Blue Jay ,Blue Jay !

Track Listings

1. Blue Jay, Blue Jay

2. Three Little Piggies

3. Daddy Long Legs

4. Rainstorm

5. I’m Up

6. Bubbles

7. Sounds

8. Chugga Chugga Choo Choo

9. Feel It, Shake It

10. Trucks

11. Letter Game

12. Me & Froggie Are Friends

13. Give Someone A Smile

14. Busy Little Honey Bee

15. Rainbow Of Feelings

Editorial Reviews
Film Advisory Board
Award Of Excellence

Publisher's Weekly
"Youngsters will be thoroughly entertained by Strausman's winning approach to positive family fun."

Blue Jay ,Blue Jay !

Tracks:

Home For The Holidays - Perry Como
White Christmas - Bing Crosby
Jingle Bells - Ella Fitzgerald
Do You Hear What I Hear? - Andy Williams
Carol Of The Bells/Deck The Halls - The Robert Shaw Chorale
I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day - Harry Belafonte
Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
My Favorite Things - Eddie Fisher
Joy To The World - Julie Andrews
Here We Come A-Caroling - The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
March Of The Toys - The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
O Holy Night - Luciano Pavarotti

Tracks:

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Andy Williams
The Twelve Days Of Christmas - Roger Whittaker
Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy - The Boston Pops Orchestra
Mary's Boy Child - Harry Belafonte
I'll Be Home For Christmas - Elvis Presley
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
Sleigh Ride - Johnny Mathis
Tennessee Christmas - Alabama
Baby's First Christmas - Connie Francis
The Little Drummer Boy - Harry Simeone Chorale
Auld Lang Syne - Guy Lombardo

Customer Reviews:

Only half the songs of the original set!!.......2007-01-17

Although I love the CDs, I was disappointed that there were only about half of the songs I thought there would be. I bought the original double cassette set back in the early 90's and when I found the CDs with the same name and cover, I thought I was getting the same thing only on CD. But the Cassettes had twice as many songs, including Let it Snow,Have Yourself a merry Little Christmas,The First Noel, Jingle Bells by Jim Reeves, The Christmas song by the Carpenters and so many others!!

Its all Christmas.......2007-01-09

It reminded me of Christmas as a child. I played this all throughout the holidays.

A Good Basic Collection.......2006-02-11

This is a good, basic collection of Christmas Music. As a general rule, Time-Life has selected what is probably the definative artist/arangement of each song.

My only complaints are that there are only 24 songs on two disks and one or two of them are not ones that I would have picked (not my style).

Overall, it's a good set that I would recommend to anyone who wants to start a collection.

cd reviews.......2006-01-15

this cd was very good, much recommended

Poor Quality.......2005-12-05

The only good thing about this collection is the inclusion of so many Christmas standards. I was very disappointed in the quality of the recordings, they obviously need digital inhancement.

Average customer rating:

Early 1950s Classic
Eminent indeed
Reverse the order.
Jazz trombone at its absolute best

The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol. 1
J.J. Johnson
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol. 2
Trombone Master
Unity
Cool Struttin'
Soul Station

ASIN: B00005LANM
Release Date: 2001-07-24

Tracks:

Capri
Lover Man
Turnpike
Sketch
It Could Happen To You
Get Happy
Capri (alternate take)
Turnpike (alternate take)
Get Happy (alternate take)

Amazon.com

Johnson was unquestionably the first trombonist of bop when he recorded this June 1953 sextet date, although he had temporarily left full-time musical employment for work as a blueprint inspector at the time. That situation might have contributed to the combined sense of joy and urgency that propels this music, but it might also be the presence of the brilliant young trumpeter Clifford Brown, just 22 then and in his first month as a recording jazz musician. With their precise articulation, fleet inventiveness, and brassy fanfares, the two giants have much in common, and Brown's fire is a complement to Johnson's warmth. Johnson's talents as a composer shine on the boppish "Turnpike," while "Lover Man" shows both the depths of his lyricism and his knack for thoughtful arrangements using the limited resources of a small band. Jimmy Heath contributes some fluent tenor saxophone solos, and his baritone enriches the dark-hued orchestrations. The rhythm section of pianist John Lewis, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Kenny Clarke--already three-quarters of the Modern Jazz Quartet--provides thoughtful and dynamic support. "Sketch" reveals Lewis's gift for stretching the range of jazz composition, creating a series of shifting moods for each of the horn players. Rudy Van Gelder's remastering adds significant presence and clarity to a session that was always distinguished by intrepid writing as well as lively execution. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

Early 1950s Classic .......2007-06-25

This 1953 recording is well-worth acquiring by any lover of jazz. The arrangements, musicianship, and sound quality make this a 5-star CD for sure. The occasion provided a big boost to Johnson's musical career; the great trombonist was working a factory job at the time. This was only the third recording date for the outstanding young trumpeter Clifford Brown. Jimmy Heath plays solid tenor and baritone sax, and the rhythm section of John Lewis, Percy Heath, and Kenny Clarke represents ¾ of the soon-to-be Modern Jazz Quartet. Judicious use of horns behind the soloist on several tracks are pleasing and boost the overall quality of the music beyond that of a typical 1950s "blowing session." Given the year of the recording, this is surely one of the better CDs--soundwise--in the Rudy Van Gelder remastered series.

Eminent indeed.......2006-10-07

Every time I listen to "Capri", the first track on this fine CD, I have to smile. What a joyful tune! Just try to keep from tapping your foot to the music, or humming along with the band. Go on, I dare ya.

J. J. Johnson's command of the trombone is stunning: fast or slow, high or low, he plays it all with a seemingly effortless mastery. Note how melodic his solos are, even on the uptempo numbers. Jimmy Heath on tenor and Clifford Brown on trumpet play with energy and passion. The rhythm section--John Lewis on piano, Percy Heath (Jimmy's brother) on bass and Kenny Clarke on drums--sounds great but isn't as tight as the Kelly-Mingus-Clarke-Martinez section on Eminent vol 2.

Both vols 1 and 2 were remastered in 2001, with audio much improved over their 1989 CD releases.

