British Steel [Import] [Original recording remastered]

British Steel [Import] [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Japanese digitally remastered limited pressing of the band's 1980 album with 2 added bonus tracks 'Red, White & Blue' & 'Grinder' (live). Packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. CBS. 2005.

Tracks:

Monday Morning Blues
Lons As I've Got You
I Don't Remember You
You Don't Do A Thing For Me
Fly Away
Crying Forever
Daybreak
Echo Of A Sigh
I'll Keep On Singing The Blues
Keeping The Dream Alive

Customer Reviews:

Go buy this CD.......2007-07-12

I have been a Kim Simmons fan since there was a Savoy Brown. I saw the band in the late 70's here in our little East Texas town. They were great then and they are still great today. I loved this CD. (sorry 5 stars are reserved for Beatle music) I like Kims vocals on this, a great vocalist is not needed for his kind of blues, he nails this one right on the head. Don't waste any more time readin and buy the CD.

Great uncomplicated blues.......2007-07-11

I heard Monday Morning Blues on XM and I decided I had to have this one. I love the straightforward, uncomplicated , rockin' blues. Frankly, I was surprised at how good the album is. I don't understand the less than great reviews. If this isn't good music, then what is it?

Pretty good but not great.......2007-07-07

This CD does not represent the true Savoy Brown, primarily because it is a studio production. The only way to enjoy the true hard edge English R & B that Kim Simmonds is famous for is to see him do it live.

There are some good cuts on the CD,but as a whole the CD is fairly "vanilla". For my taste, a little slide guitar goes a long way, and there is a lot of slide on the CD. There is some blues, and its pretty good, but pales in comparison to what Simmonds is capable of doing. Perhaps that's the disappointment for me in this production.

For died in the wool fans, recommend you buy it for the 3-4 good cuts on it, and because there are so few English R & B rock masters, as Simmonds clearly is, left and active.

Blues with attitude.......2007-05-22

This album comes out of the gate blazing with "Monday Mornin' Blues", and doesn't ever let up. Searing guitar by Kim Simmonds throughout, especially on the misogynistic "I Don't Remember You", and first rate blues playing on "Daybreak" and "I'll Keep On Singing The Blues". The blues rock flag is flying high on this one.

THE BAND'S LOWEST POINT!.......2007-05-16

Can't Greg at BlueWave get Kim a REAL singer, like Jumpin' Joe Whitting? A band of Savoy Brown's class needs a quality vocalist, if not for dates, at least on sessions. Kim must be hurting for money to put out this embarrassing material. You're only as good as your latest record. "No nods to the crowd." Well, he's not going to have many fans after this amateur effort! If you like the band's catchy Robert Cray soul blues, you won't find much here. There's a forgetable instrumental, ECHO OF A SIGH; a rockabilly sounding number, KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE; a boring slow blues, I'LL KEEP ON SINGING THE BLUES; and some heavy metal pop blues stuff, which is OK. The first selection is very good, MONDAY MORNING BLUES, but suffers from Kim's lackluster singing. On the bright side, I just love his raw gutsy guitar on I DON'T REMEMBER YOU, a John Lee Hooker type selection. If you're a fan, you may want to get the album for this, and the fairly good blues rock DAYBREAK. In closing, I can find much better stuff on free downloads. Goodbye Kim. You're still the best rock n' roll and blues rock band in history, but I can't afford to waste my retirement money.

Average customer rating:

Not the best of Judas Priest
everything metal was and would be
A little bit overrated, but still great!
Does anyone realize that Rob got the lyrics mixed up in the live version of Grinder????
A Great But A Sellout Album But For The Most Part

British Steel
Judas Priest
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Screaming for Vengeance
Hell Bent for Leather
Point of Entry
Stained Class
Sin After Sin

ASIN: B00005K9LN
Release Date: 2001-05-29

Tracks:

Rapid Fire
Metal Gods
Breaking the Law
Grinder
United
Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise
Living After Midnight
The Rage
Steeler
Red, White & Blue
Grinder (live)

Amazon.com

The guitar riff from "Breaking the Law" is one of the most recognizable from early 1980s heavy metal. Though British Steel sounds dated these days, it's also a classic slice of metal, one of the best from a band that defined the genre in the late '70s and early '80s. Everything that ultimately became characteristic of heavy metal is here, from the lightning-fast riffs on "Rapid Fire," the anthemic "Metal Gods," and "United" to the obligatory party song "Living After Midnight" to the equally obligatory youth-rebellion song, "You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise." British Steel is unquestionably Priest at their peak. The 2001 remastered reissue includes two bonus tracks--a previously unavailable studio selection called "Red, White & Blue" and a live take on "Grinder." --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

Not the best of Judas Priest.......2007-06-07

I'm a Judas Priest fan and own many of their albums but British Steel has always bugged me. The songs are not bad and the album did produce two of their biggest hits in Breaking The Law and Living After Midnight. But there is no energy to this album as if Judas Priest was just going through the motions of recording. Absent are the emotions of Stained Class and the power of Hell Bent For Leather and the angst of Screaming For Vengeance. Because of this the songs all blur together with none of them being a standout...making British Steel a very forgettable album. If you are new to Judas Priest, or are looking to finish your collection, I'd skip British Steel and move on to better efforts by the band like Sad Wings Of Destiny, Stained Class, Hell Bent For Leather, Screaming For Vengeance, and Painkiller.

everything metal was and would be.......2007-05-23

This is one of the best albums of all time. It has all the elements of what heavy metal was at the time and would become. It caught perfectly the slice in time when heavy metal was just starting to get noticed, but had not yet gone mainstream.

The main strength of this album is the songwriting. Every song was EXCELLENT and performed stellarly. The songs that meant to be commercial were catchy and the songs that were meant to be aggressive and heavy were just that. But they were all good. Not a clunker to be found. The songs achieved a great balance and were all pretty much different than the one before it. And while the musicianship wasn't complex, the solos were great and every performance was spot-on: not sloppy or lacking and yet, not over-indulgent.

Breaking The Law and Living After Midnight need no introduction. Rapid Fire/Metal Gods are both heavy and Metal Gods gets a chance to air out and ride a great riff for a while at the end. Grinder is a song with a great riff and silly lyrics. United is a true anthem with the heavy verses and sing along chorus. You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise is pretty good and The Rage is killer with a great intro. This song seems to be the blueprint for much of Point Of Entry, but is much better here. My personal favorite is Steeler which starts fast and heavy and rides that riff to the end adding layers of guitars.

A lot of metal purists who were either original fans of the group or who came to Priest from later generations of metal call this album a sell out. I have to agree to a certain extent. But I make two points in their defense. 1. At least they didn't eliminate the heavy ones altogether like they would with Point Of Entry and, yuck, Turbo. Steeler and Rapid Fire are still as heavy as anything released up to that time. 2. Selling out was nothing new for them by this time. Diamonds and Rust and Better By You were flagrant attempts to have a hit single. And don't forget Evening Star. Living After Midnight and Breaking The Law did become big songs and did lead to the rise of hair metal posers, but remember, these songs were original at the time and not copying the formula that many lesser groups did soon after.

All in all, this album is a classic and should be owned by anyone who has any interest in heavy metal at all. PS The bonus tracks are there but not necessary to justify purchasing this cd.

A little bit overrated, but still great!.......2007-03-16

Don't get me wrong! I think this is a good album. I just think that there are better metal albums out there. I may be a 14 year old kid but I know real metal. I think that the ORIGINAL versions of ''Blizzard of Ozz'' and ''Diary of a Madman'' by Ozzy Osbourne or ''Number Of the Beast'' by Iron Maiden are better. Sure Rob is a better singer than Ozzy, but Randy Rhoads is a much better guitarist than K.K or Glenn. I think Rob is a great singer but he isn't the best. Look at Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden. I think he is better than Rob. Just listen to ''Hallowed Be Thy Name'' for proof. To the album now, my favorite song is ''Breaking The Law'' (I just love that riff!) because it is a rebellious anthem. This isn't thrath metal, this isn't any other form. It is just Heavy Metal. I know some people will go after me, but I personally think later stuff like ''A Touch Of Evil'' is better. Buy this album!! It is an essential piece of metal history. They are also one of the oldest metal bands still going!!

Does anyone realize that Rob got the lyrics mixed up in the live version of Grinder????.......2007-02-13

First of this album rocks but in the live version of Grinder from the remasters,Rob messed up the lyrics by saying"I'd like to cap my sight capped everywhere" instead of belting out"I'd like to have sight capped everywhere".I guess people make mistakes,I didn't realize it until I heard it yesterday.This review is only about the mixed up lyrics.This album still rocks though.Long Live The Mighty Judas!!!!!!!!

A Great But A Sellout Album But For The Most Part.......2007-01-29

Don't get me wrong this is a very fun album from Judas but gone are the days of the real Judas Priest with classics like Sad Wings Of Destiny(The best real Priest album),Sin After Sin(Great album that one!!!),and Stained Class.This album along with Hellbent For Leather were clear sellout albums but they still rock but I don't know about Hellbent(because I don't own it).After Stained Class THE REAL JUDAS PRIEST dissapeared.This album isn't as serious as their 70's classics(THE REAL PRIEST),but it is still very good and really fun.Don't take this one serious,just listen to it and have fun.Gone are the days of Dreamer Deceiver,Dissident Aggressor,Beyond The Realms Of Death(The Very Best Songs from the band).

Gilbert & Sullivan - Highlights from The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Yeomen of the Guard, Trial of Jury

Average customer rating:

The Best Of Gilbert And Sullivan
Pure delight
Delicious G&S samplings abound here.
Fine Intro to G&S

Gilbert & Sullivan - Highlights from The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Yeomen of the Guard, Trial of Jury
Nicholas Folwell , Arthur Sullivan , Marie McLaughlin , Rebecca Evans , Anthony Rolfe Johnson , John Mark Ainsley , Alwyn Mellor , Anne Howells , Barry Banks , Eric Garrett , Felicity Palmer , Gareth Rhys Davies , Janice Watson , Julie Gossage , Neill Archer , Pamela Helen Stephen , Peter Savidge , Richard Stuart , Richard Suart , Richard Van Allan , Sir Thomas Allen [baritone] , Sir Charles Mackerras , and Welsh National Opera
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Ultimate Gilbert & Sullivan Collection
Topsy-Turvy - The Music of Gilbert & Sullivan: From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan
The Complete Annotated Gilbert & Sullivan
The Gilbert and Sullivan Overtures

ASIN: B000003D1Y
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

A Wandering Minstrel I
Behold The Lord High Executioner!
Three Little Maids From School Are We
Braid The Raven Hair
The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring
On A Tree By A River, A Little Tom-tit Sang, 'Willow, Tit-willow'
For He's Gone And Married Yum-Yum
We Sail The Ocean Blue
I'm Called Little Buttercup
My Gallant Crew
When I Was A Lad
Things Are Seldom What They Seem
Never Mind The Why And Wherefore
Climbing Over Rocky Mountain
Poor Wand'ring One
How Beautifully Blue The Sky
I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General
When The Foeman Bares His Steel
Ah, Leave Me Not To Pine
With Cat-Like Tread
Is Life A Boon?
I Have A Song To Sing, O!
Were I Thy Bride
Oh, A Private Buffoon Is A Light-Hearted Loon
When A Wooer Goes A-Wooing
When I, Good Friends, Was Called To The Bar
A Nice Dilemma We Have Here
Oh, Joy Unbounded

Customer Reviews:

The Best Of Gilbert And Sullivan.......2004-03-15

At the end of the 19th century (1870's, 80's and 90's) the compatible duo of librettist and composer Gilbert and Sullivan popularized the pre-Broadway entertainment of Savoy opera. These were light operas or operettas whose content was satire and comedy, full of bouncy melodies and beautiful singing, highly entertaining theatrical works staged at London's Savoy theatre. Gilbert and Sullivan did not always get along and in fact there was a time when they ended their professional relationship because personal conflicts surfaced. But they managed to create the world's most beloved light operas, over 40 of them. Their most famous are what I call the Big Three- The H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates Of Penzance and The Mikado. Other works include their first hit Trial By Jury, The Yeomen Of The Guard, Princess Ida, The Gondoliers, Patience and several others. A standard signature of Gilbert and Sullivan was in the colorful cast- a comic actor with a special kind of baritone voice, a canary-like and sweet-voiced coloratura or lyric diva, a mezzo soprano with strong chest register and a lyric tenor as the romantic hero. On this album, English conductor Sir Charles Mackerras, a popular figure in the classical music scene and opera, guides the Chorus and Orchestra Of the Welsh National Opera in generally well-delivered performances of excerpts from the operas The Mikado, The H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates Of Penzance, Yeomen Of The Guard and Trial By Jury. Although I feel that the recordings made by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, with Isodore Godfrey conducting and starring the best cast of the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire- the singers of the 60's and 70's- tenor Phillip Potter, soprano Valerie Masterson, baritone John Reed, Donald Adams and mezzo soprano Christine Palmer. Their version of the Pirates Of Penzance and the Mikado far outshine the Welsh National Opera in technical mastery and vibrant tone color.

But these are fine excerpts. Especially appealing is the famous and cheerful "Three Little Maids From School Are We", a trio that imitates Japanese style melody. Most of the Mikado does this, for it was inspired by Japanisme or the new fashion in Victorian England- everything Japanese, from prints to paintings to poetry. Gilbert and Sullivan simply "Japanized" their English operettas. The Finale "For He's Gone To Marry Yum Yum" is an ebullient and pleasant finale. Not featured here is the domineering and powerful Katisha, a figure who stands out in the Mikado.

The H.M.S. Pinafore is Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular work. The sea chanty "We Sail The Ocean Blue" opens the opera with appropriate atmosphere and it seems to fit perfectly with the other scene in which the Captain greets his crew and they sing his praises "My Gallant Crew..I am the Captain Of The Pinafore". A beautiful melody that seems to come out of a romantic Offenbach tune is "I"m Called Little Buttercup". The finale, not featured here, is also very engaging "For He Is An Englishman" which can almost resemble a British national anthem. The Yeomen Of The Guard was Gilbert and Sullivan's "serious opera" eventhough it remains very Savoyard. The plot deals with Tudor England and takes place at the London Tower. "I have a song to sing" makes use of what can be taken for an English ballad of the Renaissance. Trial By Jury, about the eccentric and hilarious activity of a court trial, has a sextet that although different in composition, has the sextet "Che Mi Frena" from Donizetti's Lucia Di Lammermoor in mind. All in all, an excellent recording sure to delight young and old.

Pure delight.......2003-08-02

--Gilbert & Sullivan--
William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan were a match made in heaven, yet on earth their pairing seems even with hindsight a most unlikely coupling. Both were destined for other things, Gilbert in fact for decidedly non-musical careers. Introduced by a mutual friend, Fred Clay, the fledgling lyricist Gilbert met the military-band-leader's son Sullivan and together continued to conspire to inspire the delights of audiences from high Victorian times down to the present, as their work in musical theatre comedy continues to provide merriment throughout the English-speaking world and beyond.

--The Music--
This collection includes highlights from five of the most popular Gilbert & Sullivan operettas: The Mikado, HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, The Yeoman of the Guard, and Trial by Jury. The arrangements and orchestrations are delightfully energetic and clear; the characterisation and vocal qualities of the leads are perfect for their roles. The haughty if misplaced Lord of the Admiralty has the perfect combination of insecurity and pompous officiousness. The Plaintiff and the Defendant in the Trial are perfectly cast. This is a collection of highlights - at least three but no more than seven songs each, but this gives a good flavour of the music. The recordings on this collection come from complete performances by Mackerras and the WNO.

--Sir Charles Mackerras--
Mackerras is one of the geniuses of the twentieth century musical scene. Having a conducting career that includes the Hamburg Opera, the English National Opera (formerly Sadlers Wells Opera), and the Welsh National Opera (the performers for this piece), he has also conducted major orchestras on the continent of Europe and in the United States. The holder of many major awards and honourary doctorates, he has devoted much time and energy to the preservation and performance of eighteenth and nineteenth century music, as well the restoration of historical musical venues, such as the Estates Theatre in Prague, scene of the original production of Don Giovanni (Mackerras conducted the opera there to commemorate the bicentenary of the death of Mozart).

--Welsh National Opera Orchestra and Chorus--
The seeds of the WNO were planted in Cardiff during World War II by music lovers; the first performances occurred a year after the war's end, with Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci on the bill, with Faust the next night. Popular appeal was so great that the WNO was established, later adding choruses in both Cardiff and Swansea. The professional chorus was established in 1973, with a strength that matches the orchestra. They continue an ambitious performance schedule for recording and live events; Mackerras remains the Conductor Emeritus, as the WNO continues under the direction of Carlo Rizzi. The list of awards the WNO has won over the years is staggering - they are a world class institution by any measure.

--Other performers--
Notable singers such as Richard Stuart, Rebecca Evans, Felicity Palmer, John Mark Ainsley and Anne Howells lead the chorus with stunning vocals and clever characterisations of the parts they play. Many (such as Stuart and Evans) play the leading roles across several of the pieces of the disc.

--Liner Notes--
The liner notes give a good introduction and biographical information about Gilbert and Sullivan, as well as synopses of the five pieces presented here. It does not, unfortunately, include any information about Mackerras, the WNO Orchestra and Chorus, or the other special performers. It also does not include the lyrics to the songs. Were the quality of the CD not so great, this might cost it a star in rating.

--Overall Impressions--
I play this CD in my car, in my home and in my office frequently. It is a great sing-along work and a great comedic relief from the stresses of the day. The music is bubbly and clear; the recording quality is excellent and crisp. I recommend this to any Gilbert & Sullivan lover, any fan of musical comedy, opera and operettas, and anyone who delights in good music.

Delicious G&S samplings abound here........2003-05-06

The first thing I should be saying is "What an infectuous G&S CD." Indeed this is, with this fine sampling of the peppy and bright Mackerras series. I know I have praised its "Mercedes-Benz quality" elsewhere on these pages, but that doesn't stop me from saying that everyone is in fine voice. This generously filled CD may only focus on five operas, but at least you can savour a reasonable choice sampling of delights from each one. Of particular interest is Richard Suart's patter-baritone parts and the soaring lyric soprano of Rebecca Evans. The selection on this disc is filled with a mixture of familiar favourites and lesser-known gems such as the female choruses in Mikado and Pirates. Mackerras is a true G&S conductor, but one who always springs rhythms crisply, and adopts peppy tempo for the fast bits. The one drawback is that this selection is far too infectuous that you'll want to shell out money to buy the full 5-CD Mackerras cycle - an incredible bargain with most of the operas fitted onto one disc each. But still, this is at least a decent G&S sampling for beginners, capped with Steven Ledbetter's copious liner notes. It will leave you wanting to say "dammit I'm going to play it again."

Fine Intro to G&S.......2000-12-30

This is the perfect CD for those who may not be familiar with G&S, or for the initiated who want a smattering but don't have the mother of all CD changers. The difficulty with any G&S Greatest Hits CD is determining which pieces to leave off; while one could easily point to any number equally good bits, it would be difficult to argue about the quality of the choices included. The only problem, such as it is, is that after listening to it I am usually induced to go back and listen to the whole opera anyway. The Mackerras recordings are uniformly excellent. I have read elsewhere the criticism that they are too 'operatic' for light opera. If by this it is meant that the singers are too good, then I leave it to the discretion of the listener when the singing becomes too good to be enjoyable.

Average customer rating:

METAL
Classic British METAL!!!!!
it cost me $30 at a cd store, but it was worth it
STAND UP
Forever a classic-this album will never age

Wheels of Steel
Saxon
Manufacturer: Caroline
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Denim and Leather
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Power & the Glory
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ASIN: B000005RTD
Release Date: 1998-11-17

Tracks:

Motorcycle Man
Stand Up And Be Counted
747 (Strangers In The Night)
Wheels Of Steel
Freeway Mad
See The Light Shining
Street Fighting Gang
Suzie Hold On
Machine Gun

Customer Reviews:

METAL.......2007-01-09

This is an example of a band that played pure heavy metal without copying IRON MAIDEN. Yes, every goddamn heavy metal band in the 80's copied IRON MAIDEN. Examples? LIEGE LORD, FATES WARNING, GRIM REAPER, HELLOWEEN, etc.
SAXON, instead, had their own style, and Wheels of Steel is a great piece of heavy metal!

Classic British METAL!!!!!.......2004-12-10

Saxon's "Wheels of Steel" was my introduction into saxon and NWOBHM era bands. I really have to say that this album was mindblowing! it blew the windows out of my house, Saxon really knew what true heavy metal was! This is an alternitive to other british metal bands like def leppard, iron maiden and judas preist that have been consumed by the commercail sickness and have had been repeating the same formula for over 20 years. Saxon is all out kick @$$ metal. the first track of the album will get you right in the action,"motorcycle man" is a fast paced rocker simular to deep purple "highway star" but much heavier. other mentionables include "747,stangerinthenight" which is about a 747 low on gas with no place to land. the title track is a mid paced heavy tune that is pretty good but can get repeatative with its lyrics at time. "freeway mad" is another fast driving song like"motorcycle" is. my favorite song on the album "see the light shining" is probably the center piece of the album, words can't describe it, must listen. "street fighting gang" is a awesome song as well. this is one of the best heavy rock albums i'v listend to, i espessicaly like pete gills druming techniques on this one, he is a solid time keeper and has some interesting double bass techniques as well. and as always i love paul quinns guitar tone as with any saxon album. awesome disc...

SAXON RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it cost me $30 at a cd store, but it was worth it.......2004-10-15

this was the first saxon album i ever got, years before i got this i have heard of saxon, and even knew one or two of there songs, but i could never find any of there cds,and whenever i would mention a band called "saxon" people would look at me dumbfounded. i found a saxon album finally and this was it, (...) i decided to bite the bullit because it was the last copy and i always wanted to get into saxon. i really loved this album, its better than anything by any well known american band (kiss, aerosmith, metallica, van halen). i guess saxon was never a big band in america, they were definatly more popular in the u.k. and europe. you could really call saxon a band for real metalheads, no one who causally listens to metal would know of them. i would reccomend you find this one.

STAND UP.......2002-01-26

Stand up and be counted! One of two discs that I definitely declare must haves by Saxon, the other being Strong Arm of the Law. Much music is meant to be played loud, roaring down the road in your car. Wheels of Steel is one of those albums. From "Motorcycle Man" to "Machine Gun" this discs races from begining to end. The intensity never lets up!

My favorites are "747" and "Freeway Mad", but there is nothing to scoff at here. Discover why Saxon still draws crowds to their live shows with this masterpiece of metal. This is a great start up disc for those who don't know Saxon, although I would suggest spending the extra couple bucks and get the Wheels of Steel/Strong Arm compilation. You will pat yourself on the back for such genius and some lady in leather might just love you for it!

Forever a classic-this album will never age.......2000-06-11

This album is that rarest of things- a truly 5 star album.Look , just buy it ,alright?

Phase 4 Stereo: Gilbert & Sullivan: HMS Pinafore / D'Oyly Carte Opera Company

Average customer rating:

Great CD's
A much maligned joy!
A Pinafore performance that deserves more acceptance
A good Pinafore, bird, boards and brine included
A fun, lighthearted, well-done musical comedy.

Phase 4 Stereo: Gilbert & Sullivan: HMS Pinafore / D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Arthur Sullivan , Arthur Jackson , Thomas Lawlor , Ralph Mason , Valerie Masterson , Donald Adams , John Reed , Christene Palmer , John Ayldon , Pauline Walkes , James Walker , and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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HMS Pinafore: or The Lass That Loved a Sailor Vocal Score

ASIN: B0000042GK
Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

HMS Pinafore: Overture
HMS Pinafore - Act I: We Sail The Ocean Blue
HMS Pinafore - Act I: Hail, Men-O'-Wars' Men
HMS Pinafore - Act I: I'm Called Little Buttercup
HMS Pinafore - Act I: Aye, Little Buttercup - And Well Called
HMS Pinafore - Act I: But, Tell Me - Who's The Youth?
HMS Pinafore - Act I: The Nightingale Sighed
HMS Pinafore - Act I: A Maiden Fair To See
Ah, My Poor Lad, You've Climbed Too High
My Gallant Crew, Good Morning
HMS Pinafore: I Am The Captain Of The Pinafore
HMS Pinafore - Act I: Sir, You Are Sad!
HMS Pinafore - Act I: Sorry Her Lot Who Loves Too Well
HMS Pinafore - Act I: My Child, I Grieve To See
HMS Pinafore - Act I: Over The Bright Blue Sea
HMS Pinafore - Act I: Now Give Three Cheers...I Am The Monarch Of The Sea
HMS Pinafore - Act I: When I Was A Lad I Served A Term
HMS Pinafore - Act I: You've A Remarkably Fine Crew
HMS Pinafore - Act I: Ah! Sir Joseph's ATrue Gentleman
HMS Pinafore - Act I: A British Tar Is A Soaring Soul
HMS Pinafore - Act I: It Is Useless - Sir Joseph's Attentions Nauseate Me
HMS Pinafore - Act I: Refrain, Audacious Tar
HMS Pinafore - Act I: Can I Survive this Overbearing?
HMS Pinafore - Act I: O Joy, O Rapture Unforeseen
HMS Pinafore - Act I: This Very Night
HMS Pinafore - Act I: Let's Give Three Cheers For The Sailor's Bride

Tracks:

HMS Pinafore - Act II: Entracte
HMS Pinafore - Act II: Fair Moon, To Thee I Sing
HMS Pinafore - Act II: How Sweetly He Carols Forth
HMS Pinafore - Act II: Things Are Seldom What They Seem
HMS Pinafore - Act II: Incomprehensible As Her Utterances Are
HMS Pinafore - Act II: The Hours Creep On Apace
HMS Pinafore - Act II: A Simple Sailor, Lowly Born
HMS Pinafore - Act II: Madam, It Has Been Misrepresented To Me
HMS Pinafore - Act II: Never Mind The Why And Wherefore
HMS Pinafore - Act II: Sir Joseph, I Cannot Express To You My Delight
HMS Pinafore - Act II: Kind Captain, I've Important Information
HMS Pinafore - Act II: Dick Deadeye - I ank Yoiu For Your Warning...Carefully On Tiptoe Stealing
HMS Pinafore - Act II: Hold! Pretty Daughter Of Mine
HMS Pinafore - Act II: In Uttering A Reprobation
HMS Pinafore - Act II: Now Tell Me, My Fine Fellow
HMS Pinafore - Act II: Farewell, My Own
HMS Pinafore - Act II: A Many Years Ago
HMS Pinafore - Act II: Then I Am To Understand
HMS Pinafore - Act II: O Joy, O Rapture Unforeseen
The Pirates Of Penzance: Hold, Monsters
The Pirates Of Penzance: I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General
The Pirates Of Penzance: With Cat-Like Tread
The Pirates Of Penzance: When the Foeman Bares His Steel
Ruddigore: Ruddigore - There Grew a Little Flower (Dame Hannah) (Sir Roderic Murgatroyd)
The Mikado: A Wand'ring Minstrel I
The Mikado: A More Humane Mikado
The Mikado: Three Little Maids From School Are We
The Mikado: On A Tree By A Willow, 'Tit Willow'
The Mikado: The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring

Customer Reviews:

Great CD's.......2005-09-20

I love the versions of "I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General" and "When I Was A Lad". The lyrics were fairly easy to understand and the vocals were fun and spunky, just as Gilbert & Sullivan should be:). I have no complaints (even the price was right); all in all two great CDs.

A much maligned joy!.......2001-01-20

This recording dating from 1971 is now realised on CD with superb sound quality. The cast was probably the last great line up of the late years of the former D'Oyly Carte Company.

John Reed does appear tired and stale, this is due to the closeness of the recording making for a 'radio broadcast' effect. Thomas Lawler as Capt Corcoran (at the time husband of Pauline Wales, Cousin Hebe) is excellent. I remember seeing this cast in performance, minus Valerie Masterson, who was brought in as guest artiste for the recording. They were superb then, with particular mention of the brilliant Christene Palmer (a fantastic Katisha in The Mikado), Arthur Jackson who had a great presence on stage and was a superb Pooh-Bah, his round tones suit admirably the role of Carpenters-Mate.

Ralph Mason, as Ralph Rackstraw (pronounced as Rafe, a Victorian English idiosyncracy) made a superb attempt at all the parts he played in repertory, of particular note being Earl Tolloller in Iolanthe.

This recording is worth the purchase to recall or find for the first time the last glimpses of this much lamented troupe. Except for the weak John Ayldon, Dick Deadeye, who does not have the satanic glitter of the late Donald Adams or Darrell Fancourt, the rest are superb. A pity the newer, yet fresher company does not have the subtlety of tradition or performance quality. Ah well, lack-a-day! we can't have everything...Can we?

A Pinafore performance that deserves more acceptance.......2000-11-25

Ever since D'Oyly Carte made this wonderful recording of Pinafore in 1971, it has been given somewhat unfair critiques, including one that called it "infamous." That criticism came about because of the distorted sound on the original LP issue, but things seem to have improved with this CD reissue, allowing the performance to be heard more clearly. Nevertheless, the artistic distinction of the performance still manages to shine through brightly, and this alone can contribute to the winning appeal of its admirers.

Even despite the fact that John Reed gives a memorable performance of the Ruler of the Queen's Navee, his portrayal seems to have deteriorated a little bit. This is due to the obvious staleness of his voice (well, it was a feature of all the D'Oyly Carte recordings that were made from the 1968 Pirates onwards, so you mustn't blame him!) and his deteriorating diction. Some of the words were not pronounced clearly, as in his character's famous comical autobiographical song, and there is evidence of sloppiness of hte notes in places. The other major drawback is John Ayldon's Deadeye. Like all D'Oyly Carte recordings to which he contributed, this one was ruined by the unpleasant gruffness of his voice. His portrayal seems not to match Donald Adams on every level. However, for the rest of the cast, there is much to please the ear. Thomas Lawlor makes as first-class a Captain as Jeffrey Stitch, Gordon Sandison or Thomas Allen, but even though he has a slightly heavy and dark-timbred voice, he nevertheless manages to remove it from this recording. He is certainly better suited to this role than to Deadeye, the role he played on the New Sadler's Wells recording. Ralph Mason makes a heady-toned Rackstraw, and he certainly is a joy to hear on record, determined to win the hand of Josephine, who is memorably characterised by the best G&S prima donna, Valerie Masterson. She sings with a full-blooded mature soprano voice with which she gives a melancholy air to her opening ballad and blood to her grand operatic scene. She is certainly better than Jean Hindmarsh, if only by a small margin, even though the twitter in the latter's voice does not hurt at all. And lastly, I would like to highlight the underrated Christene Palmer's fruity portrayal of Little Buttercup, which is on par with Gillian Knight and Felicity Palmer. The rest of the cast is splendid, the choral singing as well-disciplined as the orchestra, and James Walker paces the tempi nicely, with some small quibbles that don't matter a lot. The recording has transferred well to CD, and the sound effects kept to a minimum, to help give a sense of atmosphere. The dry recording is also characteristic of all D'Oyly Carte recordings made from their 1968 Pirates onwards. The major complaint is the Spectacular fill-ups which don't seem to fit in with Pinafore, as they are too improperly chosen and the tempi too slow. If the CD ends with The flowers that bloom in the spring, it does not give a definite sense of an ending.

Overall, I would safely say that while this is not necessarily a first-choice, its artistic merits shine through compellingly to make it be one. Let me advise you to ignore the Spectacular items by programming them out. Anyone who wants a standard D'Oyly Carte performance will be well pleased with this.

A good Pinafore, bird, boards and brine included.......1998-09-30

This CD release of an early 70s recording has been given something of a reprieve from the original branding of it as "the most infamous Pinafore". The added sound effects of seagull, creaking timbers and the sea sloshing against the ship's sides seems mostly to have been forgiven. These aural props are only present between songs and when present provide a pleasant theatrical quality to the recording. D'Oyly Carte is in good form here and the close microphone Phase 4 recording makes audibility excellent - something Gilbert would have appreciated if the Savoy had offered anything as good.

A fun, lighthearted, well-done musical comedy........1998-09-24

This recording of Pinafore is well done. The listener can really get a sense of the enjoyment the singers experience in this show. It brought back pleasant memories of my own cast experience.

Average customer rating:

Great CD
Good deal for a great underrated metal band
Two of their defining moments
STRAIGHT FORWARD HEAVY METAL!!
Stron Arm of the Law

Wheels of Steel/Strong Arm of the Law
Saxon
Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Denim and Leather
Power & the Glory
Saxon
Crusader
Innocence Is No Excuse

ASIN: B000005RRS
Release Date: 1997-02-14

Tracks:

Motorcycle Man
Stand Up And Be Counted
747 (Strangers In The Night)
Wheels Of Steel
Freeway Mad
See The Light Shining
Street Fighting Man
Suzie Hold On
MacHine Gun
Judgement Day (Live)
Wheels Of Steel (7 Inch Version)
See The Light Shining (Live)
Wheels Of Steel (Live)
747 (Strangers In The Night) (Live)
Stallions Of The Highway (Live)

Tracks:

Heavy Metal Thunder
To Hell And Back Again
Strong Arm Of The Law
Taking Your Chances
20,000 Feet
Hungry Years
Sixth Form Girls
Dallas 1 Pm
20,000 Feet (Live)
Dallas 1 Pm (Live)
Hungry Years (Live)
Strong Arm Of The Law (Live)
Heavy Metal Thunder (Live)

Album Description

1997 EMI Centenary release, a double disc with 28 digitally remastered tracks. Contains their 1980 albums 'Wheels Of Steel' & 'Strong Arm Of The Law' and 11 bonus tracks: 'Wheels Of Steel' (7in Version) & live versions of 'See The Light Shining', 'Wheels Of Steel', '747 (Strangers In The Night)', 'Stallions Of The Highway', '20,000 Feet', 'Dallas 1 PM', 'Hungry Years' & 'Strong Arm Of The Law', 'Heavy Metal Thunder' and 'Judgement Day'. Double slimline jewel case.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Double CD Set of their Second and Third Albums plus 11 Bonus Tracks.

Customer Reviews:

Great CD.......2007-07-12

I only give 5 stars if I love every song on a CD. With that being said, four stars is a must-have in my book. This CD rocks. Saxon was and is one of those bands that is very underated. A Heavy Metal fan will appreciate this band. If you like Sabbath, if you like old Rainbow (Dio Years), if you like Motorhead, you will like Saxon. My favorite song is Dallas 1PM especially when they break into the radio recording of JFK's assassination. I also like 20000 feet, Heavy Metal Thunder, Strong Arm of the Law, Hungry Years, Wheels of Steel, and To Hell And Back Again

If you are looking for a commercial band, don't look here because Biff Byford and the boys get down in the dirt and rock.

Good deal for a great underrated metal band.......2006-07-13

Like their counterparts UFO, Britain's Saxon gained a healthy cult audience in the US but never quite broke big, ala Judas Priest or Iron Maiden, although they should have, as this double disc testifies.
Like other bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Saxon featured a duel guitar lineup, with ripping leads courtesy of Paul Quinn and Biff Byford's classic voice, not to mention lyrical variety uncommon to most metal bands.
"Wheels Of Steel" is classic metal, harder than early '70's metal with the exception of Sabbath, and a harbinger of the Bay area thrash that was soon to come.
"Strong Arm of The Law" shows off some blues roots (Hungry Years, title track, a nifty chord progression in "Taking Your Chances" and prototypical thrash metal in "Hell And Back Again" and "20,000 Feet."
That this outfit is still around is a credit to their craft and makes one wonder why they didn't bust the US wide open. It's our loss.

Two of their defining moments .......2006-06-10

I think most people will agree that this is the "classic" Saxon sound. They were finding their feet on their debut "Saxon" but with their second album Wheels Of Steel they really managed to hone their sound into something timeless. The following album Denim And Leather was excellent as well, and they capped off their winning streak with the high energy The Eagle Has Landed Live Album.

However in response to a reviewer below who said that everything after 1984s Crusader album was garbage, I don't really agree. From 1985s Innocence Is No Excuse up to and including 1992s Forever Free they have a bit more polished sound, generally less exciting songs but overall the albums from that period have about a 50/50 split between good songs and weaker songs. To me though they've staged a real comeback satarting with 1995s Dogs Of War. The songs are harder although they still have hooks and melodies without encroaching into their late 1980s pop metal phase.

Personally I like most phases Saxon, including their more "pop metal" phase, but I understand that not everyone may feel that way. If you prefer rawer, more headbanging rock then this Wheels Of Steel/ Strong Arm Of The Law double pack is probably your best introduction to Saxon. I could also recommend anything from 1995 onwards too if you like the basic Saxon sound;

Dogs Of War -1995 (although still a bit of the pop-metal evident)
Unleash The Beast-1997 (with darker themes)
Metalhead-1999
Killing Ground-2001
Lionheart-2004

STRAIGHT FORWARD HEAVY METAL!!.......2003-12-19

This is the band that put straight , raw metal in your face and best part is they know how to play. These are two of the best cd's put out by saxon along with the eagle has landed live.So if your tiered of d tuned garbage, go back to the old school of classic metal and buy this cd.

Stron Arm of the Law.......2003-04-28

Strong arm of the law is excellent album, if you like 80's metal. It's a classic. Very listenable and solid. Wheels of Steel is OK.

I give Strong Arm a 4. Wheels of steel is more like a 2.5 as far as I'm concerned.

Tracks:

Ride Of The Valkyries - San Diego Symphony Orchestra
Vesti La Giubba - Jose Perez
Intermezzo - London Festival Orchestra
Overture - London Festival Orchestra
Prelude - Philharmonia Orchestra Of London
Aragonaise - Philharmonia Orchestra Of London
Seguedille - Philharmonia Orchestra Of London
Bohemian Dance - Philharmonia Orchestra Of London
The Toreador Song - Philharmonia Orchestra Of London
Polovstian Dances 8 And 17 - Ljubljana Radio Symphony Orchestra
Pace, Pace Mio Dio - Leontyne Price
Overture - London Philharmonic Orchestra
Barcarolle - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Gypsy Chorus - Bavarian Festival Orchestra And Chorus
Royal Hunt And Storm - Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
O Mio Babbino Caro - Ljiljan Molnar-Talajic

Tracks:

Overture - Utah Symphony Orchestra
Questo A Quella - Jose Perez
Un Bei Di - Vanda Gerlovic
Che Gelida Manina - Jose Perez
Overture - Utah Symphony Orchestra
Ach, So Fromm - Jose Perez
Overture And Prelude - Ljubljana Radio Symphony Orchestra
Visi D'arte - Leontyne Price
Celeste, Aida - Jose Perez
Triumphal March - Jose Perez
Ballet Music - Jose Perez
The Viennese Musical Clock - Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Overture - London Symphony Orchestra
We Sail The Ocean - Rochester Philharmonic Chorus
I'm Called Little Buttercup - Rochester Philharmonic Chorus
When I Was A Lad - Rochester Philharmonic Chorus
Never Mind The Why And Wherefore - Rochester Philharmonic Chorus

Tracks:

La Donna E Mobile - Jose Perez
Prelude - Slavonic Philharmonic Orchestra
Servantsd Chorus - Ljubljana Radio Chorus
Mon Coer S' Ouvre A Ta Voix - Marijana Radev
Waltz - Vienna Folk Opera Orchestra
A Wand'ring Minstrel, I - Rochester Philharmonic Chorus
Three Little Maids - Rochester Philharmonic Chorus
Here's A How-De-Do - Rochester Philharmonic Chorus
Beauty In The Bellow - Rochester Philharmonic Chorus
He's Gone And Married Yum-Yum - Rochester Philharmonic Chorus
Overture - Philharmonia Orchestra Of London
Waltz - Houston Symphony Orchestra
Peasants' Chorus - Nuremberg Symphony Chorus
Overture - Philharmonia Orchestra Of London
E Strano E Strano - Biserka Cvejic
Overture - Philharmonia Orchestra Of London

Tracks:

Overture - Utah Symphony Orchestra
Bridal Chorus - Ljubljana Radio Symphony Chorus
Overture - London Festival Orchestra
Pour, O Pour The Pirate Sherry - Rochester Philharmonic Chorus
Oh, Better Far To Live And Die - Rochester Philharmonic Chorus
I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major General - Rochester Philharmonic Chorus
When The Foeman Bares His Steel - Rochester Philharmonic Chorus
With Cat-Like Tread - Rochester Philharmonic Chorus
Summertime - Leontyne Price
Overture - London Festival Orchestra
Contro Un Cor - Rita Noel
Overture - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Painless and Pleasant.......2000-08-19

It's not that I hate opera, it's rather that I cannot handle and entire opera without nodding off. This 4 disc CD provides highlights from the most famous and recognizable arias, i.e., Pagliacci, Carmen, Rigoletto, Madame Butterfly, La Boheme, The Mikado, and H.M.S. Pinafore -- just to mention a few. I appreciate the ability to enjoy select arias from some of the most beautiful and and exceptional operas in the world, and played by first class orchestras, without having to sit through the entire opera.

Gilbert & Sullivan: The Pirates Of Penzance

Average customer rating:

full description missing
Fine Excerpts At An Affordable Price
Excerpts And Highlights From The Pirates Of Penzance
Pirates Of Penzance Highlights At A Cheap Price !!
A reasonably good abridgement to this ever-popular G&S opera

Gilbert & Sullivan: The Pirates Of Penzance

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sullivan: Mikado
Gilbert & Sullivan: HMS Pinafore Highlights
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Gilbert & Sullivan - The Pirates of Penzance / Kline, Ronstadt, Smith, Routledge, Delacorte Theater (Broadway Theatre Archive)
Mozart: Requiem

ASIN: B00000420J
Release Date: 1993-05-11

Tracks:

Pirates Of Penzance: Overture
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - Pour, Oh Pour The Pirate Sherry
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - When Fred'ric Was A Little Lad
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - Oh, Better Far to Live and Die
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - Climbing Over Rocky Mountain
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - Oh, Sisters, Dear To Pity's Name, For Shame!
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - Poor Wand'ring One!
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - How Beautifully Blue The Sky
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - Stay, We Must Not Lose Our Senses
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. II - Oh, Dry The Glist'ning Tear
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. II - Then Frederic .. When The Foeman Bares His Steel
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. II - Stay, Fred'ric, Stay!
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. II - When A Felon's Not Engaged In His Employment
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. II - With Cat-Like Tread
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. II - Hush! Hush! Not A Word
Pirates Of Penzance: Act. II - Sighing Softly To The River ... (Finale)

Customer Reviews:

full description missing.......2006-08-18

While the music that is on the CD is good, a several numbers are missing! It's not the full operetta

Fine Excerpts At An Affordable Price.......2004-02-07

Gilbert And Sullivan. Eternal names in the musical theatre scene. They were the 19th century British version of Rodgers and Hammerstein or Lerner and Loewe. And this was long before Broadway, when the Savoy was the vogue of musical comedy and the Savoyards were highly popular entertainers. William S. Gilbert provided the libretti and lyrics to the operettas, while Arthur Sullivan, who was a serious music composer in his own right, provided the music. The operettas or light operas they wrote were mostly up-beat social satires dressed up as comedy, very theatrical, historical, inventive, and very patriotic to Brittain. Their works borrowed the opera technique- choruses, arias, ensembles, but as far as plot and content their only serious work was The Yeomen Of The Guard. Other Gilbert And Sullivan hits include Trial By Jury, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Mikado, Princess Ida and The Gondoliers. Gilbert And Sullivan's manager/impresario was Richard D'Oyly Carte.

This recording is only highlights from a 1968 recording (also available on Amazon.com) with the D'Oyly Carte Opera, conductor Isidore Godfrey directs the Royal Philharmonic. In the role of Frederick, lyric tenor Phillip Potter, in the role of Mabel, soprano Valerie Masterson, John Reed as Major General Stanley, Donald Adams as The Pirate King,Owen Brannigan as the Sergeant Of Police, and mezzo soprano Christine Palmer as Nurse Ruth. These singers were at their vocal peaks, and they provide much comedic acting as well. Impressive scenes include the mezzo soprano vocals of Christine Palmer's Ruth as she describes how she mistook "Pilot" for "Pirate" when nursing Frederick (When Frederick Was A Little Lad"), Frederick's plea to the daughters of the Major General to accept him as husband (O Is There Not One Maiden Breast) Valerie Masterson, whose Mabel is the best, singing the coloratura showcase "Poor Wondering One" and her duet in "Stay Frederick Stay" John Reed singing "I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major General" is hilarious and a display of virtuosity for this type of singing. The beautiful chorus "O Dry The Glistening Tear" the upbeat "With Cat Like Tread" and the finale are exceptional.

Excerpts And Highlights From The Pirates Of Penzance.......2004-02-04

This cd contains only highlights and excerpts from the 1968 recording by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. For a full recording, check it out on the Amazon.com catalog under Gilbert and Sullivan Pirates Of Penzance D'Oyl Carte Opera. This company was founded by the original impresario and manager of the Gilbert and Sullivan productions in the late 19th century, Richard D'Oyly Carte. Arthur Sullivan, who was a well-known composer, provided the music and William Gilbert wrote the libretti. Their partnership was a match made in heaven, as evident in the success of their many operettas, beginning with the smash hit "Trial By Jury" and even on to the more serious opera "The Yeomen Of The Guard". Nevertheless, Gilbert and Sullivan had different temperaments and did'nt always get along very well. They split up sometime in the 1890's. Other famous light operas of theirs include The H.M.S. Pinafore, The Mikado, Iolanthe, Princess Ida and The Gondoliers. Light opera or operetta was the vogue of the day, especially popular in the Savoy Theatre in London. Although it was not opera, it borrowed much of the opera techniques- namely arias and chorus. The entertainment of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas were very much like Broadway musicals. In fact, one could make the argument that the Savoy was the Broadway long before American Broadway theatre and Gilbert and Sullivan were like an early British form of Rodgers and Hammersteins or Lerner and Loewe.

The Pirate Of Penzance is a beautiful work of art. The sugary and sentimental story is about the exoneration of pirates, who are noble men who have "gone astray" by such authorities as the Major General,his daughters and the Sergeant of Police. Through the course of the opera, Frederick, who was nursed by Ruth and reared by the Pirate King and his roguish band of pirates. When the daughters of Major General Stanley reject his proposals of love, only Mabel consents to love him. But there's a catch. Frederick is in the hands of the pirates until he comes of age but he was born on a leap year and not until 1940 will he be released. The ending is happy and finds the pirates forgivened by the authorities and Mabel and Frederick are happily married.

The singers really deliver a great performance. In the role of the Major General Stanley is John Reed, who by the time of this recording was a veteran singer in the company. He comes off as fatherly, authoritive but cheerful. An especially skilled type of singer is needed for the master song "I am the Very Model Of A Modern Major General". In contrast, a lyric tenderness is required in the final song "Sighing Softly To The River". As mentioned, a lot of this light opera shines with chorus. The excellent choruses include the opening chorus "Pour The Pirate Sherry", "Oh Dry The Glistening Tear"- this one in particular is set to beautiful music and the daughters of the Major General sound heavenly when they sing in chorus, expressive also in their chorus when Frederick sings "O, Is There Not One Maiden Breast ?". Frederick is sung by Phillip Potter, whose tenor voice is lyric and romantic, and it sounds gorgeous when in duet with Valerie Masterson's Mabel, as in the duet that follows "Stay Frederick Stay". Valerie Masterson was the principal soprano of the company and performed in various other lead roles such as Princess Yum-Yum in The Mikado. A well-schooled lyric and coloratura diva, Valerie Masterson extended her repertoire into Broadway and opera- she has sung Violetta Valery of Verdi's La Traviata (in both Italian and in English versions), Adele in Die Fledermaus and even a part in an English version of Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung. Valerie has recordings out in stock and available in Amazon.com.

Pirates Of Penzance Highlights At A Cheap Price !!.......2003-12-27

For a very reasonable, inexpensive price (around 8 dollars) this cd is a must have for those who have recently taken up an interest in Gilbert and Sullivan. Gilbert and Sullivan were a team of composer and librettist, both Englishmen, from the late 19th century who composed operettas written in the English language and in the spirit of popular folk song of the Victorian period (roughly 1870's, 1880's and 1890's ) The light operas were equally as light in plot and mood- they were cheery, uncomplicated stories, a lot of them set on a naval vessel out at sea. They poked fun at the Victorian way of life, in much the same vein that Offenbach satirized the French of his day during the Second Empire (1860's). Gilbert and Sullivan composed many operettas that still remain popular today, especially The Mikado, The H.M.S. Pinafore and in this case The Pirates Of Penzance. The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company specialized exclusively in the art of Gilbert and Sullivan and have long been regarded as the finest interpreters of the style. In the 50's and 60's they performed live and made a variety of recordings, employing the talents of many outstanding English singers- among them lyric soprano Valerie Masterson.

In The Pirates Of Penzance, Mabel and Frederick are temporarily seperated lovers when Frederick is accused of a crime he did not commit. The plot involves pirates, among them the bass-baritone Pirate King. Light-hearted, bouncy tunes abound in what is considered the direct ancestor to Broadway musicals. The Overture makes use of the chorus "With Cat Like Tread" a march-like, jovial piece of music. The Highlights on this cd include "Pour O Pour The Pirate Sherry", "When Frederick Was A Lad", " Poor Wondering One", "I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major General" and the uplifting finale. Valerie Masterson plays the role of Mabel. Her voice is fresh, agile, lyric and she has excellent command of coloratura when warranted, as she sings in "Poor Wondering One". This 1968 recording is in its entirety on the same label with the same singers on a different cd recording.

A reasonably good abridgement to this ever-popular G&S opera.......2001-03-08

This budget-priced abridgement of D'Oyly Carte's incomporable 1968 PIRATES is a reasonably good way for beginners to get started on the opera itself. The D'Oyly Carte's performance is top-notch and beyond reproach and Isidore Godfrey elicits delicate playing from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The 62-minute playing time gives exceptionl value for money, even though there are scenes I feel should hae been omitted such as Frederic's "Oh is there not one maiden breast" that hold up the action. It would have been ince to include the Act One finale because it reveals what is to come in the second act. To round off, some people think that this performance of PIRATES is far too operatic, but this is Sullivan's original arrangement and not others' work.

Average customer rating:

The best? I think not.
can't understand the words

The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Ultimate Gilbert & Sullivan Collection
Gilbert & Sullivan - Highlights from The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Yeomen of the Guard, Trial of Jury
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The Complete Annotated Gilbert & Sullivan

ASIN: B00004W5AD
Release Date: 2000-08-08

Tracks:

H.M.S. Pinafore: Ov - Orch Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr/John Owen Edwards
H.M.S. Pinafore: We Sail The Ocean Blue - Tom McVay/Gordon Sandison/Yvonne Barclay
H.M.S. Pinafore: Never Mind The Why And Wherefore - Tom McVay/Gordon Sandison/Yvonne Barclay
The Yeomen Of The Guard: When Maiden Loves She Sits And Sighs - Janine Roebuck
The Yeomen Of The Guard: Here's A Man Of Jollity - Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
Iolanthe: Tripping Hither, Tripping Thither - Yvonne Patrick/Madeliene Mitchell/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
Iolanthe: The Law Is The True Embodiment - Richard Suart/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
Iolanthe: When I Went To The Bar - Richard Suart
Iolanthe: Strephon's A Member Of Parliament! - Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
Iolanthe: When Britain Really Rul'd The Waves - Lawrence Richard/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
Iolanthe: Finale Act Two: Soon As We May - Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
The Pirates Of Penzance: Ov - Orch Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr/John Pryce-Jones
The Pirates Of Penzance: Poor Wand'ring One - Marilyn Hill Smith/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
The Pirates Of Penzance: I Am The Very Model - Eric Robertson/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
The Pirates Of Penzance: When The Foeman Bares His Steel - Simon Masterton Smith/Marilyn Hill Smith/Patricia Cameron/Eric Robertson/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte...
The Pirates Of Penzance: With Cat-Like Tread - Gareth Jones/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
The Mikado: If You Want To Know Who We Are - Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
The Mikado: The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring - Bonaventura Bottone/Eric Roberts/Deborah Rees/Thora Ker/Malcom Rivers
The Mikado: On A Tree By A River - Eric Roberts
Patience: The Soldiers Of Our Queen - Donald Maxwell/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
Patience: If You Want A Receipt For That Popular Mystery - Donald Maxwell/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
Patience: Am I Alone And Unobserved - Simon Butteriss
Patience: If You're Anxious For To Shine - Simon Butteriss
The Gondoliers: We're Called Gondolieri - David Fieldsend/Alan Oke
The Gondoliers: From The Sunny Spanish Shore - Richard Suart/Jill Pert/Elizabeth Woollett/Philip Casey
The Gondoliers: For Ev'ry One Who Feels Inclined - David Fieldsend/Alan Oke/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
The Gondoliers: Take A Pair Of Sparkling Eyes - David Fieldsend
The Gondoliers: Dance A Cachucha - Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr

Customer Reviews:

The best? I think not........2004-01-11

This disc includes some songs that, while I like them, are not what people might consider the "best" of G&S. Of course, anything by G&S is good, it's still not the "best of the best."

There has got to be something that better represents the G&S canon.

can't understand the words.......2004-01-08

Don't know about those other reviewers, but I just can't make out very much of the lyrics. Maybe those folk have better CD players or better hearing, but it's pretty much a blur to me. I strongly recommend "The Ultimate Gilbert and Sullivan" instead.

Average customer rating:

Good bargain.

56 Favorites

Manufacturer: Prism Leisure
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Gilbert & Sullivan - Highlights from The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Yeomen of the Guard, Trial of Jury
The Pirate Queen (2007 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B000068ZTB
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Tracks:

Hark the Hour of Ten Is Sounding [From Trial by Jury]
Judge's Song [From Trial by Jury]
We Sail the Ocean Blue..... Buttercup's Song [From H. M. S. Pinafore]
My Gallant Crew... I Am the Captin of the Pinafore [From H. M. S. ...]
When I Was a Lad [From H. M. S. Pinafore]
Never Mind the Why and Wherefore [From H. M. S. Pinafore]
He Is an Englishman [From H. M. S. Pinafore]
Pirate King's Song [From the Pirates of Penzance]
Oh Is There Not One Maiden Breast? ...Poor Wandering One [From the ...]
How Beautifully Blue the Sky [From the Pirates of Penzance]
I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General [From the Pirates of ...]
When the Foeman Bears His Steel [From the Pirates of Penzance]
When You Had Left Our Pirate Fold [From the Pirates of Penzance]
Ah! Leave Me Not to Pine Alone [From the Pirates of Penzance]
Policeman's Lot Is Not a Happy One [From the Pirates of Penzance]
With Catlike Tread [From the Pirates of Penzance]
March and Entry of the Peers [From Iolanthe]
Law Is the True Embodiment [From Iolanthe]
When I Went to the Bar [From Iolanthe]
When All Night Long [From Iolanthe]
When Britain Really Ruled the Waves [From Iolanthe]
Oh Foolish Fay [From "Iolanthe"]
Nightmare Song [From Iolanthe]
If You Go In [From Iolanthe]
Finale: Soon as We May [From Iolanthe]

Tracks:

If You Want to Know Who We Are.... a Wandering Minstrel I [From ...]
Our Great Mikado [From the Mikado]
Behold the Lord High Executioner [From the Mikado]
I've Got a Little List [From the Mikado]
Three Little Maids from School [From the Mikado]
Braid the Raven Hair [From the Mikado]
Sun Whose Rays [From the Mikado]
Here's a How-De-Do [From the Mikado]
More Humane Mikado [From the Mikado]
Flowers That Bloom in the Spring [From the Mikado]
Tit Willow [From the Mikado]
There Is Beauty in the Bellow of the Blast [From the Mikado]
Is Life a Boon? [From the Yeomen of the Guard]
Where I Thy Bride [From the Yeomen of the Guard]
Hereupon We're Both Agreed [From the Yeomen of the Guard]
Strange Adventure [From the Yeomen of the Guard]
Man Who Would Woo a Fair Maid [From the Yeomen of the Guard]
When a Wooer Goes a Wooing [From the Yeomen of the Guard]
For the Merriest Fellows Are We [From the Gondoliers]
We're Called Gondolieri [From the Gondoliers]
From the Sunny Spanish Shore [From the Gondoliers]
In Enterprise of Martial Kind [From the Gondoliers]
I Stole the Prince [From the Gondoliers]
When a Merry Maiden Marries [From the Gondoliers]
Regular, Royal Queen [From the Gondoliers]
Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes [From the Gondoliers]
There Lived a King [From the Gondoliers]
In a Contemplative Fashion [From the Gondoliers]
Small Titles and Orders [From the Gondoliers]
I Am a Courtier Grave and Serious [From the Gondoliers]
Finale: Once More Gondolieri [From the Gondoliers]

Customer Reviews:

Good bargain........2004-08-25

The performances are good--this is the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, after all--and you get 2 full CDs, with 2 selections from "Trial by Jury", 5 from "HMS Pinafore", 9 from "The Pirates of Penzance", 9 from "Iolanthe", 12 from "The Mikado", 6 from "The Yeomen of the Guard", and 13 from "The Gondoliers". The booklet is a bit skimpy, and only lists recording dates for the first CD (1929-1949). But the sound is good, and the music is great, and at this price it's a great "greatest hits" collection.

Music Track:

Music Track

music track

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