Take A Chance

Take A Chance

Track Listings

1. Home is Where the Heart is

2. Here Among the Stars

3. These Fingers

4. Fishin' the Day Away

5. Everything is Allright

6. Take A Chance

7. When I was Kind

8. Love is All There Can Be

9. Blue Ridge Waves

10. My Flag, Your Flag

11. As One

12. The World's Changing

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Tom Hansen has been an educator and worker for peace for 35 years. He began a mathematics teaching career in 1964 as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Liberia, West Africa. He has mostly been an educational mathematics author and researcher since that time, and worked for peace "on the side." He has a Ph.D. in education.

Tom founded a peace exchange with Russia in the 1980's and led several citizen exhanges between Russia and the U.S. He has used music as a way of building bridges between diverse cultures, and of helping people to see the goodness within themselves and others. He has also served as a non-governmental representative at United Nations conferences dealing with environmental and peace issues.

Tom lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Product Description
Take A Chance contains 12 folk songs written and performed by Tom Hansen. Tom plays acoustic guitar on all the songs.

The basic theme of the songs is that we can "take a chance" and trust that this world can be a place of peace. Tom sings about the love that is the core of each person, regardless of what our life experiences might tell us. He believes that music shapes society, rather than that society shapes music. The purpose of his music is to help shape a peaceful society, where each person is recognized as being "love in action."

Tracks:

Overture/Prologue
Honey, Honey
Money, Money, Money
Thank You For The Music
Mamma Mia
Chiquitita
Dancing Queen
Lay All Your Love On Me
Super Trouper
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
The Name Of The Game
Voulez-Vous
Entr'acte
Under Attack
One Of Us
S.O.S.
Does Your Mother Know
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Our Last Summer
Slipping Through My Fingers
The Winner Takes It All
Take A Chance On Me
I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
I Have A Dream

Amazon.com

Put together by Abba's own Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! manages to cram over 20 of the Swedish supergroup's songs into a threadbare plot. It goes a little like this: Young Sophie is getting married and she's trying to identify which of three men is her father. That's about it. Wisely, the musical doesn't mess around with the songs, save for the insertion of some dialogue or for having some of them performed by a man (it works amazingly well). Abba fans will jump on this import of the London production, but traditional fans of musical theater should consider it as well. After all, Andersson and Ulvaeus's songs have always felt as if they were more than isolated pop gems and actually belonged to a longer narrative. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Mamma Mia.......2007-03-22

I have not stopped playing this cd. It is just great! It makes any trip in my car most enjoyable Happy I bought it!

Mamma Mia Musical CD.......2007-03-21

This is a grand list of songs from the original musical when it was first introduced in England. The songs from ABBA are very recognizable even if you haven't seen the show. But, making a trip to NY to see the Broadway production is a plus. ENJOY!

JUST GREAT MUSIC.......2007-03-08

I RECENTLY SAW THE SHOW MAMMA MIA IN LAS VEGAS. ALWAYS LIKES THE MUSIC OF ABBA, AND THOUGH THE PLOT WAS THIN, THE MUSIC WAS WELL PERFORMED. IN THIS PARTICULAR ALBUM, THE ENGLISH ACCENTS WERE A BIT MUCH, BUT THE SONGS WERE GREAT. ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC, ABBA.

Mamma Mia.......2007-01-29

Every time I hear the music and songs it brings back memories of seeing the Broadway Show

Not good at all.......2007-01-09

This is not what we wanted. The British accents throw it was off. We just saw it in NY and this is not what we were looking for.

Somewhere over the Rainbow: The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals

Average customer rating:

They were right--there is NO business like the show business they did way back when !!!
One of the best cds I ever bought.
Never Sounded Better
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
"Hollywood Musicals of the Golden Age are still among us"

Somewhere over the Rainbow: The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Ultimate Broadway
Only Broadway CD You'll Ever Need
The Best Of Broadway (Cast Recording Anthology)
Greatest Hits: Broadway
That's Entertainment!: The Best Of The M-G-M Musicals - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology

ASIN: B000066RO5
Release Date: 2002-06-04

Tracks:

Singin In The Rain - Gene Kelly
Theres No Business Like Show Business - Betty Hutton, Howard Keel, Keenan Wynn & Louis Calhern
'S Wonderful - Gene Kelly & Georges Guetary
Thats Entertainment! - Fred Astaire, Jack Buchanan, Nanette Fabray & Oscar Levant
Stranger In Paradise - Ann Blyth & Vic Damone
Easter Parade - Judy Garland & Fred Astaire
Lullaby Of Broadway - Winifred Shaw, Dick Powell & Chorus
Get Happy - Judy Garland
Night And Day - Fred Astaire
True Love - Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly
Honeysuckle Rose - Lena Horne w/ Benny Carter & His Orchestra
They Cant Take That Away From Me - Fred Astaire
Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet - Nancy Walker & The M-G-M Studio Chorus w/ Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
Baby, Its Cold Outside - Esther Williams & Ricardo Montalban
For Me And My Gal - Gene Kelly & Judy Garland
Puttin On The Ritz - Clark Gable & Co.
Hallelujah! - Tony Martin, Vic Damone, Kay Armen, Ann Miller, Debbie Reynolds, Clark Burroughs & Co.
Bless Yore Beautiful Hide - Howard Keel
Taking A Chance On Love - Ethel Waters & Eddie "Rochester" Anderson
As Time Goes By - Dooley Wilson w/ Elliot Carpenter (Bonus Track)
Laras Theme (Main Title) - The M-G-M Studio Orchestra (Bonus Track)

Tracks:

Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland
Its A Most Unusual Day - Jane Powell
Wunderbar - Kathryn Grayson & Howard Keel
Cant Help Lovin Dat Man - Ava Gardner
Going Hollywood - Bing Crosby
The Trolley Song - Judy Garland, The M-G-M Studio Chorus
Gigi - Louis Jourdan
I Got Rhythm - Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney & Co.
Aba Daba Honeymoon - Debbie Reynolds, Carleton Carpenter & M-G-M Studio Chorus
The Lady Is A Tramp - Lena Horne
The Best Things In Life Are Free - June Allyson & Peter Lawford
Cheek To Cheek - Fred Astaire
A Kiss To Build A Dream On - Louis Armstrong
Put 'Em In A Box - Doris Day & The Page Cavanaugh Trio
If Swing Goes, I Go Too - Fred Astaire
Almost Like Being In Love - Gene Kelly
Lets Face The Music And Dance - Fred Astaire
Be A Clown - Gene Kelly & Judy Garland
Embraceable You - Connie Francis
On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe - Judy Garland & Co.
One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) - Fred Astaire

Amazon.com

The "Golden Age" referred to here spans The Jazz Singer and the advent of the talkies to the death throes of the old studio system in the 1960s. So vast was the era's musical landscape that even this 42-track, double-disc anthology can't encompass all its peaks. Not surprisingly, the bulk of this collection originated with the Tiffany's of the screen musical, M-G-M, a body of work whose riches here encompass both pop-cultural bedrock ("Over the Rainbow," "Singin' in the Rain," "There's No Business Like Show Business," etc.) and some less familiar, if equally delightful star turns: Clark Gable gamely "Puttin' On the Ritz"; the sassy, 1948 original of "The Lady Is a Tramp" by Lena Horne; and a loopy duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban. Fred Astaire's elegant, epochal reign at RKO and M-G-M is represented by "Night and Day," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," and three others, while Metro mainstays Gene Kelly and Judy Garland share equal time and billing. It's not perfect--Cagney's "Yankee Doodle Boy" and/or some Sinatra seem more logical choices than the odd "bonus" duet of Casablanca's "As Time Goes By" and "Lara's Theme" from Dr. Zhivago that close out disc one--but it's a stunning, surprisingly comprehensive primer on the Hollywood film musical nonetheless. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

They were right--there is NO business like the show business they did way back when !!!.......2006-11-18

Everything that happens in life
Can happen in a show
You can make 'em laugh
You can make 'em cry
Anything
Anything can go....

The clown with his pants falling down
Or the dance that's a dream of romance
Or the scene where the villain is mean
That's entertainment!

The lights on the lady in tights
Or the bride with the guy on the side
Or the ball where she gives him her all
That's entertainment!

The plot and the hot simply teeming with $ex
A gay divorcee who is after her ex
It could be Oedipus Rex
Where a chap kills his father
And causes a lot of bother

The clerk who is thrown out of work
By the boss who is thrown for a loss
By the skirt who is doing him dirt

The world is a stage,
The stage is a world of entertainment!

This two CD set amply proves that the musical melodies and lyrics from the golden age of the Hollywood musical remain unsurpassed to this day. This generous two CD set offers 42 incredible songs from Hollywood classic musicals. Most of these fine numbers are indeed from MGM, as Amazon correctly notes; but there are some RKO numbers and even a little from Warner Brothers. Thank goodness, though, that most of these songs came from MGM movies; MGM was the only studio that could boast that it truly had "more stars than there are in the heavens."

