What It Is

Amazon.com
This third release from the Blue Highway Dobro player doesn't just dip into jazz--it makes a bracing, headlong plunge. Fronting an ensemble of sax, keyboards, bass, and drums, Ickes slides from smooth jazz ballads to pulsing rumbas to funky '70s fusion--"Stanford and Son" playfully alludes to the Redd Foxx TV series--to modal Kind of Blue-style improvisations. His timing is exquisite and his command of the subtler voicings of the resophonic guitar keeps the session from dissolving into jam grass. The album began as a suite of originals, but eventually came to include a few obscure covers, such as John Scofield's "I'll Take Les," which lets Ickes duke it out with wailing saxophonist Paul Hanson, and Mike Manieri's "Self Portrait," a tune intricate enough to head off the light-jazz turn. Bluegrass fans may have momentarily lost a favorite son, but fans of contemporary jazz might just have a new star. --Roy Kasten

Tracks:

Spreadin' Honey -- Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band
Soul Finger -- Bar-Kays
The Shadow Of Your Smile -- Brother Jack McDuff
Gangster Of Love (Parts 1 and 2) -- Jimmy Norman
The Memphis Train -- Rufus Thomas
Get Out Of My Life Woman -- Grassella Oliphant
Live Right Now -- Eddie Harris
Pig Snoots, Part 1 -- Natural Bridge Bunch
Soul Sound System -- The Freedom Sounds featuring Wayne Henderson
Snatching It Back -- Clarence Carter
Stoned Soul -- Artie Christopher
Getting The Corners -- The T.S.U. Tornadoes
Sexy Coffee Pot -- Tony Alvon & The Belairs
Don't Come Around Here Anymore -- Mark Putney
Keep On Dancing -- The Commodores
Right On Brother--Part 1 -- The Southshore Commission
Pop, Popcorn Children -- Eldridge Holmes
It's Your Thing -- Cold Grits
It's All In Your Mind -- Soul Angels
Funky John -- Johnny Cameron & The Camerons
Help Me Make Up My Mind -- Joyce Jones
Rock Me Baby -- Lou Johnson
Sing A Simple Song -- The Noble Knights
Do You Dig It -- Titus Turner
Funky Canyon -- Phil Moore Jr.
Jan Jan -- The Fabulous Counts
Tampin -- The Rhine Oaks

Tracks:

Gossip -- Cyril Neville
Somebody In The World For You -- The Mighty Hannibal
Stanga -- Little Sister
Jumpin' Jack Flash -- Ananda Shankar
The Deacon -- Brute Force
Sookie Sookie -- Don Covay & The Jefferson Lemon Blues Band
Right On -- Clarence Wheeler & The Enforcers
(Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below We're All Going To Go -- Curtis Mayfield
Stepping Stones -- Johnny Harris
I'm Just Like You -- 6ix
Funky Thing--Part 1 -- The Unemployed
Messie Bessie -- Shirley Scott
Fairchild -- Willie West
Cold Bear -- The Gaturs
I Can't Get Next To You -- Mongo Santamaria
Feelin' Alright -- Lulu
Soul Bowl -- Memphis Horns
Tuane -- Hammer
Take It Off--Part 2 -- Johnny Tolbert & De Thangs
Seeds Of Life -- Harlem River Drive featuring Eddie Palmieri & Jimmy Norman
Engine Number 9 -- Wilson Pickett

Tracks:

Hard Times -- Baby Huey & The Baby Sitters
What So Never The Dance--Pt. 1 & 2 -- Houseguests
Headless Heroes -- Eugene McDaniels
Spinning Wheel -- Wade Marcus
Bad Tune -- Earth, Wind & Fire
Mr. Cool -- Rasputin's Stash
Don't Cha Hear Me Callin' To Ya -- Junior Mance
Hang On In There -- The Stovall Sisters
Funky Nassau (Part 2) -- The Beginning Of The End
Whatever's Fair -- Mark Holder & The Positives
Face It -- Ed Robinson
Wah Wah Man -- Young-Holt Unlimited
Rock Steady (alternate mix) -- Aretha Franklin
Won't Nobody Listen -- Black Haze Express
Goin' Down -- Allen Toussaint
Suavecito -- Malo
You Gotta Know Whatcha Doin' -- Charles Wright
Mo Jo Hanna -- Tami Lynn
Ridin' Thumb -- King Curtis
Almendra -- Macondo
Nuki Suki -- Little Richard

Tracks:

Getting Uptown (To Get Down) -- United 8
8 Days On The Road -- Howard Tate
Moon Shadow -- Labelle
Let It Crawl -- Society's Bag
Wanaoh -- Black Heat
If It Was Good Enough For Daddy -- Clarence Reid
Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky -- Claudia Lennear
Cosmic Sea -- The Mystic Moods
Kissing My Love -- Cold Blood
Flute Thing -- Seatrain
Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug (Push N' Shove) Part 2 -- The Meters
Funky To The Bone -- Freddi/Henchi & The Soul Setters
Try It Again -- Bobby Byrd
. Teasin' -- Cornell Dupree
(Everybody Wanna Get Rich) Rite Away -- Dr. John
Chicken Heads -- Oscar Brown Jr.
Rien Ne Va Plus -- Funk Factory
Cajun Moon -- Herbie Mann
Improve -- Darrow Fletcher
Riding High -- Faze-O
Four Play -- Fred Wesley & The Horny Horns
California Dreamin' -- Eddie Hazel

Amazon.com

Too many reissue compilations are content to merely slice 'n' dice familiar catalog choices in not particularly original ways. But this four-disc, 91-track trove of obscure '70s R&B and funk from Warner-distributed labels great and small argues there's still treasure to be gleaned from studio vaults--a five-hour groove-fest that's as interested in shaking booty as in opening ears. Even the genre's groundbreaking usual suspects (Wilson Pickett, the Bar-Kays, Curtis Mayfield, Earth, Wind & Fire, et al) are represented by selections that aren't immediately familiar, while Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin serves up a radically different, previously unreleased take of "Rock Steady." Still other stars contribute their sonic touches to some of the lesser-known cuts, as witnessed by the patent trippiness of Sly Stone alter-egos 6ix and Stanga on "I'm Just Like You" and "Little Sister," respectively; the stark, party-not-so-hearty contrast of the Mayfield-written-and-produced "Hard Times" by Baby Huey & Baby Sisters; and the Meters' version of "Tampin'," released under the moniker of the Rhine Oaks.

Sequenced in rough chronological order, it's a savvy window into a musical evolution as well, with the rhythmic guitars, organ swells, and horn flourishes of traditional '60s R&B giving way to sinewy synths and increasingly chunky bass lines as the decade grooves on. While savvy hip-hoppers will note that many of the rarities here have already been repurposed by shrewd mixers, it's a revelation to hear them in their original form. A compelling deconstruction of an often clichéd and too-narrowly-defined genre, this is an anthology that showcases music that has influenced such contemporary artists as Tupac, the Beastie Boys, Snoop Dogg, and Kanye West, annotated by many of the original musicians who set the dance floor in motion. --Jerry McCulley

Album Description

91 tracks deep and five hours long, this multi-artist, 4CD set mines rare, renowned, legendary, and little-known grooves from the vaults of Atlantic, Atco, and Warner Bros Records!

