This Side of the Moon

Amazon.com
Though This Side of the Moon's packaging highlights Elizabeth Cook's fashion-model looks, country music just doesn't get much more down-home than this. Cook's voice combines the trill of early Dolly Parton with the twang of a young Loretta Lynn, while her songwriting shows a disarming, conversational simplicity laced with a warm humor. Such artistry renders the "alt" in "alt-country" meaningless, because the best of this timeless music seems to come from the same place and reflect the same values as the music of George Jones or Hank Williams. Whether admonishing "Cupid" for his bad aim, shuffling onto the honky-tonk dance floor with "Hard-Hearted," or finding romance on the harmony-laden title track, Cook's the real deal. --Don McLeese

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous for any Broadway-lover.......2007-01-30

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

Top Shelf.......2007-01-04

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

TERRIFIC CD'S.......2006-03-23

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

Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs .......2005-06-14

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

Great Compilation!.......2005-01-17

If you are a fan of the Broadway Musicals, this is a collection that you should purchase. Since I got the 5 disc set I've enjoyed listening to it. The majority of the songs are done by the original singers. The collection is priceless considering that you will have over 100 songs from popular musicals since the beginning of Broadway

Average customer rating:

Amazing new talent
Greatness, not goodness
Goodness, but not greatness
Muscles
Cook's "Moon" Is Definitely on the Country Side

This Side of the Moon
Elizabeth Cook
Manufacturer: Thirty Tigers
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Balls
Hey, Y'all
Hey Do You Know Me
Translated From Love
Carly Goodwin

ASIN: B00096S2LY
Release Date: 2005-05-17

Tracks:

Cupid
Funny Side Of Love
Before I Go That Far
Here's To You
This Side Of The Moon
Kiss Me Again
Ruthless
Alone Down Here
Hard-Hearted
Heather Are You With Me Tonight
All We Need Is Love
Where The Blue Begins
Somebody's Gotta Do It

Amazon.com

Though This Side of the Moon's packaging highlights Elizabeth Cook's fashion-model looks, country music just doesn't get much more down-home than this. Cook's voice combines the trill of early Dolly Parton with the twang of a young Loretta Lynn, while her songwriting shows a disarming, conversational simplicity laced with a warm humor. Such artistry renders the "alt" in "alt-country" meaningless, because the best of this timeless music seems to come from the same place and reflect the same values as the music of George Jones or Hank Williams. Whether admonishing "Cupid" for his bad aim, shuffling onto the honky-tonk dance floor with "Hard-Hearted," or finding romance on the harmony-laden title track, Cook's the real deal. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

Amazing new talent.......2007-01-11

We caught Elizabeth Cook at the Ryman a few months ago and immediately picked up some of her CDs. I have to agree with some of the other reviews that she sounds like a mix of Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn. Loretta Lynn was the first thought that cross my mind when we saw her live and as I listened to the CDs, I could also hear indications of Dolly. My 5 yr old agrees. The first time we listened to This Side of the Moon, he asked if it was Loretta Lynn.

Greatness, not goodness.......2006-12-20

The best traditional country music cd of the past ten years.
"Before I Go That Far" is the single best "country" ballad by a female artist since Reba's "Somebody Should Leave", and would be a guaranteed number one hit had it been recorded by an established artist like Leann Womack. "Here's to You" is very nearly as good, and I can't imagine anyone else singing it better than Elizabeth does. The gorgeous title track is so reminiscent of Dolly Parton, I can see why so many reviewers are making the comparison. "Kiss Me Again" is a song I'm sure Reba would like to have recorded, given she hasn't had a great single in more than a decade. The remaining tracks are all worth listening to, but the the above-mentioned 4 tracks which appear consecutively on the album are as good a power play as you are ever likely to hear in modern country music. As you can probably tell, I'm hooked.

