Hermit [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Hermit [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Track Listings

1. Hermit

2. Old Mac Bladgitt

3. Caroline's Tune Goat Island

4. Three Pieces Of O'caroline/Lamentation Of Owen Roe O'neil/Lord Inchiquin/Mrs Pow

5. Princess & The Puddings

6. Pavanna (Anna Bannana)

7. Toye For Two Lutes

8. Lord Willoughby's Welcome Home

9. John's Tune (Bonus Track)

10. Faro's Rag (Bonus Track)

11. Bicycle Tune (From U.S. Edition) (Bonus Track)

12. Wormwood Tangle (Bonus Track)

13. Light Traveller (Bonus Track)

14. Reflections (Bonus Track)

15. Introspection (Bonus Track)

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Remastered reissue of John Renbourn's first post-Pentangle solo album, originally issued in 1976, includes six bonus tracks, 'John's Tune', 'Faro's Rag', 'Wormwood Tangle', 'Light Traveller', 'Reflections', & 'Introspection'. Castle Music. 2004.

Tracks:

All the Children Sing
Can We Still Be Friends
Hurting For You
Too Far Gone
Onomatopoeia
Determination
Bread
Bag Lady
You Cried Wolf
Lucky Guy
Out Of Control
Fade Away

Customer Reviews:

A bell in your head will ring.......2007-03-26

This is one of my favorite Todd albums. Classic pop the way only Todd can do it. I've loved this album since way back when and many of the tunes have actually gotten better over time. Starting off with the classic All The Children Sing with it's upbeat melody and funny/cool lyrics which gives way to Todd's last "hit" Can We Still Be Friends. Hurting For You sounds rather like a radio staple but in a good way. Too Far Gone and Determination round out the first half in a big way. Bread starts off side two rocking big time. Bag Lady is a little weak although the "message" is important. You Cried Wolf and Out Of Control rock hard again. Lucky Guy and Fade Away are two of Todd's best ballads. The song listing on the original back album cover was the way Todd wanted the album released but the then label Bearsville had different ideas and with Todd's permission rearranged the playing order with Side One as the Easy Side(for radio play) and Side B as the Difficult Side. If you have the money, go for the Japan import.

Pop doesn't get better than this.......2007-01-26

If I could own only one of Todd's solo works (wouldn't that be tragic) this would be it. This breathtaking album highlights what Todd does best... sing and write great songs. He is my favorite vocalist because you can empathize with him and his passion, depth, and tone are out of this world. You can feel his sorrow when he sings a ballad, laugh during an eccentric number, or sing along on a pop or rock tune. He has a knack to draw you into and be part of the music.

On this release, Todd did all the vocals, instruments, production, and arranging. Usually something suffers when one individual tries to do it all but that's not the case here. A little over 35 minutes long, this disc has twelve catchy songs and zero filler. It's hard to believe this was recorded in 1978, but killer music has no expiration date and this still blows away most modern pop/rock groups. If you have never heard Todd, this would be a good choice to start your journey with one of America's most talented artists.

Classic Rundgren.......2005-07-09

Often innovative and acknowledged for pushing musical boundries Hermit of Mink Hollow showcases his music at its most accessible. It is also probably Rundgren's most commercially successful album. The haunting "Can We Still Be Friends?" and the optimistic emotionally powerful "All the Children Sing" are Rundgren classics. There is a cool quirkiness to "Onomatopoeia" and Rundgren tugs at the heart strings with "Hurting for You" and "Determination". A must for any music collection.

Sad pop.......2005-04-20

(4.5 Stars)

After a series of 'difficult' albums in "A Wizard, a True Star", "Todd", and "Initiation", Todd returns to writing pop songs on "The Hermit of Mink Hollow". Well, technically he returned to pop on Side 2 of "Faithful", but anyway..

"All the Children Sing" is cynical and pessimistic, but the sweeping pop chorus and upbeat tempo throughout hide it well.

"Can We Still Be Friends" is one of Todd's most recognized songs; a heartbroken pop ballad at its best. It's full of hooks, and culminates in a gospel-like outro. Perfection.

"Hurting For You" is another great pop ballad in which the melancholy tone of the song is overshadowed by how infectious it is. "Onamotapeta" is goofy fun; a much needed lighthearted moment.

"Determination" is a soulful, powerful pop/rock song, and "Too Far Gone" nicely straddles the line between quirky and deep. Yet another great pop ballad.

"Bread" and "Bag Lady" work side to side as serious pieces of social commentary about famine and homelessness. The former is more of a rocker while the latter is a piano ballad. In fact, "Bag Lady", in my opinion, is one of the finest songs Todd has written. Get the kleenex ready before you listen to it.

Highlights towards the end include the soul-blues-pop (?) of "You Cried Wolf", the blistering rocker "Out Of Control", and the majestic ballad "Fade Away", with its delicate synth washes and graceful tone.

"Hermit" is probably Todd's most ballad heavy album. It's very serious throughout, but the soul searching/melancholy feel throughout is easy to overlook at times due to the strong pop hooks he's crafted. A fantastic album.

I Forgot How Great This Album Is!!!.......2005-04-15

I first picked up this album when it came out on vinyl back in the Spring of 1978 and quickly wore my copy out. I hadn't listened to it in years and, after hearing some Todd on the radio, decided to order a copy of "Hermit" on CD. It still holds up as the best thing that he's ever done. This album jumps around various musical stylings but maintains the Rundgren signature sound on every song. From the Zen message of "All the Children Sing" to the heartbreak of "Can We Still Be Friends" to the child-like playfulness of "Onomatopoeia" to the social commentary of "Bag Lady" to the Motown groove of "You Cried Wolf" (you'd swear it was the Funk Brothers backing this song), to the final release provided by "Fade Away". This is an amazing collection of music and would definitely be placed in my all-time top ten. Buy it, listen, and enjoy!

