On Jerry Seinfeld's debut CD, he already sounds sick of his material. Of course, the point of the performance that it captures--the HBO special I'm Telling You for the Last Time--was to perform the routine one last time and then retire it forever. This recording was taped just a couple of months after Seinfeld went off the air, and the crowd sounds like it's jonesing for a fix--they laugh at everything, even Seinfeld's setup lines ("So what's with the cabdrivers and the BO?"). Still, Seinfeld's humor--that now-familiar observation from a satisfyingly elitist point of view--delivers. But after all the late-night talk-show appearances, the book Seinlanguage, and nine years of the series, was there really any question? --Randy Silver
Entertainment Weekly
On its own, the CD is a more than respectable stand-up disc; Seinfeld's riffs ... are worthy of preservation.
I'm Telling You for the Last W/Book,Jerry Seinfeld,Universal Music & VI,Spoken Word
Average customer rating:
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The John Adams Earbox: A 10-CD Retrospective
Manufacturer: Nonesuch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00001SID1 Release Date: 1999-10-19 |
Tracks:
- Lollapalooza
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Judah To Ocean
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Toot Nipple
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Dogjam
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Pavane: She's So Fine
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Rag The Bone
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Habanera
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Stubble Crotchet
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Hammer & Chisel
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Alligator Escalator
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Standchen: The Little Serenade
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Judah To Ocean (Reprise)
- Slonimsky's Earbox
Tracks:
- Two Fanfares For Orchestra - Tromba Lontana
- Two Fanfares For Orchestra - Short Ride In A Fast Machine
- Common Tones In Simple Time
- El Dorado - Part I. A Dream Of Gold
- El Dorado - Part II. Soledades
Tracks:
- Harmonielehre - Part I
- Harmonielehre - Part II The Anfortas Wound
- Harmonielehre - Part III Meister Eckhardt And Quackie
- Violin Concerto - Part I
- Violin Concerto - Part II Chaconne:
- Violin Concerto - Part III Toccare
Tracks:
- Chamber Sympony - Mongel Airs
- Chamber Sympony - Aria With Walking Bass
- Chamber Sympony
- Hoodo Zephyr - Tundra
- Hoodo Zephyr - Dissappointment Lake
- Hoodo Zephyr - Hoodo Zephyr
- Gnarly Buttons - The Perilous Shore
- Gnarly Buttons - Hoe-Down (Mad Cow)
- Gnarly Buttons - Put Your Loving Arms Around Me
Tracks:
- Ensemble - I Was Looking At The Ceiling And Then I Saw The Sky
- A Sermon On Romance
- Consuelo's Dream
- Mike's Song About Arresting A Particular Individual
- Tiffany's Solo
- Song About The On-Site Altercation
- Song About The Bad Boys And The News
- Your Honor My Client He's A Young Black Man
- Leila's Song; Alone (Again Or At Last)
- Three Weeks And Still I'm Outta My Mind
- Crushed By The Rock I Been Standing On
- Dewain's Song Of Liberation And Surprise
- !Este Pais! / This Country
- One Last Look At The Angel In Your Eyes
- Finale
Tracks:
- Lollapalooza
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Judah To Ocean
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Toot Nipple
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Dogjam
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Pavane: She's So Fine
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Rag The Bone
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Habenera
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Stubble Crotchet
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Hammer & Chisel
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Alligator Escalator
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Standchen: The Little Serenade
- John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Judah To Ocean (Reprise)
- Slonimsky's Earbox
Tracks:
- Harmonium - Negative Love
- Harmonium - Becuase I Could Not Stop For Death
- Harmonium - Wild Nights
- Shaker Loops - Shaking and Trambling
- Shaker Loops - Hymning Slews
- Shaker Loops - Loops and Verses
- Shaker Loops - A Final Shaking
Tracks:
- The Chairman Dances - Foxtrot For Orchestra
- Grand Pianola Music - First Movement
- Grand Pianola Music - Second Movement
- Grand Pianola Music - Third Movement: On The Dominant Divide
- Fearful Symmetries
Tracks:
- Nixon In China - Opening
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China - Landing Of The Spirit Of '76
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China - Cheers
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China - Opening
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China -
- Nixon In China -
Tracks:
- The Wound-Dresser
- Christian Zeal And Activity
- Five Songs - Thoreau
- Five Songs - Down East
- Five Songs - Cradle Song
- Five Songs - At The River
- Five Songs - Serenity
- Eros Piano
Amazon.com
