| 1. Crazy Days |
| 2. Mary Jane |
| 3. My Only One |
| 4. Jailbait Stalemate |
| 5. I Can't Get The Feeling |
| 6. Chinatown |
| 7. Reptile Woman |
| 8. Bad To Me |
| 9. Bye Bye Birdie |
| 10. 11th St Boogie |
| 11. Talkin Bout You |
Crazy Days,Hurriganes,Lover,World Music
Average customer rating:
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Henry Mancini -The Ultimate Collection
James Galway Manufacturer: Bmg Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000071UZ Release Date: 1995-12-06 |
Tracks:
- Pink Panther Theme - Plas Johnson, Henry Mancini & His Orchestra
- Moon River
- Days of Wine and Roses
- Baby Elephant Walk
- Theme from Hatari
- Charade - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
- Thorn Birds Theme - National Philharmonic Orchestra
- Blue Satin
- Two for the Road
- Mr Lucky
- Theme from the Molly Maguires - National Philharmonic Orchestra
- Moment to Moment
- As Time Goes By - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
- Shot in the Dark
- Misty
- Theme from Love Story
- Pennywhistle Jig - National Philharmonic Orchestra
- Everything I Do (I Do It for You) - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
- Moonlight Sonata
- Tender Is the Night - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
- Theme from "Mommie Dearest" - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
- Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head
- Crazy World
- Mona Lisa
Tracks:
- Peter Gunn
- Unchained Melody - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
- Summer Knows
- Experiment in Terror
- Windmills of Your Mind
- Till There Was You
- Speedy Gonzales - Henry Mancini,
- Sweetheart Tree
- Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet
- Dream a Little Dream of Me
- Lonesome
- Pie in the Face Polka - National Philharmonic Orchestra
- Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
- By the Time I Get to Phoenix
- Dear Heart
- Charade [Opening Titles]
- Shadow of Your Smile
- One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
- Breakfast at Tiffany's
- That Old Black Magic
- Evergreen
- Midnight Cowboy
Album Description
1995 compilation on RCA Victor featuring 46 of the composer's finest & most memorable recordings from 1956-1991on two digitally remastered, full color picture CDs. Contains 'The Pink Panther Theme', 'Moon River', 'A Shot In The Dark', Wine And Roses', 'Baby Elephant Walk', 'Peter Gunn', 'Everything I Do (I Do It For You)', 'Mona Lisa', 'Unchained Melody', 'Midnight Cowboy' and much more. Well over two hours of easy listening ecstasy! Double slimline jewel case. The full title is 'In The Pink: The Ultimate Collection'.Album Details
Digitally Remastered Double Anthology of the Pop and Soundtrack Composer from the 50's and 60's. Perhaps his Best Counterpart of Today Would Be John Williams. A Film Maker Could Always Rely on Mancini to Deliver a Composition that Hit the Mark for a Film and Conveyed Exactly What was Required and More. He also Filled the Role of an American Mantovani, Recording 'muzak' Versions of Popular Hits. He was Handsome, Personable, but Most of All, Well Respected for his Craft.Customer Reviews:
not enough Galway.......2003-10-02
Too Good to Last.......2000-03-03
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Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer/My Fair Lady
Nat King Cole Manufacturer: EMI Gold Imports ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000AXL2D Release Date: 2003-11-03 |
Tracks:
- Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer
- Get Out and Get Under the Moon
- There Is a Tavern in the Town
- On a Bicycle Built for Two
- That Sunday, That Summer
- On the Sidewalks of New York
- Our Old Home Town
- After the Ball Is Over
- You Tell Me Your Dream
- That's What They Meant (By the Good Old Summertime)
- Don't Forget
- In the Good Old Summertime
- Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer
- With a Little Bit of Luck
- I Could Have Danced All Night
- Rain in Spain
- On the Street Where You Live
- I'm an Ordinary Man
- Get Me to the Church on Time
- Show Me
- I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face
- You Did It
- Wouldn't It Be Loverly?
- Hymn to Him
Album Description
UK twofer combines 'Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer' & 'My Fair Lady', both originally issued in 1963 & unavailable domestically. 24 tracks. EMI. 2003.Album Details
Two Albums on One CD.Customer Reviews:
What Memories.......2006-07-16
Thanks for the opportunity to share.
Voice treasure in not regular repertoire.......2006-02-12
The late Nat Cole is one of those treasures of American Music. He was a great Jazz pianist and singer, no doubt. Also a stylish balladeer with great albums but with some neglectable ones.
This EMI twofer shows his two sides as a balladeer. First a neglectable album of unimportant repertoire with some few exceptions. Second there is the splendid album with 'My Fair Lady' repertoire. This is worth buying the CD.
Here you'll find Mr. Cole at his best in vocal performance.
A Note on UK's EMI twofers: it's incredible that we could ever have the opportunity to listen to such old and rare material. EMI has issued a long series of CD twofers in a memorable initiative to show all the splendid material by splendid artists never before released in CD.
Old Standards - Easy going.......2006-02-01
"early 1900 & Broadway Musical tunes ~ Nat "King" Cole".......2005-01-10
Nat had a major hit with "THOSE LAZY HAZY CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER", remember hearing this on all the major radio stations and everyone during that time was sitting around the local swimming pool enjoying it...other highlights are "GET OUT & GET UNDER THE MOON", "THAT SUNDAY, THAT SUMMER", "THAT'S WHAT THEY MEANT BY THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME"...and then "I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT", "ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE", "I'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO HER FACE", each song has been remastered to perfection...now on digital compact disc we can continue being delighted by Nat's God given talent.
Nat had a tenderness in his voice, completely flawless...he could never deliver a bad tune...his style and signature of making a song his own has never been duplicated...within this twofer album are happy upbeat and Broadway musical tunes...some are timeless and remain classics, while others are songs that have never seen the light of day...the sound quality of this collection isn't the main issue here...but this release is a dream come true...more selections from the greatest entertainer of our time!
