Seventeen [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Keisha White's Seventeen is the stunning new release from one of the brightest new stars in the UK. The album has clearly taken time, passion and devotion. It's an album with a sound that's both classic and contemporary. Some of the best writers and producers around have worked on this, including renowned producer Scott Storch, writer Balewa Mulhammad, Marko Rakascan and Lucas Secon. Warner. 2005.

Seventeen,Keisha White,Rap

Seventeen [Import]

Tracks:

Right Where I Belong
It's Not Me
Let Me Go
Be Somebody
Landing In London
The Real Life
Behind Those Eyes
Never Will I Break
Father's Son
Live For Today
My World
Here By Me

Album Description

After selling 12 million albums since their debut in 2000, 3 Doors Down released their third studio album, entitled Seventeen Days, on February 8, 2005. The album, recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, and produced by Johnny K (Finger 11, Disturbed) features twelve original songs, including the road-weary ballad "Landing in London" featuring Bob Seger. Seventeen Days is the band's first studio album since 2002's multiplatinum Away from the Sun and the first new material since 2003's RIAA Gold-certified live EP Another 700 Miles.

From Escatawpa, Mississippi, 3 Doors Down is Brad Arnold, lead vocals; Matt Roberts, guitar; Todd Harrell, bass; and Chris Henderson, guitar.

Customer Reviews:

Simply fantastic.......2007-07-18

I can't listen to this CD often enough. It's a good thing it's not vinyl...it'd be toast. Almost every track is a winner. Highly recommended.

Here with ME!.......2007-05-31

Here with me has got to be one of the best songs ever! Lyrically and musically beautiful!!!!

The CD shows an effort to remain the same, but become more progressive as well. 3 doors down is just a great band that always seems to produce catchy songs that people love, and the cd's always house something for everyone.
Same story here...from harder rock, to ballads they do a great job!
And once you hear the song Here with me....you'll melt. It's just one of the best songs ever.

Great album........2007-05-16

Excellent album. Several hits with a range of themes from harder/edgier to softer rock with a great vocal by Bob Seger.

totally amazing.......2007-03-08

Why is this album totally amazing?

Well...

The way they recycle already recycled riffs over and over and over again is... riveting.

That fake southern accent takes my breath away.

The never changing song structure requires some real ingenuity, which these guys epitomize; brilliance!

Those sappy, basic lyrics that impress the mentally handicapped really touch my heart; and it hurts.

Overall Wow. All I can say is wow. Where did this ray of light come from?

GOOD but NOT GREAT.......2006-08-18

After their dissapointing Away From The Sun, I though theres no hope for this band but this cd actually aint half bad. Its easy to listen to so i wouldnt call it hard rock, its just good ol fashioned rock n roll. After hearing the first track, Right Where I belong i was lead to believe that the rest of the album was going to be just as fast and heavy, BOY was i mistaken. The album after that is soft but theres some good songs : Landing In London, Fathers Son, Never will i break. This style is ok but gets tiresome and I just want to see 3dd return to the sound employed on their first album: The Better Life (instead of a radio friendly approach for the masses which is what theve unfortunately taken)...oh well maybe next time.

Average customer rating:

Should be called The Audiophile Edition
A Masterpiece and Touchstone of Minimalist Rock
A Flawed Masterwork
Excellent
Good effort by The Cure

Seventeen Seconds [Deluxe Edition]
The Cure
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Faith [Deluxe Edition]
Pornography [Deluxe Edition]
Three Imaginary Boys
The Head on the Door
The Top

ASIN: B0007XT8BC
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

A Reflection
Play for Today
Secrets
In Your House
Three
Final Sound
A Forest
M
At Night
Seventeen Seconds

Tracks:

I'm A Cult Hero
I Dig You
Another Journey By Train
Secrets
Seventeen Seconds
In Your House
Three
I Dig You
I'm A Cult Hero
M
Final Sound
A Reflection
Play for Today
At Night
A Forest

Album Description

Originally a Goth-flavored post-punk outfit, the Cure evolved into one of the truly seminal bands of the '80s, and ultimately one of modern rock's most celebrated and influential acts. Guided by creative visionary Robert Smith, the Cure's signature sound balances a dreamy pop savvy with a dark, brooding majesty and fuses superbly crafted, literate songs with a feverish emotional intensity. The band's early catalog-newly remastered and expanded wtih a wealth of rarities-is a series of masterpieces that laid the groundwork for their phenomenal and enduring popularity.

Customer Reviews:

Should be called The Audiophile Edition.......2007-05-17

I liked the music itself before, but the sound quality of this recording is like icing on the cake. Some songs have the vocals a bit quieter than the original, but since Mad Bob was at the board, I assume that was his vision. I think it's an improvement on the original. This is the first of Rhino's deluxe cure ablums I've purchased, and on the strength of this one I plan to get the rest.

A Masterpiece and Touchstone of Minimalist Rock.......2006-11-15

"[SEVENTEEN SECONDS] was the first record I felt was really the Cure."
- Cure mastermind Robert Smith, liner notes

This album, the Cure's second, is spare, gloomy, atmospheric and even beautiful in its own way. If you can get into this kind of mood, SEVENTEEN SECONDS is absolutely brilliant. It also contains "A Forest," complete with its gorgeous, haunting intro (which was edited from the STANDING ON A BEACH compilation). "A Forest" is one of the most quintessential Cure songs. Other highlights include the dreamy "In Your House" and the creepy, ominous "At Night."

The title track is a strange song, and I've often wondered what it means. Why "17" seconds? It seems to be making a point about the arbitrariness of existence. Years ago, I came up with this weird fantasy of what the song was about based on the line "Seventeen seconds/ A measure of life." I imagined this was the length of time a cherished Indian prince was alive after birth. I even told some people that's what it was about just for kicks! An actual quote - "No one has lived longer than a dead child, and Methusula (P'eng Tsu) died young. Heaven and Earth are as old as I and the ten thousand things are one." - Chuang Tzu, about 300 B.C., China

Disk 2:

Unlike some other reviewers on this forum, I think the one-off Cult Hero single included here is a cheeky hoot (Cult Hero were basically the Cure plus a bunch of friends including local postman Frank Bell on vocals and the super-talented, on-again-off-again Cure member Porl Thompson on guitar). I think "I'm A Cult Hero" and "I Dig You" are both funny, rocking and way cool. A great thing to throw on at a party . . . quite the opposite of SEVENTEEN SECONDS. They sound like they were having a blast on the live versions of these songs, also included. The Cure live tracks actually sound very good; Robert Smith's guitars sound clean and crisp on most tracks and Simon Gallup's bass is thick and resonant. As for the rest, the demos are mostly of use to die-hard fans who study everything by the Cure they can get their hands on, but the alternate mix of the bizarre "three" is pretty trippy.

