata Tebaldi
10. Zoe Goes To the Restaurant - Phillip Glass
11. Cielo E Mar - Luciano Pavarotti
12. Mambo Gelato - Ray Gelato
13. Nessun Dorma - Luciano Pavarotti
14. Count On My Love - Liz Phair

Customer Reviews:

Now it makes more sense..........2007-07-30

It appears that some of the most memorable score cues from the movie are actually from Mark Isham's soundtrack "Life As A House" (Listen to track 11 from "Life As A House" for example.)

Now I'm beginning to understand why there seems to be such a paucity of score cues on this CD. I think either Glass' score was partially rejected or he only scored a small part of the movie to begin with.

Where's my Philip Glass? .......2007-07-30

The other music on the cd is perfectly fine. It's good music actually, but I wanted more score. I was hoping the two score cues would be longer than they were.

Philip Glass only used a few motifs (three tops) in the movie...would it have been so hard to include all of them (as opposed to 1)?

Shame on Decca...unless they're planning on releasing a score-only CD.
Hope they do.

This is an unique soundtrack.......2007-07-29

This is an unusual soundtrack. It combines instrumental music with opera music. This disc also has two songs from popular singers. I love the track "Sway" by Michael Buble. I also enjoyed the track "Mambo Gelato" These two tracks make me want to grab someone and dance. The opera tracks on this disc are excellent. The best of the bunch is "La Donna E Mobile" by Joseph Calleja. This track is very uplifting and playful. "Cielo E Mar" is a romantic sounding track from Pavarotti. "Nessum Dorma" is a really soothing track from Pavarotti too. He has such a powerful voice. Philip Glass is a talented composer for the film. I love his instrumental restaurant theme here. It is a beautiful piece of music. "Count On My Love" is a great song that fits the tone of the movie well. I really enjoyed listening to the music on this soundtrack.

More score, less opera please.......2007-07-28

Phillip Glass's score was exceptional, why there isn't more of it on the rousing soundtrack, I can't imagine, but the lack leaves a hole in the overall CD.

Best movie soundtrack of 2007.......2007-07-28

There isn't much good to say about the film but this soundtrack really is beautiful.

Average customer rating: Bocelli is the Best Amore I just can't get into it, maby if it was in english Very romantic Beautiful music

Andrea Bocelli - Amore Andrea Bocelli Manufacturer: Sugar ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Italy | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Romanza Andrea Ancora Andrea Bocelli: Under the Desert Sky [DVD Included] Awake ASIN: B000CC1TGA Release Date: 2006-01-31

Tracks:

1. Amapola
2. Besame Mucho
3. Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves)
4. Mi Manchi - featuring Kenny G
5. Somos Novios (It's Impossible) - Duet with Christina Aguilera
6. Solamente Una Vez
7. Jurame
8. Pero Te Extrano
9. Canzoni Stonate - Featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica and vocals
10. L'Appuntamento
11. Cuando Me Enamoro
12. Can't Help Falling In Love - Live At Lake Las Vegas
13. Because We Believe
14. Ama Credi E Vai (Because We Believe)

Product Description

Romance. Passion. Emotion. These words are synonymous with the voice of Andrea Bocelli. Almost ten years ago he exploded onto the international music scene with Romanza, and has since sold nearly 50 million albums worldwide. Amore--released amongst the glamor of the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy (where he will perform at the closing ceremony) and the romance of Valentine's Day--finds Bocelli straying from the carefully groomed classical ground in which he is most familiar. The concept of the album came from famed producer and longtime Bocelli fan David Foster along with co-producers Humberto Gatica and Tony Renis, who posed the question: Why not take the most beautiful love songs in the world and pair them with the most romantic voice in the world? The result is a beautiful album of pop standards that Foster has publicly claimed is "one of the most beautiful records I have ever been part of."

Embarking on a new era, Amore unveils a fresh sensuous sound that gently moves Bocelli into new territory. Spanish guitars flourish, traditional Latin percussion seductively keeps the tempo, accordions and harmonicas provide charming melodies, while sometimes Bocelli shares the spotlight with just a grand piano. Recorded late in the summer at Bocelli's Tuscan home studio overlooking the coast, the album exudes the natural beauty and breathtaking surroundings evident in Italy. Amore marks the only album David Foster has made outside of his Californian studio complex in two decades. This was also most musically gratifying for Bocelli: "I've been presented with opportunities I once could only dream of, challenges I longed to confront and experiences I will cherish forever, but while recording this album I realized that now is the perfect moment to arrive at an album of this repertoire, with the perfect producers, the perfect musicians and the perfect selection of songs."

More CDs from Andrea Bocelli

The Storyteller	Romanza	Cieli di Toscana
Verdi	La Bohème	Sacred Arias

Customer Reviews:

Bocelli is the Best.......2007-07-30

On a recent trip to Italy on an escorted tour - our bus driver would play Bocelli during lulls in the tour guides commentaries. It was so soothing and relaxing to listen to while dirivng along the highways in Tuscany.
I came home and decided this would be great music to listen to while at work.....and it is - it's very calming in a sometimes stressfull environement.