Average customer rating:

a voice teacher and early music fan
An American Voice of the Century
An Essential Barber Disc
Price sings songs and arias written for her!!!
Fab voice, OK music

Leontyne Price Sings Barber

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Sopranos | Voices | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Price, Leontyne | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Barber: Knoxville Summer of 1915/Dover Beach/Hermit Songs/Adromache's Farewell
Leontyne Price: The Ultimate Collection
R. Strauss - Ariadne auf Naxos / Schwarzkopf · Seefried · Streich · Schock · Prey · PO · Karajan
Hermit Songs: High Voice
In Concert

ASIN: B000003FNF
Release Date: 1994-05-10

Tracks:

Hermit Songs, Op.29: At Saint Patrick's Purgatory
Hermit Songs, Op.29: Church Bell At Night
Hermit Songs, Op.29: Saint Ita's Vision
Hermit Songs, Op.29: The Heavenly Banquet
Hermit Songs, Op.29: The Crucifixion
Hermit Songs, Op.29: Sea-Snatch
Hermit Songs, Op.29: Promiscuity
Hermit Songs, Op.29: The Monk And His Cat
Hermit Songs, Op.29: The Praises Of God
Hermit Songs, Op.29: The Desire For Hermitage
Sleep Now, Op. 10, No. 2
The Daises, Op. 2, No. 1
Nocturne, Op. 13, No. 4
Nuvoletta, Op. 25
Knoxville: Summer Of 1915
Antony And Cleopatra: Give Me Some Music
Antony And Cleopatra: Give Me My Robe

Amazon.com

Early in her career, Leontyne Price formed an artistic liaison with Samuel Barber that resulted in his composing the female lead in Antony and Cleopatra for her. The disastrous premiere of that opera prevented Price from making a complete recording--a tragic loss in my opinion. She did record excerpts, however, and we at least have this disc to document these and the many other Barber works that she performed with incomparable artistry. Opera singing being what it is, Price didn't often have the chance to sing in English, so these performances are not only historically important, they are uniquely communicative as well. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2007-02-28

Samuel Barber(1910-1981), an American composer who studied piano, composition and singing at the prestigious Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, Pa. His works adhered largely to a lyrical, Romantic style within a loosely Classical framework. He left a rich legacy of more than 100 songs(only 37 published) and 3 operas in addition to many instrumental works...
Only a few of Barber's song texts come from American sources; more often he chose the work of Irish or English writers. He was drawn to 'Knoxville: Summer of 1915', a reflection of the American poet James Agee, because for him it vividly evoked his own childhood. With hints of blues and gently shifting rhythms, "Knoxville" is a mature expression of Barber's artistry as a musical poet and a master of orchestral color.
"The Hermit Songs" were first performed by Leontyne Price, soprano, with the composer at the piano at the Library of Congress, Washington,D.C..pn October 30, 1953. They are a setting of anonymous Irish texts of the eighth to thirteenth centuries written by monks and scholars. They are small poems,thoughts or observations, some very short, and speak in straightforward, droll, and often surprisingly modern terms of the simple life these men led, close to nature, to animals and to God.
I think a brief quote from one of my favorite of these Hermit songs sums up the kind of prose contained in most all of them: from 'The Monk and his Cat' :Pangur, white Pangur, How happy we are Alone together, Scholar and cat. Each has his own work to do daily; for you it is hunting, for me study......'
The music on this disc is well executed, and if you are a Barber advocate, it's a great collection of his song material. I happen to like MOST of his music, but it's for me a 'mood ' thing. He was born very close to where I live, so I guess I feel a kinship of sorts. I do think that he is one of the 'greats' in contemporary music!

An American Voice of the Century.......2005-10-09

While there is no question that Leontyne's opulent voice - here young and lustrous in the "Hermit Songs" recital (1953!) would have been a magnet for any composer, her affinity for Barber is clear, and his for her. The studio recording of the "Hermit Songs" has a better acoustic, but this one is just as thrilling in interpretation, and a bit less studied - and it has the two James Joyce settings, as well.
The "Knoxville" is beautifully judged - soft and swinging to start, then opening up into the drama and poetry of the middle and late sections. The Eleanor Steber original commission will always set the standard, but Price expands it that much farther, with longer phrases, and an ineffable langour that both she and Steber identified as the "Southern" stamp on this music. It's universal, as far as I am concerned, but it exalts and breaks the heart at the same time. Agee and Barber drink from the same fountain here.
I have never heard the entire "Anthony & Cleopatra", again written for Price, so I can't judge the work as a whole, just these two numbers. I have a special affection for the first scene, however - "Give Me Some Music" shows Price, in her absolute vocal prime, complete mistress of color and mood, and the motive, "My man of men" reappears in her final, regal, death scene. When she sings "O happy horse/ who bears the weight of Antony!" - I swear, my hair curls, no matter how many times I hear it.
In short, gotta have it.

An Essential Barber Disc.......2002-03-13

What a fabulous collection of music by Samuel Barber. Leontyne Price is at her absolute best in the songs. The entire Hermit Songs are here with four others. These recordings are of particular interest since Ms. Price performs with Samuel Barber at the piano. It is interesting to compare these recordings to the latter ones sung by Cheyrl Studer with John Browning at the piano for tempo changes.

The recording of Knoxville: Summer of 1915 is arguable the best of those available. Ms. Price sings with great sensitivity and Thomas Schippers and the New Philharmonia provide excellent support. Ms. Price said that Knoxville reminded her of her own childhood, and her commitment to the music comes through. I have the recording of Knoxville sung by Eleanor Steber, who commissioned this work, but I have always regarded the Price recording as the one to have.