A Flawed Masterwork.......2006-08-31

Seventeen Seconds is rightly considered to be the real jumping off point of the trademark sound that continues up to the present(Three Imaginary Boys wasn't very indicative). So, this is a must have, being remastered and everything. And a bonus disc. Oh joy!
Buy this, but don't put your original up on Amazon or eBay. The bonus tracks are worth the price, but the first disc is far from improved. In fact, it's much worse. Yes, the playing is cleaned up some, but the vocals are very quiet. Too quiet. So far back in the mix that new ears could think it to be an all instrumental album unless they're really concentrating.

Excellent.......2006-07-20

This is a great addition to all Cure fan's collection. If you love the Cure and you already have this album, this collector version is perfect. If you're new to the cure and you dont have seventeen seconds already, buy this version instead of the single disk. This has lots of great tracks on it that have never been released before. ^-^

Good effort by The Cure.......2006-03-14

Seventeen Seconds is not the best Cure album ever but it is also not the worst. Unless you are a hardcore Cure fan I wouldn't recommend buying the Deluxe Edition. Most of the B sides and rarites are just more of the same of what you will find on the original tracks. To me this album seems like a sister album to Faith. Both have a simple yet dark(not as dark as Pornograpy) sound to them. Highlights include, Play for Today, A Forest, and Seventeen Seconds.

Average customer rating:

Great Cure record
A blissfully stark performance
stark, hauntingly seductive--the Cure's first masterpiece
The first "real" Cure album

Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Goth | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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Eccentrics | Warner Brothers Records | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Faith
Pornography
Three Imaginary Boys
The Head on the Door
Japanese Whispers

ASIN: B000ENC72W
Release Date: 2006-04-04

Tracks:

Reflection
Play for Today
Secrets
In Your House
Three
Final Sound
Forest
M
At Night
Seventeen Sounds

Album Description

Originally a goth-flavored post-punk outfit, The Cure evolved into one of the truly seminal bands of the '80s, and ultimately one of modern rock's most celebrated and influential acts. Guided by creative visionary Robert Smith, The Cure's signature sound balances dreamy pop savvy and poetic lyricism with a dark, brooding intensity. The band's first four groundbreaking albums-newly remastered-are a series of masterpieces that laid the groundwork for their phenomenal and enduring popularity. Fusing superbly crafted songs with charged emotional depth from the very beginning, The Cure's early catalogue, as upgraded by Rhino, is ready to be revisted.

Customer Reviews:

Great Cure record.......2006-12-15

This is my favorite Cure record. Years and years before the over-produced and over-rated precious Disintegration. Tolhurst's drums are great on this. No..it's not a drum machine..they didn't have that timbre back in 1980 for the other reviewer. The Cure seemd to go to Motley Crue style cock drumers after Tolhurst switched to keyboards for some reason. Here, this early Cure still had a very punk attitude with awesome lyrics about uncaring, narcisism, existiantial, irony. This was a real band still as well. The constant line up changes and the hair and makeup hadn't kicked in yet. Awesome record.

A blissfully stark performance.......2006-08-23

Ok, I'm giving 17 Seconds the 5 star treatment because I love the Cure. Not recommended for casual fans because the minimalist approach taken during these sessions runs the risk of turning off those listeners who are hooked on the fuller sounds of 'Disintegration' and 'Wish'.

The opening piano driven 'A Reflection' sets the tenebrous tone present throughout 17 Seconds. It's creepy and unforgettable. The next 2 songs, 'Play For Today' and 'Secrets', pick up the tempo while further carving out a desolate landscape.

Robert Smith never deviates from the overall theme of starkness.

If you want to get a feel for the early days of the Cure and 80's goth this is an excellent choice. It's short so you might consider the deluxe version, which I have not heard but expect to be on par with the other excellent deluxe versions of the Cure catalog that have been recently released.

stark, hauntingly seductive--the Cure's first masterpiece.......2006-06-23

Robert Smith explains in the 2005 2 CD deluxe edition reissue of "Seventeen Seconds" that this is "the first record I felt was really The Cure", and although I feel this statement is pushing it a bit, it's still very understandable. Although Smith was just turning 21 around the time of "Seventeen Seconds"' initial release in April of 1980, the Cure had already made their first masterpiece. (It has now been reissued in single CD form in April of 2006.)

It shouldn't be overlooked though that The Cure's 1979 debut "Three Imaginary Boys", a strong album in its own right, did point the way toward "Seventeen Seconds", in particular on tracks like "Another Day" and especially the title track. There's no denying though that "Seventeen Seconds" marks a major turning point for The Cure--the sound here is more thoroughly haunting, more claustrophobic, with an incredibly icy snare drum sound throughout, and with Smith's vocals often being pushed WAY back in the mix and never as upfront as on many of the songs from "Three Imaginary Boys".

Smith also explains in the deluxe edition liner notes that the group made virtually no modifications to their 'basic set-up' throughout the album's entire 10-day recording session, and quite frankly, this method proved to be an absolute blessing. For one thing, it allowed the band to work quickly and affordably since they were still relatively low on money at the time. At the same time, it also accounts for the album's consistent sound which gives it an irresisible, mesmerizing flow. There don't appear to be that many overdubs at all on the album, which could be attibuted to the lack of time and money the band had at their disposal, but again, this proved to be an advantage--the starkness of the album is absolutely arresting.

It appears that Smith pretty much had in mind exactly what he wanted when the band went into the studio to record "Seventeen Seconds". As the saying goes, there doesn't appear to be a note out of place anywhere on the entire album--the overall level of craftsmanship is astonishing. The performances themselves are nearly as precise--the only time the band sounds a bit 'off' is on the intro portion of "Play For Today" where Lol Tolhurst's bass drumming seems to be a tad behind the beat. Tolhurst's lack of technical proficiency on the drums has been well-documented, but aside from this extremely minor gripe, his limitations don't hinder the album whatsover. Frankly, on most of the songs you could almost swear the band was using a drum machine opposed to a real living drummer.

Keyboardist Matthieu Hartley joined the band for just this one album before leaving. "Play For Today", "In Your House", "M", "A Forest", and the title track all use synthesizers in a mind-blowingly unobtrusive manner that enhances their moody feel.

Every song here is in a minor key, and even with such a strong emphasis on 'mood', the band still managed to pile in catchy hooks and/ or arresting melodies into pretty much every song. Much of this is thanks to Smith's guitar work, which is brilliant throughout--check out his superbly 'rubbery' rhythm work on "Play For Today"; his dreamy arpeggios on "In Your House"; and his ingeniously dissonant chords on "At Night". "A Forest" is a thrilling uptempo epic that culminates in Smith's cathartic, frantic riffing, and the 8-note guitar riff that appears on the intro leaves such an impression that you might not even realize that it never reappears after the first minute & a half of this nearly-6-minute song.