It's so great to hear a pure country voice that hasn't been corrupted by the Nashville music mill. Hopefully, even better things are yet to come with the impending release of her Rodney Crowell-produced next album. If you're a fan of Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, early Reba, or even Patty Loveless, this album is essential. My only regret is that I just recently discovered this amazingly talented singer/songwriter. Only a chance viewing of one of her videos on CMT's Edge of Country exposed me to this relatively unknown artist. Isn't it ironic? The "Edge of Country". And all this time I thought this kind of music was the real thing. I guess Faith and Tim and all the rest really do rule over country music. Sad, sad, sad.

Goodness, but not greatness.......2006-01-04

When Elizabeth Cook hit the scene in 2002 she was a refreshing change both from the uber pop of the mainstream but also a light hearted change from the dark and morose mainstream. Fun and swingy songs about being in love and the bounces one takes falling out of love, Hey Y'All was a good, if uneven, album. For her second album Cook has ironed out most of the wrinkles and put together an overall better collection of songs. Obviously, inspired by Cook's recent divorce, this album conjures up memories of the awesome Diary of a Mod Housewife by Amy Farris. While neither as bleak nor as funny as that classic gem, Cook does deliver a strong and satisfying album.
The album opens with its only weak spot, the cringe-worthy "Cupid." "Funny Side of Love " is a similar but much better song about looking for a guy who can keep her laughing through the hard times. "Before I Go That Far" is a wonderful, powerful waltz, that uses echoes of Dolly Parton to deliver lines like "Before I've finally had enough imagine me winding up/In another's arms/and if that breaks your heart/Stop me/Before I go that far." This is followed by the swingier "Here's To You" an anthem toasting the man who used to be her husband. A heavy dose of steel introduces the pretty love song "This Side of the Moon" which showcases Cook's soaring vocals. A pretty piano melody highlights the vulnerability of "Kiss Me Again," about two people trying to reconnect their fractured relationship. "Ruthless" is a darker, crunchier more up tempo song about a man returning home to find his wife gone (of course her name was Ruth, an old pun, but it still works). Partnered with writer Stephony Smith, Cook eases away from her hook driven lyrics in the blues influences "Alone Down Here." "Hard Hearted" is a jingle-esque song set to a perfect two step. The stand out song of the album is the soaring and gorgeous "Heather Are You With Me Tonight" about a man searching the memories of his loved one with lines like "Right now I'm not your man/I'm a pilot in flight" and "ain't it funny how winning feels just like sinning." In the hands of a lesser singer "All We Need Is Love" would be unlistenable, but Cook sells it with the right touch of humor. She takes a nice Merle Haggard doing country blues turn for the swinging "Where The Blue Begins." "Somebody's Gotta Kiss Me" is a song with nearly unforgivable lyrics, "If you'll be my Big Daddy then you're talking to your number one squeeze" but great music and incredible vocals.
Her weakness remains the very thing that sets her apart from the rest of what is called "Alt" country--a tendency to value hooks over poetry. It is refreshing to hear a women not afraid to sing something cute, and Cook's vocals sell the sentiment and emotion quite well. However lines like "That fat naked baby with the arrow and bow has go to be the worst marksman that I know" (Cupid) and "I'm a self admitted junky/cause soon as things get funky/I want to take a powder and run" (Funny Side of Love) and are best left to women like Shania Twain and it is difficult to understand how any woman of Cook's age could sing "Hard Hearted" or "Somebody's Got To Kiss Me" with a straight face. For this reason it is difficult to compare her to a Kasey Chambers or a Neko Case who's music seems almost deliberately anti-hook at times. In film they settle this dichotomity with the theory of A films (or Oscar/Prestige films) and B films (or popcorn movies). The idea is that it would be unfair to use the same scale to rank a movie like The Rock on the same scale as a movie like Schindler's List. Using that scale, Cook's album is a very good B album. It is to the mainstream what The Rock is to Dude Where's My Car?.

