| 1. It's Only Make Believe |
| 2. Hello Darlin' |
| 3. 15 Years Ago |
| 4. You've Never Been This Far Before |
| 5. I've Hurt Her More (Than She Loves Me) |
| 6. As Soon as I Hang Up the Phone |
| 7. Touch the Hand |
| 8. Games That Daddies Play |
| 9. (Lost Her Love) On Our Last Date |
| 10. Lying Here With Linda on My Mind |
Legendary,Conway Twitty,Masters Intercontine,Country,Country & Western,Country-Pop,Pop,Rockabilly,Traditional Country
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Legendary Songs of Don McLean
Don McLean Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00008NG8W Release Date: 2003-03-25 |
Tracks:
- Words And Music
- American Pie
- Since I Don't Have You
- Maybe Baby
- Crying
- Castles In The Air
- If I Only Had A Match
- Your Cheatin' Heart
- And I Love You So
- Vincent
- Winterwood
- If We Try
- Everyday
- Wonderful Baby
- Crossroads
- Jerusalem
- Dreidel
- Headroom
- Have You Seen Me
- Just To Hold My Hand
- Empty Chairs
Customer Reviews:
Don McLean at his best.......2007-07-13
This is a beautiful CD, easy listening, I think one of my very favorites is " And I Love You So ", of course "Vincent" is McLean's masterpiece.
Crossroads, is beautiful.
Empty Chairs is a beautiful song with great guitar.
Don McLean is one of my all time favorites, and ranks high on my list.
I am going to purchase more of this CD for Christmas gifts.
Ann in Houston TX.
5-Starry Starry CD.......2007-07-04
This CD is a fabulous showcase of multi-faceted talent. In the first place, Don McLean must be considered one of the era's most eloquent songwriters. His lyrics are great poems by themselves...intelligent and very elegant expressions of the romanticism of the story he's telling. Secondly, his melodies are perfect complements to the words. "Vincent", (Starry Starry Night, to some) is a superb, classic example of what I'm saying here. Spectacular! It brought tears to my eyes. I'm a former boxer, Harley rider, and three-time-wounded combat infantryman...so tears don't come easy for me.
And then there's McLean's voice quality. Incredible smoothness, pitch, range, and appropriate emotion for each song! To me, his voice mimics a fine cello or clarinet in the hands of a master. Roy Orbison is known as "The Voice" -very well deserved- but McLean's version of Orbison's "Crying" certainly is on a perfect par...no easy feat! "Since I Don't Have You" is another song that exemplifies Don McLean's amazing (Legendary) voice quality. It's so beautiful that you can't help but sing along...but try to hit all of the high notes and you'll end up needing to call the doctor to repair your vocal chords.
Legendary Songs of Don McLean is one of the best collections of melodies you can buy, but you'll also get some great rhythm/rock songs like "Dreidel" and "Headroom", and even some smokey jazz in "If I Only Had a Match". And there's some bop and doo-wop too! Hear this CD and feel like you've strolled through the 40's, 50's, 60's...right up to the present decade...and McLean is somehow able to stitch those styles and eras seamlessly!
Finally, let me say that one of my very penny-pinching friends heard this CD when I got it, and he left with an insatiable itch to buy his own copy...Scrooge McDuck sprinting away to the store! This CD really is a Must Have!
A most intelligent song- writer and beautiful singer .......2007-06-13
This is popular music at its best.
