Howard & David

1. Wheels

2. Season of the Wind

3. Single Man and His Wife

4. I'm Gonna Hurt Her on the Radio

5. Feeling the Feeling

6. You're My Favorite Waste of Time

7. Let to You for Your Love

8. Old Hippie (The Sequel)

9. Everybody's Somebody's Darlin'

10. Jeannie Rae

Howard & David,The Bellamy Brothers,Curb,Contemporary Country,Country-Pop,Country-Rock,Urban Cowboy

Average customer rating: Put This In A Black Hole filling the gap Stripes of Grandeur Simply Astounding Amazing Band!!

Black Holes and Revelations Muse Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Absolution Sam's Town Origin of Symmetry Under the Iron Sea Eyes Open ASIN: B000FVQYYK Release Date: 2006-07-11

Tracks:

1. Take A Bow
2. Starlight
3. Supermassive Black Hole
4. Map Of The Problematique
5. Soldier's Poem
6. Invincible
7. Assassin
8. Exo-Politics
9. City Of Delusion
10. Hoodoo
11. Knights Of Cydonia

Amazon.com

Sounding like the confident, ambitious superstars they already are in their native UK, Muse follows up their breakthrough Absolution with an album that tempers the trio's unabashed grandiosity and apocalyptic obsessions with a smart pop groove. The minimalist angst of the opening "Take A Bow" may bridge the goth-pop conceits of the collection's successful predecessor, but those expectations are quickly kicked aside by "Starlight"'s synth-pop bliss, the falsettoed, space-disco thump of "Supermassive Black Hole" and the chilly, New Wave redux sheen of "Map of the Problematic"; so much for being held hostage to those early Radiohead comparisons. Indeed, on the lilting "Soldier's Poem" vocalist Matthew Bellamy cannily channels Freddie Mercury while "Assassin" pulses with the familiar metallic nerve and lyrical dread of Muse past. But by the time "Knights of Cydonia" erupts in a wrenching, melodramatic climax that somehow fuses ELP, Davie Allan, Procul Harum and Chris Isaak with enough giddy abandon to suspend disbelief, Muse have long since proved their case as genre-be-damned rock world-beaters. --Jerry McCulley

Album Description

In 2004, U.K. favorite Muse broke through in the U.S. with Absolution and major performances across America that won legions of new fans. In 2006, Muse takes a bold new step with Black Holes And Revelations, a powerful, upbeat epic album that takes the band's music to a whole dimension. Once again co-produced by Rich Costey (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave), Muse incorporates influences from electronica and Prince to pure pop. The album is sure to be a revelation to those still unfamiliar with the 2005 Brit award winner for Best Live Act who headlines this summer's Reading and Leeds festivals.

Customer Reviews:

Put This In A Black Hole.......2007-07-17

I bought this album because I went to a lyric site and their lyrics for a song on Absolution were insightful. Once I received the album I was consumed with disappointment. This world is suffering from the disease of delusion, religion is the opiate of the masses, and it is more destructive than heroin. The ignorance of musicians spouting their idiotic rhetoric, which perpetuates the myths that god exists and we have souls is sickening. Lyrics are a main component of music and musicians have to write lyrics that people can relate to in order to provide catharsis. Hopefully this band will cease to exist so intelligent artists will thrive in our culture and challenge the ignorance that infects everything.

filling the gap.......2007-07-16

a powerful, sonic stimulant that breathes fresh life into the current rock world. At their best, they capture the excitement of a band like Depeche Mode, delivering rhythmic surprises at every turn while being accessible and addictive. Muse demonstrates a deft combination of guitars with synths and manages to fill the gap left between the purists on either side. They are melodic and soothing while rocking.

The Killers are coming to town (for which I already have tickets) but Muse is showing up a few days later...think I'm gonna have to try to swing this one, as well.

Stripes of Grandeur.......2007-07-16

Absoltuion in my opinion is the most perfect album ever made. Not because it's my favorite, but the songs shift perfectly as if to form a soundtrack to an dramatically epic movie.

Black Holes unfortunately has too many lacking songs. The majority of the album is mediocre and not really catchy, however its key tracks are the best muse has ever made. First of all, "Starlight" is their first attempt at an uplifting track the end result is honestly the best song i have ever heard. I swear i've been trying for a year and i can't get sick of it.

"Map of the Problematique" is also better than any other song muse has recorded. It's fast yet haunting in the most sinister way. This song grips me in a way i cant ignore. It continues to get more and more eerie as the song goes on, without letting the beat get stale. I just can never stop raving about this song, i think it's gorgeous and one of the best songs ever written. The only reason i like starlight more is because i'm just not depressed enough for this song 24/7.

"City of Delusion" and "Knights of Cydonnia" are also very catchy tracks that i listen to regularly. They allow muse to tap into a downing rock that isnt dark enough to enter a state of overdramatic. This is how they broke away from Absolution. Other than that the rest of the album is kind of a wash. It wont bore you, but you wont be placing them on repeat.

If nothing else, download "starlgiht" and "Map of the Problematique." These 2 tracks are arguably muse's finest and must be admired.

Simply Astounding.......2007-07-06

Much like thier earlier works and but still a brand new sound.

Take a Bow is reminicent of thier older Radioheadeaque sound while Black Holes and Revelations contains more of a funk sound to it.

And if anyone is interested in the upcoming Guitar Here. Knights of Cydonia, which is also on this albulm, will be on it.

Amazing Band!!.......2007-07-05

This band is so amazing. With each listen of the cd it continues to get better!!! They have so much depth.

Average customer rating: Great CD Music from my all-time favorite Disney movie, plus some! Original Bway Cast Recording is not what the show ended up being i am pretty upset! Wonderful score

Disney's Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) Alan Menken , Howard Ashman , and Tim Rice Manufacturer: Disney ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Disney Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Lion King (1997 Original Broadway Cast) Disney's Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical Aida (2000 Original Broadway Cast) Mary Poppins (2005 Original London Cast) Tarzan - The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B00000DT8E Release Date: 1994-04-26

Tracks:

1. Act I: Prologue (The Enchantress) - Wendy Oliver
2. Act I: Belle - Susan Egan/Burke Moses/Kenny Raskin/Sarah Solie Shannon/Paige Price/Linda Talcott...
3. Act I: No Matter What - Tom Bosley/Susan Egan
4. Act I: No Matter What (Reprise) / Wolf Chase - Tom Bosley
5. Act I: Me - Burke Moses/Susan Egan
6. Act I: Belle (Reprise) - Susan Egan
7. Act I: Home - Susan Egan
8. Act I: Home (Reprise) - Beth Fowler
9. Act I: Gaston - Kenny Raskin/Burke Moses/Sarah Solie Shannon/Paige Price/Linda Talcott...
10. Act I: Gaston (Reprise) - Burke Moses/Kenny Raskin
11. Act I: How Long Must This Go On? - Terrence Mann
12. Act I: Be Our Guest - Gary Beach/Beth Fowler/Heath Lamberts/Barbara Marineau/Brian Press/Stacey Logan...
13. Act I: If I Can't Love Her - Terrence Mann
14. Act II: Entr'acte / Wolf Chase - Original Cast
15. Act II: Something There - Susan Egan/Terrence Mann/Gary Beach/Beth Fowler/Heath Lamberts
16. Act II: Human Again - Gary Beach/Barbara Marineau/Heath Lamberts/Stacey Logan/Brian Press...
17. Act II: Maison Des Lunes - Burke Moses/Kenny Raskin/Gordon Stanley
18. Act II: Beauty And The Beast - Beth Fowler
19. Act II: If I Can't Love Her (Reprise) - Terrence Mann
20. Act II: The Mob Song - Burke Moses/Kenny Raskin/Gordon Stanley...
21. Act II: The Battle - Original Broadway Cast
22. Act II: End Duet / Transformation - Terrence Mann/Susan Egan
23. Beauty And The Beast (Reprise) - Original Broadway Cast