Muscles.......2005-07-01

Elizabeth Cook's "This Side of the Moon" is another delightful country blast from this gorgeous Florida chanteuse. "Here's To You" is a midtempo track with Elizabeth's full-throttle vocals jamming the romance in reverse, "Heartache went from bad to worse, I called the doctor & got his nurse, So I'm here for a drink & the sound of a country band." On "Ruthless" Elizabeth gets funky with Alison Prestwood's bass & Henny Vaughan's stinging electric lead on this bluesy country rocker & Cook's powerful vocal, "She is gone now that you're found." Cook & Hardie McGehee penned the down-home classic "All We Need Is Love" drenched with Steve Fishell's steel guitar, "You think I'm hot & you're good lookin', I like your muscles, You like my cooking, Now all we need is love." The set closes with the sexy "Somebody's Gotta Do It" with Elizabeth's vocal cracking like a country Maria Muldaur. "This Side of the Moon" is an incredibly strong set with Elizabeth's excellent songwriting, high quality musicianship & her edgy powerful vocals blowing the mix through the roof. Bravo!

Cook's "Moon" Is Definitely on the Country Side .......2005-06-10

Prime Cuts: Here's to You; Cupid; Kiss Me Again

Imagine if Emmylou Harris had not dabble with the New Age ethereal foray of Americana and continues to cut albums entrenched with solidly country tunes "This Side of the Moon" could be it. Coming from the same vocal school as Harris, Cook has that mellifluous vocal with that distinct brush of southern charm, minus the country veteran's weathered worn texture. Further, her girlish coy and odylic sassiness will undoubtedly bring comparisons with Kelly Willis and Dolly Parton. Penning or co-penning 12 out of these 13 tracks and with most of them nudging under 3 minutes, this Floridian native certainly is not on the verbose side. And brevity is the soul of wit here. Cook has an acerbic outlook to love and life and she captures them just right on these paeans. Every track is a perfect capsule without an ounce of fat. Compared to her 2002 Warner Brothers debut "Hey Y'all," this set is even stronger and ironically more radio savvy.

The first 6 tracks are all stellar and they are tailored made for country radio. Given the right promotion, it's not difficult to see how the sensuous country ballad "Kiss Me Again" can make a dent in the upper echelon of the Billboard charts. Assisted by some mournful sounding steel guitars, "Kiss Me Again" is a desperate plea by Cook to her paramour to give their love another try. Fetching indeed is Cook's girlish, almost fragile vocals, which gives this weeper such an inherent believability. Another charmer is the album opener "Cupid," a honky tonk imbued toe-taper that finds an infatuated Cook blaming the god of love for the euphoria of love. Love's entangling prowess is again the theme of "Here's to You." With its sing-a-long chorus framed by some ambrosial fiddling, this could be an instant scorcher in the hands of say Martina McBride or Lee Ann Womack. Less jovial is the gorgeously penned piano ballad "Before I Go That Far," which finds a frustrated protagonist making her kiss off by engaging in ménage-a-trios with her new found flame.

Also thumbs are up when it comes to the Bakersfield-infused "All We Need is Love." Though the lyrics are edged on being juvenile ("I think you're hot/You think I'm good looking/I like your muscles/You like my cooking), this Tim Carroll (Cook's hubby) tune has such an infectious melody that all is forgivable. However, Cook is not able to get away that successfully when it comes to the more bluesy tunes like "Ruthless" or "Heather Are You with Me Tonight." There's not enough grit and soul within her to tackle such numbers with conviction and credibility.

Nevertheless, if you are looking for songs that championed for neo-traditional country (a la Alan Jackson and George Strait) "This Side of the Moon" will not disappoint. Instead of drowning out the singer, the production is spot on: often subdued yet subtle enough to enhance the emotional nuances of each paean. Further, Cook's voice is a delight, in the midst of many divas who scream their heads off, Cook sings to soothe, excite and convince. And she does it with honors.