Having earned his composing stripes after the 1960s, John Adams had the pioneering work of Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and Terry Riley close at hand as he ventured into his trade. And, while minimalism's historical continuum helps place Adams, he used Reich, Glass, and Riley (among others) only as a starting point. And here's proof: a 10-CD retrospective of nearly all Adams's recorded compositions on Nonesuch Records, the label that also issued Steve Reich 1965-1995 and Kronos Quartet: 25 Years. Adams's Harmonium, a choral work of startling energy and effervescence, appears here in a new recording, as do distillations of both The Death of Klinghoffer and Nixon in China, two path-clearing operas. Over the span of a career covered by Earbox, Adams has returned minimalism to traditional instrumental ensembles as well as to projects that at once advanced a political commentary and took that commentary back to orchestral audiences. And so, in far less time than his predecessors, Adams created works that now play like standard repertoire pieces: The Wound Dresser and Shaker Loops and the Violin Concerto--all of them are here. What these works demonstrate is a fierce creativity on the one hand and perhaps a hunger for commercial advances on the other. Adams may at times be a bustling free thinker, but he sounds ever conscious of what audiences are listening to. As for the works themselves, they remain every bit as daunting as when written.Some may object to particular selections. I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky, for example, hardly ranks with Adams's best work. But this box isn't a mere best-of; it's an almost-all-of. At times terrifically American--especially in the news-aware operas and their narrative pragmatism--Adams well deserves a major box set, and its coverage is appropriate to his varied, stylistically diverse output. As with any large-scale retrospective, Earbox--which fairly bristles with Adams's new composition, Slonimsky's Earbox--has spots where fans might balk at the quality of the composer's writing. But it's got a fantastic accompanying booklet along with its many hours of inarguably modern and thoroughly listener-friendly music. --Andrew Bartlett
Customer Reviews:
Moved to tears.......2004-03-18
Nonesuch delivers.Again.......2002-11-27
harmonia in excelsis.......2001-11-12
Interesting, and likely intentional, is that two names in the extensive liner book fail to mention two great and glaringly obvious precursors: Carl Orff and Raymond Scott. Without "Carmina Burana," there would be no "Harmonium." Orff has his mark all over Adams's gifted and epic compositions. Similarly, though there are glib references to "cartoon music," the polymath engineer/musician Scott is a seminal figure in American music, and casts a large shadow over the witty juxtapositions and sense of play one loves in Adams's work. In all, an excellent career overview.
Our greatest living composer.......2001-07-22
That anyone can use the words "spoiled, overrated" amazes me. I emphatically disagree with "A music fan"'s review.
I don't think it's "mind-numbing"; I think it's spiritual and exciting. To me it's the most substantial music being created in our times.
I'm really sorry that anyone could fail to enjoy it, and really recommend others to listen for themselves.
Wonderful CD.......2000-04-02
Average customer rating: |
Theatre Organ: Wurlitzer & Compton Organs
Manufacturer: Saydisc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000004537 Release Date: 1995-04-16 |
Tracks:
- Whispering - Ronald Curtis
- Lullaby of the Leaves - Ronald Curtis
- Alone - Ronald Curtis
- Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue - Ronald Curtis
- Autumn Concerto - Ronald Curtis
- Lover - Ronald Curtis
- Only Make Believe/Why Do I love You - Ronald Curtis
- Caribbean Honeymoon - Ronald Curtis
- Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square - Ronald Curtis
- Only a Rose - Ronald Curtis
- Top Hat, White Tie and Tails - Ronald Curtis
- FuniculFunicul Ronald Curtis
- What a Perfect Combination - Ronald Curtis
- Over the Rainbow - Ronald Curtis
- Falling in Love With Love - Laurence James
- Bye Bye Blues - Laurence James
- I Know That You Know - Laurence James
- It's the Talk of the Town - Laurence James
- Goody Goody - Laurence James
- Kiss in the Dark - Laurence James
- Lazy River - Laurence James
- Glen Miller Selection: I Know Why/Tuxedo Junction - Laurence James
- I Won't Dance - Laurence James
- All the Things You Are - Laurence James
- Alley Cat - Laurence James
- Love's Last Word Is Spoken - Laurence James
- Walkin' My Baby Back Home - Laurence James
- After You've Gone - Laurence James
Average customer rating:
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Puccini - Madam Butterfly / Cheryl Barker, PO, Yves Abel [in English]
Giacomo Puccini , Yves Abel , Cheryl Barker , Paul Charles Clarke , and Simon Birchall Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005QF3K Release Date: 2001-11-20 |
Tracks:
- Act I: Introduction - Cheryl Barker
- Act I: 'So The Walls And The Ceiling...' - Ann Taylor/Stuart Kale
- Act I: 'I Think Your Honour's Smiling' - Jean Rigby/Ann Taylor/Stuart Kale
- Act I: 'It Can't Be Much Further Now!' - Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale/Ann Taylor
- Act I: The Whole World Over - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
- Act I: 'Fate Can't Crush Him' - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
- Act I: 'Is The Bride Very Pretty?' - Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale/Ann Taylor
- Act I: 'True Love Or Fancy' - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
- Act I: 'See Them! They're Climbing The Summit Of The Hill!' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker/Gregory Yurisich
