Country Gentleman

1. Blue Boy

2. He'll Have to Go

3. Bimbo

4. Am I Losing You

5. Billy Bayou

6. I'm Getting Better

7. Waiting for a Train

8. Oklahoma Hills

9. Have I Told You Lately

10. Till the End of the World

Country Gentleman,Jim Reeves,American Legends,Country,Country Traditional,Country-Pop,Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan,Pop,Traditional Country,United States of America

Average customer rating: on "Worth it for 2 songs alone" Worth it for 2 songs alone Superb Definitely worth the wait Beautiful

Gentleman Of Leisure Jesse Winchester Manufacturer: Sugarhill [Country] ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music Singer Songwriters | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Best of Jesse Winchester Humour Me Nothing But a Breeze Live from Mountain Stage Learn to Love It ASIN: B00000J809 Release Date: 1999-06-22

Tracks:

1. Club Manhattan
2. Sweet Little Shoe
3. That's What Makes You Strong
4. No Pride At All
5. Gentleman Of Leisure
6. Wander My Way Home
7. Evil Angel
8. Just Cause I'm In Love With You
9. Just Like New
10. You Tickle Me
11. Freewheeler
12. Sweet Loving Daddy
13. I Wave Bye Bye
14. Wander My Way Home (Reprise)

Amazon.com

Jesse Winchester has made such a good living writing songs for the likes of Wynonna Judd, Emmylou Harris, and Reba McEntire that he doesn't really have to make his own albums. In fact, the revealingly titled Gentleman of Leisure is only his second album in 18 years. It was worth the wait, for it sounds like one of Lyle Lovett's late-1990s albums. There's the same dry, wry voice; the same weird mix of '40s swing, '60s R&B, and '70s progressive country; and the same conversational lyrics that seem casual at first but contain memorable aphorisms. Lovett's Texas sensibility is replaced, though, by Winchester's Memphis roots, which are reinforced by Steve Cropper's presence on songs about Elvis and a favorite soul-music club. Producer Jerry Douglas has also called in bluegrass guitar whiz Bryan Sutton, blues-guitar virtuoso Mike Henderson, country star Vince Gill, and gospel's Fairfield Four. Winchester's songwriting is the star attraction, though, thanks to music that marries hillbilly tunefulness to swampy Delta grooves and Zen lyrics that explore how love can strip us of pride and power and still make us strong. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

on "Worth it for 2 songs alone".......2006-10-14

He's right about the two songs: 'That's What Makes You Strong' and 'No Pride At All' will move you in mysterious ways - if you don't buy the album at least buy those two tracks. This man has unusual wisdom and wonderful songwriting ability. I was a huge fan of his first two albums 30 years ago - I am glad that his is still capable of great music. Yes, there are a few lightweight ditties on it, but overall it is so much better than most of what's out there... (therefore 5 stars). And his lead guitarist is Steve Cropper(!) Oh - how could I forget - 'Wander My Way Home' is the only song by a white guy on my person best Gospel mix - it is wonderful (with the Fairfield Four). There is a LOT to like here.

Worth it for 2 songs alone.......2006-03-15

There are two songs on this album that are great: "No Pride at All" and "That's What Makes You Strong". The combination of powerful emotion with songwriting craft at its highest level result in stunning songs. I played "No Pride at All" for a friend of mine, a guy with a heavy metal background. (The song is very mellow instrumentally). It totally caught him off-guard; he literally broke down in tears. The next time he came over he said, "I want to hear my song". I put in on and left him alone in the living room.

"No Pride at All" is also very mellow instrumentally, but absolutely devastating emotionally. And "devastating" is the only word I can use to describe it.

The other songs vary from above average to good, but the presence of these two songs makes the album a must-buy, in my opinion.

-rr

Superb.......2006-02-26

This is one of the best albums ever recorded in America. Every song is a masterpiece. A must!