Legendary Songs of Don McLean.......2007-05-12
The Best Compilation Currently Available.......2006-07-12
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Martha Argerich Plays Chopin: The Legendary 1965 Recording
Martha Argerich Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000IWVS Release Date: 1999-05-18 |
Tracks:
- Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: I. Allegro maetoso
- Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: II. Scherzo: Molto vivace
- Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: III. Largo
- Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: IV. Finale: Presto, non tanto
- Mazurka No.36 In A Minor, Op.59 No.1
- Mazurka No.37 In A-flat, Op.59 No.2
- Mazurka No.38 In F-sharp Minor, Op.59 No.3
- Nocturne No.4 In F, Op.15 No.1
- Scherzo No.3 In C-sharp Minor, Op.39
- Polonaise No.6 In A-flat, Op.53
Amazon.com's Best of 1999
Record-label politics prevented this awesome recording of Argentinean pianist Martha Argerich from being released for 34 years. The spitfire musician delivers a powerful set of Chopin's best-loved works that still sounds riveting today. Intense and gorgeous. --Jason VerlindeAmazon.com essential recording
How can it be that a recording by one of today's indisputably unequaled pianists performing some of her prime repertory--made fresh within months of her triumph in the 1965 Warsaw International Chopin Competition--could languish for decades in the vaults before its official release? Chalk it up to the exclusivity clauses of rival recording companies and legal constraints from which not even Wotan with the help of Loge could extricate himself. Thankfully this belated EMI release--recorded in a few sessions at the Abbey Road studios--is finally available.It's a significant complement to Argerich's other accounts of Chopin on disc. From the white-hot intensity of Argerich's way with the composer, you can easily extrapolate a sense of what had recently wowed the jury in Warsaw. The Argentinean pianist undertakes the Third Sonata as a vast, big-voiced, far-reaching statement that encompasses both molten power and moments of almost unbearably intimate lyricism (listen closely to her gestures of illumination in the Largo). With a characteristically unforced spontaneity, Argerich sounds the shattering chords that launch the finale (recorded in one take); her sense of flow in the Nocturne No. 4 is a perfect mesh for the illusion of improvising that is so central to Chopin. She commands the logic--both emotional and musical--of the composer's skittish turns in the Scherzo No. 3 and crafts three of the mazurkas into perfectly chiseled character pieces. The sheer force of Argerich's personality might seem overwhelming to those accustomed to a tamer Chopin--listen to how she dives into the A-flat Polonaise--but it's always at work dusting off tired clichés and uncovering the music's expressive wealth. For those who know about Argerich's artistry, this disc is indispensable; anyone who has yet to make that enviable discovery will find it (together with the Argerich anthology in Philips' Great Pianists series) a great place to begin. --Thomas May
Customer Reviews:
Lost is Found, finally.......2007-07-08
Martha Argerich CD.......2007-06-12
Fabulous recording.......2007-04-12
Excellent.......2007-04-12
Though someone might have different feeling, I'm crazy on this 1965 recording.
A restored jewel in the Argerich catalog.......2006-09-03
My only caveat would be for audiophiles. Although an Abbey Road studio recording, you get the feeling somewhat that Argerich is performing in a boomy hall. Also, in the loudest fortes there's mircophone shatter. For many listeners these drawbacks won't matter a whit, not in the face of an undisputed keyboard genius.
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The Legendary Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0002VYPEO Release Date: 2004-09-28 |
Tracks:
- Once In A Lifetime
- More
- /11/73)
- Beyond The Sea (Live in Los Angeles 3/11/73)
- As Long As I'm Singing
- Mack The Knife (Live At The Flamingo, Las Vegas 11/9/63)
- On The Street Where You Live
- Hello Dolly
- A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
- The Good Life
- I Got Rhythm
- Oh! Look At Me Now
- Moon River
- You're The Reason I'm Living
- Call Me Irresponsible
- Goodbye, Charlie
- Softly, As I Leave You
- Venice Blue
- If A Man Answers
- 18 Yellow Roses
- If I Were A Carpenter
- Hits Medley: Splish Splash/Beyond The Sea/Artificial Flowers/Clementine
- (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher (Live in Los Angeles
- The Curtain Falls (Live At The Flamingo, Las Vegas 11/10/63)
Customer Reviews:
Bobby Darin sold his songs without even trying--and that's no small feat !!!.......2007-06-24
The CD track set begins with "Once In A Lifetime;" the drums at the beginning signal the beginning of a high energy number--and, sure enough, Bobby delivers this number with a faster than usual tempo. The power of Bobby's voice makes this the ultimate rendition of "Once In A Lifetime." The romantic ballad "More" follows; Bobby again speeds up the tempo along with musical arranger Richard Wess. The effect is an especially energetic rendition of "More." The lush musical arrangement works wonders, too.
One live number that stands out would have to be "Beyond The Sea" recorded in concert in Los Angeles in 1973. Bobby delivers this with passion and high octane energy; the audience enjoys every minute of it, too! You also get a live recording of "Mack The Knife" when Bobby performed at The Flamingo in Las Vegas in November, 1963. Bobby has a playful and very positive rapport with his audience even though these days one or two of his comments would be considered embarrassingly dated. The high quality control of the actual song "Mack The Knife," however, stuns me as Bobby Darin delivers this flawlessly.