Average customer rating:

Great classic!
Tenors on Tour - Versatile and Beautiful

Tenors on Tour

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Soundtracks | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Tenors Anyone?: Great Tenors Sing Pop Favorites
Romantic Tenors
Tenors Valentine
The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994
The Three Tenors Christmas

ASIN: B0000029VG
Release Date: 1997-03-04

Tracks:

Blue Moon - Moon River
Besame Mucho
Climb Ev'ry Mountain
Love is a Many Splendored-Thing
Maria
Yesterday
Autunm Leaves
Over the Rainbow
Giants In the Sky
Sometimes A Day Goes By
Time After Time
Some Enchanted Evening
This Nearly Was Mine
Ave Maria
Wiegenlied (Lullaby)
The Long and Winding Road
Bridge Over Troubled Water
O Sole Mio
Torna a Surriento
Mamma
Lolita
Chitarra Romana
Nessun Dorma

Customer Reviews:

Great classic!.......2003-03-25

This is a great compilation with the best tenors ever!Try this CD!

Tenors on Tour - Versatile and Beautiful.......2001-06-20

Tenors on Tour is a CD which will live forever. The opening songs by Placido Domingo, His arrangement of Blue Moon and Moon River, set the tone for the CD. To hear Richard Tucker do "Climb every Mountain" was a wonderful trip down memory lane. Who will ever forget him? Placido continues with Broadway..Maria from West Side Story and a Beatles song "Yesterday". Mandy Patinkin's "Over the Rainbow" is classic and wonderful! But in my opinion Jose Carreras has the most "goose bumping" production on the entire CD. His Ave (Maria) is so beautifully done it may just bring tears to your eyes. The "King" Pavarotti is the "clean-up Hitter with selections from LaBoheme,and he does "O Sole Mio" as only He can do it. This CD is a treat for anyone who enjoys fine music. You will play it over and over again.

All My Heart: Deborah Voigt Sings American Songs

Average customer rating:

Mixed results
Like driving a Ferrari in a school zone.
Stellar Soprano Applies Her Considerable Talent to a Lightning-Quick, All-American Repertoire
May have a heart but what good is it if the artistic results are a void?
Great new context for Voigt

All My Heart: Deborah Voigt Sings American Songs

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Obsessions (Wagner & Strauss: Arias and Scenes)
Sacred Songs
Cecilia Bartoli ~ Opera Proibita (Handel · Scarlatti · Caldara) / Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski
Plácido Domingo & Deborah Voigt - Wagner Love Duets ~ Tristan und Isolde, Siegfried
My Name is Barbara

ASIN: B000AQACM0
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

The Side Show
Two Little Flowers
Down East
The Circus Band
Berceuse
At The River
The Children's Hour
Piccola Serenata
Greeting
So Pretty
In The Dark Pine-Wood
The Ivy-Wife
The Cloak, The Boat, And The Shoes
I Am In Need Of Music
To The Virgins To Make Much Of Time
This Heart That Flutters
Darkling, I Listen
Bright Cap And Streamers
The Half-Ring Moon
Pierrot
Cleopatra To The Asp
Evening Song
Ah, Love, But A Day
I Send My Heart Up To Thee
The Year's At The Spring

Amazon.com

This collection of American songs spanning 150 years shows Deborah Voigt, one of the world's leading sopranos, in a new light. She successfully achieves the transition from the larger-than-life operatic stage to the intimate world of song, especially in the more outgoing, dramatic pieces. Voigt enters into each composer's style with complete empathy. Charles Ives was an irrepressible maverick and a stylistic chameleon. Voigt captures the songs' hymn-like simplicity and irreverent rambunctiousness, though her voice is a bit too heavy for them. Leonard Bernstein's jazzy irony also needs more lightness, but the slow love songs are done beautifully. Voigt really comes into her own in Charles Griffes's lush impressionism, evoking the sultriness of Cleopatra and the rhythms of a Spanish dance, and Amy Beach's unabashed effusive romanticism. Composer Ben Moore is a child of our own time, born in 1960. He moves between many styles with natural ease. Set to great English and American poetry, some of his songs were written for Voigt, and she sings them to perfection. The splendid pianist Brian Zeger provides both leadership and support. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Mixed results.......2006-02-22