For many of Cole's fans, this has been a long awaited release...now we can relive the songs that gave us so much pleasure...remember Nat was with us for such a short time...just sit back, give a listen and enjoy the sounds we grew up with...songs we've come to love over these past plus decades...his music is never out of date...a wonderful human being NAT "KING" COLE!
Total Time: 63:32 on 24 Tracks ~ Universal Int'l 592656 ~ (10/27/2003)
Not Nat's creative heights, but an enjoyable set.......2003-11-18
The first is a collection of very old 'Americana' (in the form of turn-of-the-20th century "chestnuts") and newer material of a compatible spirit. Some of the authentics here - 'On a Bicycle Built for Two' or 'After the Ball' for example - would have their last mainstream outing here, I suspect. Most should enjoy the affable way these long-cherished but now largely forsaken ditties are done.
The newer cuts are enjoyable, particularly the showpiece ballad 'That Sunday, That Summer'. The title track 'Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer' was a very popular hit in '63, but I would single out 'That Sunday, That Summer' and the almost barbershop-quartet real oldie 'You Tell Me Your Dream' as the best of the lot.
By this time (1963), the "Mitch Miller sing-along" approach (bouncy tempos, a chorus singing along much of it, large orchestra with occasional novelty adaptations like a bicycle horn to fit 'On a Bicycle Built for Two') was popular, and this album does reflect that. It does so in an engaging way, however, and of course the main attraction is clearly Nat's game performances.
The second album (also 1963) is Nat "covering" select songs from the Broadway show 'My Fair Lady'. It is admittedly uneven. Nat is not an ideal Henry Higgins in those numbers, excepting of course, 'I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face'. He obviously enjoyed himself, and it's hard not to let quibbles go and enjoy the somewhat ironic readings. What's harder to enjoy is 'The Rain in Spain' which, out of the context of the program, sounds as close to "throw away" as Nat's albums get. Perhaps cutting it way down and adding 'Why Can't the English?' would've been ideal.
On the upside, however, there's several wonderful examples of classic pop. 'On The Street Where You Live', 'I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face' and 'I Could Have Danced All Night' are particularly loverly. 'Show Me' is the most interesting. Its transformation to tender Nat ballad is both notable and effective. The uptempo numbers 'Get Me To The Church On Time' and 'With a Little Bit Of Luck' retain their roughish charm.
The sound quality of this CD won't be a factor to most, as these were good sounding stereo recordings to begin with, and are passably, if hurriedly, transferred. They sound okay. In all fairness I should probably point out that the sound transfer is not of the quality of the above titles. Although the thin, hazy quality of the mediocre digital resolution may not be a known artifact to many, the difference will be apparent with a comparison of the track 'That Sunday, That Summer' or 'On the Street Where You Live' on the 1990's 4-CD Nat King Cole box set where it is cleaner, clearer and richer. At least we're spared another over-processed Capitol CD "remastered by Bob Norburg."
Commendably, both original album sleeves are reprinted at about the full size of the booklet, both front and back. Imagine that! Check out the original cover for 'Summer' - wow is that ever an "idealized" '63 Los Angeles beach! The cover of 'Lady' features a handsome picture of Nat.
For Nat's premium titles in the EMI 2-on-1 CDs series in terms of creative quality, I suggest the following before the purchase of this CD:
- Tell Me All About Yourself (big band) / The Touch of Your Lips (ballads)
- Where Did Everyone Go (ballads) / Looking Back (pop singles)
EMI deserves thanks for this issue, and it's significant: this release reissues both of the two remaining original Nat King Cole LPs not to be issued on CD (counting both the USA and the UK together). Would that Capitol USA, for whom all were originally recorded, had released them all. They've only had twenty years to do it. And of course, most of the ones they have issued are now out of print.
Enjoy while you may, and a "thank you" to EMI!
- CJ
Average customer rating:
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Andrew Lloyd Webber: Now & Forever
Various Artists Manufacturer: Decca Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005R5UJ Release Date: 2001-11-20 |
Tracks:
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Overture - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Everything's Alright - Yvonne Elliman/Murray Head/Ian Gilllan
- Jesus Christ Superstar: I Don't Know How To Love Him - Yvonne Elliman
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say) - Steve Balsamo
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Superstar - Murray Head
- Evita: Oh What A Circus/Sing You Fools - Antonio Banderas
- Evita: I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You - Elaine Paige/Joss Ackland
- Evita: Another Suitcase In Another Hall - Barbara Dickson
- Evita: Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Julie Covington
- Evita: High Flying, Adored - Mandy Patinkin/Patti LuPone
- Cats: The Jellicle Ball - Andrew Lloyd Weber
- Cats: Memory - Elaine Paige
- Cats: Gus: The Theatre Cat - Susan Jane Tanner/John Mills
- Cats: Mr Mistoffelees - Paul Nicholas
- Song And Dance: Take That Look Off Your Face - Marti Webb
- Song And Dance: Tell Me On A Sunday - Marti Webb
- Song And Dance: Unexpected Song - Sarah Brightman
- Song And Dance: Nothing Like You've Ever Known - Sarah Brightman
- Song And Dance: Introduction - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Song And Dance: Variations 1 -4 - Andrew Lloyd Webber
Tracks:
- Starlight Express: Starlight Express - El Debarge
- Starlight Express: Crazy - Greg Ellis/Reva Rice/Caron Cardelle/Samantha Lane/Voyd
- Starlight Express: Next Time You Fall In Love - Reva Rice/Greg Ellis
- Starlight Express: I Am The Starlight - Lon Satton/Ray Shell
- Starlight Express: Light At The End Of The Tunnel - The Company
- Requiem: Hosanna - Placido Domingo
- Requiem: Pie jesu - Sarah Brightman/Paul Miles-Kingston
- The Phantom Of The Opera: The Phantom Of The Opera - Michael Crawford/Sarah Brightman
- The Phantom Of The Opera: The Music Of The Night - Michael Crawford
- The Phantom Of The Opera: All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman/Steve Barton