"On The Street Where You Live" from My Fair Lady gets a much faster than usual tempo from arranger Richard Wess and Bobby; but I think you will enjoy this number very much. "Hello, Dolly!" gets the royal treatment from Bobby and the musicians; Bobby delivers this as if he feels genuinely thrilled to see his friend Dolly again after many years. The tempo of "Hello, Dolly!" eventually speeds up to the normal tempo; and the arrangement complements Bobby's vocals perfectly. Bobby's sensitive interpretation of "The Good Life" touched me greatly; and Bobby again sings "Moon River" with panache and sensitivity. Great!
"Call Me Irresponsible" shines brightly like a golden nugget; and "Softly, As I Leave You" glistens like gold! The backup chorus on "Softly, As I Leave You" enhances the beauty of this number. In addition, "Venice Blue" tells how a man is so sad that his love affair is over than even the entire city of Venice turns blue before his very eyes.
There is another live track in which Bobby performs a playful medley of four of his greatest earlier hits: "Splish Splash/Beyond The Sea/Artificial Flowers/Clementine." Finally, the last track on the CD is another live track recorded in November of 1963 when Bobby truly believed that this would be his last live concert. (He subsequently changed his mind.) "The Curtain Falls" doesn't merely explore Bobby's feelings as he ends this particular concert; it also makes the perfect ending to this album. As Bobby sings this ballad about the end of his concert career; we also recognize that there is another meaning: "The Curtain Falls" gives us the perfect ending to this album as well.
The liner notes include an informative essay about Bobby Darin and his career by Will Friedwald; and you get excellent photos of Bobby, too. The liner notes also provide the song credits and recording dates.
Bobby Darin remains a formidable force whose star still shines brightly long after his life ended. Bobby will always be a legend; and long after most "celebrities" are dead and buried we will still remember Bobby very fondly. I highly recommend this excellent CD for Bobby Darin fans; and people who enjoy classic pop vocals will cherish this one for ages to come.
Enjoy!
Extraordinary!.......2006-07-06
For the price of $14.98 you get twenty-four, excellent versions of popular songs sung by Darin. If you want to look at the technicalities of pricing, your spending around 62 cents a song. You cannot do better than that, and every song is worth it. I highly recommend this CD.
Darin Had More Natural Ability Than Sinatra or Bennett.......2006-02-10
Bobby Darin ROCKS!!.......2005-09-24
"Beyond the Sea" is one of my all time favorites and I thought it was really silly that I didn't have a single version of it in my music collection. Unlike a previous poster, I would rather hear a live version of a song over a studio version any day. That is to say as long as the singer can actually sing. I have literally played the version of "Beyond the Sea" on this album everyday for weeks. It's a song you want blast in your convertible with the top down. Sadly I do not own a convertible but am considering purchasing one solely for this purpose. :)
While I don't like all the songs on the album (I'm not a fan of folk or country), I would have paid $15 just for the 5 live tracks on the album
Swingin' Bobby Darin.......2005-07-05
His first swing hit was Mack the Knife (from Threepeny opera, is here featured live) that became a number one hit. Beyond the Sea is one of my favourite swing songs and it is here featured live also. The orchestra that is backing him is really great and Bobby Darin is a wonderful singer.
On this record you will find mostly swing songs and some folk songs (If I Were a Carpenter, 18 Yellow Roses,...)that he recorded for Capitol.
Sound is rich and songs are great. A must for every swing fan.
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The Legendary Enrico Caruso: 21 Favorite Arias
Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000003EOH Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
Tracks:
- Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba
- TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
- Rigoletto: Questa o quella
- Rigoletto: La donna e mobile
- L'africana: O paradiso
- La Juive: Rachel, quand du Seigneur
- La Boheme: Che gelida manina
- Aida: Se quel guerrier io fossi; Celeste Aida
- Andrea Chenier: Come un bel di di maggio
- La Favorita: Romanza: Spirto gentil, ne' sogni miei
- La forza del destino: O tu che in seno agli angeli
- Otello: Ora e per sempre addio
- Les pecheurs de perles: Je crois entendre encore
- La Gioconda: Cielo e mar!
- Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee (Flower Song)
- TOSCA: Recondita armonia
- Faust: Salut, demeure chaste et pure
- L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
- Martha: M'appari tutt'amor
- Serse: Ombra mai fu (Largo)
- Il Trovatore: Di quella pira
Amazon.com
There's a plethora of single-disc Caruso collections, but this one's the preferred choice for opera fans who treasure this golden- voiced epitome of Golden Age singing. It's a Greatest Hits collection to beat all Greatest Hits collections. Selections span Caruso's career, from the lyric effusions of 1906-7 to the darker-voiced later recordings, including one of his last records, the 1920 La Juive aria, "Rachel, quand du Seigneur," which he invests with a heartbreaking poignancy that hasn't been bettered. Caruso shines brightest in the Italian repertory, capturing the pathos of Vesti la Giubba, the insouciance of the Duke's Rigoletto arias, and the hero's dilemma in Celeste Aida, among much else. But everything here is wonderful--great music, great singing. --Dan DavisCustomer Reviews:
Great to hear the Great Tenor.......2007-04-11
A childhood memory.......2006-05-28
Caruso was then, and I believe still is considered at the very top of operatic singers. And it is a remarkable experience to hear so many years later , and in a stronger and clearer way sounds which one heard long ago in childhood, and have for years only lived in the mind.
Great collection........2000-11-04
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This Universe
Singh Kaur Manufacturer: Sequoia Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000AOEMY6 Release Date: 2005-09-13 |
Tracks:
- Spark In The Night
- This Universe
- The Lord's Prayer
Album Description
Experience the perfect peace within and without. This exquisite music is soothing, uplifting and will illuminate your heart with joy. The final recording from legendary vocalist Singh Kaur (Fairy Nightsongs, The Crimson Series) -- This Universe is an enchanting message of love that radiates grace and serenity. The purity of Singh Kaur's ethereal voice shines through on the extended ancient chant "This Universe," a gorgeous and enchanting original version of "A Spark in the Night," and a breathtaking musical version of "The Lord's Prayer." The deeply touching beauty of Singh Kaur's voice is a rare gift and she recorded this extraordinary music as her final offering to her fans. Produced by Gary Stadler (Fairy NightSongs, Fairy Heart Magic) and featuring artfully sensitive keyboard orchestrations by Raphael (Music to Disappear Into) and special guest Lisa Lynne on Celtic harp, "This Universe" will deepen and enhance your yoga, the healing arts or meditation.Customer Reviews:
Enchantment.......2007-04-03
Heavenly.......2007-03-10
Equisite and Filled Eternal Bliss.......2005-10-12
All Pain And Sorrow Depart.......2005-09-14
I don't know if I can put my finger on what exactly is it about her singing that does this. The Spark in the Night, the first cut on this album is a reworking of an old melody of hers. The simplicity of her voice, the purity of her tone fits right into the music. As her singing matured, her voice gained coloration, and this song works not simply as and easy melody, but it reaches the listener emotionally as well.
Most of the album (43 minutes) is spent on the title piece, this universe. Combining wit Gary Stadler, Lisa Lynne, and several others, it is meditation music perfection. While anything of this length is going to be repetitious, Singh Kaur manages to vary dynamics, rhythm and color so that even the repetition is soothing. This is no small accomplishment in a world where many people think that meditation music should be electronic choirs droning over electronic strings. Singh Kaur is never hackneyed.
Rather than drone on about Kaur's talents, I suggest that, if you are looking for the narrow path to inner quiet, you stop a moment and listen for yourself.
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Legendary Groups of Gospel
Various Artists Manufacturer: Mca Special Products ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000K576 Release Date: 2000-02-29 |
Tracks:
- Yes, Jesus Loves Me - Sensational Williams Brothers
- Amazing Grace - The Soul Stirrers
- Go Tell It On The Mountain - Mighty Clouds Of Joy
- In The Hands Of The Lord - Five Blind Boys
- Will The Lord Be With Me - The Dixie Hummingbirds
- Waiting On Jesus - Jackson Southernaires
- Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand) - The Gospel Keynotes
- Hold To God's Hand - Sensational Nightingales
- When On The Cross - Salem Travelers
- Heaven Must Be A Beautiful Place - Willie Banks
Customer Reviews:
Soulful stuff!.......2004-01-20
If you enjoy really well done contemporary Gospel, such as Sacred Steel, or old timers such as Troman and Willie Eason, The Campbell Bros, Lee Trent, etc, then this one will seal the deal for you my friends!