Amazon.com

Way back in 1991, many of us saw the single-handed salvation and revival of the old-fashioned American-style Broadway musical comedy. True, it was in the form of a feature-length Disney cartoon, but Beauty and the Beast had it all: a wonderful, tuneful score (including a huge hit title-song), off-the-wall choreography, a great opposites-attract love story with an ultimately happy ending, comic subplots, colorful period costumes, a romantic location in small-town France, and an irresistible cast, including Angela Lansbury as the voice of a teapot. Alan Menken's songs, with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, literally introduced the characters ("Belle" and "Gaston") and carried them gracefully through the old fairy tale with its new animated twists. Disney understandably decided to transpose this cinematic miracle to the Broadway stage in 1992. Beauty and the Beast at the fabled Palace Theatre has done as much as anything to revive New York's theatre district; it led to a similar animated film-to-stage transfer of The Lion King, which allowed for the magnificent restoration of the 1902 New Amsterdam Theatre, which was the cornerstone of the cleanup of 42nd Street, which in turn transformed Times Square and "Broadway" into the world's number-one tourist destination. And we're all terribly grateful. But, on stage, Beauty and the Beast was flat, and most of that lack of fizz is, alas, captured on compact disc. The good songs are all here, such as "Be Our Guest," but the performances of them are mostly perfunctory--the exception being the vocal renderings of Susan Egan as Belle, the Beauty. Further, the Disneyfication of the Broadway musical seems to extend to faceless and interchangeable (read: cheap to hire) players, a practice that extends to The Lion King. The only "names" in the original Beauty and the Beast cast were Beth Howland as the teapot and Tom Bosley, a mere shadow of his former Fiorello, as Belle's father. Even worse, unlike The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast was not reinvented for the stage. It's my theory that the kids who made up the live audience (and many of their parents) were filling in the blanks from repeated viewings of the cartoon on video. If you're willing to do the same when only listening, this CD might do. But why, when the movie soundtrack album is available? --Robert Windeler

Customer Reviews:

Great CD.......2007-07-16

I bought this for my wife and daughter before they went to see the play on broadway. They really enjoyed listening to the music before seeing the play. Great for all ages.

Music from my all-time favorite Disney movie, plus some!.......2007-06-28

This show was the first broadway show I ever saw. Of course it was a good choice for me, because the source material is my favorite Disney movie, and one of my top ten favorite movies, period.

All the original music from the movie is here, and (somewhat surprisingly) all the songs they added for broadway fit in seamlessly and really add to character development. The new songs are:

"Me" - this is one of my favorite additions, it's a semi-proposal from Gaston to Belle and the lyrics are very funny. Makes me laugh every time I hear it.

"Home" - A song Belle sings when she first comes to the Beast's castle, it shows her determination in the face of despair. Beautiful vocals by Susan Egan, who makes a great Belle. She also plays Megara in "Hercules"

"If I Can't Love Her" - A song for the Beast that helps to make him a sympathetic character earlier in the show. It is a good song and fulfills its purpose, but I am not a big fan of the actor who plays the Beast

"Mason de Lunes" - Another song for Gaston as he lays down his plan to lock Belle's father in the insane asylum. Not as funny as "Me" but still great.

Out of all the new and old songs, however, my favorite music on the cd is the instrumental "Transformation" I could listen to that every day.

Original Bway Cast Recording is not what the show ended up being.......2007-06-22

If you are looking for an accurate recording of the Broadway show (that is available for rental through MTI), you should get the London or Australian Cast Recording of the show. The OBCR was recorded BEFORE the Broadway run even started rehearsals, so it does not reflect many, many lyric changes, music changes, and dance arrangements that happened between the show's Houston tryout and Broadway opening. Granted, there are waonderful performances on this CD, but if you want to know what the show ended up being for nealry all of its thirteen-plus-year run, get London.

i am pretty upset!.......2007-06-09

ok, so i love beauty and the beast and broadway, but this cd makes me mad. it doesn't have the song "A Change in Me" that is from the broadway musical. and for the song "Home," it doesn't have the lyrics from the show, it has the alternate lyrics that are meant to be used when you sing the song anywhere but the show. the lyrics that are written in the book that came with the cd are the musical lyrics, but she doens't sing them. it is an ok cd, but if you can find a better one, please get that one and don't make the same mistake i did!

Wonderful score.......2007-05-09

After seeing a high-school production of Beauty & the Beast I felt the need to buy the soundtrack. It is wonderful-made me want to go see it on Broadway.

Average customer rating: Awesome. Amazing! Excellent recording and two formats The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - The Complete Recordings A bit pricey but well worth the coin!

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - The Complete Recordings Howard Shore and The London Philharmonic Orchestra Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Film Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - The Complete Recordings The Children of Húrin The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Theatrical and Extended Limited Edition) Pan's Labyrinth Casino Royale ASIN: B000IZJZIK Release Date: 2006-11-07

Tracks:

1. Glamdring
2. Elven Rope
3. Lost in Emyn Muil
4. My Precious
5. Ugluk's Warriors
6. Three Hunters
7. Banishment of mer
8. Night Camp
9. Plains of Rohan
10. Fangorn
11. Dead Marshes
12. "Wraiths on Wings"
13. Gandalf the White
14. Dreams of Trees
15. Heir of Numenor
16. Ent-Draught

Tracks:

1. Edoras
2. Court of Meduseld
3. Theoden King
4. King's Decision
5. Exodus from Edoras
6. Forests of Ithilian
7. One of the Dunedain
8. Wolves of Isengard
9. Refuge at Helm's Deep
10. Voice of Saruman
11. Arwen's Fate
12. Story Foretold
13. Sons of the Steward
14. Rock and Pool
15. Faramir's Good Council

Tracks:

1. Aragorn's Return
2. War Is Upon Us
3. "Where Is the Horse and the Rider?"
4. Host of the Eldar
5. Battle of the Hornburg
6. Breach of the Deeping Wall
7. Entmoot Decides
8. Retreat
9. Master Peregrin's Plan
10. Last March of the Ents
11. Nazgtack
12. Thon Rides Forth
13. Tales That Really Matter
14. "Long Ways to Go Yet"

Tracks:

1. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers [Complete Score][Multimedia Track]

Album Description

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers film's entire score composed, orchestrated, conducted, and produced by Howard Shore. The set encompasses three CDs plus a DVD-audio disc featuring the score in four superior sound configurations.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome........2007-07-12

I love Lord Of The Ring soundtracks and this one is as good as the others. If you like the soundtracks you'll love the complete recordings. Thank you mister Shore for such a great time listening to this music.
Now waiting for The Return Of The King's Complete Recordings.

Amazing!.......2007-07-07

This is a must have for any Lord of the Rings fan or even any fan of music in general. I fell in love with the score to this beautiful trilogy and this complete set is perfect. I can't wait for the third installment!

Excellent recording and two formats.......2007-06-12

As of recent, I have starting collecting again film music and the Lord of the Rings complete recordings was a natural.

The sound quality is very good and the packaging would make any collector of Lord of the Rings memorabilia quite happy. (I am not a collector but still appreciate the packaging.)

Contained in the package are cds with the tracks which I aptly moved to my computer in lossless format and also a DVD. The DVD turns out to be the entire collection of the CDS presented in DVD format with a menu. - Nice touch.

While I can't tell the difference of quality between the CDs and the DVD, I like the DVD set up when I want music in the background while I am working away.

Overall, a terrific collection and some my be disuaded by the price but I found this to be a particularly good set of recordings and well worth the cost.

