Have You Heard

Have You Heard

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Born in Atlanta and raised in Washington DC, Reagon cites her musical abilities from her family. Both parents belonged to SNCC's (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee) The Freedom Singers, a folk group that sprung from the Civil Rights movement and toured the country to teach people about civil rights through song. Bernice Johnson Reagon is not only Toshi's mom but also the founder of the a capella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock. Toshi's rich musical heritage led her to become saturated in many traditional styles of music, feeding her desire to explore a range of music from blues to Kiss. Admittedly, Toshi says that she attempts to "take whatever I'm really into and try to learn it and put it into music." This trait results in a musical style that not only transcends classification, but also expresses a political consciousness that is as ingrained in her music as the multiple genres she embraces.

A seasoned live performer, Toshi jumped into the spotlight when she dropped out of college after Lenny Kravitz tapped her to open for him on his first world tour. And Toshi hasn't stopped earning the respect of musicians, the praise of critics and the love of fans since then. Just ask Elvis Costello, who was hooked after one high-energy evening in NYC—he even invited Toshi and her band, BigLovely, to back him up on a Late Show with David Letterman appearance.

In some ways, singer Toshi Reagon is a throwback to classic R & B artists like Stevie Wonder or Prince, or old school rock group like Led Zeppelin; she can take any style, update it, and make it her own with incredible ease. Whether playing solo or with her band, her fusion of styles and forms draws listeners in, embraces them and sets them off in a rapturous, hand-raising, foot-stomping delight.

Product Description
On Have You Heard, Toshi Reagon calls the listener back to the heart of rock and roll with a voice overflowing with raw emotion. Reagon's Righteous Babe Records debut is her sixth full-length album overall.

Supporting her earthy tenor and amazing ability to bend the guitar strings are a few members of her live band BigLovely; Fred Cash on bass, Robert "Chicken" Burke on drums, Adam Widoff on guitar, and Catherine Russell on mandolin and vocals. With her all-star players behind her and producer Craig Street (Me'Shell NdegeOcello, kd lang, Joe Henry, Cassandra Wilson) and mixer Elliot Mazer (Santana, Neil Young) at the helm, Have You Heard drives deep into your soul.

From her rock platform Toshi easily jumps from funk to country, spirituals to folk, taking any style, updating it and making it her own with ease. Genre bending is her specialty - take the gospel-tinged fingerpicking melody "Have You Heard" or the soft balladry of "You", the funky "OOH WEE" or the original interpretation of Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel".

An uncompromising brew of artistic exuberance and exceptional musical talent, Have You Heard can work as the soundtrack to a house party or an introspective walk in the park.

Tracks:

God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
Angels We Have Heard On High
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
How Unto Bethlehem?
The Boar's Head Carol
O Tannenbaum
Masters In This Hall
My Dancing Day
Away In A Manger
Good Christian Men, Rejoice
The Holly And The Ivy
Good King Wenceslas
Wassail Song
Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabella
Fum, Fum, Fum
Mary Had A Baby
Hacia Belen Va Un Borrico
Christ Was Born On Christmas Day
March Of The Kings
Coventry Carol
Deck The Halls
The Cherry Tree Carol
We Three Kings Of Orient Are
Toruo-Louro-Louro!
So Blest A Sight
I Saw Three Ships
What Child Is This?
Susanni
In The Bleak Midwinter

Customer Reviews:

Much Anticipated.......2007-01-26

I have been looking for this CD for years!! Our family had a Shaw Chorale LP which contained almost all the songs on this CD. We had a number of excellent holiday albums and played all of them often, but we wore the Shaw Chorale album out! Not only are the musical renditions excellent and very similar to earlier Shaw recordings, the nostalgia evoked for this listener is incomparable!

A Taste of Heaven.......2007-01-18

I received this recording on cassette from a choral teacher, and played it so often that I wore it out! I especially appreciate the purity of sound and the arrangements in this recording. Lovers of choral music will feel as though "Songs of Angels" brings them a taste of heaven!

The Energizer Bunny.......2007-01-18

Alas that Robert Shaw is no longer with us. Throughout his long and varied career he gave us choral music with exactness,good pacing,and proper execution though not all musicologists would chose his renditions.
In "Songs of Angels" recorded in 1994 he shows us that even in later years he just kept going and going. Giving us stellar performances of masterpieces such as "Elijah","The Creation" and other large choral works. Yet in this album he shows the same attention to detail and
enraptures us with that special beauty of tone and ensemble which was
was to be Shaw's watermark on his life's offering.

Great Seasonal Album.......2006-01-16

This is one of the most impressive period albums I own. Wonderful for the holiday season. Will miss it during the rest of the year.

The Most Beautiful Sounds I Have Ever Heard.......2003-02-04

A fluid and seamless piece of heaven that transcends all classical and holiday music. This is an OUTSTANDING non-traditional Holiday CD!!! Many voices come together as one in these enchanting verses sung in languages other than English. It is just enough language mix to appease and intrigue the soul but not too much so that the listener does not understand the lyrics. For example, the English verse is sung then a verse in German and then back to English. Emmanuel is written this way. Other languages include French (Angels we Have Heard on High) and even Catalan which is a dialect of Spain.

Several of the songs were not traditional Holiday songs (at least for my generation), yet they were intriguing to learn and now I feel I know them just like the traditional ones. This CD offers a healthy mix of traditional and non-traditional songs on this CD.

If you can picture the most beautiful sounds you have ever heard you can come close to the joy this CD will bring you. It is February and I can't stop listening to it. You will not regret purchasing it&the only regret you may have is not buying all of Robert Shaw's holiday CDs.

Tracks:

Deck The Halls With Broughs Of Holly
Lo, How A Rose E're Blooming
Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
The First Nowell
Angels We Have Hard On High
We Three Kings Of Oreint Are
O Come, All Ye Faithful
O Sanctissima
O Tannenbaum
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Good King Weceslas
Silent Night, Holy Night
Joy To the World
The Twelve Days Of Christmas
Conventry Carol
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
Good Christian Men Rejoice
O Holy Night
What Child Is This?
Wassial Song
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Away In A Manger
We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Customer Reviews:

Nice music but..........2007-03-08

I liked the music and the performances a lot, but there is no booklet to depict the performers, nor analyse the music or the arrangements, which are superb

Great CD.......2007-02-16

This is a great holiday CD. We used it for several holiday dinners this year.

A Noble and Festive Christmas.......2007-01-21

This is the best Christmas album you could ever get. It is the most stable as you do not have to think about it. This is the album you really sing along to. Brass makes everything festive, grand and noble; so will your Christmas! A gem for every year!

Meat and Potatoes.......2007-01-18

Since the release of this fine recording in 1967 there have been many fine
brass groups:The Canadian Brass, the Empire Brass, just to name a few.
Whereas these latter groups have all resorted to "gimmicks" such as unique arrangements to sell their albums this group of brass players from the Philadelphia Orchestra give us an album of good old "meat and potatoes" playing spiced with fine tone,good ensemble playing, and good tempos.

Totally Awesome.......2007-01-12

I love listening to this cd at christmas. The brass is so crisp, almost like being right there. You have to add this to your holiday collection, and for those of you who like brass, you will love it. I play the french horn and I esp. love hearing the french horn in it.

A Festival Of Carols / Robert Shaw Chorale

Average customer rating:

Traditional Christmas Music
The quintessential Christmas recording
A Top List Christmas CD
The best
How do you describe perfection?

A Festival Of Carols / Robert Shaw Chorale
Robert Shaw Chorale
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Songs of Angels - Christmas Hymns and Carols
The Many Moods of Christmas (1963 RCA Victor Version) Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra
Joy to the World - Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra
A Festival of Carols in Brass
A Robert Shaw Christmas - Angels on High

ASIN: B000003EPA
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Medley: Good Christian Men - Rejoice - Silent Night - Patapan - O Come - All Ye Faithful
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Shepherd's Carol
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
Medley: O Sanctissima - Joy To The World - Away In A Manger - Fum, Fum, Fum - March Of The Kings
I Wonder As I Wander
We Three Kings
My Dancing Day
Medley: What Child Is This? - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Bring A Torch - Jeanette - Isabella - Angels We Have Heard On High
Coventry Carol
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
Carol Of The Bells
Medley: Break Forth - O Beauteous Heavenly Light - The First Nowell - O Little Town Of Bethlehem - I Saw Three Ships - Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly

Customer Reviews:

Traditional Christmas Music .......2007-01-24

If you love traditional Christmas music, done in traditional style (i.e., no rock or jazz influence), this CD is for you. The Robert Shaw Chorale, the "gold standard" of quality choral music, sings much loved carols, with some lesser-known pieces as well. Some are a cappella; some include a full orchestral accompaniment. My favorites on this CD are "We Three Kings," "Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella," and "I Saw Three Ships."

The quintessential Christmas recording.......2005-12-09

This recording seems to elicit universal and heartfelt praise. Who am I to dispute that? The performance is terrific, just as described by the other Amazon reviewers, no doubt about it.

However, I do have one bone to pick with this recording. There just isn't enough of it. With material as good as this, that is a real loss!

A Top List Christmas CD.......2004-12-28

I bought this cd long ago, and have enjoyed it immensely each year. It is the perfect blend of celebration and meditation. Orchestra and choir combine in four distinct groupings, and a capella arrangements complete the masterful collection. The orchestral arrangements will make the hairs on your neck stand up, and your stomach quiver with all the excitement you ever felt as a child at Christmas. Adeste Fidelis is performed as few other ensembles have ever come close. The a capella arrangements will all, without exception, be on your yearly list of must-hear holiday arrangements. Truly a top list Christmas CD, essential for every family who celebrates this feast.

The best.......2004-01-02

I own approximately 35 Christmas choral CDs - including choirs and groups such as the Cambridge Singers and the King Singers. I also own two Christmas albums with Robert Shaw and the Atlantic symphony. This performance with the Robert Shaw Chorale is old but it is still my favorite. The arrangements are magnificent, the sound is brilliant, and the choir and orchestra are precise with wonderful volume control. Buy and enjoy!

How do you describe perfection?.......2003-12-14

This is my favorite Christmas CD. Nothing comes close. I thoroughly enjoyed learning much of the music in high school choir over 30 years ago. The music has never left me. The four medleys are the arrangements of Robert Russell Bennett titled "The Many Moods of Christmas". The arrangements seem to have a freshness about them even after listening numerous times.

Interspersed with the medleys are a cappella carols.

All of this music is wonderfully performed by the Robert Shaw Chorale, the a cappella selections recorded in 1957 and the medleys in 1963.

Four decades have proven that this is the standard in choral music. The clarity of text, the richness of tone, the beauty of harmony combine to present the message of Christmas in the manner that only music can do.

Tracks:

Have You Heard
22 Hours
Didn't I Tell You
Trying To Bring Love Home
OOH WEE
Building Blues
You
Down To The Water
Soul-N-Deep
Dream
Heartbreak Hotel

Album Description

On Have You Heard, Toshi Reagon calls the listener back to the heart of rock and roll with a voice overflowing with raw emotion. Reagon's Righteous Babe Records debut is her sixth full-length album overall.

An uncompromising brew of artistic exuberance and exceptional musical talent, Have You Heard can work as the soundtrack to a house party or an introspective walk in the park.

Customer Reviews:

Great Blues music........2007-05-20

This was recommended to me because I love Blues music and couls listen to it all day/night long. I am from kansas City and often visit Blues / Jazz clubs and festivals. This is defintely Blues all the way through.

I have heard and I am impressed.......2006-01-15

This CD was released late in 2005 and it seems to have been overlooked by critics and fans. I can imagine what a tour de force Toshi must be live. On this album Toshi is out in front with clarity and power that puts her in a league all by herself. Every track on this CD is good. And wow what a take on Heartbeak Hotel!

the album we've been waiting for........2005-11-08

"have you heard" comes closest to sounding like a LIVE TOSHI show of any of her albums to date. (if you haven't seen her live, you have no idea. there is NOTHING like it in the world. her albums haven't ever come close.) 22 hours and buidling blues are haunting, electrifying and the most soulful rock tracks... ever. its crazy how the whole album feels both vintage and like some prophetic musical offering from the future. (fyi there aren't any hip-hop sounding tracks on the cd, so i don't know what that other review is talking about) i can't play anything else on my playlist these days. gorgeous.

STICK TO YOUR STRENGTHS!!.......2005-10-27

THIS IS A GOOD CD AT BEST. THE SELECTIONS THAT FEATURE THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR ARE BY FAR THE SUPERIOR ONES. THERE IS NO NEED FOR HER TO ATTEMPT HIP-HOP FLAVORED TUNES...IT'S NOT IN HER! MY ADVICE TO TOSHI IS TO BE YOURSELF AND LET GOD DO THE REST. HE GAVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED!

Average customer rating:

Croce at his best

Have You Heard Jim Croce Live
Jim Croce
Manufacturer: Shout Factory
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Have You Heard - Jim Croce Live
Home Recordings: Americana
Final Tour Live
The Complete Collection
Facets

ASIN: B000BTFZLY
Release Date: 2006-01-24

Tracks:

You Don't Mess Around With Jim
Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)
Introduction To Roller Derby Queen
Roller Derby Queen
One Less Set Of Footsteps
Next Time, This Time
Introduction To Speedball Tucker
Speedball Tucker
Lover's Cross
Introduction To Workin' At The Car Wash Blues
Workin' At The Car Wash Blues
Introduction To Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
New York's Not My Home
The Hard Way Every Time
Introduction To Rapid Roy
Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy)
These Dreams
Hard Time Losing Man

Album Description

Classic Live Performances on CD for the First Time!