Amore.......2007-06-13

Molto buon! Andrea Bocelli has gone over the top on this album. l'amora della mia vita.

I just can't get into it, maby if it was in english.......2007-06-08

I heard andrea bocelli on a sarah brightman CD and it was amazing, but some of it was in english and the song was a great one, I just can't get into this CD maby if it were in english I'd enjoy it. It could be the songs but since it's not in english I can't say for sure.

Very romantic.......2007-05-24

This cd is a very good mix of all the best romantic songs that Andrea Bocelli could sing. His voice is so perfect for the lyrics that makes the original singers not to sing so good. A must have, specially if you have your loved one closer with a bottle of wine in a perfect romantic place.

Beautiful music.......2007-05-08

I ordered this CD after seeing him perform on a PBS program. The music has a relaxing energy I haven't found in any other music. I can listen to it day after day.

Average customer rating: Phantom Revisited A disappointment after the film soundtrack. Phantom of the Opera Awesome! must get for Phantom or opera fans.... The Phantom Of The Opera (1986 Original London Cast)

The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast) Charles Hart Manufacturer: Decca Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Contemporary Musicals | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Brightman, Sarah | A to B | Featured Performers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Broadway & Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Les Miserables (1987 Original Broadway Cast) Cats (1982 Original Broadway Cast) The Phantom of the Opera (Two-Disc Special Edition) The Phantom of the Opera (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack) ASIN: B00004YTY2 Release Date: 2001-02-06

Tracks:

1. Prologue
2. Overture
3. Act One, Scene I: Think Of Me
4. Act One, Scene 2: Angel Of Music
5. Act One, Scene 3: Little Lotte.../The Mirror (Angel Of Music)
6. Act One, Scene 4: The Phantom Of The Opera
7. Act One, Scene 5: The Music Of The Night
8. Act One, Scene 6: I Remember.../Stranger Than You Dreamt It...
9. Act One, Scene 7: Magical Lasso...
10. Act One, Scene 8: Notes.../Prima Donna
11. Act One, Scene 9: Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh
12. Act One, Scene 10: Why Have You Brought Me Here.../Raoul, I've Been There
13. Act One, Scene 10: All I Ask Of You
14. Act One, Scene 10: All I Ask Of You (Reprise)

Tracks:

1. Entr'acte
2. Act Two, Scene 1: Masquerade/Why So Silent...
3. Act Two, Scene 3: Notes.../Twisted Every Way...
4. Act Two, Scene 5: Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
5. Act Two, Scene 5: Wandering Child.../Bravo, Monsieur
6. Act Two, Scene 7: The Point Of No Return
7. Act Two, Scene 8: Down Once More.../Track Down This Murderer

Amazon.com essential recording

What's left to be said about Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera a decade after its premiere? That it's maddeningly ubiquitous? A stitch-up of various themes shoplifted from the Italian operatic repertoire? A critic-proof crowd pleaser that's probably being staged somewhere in the world as you read this? A megahit that will likely outlive Titanic in the pop-culture pantheon, Phantom has largely redefined--for better or worse--the manner in which modern musicals are conceived, staged, and marketed. Its influence has reached far beyond the traditional confines of London and Broadway. A favorite example: an abridged version that was the centerpiece of Los Angeles's longest-running transvestite revue, replete with 14-inch chandeliers and a man-playing-a-woman-playing-a-man in the title role. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Phantom Revisited.......2007-07-25

Listening to this excellent set of 2 cd's I can relieve my recent trip to NY when I saw Phantom front row center. Wonderful!

A disappointment after the film soundtrack........2007-06-11

I apologize in advance if this review is too cynical and overly-critical for some tastes, but I am mostly disappointed with the London Cast recording. I'll start with my biggest irritations and work my way down, then say some good things about this particular version of "Phantom".
Sarah Brightman overpronounces to the point of absurdity with her hebrew "heard" and "operar" in "Why Have You Brought Us Here." In "Down Once More" I only know what she's saying because I already knew the words from Emmy Rossum in the film. Brightman sounds no more elegant than Carlotta, whose voice I actually prefer because, ironically, it's more pure and understandable. However, Brightman is a fabulous opera singer with wonderful vibrato and a very impressive range... but Rossum is still the preferable choice.
Michael Crawford... man or woman? He may be a high-flying tenor, but sometimes that just goes too far, making him sound whiny and weak. Another major note: he cannot act! He may be more operatic than Gerard Butler in his singing, but he is a horrendous actor. "Down Once More" was turned from the heart-wrenching ultra-powerful piece I know into a disappointment thanks to Crawford's terrible "acting." Also, "Music of the Night" is a disaster when he sings it. Not only does his bad acting tear it down substantially, but he tries to sing bass notes. Tries and fails, mind you. He ends up making the piece a strangled, overpronounced, over-legato mess. He is a wonderful opera tenor, with truly inspiring vibrato, but his sometimes whiny voice and horrible job with the role of the Phantom make him somewhat lesser than Gerard Butler.
As for Raoul, either one is just as skilled as the other. One is more youthful and soft, while the other is more masculine and bass. I think they are equally skilled in all categories.
Every piece in this soundtrack I prefer the film version of, although sometimes there are parts of songs which I feel differently about. The only full song I prefer from this over the film soundtrack is none other than "The Phantom of the Opera." The film version has too many drawn out instrumental bits, which can get tedious. Also, it is missing my favorite verse. The "Phantom" from this soundtrack has vastly better vocal performances from both singers, since Gerard is very strained and this song is all about singing, not really acting.
The only song I like more in this version is "Phantom of the Opera." All others are, for the most part, a disappointment. Just a plain disappointment.