I love so many songs on these two CDs. Of course, there's the unforgettable classic "Over The Rainbow" sung by Judy Garland; she also performs "Easter Parade" and "Get Happy" on this two CD set and she carries most of the tune for "I Got Rhythm" even though Mickey Rooney helps her a little. I love "Baby, It's Cold Outside" for its' romantic overtones; and Lena Horne's "The Lady Is A Tramp" is flawless! We also get a rare chance to hear Clark Gable sing in "Puttin' On The Ritz;" and Bing Crosby's "Going Hollywood" may be brief but it's a fun song anyway.

There are two "bonus" tracks on the first CD: "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca and "Lara's Theme" from Doctor Zhivago. "As Time Goes By" is a good choice; it is another unsurpassed classic song that brings back memories and touches even the hardest of hearts. "Lara's Theme," however, is from the mid 1960s and I don't consider this period to be part of the "golden age" of Hollywood musicals.

The liner notes are excellent and they offer wonderful photos of the stars as well. The cover art is well done and the reverse cover art tells which movie each song is from and who is performing each song. Moreover, the quality of the sound is excellent especially when you consider that these numbers were recorded quite a few decades ago.

In short, this superlative two CD highlights the glory of the Hollywood musical when a certain type of sophistication dominated professional movie production. I highly recommend this CD for fans of Hollywood musicals, classic pop vocals and fans of the artists and actors who perform on this two CD set.

One of the best cds I ever bought. .......2006-06-07

What an amazon collection of songs! This is bar none my favorite cd just because of the variety and the quality of songs on it. I love music from this era, and this cd is the perfect companion to my life. Love it! Buy it, you won't regret it for a moment!

Never Sounded Better.......2006-03-16

Apart from the great selection of soundtracks, what really makes this compilation top value is the quality of the sound processing. Executed with finesse, these tracks sound better than when first issued and many are unedited, fuller versions: like "Singing In The Rain", for example. Throw in the great price, and this double disc set is a "must have" for all lovers of classic movie music.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow.......2006-02-24

A Sensational CD with Lots of Showtunes that Keep You Happy and makes You Want To Sing Along With!!!

"Hollywood Musicals of the Golden Age are still among us".......2005-07-13

Rhino Records and Turner Classic Movies Music present - "SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW: THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS", some of the long ago musicals and stars that will never be forgotten...a 2-CD-Set covering several decades from 1935-1965 with many of the show stoppers of that time...some rare moments from entertainers that you haven't heard or thought of in sometime.

The lineup is fantastic and gives the listener a variety of what musicals were all about in the "Golden Age of the Hollywood Musicals"
June Allyson, Kay Armen, Louis Armstrong, Fred Astaire, Ann Blyth, Jack Buchanan, Louis Calhern, Bing Crosby, Vic Damone, Doris Day, Nanette Fabray, Connie Francis, Ava Gardner, Judy Garland, Kathyrn Grayson, Georges Guetary, Lena Horne, Betty Hutton, Louis Jourdan, Howard Keel, Gene Kelly, Grace Kelly, Peter Lawford, Oscar Levant, Ann Miller, Ricardo Montalban, Page Cavanaugh Trio, Debbie Reynolds, Winifred Shaw, Nancy Walker, Ethel Waters, Esther Williams, Dooley Williams and Keenan Wynn.

On Disc One 21 Classic Songs from great musicals with songs in alphabetical order:
AS TIME GOES BY - Dooley Wilson with Elliot Carpenter, pianist (1942)
BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE - Esther Williams & Ricardo Montalban (1949)
BLESS, YORE BEAUTIFUL HIDE - Howard Keel (1954)
EASTER PARADE - Fred Astaire & Judy Garland (1948)
FOR ME AND MY GAL - Gene Kelly & Judy Garland (1942)
GET HAPPY - Judy Garland (1950)
HALLELUJAH! - Tony Martin, Vic Damone, Kay Armen, Ann Miller, Debbie Reynolds, Clark Burroughs (for Russ Tamblyn) (1955)
HONEYSUCKLE ROSE - Lena Horne with Benny Carter & His Orchestra (1943)
LARA'S THEME (MAIN TITLE) - M-G-M Studio Orchestra (1965)
LULLABY OF BROADWAY - Winifred Shaw & Dick Powell (1935)
MILKMAN, KEEP THOSE BOTTLES QUIET - Nancy Walker with Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra (1944)
NIGHT AND DAY - Fred Astaire (1934)
PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ - Clark Gable & Company (1939)
'S WONDERFUL - Gene Kelly & Georges Guetary (1951)
SINGIN' IN THE RAIN - Gene Kelly (1951)
STRANGER IN PARADISE - Ann Blyth & Vic Damone (1955)
TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE - Ethel Waters & Eddie "Rochester" Anderson (1943)
THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT - Fred Astaire, Jack Buchanan, Nanette Fabray & Oscar Levant (1953)
THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS - Betty Hutton, Howard Keel, Keenan Wynn & Louis Calhern (1950)
THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME - Fred Astaire (1949)
TRUE LOVE - Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly (1956)