Reverse the order........2006-08-16

With little fanfare, Blue Note/Capitol (or Amazon) has lowered the price on many of the most essential RVG editions, making it hard to resist picking up both volumes 1 and 2 of this series. If you're limiting yourself to just one, don't assume Vol. 1 has to be better because of the presence of Clifford Brown. He's in predictably top form, as is Jimmy Heath, but Volume 2 is the more satisfying demonstration of J. J.'s singular eminence as a player, featuring him either as the solo horn or joined by the always companionable Hank Mobley. In fact, Vol. 1, with its 3-horn arrangements and harmonic obstacle courses, places less emphasis on J. J.'s melodic inventiveness and unique, burnished sound. Finally, both volumes include 3 gratuitous (for most listeners) retakes, making it tempting to download the master takes from both sessions onto a single disk.

Jazz trombone at its absolute best.......2005-07-10

Jay Jay Johnson is the only jazz trombonist who produces sounds that are simply beautiful. Here he teams with the trumpeter Clifford Brown and the results are incredible. Both have the ability to articulate notes with accuracy and delicacy, and so can make blue moods haunting and fragile, yet be equally adept in making the up-tempo numbers blaze. Percy Heath, on sax, is also in great form, living up to his nickname of 'Little Bird'. The technical sound quality is marvellous too, despite the vintage (recorded June 22nd, 1953).
*
Johnson had worked with the big bands of Benny Carter and Count Basie, and recorded with Bud Powell, Sonny Stitt and Miles Davis (available on the RVG series 'Miles Davis, Volume 2'). He went on to work scoring films and eventually retired from performance. He died in 2001.
*
If you've heard Curtis Fuller, or Grachan Moncur, and, their virtues nowwithstanding, wondered whether the trombone was truly agile enough for be-bop or post-bop jazz, be prepared to be converted. This record, along with Art Blakey's 'A Night at Birdland' dates, rank as some of my favourite early 50's jazz recordings.

Average customer rating:

Brilliant!
"Preeminent" is more like it.
Swingin' with subtlety an' rife with relaxation...
Richman is Correct
An Album That Lives Up To Its Title

The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol. 2
J.J. Johnson
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol. 1
Trombone Master
The Great Kai & J. J.
At the Opera House
Jay and Kai + 6: The Jay and Kai Trombone Octet/J.J. in Person

ASIN: B00005LKC0
Release Date: 2001-07-24

Tracks:

Too Marvelous For Words
Jay
Old Devil Moon
It's You Or No One
Time After Time
Coffee Pot
Pennies From Heaven
Viscosity
You're Mine You
'Daylie' Double
Groovin'
Portrait Of Jennie
Pennies From Heaven
Viscosity
'Daylie' Double

Amazon.com

J.J. Johnson was the first trombonist to demonstrate that bop could even be played on trombone, using his stellar technique to negotiate twisting, high-speed heads and to generate the lithe, rapid-fire lines associated with saxophones and trumpets. Along with acclaim and frequent imitation, he was also met with criticism for sounding mechanical. As this CD amply demonstrates, though, Johnson wasn't an unfeeling technician, but a subtly expressive player, a master of understatement who could substitute a restrained slur and a lightly muffled note for the trombone's often exaggerated bray. His expressive qualities are much in evidence on the two quintet sessions from 1954 and 1955 paired on this CD. The first six tracks have the trombonist accompanied by a superb rhythm section of pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Charles Mingus, and drummer Kenny Clarke, with conga drummer Sabu Martinez adding a Latin touch. The emphasis is on standards, with Johnson swinging lightly on "Too Marvelous for Words," building a tropical fantasy on "Old Devil Moon," and creating moments of gorgeous languor on "Its You or No One" and "Time After Time."

The 1955 session has Johnson and Clarke joined by burgeoning heavyweights of the hard-bop movement--tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, pianist Horace Silver, and bassist Paul Chambers--and it's a terrific combination. Johnson and Mobley fuse into a mellow team, and there are opportunities for both the boppish sides of the band ("Viscosity"), and its bluesy side, with Johnson's "Groovin'" inspiring some characteristically soulful playing from Silver. Rudy Van Gelder was the original engineer on these sessions, and his digital remastering has done wonders to the overall sound and definition of each instrument. His new input is especially notable on the earlier material, where Clarke's and Sabu's drums now stand in clear as well as close relationship to one another. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant!.......2006-10-10

This swinging CD contains two of the strongest sessions Blue Note ever recorded. The rhythm section on tracks 1-6 is phenomenal: Wynton Kelly on piano, Charles Mingus on bass, Kenny Clarke on drums and Sabu Martinez on congas. This combo sounds less like four individuals than one master musician with eight limbs: they're so tight they're loose, and they support J.J. beautifully. The second session (tracks 7-15) features Hank Mobley on tenor, whose warm, smooth tone fits hand in glove with J.J.'s. Horace Silver on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and the ever-present Kenny Clarke round out the band. J.J. of course sounds brilliant throughout.

Both vols 1 and 2 were remastered in 2001, with audio much improved over their 1989 CD releases.

"Preeminent" is more like it........2006-07-11

These sessions marked J. J.'s return to jazz following a two-year hiatus, during which time J. J. worked as a blueprint inspector, seeking a more secure livelihood than what jazz could offer. Before disappearing from the music scene he had already recorded with practically all the major modernists, won the major jazz polls, and toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic. So these Blue Note sessions were delivered with serious purpose and intent by an artist who was as much about business as pleasure. Following these dates, he would sign on with Columbia in 1956, and thereafter would release dozens of albums with Kai Winding and other trombone players for Columbia, Bethlehem, Impulse, etc., practically becoming a household word. Even this popularity was not enough to guarantee him the secure, dependable income he sought, leading to another extended sabbatical from the trombone as he next found himself immersed in the Hollywood studios, devoting his time to writing and arranging.

A listener overwhelmed by J. J.'s prolific output on record could do worse than these Blue Note sessions, which represent J. J. with his game face on. He's joined by no more than a rhythm section or second compatible horn (Hank Mobley, who makes a more supportive frontline associate than a frontliner like Clifford Brown, the main second horn on Volume One). The one "suspect" tune on the date, "Pennies from Heaven," is not as cliched and tired as a listener might imagine before hearing it, and Mobley helps insure that the always elegant and genteel J. J. maintains his eminence as the most thoughtful and soulful of trombonists as well.

Complement this one with the Columbia collection, "Trombone Master," and you'll have a solid initial representation of the foremost exponent of the jazz trombone.

(Oops. I barely post what I regard as an "objective" review based on the best information I can find plus a lifetime's worth of hours listening to J. J. and countless numbers of other trombonists. I hope the individual who objects to the review does us all a favor by setting the record straight. Maybe Glenn Miller is the only trombonist who merits the description "preeminent.")