Phantom of the Opera.......2007-05-21

I love love love this soundtrack!!! I have seen on broadway in NY when I was younger and fell in love with it. Now I own every version of it. But this is by far the best cast.

Awesome! must get for Phantom or opera fans...........2007-05-17

I saw this performance in London and this is just like being there, awesome quality, amazing vocals......when I listen, I can feel the red velvet seats in the theater and taste the gin and tonic from the intermission......far superior performances than the recent movie.....I had to throw it away after hearing the real deal.....You will be happy with this one.....

The Phantom Of The Opera (1986 Original London Cast).......2007-05-10

I never received the CD's but the seller was super at trying to trace down what happened to it. I would recommend the seller to any one. Very Honest person.

Average customer rating: a great successor to black halo Kamelot has created their own Metal Genre! good but could be better Missed their mark! Well worth the money!!! Bogus DVD or not!

Ghost Opera Kamelot Manufacturer: Steamhammer/SPV ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Paradise Lost Unia Systematic Chaos Systematic Chaos The Black Halo ASIN: B000PA9PMY Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

1. Solitaire
2. Rule The World
3. Ghost Opera
4. The Human Stain
5. Blücher
6. Love You To Death
7. Up Through The Ashes
8. Mourning Star
9. Silence Of The Darkness
10. Anthem
11. EdenEcho
12. The Pendulous Fall (bonus track)

Amazon.com

Kamelot's latest power metal offering seems unlikely to win the collective the kind of major attention its sought for more than a decade now. While vocalist Roy Khan still emits his signature siren wail and guitarist Thomas Youngblood crafts riffs that crunch with more power than your average fast food taco, the band still lacks a unique identity, alternating between its status as a Queensryche retread or vying for listeners more attuned to Korn and Avenged Sevenfold. "Rule the World" certainly stands as one of the outfit's heaviest works to date and "Mourning Star" carries with it its own kind of majestic beauty but repeat listens reveal that Ghost Opera is little more than by-the-numbers power metal, of the kind that didn't really work when Helloween released Keeper of the Seven Keys two decades ago and still fails to satisfy today.--Jedd Beaudoin

Album Description

American Melodic Metal masters Kamelot are back with the follow-up to their breakthrough epic The Black Halo. Ghost Opera is simply one of the most diverse metallic listening experiences of the year, containing all of the melody, power, passion and crunch that have earned them the undying respect of metal-heads around the country and around the world. The first pressing contains a bonus DVD featuring the video of Ghost Opera and a making of feature. Catch Kamelot on tour across North America late this summer!

Customer Reviews:

a great successor to black halo.......2007-07-31

The Black Halo is consistently one of my favorite albums. I was expecting to be let down by their next work. It's a bit different than their last album, but after several spins it has grown on me. I'll leave it to more capable reviewers to detail and contrast the albums. If you liked The Black Halo, then pick this up.

Kamelot has created their own Metal Genre!.......2007-07-27

Ghost Opera takes the band another step forward and now it seems with massive touring and videos that set a new standard the band is finally getting the recognition they so long have deserved. The new album experiments with several new ideas but somehow they never lose or abandoned their sound. The band has really created their own Genre since they sound like noone else!!

good but could be better.......2007-07-27

I have been a fan of Kamelot for five years now and this is far from thier best work. Don't get me wrong, the cd does grow on you the more you listen just like most of thier work. If you want to hear this band at the top of thier game i would suggest the forth legacy or karma.

Missed their mark!.......2007-07-26

Songs seem very repetitive. Also, has some rip-off "Phantom" music to create the ghostly effect. Khan needs to stop with the attempt at soft singing. His vibrato kills all of the ballad style singing and his voice sounds way over trained. I am all about great vocals and this album does a poor job of showcasing them. Khan can sing better than this. Lose the heavy vibrato. I am a Kamelot fan but the album left me wanting more. Maybe next time guys.

Well worth the money!!! Bogus DVD or not!.......2007-07-23

I REALLY like this album and am glad to see that Kamelot is continuing to evolve and mature. So many bands of this genre begin to get stagnant and eventually stale after every album begins to sound the same.

But I'm kind of conflicted as well due to one simple fact. I can think of many, many cases where a certain album by a band is a better album overall than it's predecessor, but that predecessor just happens to have that one single song that is better than anything on the newer release. Of course this is all personal opinion but two genre examples that quickly come to mind are Ozzy and Maiden.

I feel that Diary of a Madman is better overall than Blizzard of Oz though nothing on Diary quite equals the one-two punch of "Revelation (Mother Earth)" and "Steal Away the Night". And while I think Piece of Mind is superior to Number of the Beast overall, it doesn't have anything that tops the magnificent "Hallowed Be Thy name".