On Disc Two more memorable performances from the Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals:
A KISS TO BUILD A DREAM ON - Louis Armstrong (1951)
ABA DABA HONEYMOON - Debbie Reynolds & Carleton Carpenter (1950)
ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE - Gene Kelly (1954)
BE A CLOWN - Judy Garland & Gene Kelly (1948)
BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE - June Allyson & Peter Lawford (1947)
CAN'T HELP LOVIN' DAT MAN - Ava Gardner (beautiful woman, who my youngest grandaughter is named after...Avalon) (1951)
CHEEK TO CHEEK - Fred Astaire (1935)
EMBRACEABLE YOU - Connie Francis (1965)
GIGI - Louis Jourdan (1958)
GOING HOLLYWOOD - Bing Crosby (1933)
I GOT RHYTHM - Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney (1943)
IF SWING GOES, I GO TOO - Fred Astaire (1946)
IT'S A MOST UNUSUAL DAY - Jane Powell (1948)
LADY IS A TRAMP - Lena Horne (1948)
LET'S FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE - Fred Astaire (1936)
ON THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND THE SANTA FE - Judy Garland & Company (1946)
ONE FOR MY BABY (AND ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD) - Fred Astaire (1943)
OVER THE RAINBOW - Judy Garland (became her theme song for the rest of her life) (1939)
PUT 'EM IN A BOX - Doris Day & the Page Cavanaugh Trio (1948)
THE TROLLEY SONG - Judy Garland & MGM Studio Chorus (1944)
WUNDERBAR - Kathryn Grayson & Howard Keel (two of MGM's favorite singing duos) (1953)

It was once said by the songwriters of that era - "There are two artists you want perform your songs on the big screen, they are Fred Astaire and Judy Garland they sing it just the way we wrote it, for which you will have a guaranteed hit on your hands"...well, this collections certainly has some merit to that statement...because with Judy Garland and Fred Astaire performing seven songs each, there must be something to it.

This collection of musicals still has the magic that we remember from those bygone years...but as long as we have the labels and networks who play and show these wonderful films of yesteryear, they will never be forgotten...hats off to Rhino Records, George Feltenstein (producer) and Doug Schwartz (engineer) and Turner Classic Movies for sharing those 42 selections from 42 films...celebrating decades of the tunes and artists that gave it their all...from what it commonly called "The Hollywood Dream Factory"...The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals is still among us...gotta love it!

Total Time: 2-CD-Set ~ Rhino Records 78323 ~ (6/02/2002)

Average customer rating:

One of the best ever!
Kristen Chenowith
Has its moments
Great CD!
This woman has what it takes, and then some...

Let Yourself Go
Kristin Chenoweth , Jule Styne , George Gershwin , Richard Rodgers , Jeanine Tesori , Kurt Weill , Jerome Kern , Vincent Youmans , Ricky Ian Gordon , Richard Dworsky , Lawrence Ellington Duke / Brown , Harry Warren , Bobby Troup , Jason Alexander , Irving Berlin , Rob Fisher , and The Coffee Club Orchestra
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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As I Am
Still I Can't Be Still
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999 Broadway Revival Cast)
Leonard Bernstein's Candide (Great Performances)
Meredith Willson's The Music Man (TV Film)

ASIN: B000059T4T
Release Date: 2001-05-29

Tracks:

Let Yourself Go
If
How Long Has This Been Going On?
My Funny Valentine
Hanging Around with You (with Jason Alexander)
The Girl in 14G
I'll Tell the Man in the Street
I'm a Stranger Here Myself
Nobody Else But Me
Nobody's Heart Belongs to Me/Why Can't I?
Should I Be Sweet?
He's Just an Ordinary Guy
Going to the Dance with You
On a Turquoise Cloud
You'll Never Know
Daddy