BEK
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Darklore Manor
Nox Arcana Manufacturer: Monolith Graphics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0006OHMRY Release Date: 2004-03-20 |
Tracks:
- Legend
- Darklore Manor
- Threshold Of The Dead
- Trespassers
- Veil Of Darkness
- Sanctuary Of Shadows
- The Grande Hall
- Remnants
- Phantom Procession
- Belladonna
- Nursery Rhyme
- Music Box
- The Forgotten
- Nightmare
- No Rest For The Wicked
- Omen
- Seance
- Beyond Midnight
- Darkness Immortal
- Incantation
- Resurrected
Album Description
Enter Darklore Manor, where creatures of the night lurk in shadows and ghostly sounds echo through unhallowed halls. Nox Arcana invites you to embark on a musical journey throughout a legendary haunted mansion with a dark and sinister history. This gothic soundscape contains 21 tracks of haunting melodies, eerie voices, Latin chants, and foreboding orchestrations to create a perfect dark and moody atmosphere.Customer Reviews:
remaster.......2007-05-25
Nox Arcana keeps getting better.......2007-05-12
They are the best at what they do and this CD is just one more example. You cannot go wrong with any Nox Arcana CD
A Stunning Debut!.......2007-04-17
Nox Arcana: The project that truly represents Halloween and for people who simply love classical-oriented Gothic instrumentals.......2007-04-09
I was told, by a mysterious voice in the night, that I should seek Nox Arcana and await further instructions. But it all began years ago with the discovery of the Midnight Syndicate. So, I did the obvious and entered "Midnight Syndicate" in my computer search engine, and the lone website introduced itself to me. All went dark and quiet, and the room got cold, and I could see my breath as I panted in fear, and I heard laughter amongst terrifying screams, but yet, I was alone. This was only my introduction to the Midnight Syndicate and soon to follow was the birth of something even better, the nightmareish apparitions of Nox Arcana. I was compelled to bring Nox Arcana into my world, and so I've been in the dark ever since. But, then again, it became a blissful absence from the norm. Although, Halloween is never really mentioned with any of the Nox Arcana CD's, it does seem that everyday is Halloween in my world, and for the past four years, I've always feared that I've sold my soul somehow. I believe that I sacrificed my soul the day I got out my credit card and asked the cyber spirits to bring my first Nox Arcana CD into my home. It was this CD: "Darklore Manor"
Something became different about me. My very presence wasn't acknowledged in any normal way anymore. Was I being ignored, or am I even in the room at all? Something just wasn't right. I've had days that I've stared into the mirror, but somehow, I wasn't there. When I speak to strangers in the street, I don't think that they even acknowledge me. I speak with just a small hiss of words, and people respond as if they've just been pushed by a cold wind. My loved ones speak of me, as if I've departed from this world, but yet, I am in the room. Only when I laugh, do people respond as if they've heard something. They cuddle together, in fear of their safety, and cry out my name, in a past tense, as if I am torturing them. This wasn't fun anymore. It wasn't fun, THEN, anyway.
I wander aimlessly, finally coming to terms with this apparition that I have become. My only consolation, deep into the night, is to take some of my Nox Arcana CD's and my mini-CD player, to the cemetery and lay against a tombstone, and watch the wind swirl up the leaves in a satanic dance before my eyes, while the music plays and eats away at my scruples of logic. I feel a cold embrace of many condemned angels who've cast off all their inhibitions and indulged in lustful passion upon my defenseless mortal flesh. I am consumed into their ritual with reckless abandon. Returning to reality is all nonsense now. My only fear, is that the batteries in my CD player will weaken and diminish this clash of passion of my psychological pleasure and terror.
I am so glad that Nox Arcana has entered my once typical, pop culture world. However, I feel now, that if I should ever die, I may not know the difference. I've been enjoying this nocturnal bliss for a couple of years now and there's no going back. I walk this world in a cold absence where I question if my presence is perceived at all.
If you'd like to share in this experience with me, start off with this CD of "Darklore Manor". Then get "Necronomicon", "Winter's Knight", "Transylvania", "Carnival of Lost Souls", and their latest (as of 2007) called "Blood of the Dragon".
This music is not heavy metal. It's not satanic music. It's just a mix of classically-influenced instrumentals with various snippets of dark poetry and ghastly effects. You'll hear tormented screams, deathly bell tolls, sinister laughter, grandfather clocks, howling winds, and other little clever effects with piano, organ, and harpsichord, supported by rich strings and a mellotron sound, that promote a uniquely beautiful, but yet, horrifying terror that may claim your soul. It's a small sacrifice for the sake of a dark happiness.
Alas, here's one more way that I have benefited from the music of Nox Arcana. By listening to these CD's through headphones at the cemetery, alone, late at night, in the cold dark, there is a terror that I've experienced that has actually helped me lose weight. To be so terrified that my heart pulsated so intensely that I feared my heart would just burst! That, and the accidental soiling of myself, helped me lose about three pounds. Who would have thought that terror could promote weight loss?