Ghost Opera is like this; while I think it's (slightly) better overall, I haven't heard anything that tops Black Halo's "March of Mephisto". But, reading the reviews, I see that many fans like Halo better overall anyway.

In any case, I really like "Rule the World", "Love you to Death", "Up Thru the Ashes", "Edenecho" and the bonus track "The Pendulous Fall". And, if the band continues to evolve in this way...I can't wait for the next one!! But I have to say the "bonus" DVD wasn't worth it, only 2 videos and one was a making of..., but, then again I haven't seen one yet that didn't come with the DVD so I wonder how much cheaper it would have been?

Now if they'd just come to Atlanta (or anywhere closer than a 10 hr drive) so I can go see them!!!! Because, judging by the "One Cold Winter's Night" DVD and what I'm hearing on Ghost Opera..... I'd sure like to!!!

Average customer rating: Disappointing Great! A Piece Of Heaven On Earth A Pure Joy.......... Celtic Treasure - Hayley Westenra

Celtic Treasure Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Monk, William Henry | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Australia & New Zealand | International | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Folk Songs | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Odyssey Hayley Westenra - Live From New Zealand Celtic Woman - A New Journey: Live at Slane Castle, Ireland Lisa A New Journey ASIN: B000MTDRJA Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

1. Let Me Lie
2. Scarborough Fair
3. Shenandoah
4. Summer Fly
5. Whispering Hope
6. Danny Boy
7. Summer Rain
8. The Last Rose of Summer
9. One Fine Day
10. Sonny
11. The Water Is Wide
12. Melancholy Interlude
13. Abide With Me

Amazon.com

Having sung before royalty and performed with the Irish super-group Celtic Woman, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, and Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel, the very young and remarkably beautiful singer is back with a tribute to her Celtic ancestry. As with her previous Platinum-selling releases (she is already a huge star in her native New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and the UK), the orchestrations are lush, with sighing phalanxes of strings and woodwinds. But in keeping with the avowed theme, there are also soft touches of soulful, wavering tin whistles and vaguely fiddle-like violin vamps. The program is more varied than the album's title might lead one to expect, encompassing everything from "The Last Rose Of Summer" and "Danny Boy" to "Shenandoah," "Scarborough Fair," "Abide With Me," and even a couple of more pop-oriented songs penned by Westenra herself. However, brief sideways winks toward Nashville or the Great White Way do not adulterate the album's overall mood of ethereal, remote bliss. The one misstep is an English-language cover of "Un Bel Di" ("One Fine Day") from Puccini's Madama Butterfly: an aria unsuited to the artist's fragile, bell-like soprano and placid temperament. This aside, established classical crossover/theatrical divas like Sarah Brightman would be wise to begin looking to their laurels. --Christina Roden

Album Description

Hayley's third solo album is a very personal collection of classical arias, Irish and Maori folk songs - representing treasured people and places on her remarkable musical journey. Recorded in Dublin, Ireland, Hayley's third solo album is a very personal collection of classical arias, Irish and Maori folk songs - representing treasured people and places in her remarkable musical journey. For the first time the album also includes several original tracks written by Hayley herself. Celtic Treasure is a celebration of Hayley's family roots, and her grandparent's journey across the World on the first boat that left Ireland for New Zealand in the 1880s - taking with them a rich musical heritage. Her grandmother - a singer, and her grandfather, who played the accordion, were to be important influences on Hayley's musical development. Hayley grew up hearing her grandmother singing Italian opera arias in English. Hayley has continued this tradition by recording the well-known aria One Fine Day... ('Un bel di) from Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Hayley's grandmother also sang Irish folk tunes, and Hayley includes one of them - Danny Boy on the album as a tribute to her. Another Irish folk tune Sonny, is the first recording in which Hayley accompanies herself on the piano. In the same vein as Hayley's signature song Pokarekare Ana from her debut album Pure, Hayley's deep sense of pride as a New Zealander, and the simple beauty of her voice come together in E Para Ra - a Maori lovesong reflecting her own love of her homeland. Hayley's first recordings of her own songs bring together all these musical influences. They include her compositions Let Me Lie and Summer Rain and her lyrics to a haunting lute song by the Elizabethan English composer John Dowland, called simply Melancholy Interlude.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2007-07-13

We first encountered Westenra as a member of the Celtic Woman group. She was great -- as were all the girls. Based on that, I selected this CD after reading the reviews on Amazon. This one seemed to get the best overall reviews.

This CD is pretty uninspired and Westenra's voice sounds just average on several of the tracks. There are a few impressive spots but generally I thought the CD was less than expected.

Great!.......2007-07-13

Hayley does a great job with this cd. Its relaxing and interesting, instead of boring like some opera kind of vocalists can be. I recommend her cd, Pure, as well. She will definitely impress and soothe you!

A Piece Of Heaven On Earth.......2007-07-13

If you could hear the angels singing this is exactly what they would sound like. Please do yourself a favor and get the dvd too. They are both beyond amazing.

A Pure Joy.................2007-06-20

This album of Celtic standards is truly one of the most beautiful I've heard in a long time. For a girl of 19 to have this kind of vocal maturity is amazing... she gets better with each new recording.