Amazon.com

Kristin Chenoweth won a Tony for the supporting role of Sally Brown in the 1999 revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, made a memorably vampy Lily in the 1999 television film of Annie, and had an NBC sitcom created for her, Kristin! Now she grabs the spotlight in Let Yourself Go, her first solo recording. She mixes torchy standards ("My Funny Valentine," "How Long Has This Been Going On?") with Faith Prince-style sauciness ("If"), gets to show off her operatic and scat chops in the miniplay "The Girl in 14G," and shares a light duet with Jason Alexander (reviving his musical theater career post-Seinfeld). Perhaps her "Stranger Here Myself" isn't the weightiest you've ever heard, but this is an enjoyable album with a good deal of old-fashioned class, expertly accompanied by Rob Fisher and the Coffee Club Orchestra. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

One of the best ever!.......2007-04-24

Do I mean the best album or the best singer? You are correct if you said both! I saw Kristin Chenoweth on a PBS show "Broadway's Best at the Pops," (though it was not the first time I had heard her) and decided to check out the offerings here. This is a collection of the kind of music and performances I love. She has a great range, a precise pitch, and a great style that is at the same time true to the music and to herself. In an era when singers try to outdo each other re-interpreting the composer's original work, not usually with great success, she is a blessing!

Kristen Chenowith.......2007-02-26

I bought this CD for the Girl in 14G. Yes, it's that good...

Has its moments.......2007-02-19

After watching Candide endlessly and going to see Ms. Chenoweth in The Apple Tree, I was hungry for something more portable to listen to. At times this fits the bill, but what surprised me the most is how thin her voice comes across on this recording. Perhaps it was the joy of seeing her live that has ruined this listener; perhaps I need to upgrade my aging music system. Then again, maybe the recording is just not as good as Ms. C singing Bernstein or as good as staring at Ms. C command a Broadway stage.

Great CD!.......2007-01-19

I truly enjoy listening to this CD. Kristin Chenoweth's vocal style and abilities are very well-matched to the songs selected for this album. If you enjoy classic, older-style Broadway/popular tunes, I would highly recommend this CD. Ms. Chenoweth has a bright, expressive voice and does a fantastic job with this material.

As with any full-length CD, there are a couple of songs I am not as crazy about, but that has to do with the songs themselves, not Ms. Chenoweth's vocal performance. Overall, I love this album and have listened to it several times now, since receiving it as a Christmas gift last month.

This woman has what it takes, and then some..........2007-01-12

Kristin Chenoweth brings new life to some timeless Broadways tunes while introducing a few wonderful new ones. This high pitched vocal goddess effortlessly provides for a nearly flawless and easy listening experience. I definitly recommend this CD for anyone who enjoys jazz vocals, showtunes, or just a new spin on some old classics.

Average customer rating:

Spank The Mixers!
Love It!
WOW!
surprisingly good alt and emo
wonderful

Take a Chance on Something Beautiful
Half Past Forever (featuring Chris Sligh)
Manufacturer: Beat Down Productions
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music
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Based On A True Story

ASIN: B000NJWAHE
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

Forever
Waiting
Hero
Know
In a Moment
Naive
Transcendental
Need
Rise
Closer
Convenience
Cry Tonight
Somewhere
Tunnel Vision
Gone
Beautiful
How Long

Amazon.com

If Randy, Simon, and Paula--or, for that matter, you--aren't exactly sure where American Idol contestant Chris Sligh's strong suit lies, the road to a more clear-eyed assessment starts with Something Beautiful: the disc, recorded with Sligh's hometown band Half Past Forever, irrefutably proves that the puffy-haired man with the nerd glasses is a first-class rock balladeer. Lyrically, Sligh is a searcher, not a yearner ("Is this it? Is this the place we all wanna be?" he asks sweetly on "Gone," a late, explosive number). And temperamentally, he's a softie: though he carries off the kind of rocker 'tude required to make tracks like "Hero" combust against his bandmates' blazing guitars, he's at his best when his heart is bared and bleeding (see "In a Moment," the album's strongest and most stirring song). As influences go, Half Past Forever have to hand it to Goo Goo Dolls, the Grand Poo-bahs of gut-wrenching rock. Time will tell whether Sligh's 'Fro Patrol propels him to Goo-caliber greatness. --Tammy La Gorce

From the Label

Small-town sensation Half Past Forever have finally broken onto the national scene with their new album Take a Chance on Something Beautiful. The draw for new listeners will no doubt be American Idol phenom, Chris Sligh, but don't be surprised to find his equally astonishing flair for songwriting and production. Even if the songs here weren't already his own, Chris's smooth control and distinctive, urgent ownership would make you believe he was spinning these wonders out of thin air. Backed by accomplished guitarists Adam Fisher and Cole Edmonson, Chris's gifts have the platform they've needed to let loose and shine.