Like Pink Floyd before them, the Cure prove themselves to be masters of pacing. There are three instrumentals/ near-instrumentals here, and they each work as links in the chain as opposed to just album fillers. The album starts off with the gentle, yet creepy and contemplative instrumental "A Reflection". "Three" has a robotic kind of repetitiveness to it, and is basically an instrumental, although there are some extremely buried vocals that seem to be mostly spoken and are almost totally inaudible. The atonal, haunted house-style "The Final Sound", which is less than a minute, perfectly sets up "A Forest".

There's just so much musical invention here... Smith's guitar kind of takes a backseat on "Secrets" which has a prominent, memorable bass line and extremely distant-sounding piano chiming. The beginning part of "Play For Today" features brilliant interplay between Gallup's bass and Smith's expect use of guitar harmonics.

The only track on the album that comes up a little short is the album-closing title track. It's not BAD--it does have a neat build-up and build-down, but it feels a bit too sketchy and melodramatic, as if they couldn't quite figure out how to bring the album to a satisfying conclusion.

The Cure would go on to make more elaborately-produced recordings later on, but "Seventeen Seconds" remains a key touchstone in their discography, and a phenomenal record in its own right.

The first "real" Cure album.......2006-05-18

If you're new to the Cure, you problably know them as a "gloomy" goth band. Well, if you pick up their first CD(Three Imaginary Boys), you would never have known. Their second album, Seventeen Seconds, took the band to a very dark place. Of coure, they got MUCH darker on the next two albums.

This is known as the first part of "The Dark Trilogy", which is followed by Faith and Pornography. The early Cure records that kind of stand by themselves. They aren't as produced as later offerings, with a more low-key sound than usual(the exception being Pornography).

The album IS very low key, and original CD pressings(and perhaps record pressings too) really ruined the sound of this album. The voice was too low, the drums were much louder than the rest of the instruments...it was a mess. It took me many years to really appreciate this CD, thanks to the god-awful sound reproduction on the old CDs. Well, they fixed it, thank god. The instruments have been raised up closer to the drums. The voice sounds louder in certain songs(At Night), and everything just sounds more "full", unlike the old pressing. It really has made all the difference in the world.

The CD is pretty solid, with only a couple of weaker tracks. "A Forest" is amazing as usual, as is "At Night". Songs like "Secrets" and "Play For Today" are great as well. "In Your House" sounds far less repetetive now that you can hear the damn keyboards!

A very low key and gloomy album, but not so much as Faith. I really like this one a lot, because it is gloomy, but not so sluggish as Faith, and has more hooks. A really big step in the right direction for The Cure.

If you're new to The Cure, and have been thinking about picking this up, get this one over the Deluxe Edition. Far cheaper, and the deluxe edition only has a couple of songs that a really worth owning. If you have the old CD pressing, and have always been frustrated with the sound, pick this up. Of coure, the voice on "Secrets" is still really low, but that's the way i'm guessing it was intended("keep quiet")

Sam M.

Rodgers & Hammerstein: Songbook for Orchestra (Orchestral Suites)

Average customer rating:

Irresistible
"Some Enchanted Evening" with Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops
Excellent!
Great Arrangments

Rodgers & Hammerstein: Songbook for Orchestra (Orchestral Suites)

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Lerner & Loewe Songbook for Orchestra
Rodgers & Hammerstein - The Complete Overtures ~ Opening Night / Hollywood Bowl Orchestra · Mauceri
Puttin' on the Ritz: The Great Hollywood Musicals
The Sound Of Music (1987 Studio Cast)
Classics of the Silver Screen

ASIN: B000003CXQ
Release Date: 1992-01-28

Tracks:

Oklahoma!
Carousel
State Fair
South Pacific
The King And I
Cinderella Waltz
Flower Drum Song
The Sound Of Music

Customer Reviews:

Irresistible.......2005-07-29

From beginning to end this CD is pure delight. A great recording has great music, a great performance, and great sound; this one scores on all three counts.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's musicals dominated Broadway in the 1940s and 1950s, and American musical theater has produced no more consistently eloquent and durable voice than Richard Rodgers. From his fertile genius flowed a surprising number of memorable songs, many of which have passed into and become an accepted and beloved part of modern American culture.

This well-filled CD (77:36) features symphonic arrangements (all but two by Robert Russell Bennett) of the music from Oklahoma (1943), Carousel (1945), State Fair (1945), South Pacific (1949), The King and I (1951), Flower Drum Song (1958), and The Sound of Music (1959). All the great tunes are here in suites from each musical that average 10-12 minutes in length. The arrangements are expert: rich, varied, and colorful. The performances are polished, idiomatic, and irresistible; Kunzel and this orchestra are thorough masters of this kind of material. And Telarc's sound (recorded 1991) is state-of-the-art (engineer Michael Bishop deserves to take a bow).

In short, there's nothing here to cloud your listening pleasure (the only quibble I can imagine is that some of your favorites may not last long enough), so it's hard for me to envision anyone with ears and a taste for music who wouldn't enjoy this CD. Warmly recommended. Finally, if you like this one as much as I do, you might want to know that the same team has produced a companion volume, the Lerner & Lowe Songbook for Orchestra.

"Some Enchanted Evening" with Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops.......2003-12-26

Erich Kunzel's Rodgers and Hammerstein anthology with the Cincinatti Pops Orchestra is one of the best and most ravishing instrumental Rodgers and Hammerstein albums of all time. With sumptuous arrangements and warm, natural Telarc recording, this glorious 77-minute CD presents sweeping, melodic arrangements of over 60 Rodgers and Hammerstein selections, spanning eight scores, and Kunzel allows the Pops to play with a characterful and polished understanding of the Rodgers and Hammerstein idiom. The disc is enough to cheer you up on a dull day and make you smile, and it might even want to make you feel like a convert to Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals.

This CD has all the scores arranged chronologically. The OKLAHOMA! suite that opens this disc promises a feast for the senses, Kunzel ably evokes the territory's "bright, golden haze" in the way he conducts the various excerpts, until you feel the atmosphere of the country charm of the show, and the love-affair between Curly and Laurey. Then, in CAROUSEL, he ably evokes the pathos of this tragic R&H masterwork, especially in the truncated Waltz, but he leads a wonderfully melodic "June is Bustin' Out All Over" and a devotional "You'll Never Walk Alone." Although this suite does not include Billy's pivotal Soliloquy, it includes "If I Loved You" as an expression of his love for Julie, and within minutes you could be soaked in the ups and downs of the show's mood.

After a brief STATE FAIR suite, with sweeping renditions of "It Might As Well Be Spring" and "It's a Grand Night for Singing", we are brought into the disc's showstopping highlights. These highlights are the excerpts from SOUTH PACIFIC, THE KING AND I, and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. But yet Kunzel conducts the rest of the disc until the various suites amount to a series of showstoppers. These three suites present wonderfully-arranged versions of their many familiar classic songs, with well-played solos. The SOUTH PACIFIC suite presents the songs in chronological order, yet preserves the atmosphere of the show at the same time. Kunzel ably brings out the romance in "Some Enchanted Evening" and "Younger than Springtime," and contrasts it with the exotic and dreamlike "Bali Hai'i" and the comic "There is Nothing like a Dame" and "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair". Although the suite ends quietly with a reprise of "Dites-Moi" rather than the reprise of "Some Enchanted Evening," within minutes we are swept into the KING AND I suite. Kunzel ably brings out the Oriental pathos in this score, and he captures the warmth of Anna's rapport with the King's Siamese children in "Getting to Know You", and with the King himself in "Shall We Dance." There is also romance in the love ballads "I Have Dreamed" and "We Kiss in a Shadow." Similarly, in the selection from THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Kunzel conducts this until the orchestra soaks itself in the atmosphere of this Austrian R&H score. This SOUND OF MUSIC suite has more of a feel of the score compared to the bonus track on Sony's reissued version of the Broadway recording. You can almost feel as if you are following the progress of the Trapp family and how it lifts its spirits with the joy of music. Kunzel gives us a soaring version of the title song, and spirited versions of "Do-Re-Mi" and "My Favourite Things." He balances it with the open-air quality of "Edelweiss" and "The Lonely Goatherd." Although this suite could have included "Something Good," the love ballad written for the film, the three recollections of the songs that were cut from the movie only last for a while. And, the towering version of "Climb Every Mountain" crowns this portion of the disc, and this sumptuously-produced recording. But, I should also mention the infectuous FLOWER DRUM SONG medley, where Kunzel turns this underrated score into a work of art, until it convinces you to buy the cast recording. And, don't forget about the brief CINDERELLA WALTZ, too, when Kunzel conducts it magically, until you feel like you are in the company of Cinderella and the Prince. He is able to show how this R&H score marked a comeback for R&H after the failiures of Me and Juliet, and Pipe Dream.

Overall, this glorious Rodgers and Hammerstein recording is guarunteed to make you want to pucker your lips out for a whistle or sing along (to paraphrase another revew for Kunzel's Disney Spectacular disc) - even if this recording is music only, and as long as you know the words to the songs (and you might know a large handful of them already.) There is always a certain magic in this fine CD that makes you feel like you're sitting in the theatre watching these musicals, until it makes you feel like it is truly, to borrow two R&H song titles, "Some Enchanted Evening" and "Something Wonderful" to be in Kunzel's company for this R&H offering. It would certainly be one recording that could make you feel willing to buy the complete cast recordings of the shows. And I guaruntee that it will make you feel willing to pull out your existing copies of the cast recordings to listen to them again. I also guaruntee that it will be a cornerstone in any Rodgers and Hammerstein collection, just as it is in mine. Recommended heartily to any Rodgers and Hammerstein enthusiast and to fans of Erich Kunzel's work. And, you can play it while reading the Richard Rodgers biography, Musical Stages, until Rodgers himself would count this as his favourite disc in the afterlife.

By the way, most of the arrangements for the suites on this CD were done by the veteran R&H orchestrator Robert Russell Bennett, and it surely adds to the appeal of this recording. This itself is enough to amount to the icing on the cake, since Kunzel conducts them well on here, and since this recording still allows the suites to have the original theatrical atmosphere. And, although this recording is like the Mauceri collection of the Rodgers & Hammerstein overtures in compiling orchestral suites of Rodgers & Hammerstein, I think that I like the Kunzel recording even more because Kunzel has more magic in his conducting of these suites.

Excellent!.......2003-04-08

This is one of the best Erich Kunzel/Cincinnati Pops collections we own! A must for Rodgers and Hammerstein fans, too.

Great Arrangments.......2001-09-02

This is a first rate album with great arrangments and orchestrations. If you're a Rodgers and Hammerstein fan, you can't afford to miss this specatacular album

Nine Inch Nails: And All That Could Have Been Cd 2

Average customer rating:

"Still" an absolute masterpiece
The NIN CD for People That Don't Like NIN?
Turn out the lights...
A must have for NIN fans, great version of song, raw power
Trent "Still" got it

Nine Inch Nails: And All That Could Have Been Cd 2

Manufacturer: Nothing
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Day the World Went Away
And All That Could Have Been
Only
Survivalism, Pt. 2
March of the Pigs

ASIN: B0009R0DJC

Product Description

Something I Can Never Have Adrift and at Peace The Fragile The Becoming Gone, Still The Day the World Went Away And All That Could Have Been The Persistence of Loss Leaving Hope

Customer Reviews:

"Still" an absolute masterpiece.......2007-07-16

What can be said about an album like "Still"? I can say first and foremost that it is my favorite Nine Inch Nails album in existence. I can also say that this departure from the typical NIN sound of old reveals a new side of Trent Reznor's musical genius and gives a more three-dimensional appearance to his music. It shows us that Reznor can take his avid fans and listeners to different emotional extremes, wowing audiences with softer, more mellow music just as well as he could with his typical grinding, industrial sound.

"Still" is definitely for the diehard NIN fan who can accept music from all sides. If you're expecting a sound from this album resembling that of "Pretty Hate Machine" or "The Downward Spiral," then you probably won't enjoy this album as much as you could, and therefore, is not the purchase for you. The album is composed of nine tracks: five "deconstructed" versions of past tracks, and four tracks previously unreleased.

Here is the track list and a brief description of each:

1. Something I Can Never Have - From "Pretty Hate Machine." Reduced to a still beautiful piano/vocal arrangement with an amount of raw emotion almost matching that of the original.

2. Adrift and At Peace - Just as suggested by the title, this is a lighter piece. Almost entirely piano, the positive force of this piece brings me out of even the deepest emotional grind.

3. The Fragile - An excellent track, laid out exactly like the original version from the album of the same name. A Rhodes/vocal arrangement this time, but again, still contains the same power of the original.

4. The Becoming - From "The Downward Spiral." Reznor has replaced hard-hitting industrial electronic drums and multi-layered background screaming with an acoustic guitar, real drums, and a piano. Reznor's screams in the second chorus still remain.

5. Gone, Still - Very chilling piece. Lots of lower end sound under arranged piano.

6. The Day The World Went Away - From "The Fragile." My 3rd favorite song on the album. The first part of the song has been reduced to a piano-vocal arrangement, with the anthemic ending using the same piano in replacement of Reznor and the drunken chorus.

7. And All That Could Have Been - Absolutely epic. My 1st favorite song on the album. The watery beginning and high-passed vocals chill to the bone as a volume swell takes you into the gripping first chorus. The journey continues from there.