Hayley has a clear, and pure voice that makes these familiar songs sound brand new. Though the whole album is a treat, the two hymns are inspiring. Others have done this repitoire, and done it well; none has done it better.

Hayley has a new recording of "West Side Story" due out soon; I can't wait. In the meantime, do not fail to grab this one.

Celtic Treasure - Hayley Westenra.......2007-06-20

Love the beautiful voice that I have come to expect from the Celtic Women lasses and the eclectic choice of songs really accentuates her range and flexibility to sing classic and contemporary. She shines with every choice. I await her next CD.

Average customer rating: Romance of the Violin End of the Day Wonderful! Over and over and over.... Non-standard CD format

Romance of the Violin Claude Debussy , Fryderyk Chopin , Camille Saint-Saens , Franz Schubert , Vincenzo Bellini , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Christoph Willibald Gluck , Alexander Borodin , Antonin Dvorak , Claudio Monteverdi , Jules Massenet , Robert Schumann , Michael Stern , Craig Ogden , Gregory Knowles , John Constable , Jacob Heringman , and Stephen Orton Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Borodin | Borodin, Alexander | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Dvorák, Antonín | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Monteverdi | Monteverdi, Claudio | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Nocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Bell, Joshua | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Sony | Computers Brands | Computers Features | Electronics | Desktops | Monitors | Networking | Notebooks Similar Items: Voice of the Violin Ladies in Lavender Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto [Hybrid SACD] Joshua Bell - Gershwin Fantasy The Red Violin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ASIN: B0000DG06L Release Date: 2003-10-28

Tracks:

1. O mio babbino caro (from 'Gianni Schicchi')
2. The Girl With Flaxen Hair (from Preludes, Book I; La fille aux cheveux delin: Prelude for Piano L 117/8)
3. Nocturne in C sharp minor (Op Post)
4. The Swan (from Carnival of the Animals)
5. Serenade (from 'Schwanengesang' song cycle for voice and piano, D 957
6. Casta Diva (from 'Norma')
7. Andante from Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major K. 467
8. Nocturne from Quartet for Strings No. 2 in D Major: 3rd movement
9. Dance of the Blessed Spirits (from 'Orfeo ed Euridice')
10. Songs My Mother Taught Me, song for voice and piano B104/4 Op 55/4
11. Pur ti Miro (from 'L'incoronazione di Poppea')
12. Elegie (Elegie 'O doux printemps d'autrefois' for voice and piano)
13. Traumerei ('Kinderszenen' for piano, Op 15, No. 7 'Dreaming')

Amazon.com

Every track on this CD contains a beautiful melody, many of them easily recognizable, all of them exuding tranquility. "O mio babbino caro" from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi opens the disc, with Bell delicately accompanied by a harp and spinning the long melody with great sensitivity. Bellini's "Casta diva" from Norma lives up to its reputation as the epitome of bel canto in Bell's hands; his violin sings. The middle movement of Mozart's 21st Piano Concerto takes well to the violin, and Debussy's "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair" is played with great warmth and sensuality. It would be easy to turn a recital like this into treacle, but Bell is wise enough to realize that the music is already sweet enough and he plays with great reserve and a minimum of sentimental slides. The light accompaniments always support, with woodwinds prominent but used with grace. This CD, in short, is a beauty: a fine gift, a lovely mood setter. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Romance of the Violin.......2007-07-16

While it's not my very favorite Joshua Bell CD, this is a pleasure to listen to!

End of the Day.......2007-06-08

I am a Joshua Bell fan, and this album is the one that I enjoy with my dessert, it calms me at the end of the day, and makes me think of my 6 year old granddaughter's visit. She has to have music on during meals at her home. Usually it is some kid stuff, but I do not have anything like she has at home, so I chose to play Joshua Bell during our dinner. When I placed the dessert before her, she looked up at me and said: "This music is so beautiful, I want to play the violin just like that". What more could I say.
He is inspiring, and she is right. This album is beautiful.

Wonderful!.......2007-05-30

I play this for my grandson to nap by. It is so relaxing and wonderful!

Over and over and over...........2007-05-17

That's how I want to play this CD! It's a wonderful line-up of rich, mellow, captivating compositions played with a warmth and vibrancy that is seldom heard. Joshua at his very best. You won't be disappointed.

Non-standard CD format.......2007-04-22

The music on this CD deserves five stars, but the CD itself is a non-standard format that doesn't work on all players. There's a tiny warning on the back of the CD. You won't notice the warning until you discover that the CD doesn't work on your player. My Macintosh computer wouldn't read the non-standard format so there was no way for me to listen in my office or put the music on my iPod.

A friend's PC was able to read the CD and make a copy in standard format that can be read on any player, including my Mac. The story had a happy ending, but I can not comprehend why the publisher chose the oddball CD specification.

The music is excellent and worth the trouble of making a copy, but the publisher really shouldn't make you go to that effort just to listen to a CD that you paid for.

Average customer rating: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Perfect music! phantom of the opera is great! music Like being there.