Both "Two Towers" and "the Fellowship" are available and I'll wait for the 3rd to become available later (hopefully).

Let's be clear here - quality recordings, two formats provided, nice packaging for those that need it and a little costly. I can live with the latter and enjoy the music as anticipated.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - The Complete Recordings.......2007-05-09

onl for collector..

A bit pricey but well worth the coin!.......2007-04-26

Before viewing The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, I didn't think that anyone with great skill was composing music in the classical, romantic period style, anymore. I stand corrected! Howard Shore's music for the three LOTRs movies just blew me away. I rarely buy movie soundtracks because the soundtracks, divorced from the movie, don't stand up as well crafted pieces of music, on their own. If you have decent speakers, in your home theater set up, and a player that decodes 5.1 DVD-Audio soundtracks (I have a player that decodes both high end audio formats: SACD and DVD-A.) The sountrack on the DVD-A disk (5.1 channel, 3D sound!!), is phenominal! The use of the human voice as both a musical instrument and in songs to convey a message is something that I especially like in classical music and is iceing on the cake in Howard Shore's compositions. That he wrote music to take advantage of the vocal skills, of each individual vocalist, is one example of many where Howard Shore went the extra mile in composing his musical masterpieces for each movie.

Average customer rating: Sound Quality not perfect on CD Before Sondheim's COMPANY and after MAN OF LA MANCHA... Overrated Tony Award Winner Brilliant, Definitive and Remarkably Accurate! Saw this on Broadway

1776 (1969 Original Broadway Cast) Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD 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 Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: 1776 (Restored Director's Cut) 1776: The New Broadway Cast Recording (1997) 1776: A Musical Play (Penguin Plays) Shenandoah (1975 Original Broadway Cast) Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B0000027WJ Release Date: 1992-05-19

Tracks:

1. Overture - Orchestra
2. Sit Down, John
3. Piddle, Twiddle And Resolve/Till Then
4. The Lees Of Old Virginia
5. But, Mr. Adams
6. Yours, Yours, Yours
7. He Plays The Violin
8. Cool, Cool, Considerate Men
9. Momma Look Sharp
10. The Egg
11. Molasses To Rum
12. Is Anybody There
13. Finale

Amazon.com

Evidence that one can make a musical about anything, Exhibit A: 1776. As one might expect, the whole concept of making a musical about the creation and signing of the Declaration of Independence was greeted in the late 1960s with, well, ridicule. The show debuted on Broadway in 1969, and three years later, when its run finally ended, it was its producers who had the last laugh. In addition, it toured for an additional two years and beat out Hair (in 1969 yet!) for a Tony Award. This recording, with the original Broadway cast, includes many of the same actors who went on to star in the film, the version with which most audiences today are probably familiar. One notable exception is Rex Everhart, who replaced Howard da Silva at some performances and on this recording. But there's still William Daniels as John Adams, though in some cases his performance is more subdued than it was on film. Musically, 1776 is an odd creation, considering when it came into being. As one might expect, there's a lot of fife and drum going on, especially in the opening number and during "The Lees of Old Virginia." For those less than familiar with the plot, it hinges on the idealism of Adams, who's trying his best to back up the American Revolution with some legislative action, and spends much of his time arguing with either the Continental Congress or God, as in "Piddle, Twiddle, and Resolve": "A second flood, a simple famine / Plagues of locusts everywhere / Or a cataclysmic earthquake / I'd accept with some despair / But no, you sent us Congress / Good God, sir, was that fair?" (One could argue that he gets further with God.) While not entirely historically accurate, and containing some rather peculiar numbers (Franklin, Jefferson, and Adams sitting around debating what their new country's national bird is going to be ranks among the oddest), there's no questioning 1776's staying power. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

Sound Quality not perfect on CD.......2007-07-18

This is a new CD, overall quality and amazon procedure were excellent. The CD itself on a few songs fails to provide enough amplification to the background chorus or secondary singer, thus I must strain to actually hear both duet parts, with the latter almost inaudible. For example, Lee's of Old Virginia, Till Then, and Who will write our new declaration. It is not in my players, but within the CD. I actually ordered this because I wanted Violin by Betty Buckley and am satisfied with the reproduction overall, but it also has the audio problems with Adams and Franklins lines within the song

Before Sondheim's COMPANY and after MAN OF LA MANCHA..........2007-04-30

For me, 1776 is a great companion to MAN OF LA MANCHA as one of the most entertaining AND intellectually worthy amalgams of music, lyrics, book, theme, plot, characterizations and dialogue to ever come out of pre-1970's Broadway musical theatre. Each song is like a little gem, and displays the broad range of emotions and ideas with which 1776 brims. Satiric, romantic, hilarious, heartbreaking, disturbing, dark, inspiring, thoughtful, humane, and even a little bawdy, the songs glide and tromp all over the map, as does the show itself. As with LA MANCHA, 1776 broke open the Broadway musical, making it a pitch-perfect example of what can truly make a musical more than a toe-tapping time killer... while never becoming tedious, pompous, windy, or dull. If anything, it crackles with suspense.

And as to the reviewer who was shocked that it would win out over HAIR? Listen to "Mamma Look Sharp" or "Molasses to Rum to Slaves" to hear exactly the play's political and often-unflattering ideological landscape. This was definitely a Vietnam-era play whose content was as disturbingly pertinent, then, as it is, now. And, despite all of this, the score and play never become leaden or preachy. On the contrary, each performance is a gem, and each character is witty and unique. Who knew that history could be a passionate and fun adventure?

Overrated Tony Award Winner.......2006-06-16

How could this musical win the Tony award having as a competitor a play like HAIR which - for many people - stands as an emblematic theatre piece of the 60's? Who remembers a tune out of this musical? On the contrary, "Aquarius", "I Got Life" or "Walking in Space" are still popular and they play all over the world. Even ZORBA and PROMISES PROMISES - both candidates for the award in the same year - have songs that are still remembered. 1776 may wake up patriotic feelings to American listeners which is quite understandable but the music and songs are old-fashioned, overrated and awfully boring.

Brilliant, Definitive and Remarkably Accurate!.......2005-12-18

1776 has become an institution, thanks to the motion picture which was made of this original Broadway show, and which starred most of the cast from the theatrical production. It gets rerun every July 4th week on some movie channel or local station!

William Daniels IS John Adams to many people, and even though the story of the birth of the United States probably wasn't this lyrical and lively, Composer Sherman Edwards was historically accurate in the facts of the tale.

In addition to learning about the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this is also love story... in fact two love stories, with John Adams and his wife Abigail, separated by circumstance and interacting only in his mind, and Thomas Jefferson and his wife, Martha, here, played by the big throated (and now legendary) Betty Buckley.

There is also a sense of fraternity, with the members of the Continental Congress grappling with the concept of breaking away from a tyranical ruler. And even though you know the outcome, the story is still filled with tension and excitement in the mechanics of it. Just how DID this country get formed?

The disc's liner notes explain the show's libretto and give you some rare behind-the-scenes info about the creation of the musical, the challenges it faced before becoming the standard that it now is, and a bit about the amazing Mr. Edwards, which is a story worthy of being told as well.

It's an Independence Day must!

Saw this on Broadway .......2005-11-12

Saw this show, with original cast, on Broadway in '69 and it has stayed with me ever since then. Every time I listen to these songs, I laugh. The historical figures (done with some tongue-in-cheek) are highly entertaining and even better if you see the movie. I would recommend the dvd for a great, lighthearted evening, and good family entertainment. You can't miss with this one! A winner on all fronts.

