Original Ragtime [Original recording remastered] [Import]

1. Waiting For The Robert E.

2. On The Mississippi

3. Mississippi Rag

4. Temptation Rag

5. Canadian Capers

6. Perfect Rag

7. Maple Leaf Rag

8. Kitten On The Keys

9. Harlem Strut

10. Cataract Rag

11. Saint-Louis Rag

12. Entertainer's Rag

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
L'original Series. Reissue of the Original Album. Digitally Remastered from Analog Tapes, Using 20 Bit Technology. Digipack.

Tracks:

Prologue: Ragtime
Goodbye, My Love
Journey On
The Crime of the Century
What Kind of Woman
A Shtetl Iz Amereke
Success
His Name Is Coalhouse Walker
Getting' Ready Rag
Henry Ford
Nothing Like the City
Your Daddy's Son
The Courtship
New Music
Wheels of a Dream
The Night That Goldman Spoke at Union Square
Gliding
The Trashing of the Car
Justice
President
Till We Reach That Day

Tracks:

Entr'acte
Harry Houdini, Master Escapist
Coalhouse's Soliloquy
Coalhouse Demands
What a Game
Fire in the City
Atlantic City
Buffalo Nickel Photoplay, Inc.
Our Children
Harlem Nightclub
Sarah Brown Eyes
He Wanted to Say
Back to Before
Look What You've Done
Make Them Hear You
Epilogue: Ragtime/Wheels of a Dream (reprise)
The Ragtime Symphonic Suite

Amazon.com essential recording

The epic sweep of Ragtime is captured in its opening prologue, a nine-minute kaleidoscope of fictional characters mingling with historical figures from the early 20th century as originally captured in E.L. Doctorow's sprawling novel. As the story continues, we meet pianist Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Brian Stokes Mitchell) and his child's mother, Sarah (Audra McDonald), who has been taken in by a respectable family (including Marin Mazzie as Mother). Parallel story lines of the Latvian immigrant Tateh (Peter Friedman), the entertainer Evelyn Nesbit (Lynnette Perry), and even Harry Houdini (Jim Corti) and Emma Goldman (Judy Kaye) eventually mingle and merge. Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Once on This Island) mix marches, cakewalks, and of course ragtime to create a rich, compelling score, including Sarah's song to her baby, "Your Daddy's Son," her soaring duet with Coalhouse, "Wheels of a Dream," Mother's self-revealing "Back to Before," and numerous set pieces, all performed by a perfect cast. Ragtime was nominated for 12 Tony Awards in 1998, with wins for McDonald, original score, book, and orchestration. The CD also includes an eight-minute symphonic suite conducted by Paul Gemignani and a booklet with photos, full lyrics, and a history of how the score was written. Tragic, touching, and ultimately triumphant, Ragtime is an American classic. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Ragtime - The Musical (1998 Original Broadway Cast).......2007-07-27

This is exactly what I was looking for!
I'm not disappointed in the slightest. Well worth listening to.

Excellent recording of an excellent show.......2007-05-26

I highly recommend this item, especially if you're looking for a new favorite musical. Buy this 2 CD set, instead of the 1 CD version because 1) the 1 CD version is merely a concept album, and the final show underwent numerous changes before taking its final form, 2) In order to fit on 1 CD some of the best music of the show is cut from the other version, and 3) the 2 CD version contains enough narration and plot songs that if you've never seen the show you have a very good idea of what it's about.

Unlike many other cast albums, "Ragtime" doesn't contain any clunker songs. Every one is either catchy, innovative, heart wrenching, or outright fun.

Ragtime.......2007-05-15

Got the CD after seeing the show, and have listened again and again with increasing appreciation for the show, and the novel, which I re-read after many years.
"It's somehow haunting me . . ."

A Beautiful and Inspirational Cast Recording! .......2006-09-13

This 2-disc set is the most beautiful recording you will ever come across. The sound is perfect and it contains all of the songs from the musical, unlike the 'Highlights' CD. The singers are brilliant and they play their roles perfectly. Brian Stokes Mitchell is a wonderful and intense Coalhouse, and Peter Friedman is a beautiful voice as Tateh. Marin Mazzie and Audra McDonald co-star as Mother and Sarah, and Mark Jacoby is a inspirational and powerful Father. Lynette Perry and Jim Corti are halarious as Evelyn Nesbit and Harry Houndini. Some of the best songs on this recording are:

Prolouge: Ragtime
Journey On
Success
Gettin Ready Rag
New Music
Wheels of a Dream
Justice
Till We Reach That Day
Coalhouse's Silioquy
Coalhouse Demands
What a Game(halarious!)
Atlantic City
Our Children
He Wanted to Say
Look What You've Done
Epilouge

This recording also includes a bonus track: The Ragtime Symphonic Suite, which contains the tunes to the main songs in Ragtime. Like the other songs, this track is wonderful. If you are looking for a recording that will make you laugh, cry, and inspire you all at once, this is the perfect buy for you!

In the Age of Sondheim, this piece stands beside his work and doesn't pale at all........2006-06-18

"Ragtime" utilzes so many different elements. From a compositional stand point, the music begins as does the story. We have three different classes of people and three different styles of music. As the musical proceeds and the classes begin to mingle and then clash, the music does the same thing. This is a subtle element of brilliance; most audience memebers wouldn't catch this. This piece comes as close to opera as does "Sweeney Todd". The recording includes a Orchestra Suite at the end that is so well written that it stands beautifully on it's own and doesn't sound like a last minute Overture. Each character is well defined by musical motif. The cast is outstanding with the very best singers and actors available to Broadway and Lincoln Center. Marin Mazzie sings the remarkable "Back To Before" and Audra MacDonald "Your Daddy's Hands" making them songs that will stand as monuments to theatre the way that "People" does for Streisand, "Rose's Turn" For Merman, "Hello Dolly" for Carol Channing. The musical skill of the orchestra is remarkable, whether it's the pianist, the clarinet sounding like an Eastern European standard. Or the remarkable first violin who climbes up a scale to bring a piece together at the end for a pitch so beautifully played at the top of the instrument's range. The songs themselves are spectacular; each piece develops and we do hear character development themes; each repeated motif in a song has thickened and developed along with the character, so we never ever feel as though the score was written hastily. "Ragtime" is a musical that defies the old line, "Theatre in New York is Dead."

Average customer rating:

Great collection of Scott Joplin's piano rags
The Complete Piano Music of Scott Joplin
Another Performer Rewrites Joplin's Masterpieces
complete piano music of Scott Joplin on 4 CD's
Ragtime Marvel

Complete Piano Music of Scott Joplin

Manufacturer: Compendia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Scott Joplin: Piano Rags
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Rags to Riches: The Essential Hits of Scott Joplin

ASIN: B000003QWN
Release Date: 1997-01-28

Tracks:

The Crush Collision March
Combination March
Harmony Club Waltz
Original Rags
Maple Leaf Rag
Swipesy Cakewalk
Reacherine Rag
Sunflower Slow Drag
The Augustan Club Waltz
The Easy Winners
Cleopha
A Breeze From Alabama
Elite Syncopations

Tracks:

The Entertainer
The Strenouous Life
March Majestic
Something Doing
Weaping Willow
Patr Leaf Rag
The Favorite
The Sycamore
The Cascades
The Chysanthemum
Bethena
Bink's Waltz
The Rosebud March

Tracks:

Leola
Eugenia
Antoinette
The Ragtime Dance
Searchlight Rag
Gladiolus Rag
Lily Queen
Rose Leaf Rag
Heliotrope Bouquet
The Nonpareil
Fig Leaf Rag
Sugarcane
Pineapple Rag

Tracks:

Wall Street Rag (1909)
Solace (1909)
Pleasant Moments (1909)
Country Club (1909)
Euphonic Moments (1909)
Paragon Rag (1909)
Stop-Time Rag (1910)
Felicity Rag (1911)
Scott Joplin's New Rag (1912)
Kismet Rag (1913)
Magnetic Rag (1914)
Reflection Rag (1917)
Silver Swan Rag (1917)

Customer Reviews:

Great collection of Scott Joplin's piano rags.......2007-08-02

John Arpin delivers excellent performances of Joplin's rags. Not too much interpretation and not a flat presentation exhibited by piano rolls. Perfect for me. I believe Arpin has truly captured Joplin's essence.

The Complete Piano Music of Scott Joplin.......2007-06-08

John Arpin does a great job with these pieces. The songs carry a consistent sound and are played very close to as-written, which comes and goes with old ragtime pieces. The stamping on Stop-Time Rag doesn't have a consistent sound to it, can be a little distracting. Everything else is great, overall I think that it's a great buy, I'm very happy with it.

Another Performer Rewrites Joplin's Masterpieces.......2007-05-31

Once again, another performer feels the need to rewrite the music of the King of Ragtime. Scott Joplin spins in his grave each and every time this recording is played.

Again, to those who believe that concert music is meant to be rewritten by each and every performer I ask, is the same treatment also acceptable for Chopin's and Rachmaninoff's music? Would "Moonlight Sonata" sound better if played at twice the tempo and with a reprise of the first Adagio movement thrown in at the end? Obviously, the answer to these questions is a resounding NO!, so why does one of America's greatest composers get such disrespect?

Interpretation is an integral part of every performance. Adding one's own notes, phrases and chords where none should be is not. Randomly changing the structure of the piece is not. Playing a piece at twice the indicated tempo is not.

One the plus side, the depth of this collection is outstanding. Joplin's lesser known pieces like "Harmony Club Waltz" really shine. The recording is decent in quality, although a bit bassy in places.

While its been stated before, I feel its worth repeating: Buy Joshua Rifkin's performances of Joplin in order to hear how the Master intended his pieces to sound.

complete piano music of Scott Joplin on 4 CD's.......2007-02-14

Although all of the music is terrific it is rather a lot of a similar sound. I think I would have preferred 2 CD's of selected piano works of Scott Joplin. But I did get the music at a good price.

Ragtime Marvel.......2005-10-09

This collection of Scott Joplin's piano music is outstanding. As a lover of ragtime which was a prelude to jazz, I am thoroughly enjoying this collection. If you are not a lover of jazz, you may be a lover of ragtime. Jazz can sometimes be grating on the nerves, whereas ragtime lifts the spirit.

Rags to Riches: The Essential Hits of Scott Joplin

Average customer rating:

Scott and I Smile
What the heck???
More Than Excellent

Rags to Riches: The Essential Hits of Scott Joplin

Manufacturer: Compendia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Scott Joplin: Piano Rags
Joplin - Complete Rags for Piano (Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics) Vol. 2020

ASIN: B0009J4OAO
Release Date: 2005-06-21

Tracks:

Original Rags
Maple Leaf Rag
Easy Winners
Elite Syncopations
The Entertainer
The Cascades
Bethena
Leola
Gladiolas
Searchlight
Fig Leaf Rag
Sugar Cane
Euphonic Sounds
Paragon Rag
Solace
Wall Street Rag
Treemonisha
Magnetic Rag

Album Description

Celebrate the diversity of American music with RAGS TO RICHES: THE ESSENTIAL SCOTT JOPLIN, a comprehensive collection of 18 pieces by one of ragtime's greatest composers. From his signature hit "Maple Leaf Rag" to classics such as "The Entertainer" and "Wall Street Rag", RAGS TO RICHES: THE ESSENTIAL SCOTT JOPLIN contains some of the most revered tunes in musical history and will be treasured by music fans for years to come.

Customer Reviews:

Scott and I Smile.......2007-08-01

Rich, yet not cloying
Aggressive, yet reflective
Bouncy, yet wistfully romantic
Robert Strickland transports the soul of Scott Joplin's Ragtime
Scott and I smile.

What the heck???.......2007-03-20

Music is great, as is the playing. However, the last song is not Magnetic Rag but rather the same version of Maple Leaf Rag heard earlier on the album.

What is with that?

More Than Excellent.......2006-08-16

I had previously purchased a Scott Joplin CD and was disappointed by the dull quality and dispirited playing by the artist. This CD more than makes up for it. The music was beautifully performed and the recording was very clear. Every piece was perfect!

Average customer rating:

Bravo! Mo' Mo' Mo'
This is a must have for any music lover!
wonderful collection of music
awesome music selection
They Left Out The Best Song

Three Mo' Tenors
Thomas Young , Roderick Dixon , and Victor Trent Cook
Manufacturer: RCA Victor
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Cook, Dixon, & Young: Volume 1
Three Mo Tenors
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The Best of the Three Tenors

ASIN: B00005LVVC
Release Date: 2001-07-24

Tracks:

La Donna e Mobile
Let the Good Times Roll
Make Them Hear You
Ah! Mes Amis.
Ellington Medley
The Jazz Cat & Minnie the Moocher
Twisted
Nessun Dorma
Today I Sing the Blues
Soul Medley
Have You Heard / Glory
Were You There
America The Beautiful
Gospel Medley

Amazon.com

Inspired by the astoundingly popular The Three Tenors series, Broadway director Marion J. Caffey conceived and directed Three Mo' Tenors, bringing greater visibility to the classically trained African American voice. Starring seasoned tenors Roderick Dixon, Thomas Young, and Victor Trent Cook, Three Mo' Tenors is a theatrically staged concert set taped for public television's Great Performances. A companion to the taped show, the disc features just over an hour of live music from it. The phenomenal showmanship of Dixon, Young, and Trent Cook takes shape in the styles of opera, Broadway, blues, jazz, soul, spirituals, and gospel. The three virtuosos hit high C's with clarity and brilliance; scat with grace and grit; belt, bend and hold a note to beat the band. They move the audience to a state of near-ecstasy performing the traditional "Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)" and Puccini's glorious "Nessum Dorma." Other standouts include the jazz classic "Twisted," a rollicking version of "Today I Sing the Blues," and the salty "Minnie the Moocher." Boisterous, bold, and bountiful, Three Mo' Tenors is a modern classic. --Paige LaGrone

Customer Reviews:

Bravo! Mo' Mo' Mo'.......2006-05-13

The word "Mo'" in the title got my attention. I bought the CD to compare it to the already popular "Three Tenors" (Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras). Wow! Was I surprised. I had expected an all opera, classical and possibly spiritual repetoire. But, the music varies from "Nessun Dorma" to "Love Train" was truly, truly delightful. I enjoyed the wonderful voices of Thomas Young, Roderick Dixon, and Victor Trent Cook and the variety of musical selections so much that I purchased several other copies for my family and friends. Then, several months later, I saw their performance on PBS. I immediately ordered the VHS offered by the TV station, paying way, way over the retail price. But, I had to have it. It was, and is, the most exciting musical performance that I have seen. Later, when I put the tape into the player at my son's house, my 5-year-old granddaughter Ciara stood next to the sofa to watch. I expected her to move away soon, but, she stood there, during the entire playback of the performance, and I do mean from beginning to end. I left the tape there so that son could see it later. The following day, and for most days during the next several weeks, Ciara asked to have the tape played, until she later was taught to handle it herself. The family has since replaced my VHS with the DVD so that now, when Ciara visits me, we can watch the show again (and again). "Three Mo' Tenors" was so surprisingly wonderful- with great voices, charismatic personalities, terrific orchestral arrangements, lively and precisely choreographed routines, and just an overall feeling of mutual admiration and respect among the three gentlemen. The beautiful cinematics, with frequently interspersed shots of the enthusiatic audience, contributes to the feeling that I am actually there at the concert. Every time I watch it, I see and hear something new. When I first heard the CD, I was not fascinated by the countertenor voice. After seeing Victor Trent Cook's heartwarming performance on the DVD, and hearing his comment about his mother's definition of a countertenor, I have been granted a new appreciation for his voice. Here it is, years later, and I'm still enamored, remembering Roderick Dixon's "Make Them Hear You" elicits tears, Thomas Young's "Twisted" makes me laugh, and the duet with Victor and Thomas (see, I'm now on first-name basis with them) is so beautiful. I could to on and on. In fact, it's time for another listen.

This is a must have for any music lover!.......2006-01-07

I would rate this CD more than five stars if I could! I picked up this CD not knowing anything about these guys, but, knowing that I liked some of the songs contained on it. I was absolutely blown away by this collection! These guys have it all. Voices, talent, showmanship, style, technique, etc. Everytime I listen to it, I feel like I'm sitting right there in the theatre. I am a huge fan of opera, jazz and gospel. This CD covers it all! Although my favorite tracks are La Donna e Mobile, Make Them Hear You, and Nessun Dorma, they are all so good! I wouldn't hesitate to buy this again. You have to hear them to believe them!

wonderful collection of music.......2005-08-23

A good album is one that can't be categorized neatly. Three Mo' Tenors tackles classic opera, Broadway tunes and other genres with ease. They have beautiful voices, and the music they choose to interpret is so universal that even my toddler girl loves listening to it! Their technical expertise combined with their stage presence and charisma makes for an enjoyable cd. Highly recommended - especially if you are looking to introduce yourself or your children to different musical genres.

awesome music selection.......2005-08-02

These are amazing musical selections and amazing vocalists; a must-have for any well-rounded music collection. This trio can really sing!

They Left Out The Best Song.......2004-11-11

One of my most favorite performance DVD's, but how, or why, on earth did they leave off the most stiring single number on the CD - "A Song For You," by Rodrick Dixon?

Put it in, and it's a "five."

Average customer rating:

One of my best soundtracks...ever
Rating
Ragtime (1981 Film Soundtrack)
A beautiful achievement
Absolutely brilliant.

Ragtime (1981 Film Soundtrack)

Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Natural (1984 Film)
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The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 1

ASIN: B000065DV8
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Tracks:

Main Title
Newsreel
I Could Love a Million Girls
Train Ride
Tateh's Picture Book
Lower East Side
Delmonico Polka
Coalhouse and Sarah
Waltz for Evelyn
One More Hour
Sarah's Responsibility
Change Your Way
Clef Club No. 1
Atlantic City
Clef Club No. 2
Sarah's Funeral
Denouement / Morgan Library Takeover / Rhinelander Waldo / Coalhouse's Prayer
Ragtime
Ragtime Theme (Demo)

Album Description

Available for the first time on CD! From 2002 Academy Award Winner Randy Newman-the complete 1981 soundtrack restored in digital sound and featuring the bonus track 'Ragtime Theme' (Demo).

Customer Reviews:

One of my best soundtracks...ever.......2007-03-30

Newman's music is both rousing and plaintive. "One More Day" is worth the price of admission alone. Quite simply, beautiful.

Rating.......2007-03-08

Since this stuff is sold out in Europe, it was good to find it at your place. Shipment etc. was all OK and meanwhile we enjoy the music.
Thanks a lot.

Ragtime (1981 Film Soundtrack).......2007-02-20

Beautiful music. It sets a mood throughout that is rather sad no matter what the words say.

A beautiful achievement .......2006-02-25

The excelent Milos Forman timepiece on the 20's based on the Doctorow novel has a marvelous musical translation in this soundtrack close to perfection. It gets the time and mood of the movie, and reflects its main dramatic moments. I would dare to say that this soundtrack is one of the finest coming out from a movie of the 80's. Besides, it sounds great in this digitally remastered version. Do not hesitate to get it. It's a real beauty.

Absolutely brilliant........2005-12-28

I first came across this soundtrack when looking for Donald O'Connor songs - I'm a big fan of his, and I'm trying to track down all the songs he's ever recorded. It just so happens he has one of the most delightful songs on this soundtrack, "I could love a Million Girls". Apparently it's from a Disney film called Summer Magic, but I don't think Disney would approve of how dirty this song is if you think about it! Donald O'Connor was around 55 or so when he recorded this song, so his voice isn't as great as it was once, but he still does a fantastic job.