Definitely worth the wait.......2005-08-07

I can't say much more than what's already been said. "Gentleman of Leisure" is the epitome of cool, with some of the sweetest ballads to ever come out of my speakers. Do all your friends a favor and turn them on to this.

Beautiful.......2001-06-17

This recording is just a wonder. I have owned this cd for about a year, and I cannot get enough of it--and it is rare nowadays for a record to have such an impact on me. I have bought it for at least three other friends and family members already. Take a listen, and you won't be able to stop either.

Average customer rating: Country Gentleman: The Best Of Ricky Skaggs Fantastic Collection! Bluegrass music for the eighties Exceptional Talent All the Best over Two CDs

Country Gentleman: The Best Of Ricky Skaggs [2-CD SET] Ricky Skaggs Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Traditional | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Similar Items: Bluegrass Rules! 16 Biggest Hits Ancient Tones Live at the Charleston Music Hall Brand New Strings ASIN: B000002AD5 Release Date: 1998-01-27

Tracks:

1. Don't Get Above Your Raisin'
2. You May See Me Walkin'
3. Crying My Heart Out Over You
4. I Don't Care
5. Heartbroke
6. I Wouldn't Change You If I Could
7. Highway 40 Blues
8. You've Got A Lover
9. Don't Cheat In Our Hometown
10. Honey (Open That Door)
11. Uncle Pen
12. Something In My Heart
13. Country Boy
14. You Make Me Feel Like A Man
15. Cajun Moon
16. I've Got A New Heartache

Tracks:

1. Love's Gonna Get You Someday
2. I Wonder If I Care As Much
3. Love Can't Ever Get Better Than This
4. I'm Tired
5. (Angel On My Mind) That's Why I'm Walkin'
6. Thanks Again
7. Old Kind Of Love Goin' Round
8. Lovin' Only Me
9. Let It Be You
10. Heartbreak Hurricane
11. Hummingbird
12. He Was On To Somethin' (So He Made You)
13. Restless
14. Life's Too Long (To Live Like This)
15. Same Ol' Love
16. From The Word Love

Amazon.com essential recording

Multi-instrumentalist Ricky Skaggs is one of those country stars who's done it all. At age seven he appeared on TV with Flatt & Scruggs, by 15 he was a member of Ralph Stanley's legendary outfit, and by 23 he was the driving force behind Emmylou Harris's Hot Band. On his own Skaggs has created everything from bluegrass to trad-country to Nashville pop. Country Gentleman collects the first 10 years of his remarkable solo career, and it includes plenty of hits like "Heartbroke," "Honey (Open That Door)," "Highway 40 Blues," and his No. 1 version of Bill Monroe's signature tune "Uncle Pen." Start with this, and then check out the fabulous Bluegrass Rules. --Michael Ruby

Customer Reviews:

Country Gentleman: The Best Of Ricky Skaggs.......2007-04-11

Every song on this cd is the best that Ricky Skaggs has done from the 80's and the first part of the 90's. Country fans will love it.

Fantastic Collection!.......2006-08-08

This is one of my favorite CD's in my collection. It covers a number of songs throughout Ricky Skaggs' career and all are worth having. I cannot imagine anyone not liking this compilation!

Bluegrass music for the eighties.......2003-02-16

The success that Ricky had in the eighties is nothing short of sensational. In the wake of the Urban cowboy craze, along came a bluegrass singer and picker to take the country charts by storm. Bluegrass purists didn't approve because Ricky added a drummer to the line-up in order to appeal to a wider audience. Yet this one concession to commercialism was a master stroke. For many people, the first bluegrass music they ever heard was by Ricky. I hadn't listened to a lot of bluegrass before Ricky came along, so he helped my interest in the music to grow.

Among the classic tracks here are Crying my heart out over you, I don't care, Heartbroke, Highway 40 blues, Don't cheat in our hometown, Honey open that door and Uncle Pen. All those tracks were from his first three Epic albums, which I still think were his best original albums.

Ricky continued to record plenty of great songs, so his chart success continued for a few more years, reaching the top of the charts in the late eighties with Loving only me. Ricky showed how bluegrass could appeal to a wider audience. Although he faded from the spotlight in the nineties, he continued to make excellent music. Meanwhile, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Ralph Stanley and others have further increased the popularity of bluegrass music.

This collection contains all the essential tracks from Ricky's most successful years, including all his big hits on the country charts.

Exceptional Talent.......2001-09-20

There is not a song on this CD I don't like. I like all the recordings of Ricky Skaggs. He seems to choose great songs and I am pleased to see he is recording bluegrass again. What a Talent!

All the Best over Two CDs.......2001-08-30

In the early '80s, Ricky Skaggs was one of the leaders of the New Traditionalist movement who steered country away from the pop crossover stylings typified by Kenny Rogers and Barbara Mandrell and back toward its roots. Skaggs' sound is actually an amalgamation of bluegrass, western swing, and traditional country, with vocals that drive home his old-fashioned, mountain upbringing.
Not possessing the matinee idol good looks of a George Strait, it is a tribute to his immense skills as a musician (fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar, and banjo) and singer (one of themost supple tenors around) that Skaggs was able to make such a big impact in modern country music. An impact this 32 track, 2 disc best of captures with every significant hit Skaggs recorded for the Sugar Hill and Epic labels between 1981 and 1992.
Skaggs' early releases were dominated by remakes of songs made popular in the 50s and 60s by his bluegrass heroes with Flatt & Scruggs "Don't Get Above Your Raisin'" and "Crying My Heart Out Over You" getting the set off to a lesiurely start, followed by Reno & Smiley's "I Wouldn't Change You If I Could," the Stanley Brothers' "Don't Cheat In Our Hometown" and Bill Monroe's toe-tapping "Uncle Pen." Interspersed covers of Webb Pierce's "I Don't Care" and "Honey (Open That Door)" offer a change of pace dripping with classic country and western style.
As the first disc winds to an end and the second disc begins, Skaggs adds a bit more variety to his musical pallet. Power pickers like "Country Boy," moving ballads such as "You Make Me Feel Like A Man," and western swing on the order of "Love's Gonna Get You Someday" enter the fray, but bluegrass remains the predominant style throughout. Disc two also includes some great collaborations: the gently rollicking "Love Can't Ever Get Better Than This" with wife Sharon White and the fiddlin' foot-stomper "Restless" with the New Nashville Cats (Mark O'Connor, Steve Wariner, and Vince Gill).
By the early 90s, traditional country was bombarded by the noisier sounds of contemporary artists like Garth Brooks, and country radio was concentrating on artists under 40. Skaggs was no longer an upper-chart placing presence and in 1992, he and Epic parted ways. Thankfully this thorough document exists of Skaggs at his best to remind the younger country audience (and artists) that a little bit of bluegrass is good for your health - and country radio.

Average customer rating: Covers and highlights from a live album The concert that vanished,great way to remember Jim Reeves.

Gentleman Jim: Memories Are Made of This Jim Reeves Manufacturer: Bmg/RCA Records Label ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Nashville Sound | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Talkin' to Your Heart/Touch of Velvet Girls I Have Known/Intimate Jim Reeves Up Through the Years/Distant Drums Moonlight and Roses/Jim Reeves Way The Unreleased Hits of Jim Reeves ASIN: B0002ADWAI Release Date: 2004-06-21

Tracks:

1. Memories Are Made of This
2. Mona Lisa
3. Roses Are Red My Love
4. I Can't Stop Loving You
5. Moon River
6. I Fall to Pieces
7. From a Jack to a King
8. Waiting for a Train
9. Danny Boy
10. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
11. Fool Such as I
12. Moonlight and Roses
13. You'll Never Know
14. There'll Be Bluebirds Over (The White Cliffs of Dover)
15. Take My Hand, Precious Lord
16. It's Only a Paper Moon
17. Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)
18. Good Night Irene
19. It's No Secret (What God Can Do)
20. Carolina Moon
21. Jim Reeves Melody: Four Walls/I Missed Me/He'll Have to Go/Oh How ...

Tracks:

1. Blizzard [Live][*]
2. Your Old Love Letters [Live][*]
3. I Am Losing You [Live][*]
4. Bimbo [Live][*]
5. Stand at Your Window [Live][*]
6. Danny Boy [Live][*]
7. Medley: Mexican Joe/Yonder Comes a Sucker [Live][*]
8. Medley: Four Walls/I Missed Me/Tennesse Waltz/I Really Don't Want ...
9. Walking the Floor Over You [Live][*]
10. One by One [Live][*]
11. Wildwood Flower [Live][*]

Album Description

This double CD retrospect takes in all the classic hits by the country-pop pioneer. From his early Nashville rooted days ('I Can't Stop Loving You', 'Carolina Moon') to his later easy listening hits such as 'Moon River' and 'Danny Boy'. The first CD contains studio tracks while the second features eleven live tracks taken from various stages in his career. RCA. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

Covers and highlights from a live album.......2005-03-30

Following the success of Gentleman Jim (a double CD containing all of Jim's big UK hits and many other classics), his British record company released this compilation. The first CD contains Jim's covers of songs made famous by others while the second CD is an edited version of his live album, On stage.

The covers show that, while Jim's roots were in country music, he recorded songs from a diverse range of sources. There are some country songs here, of course, including I fall to pieces (Patsy Cline), From a Jack to a king (Ned Killer) and Waiting for a train (Jimmie Rodgers). I can't stop loving you began as a Don Gibson country song though it is better known via the R+B cover by Ray Charles. Similarly, Fool such as I started as a Hank Snow country song but Elvis Presley made it into an international pop hit.

Goodnight Irene became an American top ten hit in 1950 for Jo Stafford, Frank Sinatra and the country super-duo of Ernest Tubb and Red Foley, but the Weavers and Gordon Jenkins had the biggest hit, spending three months at number one and selling over two million copies. Another song popular in 1950 was Mona Lisa, which also charted in America for several singers but Nat King Cole's version was the most popular.

Several songs here pre-date 1950 including Danny boy, Take my hand precious Lord, It is no secret, Have I told you lately that I love you, Moonlight and roses, Someday you'll want me to want you, over and It's only a paper moon. The continuing popularity of these songs is proof of their quality. Carolina moon also pre-dates 1950 (it dates from 1929) but will be forever associated with Connie Francis, who revived the song almost thirty years later.

Moon River became Andy Williams' theme song though it was never a hit for him. In the UK, the song was a number one hit for the unrelated Danny Williams. Memories are made of this (Dean Martin) and Roses are red (Bobby Vinton) are other covers of songs that were fairly new at the time Jim recorded them.

This is a fascinating and entertaining collection. If you already have a collection of Jim's hits (perhaps the double-CD I mentioned earlier) and want more of his music, you will surely enjoy this. If you haven't got such a collection, I recommend youstart with one of those before worrying about this.

The concert that vanished,great way to remember Jim Reeves........2004-07-22

This is an great double cd,a real treat for Jim Reeves lovers.Hear how great Jim was singing at concerts.
The bonus cd is the concert that was released on LP in 1968,here it is edited so there is little talking between songs.I gave it 4 stars out of 5,because the concert cd is edited.Main cd contains an unusal choice of songs,not the one you get on other cd`s.Buy it from the Amazon Uk division,it will be much cheaper that way.

Average customer rating: An underrated gem! Dig that beat...