Swingin' with subtlety an' rife with relaxation... .......2005-08-03

Times was tough then. But, boy, did people know how to relax when they were able to. I could prob'ly stand to hear this album playin' after even the most frustratin', diluting and miserably bad days of my life (an' many days rank as such, 'specially at quittin' time in the heat of the moment). An' I tell you what it'd be real hard to stay angry listenin' to these songs an' the way J.J.'s band plays them ('er BANDS I should say). 'Coffee Pot' is a jumpin' number an' on 'Pennies From Heaven' Mobley an' Horace Silver shine big-time, tradin' lines back an' forth while Chambers plucks away at that bassline. They turn the whole number on its ayyess an' J.J. gotta bring it on home like the true master leadsman that he is. Maybe J.J. Johnson should be referred to as his eminence. All I know is I never realized how enjoyable the trombone could be until I heard this stuff. Ya can't help but tap your toes to 'Too Marvelous for Words' an' 'Old Devil Moon', but my favorite's definitely the ballad 'It's You or No One'. He plays that with minimal accompaniement an' with all the tears an' emotion of a crooner baring his soul to his audience. Though jazz is one'a the few musical artforms that has managed to remain fairly untainted by commercialization an' mainstream acceptance over the years, there is still a glaring difference that, for me, is obvious in the way it was performed then an' the way it is now. The authenticity of the jazz player's emotions. A simpler time in which existed (in some instances) more complex people. Ahhh, hell, I don't know what I'm talkin' about. I'm jus' a working class schmo who likes good jazz music.

Richman is Correct.......2004-07-24

J.J.Johnson is one of the greatest jazz trombonists who has ever lived. If you can find on CD an album called "Early Bones" you will find some miraculous duets played by Kai Winding and J.J. Johnson. Also worth purchasing. Three cheers for Mr. Richman who obviously knows his jazz.

An Album That Lives Up To Its Title.......2004-05-16

When the name of your album is "The Amazing Bud Powell," "The Fabulous Fats Navarro" or "The Eminent J.J. Johnson," you'd better live up to the billing. Well, J.J. does! This, the second volume of "Eminent," was originally released on Blue Note as two 10-inch records. The CD compiles two seesions, one from September 1954 and the other from June 1955, with three alternates that were not origianlly released. The first six tunes are from the '54 session featuring Mingus(!), Wynton Kelly, Kenny Clarke and Sabu on congas. These recordings are good, but they bother me because I've never met a jazz conga player that I've liked. The remaining tunes are from a band with that true Blue Note sound, which could hold its own against any of the period, including the original Jazz Messengers (of course, two of them are here). Johnson, Hank Mobley, Horace Silver, Paul Chambers and Kenny Clarke are in top form (aren't they always!), especially on "Viscosity" and "Groovin'." While "The Eminent J.J. Johnson, Volume Two" might not be a unanimous selection to the jazz album hall of fame like its predescor "Volume One," it is definitely not to be missed.

Average customer rating:

Quantity Over Quality
Mediocre
One Hundred Greatest TV Themes
Pretty close to original recordings
Really Good Collection

One Hundred Greatest TV Themes

Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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All-Time Top 100 TV Themes
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Six Million Dollar TV Themes

ASIN: B00005Y49F
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Tracks:

The A-Team - Nic Raine
The Addams Family - Nic Raine
The Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe - Nic Raine
Airwolf - Derek Wadsworth
The Avengers - Mike Townend
Barnaby Jones - Jerry Goldsmith
Batman - Nic Raine
Battlestar Galactica - Nic Raine
Baywatch - Derek Wadsworth
Beverly Hills 90210 - Derek Wadsworth
Bewitched - Nic Raine
Between The Lines - Mark Ayres
The Bill - Nic Raine
Bonanza - The Philharmonia Orchestra
Brideshead Revisited - Derek Wadsworth
Buck Rogers In The 25th Century - Nic Raine
Burke's Law - Derek Wadsworth
Cagney And Lacey - Derek Wadsworth
Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons - Mark Ayres
Casualty - Mark Ayres
Cheers - Mark Ayres
Dallas - Nic Raine
Dangerman (Secret Agent) - Mike Townend
Doctor Who - Mark Ayres
Doctor Kildare - Jerry Goldsmith

Tracks:

Doogie Howser, M.D. - Derek Wadsworth
Dynasty - Nic Raine
The Equalizer - Derek Wadsworth
Falcon Crest - Derek Wadsworth
Fireball XL-5 - Derek Wadsworth
The Fugitive - Nic Raine
Hawaii 5-0 - Mike Townend
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - Nic Raine
The High Chaparral - Nic Raine
Highway To Heaven - Derek Wadsworth
Hill Street Blues - Derek Wadsworth
The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy - Mark Ayres
The Incredible Hulk - Derek Wadsworth
Jason King - Mike Townend
Jesus Of Nazareth - Paul Bateman
Joe 90 - Derek Wadsworth
Johnny Staccato - Derek Wadsworth
Knight Rider - Derek Wadsworth
Kojak - Mike Townend
L.A. Law - Derek Wadsworth
Land Of The Giants - Nic Raine
Little House On The Prairie - Derek Wadsworth
Lonesome Dove - Nic Raine
Lost In Space - Nic Raine
Lou Grant - Derek Wadsworth

Tracks:

Magnum, P.I. - Derek Wadsworth
A Man Called Ironside - Mike Townend
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - Derek Wadsworth
M*A*S*H - Nic Raine
Miami Vice - Mark Ayres
Mike Hammer - Derek Wadsworth
Mission Impossible - Mike Townend
Monty Python's Flying Circus - Nic Raine
The Munsters - Derek Wadsworth
Murder She Wrote - Derek Wadsworth
Newhart - Derek Wadsworth
North And South - Derek Wadsworth
Northern Exposure - Derek Wadsworth
NYPD Blue - Mark Ayres
The Outer Limits - Nic Raine
Perry Mason - Mike Townend
The Persuaders - Mark Ayres
Peter Gunn - Mike Townend
Police Squad - Nic Raine
The Prisoner - Mike Townend
Quantum Leap - Derek Wadsworth
Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased) - Mike Townend
Red Dwarf - Mark Lambert
The Rockford Files - Mike Post
Roseanne - Dan Foliart

Tracks:

The Saint - Mike Townend
Seaquest DSV - Nic Raine
Space 1999 - Derek Wadsworth
Star Trek - Mike Townend
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Derek Wadsworth
Star Trek: Voyager - Nic Raine
St. Elsewhere - Derek Wadsworth
The Streets Of San Francisco - Nic Raine
Stingray - Barry Gray
Taxi - Derek Wadsworth
Thunderbirds - Derek Wadsworth
Thirty Something - Derek Wadsworth
The Time Tunnel - Nic Raine
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - The Philharmonia Orchestra
The Twighlight Zone - Nic Raine
Twin Peaks - Derek Wadsworth
U.F.O. - Derek Wadsworth
The Virginian - Nic Raine
Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea - Nic Raine
Wagon Train - Paul Bateman
The Waltons - Jerry Goldsmith
The Wild Wild West - Derek Wadsworth
Young Riders - John Debney
Xena: The Warrior Princess - Paul Bateman
The X-Files - Mark Ayres

Customer Reviews:

Quantity Over Quality.......2007-01-15

As a musician myself, I know too well that one of the most important ingredients in ANY performance (live or recorded) is passion. The recordings here generally lack the same passion and sheer drama of the originals. Much of the instrumentation has been reduced to a cheezy, thin, plastic synthesized replica. The performances are simply a watered-down lackluster version of the classic originals. If it were not for the sheer volume of tracks compiled here, I would have rated the comp only "one star".

Mediocre.......2006-05-17

The sound quality for this collection isn't much better than the samples offered by Amazon.

One Hundred Greatest TV Themes.......2005-08-06

I have watched almost all the shows that are on these 4 cd's. Many were made before I started watching TV. Most I've seen once or twice before.

Pretty close to original recordings.......2005-07-24

Definitely not as good as the originals. You'll probably notice the slight differences since it's stuff you saw and listened to every week or everyday in reruns growing up, but it's still an amazing collection.

Really Good Collection.......2004-07-11

I bought this in part because it had soundtracks to tv shows that are unavailable. My husband and I watch aome British programming. Many of the theme songs are for what seems like obscure British shows. That said; it has been enjoyable to hear music that I would normally never hear. Some music does sound tinny; some are very very rich, and some music is derived from actual preformances from the original artists. I think this is worth buying because is has a wonderful blend of music. The pieces are full soundtracks so they includes the parts of the theme song which are often edited out. I think the orchestra's who preformed the music did a great job. I have MonsterMania which redoes the soundtracks to the Godzilla movies. The interpretation is less heavy and stark than the preformance we associate with the original soundtrack; but I regard it as a new way to appreciate the music and all the componets which make the song unique.

Average customer rating:

they are great! 3rd time buying this cd!!!
Modern Swing Must Have - Chicago Suburb fan
Upbeat swing at its best
This band is great, even my daughter loved it ")
Bues Kings are the Swing Kings

Meet Me in Uptown
The Mighty Blue Kings
Manufacturer: R-Jay Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000006FDI
Release Date: 1997-09-30

Tracks:

Jumpin' At The Green Mill
Baby Drives Me Wild
Grinnin' Like A Cheesy Cat
Loose Lips
Cadillac Boogie
Buzz, Buzz, Buzz
Big Mamou
Spark Of My Life
In The Night
Meet Me In Uptown
Rag Mop
Pink Cadillac
Tenor Madness

Customer Reviews:

they are great! 3rd time buying this cd!!!.......2006-06-21

i heard this cd years ago, some friends introduced it to me. then i got to see them live and the show was awesome. i just bought this cd b/c i have bought it 2 other times, but people keep borrowing it and never giving it back--i guess that says something good about the music on the cd. great cd, try it out, you'll love it.

Modern Swing Must Have - Chicago Suburb fan.......2002-02-24

For a first effort this is a great album. Their is pleny of fun on the album. They pull of all aspects of music, jazz, soul, early R&B. The rhythm section is strong and just a makes you wanna dance. Ross Bon vocals are great, adds just the right touch to make every song his own. The horn section is also not bad. They put in a good effort. "Rag Mopp" is a most listen to, if you don't like that song then there is something wrong with you. It must be pointed out that the first tack "Jumpin' At The Green Mill" hooks you right and sets you up for what is to come. "Buzz Buzz Buzz" is just a classic and when if first bought is album in 96 is listened to that track over and over again for just how well the band plays together.

If you a fan of jazz and like people like Ella, or Billy, or dare I even type it Bennett then this is the album for you. There is enough fun going on here to make anyone feel good.

Upbeat swing at its best.......2001-06-10

The Mighty Blue Kings play an upbeat, vocals-driven brand of swing that is just fun to listen to -- either live at the Green Mill or on your way to work in the morning. The band are all very talented musicians, but the featured instrument is definitely Ross Bon's voice. I highly recommend this album.

This band is great, even my daughter loved it ").......1999-07-13

These guys are awsome. My husband and I were at the Munster Festival and we just absolutely loved these guys so we went out and bought this cd and I would like to say how absolutely great it is. My daughter loves it AND so do her friends. This does not happen everyday. We also bought there other cd's so we have them all. So if you don't know if you should buy this cd then just re-read this and then go out and buy it.

Bues Kings are the Swing Kings.......1999-06-01

MBK swing cats. No doubt. They've got all the clubs jumpin' and swingin' in Dayton and Cincinnati. This cd is awesome but I don't think it earned a 5 star because it doesn't compare to the rich and mellow sound of the Blues Jumpers, or the raw and hardcore sound of Royal Crown Revue. But this cd is a must have for any hep cat or kitten out there. So lace up your wing tips and saddle shoes and start swingin' to the Mighty Blues Kings.

Journeys By DJ: Desert Island Mix Part 2

Average customer rating:

smooth grooves
The man certainly Knows his music....I Give him that much!!!
Great stuff, especially for VOEH fans
Grrrrrrrrrrrooovy baby!