So, if it's dark and disturbing, it has a place in my heart.
A well-woven dark tale.......2007-02-22
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The Legendary Okeh and Epic Recordings
Ahmad Jamal Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0009Y26NQ Release Date: 2005-08-16 |
Tracks:
- The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
- Will You Still Be Mine
- Ahmad's Blues
- A Gal In Calico
- Aki And Ukthay
- Billy Boy
- Black Beauty
- Love For Sale
- Something To Remember You By
- Poinciana
- Don't Blame Me
- Autumn Leaves
- They Can't Take That Away From Me
- Old Devil Moon
- It's Easy To Remember
- Squeeze Me
- Crazy He Calls Me
- Pavanne
- Perfidia
- Rica Pulpa
- The Donkey Serenade
Customer Reviews:
Bip-Bip.......2007-06-08
this should be a TEN star.......2006-11-02
Shame on me.......2006-03-30
This is a unique format in terms of instrumentation and how they play together. I really like it. Piano, electric guitar and bass. Ray Crawford on guitar has one of those clean tones, the type most non-jazz fans probably associate with "jazz guitar". Sometimes he solos as you'd expect but sometimes he plays as if he's the drummer. I tend not to be totally in love with his drummer impersonations but that's not what he's usually doing so I can deal with it. He takes some solos that surprised me in terms of how much I liked them, given that my tastes in "jazz guitar" generally revolve almost solely around the 1920s and '30s, and then leap forward to the Sonny Sharrocks, Nels Clines and Tisziji Munozs of the world.
Part of the liner-notes are old Nat Hentoff stuff about how Ahmad struck him as piano-bar jazz. On the one hand I could see that. On the other, no way. I guess one could say this is subtle, restrained jazz oftentimes. If you're in the mood for highspeed pyrotechnics ala Clifford Brown, or cataclysmic explosions ala '66 Coltrane, this is not the disc you'll be popping into the cd player, that is true. Ahmad doesn't often (at least here, the only album of his I own) play with the blues-soaked intensity of Wynton Kelly, nor does he attack the piano the way a Cecil Taylor or Marilyn Crispell might. Not that these 2 men play similarly at all, but I guess if I had to make a "mood comparison" between Ahmad and another famous jazz pianist, I'd make that comparison with Bill Evans. There is an emotional depth coupled with a certain relative lightness of style, if that makes any sense. I know people who truly dislike Bill Evans' music precisely because it doesn't have the bluesy thrust of a Wynton Kelly or the acoustic funk of a Blue Note early '60s session. I'd have to ask, but now having heard him, I imagine those same people may not like Ahmad either, though he does oftentimes have more bounce and blues than Evans.
Maybe it's just because I've never been to a piano bar but in my head, I've never imagined sitting there eating dinner and chatting with friends while largely ignoring (or relegating to mere background tickling of ivories) a musician of the caliber of Ahmad Jamal (and band) on this disc! I'm not even all that happy with how I've worded this. You just have to hear this music.
Based on the other reviews here I wish that other track were included here, as I've never heard it, but I can't say I have anything to complain about with my purchase of this disc. Great sound and delightful playing all around!
The Legendary Okeh and Epic Recordings.......2006-02-23
"OKEH" (is) DOKEY, and THE "EPIC LABEL" SESSIONS are SPECTACULAR!!.......2005-11-10
The Okeh label sessions go back to 1951 but suffer no time lag, they are as current as anything piayed today in modern jazz. Ahmad Jamal was READY when he made his appearance as a performing artist. And super guitarist Ray Crawford is a true star in solos, comping, and imitating a wild bongo with his pizzacato plucking, spinning dazzling lines over and over. Tracks 1 to 4 (from "Surrey...." to "Gal in Calico") are terrific solo performances. "Ari and Ukthay" is fantastic but I wonder how many people skipped that track based on the title alone. The 1955 EPIC label sessions continue the excellent performances and some amazing trio interplay between Jamal, Crawford, and his really disciplined bassists, Israel Crosby and Eddie Calhoun (soon to join Errol Garner in his amazing trios). Pieces D'Resistance, the best of the best, include the endless vamp of "Squeeze Me"; the nonpariel Jamal ballad style shown in "Crazy He Calls Me"; the forward looking "Poinciana"; Miles Davis favorites "Love For Sale" and "Autumn Leaves"; "Pavanne", the amazing interplay of "Rica Pulca", "The Donkey Serenade" and "Perfidia" among many other DIAMOND PERFORMANCES.