The two excerpts from Antony and Cleopatra are of great interest since Ms. Price sang the role of Cleopatra at the premiere in 1966. Her performance here, also conducted by Schippers, is wonderful. The transfer to CD of these recordings is excellent. Perhaps the only down side is that the Hermit Songs were performed before an audience so there is applause between each song. After a while, this becomes monotonous. This disc is a must for anyone interested in Barber's music, and in particular for Knoxville.

Price sings songs and arias written for her!!!.......2001-12-05

This CD on which Leontyne Price memorializes many of the songs and arias composed by Sam Barber with her in mind should be in every collection of those who appreciate Barber's vocal music and the magnificent voice of one of the world's greatest singers of the 20th century. The collaboration of Barber and Price on the "Hermit Songs" and others reveals the composer's affection for the singer and the singer's understanding of the dramatic intent of the word and music. Alone, Price's interpretation of "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" is worth the price of the CD; it is singularly exquisite and cannot be matched! Price brings unmatched beauty, power, and understanding to the arias from "Anthony and Cleopatra" -- an opera composed with her voice in mind. It is indeed sad that Price never recorded "Vanessa," nor the song cycle "Despite and Still," nor the hauntingly beautiful "Sure on this Shining Night." You will not be disappointed if you buy this CD.

Fab voice, OK music.......2001-08-07

What is it that everyone seems to adore about Samuel Barber's music for voice. The man clearly wrote some absolutely divine orchestral pieces, there's no disputing that. But his vocal work seems to be lackluster. Hermit Songs is an example of modern classical music at it's worst. Disjointed, unmelodic, and difficult to follow. Price who's diction is fabulous on the later Knoxville piece is mushy durin the Hermit Songs, her voice is young and fresh, but not particularly glorious. She does deserve praise however for her promotion of American Music

Knoxville 1915 is a much better piece than Hermit songs and has more lyrical moments, but it still sounds so modern. If it has just been an orchestral piece it might've been fabulous but that is unfortunately not the case. It's almost as if Barber wrote a piece for orchestra and wrote a seperate piece for voice and just joined them, whether they made sense together or not. Unlike Hermit Songs, Price's performance more than makes up for the lack of brilliance in the music. Her diction is amazingly clear, even Callas would be jealous and her voice soars, where the music allows her to at least.

Tracks:

Cu Chullain
The Eternal Knot
Palace Of The Crystal Bridge
The Wooing Of Etain
King Of The Sacred Grove
Saint Declan's Drone
Salm O 'Dewi Sant'
Connla's Well
The Dagda
Children Of Dannu
Ceridwen's Curse
Hermit Of The Sea Rock
Isle Of The Mystic Lake
Math Was A Wizard

Amazon.com

When British composer Karl Jenkins launched Adiemus with the Songs of Sanctuary album in 1995, it was a fresh and exhilarating take on global music. Jenkins used choral vocals similar to Enya's, but spiked with a language of the imagination (merging African and Latin phonemes) and stoked by Jenkins's pastoral arrangements. Never wholly original--Lisa Gerrard and Elizabeth Fraser had already worked out fantasy vocal designs and the 1960s African mass "Missa Luba" effected a similar choral/African/Latin sound--Adiemus nevertheless found a new take on English composers' penchant for choirs. However, after six years and four albums mining this vein, Jenkins's sound rings more hollow with each recording.

The Eternal Knot is drawn from Jenkins's soundtrack to a BBC documentary called The Celts. You might recall that Enya also evolved her sound in the late 1980s doing a soundtrack for another documentary called The Celts. Taking his titles from the Celtic legends that populate the documentary, Jenkins orchestrates cinematic landscapes full of swelling crescendos and dynamic cadences. Less oppressive than the heavily orchestrated Adiemus II, The Eternal Knot still wears thin. He casts Miriam Stockley's voice into a boys-choir register, turning her staccato phonemes into incessant prattle. But when she's in her warmer middle range, her layered voice is enveloping. Despite the theme of the album, Celtic music is only used as an occasional touchstone, with uilleann piper Davy Spillane, a few bodhran-style percussion grooves, and harpist Catrin Finch providing some relief from Jenkins's string-laden classical pretensions. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

Adiemus IV.......2007-05-07

This is another celtic cd which stirs the blood to your core. It has great melodies and wonderful arrangements to compliment the vocals. I will look forward to purchasing more of Adiemus in the future.

whaaaaaat?????.......2007-01-06

that was the first thing that popped into my head when i heard this album. i loved `songs of sanctuary' and was heartily disappointed not to also love this album. while it is obvious that the music is celtic-inspired, it is *only* the music that is so. the vocals seem to float along on their own with no relevance to the instrumentals beneath them. the language, which is the same play-language as `sanctuary', is blatantly out of place here. while with `sanctuary', despite the make-believe quality of the words, the quality of the vocal sound was instantly recognizable as south african. but those nasal tones and front-of-the-mask, brassy notes don't translate well to a celtic sound. (in fact, the whole album sounds like a clash of two cultures. as if a south african choir accidentally got routed to the shannon airport and collided with the chieftans.) on the whole, a disappointing album. if you want celtic music, buy a putumayo collection or *anything* by narada, clannad, celtic woman, etc. don't buy this album.

Good...Although two of the Songs are on my Ipod..........2006-01-24

My favorite songs are "Cu Chullain" and "Math was a Wizard". Cu Chullain is a good song for a ballet performance.

By the way, I own these two songs on my Ipod!

Meghan :)

New Age with an eclectic blend of styles from across the musical map!.......2005-11-23

Some earlier reviewers would suggest that this isn't up to the standards that Karl Jenkins achieved in some of his earlier output. I couldn't respond to that because this is the first Adiemus recording I've ever heard and, frankly, I loved every second of it. I'm thrilled that other listeners think the earlier recordings are better because I've now got something to really look forward to.

