Hear & Now

Track Listings
 
1. SoHo
2. On The Way
3. From The Heart
4. In The House
5. Empty Room
6. Awakening
7. What COuld Be
8. Looking Back
9. This Time
10. Without You
11. Was It You
12. So Long

Editorial Reviews
ContemporaryJazz.com
Sometimes the best CDs aren't released on major labels. A good example is guitarist Jim Savitt.

Product Description
The new instrumental album "Hear and Now" by contemporary / smooth jazz guitarist Jim Savitt. The disc showcases Jim's broad range of talents as a guitarist, producer & composer and highlights his overall musicianship. "Hear & Now " is a melodic and accessible collection of original instrumental compositions that blend the best in today's smooth jazz with a world beat influence. The album features four tracks produced by sax superstar David Mann, who is also a featured performer on this great record and has received airplay around the globe!

Hear & Now

Hear & Now,Jim Savitt


Hear & Now

Hear & Now
Memory Almost Full
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • I can't dance to this music(?).
  • Great so far
  • McCartney . . .makes you wanna dance tonight
  • memory almost full
  • so good, I want more!
Memory Almost Full
Paul McCartney
Manufacturer: Hear Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

BritainBritain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000P2A242
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

  1. Dance Tonight
  2. Ever Present Past
  3. See Your Sunshine
  4. Only Mama Knows
  5. You Tell Me
  6. Mr. Bellamy
  7. Gratitude
  8. Vintage Clothes
  9. That Was Me
  10. Feet In The Clouds
  11. House of Wax
  12. The End Of The End
  13. Nod Your Head

Amazon.com

"Many years from now" must have seemed like an understatement to 16-year-old Paul McCartney, wondering if he'd still be needed or fed at the age of 64. As it turned out, all doubt as to the latter had ceased by his 22nd birthday (though few could have predicted he'd end up washing down those meals with the liquid pride of Seattle). As to the former? Now that McCartney, as of the date of this album's release, has reached that mythic age, his greatest work is 40 years behind him, his solo peak over 30 years gone. Does the world need a new Paul McCartney album? The answer is yes, at least as much as it needs anything else that passes for music these days. With Memory Almost Full, Macca is back. No, it's not Ram or Band on the Run. It might not even be Flowers in the Dirt--in 1989, he had a full band, the support of Linda, and Elvis Costello as a collaborator. Here, he's on his own. Literally: on the majority of the tracks, everything but the strings is multi-instrumentalist Paul. But the surprise is that it's one of his freest, loosest affairs in years, sonically reminiscent of the Tug of War/Pipes of Peace era with nods to Abbey Road in the album-closing medley, McCartney's gravelly tones on "Gratitude," and 2007's version of "Her Majesty," the palate-cleansing "Nod Your Head." It's a surprise because of the album's inescapable sense of retrospection ("Ever Present Past," "Vintage Clothes," "That Was Me") and even a bit of weariness. The next-to-last song is "The End of the End," after all, in which McCartney tells us about what he'd like to happen "on the day that I die." (He wants "songs that were sung/to be hung out like blankets/that lovers have played on/and laid on while listening to songs that were sung," and will likely get his wish.) But it never gets overwhelming, for McCartney mostly resists his tendency to get plodding and maudlin. In fact, Memory Almost Full must be the most sanguine album made during the dissolution of a marriage since...well, ever. "What went out is coming back," he sings in "Vintage Clothes," and from the sound of things, that may not be just wishful thinking. What's past is prologue; if we're lucky, what to come may be McCartney's late renaissance. --Benjamin Lukoff

Album Description

The 13 new songs on Memory Almost Full are performed entirely by Paul McCartney (excluding strings) and produced by Grammy Award-winner David Kahne (The Strokes, Sublime, Bruce Springsteen and more).

More Paul McCartney

Band on the Run

Ram

Wingspan: Hits and History

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars I can't dance to this music(?)........2007-08-06

It's hard to believe this is the man who wrote "Here, there and everywhere", "Elenor Rigby", "Things we said today" and all those gems back in the 60's. I've been a huge fan of Paul and the Beatles for over 30 years, but I must say this album is really, really bad. According to some reviewers, those who don't like it are fools. I must be one of those fools. Frankly, I could find nothing positive in any of these songs. Music is bad, his singing isn't what it used to be, and his playing of different instruments is amateurish at best. Almost all his solo albums have disappointed me so far, that is for the past 30 years! I think he should have retired long ago or should have stuck to his good old tunes just to please fans. I don't think he has "it" anymore.

5 out of 5 stars Great so far.......2007-08-03

To say this album is bad or even not listen-able is foolish. One has to make a conscience effort not to like Memory Almost Full. Right off the bat the listener is reminded of McCartney's first solo effort with Dance Tonight, which is simplistic, uplifting and honest. Next, Ever Present Past hits with the punch of an instant classic not unlike My Brave Face or even Band On The Run. This song deserves air play! See Your Sunshine is a wonderful love song that is lyrically, one of the better songs from McCartney's catalogue. By the end of track three the audience has been given a lesson in Macca history with just solo McCartney sounds. When Mama Only Knows sounds, the audience is transported to the heyday of Wings with a number that truly rocks. After the adrenaline rush left over from Only Mama Knows, Macca slows things down with the contemplative You Tell Me. Not one of the better tracks but better than a lot of the songs in McCartney's catalogue. Next track that is sequenced is Mr. Bellamy which is essentially this album's Eleanor Rigby. This is probably the best song on the album. Gratitude comes next with a soulful passion that sounds like it would have fitted perfectly on Chaos And Creation In The Backyard and ends the first part of the album.
What's next is a sequence of songs that Macca hasn't attempted since Red Rose Speed Way (his fourth solo project, and second with Wings). Though this isn't as memorable as the sequence of songs that appeared on Abbey Road's latter, the songs themselves are no less than great songs. The most interesting one being Feet In The Clouds which sounds very much to be like as if it were from Abbey Road. The album ends with a song that questions McCartney's death and how he would want people to react. The End Of The End is a song that is sorrowful and yet hopeful. Other than Mr. Bellamy, this is the best song on the album. But! If that leaves the audience depressed, Macca rocks them to the top with Nod Your Head. The song is just another rocker that is fun to listen to. Memory Almost full is not how some people feel, a disappointing follow up to Chaos And Creation In The Backyard, it's just different. It is full to the bring of five star material and is actually more consistent than the former. Definatley one of my favorite of Mr. McCartney's albums.

5 out of 5 stars McCartney . . .makes you wanna dance tonight.......2007-08-01

For fans of Paul McCartney . . .this is one of his best, a mixture of whimsical, rock and lyrics that are some of his best.

4 out of 5 stars memory almost full.......2007-08-01

Some Beatlesque songs that bring back the true Mccartney- a nice cover
and product in good shape. So far I believe this is Paul's best solo work as of yet. Yet there are a few songs that are unlike anything Paul has done before, i give it a thumbs up.

5 out of 5 stars so good, I want more!.......2007-07-27

I can't believe Paul McCartney is still releasing really good power pop. All these years later, and he doesn't seem to show *any* signs of stopping! What's more amazing is that the man is going into his mid 60's- he seems to have an unlimited amount of creative power. For years he's been making pop/rock music that's instantly enjoyable because he has a talent for making it SO melodic and always sounding so fresh, and this album continues that trend. You really need to hear some of the songs from Memory Almost Full to hear a man that's focused and ready for more. The pop songs are poppy, and the rock songs rock. Just like it's always been. No, his memory is NOT almost full- there's a lot more left in his tank.
Memory Almost Full [Deluxe Limited Edition]
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • PAUL HAS STILL GOT THE GOODS
  • Mom's happy
  • Better Than "Chaos" but not a great Macca effort
  • McCartney the Magician
  • Awesome!
Memory Almost Full [Deluxe Limited Edition]
Paul McCartney
Manufacturer: Hear Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

BritainBritain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000PMLFRU
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

  1. Dance Tonight
  2. Ever Present Past
  3. See Your Sunshine
  4. Only Mama Knows
  5. You Tell Me
  6. Mr. Bellamy
  7. Gratitude
  8. Vintage Clothes
  9. That Was Me
  10. Feet In The Clouds
  11. House of Wax
  12. The End Of The End
  13. Nod Your Head

Tracks:

  1. In Private
  2. Why So Blue
  3. 222
  4. Paul talks about the music of Memory Almost Full

Amazon.com

"Many years from now" must have seemed like an understatement to 16-year-old Paul McCartney, wondering if he'd still be needed or fed at the age of 64. As it turned out, all doubt as to the latter had ceased by his 22nd birthday (though few could have predicted he'd end up washing down those meals with the liquid pride of Seattle). As to the former? Now that McCartney, as of the date of this album's release, has reached that mythic age, his greatest work is 40 years behind him, his solo peak over 30 years gone. Does the world need a new Paul McCartney album? The answer is yes, at least as much as it needs anything else that passes for music these days. With Memory Almost Full, Macca is back. No, it's not Ram or Band on the Run. It might not even be Flowers in the Dirt--in 1989, he had a full band, the support of Linda, and Elvis Costello as a collaborator. Here, he's on his own. Literally: on the majority of the tracks, everything but the strings is multi-instrumentalist Paul. But the surprise is that it's one of his freest, loosest affairs in years, sonically reminiscent of the Tug of War/Pipes of Peace era with nods to Abbey Road in the album-closing medley, McCartney's gravelly tones on "Gratitude," and 2007's version of "Her Majesty," the palate-cleansing "Nod Your Head." It's a surprise because of the album's inescapable sense of retrospection ("Ever Present Past," "Vintage Clothes," "That Was Me") and even a bit of weariness. The next-to-last song is "The End of the End," after all, in which McCartney tells us about what he'd like to happen "on the day that I die." (He wants "songs that were sung/to be hung out like blankets/that lovers have played on/and laid on while listening to songs that were sung," and will likely get his wish.) But it never gets overwhelming, for McCartney mostly resists his tendency to get plodding and maudlin. In fact, Memory Almost Full must be the most sanguine album made during the dissolution of a marriage since...well, ever. "What went out is coming back," he sings in "Vintage Clothes," and from the sound of things, that may not be just wishful thinking. What's past is prologue; if we're lucky, what to come may be McCartney's late renaissance. --Benjamin Lukoff

Album Description

The 13 new songs on Memory Almost Full are performed entirely by Paul McCartney (excluding strings) and produced by Grammy Award-winner David Kahne (The Strokes, Sublime, Bruce Springsteen and more).

This beautifully-packaged, deluxe limited edition also comes with a 2nd disc that contains 3 unreleased bonus tracks and audio commentary by Paul McCartney describing the music, 6 foldout color postcard-sized photos, and full lyrics.

More Paul McCartney

Band on the Run

Ram

Wingspan: Hits and History

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars PAUL HAS STILL GOT THE GOODS.......2007-08-06

Long live Paul McCartney, who proves with this new CD that he still has a true genius for melody and catchy music bridges.

4 out of 5 stars Mom's happy.......2007-08-05

Gave this to my mom (huge Beatles/McCartney fan) as a surprise "just because" gift and she loved it. She had heard the single before and said that the entire album was just as good. Haven't heard it myself yet, but she's pretty picky. :)

3 out of 5 stars Better Than "Chaos" but not a great Macca effort.......2007-08-03

The days of excellent McCartney tunes are long past. I love "Junior's Farm" and "Venus and Mars." I think the album "Flowers in the Dirt" was Paul's best effort in the past 20 years. "Memory Almost Full" is full of reminiscence and reflection. Not all of it is interesting or fun to listen to.
Tops in my opinion are "Mr. Bellamy" (an "Uncle Albert" cousin) and the "End of the End" with some great imagery in the lyrics. I also enjoy the guitar work on "House of Wax." "Only Mama Knows" starts quietly with strings and then rocks out. It's good to hear Macca can still rock and roll.
Disappointments include the weak opener "Dance Tonight." Why does Paul insist on playing the mandolin, as he did on his last live tour in tribute to his former bandmate George? "Feet in the Clouds" sounds like a Jeff Lynne production. "See Your Sunshine" is light and inconsequential. On "Vintage Clothes" Paul sings "Check the rack/What was out is coming back." I wish Paul's songwriting prowess of the Beatles' or Wings' era was coming back, but maybe that's not realistic in the twilight of his career. MAF is nothing great and nothing terrible.

5 out of 5 stars McCartney the Magician.......2007-07-29

The best McAbracadabra album for a long, long time.

The worst Paul McCartney artwork ever.

5 out of 5 stars Awesome!.......2007-07-29

I mean, what else can you say about the legendary Sir Paul?! Go get it!!!
American Angels
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • spiritual americana
  • Rich Heritage
  • Superb
  • Can't walk away from it!
  • Mana from Heaven
American Angels

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0001ADB4Q
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Tracks:

  1. Holy Manna
  2. Abbeville
  3. Wondrous Love
  4. Sweet Hour Of Prayer
  5. Jewett
  6. Dunlap's Creek
  7. New Britain
  8. The Morning Trumpet
  9. Resignation
  10. Poland
  11. Wayfaring Stranger
  12. Sweet By And By
  13. Blooming Vale
  14. Idumea (I)/Idumea (II)
  15. Sweet Prospect
  16. Shall We Gather At The River
  17. Amanda
  18. Invitation
  19. Parting Hand
  20. Angel Band

Amazon.com

This, Anonymous 4's final recording, is a break from their usual "early music" periods and locations; it presents American music, religious in nature, from the 18th and 19th centuries. And it's absolutely beautiful from start to finish. Their normal, exquisite technique and purity here blend to sound the way we imagined the ladies' choir in church meetings in America past might have sounded: sweet, sincere, and with harmonies recognizable yet somehow fresh. Some of the songs begin with the women singing "fa, so la" exercises, which was called "shape note" singing because some places taught singing with notes as shapes--circle, rectangle, diamond, triangle. But it's the music that counts, and there are treasures here. They include two versions of "Amazing Grace," one familiar, one with an unusual melody and a piece called "Blooming Vale" which is as sophisticated as anything on their previous albums. "Shall We Gather at the River" is performed with a clarity and loveliness that makes us forget that it's normally sung as background to movies about the Great Depression. The foursome sometimes sing in rich harmonies and occasionally alone or in pairs or trios. This is glorious Americana and highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars spiritual americana.......2007-01-06

I have some of the older Anonymous 4 recordings which are more medieval
and gregorian in style (I love them!). They move on to cover spiritual
basics of the 1800s. If you like classical music, perfect harmonies
and spiritual americina, then you will be blessed!

5 out of 5 stars Rich Heritage.......2006-10-11

Anonymous 4 consistently produces exquisite and authentically beautiful recordings and this one presents early American hymns in ways few groups can manage. Some tunes are highly recognizable while others are 'new' to me but a refreshing reminder of the singing heritage of religious societies in times past. For those who enjoy old hymns and authentic renderings, this is a must buy.

5 out of 5 stars Superb .......2006-08-07

This collection of American Christian music is not only an enthralling musical experience but a spiritually uplifting one as well. Anonymous Four have transferred their luminous vocal quality to a new space with perfect success.

5 out of 5 stars Can't walk away from it!.......2006-08-07

My only "complaint" about the CD is that I absolutely HAVE to sit and listen to the entire thing whenever I start it up! I usually have music playing in the background while doing other things, but not this one! There are no tracks that I find myself wanting to skip over as in most collections. In fact, I usually find myself going back and listening to selected tracks again (and again and...) after taking the hour+ to listen to the whole thing through once.

These four ladies produce a unique and remarkable sound. I can't recommend it enough.

5 out of 5 stars Mana from Heaven.......2006-05-08

I think the title of this CD is perfect. I first heard an interview for this CD on Public Radio and fell in love. I had never heard Anonymous 4 before then but look for all I can find of their music now. The title is perfect as the women sound like Angels and the music lifts the spirit. I find myself singing the old version of Amazing Grace all the time now. Incredible and a huge blessing to all who hear it.
Les Miserables (Highlights from the 1987 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • BEST OPERA MUSIC EVER
  • Time well spent.
  • Great Score, But Highlights Missing Critical Songs
  • Buy the full version, please
  • Argh Matey!
Les Miserables (Highlights from the 1987 Original Broadway Cast)
Alain Boublil , Claude-Michel Schonberg , and Colm Wilkinson
Manufacturer: Decca U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. Disney's Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

ASIN: B000084TRM
Release Date: 2003-01-28

Tracks:

  1. Overture/Work Song
  2. I Dreamed a Dream
  3. Who Am I?
  4. Castle on a Cloud
  5. Master of the House
  6. Stars
  7. Do You Hear the People Sing?
  8. A Heart Full of Love
  9. One Day More
  10. On My Own
  11. A Little Fall of Rain
  12. Drink with Me
  13. Bring Him Home
  14. Javert's Suicide
  15. Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
  16. Wedding Chorale/Beggars at the Feast
  17. Finale

Amazon.com

While not overly generous at 55 minutes, the highlights album of the 1987 original Broadway cast recording of Les Miserables is intelligently selected and likely to prove satisfying to most fans. It includes the best-loved numbers of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score, beautiful ballads ("Bring Him Home," "I Dreamed a Dream") and rousing anthems ("One Day More," "Do You Hear the People Sing?") alike, but eliminates some choral numbers ("Lovely Ladies"), redundancies ("Red and Black"), and connective tissue that propels the plot along ("Valjean Arrested," "Come to Me (Fantine's Death)"). Sure, a more perfect selection could have lasted longer than half of the two-disc set's 104 minutes by adding "At the End of the Day" and "In My Life," among others, but it's still a good representation on a convenient single disc. Of course, those who always want to re-create the theatrical experience will never be satisfied with a highlights album.

Re-creating their roles from the London production, Colm Wilkinson plays the heroic Valjean and Frances Ruffelle is the despondent Eponine. Randy Graff (Fantine), Terrence Mann (Javert), David Bryant (Marius), Judy Kuhn (Cosette), Michael Maguire (Enjolras), and Leo Burmester and Jennifer Butt (the Thénardiers) fill out the cast. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars BEST OPERA MUSIC EVER.......2006-11-03

This is the BEST!! I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes this kind of music!

5 out of 5 stars Time well spent........2005-09-14

Each member of the Les Miserables cast stands to deliver this musical to its audience. Within moments we are transported to France during their Restoration. We experience sadness, laughter and, indeed, want to join in their crusade. The music and deliverance, in my opinion, is excellent.

4 out of 5 stars Great Score, But Highlights Missing Critical Songs.......2005-08-05

Composers Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score for "Les Miserables" is simply brilliant and the spectacular Broadway cast, led by Colm Wilkinson, Randy Graff, Terrence Mann, and Frances Ruffelle, help bring this incredible music to life!

While I normally enjoy "highlight" cds, this one clocks in at a mere 55 minutes and could have easily included a couple of additional tunes (thus losing one star). Most notably missing: "At The End Of The Day", "Come To Me", "Red And Black", and "In My Life". The show's most memorable songs, however, are included.

Best tracks:

I Dreamed A Dream
Master Of The House
Stars
Do You Hear The People Sing
On My Own
A Little Fall Of Rain
Bring Him Home
Empty Chairs At Empty Tables

Great cast, great score ... even a good buy. But I would suggest the full double-disc score instead.

2 out of 5 stars Buy the full version, please.......2005-01-20

Highlights are never worth it. You will never get the little in-between songs which make a show complete, montages will be cut together badly instead of being full songs as they should be...so much is left out. This is a fantastic show and deserves to be heard in full.

5 out of 5 stars Argh Matey!.......2004-11-22

"Highlights" albums are not the full show, blah blah blah... THIS TAKES UP ONLY ONE SPACE IN YOUR CD RACK INSTEAD OF TWO LIKE THE FULL RECORDING. I rest my case.
I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Solid if slightly underwelming textbook-indie easy-going rock
  • Lush and melodic
  • masterwork?
  • Ranks among those obligatory 90s hipster discs
  • Get in the right mood.....
I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
Yo La Tengo
Manufacturer: Matador Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Loveless
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  5. Return to Cookie Mountain (with Bonus Tracks)

ASIN: B0000036X3
Release Date: 1997-04-22

Tracks:

  1. Return To Hot Chicken
  2. Moby Octopad
  3. Sugarcube
  4. Damage
  5. Deeper Into Movies
  6. Shadows
  7. Stockholm Syndrome
  8. Autumn Sweater
  9. Little Honda
  10. Green Arrow
  11. One PM Again
  12. The Lie And How We Told It
  13. Center Of Gravity
  14. Spec Bebop
  15. We're An American Band
  16. My Little Corner Of The World

Amazon.com essential recording

We always suspected they had it in them, but who knew Yo La Tengo would finally craft a record as wholeheartedly terrific as this? Fourteen years into their career as indie rock's low-key mainstays, the Hoboken, New Jersey, trio have arrived--and it's about time. It's as though simply by sticking around long enough and doing the same thing over and over while constantly refining and focusing Yo La have evolved from scattered, record-collecting eccentrics into the true classicists of '90s indie rock. Blending elements of what has illuminated Sonic Youth, Stereolab, Pavement, and My Bloody Valentine, they've long had a clear voice but never sounded so comfortable using it. Willfully eclectic husband-and-wife multi-instrumentalists Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley--with third member James McNew never sounding more permanent--have previously tended to alternate between their instincts to be a pop rock band and to serve as artsy noisemakers. On I Can Hear..., the group doesn't have to choose between songs and sounds. There's noise leaking out everywhere, but it's always under control. Even the most layered soundscapes--songs like "Autumn Sweater," "Sugarcube," or "Moby Octopad"--have unforgettable melodies, with fragile harmonies to boot. "We're an American Band" (not a Grand Funk cover) could be Simon and Garfunkel singing along to the Jesus and Mary Chain. And on tracks like "Shadows" or "My Little Corner of the World," where the melody consumes everything else, deceptively simple backdrops provide a less-is-more atmosphere. Just in time for indie rock to catch up with Yo La Tengo, Yo La Tengo has caught up with itself. --Roni Sarig

Album Description

Full title - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One. Over 65 minutes of breath-taking material recorded under smooth circumstances in Nashville, TN. 1997 Matador Records.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Solid if slightly underwelming textbook-indie easy-going rock.......2007-04-20

3 1/2

Worthy of nearly all it's indie credibility, the seminal underground experimental pop act put forth another lengthy disc full of quirky charm and surprising eclecticism with their highly esteemed I can hear..., but seems to me this particular outing is just another deposit into an adept lo-fi bands repertoire, no more, no less. With their refined approach at nailing a catchy melody without being too obnoxious about it, Yo La Tengo prove worthy in multiple genre attempts with this musical stew of alt-rock jams. The writing is on point, and the selections remain worthy of it's modern cult classic status as earned, but anyone not directly peering into the specific time period this came out, in the context of this band's career, may find an album strangely lacking of downright amazing material. Most songs are good, quite good, though few are really great. As per usual, interesting, usually borrowed melodies are played beyond an apparent scope intended for some tracks, overstaying their welcome in distorted repetition, as competent and catchy they may be.

4 out of 5 stars Lush and melodic.......2006-12-29

This was my first real exposure to Yo La Tango, and I'm hooked. It's full of all sorts of lush and melodic songs in the tradition of indie rock. Yes, I can hear the Jesus and The Mary Chain influences, but I have to say this style of music goes all the way back to Lou Reed. Not all the lyrics are intelligible and there isn't a song or group of songs that really stand out from the others. It's more like great background music than something you'd want to sing along to. All the tracks sort of melt together into this great sound.

The track "We're an American Band" is not a cover of the Grand Funk Railroad hit. While Yo La Tango's version is an above average song, what would really be interesting if they actually covered the song.

5 out of 5 stars masterwork?.......2006-05-23

this album is exceptional for YLT. I often flounder between this one and 'and then nothing' being my favorites, but they are different. the variety of the songs is great but they all work together as a cohesive album, skipping tracks on this CD is completely unneccessary. there are still some great love songs and a post-punk tunes but this album is more lyrically and instrumentally mature then some of thier earlier works, such as 'Painful' or 'Electropura'. I honestly couldnt say enough about this cd, but i dont like writing long reviews... this is a personal favorite of mine

5 out of 5 stars Ranks among those obligatory 90s hipster discs.......2006-05-08

There is a certain amount of unanimity amongst critics as to what discs from the 1990s should be heralded as great, and "Heart" is generally granted propitious accolades. My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless" is traditionally regarded as a superior recording, and for the most part it is. "Loveless" is an incomparable example of committed artistry, and it should garner adulations by its sheer density alone. However, I've always felt that "Heart", which for the most part exists in "Loveless"' vein of ethereal ambience, was the more immediately human and inviting record. "Heart"'s emotion exists on a unique artistic plane that few artists dare to tread, and the record's often convoluted lyrical musings are viscerally penetrating, more so than most modern pop records. Upon first blush, the band seems to rely on a relatively limited musical vocabulary throughout the album, but extended listens reveal a fairly rich tapestry of styles, sounds and impressive articulations. "Spec Bebop" is consistenly unnerving, but in at least one sense it seems like one of the most integral and necessary tracks on the record. YLT's Jesus and Mary Chain fetishism had to be illuminated at some point on "Heart", and "Spec Bebops" unrestrained entropy is a great testament to the band's willingness to explore the ether. Conversely, the apparent convention of "Little Honda", "Sugarcube" and "Deeper Into Movies" display another facet of YLT's artistic maturity, as well as the band's penchant for sheer histrionic onslaught. The solo midway through "Sugarcube" is the one of most vexing and hilariously apropos moments on any modern rock song, and it becomes apparnet that the band approaches such passages with an equal concern for irony and viability. "Autumn Sweater", perhaps due to its name alone, has become synonymous with stifled hipster love balladry, and by most accounts it stands as one of the most honest and telling rock narratives of the last fifteen years. YLT's ability to oscillate between Beach Boys sentimentality, Can experimentation and Sonic Youth flamboyance, all the while harboring a kind of self-assured ambivalence, is a sometimes startling testament to the band's musical prowess.
All analysis aside, however, I cannot imagine how a human being with an operable soul would not enjoy this record. It has an almost cosmic ability to make the listener feel genuinely good, oftentimes in a restrained and self-negating fashion that elucidates the inner hipster nerd in all of us. The sheer wantonness of "Sugarcube", the cutesie femininity of "Our Little Corner Of The World", (which, unfortunately, has taken on an inextricable involvement with "Gilmore Girls"), and the utter desolation of "Damage" converge to produce an unmistakable experience.
Sadly, there are no true Thurston Moore moments on "Heart" to measure up to "Big Day Coming" and the like, but the band more than makes up for such a discrepency.

5 out of 5 stars Get in the right mood............2006-03-27

The first time I listened to this disc - it felt like nails going straight into my eardrums. We were on a road trip - not the right 'vibe' for the cd. Since I've listened to it quite a few times - and in the correct mood - feels like a really good rest!!!!!
Tommy
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Who Classic Masterpiece AS YOU NEVER HEARD BEFORE
  • A Landmark Classic Now Made Even Better.
  • A Milestone of Early Rock!
  • I Love it !
  • The Who's classic rock opera gets a 35th birthday celebration fit for a king!
Tommy

Manufacturer: Geffen Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000DJZAH
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Tracks:

  1. Overture
  2. It's A Boy
  3. 1921
  4. Amazing Journey
  5. Sparks
  6. Eyesight To The Blind (The Hawker)
  7. Christmas
  8. Cousin Kevin
  9. The Acid Queen
  10. Underture
  11. Do You Think It's Alright
  12. Fiddle About
  13. Pinball Wizard
  14. There's A Doctor
  15. Go To The Mirror!
  16. Tommy Can You Hear Me?
  17. Smash The Mirror
  18. Sensation
  19. Miracle Cure
  20. Sally Simpson
  21. I'm Free
  22. Welcome
  23. Tommy's Holiday Camp
  24. We're Not Gonna Take It
  25. See Me Feel Me/Listening To You

Tracks:

  1. I Was
  2. Christmas (Out-Take 3)
  3. Cousin Kevin Model Child
  4. Young Man Blues (Version 1)
  5. Tommy Can You Hear Me? (Alternate Version)
  6. Trying To Get Through
  7. Sally Simpson (Out-Takes)
  8. Miss Simpson
  9. Welcome (Take 2)
  10. Tommy's Holiday Camp (Band's Version)
  11. We're Not Gonna Take It (Alternate Version)
  12. Dogs (Part 2)
  13. It's A Boy
  14. Amazing Journey
  15. Christmas
  16. Do You Think It's Alright?
  17. Pinball Wizard

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Who Classic Masterpiece AS YOU NEVER HEARD BEFORE.......2007-06-12

The Album is a masterpiece of all time rock n roll, even if this is "the less Who album" of the Who... but nevermind!
The Sound in both Stereo (from the original master tape discovered in the vault of UMG) and 5.1 (mixed by Pete Townshend himself) is great...
As you put the disc in your player you'll hear the great differences from the 1996 reissue even if you have only a "simple" CD player..
If You're a great Who fan and you a have SACD player buy ABSOLUTELY this album and enjoy it 'til the laser of your player won't work anymore...
The second disc is clearly for fans only but the quality of some track even if are demos or outtakes is very very good!!

5 out of 5 stars A Landmark Classic Now Made Even Better........2006-12-26

One of the most important, groundbreaking amd influential albums in the history of rock and roll, The Who's 1969 magnum opus "Tommy", a rock opera about a deaf, dumb and blind kid who sure plays a mean pinball, is now better than ever thanks to the brilliance of SACD and DSD remastering techniques.

Every song on the cd sounds like it was recorded just yesterday. It is 100 % crystal clear, perfectly remixed and remastered. It gives you a clearer view of the story as well as a more pleasurable than ever listening experience. Pete Townshend and the people involved in this truly put their hearts into making "Tommy" better than ever.

The bonus disc is also worth it. A lot of awesome raritis. The liner notes are an interesting read, and the album itself is of course a masterpiece nobody should be without.

5 out of 5 stars A Milestone of Early Rock!.......2006-09-29

"Tommy" is beyond question one of the big milestones of early rock. Musically the band were at the peak of their creativity.

All band members were obviously extremely talented musicians and both Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend were/are great singers. Apart from few exceptions like "Cousin Kevin" all songs are outstanding; and it's really great to have the whole story on one CD - compared to the old double vinyl album.

Though the storyline may seem a little weird today ( to me it always did ), there is so much great music on this album.

The second bonus CD gives a very interesting insight in the developement of some of the songs. Though the sound quality is exellent CD 2 will mainly be of interest to hard-core Who fans. None of these alternate versions are better than the ones chosen for the album, though a few come close. The studio version of "Young Man Blues" which did not appear on the original album is a nice addition too!

5 out of 5 stars I Love it !.......2006-09-06

I was so blind-sided by this reissue - really. I have looked at this for a few years now, but I never picked it up. My impression of this was that it had some very good music along with some dated sounding tracks, so it wasn't a high priority. I'd been having very good luck buying hybrid SACD's even though I don't own a SACD player; the CD layers benefit greatly from the DSD mastering, making them stand head and shoulders above the latest PCM remasters (there are a few exceptions), so I decided to take the plunge.

The CD layer is stunning. I must have been sitting there with my mouth open after "Overture" began. I experienced emotion that wasn't there on previous listens to this on CD and vinyl. Yes, some of the tracks still sound dated, but most of this album is very good indeed, and this remaster is so incredible. If you own a great stereo rig, I highly recommend buying this - in fact, even if you don't have a great rig, I recommend it!

5 out of 5 stars The Who's classic rock opera gets a 35th birthday celebration fit for a king!.......2006-08-13

The Who's fourth studio(and fifth overall) album Tommy was released in May of 1969.
The Tommy album by The Who was the make or break for the group because if Tommy had failed, The Who would have probably disbanded due to lack of funds despite their concerts selling out based on Pete Townshend's guitar smashing and Keith Moon's drum kit demolishing at the end of each gig.
Guitarist Pete Townshend, under the gun after I Can See For Miles failed as a single in the UK(although it was their biggest ever hit here in the US) came up with a rock opera about a deaf, dumb and blind kid named Tommy whom becomes those aforementioned things after witnessing an event as a child that traumatized him(his father killing his step-father whom he considered his father).
Originally considered to be a single length album, the band felt it didn't make sense so they expanded it into a double album and the result is one of rock's Top 10 greatest double studio albums in history(alongside other classic double albums like the then-already released Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland and The Beatles' White album and would help pave the way for more classics like The Rolling Stones' 1972 masterwork Exile on Main Street, The Who's 1973 release Quadrophenia, Elton John's 1973 classic Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Genesis' 1974 masterwork The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Led Zeppelin's 1975 classic Physical Graffiti, Pink Floyd's 1979 masterpiece The Wall and Bruce Springsteen's 1980 classic The River among many others).
Alot of classics appear on this album like the Overture, the classic Top 20 hit Pinball Wizard, Amazing Journey, the Underture(best instrumental on here which is basically a repeat of the album's other instrumental Sparks), Go to the Mirror, I'm Free, Cousin Kevin(one of bass player John Entwistle's greatest compositions), Fiddle About(about the perverted Uncle Ernie), Tommy's Holiday Camp(another excellent ditty written by drummer Keith Moon whom did an excellent rendition in the film version of Tommy in 1975) and the classic finale We're Not Gonna Take It/See Me Feel Me.
The other tracks on the album It's a Boy, 1921(You Didn't Hear It), Eyesight to the Blind, Christmas, The Acid Queen, Do You Think It's Alright, There's a Doctor I've Found, Tommy Can You Hear Me?, Smash the Mirror, Sensation, Miracle Cure, Sally Simpson and Welcome are all great pieces as well though tend to be overlooked.
The album made The Who legends for good and peaked at #4 on the Billboard chart and was their first Gold seller(eventually Platinum).
In 1996, the album was re-released as a remastered CD but used different masters for the remixed reissue.
In October of 2003(just in time for Tommy's 35th Anniversary), Geffen Records(formerly known as MCA) re-released the album as a 2-disc Hybrid SACD with the original mix on the CD layer and a killer 5.1 mix on the SACD layer and this version uses the very original tapes that were found in Universal's vault after being said that the original tapes were destroyed by Kit Lambert in a fire. As a result of the discovery of the original tapes, the sound quality is amazing on here.
Disc two has great outtakes and demos like I Was, The Who trying to record Sally Simpson with hilarious results and instrumental versions of Tommy Can You Hear Me and Tommy's Holiday Camp among many other rarities plus a cool booklet with rare photos.
Highly recommended.
Can You Hear Us?
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Yes, David Crowder, I Hear You Loud and Clear!
  • Unique Sound, Solid Lyrics
  • Can you hear us? David Crowder CD
  • WOW WOW WOW....
  • Possibly one of the greatest worship albums ever
Can You Hear Us?
David Crowder Band
Manufacturer: Six Step Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000060NV3
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Tracks:

  1. I Need Words
  2. Our Love Is Loud
  3. You're Everything
  4. God Of Creation
  5. Wonderful King
  6. All Creatures Of Our God And King
  7. God Of Wrath
  8. Obsession
  9. My Hope
  10. Thank You For Hearing Me
  11. Undignified

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Yes, David Crowder, I Hear You Loud and Clear!.......2006-06-07

So I have "Illuminate" and "A Collision" (the best CD of all time!) but decided that my collection was missing something if I did not purchase "Can You Hear Us?" I'm very glad I did! The CD starts off with "I Need Words," which is just David and an acoustic guitar and is sparse but beautiful. Then it goes onto track 2 with "Our Love Is Loud," a rocking song that is classic David Crowder. Track 3, "You're My Everything" is one of my favorites as David's voice is perfectly fragile and each inflection he sings fits with the emotion of the song. Tracks four and five are also very good songs that make you want to sing along. I have mixed feelings, however, with track 6, "All Creatures of our God and King." The tempo is kind of odd and it does not sound nearly as good as "All Creatures #2" that is on Illuminate. Oh well. "God of Wrath" is a cool song, but one of my favorites is David Crowder's cover of "Obsession" by Delirious. The song and theme work to David's strength and when he's singing "And my heart burns for you," you know that he truly means it. "My Hope" is also a very strong track on this CD that makes you want to sing the chorus with him. Track 10 is a cover of a Sinead O'Conner song ("Thank You For Hearing Me"), which works perfectly with a Christian song and David ends it with "My Jesus, I love thee; I know Thou Art Mine." Very cool. Then we have a cover of Matt Redman's song "Undiginified," which David also makes his own. Lastly, there is the secret song "You Alone" that finishes off the album beautifully with the repeating words "I'm Alive, I'm Alive." All in all, this is a very strong worship album. The cool thing about the David Crowder Band is that they can take any song and make it cool and put their own seal on it. Many bands don't have a signature sound or do covers that try to sound like the original (but usually fail). Not so with this band. His voice is filled with such passion that it makes you want to close your eyes and sing along. This CD, in my opinion, is not as good as "Illuminate" (which is definitely a five star album as well) or as good as "A Collision," (which is a six star album!). However, you can see how the David Crowder band has matured with each CD and are just getting better and better (I also think it is amazing how his 3 full length CDs here on Amazon all have an average rating of 5!). If you do not have this CD, I highly recommend because it has many good tracks and your CD collection wouldn't be the same without it. Rock on, David Crowder!

4 out of 5 stars Unique Sound, Solid Lyrics.......2006-04-17

This album is full of worshipful Christian lyrics combined with a sound that is very catchy.

The David Crowder Band has one of those sounds that continues to grow on you the more you listen to their music. It is very creative and very different.

There are several very good songs on this album and none that are bad. It is well worth a listen.

4 out of 5 stars Can you hear us? David Crowder CD.......2005-07-15

Very gripping lyrics. Not as appealing as "Illuminate" project but still a must buy for any worshipers out there.

5 out of 5 stars WOW WOW WOW...........2005-05-17

My only question.... "WHERE HAS DAVID CROWDER BAND BEEN HIDING ALL THESE YEARS?" This CD is amazing! I loved the Illumination CD and found this one and it is just as good. I mean not one bad song on it...and the voice is amazing! It is original sounding and takes a wonderful spin on to the worship songs! I have never been one to check out worship songs and I am usually disappointed in many of the current artists attempt to take on worship songs, but, David Crowder Band is a whole new look on worship songs. I sing at the top of my lungs and the beat is so good that I get soaked in the CD. I highly recommend this CD and David Crowder has to be one of the most amazing Bands to come to Christian music since wow I don't even know...just give one listen and you will be hooked!

5 out of 5 stars Possibly one of the greatest worship albums ever.......2005-04-21

I truly believe this to be one of the greatest worship albums ever made. David Crowder Band is incredible. This album, which I purchased after hearing them at OneDay03, is perfect. It's haunting, beautiful, uplifting, moving, and everything about it makes you want to sing and praise God. There isn't a single song that I don't absolutely love. It's hard for me to not listen to them on repeat constantly. If you could only own one Crowder album, make it this one.
Enchantment
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • Bleck!
  • Voice of an Angel!!
  • fun cd
  • Good? Yes. Great? No. Over-rated? HECK YES!
  • Enchantment Indeed!
Enchantment
Richard Rodgers , Michel Legrand , Leo Delibes , American Traditional , Erik Satie , British Isles Traditional , Jerome Kern , Johann II Strauss , Lucy Simon , David Foster , Sian Edwards , John Clark , Eric Rigler , Frank Ricotti , John Parricelli , Mark Hammond , Paul Keogh , and Michael Thompson
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005OWEJ
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Tracks:

  1. Tonight
  2. Carrickfergus
  3. Habanera
  4. Bali Ha'i
  5. Papa Can You Hear Me?
  6. The Flower Duet
  7. The Little Horses
  8. From My First Moment
  9. The Water Is Wide
  10. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
  11. The Laughing Song
  12. If I Loved You
  13. A Bit Of Earth
  14. Somewhere
  15. The Prayer

Amazon.com

Of course, we couldn't expect time to freeze its relentless path and forever preserve the Welsh sensation Charlotte Church in a chrysalis of precocious youth. And yet, at 15 and now taking bolder steps into expanding her repertory on Enchantment, the soprano remains a marvel of a prodigy. Here, she scours a wider range of sources than on her previous albums. Church moves with breathtaking ease from classic Broadway (West Side Story, Show Boat, South Pacific) to traditional Celtic, film ballads, and even a couple of high-operatic numbers. Church's straightforward approach to the melody of "La Habanera" may not exactly be what Bizet had in mind for his Carmen, but fans will get double pleasure out of the singer's exquisite duet with herself on the haunting "Flower Duet" from Delibes's Lakmé. What's more, there's a greater freedom of expression and sense of how to shape a phrase in many of these tracks--notice how much there is to savor, for instance, in "The Water Is Wide" and "Carrickfergus." It all adds up to a widely varied course, demonstrating the continued growth of a singularly gifted young artist. --Sarah Chin

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Bleck!.......2007-05-30

Charlotte has a producing voice, not quite mature, but it's bearable. I don't really appreciate opera unless your name is Sarah Brightman, Hayley Westenra or Holly Stell. Carrickfergus and Somewhere are decent for her voice, but "The Prayer" and "The Water is Wide" is very damaging to my ears due to the fact, her Italian sucks, her range is not wide enough in "Water".

4 out of 5 stars Voice of an Angel!!.......2007-02-05

I enjoy listening to this cd by Charlotte Church! She has such a lovely voice. I especially love listening to Habañera and The Flower Duet as both are sung beautifully by Ms. Church!!

5 out of 5 stars fun cd.......2006-12-29

I love this cd and have had it quite a while. I was just enjoying it again today and thought I'd write a review because I do enjoy it so much. It's just a fun, enjoyable album. Pretty orchestration, a lovely voice, nice to sing along with. Especially at the top of my lungs in the car (alone when no one can hear me!)
I really don't know why one would NOT enjoy this cd.

3 out of 5 stars Good? Yes. Great? No. Over-rated? HECK YES!.......2006-12-15

I bought this CD when I was still in high school, singing soprano I & II in choir. It's not bad but she does much better than even some older kids attempting soprano. I think due to the popularity she gained this poor girl has endured much harsh criticism. True, we can't cut her slack JUST because she is a little girl but on the other hand for someone to sing opera at that age her work IS superb. Whether she's a prodigy or victim of over-ambitious parents & media, she deserves credit where it's due. At least she DID break out as some-what of a mainstream artist & exposed this type of music to those who stereotyped it as fat ladies w/powder-white make-up belting out notes that would shatter glass. Some say the same for Josh Groban who broke into the scene as a mainstream tenor/baritone vocalist. As far as skills & talent, he not the greatest either but many people adore his music. The same credit should go to Charlotte Church.

As far as feedback on the quality...
It's VERY hard to believe the deliverance of her performance. A 15-year-old (even younger on her debut cd) singing songs about love & being able to see the world seems silly. Cracking voice? Yeah, you can really tell she had a difficult time hitting the high note in The Laughing Song because it got all air-y. Honestly, some trained sopranos over-shoot their high notes too & get extremely SHARP so I didn't mind her air-i-ness. I think she did a great job on The Flower Duet though. It still has the same relaxing quality as some other versions I've heard from various movie soundtracks. But compare this to the likes of professionals - real professionals - she's merely tolerable. Try Sarah Brightman if you want to listen to some nice musical sopranos. She even has some pretty remakes of modern songs.

4 out of 5 stars Enchantment Indeed!.......2006-08-20

This CD is simply amazing! However, I am sick and tired of people pressuring her to be someone that she's not! Trying to fit into today's popular music scene, Charlotte has turned to pop, and her career isn't flying well because of it! Her voice is simply amazing for opera, and I will not hear another insulting word about her!

Anyways, the CD is genius! Tonight from "West Side Story" is beautifully sung. Carrickfergus, Habanera, and Bali Ha'i are sung with a hypnotizing beauty. Papa, Can you Hear Me and The Flower Duet are amazing as well!

However, on The Flower Duet, Church's vocals seem strained a bit. The Little Horses is a decent piece, a remake of the standard English folk song. I prefer it straight instead of a varied beat, so that Church's voice could soar on and on.

From my First Moment is a fairly nice song, but The Water is Wide is simply amazing! Her vocals are soaring and mezmerizing!

Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man is NOT the song for her, because she puts a weird accent on the song, like she's trying to sound like a hoodlum! The Laughing Song is something that SHOULD NOT be tried by children, because the vocals are so strained! If I Loved You is a simple yet wonderful piece!

A Bit of Earth and Somewhere are both beautiful pieces, with excellent work from the orchestra.

Overall, this CD is very beautiful! BUY IT!
Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Fabulous for any Broadway-lover
  • Top Shelf
  • TERRIFIC CD'S
  • Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs
  • Great Compilation!
Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. The Best of Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
  2. Broadway: The American Musical
  3. Broadway: The American Musical
  4. Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
  5. Somewhere over the Rainbow: The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals

ASIN: B00064ADMK
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

  1. Give My Regards To Broadway- Joel Grey
  2. Swanee- Al Jolson
  3. When The Moon Shines On The Moonshine- Bert Williams
  4. A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody- John Steel
  5. My Man- Fanny Brice
  6. Fascinating Rhythm- Fred Astaire, Adele Astaire
  7. If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie)- 78rpm Version Eddie Cantor
  8. Someone To Watch Over Me- Gertrude Lawrence
  9. Bill- 78 rpm Version Helen Morgan
  10. Ol' Man River- Paul Robeson
  11. Ain't Misbehavin'- Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
  12. Ten Cents A Dance- Ruth Etting
  13. Body And Soul- Libby Holman
  14. Brother, Can You Spare A Dime- Bing Crosby
  15. Night And Day- Fred Astaire
  16. Heat Wave- Ethel Waters
  17. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes- Tamara
  18. You're The Top- Ethel Merman
  19. Summertime- Anne Brown
  20. September Song- Walter Huston
  21. My Heart Belongs To Daddy- Mary Martin
  22. It Never Entered My Mind- Shirley Ross
  23. Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered- Vivienne Segal
  24. Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning- Irving Berlin
  25. Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'- Alfred Drake

Tracks:

  1. New York, New York- Cris Alexander,Adolph Green,John Reardon
  2. If I Loved You- John Raitt,Jan Clayton
  3. Come Rain Or Come Shine- Ruby Hill,Harold Nicholas
  4. There's No Business Like Show Business- Ensemble
  5. How Are Things In Glocca Morra? From "Finian's Rainbow"- Ella Logan
  6. Once In Love With Amy- Ray Bolger
  7. Wunderbar- Alfred Drake,Patricia Morison
  8. Some Enchanted Evening- Ezio Pinza
  9. Lost In The Stars- Todd Duncan
  10. Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend- Carol Channing
  11. Luck Be A Lady- Robert Alda,Guys
  12. Getting To Know You- Gertrude Lawrence
  13. Who Cares?- Jack Carson,Betty Oakes
  14. Stranger In Paradise- from " Kismet" Doretta Morrow,Richard Kiley
  15. Ballad Of Mack The Knife- Gerald Price
  16. Hey There- from "The Pajama Game" John Raitt
  17. Whatever Lola Wants- Gwen Verdon
  18. I Could Have Danced All Night- Julie Andrews
  19. Standing On The Corner- from "The Most Happy Fella, 1956" Shorty Long,John Henson,Alan Gilbert
  20. The Party's Over- Judy Holliday
  21. Glitter And Be Gay- Barbara Cook
  22. Tonight- Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence

Tracks:

  1. Seventy-Six Trombones- Robert Preston
  2. I Enjoy Being A Girl- from "Flower Drum Song, 1958" Pat Suzuki
  3. Everything's Coming Up Roses- Ethel Merman
  4. My Favorite Things- from "The Sound Of Music" Mary Martin
  5. Put On A Happy Face- from "Bye Bye Birdie" Dick Van Dyke
  6. Try To Remember- Jerry Orbach
  7. Camelot- from "Camelot" Richard Burton
  8. Love Makes The World Go 'Round- Anna Maria Alberghetti
  9. I Believe In You- Robert Morse And Co.
  10. The Sweetest Sounds- Diahann Carroll,Richard Kiley
  11. Comedy Tonight- Zero Mostel
  12. What Kind Of Fool Am I?- Anthony Newley
  13. As Long As He Needs Me- Georgia Brown
  14. Hello, Dolly!- Carol Channing,Cast
  15. People- Barbra Streisand
  16. Anyone Can Whistle- from "Anyone Can Whistle" Lee Remick
  17. If I Were A Rich Man- Zero Mostel
  18. Night Song- Sammy Davis, Jr.
  19. The Impossible Dream- Richard Kiley
  20. If My Friends Could See Me Now- Gwen Verdon
  21. Open a New Window- from Mame Voice

Tracks:

  1. Willkommen- from "Cabaret" Joel Grey
  2. Let The Sunshine In- James Rado,Lynn Kellogg,Melba Moore,Cast
  3. I'll Never Fall In Love Again- Jill O'Hara,Jerry Orbach
  4. The Ladies Who Lunch- from "Company" Elaine Stritch
  5. Tea For Two- Roger Rathburn,Susan Watson
  6. I'm Still Here- Yvonne De Carlo
  7. I Don't Know How To Love Him- Yvonne Elliman
  8. We Go Together- Adrienne Barbeau,Barry Bostwick,Walter Bobbie,Cast
  9. Corner Of The Sky- John Rubinstein
  10. Send In The Clowns- Glynis Johns
  11. Ease On Down The Road- Stephanie Mills,Tiger Haynes,Ted Ross,Hinton
  12. One- from "A Chorus Line" Cast
  13. All That Jazz- Chita Rivera,Ensemble
  14. Tomorrow- Andrea Mcardle
  15. Don't Cry For Me Argentina- Patti Lupone
  16. Come Follow The Band
  17. Lullaby Of Broadway- Jerry Orbach
  18. And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going- Jennifer Holliday
  19. The Bells Of St. Sebastian- Raul Julia

Tracks:

  1. Memory- Betty Buckley
  2. I Am What I Am- George Hearn
  3. Move On- Bernadette Peters,Mandy Patinkin
  4. Do You Hear The People Sing?- Michael Maguire,Cast
  5. The Music Of The Night- Michael Crawford
  6. You're Nothing Without Me- James Naughton,Gregg Edelman
  7. The American Dream- Jonathan Pryce,Cast
  8. Doctor Jazz- Gregory Hines,Company
  9. With One Look- Glenn Close
  10. On Broadway- Adrian Bailey,Frederick B. Owens,Ken Ard,Victor Trent Cook
  11. Le Jazz Hot- Julie Andrews,Ensemble
  12. Seasons Of Love-
  13. Hakuna Matata- Max Casella,Tom Alan Robbins,Scott Irby-Ranniar,Jason Raize
  14. I Wanna Be A Producer- Matthew Broderick,Ensemble
  15. Dancing Queen- Louise Plowright,Jenny Galloway
  16. Good Morning Baltimore- Marissa Jaret Winokur
  17. Movin' Out- Michael Cavanaugh,Band
  18. I Go To Rio- Hugh Jackman,Company
  19. Defying Gravity- Kristin Chenoweth,Idina Menzel

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fabulous for any Broadway-lover.......2007-01-30

Packs into 5 CD's a sampling of Broadway tunes from the 20's thru (almost) today, mostly from original cast recordings. Includes not just well-known hits, but also some lesser-known gems. Sound quality is first rate, booklet is informative too. Have given this as a gift to several friends with rave reviews.

5 out of 5 stars Top Shelf.......2007-01-04

This is THE definitive collection of Broadway hits. I have other collections, and none of them measure up. A great deal of care was obviously taken in compiling and presenting this box set. It covers a lot of ground, starting with some long-forgotten but still very enjoyable hits from the days of yore, and finishing with present-day favorites. To the best of my knowledge, the recordings are by those who made them famous. You won't be disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars TERRIFIC CD'S.......2006-03-23

THESE BROADWAY MUSICALS CD'S ARE A BROADWAY LOVERS DREAM. WITH EACH SONG, MEMORIES COME FLOODING BACK. BOTH THE FAMILIAR AND THE FORGOTTEN SONGS ARE A TRUE LISTENING PLEASURE. IF YOU LIKE BROADWAY, YOU'LL LOVE THIS SET.

5 out of 5 stars Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs .......2005-06-14

This Collection was perfectly made it has almost all the most famous Broadway songs on this 5 cd set. The Music is great and has Broadways greatest treasures like "Memory""People""With One Look""Give my regards Too Broadway" just to name a few of this numerous cd set with over 100 songs. This is a great buy if you like musicals or The music of Broadway

5 out of 5 stars Great Compilation!.......2005-01-17

If you are a fan of the Broadway Musicals, this is a collection that you should purchase. Since I got the 5 disc set I've enjoyed listening to it. The majority of the songs are done by the original singers. The collection is priceless considering that you will have over 100 songs from popular musicals since the beginning of Broadway
Essential Purcell
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Mad about Baroque
  • The beauty of the songs brings tears to my eyes
  • Brilliant
  • Be Welcome then, great Sirs (and Mesdames).
  • Brilliant Purcell Disc
Essential Purcell
Henry Purcell , New College Choir Oxford , King's Consort , Robert King , Roy Goodman , Charles Daniels , John Mark Ainsley , James Bowman , Peter Buckoke , Jane Coe , Rogers Covey-Crump , Gillian Fisher , Michael George , Miles Golding , Jane Norman , Barbara Bonney , Mark Caudle , William Carter , King's Consort Choir , Helen Gough , Paul Nicholson , Angela East , Barry Guy , Tessa Bonner , Jerome Finnis , Rupert Bawden , Lucy Howard , Richard Campbell , Susan Addison , James O'Donnell , and Stephen Saunders
Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Purcell, HenryPurcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Incidental MusicIncidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
EnglishEnglish | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
AnthemsAnthems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
OdesOdes | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Bonney, BarbaraBonney, Barbara | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Choruses | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Choruses | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
ClassicalClassical | Imports | Stores | Music
$6.99 and Under$6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
All Classical Music BlowoutAll Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Purcell, HenryPurcell, Henry | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Bonney, BarbaraBonney, Barbara | ( B ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Opera & VocalOpera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Purcell: Odes for St. Cecilia's Day - Music for Queen Mary / Taverner Consort
  2. Purcell: The Fairy Queen
  3. Purcell: Songs & Airs / Argenta, North, Boothby, Nicholson, Toll
  4. Purcell: Dido and Aeneas / James, Lewis, Baker, Herincx
  5. Purcell: Full Anthems & Organ Music

ASIN: B000002ZDU
Release Date: 1995-04-10

Tracks:

  1. Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol. 5: Welcome, Welcome Glorious Morn. Symphony And Opening Chorus
  2. Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol. 3: Be Welcome Then, Great Sir
  3. Complete Secular Solo Songs Vol.1: Oh, Fair Cedaria
  4. The Choir Of The King's Consort: Hear My Prayer, O Lord
  5. Great Baroque Arias: When I Am Laid In Earth ('Dido's Lament')
  6. Complete Anthems And Services Vol.1: Let Mine Eyes Run Down With Tears (Part 1)
  7. Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.4: The Sparrow And The Gentle Dove
  8. Complete Secular Solo Songs Vol.1: If Music Be The Food Of Love (First Setting)
  9. Complete Anthems And Services Vol.5: Rejoice In The Lord Always ('The Bell Anthem')
  10. Complete Anthems And Services Vol.3: Hosanna To The Highest
  11. Complete Anthems And Services Vol.7: Thou Knowest, Lord, The Secrets Of Our Hearts
  12. Mr. Henry Purcell's Most Admirable Composures: Fairest Isle, All Isles Excelling
  13. Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.6: Mark, How Readily Each Pliant String
  14. Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.8: Sound The Trumpet
  15. Complete Secular Solo Songs Vol.3: She Loves And She Confesses Too
  16. Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.8: O How Blest Is The Isle
  17. Complete Anthems And Services Vol.3: Remember Not, Lord, Our Offences
  18. Complete Anthems And Services Vol. 11: An Evening Hymn
  19. Complete Church Music Vol.2: Vouchsafe, O Lord, To Keep Us This Day
  20. Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.2: With Rapture Of Delight... Hail Bright Cecilia

Amazon.com essential recording

The "Essential" Purcell? Well, you could get a bunch of critics to argue about that for a few days, but in the meantime, here is a sampler of highlights from the King's Consort's three admirable Purcell series: the Complete Odes and Welcome Songs, Complete Anthems and Services, and Complete Secular Solo Songs. There are, of course, some of Purcell's most-performed pieces (which probably are "essential"): Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas, "Sound the trumpet" from Come, ye sons of Art, Rejoice in the Lord alway (the "Bell Anthem," named for the string figure at the opening that sounds like pealing bells), the gently patriotic "Fairest isle, all isles excelling" (sung by a miscast James Bowman), and a selection from the funeral music for Queen Mary. There are also some delightful surprises--particularly among the little-known secular songs and church music. The plaintive "O fair Cedaria" gets a lovely performance by Barbara Bonney (a singer not usually associated with Purcell); tenor Rogers Covey-Crump (possibly the ideal high tenor for Purcell) sings the enchanting "If music be the food of love"; the church anthems "Let mine eyes run down with tears" and "Remember not, O Lord, our offences" have some startling harmonies as daring as any Monteverdi ever wrote. If you're unfamiliar with Purcell, this reasonably priced disc is a good place to start exploring without a big initial investment. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Mad about Baroque.......2007-02-12

This is a terrific CD. The music is breathtaking. Just buy IT !!!!!

5 out of 5 stars The beauty of the songs brings tears to my eyes.......2002-08-21

Absolutely beautiful baroque music! The arrangament, singing and instrumentation is superb. It is too bad that Henry Purcell is not as widely known as Bach, because he should be recognized equally well."The Sparrow and the Gentle dove" is alone worth the price of the album! I can not stop playing it!

5 out of 5 stars Brilliant.......2001-10-31

Like in his renditions of Handel's oratorios, Robert King manages to bring a freshness and strenght to Purcell's music that I had seldom heard before. This CD also features some of the best performers of early music in the world. My favourite tracks are Oh, Fair Cedaria, sung by the multi-talented Barbara Bonney; Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas, sung by Gillian Fisher; She Loves and she Confesses too, sung by the wonderful Susan Gritton; and Welcome, Welcome Glorious Morn, sung by Rogers Covey-Crump. The only track I didn't find absolutely wonderful is Fairest Isle, sung here by James Bowman. Don't get me wrong, I generally love Mr Bowman, I think that his performance in Mr Purcell's Most Admirable Composures (also conducted by Robert King) makes it another essential Purcell recording; but I find that Fairest Isle was much better done elsewhere, particularly by Christopher Hogwood and Barbara Bonney.

These songs aren't only beautiful, they're also poignant, sweet and unpretentious. I think that it will be very clear to anyone who listens to this recording that Mr Purcell was one of the finest composers that ever lived.

5 out of 5 stars Be Welcome then, great Sirs (and Mesdames)........2001-10-20

If anyone has benefitted from the reversion in the last three or so decades to period instruments and historical reconstruction, it is Henry Purcell. Before, he was merely great, the peerless word-setter in the English language, a virtuoso of boundless range, a professional composer whose offical commissions were always imbued with personality and invention. But period instrumentation has added to this a greater depth, an other-worldly texture of sound. With his intricate, multi-part vocal writing, his preference for low, rumbling instruments such as the bass viol and the strange and remarkable theorbo, as well as his often sombre and low-key subject matter and treatment, Purcell creates a round, glowing, humming sound as pregnantly full as dub reggae.

This has an extraordinary effect on the listener. Whereas Bach, with his mathematical abstractions, sounds universal and timeless, Purcell's music takes the listener back 300 years, back to different ways of thinking about, feeling about and addressing things we still think etc. about today - death, love, friendship. The emotion is timeless, but the music's beauty is alien, THEIRS, hence its preciousness.

A lot of intelligence has gone into the unity of this compilation, beginning with two Welcomes (to the dawn and to the listener, in this case a King), and ending with thoughts of evening, death and a Baroque 'Thank you for the music'. These are bright, fanfare-like works, but the predominant mood is slow, ruminative, quiet. The selection covers the wide range of Purcell's oeuvre, from opera and funeral marches to secular songs and odes, and includes his most famous vocal works - Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas, sung by Gillian Fisher, and never more evocative of pagan loss and death; the massive 'Bell Anthem', with its ingenious opening symphony and joyful antiphon; and a miraculously serene 'Evening Hymn', Dido's opposite, death indicating hope, the treble voice swirling over the heavy ground bass like the soul released from the inert body.

it might seem quixotic to choose highlights from an exemplary collection of highlights, but the entry of the strings washing over the serene repetition of 'Be Welcome then, great Sir' always makes my heart stop still, while the musical picture of 'Bold Honour', the 'noisy Nothing, stalking shade', blocking the poet's amorous intentions in 'She loves and confesses too', adds a chilling hint of life's transience to a bouyantly bawdy song.

5 out of 5 stars Brilliant Purcell Disc .......2000-11-30

With this album director and Purcell expert Robert King provides the listener with an excellent introduction to the composer's vocal works. The pieces presented here were taken from Mr. King's recordings of 'The Complete Odes and Welcome Songs', 'The Complete Anthems and Services', 'The Complete Secular Solo Songs' and diverse anthology discs. King, his wonderful soloists and musicians do the brilliance of Purcell's music fully justice. Whether he was commissioned by royalty, the church or theatre, Purcell shone in all areas. This disc certainly demonstrates the variety and originality of his craft, not to speak of his uncanny ability of setting words to music.

An outstanding Purcell offering. With a beautiful perfomance by Barbara Bonney of 'Oh, fair Cedaria'. Susan Gritton is equally captivating in 'She loves and she confesses too'. Gillian Fisher's rendition of the famous 'Dido's Lament' is haunting and poignant. Further an intelligent and brilliant 'Hosanna to the highest' by Michael George. James Bowman and Michael Chance sparkle in the countertenor duet 'Sound the trumpet' (from 'Come Ye sons of Art away'). And I should not forget to mention the joyous, luminous performance of the beautiful 'Bell Anthem'. To name but a few favourites, only James Bowman's 'Fairest Isle' was a disappointment.

Those who are familiar with Purcell's music will get an excellent disc with some of his most beloved works. If you are new to Purcell, this is, as already said a great introduction. Which might be the incentive to further explorations of Purcell.

by stardustraven

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