Journeys By DJ: Desert Island Mix Part 2
Norman Jay
Manufacturer: Journeys By DJ
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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INCredible Sound of Gilles Peterson
Back in Brazil

ASIN: B00008NGLP
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Tracks:

Windy City Theme [Promo Disco Mix][#] - Chi-Sound Orchestra, Carl Davis
Make Me Believe in You - Patti Jo
Wanted, Dead or Alive - The Voices of East Harlem
Afro Latin Concrete
Family Tree [Disco Version] - Family Tree
Breakin' in Space
Calm Down - Most Wanted Boys
Maneater - Hall & Oates
If It Don't Turn You On (You Oughta Leave It Alone) - B.T. Express
Little People - The Voices of East Harlem
Watermelon Man - East Harlem Bus Stop
Jammin' to the End of Time - Anorak Trax
Love Supreme - Alexander Robotnick
Stars - Nerissa
Blacker Revisited [Original Mix] - Ballistic Brothers
De-Funky Dumpy
Truth

Product Description

1. Carl Davis & Chi-Sound Orchestra - Windy City Theme
2. Make Me Believe In You - Patti Jo
3. Wanted, Dead, or Alive - Voices Of East Harlem
4. Afro Latin Concrete - Red Cloud & Digital Hemp
5. Family Tree (Disco Version) - Family Tree
6. Breakin' In Space - Key-Matic
7. Calm Down - Most Wanted
8. Hall & Oates - Maneater
9. If It Don't Turn You On (You Oughta Leave It Alone) - B.T. Express
10. Little People - Voices of East Harlem
11. Watermelon Man - East Harlem Bus Stop
12. Jammin' To The End Of Time - Anorak Trax
13. Love Supreme - Alexander Robotnik
14. Stars - Nerissa
15. Blacker Revisited (Original Mix) - Ballistic Brothers
16. De-Funky Dumpy - Denzil Dumpy Rice
17. The Truth - Truth All Stars

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

smooth grooves.......2007-01-06

I really like this CD. It is a well mixed set of some excellent b-sides and obscure titles - ol' skool, back in the day, stuff. It's got me looking for more Norman Jay mixes!

The man certainly Knows his music....I Give him that much!!!.......2005-04-15

Although largely recognised for his work in the U.K. Norman Jay has been a regular and respected figure on the London DJ Scene since 1980, having been one of the founding fathers of U.K. rare groove, house, and acid jazz, in the early days of the U.K. finding its own identity and largely responsible for creating an underground groove based music scene that mirrored elements of what was happening with the U.S. underground music scene around the same period. Normans growing music influences would later expand to include: Funk, Reggae, R&B & northern Soul. Norman himself has since assumed the role of a elder statesman, for his considerable knowledge of music, and remains frequently involved in U.K. based festivals & Carnivals....a frequent player in the yearly Notting hill Carnival. (It's even extended to him collecting an MBE a few years ago, for his services towards music, I believe). So you'd be hard pressed to find someone more suited to compiling a disk, that side-steps obvious track choices that have featured on a millions compilation disks before it, but yet remains accessible (& Funky) enough to appeal to a wide enough of an audience, without resorting to incredibly rare or obscure tracks that are purely the domain of the only people likely to have heard the tracks, being those sorts of people that pay a $100+ for music. What Norman does so well is blending Disco with Funk.....House Music with Soul, and Rare Groove with R&B, in a tracklisting that spans some 20 twenty years or so, yet is so sublimely incorporated, it almost begins to feel like a coherent mix album.

Norman's disk is unsurprisingly more informed by Rare Groove, Chicago House, Northern Soul, and a dash of Funk & Dub. Kicking things off brilliantly is the rare-groove sound of "Carl Davis & Chi-Sound Orchestra's - Windy City Theme", before moving into the sensual gospel-tinged Detroit Soul of the "Voices Of East Harlem's - Wanted, Dead, Or Alive", and it becomes quickly apparent that this man (Norman Jay) knows a thing or two about track selection. Norman drops the best track on the disk, with the utterly sublime/infectious retro-house of "Most Wanteds - Calm Down"....(several rewinds of this is required), after which the sentmental Blue-eyed soul of "Hall & Oates - Maneater" comes to the fore. What follows all this is a perfected realised mix of Funky Disco ("B.T. Express' - If It Don't Turn you on"), R&B-tinged Synth-pop (Alexander Robotnick's - Love Supreme"), Jazz-House ("Ballistic Brothers - Blacker Revisited"), and terminating beautifully with the smoked out Dub of "The Truth All Stars - The Truth".

This is arguably one of Norman Jays best compilation albums, and If you've liked his previous work, this truly is required purchasing. Which finds Norman digging deep with his selections and proving not only through inspired explorations in music, but tremendous mixing, and a (very) broad variety of genres, with no noticeable filler to pad out the album, that even when you think you've heard it in the field of mix/Compilation albums, that perfect excecution can throw up new ideas/takes on existing themes. I'd even go say far as to say that is easily amongst the greatest releases in the "Journeys by DJ's" series, ranking up their with Coldcut & Gilles Peterson entries into the series. And for that reason alone, this is very,very highly recommended.

Great stuff, especially for VOEH fans.......2004-09-27

This is a pretty good collection of rare R&B from groups like the Harlem Bus Stop and some reggae from The Truth, but this collection is extra special for the inclusion of the rare tracks from the underrated Soul Choir the Voices of East Harlem. This includes the legendary and breathtaking "Wanted Dead or Alive" which did well in England and on Black American Radio stations circa 1973 and "Little People," which is consistant with their message of empowerment. Hopefully, since the release of their spellbinding performance in the SOUL TO SOUL DVD, more CDs of the VOEH will be forthcoming, but in the meantime, this and RIGHT ON BE FREE are the next best things.

Grrrrrrrrrrrooovy baby!.......2003-06-19

This collection will transport you through time and space, from the moon to the stars. An essential part of any dance/soul/disco/funk collection.

Average customer rating:

Great cd
As Good As it Gets
Big Disappointment
Ready Freddy, Rockin' Steady
Totally Gunne...

Big Chain
Jo Jo Gunne
Manufacturer: Blue Hand Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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So...Where's the Show?
Jumpin' the Gunne
Bite Down Hard
Real Life Ain't This Way
The Original Potato Land

ASIN: B000AOENAY
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Tracks:

Be Careful What You Wish For
Perfect Everything
Babylon
Garagedonia
Academy Award
Before You Get Your Breakfast
Gravy Train
Shake That Fat
Cheap Shot
Making the Sparks Fly
99 Days
Flying Home
Run Run Run
Barstow Blue Eyes

Customer Reviews:

Great cd.......2007-06-22

It sure is great to hear this band in action again. My only regret is that I didn't know about this cd when it was released. I could have been listening to this cd much earlier.

Anyway this is a very good cd and the guys still sound great even after all these years. And I hope that there is another cd in the works for
Jo Jo Gunne to keep us 'Gunner' fans out here happy.
Sign me, still a 'Gunner'.