"Love For Sale" (track 8) deserves special consideration. It is simply one of the finest trio performances in Jazz History and one of the premier piano solos of this song ever. Jamal deconstructs and re-constructs this song in every way imaginable, all over a driving drumless latin beat that Jamal and Crawford must sustain while driving the song forward. From gentle nuance to two handed cresendos, in over 8 minutes, Jamal covers the piano from end to end, getting into the extreme notes on either end of the piano that most pianists avoid, and making it an AWESOME experience of shifting dynamics. And Ray Crawford plays a killer solo as well. Jamal's 'comping' is exceptional. One of Jazz' great swinging performances. Note how Jamal repeats one note an amazing 18 TIMES in a row after Crawford's solo, a technique that Miles later used to great effect, and it fits perfectly.
I waited decades for the Epic Lable sessions to come back and the wait was worth it. The 24-bit Digital Remastering is outstanding. Now if someone could only find the Chess sessions that include the LP "COUNT'EM 88" with "Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year", "Volga Boatman", and the superb ballad "Maryam" (sp). And also release the outstanding "HEAT WAVE" recording. These two would make my updated recording collection virtually complete. PLEASE!
BTW, this CD will permanently reside in my 5 CD disk rotation forever, never to leave the player again. Thanks, Ahmad.
(NOTE: There were three great piano, guitar, bass trios (and one variation) in the form of Nat Cole, Oscar Moore, Johnny Miller; Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Herb Ellis; and the Jamal trio. (The variation would be xylo/vibraharpist Red Norvo, Tal Farlow, and uber-bassist Charles Mingus.) Two of the three, Peterson and Jamal, despite their 'guitar trio' greatness, would become the standard piano, bass, drum unit within a short time in the late 50's to early 60's. Maybe the financial success of Errol Garner's 'trio with drums' was a partial reason. Nat Cole would abandon the trio early on and go into the recording studio to pump out some of history's greatest pop songs, coming back only for cameo appearances within that format. And Mingus would go on to become..Mingus, a legend. But while it lasted, these piano/vibe, guitar, bass trios were fabulous and will never be forgotten.)
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The Celtic Circle: Legendary Music from a Mystic World
Various Artists Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000CAQ40 Release Date: 2003-10-07 |
Tracks:
- The Mystic's Dream (From 'The Mists Of Avalon') - Loreena McKennitt
- Runaway - The Corrs
- Factory Girl - The Chieftains
- I Will Find You (Them From 'The Last Of The Mohicans') - Clannad
- Eirigh Suas A Stoirin - Maire Brennan
- The Fellowship (From 'The Lord Of The Rings') - Howard Shore
- The Shores Of The Swilly - Phil Coulter
- Angel (From The Movie 'City Of Angels') - Sarah McLachlan
- The Rose Of Tralee - Nightnoise
- CuChulainn's Last Battle - Brian Dunning
- Our Farewell - Within Temptation
- Evangeline - Karen Matheson
- She Moved Through The Fair - Anuna
- Keening Of The Three Marys - William Coulter
- The Dragon's Breath - David Arkenstone
- 12 O'Clock - Vangelis
Amazon.com
Here we go again with yet another compilation of soundtrack excerpts and vaporous ditties, to be filed under "Celtic" and pronounced, one assumes, with a soft "c." Some of the selections, such as those featuring old hands like Loreena McKennit, Sinead O'Connor, Clannad, the Corrs, and the Chieftains, actually merit the moniker. But how a pair of embarrassingly twee tunes by David Arkenstone and Vangelis (!) made the cut is anyone's guess. Other choices of dubious provenance include Annie Haslam and Steve Howe's cover of an already hoary Yes tune, a squirm-inducing bit of overkill called "Elysium" (by Elysia, whoever that may be,) and Ryan and Rachel O'Donnell's flaccid reworking of Enya's "May It Be" from Lord of the Rings. "Hedwig's Theme" from the OST to Harry Potter also appears, courtesy of the City of Prague Philharmonic, even though the books never so much as hinted at the owl's nationality. --Christina RodenCustomer Reviews:
Some great tunes.......2007-01-20
Music from a Mystic World.......2005-12-23
Apparently, some think that only the Irish are Celts and only Irish music is Celtic. This is very inaccurate. Scotland is named for the Scots who came for IRELAND!!! The original inhabitants of Scotland were the Picts, who by the way were also Celts as are the Welsh and the Bretons of Brittany in France. Broadly, Celtic music can originate in Ireland, Scotland, Wales or Brittany. The problem seems to be that some folks wanted traditional Irish music, but the category of Celtic seems to be broadening in much the same way that Country Music has become broader than it was 40 years ago. I couldn't stand the old Country whiney music and still can't, but the newer country music is much more appealing. Stars like Garth Brooks stretched the narrow boundaries and appealed to much wider groups.