Customer Reviews:

Mm-hmm! I can smell that funky music!.......2007-06-18

Rare indeed; I can't imagine where you would find original 45s or even LPs containing all of these songs. That would be one lifetime task. The good folks at Rhino Records with their remarkable and creative tastes took out all of that hassle for us and now offers a rather unique set of rare funky music from the vaults of Atlantic/Atco and Warner/Reprise dating 1967-1977 with 91 tracks spanning across 4 filled-to-the-brim discs. Any soul music fan will no doubt want to explore this area of the R&B category (funk and I mean pure funk), but at times the flow of the music could seem a bit too much to handle. Some of the cuts go more than 3 1/2 minutes and sound like they might not end any time soon. The other case would be some tracks sound bizarre or unusual in terms of sound due to instrumentation, arrangements, etc. Such "bizarre" tracks are the sitar-laced rendition of "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "Steppin' Stones" with a crazed flautist leading the way on a very blazing and dizzy-sounding track. The good outweigh the not-so-good remarkably, though. So get ready to hear punchy horns, infectious, simplistic and driving drumbeats, super funky bass lines, crunchy guitars, oozing organs and ultra-soulful vocals. On disc one, some noteworthy tracks are "Spreadin' Honey", "Get Otta My Life Woman", "Snatchin' It Back", "Sexy Coffee Pot" and "Help Me Make Up My Mind" (an answer to "Can I Chane My Mind"). Be sure to check out "Sookie Sookie", "Feelin' Alright" (done by Lulu (To Sir With Love)!), and "Engine Number Nine" on disc two, "Face It" (love the female backup singers on this), "Wah Wah Man", an alternate extended mix of "Rock Steady", "Suavecito", and "Nuki Suki" (from Little Richard) on disc three as well as "Moon Shadow", "Kissing My Love", "Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky", "Chug Chug-A-Lug", "Everybody Wanna Get Rich Rite Away", and "Chicken Heads" on disc four. Those were just some of my favorite tracks, so I may have missed some. Many are instrumentals, but there are a handful with vocalists singing about love, dancing, partying, social concerns, etc. Bottom line: worth checking out and worth the discovery. You definitely won't hear this stuff on commercial radio. Only about three or four songs you'll recognize; the rest is like a surprise. If you're into R&B and want to explore the funk side of it, you can't find a better pick, and about 90% of these songs aren't available (some or many) together anyplace else. The real deal of funk; that is "what it is!"

WHAT IT IS ?.....NOTHING BUT A NON STOP PARTY! .......2007-02-10

This set right here could very well be the holy grail of rare and hard to find grooves. This box set is funkier than a high school locker room! Every track on here is certified stank(aka funky). The most amazing thing about these tracks is that they capture the spirit of the times better than a lot of their more popular comtemporaries(at least in my opinion). "What it is" feels like an audio documentary of underdogs making the funkiest music and having a great time doing it. If you listen to how these tracks are sequenced, you'll feel like a story is being told - rather than just listening to another compliamation of vintage r&b music.

I'm only 25 years old. Every time I play this set, I feel like I'm at a 70's block party, chillin' in a long black cadillac fleetwood and scoping out some foxy mamas with hot pants and thigh high leather boots
(that's how good the music sounds). With 20 plus tracks each per disc, you can't help but be amazed with the consistent quality of the music.

All I gotta say is buy this set and let the funk be your guide to love, happiness, and your rites of passage to throw it on down and dance your
a-- off!!! If you ain't diggin on this, you're diggin a hole for yourself!

Long live the funk baby!

Amazing. Mind blowing. Worth every penny. And so on........2007-02-04

This is the real deal folks. Music with grit and soul and feeling, before the shining distraction of drum machines, computers, samplers, bling, and "MTV's Cribs". I saw an ad for this and went to several book and record stores such as Borders, and to my local hip indie CD store (headquarters to the local music scene circle-jerk), trying to describe it to various clerks. Which was about like trying to teach a card trick to a basset hound. Save yourself the agony of trying to interest a white twenty-something body-piercing pincushion in ordering this set for you, and just get it here. You'll be glad you did. The sheer quantity of great music on this is staggering. I love the mix of instruments with vocal tracks, and the mix of "name" artists like Aretha or The Meters with many very obscure ones. Whoever compiled this did a great job in selecting the track order, so it makes it perfect for a long party. Everyone will be getting up and shaking their groove thang. This is priceless music from a lost era, so grab it before it disappears again.

Never a dull moment.......2007-01-28

I am a funk fan who is still by all means learning...With the passing of James Brown recently, I have tried to speed up this process a little and take as much in as possible. I think this collection of "underground" funk is phenomenal, 4 discs and never a dull moment.

Soul-tastic... All Hail Rhino! Nobody knows box like Rhino knows box.......2007-01-14

I stumbled over this set just a few days ago, and I have to say that it's easily one of the top 10 best random-artist compilations I've ever heard in my life, and I own hundreds of them.

I won't say there's no filler--by filler I mean the cover tunes--and I'm confused as to why "What So Never The Dance" is credited to the Houseguests when this is a longtime Bootsy Collins track? What, is Bootsy in trouble with Warner Brothers and can't re-release his own stuff under his own name anymore?

But disc one is an absolute gem--you can't make your own mix better than they've done it here. If you're a fan of James Brown, Parliament, Otis Redding, Sly Stone, the aforementioned Bootsy, Tower Of Power, Prince, early Stevie Wonder, Motown, Isaac Hayes, then you shouldn't be without this set.

Absolutely worth buying.

Average customer rating:

AWESOME!!
MacRae and Jones soar in this tragic R&H musical
Great Music
Response to David Pabian's review below
Gummed up an Original

Carousel (1956 Film Soundtrack)
Shirley Jones , Claramae Turner , Robert Rounseville , Cameron Mitchell , Barbara Ruick , Robert Rounseville , Richard Rodgers , Oscar Hammerstein II , and Gordon MacRae
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Oklahoma! (1955 Film Soundtrack)
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South Pacific (1958 Film Soundtrack)
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ASIN: B00005A7XD
Release Date: 2001-03-13

Tracks:

Introduction - Gordon MacRae/William Le Massena
Main Title: The Carousel Waltz - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
You're A Queer One, Julie Jordan - Barbara Ruick/Shirley Jones
When I Marry Mr. Snow - Barbara Ruick
If I Loved You - Shirley Jones/Gordon MacRae
June Is Bustin' Out All Over - Claramae Turner/Barbara Ruick
June Is Bustin' Out All Over Ballet - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
Soliloquy - Gordon MacRae
Blow High, Blow Low - Cameron Mitchell
When The Children Are Asleep - Robert Rounseville/Barbara Ruick
A Real Nice Clambake - Barbara Ruick/Claramae Turner/Robert Rounseville/Cameron Mitchell
Stonecutters Cut In On Stone - Cameron Mitchell
What's The Use Of Wond'rin - Shirley Jones
You'll Never Walk Alone - Shirley Jones/Claramae Turner
Ballet - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
If I Loved You (Reprise) - Gordon MacRae
You'll Never Walk Alone (Finale) - Shirley Jones
Carousel Waltz (LP Version) - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman

Amazon.com

Richard Rodgers always considered Carousel his favorite score, even though it didn't generate the number of popular hits of some of the other shows he produced with lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. Their adaptation of the Ferenc Molnar play Liliom is marked by three especially sublime moments. "The Carousel Waltz," Rodgers's alternative to the traditional Broadway overture, serves as an orchestral backdrop to the opening scene and is one of the best miniatures ever written for the theater. "If I Loved You," which establishes the romance of carnival barker Billy Bigelow (Gordon MacRae, a late replacement for Frank Sinatra) and nice girl Julie Jordan (Shirley Jones), is a musical minidrama in which the pair's discussion of how they are not in love reveals just how much they are in love. "Soliloquy" is Billy's powerful solo that foreshadows the action to come in Act II. Add the inspirational anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone," and you have Rodgers and Hammerstein's most extraordinary, near-operatic score. On the soundtrack for the 1956 film, MacRae and Jones are in exceptional voice (following their success in 1955's Oklahoma) and the orchestra sounds glorious, but unfortunately some of the numbers were shortened, most notably "If I Loved You." Extensive production notes, an interview with Jones, and a synopsis are included. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

AWESOME!!.......2007-05-12

LOVE SOUND TRACTS FROM OLD MOVIES - SING ALONGS AND THE BEST ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING AND CAN SING LOUD. IT IS A KEEPER

MacRae and Jones soar in this tragic R&H musical.......2007-02-11

This film adaptation of Carousel came shortly after the Oklahoma! film and reunited Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones. Although the film was not well-received at the box office, the soundtrack shows MacRae, Jones and the superb cast performing their roles to their heart's content. Their performance helps bring out the pathos in this tragic R&H musical, which Rodgers himself considered his favourite of all his works.

MacRae shines vocally as Billy Bigelow, bringing an open-hearted musicality and sincerity to his stout-hearted portrayal. MacRae stands out in Billy's pivotal Soliloquy, which some reviewers have considered one of the finest vocal performances of the 20th century. He is well-partnered by Shirley Jones, who lends her tender voice and personality to her portrayal as Julie. Listen to the chemistry they exude during the pivotal If I Loved You duet, as if they're overcoming their shyness and drawing sustenance from each other with their love. The supporting cast also gives its all in performing their roles. Claramae Turner's hearty Nettie brims with sincerity, warmth and tenderness, and she leads a rousing rendition of June is Bustin' Out All Over and renders You'll Never Walk Alone touchingly. Barbara Ruick and Robert Rounseville are superb as Carrie and Mr. Snow, although I admit I would have liked a little more humour. I also admit I would have liked Cameron Mitchell as Jigger to sound more sinister, like Fisher Stevens did in the 1994 Broadway revival recording. But even as it is, everyone sings gloriously and is given sumptuous backing from Alfred Newman's superb arrangements and the 20th-Century Fox Orchestra, when it shines out in the ballets.

If I'm adding to the praise of these critic-proof performance, you'll wonder, why am I giving only 4 stars? Well, it's because the extra sound effects from the unreleased sequences tend to jar after a while. I know some of you are complaining that the dance sequences are plagued by extraneous sound effects and noise. I share the same feelings too and also wish that the producers had utilised the original studio pre-recordings for a sumptuous listening experience. However, let us at least be grateful that Didier Deutsch and his production team have made these unreleased sequences available on a soundtrack CD reissue. At least it's a step in the right direction before the entire canon of R&H film soundtracks (yes, including South Pacific and The Sound of Music) gets its due as deluxe 2-CD sets, complete with underscore.

However, don't let this gripe dissuade you from buying this soundtrack. It offers a complete musical experience that one could only dream of in the previous CD reissues of the soundtrack. And it demonstrates the element that Rodgers & Hammerstein were discovering in their musicals.

Great Music.......2007-01-04

Rogers and Hammerstein were in a different league when it came to writing musicals. Their music, lyrics and story are never alike. These two partners were exceptional and their music shows it. Carousel is a tragic story but also shows that human nature can rise above adversity. The music is wonderful and the characters believable. A great movie.

Response to David Pabian's review below.......2004-06-30

Response to David Pabian's review:

My review was not in error, as Mr. Pabian expects. The review was for the original CD release, not this expanded version. Amazon lifted it out of that spot and dropped it here, which of course makes it anachronistic. Why they did it without reading it is certainly an inept decision.

Gummed up an Original.......2003-06-10

This overblown "completeitis" has got to stop. The original soundtrack album Carousel Waltz is now relegated to Appendix status, and terrible sonics accompany dancers' footstomping in the "new" expanded musical sequences, taken directly from the soundtrack rather than from still-existing musical tracks. There was a reason soundtrack recordings were studio performances. The proportions were right, the timings were correct for an overall BALANCED listening experience. These gawdawful expanded editions, often with dialogue thrown in, completely throw off those balances. An argument might be made for expanded sequences appropriate to a CDs longer playing time than the standard L.P. 45min., but possibly only if those sequences are from their original studio-recorded, pre release-print mix -- which could have easily been done in this case. A quick word on one of the above reviews: This is not the first time the complete Carousel Waltz is heard in stereo. There were two previous CD remasterings of the original soundtrack whereon it was included. And the reprise of "If I loved You" was part of every soundtrack release, mono and stereo.

Average customer rating:

Great Deal!

High School Musical 2: What Time Is It
Original Soundtrack
Manufacturer: Disney
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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High School Musical 2
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ASIN: B000QFCD72
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Tracks:

Untitled Track

Customer Reviews:

Great Deal!.......2007-07-19

This is the new Cd single from High School Musical-2. It features the whole
gang singing What Time Is It?- which is a fun ,upbeat, summer song that
features a marching band. You will love to sing along and dance to this song!
The Cd is enhanced -so if you put it in your computer you can see a preview of the movie.
Finally,there is a poster of the six young stars of the movies!
It's a great deal for anyone who loved the first movie and can't wait for the second! Like me and probably you!

Urinetown (2001 Original Off-Broadway Cast)

Average customer rating:

An Amazing Find
Urinetown the Musical
Not for Everyone
"DON'T BE THE BUNNY!"
Now my favorite CD, EVER!

Urinetown (2001 Original Off-Broadway Cast)
John Cullum , Mark Hollmann , Danny Marcus , and Hunter Foster
Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Urinetown: The Musical
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ASIN: B00005LZR8
Release Date: 2001-08-07

Tracks:

Overture
Too Much Exposition
Urinetown
It's A Privilege To Pee
Mr. Cladwell
Cop Song
Follow Your Heart
Look At The Sky
Don't Be The Bunny
Act One Finale
What Is Urinetown?
Snuff That Girl
Run, Freedom, Run!
Why Did I Listen To That Man?
Tell Her I Love Her
We're Not Sorry
We're Not Sorry (reprise)
I See A River

Amazon.com

"How about a bad title?" wonders Spencer Kayden's Little Sally in "Too Much Exposition." "That could kill a show pretty good." It's a tribute to the skill deployed by the Urinetown creative team (Mark Hollman, music and lyrics; Greg Kotis, book and lyrics) that its title doesn't kill the show. Set in a near-future in which water depletion has led to a ban on private toilets, this may be the only musical in history in which one of the leads makes a fortune on pee. But the show (which originated Off-Broadway before graduating to the big league) limits its subversive intent to subject matter and is refreshingly classic in approach and structure--think Weill-meets-Lewis Carroll. Backed by a small ensemble, the cast (with John Cullum in a turn nothing short of brilliant as the evil urinal magnate) has a field day with Kotis and Hollman's frequently hilarious score. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

An Amazing Find.......2007-04-03

I just recently discovered this gem of a musical. It's a stand out show with a unique touch. If heard a few outside musicals (The Rocky Horror Show, Hedwig and the Angry Inch...) but this one stands out from them. The music is amazing, the lyrics are creative, and the humor is ripe.

With a chamber music-esque overture, the tone is set. 'Too Much Exposition' is a great introduction to Urinetown (the musical). Officer Lockstock addresses the audience about what they should expect from the show. Little Sally wants to let the audience in on the water shortage but Lockstock stops her. ("You're too young to understand it now, but nothing can kill a show like too much exposition." "How 'bout bad subject matter? Or a bad title, even? That could kill a show pretty good.")

I've read what others have written: you don't get the whole humor of the show unless you've seen it. I haven't seen it, but this recording is enough to get me see it. (That is, if a production nearby, even a high school production, is put on.)

The songs that I find myself listening to over and over are:

Too Much Exposition (not really a song, but still...)
Urinetown
It's A Privilage to Pee
Mr. Cladwell (a wonderfully sweet villain song)
Cop Song (a wonderfully fun villain song)
Follow Your Heart
Don't Be the Bunny
Act 1 Finale
What Is Urinetown?
Run, Freedome, Run!
Why Did I Listen to That Man?
We're Not Sorry (a great 20's sound, reminds me of 'Chicago')
I See A River (I really love this song... the feeling gotten across, before Lockstock comes out to comment, is 'Oh, everything is going to be okay', but Lockstock informs us that all is NOT well)

With a cry of "Hail Mathus!" the show ends. I just have to listen again, after making a trip to the bathroom.

Urinetown the Musical.......2007-03-10

This CD has all the songs from the show. The show is great and this rendition is about the best.

Not for Everyone.......2006-12-28

This musical is a great piece for the 21st century no doubt, that being said it takes some getting used to. The musical cannot be taken at face value, there are lots of things happening under the surface and it takes some bites at things musical theater doesn't usually take, like itself. On the surface it is strange, and not really something people would listen to over and over. However, once you figure it out, it's fun to listen to it again to find all the things that are really going on. It is very funny, and says some good things about the current state of the world. For musical theater fans this is questionable, if you just like the toe-tapping happy go lucky feel, this isn't it. But if you like the social commentary that goes along with that toe tapping, this is a must. NOT FOR FIRST TIME BROADWAY LISTNERS. Favorite Song: "Look at the Sky"

"DON'T BE THE BUNNY!".......2006-12-04

My son, a high school senior, told me his first show of this year's theatrical season was going to be "Urinetown". My response was something like ... No, really, what shows are you doing this year? Then he brought home a recording of it, and I was hooked right away by the lyrics. Over the years my son has been involved in many performances, but he and the rest of the cast had a real blast preparing for, and performing, this show! He wanted Lockstock, but was cast as Cladwell ... Owned it ... Loved it!
I am no Broadway expert by any stretch of the definition, but this show is wonderfully entertaining! You will see (and hear) snippets from other shows, you will pick up on some of even the more subtle stabs at musicals as a whole, you will groan, you will laugh and you will enjoy ... But only if you try not to take it too seriously.
Get past the title (in this case I certainly think it did not "...kill a show pretty good"), relax, and be entertained. And for goodness sake, if you have a chance to see it performed live, do so! A musical that pokes fun at itself? Yes, a refreshing departure from the norm, and worth the price of admission.

Now my favorite CD, EVER!.......2006-10-03

After reading Urinetown (never having seen it), I wondered what on earth it sounded like. Most of the book is just lyrics, and I had no idea what they sounded like. When I finally listened to the music, I found an incredibly complex, catchy, and moving CD.

The music isn't so much complex as it is creative and works with the lyrics. Keep in mind this is a comedy, but this comedy does have soaring melodies and very great simulataneous singing moments (I can't remember what that is specifically called, but think of "Tonight Reprise" from West Side Story). These songs not only entertained me, it moved the story along.

My favorite song is "Why Did I Listen to that Man?" as it is the song where everything comes together and reaches the climax (both in story-line and musically). However, I have a soft spot for every Cladwell song (and I haven't found a person yet who doesn't love "Don't Be the Bunny) as well as every song. What's best about this musical is the range of genres (but not so much as one would find in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat).

The cast is truly talented and can perform these songs. It's a very strong recording for what I feel (after finally getting to see it) is the best contemporary musical to date. Not only will your sides split, but you'll learn something too. Best of all, it's a musical for everyone. Unlike other equally hilarious comedies (*cough*The Producers*cough*), Urinetown never relies on "unappropriate" and "adult" material to deliver laughs, although you will have to get over the "really awful title."

Average customer rating:

Excellent Score -- Very Unique
One of the few good things about this wretched film
The score elevates the film
Good Soundtrack!
Nice...but a little overrated,

The Village

Manufacturer: Hollywood Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0002IQJSC
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Tracks:

Noah Visits
What Are You Asking Me?
The Bad Color
Those We Don't Speak Of
Will You Help Me?
I Cannot See His Color
Rituals
The Gravel Road
Race To Resting Rock
The Forbidden Line
The Vote
It Is Not Real
The Shed Not To Be Used

Amazon.com

In the wake of his Sixth Sense triumph, young director M. Night Shyamalan shrewdly marketed himself as a marquee draw, a thriller auteur in the vein of Hitchcock and DePalma. In the process he's also run headlong into one of Hollywood's truest adages: There's no such thing as a sure thing. But while his tale of an isolated hamlet ringed by mysterious, threatening 'others' met with tepid reviews and disappointing box office, it also underscored another filmmaking truism: So-so films can still be blessed with magnificent musical scores. This hauntingly beautiful, yet thoroughly contemporary orchestral soundtrack by James Newton-Howard distinguishes itself at every turn, becoming a clear standout in the ongoing collaboration between the composer and Shyamalan. While similar fusions of minimalist and post-modern musical influences can sometimes seem not much more than hollow intellectual exercises, Newton-Howard inhabits his hypnotic arpeggios and droning rhythms here with an evocative undercurrent of the mysterious and mystical. The composer leans heavily on solo violin to conjure a mock folk tradition of indistinct origins, wedding it to a contemporary classical sense that's as seamless as it is distinguished. -- Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Score -- Very Unique.......2007-02-22

I have long been a film-score aficionado. My favorite composers are Hans Zimmer, James Horner, Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams -- only the best of the best. I had always known about James Newton Howard and his work, and always respected his unique abilities and talents.