For me this recording evinced a blend of emotional responses - quiet contemplation, relaxation, toe-tapping, a satisfied smile, that whole body moving response to a driving rhythm and a joyful sense of participation in an all-encompassing musical experience. The recording is an eclectic blend of styles that cover an enormous range - Celtic rhythms and fiddling tunes in the style of River Dance; hard rock and steady beats that took a page out of Enigma's play book; a beautifully blended chorus of female voices that might well have included Enya, Diane Arkenstone and Loreena McKennitt; orchestral backgrounds that ranged from lush full orchestral accompaniment to pizzicato violin arpeggios that would have done Tchaikovsky proud in The Nutcracker; simple but effective, pleasing blues style acoustic guitar; full-bodied high speed choral sections that might have been penned by Karl Orff as part of the unforgettable Carmina Burana; and, a very effective seven beat piece that reminded me of the rhythms of Dave Brubeck's Unsquare Square Dance or Moe Kaufman's Swingin' Shepherd Blues!

Well, to each their own I suppose. It's certainly possible that this CD suffered by comparison to the quality of his other works but as a first time listener, I've got nothing but praise for it!

Paul Weiss

Unimaginative.......2004-06-14

Unlike 'Songs of Sanctuary', this album lacks imagination and invention. It comes across as somewhat monotonous and overly 'camp'.

Cu Chulain is a reasonable start but even there the urgent contribution by the violins comes too early, and by the end of the 'song', the concept becomes tiresome. The title track seems to be depicting something monumental in its climatic outbursts but if so, the effect is more visual (the documentary itself) than aural. It's odd how there is apparently no language used here yet 'Palace of the Crystal Bridge' manages to sound like some clueless surfer-girl taking herself way too seriously.

'The Wooing of Etain' is a beautiful instrumental and one of the very few pieces on the album that is thought-provoking, as is 'King of the Sacred Grove' (which is mellow and sounds suitably regal)....this is more of what I've come to expect/appreciate in Jenkins. Even so, he could have done more to build a climax towards the end of this, the third longest piece on the album.

'Songs' such as 'The Dagda' would be interesting diversions/fillers for the album if it wasn't for the synthesized, mass-product result of the album overall. Less 'ethnic-sounding' and more towards 'tacky' (e.g., the duo separated by 1 octave sung in unison at the end of 'Hermit of the Sea Rock'), this isn't as moving an experience as some would laud it to be.

Uncool
Average customer rating:

Best rock album of 2001

An amazing journey (taken from review at cdbaby.com)

Uncool
Bumblefoot
Manufacturer: hermit inc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hands

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Forgotten Anthology

Freak Guitar

ASIN: B000062TTR
Release Date: 2002-02-01

Tracks:

BBF Takes the Mic
Go
T-Jonez
My World Is You
Dominated
Kiss the Ring
What's New, Pussycat?
I Hate Me More Than I Love You
Delilah
Ronald's Comin' Back Now
BBF says goodnight
Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You

Album Description

Quirky and experimental hard-rock mixed with 70's lounge, flavored with innovative fretless-guitar and synth-guitar. Picture an urban metal band getting unruly at a karaoke bar, or Tom Jones singing with Mr. Bungle - that's Bumblefoot's "Uncool" CD. Riding the fence between romantic and hostile, classy and profane, like a musical take-off from the script of a future Austin Powers film. Intense yet lighthearted, entertaining with a hint of bottled-up anger, a fragile balance on the verge of exploding. Often labeled "the Frank Zappa of the New Millennium", take a listen to Bumblefoot and see why...

Customer Reviews:

Best rock album of 2001.......2003-02-16

Ronald Thal is up there with the best guitarists around, has a voice that can do just about anything, writes great melodies, songs and lyrics AND is a humble, kind fellow with heart. Where is this guys Grammy dammit, and why isn't the record label promoting the hell out of this re-release ? I want to hear these songs on the radio ! I discovered Ron by downloading almost all of his back catalogue on MP3, having never heard of him before that - it was a goldmine of gigantic proportions let me tell you and it all blew me away! He is now my favourite musician, next to Mike Patton and Victor Wooten :) And like these two guys, he doesn't give a rats about monetary success or glory, he just wants to do his art and ya gotta respect that.

An amazing journey (taken from review at cdbaby.com).......2002-05-11

(taken from review at cdbaby.com) My favorite movies are the ones you can watch 10 times and discover new subtleties every time you watch them again. That's what this CD is like. It's like listening to a gig of Tony Clifton (comedian Andy Kaufman's alter-ego) with a metal band behind him. What really killed me is the last song, unlisted in the CD credits, it's a half-hour long with a repeating groove, where Bumblefoot does a vocal duet with a trombone and ocassionally goes off on spontaneous rants. Probably the only 30-minute song I'll ever be able to listen to in full. I guess this can be considered a concept album, but not in the sci-fi way you commonly see. And the 2 live-sounding segues are so funny! Imagine the worst frontman in a wedding band saying all the wrong things in an attempt to be sincere. There's still alot of trademark crazy Bumblefoot guitarwork on the cd, but mostly with a guitar-synth creating the illusion of an amazing flutist, pianist, or horn player. Definitely a unique album for any record collection, and one of those albums that gives you a sudden unexplainable "need" to go on a binge listening to it for 3 days straight and re-discovering it every few months...

Average customer rating:

Hands is awesome !!
Tasty guitar liquore
I Agree - The Best, Indeed.
The Best

Hands
Bumblefoot
Manufacturer: hermit inc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

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Forgotten Anthology
Freak Guitar: The Road Less Traveled

ASIN: B00000G4DI
Release Date: 1998-06-01

Tracks:

Hands
Swatting Flies
What I Knew
Shrunk
Dummy
Chair Ass
Noseplugs
Vomit
Brooklyn Steakhouse
Drunk
Backfur
Tuesday In Nancy
Dirty Pant'loons

Album Description

Hands, the third release from Ron Thal, debuts his rap metal band Bumblefoot. A twisted mix of humor and angst - you won't be disappointed!

Customer Reviews:

Hands is awesome !!.......2005-08-16

well i'm a big fan of bumblefoot since longtime ago..i always keep up with his works until now.
each album has their own story,sound,and concepts as a solid idea.
if you really get into the guitar..this album is a good start to understand a music more open minded,
especially from guitarist point of view(various style rock,metal,hip hop,jazz.pop.etc).
Ron Thal is genius!!!
visit his site www.bumblefoot.com and join the family

Ponch

P.S : you know when i met bumblefoot in personally..it's amazing to found out
that a guitar hero like himself has great personality too.he is generous and humble person i ever met.
and there's no fake..he's modern guitar hero.

Tasty guitar liquore.......2003-03-12

Ron Thal of Bumblefoot fame is quite simply an amazing musician and individual. If you are a fan of amazing guitar playing in the context of a good song, then buy as much Bumblefoot as you can get your hands on. All of his work is a finely aged guitar liquore. Besides being one of the greatest musicians I have ever seen, he is also one of the nicest, most down to earth individuals there is.

I Agree - The Best, Indeed........2000-07-10

If you listen to this disk, and all other Ron Thal records, you will be treated with insanely creative compositions, brilliant lead guitar work, melodious vocals, cleverly rich arrangements and witty and thoughtful lyrics. This album is very sophisticated and there are many little musical treats that you will discover along the way if you listen to it over and over and over again. Like I have. In your musical journey riding the bumbelfoot beast you will encounter: really cool background vocal tracks.. one on top of the other sung by the Thalster himself... melodic and atypical musical lines with odd rythms and pitches.. which are truly unique.. and when listened to as a whole are quite beautiful. I could go on and on. In short, if you would like to listen to a genius at work - buy the frickin album.

The Best.......1999-10-13

Bumblefoot's "HANDS" Cd is one of the best music skeets I've ever put into my player. If you like quirky humor with groove, then get this one. This makes my insides numb.

Barber: Knoxville Summer of 1915/Dover Beach/Hermit Songs/Adromache's Farewell

Average customer rating:

Real close but not quite.......
But Fischer-Dieskau sings "French toast"!
Rocking gently, talking gently
Essential!
Lyrical performances

Barber: Knoxville Summer of 1915/Dover Beach/Hermit Songs/Adromache's Farewell

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Price, Leontyne | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Leontyne Price Sings Barber
Barber: Adagio for Strings; Violin Concerto; Orchestral & Chamber Works
Knoxville Summer of 1915
Barber - Vanessa / Steber · Gedda · Elias · Tozzi · Resnik · MET · Mitropoulos
Charles Griffes: The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan/The White Peacock/Three Poems of Fiona McLeod

ASIN: B0000027CU
Release Date: 1992-07-28

Tracks:

Knoxville: Summer Of 1915, Op. 24
Dover Beach, Op. 3
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: I. At Saint Patrick's Purgatory
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: II. Church Bell At Night
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: III. St. Ita's Vision
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: IV. The Heavenly Banquet
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: V. The Crucifixion
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: VI. Sea-snatch
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: VII. Promiscuity
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: VIII. The Monk And His Cat
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: IX. The Praises of God
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: X. The Desire For Hermitage
Andromache's Farewell, Op. 39

Customer Reviews:

Real close but not quite..............2001-01-08

My first experience with Barber was Price's recording of "Knoxville", and it will always remain, for me, the definitive recording of that work. The version here is certainly good, but it misses the lyrical charm that Price brings to the piece. As far as I know, the Price version is out of print (along with, to my horror, her amazing work on Antony and Cleopatra, Barber's woefully underrated opera), but if you ever get the chance, track it down.

But Fischer-Dieskau sings "French toast"!.......2000-03-24

These are all essential recordings, of course, for the reasons other reviewers mention. I'll simply point out that this recording of Dover Beach (also available in other issues) with the Juilliard and F-D is the notorious one where he gets the words wrong. Instead of singing, "On the French coast the light gleams and is gone..." he gives it as "...French toast..." Of course, he delivers this beautifully.

Rocking gently, talking gently.......2000-03-04

Essential Barber. Steber's "Knoxville" is the earliest recording. She commissioned it, if I'm not mistaken. Her feeling for the text, her phrasing of it is remarkable. Her diction is perfect. The rest of this collection is an American treasure. Too bad it doesn't include Samuel Barber's recording of himself singing "Dover Beach", but barring that DFD's is the best on records. Leontyne Price's "Hermit Songs" are the classic recording. How could you go wrong?

Essential!.......1999-12-09

This fabulous collection is required listening for anyone who loves Barber's music and/or great singing. Naturally Leontyne Price is wonderful in the HERMIT SONGS, likewise Fischer-Dieskau in Dover Beach -- but don't overlook Steber's historic performance of KNOXVILLE, which she commissioned, nor Arroyo's dramatic tour-de-force in the powerful ANDROMACHE'S FAREWELL, a late work. The Samuel Barber Foundation website (samuelbarber.org) will soon be operating with news/reviews of new & reissued recordings of Barber's work.