In 2003, Shout! Factory released the first and only DVD of Jim Croce's legendary live television performances, pleasing fans and critics alike. Now, for the first time ever, the music from those live television performances is available on CD, on an album also entitled Have You Heard Jim Croce Live.

Featuring Croce and his collaborator, Maury Muehliesen, performing "Unplugged"-style, the album contains live versions of such classics as "You Don't Mess Around With Jim," "Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)," "Bad, Bad LeRoy Brown," and others, taken from such hit music shows as "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert," "The Old Grey Whistle Test," "Rollin' on the River," and others.

Customer Reviews:

Croce at his best.......2006-01-25

Believe it or not, this is Jim Croce at his best. Just him and his sidekick Maury playing their acoustic guitars and singing their hearts out. Croce's career was too short to allow him to record a proper live album, but this collection of live (that is, not lip-synched) performances from US and UK TV shows of the day ends up being just as good. The stories he tells in between songs really humanize him, and the inclusion of the last track, available nowhere else is another considerable plus.

This is a must-purchase CD for any Croce fan.

Average customer rating:

Delighful Hvorostovsy
The Power of Voice, The Music for the Soul
a cup half full, but still splendid
Here is proof that Russian vintage only gets better with age
Excellent

Kalinka: Russian Folk Songs
Dmitri Hvorostovsky , and Russian Traditional
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Moscow Nights
I Met You, My Love
Where Are You, My Brothers?
Dmitri Hvorostovsky - Russian Songs of the War Years
Dmitri Hvorostovsky - Passione di Napoli

ASIN: B00000HY87
Release Date: 1999-01-12

Tracks:

Russian Folk Songs: Kalinka
Russian Folk Songs: Barinya
Russian Folk Songs: Ach Ti Slishesh Li (Ah! Do You Hear, My Dearest Fiend)
Russian Folk Songs: Na Gorushkye (On Little Mountain, On The Mountain)
Russian Folk Songs: Khorovodnaya (Round Dance)
Russian Folk Songs: Shto Zatumanilas (Why Have You Misted Over, Clear Sunset)
Russian Folk Songs: Ya Vstretil Vas (I Met You)
Russian Folk Songs: Ivushka (The Little Window)
Russian Folk Songs: Kak Menya Mladu (How Was I, A Tender Young Maiden?)
Russian Folk Songs: Kachelniye (Rhyming Song)
Russian Folk Songs: Uzh Ti Polye (Ah, You Field)
Russian Folk Songs: Shto Bye Belaya Berioza (As Never White Birch Tree)
Russian Folk Songs: Ne Slijshno Shuma Gorodskogo (The Noise Of The Town Cannot Be Heard)
Russian Folk Songs: Vtyomnon Leyse (In The Dark Forest)
Russian Folk Songs: Uzh Kak Pal Tuman (Already The Fog Has Descended)
Russian Folk Songs: Ach Vij Sini (Ah, Shady Spot)
Russian Folk Songs: Veniki (Birch - Broom)
Russian Folk Songs: Vyhozhu Adin Ya Na Dorogu (I Set Off Alone Down The Road)

Amazon.com

Dimitri Hvorostovsky, born and bred in Siberia, has Russian folk music in his soul. So do about 100 million other Russians, of course, but they don't have his magnificent voice. When his artistry is joined with that of the Saint Petersburg Chamber Chorus, the result is hard to beat, especially when the arrangements were made by such composers as Shostakovich and Rimsky-Korsakov. Don't expect happy songs, although some of the offerings on this disc, such as the title song "Kalinka," have their rollicking passages. In characteristic fashion, the lyrics dwell plaintively on laments for lost love or melancholy recollections of the Russian countryside. Unusually for a Russian chorus, the Saint Petersburg ensemble is not dominated by the lower-pitched male voices but by the women, blissfully free from stridency, who swell their cadences in the way so typical of Russian liturgical music. The disc is accompanied by the Russian text and a useful English translation, although both suffer from minor errors. --Ed Killham

Customer Reviews:

Delighful Hvorostovsy.......2007-03-31

I heard the CD Kalinka. I've never stopped admiring this wonderful Russian bsritone. I went to his concerto here in Mexico, several months ago. I was in Heaven

The songs are chosen with care and love, and it reminds me always of my so wonderful stay in Russia (3 years). This really is from "Russia with love". The thrilling voice of Hvorostovsky gives me the chills and makes me dream. Thanks for a wonderful and delightful record.