As Good As it Gets.......2007-03-07

I'm not going to waste your time (or mine) with a lengthy review. Suffice to say that the original line up of this fine band got back together and managed to recapture and update the qualities that made them so good in the first place; this record is easily up to the standards of their "classic" 4 original releases. Sadly, though, this one was criminally underpromoted.

(Irrelevant, but I will add one thing thing in response to another review: I had no trouble whatsoever telling who was who in the photos.)

Big Disappointment.......2006-11-07

Time to look up the word "lame" in the dictionary. How sad is this CD? Let me count the ways:

* The cheap, generic studio sound that manages to be both tinny and bass-heavy at the same time.

* Basically, they remade their first (and worst) album (it was so bad, I gave my copy away right after I bought it) and added six new "originals."

* There was, however, one really great song on that album ("Take It Easy" [not the Eagles song]). Now guess what? That's the only one they left out!

* They've also remade "Before You Get Your Breakfast" (a really great tune from their third album, "Jumpin' the Gunne"). The original version is ten times better.

The new material is more of the same, i.e., everything Jo Jo Gunne detractors love to hate, with none of the charms fans like me (and I may be a minority of one here) find amusing. Yet another sad footnote to the Spirit saga.

THE ONLY FUN: In the booklet, there are side-by-side photos of the band, "then and now." I've been driving myself crazy trying to figure out who's who. These guys have aged so much over the years, I can't even tell which one is Jay Ferguson!

Ready Freddy, Rockin' Steady.......2006-09-06

As a fanatic Jo Jo Gunne fan, I approached this album with trepidation. I was afraid they might mess up and tarnish their legacy. Much to my relief, this album is fabulous. Even after thirty years, these guys are as good as ever. Why they aren't more famous is a mystery to me. I couldn't love 'em better.

Totally Gunne..........2006-04-11

What do you say about an unexpected album by a band that hasn't been heard from in decades? I picked this up as soon as I saw it and was pleasantly surprised. It's a 50/50 mix of new material and old songs redone. The new material is true to form Gunne. Definitely no pandering to current tastes, just some damn fine music that would have fit comfortably on any of their previous albums. This is Jo Jo Gunne as I remember them, with everyone doing what they used to do like they used to do it, only better. Jay Ferguson can still belt out a tune with as much fire and conviction as he ever did, and every band member has only gotten better at playing his instrument. The performances are tight, and the recording quality is excellent.
As for the remakes... well... sometimes it's hard to let go of songs as I know them. That's more a matter of personal taste than any particular fault with what they did on the new versions. For better or worse, they happened to pick at least a few songs that are near and dear to my heart. For me, the successes are Babylon (certainly superior to Ferguson's solo remake), Shake That Fat, Run Run Run, and Barstow Blue Eyes. 99 Days is a tossup; both versions have their strengths. Academy Award and Flying Home, my two favorite songs from their first album if not their entire catalog, are a bit hard to swallow in their new forms. Well done on their own terms I suppose, but far enough from the originals to make me wish they'd left them alone. That's my personal preference of course. It's still a new Jo Jo Gunne album and a very nice surprise after all these years. Hats off to ya, boys! What else are ya hiding?

Average customer rating:

Oh, Kitten...it's a Must Have
Almost , Nearly, perfect
Much more than Kitten On the Keys
Zany yet poetic!
Brilliant!

Confrey: Piano Music

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Zez Confrey Piano Rolls and Scores
Keyboard Wizards Of The Gershwin Era, Vol.4
James Scott: The Complete Works 1903-1922
Complete Stark Rags of Joseph F. Lamb
The Original James P. Johnson 1942-1945

ASIN: B00000HZOE
Release Date: 1999-01-19

Tracks:

Kitten On The Keys
Dizzy Fingers
Meandering
African Suite: I. High Hattin'
African Suite: II. Kinda Careless
African Suite: III. Mississippi Shivers
Jay Walk
Sparkling Waters
Wise Cracker Suite: I. Yokel Opus
Wise Cracker Suite: II. Mighty Lackawanna
Wise Cracker Suite: III. The Sheriff's Lament
Amazonia
Blue Tornado
Three Little Oddities: I. Impromptu
Three Little Oddities: II. Romanza
Three Little Oddities: III. Novelette
Coaxing The Piano
Stumbling (Paraphrase)
Moods Of A New Yorker: I. At Dusk
Moods Of A New Yorker: II. Movie Ballet
Moods Of A New Yorker: III. Relaxation
Moods Of A New Yorker: IV. After Theatre (Tango)
Rhythm Venture
Fourth Dimension

Amazon.com

Zez Confrey (1895-1971) may not be a household name, but his 1921 masterpiece "Kitten on the Keys" certainly is. The Illinois-born composer studied the classics growing up, but somehow the temptation of Vaudeville sneaked its way into his compositions and he found success writing catchy ragtime miniatures with goofy names ("Wise Cracker Suite," "Dizzy Fingers," "Blue Tornado"). Republic of Georgia pianist Eteri Andjaparidze performs 24 of Confrey's works with technical perfection and plenty of spirit--two requirements for these compositions--but sounds a tad robotic on some numbers. Between "Kitten" and 1959's "Fourth Dimension," Confrey explored blues, rags, Latin rhythms, and--of course--jazz, but the real highlight here is a slow number, the four-movement Moods of a New Yorker. In sum, this a great tribute featuring great music, perfect for fans of George Gershwin, Ferde Grofé, Jelly Roll Morton, and Joseph Lamb. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

Oh, Kitten...it's a Must Have.......2004-12-29

Hats off to Naxos for releasing this absolutely perfect tribute to Zez Confrey - it was high time, someone had to do it, and Naxos has done Confrey real justice. One would expect caricature of his work, rather than the respectful, honest, accurate renditions of his work featured on this album.

I discovered my love for Confrey thanks to the Aeolian Hall Birth of Rhapsody in Blue album (another of my reviews covers that great one), which featured a small selection of his compositions. The distinct, unique sound of his work snagged me immediately, and so I was thrilled to come upon this little Naxos treat.

Every piece on the album is sheer delight, but several do stand out from the rest. "Kitten on the Keys" (Confrey's most famous composition, here done full justice), "Meandering" (which just glides and lilts along like feathers on a breeze), "Kinda Careless" (a sensuous, seductive little number), "Yokel Opus" (a snappy little foxtrot), "Coaxing the Piano" (which seems almost an homage to 'Twelfth Street Rag', in a skewed way), "Movie Ballet" (which sounds exactly like its title would suggest), and "Rhythm Venture" (so gracefully syncopated, it's practically a marvel).