Now, onto the other songs. "Ragtime" (the song listed on the soundtrack) is hauntingly beautiful - it really captures the feeling and mood of the time, and puts you right back there. Same with most of the other "score" tracks. This is definately one of the best scores out there, and it's a pity it didn't do better. I guess it's almost ahead of it's time a little, considering this was the time period that gave us films like The Blues Brothers and other such early SNL comedies which didn't require scores like Ragtime needed. It really should've done better, but for now enjoy the soundtrack because I doubt you'll get another release of it!

Average customer rating:

Big Jim's Left hand
Essential Piano Jazz

The Original James P. Johnson 1942-1945
James P. Johnson
Manufacturer: Smithsonian Folkways
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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

Stride Piano | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Ragtime | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music
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Stride Piano Summit: A Celebration of Harlem Stride & Classic Piano Jazz
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The Very Best of Fats Waller

ASIN: B000001DM5
Release Date: 1996-09-24

Tracks:

Liza
Aunt Hagar's Blues
Sweet Lorraine
Jersey Sweet
Yamekraw-A Negro Rhapsody
Daintiness Rag
The Dream
The Dream (alternate)
Blue Moods
Keep Movin'
Woman Blues
Jazzamine Concerto
St. Louis Blues
Jungle Drums
Blue Moods, Sex
Euphonic Sounds
Twilight Rag
Snowy Morning Blues
Snowy Morning Blues (alternate)
Blues for Jimmy

Amazon.com

When James P. Johnson made these solo recordings for Moe Asch's Folkways label, Asch gave him the freedom to record what he wished. The pianist took the opportunity to document some pre-jazz piano music, a few favorite tunes, some improvised blues, and piano reductions of his own unperformed concert works. It's a remarkable release, including among the early piano music Jesse Pickett's "The Dream," Scott Joplin's "Euphonic Sounds," and two blues by W.C. Handy. While Johnson's ambitions to mount an indigenous concert music, one melding jazz and ragtime rhythms with classical forms, were frustrated, you'd never know it from these vibrant performances of "Yamekraw--A Negro Rhapsody," "Jazzamine Concerto," and a fragment from "Jungle Drums." The 1996 CD issue includes eight previously unissued tracks. --Stuart Broomer

Album Description

Seventy-four minutes of solo piano from the father of Harlem stride piano. Includes eight previously unreleased tracks, including Yamekraw and Jazzamine Concerto. 20 vibrant performances, including Joplin and Handy, a Gershwin hit, and Johnson's own compositions-1917 Classic rags, a 1923 show tune, newly discovered blues improvisations, and three of his pioneering "third stream" symphonic works. 28-page booklet contains wonderful reproductions of the original LP covers, historical and biographical annotation on the period, the artist, and the songs. Reissued from Folkways 2850. "It was me, or maybe Fats, who say down to warm up the piano. After that, James took over. Then you got real invention-magic, sheer magic." - Duke Ellington

Customer Reviews:

Big Jim's Left hand.......2001-07-27

I found out about James P. Johnnson just recently and I'm a senior. Wow! This album has better sound than some others and a real long serious number which was later orchestrated. Johnson's playing is pure magic, as Duke Ellington says, and if you play piano yourself, you must hear his left hand! Never too much or too little, always supportive of the top line and always just right. Maybe I'm just in the first flush of enthusiasm about this guys stuff, but this makes me want a time machine. I'da like to ah bin there.

Essential Piano Jazz.......2000-02-20

James P. Johnson is one of the most influential and neglected figues in 20th century American music. Best known as the teacher of Fats Waller, he was the composer of "Charleston", THE song that exemplified the 1920s, a writer of serious orchestral works, a magnificent accompanist of Bessie Smith and others, and the leading figure in the Harlem stride piano style. As such, he influenced Ellington, Basie and Thelonious Monk amongst others.

He recorded extensively, but for a long time little of his material was available on CD. Classics has now completed a reasonably comprehensive eight volume reissue, which is a must for Johnson fans. This CD, however, encapsulates most of Johnson's genius in one disc.

The recordings, made for Asch, cover most facets of Johnson's career. His ability as a stride virtuoso is demonstrated in "Liza" and "Twilight Rag", his ragtime roots in Scott Joplin's "Euphonic Sounds", and his empathy for the blues in a number of tracks, the best being "Snowy Morning Blues", given two markedly different performances and the poignant "Blue Moods Sex".

His neglected serious compositions are demonstrated with "Yamecraw", "Jungle Drums" and "Jazzamine Concerto", all well worth hearing in the only recording opportunity Johnson ever received to air them. (They have since been rediscovered and recorded by the Concordia Orchestra, and are well worth hearing. They compare favourably with the grossly over-rated Gershwin).

Tracks:

Overture (from Gypsy) - London Cast Recording
Man of La Mancha (I, Don Quixote) - Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ernie Sabella
Run, Freedom, Run! - Hunter Foster
Your Daddy's Son - Ted Sperling, Ragtime Orchestra
Music Of The Night (From The Phantom Of The Opera) - Colm Wilkinson
All That Jazz (from "Chicago") - Bebe Neuwirth
Gimme Gimme - Michael Rafter
La boh; Act I; O soave fanciulla - Placido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Montserrat Caball
Next Best Thing To Love - Randy Graff
Cabaret - Natasha Richardson
Springtime For Hitler (From "The Producers") - John Morris, Mel Brooks
Losing My Mind - Barbara Cook
Time Warp - Raparza
Oklahoma!; Oklahoma - Finale: Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' (Reprise) - Musical Cast Recording
Breeze Off the River - Patrick Wilson
Big Spender - Jane Lanier, Valarie Pettiford, Shannon Lewis, Kim Greene, Kim Morgan, Dana Moore, Rachelle Rak, Elizbeth Parkinson, Dede LaBarre, Mary Ann Lamb, Mary McLeod
Gee Officer Krupke - Cast
Agony - Paul Gemignani
Bring Him Home (from Les Miserables) - Colm Wilkinson, Colm
Lullaby of Broadway (from "42nd Street") - John Lesko, Jerry Orbach

Customer Reviews:

redux.......2007-07-06

Four of the songs on this CD (Oklahoma, Music of the Night, Cabaret, and All That Jazz) were on the earlier Ultimate Broadway. Of all the shows that have been on Broadway over the past 70+ years, including the ones that are currently running, there is no excuse for repeats!

Moderate Quality.......2003-06-20

I believe that the show selection for this CD was excellent. However the song selection and song order were not. Why pick "Your Daddy's Son" from Ragtime when you can have the amazing and fantastic "Prologue" from the same show. Also I believe that a mistake was made by slecting "I Don Quixote" from Man of La Mancha instead of the much more listenable "Impossible Dream." Also the overture from Gypsy is not the proper song to start out a CD. Perhaps the "Overture" from The Phantom of the Opera.

This is however an excellent example of showtunes for inexperienced members of the theatrical world.

POOR EXCUSE FOR SOME GOOD THEATER MUSIC.......2003-05-20

The best of Broadway? Sure, if you consider the best of Broadway only those songs taken only from RCA Victor cast recordings. Expect the expected: Tracks from "Ragtime," "Chicago," "42nd Street" and "Man of La Mancha," sung by the likes of Audra
McDonald, Bebe Neuwirth, Jerry Orbach and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Including a live recording of Barbara Cook warbling "Losing My Mind" from her "Mostly Sondheim" CD isn't exactly kosher. But then again, neither is this gimmick-riddled release. Curtain up?
Half-way, maybe. Light the lights? Dim them, please.

Average customer rating:

little disappointed
Dick Hyman has captored the essence of Scott Joplin...

Scott Joplin: Piano Works, 1899-1904
Dick Hyman , and Charles N. Joplin Scott and Daniels
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Ragtime | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Dick Hyman Plays Fats Waller
Stridemonster!
If Bix Played Gershwin
Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Vol. 3: Music of 1937
Now and Again

ASIN: B000003ESR
Release Date: 1989-11-03

Tracks:

Maple Leaf Rag
Original Rags
Swipesy
Peacherine Rag
The Easy Winners
Sunflower Slow Drag
The Entertainer
Elite Syncopations
The Strenuous Life
A Breeze From Alabama
Palm Leaf Rag
Something Doing
Weeping Willow
The Chrysanthemum
The Cascades
The Sycamore

Customer Reviews:

little disappointed.......2001-11-14

Don't get me wrong. Dick Hyman is really great in what he's doing. The pieces are brilliantly performed. But it's not my taste. He's playing 100s of staccatos where Scott Joplin never wrote a point on his sheets thus taking the drive off the songs. Songs and parts of songs that should sound strong just sound way too "dolce". All in all the whole cd is too soft and too slow. Yes, Scott Joplin said never play Ragtime too fast. But songs like the Entertainer or Elite Syncopations should in my opinion be played "faster" to have a drive. I used to play the songs myself. It's just more fun when you play them faster and louder - with more energy.

This cd is for you when you like quiet and mellow music and like to drink tea while listening to it.
If you like barrelhouse music - what ragtime is supposed to be - then buy another cd like "the Sting" soundtrack or Scott Joplin played by Richard Zimmerman.

Dick Hyman has captored the essence of Scott Joplin..........2000-10-13

Jazz arranger and stride pianist Dick Hyman has captured the essence of Scott Joplin, playing such classics as "Maple Leaf Rag" and "The Entertainer," as well as many lesser known but still highly enjoyable tunes. Just like Joplin would say never play a rag too fast, Hyman plays at the perfect tempo, never too fast. Hyman proves not only to be a fine stride painist but a superb ragtime painist. Although there is no improvisation here, ragtime is completely written out, there is plenty of syncopation and joyous sounds here to keep the jazz collector happy. this CD is highly recomended as a great introduction to the music of Scott Joplin and the playing of Dick Hyman.

Tracks:

America the Beautiful
All Quiet on the Potomac Tonight
Ballad of the Green Berets
On Top of Old Smokey
Coyote Warrior
Semper Fidelis
Breeze from Alabama
Onward Christian Soldiers
Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming
Patriot
Sweet Betsy from Pike
Marines' Hymn
America Is
When Johnny Comes Marchin' Home
Happy the Soldier
American Trilogy
Home Sweet Home
Washington Post March
Enraptured I Gaze
Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair
Yellow Rose of Texas
Over There
Simple Gifts
Liberty Bell
Star Spangled Banner

Tracks:

God Bless the USA
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Katy Cruel
I Vow to Thee My Country
King Cotton
Beautiful Dreamer
America
American Patrol
Mine Eyes Have Seen the Beauty
Mohican Dream
Red, White and Blue
Some Folks
Liberty Song
Pomp and Circumstance
Hail to the Chief
Bennington Rifles
Peace on the Battlefield
I've Been Working on the Railroad
Under the Double Eagle
Red River Valley
My Country 'Tis of Thee
Camptown Races
Wild Blue Yonder
Hands Across the Sea
Fanfare for the Common Man

Tracks:

Stars and Stripes Forever
Living in America
Home on the Range
Old Colony Times
Clementine
Invincible Eagle
Ring Ring de Banjo
Yankee Doodle
Largo from "The New World"
To a Wild Rose
Hail Columbia
Alexander's Ragtime Band
Gettysburg
Carry Me Back to Old Virginny
Capitan
Prairie Daughter
Little Brown Jug
Marching Through Georgia
Entertainer
Steamboat Around the Bend
Revolutionary Tea
Cassions Keep Rollin' Along
Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier
Amazing Grace
Grand Old Flag

Tracks:

God Bless America
National Emblem
Soldier, Soldier Won't You Marry Me
Anchors Away
Oh, Susannah
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp
Toast
Dixie
St. Louis Blues
Appalachian Spring
Bonnie Blue Flag
Old Hundreth
Swanee River
Battle Cry of Freedom
U. S Field Artillery
Sidewalks of New York
Chester
Auld Lang Syne
Kingdom Come
My Old Kentucky Home
Hail to the Spirit of Liberty
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Shenandoah
Abraham's Daughter
This Land Is Your Land

Customer Reviews:

not to great.......2007-04-04

We were disappointed with this CD, but for the price I guess we can't expect much. I didn't care for the new style presentation of the songs. I like a more traditional rendering.

Not so bad, 100 tunes for 4$.......2005-06-22

I red the comments of two other people who have bought this 4 CD BOX SET and it is not really so bad. I will even add that there are some excellent tunes. However, I must agree with the fact that few tunes seem to have been recorded 40 or 50 years ago, mainly when you hear the scratches of an old turntable but it is just 2 or 3 tunes. Furthermore, if you do not know American music, it is a good BOX SET to buy if you consider that you received 4 CD for 4$ including 100 tunes. On these 4 CD, I have heard some orchestration that I have never heard before and I consider that they are different but interesting. Any way, after hearing these 100 tunes, you will say to yourself that you like this tune, this other tune, this other tune and so on and you will be able to buy a more expensive CD with the tunes that you like. However, I have bought many CDs in the last few weeks and as you know, there are always some tunes that you like and some tunes that you do not like on every CD that you will buy. So, don't buy it at 25$ but at 4 or 5$ dollars, it is a very good choice for 100 tunes.

You get what you pay for........2004-07-04

You get what you pay for. The singers put their own spin on the singing of each song. If you didn't hear the words you would not recognize some of them. Even some of the music sounds like a bad recording of music played on a turntable. Definitely not worth the price.

Now I know why there were no song samples to listen to ..........2004-07-04

I wish this review had been here when I was thinking of purchasing it. I guess you get what you pay for. If you are thinking of buying this, you are better off recording your own CDs (or at least buying one that you can listen to a sampling of the songs). This album includes songs that were mere recordings of the songs playing on an old record player. It's almost so unbelievable that it is funny.

Average customer rating:

Available at retailers for about $18
A classic compilation
A dis-service to Joplin
Unique
Great set

Scott Joplin: His Complete Works

Manufacturer: Bescol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Complete Piano Music of Scott Joplin
Scott Joplin: Piano Rags
Entertainer: Classic Ragtime from Rare Piano Rolls
Joplin: Treemonisha
Joplin: Piano Rags

ASIN: B000001RR2
Release Date: 1994-07-19

Tracks:

Please Say You Will - Richard Zimmerman
A Picture Of Her Face - Richard Zimmerman
The Great Crush Collision March - Richard Zimmerman
Harmony Club Waltz - Richard Zimmerman
Combination March - Richard Zimmerman
Original Rags - Richard Zimmerman
Maple Leaf Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Swipesy - Cake Walk - Richard Zimmerman
Sunflower Slow Drag - Richard Zimmerman
Peacherine Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Augustan Club Waltz - Richard Zimmerman
The Easy Winners - Richard Zimmerman
Cleopha - Richard Zimmerman
The Strenuous Life - Richard Zimmerman
I Am Thinking Of My Pickanniny Days - Richard Zimmerman
The Ragtime Dance - Richard Zimmerman
A Breeze From Alabama - Richard Zimmerman
Elite Syncopations - Richard Zimmerman

Tracks:

March Majestic - S. Joplin
The Entertainer - S. Joplin
Something Doing - S. Joplin
Weeping Willow - S. Joplin
Little Black Baby - S. Joplin
Palm Leaf Rag - S. Joplin
The Favorite - S. Joplin
The Sycamore - S. Joplin
The Cascades - S. Joplin
The Chrysanthemum - S. Joplin
Rosebud March - S. Joplin
Bethena - S. Joplin
Leola - S. Joplin
Sarah Dear - S. Joplin
Binks Waltz - S. Joplin
Eugenia - S. Joplin
Antoinette - S. Joplin
Snoring Sampson - S. Joplin

Tracks:

Gladiolus Rag - S. Joplin
Searchlight Rag - S. Joplin
The Nonpareil (None to Equal) - S. Joplin
When Your Hair Is Like The Snow - S. Joplin
Rose Leaf Rag - S. Joplin
Heliotrope Bouquet - S. Joplin
School Of Ragtime - S. Joplin
Fig Leaf Rag - S. Joplin
Sugar Cane - S. Joplin
Pine Apple Rag - S. Joplin
Wall Street Rag - S. Joplin
Solace - S. Joplin
Pleasant Moments - S. Joplin
Country Club - S. Joplin
Paragon Rag - S. Joplin
Euphonic Sounds - S. Joplin
Stoptime Rag - S. Joplin
Felicity Rag - S. Joplin

Tracks:

Highlights From Treemonisha - Richard Zimmerman
A Real Slow Drag - Richard Zimmerman
Prelude To Act 3 - Richard Zimmerman
Frolic Of The Bears - Richard Zimmerman
Lovin' Babe - Richard Zimmerman
Scott Joplin's New Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Kismet Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Magnetic Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Reflection Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Silver Swan Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Lily Queen - Richard Zimmerman
Sensation - Richard Zimmerman

Customer Reviews:

Available at retailers for about $18.......2006-12-21

Excellent collection - but there are re-sellers listed here that are selling this for as much $50 or $60. Yikes, most major retailers are selling this complete set for $18 - so beware.

A classic compilation.......2006-10-07

This collection is one of my most treasured possessions. (My father gave me the original 5-album set in the 70's when it was originally released on vinyl.)

This is the definitive collection of Scott Joplin's work. Richard Zimmerman provides wonderful performances that accurately reflect Joplin's intentions. (As evidence beyond my personal opinion, I submit the recent releases of digital recordings made from Joplin's piano rolls.)

A few points to consider regarding negative comments you may encounter in other reviews:
* This is a digital recording from an analog master. Lack of quality in the recording does not imply a lackluster performance.
* This is a complete collection. Some similarity is due to Joplin re-exploring melodic themes. But some is due to the fact that these are "rags". One might as well complain that all 50's doo-wop (or all 70's disco) sounds the same.
* Many pieces of the period exhibit formal musical structures, such as the marches of John Phillips Sousa. (Both Sousa and Joplin performed at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis.) Actually, Joplin is responsible for extending the formal boundaries of ragtime to concert waltzes (Bethena) and opera (A Guest of Honor, Treemonisha)
* This is probably one of the few collections which will include selections from "Treemonisha". It is my understanding that after the initial release, one of Joplin's descendants made a copyright claim that was upheld in court. (I presume the issue was that Joplin had to finance "Treemonisha" himself, and therefore the customary performance clearances did not cover those selections.)

For ragtime students and enthusiasts, this is a "must-have" collection at a very affordable price.

A dis-service to Joplin.......2006-02-01

Sadly, the only virtue this set possesses is completeness.

The pianist does not play Joplin's pieces "as written", the piano is of poor quality, and not properly in tune.

This is emphatically NOT the set to buy. A far better set, beautifully annotated and well played on a good concert grand piano, is the complete works played by Guido Nielsen on the Basta Label.

This set is a dis-service to Joplin and his music. He deserves better, and gets it elsewhere.

Unique .......2004-10-19

I have several cd sets of Joplin's music: Rifkin, Arpo, Nielsen, and Zimmerman. All have their excellent qualities. What sets Zimmerman's set apart is the inclusion of excerpts from Joplin's opera, Treemonisha---especially "A Real Slow Drag." Why the other sets do not include excerpts from Treemonisha, I don't know---because they are some of his most beautiful and joyful pieces of music. Of course, you can hear the orchestrated version of Treemonisha in the Houston Grand Opera recording, and it is spectacular. But Zimmerman's piano version, especially of "A Real Slow Drag," is not to be missed.

Great set.......2001-10-16

I guess this will be a rather one sided review. I have been a fan of Scott Joplin since I first learned to play a piano.

I was shocked to see that one reviewer thought it all sounded the same. How silly. All of Frank Sinatra's music sounds like Frank Sinatra. All of Led Zeppelin sounds like Led Zeppelin. So, if the songs were drastically different, I would question if the same author composed them. As it is, though, each song on this set is fantastic!!

I don't know that I have heard of Richard Zimmerman, and I was a little leary as to what I would be getting, I certainly was impressed. Without a doubt the best renditions of "Weeping Willow" and "Bethena" I have heard, and at least a dozen songs I didn't know Joplin wrote.

Without a doubt, this album is fantastic. A very good price, as well.

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