This Cd is not the "academic" version of the Red Army, pleasant as well. This is fresh, bucolic and belongs to the people that are in the enourmous fields of corn in Russia and Ukraine. It is naive, with the beauty of naivite.

Hvorostovky is versatile and in the songs que needs to be sweet, plassionate or melancholic he achieves it masterly!!!!!

Eugenia LizaldeBest of the Red Army Choir

The Power of Voice, The Music for the Soul .......2005-05-09

Listening to these eighteen Russian folk songs, artistically arranged and vocalized, one feels that the musical border between folksong and opera has somehow been melted away, and what are heard are the best aspects of both. There is something very special in Russian folk music. Dmitri Hvorostovsky and St Petersburg Chamber Choir have grasped the spirit of it with their heartbreaking vocal force. Whether it is the melancholy melodies; the somber harmonies; or the primordial elements, they pierce directly through your heart and get to your soul... Simply wonderful!

a cup half full, but still splendid.......2004-05-22

With his rich and powerful dark honey voice, Dmitri Hvorostovsky is one of the greatest operatic baritones alive, and as an interpreter of Russian music, no singer can top him; his exquisite renditions of folk melodies, as well as the rapturous songs of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff on his other recordings are sublime.
Here he is backed not by an orchestra, but by St. Petersburg Chamber Choir, and together they present a superb collection of traditional melodies.

Unfortunately for those of us who are big Dmitri fans, he only sings on 10 of the 18 tracks, and though the chorus is excellent, his magnificent voice would have made these songs even better; the "chorus only" tracks are 4-5, 8-10, 14, and 16-17.
The popular title track, "Kalinka", has probably been included in practically every film with a Russian theme I have ever seen and is instantly recognizable, and some of the others are rare gems, but all of them will be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates Russian music.

My absolute favorite is the final "Vihaztu adin ya na darogu" ("I set off alone down the road"), which with its beautiful melody and soulful singing is glorious. Dmitri recorded this song for his first CD of folk songs in 1991, with the Ossipov Russian Folk Orchestra, with balalaikas instead of a chorus to back him; both versions are wonderful, but with this one having the edge, as I think he sings it on this recording with more emotion.
Total running time is 56'41.

Here is proof that Russian vintage only gets better with age.......1999-06-06

Dmitri Hvorostovsky has outdone himself, which means his admirers are in for a treat. Maturity only adds depth to his interpretations of Russian folk songs, now on a larger scale than on the earlier CD 'Dark Eyes'. His musicianship is such that he blends in perfectly with the superb St. Petersburg Chamber Choir whenever this is called for. Marvelous stuff here - highly recommended.

Excellent.......1999-05-14

Worth congratulating Philips that here (as in several more recent releases) "Russian Text" really means that, in cyrillic not transliteration. Timing 56'40.

Average customer rating:

Copied from 78 vinyl
TRACKS
NOSTALGIC BALLAD SWEETNESS BY '50'S JONI

Have You Heard Joni James?
Joni James
Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

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Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000NO20HE
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Customer Reviews:

Copied from 78 vinyl.......2007-06-07

Yes, this C.D. was manufactured by copying 78 vinyl and likely because of the noise reduction necessary the sound is muddy, lacking definition and missing many details. Look, you can get ALL these recordings in magnificent sound digitally remastered from the M-G-M Records master tapes under Joni James' personal supervision in her own, official releases. The difference between the quality of these copies and the real, authentic music is night and day. Why get terrible copies and pay money to people who don't even own the masters when you can get high quality remastered genuine releases? This business of manufacturing C.D.s from copies without the consent or participation of the artist, and no benefit to the artist, cheapens the art of music and is ruining the recording field.