- The Phantom Of The Opera: Entr'acte - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- The Phantom Of The Opera: Masquerade - The Company
- The Phantom Of The Opera: Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - Sarah Brightman
- Aspects Of Love: Aspects Of Aspects - Orchester Der Vereinigten Buehnen Wien
- Aspects Of Love: Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball
- Aspects Of Love: Seeing Is Believing - Michael Ball/Ann Crumb
- Aspects Of Love: The First Man You Remember - Kevin Colson/Diana Morrison
- Aspects Of Love: Anything But Lonely - Sarah Brightman
- Aspects Of Love: Chanson D'Enfance - Sarah Brightman
Tracks:
- Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Any Dream Will Do - Jason Donovan
- Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Joseph's Coat - Maria Friedman/Richard Attenborough/Donny Osmond
- Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Close Every Door - Donny Osmond
- By Jeeves: Travel Hopefully - John Scherer/Martin Jarvis/Don Stephenson
- By Jeeves: When Love Arrives - Steven Pacey/Diana Morrison
- By Jeeves: Half A Moment - Sarah Brightman
- Sunset Boulevard: With One Look - Glenn Close
- Sunset Boulevard: New Ways To Dream - Glenn Close/Alan Campbell
- Sunset Boulevard: The Perfect Year - Glenn Close/Alan Campbell
- Sunset Boulevard: Sunser Boulevard - Alan Campbell
- Sunset Boulevard: As If We Never Said Goodbye - Glenn Close
- Whistle Down The Wind: Whistle Down The Wind - James Graeme/Lottie Mayor
- Whistle Down The Wind: Cold - Everly Brothers
- Whistle Down The Wind: No Matter What - Children/Adult Chorus
- Whistle Down The Wind: The Nature Of The Beast - Marcus Lovett/Lottie Mayor
- The Beautiful Game: Overture - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- The Beautiful Game: The Beautiful Game - The Company
- The Beautiful Game: Our Kind Of Love - Hannah Waddingham
- The Beautiful Game: Dont Like You - Josie Walker/David Shannon
- The Beautiful Game: Let Us Love In Peace - Josie Walker/Omagh Youth Community Choir
Tracks:
- Oh What A Circus - David Essex
- Memory - Betty Buckley
- The Phantom Of The Opera - Sarah Brightman/Steve Harley
- All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman/Cliff Richard
- Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball
- Any Dream Will Do - Donny Osmond
- Amigos Para Siempre (Friends For Life) - Sarah Brightman/Jose Carreras
- As If We Never Said Goodbye - Barbra Streisand
- The Perfect Year - Dina Carroll
- With One Look - Petula Clark
- You Must Love Me - Madonna
- The Heart Is Slow To Learn - Kiri Te Kanawa
- A Kiss Is A Terrible Thing To Waste - The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Whistle Down The Wind - Tina Arena
- No Matter What - Boyzone
- The Vaults Of Heaven - Tom Jones
- Try Not To Be Afraid - Boy George
- Pie Jesu - Charlotte Church
Tracks:
- Make Believe Love - Wes Sands
- Down Thru' Summer - Ross Hannaman
- I'll Give All My Love To Southend - Ross Hannaman
- Believe Me I Will - Sacha Distel
- Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1969 Radio Luxembourg Commercial) - Joseph Consortium/Pete Murray
- Try It And See - Rita Pavone
- Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You - Time Rice And The Webber Group
- Goodbye Seattle - Paul Raven
- John 19:41 - The Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra
- What A Line To Go Out On - Yvonne Elliman
- Disillusion Me - Gary Band
- The Ballad Of Robert And Peter - Tim Rice
- Christmas Dream - Maynard Williams
- It's Only Your Lover Returning/All Through My Crazy And Wild Days/Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Julie Covington
- It's Easy For You (1977 Jungle Room Session Version) - Elvis Presley
- Magdalena - Tony Christie
- Buenos Aires - The Roja Rockers
- Pollicle Dogs And Jellicle Cats - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Mungojerrie And Rumpleteazer (Live At The Sydmonton Festival 1980) - Gemma Craven
- I Could Have Given You More - Petula Clark
- I've Been In Love Too Long - Marti Webb
- Benedicite - The Stephen Hill Singers
Album Description
Disc 1: Selections from Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, and Song and DanceDisc 2: Selections from Starlight Express, Requiem, Phantom of the Opera, and Aspects of Love
Disc 3: Selections from Joseph nad the Amaziong Technicolor Dreamcoat, By Jeeves, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle Down the Wind, and The Beautiful Game
CD 4: 1. "Oh What a Circus" --David Essex 2. "Memory" - Betty Buckleey 3. "The Phantom of the Opera" -Sarah Brightman, Steve Harley 4. "All I Ask of You" --Sarah Brightman, Cliff Richard 5. "Love Changes Everything"--Michael Ball 6. "Any Dream Will Do"--Donny Osmond 7. "Amigos Para Siempre (Friends for Life)"--Sarah Brightman, Jose Caerras 8. "As if We Never Said Goodbye"--Barbra Streisand 9. "The Perfect Year"--Dina Carroll 10. "With One Look" --Petula Clark 11. "You Must Love Me" 12. "The Heart Is Slow To Learn" --Kiri Te Kanawa 13. "Whistle Down the Wind"--Tina Arena 14. "A Kiss Is a Terrible Thing To Waste"--The Metal Philharmonic 15. "No Matter What"--Boyzone 16. "The Vaults of Heaven"--Tom Jones and Sounds of Blackness 17. "Try Not To Be Afraid"--Boy George 18. "Pie Jesu"--Charlotte Church
Disc 5: (All tracks available for the first time) 1. "Make Believe Love"--Wes Sands 2. "Down Thru' Summer"--Ross Hannaman 3. "I'll Give All My Love to Southend"--Ross Hannaman 4. "Believe Me I Will"--Sacha Distel 5. "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: 1969 Luxembourg Radio Commercial--The Jospeh Consortium, Pete Murray 6. "Try It and See"--Rita Pavone 7. "Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You"--Tim Rice and the Webber Group 8. "Goodbye Seattle"-- Paul Raven 9. "John 19:41"--The Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra 10. "What a Line To Go Out On"--Yvonne Elliman 11. "Disillusion Me" --Gary Bond 12. "The Ballad of Robert and Peter"--Tim Rice 13. "Christmas Dream" --Maynard Williams 14. "It's Only Your Lover Returning/All through My Wild and Crazy Days/Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Julie Covington 15. "It's Easy for You" (1977 Jungle Room Session version)--Elvis Presley 16. "Magdalena"--Tony Christie 17. "Buenos Aires"--The Rioja Rockers 18. "Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats"--Andrew Lloyd Webber original demo 19. "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" (Live at Sydmonton Festival 1980)-Gemma Craven 20. "I Could Have Given You More"--Petula Clark 21. "I've Been in Love Too Long"--Marti Webb 22. "Benedicte"-- Stephen Hill Singers
Customer Reviews:
I waited for this for five years.......2006-06-30
It was worth the wait.
The concept is great. The packaging is great. The recording is great. Disc five is really cool for an ALW aficionado. There are a few real gems on it; my favorites are Petula Clark's "I Could Have Given You More" and "Benedicite."
I've always thought "Gus the Theatre Cat" made a great medley on the piano with "Unexpected Song" and "I DOn't Know How to Love Him," but wished there was an alternate lyric to match the other two songs. Now that I know there *is*, and it's a good lyric, it's a dream come true.
The melody of "Benedicite" is one of my favorites from _Sunset_ (the book mis-identifies it as "SUrrender"; it's actually "The Lady's Paying" and "Eternal Youth is Worth a Little Suffering"). The lyrics are the canticle from Daniel 3, which comes up every odd Sunday in the Divine Office, so it's nice to have cool music to sing it with.
I haven't bought _By Jeeves_ or _THe Beautiful Game_ yet, to it was great to sample them.
There are other parts of the CD taht aren't found in my collection. I like CD 4 "The Hits."
But the selections on CDs 1-3 don't make sense.
First, any self-respecting ALW fan has the Original London Cast of _Phantom_, so six tracks are totally useless. Why not draw from the Canadian cast with Colm Wilkinson? Or pull out some obscure recordings never published.
Why two different tracks with Michael Ball singing "Love Changes Everything", yet they're hardly any different?
On Disc 5 is "It's Only Your Lover Returning," sung by Julie Covington. It's an early draft of the song (Lloyd Webber and Rice went through several suggested titles) and quite nice. The very thing one expects on a Boxed Set.
So why have the Julie Covington "Don't Cry for Me" on disc 1?? The only difference is a few words, but it's otherwise identical. Why not Elaine Paige or Patti Lupone or Madonna?
The _Evita_ section is otherwise the best, choosing a sample from each major recording, though I'd have chosen slightly differently (as above).
There is a great selection of "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" from the Sydmonton festival, using the original music that was changed when _Cats_ went to Broadway_. It would have been nice if they'd included more recordings from Sydmonton, like the original lyric of "All I Ask of You" shown on the second DVD to the _Phantom_ movie.
With so many great actress-singers who've played Norma Desmond, why does the collection beat us over the head with Glenn Close?
Paul Miles Kingston must be set for life in royalties, for the number of albums the original recording of "Pie Jesu" has appeared on. "Amigos Para Siempre" is nice, but it reminds me of Shari Lewis's "The Song that Doesn't End," especially when it's been used on so many compilations.
In short, this is a great collection for the obscure material, if you can get it cheap. But for a boxed set, it's a poor sampling, drawn mostly from the most familiar recordings.
Excellent collection but BIG PUBLISHING MISTAKE! .......2006-01-10
ONE OF LLOYD WEBBER'S BEST COMPILATIONS, DESPITE A FEW FLAWS.......2005-03-21
Over the years many compilations of his work have emerged. In the late 80-is and early 90-is it was the "Encore" series and lately the one-disc collection called "Gold". The one in question here can be considered one of the best currently on the market. First, it includes a 3-disc selections from all of his shows, minus the latest one, i.e., "The Woman in White", which, considering the triviality of the score, is no great lost. The fourth disc covers some of his most known songs sung by the famous artists. Then, there is the fifth disc with previously unreleased material, most of which are the songs ALW wrote with Tim Rice for various artists during the 70-is. The disks are all neatly packed in a hardcover book that features 67 pages of pictures and text with information about each of ALW's shows. One of the other assets here is the perfect sound quality, since all of the tracks have been digitally remastered.
Here are my basic impressions and comments regarding the material on the discs:
* Disc #1 has the selections from "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Evita", "Cats" and "Song & Dance". The Superstar material mostly comes from the Concept Recording. Although the songs sound beautiful as always, their orchestration is a bit dated now. Only Steve Balsamo's "Gethsemane" from the 1996 revival cast has a modern rock sound. "Evita" comes with the material from all of the major recordings: London, Broadway and the movie productions, as well as the Concept album. No objections here; since this is one of ALW's most satisfying works, every song is just perfect, although Patti LuPone, the Broadway and overall the best Evita, is left with only a couple of lines. With the selections from "Cats", however, I have some doubts. A plus to the choice of the "Jellicle ball" impressive orchestral sequence from the 1998 movie version and "Mister Mistoffelees" from the 1981 London cast. One of the best known ALW's songs, "Memory", also comes from that album. It's a pretty version and Elaine Paige's rendition cannot be matched, but why include this when the definite version, featuring an 80-piece orchestra and Elaine Paige with much better interpretation, can be found in the same movie version. Thusly, one has to buy Elaine Paige's latest 2-disc compilation "Centre Stage: The very best of Elaine Paige" to get that one. And "Gus the theatre cat" is more a recital than a song, so there was not much point in including that. Marti Webb brings her vocal charm to the "Song & Dance" sequence, Sarah Brightman sings "Unexpected song" with her famous soprano, but as much as I like her version, Bernadette Peters, who was in this show on Broadway is strangely left out here.
* Disc # 2 starts with "Starlight Express". This was never one of my favorite ALW's shows; the plot is even lighter than in "Cats" and the 1984 original cast recording is terribly dated. Yet, here we have one terrific duet, "I am starlight" from the original together with three songs from the later revivals and it seems that fresh orchestrations were just the thing Starlight needed. My favorite remains a touchy ballad, "Next time you fall in love". "Requiem" is the most solemn of all ALW's compositions, written in 1985 to commemorate the death of his father. Placido Domingo's tenor rides together with the chorus all the way through the strong "Hosanna", only to be joined by Sarah Brightman in the final moments of this song. She then gives an echoing deliverance of "Pie Jesu". What can be said of ALW's next show, "The Phantom of the Opera"? A phenomenon in its own right, it's easy to see from the six numbers included here why this is one of the best and most beloved musicals of all time. The cast, the music, the story - everything is perfect. Although "Aspects of love" was never a popular hit, it does have some of the most beautiful love melodies ALW has ever written. "Love changes everything" sung by Michael Ball is probably one of the best tunes ever about love. The rest of the selected material here has a dreamy love flavor and the melodies find their way into your brain in the best Lloyd Webber way.
* ALW's first musical, "Joseph and the amazing Technicolor dreamcoat" was more successful in its revival form than the original from the 70-is. The three songs included here are sung by the show stars, Jason Donovan and Donny Osmond. Maria Friedman was not a lucky choice to play the narrator, as the track from the 1998 movie version shows. "By Jeeves" was ALW's only big flop when it came to the stage in the 70-is. The 1995 revival sounds much better though, full of funny numbers in the best manner of the musical comedy. "Travel hopefully" remains one of the show's highlights on this compilation. "Sunset Boulevard" comes next. "Sunset" remains for me one of Webber's best scores; lush and beautiful. I listen to the original cast recording with Patti LuPone all the time. However, here most of the songs are performed by Glenn Close. A big mistake. If you've ever listened the American premiere recording with her, you'll know what I am talking about. She may have a strong stage presence, but her vocal abilities are too limited, and her aggressive approach to the role lacks any subtlety. Therefore, the two big numbers from this show, "With one look" and "As if we never said goodbye" are ruined by the fact she can't sing. The same goes for the American Joe Gillis, who was played by Alan Campbell. Luckily, Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson, the original Norma and Joe from the London production, make their brief entrance here with the "Perfect year"; enough to show how better they are. The funny thing is, on the jacket and inside of it, Glenn Close and Alan Campbell are credited as performers in this song as well. If this was a mistake on ALW's part, it was a good one. The next ALW's show, "Whistle down the wind" was never a critic's dear and yet the audiences rushed in to see it in London. The score brings back ALW to his rock and roll roots of the seventies and the story is quite interesting. But the selections here are not the happiest, since the cast recording boasts with much better songs. And finally, "The Beautiful Game". Again, we have one of those ALW's shows that is worth in its individual parts rather than as a whole. "Our kind of love" and "Let us love in peace" are two catchy ballads. The latter is a nice amalgam version not available elsewhere. The two other tracks here I could live without.
* Disc # 4 has the songs from all the above shows performed by different artists. The assembled tracks have their pros and cons. For example, we have some previously unreleased stuff, like Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's operettic rendition of "The heart is slow to learn", or a stunning and epic "A kiss is a terrible thing to waste" from "Whistle down the wind", performed by The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra. Then again, what was the point in including almost identical tracks as the ones on the previous disks? So we have Michael Ball again singing "Love changes everything" with only a bit different orchestration; Sarah Brightman comes out again with the same Phantom duets, but only with the different male singers. It would be much more appropriate to include tracks from the Toronto Cast of the Phantom, with Colm Wilkinson. Other pop deliverances (Tina Arena's "Whistle down the wind", Barbra Streisand's "As if we never said goodbye", Boyzone's "No matter what" and many more) were wisely chosen. Patti LuPone is again nowhere to be found and Petula Clark's "With one look" sounds too worn-out.
* The last disc is probably the one that will be of most interest to Lloyd Webber aficionados. It consists of entirely previously unreleased material ALW for the most part wrote for various artists during his early years, with Tim Rice. Some of these tunes, not successful as a singles, were later used in his shows. Thus "Down thru' summer" became "Buenos Aires"in Evita, "Try it and see", an unsuccessful attempt for the Eurovision was used for "King Herod's song" in "Superstar" and so on. Some of these songs are nicely made pop songs: "Make believe love", ALW's first recorded composition, for which he provided the lyrics; "Goodbye Seattle", sung by Paul Raven, who later became Gary Glitter; "Come back Richard, your country needs you", from a never made musical, sung here by Tim Rice, or Latin flavored "Magdalena", with Tony Christie singing. My all time favorite here is a song called "It's easy for you", sung by none other than Elvis Presley himself. Lloyd Webber and Rice sent him a demo recording that he accepted and recorded this live version a couple of weeks before he died. It's amazing to hear how his voice remained in the perfect shape. Also, there is a track of Andrew Lloyd Webber singing "Policle dogs and Jellicle cats" while plying the piano. His voice doesn't sound bad at all.
Taken as a whole, this compilation makes a perfect birthday or Christmas present to any fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, or just anybody interested in some of the best tunes from the modern era of the musical theatre; despite the flaws I mentioned above. To the former, it may just be the final addition for the Andrew Lloyd Webber collection.
SUCH MAGICAL MUSIC OF THE NIGHT!.......2003-01-19
Opera") and the longest-running show of all time ("Cats"), the man whose homes are filled with three Grammys, five Oliviers, a Golden Globe, and Oscar and too many other honors and hosannas to mention, the man knighted in 1992 certainly doesn't need an introduction. Now Decca Broadway pays tribute to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with "Now and Forever," a spectacular 5-CD set compiled and produced by Sir Andy himself. It's cheaper than a
ticket to "The Producers" ... and more much exciting. This treasure trove contains highlights from all of Webber's shows, and a bonus disc of tunes sung by Betty Buckley, Barbara
Streisand, Jose Carreras, Boy George, Charlotte Church, Madonna, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, even Elvis! A must for lovers of theatre---and good music.
A Must Have for Sir Andrew fans.......2002-05-21
The cuts from the musicals are great but are likely owned by ALW fans as they are on the original cast albums. And I'm glad that there were tunes included from the composers most recent efforts which have yet to make it beyond London (Whistle Down the Wind, Beautiful Game).
My only complaint is the inclusion of way too many tracks by Sarah Brightman. She must've received a great divorce settlement that included having tunes on any ALW collection until the end of time!! Her interpretations of some of the tunes were limp and uninspired. I would've much rather heard casts from around the world rather than yet another song by this disdainful soprano! How about Colm Wilkinson's version of "Music of the Night" from the original Canadian cast of "Phantom"? Or Michael Crawford's version of "Unexpected Song"? What? No Betty Buckley from "Sunset Blvd."? And of course there are songs you KNOW are going to be on the collection before you even listen to it as they have been on EVERY ALW collection for the past decade or so.
A great collection but too much Sarah Brightman!
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100 World's Best Loved Melodies
Manufacturer: Madacy Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0009VNBR4 Release Date: 2005-07-05 |
Tracks:
- Blue Danube
- Waltz of Flowers
- Waltz No. 1
- Waltz of the Snowflakes
- Naila Waltz
- Spanish Dance
- I Dream of Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair
- Sugar Plum Fairy
- Dance of the Comedians
- Camptown Races
- Carnival of the Animals Finale
- Dance of the Clown [From "A Midsummer Night's" Dream]
- Dance of the Hours
- Dance of the Swans [From "Swan Lake"]
- Faust Ballet
- Tritsch Tratsch Polka
- Hungarian Dance
- Dance of the Priestesses
- Overture from "William Tell"
- Toreador Song [From "Carmen"]
- Overture from "Carmen"
- Samson & Delilah
- Ride of the Valkyries
- Baracole from "The Tales of Hoffmann"
- Scheherazade
- Water Music - The Hornpipe
- Nocturne
- Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
- Hungarian Rhapsody
- Prde L& Arlenne
- Preer Gynt Suite No. 1 Anitra's Dance
- Liebestraum
- Adagio from "The New World Symphony"
- Flight of the Bumblebee
- Ave Maria
- Air on a G String
- Neapolitan Song
- Violin Concerto
- Serenade No. 4
Tracks:
- When You Wish Upon a Star
- Chances Are
- Calcutta
- Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White
- Gigi
- They Call the Wind Maria
- Memories Are Made of This
- Catch a Falling Star
- Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
- So in Love
- Begin the Beguine
- Misty
- Little Things Mean a Lot
- Embraceable You
- It Might as Well Be Spring
- On the Street Where You Live
- Moment to Remember
- Anniversary Song
- Golden Days
- Theme from a Summer Place
- Tonight
- Lullaby of Broadway
- Easter Parade
- Tenderly
- Young at Heart
Tracks:
- Claire de Lune
- Piano Concerto No. 1
- Minute Waltz
- Piano Concerto
- Fantasy Impromptu
- Piano Sonata No. 20 - Finale
- Swan
- Polonaise No. 6
- Waltz in C Minor
- 1812 Overture
- Light Cavalry Overture
- Nutcracker Overture
- Marche Militaire
- Tannhauser Overture
- Radetsky March
- Tragic Overture
- Triumphal March
- Tales of Vienna Woods
- Emperor's Waltz
- Waltz. Wine, Women and Song
- Voice of Spring
- Fledermaus Overture
- Skater's Waltz
- Roses from the South
- Romance
- Symphony No. 5
- Mer
- Moonlight Sonata
- Capriccio Espagnol
- Lohengrin
- Symphonie Fantastique
- Greensleeves
- Souvenir
- Lonely Heart
- Die Meistersinger
- Polovtsian Dance
Customer Reviews:
Peculiar Amazon indexing.......2007-06-08
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Orchestral Maneuvers: The Music Of Pink Floyd
Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000003EUS Release Date: 1991-11-12 |
Tracks:
- Run Like Hell
- Another Brick in the Wall Part 1 - The Happiest Days of Our Lives - Another Brick In The Wall Part 2
- Goodbye Blue Sky
- Money
- Hey You
- Wish You Were Here
- On the Turning Away
- Shine On You Crazy Diamond
- When the Tigers Broke Free - Eclipse
Customer Reviews:
The Best. .......2006-10-27
It could have been so much more..........2006-07-25
For a fully symphonic Pink Floyd experience, try "Us and Them" by the London Philharmonic.
Weak and Unimaginative.......2004-04-22
Just buy Floyd.......2002-10-03
The Best Floyd-Tribute So Far.......2002-09-08
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William Bolcom: Songs
Carole Farley , William Bolcom , Farley , and Bolcom Manufacturer: Naxos American ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0009F4UBQ Release Date: 2005-06-21 |
Tracks:
- You Cannot Have Me Now - Or, the Military Orgy
- Night, Make My Day
- The Digital Wonder Watch
- My Father The Ganster
- The Last Days Of Mankind
- This Is A Face
- Since I Have You
- The Rabbit
- I Am Not Free
- For Me
- From Wandering
- Beware
- I Wouldn't Die
- I Remember
- For Everything
- I Have Climbed
- Pity Me Not Because The Light Of Day
- How To Swing Those Obbligations Around
- The Crazy Woman
- Just Once
- Never More Will The Wind
- The Sage
- O To Be A Dragon
- The Bustle In A House
- Night Practice
- I Saw Eternity
- The Fish
- Costa Del Nowhere
- Table
- Mary
- River Song
- Messing About In Boats
- Rat's Song
- When We Built The Church
Customer Reviews:
Sensational Vocal Album by Carole Farley and William Bolcom.......2007-02-13
Carole Farley and William Bolcom have recorded this landmark CD, and I can easily understand why this CD received a GRAMMY nomination in the "Best Vocal Recording of the Year" and a 2nd GRAMMY nomination in the "Best Engineered Recording of the Year" category. It's indeed one of the best vocal albums of contemporary songs ever made. Carole Farley, who made her MET debut in the MET's first LULU production, seems to be just at home with Puccini, Poulenc, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and even Latin American popular songs (her Lecuona songs album is extremely beautiful).
William Bolcom's accompaniment is brilliant, and the songs are a revelation.
J.B. (Pittsburgh, Pa)
Great Songs, but Mind the Singer.......2006-07-04
The Songs of William Bolcom.......2006-02-14
The songs on this CD are performed and selected by soprano Carole Farley with Bolcom himself at the piano. Ms. Farley has also recorded for Naxos' "American classics" series a selection of the songs of Ned Rorem with Rorem at the piano. Ms. Farley and Naxos are doing listeners a service by introducing them to the world of the American art song.
The highlight of this CD is the 20-minute song-cycle "I will breathe a mountain" in which Bolcom sets 11 poems by American women. The poems were selected by Alice Fulton, and they include Fulton's own "I will swing those obligatos around" in which the young singer describes a come-on from a boor. The song writing is declamatory in character with many twists, turns, and shouts in the vocal line. Only the setting of H.D.'s "Never More Will the Wind" is lyrical and flowing. Besides Fulton and H.D. the settings include poems by Millay, Gwendolwn Brooks (a poem called "The Crazy Woman" with appropriately wild shrieks) Anne Sexton, Denise Levertov, Marianne Moore (listen to what Ms. Farley makes of the poets wish to be a DRA' GON), Emily Dickinson (in a moving poem of the stillness of a home after death),Louise Bogan, May Swenson, and Elizabeth Bishop. "I will breathe a mountain" is an outstanding and moving contemporary American song-cycle and is in itself sufficient reason for hearing this recording.
The CD also includes a second exquisite cycle, "Songs to Dance" which sets ten miniature poems by George Montgomery. This is a work to be danced as well as sung, and it has apparently been performed live only once, by the composer, his wife, the soprano Joan Morris, and dancer, Dan Wagoner. It has never been recorded before. The work deserves to be heard and seen.
Many of the remaining works on this CD are cabaret-style theatrical pieces that Bolcom composed in collaboration with lyricist Arnold Weinstein. The best of these are two torch songs from a show called "Casino Paradise": Night Make my Day (a parody of the torch style which is sometimes performed straight) and "My Father the Gangster", in which a young woman laments how men are, understandably, worried about her father and afraid to approach her. The collection opens with a scream by Ms. Farley in the erotic novelty "You cannot have me now", about the affairs of the wife of a German officer, sung with a heavily inflected German accent and also set to words by Weinstein.
I enjoyed Bolcom's short setting of May Swenson's poem "The Digital Wonder Watch" with the tick-ticking in the piano. This song is a satire of technology, with the poet describing the features of her "wonderful watch" while asking: "Does it show how to wind up/a broken heart?" The other songs on the CD include the passionate "The Last Days of Mankind", conceived for rock singer Marianne Faithful, two eloquent settings of poems by Richard Tillinghast, and four concluding early collaborations between Bolcom and Weinstein.
This CD offers an opportunity to explore the world of American song in the works of a leading contemporary composer. The cycle, "I will breathe a mountain" will be a lasting achievement in American art song.
Robin Friedman
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Soft Lights and Sweet Music
Manufacturer: Dutton Vocalion UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005UWOH Release Date: 2002-04-09 |
Tracks:
- April in Paris
- Soft Lights and Sweet Music
- Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
- Time on My Hands
- Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
- Ruby
- Snowfall
- Where or When
- Emily
- Embraceable You
- I Didn't Know What Time It Was
- Lonely Town
- Bad and The Beautiful
- My Ship
- Nobody Else But Me
- With a Song in My Heart
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Hey Mr. Producer!: The Musical World of Cameron MacKintosh
Martin Koch Manufacturer: Polygram ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000023ZUQ Release Date: 1998-08-25 |
Tracks:
- We Said We Wouldn't Look Back [Salad Days] - Martin Koch
- Cats Overture [From Cats] - Martin Koch
- Food Glorious Food [From Oliver!] - Workhouse Children
- Wouldn't It Be Loverly [From My Fair Lady] - Gillian Lynne, Liz Robertson, Company
- Quit Professor Higgins [From My Fair Lady] - Company
- Rain in Spain [From My Fair Lady] - Jonathan Pryce, Liz Robertson,
- Get Me to the Church on Time [From My Fair Lady] - Peter Bayliss, , Company
- I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face [From My Fair Lady] - Jonathan Pryce, Liz Robertson
- Introduction (Show Medeley) - Julie Andrews
- One Two Three [The Fix] - John Barrowman
- Little Shop of Horrors - Wendy Mae Brown, Dawn Hope, Femi Taylor
- Somewhere That's Green [Little Shop of Horrors] - Ellen Greene
- Suddenly Seymour [Little Shop of Horrors] - Ellen Greene, Teddy Kempner
- Day by Day [Godspell] - Company
- I Get a Kick Out of You [From Anything Goes] - Laurie Holloway, Marian Montgomery,
- Variations [Song and Dance] - Julian Lloyd Webber, , Company
- Unexpected Song [Song and Dance] - Bernadette Peters
- Nicer in Nice [The Boyfriend] - Jasna Ivir, Company
- I Love a Lassie [Lauder] - Scottish Power Pipe Band
- Five Guys Named Moe/Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? [Five Guys ...] - Trent Armand Kendall, , , ,
- Pick a Pocket or Two - Russ Abbot, , ,
- As Long as He Needs Me [From Oliver!] - Sonia Swaby
- Introduction - Julie Andrews
- I'm Martin Guerre - David Campbell
- How Many Tears? [Martin Guerre] - Maria Friedman
- Heat Is on in Saigon [From Miss Saigon] - David Campbell, , Lea Salonga, Company
- Wedding [From Miss Saigon]
- Last Night of the World [From Miss Saigon] - David Campbell, Lea Salonga
- This Is the Hour [From Miss Saigon] - Company
- American Dream [From Miss Saigon] - Jonathan Pryce, Company
Tracks:
- Phantom of the Opera [From The Phantom of the Opera] - Lisa Vroman, Colm Wilkinson
- Music of the Night [From Phantom of the Opera] - Colm Wilkinson
- Broadway Baby [Follies] - Maria Friedman, Julia McKenzie
- Oh, What a Beautiful Morning [From Oklahoma!] - Hugh Jackman
- Carousel Waltz/Ballet [From Carousel] - Dana Stackpole, Company
- Porch Scene [From Carousel] - Hal Fowler, Barbara King, Joanna Riding, Dana Stackpole
- You'll Never Walk Alone [From Carousel] - Joanna Riding, Company
- Introduction - Ned Sherrin
- Side by Side [Company] - David Kernan, Millicent Martin, Julia McKenzie, Ned Sherrin, Stephen Sondheim
- You Could Drive a Person Crazy [Company] - Maria Friedman, Ruthie Henshall, Millicent Martin, Lea Salonga
- Send in the Clowns (A Little Night Music) - Judi Dench
- Losing My Mind [Follies] - Michael Ball
- Being Alive [Company] - Bernadette Peters
- You've Gotta Have a Gimmick [From Gypsy] - Michael Ball, Judi Dench, Maria Friedman, Ruthie Henshall, David Kernan, , Dean Martin, Julia McKenzie, Bernadette Peters
- Introduction - Stephen Sondheim
- Duelling Pianos - Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim,
- Poisoning Pigeons in the Park [Tom Foolery] - Tom Lehrer
- Jellicle Songs [From Cats] - Brian Blessed, , Paul Nicholas, Company
- Memory [From Cats] - Elaine Paige
- At the End of the Day [From Les Miserables] - Company
- Stars [From Les Miserables] - Philip Quast
- Do You Hear the People Sing? [From Les Miserables] - Hal Fowler, Company
- On My Own [From Les Miserables] - Lea Salonga
- Bring Him Home [From Les Miserables] - Colm Wilkinson
- One Day More [From Les Miserables] - Michael Ball, Hal Fowler, Ruthie Henshall, Tammi Jacobs, Teddy Kempner, Philip Quast, Lea Salonga, Colm Wilkinson, Za
- We Said We Wouldn't Look Back [From Les Miserables] - Cameron Mackintosh
Album Description
Subtitled the Musical Word of Cameron Mackintosh. Import only 56-track collection. A live recording at the Lyceum Theatre in London, in the presence of her majesty the Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. In aid of the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the combined theatrical charities. Universal.
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Arthur Fiedler Valentine
Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000056BUN Release Date: 2001-01-09 |
Tracks:
- Moonlight Serenade
- Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
- Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
- Michelle
- Embraceable You
- Love Is Blue
- Love Me Tender
- Days Of Wine And Roses
- A Man And A Woman
- Laura
- In The Mood
- Star Dust
- And I Love Her
- Love Is Here To Stay
- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
- You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
- Moon River
- I Want To Hold Your Hand
Customer Reviews:
"classical music's greatest Ambassador...Arthur Fiedler!".......2001-07-14
This CD is living proof...take a group of popular standards...Richard Hayman (arranger) and the rest will fall into place...Fiedler and the Pops give each tune life, exciting and beautiful melodies prevail...never before had such popularity with concerts and appearances, combining classical with tunes of today existed...but with the waving of his wan a new standard was born.
This recording is 1956 to 1974 performances...the entire 18 track selections are outstanding...leaving a rich legacy for all to enjoy now and years to come...this album is a rarity with you the music-lover in mind.
Total Time: 64:53 on 18 Tracks ~ RCA Red Seal 09026-63750-2 ~ (2001)
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Symphonic Tribute To Prince's Purple Rain
Manufacturer: Vitamin Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0002DB5GI Release Date: 2004-07-13 |
Tracks:
- Let's Go Crazy
- Take Me With U
- The Beautiful Ones
- Computer Blue
- Darling Nikki
- When Doves Cry
- I Would Die For You
- Baby I'm A Star
- Purple Rain
- 17 Days
- Erotic City
- Another Lonely Christmas
Product Description
1. Let's Go Crazy
2. Take Me With U
3. The Beautiful Ones
4. Computer Blue
5. Darling Nikki
6. When Doves Cry
7. I Would Die 4 U
8. Baby I'm A Star
9. Purple Rain
10. 17 Days
11. Erotic City
12. Another Lonely Christmas
Format: CD
Customer Reviews:
Purple Rain...SYMPHONY STYLE!!!!.......2004-10-16
Pop Music:
