A Summer Dream

Track Listings

1. Springtime

2. Come Out And Play

3. The Calling

4. Summer of 98

5. Lost

6. Last Walk

7. I Love You I Do

8. Last Breath

9. Mama

10. A Summer Dream

Editorial Reviews
From the Artist
This CD is very personal to me. Because of that, I recommend you listen to the CD 1st without reading the lyrics then listen to it and follow along with the lyrics. This way you can have two version in your mind. One that is light, but also one that can be personal to you as well

Product Description
"A Summer Dream" takes you on a soulful journey with ten new age songs given ambient overtones. This CD will leave you feeling quite different than you thought it would. Cason's piano is complemented with her orchestral and soft synthesized arrangements. You can tell that she placed all of the songs in a particular order on "A Summer Dream that re-lived her summer of 98. Cason's arrangement of "Last Breath", will do just that to you. This piece is one for the movies since the arrangement is so cinematic. The last song, which is the title track, finishes your musical journey with hope that all dreams are more than just another dimension of reality. Cason has taken us into a world that we all fall into when we dream and gives us hope that the dreams we dream are real. With all of her lovely melodies with synth flute, guitar and orchestral sounds, "A Summer Dream" is a great easy listening musical journey. You can listen to "A Summer Dream" at shirleycason.com

A Summer Dream,Shirley Cason,Rainbow Lakes Records,Adult Alternative,Contemporary Instrumental,Electronic,Solo Instrumental

A Summer Dream

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.

Jerry Hadley - Golden Days - Tenor hits from the Golden Age of Operetta

Average customer rating:

Jerry Hadley - Golden Days - Tenor hits from the Golden Age of Operetta

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003FQQ
Release Date: 1994-08-16

Tracks:

Song of the Vagabonds
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Golden Days - Jerry Hadley, Mario Lanza

Average customer rating:

A Beautiful, Relaxing Project
It just cannot be the end for Charlotte's classical career! :(
Charlotte Church
Somewhat decent but still mediocre
R&B For Charlotte

Prelude: The Best of Charlotte Church
Charlotte Church
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Enchantment
Voice of an Angel
Charlotte Church
Tissues and Issues
Dream a Dream

ASIN: B00006LFGG
Release Date: 2002-11-26

Tracks:

Pie Jesu from Requiem
My Lagan Love
In Trutina (from Carmina Burana)
Panis Angelicus
Amazing Grace
Just Wave Hello
La Pastorella (The Little Shepherdess)
She Moved Through The Fair
Ave Maria
Dream A Dream (w/ Billy Gilman)
The Flower Duet
Haba
The Prayer (w/ Josh Groban)
All Love Can Be
It's The Heart That Matters Most
Tantum Ergo
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Sancta Maria

Amazon.com

Need more evidence of the record industry's obsession with youth? Consider that budding Welsh diva Charlotte Church was a ripe, old 16 when this, her first greatest-hits anthology was released. Spanning her first four releases, as well as some outside collaborations and unreleased material, this 18-track collection underscores the soprano's seemingly boundless potential--as well as some potential career obstacles ahead. Her crystalline, still-maturing voice is best showcased on classically oriented works like Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Pie Jesu," Franck's "Panis Angelicus," and her now-ubiquitous rendering of Delibes' "Flower Duet." She also excels on folk traditionals such as "She Moved Through the Fair" and "My Langan Love." But overwrought productions like the already-dated "Dream a Dream" and "Habanera," a faux-flamenco take on Bizet, nearly get the best of her. Still, her promising duet with fellow young phenom Josh Groban on "The Prayer" and her mature, dreamy reading of A Beautiful Mind's "All Love Can Be," as well as strong performances on the previously unreleased "It's the Heart That Matters Most" and "Bridge over Troubled Waters," are ample evidence of her potential for rewarding pop crossover--if she doesn't retire by 21. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

A Beautiful, Relaxing Project.......2007-06-15

My only other experience with Charlotte Church was seeing part of a PBS special on her, where she sang songs like "Some Enchanted Evening". I actually enjoy her voice on this style of music.

I love her rendition of "Amazing Grace". She also did good on covering "Bridge Over Troubled Water", though I was disappointed she didn't try the high note on the verses as Garfunkel did. My favorite on the project was "It's the Heart That Matters Most".

If I want some beautiful sounding music to relax to while I'm working, this would be a very good project for that.

It just cannot be the end for Charlotte's classical career! :(.......2006-08-20

I'm just shocked that Charlotte has decided to end her classical career with this mediocre assortment of her most loved pieces from her other albums! I wish that she had re-sung all of the pieces to make them sound better than ever with her mature voice! To me, it seems disgusting that anyone would want to end their career with a last album that sounds the way this album does!

Her beginning pieces (Pie Jesu, My Lagan Love, In Trutina, Panis Angelicus, and Amazing Grace) were sung at the beginning of her classical career, and you can hear her flat vowels and shaky low notes. You can also hear it in "She Moved Thru the Fair". It's really annoying!

La Pastorella is a beautiful song to sing, and Church masters it beautifully! Just Wave Hello - the Ford Anthem, is also a beautiful piece, with amazing work from the orchestra.

Ave Maria is a complete annoyance! Church lays on the high notes too much, putting too much emphasis on them, and it's an annoyance! Her vowels are also flat on the high notes - I just hate it!

Dream a Dream is a very nice piece, leaning more towards the pop scene. Church still seems to make it work, and I would listen to it all day!

The Flower Duet is a beautiful song, but Church's vocals are strained, which makes it hard to listen to with a smile on your face! It's still beautiful!

The Prayer (w/ Josh Groban) is a very nice piece, originally sung by Celine Dion. She's still a little bit flat here!

All That Love can Be is sung beautifully, completely smooth and connected. The vocals are flawless and have a mezmerizing effect.

It's the Heart that Knows is a pop piece that Church sings with strong vocals. It's just showing us that she's ending her career as a classical superstar!

Tantum Ergo, Bridge Over Troubled Water, and Sancta Maria, are all beautiful pieces!

I am a Charlotte Chruch fan, no doubt, but I really didn't like this album! I still wish that she would stay with opera, but I guess dreams don't come true! I wouldn't advise you to buy this CD - but as long as you have Voice of an Angel, Charlotte Church (the Self Titled Album) and Enchantment, there's no need for this CD!

Sorry Charlotte!

Charlotte Church.......2006-07-29

Love that voice!! This is a great CD and any one who had not heard this young lady sing should buy it and prepare for some musical enjoyment.

Somewhat decent but still mediocre.......2006-06-07

I am well aware of Charlotte's age. However, I am also aware of her amazing vocals and powerful range. But these things don't make you a good singer. Charlotte chose to stick to opera in most of her songs. And face it, not just anyone can do opera.

Charlotte's voice is very well trained - maybe too trained. From a very young age she's been hitting the same notes as Sarah Brightman. But I feel that Charlotte's over-worked and not to mention overdone voice has been declining tremendously.

But I guess none of this really matters now because I haven't heard her do anything classical for a while. If you want to listen to Charlotte now, go find the song 'Crazy Chick.'

If you want to listen to other angel voiced sopranos, I'd go with Sarah Brightman or Renee' Fleming.

R&B For Charlotte .......2006-05-07

If a bird can be annoying as in a Rooster Crowing in the morning, some people will like it. A dog can bark in the nights we sleep, some People will like it. A human voice so light, so vibrated within their own dimensions, people will like it, but not I. I never really saw the beauty of opera, agitating to the ears, just like a Rooster calling on it's hens. With that said, Charlotte needs to turn to Blues Rock or R&B. Yes, Boogie style Blues Rock, she has the voice for it. No matter how many here perceive Opera or know what should sound good, no opera singer could ever sing Blues without a voice and a heart for it. Not One! So why should a girl with soulful music embedded in her, do the same? I say, "it's time to really Rock Charlotte!"

Average customer rating:

You 're The One That I Want
Prepare to be transported to Summer Nights
Great Soundtrack & Fun Extras from an Enduring Musical.
If You Love Grease, You'll Love This - Only 1 Major Flaw
Grease CD Reveiw

Grease - Deluxe Edition
Olivia Newton-John , John Travolta , and Stockard Channing
Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000C16OQ
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Tracks:

Grease - Fankie Valli
Summer Nights - Olivia Newton-John
Hopelessly Devoted To You - Olivia Newton-John
You're The One That I Want - Olivia Newton-John
Sandy - John Travolta
Beauty School Drop-Out - Frankie Avalon
Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee - Stockard Channing
Greased Lightnin' - John Travolta
It's Raining On Prom Night - Cindy Bullens
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Born To Hand-Jive - Sha-Na-Na
Tears On My Pillow - Sha-Na-Na
Mooning - Cindy Bullens
Freddy, My Love - Cindy Bullens
Rock N' Roll Party Queen - Louis St. Louis
There Are Worse Things I Could - Stockard Channing
Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise) - Olivia Newton-John
We Go Together - Olivia Newton-John
Love Is A Many Splendored Thing (Instrumental) - Sammy Fain
Grease (Reprise) - Frankie Valli

Tracks:

Grease (Instrumental Version) - Gary Brown
Summer Nights (Sing-A-Long Version) - Jim Jacobs
Hopelessly Devoted To You (Sing-A-Long Version) - John Farrar
You're The One That I Want (Sing-A-Long Version) - John Farrar
Sandy (Sing-A-Long Version) - Louis St. Louis
Greased Lightnin' (Single Version) - John Travolta
Rydell Fight Song (Instrumental) - Jim Jacobs
Greased Up And Ready To Go (Instrumental) - Jim Jacobs
Grease Megamix: You're The One That I Want/Greased Lightnin'/Summer Nights - Olivia Newton-John
Grease Dream Mix: Grease/Sandy/Hopelessly Devoted To You - Olivia Newton-John
Summer Nights (Martian Remix) - Olivia Newton-John
You're The One That I Want (Martian Remix) - Olivia Newton-John

Amazon.com

There's no better example of American pop culture's hall-of-mirrors ethos than producer Alan Carr's relentlessly buoyant 1978 film adaptation of the stage musical Grease. Inspired by that decade's rampant 50's nostalgia, it now paradoxically evokes the campy 70's excesses that spawned it. That sense of recycled decades in collision is underscored repeatedly on this deluxe, double-disc Grease-fest, especially on the set's second disc of bonus materials that spans vintage singles of the title track (its instrumental B-side) and "Greased Lightnin'," some sing-along karaoke tracks, and a handful of alternately slick/techo-savvy remixes (originally produced for the film's 20th anniversary) that are testament to its enduring, era-defying appeal. The original soundtrack itself has been treated to a stellar digital remastering that fills disc one, and remains a joyous monument to camp, sheer ambition, and exuberant nostalgic illusions. Includes a slip-cased, double-fold-out case and new booklet with complete song lyrics. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

You 're The One That I Want.......2007-04-03

The complete Grease experience. This cd is a two disc-set with disc one being the complete soundtrack, while disc two is all bonus material including the popular Grease Megamix. Fans of the movie would want to make this cd an essential part of their music collection.

Prepare to be transported to Summer Nights.......2006-03-26

Well here we are with a great piece of history.

This album has not only captured the spirit of the movie but the essence of a 1970's version of the 1950's. I have seen this play live and yes some things are different. Yet I grew up on the movie. I even find myself singing some of the songs now and then. Of course you will never see me singing "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee." However I do keep this in my car as great driving music. This album is not you can pick apart and say things like missing songs, in the wrong order etc. It sounds and feels just right. There will be many versions yet this one is the Grease - Deluxe Edition [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] [SOUNDTRACK] gives you more information about each of the tracks allowing you to feel that you have inside information and to feel that you know more of what went into the making of each song.

Great Soundtrack & Fun Extras from an Enduring Musical........2004-07-06

I'm enjoying listening to this great soundtrack that I loved as a child after a long hiatus. I had it on 8-track 25 years ago. So it's fitting that I should get the 25th Anniversary Edition on CD. The 24 songs from the movie are just as everyone remembers them, so I'll talk about the Bonus Disc, which contains 10 alternative versions of the songs plus 2 previously unreleased instrumentals from the film.

Track 1 on the Bonus Disc is an instrumental version of the film's theme, "Grease", written and produced by Barry Gibb. Frankie Valli's voice has been replaced by a saxophone. The chorus is vocal, but the voices are not those in the original song. You could use this as a sing-along version, as it would be easy to sing over the sax. Tracks 2-5 are officially sing-along versions. "Summer Nights" includes the chorus vocals from the film and sounds good. "You're the One That I Want" has new chorus vocals of questionable merit. "Sandy" is a new arrangement. It's not as good as the film version, but you can sing along. Track 6 is the single version of "Greased Lightning" that you may have heard on the radio back in the day. It's differs from the original in that the bad words have been replaced for radio airplay. Tracks 7-8 are previously unreleased instrumentals from the film. "Greased Up and Ready to Go" is lively. Tracks 9-10 are mixes that I occasionally hear on the radio. The "Grease Megamix" and the "Grease Dream Mix" are fun, if awkward. Tracks 11-12 are Martian Remixes of "Summer Nights" and "You're the One That I Want". They retain the original vocals, but set them to a Latin rhythm. They make pretty good dance tracks.

This 2-disc set isn't in a jewel case. The case is paperboard with 4 panels that fold out. This is inside of a clear vinyl slip case on which the tracks are written. This isn't convenient packaging. On the bright side, the case won't crack in the mail. Tucked inside one of the panels is a booklet that contains lyrics and credits.

The "Grease: 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition" is a terrifically fun soundtrack to one of the all-time great movie musicals. And for all those preteen girls who go wild over the movie with each new generation, the bonus material is perfect for parties and horsing around.

If You Love Grease, You'll Love This - Only 1 Major Flaw.......2004-05-15

Disc 1 is like the original album, which I also own. 1 major flaw is that "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" cuts off at the very end of it! I was upset by this, hence the 3 stars instead of 4. Disc 2 is a lot of fun w/some remixes and sing-a-longs, all in all, I'm pretty happy with it being that I'm a HUGE Grease fan. If you like Grease, you'll love this, it's fun. Too bad when they "remastered" it, they didn't catch there 1 mistake. Oh well, at least I have it on another album.

Grease CD Reveiw.......2004-04-26

This Grease CD is the best! I listen to it every week. I just love Your The One That I Want.:) Amazon.com has everything!Olivia Newton-John and the boy singer have the best voices. Now thatnks to Amazon.com I can listen to it! The Grease CD is the best!:)

Average customer rating:

great relaxing cd
STILL GREAT LISTENING!!
Just excellant
Absolutely fabulous - Very relaxing
Outstanding!!!!!!

Summer Dream
Sweet People
Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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20 Melodies Pour Rever, Vol. 1
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Voila Pourquoi
Violons d'Acadie
Un Vrai Noel / Le Noel des Oiseaux

ASIN: B000008548
Release Date: 1990-03-26

Tracks:

Et Les Oiseaux Chantaient
Heartstrings
Un Ete Avec Toi
Elodie
Lake Como
Santorin
Ballade Pour Tsi-Co Tsi-Co
Aria Pour Une Voix
La Foret Enchantee
Barcarolle
Le Grand Large
Aria Pour Notre Amour
Perce
Nuits Blanches
A Wonderful Day

Customer Reviews:

great relaxing cd.......2007-07-25

forgot about this type music because until reciently there was no sta. that played it in the new york metro area then i discovered xm channel 78 that is playing it when they played this i had to buy it. what a great relaxing cd.

STILL GREAT LISTENING!!.......2002-02-26

Just ordered the two CD package because of the Summer Dream CD I ordered in August, 1999 (see above review). If it is possible to wear a CD out then mine is well on the way because, after almost three years it still just gets better. I am looking forward to these two new selections and if they are anything like Summer Dream I will be well pleased. I kid you not, this is really one great buy!

Just excellant.......1999-10-04

I was told this recording was not released. I never gave up looking. Since I now have a computer I found several recordings by Sweet People. I love them.

Absolutely fabulous - Very relaxing.......1999-09-06

I first heard Lake Como on the radio many years ago and bought the LP because of that number. This was long before I had a CD player. I just came back from Ireland where I saw the CD for sale at the Irish Famine Museum, of all places. This CD has different selections than the original LP I purchased and I find these to be better. I bought the CD in Ireland because I couldn't imaging it being available from Amazon. I was amazed when I saw it for less than it cost me in Ireland. Next time I'll have more faith in what's available on Amazon.

Outstanding!!!!!!.......1999-08-19

This is a beautiful CD. Particularly the Lake Como track. I heard this music played by a local D. J. and have been trying to coordinate the playing with my recording to no avail but thanks to Amazon I can now do it at my leisure. You won't be sorry by buying this CD. It is great!!!

Reneé Fleming & Jean-Yves Thibaudet - Night Songs (Fauré, Debussy, Marx, Strauss, Rachmaninov)

Average customer rating:

A lovely compilation of songs from wonderful composers
Masterful
Night Songs, Day Songs, whatever...this album is a must have!!
Musical Collaboration: Night Songs/Fleming/Thibaudet
What in the world...????

Reneé Fleming & Jean-Yves Thibaudet - Night Songs (Fauré, Debussy, Marx, Strauss, Rachmaninov)
Gabriel Fauré , and Claude Debussy
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Renée Fleming: Bel Canto

ASIN: B00005AWIA
Release Date: 2001-04-03

Tracks:

Clair De Lune, Op. 42 No. 2
Mandoline, Op. 46 No. 2
Apres Un Reve , Op.58 No.1
Soir, Op. 83 No. 2
Nell, Op. 18 No. 1
Beau Soir
Mandoline
Apparition
Chansons De Bilitis: I - La Flute De Pan
Chansons De Bilitis: II - La Chevelure
Chansons De Bilitis: III - Le Tombeau Des Naiades
Nocturne
Nachtgebet
Selige Nacht
Pierrot Dandy
Ruhe, Meine Seele!, Op. 27 No. 1
Schlechtes Wetter, Op. 69 No. 5
Leises Lied, Op. 39 No. 1
Leise Lieder, Op. 41a No. 5
Cacilie, Op. 27 No. 2
Zdes Khorosho, Op. 21 No. 7
V Molchani Nochi Taynoy, Op. 4 No. 3
Rechnaya Liliya, Op. 8 No. 1
Son, Op. 38 No. 5
Eti Letniye Nochi, Op. 14 No. 5
Ne Poy, Krasavitsa, Op. 4 No. 4

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Soprano Renée Fleming's mastery of a wide repertory extends to the more rarefied world of song on this disc. A French group opens the disc--11 songs by Fauré and Debussy that are often elusive, wedded to a style of intimacy not always comfortable for non-French opera singers. Fleming's not completely at home in them, often overinterpreting songs whose style is too fragile and understated for such an approach. Still, she offers many moments of rapturous singing, such as the way she floats the last word, "mystérieuse," of Fauré's "Après un rëve," tingeing it with eroticism.

"Mandolin" appears in two versions, Fauré's gently swinging one balanced by Debussy's bouncier take. The Rachmaninoff set also fascinates, her sensuous voice bringing its own rewards. Best of all are the German lieder by Joseph Marx and Richard Strauss. This is closer to home for Fleming, and one senses an ease in her singing that digs behind the words to the meaning of the poems. The Marx set is the highlight, perhaps because his songs are the least familiar here. They're also things of great beauty, and Fleming makes the most of the dreamily sensuous "Selige Nacht" and the twisted, nightmarish waltz of "Pierrot Dandy." The Strauss songs are as good: to cite one highlight, Fleming's rapt inwardness makes "Ruhe meine Seele" compelling. Her voice is never less than drop-dead gorgeous, and she's neatly accompanied by pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet. A feast for Fleming fans. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

A lovely compilation of songs from wonderful composers.......2007-06-08

It was thrilling to hear songs from Rachmaninov on this album. And the Strauss and Marx pieces give almost a contemporary feel (considering they ARE almost contemporary composers).

Thibaudet plays with a sensitive, emotional touch and was a wonderful choice as a pianist on this album.

My reason for a less than perfect scoring was due to the almost harsh edges of Renee Fleming's singing due to her unyielding control. For a voice so full of warmth and depth to be so forcefully held back, the result is a tension that the ear pushes to resolve, but never does. I wonder how she would sound if she would allow more freedom in her voice.

Masterful.......2007-03-22

Apart from an occasional very slight diction problem this is a masterful recital disc that belongs in the very highest echelon.

Fleming combines an highly imaginative approach with an equally appropriate chameleon like adaptation of the coloration of her voice to each of the individual composers. Thibaudet, who performs all of the featured composers in his piano repertoire is an ideal accompanist.
The recording is colorful and provides a flawless balance between voice and piano.

In all, a masterful must.

Night Songs, Day Songs, whatever...this album is a must have!!.......2005-10-30

This is a CD that every household should have. Masterful piano playing and even more masterful singing make this CD exquisite. Yes, I'm quite partial to Diva Fleming, but let's face it, America hasn't had a soprano with such skill in an awfully long time. Listen to her breath control on track 8 - OY! The closing number "Ne Poy, Krasavitsa" gets me every time. Here she starts to wail pretty heavily, ending the climactic powerful phrase with a wallop of a high A and then proceeds to float, pretty effortlessly, a string of beautiful pianissimo notes. If you can sit and listen to that one piece (itself, worth the price of the album) and not be moved, then you, my friend, have no soul.

Musical Collaboration: Night Songs/Fleming/Thibaudet.......2004-07-12

A perfect disc for a midsummer's evening - or for any season of the year for that matter - NIGHT SONGS is one of those too rare recitals that is based on a theme, executed by musicians who not only are able to stand on their own but who are also able to commit to each other in a true collaboration. This is an intelligent, eloquent selection of songs by varied composers all of whom wrote languorously about the night and its mystery. From Faure's 'Apres un reve' to Debussy's 'Beau soir' through some newly discovered treasures by Joseph Marx like 'Nocturne' and 'Selige Nacht' to the better known repertoire of Strauss and Rachmaninov which gives us newly rethought versions of 'Ruhe, meine Seele!' and 'Cacille' as well as the indescribably beautiful Rachmaninov songs. Fleming and Thibaudet are in fine form and the communication in the various languages is strong. Only one quibble of significance here: the miking is so close to the singer that it often covers what usually is a perfect blend of piano and voice. Bit perhaps that is the fault of my system....

What in the world...????.......2002-08-08

For two reasons.

First, may I ask, why was this CD given anything other then 5 stars? What does a person have to do to become liked these days? Bye their hair purple and sing through their noses? (Like Brittney Spears?)

This is an amazing CD!

Reneé's french singing is beautiful, and amazing. She really has the correct tone for french songs!

The german was also lovely. However, it is nothing Reneé did wrong, I just like french songs better then the german.

Tracks:

Candide - Overture
West Side Story (Selection)
New York, New York
Gone With The WInd
A Summer Place
On The Town: The Great Lover
On The Town: Lonely Town: Pas de deux
On The Town: Times Square: 1944
Fanfare For The Common Man
A Little Night Music
America, The Dream Goes On
America Medley
Wonderful Town (Selection)
The Pink Panther
Divermento For Orchestra: Sennets And Tuckets
Divermento For Orchestra: Waltz
Divermento For Orchestra: Samba
Divermento For Orchestra: Turkey Trot
Divermento For Orchestra: March 'The BSO Forever'

Customer Reviews:

Great Intro to Modern American Classical Music.......2004-06-09

I'm not a Classical Music expert, but I found "American Classics" to be a very good collection of great 20th century American Classical musical numbers. The bulk of the selections were composed by Leonard Bernstein. However, other composers such as John Kander, Max Steiner, Aaron Copland, Stephen Sondheim, Henry Mancini, and John Williams are also included on this collection. All of the selections are performed by the legendary John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra. Williams is probably the top Classical Music conductor around today. His name is synonymous with many movie soundtracks, but on this collection we get to hear John Williams do what he does best - conduct the Boston Pops orchestra.

As mentioned, this focuses on American Music. Your not going hear Beethoven, Chopin, or Mozart here. For the most part, this is Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra performing Leonard Bernstein (a great conductor in his own right). The music is grouped logically and by composer. Some of the music will be familiar to you and some of it might not be as familiar. You'll hear the theme from "The Pink Panther" (Mancini) as well as the theme from "Gone with the Wind" (Steiner). There is a riviting instrumental version of "New York New York" (i.e. Start Spreading the News...) that will make the Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra proud. Another popular selection is Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" - this is heard around Summer Olympics time quite a bit, but possibly not know by its actual name.

There are three tracks from the famous Bernstein musical "On the Town" and they are grouped together. These selections are among the best that are included in the collection. The first is "The Great Lover", the second is "Lonely Town: Pas de deux", and the third is an instrumental version the famous "Times Square: 1944" (i.e. New York New York, it's a hell of a town...). The "Times Square" melody I believe is the part in "On the Town" when the sailors go dancing in Times Square. Hearing this selection as an instrumental gives it a whole new dimension. There is also a nice reprise of this in Bernstein's "America Medley".
John Williams who is a great composer in his own right only has one number on this collection - that is "America, The Dream Goes On". This is one track on this collection that has vocals (although no credits are given to the vocalist(s) who sings). Although you'll hear the Boston Pops play real nicely here, it is the stirring vocals that make this one of the highlights of the CD. I consider Williams the best in the business, so I expect nothing less when it comes to him.

Tracks:

Beach Party Tonight
Little Eyes
Nothing But You and Me
Season of the Shark
Today Is the Day
Tiny Birds
How to Make a Baby Elephant Float
Georgia Vs. Yo la Tengo
Don't Have to Be So Sad
Winter A-Go-Go
Moonrock Mambo
Let's Be Still
Take Care

Amazon.com

Any album with Summer Sun as its title and "Beach Party Tonight" as the opening track has to be the soundtrack of tanned flesh, cold beer, and killer waves, right? Not if it's the product of three New Jersey bohos who know, from personal experience or their record collections, that summer is also the place to find surfers afraid of the water and sun-poisoned girls afraid of going home alone, again. Although not quite as cohesive or instantly captivating as the band's 2000 breakthrough, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out, Summer Sun is crafted from a similar hushed and hypnotic mold. Most of the 13 songs are built on a simple foundation of lo-fi guitar, bass, and brushed drums, then finished off with swirling horns, insistent piano figures, or organ. Especially good are the Pet Sounds-like pocket symphony "Tiny Birds," the beat-groove-powered "Moonrock Mambo," and the album-closing cover of Big Star's "Take Care." This last song is re-imagined as a country lament with pleading pedal-steel guitar and singer Georgia Hubley sounding like Nico fronting a lounge band on the boardwalk of a beach town headed toward post-Labor Day oblivion. Ah, summer. --Keith Moerer

Album Description

A subtle stylistic shift from its predecessor (And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out). Upbeat, swinging, and sweet, but no less haunting. 'An ethereal wonder' - US News And World Report. 'Yo La Tengo has divided its devotion to the extremes of popular music, playing sweetly melodic pop songs and feedback-driven noise-rock with equally mesmerizing results'. 13 tracks packaged in a Digipak. Matador. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Spacey, diverse, mellow alt-rock.......2006-06-03

3 1/2 stars

Focused, even in it's apparent lo-fi laziness of summer sloth, there are plenty of beautiful, soft ideas flourishing about, although many might not have been brought to complete fruition. Nevertheless, the breezy nature of the material serves the theme well, and all fans who seem disappointed in the face of greater, subtly intense musical statements on other records must step back and realize this is still an accomplished effort from a solid unit. The cheerful moods of the sun in summer are translated, distorted, and satirized all in an easy to digest format of pseudosunsoaked fun. For all it's simplicity, the production values imbue even the slightest melodic experiment with a tonal depth that gives more replay value then your typical straightforward alternative rock, which is one of the key ingredients that has helped separate this band from countless imitators.

The Best Album of 2003.......2005-10-13

Say you had to discover what Yo La Tengo's Summer Sun LP is all about on the basis of three songs only. Then, take the opening ambient hymn (or prayer?) Beach Party Tonight, with its almost meditational refrain of "I'm on my knees"; the pop-trance ditty How To Make A Baby Elephant Float, with its gentle and delicately bouncing melodies hopscotching between piano and flute solos; and the jaw-droppingly rapturous, elegaic, hypnotic quasi-tribal free-jazz 10-minute magnum opus Let's Be Still - and you have not just the very best work of Yo La Tengo's entire career, but some of the most astonishingly beautiful music ever made anywhere, by anyone.

Even without these three alt-pop masterpieces, the remainder of the album is certainly as good as anything found off YLT's 2000 LP And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out (the gorgeous closing track of which, Night Falls On Hoboken, hinted at the lush and delicate splendor to be achieved in the sessions to come). Summer Sun may not contain anything as immediately hooky or catchy as Let's Save Tony Orlando's House or You Can Have It All from And Then Nothing, but it's far more beautiful and revelatory upon successive listens. In particular, Little Eyes is a rousing (yet cleverly subdued) folk-rock number; Don't Have To Be So Sad is a hypnotic lover's prayer spoken-sung over a pitter-pattering drum machine, piano and bass; and drummer Georgina Hubley's purely longing, utterly affectless and yet completely enchanting vocal turns on ballads Today Is The Day and album closer Take Care make me wish that she took over lead vocals much more often. Note to YLT fans - by all means please seek out the rarities Dreaming and Magnet off the bonus third disc of the trio's latest Prisoners Of Love best-of compilation to hear more of Hubley's thoroughly unpretentious yet exquisite singing - if only these two songs had replaced some of the less remarkable filler on Summer Sun, we might be talking about one of the best albums ever made. As is, the best album of 2003 and one of the very finest musical offerings halfway through our current decade is certainly nothing to scoff at.

Finally - A Summer Album You can kill Yourself To.......2005-05-08

It's the album I've spent my whole life waiting for - a summer soundtrack the O.C. wouldn't touch with a barge pole (that's a large stick for the nautically uninitiated) and that you can slash your wrists to. No, I kid you people. But the cdnow.com precis was spot on - this is the summer album for goths, nerds, geeks, tweakers, stoners, sniffy-sniffers, mods, teddy-boys, grungers, yokels, techno-bots and anyone else who is genuinely disturbed by the beach and its associated rituals. Lock yourself in your room, ignore the glorious sunshine outside and prepare for the end of days (it's revelations people!)

Mediocre?.......2004-12-20

I really didn't understand the scathing reviews this album got. It's no I Can Hear The Heart..., Painful, or And Then Nothing Turned Itself..., but it's still a strong record. Really, point out one terrible thing about this record. I can't see it. It's beautiful. It may be like And Then Nothing... minus a "Cherry Chapstick," but I honestly enjoyed the record. Like Low and bands of that ilk, it's soothing music that's perfect for drifting off into slumber to. "Today Is The Day," "Little Eyes," and "Season Of The Shark" are excellent. Hell, even the instrumental opener "Beach Party Tonight" is stunning. Yes, it's no classic, but I guess when you're in Yo La Tengo's position, putting out a record that isn't a classic but still very strong is just as bad as putting out a pile of crap. Summer Sun is good, trust me.

solid, but not their best.......2004-10-25

"Summer Sun" seems to the ears of this long-term Yo La Tengo listener to be a distillation of the mellower side of the past two albums; "I Can Hear the Heart" and "...And Then Nothing." What's tricky about the current release is that its best moments are hard to notice if you're not paying close attention to it. While it's a great album to put on as background music, it also has many more rewards if you listen closer.

Many listeners seem to think that it's time for Yo La Tengo to rock again and release another feedback-laced guitar freakout a-la "May I Sing With Me", but I think with "Summer Sun" the band had to pursue the promise of such earlier songs as "Shadows" and "Green Arrow" to their logical end, and this new album does complete that task; the songs "Today Is the Day" and "Tiny Birds" are two of the best songs they've ever written, in my opinion, although they are enveloped in a lot of decent, but not spectacular, ergo lesser, material. The 10-minute "Let's Be Still" is a mistake; out-of-tune trumpet puntuating an angular, repetitive riff and detached vocals that just becomes a mess. An experiment from a previous album, "Spec Bebop", had much better results.

Ira Kaplan has discovered many more subtle ways around a guitar other than just blasting out atonal sheets-of-sound solos, and that's well on display here; he's probably one of the most underrated guitarists in rock today. But oddly enough, the dominant sound on this album seems to be keyboards and percussion loops. Maybe it *is* time for them to return to a harder rock sound, but knowing Yo La Tengo, they are due for a real curve ball for their next release. Be patient.

Average customer rating:

Spectacular Mantovani Music

Concert Spectacular/American Scene

Manufacturer: Dutton Vocalion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Italia Mia/Verzauberter Klang Aus Germany
Mantovani/Hollywood/World of Mantovani
Old and New Fangled Tangos/Folk Songs Around the World
Latin Rendezvous
Music from the Films/Film Encores

ASIN: B0001Z2RLY
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

Stars and Stripes Forever
Estrellita
Theme from "A Summer Place"
Granada
Forgotten Dreams
Thunder and Lightning Polka
Zapateado
Londonderry Air
By the Sleepy Lagoon
Trumpeter's Lullaby
Green Leaves of Summer [From the Alamo]
Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
My Old Kentucky Home
Camptown Races
I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair
Old Folks at Home
Ringo de Banjo
Beautiful Dreamer
Home on the Range
Grandfather's Clock
Yellow Rose of Texas
Just A-Wearin' for You
Turkey in the Straw
Goodnight Irene

Customer Reviews:

Spectacular Mantovani Music.......2004-09-20

This is one of Vocalion's latest re-issues of two original recordings made by Mantovani and his Orchestra in 1960. It pairs the folk songs of the "American Scene" composed by Stephen Foster and others, along with concert gems, all brilliantly arranged by Mantovani and his collaborator Cecil Milner. Stephen Foster's time-honored music appears to be having a comeback these days and so will the utterly appealing orchestral interpretations given to these chestnuts by the masterful brilliance of the Mantovani sound and the artistry and discipline of his musicians. Some 45 years ago, Mantovani's American Scene LP remained 30 weeks on Billboard's Top 40 List and rose to a high position of number 11. Listeners now, as then, will enjoy the melifluous string-laden arrangements of Beautiful Dreamer, I Dream of Jeannie, My Old Kentucky Home, Grandfather's Clock, and Goodnight Irene, and they will tap to the lively, full orchestra arrangements of Camptown Races, Ring de Banjo, and Turkey in the Straw. Decca's "Concert Spectacular" CD, never issued and rarely heard in the United States, teases the listener with a distinctive waltz time arrangement of the popular Sousa march, Stars and Stripes Forever. Many will shed a tear when they hear the cathedral sound of languorous strings and woodwinds in Danny Boy. This Concert Spectacular offers the listener a plethora of musical imagery. With extraordinary and unique orchestrations, one will feel the fiery excitement of "Granada", sense the clash of thunder and lightning in Strauss's Polka, and march step and "fall" with the Parade of the Wooden Soldiers. These two CD's together are truly spectacular, because their tracks are filled with the emotion and energy of the creative and distinctive Mantovani sound. This is "ultimate Mantovani", soothingly wistful moods and evocative melodies that make you want to listen to them with all the attentiveness of a concert goer, a paradigm for all today making light orchestral music of which Mantovani was truly the master.

Average customer rating:

not enough Galway
Too Good to Last

Henry Mancini -The Ultimate Collection
James Galway
Manufacturer: Bmg Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Lounge | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music

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Greatest Hits
Ultimate Mancini
The Wind Beneath My Wings
Mantovani's Golden Hits
The Very Best of James Galway

ASIN: B0000071UZ
Release Date: 1995-12-06

Tracks:

Pink Panther Theme - Plas Johnson, Henry Mancini & His Orchestra
Moon River
Days of Wine and Roses
Baby Elephant Walk
Theme from Hatari
Charade - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
Thorn Birds Theme - National Philharmonic Orchestra
Blue Satin
Two for the Road
Mr Lucky
Theme from the Molly Maguires - National Philharmonic Orchestra
Moment to Moment
As Time Goes By - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
Shot in the Dark
Misty
Theme from Love Story
Pennywhistle Jig - National Philharmonic Orchestra
Everything I Do (I Do It for You) - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
Moonlight Sonata
Tender Is the Night - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
Theme from "Mommie Dearest" - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head
Crazy World
Mona Lisa

Tracks:

Peter Gunn
Unchained Melody - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
Summer Knows
Experiment in Terror
Windmills of Your Mind
Till There Was You
Speedy Gonzales - Henry Mancini,
Sweetheart Tree
Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet
Dream a Little Dream of Me
Lonesome
Pie in the Face Polka - National Philharmonic Orchestra
Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
By the Time I Get to Phoenix
Dear Heart
Charade [Opening Titles]
Shadow of Your Smile
One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
Breakfast at Tiffany's
That Old Black Magic
Evergreen
Midnight Cowboy

Album Description

1995 compilation on RCA Victor featuring 46 of the composer's finest & most memorable recordings from 1956-1991on two digitally remastered, full color picture CDs. Contains 'The Pink Panther Theme', 'Moon River', 'A Shot In The Dark', Wine And Roses', 'Baby Elephant Walk', 'Peter Gunn', 'Everything I Do (I Do It For You)', 'Mona Lisa', 'Unchained Melody', 'Midnight Cowboy' and much more. Well over two hours of easy listening ecstasy! Double slimline jewel case. The full title is 'In The Pink: The Ultimate Collection'.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Double Anthology of the Pop and Soundtrack Composer from the 50's and 60's. Perhaps his Best Counterpart of Today Would Be John Williams. A Film Maker Could Always Rely on Mancini to Deliver a Composition that Hit the Mark for a Film and Conveyed Exactly What was Required and More. He also Filled the Role of an American Mantovani, Recording 'muzak' Versions of Popular Hits. He was Handsome, Personable, but Most of All, Well Respected for his Craft.

Customer Reviews:

not enough Galway.......2003-10-02

There are only four songs with James Galway. The way this recording is presented is misleading and buyers should be aware that this is NOT a joint effort between these two great artists.. I was totally disappointed. I think Henry Mancini is wonderful but was expecting to hear a collaboration. So if you're looking for flute music this isn't it. However it's a great collecton of Henry Mancini's work.

Too Good to Last.......2000-03-03

I heard this on PBS. Galway and Mancini may be two of the most talented musicians of our century. Galway for his complete mastery of the flute and Mancini for his ability to arrange , produce and in this instance direct the orchestra while Galway performs. They do several duets of a comical nature as well. This is important because it is one of Mancini's last efforts prior to his unfortunate passing.

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