Lyrical performances.......1999-07-16

This is a delightful recording! First, "Knoxville"'s lyrics are from "A Death In The Family", by James Agee -- one of the most evocative prose writers. Second, Barber's composition is wonderfully sympathetic with Agee's lyrics. Third, Ms Steber's dynamic voice alternately stands out from the orchestra, then melds into it, as the focus of the lyrics changes. (Listen to the way that the line "Now is the night one blue dew." flows from her voice to the woodwinds: dreamy.) The flip side is equally delightful, and on the whole probably a bit more light hearted (if not as introspective) as the first. I especially love the song "A Monk And His Cat": thanks to the magic of Mr. Barber and Ms. Price, a 12th(?) century monk, obviously besotted by his cat, speaks clearly to us all these centuries later. . . .and isn't it wonderful to hear the composer himself accompany Ms. Price? You will love this CD. (Report back here, if you're not satisfied.)

Average customer rating:

Truly lovely
Brilliant!
Not worth the money!
A Beautiful Voice
Buy!

Twilight and Innocence

Manufacturer: Arabesque Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Gifts of Christmas

ASIN: B00000B9O1
Release Date: 1998-09-15

Tracks:

Der Engel
Ich atmet' einen linden Duft
Auf Flugen des Gesanges
Oh, quand je dors
Le Bonheur est Chose legere
En Priere
Chere Nuit
Mondnacht
Wiegenlied
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St. Ita's Vision
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The Little Horses

Amazon.com

Metropolitan Opera soprano Heidi Grant Murphy and her husband, the pianist and conductor Kevin Murphy (also of the Met), conceived the concept for this recording with guidance from their friend and Met colleague, Ken Noda. The intent was to convey a feeling of infinite tranquillity, reverie, dreaminess, and tenderness. Though the disk's packaging--including its title--may strike some as slightly drippy, the recording deserves high praise on musical grounds. The selection of repertoire is excellent, and as a result, the disk's overall feeling is one of serene continuity. As interpreter, Heidi Grant Murphy brings out the many subtly-shaded moods in this music, and her voice is stunning without calling undue attention to itself. It is by turns quiet, close, tender, and yielding. It's a special disk to have. --Gwendolyn Freed

Customer Reviews:

Truly lovely.......2006-08-23

Ms. Grant Murphy has an exquisitely tuned and toned soprano, and her husband, Mr. Murphy, accompanies and supports with great delicacy and musicality. The selections are wide-ranging and eclectic, and I found most of the disc utterly entrancing. Heidi Grant Murphy's voice is clear, high, pure and uniquely beautiful in timbre. I had the great pleasure of hearing her live in concert in 2005 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood, in Mahler, and on the strength of that decided to purchase this CD. If pressed to find what I considered to be a weak spot, I would have to say that I did not find Ms. Grant Murphy's voice particularly suited to "O quand je dors", although the duo performance of that song was as thoroughly musically informed and well-conceived as any of the other selections included. I think this is quite a remarkable collection and I would definitely recommend it to lovers of art song.

Brilliant!.......2003-12-30

Seems like Laura, who gave a terrible review, is a bit jealous! She must have been competing with Heidi and was not picked. It is obvious she is terribly resentful of Heidi's beautiful voice and talent. Heidi's voice is angelic and peaceful. I highly reccommend all of her CD's. Her husband Kevin and she make a great pair and their talents are amazing! Keep them coming Heidi. As for you Laura, keep trying. Besides the attitude and resntment, you must not have the talent you thought you possessed.

Not worth the money!.......2000-11-26

Looking at the high praise this mediocre recording receives in the other reviews, I'm wondering whether I listened to the same one. I bought this recording with high hopes, but having never listened to her voice - I regret it. The material she performs is good (if somewhat standard), but her voice is really...weird. It has a Beverly Sills (past the golden years) wobble in it that she seems to think is a healthy vibrato. I know she was pulled out of Indiana U early for a Met contract, and I think they did her a disservice - her technique is horrible. She does have good control of her pianissimi, but as a whole, the recording is most disappointing. In the Rach, her fortes are frighteningly bad, almost embarassing. How does this woman sing at the met?

A Beautiful Voice.......2000-02-25

Heidi Garant Murphy is an exceptional singer. The magical tone of her voice is matched by intelligent musicianship. I recently (Feb 10) saw her as Sophie in Der Rosenkvalier at the Met. A wonderful performance, in which she was clearly the interpreter closest to what I think Strauss had in mind. She also had the most beautiful voice (although Fleming was also in excellent voice) This disc is another wonderful example or her singing. Kevin Murphy, who is her husband, provides a sensitive piano accompaniment. This disk is not background music. The sensitive interpretations require your complete attention to be appreciated.

Buy!.......2000-02-15

Judging from most reviews in the classical genre, I am not qualified to evaluate Twilight & Innocence for its technical merits, but let me say that Heidi Grant Murphy has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard. The selections, and lovely piano accompaniment are a perfect showcase for her talent. I've worn out my repeat button on V'adoro, pupille...heidi and kevin, encore!

Complete Songs of Samuel Barber ~ Secrets of the Old / Studer, Hampson, Browning, Emerson String Quartet

Average customer rating:

Absolutely fantastic, but...
Well,its about time!
The best song-CD EVER released! etc.
A Complete Joy

Complete Songs of Samuel Barber ~ Secrets of the Old / Studer, Hampson, Browning, Emerson String Quartet

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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American Classics: Barber: COMPLETE PUBLISHED SOLO PIANO MUSIC

ASIN: B000001GH2
Release Date: 1994-04-12

Tracks:

Secrets Of The Old: A Slumber Song Of The Madonna - Moderato
Secrets Of The Old: There's Nae Lark - Moderato
Secrets Of The Old: Love At The Door - Allegro
Secrets Of The Old: Sereandes - Andante con moto
Secrets Of The Old: Love's Caution (Moderato)
Secrets Of The Old: Night Wanderers (Without Tempo Indication)
Secrets Of The Old: Of That So Sweet Imprisonment - Con moto
Secrets Of The Old: Strings In The Earth And Air - Moderato
Secrets Of The Old: Beggar's Song - Andante - Allegro moderato
Secrets Of The Old: In The Dark Pinewood
Three Songs, Op. 2: 1. The Daisies: Allegretto con grazie
Three Songs, Op. 2: 2. With Rue My Heart Is Laden: Andante cantabile
Three Songs, Op. 2: 3. Bessie Bobtail: Andante, un poco mosso - Adagio
Three Songs, Op. 10: 1. Rain Has Fallen: Moderato
Three Songs, Op. 10: 2. Sleep Now: Andante tranquillo
Three Songs, Op. 10: 3. I Hear An Army: Allegro con fuoco
Four Songs, Op. 13: 1. A Nun Takes The Veil: Broad And Sustained, In Exact Rhythm
Four Songs, Op. 13: 2. The Secrets Of The Old: Allegro giocoso
Four Songs, Op. 13: 3. Sure On This Shining Night: Andante
Four Songs, Op. 13: 4. Nocturne: Andante, un poco mosso
Four Songs, Op. 13: Dover Beach, Op. 3: Andante, un poco mosso

Tracks:

Two Songs, Op. 18: 1. The Queen's Face On The Summery Coin: Andante con moto
Two Songs, Op. 18: 2. Monks And Raisins: Allegro
Secrets Of The Old: Nuvoletta Op. 25: Allegretto
Melodies Passageres, Op. 27: 1. Puisque tout passe: Moderato
Melodies Passageres, Op. 27: 2. Un cygne: Moderato
Melodies Passageres, Op. 27: 3. Tombeau dans un parc: Lento e sereno
Melodies Passageres, Op. 27: 4. Le clocher chante: Non troppo allegro
Melodies Passageres, Op. 27: 5. Depart
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 1. At Saint Patrick's Purgatory: Allegretto, In Steady Rhythm
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 2. Church Bell At Night: Molto adagio
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 3. St. Ita's Vision: Recit. - Andante con moto
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 4. The Heavenly Banquet: Lively, With Good Humor
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 5. The Crucifixion: Moderato
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 6. Sea-Snatch: Allegro con fuoco, surging
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 7. Promiscuity: Sostenuto - Allegro moderato - Sostenuto
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 8. The Monk And His Cat - Moderato, Flowing
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 9. The Praises Of God - Un poco allegro
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 10. The Desire For Hermitage: Calmo e sostenuto
Despite And Still, Op. 41: 1. A Last Song: Moderato
Despite And Still, Op. 41: 2. My Lizard: Fast And Light
Despite And Still, Op. 41: 3. In The Wilderness: Flowing
Despite And Still, Op. 41: 4. Solitary Hotel: Like A Rather Fast Tango In 2
Despite And Still, Op. 41: 5. Despite And Still: Fast And Darkly Impassioned
Three Songs, Op. 45: 1. Now Have I Fed And Eaten Up The Rose: Moderato
Three Songs, Op. 45: 2. A Green Lowland Of Pianos: Allegretto con grazia
Three Songs, Op. 45: 3. O Boundless, Boundless Evening: Tranquillo, un poco mosso

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely fantastic, but..........2005-06-10

Though being a professional singer, I've only recently discovered Samuel Barber's songs. I'm glad I did it, because Barber wrote some of the most beautiful art-songs I've ever heard in my life. From the earliest to the latest song, it's all pure quality, with few - if any - exceptions.
This recording is a great acquisition, not only for the fact that it includes *all* the songs Barber wrote, but also for Thomas Hampson's magnificent and moving performance.
Unfortunately, the female singer (Cheryl Studer) almost manages to completely spoil this pleasant experience: her artificial, dull, often-completely-out-of-tune (?) singing is the reason for my 4 out of 5 rating. Otherwise, it would definitely be a five star recording.

Well,its about time!.......2002-04-05

Finaly,a compleat edition of these wonderfull songs by this wonderfull and sadly underrated composer.
The songs are varied and span the composers entire creative years.
They range from the romantic,child-like youth compositions(the daisies)threu his almost brahms sounding period( sleep now,nocturn,sure on this shining night)to his tragic,disenchanted
older years.
The hermit songs&the French ones are a particular delight.We all know just how wonderfull Hampson is ,but Studer is also fine & pure sounding-A total joy!

The best song-CD EVER released! etc........2000-04-16

I'm not even kidding. This really is the best song-CD ever released. Don't laugh until you hear it... then you'll see for yourself. Where to begin! Barber-- his orchestral works are great for the most part, the Knoxville setting for Orchestra and soprano is mediocre, the piano sonata is also great BUT: the heart of this composer is in his songs. And here they ALL are, including the 10 unpublished songs from his youth. There's Nae Lark is one of only three songs I've ever heard that made me burst into tears on FIRST listening... Barber was around 17 when he wrote it! Bessy Bobtail could make a person drop dead in the right mood. The Joyce settings are so true to the poet's intentions! And the final 3 songs...especially A Green Lowland of Pianos show that Barber NEVER EVER lost his musical voice and razor-sharp talent. This compilation also includes the sincere and depressing On Dover Beach setting-- few if any composers besides Barber have ever managed a successful setting of Arnold's multilayered poem. OK... what if you don't like Thomas Hampson... I know there are some out there who think he's an odd singer... too much rubato, too much bravura? I promise you, you'll like him here, you may even grow to love the guy... if Hampson's ever been sincere and if there's ever been a composer whose music is well suited to his voice, it's Barber...guaranteed. I think this compilation also proves (ok, arguably, I'll admit) that complex tonal song settings pose many more compositional challenges than any of the atonal song-music produced in this century. I can't think of any atonal composer outside of Webern who could shake a stick at the harmonic ingenuity of Barber here. (Just so lightning doesn't strike me... Sir Michael Tippett is also a fine song composer, but he's NEVER been atonal, just EXTENDED tonal.) Barber, Barber, Barber... buy this now. These songs are so powerful that I can remember as vividly as yesterday exactly where and when I first heard every one of these songs and what I was feeling... they quite literally imprinted themselves in my mind. Don't cheat yourself out of this experience... buy this now!