The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack) Andrew Lloyd Webber , Richard Stilgoe , Gerard Butler , Emmy Rossum , Patrick Wilson , and Charles Hart Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Sony | Computers Brands | Computers Features | Electronics | Desktops | Monitors | Networking | Notebooks Similar Items: The Phantom of the Opera (Two-Disc Special Edition) The Phantom of the Opera (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast) Attila The Phantom of the Opera: The Original Novel ASIN: B000654YWY Release Date: 2004-11-23

Tracks:

1. Overture - The Phantom Of The Opera: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
2. Think Of Me
3. Angel of Music
4. The Mirror (Angel Of Music)
5. The Phantom Of The Opera
6. The Music Of The Night - Gerard Butler
7. Prima Donna - Simon Callow
8. All I Ask Of You
9. All I Ask Of You (Reprise)
10. Masquerade - Margaret Price
11. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
12. The Point Of No Return
13. Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer
14. Learn To Be Lonely - Minnie Driver

Amazon.com

For better or worse, Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation of Gaston Leroux's gothic horror/romance novel has done for stage musicals what Spielberg's Jaws did for fish stories, with worldwide sales of its original cast album approaching 25 million. While director Joel Schumacher's film turns on his typically ambitious visual verve, its new film soundtrack recording has been paradoxically focused in scope, yet beefed up dynamically via the brawny presence of a hundred piece orchestra and The London Boys Choir. This single disc version showcases all of Phantom's key songs (a deluxe, double-disc edition is also available), with Gerard Butler imparting a welcome, youthful sensuality to his Phantom, making a fine foil for Emmy Rossum's ever-conflicted Christine. Original show orchestrator David Cullen has fashioned compelling new contemporary arrangements to frame Webber's songs -- which now conclude with the lilting, upbeat new ballad he wrote for the film, "Learn to Be Lonely," sung by Minnie Driver. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.......2007-07-26

The CD was in perfect condition and I am enjoying it very much. It was delivered in a very timely manner and the price was good. Thanks amazon!

Perfect music!.......2007-06-11

The Phantom of the Opera is my favorie musical of all time, simply put. The movie is absolutely incredible, so I just had to have the soundtrack. Though this one-disc version leaves out many excellent pieces, it still has the bulk of the music.
First of all, let me just say that Emmy Rossum (Christine) sounds MUCH more elegant and true than Sarah Brightman (who overpronounces to the point of absurdity) in the classic London Cast recording of the musical.
Second of all, Gerard Butler may not be as operatic as Michael Crawford, but he is a much better actor, and the simple sound of his voice IS the Phantom. "Music of the Night" is so beautiful when he sings it, unlike Michael Crawford's mockery of the piece as he tries to sing those bass notes and just ends up mushing it all together into a horrible, overpronounced, over-legato MESS!
Now, Patrick Wilson! He has such a wonderful voice it just makes me faint! Wow! He is, I swear, the greatest tenor alive. Anyone who criticizes his beautiful performance of Raoul is simply insane.
This soundtrack has some utterly perfect music, such as
1. Gerard's incredible performance of "Music of the Night." He sings so beautifully at the end with that last "night" that one can scarcely believe it.
2. "Down Once More," the final scene of the movie can produce tears even without images on a screen. Hearing the three characters' voices together is sheer perfection!
3. "All I Ask of You" has wonderful emotion on all fronts, and Rossum and Wilson blend together into pure love. Bravo! Brava! Bravi!
4. "All I Ask of You (Reprise)"... It is so truly heartbreaking that I can never stop crying. "You will curse the day you did not do... all that the Phantom asked of you!" It has such a blend of emotion that one can only sit and listen, in bliss and awe.
This soundtrack, though missing some songs (get the two-disc set if you want them all), is basically perfect. I will love this music and these wonderful singers forever.

phantom of the opera is great!.......2007-06-08

I absolutely love this soundtrack! Even better, my children do too!
I plan to buy the movie in the near future. I highly recommend this soundtrack if you loved the movie.

music.......2007-05-25

If you like the music from the movie , you will love this cd.

Like being there........2007-05-17

Listening to this beautiful CD opens my mine's eye to the beauty of the stage play.

Average customer rating: Great Wedding Music wedding music Great Product Excellent Classical Wedding Music Traditional and wonderful

Classical Wedding Various Artists Manufacturer: Spring Hill ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Wedding Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music All Bargain Titles | Easy Listening | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: 25 Wedding Favorites A Day to Remember - Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day Bride's Guide to Wedding Music The Complete Wedding Album Classical Wedding Traditions ASIN: B000000V1V Release Date: 1996-04-30

Tracks:

1. Hornpipe from The Water Music
2. Ode to Joy
3. Psalm XIX
4. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
5. Trumpet Tune
6. Arioso in A
7. La Rejoissance from The Royal Fireworks
8. Ave Maria
9. Trumpet Voluntary
10. Canon in D
11. Air from The Water Music
12. Rondeau from Sinfonies de Fanfares
13. The Lord's Prayer
14. Bridal Chorus
15. Fanfare and Bridal Chorus
16. Wedding March

Customer Reviews:

Great Wedding Music.......2007-07-26

This is a great collection of music for weddings. My granddaughter found
just the music for her processional. Thank you again.
Yvonne Barrett

wedding music.......2007-07-18

This CD contains a smattering of all the traditional pieces you would expect to be played during a wedding ceremony which is why I purchased it. I do like it and it will be used at my ceremony. I prefer a little more big orchestral sound but this will do nicely.