Any and all Confrey and jazz fans should consider this album as required listening, and well worth owning. The price alone is reason enough - you cannot go wrong with Naxos' rates. But even if it were four times the price, it would still be a bargain.

Almost , Nearly, perfect.......2003-10-25

Wonderful selection of pieces, most of these are lesser-known Confrey and tend to represent his more "Serious" music. Perhaps because of that the pianist (a superb performer) tends to emphasize their concert qualities over their popular music aspects. This is only a tiny complaint. There's a lot of excellect music here, and at Naxos' low price it's a bargan.

Much more than Kitten On the Keys.......2002-05-16

If you thought an album of Zez Confrey music would be track after track like Dizzy Fingers or Kitten On the Keys, you are in a for a pleasant surprise with this superb CD.

The performances of the said party pieces are fast, furious and fun, but there are also some great blues renditions, and some lyrical, reflective pieces.

I would have preferred if the CD had included a few more of the well-known pieces like My Pet, Poor Buttermilk and You Tell 'Em, Ivories, but the many pieces I had never heard of are interesting, and are played beautifully.

Zany yet poetic!.......2000-09-04

Once again, in its "American Classics" series, Naxos has pulled a pleasant surprise rabbit out of the hat. Zez Confrey must be a new name for virtually everyone, unless they are well past my own age, and I don't go back quite that far. The name was certainly new for me, but a few of the pieces on this disc brought memories flooding back, most likely because my parents once had them coupled on an ancient 78 shellac.

Confrey (1895 - 1971) had been relegated pretty much to the dustbin of history before this release. But he did have his days in the sun between the two world wars. Undoubtedly his brightest moment was when he shared billing with George Gershwin and Paul Whiteman on the occasion of the premiere for Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, where Confrey had the stage in the first half of the concert and Gershwin in the second. For the most part, after that February, 1924 "An Experiment in Modern Music" concert of Whiteman's, the paths of Gershwin and Confrey began to diverge; Gershwin was, to put it simply, an overnight success.

All of the music on this album is fun, and virtually all of it demands virtuosic pianistic ability, which Confrey must certainly have possessed. Listening to it is like taking a trip down memory lane, back to the popular music in the first third of the previous century. There are pieces which have clear roots in ragtime, embellished upon and brought forward by a few decades, and at least a selection or two which sound very much like Gershwin preludes in their "bluesy" feel. It's also clear that Confrey was not unaware of the classical music of the period, because a few of the pieces capture the idioms of the piano music of Rachmaninoff and Ravel of that period (although they soon veer off into "Confrey territory"). If you listen carefully, you'll even hear a passing reference or two to Chopin. But, like the Rachmaninoff and Ravel musical allusions, these too are in fact just "passing references."

But most of the album is pure Confrey-style pianistic wizardry: Fleet fingers, crossing hands, syncopations and rhythmic "irregularities" with the colorfully descriptive titles of "Meandering", "Coaxing the Piano" and "Stumbling." And his two most famous pieces (which, probably, many of us have never heard), "Kitten on the Keys" and "Dizzy Fingers." (In fact, it was "Dizzy Fingers" and "Stumbling" which must have been the coupling on that ancient 78, because they were immediately recognizable.)

Eteri Andjaparidze is an excellent technician in this work, which can be very demanding of technique if it is to be pulled off properly. By and large, she does very well by it. In particular, she succeeds in capturing the passing allusions to the classical piano music of the time. If I had my druthers, I might ask for a little more panache, or insouciance, if you like, in the Confrey specialities noted in the previous paragraph. But who can quibble, especially at the Naxos price, without appearing to be a piker?

Neat stuff for a refreshing change of pace, with an opportunity to hear an hour's worth of music by someone who had been ignored for too long. That's a "get it" recommendation!

Bob Zeidler

Brilliant!.......2000-03-22

I have no idea what Jason Verlinde meant by saying that Eteri Andjaparidze sounds "a tad robotic" on certain pieces on her new Zez Confrey album; indeed, the Republic of Georgia pianist sounds absolutely marvelously free in her interpretations. I cannot hear anything "robotic" at all in her playing. She approaches the intricate syncopations of Confrey's music with dazzling style. She is technically proficient enough to take Confrey's tempi at a furious pace, when necessary, in pieces such as "Kitten on the Keys" and "Dizzy Fingers," and to create a sustained, beautiful flow to the music in such "impressionistic" pieces as "Sparkling Waters" and "Mighty Lackawana." The selections which will remind the listener of Art Deco New York in the 1920's and 1930's, are taken at exactly the right tempo, and Ms. Andjaparidze syncopates the rhythms in a sparkling manner. I was utterly amazed at how a pianist, trained in the Republic of Georgia, could evoke the rhythms and style of American music of this type. But she does! In addition, the piano has been recorded beautifully, with sparkling tone at the treble end, and a rich, full bass. I purchased this CD a few hours after reading Frank Behrens' review. It is a wonderful addition to my collection of American music. I urge you to hear this excellent release. Naxos is to be commended for making it available.

Average customer rating:

On the nerve!
Steller, all-around jump-blues album. A must have.
The best thing to come out of Chicago since Sosa...
Better than Cherry Poppin Daddies

Come One, Come All
The Mighty Blue Kings
Manufacturer: R-Jay Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music

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Meet Me in Uptown
Live From Chicago
Alive in the City
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Torch This Place

ASIN: B000005PCA
Release Date: 1997-11-18

Tracks:

I Can't Stop It
Baby You Rich
Go Tell The Preacher
Little Too Late
Put Your Hand In Mine
Looking For My Baby
What's A Man To Do
Don't Let Go
Got The Sun Shinin' On Me
Long Distance Lover
No Blow, No Show
Green Grass Grows All Around

Customer Reviews:

On the nerve!.......2000-07-29

Man, these guys are tapped in at ground level! This album exudes authenticity. These cats listened, I mean really listened, to the guys that started it all and the original material, which comprises half the record, is every bit as good as the covered material. A tall order. Ross Bon's songwriting is A1! The material is just the right mix of R&B, swing and blues and the band's sound, especially Bon's vocals, rings true to the sound of many greats of days gone by while at the same time not sounding like anyone I have ever heard, and lending themselves very well to modern audiences who are tired of the lack of substance so often heard in todays "music." Roots! Roots! Roots! In this band is some roots... cutest little roots...that you ever did see...now the root's in the dirt and the dirt's in the hole and the hole's in the ground...where the green grass grows all around and around, the green grass grows all around.