The Nervous Set (1959 Original Broadway Cast) Tommy Wolf , Fran Landesman , and Richard Hayes Manufacturer: Drg ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Broadway & Vocalists | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Soundtracks | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Christine (1960 Original Broadway Cast) The Girl in Pink Tights (1954 Original Broadway Cast) The Happiest Girl in the World (1961 Original Broadway Cast) Bravo Giovanni (1962 Original Broadway Cast) Tovarich ASIN: B00005YKIO Release Date: 2002-02-26

Tracks:

1. Overture/Man, We're Beat
2. New York
3. What's To Lose/Stars Have Blown My Way
4. Fun Life
5. How Do You Like Your Love?
6. Party Song
7. Night People
8. Overture - Act II
9. Party Song (Reprise)
10. I've Got A Lot To Learn About Life
11. The Ballad Of The Sad Young Man
12. A Country Gentleman
13. Max The Millionaire
14. Travel The Road Of Love
15. Laugh, I THought I'd Die
16. Fun Life (Reprise)
17. Bonus Track 1: Fun Life (By Jackie Cain & Roy Kral)

Amazon.com

As fans of musical theater, we're used to offbeat projects, but this long-forgotten show takes the cake--and it's completely entrancing. The opening number alone makes nasty fun of the then-popular beatniks and is immediately followed by "New York," a list song enumerating all the awful things about the city. Rarely has so much bile been spilled on the New York stage--but perhaps that's because the show originated in St. Louis. Tommy Wolf's finger-snapping score and Fran Landesman's biting lyrics are very compelling, especially because it's hard to tell when they're serious and when they're drily sarcastic. The energetic cast, which includes Larry Hagman (best known as JR in Dallas), is backed by a jazz quartet, and the result often sounds strangely contemporary. And then you have some numbers, such as "Night People," that are almost Sondheimian. What a strange, wonderful little show this is. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

An underrated gem!.......2003-06-03

The songs in this musical are simply wonderful! Canny, passionate, "beat," and sardonic. The story, its characters, and the lyrics are classic Greenwich Village of the late 1950's. This CD features talented singers and actors (including a very young Larry Hagman),a great lyricist, lush and complex music. To reiterate, it's just WONDERFUL! I ruined my LP long ago, and am THRILLED to find this CD replacement.

Dig that beat..........2002-02-28

A fun recording to have on CD. Very beatnik oriented musical from 1959 with such interesting names in the cast as Tom Aldredge (Into the Woods, Passion) and Larry Hagman!? The song "New York" is a lot of fun. The best of the rest the score include "The Ballad of the Sad Young Man" sung by Tan Seitz and "Laugh, I Thought I'd Die" sung by Richard Hayes. Larry Hagman has one song, "Travel the Road of Love" and although he doesn't embarrass himself, thank God "I Dream of Jeannie" and "Dallas" were still be come. He definitely did not inherit his mother's singing ability. In fact, I think his mother was performing in "The Sound of Music" during the short run of this show.

Average customer rating: LAGQ Guitar Heroes by the LAGQ A Guitar Grimoire for 6 string enthusiasts

LAGQ - Guitar Heroes (Multichannel Hybrid SACD) Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Los Angeles Guitar Quartet | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Dark Side of the Moon 30th Anniversary Edition Friday Night in San Francisco (Stereo SACD) Telarc SACD Sampler: Sound and Vision David Chesky: Area 31 [Hybrid SACD] Time Out ASIN: B000294RMG Release Date: 2004-06-22

Tracks:

1. Icarus
2. B & B
3. We Know You Know: Reverie For Mahavishnu
4. Pluck, Strum And Hammer
5. Letter From Home
6. Uarekena
7. Aire Para Un Dia (Mood For A Day)
8. Gyspy Flower
9. Pop
10. El Baile De Luis Alonso
11. Lament And Wake
12. Let's Be Frank
13. Blue Echo/Country Gentleman

Customer Reviews:

LAGQ Guitar Heroes by the LAGQ.......2005-03-24

This was the Grammy award winner in classical crossover for 2005. It is great if you appreciate the innovators in 20th century guitar music. Listen to The "Assad Duo" and a rock remedition of a Michael Hedges tribute" Lament and Wake which stand out. Both these songs got great reviews as arrangements by the newspaper critics. Get the multi channel version if you have a a top notch audio system with the speakers to show off the enginneering. If you just want "pretty" background music this is not an album for you.

A Guitar Grimoire for 6 string enthusiasts.......2004-08-14

This is an exciting display of 6 string prowess that really isn't classical, yet will inevitably become a classic. It is an amazing tour de force worthy of the California Guitar Trio. The efforst here focus on composers and players who are heroes to this quartet, and it is a compendium of the best: McLaughlin, Hendrix, Metheny, Towner, Howe, Rheinhart. Each and every selection is brilliant whether they are essaying Norman Blake or Frank Zappa. York, Tennant, Kanengiser and Dearman command their instruments with power and discipline, and the finessse and passion leaps off the strings. The fretwork is a tribute to each of the heroes honored, and indeed this is truly an honouring of great fretmen. The digital encoding of the disc is such that you get a very precise definition of who is playing spacially from right to left. Very impressive, as you would expect from Telarc.
Their take on Towner's "Icarus" is both timely and quite a creative adjustment of the tempo. Steve Howe's "Mood For A Day" undergoes a makeover as a flamenco tour de force, and it actually comes off even more amazing than Howe's various re-workings of this abstemious wonder. At times, the compositions are those of the heroes, at others it is the LAGQ's composition evoking essential qualities of the personalities honoured. It works beautifully on all accounts. If you are a fan of acoustic guitars, or even of any of the guitarists honoured here, you owe it to yourself to pick this up.

Average customer rating: An Outstanding Hommage to the Greats of All-Styles of Guitar LAGQ: "Decent" Fails to translate into much pleasure for average listeners I Should Have Known Better Totally satisfying

LAGQ's Guitar Heroes Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Los Angeles Guitar Quartet | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Latin Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Best of L.A.G.Q. LAGQ: Latin For Thy Pleasure L.A.G.Q. L.A. Guitar Quartet: Evening In Granada ASIN: B00020PVUC Release Date: 2004-06-22

Tracks:

1. Icarus
2. B & B
3. We Know You Know: Reverie For Mahavishnu
4. Pluck, Strum, And Hammer
5. Letter From Home
6. Uarekena
7. Aire Para Un Dia (Mood For A Day)
8. Gypsy Flower
9. Pop
10. El Baile De Luis Alonso
11. Lament And Wake
12. Let's Be Frank
13. Blue Echo/Country Gentleman

Amazon.com

These guys are amazing. This CD is for everyone, regardless of "favorite" musical tastes. Classical, pop, new-age, country, whatever: the LAGQ's virtuosity is stunning, and the sounds they make are engaging, clear and clean (and aided by recording engineers who should win the Nobel Prize for recording, were there such a thing). Nominally, this CD is inspired by the heroes of the four members of LAGQ, but that's only a piece of information: What they do with music by, or indebted to, or inspired by their "heroes" is the issue, and it's never less than original, by turns lovely (the Pat Metheny piece), reckless and innovatively busy (Jimi Hendrix's "Pluck, Strum and Hammer"---with gorgeous harmonics), flamenco (Steve Howe's "Aire para un dia," totally re-conceived), and kitchen-sink (Frank Zappa's "Let's be Frank"). Even the infuriating John McLaughlin is well represented. The recording is vivid and the artists are identified from left to right, speaker-wise. And the Chet Atkins piece that closes the CD is nothing short of delicious. What is this uncategorizable CD? A joy---that's what. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

An Outstanding Hommage to the Greats of All-Styles of Guitar.......2006-06-25

It goes without saying the the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet is in fact the BEST performing guitar ensemble in the world right now. The quartet always impresses me with their variety, technique, musicianship, ensemble playing and innovation. The playing and material on this album reflects just that. The variety reflects many different styles: contemporary classical, rock, jazz, avant garde, new age, bluegrass, country and flamenco. The technique is spotless, the musicianship is incredibly fine tuned the group plays together perfectly and the selections are fresh, new and very interesting. It's a true treat to hear nylon stringed classical guitars playing tribute to their greats and the greats of their electric counterparts.

To talk about highlight tracks on this album just wouldn't be fair. There are too many. The cover of Ralph Towner's "Icarus" is exciting in its use of special guitar techniques, its Brazillian flavor and Andrew Yorks amazing improvised solo. The bouncy tribute to Norman Blake and David Bromberg is fun and incredibly enerjetic. The hommages to McLaughlin and Hendrix are provocative, strange and haunting. Following those two abrasive, dissonant cuts is a beautiful transcription of Pat Metheny's Letter from Home and Sergio Assad's very cool composition "Uarekena." The disc also features a flamenco reworking of Yes's "Mood for a Day," a tribute to gypsy great Django Reinhard, a Romeros quartet piece bubbling with Spanish flair, the extended technique ridden Michael Hedges tribute, an avant garde nod to Frank Zappa and a bouncy country influenced salute to Chet Atkins. Every cut is strong and is oozing with LAGQ perfection and nuance.

The other cool thing about this album is that it is mixed in stereo. The players are mixed across the speakers so that the arrangements can be aurally analyzed much easier. This album is a must have for any fan of the guitar... not just classical players.

LAGQ: "Decent".......2006-02-21

Bought this album because I thought the last tune on it was very catchy. The rest of the album didn't seem so great, possibly because my girlfriend wouldn't shut up and listen to it. I am going to listen to it some more without her. It is all instrumental, all guitar, and just not bad.

Fails to translate into much pleasure for average listeners .......2006-01-31

LAGQ's CD "Guitar Heroes" begins with their take on Ralph Towner's classic Icarus. This choice proves an apt one, for like this mythical Greek hero, LAGQ strives to accomplish something great and wonderful, but instead crashes to earth.

In fact, the CD begins with much promise, leading with the soaring cover of Icarus and the well-done homage to Blake and Bromberg "B&B." Then the McLaughlin and Hendrix tributes founder badly before the band achieves stability with a pair of unexciting but listenable tunes in honor of Pat Metheney and the Assad Duo (I always thought it was the other way around, Duo Assad).

A rather horrid homage to Steve Howe and a lackluster one for Django Reinhardt are countered by the brief but clever Duane York, a nice yoking together of slide and classical styles. The tip of the cap to Los Romeros is OK, but then the overlong, often irritating tributes to Michael Hedges and Frank Zappa do not add any luster to either of these late guitarists' legacies and set the CD on a terminal downward spiral.

The nice tribute to Chet Atkins that concludes this set is not enough to restore altitude and the whole effort essential crashes to earth.

No doubt the performers had a great time recording this CD for their grasp of technique and nuance proves solid. The problem is that the concept of "Guitar Heroes" fails to translate into much pleasure for average listeners like me.

I Should Have Known Better.......2005-04-05

I'm a fan of Classical Guitar. I heard about this quartet and sought them out, buying "Guitar Heroes". I should have read the Amazon review more closely. If I had I would have earned these pieces are in a dissonant rock-style with little or no melodic form. A far cry from what I envisioned. I write this to warn other innocents who might be looking for melodic music in a classical style. I didn't read the review closely enough, but you should.

Totally satisfying.......2004-12-12

I can't think of any recent collection of music that I enjoyed more than this album by the LAGQ. "Guitar Heroes" is amazing right from the beginning and never ceases right through the last track. The performances are solid, always musical and often mesmerizing. The songs and arrangements are impeccable and thoughtful, never pandering or taking the easy route to illuminating a particular guitar hero. After listening to this album, you want to hear more of the LAGQ, and also more from their "heroes". For that alone, this offering is a tremendous success.