Enya has done the same with Celtic music. It is not traditional Irish reels, jigs, and the like, but it isn't simply New Age, either. She has successfully blended the two, leaving her music with a Celtic heart. This album stretches the boundaries, but it stays to the theme of a mystic world. It does not stray far from Celtic roots. I do not believe that is in any way misrepresented.
Concerning the reviewer that complained that they already had many of these tracks. That is not a problem with this 2 CD set. It is YOUR problem. You should have looked at the tracks before buying! I only have one duplication of the 31 tracks and that is because I also have the LOTR soundtrack. I do not mind having the repeated track as when I play this set, I get a very different mix than when the track is played in the context of the soundtrack. The change of context does affect the way in which the piece is heard. It works well in this compilation of mystic inspired tunes. So does "Hedwig's Theme." While Hedwig's nationality is not known, the entire premise of Harry Potter seems more Druidic Celtic than Anglo-Saxon. The reviewer that made the wry crack about including "Hedwig's Theme" apparently did not read the subtitle to the album. That explains the inclusion of this great piece of music by Williams. Oh, by the way, Williams is a common Welsh (CELTIC) name.
If you are looking for traditional Irish music, than this album may disappoint. If you are looking for mystical music with a Celtic soul, then this album should delight. To be sure, listen to some of the tracks first, but don't let the negative reviews of some dissuade you from purchasing without listening first. I thoroughly enjoy this set and feel that I got exactly what I expected when I bought it. I would also highly recomment it to others.
the best.......2005-12-08
Mystical Circles would be a better title.......2005-08-30
Shadow's Word - The Celtic Circle: Legendary Music from a Mystic World.......2005-08-26
To begin, this CD is not truly "Celtic." Celtic music comes from the land of Ireland and I found that some of this music does not originate from here. Don't get me wrong, it's good music, just falsly catagorized.
Other than that, it is good music, however I feel it may have been better titles "The Mystic's Circle" or something along those lines. It contains music from excellent artists and has addictive and relaxing songs on this CD. Some from movies as excellent as the songs (i.e. The Mists of Avalon).
If you want a good relaxation CD that is not quite instrumental yet has angelic like voices, this would be a good choice. Two discs, 31 songs brings a good relaxation and meditation session to clear's one's body, mind, and spirit. Though that it may be wrongly labeled in my opinion, it is still an excellent CD with excellent music.
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Legendary Music Vol. 1
The Living Legends Manufacturer: Legendary Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0007VDF4U Release Date: 2006-08-08 |
Tracks:
- Moving at the Speed of Life (feat. Slug)
- Another Day (feat. Marty James)
- Artsy
- She's The One
- Purple Kush
- Love You Like This
- Rap, Rap, Rap
- Think Big
- 2010
- Close To You (feat. Nesa Wright)
- Remember Who You Are
Product Description
The Living Legends crew hooks you up with a special-price sampler for 2006 with one solo song from each of the crew members' upcoming solo releases for this year as well as unreleased tracks from G&E and 3MG. Volume 1 is a summertime prelude to the crew's official 10th Anniversary release!Customer Reviews:
Legendary Music Vol. 1 - 420 Review.......2007-04-10
LL crew still a step above..........2007-03-28
I had to come of age and apply
My knowledge to my personal experiences,
If I didn't I could have died in all seriousness.
We've come far,
As a person, as a people, as a world
It's time to raise the bar.
It's not hard, just remember who you are...
It's not hard, just remember...
The last track - track 11 - is now my favorite hip hop song. If only it were longer than 3 1/2 minutes and two verses. The 2nd verse is for sure one to remember. If you're a real fan of hip hop or just music in general, please treat yourself and get this album. If you like 50 Cent and Eminem, don't bother. You're not going to hear songs about candy shops or being in da club. It's positive but not cheesy and stupid...
don't know what "huntercat" is talkin bout.......2007-01-25
Dope from the east.......2005-03-23
Music Album:
