See If I Care

Amazon.com
While Nashville hitmakers Toby Keith and Kenny Chesney rose from clunky B-level stars to bankable stadium fillers, Gary Allan quietly tapped his foot waiting for the rest of the world to get hip to his cool. On his fifth album, the California surfer/singer--finally nominated for the CMA Horizon award in 2003--gets back to the smoldering alt-country-goes-mainstream groove that made 1999’s Smoke Rings in the Dark so brilliant, but which he’d abandoned on 2002’s Alright Guy. In a taut tenor, roughed up by cigarettes, liquor, and 3 A.M. ruminations, Allan sings about the inevitable surrender to romantic pain. On "Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey," he swaggers with roadhouse libido, bragging of "tellin’ white lies" as a blistering electric guitar break mocks it all. But by the next song ("Can’t Do It Today"), in which he angrily vows forgiveness won’t come soon for a cheating mate, the lyrics belie his torment: "I can see you dancing in that stranger’s arms/My world hasn’t stopped turning, but it’s fallen apart." Elsewhere, he sings of the joys and fears of fatherhood ("Tough Little Boys") and hauls in Jim Lauderdale for harmonies on the Buck Owens-meets-the-Texas Tornadoes romp of "Guys Like Me." But as the last cut shows, when the lights go down he’s the itinerant musician of Jesse Winchester’s stark "A Showman’s Life" desperate to stave off loneliness. It’s in the album’s blue notes that Allan shows himself to be country’s most important New Voice, superstardom be damned. --Alanna Nash

See If I Care,Gary Allan,Mca,Contemporary Country,Country,Neo-Traditionalist Country,Pop

Average customer rating: GREAT CD ONE OF HIS BEST Loving Gary Allan! ::smile:: Great Vocals Gary Allan - A True Showman! Best Gary Allan CD everyone should have t his cd

See If I Care Gary Allan Manufacturer: Mca 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 Country | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Tough All Over Smoke Rings in the Dark Alright Guy It Would Be You Used Heart for Sale ASIN: B0000CD5HG Release Date: 2003-09-30

Tracks:

1. Drinkin' Dark Whiskey
2. Can't Do It Today
3. Tough Little Boys
4. See If I Care
5. Songs About Rain
6. I Can Love You
7. Don't Look Away
8. Guys Like Me
9. Nothing On But The Radio
10. You Don't Know A Thing About Me
11. A Showman's Life

Amazon.com

While Nashville hitmakers Toby Keith and Kenny Chesney rose from clunky B-level stars to bankable stadium fillers, Gary Allan quietly tapped his foot waiting for the rest of the world to get hip to his cool. On his fifth album, the California surfer/singer--finally nominated for the CMA Horizon award in 2003--gets back to the smoldering alt-country-goes-mainstream groove that made 1999's Smoke Rings in the Dark so brilliant, but which he'd abandoned on 2002's Alright Guy. In a taut tenor, roughed up by cigarettes, liquor, and 3 A.M. ruminations, Allan sings about the inevitable surrender to romantic pain. On "Drinkin' Dark Whiskey," he swaggers with roadhouse libido, bragging of "tellin' white lies" as a blistering electric guitar break mocks it all. But by the next song ("Can't Do It Today"), in which he angrily vows forgiveness won't come soon for a cheating mate, the lyrics belie his torment: "I can see you dancing in that stranger's arms/My world hasn't stopped turning, but it's fallen apart." Elsewhere, he sings of the joys and fears of fatherhood ("Tough Little Boys") and hauls in Jim Lauderdale for harmonies on the Buck Owens-meets-the-Texas Tornadoes romp of "Guys Like Me." But as the last cut shows, when the lights go down he's the itinerant musician of Jesse Winchester's stark "A Showman's Life" desperate to stave off loneliness. It's in the album's blue notes that Allan shows himself to be country's most important New Voice, superstardom be damned. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews:

GREAT CD ONE OF HIS BEST.......2007-06-04

THIS CD IS ONE OF GARY ALLANS BETTER CDS. IM NOT A HUGE GARY ALLAN FAN BUT I LIKE THIS CD.

Loving Gary Allan! ::smile:: Great Vocals.......2007-01-10

Hits home with the music, vocals, the very tone and angst. I love all that this handsome man does in his music.

Gary Allan - A True Showman!.......2007-01-06

Opening strong with pure honky-tonk and then ending on a soft note with the ballad `A Showman's Life', Gary Allan has delivered his strongest album to date with `See if I Care'. With a few great singles dealing with everything from broken relationships, which is tackled nicely in `Songs About Rain', to dealing with watching your little girl grow up on `Tough Little Boys' which is sure to bring even the toughest man to his knees. Songs like `I Can Love You' and the radio favorite `Nothing On But The Radio' show that this guy isn't all about failed relationships, he knows how to make the right ones work, and songs like the opener `Drinkin' Dark Whiskey' and `Can't Do It Today' show that country is in this mans soul. Any fan of Gary's previous efforts will gulp this one up with no regrets for every track is designed to please right to the core!

Best Gary Allan CD.......2006-12-04

I now own 4 of Gary Allan's cd's. This is THE BEST. The very first song (Drinkin' Dark Whiskey)sets the tone and the rest of the songs do not disappoint. "Nothing on But the Radio" is a great song. I've rated 7 of the 11 songs on this cd 5 stars and three 4 stars.

This is one of few cd's made that you DON'T need to hit the skip button on. I highly recommend this cd for anyone's collection.

everyone should have t his cd.......2006-07-10

this is my favorite gary allan cd, and the price i got it at from amazon.com was great ... and im a huge fan of his , so anything i want as far as music goes i buy from amazon.com

Average customer rating: Very pleased Sumptuous and mellow One of the Best Collections of English Madrigals A Delightful Collection of English Madrigal A wide variety

All At Once Well Met: English Madrigals; The King's Singers John Dowland , Thomas Morley , Thomas Weelkes , John Wilbye , William Byrd , John Farmer , and The King's Singers Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Byrd, William | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Dowland | Dowland, John | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music King's Singers | ( K ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Madrigals | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Partsongs | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music A Cappella | Folk | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Byrd, William | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Dowland, John | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music King's Singers | ( K ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: English and Italian Renaissance Madrigals The King"s Singers: English Renaissance Olde English Madrigals & Folk Songs at Ely Cathedral Madrigal History Tour Annie Laurie ~ Folksongs of the British Isles / Barrueco · The King's Singers ASIN: B000002RPZ Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. English Madrigals: A Little Pretty Bonny Lass
2. English Madrigals: Weep No More, Thou Sorry Boy
3. English Madrigals: Shoot False Love
4. English Madrigals: Now Is The Month Of Maying
5. English Madrigals: Four Arms, Two Necks, One Wreathing
6. English Madrigals: Hark, All Ye Lovely Saints Above
7. English Madrigals: Since Robin Hood
8. English Madrigals: Though Philomela Lost Her Love
9. English Madrigals: O Wretched Man
10. English Madrigals: Weep, O Mine Eyes
11. English Madrigals: The Nightingale, The Organ Of Delight
12. English Madrigals: Come, Sirrah Jack, Ho!
13. English Madrigals: Cruel, Behold My Heavy Ending
14. English Madrigals: Fair Phyllis I Saw Sitting All Alone
15. English Madrigals: Sing We And Chant It
16. English Madrigals: On A Fair Morning
17. English Madrigals: Oft Have I Vowed
18. English Madrigals: Is Love A Boy?
19. English Madrigals: Say, Love, If Ever Thou Didst Find
20. English Madrigals: All At Once Well Met
21. English Madrigals: Construe My Meaning
22. English Madrigals: Lord! When I Think
23. English Madrigals: Cruel, Wilt Thou Persever
24. English Madrigals: Fine Knacks For Ladies
25. English Madrigals: Strike It Up, Tabor
26. English Madrigals: I Love, Alas I Love Thee
27. English Madrigals: Farwell, Dear Love
28. English Madrigals: See, See The Shepherd's Queen
29. English Madrigals: Have I Found Her
30. English Madrigals: Lady Your Words Do Spite Me
31. English Madrigals: Were I A King
32. English Madrigals: Come Again
33. English Madrigals: Tan Ta Ra, Cries Mars
34. English Madrigals: Why Should I Love?
35. English Madrigals: This Sweet And Merry Month Of May

Customer Reviews:

Very pleased.......2007-06-10

I wasn't sure what to expect when I bought this CD. True, I could have listened on line before buying but that would have taken the fun out of the purchase. Besides, I really didn't care for the CD the first couple of times I listened but now I really love it. It's not something to listen to all the time but given the right circumstances e.g. a small gathering of friends, it's perfect. If I'd listened to online, I wouldn't have purchased it.

Sumptuous and mellow.......2002-11-28

The six men of the King's Singers present sweet and light-hearted madrigals of such English composers as Morley, Weelkes, Dowland, Wilbye and Byrd. The thirty five selections include "Now is the Month of Maying", "Though Philomela Lost Her Love", "Sing We and Chant It," the celebration of tobacco entitled "Come, Sirrah Jack, Ho!" and a host of other fa-la-la-la-la venues interspersed with wistful laments. I love the rich, sonorous sound of a male vocal ensemble, with countertenors, tenor, baritones and bass, and these six singers do a great job. Occasional instrumental accompaniments by lute and tabor are included, but this group doesn't really need it--I could listen to them for hours all by themselves. Also quite enjoyable, as well as educational, is their earlier release, "The King's Singers' Madrigal History Tour: Italy, England, France, Spain and Germany". For a more risque' take on the vocal music of Renaissance England, you might get a kick out of "The Art of the Bawdy Song" by the Baltimore Consort with the Merry Companions.

One of the Best Collections of English Madrigals.......2002-03-27

Any fan of the King's Singers will regret not having this album in their collection.

This album offers a veritable feast of the choicest English madrigals found on any comparable album. From the obligatory "Now is the Month of Maying" and "Fair Phyllis" to the more obscure "Tan ta ra, cries Mars," there is certainly enough on this album to bring a smile to lovers of Renaissance music - and a spark of recognition to anyone who sang traditional madrigals in high school or university. For serious students of early music, this album comes very highly recommended.

Among the more sonorous offerings on this album, Jones' "Farewell, Dear Love" and Dowland's "Come Again," cannot be ignored. Nor can Bennet's immortal "Weep O mine eyes" be matched more musically than here by the King's Singers.

This album has been played again and again for almost 6 years as both serious listening and background working music. And it has yet to lose its delight.

A Delightful Collection of English Madrigal.......2000-08-16

With 35 tracts to enjoy you're sure to find a couple of favorites. I gave this CD 4 of 5 stars compared to 5 stars for the King's Singers World Madrigal Tour CD. If you prefer all your songs in English, this will be your 5 star CD. Tract 32 "Come again" is my favorite due to the surperb tenor lead and melodic development. Compared to many polyphonic early music styles (1300s-1485), this era (1500-1610) provides many memorable melodies.

A wide variety.......2000-04-28

This is an excellent sampling of English madrigals. This presentation, given by an older roster of the Singers, is a nice introduction to the world of the madrigal, and English madrigals in particular.

Average customer rating: a voice teacher and early music fan Serious Drawback Pleasant recital of Dowland contemporary

Campion: Elizabethan Songs Manufacturer: Hmf Classical Exp. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Vocal & Song | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Handel Opera Arias, Vol. 1 ~ Drew Minter, PBO, McGegan ASIN: B000059WLG Release Date: 2001-03-13

Tracks:

1. Beauty, Since You So Much Desire
2. Love Me Or Not
3. Your Fair Looks
4. Never Love Unless You Can
5. O Never To Be Moved
6. The Cypress Curtain Of The Night
7. Awake Thou Spring Of Speaking Grace
8. Come, You Pretty False-Eyed Wanton
9. So Tired Are All My Thoughts
10. Fire, Fire
11. Pined I Am, And Like To Die
12. Author Of Light
13. See Where She Flies
14. Fair, If You Expect Admiring
15. Shall I Come, Sweet Love, To Thee?
16. It Fell On A Summer's Day
17. Kind Are Her Answers
18. Beauty Is But A Painted Hell
19. Sweet Exclude Me Not
20. Are You What Your Fair Looks Express?
21. I Care Not For These Ladies
22. Never Weather-Beaten Sail

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-12-24

Thomas Campion (1567-1620) was a poet as well as a musician, and his songs definately reflect this ability, for they could just as well be read as sung. Philip Rosseter ( his friend) states that his 118 songs were "superfluous blossomes of his deeper Studies," no doubt referring to his Latin poetry , or perhaps medicine, which was his profession. What Campion did better than Dowland, or any other English composer of the day, was to "couple my words and notes lovingly together, which will be much for him to doe that hath not power over both." It is best to listen to them in order of priority to poem, melody and lastly singer. His melodies are simplistic and unadorned by shocking harmony designed to overpower the weight of the word itself. T.S. Eliot was in no doubt about Campion's quality:"except for Shakespeare, the most accomplished master of rhymed lyric of his time."
The performance of these songs by Drew Minter (countertenor) accompanied by Paul O'Dette (lute) is really quite outstanding. I must say that this disc is so much better than Minter's other disc of lute songs "Sweeter Than Roses". His voice had a much clearer tone quality and he did not get 'nasal' or 'edgy' as he is prone to do. He kept his voice light and distinct with very neat diction. When he goes for a loud full sound like Michael Chance or David Daniels his voice is not pleasant to hear. But this album is very good and his emotional investment into each song was excellent. Just a very good LISTEN!!!!

Serious Drawback.......2006-04-08

Elizabethan Songs. Twenty-two songs by Thomas Campion (1567 – 1620), performed by Drew Minter (countertenor) and Paul O’Dette (lute).
Recorded in November 1989 at Bethel United Church of Christ, Manchester, Michigan.
Harmonia Mundi. Originally issued as HMU 907023, now re-issued as part of the budget-price Classical Express series as HMCX 3957023. Total time: 58’23”.

Thomas Campion was a contemporary of both Shakespeare and Dowland and was a medical doctor who wrote poetry which he also set to music. Drew Minter performs twenty-two of these here with his inimitable coppery countertenor, a voice which is, in fact, very beautiful, but needs considerable getting used to if you are new to it. (Minter sings at alto pitch, but nobody would mistake him for a female!) He is accompanied by master lutenist Paul O’Dette, whose contribution remains fairly quietly in the background. The songs themselves are, of course, in Elizabethan English, making them rather difficult to understand. And this is where this CD suffers a serious drawback: the texts are not printed in the thin CD booklet; instead, there is a note saying that they can be downloaded from the internet, but when I tried to visit the site mentioned (on more than one occasion recently), the server was down, the address unknown. I nevertheless enjoyed listening, but without really knowing what Minter was singing so delightfully about. Campion’s melodies sound to my ear a little “samish”, and I occasionally found myself wishing that the program had been interrupted by a lute solo or two.

Pleasant recital of Dowland contemporary.......2001-03-28

There is little overlap between this Campion CD and the similar recital featuring another American countertenor, Steven Rickards, on Naxos. However if forced to choose between the two note that the Naxos release includes sung texts, while this one from Classical Express does not. On the other hand O'Dette is a more characterful lute player.

Average customer rating:

U BEST PRO KARAOKE SERIES {CD VIDEO} DUST IN THE WIND / LOVE ME TENDER / TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS / TODAY/ IF / YOU NEEDED ME / THE WAY WE WERE/ UNCHAINED MELODY / STAND BY YOUR MAN / , GREENFIELDS / DONT IT MAKE MY BROWN EYES BLUE / FEELINGS/ / ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM/ THE EXODUS SONG ///// RESPECT / (SITTIN ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY / I CANT , MONDAY / FUN, FUN, FUN / WHEN IM 64 / MR. TAMBOURINE MAN / SHE STILL THINKS I CARE / ( NOW & THEN) THERES A FOOL HELP MYSELF (SUGAR PIEHONEYBUNCH / MONDAY , PLEASE ME / YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE / BLACK OR WHITE/ LOST WITHOUT YOUR LOVE / 99 LUFTBALLOONS / SORRY SEEMS SUCH AS I / COME SEE ABOUT ME / PLEASE , TO BE THE HARDEST WORD / FOREVER YOUR GIRL / DONT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME / WHEN YOURE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN / HEART OF GOLD / A RAINY NIGHT , and IN GEORGIA / YOU SHOULD HEAR HOW SHE TALKS ABOUT YOU / NIKITA / WERE ALL ALONE / LAST CHRISTMAS ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Karaoke | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music ASIN: B000PSRJKG

Product Description

U BEST PRO KARAOKE SERIES ASIN: B000PSRJKG Artist: DUST IN THE WIND / LOVE ME TENDER / TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS / TODAY/ IF / YOU NEEDED ME / THE WAY WE WERE/ UNCHAINED MELODY / STAND BY YOUR MAN /, GREENFIELDS / DONT IT MAKE MY BROWN EYES BLUE / FEELINGS/ / ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM/ THE EXODUS SONG ///// RESPECT / (SITTIN ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY / I CANT, HELP MYSELF (SUGAR PIEHONEYBUNCH / MONDAY, MONDAY / FUN, FUN, FUN / WHEN IM 64 / MR. TAMBOURINE MAN / SHE STILL THINKS I CARE / (NOW & THEN) THERES A FOOL, SUCH AS I / COME SEE ABOUT ME / PLEASE, PLEASE ME / YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE / BLACK OR WHITE/ LOST WITHOUT YOUR LOVE / 99 LUFTBALLOONS / SORRY SEEMS, TO BE THE HARDEST WORD / FOREVER YOUR GIRL / DONT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME / WHEN YOURE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN / HEART OF GOLD / A RAINY NIGHT, IN GEORGIA / YOU SHOULD HEAR HOW SHE TALKS ABOUT YOU / NIKITA / WERE ALL ALONE / LAST CHRISTMAS Format: Audio CD

Average customer rating: English is an asset and a drawback You Will Love Opera After Hearing Carmen In English A wholly credible "Carmen" -- finally! I love Carmen!

Carmen (Sung in English) Bizet , Bardon , Gavin , Plazas , Magee , and Parry Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Mozart: The Magic Flute The Barber of Seville / B. Ford, D. Jones, A. Opie; G. Bellini [in English] Verdi: La Traviata Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro Mozart - Don Giovanni / Garry Magee · Cullagh · Banks · Plazas · Shore · Tierny · PO · David Parry ASIN: B00007JGRN Release Date: 2003-03-11

Tracks:

1. Prelude
2. In The Plaza
3. Just Look At That Delicious Morsel
4. Here Come Our New Soldier Boys
5. Jose! There Was A Girl Here Looking For You Just Now
6. Off With You Old Soldier Boys
7. Corporal! Sir!
8. We Have Heard The Bell Summon Us To Meet Here
9. Ah, Just Look!
10. But Why Hasn't She Come, Our Carmencita?
11. Love's A Bird Wild As Any Rebel
12. Carmen! We Will Follow You High And Low!
13. The Cheek Of It!
14. Give Me News Of My Mother!
15. Your Dear Mother And I Were Leaving Church This Morning
16. I See My Mother's Face!
17. Wait A Moment - I'm Going To Read The Letter
18. Come And Help
19. So, Corporal: Tell Me What Happened
20. Well, Carmencita: What Do You Have To Say For Yourself?
21. Where Are You Taking Me?
22. There's An Old Bar In The City
23. Careful - It's Lieutenant!
24. Entr'acte
25. From Far Away Mysterious Sounds
26. Bravo, Bravo! More! Keep Dancing!
27. Hurrah! Hurrah! The Torero!
28. Who's That? It's Escamillo, The Bullfighter From Granada
29. Hurrah! Hurrah! The Torero!
30. You're Most Kind
31. We'll Come With You, Senor Torero
32. Toreador, Be Ready!
33. At Last! We Got Rid Of Them As Quickly As We Could
34. There's A Little Job That We're Starting!
35. Being In Love Is Not A Reason

Tracks:

1. To Bid You Welcome To Our Bar
2. La La La La La La La La...
3. Back To Camp!... Go At Once!
4. That Flow'r You Threw To Me I Treasured
5. No, It's Not Love At All!
6. Hello! Carmen!
7. Lieutenant Fair, It's True
8. The Sky Above The Open Road
9. Entr'acte
10. Keep Going, Dear Old Friend, Kep Going!
11. Right! Let's Stop For A While
12. Shuffle! Cut Them!
13. In Vain You Would Avoid The Bitter Things They're Saying
14. You're Back!
15. As For That Man, It Should Be Easy!
16. Is This The Place?
17. I Say That There's Nothing To Fear
18. It's Him! I'm Sure It's Him Over There!
19. Escamillo Is My Name, And I Come From Granada
20. She Had A Lover Here
21. Hola! Hola! Jose!
22. You Should Take Care, Carmen
23. Alas! Jose, Your Mother Is Ill
24. Entr'acte
25. A Few Cuartos! A Few Cuartos!
26. Here They Come! Here They Come!
27. If You Love Me, Carmen
28. It's You! It's Me!
29. Viva! Viva! What A Corrida!

Customer Reviews:

English is an asset and a drawback.......2004-07-20

The best thing about this recording of Carmen is the libretto. Conductor David Parry penned this facile and dramatic English translation. He avoids the pitfalls of literal translation to achieve an idiomatic flow that matches the rhythm of the original lyrics. I use this as a reference libretto for any of the French Carmens.

Unfortunately, the performance suffers from being sung in English. The singers declaim their parts with such proper British diction that Carmen comes across as a school marm. The spoken dialog is delivered beat for deliberate beat and is dripping with reverb. It makes the plaza, tavern and mountain pass all sound like a sewer pipe.

This is a good first Carmen for someone trying to understand the work. The libretto itself is a good investment for further listening. For an enjoyable performance with an emphasis on character and action, I recommend Regina Resnik on the London Double Decker set.

You Will Love Opera After Hearing Carmen In English.......2004-02-09

What a perfect introduction to opera. This newly released recording will surely get you hooked into opera. Carmen, a French opera by Georges Bizet, is the most recognizable and most popular in the opera world. It's famous melodies- the overture, the Habanera, The Toreador Song have all been featured in everything from cellular phone ring tones to Superbowl Commercial (last year's Superbowl with The "Opera In English" label has been making Italian operas into English for a number of years now. Also on the market are Verdi's La Traviata in English (with soprano Valerie Masterson as Violetta) Handel's Julius Caesar with Janet Baker and even Wagner's epic Ring Of The Nibeling sung in English. This is a terrific recording and I highly recommend it if you want to get into opera. Listen to this version first and then try the real, original French version Bizet had written. Patricia Bardon is sensational, sexy and dramatic as Carmen.

The real strength of this version is the dynamic drama. With the advantage of being sung in English, we get better insight on characters' emotions and motives, and we understand the drama a lot better. Carmen is all about great drama. Bizet drew the plot from the French writer Prosper Merimee's dark short story. Carmen is the ultimate femme fatale- a devil-may-care, sexy Gypsy living in Spain, seduces the conservatively raised soldier Don Jose, stealing him away from his fiancee, the passive Micaela, living a life of underground smuggling and rowdy taverns. "Habanera" and "The Gypsy Song and Dance" are very expressive of Carmen's extraordinarily liberal lifestyle. Don Jose, however, has fallen deeply in love- as he shows us in his song/aria "The Flower Song". But Carmen soon becomes tired of his constancy. Don Jose wants a committed, monogamous relationship with Carmen. But Carmen will not submit to love, since she is first and foremost a carnal creature. Eventually, she falls for the handsome Toreador Escamillo. Don Jose, consumed by jealousy, stabs Carmen at a bullfight after Carmen declares her love for Escamillo and rejects Don Jose's love. Don Jose's crazed, obscessive personality shines through in the English version as well. This tragedy has been done in English before so don't think this is the first time. Back in the 50's, there was a film, starring black actors "Carmen Jones" which was treated the same way as this opera- more like an English Broadway musical and with the dubbed singing voice of Marilyn Horne as Carmen. All in all, this recording is excellent.

A wholly credible "Carmen" -- finally!.......2003-09-17

This recording really sells "Carmen" as a drama. Although I have two other recordings of this opera and have seen it performed several times, it never quite worked for me dramatically. But thanks to the fine performances, conducting, and translation here, I've become a "Carmen" convert. Producing a good English-language performance of a foreign opera, especially a warhorse like "Carmen," is much more difficult than it might appear. You need performers who not only can sing the parts (of course) but also can sing *English* and make it halfway intelligible and make it sound like English and make it dramatically convincing to English-speakers. The singers on this recording do an excellent job all around. Don't be put off if you don't recognize their names -- they are up to the task musically and (especially) in their acting. Admittedly, as with *all* English-language recordings, some passages are very hard to understand without reading along, but most of the time the words are clear and effective. I would recommend this recording to any opera beginner or opera lover, even those who normally turn up their noses at performances in translation.

I love Carmen!.......2003-08-15

I do. I can think of no other opera with more melodic inventiveness, and few others with so sure a dramatic pulse. Carmen is popular and it thrills me to say that it is also a very good opera - not always true of popular things.

And what of this recording? Carmen sits well in English, so it is good to hear in translation, although some of the detais in the text jar. Escamillo refers to Jose as "my dear", which sounds rather peculiar, and the guide's line to Micaela: "it's not exactly inviting, is it?" sounds distinctly Middle England rather than Rural Spain. Some of the performers, not least Carmen herself, make the words work, although there are long tracts, especially with the chorus, where the language is distinctly indistinct.

The soloists are, by and large, strong. Patricia Bardon's deep, Handel-friendly voice adapts well to Carmen and she colours the music with phenomenal detail, sounding sexy and provocative from the start with an edge of pride and anger that emerges as the show goes on. She is out of her depth above the stave, though, and some extra top notes in the second act don't show her off to her best advantage. I have previously said that Julian Gavin is poorly served by recordings, though here he sounds much more even and gives a thrilling and musical performance (but his wooden spoken lines let him down). Mary Plazas is a lovely Micaela, rich-voiced and sincere (and word-perfect), but Garry Magee sounds miscast as Escamillo, lacking the ballast at the bottom of the voice to do justice to this tricky role.

The supporting cast is good (Mary Hegarty seems to do nothing but Frasquita these days!) but the really treasurable thing is the conducting. Stepping out of Italian Ottocento, David Parry turns his hand to this French Comedie with an appropriate lightness of touch. His pacing and handling of the set pieces is exemplary and the enrtractes go with a real swing.

A pleasure, then, for the Carmen naive or a novelty for the Carmen-acquainted. I nearly wrote Carmen-weary - but I don't think it's possible.

Average customer rating:

See If I Care Gary Allan Manufacturer: Mca Nashville 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 Similar Items: Honkytonkville Strange Beautiful Music (Multichannel/Stereo) Gratitude ASIN: B0001ZMX54 Release Date: 2004-04-27

Tracks:

1. Drinkin' Dark Whiskey
2. Can't Do It Today
3. Tough Little Boys
4. See If I Care
5. Songs About Rain
6. I Can Love You
7. Don't Look Away
8. Guys Like Me
9. Nothing on But the Radio
10. You Don't Know a Thing About Me
11. Showman's Life - Gary Allan, Willie Nelson

Average customer rating:

Dido and Aeneas / de Los Angeles, Glossop, Harper, ECO, Barbirolli Henry Purcell , Sir John Barbirolli , John McCarthy , Victoria de Los Angeles , Peter Glossop , English Chamber Orchestra , Heather Harper , Patricia Johnson , Raymond Leppard , Ambrosian Singers , Sibyl Michelow , and Elizabeth Robson Manufacturer: EMI Records [All429] ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00002585D Release Date: 2000-10-24

Tracks:

1. Ov - ECO/Sir John Barbirolli
2. Act One, Scene One: Shake The Cloud From Off Your Brow - Heather Harper
3. Act One, Scene One: Banish Sorrow, Banish Care - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
4. Act One, Scene One: Ah! Belinda, I Am Prest With Torment - Victoria De Los Angeles
5. Act One, Scene One: Grief Increases By Concealing - Heather Harper/Victoria De Los Angeles
6. Act One, Scene One: When Monarchs Unite - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
7. Act One, Scene One: Whence Could So Much Virute Spring? - Victoria De Los Angeles
8. Act One, Scene One: Fear No Danger To Ensure - Heather Harper/Elizabeth Robson/Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
9. Act One, Scene One: See, Your Royal Guest Appears - Heather Harper/Peter Glossop/Victoria De Los Angeles
10. Act One, Scene One: Cupid Only Throws The Dart - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
11. Act One, Scene One: If Not For Mine, For Empire's Sake - Peter Glossop
12. Act One, Scene One: Pursue Thy Conquest, Love - Heather Harper
13. Act One, Scene One: To The Hills And The Vales - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
14. Act One, Scene One: The Triumphing Dance - ECO/Sir John Barbirolli
15. Act One, Scene Two: Wayward Sisters - Patricia Johnson/Clare Walmesley
16. Act One, Scene Two: Harms's Our Delight And Mischief All Our Skill - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
17. Act One, Scene Two: The Queen Of Carthage, Whom We Hate - Patricia Johnson/Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
18. Act One, Scene Two: Ruin'd Ere The Set Of Sun? - Clare Walmesley/Sybil Michelow/Patricia Johnson/Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
19. Act One, Scene Two: But, Ere We This Perform - Clare Walmesley/Sybil Michelow
20. Act One, Scene Two: In Our Deep Vaulted Cell - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
21. Act One, Scene Two: Echo Dance Of Furies - ECO/Sir John Barbirolli
22. Act Two: Ritornelle - ECO/Sir John Barbirolli
23. Act Two: Thanks To These Lonesome Vales - Heather Harper/Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
24. Act Two: Oft She Visits This Lov'd Mountain - Elizabeth Robson
25. Act Two: Behold, Upon My Bending Spear - Peter Glossop/Victoria De Los Angeles
26. Act Two: Haste, Haste To Town - Heather Harper/Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
27. Act Two: Stay, Prince! And Hear Great Jove's Command - Sybil Michelow/Peter Glossop
28. Act Three: Come Away, Fellow Sailors - Robert Tear/Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
29. Act Three: Sailors' Dance - ECO/Sir John Barbirolli
30. Act Three: See The Flags And Streamers Curling - Patricia Johnson/Clare Walmesley/Sybil Michelow
31. Act Three: Our Next Motion Must Be To Storm Her Lover - Patricia Johnson
32. Act Three: Destruction's Our Delight - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
33. Act Three: Witches' Dance - ECO/Sir John Barbirolli
34. Act Three: Your Counsel All Is Urg'd In Vain - Victoria De Los Angeles/Heather Harper/Peter Glossop
35. Act Three: Great Minds Against Themselves Conspire - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
36. Act Three: Thy Hand, Belinda - Victoria De Los Angeles
37. Act Three: When I Am Laid In Earth - Victoria De Los Angeles
38. Act Three: With Drooping Wings - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy

Average customer rating: Simply Marvelous!

An Evening with Alan Jay Lerner Alan Jay Lerner , Placido Domingo , and Elaine Paige Manufacturer: Relativity ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music All Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Film Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | 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 Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Tin Pan Alley | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000026YOS Release Date: 2001-04-17

Tracks:

1. The Street Where You Live - Peter Land/Michael Sadler/Peter Fleetwood/Placido Domingo
2. Hrather On The Hill - Sally Ann Howes
3. Almost Like Being In Love - Marti Webb
4. How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Loved You When You Know I've Been A Liar All My Life? - The Flavin And Bonnie Langford
5. Come Back To Me - Burton Lane
6. On A Clear Day You Can See Forever - Elaine Paige
7. How To Handle A Woman - Martin Smith
8. Follow Me - Claire moore
9. If Ever I Wouls Leave You - Robert Meadmore
10. Camelot - Christopher Cazenove & Full Company
11. Garbage Isn't What It Used To Be - Gerard Kenny
12. Gigi - Daniel Massey
13. I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore - Jean-Pierre Aumont
14. Why Him? - Liz Robertson
15. One MOre Walk Around The Garden - Martin Smith/David Kernan/Robert Meadmore
16. Take Care Of This House - Pareicia Routledge
17. Wanderin' Star - Tim Rice And Cantabile
18. Another Life - Liz Robertson
19. Ascot Gavotte - The My Fair Lady Company
20. I Could Have Danced All Night - Anne Rogers
21. The Rain In Spain - Placido Domingo/Liz Robertson & Richard Caldicot
22. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face - Douglas Fairbanks
23. Dance A Little Closer - Full Company

Customer Reviews:

Simply Marvelous!.......2001-05-21

One of the best CDs I've bought in years! Granted, I'm a bit Lerner-biased having played Col. Pickering in My Fair Lady before...and I just love his stuff anyways -- but nonetheless this CD is a GREAT buy! I found it in a store somewhere about 2-3 months ago, and I don't think it's left my CD player since. Domingo's occasional appearances add SUCH classy humor that I just roll over laughing everytime he sings! Granted, one must be at least fairly familiar with the story and flow of My Fair Lady to get all the jokes, but even without that, it's still a series of stellar performances. Buy this CD!

Average customer rating:

Campion: Ayres Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000007CL Release Date: 1992-12-07

Music Album:

1. Simply Traditional
2. Smoke [Import]
3. Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! [Import]
4. Sober and Stupid
5. Sonny Marshall
6. Spiritual Appliances
7. Starlite Lounge
8. Stoney Edwards/She's My Rock [Original recording remastered]
9. Stronger
10. Super Colossal Smash Hits Of The 90's

Music Album