This is an interesting collection of American songs, but I don't feel that Ms Voigt sold these selections to me. She still sounds like an opera singer trying to squeeze a very powerful and large voice into smaller setting for these songs, with mixed success. She is much, much better than many of her fellow sopranos that tried such repertoire, but I feel that she only gets it right in Amy Beach and Griffes songs. And even there, she does not have a sound that would make every song recital fan happy.
And what's with the title of this album? I think she is a classy artist and deserves better than such silly title, her label probably came up with that.
Nice try overall, but I hope Ms Voigt will do more Strauss and Wagner from now on, not more songs like these.

Like driving a Ferrari in a school zone........2006-02-02

Like a lot of big operatic voices, Voigt is hard to capture on CD; her recordings of Wagner and Strauss excerpts are good, but they can't convey the experience of hearing her live in an opera house. And singing with only piano accompaniment, as here, she simply can't use most of the power in her voice. As sensitive as her performances are I can't help feeling that she's having to hold back. For American song sung with more delicacy and grace I would suggest Barbara Bonney or Dawn Upshaw (I can't agree with previous reviewers' suggestion of Cheryl Studer's Barber, though Hampson is wonderful on that set).

Stellar Soprano Applies Her Considerable Talent to a Lightning-Quick, All-American Repertoire.......2005-11-08

It's a shame that soprano Deborah Voigt hit her greatest notoriety last year for being fired by the Royal Opera House for being too fat for the title role of "Ariadne aux Naxos" by Richard Strauss. She subsequently lost eighty pounds but luckily none of her vocal prowess as can be heard to great effect on this intriguing collection of American songs, 25 in all and averaging a little over two minutes each. It would have seemed like a mismatch to apply her powerful voice - famous for her big Wagnerian roles - to sometimes delicate tunes. Voigt, however, confounds expectations with a surprisingly nuanced performance that showcases her interpretative skills on a diverse set of musical styles.

Similar to what countertenor David Daniels did with his 2003 disc with guitarist Craig Ogden, "A Quiet Thing", Voigt and pianist Brian Zeger have created a wide-ranging lyrical repertoire that encompasses significant vocal demands while remaining intimate in setting. In fact, both Daniels and Voigt cover Leonard Bernstein's anti-war lullaby, "So Pretty", with haunting aplomb. She also manages to dance effectively over the "Da-ga-da-ga-dums" of Bernstein's challenging "Piccola serenata". Voigt does wonders with the opening Charles Ives selections by not overplaying the innate sentiment of the tunes, in particular, soaring with the highly dramatic "The Children's Hour" by Longfellow and even covering the churchy warhorse, "At the River", with conviction.

There are eight highly individualistic songs by Ben Moore that stretch Voigt with bountiful results. The standouts of the Moore set are the English sea chantey-like "The Ivy-Wife" by Thomas Hardy, the lushly romantic "I Am in Need of Music" by Elizabeth Bishop; the sweeping "Darkling, I Listen" by John Keats; and the discordant waltz, "Bright Cap and Streamers", by James Joyce. For me, the highpoints of the recording are the last two sets by Charles Tomlinson Griffes and Amy Beach, both of whom tap impressively into Voigt's natural theatricality proven especially by her performances of Griffes's lush "Cleopatra to the Asp" and Bishop's rolling "I Send My Heart Up to Thee".