8. The Persistence of Loss - Definitely a pensive piece. A piano bass line underlies a plucky piano melody with the occasional chime from the live horn section.

9. Leaving Hope - My 2nd favorite song on the album. A very emotional piece that mixes the serenity and peace of piano with a light, emotional but still gritty sound calling back to NIN's "Spiral" days.

I certainly had a lot to say about this album, so it's my opinion among those of others. I just felt like giving my perspective on this album in order to persuade the right people to purchase it.

And if you're the right person, you should. It's definitely worth it.

The NIN CD for People That Don't Like NIN?.......2007-03-01

"And All That Could Have Been Cd 2" (also called the second half of HALO 17 as well as the term I will use, _Still_) contains everything that a Nine Inch Nails album should have: powerful songs, originality, emotional lyrics, and a feeling that Trent Reznor placed a piece of his soul into each track. What _Still_ lacks is the driving industrial sound that made NIN famous - this is replaced by notes from a grand piano and the occasional 80's keyboard. If you are only a fan of albums like The Downward Spiral and Pretty Hate Machine (both excellent albums, IMO), then _Still_ will not be a purchase you'll want to make. If, however, you are a fan that is open to many different musical experiences, this is DEFINITELY the album for you. Many of the songs are truly beautiful, while others are rendered in a unique way that will give longtime fans a different take on old favorites.

Track List:
1 - Something I Can Never Have
2 - Adrift and at Peace
3 - The Fragile
4 - The Becoming
5 - Gone, Still
6 - The Day the World Went Away
7 - And All That Could Have Been
8 - The Persistence of Loss
9 - Leaving Hope

The versions of "The Day the World Went Away and "And All That Could Have Been" are my favorites of any released versions to date, and well worth purchasing the album for. This rendition of "Something I Can Never Have" is also very good, and the take of "The Becoming" is... unique (I have very mixed feelings about it; liking it at some times, hating it at others).

So, why only 4 stars? The sound levels are inconsistent - I've found myself having to turn up the volume on some songs considerably to hear them, while needing to turn it down on others. This, however, is a small complaint - the album is very much worth purchasing (and, as another reviewer pointed out, you can usually buy it on the NIN website if amazon.com is out (so you don't have to resort to the obscene prices some of the resellers were charging).

Turn out the lights..........2007-02-22

I can't adequately stress how good this album is, and it's a real shame that it has become so hard to find. Rarely do you see a remix/compilation album with this level of production quality and strength with new unheard tracks to boot. The album is a mix of live performances as well as several high quality instrumental tracks performed on piano. If you're buying this to rock out to some angry music, you'll probably be disappointed, this album uses a lot of ambient electronic music mixed with acoustic piano that ends up creating a distinctly different feel from what we're all accustomed to hearing from Reznor.

A must have for NIN fans, great version of song, raw power.......2006-08-10

I had the luck of being one of the few that purchased this Item as part of the deluxe edition of "all that could have been", included as a bonus disc in a special package. The Nine songs on this cd are what is referred to as "THE STILL EP", :
1. Something I Can Never Have
2. Adrift And At Peace
3. The Fragile
4. The Becoming
5. Gone, Still
6. The Day The World Went Away
7. And All That Could Have Been
8. The Persistence Of Loss
9. Leaving Hope
They are remixes/demos of many NIN songs, including music meant for the Movie "one hour photo". The essence of this album is that it seem to be a more raw/stripped version of song by NIN, with more power in vocals, with changes in the music that emphasize the power and feeling of the vocals, and it bring out a whole new rage of color to the whole song. This could have easily been released as a big release by NIN and could have made big money. Example: The version of "something I can never have" is just awesome, redone in it own perfection but in no way harming the original song. Truely, this is a collection that a NIN fan should have. This is harder to come by, and a few sight online, including amazon, have this available. I recommend the Deluxe Edition "and all that could have been", but realistcally getting a hold of a copy of that, and the cost, may be much more. But these are must get songs, in either form.

Trent "Still" got it.......2006-01-20

This cd is amazing. It is basically Trent playing some selected songs and some new ones on a piano. It is good. I bought this when it came out. It is a highly recomendation if you like nine inch nails.

Average customer rating:

I recommend it highly
Pour yourself some tea, get the paper and put on this CD

For A Sunday Morning
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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For a Lazy Afternoon (Dig)
Dinner for Two
For a Summer Evening (Dig)
For a Quiet Evening
For Your Dreams (Dig)

ASIN: B00005UWL1
Release Date: 2002-01-15

Tracks:

Grieg: Morning Mood
Dvorak: Waltz From Serenade For Strings
Faure: Pavane, Op. 50
Bach: Air
Holst: Finale (The Dargason) from St. Paul's Suite
Debussy: Prelude To "The Afternoon Of A Faun"
Faure: Sicilienne from Pelleas et Melisande
Bach: Sleepers, Awake
Debussy: En Bateau
Grieg: Anitra's Dance
Britten: Sunday Morning By The Beach
Williams: Seventeen Come Sunday From English Folk Song Suite
Strauss: Morning Newspapers

Customer Reviews:

I recommend it highly.......2005-10-05

I have yet to grow tired of this CD. I listen to it at work several times per week.

Pour yourself some tea, get the paper and put on this CD.......2002-02-14

This truly is a great album for a Sunday morning. I bought it after a recent morning I spent with my boyfriend; we made tea, ate breakfast, cuddled and napped, but I wanted some relaxing classical tunes to put on. I stumbled across this, and it certainly fits the bill.

I also liked that it had a good mix of familiar songs and ones I hadn't heard before. Selections include "Morning" and "Anitra's Dance" by Grieg, "Serenade for Strings in E Major" by Dvorak, "Sunday Morning" by Britten, "Pavane" by Faure, "Seventeen Come Sunday" by Vaughan Williams, "Air on a G String" by Bach, "Morgenblatter" by Strauss, "The Dargason" by Holst, "Prelude a l'Apres-Midi d'un Faune" by Debussy, and "En Bateau" and "Sicilienne" by Faure.

Don't expect any big fireworks -- there's certainly nothing rousing like "Ride of the Valkyries" or "1812 Overture" here. Pop this in for a lazy day.

Seventeen/High Button Shoes
Average customer rating:
Seventeen/High Button Shoes
Original Broadway Cast
Manufacturer: Sepia Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)

Two's Company

Make a Wish (1951 Original Broadway Cast)

A Family Affair

Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me

ASIN: B0007YNRS6
Release Date: 2005-04-11

Tracks:

Weatherbee's Drug Store - Company
This Was Just Another Day - Kenneth Nelson
Things Are Gonna Hum This Summer - Company
How Do You Do, Miss Pratt? - Kenneth Nelson
Summertime Is Summertime - Company
Reciprocity - Company
Ode To Lola - Company
A Headache And A Heartache - Doris Dalton
Ooh, Ooh, Ooh, What You Do To Me! - Harrison Muller
The Hoosier Way - Company
I Could Get Married Today - Kenneth Nelson
If We Could Only Stop The Old Town Clock - Company
After All, It's Spring - ellen McCown
Bonus Track: Ooh, Ooh, Ooh, What You Do To Me! - Art Mooney
Can't You Just See Yourself In Love With Me? - Mark Dawson
There's Nothing Like A Model 'T' - Nanette Fabray
Get Away For A Day In The Country - Jack McCauley
Papa, Won't You Dance With Me? - Nanette Fabray
On A Sunday By The Sea - Phil Silvers
You're My Girl - Mark Dawson
I Still Get Jealous - Nanette Fabray
Nobody Ever Died For Dear Old Rutgers - Phil Silvers
Bonus Track: I Still Get Jealous - Gordon MacRae
Bonus Track: Papa, Won't You Dance With Me - Doris Day

Album Details

Unavailable for Many Years and Makes Its CD Debut Here with Bonus Tracks.

Edge Of Seventeen: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack

Average customer rating:

REALLY BAD MOVIE :(
Very good acting but utterly mundane plot
Didn't Get It
A gay slice of the 80's!
Neat, enjoyable coming-of-age drama

Edge Of Seventeen: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Razor & Tie
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beautiful Thing
Get Real
Latter Days (Unrated Edition)
Another Gay Movie
Trick

ASIN: B00000J76O
Release Date: 1999-05-18

Tracks:

Right By Your Side - Eurythmics
Small Town Boy - Bronski Beat
Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You) - A Flock Of Seagulls
Obsession - Animotion
The Politics Of Dancing - Re-Flex
Love Plus One - Haircut 100
Destination Unknown - Missing Persons
So Many Men, So Little Time - Miguel Brown
High Energy - Evelyn Thomas
Mickey - Toni Basi
Why - Bronski Beat
Modern Love Is Automatic - A Flock Of Seagulls
In The Name Of Love - Thompson Twins
You're My World - Cilla Black
Blue Skies - Lea Delaria

Customer Reviews:

REALLY BAD MOVIE :(.......2007-06-01

The trailer tricks you into thinking its a up-lifting romance but its not. The main character (Eric) is really hot but very self-centered. I can understand his distress but thats no excuse to ignore others feelings. And the ending seemed tacked on as a after thought. Not worth buying. :P

Very good acting but utterly mundane plot.......2007-04-21

I agree with a previous reviewer who wondered what the point of this film is. Aside from watching an extremely handsome kid turn himself into a Boy George wannabe, and several cliche scenes that have been repeated either in the exact same way or much better in 1000 other films, there's nothing left. Worth a rental in my view, not a purchase. Or at least Strand needs to seriously rethink their pricing for this film.

With that said, the acting is excellent all around, especially Chris Stafford who made the most out of a truly mundane script.

Didn't Get It.......2007-01-14

What was the point of the movie? What was it trying to say? If it was trying to say coming out is difficult and self-denial is harmful, then it did a good job. Other than that, there's nothing worthy here. As a reviewer has said, no one but the protagonist's mom is likeable. So true...

A gay slice of the 80's!.......2006-12-06

Filmed on a modest budget, "Edge" seems more honest & affecting in its storytelling than most bigger-budgeted offerings. And the fashions, hairstyles, and music (scored by none other than 80's pop icon Tom Bailey of "the Thompson Twins") are a true blast from the past. This film resonated with me strongly, for on that same year, I was going thru what Eric (played with sweet sincerity by Chris Stafford) was experiencing: confused attractions towards both genders, the "first time" with another guy, gay culture shock, and finally, acceptance for who I was (although I never went as far as Eric did with the "androgynous" look!). The acting & situations seem more firmly rooted in "real" time, as if you're right there witnessing what Eric's going thru. The emotions seem more raw here, unlike other films where the actors seem to be grabbing for that paycheck.
This film won raves at the Sundance festival some years back, and I can see why. "Edge" is a combination of things: a loving "time capsule" for the Reagan era, and an affecting look at finding one's identity during a most turbulent time, the teen years.

Neat, enjoyable coming-of-age drama.......2006-09-06

Edge of Seventeen is a slightly quirky drama that combines a riveting coming-out story with an homage to the eighties teen movie. It's the sweet tale of an 18-year-old coming to terms with being gay, having a first date, falling in love, getting jilted - the whole lot. It's all affectionately and amusingly done, and is courageous enough to eschew a more conventional "happy ending".

Average customer rating:

The Cure's Great Leap Forward
Magical
stark, hauntingly seductive--the Cure's first masterpiece [but what the heck's with the insanely high list price??]
Actually, more like 35 minutes, and 17 seconds.
(three and a half stars) curiously muffled vocals

Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Faith
Pornography
The Head on the Door
Disintegration
Boys Don't Cry

ASIN: B000002H5R
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

A Reflection
Play For Today
Secrets
In Your House
Three
The Final Sound
A Forest
M
At Night
Seventeen Seconds

Customer Reviews:

The Cure's Great Leap Forward.......2007-07-20

While Three Imaginary Boys (known as "Boys Don't Cry" in the U.S.) was a strong and well-received debut, Seventeen Seconds is often regarded as the first "true" Cure album as it features a remarkably matured and distinctive sound for the band, providing a foundation that would continue to develop all the way though The Cure's later worldwide success.

If you're not familiar with the Cure's early work, this album may take you by suprise at first, and could require repeated listenings to fully appreciate. As a matter of fact, this album's extreme minimalism coupled with its rather ambient and peaceful atmosphere make Seventeen Seconds quite unlike any other album in the Cure pantheon. Actually, it may well be my favorite album from what diehard fans refer to as the "trilogy" (Faith and Pornography making up parts II and III respectively).

Aside from band leader/icon Robert Smith, Seventeen Seconds, as with most Cure albums, features a line-up change. Bassist Simon Gallup, second only to Smith in long-time membership, makes his debut. A full-time keyboardist, Mathieu Hartley, was added, yet this would be Hartley's only album with the band, apparently due to musical differences he had with Robert. Finally, as with all early Cure albums, original member (and future keyboardist) Lol Tolhurst returns, choosing to play an extremely cold yet somehow appropriate style of drumming that you could swear sounded like a drum machine (its not however; 1980 drum machine technology did not sound anything like this).

Two long-time fan favorites were born from this album: "Play for Today," and "A Forest." Yet ALL of the remaining songs (Secrets, In Your House, M, At Night, Seventeen Seconds) are very strong as well, and if you like the first two tracks mentioned, you're bound to enjoy the rest of the album as well and will begin to appreciate the larger musical context that a classic such as "A Forest" was part of. Now, my only beef with the album is the instrumentals. "A Reflection," the opening track, is quiet nice and lays the foundation for the bleak yet enchanting musical landscape to come. "Three," however, strikes me as non-sensical. Technically not an instrumental, the vocals are so deliberately buried beneath the track that virtually none of the lyrics are comprehensible (sorry, but only the Cocteau Twins are allowed to do this!). Then there is the matter of "The Final Sound." This track (less than a minute long) resembles the prepared piano compositions of avant-garde composers like Henry Cowell and John Cage. While I have a deep appreciation for the modern, this seems glaringly out of place on the album, and for me at least, it really disrupts the overall mood (many fans, however, have commented that it make a good prelude to A Forest; you decide!).

I have to give Seventeen Seconds five stars. If four and a half was an option (Amazon, this is a long overdue update!!!!) I would use it, but its not. If you are not familiar with the Cure, I would first recommend an album such as Disintegration or Bloodflowers. But for those who have already begun their collection, Seventeen Seconds should fit in very nicely as a fine representative of The Cure's earliest work.

Magical.......2006-04-23

If you're taking a walk or driving and listening to this it'll probably sound at it's best. This is the Cure's first real album. "Three Imaginery Boys" and "Boys Don't Cry" weren't albums, it was as if they were filler collections. "Seventeen Seconds" is a lot more dark, and there is almost no filler. "The Final Sound" is the only filler on here. Besides that, this a truly magical album. We start off with "Reflection," which is a haunting instrumental. It is NOT filler. Next we go to "Play For Today," which is an excellent track that sets the mood for "Seventeen Seconds." As an other review mention, the cover art also sets a visual mood for the album. "Play For Today" is may sound average, but it seems to stand out. It's one of the singles from here. Next is "Secrets," which sounds a little different from "Play For Today." There are muffled vocals, which makes it sound like a "secret." The track fades out and "In Your House" fades in. There are many beautiful arpeggios which makes the song more admirable. It makes it stand out. The next track, "Three," is like a reprise to "Secrets." It is short with again muffled vocals. "The Final Sound" is definitely filler, it has a haunted house theme and the of the song ends like a broken tape. The only one I don't admire here. The hit single, "A Forest," comes in with dreamy riffs and an impressive drumbeat. The drumbeat is always very on-key here. It is one of the better songs on here, it even made an appearance on the band's "Greatest Hits." "M" comes in with it's interesting guitar sound. "M" is very interesting with an excellent beat. The bass is great is probably the most on-beat song here, it is one of my favorites on the album. "At Night" is creepy, and we here a hint of hardcore guitar. The beat is that usual "Seventeen Seconds" style. Robert Smith's lyrics are clear and it has a very "nightly" style to it. This is an accomplishment. The closing track, "Seventeen Seconds," offers something different. The beat is different than the others tracks, it is a near-instrumental and sort of picks up. We have that "Seventeen Seconds" beat again at the end, but it is still a great way to end the album. Overall it is only 36 minutes, but I consider a Cure classic. A must-have if you're a Cure fan.

stark, hauntingly seductive--the Cure's first masterpiece [but what the heck's with the insanely high list price??].......2006-02-05

Robert Smith explains in the 2005 deluxe edition reissue of "Seventeen Seconds" that this is "the first record I felt was really The Cure", and although I feel this statement is pushing it a bit, it's still very understandable. Although Smith was just turning 21 around the time of "Seventeen Seconds"' initial release in April of 1980, the Cure had already made their first masterpiece.

It shouldn't be overlooked though that The Cure's 1979 debut "Three Imaginary Boys", a strong album in its own right, did point the way toward "Seventeen Seconds", in particular on tracks like "Another Day" and especially the title track. There's no denying though that "Seventeen Seconds" marks a major turning point for The Cure--the sound here is more thoroughly haunting, more claustrophobic, with an incredibly icy snare drum sound throughout, and with Smith's vocals often being pushed WAY back in the mix and never as upfront as on many of the songs from "Three Imaginary Boys".

Smith also explains in the deluxe edition liner notes that the group made virtually no modifications to their 'basic set-up' throughout the album's entire 10-day recording session, and quite frankly, this method proved to be an absolute blessing. For one thing, it allowed the band to work quickly and affordably since they were still relatively low on money at the time. At the same time, it also accounts for the album's consistent sound which gives it an irresisible, mesmerizing flow. There don't appear to be that many overdubs at all on the album, which could be attibuted to the lack of time and money the band had at their disposal, but again, this proved to be an advantage--the starkness of the album is absolutely arresting.

It appears that Smith pretty much had in mind exactly what he wanted when the band went into the studio to record "Seventeen Seconds". As the saying goes, there doesn't appear to be a note out of place anywhere on the entire album--the overall level of craftsmanship is astonishing. The performances themselves are nearly as precise--the only time the band sounds a bit 'off' is on the intro portion of "Play For Today" where Lol Tolhurst's bass drumming seems to be a tad behind the beat. Tolhurst's lack of technical proficiency on the drums has been well-documented, but aside from this extremely minor gripe, his limitations don't hinder the album whatsover. Frankly, on most of the songs you could almost swear the band was using a drum machine opposed to a real living drummer.

Keyboardist Matthieu Hartley joined the band for just this one album before leaving. "Play For Today", "In Your House", "M", "A Forest", and the title track all use synthesizers in a mind-blowingly unobtrusive manner that enhances their moody feel.

Every song here is in a minor key, and even with such a strong emphasis on 'mood', the band still managed to pile in catchy hooks and/ or arresting melodies into pretty much every song. Much of this is thanks to Smith's guitar work, which is brilliant throughout--check out his superbly 'rubbery' rhythm work on "Play For Today"; his dreamy arpeggios on "In Your House"; and his ingeniously dissonant chords on "At Night". "A Forest" is a thrilling uptempo epic that culminates in Smith's cathartic, frantic riffing, and the 8-note guitar riff that appears on the intro leaves such an impression that you might not even realize that it never reappears after the first minute & a half of this nearly-6-minute song.

Like Pink Floyd before them, the Cure prove themselves to be masters of pacing. There are three instrumentals/ near-instrumentals here, and they each work as links in the chain as opposed to just album fillers. The album starts off with the gentle, yet creepy and contemplative instrumental "A Reflection". "Three" has a robotic kind of repetitiveness to it, and is basically an instrumental, although there are some extremely buried vocals that seem to be mostly spoken and are almost totally inaudible. The atonal, haunted house-style "The Final Sound", which is less than a minute, perfectly sets up "A Forest".

There's just so much musical invention here... Smith's guitar kind of takes a backseat on "Secrets" which has a prominent, memorable bass line and extremely distant-sounding piano chiming. The beginning part of "Play For Today" features brilliant interplay between Gallup's bass and Smith's expect use of guitar harmonics.

The only track on the album that comes up a little short is the album-closing title track. It's not BAD--it does have a neat build-up and build-down, but it feels a bit too sketchy and melodramatic, as if they couldn't quite figure out how to bring the album to a satisfying conclusion.

The Cure would go on to make more elaborately-produced recordings later on, but "Seventeen Seconds" remains a key touchstone in their discography, and a phenomenal record in its own right.

(P.S. And now I'm going to gripe for a moment about why I deducted one star from my rating. The reason is because of the insanely high list price of this single CD version of the album. As of this writing, the list price is a whopping 18.98! What the heck is Elektra's deal? Even back in the mid '90s Elektra Records had jacked up list prices on Cure CDs. I think it's smart to leave this single CD version of the album in print--it doesn't sound significantly inferior to the 2005 Rhino reissue--but still, with Rhino's 2 CD deluxe edition now available, you'd think Elektra would slash this list price more-or-less in half, seriously. As great as the album is, the running time is under 36 minutes, and $18.98 is pushing it to the point that I can't keep myself from docking the album one star on Elektra's account.)

Actually, more like 35 minutes, and 17 seconds........2006-01-31

I own every Cure album, and "Seventeen Seconds" falls easily into my top five. Of the early few albums, I like it even more than "Boy's Don't Cry" or "Faith". There's just something about this one. I love the album cover, because it visually sets the mood before the music even begins. Many of these songs are almost hypnotic the way they're put together. They're very simple, yet still emotional at the same time. Favorites would be "In Your House", the dark "At Night", and the excellent title track. Oh, and there's this little song called "A Forest" that's probably one of the best Cure songs ever. In truth, you can't go wrong with any Cure disc from the 80's, but again I'd call this top "Three". There's a recent "Deluxe" version of this out also.

(three and a half stars) curiously muffled vocals.......2005-05-10

"Seventeen Seconds" has a very unusual overall sound consisting of an almost metronomic drum and bass, muffled vocals from Robert Smith, and Smith's subtle, striking electric guitar. Two songs dominate the album, the catchy, highly danceable "Play for Today," and the incomparable "A Forest" with its compelling bass line and mystical lyrics ("The girl was never there. It's always the same. Running towards nothing, again and again and again and again . . .").

Other than these two songs, the remainder of the songs on the album, though certainly decent, are somewhat lifeless and undistinguishable. I'm not sure why Robert Smith chose the album to be engineered so that his voice and the lyrics he sings are minimalized, because these are usually such strong qualities of the band. However, "A Forest" and, to a slightly lesser extent "Play for Today," certainly make "Seventeen Seconds" worthwhile.

Seventeen & High Button Shoes (Original Broadway Cast)

Average customer rating:

A HEARTY WELCOME TO "SEVENTEEN" & WELCOME BACK TO "HIGH BUTTON SHOES" . . . .

Seventeen & High Button Shoes (Original Broadway Cast)

Manufacturer: Sepia Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Two's Company
Make a Wish (1951 Original Broadway Cast)
Inside U.S.A./The Band Wagon
A Family Affair
The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B0007X9US8
Release Date: 2005-04-12

Album Description

Two Broadway shows on one CD, plus bonus tracks! The LP version of Seventeen has long been a collector's item--this is the first time on CD!

High Button Shoes was a big success on Broadway, producing two hit songs.

Customer Reviews:

A HEARTY WELCOME TO "SEVENTEEN" & WELCOME BACK TO "HIGH BUTTON SHOES" . . . . .......2006-03-13

I've been a fan of HIGH BUTTON SHOES (and Nanette Fabray) ever since its broadcast on the NBC Television Network in 1956. I don't think I shall ever forget Phil Silvers shilling for the Ford Motor Company ("There's Nothing Like a Model T") or being pursued by a bunch of Mack Sennett cops and bathing beauties ("On a Sunday by the Sea" & "Bathing Beauty Ballet") or leading the hilarious collegiate pep song "Nobody Ever Died for Dear Old Rutgers"? Manys the time my sisters and I would harmonize to the two lovely ballads for the ingénues -- "You're My Girl" and "Can't You Just See Yourself in Love with Me?" -- or the paens to mature romantic love -- "I Still Get Jealous" and "Papa, Won't You Dance with Me?" Fifty years later, they're still as fresh as ever.

RCA released the original cast recording on four 10-inch 78 rpm records. As a result, much of the score never made it to vinyl. In addition to the songs on this album, at least four others appeared in the show. Also missing, alas, is the overture and the "Bathing Beauty Ballet." The latter, at least, can be found on the original cast recording of JEROME ROBBINS BROADWAY.

According to Steven Suskind, "SEVENTEEN is a prime example of what they used to call a 'summer musical.'" Listening to it brings back memories of ON MOONLIGHT BAY (also based on stories of Booth Tarkington) and other Doris Day/Gordon MacRae movies of the 50s, as well as fluffy MGM musicals like IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMER TIME and MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS. Although there aren't any really outstanding songs, the score is, nonetheless, charming and pleasant. Perhaps this release of the score will spark an interest in community and high school theaters. Nostalgia is never out of style, and we all want to believe that there once was a time when the biggest problems we had to face was a date for the junior prom or whether our pies would win first prize at the State Fair.

Who needs any more reality? Give me the halcyon days before the Great Depression and WWI. Give me bucolic scenes on the front porches of rural America. Give me wholesomeness and innocence. Give me con men selling swamp land and musical instruments. Give me young lovers nervous about their first kiss. Give me an old married couple - anytime - who still love each other enough to get jealous.

Hats off to Sepia for this wonderful reissue. (Why RCA, rather than this English record company, hasn't seen fit to make these recordings available is a mystery.) Although Sepia used original 78 rpm records as the source of these recordings, the sound quality is excellent. Perhaps the sound would have been better and the recordings more complete if RCA had used the original master tapes is must certainly have in its vaults, but until the time that this happens, we can all be grateful to Sepia.

For excellent background to SEVENTEEN and HIGH BUTTON SHOES, please check out THE INSIDER item, "CDs: Papa, Won't You Dance With Me" by Ken Mandelbaum on www.Broadway.com. Also Steven Suskind's ON THE RECORD: High Button Shoes, Seventeen, etc. on www.playbill.com. Fascinating stuff.

PS. While I'm ragging on RCA, I'd like to recommend two shows with their feet in Americana, both based on plays by Eugene O'Neill and both with fine scores by Bob Merrill: NEW GIRL IN TOWN and TAKE ME ALONG. Come on RCA, bring them back!!!! (As well as FANNY, WISH YOU WERE HERE, 110 IN THE SHADE, DO RE MI, LITTLE ME, etc.)

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