Average customer rating: Beautiful Awesome Excellent Music tracks from Movie Complete? Great Collection, Poor Packaging

The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - The Complete Recordings Howard Shore Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Film Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - The Complete Recordings The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Ringers - Lord of the Fans The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Theatrical and Extended Limited Edition) ASIN: B000BNI90O Release Date: 2005-12-13

Tracks:

1. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Prologue: One Ring ...
2. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/The Shire
3. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Bag End (Featuring ...)
4. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Very Old Friends
5. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Flaming Red Hair
6. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Farewell Dear Bilbo
7. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Keep It Secret, Keep ...
8. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/A Conspiracy Unmasked
9. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Three Is Company
10. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/The Passing of the Elves
11. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Saruman the White
12. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/A Shortcut to Mushrooms
13. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Strider
14. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/The Nazgul ...

Tracks:

1. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Weathertop
2. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/The Caverns of Isengard
3. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Give Up the Halfling
4. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Orthanc
5. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Rivendell
6. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/The Sword That Was ...
7. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/The Council of ...
8. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/The Great Eye
9. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Gilraen's Memorial
10. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/The Pass of Caradhras
11. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/The Doors of Durin
12. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Moria
13. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Gollum
14. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Balin's Tomb

Tracks:

1. Khazad-Dum
2. Caras Galadhon (featuring Lament for Gandalf, performed by Elizabeth Fraser)
3. The Mirror of Galadriel
4. The Fighting Uruk-hai
5. Parth Galen
6. The Departure of Boromir
7. The Road Goes Ever On (part 1)
8. May It Be (composed and performed by Enya)
9. The Road Goes Ever On (part 2. featuring In Dreams, perfomed by Edward Ross)
10. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Khazad-D
11. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Caras Galadhon ...
12. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/The Mirror of Galadriel
13. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/The Fighting Uruk-Hai
14. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Parth Galen
15. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/The Departure of Boromir
16. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/The Road Goes Ever ...
17. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/May It Be
18. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/The Road Goes Ever ...

Amazon.com

As fans of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy know, each film exists in two versions: the theatrical one and the extended one that appeared on DVD. This luxurious box set--which also comes with a detailed essay on the movie's musical themes--features the full extended score, so many cues not on the CDs of the individual movies are included. Granted, the majority of listeners will be perfectly happy with the shorter versions of the scores--it's a safe bet that most people can live without hearing, say, Ian McKellen's 35-second-long ditty "The Road Goes Ever On" at the beginning of "Bag End," or Viggo Mortensen's performance of his own composition, "The Song of Lúthien," within the track "The Nazgûl." But if you're a completist and/or a devotee of Howard Shore's pounding tympani and overwhelming choral compositions (featured particularly prominently on disc 3, a large chunk of which is devoted to a battle scene), then this set is a dream come true. Audiophiles should note that the fourth disc, a DVD, offers the score in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Fire up those speakers so the whole shire can hear. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

An epic film score receives epic treatment with The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring/Complete Recordings. Released for the first time on CD, the complete score for the first film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy contains more than 180 minutes of music on three CDs plus a DVD-Audio disc of the entire score in Surround Sound. Breathtaking and majestic, the 2001 Oscar and Grammy winning score compsted by Howard Shore also includes Enya's Oscar nominated "May It Be." For fans of any of The Lord of the Rings films, the Fellowship of the Ring/Complete Recordings is an essential experience.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-06-15

I picked up this set because I am both a LOTR fan, movies and books and I need music to help me work. There are some tracks that I skipped over, like the short little ditties in the bar, but many of the songs, such as the Elvish chants are easy to get lost in - its just too bad they don't last longer. The packaging really is well done, though the DVD disc was loose when I received it in the mail, but unharmed. I will have to wait until the price on the second set comes down a little more, but I can't wait for ROTK.

Awesome.......2007-06-12

This is by far the editon to get if you loved the lord of the rings soundtrack. It has every song on it from the extended edition. and the DVD-A version is very nice.

Excellent Music tracks from Movie.......2007-05-03

Brings the movie back as you listen to the full version of the track.

Complete?.......2007-04-07

This CD collection is wonderful; it has much of the material from the movie that was only included in the extended edition DVD, but it is far from complete. While it does have the complete version of "The Passing of the Elves" and two versions of "The Road Goes Ever On", many of the songs are highly incomplete and inferior to the originals. "Aniron," the theme for Aragorn and Arwen performed by Enya, is incomplete and the lyrics are hard to match to what is being sung. The sound quality for this song is even worse on the accompanying DVD, which is supposed to have all of the music in "superior sound". The song "Prophecy" is reduced to two barely-audible lines and "May It Be" is shortened and different than the original. $60 for this when there are more complete songs on the original soundtrack is ridiculous.

Great Collection, Poor Packaging.......2007-04-03

I realy can't add to what others have said about this set, the music is simply the best LOTR soundtrack collection out there! It is all here, and the contents of this set will make any LOTR fan happy and the music DVD is a great one disc addition if you want to hear the entire score in one sitting (to which I have done a number of times already).
My only complaint is the somewhat flimsy cardboard box that houses the contents of this musical treasure. Mine came damaged, and considering the price, I expected better packaging. This is a minor quabble on my part and NO, I havent returned it due to the fact that the music itself Is what I truly treasure, It just would have been nicer to have recieved it undamaged.

Music-5
Packaging-3

*for the record I had rated this Item 5 stars not the 3 stars that is showing at the top of my review*

Average customer rating: The music is good but the movie is better A grand sountrack... Lord of the Rings Original Soundtracks, films 1 and 3 Awe inspiring! It is the best of the three CDs!!!

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Film Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Celtic New Age | New Age | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl Gladiator: Music from the Motion Picture Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ASIN: B00005QZWI Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

1. The Prophecy
2. Concerning Hobbits
3. The Shadow Of The Past
4. The Treason Of Isengard
5. The Black Rider
6. At The Sign Of The Prancing Pony
7. A Knife In The Dark
8. Flight To The Ford
9. Many Meetings
10. The Council Of Elrond [featuring the song "Aniron (Theme For Aragorn And Arwen)" composed & performed by Enya]
11. The Ring Goes South
12. A Journey In The Dark
13. The Bridge Of Khazad Dum
14. Lothlorien
15. The Great River
16. Amon Hen
17. The Breaking Of The Fellowship
18. May It Be [composed & performed by Enya]

Amazon.com

Score composer Howard Shore has informed this first installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy with his distinctly modern sensibilities. Revolving loosely around a brief, heroic brass theme, this epic is infused with a powerful rhythmic thrust and a musical range that encompasses centuries (from the Renaissance pastoralism of "Concerning Hobbits" to the fiery, Prokofiev-influenced drama of "A Knife in the Dark"). Key to the score's sense of mystery and magical place are the rich choral passages that are interspersed throughout, some so ominously gothic they make The Phantom Menace's "Duel of the Fates" sound almost sunny by comparison. Enya's contributions ("The Council of Elrond" and the song "May It Be") add a sense of organic tranquility, but it's Shore's Wagnerian-scaled orchestral score that should long be cherished by admirers of film music and hobbits alike. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

The music is good but the movie is better.......2007-04-10

I really enjoyed the 3 series of The Lord of the Rings movie so I wanted the music. The soundtracks are good but if you like the movie the soundtracks watch the movie. They remind you of certain parts in the movie like the song Concerning Hobbits. The song is whimsical. Enyna has a great voice, very haunting. The Ring Goes South is another favorite of mine. I can enjoy these soundtracks as classical or dramatic music. I bought them because I loved the Lord of the Rings which has many similarities to Braveheart. Bravery, courage, strength, honesty, selflessness, love and other good human qualities people try to attain and admire them in the people and movies they view.

A grand sountrack..........2007-01-10

One of Howard Shore's best soundtracks around. The music is strong enough to tell its own separate story apart from FOTR. You will never tire of the heart-pounding excitement from The Bridge of Kazaad-Dum track.

Lord of the Rings Original Soundtracks, films 1 and 3.......2006-11-08

Having made an earlier mistake of buying 2 C.D.'s which were not original soundtrack, I can truthfully say these are the best. If you are a Lord of the Rings fan, look no further - no one does it better than The London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by the composer Howard Shore. You will be back in Middle Earth reliving all those wonderful scenes. I bought only The Fellowship of the Ring and The Return of the King from Amazon.com because I already had the Two Towers from Amazon.co.uk and I would recommend all three - magical.

Awe inspiring!.......2006-10-02

What can I say that hasn't already been said about Howard Shore's magnificent score for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy? A soundtrack can define the whole atmosphere of a film, and this fully orchestrated work certainly does that with sweep, splendor and wonder, alternately humanizing (hobbit-izing?) the characters, imbuing the landscape with magic and capturing the world-shaking impact of events of mythic proportions. And this was no easy task considering the iconoclastic status of the story and the superb quality of Peter Jackson's filmmaking. This is a truly a soundtrack for the ages--a fitting accompaniment to a film for the ages! Every aspect of life, from the extreme to the mundane, is captured in this music. Listening to it can make every remembered moment of the movie come alive again in your mind, from the most horrific battle to the smallest moment of humor or kindness. I think this first one is my favorite of the three "Lord of the Rings" soundtracks. I enjoy the juxtaposition of the lighter moments, like the sweet, simple hobbit theme, with the grander and more menacing sections of the music. (That despite the fact that said hobbit theme begins exactly like the first phrase of the Protestant hymn "This Is My Father's World," which prompts me to think of the hobbits trouping off to Sunday school every time I hear it. But now when I hear the hymn, I think of Lord of the Rings, so I suppose all's fair!) What impressed me most as I watched "The Fellowship of the Ring" was how scary the music was when the hobbits were being pursued. Those relentless drums and eerily screaming drums made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, even though I knew the story like the back of my hand and knew for a fact that the poor little heroes would manage to escape. But the music truly made me wonder otherwise ... Now that's good composition! And the fact that the filmmakers chose to include background music in so many of the scenes, almost continuously ... well, that's just good filmmaking! The other impressive thing about Howard Shore's score is how the voicing and repeating motifs tie the whole thing together, like the finest of symphonies. The total effect is utterly convincing and utterly transporting. Peter Jackson chose well when he picked Shore as his score writer. Very, very well! Be sure to get the scores from the other two movies in the trilogy as well - "The Two Towers" and "Return of the King." They seem to be available in no end of different packagings, including ones with bonus DVDs about the creation of the score. Also, make sure to get the extended edition DVDs of the movie itself, with hours and hours of fascinating commentaries and behind-the-scenes documentaries about the making of the films. Truly a bargain at any price! And for more seminal soundtracks, try John Williams' defining scores for the "Star Wars" series and Basil Poledouris's spectacular score for the original "Conan the Barbarian."

It is the best of the three CDs!!!.......2006-09-10

For me, the music of the first sequel is my favourite since this is also the sequel that I prefer in the trilogy (I remember being blown away by the quality of this movie, the actors, the setting, the action scenes, the special effects, the moving relationships between all the characters and of coourse the music)
I think that the other CDs are a bit repetitive once you've got this one, even if I still like the music of the second soundtrack 'The Two Towers'. As for the 3rd sequel, I seldom listen to it as there is only one track that I like, 'The Return of the King'.
Now, this first CD of the trilogy is actually very good. Thanks to Enya, it is haunting and the songs are beautiful. There are a few eery but melodious songs like 'The Council of Elrond', 'Lothlorien', 'May it Be'. I love the change of tempo, the balance between fast and slow movements in 'A Knife in the Dark', 'Flight to the ford', and 'Amon Hen' which is my favourite piece (the Death of Boromir) with the oboe sound mixed with the beat of the drums and finaly the haunting voice of the singer. Track 17 is also worth listening. I like this CD because you've got different tempos and melodies and Anya is a great singer to me. But I also enjoy listening to Emiliana Torrini's song 'Gollum's Song'in the second soundtrack...

Average customer rating: Gollum's Song - Haunting and Brilliant Amazing! Wow. This is some powerful music indeed... Wonderfully beautiful moving Beauties which burn like cold iron

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Howard Shore , and Isabel Bayrakdarian (soprano) Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl Gladiator: Music from the Motion Picture Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ASIN: B00007BH5C Release Date: 2002-12-10

Tracks:

1. Foundations Of Stone
2. The Taming Of Smeagol
3. The Riders Of Rohan
4. The Passage Of The Marshes
5. The Uruk-hai
6. The King Of The Golden Hall
7. The Black Gate Is Closed
8. Evenstar - featuring Isabel Bayrakdarian
9. The White Rider
10. Treebeard
11. The Leave Taking
12. Helm's Deep
13. The Forbidden Pool
14. Breath Of Life - featuring Sheila Chandra
15. The Hornburg
16. Forth Eorlingas - featuring Ben Del Maestro
17. Isengard Unleashed - featuring Elizabeth Fraser & Ben Del Maestro
18. Samwise The Brave
19. Gollum's Song - performed by Emiliana Torrini

Amazon.com

Howard Shore's music for the massively successful first film chapter of Tolkien's Ring saga won him the Oscar ^® for Best Original Score, something of a surprise given the music's ambitious scale and determinedly dark overtones, factors that handily blurred the line between typical film fantasy music and accomplished concert work. Its sequel takes the same, often Wagnerian-scaled dramatic tack, following the film's story line into even more brooding and ominous dark corners. The previous film's Hobbit-inspired pastoralism is supplanted here by rich ethnic textures that expand the musical scope of Middle-earth and the World of Men; the Hardanger, a Norwegian fiddle, represents the Rohan and the North African rhaita colors the Mordor theme, while log drums, dilruba, wood xylophone, and cimbalon add intriguing textures elsewhere. The score's looming orchestral clouds are brightened by Shore's masterful choral writing, which infuses ancient liturgical influences with various solo turns by Isabel Bayrakdarian, indie-pop star Sheila Chandra, Ben Del Maestro, and Elizabeth Fraser. "Gollum's Song," the composer's concluding collaboration with lyricist Fran Walsh, is delivered with Björkish, postmodern angst by Emiliana Torrini, and helps punctuate the story's modern sense of allegory. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Gollum's Song - Haunting and Brilliant.......2007-07-06

Yes, this review is five years late, but frankly there's so much depth to the Lord of the Rings movies, that I consider them to be a prime source of entertainment, even now. I have always loved movie soundtracks, and recently acquired all three LOTR theatrical soundtrack CDs, which brings me to "Gollum's Song", the last track on the Two Towers CD.

I never paid much attention to the movies ending credit music until I got the Two Towers CD, which allowed me to really hear Gollum's Song for the first time. What a unique and haunting piece of music. It perfectly sums up Gollum's tragic history and future, but even more, is a metaphor for all who make terrible unreversable choices in their lives.

Fran Walsh wrote the bleak yet Tolkienesque lyrics, which were then scored in another sublime Howard Shore LOTR theme. But no words can aptly describe Emiliana Torinni's vocals. Her fearless interpretation of Gollum's descent into despair blows away the other two LOTR movie-ending songs. If Emiliana never finds material this good again, she can always be proud of this one searing performance, and we can be grateful for the world-class talents that came together in its creation.

Amazing!.......2006-10-02

What can I say that hasn't already been said about Howard Shore's magnificent score for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy? A soundtrack can define the whole atmosphere of a film, and this fully orchestrated work certainly does that with sweep, splendor and wonder, alternately humanizing (hobbit-izing?) the characters, imbuing the landscape with magic and capturing the world-shaking impact of events of mythic proportions. And this was no easy task considering the iconoclastic status of the story and the superb quality of Peter Jackson's filmmaking. This is a truly a soundtrack for the ages--a fitting accompaniment to a film for the ages! Every aspect of life, from the extreme to the mundane, is captured in this music. Listening to it can make every remembered moment of the movie come alive again in your mind, from the most horrific battle to the smallest moment of humor or kindness. In "The Two Towers," all the familiar themes from the first sound track return, reinvented as need be to tie the films together while adapting to new developments in the action and the story. In this album, I particularly like the hardanger fiddle-infused theme for the Rohirrim, the Viking-like horse-riders of the steppes, and the ponderous, quirky music for Treebeard, the walking, talking tree. I would have enjoyed a bit more of these distinctive elements, which lend levity and diversity to a sometimes depressing and overwhelmingly intense body of work. Here, they make all-too-brief appearances, at least from a listener's point of view. But soundtracks are ultimately slaves to the script, and in conjunction with the film itself, the timing and phrasing of Shore's music is impeccable. Mysterious, menacing, folksy or heroic, the total effect is utterly convincing and utterly transporting. Peter Jackson chose well when he picked Shore as his score writer. Very, very well! Be sure to get the scores from the other two movies in the trilogy as well - "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "Return of the King." They seem to be available in no end of different packagings, including ones with bonus DVDs about the creation of the score. Also, make sure to get the extended edition DVDs of the movie itself, with hours and hours of fascinating commentaries and behind-the-scenes documentaries about the making of the films. Truly a bargain at any price! And for a more comprehensive taste of hardanger fiddle music from Scandinavia, try the work of Annbjorg Lien or many of the varied releases from the NorthSide label.

Wow. This is some powerful music indeed..........2006-09-22

Many of the other reviews here sum up how I feel about this music, so I'll be brief:

If you are a fan of these films but have never heard the music by itself, you're really missing out. After watching all 3 films probably 50 times now, I find that I enjoy the music from TTT the most so I finally bought the soundtrack. I knew it was great music but never really realized how powerful, emotional, and DARK it was until hearing this CD.

This is incredible music and I could kick myself for not buying the soundtracks sooner.

Wonderfully beautiful moving.......2006-04-30

This is beautiful music. But you should be able to listen to it as it's meant to be listened to. Unfortunately, I work in a small cubicle area and share an office with hip-hop, country, and christian music fans. They are great people and we respect each other's spaces by playing our personal music preferences so as not to disturb each other. I live less than 3 miles from where I work, so I don't get to listen much in the car either. I would love to take a long road trip and play the CD's in my car. In the meantime, I play them at home and find myself recalling the movie scenes in which the music played.

Beauties which burn like cold iron.......2006-01-21

In his review of the original publication of "The Two Towers", the great C.S. Lewis wrote: "Here are beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron; here is a book that will break your heart."

Now Tolkien was a friend of his - so Lewis's objectivity is open to question. [And truth be told: for me, the books have never fully lived up to their reputation. Which meant that part of what made living through the release of the films so exciting was seeing how spectacularly this Tolkien geek (fat and bearded - like a good Tolkien geek should be) had managed to articulate the nobility and the beauty that the other Tolkien geeks had always seen in the books.] But to whatever extent those words are true of the novel, they are the best possible description of the music that Howard Shore wrote for its film adaptation.

In fact, I will claim that the scores are the single most important factor in the films being as great as they are. Consider the shot that introduces Shadowfax - a minor event in the narrative. [If you saw the movie, I am certain you have not forgotten it.] On paper, it would have verged on cheesy.

117. EXT - DAY

A majestic white horse gallops up to Gandalf.

LEGOLAS

That is one of the Mearas. Unless my
eyes are cheated by some spell.

As filmed by Jackson, with a subtle use of slow motion and an anamorphic lens, it is a striking visual - conveying more artfully than the expository dialogue that this is no run-of-the-mill inn pony. Still, if you view the shot without sound, it is not much more than picturesque. It is left to Shore to do the impossible - to create a sound as epic yet exquisite as Tolkien's description of this legendary animal: "And there was one among them that may have been foaled in the morning of the world."

And this is just the horse, folks. Can you imagine having to create sounds worthy of evoking such immortal events as the fall of Gandalf from the Bridge of Barad'dur? The lonely sadness of the Shieldmaiden of Rohan? The hopeless stand of Theodin King at Helm's Deep? Not merely to find emotions that great within yourself, mind you - but to articulate them in practice through the workday medium of 100 union musicians and a 48-track recording studio? And to *actually accomplish it*?

If I ever meet Mr. Shore, I will be hard pressed not to fall to my knees and chant "We're not worthy!" This seems to me the surest proof that one has achieved the summit of one's art - to elicit not mere enjoyment, but gratitude.

Average customer rating: The Best Soundtrack Ever. Period. Modern Day Symphony for Middle Earth The stuff of legends! Bored of the Rings... If you like classical movie soundtracks...you NEED this!

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Howard Shore , and Annie Lennox Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Film Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl Gladiator: Music from the Motion Picture The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - The Complete Recordings ASIN: B0000DZEA1 Release Date: 2003-11-25

Tracks:

1. A Storm Is Coming
2. Hope and Memory
3. Minas Tirith - Ben del Maestro
4. The White Tree
5. The Steward of Gondor - Billy Boyd
6. Minas Morgul
7. The Ride of the Rohirrim
8. Twilight and Shadow - Renee Fleming
9. Cirith Ungol
10. Anduril
11. Shelob's Lair
12. Ash and Smoke
13. The Fields of the Pelennor
14. Hope Fails
15. The Black Gate Opens - James Galway
16. The End of All Things - Renee Fleming
17. The Return of the King - Viggo Mortensen
18. The Grey Havens - James Galway
19. Into the West - Annie Lennox

Amazon.com

This final chapter of Peter Jackson's sprawling adaptation of Tolkien's "Ring" trilogy closes out one of the most accomplished cycles in cinema--and film music--history. As he's done for the saga's first two installments, composer Howard Shore has honed a mature, brooding orchestral masterpiece that's long on subtle shadings of mood and nuance, while eschewing the hollow bombast that's characterized all too many mainstream action and adventure films for three decades. If anything, he's pared this chapter of his music for Middle Earth even closer to the bone, the trilogy's familiar themes repeated with a sparing hand that only heightens their dramatic power. Like Herrmann before him, Shore has a preternatural understanding of orchestral timbres and their almost mystical connections with human emotions, and he's used it here to close out this remarkable trilogy with Wagnerian dramatic sweep, yet one with a distinctly modern, understated melodic sense that is Shore's alone. James Galway and Renee Fleming make key instrumental and vocal contributions, respectively, while Annie Lennox's soulful "Into the West" makes the expected, if unobtrusive, bow to the theatrical pop song conventions. --Jerry McCulley

Album Description

The regular jewel-case version will contain one of seven collectors' cards.

Customer Reviews:

The Best Soundtrack Ever. Period........2006-11-25

The entire "The Lord of the Rings" film trilogy is absolutely amazing and all are groundbreaking achievements in filmmaking but in my opinion they wouldn't be as good without the amazing master work of composer Howard Shore. 'The Return of the King', in particular, has the most expressive, emotional and dramatic music of the three films which perfectly complements the emotion and drama of the movie. The music alone is a work of genius. From the orchestral music to Annie Lennox's "Into the West", this soundtrack is truly astonishing.

Modern Day Symphony for Middle Earth.......2006-11-02

One session of listening to Howard Shore's breathtaking score for LOTR--RETURN OF THE KING and you instantly appreciate why he was repeatedly nominated for an Oscar.

Sweeping orchestral pieces transport you to the epic battles fought, while softer instrumentals summon the characters' pains suffered and quiet triumphs obtained.

If you own the other 2 CDs in the series, this is a no brainer. If you don't, ironically, starting here gives you a taste of all 3 as Shore weaves together a final tapestry of the trilogy in an expert fashion!

The stuff of legends!.......2006-10-02

What can I say that hasn't already been said about Howard Shore's magnificent score for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy? A soundtrack can define the whole atmosphere of a film, and this fully orchestrated work certainly does that with sweep, splendor and wonder, alternately humanizing (hobbit-izing?) the characters, imbuing the landscape with magic and capturing the world-shaking impact of events of mythic proportions. And this was no easy task considering the iconoclastic status of the story and the superb quality of Peter Jackson's filmmaking. This is a truly a soundtrack for the ages--a fitting accompaniment to a film for the ages! Every aspect of life, from the extreme to the mundane, is captured in this music. Listening to it can make every remembered moment of the movie come alive again in your mind, from the most horrific battle to the smallest moment of humor or kindness. And the battle scenes in "Return of the King" are incredible visuals, blending live action and computer-generated imagery so seamlessly and densely that it boggles the mind. But what would they be with only screams and snorts and scuffles to give them voice? It's Shore's frenetic, string-laden, brass-filled, drum-spurred fury that truly gives them life, waxing, waning and cueing the audience as to when the greatest menace is about to threaten the war-weary heroes. The musical themes from the first two movies continue to be developed here, wending their way in and out of expanded interpretations whose dense complexity rivals that of Tolkien's story, not to mention Peter Jackson's filmmaking itself. The total effect is utterly convincing and utterly transporting. Peter Jackson chose well when he picked Shore as his score writer. Very, very well! Be sure to get the scores from the other two movies in the trilogy as well - "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers." They seem to be available in no end of different packagings, including ones with bonus DVDs about the creation of the score. Also, make sure to get the extended edition DVDs of the movie itself, with hours and hours of fascinating commentaries and behind-the-scenes documentaries about the making of the films. Truly a bargain at any price! And for authentic music from bygone ages, try the real thing! There are many fine groups out there. Here's just a sampling: Anonymous 4 (pure-voiced sacred chant by four women), The Baltimore Consort (jaunty popular music from the Renaissance), David Munrow's Early Music Consort of London (simply perfection), Christian Mendoze's Musica Antiqua (lively, percussive Renaissance dance music), The Toronto Consort (great variety), Ensemble Unicorn (worlds of fun!), Wolgemut (brash buzzies and bagpipes with attitude), and the magical early/folk fusion of Cantiga and Burlap Lute. Have some fun with them and live your own fantasy!

Bored of the Rings..........2006-09-13

First off, I'm fifteen.

I'd like to caution anyone considering buying this soundtrack. My sister has all three (Fellowship, Two Towers, Return), and I have to say that by what I know, this is not that great of a soundtrack. It's just overrated. To understand my point, listen to the music sample for song #16. At first, you may think "AWESOOMMME! This is so coooool!". But listen to it again, and you should find out that it's actually annoying. If you want to hear the "AAAAAAHHH"'s done right, listen to John Williams' Star Wars III, numbers 3 and 4. Now THAT is good music. Unlike ROTK (Return of the King), it's not just some mindless noise. I'm going to make a list of excellent soundtracks that you should consider waaaay over this one:

For a quiet, moving soundtrack, Get "A Beautiful Mind".

For action\adventure-type music, get one, several, or all the soundtracks below instead of LOTR:

~Jaws (don't think that you've "heard it all" from the movie already, because you haven't)

~Star Wars III

~Jurassic Park I

For War music, "The Patriot" is a very well done soundtrack. Based on reviews, "Band of Brothers" and "Saving Private Ryan" seem spectacular as well.

As far as horror music, "Signs" looks pretty good, as does "The Ring". But if you really want a horror soundtrack, Williams' "Close encounters of the Third Kind" is probably the best of horror. Check the reviews for this one.

There you have it, folks. Before you buy this overrated soundtrack, at least look into these that I've listed, based on your interests (Horror, Action, etc.)

If only Jackson had gotten Williams to make these soundtracks...things could have been so much better...

If you like classical movie soundtracks...you NEED this!.......2006-09-08

My brother and his wife to be walked down the aisle to selections from this soundtrack. With my being a lover of classical music especially that from movie scores...I was instantly hooked. Movie scores have always mystified me even in my own life...made me kind of look back differenly at the world moving around me. I cried at my brother's wedding when his bride to be came out to this music and cried even harder when I sat in the comfort of my office, and then my bedroom while listening to Annie Lennox pour passion and soul into the song "into the west". So beautifully written, anyone can find some meaning that touches their life in some personal way...through this beautiful song.

Average customer rating: Howard Hewitt's new CD, "If Only" Hearfelt and beautiful. Shades Of Shalamar Simply Amazing disappointing

If Only Howard Hewett Manufacturer: Machine Productions ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: Deeper Still Feel the Fire In My Songs Something To Talk About So Much Better ASIN: B000O591FQ Release Date: 2007-05-15

Tracks:

1. I'll Be Right Here
2. If Only
3. To Please U
4. Can U Feel Me
5. Make Me Say Ooohhh
6. Is This True Love
7. Enough
8. I Wanna Know
9. How Do I KnowI Love You
10. Don't U Wonder 2
11. Our FatherBonus Track
12. Imagine(Featuring Billy Preston and Gerald Albright)

Album Description

With his silky smooth, straight-from-the-heart soulful style, Howard Hewett is gifted with one of the most instantly recognizable voices in contemporary music: with the 2007 release of his Groove Records' debut IF ONLY, his loyal worldwide audiences will be reminded of just why Howard Hewett has endured, sustained and maintained a solid career as a solo artist for over two decades. IF ONLY also represents a reunion of sorts for Howard who serves as executive producer on the album with Ralph Johnson, one of the founding members of Supergroup Earth, Wind & Fire. Howard's many fans will be thrilled that he's taken his time to release a new album, with such standout tracks as "Enough" which is already top 20 charter and climbing .The soon to be released follow up single, "I'll Be Right Here," and the title track, "If Only" is a further testament to Howard Hewett's enduring artistry and a reminder that when it comes to great music, good things truly do come to those who wait!

Customer Reviews:

Howard Hewitt's new CD, "If Only".......2007-06-29

I am a huge fan of Howard Hewitt's from back in the Shalimar days as well, but more specifically, when he ventured out on his own. This is one singer that understands his emotional, feminine side, and can relate to women in a profound way with the words to his songs.

My fave song on his new CD, If Only, is "To Please U". We all remember back in the day when true love songs actually were meaningful - well, this is Howard Hewitt at his best. What saddens me is that I haven't heard this CD (or even Rick James' new CD, released around the same time), on local radio stations. It is sad that the balladeers of the 70's and 80's aren't recaptured in today's music. We need the spiritual message and spreading Love! This is why I will always be a fan of "Old School Music". That is where it was at!

There are several other songs that I just love on his new CD, "Is this True Love?" and "Can U feel me?". If you are a true Howard Hewitt fan, you will pick up this CD now! He is also on Rick James' new CD, Deeper Still, "Do you Wanna Play?". Amazon had a deal a few weeks ago on both CD's. Because of the samples and reviews, I went and bought both CD's. Love them! If you are a true fan and love that soulful sound unique to Howard Hewitt, pick up his new CD today, "If Only".

Enjoy!

Hearfelt and beautiful........2007-06-29

Ex Shalamar vocalist, Howard Hewett will please his legion of fans with this Soul set that fuses Howard's relaxed vocal style with Smooth Soul. Several cuts grab the headlines including the stunningly beautiful "Can U Feel Me" and the title song.
Ballads like "Is This True Love" ooze emotion where Howard is joined by Gerald Albright on sax.
And if you love ballads check out the searing slowie "Don't U Wonder 2". Old school style numbers like "I Wanna Know" maintain a mid-tempo groove.
Hewett has never sounded better.
Give this record a spin, it is worth it!

Shades Of Shalamar.......2007-06-11

Howard Hewitt has always been one of my favorite r & b singers. Since the days of Shalamar, he has had staying power when most of the singers that were around during the same time period have vanished. He has an incredibly, beautiful voice. This album just reminds his true fans how truly gifted he is. If you don't have this album, I hope you get it.

Simply Amazing.......2007-06-06

First, the poster named Sunshine hit the nail on the head in describing this masterpiece. This has to be one of the most comprehensive CDs that I've listened to in a long time. Howard hit a homerun, scored a touchdown, and won a championship with this album. I purchased it the day after it came out and have been listening to it everyday since. I also have it in my MP3/4 player.

It is so hard to narrow down my favorites, but I will go with "If Only", "To Please U", "Can U Feel Me", "Is This True Love", "I Wanna Know", "How Do I Love You". The whole CD is beautiful. I also love how he gives glory and how he, in a mature way, sings about love, because love is where it's at. He also did a nice rendition with Gerald Albright on "Imagine". I just cannot stop gushing over this CD. It is modern, but signature Howard Hewett and the vocals are still impeccable.

disappointing.......2007-05-30

Howard Hewett has a wonderful voice and style and it shows once again. But the material is very weak, almost only slowtempo tracks, quite similar to each other, and lyrics without much meaning. Why doesn't a mature man like Hewett sing realistically about mature relationships but instead of "girls", "babies" or "babes"...Will sell this CD as soon as possible.

Average customer rating: Great fun, but not for the little ones! Love it!!!! Good but not great Charming musical TERRIBLE.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005 Original Broadway Cast) William Finn , Rachel Sheinkin , Derrick Baskin , Dan Fogler , Jesse Tyler Ferguson , Deborah Craig , Lisa Howard , Celia Keenan-Bolger , Jose Llana , Jay Reiss , and Sarah Saltzberg Manufacturer: Ghostlight Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Light in the Piazza (2005 Original Broadway Cast) Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005 Original Broadway Cast) Monty Python's Spamalot (2005 Original Broadway Cast) The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast) Little Women The Musical (2005 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B0009A1AMS Release Date: 2005-05-31

Tracks:

1. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
2. The Spelling Rules/My Favorite Moment Of The Bee 1
3. My Friend, The Dictionary
4. The First Goodbye
5. Pandemonium
6. I'm Not That Smart
7. The Second Goodbye
8. Magic Foot
9. Pandemonium Reprise/My Favorite Moment Of The Bee 2
10. Why We Like Spelling
11. Prayer Of The Comfort Counselor
12. My Unfortunate Erection (Chip's Lament)
13. Woe Is Me
14. I'm Not That Smart (Reprise 2)
15. I Speak Six Languages
16. The I Love You Song
17. Woe Is Me (Reprise)
18. My Favorite Moment Of The Bee 3/Second
19. Finale
20. The Last Goodbye

Amazon.com

When was the last time you heard a musical with a truly hilarious book? Rachel Sheinkin has concocted such a thing for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, one of the most unexpected hits of 2005. Unfortunately, Sheinkin's wit is mostly lost on a cast album; fortunately, the show's songs are by the great William Finn. Set at the titular event, the musical never looks down on the competiting kids (played by adult actors), instead portraying them as endearingly nerdy but also smart, and endowing them with real personalities rather than predictably spelling-bee tics. The cast is uniformly superb, although personal faves include Sarah Saltzberg, playing Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre with a delicious lisp ("Woe Is Me"); Jesse Tyler Ferguson, bringing sweet innocence to Leaf Coneybear ("I'm Not That Smart"); and Dan Fogler, in a breakout comic performance as William Barfee ("Magic Foot," sounding like a sly tribute to Kander & Ebb). This show may be small in scale, but it's a huge winner. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Other Great Musicals of the Season

Spamalot	Dirty Rotten Scoundrels	The Light in the Piazza
Little Women	All Shook Up	Altar Boyz

Customer Reviews:

Great fun, but not for the little ones!.......2007-03-15

We thought this was great fun, very engaging in the tradition of the modern musical. Just be careful, there are a couple of cuts that are not for "the wee ones". But, my 2nd and 4th grader love all the other songs. They love "Magic Foot" in particular. We just skip past the "mature" material. I suggest you listen to it first so you know what to skip.

Love it!!!!.......2007-03-08

This is a great cd. I loved it when I listened to it, but loved it more after I saw the show.

Good but not great.......2007-02-06

I'd heard the opening number as well as "The I Love You Song" upon which I decided I'd like to listen to the entire soundtrack. I liked the concept behind the musical and thought it would be fun.

Upon first listening I have to say I was slightly disappointed. The style of singing is all the same: strong and loud and the melodic movement of the songs is generally all the same with lots of long notes that generally get prety annoying after awhile.

Some positives though...The songs move through the progression of the bee quite nicely with the "Goodbye" Songs and "My Favourite Moment From the Bee" songs adding a nice theme to the whole score.

"The I Love You Song" is still a personal favourite but "Woe is Me" is also a strong song and parts of "Pandemonium" with it's upbeat rhythm are toe tapping and enjoyable.

The characters are varied but their songs don't really do them justice.

Good but not great.

Charming musical.......2007-01-10

Spelling Bee has a cute score with a number of memorable tunes. While the overall theme is quite comical, there are a few more serious moments when one of the characters talks about her absentee mother. "Magic Foot" is a total scream. This should be on the shelves of all lovers of musical comedy.

TERRIBLE........2007-01-04

I am a huge fan of musicals and I was really excited to go see this one. I'd heard good things about it and I enjoy nothing more than sitting down in a theater and watching a good musical.

Sorry guys, it was AWFUL. The music was semi-decent, there weren't really any standouts although the I love you song tugs at your heartstrings a bit. But the heart of the matter is, there was NO STORY and NO PLOT whatsoever! I was so disappointed! It stayed in act 1 the entire show and never climaxed. The plot was "once there was a spelling bee. A bunch of kids competed until one of them won" (and really, nothing more happens than that.)

In comedy, things are more flexible and you don't necessarily have to have any structure to your story (although it generally makes for a better and more memorable show) but in this case, it wasn't even funny! I think I laughed twice throughout the whole show, and they were sort of halfhearted chuckles, like, wow, I can't believe they just told that overused joke... again.

I think that's the only reason they bring people in from the audience to improv a little bit (but don't leave much room for improv, anyway) - because if they didn't it would be so boring and pointless that people would be leaving the theater. I only stayed around because I kept thinking, "there has to be some point to this. There has to be some interesting twist at the end that makes it all worthwhile. Maybe nobody wins, and somebody learns something." And then it ended, and I was sorely disappointed.

Again, the music wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't anything special. Most of the songs just blend together and sound the same. William Finn doesn't understand the concept of musical variance. The majority of the songs describe the characters' history but NOTHING EVER HAPPENS to any of them. That's not a story.

Anyway, enjoy the music if you're into it, but don't go see the show. It's a waste of time and money.

Music Album:

1. I Want to With You / When I Get Lonely [CD-single]
2. I Wonder Where You Are Tonight
3. If You've Got the Money
4. In Full Color
5. In Pain [Live]
6. Jersey Boy
7. Jolene
8. Last Sessions: Their Complete Victor Recordings - 1934-1941
9. Legend & Legacy
10. Line Dance Spectacular [Import]

Music Album