Take a Chance is old school in some ways, delivering the refreshing album-based songwriting you didn't think existed in the mainstream anymore. Though several tracks should rightly become singles, this music was meant for more than 3-minute snatches, and has the wholeness of a concept album without the need for a concept. In other ways, the album is also on the leading edge of musical creativity. Alongside the delicious hooks of chart-bound hits like "Know" or "In a Moment," you're just as likely to find the complex musicality of songs like "Convenience," which melds hypnotic synth and soulful crooning with tinges of "A Day in the Life" and Gnarls Barkley. Or "Naive," which opens like a sorrowful Goo Goo Dolls hit, only to incorporate bits of Seal and Coldplay to refine the sound. Actually, the musical background here is so eclectic, it's probably most sensible to call this sound a remarkable beauty being born.

Take a Chance is an album that rewards multiple listens, and it may take you a dozen times through to begin realizing the lyrical depth or the calm interlacing between songs. Along with his Idol fame, Chris has a couple national songwriting awards under his belt, and it's not hard to hear the talent. You'll probably have the chorus to "Know" memorized by the third time around, but it may take a little longer until the meaning hits you like a slap in the face. And when Chris's half-despairing "I'm gone" moves into the album's last track, it's answered with the nascent discovery, "Now I know the pictures I hold on to are gone away / ... Maybe getting older brings me closer to you." There is remarkable range here: you'll find yourself carried away by equal parts free-spirit and turbulence, with songs evoking the spectrum from arena to quiet personal space. And all the while, Chris's soaring baritone will keep its enticing hooks in you. Certainly, there are missteps, and there is room for the music to grow. But Take a Chance on Something Beautiful is the sound of a band coming into its own.

Half Past Forever Photos

Customer Reviews:

Spank The Mixers!.......2007-07-29

I liked Chris Sligh from the moment I saw his audition for American Idol. He has a memorable voice with great range. I really couln't wait to get my hands on any CD he put out after Idol was over with but I didn't have to wait that long. Since this CD was recorded pre-Idol it was made available well before the end of the season. I watched Chris on Idol from week to week and realized we were not looking at a talent in the making or a work in progress. I am of the opinion that Chris Sligh believes he cannot and does not need to be any better than he already is. If this suffices for him, the additional stars I might have given this debut CD will have to be given elsewhere because it doesn't suffice for me. While Chris Sligh wrote, produced, plays guitar, bass, piano, wurly, keys, shared mixing with Adam Fisher and fronts the band with his gifted vocals, there is only one song on this CD that made me stop and listen; "In A Moment" is a gorgeous ballad and Chris performs it oh, so well. I'm sorry to say that the rest of the tracks left me wondering who or what the focal point was...the vocalist or the guitars! There were moments when I also wondered how many words Chris could fit into a musical phrase in the shortest amount of time. These types of songs make me want to run, and I did, right over to the sound system to shut it off or start the next track. I truly thought the mixing was terribly flawed. You may have the ability to be a one man band Chris, but you cannot do everything to perfection. I truly hope the Idol tour and the fact that Chris was in the top 10 create an atmosphere in which he can rejoice and also be humbled by. If he can do that and not always come off as if he's "all that" his next CD may be the one we've all been waiting for.

Love It!.......2007-07-07

I wish Chris made it further on American Idol, but it seems he always has his foot in the door. I really hope He makes more CD's I just love his voice and style of music.

WOW!.......2007-06-21

Chris & HPF,

Great singer, great songwriting, great band. I feel like my ears have won the Lottery! Thanks Chris for putting yourself through all the AI[...]to introduce yourself and HPF to America. I'll be a fan for as long as you guys want to keep putting it out there. I'm 55 and have been a musician for over 40 years and Chris, you have one of the best voices I've ever heard. I hear so many voices in yours. A little Paul Rogers, Steve Walsh, John Waite, Lou Graham and even some James Taylor. Thanks and God bless you. BTW, Simon must be tone deaf! You are easily the greatest singer that's ever been on American Idol. Remember to alway use your Super Powers for good and not evil. :-)

surprisingly good alt and emo.......2007-06-10

Very good production values. Cymbals a little bright and bass a little muted, but the vocals and playing are first rate. The songwriting shows a little sameness throughout but the best tracks deserve maximum exposure. Nickelback seems to be a big influence. If Half Past Forever is the name of the band you couldn't tell from the cover art. Judging by the potential shown here, Chris ought to keep this band together and just change the name of the band to Sligh.

wonderful.......2007-06-09

I personally have really enjoyed this. The cd starts with a great sound track quality, and after that it's so different and refreshing. I love it! I think Chris Sligh's lyrics are really great. They're not your typical cliche pop songs. If you're paying attention, it's really incredible.