Average customer rating: The Country Gentleman/Hawkshaw Hawkins Sings Deserving of wider recoginition!

The Country Gentleman/Hawkshaw Hawkins Sings Hawkshaw Hawkins Manufacturer: Collectables ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Honky-Tonk | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music Similar Items: Best of the Best 1921-1963 A Proper Introduction to Cowboy Copas: Signed, Sealed and Delivered Hawkshaw Hawkins The Essential Carl Smith (1950-1956) Walk On By ASIN: B0002MPQ00 Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

1. I Don't Apologize for Loving You
2. Waitin for My Baby (Rock Rock)
3. I'll Trade Yours for Mine
4. I Wanna Be Hugged to Death by You
5. Mark 'Round My Finger
6. Rebound
7. If It Ain't on the Menu
8. I'll Take a Chance With You
9. Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So)
10. I'll Be Gone
11. Oh, How I Cried
12. Action
13. My Fate Is in Your Hands
14. (Is My) Ring on Your Finger
15. Sunny Side of the Mountain
16. With This Pen
17. Standing at the End of My World
18. I'll Get Even With You
19. Love You Steal
20. Ling Ting Tong
21. How Could Anything So Purty (Be So Doggone Mean)
22. It Would Be a Doggone Lie

Album Description

This 22-track audio CD contains two Hankshaw Hawkins albums originally released on the RCA Victor budget label Camden.

Customer Reviews:

The Country Gentleman/Hawkshaw Hawkins Sings.......2007-06-18

This is a wonderful double CD collection by him. It displays his talents to the enth degree. It is a great find and should be added to everyone's HAWK OF THE WEST VIRGINA HILLS music collection.

Deserving of wider recoginition!.......2005-03-13

Don't be put off by the fact that the tracks listed here for this album are undoubtedly from some other album by an artist with a similar name. There isn't a single Christmas song on this excellent reissue of two of Hawkshaw's RCA recordings.
I had to have this after hearing it at my in-laws. I thought it was Hank Williams at first, but gradually realized the guy with the rich voice had a thing all his own. If you like vintage honky tonk country, you'll be glad you picked this up. Some of the songs are a little on the goofy novelty side but I've got room in my tastes for that. Particularly Rebound, which uses an echoplex on the tag line. An early studio effect which made me smile.

Average customer rating:

Country Gentleman Chet Atkins Manufacturer: Bci / Eclipse Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Nashville Sound | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Country | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B000AM6OYE Release Date: 2005-09-20

Tracks:

1. Arkansas Traveler
2. Barber Shop Rag
3. Bill Bailey
4. Country Gentleman
5. Down Home
6. Georgia Camp Meeting
7. High Rockin' Swing
8. Pickin' the Blues
9. Mr Sandman
10. Streets of Laredo
11. Tennessee Rag/Beaumont Rag
12. Wildwood Flower

Product Description

1. Arkansas Traveler
2. Barber Shop Rag
3. Bill Bailey
4. Country Gentlemen
5. Down Home
6. Georgia Camp Meeting
7. High Rockin’ Swing
8. Pickin’ The Blues
9. Mr. Sandman
10. Streets Of Laredo
11. Tennessee Rag/Beaumont Rag
12. Wildwood Flower


Format: CD

Average customer rating:

Gentleman Jim ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000DXSCTA Release Date: 2007-06-05

Average customer rating:

In Every Texas Showplace Manufacturer: Traveler ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music ASIN: B000CA766E Release Date: 2001-05-22

Music Album:

1. Country Music Is Here to Stay: The Complete Simon Crum a.k.a. Ferlin Husky on Capitol
2. Country Tearjerkers: 60 Original Heartbreakers [Import]
3. Crystal Gayle's Greatest Hits
4. Definitive Country Collection [Import]
5. Dottie West
6. Evil Things
7. Family Tree [Import]
8. Fiddle Fatale
9. Finer Thing
10. Forget About It

Music Album