TRACKS.......2007-06-03

1. Have You Heard
2. Why Don't You Believe Me
3. Wishing Ring
4. Your Cheatin' Heart
5. Almost Always
6. Is It Any Wonder
7. You're Fooling Someone
8. My Love My Love
9. Let There Be Love
10. Nearness Of You
11. My Romance
12. Our Love Is Here To Stay
13. I'll Be Seeing You
14. You're My Everything
15. Am I In Love
16. Maybe Next Time
17. I'm Thru' With Love
18. It's The Talk Of The Town
19. These Foolish Things
20. Little Girl Blue
21. In Love In Vain
22. Autumn Leaves
23. That Old Feeling
24. Too Late Now
25. How Important Can It Be
26. When You Wish Upon A Star
27. Where Is That Someone For Me
28. You Are My Love
29. Love Letters

NOSTALGIC BALLAD SWEETNESS BY '50'S JONI.......2007-05-31

From her first hit in 1952, Joni James was rightly crowned Queen of MGM Records with fifteen US Top Ten hit singles and distinction as an early seller of albums thanks mainly to her winsome ballad style which was usually directed toward teenage angst. Much exposure via US television gave Joni an advantage over many other chirpy songbirds of the period who may have possessed better voices but were somehow consigned to recording novelty numbers and given insufficient promotion to reach the higher echelons of popularity.

Naturally, Joni's US hits dominate this collection with the million-selling HAVE YOU HEARD? WHY DON'T YOU BELIEVE ME? YOUR CHEATIN' HEART and HOW IMPORTANT CAN IT BE? leading other chart successes like WISHING RING, ALMOST ALWAYS, IS IT ANY WONDER? YOU'RE FOOLING SOMEONE and MY LOVE, MY LOVE but the inclusion of some early album tracks extracted from some of the near forty LP's she released concentrate on standards. Joni was certainly no swinger so ballads MY ROMANCE, LET THERE BE LOVE, I'LL BE SEEING YOU and THESE FOOLISH THINGS possess an appealing introspective quality which adds extra substance with more lavish orchestral ornamentation added as her popularity progressed.

However, Joni's power at MGM Records waned by the late `50's, coinciding with the upsurge of their younger and more versatile pop-princess, Connie Francis, who produced her own string of massive world-wide best-sellers from 1958 onwards. As for Joni, she gradually wound down her career in exchange for domestic bliss but things change and out of obscurity, she has recently enjoyed a renaissance thanks to the reissue of many of her early recordings such as this generous twenty-nine track reappraisal of a career which celebrates in fine nostalgic style the essential foothold she forever holds in `50's pop history.

Purcell: Songs & Airs / Argenta, North, Boothby, Nicholson, Toll

Average customer rating:

Nice Collection
PERFECT!
Great singing and excellent value for money
More than two hours of beautiful 17th century 'ayres'

Purcell: Songs & Airs / Argenta, North, Boothby, Nicholson, Toll
Henry Purcell , Nancy Argenta , and Nigel North
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Odes | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Purcell: The Fairy Queen
Essential Purcell
Purcell: Odes for St. Cecilia's Day - Music for Queen Mary / Taverner Consort
Bach: Cantatas
Gabrieli · Monteverdi · Vivaldi - Venetian Church Music / Taverner Consort, Choir & Players · Andrew Parrott

ASIN: B000059LOH
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Tracks:

O Solitude - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
Ah! How Sweet It Is To Love - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Not All My Torments - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Paul Nicholson
Stripp'd Of Their Green - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Tell Me, Some Pitying Angel - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
If Music Be The Food Of Love - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Hark! Hark! The Echoing Air - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
The Fatal Hour Comes On Apace - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
Incassum, Lesbia - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Paul Nicholson
Sweeter Than Roses - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby
Cupid, The Slyest Rogue Alive - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
From Silent Shades - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Dear Pretty Youth - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby
From Rosy Bow'rs - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Now That The Sun Hath Veil'd His Light - Nancy Argenta/Paul Nicholson
Beneath A Poplar's Shadow - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby
I Attempt From Love's Sickness To Fly - Nancy Argenta/Paul Nicholson
Let Us Dance - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Fairest Isle - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
O Solitude - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby

Tracks:

Nymphs And Shepherds - Nancy Argenta/Nicholas Robinson/Fiona Huggett/Trevor Jones/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Amidst The Shades And Cool Refreshing Streams - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
Love In Their Little Veins Inspires - Nancy Argenta/Rachel Becket/Marion Scott/Richard Boothby/Nigel North
Fly Swift, Ye Hours - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
They Tell Us That Your Mighty Powers - Nancy Argenta/Nicholas Robinson/Fiona Huggett/Trevor Jones/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
The Plaint: O Let Me Weep - Nancy Argenta/Pauline Nobes/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
In The Black, Dismal Dungeon Of Despair - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/John Toll
See, Even Night Herself Is Here - Nancy Argenta/Nicholas Robinson/Fiona Huggett/Trevor Jones
Why Should Men Quarrel? - Nancy Argenta/Rachel Becket/Marion Scott/Richard Boothby/John Toll
Seek Not To Know - Nancy Argenta/Paul Goodwin/Sophia McKenna/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Retir'd From Mortals' Sight - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
To Arms, Heoric Prince - Nancy Argenta/Mark Bennett/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
O Lead Me To Some Peaceful Gloom - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Halcyon Days - Nancy Argenta/Paul Goodwin/Pauline Nobes/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Bid The Virtues - Nancy Argenta/Paul Goodwin/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Lord, What Is Man? (A Divine Hymn) - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Music For A While - Nancy Argenta/John Toll
If Music Be The Food Of Love (1st Setting) - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/John Toll
Sawney Is A Bonny Lad (A Scotch Song) - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
When I Have Often Heard Young Maids Complaining - Nancy Argenta/Nicholas Robinson/Fiona Huggett/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Ah! Cruel, Bloody Fate - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/John Toll
Thy Hand, Belinda... When I Am Laid In Earth - Nancy Argenta/Nicholas Robinson/Fiona Huggett/Trevor Jones/Richard Boothby/Nigel North

Customer Reviews:

Nice Collection.......2007-03-05

I have many collections of Purcell's Music. This collection stands up to them at half the price. Solid buy.

PERFECT!.......2006-10-26

There is only a word with which I can describe this set of discs: perfect!
The only flaw there is, is not related to the singing or playing: no text enclosed.

Great singing and excellent value for money.......2004-09-19

This is probably one of the best anthologies of Purcell songs around, and not just because it's two-for-one pricing means it contains twice as much music (CD1:74'24" & CD2: 77'41")! Nancy Argenta has an irrepressible sense of style and crystal clear diction. But unlike Emma Kirby, whose vocal purity can become tiresome, these renditions radiate warmth. She is also, I have found, more consistently involving than any one of the singers in Hyperion's three disc survey of Complete Secular Songs (recently reissued as a single set). One marvels at how she judiciously balances restraint and emotional forthrightness. The accompaniments (archlute, viola da gamba, harpsichord, and organ) are well judged and blend with the voice, all helped by an excellently defined recording acoustic. This is an absolute winner at any price!

More than two hours of beautiful 17th century 'ayres'.......2001-08-02

Two CDs, totaling more than 150 minutes of sparsely-arranged (never more than 3-5 instruments at a time), sweetly-sung, 350 year old 'ayres' (a typically English form of secular music). Nancy Argenta's soprano voice is lovely, silvery indeed as her name implies. The instruments are a discreet but friendly accompaniment to her solo voice. Perhaps the instruments are a little too discreet -- there are times when I wish they were a touch more prominent. But that is a very, very minor complaint. A beautiful collection, and quite well worth the money.

Joy to the World - Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra

Average customer rating:

Joy To The World........a joy indeed!
If you like classical Christmas music, this is for you
"Joy To The World . . . The Lord Has Come . . . And Heaven And Nature Sing"
Christmas music done in Ormady's rich "Philadelphia Sound"
A Timeless Christmas Classic

Joy to the World - Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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A Christmas Festival
The Glorious Sound of Christmas
A Festival of Carols in Brass
A Festival Of Carols / Robert Shaw Chorale
The Joy of Christmas

ASIN: B000003EPC
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Hark! The Hearld Angels Sing
Away In The Manger
The Little Drummer Boy
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Waltz of the Flowers
What Child Is This
Sleigh Ride
The First Nowell
Carol of the Bells
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Joy to the World
I Wonder As I Wander
Good King Wenceslas
Silent Night
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Angels We Have Heard On High
Silver Bells
Messiah: Pastoral Symphony (Messiah)
Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus

Customer Reviews:

Joy To The World........a joy indeed!.......2007-03-16

This wonderful CD has everything to celebrate the great joy of the Christmas season. Recorded in the early 1970's it still sounds as fresh and timeless as it did way back then.
The orchestrations are majestic and imaginative without being mushy or too symphonic in structure.The addition of the chorus in most of the carols is an added bonus. The singers and orchestra blend wonderfully without either dominating the other too much. The programme of selected songs is excellent and with some lovely orchestra only tracks the CD is not tiring to listen to creating a well balanced programme.
Maestro Eugene Ormandy conducts the Philadelphia Orchestra with great zeal and a passion for the music that is felt by the listener.The chorus master is the very talented Robert Page and the carols are arranged and orchestrated by the great Arthur Harris.
The sound quality is excellent and the CD has been beautifully remastered without any loss of crispness or dynamics.The stereo balance and instrument placement sound superb with the singers centre stage.
This is a remarkably good CD from the RCA Gold Seal range and is a must for lovers of really good seasonal music played with love and passion for the joys of the Christmas season.
Thank you for taking the trouble to read my review and I wish one and all much enjoyment from this lovely CD.

Happy listening!

If you like classical Christmas music, this is for you.......2007-01-13

A truly great collection of classical Christmas music. Highly recommended.

"Joy To The World . . . The Lord Has Come . . . And Heaven And Nature Sing".......2006-12-15

For those of you who, like me, love traditional and old-fashioned Christmas carols with a chorus and a full orchestra, this album is just a perfect listen this Yuletide season. It's always been a delight listening to this classic Christmas CD, "Joy to the World with Eugene Ormandy and The Philadelphia Orchestra and Chorus." It creates a nostalgic feeling and an atmosphere of an old-fashioned Christmas that reminds me so much of the past Christmas celebrations I had with my late parents. This is the kind of Christmas music they so loved.

The Philadelphia Orchestra and Chorus under the direction of Robert Page performed ten of the nineteen tracks and The Philadelphia Orchestra performed the rest of the tracks without the Chorus under the baton of one of the most respected names in conducting and orchestration, Eugene Ormandy. Arthur Harris beautifully and traditionally arranged all the songs. This is one of the greatest Christmas albums ever recorded and a worthy addition to your Christmas collection.

The true essence of Christmas is captured by the artful blend of voices from the chorus combined with the sublime orchestration from the first carol, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" to the last piece, Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah."

Each and every track is a highlight and sacredly performed. My top favorites are "Silent Night," Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers" from "The Nutcracker," "Angels We Have Heard On High," "Away In A Manger," "What Child Is This? (Greensleeves), and "Joy To The World."

"Joy to the world
The Lord has come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing."

Joyfully recommended!

Christmas music done in Ormady's rich "Philadelphia Sound".......2004-12-04

"Joy to the World" has Eugene Ormandy with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Chorus providing a rich selection of Christmas songs, both classical and traditional, arranged by Arthur Harris. It is the former that are most impressive, although there are fewer of them, starting with Mendelssohn's "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers" from "The Nutcracker," then ending with Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desire," and the "Pastoral Symphony" and "Hallelujan Chorus" from Handel's "Messiah."

Eugene Ormandy (born Jenö Blau in Budapest) was one of the most famous of the popular American conductors of the 20th century, known best for his long time relationship with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Originally gaining public notice with the orchestra when he served as a last-minute replacement for an ill Arturo Toscanini in 1931, Ormandy would serve as Musical Director in Phialdelphia from 1938 until 1980. Under his baton the Philadelphia Orchestra became known for its warm tones, textured romantic "Philadelphia Sound," which is well represented on this Christmas album. I always thought Ormandy's interpretation of Rachmaninoff was particularly strong, although I do not know enough about classical music to articulate a coherent defense of that position beyond noting that when Vladimir Horowitz played Rachmaninoff's Third Concerto on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his Carnegie Hall debut, he picked Ormandy as the conductor of the orchestra that night.

There is over an hour's worth of music here for you to enjoy if you like more of the classical approach to your Christmas music. But Ormandy's work is always marked by an ability to bring out the emotions of music being played by a symphonic orchestra. That is why the standout tracks here are "The Little Drummer Boy," "I Wonder as I Wander," and "What Child Is This?" You would not normally think of these songs as working as well song by a chorus that by a single individual, but this album will get you to rethink your position. In terms of choirs at Christmas I still have a preference for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Ray Conniff Singers (I embrace the extremes), but in terms of listening to an orchestra play Christmas music, this is as good as it gets.

A Timeless Christmas Classic.......2003-12-08

I'm a lover of traditional Christmas music and I've acquired about 20 CDs of it. There's nothing my family likes better in December than putting on some good Christmas music and getting in the mood for the season, hearing once again the old favorites you've known since childhood. Of all the Christmas music CDs I've tried, I have two desert-island favorites, the two I always reach for first. This is one of them. I think it's one of the greatest recordings of traditional Christmas music ever made. The arrangements (by Arthur Harris) are joyous, beautiful, and soul-stirring; the performances are heartfelt and magnificent. If you can listen to this CD and not feel filled by the Christmas spirit, you must be (a) named Ebeneezer Scrooge, or (b) deaf. This one is a timeless Christmas classic, not to be missed. Warmest recommendation.