Léhar: The Land of Smiles; The Merry Widow; The Count of Luxembourg (Highlights)

Average customer rating:

Arguably "The Best" English "Merry Widow "

Léhar: The Land of Smiles; The Merry Widow; The Count of Luxembourg (Highlights)

Manufacturer: Class. for Pleas. Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00009KHY2
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Customer Reviews:

Arguably "The Best" English "Merry Widow ".......2006-09-12

This is the "Merry Widow" with English translation by Christopher Hassel sung by June Bronhill. I loved this rendition ever since I first heard it in about 1960. What's to love? First the translation is the best I've heard. The language doesn't sound "stilted" as some others. And, you can understand almost every word sung. Plus, the famous song, "Vilja" has some wording that moves me every time I hear it: The soprano sings, "Love me and I'll DIE for you!" with the word "die" somewhat emphasized. I don't know, there's just something "powerful" about someone saying they'd "die" for love! AND, at the end of "Vilja" the chorus and soprano raise to a crescendo hitting a high note together. In many renditions the chorus is heard but not the soprano on the final high note. In THIS version, the soprano, June Bronhill, can be heard rising to the final high note with an incressing crescendo and fortissimo louder than the chorus and holding the final high note---which gives a very thrilling effect as she holds that final note, I assure you!

The "problem" is that this June Bronhill, Reid, and Hassel version is hard to find on CD. For example, this CD is made in Holland and "there is one left" so it says on Amazon. But, if you can find it, I think it would be very much worth a listen. Then, after hearing it, if you think there's a "better" Merry Widow, please let ME know! Thanks. Email:boland7214@aol.

Average customer rating:

Bought if for the 2nd time!

Take a Chance on Something Beautiful
Half Past Forever
Manufacturer: Brash Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Take a Chance on Something Beautiful
It Won't Be Soon Before Long

ASIN: B000RGSOIC
Release Date: 2007-07-10

Tracks:

Forever
Waiting
Hero
Know
In A Moment
Naive
Transcendental
Need
Rise
Closer
Convenience
Cry Tonight
Somewhere
Tunnel Vision
Gone
Beautiful
How Long

Album Description

Small-town sensation Half Past Forever have finally broken onto the national scene with their new album. The draw for new listeners will no doubt be American Idol phenom, Chris Sligh, but don't be surprised to find his equally astonishing flair for songwriting and production. Even if the songs here weren't already his own, Chris's smooth control and distinctive, urgent ownership would make you believe he was spinning these wonders out of thin air. Backed by accomplished guitarists Adam Fisher and Cole Edmonson, Chris's gifts have the platform they've needed to let loose and shine.

Customer Reviews:

Bought if for the 2nd time!.......2007-07-12

I have just ordered this album for the 2nd time-I don't think I have ever purchased the same album by an artist twice, so that should tell you how good this CD is. I am a huge Chris Sligh fan and love HPF. I'm no music expert I just buy and listen to what I love, and I love this music-it hasn't left my player since I first bought it 4 months ago!

Average customer rating:

That's the Chance You Take
Don Cornell
Manufacturer: Pegasus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000B2UPH0
Release Date: 2005-09-26

Tracks:

For You
We Three (My Echo, My Shadow & Me)
I Was Lucky
S'posin'
I'll Walk Alone
You'll Never Get Away With Teresa Brewer
Stay As Sweet As You Are
I'm Yours
Something To Remember You By
If You Were Only Mine
That's The Chance You Take
It Isn't Fair

Album Details

Cornell Got his Start as a Vocalist with Trumpeter Red Nichols and Big Band Leader Sammy Kaye Before Going Solo. He Sold Over 50 Million Records in his Heyday. 12 Digitally Enhanced Tracks Including "For You", "s'posin'", "Stay as Sweet as You Are" and Many More.

Average customer rating:

Take a Chance
The Magic Numbers
Manufacturer: Heavenly
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
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Love Me Like You

ASIN: B000INAVAI
Release Date: 2006-10-30

Tracks:

Take a Chance
I Hear You Knockin'

Album Description

First track pulled from this breezy UK quartet's sophomore album, Those The Brokes. Features the tracks 'Take A Chance' and 'I Hear You Knockin'' . Heavenly. 2006.

Album Details

The First Single to Be Lifted from their Second Album "Those the Brokes" is Backed with a Cover of Dave Edmund's "i Hear You Knockin".

Average customer rating:

Take Your Chance
Skansis
Manufacturer: Escape
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000RO9X7A
Release Date: 2007-06-29

Album Details

New Swiss Act, Classic Hard Rock with a Progresive Edge.

Average customer rating:

Musical Wonderland

Manufacturer: Wea International
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Easy Listening | Compilations | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005QDY8
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

Singin' In The Rain: Singin' In The Rain - Gene Kelly
Annie Get Your Gun: There's No Business Like Show Business - Howard Keel
An American In Paris: 'S Wonderful - Gene Kelly
The Band Wagon: That's Entertainment! - Oscar Levant
Kismet: Stranger In Paradise - Vic Damone
Easter Parade: Easter Parade - Judy Garland
Gold Diggers Of 1935: Lullaby Of Broadway - Chorus
Summer Stock: Get Happy - Judy Garland
The Gay Divorcee: Night And Day - Fred Astaire
High Society: True Love - Bing Crosby
Thousands Cheer: Honeysuckle Rose - Lena Horne
The Barkleys Of Broadway: They Can't Take That Away From Me - Fred Astaire
Broadway Rhythm: Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet - Nancy Walker And The M-G-M Studio Chorus
Neptune's Daughter: Baby, It's Cold Outside - Esther Williams
Me And My Gal: For Me And My Gal - Judy Garland
Idiot's Delight: Puttin' On The Ritz - Clark Gable & Co.
Hit The Deck: Hallelujah! - Kay Armen
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers: Bless Yore Beautiful Hide - Howard Keel
Cabin In The Sky: Taking A Chance On Love - Ethel Waters
Casablanca: As Time Goes By - Dooley Wilson
Dr. Zhivago: Lara's Theme (Main Title) - M-G-M Studio Orchestra

Tracks:

The Wizard Of Oz: Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland
A Date With Judy: It's A Most Unusual Day - Jane Powell
Kiss Me Kate: Wunderbar - Howard Keel
Show Boat: Can't Help Lovn' Dat Man - Ava Gardner
Going Hollywood: Going Hollywood - Bing Crosby
Meet Me In St. Louis: The Trolley Song - Judy Garland
Gigi: Gigi - Louis Jourdan
Girl Crazy: I Got Rhythm - Judy Garland
Two Weeks With Love: Aba Daba Honeymoon - Debbie Reynolds
Words & Music: The Lady Is A Tramp - Lena Horne
Good News: The Best Things In Life Are Free - June Allyson
Top Hat: Check To Check - Fred Astaire
The Strip: A Kiss To Build A Dream On - Louis Armstrong
Romance On The High Seas: Put 'Em In A Box - Doris Day
Ziegfeld Follies: If Swing Goes, I Go Too - Fred Astaire
Brigadoon: Almost Like Being In Love - Gene Kelly
Follow The Fleet: Let's Face The Music And Dance - Fred Astaire
The Pirate: Be A Clown - Judy Garland
When The Boys Meet The Girls: Embraceable You - Connie Francis
The Harvey Girls: On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe - Judy Garland & Co.
The Sky's The Limit: One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) - Fred Astaire

Album Description

This ideal Christmas gift is a collection of the very best highlights drawn from the MGM/Turner, Warners and RKO Pictures archive. It features such universally known showstoppers as Gene Kelly performing 'Singin In The Rain', Judy Garland's 'Over The Rainbow' and Howard Keel's 'Bless Your Beautiful Hide'. The collection also includes songs that have gone on to become world wide standards such as Lena Horne's 'The Lady Is A Tramp', Mel Torme's 'Sunday In New York' and Gene Kelly's 'Almost Like Being In Love'. Perfect for anyone who loves a good song and the ideal soundtrack for Christmas day. Gatefold deluxe slipcase packaging.

Album Details

This Compilation Presents Highlights from the Wonderful Mgm-turner, Warner Brothers and Rko Soundtracks. Great Artwork and Extensive Booklet with Photographs and Plenty of Liner Notes. The Packaging Includes a Special Limited Pop-up Booklet, So Get Your Order in Quickly...you Never Know When Supply Will Be Exhausted.

Music Review:

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