A Complete Joy.......1999-12-01

When I bought this record I had not heard any of the Barber songs before, but what a pleasant surprise they proved to be. These are beautiful romantic songs, and Studer and Hampson perform them very well. The recording sound is also very good. Warmly recommended.

Average customer rating:

911-changes my life-
Another amazing album from Bumblefoot
OUCHIE OUCHIE
Eclectic & experimental Bumblefoot

9.11
Bumblefoot
Manufacturer: hermit inc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Freak Guitar: The Road Less Traveled

ASIN: B00005TNSM
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

Fly In the Batter
Lost
Raygun
Hole In the Sky
Children Of Sierra Leone
Don Pardo Pimpwagon
Legend Of Van Cleef
Guitars SUCK
Hall Of Souls
Top Of the World
R2
Time

Album Description

Quirky guitar-oriented hard rock crossing with varying styles - half-instrumental/half-vocal, innovative fretless guitar sounds, somewhere between Hendrix, Chili Peppers and Mr. Bungle.

100% OF BUMBLEFOOT'S PROFITS FROM THIS CD ARE BEING DONATED TO DISASTER RELIEF.

Customer Reviews:

911-changes my life-.......2005-08-17

This album is not just an ordinary album..
in this special CD you will travel to
bumblefoot's land, where there's no limit of expectation and
always took me by surprise.
my fav track is TIME..very deep lyrics and cool music.
Track called Legend of Van Cleef..it shows
Ron's ability in compossing or you may say the orchestration.
in Don Pardo Pimpwagon,there's a guest solo by
Mattias IA eklundh (freak kitchen)..which is his
lost brother from Sweden :)..another guitar God.
so please grab this CD, and see yourself...
we all need ..AUFKLARUNG..enlightment..
Ron changes my life!!

Another amazing album from Bumblefoot.......2004-08-23

Bumblefoot does it again with another amazing album showcasing his creative composing, arranging, singing and shredding skills. This album is noteworthy for an abundance of fretless guitar thereby furthering the amazingly wide variety of sounds Bumbelfoot is able to generate on his axe. There is also an excellent guest solo by Mattias Eklundh.

OUCHIE OUCHIE.......2003-07-16

This CD is tooooo Good it defies logic how someone can be this good at guitar and this creative. WAY! beyond what vai is doing or has done check it out! anyone who loves Guitar or just loves inventive music will go bonkers! his voice has incredible range and dynamics, making this more then just instrumental "shred" record.. really look at u. ur still reading this check it out! HAHAHA

Eclectic & experimental Bumblefoot.......2001-11-24

Once again, mister Bumblefoot (formerly known as Ron Thal :) surprises us with this half-instrumental, half-sang CD.

Wether you already know Bumblefoot or you just love music when it is composed and performed with heart and soul, just buy it and be prepared to experience a musical trip that will cross all boundaries!

PS: sorry for the poor english, I'm french...

Radio Pyongyang: Commie Funk and Agit Pop from the Hermit Kingdom
Average customer rating:

Chilling

Tasteless by American standards, but catchy

Radio Pyongyang

Radio Pyongyang: Commie Funk and Agit Pop from the Hermit Kingdom
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Sublime Frequencies
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music
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Lyric DVD Magazine

ASIN: B000AOENGS
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Tracks:

Motherland Megamix
New Model Army
Numbers Game
Pride of the Nation
Start 'Em Young
Arirang
Commie Funk?
Motherland Redux

Customer Reviews:

Chilling.......2006-12-23

Wow.. what a CD. For anyone curious about North Korea, this is an amazing collection of music. It is beautiful and I think it is going to haunt me for a long time. There isn't really all that much information out there about what life is really like in North Korea - but this CD definitely gives an insight. The tunes are scarily enrapturing, the music both uplifting and depressing at the same time. It has a definite dictatorship feel to it.. I completely recommend this, it is a fascinating listen that will stay with me. The style of the CD is nice too, the radio format makes it feel even more real, as if you are truly listening to a broadcast. It is definitely pleasant on the ears, even if it sends chills down my spine. A very unique look at North Korea, that's for sure.

Tasteless by American standards, but catchy.......2006-12-09

I played this for a friend of mine at work, and he noted the striking disco beats and synthesizers. The album is full of them. It's heavy on the Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble, whose name alone should tell you what you are in for listening to this. But they are catchy tunes ("Reunification Rainbow", the song at the start of "New Model Army", has invaded my brain and is trying to send other parts of my brain to labor camps), and you can't get more north Korean without an accordion. Cheesy disco beats under huge choruses, sounds of gunfire, and English and Korean language excerpts of propaganda broadcasts. If you like eclectic music, this may just be for you.

Radio Pyongyang.......2005-11-29

This album strikes a resonant chord in all thoses possessing a "correct" revolutionary fervor. There is not leftist deviation here or sappy "rightest" moralizing.
We were particularly fond of the resonant sounds of AK 47's and light artillery in the first track. This was only matched by the gripping sounds of the Stalinist peon to revolution the harmonies of 40 thousand Koreans singing stalinist praises raises the hair on one's head. We were somewhat put off by the chipmunk like voices on track 5 called Start em young, but we were consoled by the fact that the revolution is in safe hands. One only hopes the American left adopts this album as a Christmas present as its revolutionary fervor is unsurpassed. One need not understand a word to get the message. We can only hope the rest of the world agrees....up the revolution!! Harry + Charnie Batchelder

Music Review:

Music Review

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