Best 20 [Import]

Product Description
RCA Eternal Best Rock/Pop Collection.

Best 20,Sylvie Vartan,Bmg/RCA,World Music

Average customer rating: Rockin' n Rollin' all Night! THE WORST OF POISON!!!!!!!!! Great to hear Poison again! The Best of Poison I always liked this band, no matter how many other people hate it :)

The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock Poison Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Glam | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Rocked, Wired & Bluesed: The Greatest Hits Motley Crue - Greatest Hits Poison - Seven Days Live Ratt & Roll 8191 Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection ASIN: B000EHQ80K Release Date: 2006-04-04

Tracks:

1. Talk Dirty To Me
2. I Want Action
3. I Won't Forget You
4. Cry Tough
5. Look What The Cat Dragged In
6. Nothin' But A Good Time
7. Fallen Angel
8. Every Rose Has Its Thorn
9. Your Mama Don't Dance
10. Unskinny Bop
11. Rock And Roll All Nite
12. Ride The Wind
13. Something To Believe In
14. Life Goes On
15. Stand
16. The Last Song
17. Shooting Star
18. Were An American Band (New track, produced by Don Was)

Album Description

From hair metal stardom to "Behind the Music" melodrama, few bands have rocked as hard and lived as high as L.A.'s famous foursome, Poison. Bret, C.C. and the boys celebrate 20 years of glam-trashed brilliance on the remastered Best of Poison. This must-have set includes all of Poison's biggest hits, including "Unskinny Bop," "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," "Talk Dirty To Me," and "Nothin' But A Good Time," plus a cover of Grand Funk Railroad's "We're An American Band."

Customer Reviews:

Rockin' n Rollin' all Night!.......2007-07-16

If you're talkin' bout Rock n Roll, then definitely you're talkin' bout POISON; the best hair metal band and the sons of glam rock! This 20th anniversary collection shows the undeniable truth that POISON marks as an icon to the 80's rock n roll. But I find it dissapointing that the songs included were almost the same in their first Greatest Hits collection. In my opinion, they should'nt have included songs like Were an American Band, Rock n' Roll All Nite and Your Mama Dont Dance since they were released in a revival album called Poison'd. The new songs included like Shooting Star and Last Song were impressive however. All the rest were truly great POISON classics. Overall, this CD may be the best substitute to their Greatest Hits 86-96 collection.

THE WORST OF POISON!!!!!!!!!.......2007-05-13

I HATE POISON THE SONG I HATE THE MOST IS EVREY ROSE HAS A THORN IS THE MOST HORRIBLE SONG OF ALL TIME THE FIRST TIME I HEARD IT I THOUGHT OF THROWING UP THERE ONLY GOOD SONG IS NOTHIN BUT A GOOD TIME. ALL POISON IS IS A ONE HIT WONDER!!!!!MY ADVICE IS DON'T BUY THIS ALBUM!!!!!!!

Great to hear Poison again!.......2007-04-19

I was missing my Poison songs that I remember jamming to when I was in high school. This album brought back floods of memories! Some of their newer stuff isn't too bad either. Great collection of some of their biggest hits. Good purchase...

The Best of Poison.......2007-04-04

This is a good copulation of their work. A recommended purchase for Poison fans.

I always liked this band, no matter how many other people hate it :).......2007-01-22

Poison is one of those 1980s bands that became "unfashionable" after the 1990s grunge craze, and is now looked upon with almost universal scorn. Reviled for their big hair, spandex clothing, and simple song structures, almost nobody even admits to liking them, but I still do! For one thing, who cares if 80s music is no longer hip and trendy? Time waits for nobody, and all music eventually becomes old. The grunge music that replaced hair metal is every bit as dated as hair metal itself is, and I don't see people bashing Nirvana or Soundgarden for being "90s has beens" do you? Nothing stays hip and trendy forever. And the other argument used against Poison is that their music isn't complicated or technically complex, it only has 3 chords, and doesn't require any talent to play. Has it ever occured to you hair metal bashers that there is more to music than lightning fast guitar solos that are so impossible that nobody can play them? Sometimes 3 chords is enough to make an impression on the listener, even if it isn't hard to play. In fact, virtually all rock stars s*ck at playing their instruments. You only need to look at all the Avril Lavigne, Green Day, U2, Nickelback and Nirvana songs that have ever hit #1 on the rock charts to realize that. Nobody thinks anything less of these people for playing 3 chords on their guitars, so why should it be any different for poison? I think this band has always been underrated.

Average customer rating: Charles Aznavour - 20 Great Songs in English Aznavourian...chanson d'amour. An International Treasure The best of his English language music the great aznavour!

She: The Best of Charles Aznavour (20 Great Songs in English) Charles Aznavour Manufacturer: EMI Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD France | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Cabaret | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Charles Aznavour - Greatest Golden Hits Aznavour: Ses Plus Grands Succes You and Me Platinum Collection Live Au Carnegie Hall ASIN: B000024OE4 Release Date: 2005-09-05

Tracks:

1. She
2. Yesterday When I Was Young
3. The Happy Days
4. La Boheme
5. How Sad Venice Can be
6. No, I Could Never Forget
7. Happy Anniversary
8. You've Got To Learn
9. I Didn't See The Time Go By
10. And In My Chair
11. There Is A Time
12. You've Let Yourself Go
13. The Old Fashioned Way
14. Take Me Along
15. To My Daughter
16. The Sound Of Your Name
17. It Will Be My Day
18. Ave Maria
19. What Makes A MAn
20. They Fell

Customer Reviews:

Charles Aznavour - 20 Great Songs in English.......2006-08-04

I ordered it and hope I like it. I've only heard him sing "The Old Fashioned Way," which I love, and hope it's on this album. It would be nice if Amazon would list the songs on the CDs they sell. I was close to not buying it because I want "The Old Fashioned Way" and don't know if it's on this CD as I haven't received it yet. However, I know he has a marvelous voice, and feel certain that the songs will be winners.Can't rate it until I hear it.

-Barbara Woodward

Aznavourian...chanson d'amour........2006-05-03

Like Cher,who is an Armenian origin too,Aznavour has really,really a one-of-a-kind voice.
I like numerous great artists and Aznavour is a singer that can melt your heart away with his songs.
As music is a communication,he sings romantic,passionate and melancholy songs of easy listening for all ages.
The stage is his life and his pronounciation in english is easy to understand.

Charles is much,much loved in Europe by all sweet melodies fan.Often he's invited to various festival as SPECIAL guest
and his performance is always an 'extraordinary' amber that burst into a masterpiece of art.

This CD in English consisted fabulous songs.

An International Treasure.......2004-04-04

Charles Aznavour is a star of immense proportion, unique in his ability to emote in song what other artists cannot. He is a talent unmatched in his ability to stir up emotion in the listener with his melodic and sometimes sad vocals. Too bad that he is not as well-known in America. To listen to Charles Aznavour is an experience of one of the greatest chanteurs in music.

The best of his English language music.......2004-01-17

Charles Aznavour was slow to achieve success even in his native France. Born in 1924, he was already in his thirties when he gained recognition. There have been many compilations of his French recordings and they are well worth a listen, but this set focuses on his English language recordings. One track (I didn't see the time go by) is from 1983 while the rest were recorded between 1971 and 1978. Charles never recorded covers - the song here titled Ave Maria is his own song, not the standard. He wrote all his own material in French though he sought help in translating his songs into English. As he once said, songs are hard to translate if you still want them to rhyme in a different language.

Understandably, Charles never made the same impact in Britain and America that he did in France, but he was very popular for a few years in both countries, with hugely successful live concerts in both countries in the sixties. He had just two UK hits - The old fashioned way (1973) and She (1974), the latter going all the way to number one. This was a rare achievement for a French record though Charles was not the first Frenchman to top the UK charts. Serge Gainsbourg did it in 1969 with Je T'aime moi non plus, a duet with English born but French based Jane Birkin that was only made available in the UK because it had been banned in France.

Although his UK hits are classic love songs, Charles sang about many other topics too. It will be my day is about an unsuccessful, obviously inspired by his own struggle for success. They fell is about Armenia, a country that Charles was deeply interested in. But it is the love songs that Charles is best remembered for. Apart from She and The old fashioned way, Yesterday when I was young is probably the best-known song on this collection, but The happy days, How sad Venice can be, No I could never forget, You've got to learn, I didn't see the time go by and Ave Maria are among the many other great songs here.

Charles showed the world that France is well capable of producing world-class singer-songwriters - this collection provides but a small sample of his artistry.

the great aznavour!.......2002-09-16

This is one of his all time best! One of the greatest voices in the world!

Average customer rating: Perfect To Fall Asleep To 3-Dimensional Pure Nature Sounds

Sounds of Nature Sampler Suzanne Doucet , and Chuck Plaisance Manufacturer: Only New Age Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Environmental | New Age | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music Nature | New Age | Styles | Music Electronic | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Echoes of Nature: The Natural Sounds of the Wilderness Echoes of Nature: Morning Songbirds Mountain Streams Echoes of Nature: Ocean Waves Echoes of Nature: Thunderstorm ASIN: B0009XFIX2 Release Date: 2005-07-12

Tracks:

1. Ocean Waves
2. Southern Swamp
3. Rainstorms
4. Desert Oasis
5. Forest Morning
6. Mountain Ranch
7. The River
8. Pine Forest
9. Thunderstorm
10. At the Lake
11. Summer Nights
12. Song of the (Humpback) Whale
13. The Rainforest
14. Bubbling Creek
15. Rolling Thunder
16. A Night in the Canyon
17. Before the Storm
18. Walk at the Beach
19. Waterfall
20. Wetlands

Album Description

The sounds for this series were recorded in 3D by Chuck Plaisance. His recording system is designed to simulate human hearing, using a binaural head microphone to capture depth, height, width, as well as directional movement. No special equipment is needed to get 3D sound from traditional stereo speakers. In fact, these albums will make your system - speakers or headphones - sound like it never has before. You are the experience.

All pieces contain compositions of pure Nature Sounds produced, arranged, edited and mastered by Chuck Plaisance and Suzanne Doucet. (aka Virtual Audio Environment).

Customer Reviews:

Perfect To Fall Asleep To.......2006-07-20

I bought this CD because I didn't really know which type of sound I'd relax most too be it ocean, rain, forest, etc. Well I love all the sounds on this sampler, and I play it every night. My hubby says that 20 mins into the CD there's a rooster crowing, but I wouldn't know because by that time I'm already fast asleep. Great stuff!

3-Dimensional Pure Nature Sounds.......2005-11-21

This excellent compilation of 20 different Nature Sound albums was out of print, but is now finally available again through ONLY NEW AGE MUSIC(repackaged and remastered). This album creates a journey through different Nature scenes all recorded by Chuck Plaisance, with a special microphone that simulates human hearing. The sounds were then edited and composed, arranged and mixed like an orchestrated piece but still remain pure Sounds of Nature. Like Bernie Krause Doucet and Plaisance take essential Nature Sounds and recreate an ambience that takes you even deeper into the essence of Nature.

Average customer rating: perfect selection for commencement/ graduation Great Starting Point for Classical Music Novices **An Exquisite Album** Samples Great Sampler!

Simply the Best Classical Anthems Manufacturer: Erato ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Britten | Britten, Sir Benjamin | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Charpentier | Charpentier, Marc-Antoine | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Copland | Copland, Aaron | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Elgar | Elgar, Sir Edward | ( E ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Grieg, Edvard | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Khachaturian | Khachaturian, Aram | ( K ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mussorgsky | Mussorgsky, Modest | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Orff | Orff, Carl | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Prokofiev | Prokofiev, Sergei | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Vivaldi | Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rachmaninov | Rachmaninov, Sergei | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Divertimentos | Serenades & Divertimentos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Variations | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Organ | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Paris Symphony Orchestra | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Anthems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Thunderous Classics Thunder & Lightning 25 Thunderous Classics Time Life Presents: Classical Thunder Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits ASIN: B00004SUVI Release Date: 2000-04-25

Tracks:

1. Requiem: Dies Irae
2. Carmina Burana: O Fortuna
3. The Planets: Mars
4. The Ride Of The Valkyries
5. Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves
6. Fanfare For The Common Man
7. Pomp And Circumstance March No. 1
8. Aida: Grand March
9. Summer - Four Seasons: Presto
10. Te Deum: Prelude
11. The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra
12. Toccata And Fugue In D Minor
13. Symphony No. 5: First Movement
14. Spartacus: Adagio
15. Sabre Dance
16. Symphony No. 40: First Movement
17. Zadok The Priest
18. Turandot: Nessun Dorma

Tracks:

1. Also Sprach Zarathoustra
2. Romeo And Juliet: Dance Of The Knights
3. Requiem: Dies Irae
4. 1812 Overture
5. Piano Concerto
6. Spring - Four Seasons: Allegro
7. Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus
8. The Royal Fireworks: La Ruissance From Music
9. Flight Of The Bumble Bee
10. Symphonie Fantastique: March To The Scaffold
11. Carmen: Overture
12. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
13. Jerusalem
14. The Planets: Jupiter
15. Symphony No 9, 'Ode To Joy'
16. Swan Lake: Scene
17. Enigma Variations: Nimrod
18. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini [Variation 18]
19. Pictures At An Exibitions: Promenade
20. Symphony For Organ No 3: Finale, Symphony For Organ No 3

Customer Reviews:

perfect selection for commencement/ graduation.......2007-06-11

We were concerned after reading some other reviews that this version of Pomp and Circumstance wouldn't be the correct movement or the full length version. This selection has the song for graduation AND the extended length, so it gives plenty of time for processionals. If this is what you need, this is the CD to get.

Great Starting Point for Classical Music Novices.......2004-08-13

"Simply the Best Classicial Anthems" is exactly what the title indicates. This is a collection of what the CD says are "36 of the most powerful classics on Earth". My review of this CD comes from someone who is a Classical Music Novice. I'm familiar with some of the composers, musical styles, musical periods, and some of the terminology that is key to understanding Classical Music. By no means am I an expert. I have basically popped in this two CD collection into my player and have enjoyed the sounds it produces. If you are in the same category as I am or maybe just wanting to be introduced to Classical Music - this is going to be a very good CD to have in your collection. For the more seasoned Classical Music fan, this could be either enjoyable or overkill.

The CD contains 36 songs composed by the legends of Classical Music Composers from the past. The bulk of the works come from Composers in the the 19th and 20th century, but there are works from the Romantic and Classical eras of the late 18th and early 19th century (such as Beethoven and Mozart). In general you will find most of the major names of Composers you would expect to find - names such as Tchiakovsky, Handel, Verdi, Strauss, Elgar, and Bach are all there. The only major composer who I would have expected to see on this CD that I don't see is Frederic Chopin. The composers of the late 20th century are not included on this collection - so you won't see Leonard Bernstein or John Williams on this set. While these Composers are excellent, I do think style of the tracks on this collection pre-date their style.

The recordings themselves are done by the great Orchestras around the world. For the most part, European Orchestras were used to deliver the tracks. There are a few exceptions: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra delivers "The Ride of the Valkyries"; The Toronto Symphony Orchestra delivers "Dance of the Knights"; and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra delivers Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture". Some of the European Orchestras that are well known include: BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra, Choeur Philhamonique de Strasbourg, and more. Also included are performances by well known names in the Classical space such as Marie-Claire Alain (Bach's "Toccate and Fogue in D Minor" and Saint-Saens' "Symphony for Organ No 3"), Piero Toso (Vivaldi's "Allegro From Spring - Four Seasons"), and Placido Domingo appears on Puccini's "Nessun Dorma".

The 2 Disc collection contains a total of over 2 hours and 6 minutes of music. The selections that are included in the set will sound very familiar to you when you play them. You probably have both heard and seen the names of tracks such as: Oref's "O Fortuna"; Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man"; Beethoven's "First Movement from Symphony Number 5" and "Ode To Joy"; Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance", and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture". Many of the other tracks will also sound familiar, but maybe not so much by name - such as Wagner's "The Ride of the Valkyries", Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathoustra"; Grieg's "Piano Concerto", and "Dies Irae" (versions included by Mozart and Verdi - you can compare the two and judge for yourself). As for the Discs themselves, I think most of the casual fans will like the selections on Disc Two better, but Disc One is still very good. On a sidebar, the Israel Philharmonic's version of "1812 Overture" is by far the best you will hear - particularly at the end, the booming drums create almost a 3 dimensional vision of fireworks being launched into the air.

There one big negative on this collection is some of the recording quality. The clarity of the recording is there, but some of the recording levels leave a lot to be desired. On some of the softer parts, it is barely audible without significantly turning up your volume. This is very evident on "O Fortuna" where you will hear almost dead silence during from the 30 second to 1:30 mark of the track unless you crank your volume up. Same with the first few seconds of Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathoustra" and Tchiakovsky's "1812 Overture". When the volume is cranked up you will hear them - but then the other sections will be way too loud. I'm surprised with modern technology that this couldn't be addressed better.

The liner notes are pretty thin. You do get the Composers, Performers/Orchestras, and recording dates. There isn't any more details than that and you won't learn anymore insight on the tracks than this information. Despite some of the shortcomings of the liner notes and recording volume, I still think this is an excellent place to start and do recommend this CD if you are a novice to Classical Music and are looking for a great place to start listening to what the Classics have to offer.

**An Exquisite Album**.......2004-02-21

Simply The Best Classical Anthems

Simply The Best Classical Anthems is a compilation album of `36 of the most powerful Anthems on Earth'. But, it is also said to be something else. It is said to be a gateway. A gateway to another world. A world where our imagination can run free without being shackled down by any borders or boundaries or rules or limits. A world that we have all seen or perhaps more accurately have all heard of but for many of us a world that we have never dared to enter. Never dared to enter because of fear. The fear of being ostracised and shunned by our community.

THE MYTH
`Classical Music!', I can hear some of you cry. `That isn't another world. That's just music for the upperclass, the high-brow, and the pompous.' Surprisingly, I too felt this way for a long time until I accepted the invitation made to me by Simply The Best Classical Anthems. I always felt that Classical Music was nice to listen to as background music for a Levis ad or a Car ad but I would consider people strange if they chose to hear it on its own. However, after having listened to this album I realised how wrong I was in my assumptions.

THE TRUTH
Music as with all forms of amusement helps to take you away from where you are now. It helps to relax you when you are stressed with anger; it helps to give you strength when you are vulnerable; it helps to keep your spirits up when you have faced tragedy or loss. It helps. And, for me the type of music that best conjures up the most passionate emotions (love, hate, courage and anger) at our most testing times is Classical Music.
How? I don't know.
Why? I don't know.
I can only promise you that in my experience it does.

THE CHEST
The album, in visual terms, is very difficult to overlook amongst the plethora of records that may surround it. This is because the album has a very distinct purple sleeve cover. Not any kind of purple mind you but the Cadbury's kind of purple. The kind of purple that carries with it an invitation. An invitation that if accepted promises you a treasure inside.
And since, I have always enjoyed the treasure within the purple Cadbury's Dairy Milk wrapper, I asked myself why would an album carrying the same invitation promise to be anything different? Thus, I parted with my tuppence worth and went back home to open this purple chest of promised treasures.

THE PROMISED TREASURE
As you may have guessed, the contents of the album are somewhat different to the contents of a Cadbury's bar. When I opened the album, I was presented with two compact discs. At first glance, there did not seem to be anything special about them. They were just your average, everyday, run of the mill compact discs. To tell you the truth, I was a bit disappointed because I suppose I had hoped for something more.
However, looks can be deceptive. (Afterall, a Cadbury's Dairy Milk does not seem very appetising until you taste it!) And, also come November each year, I am always bemused and surprised at how the shabby contents of a cardboard box can both light up the sky and light up the faces of the neighbourhood. Thus, I pushed aside my assumptions and I ignited the discs (not literally of course, I just pressed the play button on the CD player). And, I let the fireworks begin.

THE KEY
From the very beginning, you will feel like you have unlocked the doorway to something special. And, after a full two hours of listening to both discs, you will feel like you have been taken out of this world and transported to another. Welcome to the world of Classical Music.

GUIDANCE
In the beginning, continue to listen to both discs in one go (i.e. one after the other). After a while, you will know which tracks you enjoy listening to the most. For those tracks you enjoyed the most make a promise to yourself that you will listen to the whole of the piece from which that track came from.
Good Luck on your quest if you choose to accept it.
Ride amongst the Valkyries, listen to the Flight of the Bumblebees, and use The Planets to keep you on the path.

I am not a good reviewer because as with all of my reviews I refuse to comment too much about what is inside the product but rather more about what effect the product has had on me. (Me, me, me. Vain & Egotistic, I know, so my friends and family keep telling me). But, I just want to cause a raucous about the product, enough not to spoil but enough of a raucous to let you experience it for yourself.

So my final words are:
Simply The Best Classical Anthems is an invitation. An invitation to the world of classical music. A world where you can begin a never-ending quest of curiosity. A curiosity that will always be rewarded with fulfilment.

Do you accept such an invitation?

Hope you found this review helpful.

Samples.......2003-11-23

The samples are too short and the quality leaves a lot to be desired. Having said that the choices are wonderful and the price is great. If you're looking for a overview of the best of classical music then this is for you. However if it's quality you're looking for then spent the extra money and look at other choices.

Great Sampler!.......2002-03-20

This is a good sampler, since it covers what you would want in a classical music CD. Looking at the tracks, it has the classic hits, such as "Ride of the Valkyries," "Toccata and Fugue," "Fanfare for the Common Man," "'Jupiter' from `The Planets,'" "Eine Klein Nachtmusik," and "Hallelujah Chorus."

There are also some new pieces that I have fallen in love with, such as "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra," "'Promenade' from Pictures at an Exhibition." The compilers did an interesting double take by including both Verdi's and Mozart's "Dies Ire." I'm not sure which is better.

This music is good for the brain and good for the soul. There is a power and passion that the blaring and glaring music that makes up most of the FM band. I'm reminded of the religious man who said that there is no music in hell. Probably because they wouldn't appreciate it there.

These CDs has a good transfer from the analogue tapes; there is no hiss or fuzziness. The packaging hearkens back to 2001: A Space Odyssey, with the black monolith. And appropriately, "Also Sprach Zarathustra" is the opening track on Disk 2.

Average customer rating: Reading about Paganini Unexpected Delights An unearthly hand guides his bow Excellent Introductory set of Paganini Fine compilation of Paganini

The Best of Paganini Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Paganini, Niccolò | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Paganini: 24 Caprices Paganini for Two / Gil Shaham, Goran Sollscher The Art of Ivry Gitlis Paganini: Violin Concertos Heifetz Showpieces ASIN: B00000J9H2 Release Date: 1999-06-15

Tracks:

1. Violin Concerto No. 1 In D, Op. 6: 1. Allegro maestoso - Nicolo Paganini
2. Violin Concerto No. 1 In D, Op. 6: 2. Adagio - Nicolo Paganini
3. 3. Rondo, Allegro spirituoso - Nicolo Paganini
4. I palpiti, Op.13 - Nicolo Paganini
5. Le streghe, Op.8 - Nicolo Paganini
6. Violin Concerto No. 4 In D Minor: 1. Allegro maestoso - Nicolo Paganini
7. Violin Concerto No. 4 In D Minor: 2. Adagio Flebile con sentimento - Nicolo Paganini
8. 3. Rondo galante. Andantino gaio - Nicolo Paganini

Tracks:

1. Violin Concerto No. 2 in B mnor, Op. 7 - Allegro maestoso - Various Artists
2. Violin Concerto No. 2 in B mnor, Op. 7 - Adagio - Various Artists
3. Violin Concerto No. 2 in B mnor, Op. 7 - Rondo a la clochette, La Campanella - Various Artists
4. Caprice For Violin No. 13 - Various Artists
5. Caprice For Violin No. 20 - Various Artists
6. Caprice For Violin No. 24 - Various Artists
7. Violin Concerto No. 3 in E - Introduzione Andante, Allegro marziale - Various Artists
8. Violin Concerto No. 3 in E - Adagio, Cantabile spianato - Various Artists
9. Violin Concerto No. 3 in E - Polacca, Andantino vivace - Various Artists
10. Moto Perpetuo, Op. 11 - Various Artists

Customer Reviews:

Reading about Paganini.......2007-01-25

Fans of Paganini should read Julian Livingston's novel, Paganini-The Vampire Career. In this book, P.T. Barnum has sent Henry Feder to Europe to seek out a new violinist, Nicolaties, more than 40 years after Paganini died without last rites. Nicolaties looks, performs, behaves like Paganini. Could it be him? Lots of technical references to music, as Mr. Livingston is a musician and has written 2 operas. A very interesting book for musicians, vampire lovers, and macabre 19th century European tales.

Unexpected Delights.......2001-03-16

I bought this CD after hearing of the legend of Paganini - the devil on his shoulder, the playing that made people faint, the Marfan-syndrome affected joints that allowed impossible finger contortions, the immense crowds that adored him, as they did Liszt at the piano. What I expected was to hear impossible violin artistry at work, which was definitely fulfilled. What I did not expect, however, were the marvelous interludes between the violin solos. Paganini's concerti are unlike those of Beethoven and Brahms, as the violin completely dominates the attention. But the power of the full orchestra was unexpected. These are true violin showpieces, to be certain, but they are also marvelous bits of music - when the full orchestra blasts in you can't help but smile.

An unearthly hand guides his bow.......2000-08-13

"The Devil guides his bow " was what audiences said when they heard the fast fingers of Nicolo Paganini as he performed his various Caprices and Concertos. This was not an insult. He could play with demonic speed and still maintain a great sound. He is first and foremost a violinist, a superb one. Paganini's music is also brilliant and elegant sounding. In his time, audiences were moved to tears by his slower violin movements. This proves the emotional factor is present in his music, making him a Romantic composer and nevertheless a Classical composer. Stradivari violins were being made at this time. It was a great period in music and Paganini was a legend. I highly recommend this cd containing his most gorgeous works.

Excellent Introductory set of Paganini.......2000-01-14

This is a fine compilation. Not only it includes better compositions by Paganini, it also includes some of the best recorded performance of the works as well. As a musicological interest, Grumiaux and Szerying gave revival performances of no.3 and 4. The approaches the three violinists take are interesting to note as well. Szeryng and Grumiaux's playing emphasize the lyrical, aristocratic quality, whereas Gitlis emphasizes the demonic quality. And both approaches work splendidly. This set will provide an excellent introduction for people who does not know the compositions by Paganini, and will provide great pleasure for those who knows the music but has not heard them performed by these three wonderful violinists. Strongly recommended.

Fine compilation of Paganini.......1999-12-01

This is a fine collection of Paganini. Szeryng and Grumiaux gave the modern premieres for third and fourth concertos, respectively. Grumiaux's aristocratic performance of the fourth concerto has rarely been matched. In his performance, musicianship, technique and taste are balanced in an incomparable perfection. Szeryng's noble, distinguished performance of the third concerto has also very few equals. His restrained lyricism is particularly effective in the aria-like 2nd movement. As a pleasant surprise, Szeryng's performance has a great deal of charm as well (which is not always the case). Then as a contrast, this set has a hair-raisingly demonic performance of the second concerto by under-rated Ivry Gitlis. Gitlis's approach is 180 degree opposite from lyrical Grumiaux and Szeryng. Gitlis plays the concerto as if he is an personification of the devil himself, with gut-shattering vibrato and fearless abandan. Gitlis' fine performances of 3 caprices matches in every way with Heifetz's. The other recordings in this set are also distinguished, but not quite in the same level as the above mentioned. Grumiaux's lyrical performance of the first concerto sounds somewhat pale compared to young Yehudi Menuhin's 1934 performance, and so as his recording of two variations (Ricci plays a better Le Streghe, and I don't understand why Philips did not use Gitlis' version of I palpiti, which is much better). Marrinar's competent but hardly exciting perpetuo mobile (compare with Toscanini's recording!) could have been substituted with several more of Gitlis' Paganini short pieces he recorded during the 1960's on Philips. But this compilation is definitely worth getting for the concertos nos.2, 3 & 4. And the price is good too!

Average customer rating: Brought Back Memories On time and in great shape. A very decent intro for the price Worst Irish CD EVER Not the Same CD as Advertised

The Best of Irish Pub Songs: 20 Great Favorites Various Artists Manufacturer: Madacy Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | British Isles | Europe | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | British Isles | Europe | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | International General | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 International | 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 Similar Items: Irish Drinking Songs The Best Of The Irish Rovers [Remaster] Irish Songs of Rebellion/Irish Drinking Songs Upon A Shamrock Shore: Songs of Ireland and the Irish Whiskey in the Jar: Essential Irish Drinking Songs & Sing Alongs ASIN: B000000K5X Release Date: 1994-09-08

Tracks:

1. Wiskey In the Jar
2. The Wild Rover
3. Rocky Road To Dublin
4. Bold O'Donaghue
5. Finnegan's Wake
6. Molly Malone
7. Mountain Dew
8. Spanish Lady
9. Cod-Liver Oil/Coolies
10. Lannigan's Ball
11. Muirsheen Durkin
12. Gypsy Rover
13. Crooked Jack
14. I'll Tell My Ma
15. I'm Rover
16. Black Velvet Band
17. Poor Paddy Works On The Railways
18. Seven Drunken Nights
19. Sarce O'Tatties
20. Ramblin' Irishman

Customer Reviews:

Brought Back Memories.......2007-07-13

Lots of great songs, including a few I'd all but forgotten, and a couple good ones I don't think I ever heard before.

On time and in great shape........2007-04-16

My order was on time and in great shape.

A very decent intro for the price.......2005-03-15

First: The correct samples for "All the Best Irish Drinking Songs" (which has a jacket photo of a man & woman drinking in a dim pub) are found under the listing for "The Best of Irish Pub Songs: 20 Great Favorites", which has a jacket illustration of a drawing of a pink pub front called "Dan's Pub"; seems there's some information confusion between the two listings. Where the samples are for the "pink pub" recording are I have no idea.)

I first bought "All the Best Irish Drinking Songs" in cassette years ago to simply learn some pub songs before an Irish vacation. I wasn't looking for classic renditions or sublime technical achievement, just something to teach me the tunes.

For the price, I was very pleasantly surprised. The songs are great, and this assortment is hard to find in one recording. Whether the "pub atmosphere" in the background is contrived or authentic was irrelevant to me; I did feel that it enhanced the listening experience, however, so I think it's a nice touch. If inauthenticity in that kind of thing gets your cockles up, then look to the Clancy Brothers or any other Irish folk legends for "live" concert recordings, or Matt Molloy for an honest-to-gosh pub recording, but you won't find these tunes in one product for any price anywhere else. The only downsides I found with this economic recording were no lyric sheet, and tempos that might vary from "studio" versions of the same songs, but all in all, it's a very enjoyable little tape for a small investment.

Worst Irish CD EVER.......2004-12-14

This is the worst drinking song CD I have ever bought. For the record this is not the Jolly Beggermen in any way. Don't by this if you have a choice. The preformer kills the songs. I agree with the person who says that an Irish Drinking song recording should be done in an Irish Bar or Pub, recorded live.

Not the Same CD as Advertised.......2004-12-08

I bought this cd thinking it was recorded live(as some other reviewers stated) but it wasn't it. I was extremly dissapointed and returned it to Amazon. I would like to know the cd that everyoneis talking about...soiunds like it would be fun to listen to.

Average customer rating: ~New Blood~ The best of Poison - A Real Review.

The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock (CD & DVD) Poison Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Glam | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Poison - Seven Days Live Video Hits Power to the People Hollyweird Look What the Cat Dragged In ASIN: B000FCVYKI Release Date: 2006-05-23

Tracks:

1. Talk Dirty To Me
2. I Want Action (Single Version)
3. I Won't Forget You (Single Version)
4. Cry Tough
5. Look What The Cat Dragged In
6. Nothin' But A Good Time
7. Fallen Angel
8. Every Rose Has It's Thorn
9. Your Mama Don't Dance
10. Unskinny Bop
11. Rock & Roll All Nite
12. Ride The Wind
13. Something To Believe In
14. Life Goes On
15. Stand
16. The Last Song
17. Shooting Star
18. We're An American Band

Album Description

This definitive Poison collection includes all of their biggest hits plus a brand new track "We're an American Band" produced by Don Was. BONUS DVD includes Poison's classic videos plus a special feature on the recording of "We're An American Band." DVD TRACK LISTING: 1. I Want Action (music video) 2. Every Rose Has Its Thorn (music video) 3. Your Mama Don't Dance (music video) 4. Nothin' But a Good Time (music video) 5. Something To Believe In (music video) 6. Unskinny Bop (music video) 7. Talk Dirty To Me (Live on MTV Unplugged) 8. The Making of We're An American Band

Customer Reviews:

~New Blood~.......2007-02-01

On this CD there is new material that is VERY GOOD...and of course there are the well known favorites as well. This was a great CD which led into a GREAT Concert!!!!
For those of us that weren't around or old enough to experience Poison in the beginning this CD takes us there and also shows us how much better they can get with time and experience!
This is a MUST HAVE for any Poison Fan!!!!

The best of Poison - A Real Review........2006-05-31

If you are looking to get into Poison I would start with this collection of songs and music videos that helped shape the music, style and sound of the last 20 years in rock history. The best period in Poison's career was the first three albums and this CD covers most of the music from those periods. This CD starts at the beginning of Poison's career with the Look What The Cat Dragged In album which is represented by the first five songs. Tracks 6-9 come from their second album Open up and say ahh... Tracks 10 & 12-14 come from their third album Flesh & Blood. Track 11 comes from the Less Than Zero soundtrack from 1987 and this is the first time it has appeared on a Poison album. Track 15 comes from the fourth studio album Native Tongue. Track 16 comes from the half studio - half live album Power to the People. Track 17 comes from the album Hollyweird. Track 18 as noted on the CD is a new studio track, it is a cover of the classic song by Grand Funk Railroad. Track 11 is a cover of the KISS classic Rock N' Roll All Nite.

Average customer rating: I love it and I give it as a gift MarMSED Diverse range but the songs are butchered...

The Best Choral Album in the World...Ever! Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Allegri | Allegri, Gregorio | ( A ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Barber | Barber, Samuel | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Borodin | Borodin, Alexander | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Charpentier | Charpentier, Marc-Antoine | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Duruflé, Maurice | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Elgar | Elgar, Sir Edward | ( E ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Fauré, Gabriel | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Franck, César | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Górecki, Henryk Mikolaj | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Franz Joseph Haydn | Haydn, Franz Joseph | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Orff | Orff, Carl | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Poulenc | Poulenc, Francis | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rutter | Rutter, John | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rachmaninov | Rachmaninov, Sergei | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tavener | Tavener, John Kenneth | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Vivaldi | Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Anthems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Chants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Te Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: The #1 Choral Album Choral Masterpieces The Only Choral CD You'll Ever Need Gloria: Music of Praise & Inspiration The Power & The Majesty: Essential Choral Classics ASIN: B00002ZZH6 Release Date: 2005-06-07

Tracks:

1. Gloria In Excelsis Deo - Academy And Chorus Of St Martin In The Fields
2. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
3. Zadok The Priest - Ambrosian Singers
4. Miserere Mei, Deus - Gerald Finley
5. Veni Creator Spiritus - Choir Of The Monks Of The Benedictine Monastery Of Santo Domingo De Silos
6. Lacrimosa - London Philharmonic Choir
7. For Unto Us A Child Is Born - Ambrosian Singers
8. The Heavens Are Telling - John Shirley-Quirk
9. Panis Angelicus - Halle Choir
10. Ave Maria - Groupe Vocal De France
11. Ode To Joy - The Westminster Choir
12. Va, Pensiero - Chorus Of the Royal Opera House
13. Chorus Of Slave Girls - Chorus Of The National Theatre Of Sophia
14. Coro De Romanticos - Coro Cantores De Madrid
15. In Paradisum - Choir Of Kings College, Cambridge
16. Totus Tuus - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
17. Song For Athene - Winchester Cathedral Choir
18. Celebration - London Symphony Chorus
19. Jerusalem - Royal Choral Society

Tracks:

1. Zion Hort Die Wachter - South German Madrigal Choir
2. Pleni Sunt Coeli Et Terra - Charles Brett
3. Hallelujah Chorus - Ambrosian Singers
4. Thou Knowest, Lord - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
5. Veni Sancte Spiritus - Choir Of The Monks Of The Benedictine Monastery Of Santo Domingo De Silos
6. Awake The Harp - City Of Birmingham Symphony Chorus
7. And Then Shall Your Light Break Forth - New Philharmonia Chorus
8. L'Adieu Des Bergers - Choeurs Rene Duclos
9. Agnus Dei - Peter Barley
10. Cantique De Jean Racine - MONKS AND CHOIRBOYS OF DOWNSIDE ABBEY
11. Ave Verum Corpus - Schutz Consort
12. Begluckt Darf Nun Dich, O Heimat - Bavarian State Opera Chorus, Munich
13. Vedi! Le Fosche Notturne Spoglie - Chorus Of the Royal Opera House
14. Laudamus Te - Radio France Chorus
15. Chichester Psalms - Rachel Masters
16. The Lamb - Vasari Singers
17. Agnus Dei - Winchester Cathedral Choir
18. Requiem Aeternam - Choir Of Kings College, Cambridge
19. Dies Irae - Philharmonia Chorus
20. O Fortuna - London Philharmonic Choir
21. Pomp And Circumstance March No. 1 (Land Of Hope Glory) - Royal Choral Society

Customer Reviews:

I love it and I give it as a gift.......2006-12-11

This is the first collection of choral music that I've purchased and I love it. I own copies of operas and requiems and masses, but if you attend choral concerts, as I have been recently, you learn there is a huge colletion of choral music appart from the forms I've been listening to. I appreciate the producers selecting "Song for Athene" by Tavener and "Celebration (Standing Stone)" by McCartney. They are new to me and I love them. Disk 1 ends with "Jerusalem" and Disk 2 ends with "Land of Hope and Glory." As an American I rarely hear these and I am so glad they were included. I believe this album was intended to help popularize choral music and I believe the selections do fine job towards that end.

I know snobs rage against popularizing classical music, but everyone deserves exposure to the beauty of song. I will also mention here "The East Village Opera Company" because they work to popularize opera by setting it to a rock beat. They do a fine job but also get criticized for attempting to popularize classical music.

"The Best Choral Album in the World...Ever" was so popular with my teen-age daughter that it was hard to get it back from her. I give the album as a gift to nephews and nieces.

MarMSED.......2005-08-27

The music selections are extraordinary. The only problem has to do with the balance of sound. There are some parts that are very loud, and some that are so very soft. You have to continually adjust the volume.

Diverse range but the songs are butchered..........2005-07-24

Well, this CD isn't horrible by any stretch, but it is irritating to someone who's more than a casual listener of choral music. I'm by no means as musically "literate" as many reviewers out there, but I have a collection of probably twenty-five or thirty choral CD's and this is one that will probably be gathering dust in the back of the CD book.

The peices are well-performed for the most part, but they are hopelessly edited. Beethoven's Ode to Joy is somewhere around twenty four minutes, but this CD only includes an arrangement of about five minutes. The beautiful Miserere is, uncut, almost eleven minutes but is cut down to five and a half minutes here.

Looking back, I should have realized the major editing that would be involved, just by the sheer number of peices on it. I'm familiar with a great many of them and I know they're too long to fit onto a seventy minute disc without some major cutting going on. I just didn't reason that out before I shelled out the money for it.

Bottom line. This CD has decent singing, but is nothing special. If you're a newcomer to this genre, you might get this as a quick overview of the different types of choral music out there, but if you're any kind of an avid listener, this CD will drive you insane with the severity of the cuts. Beginners, if you're looking for a great collection CD, you'd do better to look at "Choral Moods". It doesn't have the diversity in styles of this one, but it will introduce you to incredibly talented composers. To the old hats out there, steer clear of this one and look to CD's by your preferred individual composers themselves. It's more money, but much less frustration in the long run. The old sayings are sometimes the best: You get what you pay for.

Average customer rating:

The Very Best of Mozart Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Concertinos | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Divertimentos | Serenades & Divertimentos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music French Horn | Brass | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Clarinet | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Very Best of Beethoven The Very Best of Bach The Very Best of Tchaikovsky The Very Best of Chopin The Very Best of Handel ASIN: B000B6N654 Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

1. Allegro
2. Rondo-Allegro Vivace
3. Soave Sia Il Vento
4. Andantino
5. Confutatis And Lacrymosa
6. Molto Allegro
7. Minuetto
8. La Ci Darem La Mano
9. Sleigh Ride
10. Allegro Assai
11. Vol Che Sapete
12. Allegro Con Brio
13. Overture

Tracks:

1. Overture
2. Adagio
3. Kyrie
4. Andante
5. Molto Allegro
6. Der Holle Rache
7. Rondo Alla Turca
8. Andantino
9. Menuetto
10. Larghetto
11. Tempo Di Menuetto

Average customer rating: Forget what they SAY Most Aggravating Album in the World! A fair introduction to Classical Music Great for Beginners Exellent compilation

The Best Classical Album in the World... Ever! Stanley Myers , Antonio Vivaldi , Gregorian Chant , John Williams , Edward Elgar , Giuseppe Verdi , Giacomo Puccini , Michael Nyman , Edvard Grieg , Ludwig van Beethoven , Umberto Giordano , Riccardo Muti , Fryderyk Chopin , Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni , Georges Bizet , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Johann Pachelbel , Antonin Dvorak , Carl Orff , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Léo Delibes , George Gershwin , Maurice Ravel , Charles Gounod , Erik Satie , Sergey Prokofiev , and Sergey Rachmaninov Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Albinoni | Albinoni, Tomaso | ( A ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. 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Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever! Simply the Best Classical Anthems The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Ever, Volume II ASIN: B000002S6K Release Date: 1996-04-23

Tracks:

1. The Four Seasons: Concerto No.1 In E 'Spring': I. Allegro
2. Schindler's List: Theme
3. Requiem: Ingemisco
4. The Piano: The Heart Asks Pleasure First
5. Symphony No.5 In C Minor: I. Allegro con brio
6. The Deer Hunter: Cavatina
7. Puer natus est nobis
8. Cello Concerto In E Minor: I. Adagio
9. Turandot: Nessun dorma
10. Piano Concerto: I. Allegro molto moderato
11. Andrea Chenier: La mamma morta
12. Waltz No.6 In D Flat, 'Minute'
13. Adagio In G Minor
14. Carmen: Habanera
15. Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat: III. Rondo (Allegro vivace)
16. Canon In D
17. Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
18. New World Symphony: II. Largo
19. La Traviata: Brindisi
20. Carmina Burana: O Fortuna

Tracks:

1. Piano Concerto No.1In B Flat Minor: I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso (Opening)
2. Symphony No.3 'Symphony Of Sorrowful Songs': II. Lento e largo - Tranquillissimo
3. Flute and Harp Concerto In C: II. Andantino
4. Lakme: Flower Duet
5. The Four Seasons: Winter: I. Allegro non molto
6. Porgy And Bess: Summertime
7. Bolero
8. Ave Maria
9. Gymnopedie No.1
10. Romeo & Juliet: Montagues and Capulets
11. Rhapsody On A Theme OF Paganinni: Variation 18
12. Walking In The Air
13. Sonata No.14 In C Sharp Minor 'Moonlight': I. Adagio sostenuto
14. Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus
15. Eine kleine Nachtmusik: I. Allegro
16. NIMROD: Enigma Variations
17. Swan Lake: Act One: Finale
18. Orchestral Suite No.3 In D: Air on the G String
19. The Planets: Jupiter
20. 1812 Overture

Customer Reviews:

Forget what they SAY.......2003-11-10

Many of these prior reviewers complain that the abundance of operas and vocals degrate this compilation. They don't know what they're talking about. These genres are what made Classical music popular in it's age. In that era the forum for showcasing "classical music" was operas! Hence why most of these works are lost in the shuffle. Most of us know Mozart and Beethoven's compositions by ear but there are so many other great composers that existed and these CD's will show you but a PIECE. But, fair warning, these CD's show only a small fraction of the whole movement (song). If you truly dig the genre you're in for a treat, investigate!

Most Aggravating Album in the World!.......2002-05-26

This CD is the first thing I ever returned to Amazon. It is an inferior product--selections cut off abruptly before the end, volume fades and returns in the middle of a cut...production values are pure schlock here. Maybe I should have expected as much from such a sophomoric title.

A fair introduction to Classical Music.......2001-03-03

I purchased this CD because I am new to Classical Music and thought this would be a good introduction CD. There is some wonderful music on this CD. The only problem I have with this CD is every other track is Opera of one form or another. As a new listener I found that after the Opera tracks I felt I had been yelled at and it was a distraction to the other music contained on the CD. I now know to hit the skip button on my CD player just about every other track. I only gave it 3 stars because I felt put off by the vocal tracks. I believe that when someone is new to Classical Music they do not think of Opera. If you don't mind hitting the skip button a lot or if you like Opera this CD is for you!

Great for Beginners.......2000-07-14

This is a nice recording for folks who don't know much about classical music, and would serve as a wonderful introduction. It covers centuries of great music in a very listener-friendly format. I am sure that I will use this CD in my music classroom. For a seasoned classical music lover, however, the CD proves a bit frustrating, including only segments of masterworks (not even the entire movement of the Holst). I bought the CD for a few recordings, which I truly enjoy and make the CD a worthwile purchase. But I found (and I think that most classical musicians will find) that I already had many of these works in their entirety.

Exellent compilation.......2000-04-12

This is a fine collection of classical songs for those that have little experience with classical music. Howver, I truly love it.

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