Steller, all-around jump-blues album. A must have........1998-10-01

The Mighty Blue Kings burst onto the Chicago scene and their popularity quickly spread. This alblum shows their abilty to change styles (from last album), while still keeping the energy levels high. This is a necessary CD for any collection, and one that anyone can appreciate.

The best thing to come out of Chicago since Sosa..........1998-09-24

Having the luck of living a couple hours north of Chicago, we were lucky enough to get many chances to see these kings on stage. Never have they disappointed. This release has a little less energy than Meet Me In Uptown, but (as always), the sound is flawless. And Ross Bon knows how to croon...

Better than Cherry Poppin Daddies.......1998-07-02

Being a Chicago resident, I have the opportunity to see the Blue Kings more often than people in other parts of the country. Although their latest album is a tad on the short side (~36 minutes), I still feel their their style has matured over the last few years.

Both the vocal lines and rhythm have begun to take on elements of a more mature band than what appears on stage. At a recent live performance in Austin, TX they had worked out a song that sounded like something Desmond/Brubeck would have done. The original song alternated between a time meter of 6/8 and 4/4.

Tracks:

Overture - The Orchestra
Mrs. Sally Adams - Chorus
Hostess With the Mostes' on the Ball - Dinah Shore
Washington Square Dance - Dinah Shore
Welcome to Lichtenburg - Paul Lukas
Can You Use Any Money Today? - Dinah Shore
Marrying for Love - Paul Lukas, Dinah Shore
Ocarina
It's a Lovely Day Today
Best Thing for You - Dinah Shore
Something to Dance About - Dinah Shore, Chorus
Once Upon a Time Today
They Like Ike - Pat Harrington, Jay Velie
You're Just in Love (I Wonder Why) - Dinah Shore

Customer Reviews:

a fascinating recording.......2003-10-06

Irving Berlin's CALL ME MADAM appeared on Broadway in 1950. His previous musical, 1949's MISS LIBERTY, was an unqualified flop. MISS LIBERTY was his follow-up to 1947's mega hit ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, starring Ethel Merman.

Ethel Merman headlined his original cast of CALL ME MADAM, a bouncy musical which told the story of ebullient Sally Adams, who is dispatched as ambassador to the fictional European province of Lichtenburg. The supporting cast included Paul Lukas, Russell Nype (GOLDILOCKS), and Galina Talva as Princess Maria.

Due to a contractual snafu however, there are two very different recordings of CALL ME MADAM. Ethel Merman was under contract to the Decca label (which had recorded her ANNIE GET YOUR GUN cast album), but the recording of MADAM was to be produced by cast album heavyweight RCA Victor. Decca wouldn't release Merman from her contract, as it was planning it's own CALL ME MADAM release.

Popular vocalist Dinah Shore stepped in and played Sally Adams on the RCA Victor album of CALL ME MADAM, which featured the entire original cast. Decca released a "studio cast" album of MADAM headed by Ethel Merman, aided and abetted by popular crooner Dick Haymes (STATE FAIR) and a backup chorus. Of these two albums, the Dinah Shore version is the more delightful. She wisely doesn't try to emulate Miss Merman but sails through the songs in her own charming style. Russell Nype and Galina Talva are wonderfully-winning in their performances and Paul Lukas is superb.

I strongly suggest that you also purchase the Ethel Merman recording as well as the 1995 Encores! cast starring Tyne Daly. CALL ME MADAM is one of the most delightful of classic Broadway musicals.

A crucial oddity.......2001-02-22

I'm not sure whether it's stranger that this album has languished in the vaults for so long or that it was recorded in the first place. But we should be grateful that it's here, as it's an important recording, a fun score, and a fascinating piece of theatre recording history.

Dinah Shore is by no means an ideal substitute for Ethel Merman (who was under contract to Decca Records and not permitted to appear on the official cast album), make no mistake. But Merman made her own album with her own takes on the big songs, so it's perhaps a good thing that RCA went for a dramatically different take here. Shore sings very attractively here -- she's not a tough broad, but a sweet charmer, but the album still works. The show was, of course, a big hit that had plenty of strengths even though it might be too dated to rework today.

The Merman album was already released on CD once, and will be issued again within the year, but this is still worthwhile for Shore's performance, for the niceties of the show like the other original players, orchestrations and songs that Merman didn't preserve, and for a lengthy appendix of Shore's versions of classic Irving Berlin songs.

No one will ever claim that Call Me Madam changed their life. Shows didn't used to need to elicit that reaction to be considered successful.

Not essential but useful.......2001-02-03

RCA Victor had backed the 1950 musical CALL ME MADAM hoping to get the cast album rights. The star, however, was Ethel Merman and she was under exclusive contract to Decca who planned their own MADAM album. Decca launched the first attack by releasing a 10" Lp with Merman, Dick Haymes and the Gordon Jenkens orchestra and Chorus called "Songs from CALL ME MADAM." RCA responded by recording the full original cast album but signing Dinah Shore to sing the role of Sally Adams. They also re-orchestrated many of the songs and, in a curious move, had Paul Lukas record narration linking the songs. Strangely, they semed to had given up on this approach mid-way as the narration disappears after the first side of the record. Decca's response was to withdraw their 10" Lp and reissue the album on 12" with 5 additional songs (dropping an orchstral medley by the Jenkins orchestra) and placing them in show sequence. Although RCA's album has a more theatrical feel to it, Decca had Merman and therefore created the better selling album. RCA's disc was deleted rather quickly, although briefly reissued in 1977 and now (finally) available on CD... except this isn't an RCA release (!!!!) Is this even released with RCA's permission? I highly doubt it since RCA eventually plans to reissue the remaininder of their show catalogue on CD. Decca's album was reissued on Cd but that disc is now out-of-print. IF you can get both albums and do some creative programming you can combine trcaks and create your own composite original cast album.

Music Album:

Music Album

1. Blue Jay, Blue Jay
2. Three Little Piggies
3. Daddy Long Legs
4. Rainstorm
5. I’m Up
6. Bubbles
7. Sounds
8. Chugga Chugga Choo Choo
9. Feel It, Shake It
10. Trucks
11. Letter Game
12. Me & Froggie Are Friends
13. Give Someone A Smile
14. Busy Little Honey Bee
15. Rainbow Of Feelings