In My Prime

In My Prime

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
On In My Prime, Niamh Parsons delivers a gift of a dozen ballads, including old ones such as "Lakes of Coolfin," "Bold Doherty," and "Black Is the Colour" and new ones written in the old style by Andy Stewart, Alan Bell, and Sean McCarthy. Parsons, who was the singer with the traditional Celtic bands Arcady and Loose Connections, has opted for a simple, unadorned backup for these songs, all of which are sung in English. She remembers ballads are sung stories and that too many instruments can get in the way of telling the tale. Parsons's dusky alto sounds particularly fine on "In My Prime," an a cappella duet with her sister Anne Parsons-Dunne, and "Annan Waters," which she performs as a solo without accompaniment. In the past, songs like these were sung without backup, and because there are no instruments to offer support or to cover mistakes, they are the ultimate test of the traditional singer's craft. The singing of Niamh Parsons passes the test with full marks. --Michael Simmons

Tracks:

Masterpiece Theatre Series Music, Television Version
Theme One from Upstairs, Downstairs - Studio Orchestra
Theme Two from Upstairs, Downstairs - Studio Orchestra
Theme from Poldark - Studio Orchestra
Theme from I, Claudius - Studio Orchestra
Theme from Love for Lydia - South Bank Orchestra
Theme from the Duchess of Duke Street
Theme from the Citadel
Theme from to Serve Them All My Days
Theme from the Irish R.M.
Theme One from the Jewel in the Crown
Theme Two from the Jewel in the Crown
Theme from by the Sword Divided
Theme from on Approval - David Ralph
Theme from a Town Like Alice
Theme One from the Flame Trees of Thika
Theme One from the Flame Trees of Thika (Love Theme)
Theme One from Prime Suspect: The Lost Child
Theme Two from Prime Suspect: The Lost Child
Masterpiece Theatre Series Music, Complete Version

Customer Reviews:

Its awesome but HELP!!!!!!.......2007-05-25

This is defintely a very fine soundtrack of a classic television series.

BUT..... Aaaargh I'm looking for the opening theme not of Masterpiece Theater but of MOUSEterpiece Theater, the Disney show from the 80s, you know?

If ANYBODY has info on the name/composer of the theme plase let me know!!!

It is very similar to the opening theme of this cd, but its not the same...

HELP!!!

Average customer rating:

Niamh does beautifully
Very Lovely
Good Stuff
In depth ballad singing.
Great cd!

In My Prime
Niamh Parsons
Manufacturer: Green Linnet
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Heart's Desire
Blackbirds & Thrushes
The Old Simplicity
After the Morning
The Farthest Wave

ASIN: B00004W1HZ
Release Date: 2000-08-01

Tracks:

Bonny Woodhall
Green Grass It Grows Bonny
In My Prime
Horo Johnny
Annan Waters
Orphan's Wedding
An Palstin Flonn
Black Is The Colour
Two Sisters
Lakes Of Coolfin
Bold Doherty
So Here's To You

Amazon.com

On In My Prime, Niamh Parsons delivers a gift of a dozen ballads, including old ones such as "Lakes of Coolfin," "Bold Doherty," and "Black Is the Colour" and new ones written in the old style by Andy Stewart, Alan Bell, and Sean McCarthy. Parsons, who was the singer with the traditional Celtic bands Arcady and Loose Connections, has opted for a simple, unadorned backup for these songs, all of which are sung in English. She remembers ballads are sung stories and that too many instruments can get in the way of telling the tale. Parsons's dusky alto sounds particularly fine on "In My Prime," an a cappella duet with her sister Anne Parsons-Dunne, and "Annan Waters," which she performs as a solo without accompaniment. In the past, songs like these were sung without backup, and because there are no instruments to offer support or to cover mistakes, they are the ultimate test of the traditional singer's craft. The singing of Niamh Parsons passes the test with full marks. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

Niamh does beautifully.......2005-08-10

This is bar far my favourite CD to put on and just listen. She has a wonderfully warm sound but it is also strong and experienced. 'So Here's To You' is such a lovely song about farewells and future reunions. And it is true, the more you listen, the more in love with it you become. 'In My Prime' is rather haunting in sound but also a powerful song of the remembrance and reflection of youth past. 'Bold Doherty' is done in a traditional style with guitar and you almost miss the bodhran but her singing somehow more than makes up for it. Her voice dances and sways...if you're not careful you'll be caught up yourself in a nice dance unless you're singing along! All in all, a wonderful mix of songs from a very talented woman!

Very Lovely.......2002-04-11

In My Prime sung with sister, Anne is very lovely, the harmony is beautiful and blends perfectly with the background drone. I liked Horo Johnny but thought it sounded a bit countryish. Orphan's Wedding is beautiful as is An Paistin Fionn. Two Sisters is sung acapella, but i liked the Clannad version better because they included lively music which is more fitting for this type of song. My favorite is probably Bold Doherty because it is so much fun to sing! Overall, this is a great C.D.

Good Stuff.......2001-11-17

I really was enjoying this cd for awhile. Then I found me some Capercaillie. Now there is some awesome music!

In depth ballad singing........2001-06-15

These songs are all old ballads, some by well known writers and some are old traditional tunes. Niamh Parsons does very well at reviving these old tunes. She's learned these songs from recordings by famous artists like Clannad and also from meetings with fellow artists like Karan Casey and Frank Harte. She does very well at making the music sound so purely traditional, with no keyboard synthesis, and accompniant on instruments like the guitar, harmonica, accordian, fiddle, and sometimes piano. She also sings a cappella, where her strong alto takes a meaning of it's own. She also sings with her sister and together they bring very deep meaning to these old ballad songs. These songs come from throughout the British Isles, Ireland, Scottland, Wales, and England. Many deal with such themes as love, true love, lost love, and false love. It's for that reason that "When I Was In My Prime" is the perfect title track. This is a traditional English melody in which the flowers symblize virtues. The pink symbolizes curtesy, the violet is modesty, the red rose is true love, and the willow tree is sorrow. Niamh sings with a very beutiful drone. A similar version of this songs is known as "Seeds of Love", and one notable version is Loreena McKennitt's version. I shuold confess that my favorite song is the very sad, "Orphan's Wedding", where I so loved her voice and the moving harmonica. It does go to show that she can sing well both with instruments and without instruments. I could go on for a long time describing how wonderful she is at performing each and every one of these songs. It's music that can bring tears to the eyes. Lovers of old traditional music will feel right at home here, with the way the Niamh Parsons preserves the old ballads, sounding so pure in tradition.

Great cd!.......2001-03-17

This is a much better cd than Niamh's previous one. Good selection of songs and excellent instrumental backing that does not overpower Niamh's wonderful rich voice. Not one "clunker" on the whole cd. Highly recommended to anyone who appreciates traditional music.

Average customer rating:

One of my favorite singers
Times Past....
Excellent

Consort Songs

Manufacturer: Channel Classics Nl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Bach: The Art of Fugue
Fantazia
Fugue Around the Clock
A Quiet Conscience: 17th century Songs

ASIN: B000003UZB
Release Date: 1996-08-01

Tracks:

Sorrow, Come
Courant
Wretched Albinus
With Lilies White
Aria
Complain With Tears
When Shall My Sorrowful Sighing
In A Merry Is In His Prime
When May Is In His Prime
Male-Content
This Merry Pleasant Spring
Ye Mortal Wights
Paduan
Volta
Like As The Day
How Can The Tree
Fantasia VII
Four-Note Pavan

Customer Reviews:

One of my favorite singers.......2006-07-31

Connor Burrowes is one of my very favorite trebles (or was I should say since he is now a baritone). I waver between Connor and his younger brother Edward as both have gorgeous voices but a different sound. Connor sounds brilliant on this recording, so pure and rich. It's very comforting music, nice to play while writing or working on things because it's not distracting and simply adds a bit of color to one's day. I highly recommend this CD as well as the Boys Air Choir CD's that Connor and Edward sing on -- especially Blue Bird which shows off Edward's talents and contains gorgeous songs.

Times Past...........2004-01-31

I discovered this excellent CD of Connor Burrows on a trip to the university city of Cambridge, in a tiny ye olde world record shop. Very appropriate for the music in question.
Connor's straight clear direct singing, is an ideal vessel with which to convey both the melody of this very early music, and the lyrics...written in a very different manner to modern classical songs.
I feel Connor Burrows would have been a favourite singing these lovely madrigals in the Elizabethan court, from whence they were originally performed. Consort songs were not really designed for the etheral voiced chorister. Connor Burrows and the equally professional Amsterdam Loeki Stradust Quartet, blend well together in harmony and take the listener back in time...to when music didn't need synthsizers or microphones to be enjoyed in all its purity. A fine recording indeed.

Excellent.......1999-07-31

An excellent selection of consort music, from the solemn to the upbeat. Connow Burrowes has a beautiful, strong, pure voice and is a delight to listen to. Highly recommended; some very lovely music.

Average customer rating:

Practically Priceless

In My Prime, Vol. 1
Art Blakey
Manufacturer: Timeless Holland
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Bebop | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

In This Korner
Straight Ahead
Live at Kimball's
New York Scene
Drums Around the Corner

ASIN: B00002DGLL
Release Date: 2000-01-01

Tracks:

Jodie
1978
To See Her Face
Lift Every Voice and Sing
Hawkman
People Who Laugh
Time Will Tell
Reflections in Blue
E.T.A.

Customer Reviews:

Practically Priceless.......2006-11-16

I can think of no group in jazz more underrated than the '70's Messengers or of any more original, visionary composer than Walter Davis Jr. When will someone have sense to assemble his compositions and perform them as they were intended to be played. He takes Bud Powell's "Un Poco Loco" into another world and to a higher level of music, evolving the art and tradition in a direction other than modal, free, fusion or funk. Are musicians too enamored of their own "creations" to hear and build on the best of the tradition?

Such is not the case, thankfully, with these disciples, Blakey's most soulful overachievers, including the forcefull tenor of Dave Schnitter. Unfortunately, the only major Walter Davis composition on this album is the grandiose and operatic, "Jodi," a dramatic jazz "aria" on steroids and by itself easily worth the price of the CD.

Average customer rating:

In My Prime
Rhiannon
Manufacturer: Rhiannon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000BCE95Y
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Tracks:

Amazing
Blackbird
In My Prime
Case of You
So Island [Live Imporivsation]
Breath of Life
Start Again
So Many Stars
Alla Way [Live Improvisation]
City Life
Dakota

S.L. Made From Raw Southern Beats FEATURING: Mikee, Devin The Dude, Maximillion, Smackola, O-Z, Lonestarzz, Dumdum, Juan Gotti, Lenky Don, Z-Ro, Shadrak, Livi Labs, Monique, Jadesta, Smackola, Kool B., Guerilla Maab Reunited

Average customer rating:

S.L. Made From Raw Southern Beats FEATURING: Mikee, Devin The Dude, Maximillion, Smackola, O-Z, Lonestarzz, Dumdum, Juan Gotti, Lenky Don, Z-Ro, Shadrak, Livi Labs, Monique, Jadesta, Smackola, Kool B., Guerilla Maab Reunited
Mikee , **********TRACK LISTIINGS********** , Chapter I / Country Life - Mikee/E.S.G./S.P.M. / Skit - Dat Boi Mikee Presents: Southern Life, Chapter I / Still Drinkin' Still Smokin' - Devin The Dude/Maximillion/Smackola Intro - Dat Boi Mikee Presents: Southern Life , Chapter I / Skit - Dat Boi Mikee Presents: Southern Life, Chapter I / Benjamins - Dumdum/Juan Gotti/Lenky Don / Skit - Dat Boi Mikee Presents: Southern Life, Chapter I Set It Off - O-Z/Lonestarzz / Skit - Dat Boi Mikee Presents: Southern Life , Chapter I / I Like - Lonestarzz / In My Prime - Z-Ro/Monique Livin' In The City - Z-Ro/Mikee/Shadrak/Livi Labs / Skit - Dat Boi Mikee Presents: Southern Life , Chapter I / Skit - Dat Boi Mikee Presents: Southern Life, Chapter I / If It Wasn't For This Game (Where Would I Be) - Shadrak / Sweet Dreams/Outro - Kool B. Dangerous - Jadesta/Smackola / Skit - Dat Boi Mikee Presents: Southern Life , and Chapter I Guerilla Gladiators - Guerilla Maab Reunited / Bonus Track 1 - Dat Boi Mikee Presents: Southern Life
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000RE5WSO

Average customer rating:

1. Intro - Kill The Bully (Movie Audio) - Thurston Moore. Thug Ass B*tch - Ghetto Inmates. Last Call - Ol' Dirty Bastard/Masta Fuol. Bottom Feeders - Smut Peddlers suicidal Failure - Cage , 6. Blood On My Shirt (Movie Audio) - Thurston Moore 7. Who Dat - JT Money 8. Joy Ride - Bomber 9. We About To Get F**k Up - Dillinger/Young Gotti 10. Shut The F**k Up Donny , (Movie Audio) - Thurston Moore 11. Latin Thug - Sen Dog 12. Bury The Evidence - Tricky 13. Jesus - Bizzy Bone 14. Unloved - Zoe Poledouris 15. Song For Shelter - Fatboy Slim 16. Outro - , Get Your Story Together (Movie Audio) - Thurston Moore ///// 1. Love - Sixpence None The Richer 2. Lullaby - Paradigm Shift 3. Trinity - Jennifer Knapp 4. Trouble In The Snow - , Cloud2Ground 5. Rottweiler - FROS'T 6. No Accident - Antidote 7. When All Around Has Fallen - Delirious 8. Thank God - Preacha 9. Time Travelling - Faith Massive 10. Mercy Streets , Audio EPK - Mercy Streets ST ///// 1. Smoker's Emporium - Buckwhead 2. Used To Be My Lover - The Black Pack 3. Sometimes - The Brand New Heavies 4. All My Love - Robin 5. , New World - Basscut 6. Say A Little Prayer - Aja 7. Jealousy - The Pharcyde 8. Saturday Nite - The Brand New Heavies 9. Millenium Jump - Omar Gosh 10. Observations - Masta Ace 11. Too , Many - Apocalypse 12. What's Up Fatlip? - Fatlip , and PRIME CUTS / MERCY STREETS SOUNDTRACK / BULLY SOUNDTRACK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000PSS8CY

Product Description

1. Intro - Kill The Bully (Movie Audio) - Thurston Moore. Thug Ass B*tch - Ghetto Inmates. Last Call - Ol' Dirty Bastard/Masta Fuol. Bottom Feeders - Smut Peddlers suicidal Failure - Cage 6. Blood On My Shirt (Movie Audio) - Thurston Moore 7. Who Dat - JT Money 8. Joy Ride - Bomber 9. We About To Get F**k Up - Dillinger/Young Gotti 10. Shut The F**k Up Donny (Movie Audio) - Thurston Moore 11. Latin Thug - Sen Dog 12. Bury The Evidence - Tricky 13. Jesus - Bizzy Bone 14. Unloved - Zoe Poledouris 15. Song For Shelter - Fatboy Slim 16. Outro - Get Your Story Together (Movie Audio) - Thurston Moore ///// 1. Love - Sixpence None The Richer 2. Lullaby - Paradigm Shift 3. Trinity - Jennifer Knapp 4. Trouble In The Snow - Cloud2Ground 5. Rottweiler - FROS'T 6. No Accident - Antidote 7. When All Around Has Fallen - Delirious 8. Thank God - Preacha 9. Time Travelling - Faith Massive 10. Mercy Streets Audio EPK - Mercy Streets ST ///// 1. Smoker's Emporium - Buckwhead 2. Used To Be My Lover - The Black Pack 3. Sometimes - The Brand New Heavies 4. All My Love - Robin 5. New World - Basscut 6. Say A Little Prayer - Aja 7. Jealousy - The Pharcyde 8. Saturday Nite - The Brand New Heavies 9. Millenium Jump - Omar Gosh 10. Observations - Masta Ace 11. Too Many - Apocalypse 12. What's Up Fatlip? - Fatlip

Average customer rating:

Steep price, long wait but worth it.

In My Prime, Vol. 2
Art Blakey
Manufacturer: Timeless
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005YWST
Release Date: 2002-03-27

Tracks:

No't So Far At All
Kamal
Ronnie's A Dynamite Lady
Say Doctor J"
Mishima
*
Stretching
Free For All

Customer Reviews:

Steep price, long wait but worth it........2006-11-19

I was able, finally, to score Vol. 1 on Ebay, then I waited several months for Vol. 2 to arrive after placing my order on Amazon--a 1978 session recorded in Holland and released only in Japan. It's a winner by the 1970's and Blakey's most underrated ensemble, featuring monster tenor solos by David Schnitter along with nearly equally impressive contributions by Bobby Watson, Valery Ponomarev, Curtis Fuller, and James Williams (I'd trade the trio of Watson, Ponomarev and Fuller for a single Bill Hardman, however). Highlights include the fresh, creative compositions and empathetic ensemble playing, especially on Schnitter's "Mishima" and the untouchable Walter Davis Jr.'s "Ronnie's a Dynamite Lady."

Average customer rating:

Invaluable

In My Prime
Art Blakey
Manufacturer: Absord
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005QYCZ
Release Date: 2001-11-29

Tracks:

Jodie
1978
To See Her Face
Life Every Voice And Sing
Howkman
People Who Laugh
Time Will Tell
Reflections In Blue

Customer Reviews:

Invaluable.......2007-01-22

Blakey's scarcest and in many respects most exciting group, the last to feature David Schnitter's tenor sax and Walter Davis Jr.'s incredible compositions. Look for both Parts I and II of this Dutch recording. Otherwise, if you can't find the single volume editions, this may have to do. At least it has the aria-like Davis tune, "Jody." Soon after this recording, the Marsalises held court in the Messengers groups, and the Blakey fire and magic was no longer there.

A couple of other Blakey essentials--"Backgammon" and "Gipsy Folk Tales"--have yet to be reissued on CD. Both are well worth hunting down in their original LP format (don't hold your breath for a digital version of either--if Van Gelder didn't record the session, it probably won't appear. Hence, the overkill with the Morgan-Shorter-Fuller groups and shameful scarcity of later Blakey editions with musicians like Schnitter, Bill Hardman, Mickey Tucker, Vladimir Ponomarev).