The one shortcoming of the recording overall is that the briefness of the songs does not really capitalize on Voigt's impressive dramatic capabilities in showcasing changes in characters she would have been allowed in her opera roles. For all the limitations it represents, this is a genuine recital album, and truly transcendent moments are fleeting at best especially given the variety of moods that need to be expressed in lightning-flash strokes. However, taken for the genre it represents, this is a stellar recording to appreciate a singer who is able to do more than Wagner and lose weight.

May have a heart but what good is it if the artistic results are a void?.......2005-10-31

The header says it all. Thumbs down all the way. Get instead the Samuel Barber double set with Cheryl Studer and Thomas Hampson if you wish to experience true heartrending Americana. As another reviewer put it, you get no gimmicks and no camp from these two distinguished artists.

Great new context for Voigt.......2005-09-30

It is great to hear Voigt in an American lieder recital. She is a top vocalist in her vocal prime. I think this is a lovely disc, and it really takes off especially with the songs of Ben Moore who has written many works just for Voigt. She tones down the volume of her sound and reins in the dramatic aspect of her soprano to give these songs a proper context and remains in service of them throughout the recital. Give this one a try! EMI - Release her Marshallin from Der Rosenkavalier, I think it would be wonderful. I know she just took on that role this summer.

Average customer rating:

Finney: Chamber Music - Songs

Manufacturer: Master Musicians Col
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000004AFX
Release Date: 1995-12-13

Average customer rating:

Simply Musicals

Manufacturer: Simply
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
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Simply Jazz
Greatest Songs from the Musicals

ASIN: B0002S303Y
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Tracks:

Comedy Tonight [From a Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Foru] - National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Circle of Life [From The Lion King] - National Symphony Orchestra, David Shannon, Martin Yates
Elaborate Lives [From Aida] - Vanessa A. Jones, Sean McDermott, National Symphony Orchestra Ensemble, Patrick Vaccariello
All That Jazz [From Chicago] - Jan Horvath, Julian Kelly, National Symphony Orchestra
If I Were a Rich Man [From Fiddler on the Roof] - John Owen Edwards, Jerry Lanning, National Symphony Orchestra
On the Street Where You Live [From My Fair Lady] - John Owen Edwards, Gary Mauer, National Symphony Orchestra
Luck Be a Lady [From Guys and Dolls] - Gregg Edelman, John Owen Edwards, National Symphony Orchestra
Younger Than Springtime [From South Pacific] - Graham Bickley, John Owen Edwards, National Symphony Orchestra
What I Did for Love [from a Chorus Line] - National Symphony Orchestra, Catherine Porter, Martin Yates
Anything You Can Do [From Annie Get Your Gun] - Mark Adam, John Owen Edwards, National Symphony Orchestra, Caroline O'Connor
Impossible Dream [From Man of La Mancha] - John Owen Edwards, , National Symphony Orchestra
Try to Remember [From the Fantasticks] - Graham Bickley, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Oklahoma! [From Oklahoma!] - John Owen Edwards, National Symphony Orchestra

Tracks:

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang [From Chitty Chitty Bang Bang] - Simon Bowman, , National Symphony Orchestra, Sally Ann Triplett, , Martin Yates
What Kind of Fool [From Saturday Night Fever] - Julian Kelly, National Symphony Orchestra Ensemble, Caroline O'Connor
Memory [From Cats] - John Owen Edwards, National Symphony Orchestra,
Anthem [From Chess] - Andrew Halliday, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Phantom of the Opera [From The Phantom of the Opera] - Graham Bickley, Claire Moore, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
What Kind of Fool Am I? [From Stop the World I Want to Get Off] - Holloway/Gold/Yates, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Dancing Queen [From Mamma Mia] - Julian Kelly, National Symphony Orchestra Ensemble, Caroline O'Connor
Sun and Moon [From Miss Saigon] - Graham Bickley, Katrina Murphy, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Anything Goes [From Anything Goes] - John Owen Edwards, Louise Gold, National Symphony Orchestra
As Long as He Needs Me [From Oliver!] - John Owen Edwards, National Symphony Orchestra, Sally Ann Triplett
People's Song [From Les Miserables] - National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Time Warp [From the Rocky Horror Show] - National Symphony Orchestra Ensemble, Martin Yates
We Are the Champions [From We Will Rock You] - Dean Collinson, , Jim Graeme, Paulette Ivory, Sally Ann Triplett, Martin Yates

Tracks:

Tonight (Quintet) [From West Side Story] - John Owen Edwards, Paul Manuel, National Symphony Orchestra, Caroline O'Connor, Tinuke Olafimihan
Good Mornin' [From Singin' in the Rain] - Craig Barna, Michael Gruber, National Symphony Orchestra, Randy Rogel,
Summer Nights [From Grease] - John Barrowman, Shona Lindsay, National Symphony Orchestra Ensemble, Martin Yates
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious [From Mary Poppins] - Jim Graeme, , National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Make Believe [From Show Boat] - John Owen Edwards, Teri Hansen, Doug LaBrecque, National Symphony Orchestra
You'll Never Walk Alone [From Carousel] - Muriel Dickinson, John Owen Edwards, National Symphony Orchestra
Woman in Love [From Guys and Dolls] - Gregg Edelman, John Owen Edwards, Emily Loesser, National Symphony Orchestra
Deadwood Stage [From Calamity Jane] - John Owen Edwards, Debbie Gravitte, National Symphony Orchestra
Maybe This Time [From Cabaret] - National Symphony Orchestra, Sally Ann Triplett, Martin Yates
New York New York [from New York New York] - Craig Barna, Sean McDermott, National Symphony Orchestra
If Ever I Would Leave You [From Camelot] - Gerry Anderson, Robert Meadmore
Nowadays [From Chicago] - Julian Kelly, National Symphony Orchestra, Caroline O'Connor
76 Trombones [From The Music Man] - National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates

Tracks:

Macavity [From Cats] - National Symphony Orchestra, Jacqui Scott, Martin Yates
With One Look [From Sunset Boulevard] - Kim Criswell, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Whistle Down the Wind [From Whistle Down the Wind] - Jim Graeme, National Symphony Orchestra Ensemble, Martin Yates
All I Ask of You [From The Phantom of the Opera] - Andrew Halliday, Katrina Murphy, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Only You [From Starlight Express] - John Owen Edwards, National Symphony Orchestra Ensemble, Grania Renihan
Another Suitcase in Another Hall [From Evita] - John Owen Edwards, National Symphony Orchestra, Grania Renihan
King Herod's Song [From Jesus Christ Superstar] - Christopher Biggins, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Music of the Night [From The Phantom of the Opera] - John Owen Edwards, Jim Graeme, National Symphony Orchestra
Buenos Aires [From Evita] - Julian Kelly, National Symphony Orchestra, Caroline O'Connor
As If We Never Said Goodbye [From Sunset Boulevard] - National Symphony Orchestra, Jacqui Scott, Martin Yates
Unexpected Song [From Song and Dance] - Clare Burt, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Close Every Door [From Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat] - John Barrowman, John Owen Edwards, National Symphony Orchestra
Our Kind of Love [From the Beautiful Game] - National Symphony Orchestra, Sally Ann Triplett, Martin Yates

Average customer rating:

Hungarian Musical Mother Tongue

Manufacturer: Hungaroton Classic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00009OOJ1
Release Date: 2003-07-29

Tracks:

Sa Szemem, Hull Az Kem (My Eyes Weep, I Shed Tears)
Haragusznak a Jzd(The Good Farmers Are Angry)
SzilvFaluj Vidri a Nevem (My Name Is Vidri from the ...)
Nagy Udvara Van a Holdnak (There Is a Circle Round the Moon)
Nal HosszulyFolksongon a Long Flute)
New Vttem Semmit HazFalujk (I Have Done No Harm to My Village)
Olyan Felesm Vagyon (My Wife Is of the Sort)
Rott a P MegyehFal (The Peacock Has Flown Onto the Wall
Leszott a P Verye Ka (The Peacock Has Settled on the ...)
Lovam HajLefela Sz(The Wind Blows Back My Horse's Mane)
es Jtenem, Indd Meg vizet (Good Lord, Let the Flood Free) - Gyula Gercuj
Egy Kicsi Mada... (A Small Bird)
Egy Kicsi Mada... (A Small Bird)
Rj, P, Rj (Fly, Peacock, Fly)
Dance Melody - Balint Sarosi
Kiszdt a T [The Lake Has Dried Up] - Lajos Murguly
Lehullott a Js V [Jesus' Blood Has Been Shed]
Jaj, Lelkem, Lelkem Jrsam... (Woe, My Dear, My Dearest Good ...)
Amhara Epikus ek (Amharic Epic Song) - Balint Sarosi
Siralmas Volt Nm Szm (It Is Lamentable That I Was Born ...)
T Lja (Chicken and Goose Liver)
LCsikL. (Mount the Horse, Horse-Herder)
Beli Buba, A Bbe (Sleep Baby in the Craddle)
Csordaptorok... (Herdsam...) - Balint Sarosi
Ne Hagyj Elesnem (Don Not Let Me Fall)
Ne Aludj el, KSzemenek Vil (Do Not Drop Asleep, My Eyes)
FelnyAz Mellett KSzMajora (Two Pieces of Marjoram Have
VAz Erdei Utat (The Forest Road Is Being Cleared) - Ferenc Ballai
Rongyot, Asszonyok! (Rags, Women!) - Balint Sarosi
Magyar Asszonyok, Magyar Any (Hungarian Women, Hungarian Mothers!)
Hejde, Betett Nm a Gyulai Vr (The Market of Gyula Has Done ...)
Az vIstene Azt el Nem Neti (The God of the Orphans Cannot ...)
Felja Fes Hold Az K (The Bright Moon Has Risen ...)
Ennek a Gazdk SzKocsija Van (This Farmer Has a Nice Cart) - Balint Sarosi
Ha a Dunna Sz Tudna (If the Eiderdown Could Speak)
DudanDud(Bagpipe Melody Performed on Bagpipe)
Magyar Verbunk
FordulTurning Dance) - Balint Sarosi

Average customer rating:

Songs by Armstrong Gibbs

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000088E0Q
Release Date: 2003-04-08

Average customer rating:

The Bright Side Of Your Moon
Elvis Stewart and the Led Wagons
Manufacturer: Yellow Snow Records & Publishing
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00001O391
Release Date: 1998-03-04

Tracks:

Montana
Parking Lot Eyeballs
Goin' Down To Hazard
Rollin' Down Your Lonesome Highway
Oh Diane
Don't Leave The Porch Light On
Fire's In The Rain
I Was Rock 'N' Roll When Country Wasn't Cool
You Look Like Elvis With Your Pants Pulled Down

Album Description

The CD is primarily Country/Rock with a hard, satirical edge. There are a few twists and turns added to give it the "Elvis Stewart" touch. The Bright Side Of Your Moon contains plenty of subtle humor, a bit of double entendre, quality musicianship, and a liberal amount of genuine emotion.

Some unusual recording techniques were utilized in the making of the CD. Geno recorded all of his vocal tracks lying on his back. We're not sure why he did this, but we're sure he'll continue to do the live shows standing up. On the song "I Was Rock 'N' Roll When Country Wasn't Cool", all guitar tracks were played through a battery operated amp with a 3" speaker. He used a $5 toy microphone for the vocals in this song. Somehow, it all comes together. You just have to hear it for yourself.

This is a concept album, written entirely by Geno Stewart. It tells the story of a musician's life from the inside, when the crowd has gone, the equipment's loaded, and he has the road and himself to deal with.

Music Album:

Music Album