It was with this score that he really caught my attention. The central theme of the film is a love story, and the characters just happen to be caught up in a nightmarish scenario. The score reflects this perfectly; some of the pieces are classically romantic, quiet pieces, while others are thunderous and frightening to reflect the danger and terror portrayed in the film.

James Newton Howard's later works, like "King Kong" (2005) and his co-score with Hans Zimmer on "Batman Begins" (2005) continued to show that he is rightly considered one of Hollywood's A-list composers for big films.

One of the few good things about this wretched film.......2006-11-05

I admit I absolutely hated "The Village". The film started out rather good. The build up in suspense was flawlessly executed but then the second half of the film totally went downhill for me. One of the few things I enjoyed about "The Village" is the film score by James Newton Howard. The combination of the orchestral film score and dark cinematography was perfect. Both complimented each other. Violinist Hilary Hahn was what really gravitated me to the music. A lot of film scores have a terrible tendency to be loud and bombastic (like John Williams and Hans Zimmer) but James Howard Newton's score is subtle and never overwhelming to a person's ears.

The score elevates the film.......2006-08-09

'The Village' was panned pretty harshly in critical circles, but whatever you think of the film, James Newton Howard's score for it is a beautiful piece of work. It lends a haunting, lyrical quality to the film, and it is wonderful to listen to by itself, whether or not you like or have even seen the movie.

While there are a couple pieces in the score that are a little more high-octane in terms of suspense, most of the music is very low-key. Still suspenseful, even spooky at times, but in a very understated and thoughtful way. In some ways similar to Howard's score for 'Signs', which also used repeated rhythms and themes throughout in different ways, the music for 'The Village' differs from the standard "scary movie" score by having pieces which establish a real emotional depth and presence. 'The Village' is a film about love and loss, and much of the music expresses those themes perfectly.

A big part of how the music gets to the depths of emotion is the solo violin performances of Hilary Hahn, present to some extent in almost every piece. From the opening strains of "Noah Visits," the first piece on the CD, her violin speaks the language of the heart and draws the listener into a beautiful world of haunting music, inescapable and compelling. I am amazed by her versatility here. From the fast rhythmic notes of "The Gravel Road" to the high strains of "I Cannot See His Color" to the final, bittersweet tones of "The Vote," Hahn's violin creates a steady thread through the whole score, unifying it and making it unique at the same time. I've listened to several of Hahn's classical performances as well, but I have to say that of what I've heard, her performance for 'The Village' may be her most unique and most compelling yet.

The combination of James Newton Howard's compositions and Hilary Hahn's lush performance have created some beautiful music for 'The Village'. Whether you love the movie or hate it, or even if you're just looking for some rich orchestral music with a beautiful violin performance, this score is well worth owning and listening to many times over.

Good Soundtrack!.......2006-08-03

I'll admit I bought this soundtrack for the music that played during the rescue scene when Phoenix grabbed Howard's hand---that part alone was worth the buy--beautiful music. Anyway, if you like scary music, there's plenty of that on here, but I usually skip those. So let's get down to it---how many tracks do I play over and over and never get sick of them? Numbers 9, 8, and 4's second half-- it switches from scary to the scene mentioned above. Those three are hauntingly beautiful. Numbers 1 and 5 are also very pretty if you are in a very relaxed state. The rest I don't really listen to simply because they're scary. But, if I can find a cd with at least 3 songs I really like, I consider it worth buying...so I recommend this soundtrack. Plug--- recommend the movie even more, even though the music is scarier than the movie itself. That movie has the best chic flic moment I've seen (guess which scene I'm talking about). Also, "Good afternoon Lucius..."--- that part is hilarious!

Nice...but a little overrated,.......2006-06-08

I'm a sucker for film scores. I can't get enough of em'. I've listened to a lot, and based on the reviews James N. Howard's score was getting for "The Village", I decided to buy it.
I have mixed feelings--the music is definitely very pretty, very soothing (or agressive when needed), but I never really felt like I was listening to anything but just 'another' score here. There really isn't anything especially beautiful or stand-out, and I have heard orchestral scores from independent films (see 2002's "Stranded", a low-budget sci-fi film made for only about four million clams that boasts one of the most gorgeous scores you will ever hear)that are more memorable and evocative.
This, I hate to say it, just kinda felt "blah" to me.
Not bad.
Just...kinda..."Blah".

Average customer rating:

Wonderful, but not my first choice
THE BEST recording of the BEST oratorio ever...
Too bad there are so few recordings of Elijah

Mendelssohn: Elijah

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Franz Joseph Haydn: The Creation
Mendelssohn - Elijah / Terfel, Fleming, Bardon, Ainsley, Fulgoni, Paul Daniel
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) / Auger, Stilwell, Atlanta SO, Robert Shaw
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem [A German Requiem]

ASIN: B0002XV31A
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Tracks:

Introduction: As God The Lord Of Israel Liveth
Overture
No.1 Help, Lord! Wilt Thou Quite Destroy Us?
No.2: Lord! Bow Thine Ear To Our Prayer!
No.3: Ye People, Rend Your Hearts
No.4: If With All Your Hearts
No.5: Yet Doth The Lord See It Not
No.6: Elijah! Get Thee Hence
No.7: For He Shall Give His Angels Charge Over Thee
Recitative: Now Cherith's Brook Is Dried Up
No.8: What Have I Do To Do With Thee?
No.9: Blessed Are The Men Who Fear Him
No.10: As God The Lord Of Sabaoth Liveth
No.11: Baal, We Cry To Thee: Hear And Answer Us!
No.12: Call Him Louder, For He Is A God!
No.13: Call Him Louder! He Heareth Not!
No.14: Lord God Of Abraham, Isaac And Israel!
No.15: Cast Thy Burden Upon The Lord
No.16: O Thou, Who Makest Thine Angels Spirits
No.17: Is Not His Word Like A Fire?
No.18: Woe Unto Them Who Forsake Him!
No.19: O Man Of God, Help Thy People!
No.20: Thanks Be To God!

Tracks:

No.21: Hear Ye, Israel; Hear What The Lord Speaketh
No.22: Be Not Afraid, Saith God The Lord
No.23: The Lord Hath Exalted Thee
No.24: Woe To Him, He Shall Perish
No.25: Man Of God, Now Let My Words Be Precious
No.26: It Is Enough; O Lord Now Take My Life
No.27: See, Now He Sleepeth
No.28: Lift Thine Eyes To The Mountains
No.29: He, Watching Over Israel, Slumbers Not
No.30: Arise, Elijah, For Thou Hast A Long Journey
No.31: O Rest In The Lord
No.32: He That Shall Endure To The End, Shall Be Saved
No.33: Night Falleth Round Me, O Lord!
No.34: Behold! God The Lord Passed By!
No.35: Above Him Stood The Seraphim
No.36: Go, Return Upon Thy Way
No.37: For The Mountains Shall Depart
No.38: Then Did Elijah The Prophet Break Forth
No.39: Then Shall The Righteous Shine Forth
No.40: Behold, God Hath Sent Elijah
No.41: But The Lord, From The North Hath Raised One
No.41a: O Come Everyone That Thirsteth
No.42: And Then Shall Your Light Break Forth

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful, but not my first choice.......2007-04-07

I believe this was the first recording of Elijah in English that used an "international" conductor and some international singers. Fruhbeck gives a good, dramatic sweep to the piece, with some wonderful dramatic moments. This is an old fashioned performance, with only a solo quartet, and if there is a semi-chorus, I can't tell the difference. This means that the soprano is the Widow, and an Angel, the mezzo the Angel and Queen Jezabel, etc. You really should have a libretto, but you don't get one at this price.
Fischer-Dieskau roughens up his voice for the role, and therein lies a problem. The voice spreads and his diction suffers because of it; that and his unidiomatic pronounciation, with far too many rolled "r"s. He does the drama well, but what works well in lieder works here less well on the large scale. Odd, given his success as on opera singer (check out his Iago), that here he frequently comes off blustery.
Dame Gwyneth Jones belies her reputation and gives a contolled, dramatic performance, using her "edge" to advantage in "Hear Ye, Israel". Gedda's diction is amazing, with exactly the right color for this literature, and projecting a little more blood than an English tenor.
Dame Janet Baker is my star in this performance. Dramatic, heart-rending when need be, and in wonderful voice. She'll chill your blood when she tells the people of Baal to "slaughter him, do what he hath done!".
And as for the people of Baal, the Philharmonia Chorus is wonderful. Incisive and dramatic, with beautiful tone. I could do without the trick of the boy choir for "Lift Thine Eyes", and I miss the small ensembles, but all in all a fine performance, and good recording, circa 1968.
First choice in English, Daniels/Terfel: better Elijah in Terfel, better recording, more authentic orchestra, small vocal ensembles (as per the score) but inferior women (including Fleming: beautiful tone, but where's her head?). In German, it's Sawallisch/Adam all the way.
But if you're singing Elijah, and have a score, this is a good choice.

THE BEST recording of the BEST oratorio ever..........2006-08-15

Okay, I'm gonna admit I'm biased- I first sung in the chorus of Elijah when I was 14 and it made a BIG impression on me!
This recording is in every way wonderful. Starting with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. He IS Elijah to me. His singing is perfection. He has amazing phrasing and his diction makes it possible to understand the lovely, inspired libretto to this heavenly music. There are so many pieces that are ephemeral, but a couple of my favorites are: #14, Lord God of Abraham and #37, For the Mountains shall Depart. Dieskau does a great job of what I think of as compassionate, heartfelt singing. His interpretation sounds like the voice of God himself. It has a quality of kindness and yet he sounds just as convincing reprimanding the people of Baal. He is the true highlight of this recording.

That said, the rest of the cast is wonderful as well. Gwyneth Jones has a lovely, silvery voice that has a clarion bell-like tone that rings over the large orchestra with ease. She has occasional "misfire" but is a consistent performer. Dame Janet Baker and Nicolai Gedda both perform at a consistently lovely level. The orchestra and chorus are both wonderful. #15, Cast thy Burden upon the Lord, #32 He that Shall Endure to the End, and #38 Then Did Elijah are all highlights.

All said, for me the main reason to get this recording is Dieskau's Elijah- after all, he's the main character. But don't forget the lovely music. This story is exciting and passionate and sacred all at the same time. For me, it's the best oratorio that has a moving story and great music too.

Too bad there are so few recordings of Elijah.......2006-07-03

This is a good recording of an oratorio that deserves more attention. The chorus and soloists are very good--I just wish Fischer-Diskau wouldn't slide around so much in singing the title part!

Average customer rating:

Absolutely peerless
once-in-a-lifetime greatness
We love this album
Simply great
Porgy and Bess

Porgy & Bess
Ella Fitzgerald , and Louis Armstrong
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Porgy and Bess
Gershwin: Porgy & Bess [With Members of the Original Cast]
Porgy & Bess: High Performance
George Gershwin - Porgy & Bess / Trevor Nunn · Sir Simon Rattle · W. White · C. Haymon · Glyndebourne Opera
Ella & Louis Again (Dig)

ASIN: B0000046Z5
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Overture
Summertime
I Wants To Stay Here
My Man's Gone Now
I Got Plenty O'Nuttin'
Buzzard Song
Bess, You Is My Woman Now
It Ain't Necessarily So
What You Want Wild Bess?
A Woman Is A Sometime Thing
Oh, Doctor Jesus
Medley: Here Come De Honey Man/Crab Man/Oh, Deh's So Fresh And Fine (Strawberry Woman)
There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York
Bess, Oh Where's My Bess
Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way

Amazon.com

Getting the two most personable voices in jazz to sing an hour's worth of George Gershwin's opera Porgy & Bess (Ella doing all the female parts, Satchmo all the male) was a good idea, but not quite as great as it sounded. Armstrong savors the down-and-dirty Charlestonisms that inspired the cadences of the music and lyrics, and they fit his happy rasp like an old shoe; Fitzgerald, conversely, sounds almost prissy every time she has to sing the word "ain't," though her melodic genius gets Gershwin's bold, supple tunes over. The arrangements are full-throttle Broadway, with a few leaps into Dixieland (including some fine Armstrong trumpet solos), but the disc works best when the vocalists break character and let their jazz side out. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely peerless.......2006-11-17

"Porgy and Bess" has just opened (with some controversy) in London's West End, though as a musical and not as an opera as it was originally conceived. Reviews have been promising and I aim to go down and see it soon. I decided to listen to this CD to put myself in the mood. I hadn't listened to it for years and I'd completely forgotten how good it actually is. Ella's voice blends with Louis' perfectly and Russell Garcia's orchestration gives them a dreamy landscape to perform against. I have one or two other CDs by Louis and Ella but this one is by far my favourite. The CD opens with "Overture" and its orchestral performance of classics like "Summertime", "I Wants To Stay Here", "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'" and "It Ain't Neccessarily So" set the tone nicely, leaving one ever so keen for the vocal versions. Louis Armstong has a very rough tone to his voice but the emotion he packs with it is moving, most especially on the mournful "Bess, Oh Where's My Bess?" And we get all this and Louis' wonderful trumpet playing too?

Gershwin and Gershwin must be among the top composers of the last century and this opera showcases their talents more than anything I've heard. Ella and Louis are peerless as a vocal duo and though I doubt the West End performance will capture the magic in the same way they did, I still remain very keen to go see it. Is it opera or is it a jazz performance? I don't really know. I just know that I love it. And strongly recommend it.

once-in-a-lifetime greatness.......2006-10-06

Two thousand five hundred musicians have recorded "Summertime" --- it's a classic. (I bet most Americans can name Janis Joplin and no other singer.) As for "Porgy and Bess," the folk opera from which "Summertime" springs, it's such a classic that it's hard to believe anyone ever had a harsh word to say about it.

But after its premiere in 1935, no less than Duke Ellington said, "It has grand music and a swell play, but the two didn't go together. It does not use the Negro musical idiom --- the times are here to debunk Gershwin's lampblack Negroisms."

A quarter of a century later, the producers of the film version had trouble assembling a cast. Harry Belafonte rejected their offer to play Porgy. Sidney Poitier took the part --- and wished he hadn't. Poitier later wrote that the movie insulted black people; when he chose clips of his best performances for his tribute at the American Film Institute, he picked nothing from "Porgy and Bess."

And in 1985, when Grace Bumbry was a sensation as Bess in a Metropolitan Opera production, she slammed the opera: "I thought it beneath me, I felt I had worked far too hard, that we had come far too far to have to retrogress to 1935."

All that may be. All I know is that I have, in a long life, rarely been confronted with more genius than in the Fitzgerald/Armstrong recording of "Porgy & Bess." Set aside the achievement of George and Ira Gershwin in transforming DuBose Heyward's novel into a folk opera. Let's just focus on Armstrong and Fitzgerald, who were at the peak of their popularity when this record was made in 1957.

"Summertime" --- the first song --- sets the tone. A baleful horn figure, then violins. And then Armstrong's trumpet: slow, steady, dignified. But wait --- here comes a slurred note. And a cool little improvisation. Just enough of each. Very tasty.

Fitzgerald sings a verse. She is cool and formal. A lady. Not to be taken lightly. Now it's Armstrong's turn. Tender, but let's not kid ourselves --- this is not singing as others define it. This is melodic speech: rough, gutteral. And thus he is ideally cast: His Porgy may have his charms, but he'll have to stretch to keep Bess.

And so it goes throughout the CD. Trumpet mastery --- Armstrong has dazzling control. His tone is bright, but never shrill; there's a warmth in his playing no one else could produce. And Fitzgerald is just a study in inevitability; to hear her is to wonder how anyone could sing these songs any other way.

"I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'." "Bess, You Is My Woman Now." "A Woman Is a Sometime Thing." "There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York." "Bess, Oh Where's My Bess?" "Oh Lawd, I'm on My Way."

All brilliantly conceived, orchestrated and recorded.

The greatest trumpet player in this history of jazz.

The father of scat singing.

The queen of the jazz vocal.

There are no-brainers, and then there is this Ella Fitzgerald-Louis Armstrong collaboration --- music that imprints on your soul.

We love this album.......2006-08-22

We hope they will someday bring this beautiful story back to the stage

Simply great.......2006-03-04

The fusion between the great two voices and the orchestra is just brilliant. Very good brass and violins that accompany Fitzeralds and Armstrongs magic voices leaves you with your mouth open.

A must have for everyone!

Porgy and Bess.......2005-10-14

Could not find this anyway locally. It is a great recording

Average customer rating:

YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS
Chilli Sauce!!!
a flashback bomb from around the way
Somebody Bring Me A Mirror !
Pretty Good

What Time Is It?
The Time
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

The Time
Ice Cream Castle
The Color of Success
The Glamorous Life
Controversy

ASIN: B000002KXX
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Wild And Loose
777-9311
Onedayi'mgonnabesomebody
The Walk
Gigolos Get Lonely Too
I Don't Wanna Leave You

Amazon.com

Junking '70s-funk cliches for a stripped-down sound (keyboards and synthesizers replaced the horns) built around a hard-rockin' guitar and a tougher-than-tough rhythm section--all topped off with a heapin' helping of humor--this Minneapolis-based sextet was once the best funk band in the land. This second LP is the best single album from the act, which soon imploded, owing to an over-abundance of talent. Bug-eyed vocalist Morris Day and guitarist Jesse Johnson went on to semi-successful solo careers; keyboardist Jimmy Jam and bassist Terry Lewis became a mega-platinum writing/production team (Janet Jackson, most notably); drummer extraordinaire Jellybean Johnson and keyboardist Monte Moir were the other members. Co-produced by Day and Jamie Starr (a.k.a. Prince), this six-song 1982 effort sports three wall-rattling party-starters: the self-explantory "Wild and Loose," the tongue-in-cheek dance tune "The Walk," and the still-percolating, knotty-but-nice rhythms of "777-9311." Toss in a "New Wave"-style rocker, a droll take on the obligatory love-man ballad, and the band's straight-faced answer to the titular question ("Time to fix your clock!") is O-B-V-I-O-U-S. --Don Waller

Customer Reviews:

YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS.......2007-07-13

I THINK THAT THIS IS THEIR BEST ALBUM, BUT YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH THE TIME.

Chilli Sauce!!!.......2007-04-12

Ok...we all know that Prince, the genius that he is ,is responsible for all the music , backup vocals, instruments etc...but if we can look beyond that...this is just one big sexy party album. I agree that "Gigolos Get Lonely Too" is just begging to be re-made!!! (i think J.T. would be cool wit it) 777-9311 show cased just how Cool Morris Day was. It may have been Prince Behind the scenes but Morris was the only choice to make for the front man 4 the Time. This era in music did more than influence what we listened to but also how we dressed and talked! it was cool...Yayyess!!! Memories of sliding sideways in Stacey Adams at the Prom Yelling "Chilli Sauce"

a flashback bomb from around the way.......2007-02-24

money well spent if you like the old school beats.

Somebody Bring Me A Mirror !.......2006-11-19

The Time without a doubt is one of the funkiest R&B groups to come out of Minnesota and the best side project Prince ever had a hand in. At only six tracks the disc can easily go toe-toe with most R&B discs released today. The huge hit 777-9311 is guaranteed to get an old school party started as is the self-explanatory dance song The Walk. Going with more epic jam-orientated songs through out the entire disc the group does plenty of partying. Fiannly Morris Day even manages to offer a respectable ballad with "Gigolos Get Lonely Too" which is just itching to be remade. The Time may not have been the most soulful band to come out of Minnesota that titles goes to Mint Condition but they sure are the funkiest.

Pretty Good.......2006-09-25

this era of Prince was his best to me in terms of the sounds&vibe he was creating through the time. none of these songs are particular memorable,but the instrumentation is still remembered. the Bass Solo on "777-9311" along with the Drum programming that Prince was coming up with was tight. "the Walk" was cool. we will never know just how god the time truly could have been because prince was worried about them big time. The Time showcased themselves more on Stage, than on Record. Time Records were mainly Prince,Dez Dickerson,&Morris Day& some other minor contributions here&there. 1982 to me was the last time Prince had his sound together.he was in the Groove back at that time.

Average customer rating:

harem
New to Sarah Brightman
Stranger in Paradise - More Like Stranger in a Lost Cause
No voice like hers in the world
Brilliant Brightman, Her best CD.

Harem
Sarah Brightman , and Frank Peterson
Manufacturer: Angel Records
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Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Eden (US Release - 16 tracks)
La Luna
Time to Say Goodbye
Sarah Brightman Classics
Dive

ASIN: B00008W2QZ
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Tracks:

Harem
What A Wonderful World
It's A Beautiful Day
What You Never Know
The Journey Home
Free
Mysterious Days
The War Is Over
Misere Mei
Beautiful
Arabian Nights
Stranger In Paradise
Until The End Of Time
You Take My Breathe Away

Amazon.com

If one's notion of "world music" promises a touch of the exotic and indigenous, often overlooked is the fact that the influence of western pop music has seeped into every corner of the globe, creating a hybrid that's often more than merely the sum of its influences. Theater vet Brightman steps into that pan-cultural hall of mirrors here, wedding her fascination with the music and rhythms of the "forbidden places" (the title's Arabic meaning) of the Middle East to her own oft ethereal vocal charms and rock-solid sense of drama. And if the diva's equally sound crossover sensibilities (and that of longtime producer Frank Peterson) sometimes mire it in familiar world-beat pastiche, Brightman's charmed muse manages some transcendent moments nonetheless. Her musical borrowings (Borodin for the title track; Puccini's *Madame Butterfly* for "It's a Beautiful Day") are as compelling as her choice of collaborators: classical violin star Nigel Kennedy and Iraqi vocalist Kadim Al Sahir add compelling touches to the weary timeliness of "The War is Over." The musical influences range from Europe across the Mediterranean and as far East as the Indian roots of "Bollywood" composer A.R. Rahman's "The Journey Home" and Brightman's own "You Take My Breath Away" to evocative recastings of the emblematic standards "Stranger in Paradise" and Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World," while ex-Killing Joke keyboardist Jaz Coleman provides the savory East-meets-West orchestrations that ensure Brightman's star turns the seamless foundations they deserve. --Jerry McCulley

Amazon.com

Sarah Brightman Photos

More from Sarah Brightman

Time to Say Goodbye
Diva: The Singles Collection
Eden

Diva: The Video Collection
Live from Las Vegas
La Luna (Live in Concert)

Customer Reviews:

harem .......2007-05-28

As usual a quick and effecient service ,especially for people who live abroad.Keep up the excellent work John Williams.

New to Sarah Brightman.......2007-03-12

I'm very new to Sarah brightman's music and I enjoy this CD. I think she has an amazing voice. Very talented young woman and this cd was very relaxing and joyful to listen to. I like to learn and heard more from Sarah Brightman.

Stranger in Paradise - More Like Stranger in a Lost Cause.......2006-12-30

I'm not throughly pleased with this album! This CD is only good if you know how to dance in a Middle-Easters fashion. About half of each track is dominated by all orchestrations and no Sarah. Plus, Pop-Sarah isn't really for me. I much prefer the Classical-Sarah. Some of the tracks are okay, like "Harem", "The Journey Home", "Beautiful", and "Stranger in Paradise". Really, this is a good CD for your collection, but I wouldn't listen to it on a 24/7 basis.

No voice like hers in the world.......2006-10-01

I own this cd. I saw her in person at the "Harem" concert. Never had I heard or seen any voice like this. What a performer, best concert I'd ever seen. Beautiful voice, I can never get enough of Sarah Brightman's music. It is so comforting at times. I have all her music and this cd makes you wonder, how can she top this? Thank you Sarah Brightman for giving us your beautiful gift of music.

Brilliant Brightman, Her best CD........2006-09-18

Sarah is just the best, she can hit any note and her individuality shines on this CD. She sings "The Journey Home" from the musical Bombay Dreams and her voice just soars. "Harem", "Mysterious Ways" and "You Take My Breah Away" are songs that take me to dreamland. Amazing! A master piece!

City of Angels (1990 Original Broadway Cast)

Average customer rating:

Fun Show, Average Score
Cleverness personified
Fantastic Jazz Musical That's FUN!!!
Great Jazz-Oriented Score
I love it!

City of Angels (1990 Original Broadway Cast)
Cy Coleman , David Zippel , James Naughton , and Randy Graff
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000272K
Release Date: 1990-02-09

Tracks:

Prologue-Theme From City Of Angels
Double Talk
What You Don't Know About Women
You Gotta Look Out For Yourself
The Buddy System
With Every Breath I Take
The Tennis Song
Ev'rybody's Gotta Be Somewhere
Lost And Found
All You Have To Do Is Wait
You're Nothing Without Me
Stay With Me
You Can Always Count On Me
Alaura's Theme
It Needs Work
L.A. Blues
With Every Breath I Take-Duet
Funny
I'm Nothing Without You
Epilogue-Theme From City Of Angels
Double Talk Walk

Amazon.com

Cy Coleman and David Zippel's City of Angels is a seductive depiction of 1940s Los Angeles, capturing swinging jazz, torchy ballads, witty lyrics, and even a Manhattan Transfer-like Greek chorus (arranged by ManTran guru Yaron Gershovsky). James Naughton and Gregg Edelman star as Stone and Stine, respectively a tough Raymond Chandleresque PI and the writer who dreams up his adventures. Randy Graff plays Stone's long-suffering secretary and Dee Hoty the requisite femme fatale. Loads of atmosphere and tasty songs such as "What You Don't Know About Women," "With Every Breath I Take," "You're Nothing Without Me," and "You Can Always Count on Me" make City of Angels a modern classic. It won 1990 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Leading Actor (Naughton), Featured Actress (Graff), Best Book (Larry Gelbart), and Best Original Score. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Fun Show, Average Score.......2007-02-21

Fun show, ingenuos concept, so-so score, with one exception. The ballad With Every Breath I Take is brilliant. One of Coleman's best pieces.

Cleverness personified.......2006-10-16

A duet between an author and the character he created, each claiming "you're nothing without me," is just one example of how sharp, witty and clever show is, with an unusual score, jazzy and bluesy and very 1940s, and some of the best lyrics I know.

Fantastic Jazz Musical That's FUN!!!.......2006-04-14

City of Angels is an incredibly fun, classy, and jazzy musical that delivers. Stellar vocal performances are provided by the entire cast, particularly the female end. The fact that Randy Graff was the only female from this cast nominated at the Tony Awards that year floors me. Kay McClelland and Rachel York deserved nods for their powerful solos, With Every Breath I Take and Lost Found, alone. These two songs are also the type of sultry, jazz solos that one would expect in the 40's, which is why the show works. The music is completely period with when the show takes place, and that's why I love it. The best tracks are:

3) What You Don't Know About Women
6) With Every Breath I Take (destined to be a classic)
9) Lost and Found (wonderful solo)
10) All You Have To Do Is Wait (FUN! FUN! FUN SONG!!! Hilarious as well)
11) You're Nothing Without Me
13) You Can Always Count On Me (Randy Graff's Tony!)

Great Jazz-Oriented Score.......2005-06-25

1990 Tony winner for Best Musical, "City Of Angels" contains a great score, filled with jazz-oriented melodies & torch songs. Not all the songs are terrific, but most of the score lends itself to repeat listenings. Best tracks include:

Double Talk
What You Don't Know About Women
With Every Breath I Take [beautiful song!]
Lost And Found
You're Nothing Without Me [the show's hit]
You Can Always Count On Me
Funny

Great cast ... great buy!

I love it!.......2005-02-22

This is one of my favorite soundtracks ever! Since I'm going to be working on music for the show, I'm happy that this is the case. It has been in my CD player for a few weeks now, and there's enough variety for it not to get old. But having read through the script makes the lyrics infinitely wittier. Musicals are supposed to rely partially on the lyrics and partially on the script. This show does that perfectly. Without the script, the lyrics are (apparently) lacking. But without the lyrics, the script is missing something. When you put the two pieces together, however, it's really easy to see why this show won a Tony.

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