Great Product.......2007-05-31

I bought this CD for my wedding. It is a very good product, great compilation of songs and great service.

Excellent Classical Wedding Music.......2007-05-14

Beautiful Classical Wedding music! CD has a wide varity of music; many favorites. Using ours for pre-wedding music, processional and recessional for our daughter's wedding! Thank you Amazon.com! MM

Traditional and wonderful.......2007-04-10

I bought this CD for my ballet classes and am really happy with it. It has all of the classics, and each is very true to it's original composition. There are a lot of horns, which are not my favorite, but the strings make it worth every penny!

Average customer rating: The Who's best album.... Out of my brain on the 5:15 Better than Tommy! Mods and Sods ( * * * * 1/3) Quadrohenia

Quadrophenia Manufacturer: Mca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | 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 Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | 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: Tommy (1969 Original Concept Album) Who's Next The Who Sell Out Live at Leeds Who Are You ASIN: B000002P1P Release Date: 1996-07-02

Tracks:

1. I Am The Sea
2. The Real Me
3. Quadrophenia
4. Cut My Hair
5. The Punk And The Godfather
6. I'm One
7. The Dirty Jobs
8. Helpless Dancer
9. Is It In My Head?
10. I've Had Enough

Tracks:

1. 5:15
2. Sea And Sand
3. Drowned
4. Bell Boy
5. Doctor Jimmy
6. The Rock
7. Love, Reign O'er Me

Amazon.com essential recording

An excellent and frequently astonishing album, Quadrophenia is both more ambitious and less accessible than Tommy, the first and most well known rock opera. At its simplest level, Quadrophenia is a coming-of-age story with an awesome soundtrack. The album features some of the Who's finest material, in songs like the enraged "Real Me," the cynical "Punk Meets the Godfather," the wistful "5:15" and "Sea and Sand," and the powerful "Love, Reign O'er Me." The songwriting (courtesy of Pete Townshend) is top-notch, as is the production (the Who actually managed to use synthesizers in an original manner, something few rock bands can aspire to). The mix of powerful songwriting and skillful composition makes this one of the Who's finest moments. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

The Who's best album...........2007-07-06

This is my favorite Who album, and their last great album. There were moments of brilliance on later albums (most notably Face Dances, the best of the Who's post-Quadrophenia output), but this is the last album where they really were The Who. This is a grand epic that is much more coherent and far more down to Earth than the rather pretentious Tommy. This is Pete Townshend's masterpiece. He wrote all the material (the only Who album in which he did), and I love the credits on the album where it says Townshend plays "remainder". The CD booklet is now restored, with a series of great photos, and the short story that accompanies it. Townshend is a pretty good prose writer, and I would like to see a book or two by him, if he's ever inclined. The synthesizers here work very well, Daltrey's vocals are some of the best of his career, and this is the last Who album where Keith Moon was Keith Moon. He is on fire throughout the entire album. His playing on The Real Me makes puts all modern drummers to shame. The Who would slowly deteriorate after this (drugs, more drugs, the road). This album rarely gets mentioned in the arena of great rock albums, which is horrible, as it is one of the best albums ever made. It's very underrated, and it's my favorite Who album.

Out of my brain on the 5:15.......2007-07-05

I think that this is my favorite Who alblum/CD. It follows up the Rock opera theme from Tommy with a Mods vs. Rockers thing. My favorite tracks 1. 5:15 2. Dr. Jimmy 3. Love Reign over me. I have to admit that I was pulled in by the use of this music in the Adam Sandler/Don Cheadle movie 'Reign over Me'. But hey, I don't smoke cigarettes (any more) because they smoke -em in the movies. It's ok to buy 40 year old music they include in soundtracks.

Better than Tommy!.......2007-06-27

While Tommy is instantly enjoyable, Quadrophenia is the one you will keep coming back to. The music very much reflects the darkness of the story and gives it a timeless feeling. This is one of those discs that your favorite song constantly changes because there are so many good ones. Townshend at his most introspective and for me his best work.

Mods and Sods ( * * * * 1/3).......2007-06-22

Writing this review in June 2007, I realize that I became the fan of The Who that I am now just over one year ago. I am not sure how I managed to keep them on the periphery for so long. I think that I always found several of their best-known songs - such as "Magic Bus", "Squeeze Box", and "Who Are You?" - to be skimpy and uninspired, while albums like Tommy and Quadrophenia seemed self-indulgent and overblown. Who's Next seemed perfect to the point of being the exception that proved the rule, so it was pretty much the only Who CD that I kept around (along with a cassette of greatest hits). Although I will probably always feel the same about the previously mentioned singles, I have recently decided that The Who's two rock operas are more ambitious than self-indulgent, and more fully-realized than overblown.

In 1973, The Who were huge, and not just in terms of popularity. Sure, Quadrophenia was their fourth consecutive top five album in the US. More importantly, however, their musical scope had grown immensely since their debut in 1965. Having finally recorded an entirely consistent record in 1967 with The Who Sell Out, Townshend began to think in terms of expanding the limits of rock 'n roll, rather than working within them. Having done so with Tommy - which made the rock opera respectable - and Who's Next - which did the same for synthesizers - he had plenty of momentum. Still, attempting a second rock opera meant taking quite a chance. (Jethro Tull, another one of the most popular English bands of the early 70s, had recently suffered a severe backlash for releasing two LPs in a row consisting of a single album-length piece.) But as with Tommy, if any band could pull it off, then The Who could.

Quadrophenia, like Tommy, told the tale of a young man struggling with psychological problems. In this case, it is Jimmy, who suffers from a four-way split personality. As a young mod, he very well may have run with the type of guys who would become The Who, and subsequently became a fan of them. Thus, the songs on this album serve not only to tell the story of Jimmy, but of the band itself, as the songs "The Punk and the Godfather" and "Helpless Dancer" reference Who songs which were mod anthems. Jimmy tries desperately to keep up with fashion while living in his parents' house ("Cut My Hair) in order to avoid living one of the workaday lives of those he sees around him ("The Dirty Jobs", "Helpless Dancer"). Eventually, he tires of being disappointed by all the things that he hopes will make him happy ("I've Had Enough"), so he takes trip, literally and figuratively, to the beachside town of Brighton ("5:15").

Alas, he discovers that "here by the sea and sand/nothing ever goes as planned". He hits bottom when he encounters a former mod whom he admired so greatly years before who is now working as a bell boy. Thus, he has to spend each day licking the boots and running at the heels of the authority figures he once rebelled against. Despondent over the idea that what happened to the now bell boy could also happen to him, he sinks into the quicksand of drugs and alcohol ("Dr. Jimmy"), and starts to behave without regard to rules and consequences: "What is it? I'll take it/Who is she? I'll rape it". Quadrophenia ends with Jimmy's fate uncertain, as he stands on the beach in the rain, arms stretched upward to the sky, one imagines ("Love Reign O'er Me").

Musically, Quadrophenia and Tommy have similarities and differences. Both include three instrumentals, but none on Quadrophenia is as long as Tommy's 10-minute "Underture". Tommy features the leitmotifs of "See me, feel me..." and the "Pinball Wizard" chords, and Quadrophenia's songs are tied together by the "love reign o'er me" lyric and the beautiful synthesizer that underscores it. One important difference is that Quadrophenia consists entirely of full-length songs, whereas Tommy included several songs that were less than a minute long. This was also the first album in which Pete Townshend wrote every single song. Although John Entwistle's occasional contributions had always been a nice touch, they certainly aren't missed here. Rather, he concentrates on his bass, which bubbles near the surface of each song and sometimes even boils over. Keith Moon clobbers his drums as usual. Roger Daltrey sounds magnificent on the album's more bombastic numbers, while Townshend sings lead on the album's more tender moments, "Cut My Hair" and "I'm One". Who albums were always group efforts, and Who's Next had found the band performing as rock 'n roll musicians rather than simply players. Quadrophenia continued this trend.

Quadrophenia's story isn't developed quite as well as Tommy, and also not quite as entertaininng or interesting. The songs and the music, however, put it just a notch above their first rock opera. It is a downright majestic piece of work, and although it may be tough to take in a single listen, it is well worth doing so. But even if and when one doesn't, s/he will still find several great Who songs to return to regularly. Although Quadrophenia is not their best album, it does show that The Who were still in brilliant form two years after the release of their masterpiece.

Quadrohenia.......2007-05-11

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ROCK ALBUMS OF ALL TIME.IN MY BOOK IT IS#1
ALL TIME EVER.THE TITLE SONG PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREATEST SONGS EVER.
IF YOU LOVE TO ROCK OUT AND GET ALITTLE LOSE THIS IS A PERFECT CHOICE.

Meditation Music:

1. Puccini: La Boheme
2. Puccini: Manon Lescaut
3. Puccini: Tosca Highlights
4. Rachmaninov: Aleko
5. Rake's Progress (Venice 4/1/86 Live)
6. Renata Tebaldi: The Parma Farewell
7. Riccardo Zandonai: Francesca Da Rimini
8. Rimsky-Korsakov: Kastchey the Immortal
9. Rimsky-Korsakov: May Night
10. Rimsky-Korsakov Performed by his Contemporaries

Meditation Music

meditation music

Meditation Music

There's No Tomorrow [CD-single] [Import]

Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade for orchestra Op35; Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez

Power Classics! Volumes 6-10 [Box set]

Music: Bulge

Rip It Up [Import]

Music for Dancing [Import]

Negaigoto [Import]

Singles 1984-2004 [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Psycho Stripper Girlfriend

Psycho Box

Quartet Quintet Sextet [Import] [Original recording remastered]

Pauvre Terrien [Import]

Reality Check

This Means War

Austral Voices - For Telegraph Wires, Tuning Forks, Computer-Driven Piano, Psaltery, Whirley, Cello, Synthesizer & Ruined Piano