- Act I: 'We Are Honoured' - Cheryl Barker/Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale
- Act I: 'The Imperial Commissioner' - Stuart Kale/Ann Taylor/Cheryl Barker/Simon Birchall
- Act I: 'Oh, Indeed, My Friend, You're Lucky!' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker
- Act I: 'Come, My Beloved' - Ann Taylor/Cheryl Barker/Stuart Kale
- Act I: 'My Fate I Have To Follow' - Cheryl Barker
- Act I: 'Silence! Silence!' - Stuart Kale/Roland Wood/Cheryl Barker
- Act I: 'Congratulations' - Roland Wood/Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich/Frances Brett/Clive Bayley/Stuart Kale
- Act I: 'Dearest, My Dearest, Weep No More' - Roland Wood/Ann Taylor/Jean Rigby
- Act I: 'Evening Is Falling...' - Roland Wood/Ann Taylor/Jean Rigby
- Act I: 'Child, From Whose Eyes The Witchery Is Shining' - Ann Taylor/Cheryl Barker
- Act I: 'Ah, Love Me A Little' - Cheryl Barker/Ann Taylor
- Act II Part I: 'Izaghi Izanami' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part I: 'One Fine Day' - Cheryl Barker
Tracks:
- Act II Part I: 'Come, Let's Enter' - Stuart Kale/Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part I: 'Yamadori, And Has your Unrequited Love Not Yet Released You? - Cheryl Barker/D'Arcy Bleiker/Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale
- Act II Part I: 'Now, At Last!' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part I: 'Just Two Things I Could Do' - Cheryl Barker/Gregory Yurisich
- Act II Part I: 'This Child! This Child, Then!' - Cheryl Barker/Gregory Yurisich
- Act II Part I: 'Do You Know, My Darling' - Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part I: 'I Must Be Going' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
- Act II Part I: 'Ah! Ah!' - Stuart Kale/Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part I: 'Look, It's A Man-of-war!' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part I: Flower Duet: 'Shake The Cherry Tree' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
- Act II Part I: Humming Chorus - Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
- Act II Part 2: Prelude - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part 2: Daybreak Over Nagasaki - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part 2: 'It's Morning' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part 2: 'Who Is It?...' - Jean Rigby/Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
- Act II Part 2: 'I Know For Such Misfortune There Is No Consolation' - Gregory Yurisich/Jean Rigby/Ann Taylor
- Act II Part 2: 'Farewell, Oh Happy Home!' - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
- Act II Part 2: 'Then Will You Tell Her?' - Ann Taylor/Jean Rigby
- Act II Part 2: 'Suzuki, Where Are You?' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
- Act II Part 2: 'You, Suzuki, You're Always So Faithful' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
- Act II Part 2: 'Viper! I Want You To Answer' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby/Gregory Yurisich/Ann Taylor
- Act II Part 2: 'Your Little Fluttering Heart Is Beating' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part 2: 'Death With Honour Is Better Than Life With Dishonour' - Cheryl Barker
Amazon.com
This performance, the only one available in English, is problematic. Best is Yves Abel's leadership of the orchestra, which sounds wonderful, imbuing Puccini's lush score with just the right exoticism and emphasis. But aside from Gregory Yurisch's fine Sharpless, the singers don't please. Paul Charles Clarke as Pinkerton is lacking stylistically and vocally, and as Butterfly, Cheryl Barker sounds under strain and never pretty. While she has the power and feeling for the big second-act climax (the sighting of the ship), she never for a moment sounds fragile or girlish, not even in the all-important early scenes. English or not, this set isn't in the running. Stick with Callas or Scotto in Italian, and follow the libretto. --Robert LevineCustomer Reviews:
A touching English Butterfly.......2002-03-27
She is surrounded by a mixed supporting cast. Jean Rigby is maternal, warm and affecting as Suzuki. Gregory Yurisich makes Sharpless' dilemma more understandable than usual, rather than being completely ineffectual. Paul Charles Clarke perhaps illustrates Pinkerton's arrogance with a degree of vocal swagger, but the sound is rough-hewn and unlovely save for some moments in the love duet. Stuart Kale's Goro is suitable ingratiating and oily.
Abel's conducting is the other chief draw of this set. That he has experience of the score in the theatre means that his pacing is really superb, and the lush orchestration is given its due, the potent intermezzo during the overnight vigil sounding suitably ominous.
This won't replace the classic Butterfly recordings, but in the absendce of any new ones recently, and for acceptable diction in an English version, it is certainly worth the (not very high) price. Recommended.
Mexican Music:
- If Evolution Is Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Evolve [Box set]
- In 3-D
- Interview CD With Book [Import]
- Kicked Out Live (Just Me) [Explicit Lyrics] [Live]
- Leonardo DiCaprio - In Conversation [Soundtrack]
- Looks at Women
- Nasty Country Songs
- Off the Deep End
- Phone Pranks, Vol. 3
- Phone Pranks, Vol. 4
Mexican Music
Proper Introduction to Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs: The Mercury Years