I Am With You [Import]

1. Eternal Vision

2. Japanese Title

3. Japanese Title

4. Reason I'm Here

5. Slide Into The Night

6. Over The Rainbow

7. Vent Du Midi

8. Japanese Title

9. New Asia

10. Japanese Title

11. I Am With You

I Am With You,Togi Hideki,Toshiba EMI,World Music

Average customer rating: BEST OPERA MUSIC EVER Time well spent. Great Score, But Highlights Missing Critical Songs Buy the full version, please Argh Matey!

Les Miserables (Highlights from the 1987 Original Broadway Cast) Alain Boublil , Claude-Michel Schonberg , and Colm Wilkinson Manufacturer: Decca U.S. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Highlights From The Phantom Of The Opera: The Original London Cast Recording (1986 London Cast) Selections From Cats (1982 Original Broadway Cast) Miss Saigon (Original 1989 London Cast - Highlights) The Best Of Rent: Highlights From The Original Cast Album (1996 Original Broadway Cast) The Very Best Of Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Broadway Collection ASIN: B000084TRM Release Date: 2003-01-28

Tracks:

1. Overture/Work Song
2. I Dreamed a Dream
3. Who Am I?
4. Castle on a Cloud
5. Master of the House
6. Stars
7. Do You Hear the People Sing?
8. A Heart Full of Love
9. One Day More
10. On My Own
11. A Little Fall of Rain
12. Drink with Me
13. Bring Him Home
14. Javert's Suicide
15. Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
16. Wedding Chorale/Beggars at the Feast
17. Finale

Amazon.com

While not overly generous at 55 minutes, the highlights album of the 1987 original Broadway cast recording of Les Miserables is intelligently selected and likely to prove satisfying to most fans. It includes the best-loved numbers of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score, beautiful ballads ("Bring Him Home," "I Dreamed a Dream") and rousing anthems ("One Day More," "Do You Hear the People Sing?") alike, but eliminates some choral numbers ("Lovely Ladies"), redundancies ("Red and Black"), and connective tissue that propels the plot along ("Valjean Arrested," "Come to Me (Fantine's Death)"). Sure, a more perfect selection could have lasted longer than half of the two-disc set's 104 minutes by adding "At the End of the Day" and "In My Life," among others, but it's still a good representation on a convenient single disc. Of course, those who always want to re-create the theatrical experience will never be satisfied with a highlights album.

Re-creating their roles from the London production, Colm Wilkinson plays the heroic Valjean and Frances Ruffelle is the despondent Eponine. Randy Graff (Fantine), Terrence Mann (Javert), David Bryant (Marius), Judy Kuhn (Cosette), Michael Maguire (Enjolras), and Leo Burmester and Jennifer Butt (the Thénardiers) fill out the cast. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

BEST OPERA MUSIC EVER.......2006-11-03

This is the BEST!! I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes this kind of music!

Time well spent........2005-09-14

Each member of the Les Miserables cast stands to deliver this musical to its audience. Within moments we are transported to France during their Restoration. We experience sadness, laughter and, indeed, want to join in their crusade. The music and deliverance, in my opinion, is excellent.

Great Score, But Highlights Missing Critical Songs.......2005-08-05

Composers Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score for "Les Miserables" is simply brilliant and the spectacular Broadway cast, led by Colm Wilkinson, Randy Graff, Terrence Mann, and Frances Ruffelle, help bring this incredible music to life!

While I normally enjoy "highlight" cds, this one clocks in at a mere 55 minutes and could have easily included a couple of additional tunes (thus losing one star). Most notably missing: "At The End Of The Day", "Come To Me", "Red And Black", and "In My Life". The show's most memorable songs, however, are included.

Best tracks:

I Dreamed A Dream
Master Of The House
Stars
Do You Hear The People Sing
On My Own
A Little Fall Of Rain
Bring Him Home
Empty Chairs At Empty Tables

Great cast, great score ... even a good buy. But I would suggest the full double-disc score instead.

Buy the full version, please.......2005-01-20

Highlights are never worth it. You will never get the little in-between songs which make a show complete, montages will be cut together badly instead of being full songs as they should be...so much is left out. This is a fantastic show and deserves to be heard in full.

Argh Matey!.......2004-11-22

"Highlights" albums are not the full show, blah blah blah... THIS TAKES UP ONLY ONE SPACE IN YOUR CD RACK INSTEAD OF TWO LIKE THE FULL RECORDING. I rest my case.

Average customer rating: Fabulous for any Broadway-lover Top Shelf TERRIFIC CD'S Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs Great Compilation!

Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series) Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Porter | Porter, Cole | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Weill | Weill, Kurt | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mancini | Mancini, Henry | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Best of Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series) Broadway: The American Musical Broadway: The American Musical Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series) Somewhere over the Rainbow: The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals ASIN: B00064ADMK Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

1. Give My Regards To Broadway- Joel Grey
2. Swanee- Al Jolson
3. When The Moon Shines On The Moonshine- Bert Williams
4. A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody- John Steel
5. My Man- Fanny Brice
6. Fascinating Rhythm- Fred Astaire, Adele Astaire
7. If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie)- 78rpm Version Eddie Cantor
8. Someone To Watch Over Me- Gertrude Lawrence
9. Bill- 78 rpm Version Helen Morgan
10. Ol' Man River- Paul Robeson
11. Ain't Misbehavin'- Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
12. Ten Cents A Dance- Ruth Etting
13. Body And Soul- Libby Holman
14. Brother, Can You Spare A Dime- Bing Crosby
15. Night And Day- Fred Astaire
16. Heat Wave- Ethel Waters
17. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes- Tamara
18. You're The Top- Ethel Merman
19. Summertime- Anne Brown
20. September Song- Walter Huston
21. My Heart Belongs To Daddy- Mary Martin
22. It Never Entered My Mind- Shirley Ross
23. Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered- Vivienne Segal
24. Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning- Irving Berlin
25. Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'- Alfred Drake

Tracks:

1. New York, New York- Cris Alexander,Adolph Green,John Reardon
2. If I Loved You- John Raitt,Jan Clayton
3. Come Rain Or Come Shine- Ruby Hill,Harold Nicholas
4. There's No Business Like Show Business- Ensemble
5. How Are Things In Glocca Morra? From "Finian's Rainbow"- Ella Logan
6. Once In Love With Amy- Ray Bolger
7. Wunderbar- Alfred Drake,Patricia Morison
8. Some Enchanted Evening- Ezio Pinza
9. Lost In The Stars- Todd Duncan
10. Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend- Carol Channing
11. Luck Be A Lady- Robert Alda,Guys
12. Getting To Know You- Gertrude Lawrence
13. Who Cares?- Jack Carson,Betty Oakes
14. Stranger In Paradise- from " Kismet" Doretta Morrow,Richard Kiley
15. Ballad Of Mack The Knife- Gerald Price
16. Hey There- from "The Pajama Game" John Raitt
17. Whatever Lola Wants- Gwen Verdon
18. I Could Have Danced All Night- Julie Andrews
19. Standing On The Corner- from "The Most Happy Fella, 1956" Shorty Long,John Henson,Alan Gilbert
20. The Party's Over- Judy Holliday
21. Glitter And Be Gay- Barbara Cook
22. Tonight- Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence

Tracks:

1. Seventy-Six Trombones- Robert Preston
2. I Enjoy Being A Girl- from "Flower Drum Song, 1958" Pat Suzuki
3. Everything's Coming Up Roses- Ethel Merman
4. My Favorite Things- from "The Sound Of Music" Mary Martin
5. Put On A Happy Face- from "Bye Bye Birdie" Dick Van Dyke
6. Try To Remember- Jerry Orbach
7. Camelot- from "Camelot" Richard Burton
8. Love Makes The World Go 'Round- Anna Maria Alberghetti
9. I Believe In You- Robert Morse And Co.
10. The Sweetest Sounds- Diahann Carroll,Richard Kiley
11. Comedy Tonight- Zero Mostel
12. What Kind Of Fool Am I?- Anthony Newley
13. As Long As He Needs Me- Georgia Brown
14. Hello, Dolly!- Carol Channing,Cast
15. People- Barbra Streisand
16. Anyone Can Whistle- from "Anyone Can Whistle" Lee Remick
17. If I Were A Rich Man- Zero Mostel
18. Night Song- Sammy Davis, Jr.
19. The Impossible Dream- Richard Kiley
20. If My Friends Could See Me Now- Gwen Verdon
21. Open a New Window- from Mame Voice

Tracks:

1. Willkommen- from "Cabaret" Joel Grey
2. Let The Sunshine In- James Rado,Lynn Kellogg,Melba Moore,Cast
3. I'll Never Fall In Love Again- Jill O'Hara,Jerry Orbach
4. The Ladies Who Lunch- from "Company" Elaine Stritch
5. Tea For Two- Roger Rathburn,Susan Watson
6. I'm Still Here- Yvonne De Carlo
7. I Don't Know How To Love Him- Yvonne Elliman
8. We Go Together- Adrienne Barbeau,Barry Bostwick,Walter Bobbie,Cast
9. Corner Of The Sky- John Rubinstein
10. Send In The Clowns- Glynis Johns
11. Ease On Down The Road- Stephanie Mills,Tiger Haynes,Ted Ross,Hinton
12. One- from "A Chorus Line" Cast
13. All That Jazz- Chita Rivera,Ensemble
14. Tomorrow- Andrea Mcardle
15. Don't Cry For Me Argentina- Patti Lupone
16. Come Follow The Band
17. Lullaby Of Broadway- Jerry Orbach
18. And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going- Jennifer Holliday
19. The Bells Of St. Sebastian- Raul Julia

Tracks:

1. Memory- Betty Buckley
2. I Am What I Am- George Hearn
3. Move On- Bernadette Peters,Mandy Patinkin
4. Do You Hear The People Sing?- Michael Maguire,Cast
5. The Music Of The Night- Michael Crawford
6. You're Nothing Without Me- James Naughton,Gregg Edelman
7. The American Dream- Jonathan Pryce,Cast
8. Doctor Jazz- Gregory Hines,Company
9. With One Look- Glenn Close
10. On Broadway- Adrian Bailey,Frederick B. Owens,Ken Ard,Victor Trent Cook
11. Le Jazz Hot- Julie Andrews,Ensemble
12. Seasons Of Love-
13. Hakuna Matata- Max Casella,Tom Alan Robbins,Scott Irby-Ranniar,Jason Raize
14. I Wanna Be A Producer- Matthew Broderick,Ensemble
15. Dancing Queen- Louise Plowright,Jenny Galloway
16. Good Morning Baltimore- Marissa Jaret Winokur
17. Movin' Out- Michael Cavanaugh,Band
18. I Go To Rio- Hugh Jackman,Company
19. Defying Gravity- Kristin Chenoweth,Idina Menzel

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous for any Broadway-lover.......2007-01-30

Packs into 5 CD's a sampling of Broadway tunes from the 20's thru (almost) today, mostly from original cast recordings. Includes not just well-known hits, but also some lesser-known gems. Sound quality is first rate, booklet is informative too. Have given this as a gift to several friends with rave reviews.

Top Shelf.......2007-01-04

This is THE definitive collection of Broadway hits. I have other collections, and none of them measure up. A great deal of care was obviously taken in compiling and presenting this box set. It covers a lot of ground, starting with some long-forgotten but still very enjoyable hits from the days of yore, and finishing with present-day favorites. To the best of my knowledge, the recordings are by those who made them famous. You won't be disappointed.

TERRIFIC CD'S.......2006-03-23

THESE BROADWAY MUSICALS CD'S ARE A BROADWAY LOVERS DREAM. WITH EACH SONG, MEMORIES COME FLOODING BACK. BOTH THE FAMILIAR AND THE FORGOTTEN SONGS ARE A TRUE LISTENING PLEASURE. IF YOU LIKE BROADWAY, YOU'LL LOVE THIS SET.

Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs .......2005-06-14

This Collection was perfectly made it has almost all the most famous Broadway songs on this 5 cd set. The Music is great and has Broadways greatest treasures like "Memory""People""With One Look""Give my regards Too Broadway" just to name a few of this numerous cd set with over 100 songs. This is a great buy if you like musicals or The music of Broadway

Great Compilation!.......2005-01-17

If you are a fan of the Broadway Musicals, this is a collection that you should purchase. Since I got the 5 disc set I've enjoyed listening to it. The majority of the songs are done by the original singers. The collection is priceless considering that you will have over 100 songs from popular musicals since the beginning of Broadway

Average customer rating: it doesn't get better than this..... cd heaven Nothing Rains on this Parade Streisand in prime vocal condition Needs more songs. Missing SECOND HAND ROSE.

Funny Girl Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Contemporary | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Funny Lady: Original Soundtrack Recording Hello, Dolly! (1969 Film Soundtrack) Funny Girl Funny Girl (1964 Original Broadway Cast) Yentl (1983 Film) ASIN: B00005V3WI Release Date: 2002-01-29

Tracks:

1. Overture
2. I'm The Greatest Star
3. If A Girl Isn't Pretty
4. Roller Skate Rag
5. I'd Rather Be Blue Over You (Than Happy With Somebody Else)
6. His Love Makes Me Beautiful
7. People
8. You Are Woman, I Am Man
9. Don't Rain On My Parade
10. Sadie, Sadie
11. The Swan
12. Funny Girl
13. My Man
14. Finale

Customer Reviews:

it doesn't get better than this............2007-07-18

This soundtrack takes me back. I was probably about six years old when I first heard the soundtrack from FUNNY GIRL, the successful movie musical based on the life story of the late great vaudevillian, Fanny Brice. Though, Brice was not conventionally beautiful, she made quite an impression on those sitting in the theaters she performed in. The woman truly was a gifted and accomplished stand up comedian. She didn't even have to stand up to do it--she was perfectly good at it while slipping in rollerskates, dancing in a parody of Swan Like [Chicken Ballet], and sitting down while singing a torch song.

How did the life story of Fanny Brice transfer to the screen, and on vinyl and CD? It was done with style, class and great humor. What's more, a wonderful score by Jule Styne did wonders in conveying the range of emotions, triumphs and successes that Brice experienced during the course of her career--this encompasses her formative years as a young performer, to her more "domesticated" years [if you can call them that!]. FUNNY GIRL was also a star-making vehicle for [then] twenty-one year old Barbra Streisand. The score includes the larger-than-life "I'm The Greatest Star," the hilarious "His Love Makes Me Beautiful," and one of Streisand's most recognized songs, "People." You will love this soundtrack, and I guarantee it will make you want to see the film afterwards. Though, as a little girl, I felt as though this music was filled with so much color and life already, I could SEE the film through hearing the songs. Brilliant and incomparable.

cd heaven.......2007-01-19

cannot buy cd's cheaper at any store. this is an oldie but a great christmas gift for an oldie.

Nothing Rains on this Parade.......2007-01-04

"Funny Girl" was one of the greatest musicals and cast recordings to come ouf of broadway and it created one of the world's greatest performers ever. Happily Barbra Streisand successfully transported herself to film and out came one of the most enjoyable soundtracks ever produced for a film. The film score is so minutely different, the show's composers Styne and Merrill had to take out a couple of songs from the show and wrote the beautiful "Funny Girl" in it's place for the film. This soundtrack tends to in my opinion be more authentic than the original cast recording because they put in non-original material such as "I'd Rather Be Blue Over You (Than Happy with Somebody Else)" written by Billy Rose who would much later marry Fanny Brice and it fits the early 1900's era for which "Funny Girl" is set and Barbra's comedic skills are timeless on this song you may not see it but you can hear it in her voice such as with "The Swan" .Another song they use at the film's climax is "My Man" not only was it a staple in the real Fanny Brice's act it is a power-house. Barbra insisted to sing the first part live on screen and record the latter part it is so effective and you do get all the advantages of this on the soundtrack. One more bonus to this recording is the overture composed for the film is gorgeous and they never played it in the film only on the soundtrack, interestingly they used the the opening theme music from the film as the closing music to the soundtrack. Definitely get this soundtrack it is one of the most delightful scores to one of Hollywood's greatest musicals adapted from the stage and that can't be said too often. "Funny Girl was also one of the last great musicals ever produced out of Hollywood and the linear notes in the CD are informative and fun for musical lovers.

Streisand in prime vocal condition.......2006-09-16

Barbra Streisand will forever be linked to the autobiographical Fanny Brice, a role she originally made her own on Broadway in 1964 and in London the following year; immortalised onscreen four years later (earning an Academy Award as well as countless other trophies). On the original soundtrack album, Ms Streisand is in prime vocal condition, though I do prefer her performance on the OBC album just a little bit more, for she is more brash and unkempt and far more vulnerable with her spin on Fanny. In the film, she is more confident and showman-like.

The film score of FUNNY GIRL does vary greatly from it's Broadway counterpart. The roles of Mrs Brice and Eddie Ryan don't get much to sing (with the deletion of "Who Taught Her Everything?" and "Find Yourself a Man"). Fanny's solo numbers "Who Are You Now?" and "The Music That Makes Me Dance" were abandoned in favour of numbers that the real Fanny was famous for ("I'd Rather Be Blue" and "My Man"). I believe the producers committed the cardinal sin with the deletion of "The Music That Makes Me Dance", a ballad far more memorable and moving than the show's big number "People" (and I know a lot of others feel the same way). Nevertheless, the film soundtrack of FUNNY GIRL is the perfect sonic representation of Streisand's greatest hour on celluloid.

I own the earlier Sony CD pressing (which is full of analogue hiss, reverb and noise), yet from what I hear about the more recent "remaster", the quality of the overall recording is virtually the same. Highly-recommended, but don't expect miracles with sound quality.

Needs more songs. Missing SECOND HAND ROSE........2006-08-08

The soundtrack is good to excellent, but it makes me very
unconfortable that important songs are MISSING. Can you
imagine SECOND HAND ROSE is missing, and Barbra sings it a little
different from the version she did in MY NAME IS BARBRA TV special. I also love the part where Barbra sings " Mr Anstein,
Mr. Arnstein, what a beautiful name". Those two sequences could be combined into a song. I also would have loved a little spoken
comedy in this soundtrack, such as Barbra as Baby Snooks scene,
where she meets the reporters and ends with "the name is Arnstein". Barbra is marvelous in this comedy scene. Barbra is
perfect as a stand-up comedienne, and she would be great
acting such a part in a film.
Barbra recorded the song PEOPLE countless times over the last
decades. Why was SECOND HAND ROSE left out of the soundtrack.
There is enough space on the Audio CD to include this song, as
well as additional ones. A few Bonus songs of Barbra singing
Fanny Brice songs that were considered but that were left out
of the film, would be most welcomed. Looking forward to the next
edition of this soundtrack. hoping that it will be the definite
edition. We Barbra Streisand fans deserve the best.

Average customer rating: Well worth the price Not Exactly "The Ultimate" Collection... Where's the chicks?!?! Not quite the ultimate.... Great Music - Questionable Selection

The Ultimate Gilbert & Sullivan Collection Arthur Sullivan , Isidore Godfrey , Royston Nash , New Symphony Orchestra of London , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , Colin Wright , Donald Adams , George Cook , Gillian Knight , Jean Hindmarsh , Jeffrey Skitch , John Ayldon , John Reed , Joyce Wright , Kenneth Sandford , Lyndsie Holland , Owen Brannigan , Pauline Wales , Peggy Ann Jones , Thomas Round , Valerie Masterson , and D'Oyly Carte Opera Company Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Sullivan | Sullivan, Arthur | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Brannigan, Owen | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan Gilbert & Sullivan - Highlights from The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Yeomen of the Guard, Trial of Jury Topsy-Turvy - The Music of Gilbert & Sullivan: From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Topsy-Turvy The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan ASIN: B000007OU0 Release Date: 1998-06-09

Tracks:

1. H.M.S. Pinafore: We Shall Sail The Ocean Blue
2. H.M.S. Pinafore: I'm Called Little Buttercup
3. H.M.S. Pinafore: My Galant Crew, Good Morning
4. H.M.S. Pinafore: I'm The Monarch Of The Sea
5. H.M.S. Pinafore: When I Was A Lad
6. H.M.S. Pinafore: Nevermind The Why And Wherefore
7. H.M.S. Pinafore: Kind Captain, I've Important Information
8. H.M.S. Pinafore: Carefully On Tip - Toe Stealing
9. H.M.S. Pinafore: For He Is An Englishman
10. The Pirates Of Penzance: I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major - General
11. The Pirates Of Penzance: When A Felon's Not Engaged In His Employment
12. The Pirates Of Penzance: With Cat Like Tread
13. The Sorcerer: My Name Is John Wellinton Wells
14. The Gondoliers: Take A Pair Of Sparkling Eyes
15. Patience: If You're Anxious To Shine
16. The Mikado: If You Want To Know Who We Are
17. The Mikado: A Wand'ring Minstrel I
18. The Mikado: Behold The Lord High Executioner
19. The Mikado: As Someday It May Happen
20. The Mikado: Three Little Maids From School Are We
21. The Mikado: The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze
22. The Mikado: Here's A How - De - Do!
23. The Mikado: From Ev'ry Kind Of Man Obedience I Expect
24. The Mikado: A More Humane Mikado Never Did In Japan Exist
25. The Mikado: The Criminal Cried As He Dropp'd Him Down
26. The Mikado: The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring, Tra La
27. The Mikado: On A Tree By A River A Little Tom Tit
28. The Mikado: There Is Beauty In The Bellow Of The Blast
29. The Mikado: For He's Gone And Married Yum-Yum

Customer Reviews:

Well worth the price.......2006-04-13

I love this CD. No, despite its name it is not the "ultimate" collection, as scarcely could be expected from a single CD. It is heavy on Mikado, as others have stated. It leaves out things I would have included and includes things I would have left out. But the performances are wonderful, traditional and all you expect from G&S. Considering the low price, it is well worth including in your G&S collection ... as PART of your collection. After the disappointment of the godawful Opera World video series (Don't buy it!) this CD is a joy and a relief.

Not Exactly "The Ultimate" Collection..........2004-12-23

It seems that a collection of Gilbert & Sullivan music that has the name "The Ultimate Collection" in its title would boast a wide range of music, but I found the selection disappointing. Half of the tracks are songs from The Mikado, and the other half is divided between five... yes, FIVE other operettas. This means that the representation from each operetta is awfully scant. I would have liked to see less Mikado and more of everything else, and perhaps some highlights from the more obscure operettas (Princess Ida and The Sorcerer, namely).

In addition, while most of the music is very well performed, some of the vocalists either go a bit overboard or, at the very opposite end, seem to lack expression. For example, this Nanki-Poo (in The Mikado) seems to be overly occupied with vibrato. Katisha's voice is annoying, and The Mikado's low voice often seems to lack feeling and humor. The other idiosyncracies, like the very frightening evil laughing during "A More Humane Mikado" and hissing during "Three Little Maids" really bug me.

Then again, I'm new to Gilbert and Sullivan, and was introduced to the music through the Topsy Turvy soundtrack, which has a noticeably less operatic style, and hardly includes "stage noise"... so perhaps all this is the norm. Do listen to the tracks for yourself, though, before you purchase the CD. Personally, I find that the Topsy Turvy soundtrack, while considerably less ecompassing, is much lighthearted and easier listening.

Where's the chicks?!?!.......2003-05-15

It wouldn't be G&S if not for the ladies - so where are they? How could they leave out Mabel's aria - or Josephine's!? The only female aria included on this disc comes from Mikado, which is the least exciting (if G&S could be un-exciting) of the three! Everything else on the recording is great, but I am still quite disappointed.

Not quite the ultimate...........2002-03-25

This is a great collection, but unfortunately it doesn't have songs from all the works of G&S. Most notably, there is nothing from the "Yeoman of the Guard". I still reccommed it however as John Reed is wonderful!!

Great Music - Questionable Selection.......2002-02-05

It's an ongoing challenge to find a recording of Gilbert and Sullivan that combines premium musicality and great theatrical performance. This recording is a true gem on both fronts. My only complaint is that for a "Best of" collection, this compilation is Mikado-heavy and scarcely touches on highlights from other masterpieces, particularly The Pirates of Penzance. This would be my favorite G&S CD of all time, of only it included tracks like "When the Foeman Bares his Steel," "Poor Wand'ring One," and "Dry the Glist'ning Tear," but then again, I guess there's no real consensus as to which are Gilbert and Sullivan's best works, and there are too many to fit on one CD.

Average customer rating: The best? I think not. can't understand the words

The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Sullivan | Sullivan, Arthur | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Broadway & Vocalists | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Soundtracks | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Ultimate Gilbert & Sullivan Collection Gilbert & Sullivan - Highlights from The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Yeomen of the Guard, Trial of Jury The Gilbert and Sullivan Overtures Topsy-Turvy - The Music of Gilbert & Sullivan: From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack The Complete Annotated Gilbert & Sullivan ASIN: B00004W5AD Release Date: 2000-08-08

Tracks:

1. H.M.S. Pinafore: Ov - Orch Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr/John Owen Edwards
2. H.M.S. Pinafore: We Sail The Ocean Blue - Tom McVay/Gordon Sandison/Yvonne Barclay
3. H.M.S. Pinafore: Never Mind The Why And Wherefore - Tom McVay/Gordon Sandison/Yvonne Barclay
4. The Yeomen Of The Guard: When Maiden Loves She Sits And Sighs - Janine Roebuck
5. The Yeomen Of The Guard: Here's A Man Of Jollity - Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
6. Iolanthe: Tripping Hither, Tripping Thither - Yvonne Patrick/Madeliene Mitchell/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
7. Iolanthe: The Law Is The True Embodiment - Richard Suart/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
8. Iolanthe: When I Went To The Bar - Richard Suart
9. Iolanthe: Strephon's A Member Of Parliament! - Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
10. Iolanthe: When Britain Really Rul'd The Waves - Lawrence Richard/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
11. Iolanthe: Finale Act Two: Soon As We May - Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
12. The Pirates Of Penzance: Ov - Orch Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr/John Pryce-Jones
13. The Pirates Of Penzance: Poor Wand'ring One - Marilyn Hill Smith/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
14. The Pirates Of Penzance: I Am The Very Model - Eric Robertson/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
15. The Pirates Of Penzance: When The Foeman Bares His Steel - Simon Masterton Smith/Marilyn Hill Smith/Patricia Cameron/Eric Robertson/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte...
16. The Pirates Of Penzance: With Cat-Like Tread - Gareth Jones/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
17. The Mikado: If You Want To Know Who We Are - Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
18. The Mikado: The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring - Bonaventura Bottone/Eric Roberts/Deborah Rees/Thora Ker/Malcom Rivers
19. The Mikado: On A Tree By A River - Eric Roberts
20. Patience: The Soldiers Of Our Queen - Donald Maxwell/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
21. Patience: If You Want A Receipt For That Popular Mystery - Donald Maxwell/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
22. Patience: Am I Alone And Unobserved - Simon Butteriss
23. Patience: If You're Anxious For To Shine - Simon Butteriss
24. The Gondoliers: We're Called Gondolieri - David Fieldsend/Alan Oke
25. The Gondoliers: From The Sunny Spanish Shore - Richard Suart/Jill Pert/Elizabeth Woollett/Philip Casey
26. The Gondoliers: For Ev'ry One Who Feels Inclined - David Fieldsend/Alan Oke/Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr
27. The Gondoliers: Take A Pair Of Sparkling Eyes - David Fieldsend
28. The Gondoliers: Dance A Cachucha - Chor Of The D'Oyly Carte Opr

Customer Reviews:

The best? I think not........2004-01-11

This disc includes some songs that, while I like them, are not what people might consider the "best" of G&S. Of course, anything by G&S is good, it's still not the "best of the best."

There has got to be something that better represents the G&S canon.

can't understand the words.......2004-01-08

Don't know about those other reviewers, but I just can't make out very much of the lyrics. Maybe those folk have better CD players or better hearing, but it's pretty much a blur to me. I strongly recommend "The Ultimate Gilbert and Sullivan" instead.

Average customer rating: Superb Christmas Album Love Mario Lanza Mario Lanza - fantastic Christmas Hymns & Carols: You Do Something to Me Pure hymnal power.

Christmas with Mario Lanza Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Reger, Max | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stradella | Stradella, Alessandro | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Reger, Max | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Lanza, Mario | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Adam, Adolphe-Charles | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Brodszky, Nicholas | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Gounod, Charles | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Gruber, Franz Xaver | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Handel, George Frideric | H to L | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Mendelssohn, Felix | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Lanza: Greatest Hits The MARIO LANZA Collection Mario Lanza Sings Songs From The Student Prince & The Desert Song / Romberg Mario Lanza: At His Best! You'll Never Walk Alone ASIN: B000003EP6 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Deck The Halls
2. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
3. God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
4. Joy To The World
5. O Christmas Tree
6. I Saw Three Ships
7. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
8. Ave Maria
9. O Holy Night
10. The Virgin's Slumber Song
11. Pieta Signore
12. The First Nowell
13. O Come All Ye Faithful
14. Away In A Manger
15. We Three Kings
16. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
17. Silent Night
18. Guardian Angels
19. I'll Walk With God
20. The Lord's Prayer

Customer Reviews:

Superb Christmas Album.......2007-02-19

Mario Lanza infuses his characteristic beautiful vocal intensity into this collection of carols and Christmas songs.
The result is an outstanding album which will bring a lump to your throat and tears to your eye.
The recordings are old, but the Lanza magic makes this album a must-buy

Love Mario Lanza.......2007-01-28

I love Mario Lanza. He is in my top favs. I have wanted this album for ages and it is just as great as I knew it would be. I'll be back to buy more of Mario Lanza.

Mario Lanza - fantastic.......2007-01-15

Fantastic voice, wonderful classic Christmas songs. My all-time favourite version of O Holy Night - spine tingling.

Christmas Hymns & Carols: You Do Something to Me.......2007-01-12

Wonderful songs, great selections of songs sung by the greatest singer, Mario Lanza.

Pure hymnal power........2006-12-20

I have just spent the past six hours listening to snippets of every Christmas CD that I can find on Amazon, and this is the best by far. It's the purest rendition of the best Christmas hymns that are sung in church on Christmas Eve. No inane flourishes, no ignorant alterations, no arrogant amendments, just pure hymnal power. Don't agree? Type "christmas" in the Amazon music search box, listen to all the renditions of all the classic hymns such as "O Come All Ye Faithful" and when you are done you cannot but agree that Mario Lanza is not surpassed.

Update: I am now listening to the full CD and it is better even than I had hoped for. The beauty of Lanza's voice brings tears to my eyes and joy to my heart.

Average customer rating: One last touch of Paris (but oversold by the critics) wonderful perforance of excellent songs Classic Rorem Songs! Come To Pop, Baby! Worthy indeed - a gem

Susan Graham - Songs of Ned Rorem Susan Graham , Martin Martineau , and Ensemble Oriol Manufacturer: Erato ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Bartoli, Cecilia | Battle, Kathleen | Bonney, Barbara | Caballe, Montserrat | Callas, Maria | Crespin, Regine | Eaglen, Jane | Ferrier, Kathleen | Flagstad, Kirsten | Fleming, Renée | Freni, Mirella | Gheorghiu, Angela | Horne, Marilyn | Janowitz, Gundula | Jones, Gwyneth | Kasarova, Vesselina | Kirkby, Emma | Larmore, Jennifer | Ludwig, Christa | McDonald, Audra | Milanov, Zinka | Modl, Martha | Nilsson, Birgit | Norman, Jessye | Otter, Anne Sophie von | Podles, Ewa | Ponselle, Rosa | Price, Leontyne | Sayao, Bidu | Scotto, Renata | Soderstrom, Elisabeth | Sutherland, Joan | Te Kanawa, Kiri | Troyanos, Tatiana | Upshaw, Dawn | Vishnevskaya, Galina | Von Stade, Frederica Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Rachmaninov, Sergei | Ramirez, Ariel | Ravel, Maurice | Rodgers, Richard | Rossini, Gioacchino | Saint-Saens, Camille | Satie, Erik | Scarlatti, Alessandro | Schubert, Franz | Schumann, Robert | Shostakovich, Dmitri | Sibelius, Jean | Spontini, Gasparo | Strauss Jr., Johann | Strauss, Richard | Stravinsky, Igor | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | Thomas, Ambroise | Toselli, Enrico C to G | Featured Performers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Caballe, Montserrat | Callas, Maria | Caruso, Enrico | Cassinelli, Ricardo | Christie, William | Church, Charlotte | Corelli, Franco | Crespin, Regine | Della Casa, Lisa | Di Stefano, Giuseppe | Eaglen, Jane | Ferrier, Kathleen | Fischer-Dieskau, Dietrich | Flagstad, Kirsten | Fleming, Renee | Ford, Bruce | Freni, Mirella | Gahmlich, Wilfried | Gambill, Robert | Gedda, Nicolai | Gencer, Leyla | Gheorghiu, Angela | Giacomotti, Alfredo | Giannini, Dusolina | Gigli, Beniamino | Gruberova, Edita Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music ( G ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music | Gahmlich, Wilfried | Galbraith, Paul | Galway, James | Gambill, Robert | Gedda, Nicolai | Gencer, Leyla | Gheorghiu, Angela | Giacomotti, Alfredo | Giannini, Dusolina | Gieseking, Walter | Gigli, Beniamino | Gilels, Emil | Glennie, Evelyn | Goode, Richard | Goodman, Benny | Gould, Glenn | Grainger, Percy Aldridge | Graves, Denyce | Grimaud, Hélène | Gruberova, Edita | Grumiaux, Arthur | Guarneri String Quartet General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Ned Rorem: Selected Songs The Faces of Love ~ The Songs of Jake Heggie / Fleming, McNair, Larmore, von Stade, Forand, Cao, Clayton, Vaness, Asawa Susan Graham - La Belle Époque (The Songs of Reynaldo Hahn) Susan Graham ~ Berlioz - Les nuits d'été Poèmes de l'Amour ASIN: B00004R9BK Release Date: 2000-04-04

Tracks:

1. Sonnet [Bynner]
2. Clouds [Goodman]
3. Early In The Morning [Hillyer]
4. The Serpent [Roethke]
5. Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal [Tennyson]
6. Opus 101 [Bynner]
7. I Strolled Across An Open Field [Roethke]
8. To A Young Girl [Yeats]
9. Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair [after Foster]
10. Ode [de Ronsard]
11. For Poulenc [O'Hara]
12. Littlle elegy [Wylie]
13. Alleluia
14. Look Down, Fair Moon [Whitman]
15. O You Whom I Often And Silently Come [Whitman]
16. I Will Always Love You [O'Hara]
17. The Tulip Tree [Goodman]
18. The Wintry Mind [Bynner]
19. I Am Rose [Stein]
20. The Lordly Hudson [Goodman]
21. O Do Not Love Too Long [Goodman]
22. Far - Far - Away [Tennyson]
23. For Susan [Goodman]
24. A Journey [Glaze]
25. Sometimes With One I Love [Goodman]
26. Love [Lodge]
27. Orchids [Roethke]
28. Stopping By The Woods On A Snowy Evening [Frost]
29. Do I Love You More Than A Day [Larson]
30. Ferry Me Across The Water [Rossetti]
31. The Sowers [Bynner]
32. That Shadow, My Likeness [Whitman]

Amazon.com

Contemporary composer Ned Rorem is typically likened to an American Schubert (living in Paris) for the fecundity, emotional range, and quality of his songs (though this represents only one facet of a prolific career). And Rorem's masterful 1998 cycle Evidence of Things Not Seen would seem to justify that reputation, as does this marvelous anthology from the Rorem songbook of the past half-century. The composer is fond of dividing musicians into the "German" and the "French," clearly identifying himself with the latter for the elusive sparkle and subtle play of shadows that characterize his art. What other kind of sensibility could "through-compose" Gertrude Stein's "I Am Rose" in a deftly perfect 27 seconds? Fortunately, American lyric mezzo Susan Graham intuitively understands this expressive aspect, as does pianist-partner Malcolm Martineau. Graham is constantly attentive to the marriage of music and text in the 32 songs here and phrases their little worlds into being with grace and wit. She can shade to a sweet vanishing point or allow her voice to blossom, orchidlike, into a dazzling profusion of colors. Few of these songs, which draw on the poetry of Walt Whitman, Theodore Roethke, Frank O'Hara, and many others, last more than two minutes. But their resonance lingers, whether in the haunting "Opus 101"--with its lean but potent string trio scoring--or the enigmatic "That Shadow, My Likeness" from Whitman. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

One last touch of Paris (but oversold by the critics).......2005-10-11

Ned Rorem is the last survivor, since the death of Virgil Thompson, of the long reach that Paris exerted over a generation of American expatriate composers, many of whom drifted overseas between the wars to study with the legendary Nadia Boulanger. Rorem's songs sometimes have American folk roots, but mostly he writes chansons, and like their French counterparts, his are crystalline, spare, sophisticated, and precisely defined emotionally.

If he were more tlaneted he might have wirtten masterpieces, but mostly this sounds like Samuel Barber on skim milk. Rorem often sets minor, if not trivial poetry. His lyrical gift is modest. But there's no doubt that he has been neglected, largely because of his stubbornly tonal conservatism, and now that tonality is repsectable again, he is being accorded last-minute honors. I'm glad for him, and his best work, which consists of his multi-volume memoirs, has added much to American culture. But even when skillfully sung by an artist of the caliber of Susan Graham, a hour's worth of Rorem's tiny jewel-like chansons is about twice too much at one sitting.

wonderful perforance of excellent songs.......2005-01-20

I'm a neophyte to Ned Rorem's work. To be honest I purchased this CD because I really enjoy listening to Susan Graham. Although I really love hearing Ms. Graham's opera performances, I find it refreshing to hear her singing something in English. I also appreciate how she's taken time to perform something other than opera. Susan Graham's performance of Ned Rorem's songs has me seeking out other performances of his work.

Classic Rorem Songs!.......2004-05-18

Susan Graham has a remarkable mezzo voice and sings Rorem as though she really is a sounding board for the composer. Kudos to her and this CD comes highly recommended to newbies to Rorem songs and those many die-hard fans!

Come To Pop, Baby!.......2004-03-12

Recently, I heard Susan Graham on Garrison Keillor's "Prarie Home Companion" show. Wow! I didn't know who she was, but she had so much humour, verve and style while singing some show tunes, and that incredible voice. I rushed to amazon but all the English language songs I could find seemed to be on this album of Ned Rorem music. Well, whatever the weight lieder songs carry for the Germans, it seems that art songs in English mean songs you can't snap your fingers to, can't slap out a beat to and would never, ever, sing with your friends. I know, I know, I'm a Philistine, but please, Ms. Graham, give us an album of American popular classics, show tunes and the like. When I listened to you on Mr. Keillor's show, if I had been a bell, I'd have been ringing too! You are simply great. Don't let the classical music fans have all the fun. Throw a little our way too. Pretty please.

Worthy indeed - a gem.......2002-08-27

I cannot disagree with "A Music Fan"'s panning of this CD. Having first purchased the Hearing CD which he/she references, I reached the conclusion that Rorem's music was too knotty and "20th century" for repeated listenings and enjoyment. This CD with Susan Graham completely reversed my opinion. The songs are indeed chosen to be accessible, but they are much more than that. They are, simply stated, lovely. This is a disc I will play again and again, and has caused me to investigate many other Rorem CDs. I just came on line to buy it as a gift for a friend. Rorem deserves his due, and this disc gives it to him.

Average customer rating:

Broadway: America's Music 1935-2005 Manufacturer: Decca Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Morton Gould | Gould, Morton | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Porter | Porter, Cole | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Weill | Weill, Kurt | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series) Grey Gardens - A New Musical (2006 Original Broadway Cast) The Warmth of the Sun White Nights Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B000B8I93Q Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

1. Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'
2. Summertime
3. I Could Write a Book
4. It Never Entered My Mind
5. I Can Cook Too
6. Make It Another Old Fashioned, Please
7. If I Loved You
8. My Heart Belongs to Daddy
9. Thou Swell
10. I Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen
11. There's No Business Like Show Business
12. South American Way

Tracks:

1. Shall We Dance
2. Ohio
3. Luck Be a Lady
4. Mack the Knife
5. There's a Small Hotel
6. Once in Love with Amy
7. Yodel Blues
8. Lazy Afternoon
9. There Must Be Somethin' Better Than Love
10. You're Just in Love
11. Now Is the Time

Tracks:

1. Impossible Dream
2. Love Makes the World Go 'Round
3. Try to Remember
4. Put on a Happy Face
5. I Say Hello
6. Happiness
7. She Loves Me
8. What Kind of Fool Am I?
9. Shy
10. Consider Yourself
11. Poor Little Person

Tracks:

1. Magic to Do
2. They're Playing My Song
3. I Don't Know How to Love Him
4. I Won't Send Roses
5. Good Morning Starshine
6. Don't Cry for Me, Argentina
7. Hard Candy Christmas
8. Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend
9. Won't You Charleston with Me?
10. Applause

Tracks:

1. Phantom of the Opera
2. Memory
3. On My Own
4. Muddy Water
5. How Could I Ever Know
6. American Dream
7. I Know Him So Well
8. Dr. Jazz
9. Me and My Girl
10. Suddenly Seymour

Tracks:

1. Mamma Mia!
2. Popular
3. Seasons of Love
4. Oh, the Thinks You Can Think
5. Whatever Lola Wants
6. Crazy
7. How Deep Is Your Love
8. Stars
9. People Like Us
10. I Go to Rio

Average customer rating: I waited for this for five years Excellent collection but BIG PUBLISHING MISTAKE! ONE OF LLOYD WEBBER'S BEST COMPILATIONS, DESPITE A FEW FLAWS SUCH MAGICAL MUSIC OF THE NIGHT! A Must Have for Sir Andrew fans

Andrew Lloyd Webber: Now & Forever Various Artists Manufacturer: Decca Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Contemporary Musicals | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Broadway & Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Box Sets | Stores | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Similar Items: Gold: The Definitive Hits Collection The Very Best Of Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Broadway Collection Evita (Original London Cast) Andrew Lloyd Webber - The Royal Albert Hall Celebration Andrew Lloyd Webber - Masterpiece (Collector's Edition) (Bonus CD) ASIN: B00005R5UJ Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

1. Jesus Christ Superstar: Overture - Andrew Lloyd Webber
2. Jesus Christ Superstar: Everything's Alright - Yvonne Elliman/Murray Head/Ian Gilllan
3. Jesus Christ Superstar: I Don't Know How To Love Him - Yvonne Elliman
4. Jesus Christ Superstar: Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say) - Steve Balsamo
5. Jesus Christ Superstar: Superstar - Murray Head
6. Evita: Oh What A Circus/Sing You Fools - Antonio Banderas
7. Evita: I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You - Elaine Paige/Joss Ackland
8. Evita: Another Suitcase In Another Hall - Barbara Dickson
9. Evita: Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Julie Covington
10. Evita: High Flying, Adored - Mandy Patinkin/Patti LuPone
11. Cats: The Jellicle Ball - Andrew Lloyd Weber
12. Cats: Memory - Elaine Paige
13. Cats: Gus: The Theatre Cat - Susan Jane Tanner/John Mills
14. Cats: Mr Mistoffelees - Paul Nicholas
15. Song And Dance: Take That Look Off Your Face - Marti Webb
16. Song And Dance: Tell Me On A Sunday - Marti Webb
17. Song And Dance: Unexpected Song - Sarah Brightman
18. Song And Dance: Nothing Like You've Ever Known - Sarah Brightman
19. Song And Dance: Introduction - Andrew Lloyd Webber
20. Song And Dance: Variations 1 -4 - Andrew Lloyd Webber

Tracks:

1. Starlight Express: Starlight Express - El Debarge
2. Starlight Express: Crazy - Greg Ellis/Reva Rice/Caron Cardelle/Samantha Lane/Voyd
3. Starlight Express: Next Time You Fall In Love - Reva Rice/Greg Ellis
4. Starlight Express: I Am The Starlight - Lon Satton/Ray Shell
5. Starlight Express: Light At The End Of The Tunnel - The Company
6. Requiem: Hosanna - Placido Domingo
7. Requiem: Pie jesu - Sarah Brightman/Paul Miles-Kingston
8. The Phantom Of The Opera: The Phantom Of The Opera - Michael Crawford/Sarah Brightman
9. The Phantom Of The Opera: The Music Of The Night - Michael Crawford
10. The Phantom Of The Opera: All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman/Steve Barton
11. The Phantom Of The Opera: Entr'acte - Andrew Lloyd Webber
12. The Phantom Of The Opera: Masquerade - The Company
13. The Phantom Of The Opera: Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - Sarah Brightman
14. Aspects Of Love: Aspects Of Aspects - Orchester Der Vereinigten Buehnen Wien
15. Aspects Of Love: Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball
16. Aspects Of Love: Seeing Is Believing - Michael Ball/Ann Crumb
17. Aspects Of Love: The First Man You Remember - Kevin Colson/Diana Morrison
18. Aspects Of Love: Anything But Lonely - Sarah Brightman
19. Aspects Of Love: Chanson D'Enfance - Sarah Brightman

Tracks:

1. Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Any Dream Will Do - Jason Donovan
2. Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Joseph's Coat - Maria Friedman/Richard Attenborough/Donny Osmond
3. Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Close Every Door - Donny Osmond
4. By Jeeves: Travel Hopefully - John Scherer/Martin Jarvis/Don Stephenson
5. By Jeeves: When Love Arrives - Steven Pacey/Diana Morrison
6. By Jeeves: Half A Moment - Sarah Brightman
7. Sunset Boulevard: With One Look - Glenn Close
8. Sunset Boulevard: New Ways To Dream - Glenn Close/Alan Campbell
9. Sunset Boulevard: The Perfect Year - Glenn Close/Alan Campbell
10. Sunset Boulevard: Sunser Boulevard - Alan Campbell
11. Sunset Boulevard: As If We Never Said Goodbye - Glenn Close
12. Whistle Down The Wind: Whistle Down The Wind - James Graeme/Lottie Mayor
13. Whistle Down The Wind: Cold - Everly Brothers
14. Whistle Down The Wind: No Matter What - Children/Adult Chorus
15. Whistle Down The Wind: The Nature Of The Beast - Marcus Lovett/Lottie Mayor
16. The Beautiful Game: Overture - Andrew Lloyd Webber
17. The Beautiful Game: The Beautiful Game - The Company
18. The Beautiful Game: Our Kind Of Love - Hannah Waddingham
19. The Beautiful Game: Dont Like You - Josie Walker/David Shannon
20. The Beautiful Game: Let Us Love In Peace - Josie Walker/Omagh Youth Community Choir

Tracks:

1. Oh What A Circus - David Essex
2. Memory - Betty Buckley
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 Carreras
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 - Madonna
12. The Heart Is Slow To Learn - Kiri Te Kanawa
13. A Kiss Is A Terrible Thing To Waste - The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra
14. Whistle Down The Wind - Tina Arena
15. No Matter What - Boyzone
16. The Vaults Of Heaven - Tom Jones
17. Try Not To Be Afraid - Boy George
18. Pie Jesu - Charlotte Church

Tracks:

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 Radio Luxembourg Commercial) - Joseph Consortium/Pete Murray
6. Try It And See - Rita Pavone
7. Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You - Time 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 Band
12. The Ballad Of Robert And Peter - Tim Rice
13. Christmas Dream - Maynard Williams
14. It's Only Your Lover Returning/All Through My Crazy And Wild 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 Roja Rockers
18. Pollicle Dogs And Jellicle Cats - Andrew Lloyd Webber
19. Mungojerrie And Rumpleteazer (Live At The 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. Benedicite - The Stephen Hill Singers

Album Description

Disc 1: Selections from Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, and Song and Dance

Disc 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

Between Amazone, Ebay and Napster, I don't usually buy CDs anymore, and I usually wait till I can buy them cheaper "new and used". When this set came out, I was excited, mainly by Disc 5, but wasn't going to spend $70 on it. I waited till it was cheap enough, and got it for Father's day this year.
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

Please beware they made a mistake on this. It's actually the shortened Ray Shell version of STARLIGHT EXPRESS from the original 1984 London cast - NOT the El Debarge single from 1987 like it says on the box. I don't know how they let that goof pass. Sorry to Ray Shell. Having said that, this is an outstanding compilation of Lloyd Webber's greatest hits.

ONE OF LLOYD WEBBER'S BEST COMPILATIONS, DESPITE A FEW FLAWS.......2005-03-21

Regardless of the fact that some of his latest efforts (most notably, The Woman in White) are disappointing, there can be little doubt that Andrew Lloyd Webber is one of the greatest composers ever to work in the musical theatre. Ever since his "Jesus Christ Superstar" hit the stage in the early 70-is, it was clear that the conception and perception of musicals are never going to be the same again. Many of his songs became standards not only in the theatre history, but also as tops on the charts. Even though he's British, his influence on the shape of the modern musical theatre expanded over the West End boundaries long ago and has thus made an enormous impact on Broadway. Two of his shows ("Cats" and "The phantom of the opera") hold the record as two the longest running shows in the history of Broadway. He has also been the only composer to have three of his shows running at Broadway concurrently. Some of his awards include three Grammies, a Golden Globe, an Oscar and a bunch of Tony awards. But perhaps most of all, Lloyd Webber is responsible for bringing the musicals and the theatre appealing to the wide audiences, who in different circumstances would not consider seeing a musical. The secret of his success is probably the mixture of beautiful and catchy melodies, interesting subject matter (though some, like Starlight Express, are too thin) and grandiose staging.

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

"Evita." "Sunset Blvd." "Starlight Express." "Jesus Christ Superstar." "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." "Requiem." "Aspects of Love." The man who is the most recognized composer in the history of the musical theatre, the man who has won more Tonys than any other composer, the man who boasts the best-selling show of all time ("The Phantom of the
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

This five-CD collection of Andrew Lloyd Webber's career is fantastic. It leaves virtually no stone unturned. I have no doubt that diehard Webber fans will love this, especially for the 5th disc entitled "From the Vaults." This disc alone is worth the price as it contains tunes never before heard by the typical fan. Who knew Elvis did a Lloyd Webber tune?!? I didn't! Also the tune "Benedictine" which the composer wrote for his most recent marriage is not only pretty, but it has the same medley as "The Lady's Paying" from "Sunset Blvd." which I found highly enjoyable. Another great track is the composer himself singing a cut song from "Cats" entitled "Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats" which has the same tune as "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats," but to hear Sir Andrew sing is a blast...he sounds a lot like Al "Year of the Cat" Stewart.
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!

Average customer rating:

Enclosure Two: Harry Partch Manufacturer: INNOVA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Partch, Harry | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Harry Partch Collection, Volume 1 Harry Partch: Enclosure 7 Enclosure Five: Harry Partch The Harry Partch Collection, Volume 2 ASIN: B000004AF9 Release Date: 2000-12-06

Tracks:

1. I am Harry Partch - Harry Partch
2. By the Rivers of Babylon - Harry Partch
3. Texts and Music: A Wagnerian Wrestling Match - Harry Partch
4. Ten Li Po Lyrics: 1 - A Dream - Harry Partch
5. Ten Li Po Lyrics: 2 - An Encounter in the Field - Harry Partch
6. Ten Li Po Lyrics: 3 - On Hearing the Flute - Harry Partch
7. Ten Li Po Lyrics: 4 - The Intruder - Harry Partch
8. Ten Li Po Lyrics: 5 - I am a Peach Tree - Harry Partch
9. Ten Li Po Lyrics: 6 - With a Man of Leisure - Harry Partch
10. Ten Li Po Lyrics: 7 - A Midnight Farewell - Harry Partch
11. Ten Li Po Lyrics: 8 - Before the Cask of Wine - Harry Partch
12. Ten Li Po Lyrics: 9 - On the Ship of Spicewood - Harry Partch
13. Ten Li Po Lyrics: 10 - By the Great Wall - Harry Partch
14. The Use of English in Serious Music - Harry Partch
15. Barstow - Eight Hitch-Hiker's Inscriptions. . . - Harry Partch
16. San Francisco - Newsboy Cries - Harry Partch
17. Life is too precious to spend it with important people - Harry Partch
18. U. S. Highball - A Musical Account of Slim's Transcontinental Hobo Trip - Harry Partch
19. While my Heart Keeps Beating Time - Harry Partch
20. San Francisco II - Harry Partch

Tracks:

1. I'm going to start right off by giving you some sounds - Harry Partch
2. Two Settings from Joyce's Finnegan's Wake: 1 - Isobel - Harry Partch
3. Two Settings from Joyce's Finnegan's Wake: 2 - Annah the Allmaziful - Harry Partch
4. Dark Brother - Harry Partch
5. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 1 - Harry Partch
6. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 2 - Harry Partch
7. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 3 - Harry Partch
8. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 4 - Harry Partch
9. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 5 - Harry Partch
10. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 6 - Harry Partch
11. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 7 - Harry Partch
12. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 8 - Harry Partch
13. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 9 - Harry Partch
14. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 10 - Harry Partch
15. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 11 - Harry Partch
16. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 12 - Harry Partch
17. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 13 - Harry Partch
18. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 14 - Harry Partch
19. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 15 - Harry Partch
20. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 16 - Harry Partch
21. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 17 - Harry Partch
22. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 18 - Harry Partch
23. A Quarter-Saw Section of Motivations and Intonations - 19 - Harry Partch

Tracks:

1. June 11, 1935 - Santa Rosa, California - H. PARTCH
2. June 12 - Federal Shelter, Stockton - H. PARTCH
3. June 13 - H. PARTCH
4. June 14 - H. PARTCH
5. June 16 - Huntington Ranch, San Joaquin - H. PARTCH
6. June 17 - H. PARTCH
7. July 4 - H. PARTCH
8. July 14 - H. PARTCH
9. July 16 - H. PARTCH
10. July 19 - H. PARTCH
11. July 20 - Heading north, between Sacramento and Redding (Later incorporated into The Wind) - H. PARTCH
12. July 24 - Federal Shelter, Portland - H. PARTCH
13. July 25 - Blue Ox Lodge, Seattle, Washington - H. PARTCH
14. July 27 - H. PARTCH
15. July 29 - H. PARTCH
16. July 30 - H. PARTCH
17. August 7 - Between Grants Pass and Klamath Falls, Oregon - H. PARTCH
18. August 15 - H. PARTCH
19. October 22 - Nearing Monterey (reworked in 1943 as The Letter) - H. PARTCH
20. October 24 - Leaving Big Sur - H. PARTCH
21. October 25 - Near Slate's Hot Springs (Now the Esalen Institute) - H. PARTCH
22. October 26 - H. PARTCH
23. October 27 - H. PARTCH
24. October 28 - H. PARTCH
25. October 29 - H. PARTCH
26. October 30 - Big Creek - H. PARTCH
27. November 12 - Santa Barbara - H. PARTCH
28. November 14 - H. PARTCH
29. November 15 - Leaving Santa Barbara - H. PARTCH
30. November 16 - Ojai - H. PARTCH
31. November 17 - H. PARTCH
32. November 23 - Los Angeles - H. PARTCH
33. November 28 - H. PARTCH
34. December 4 - H. PARTCH
35. December, 1935 - H. PARTCH
36. Feburary 1, 1936 - San Bernardino - H. PARTCH

Tracks:

1. Yankee Doodle Birds - H. PARTCH
2. Y.D. Fantasy - On the Words of an Early American Tune - H. PARTCH
3. O Frabjous Day! - H. PARTCH
4. You are charged with being guilty. Are you drunk or not drunk? - H. PARTCH
5. Ring Around the Moon - A Dance Fantasm for Here - H. PARTCH
6. Bless This Home - H. PARTCH
7. Harrys Wake - H. PARTCH

Amazon.com

Enclosure 2, all four cds, is curated as a sprawling notebook filled with sounds and speech instead of sketches and words. Of any Partch recording extant, it gives the best picture of the man--as the curmudgeonly, extremely innovative misanthrope that he was, as the composer who was impossibly unlike anyone else before or since. The essence of Partch's music reflects the history of the world--from his particular perspective--the imaginings of ancient Greece to the influence of Chinese musical melodrama, all propelled by homemade instruments based on a 43-tone scale named things like the "Kithara" and the "Boo." These recordings also give the best sense of his philosophy of language in music. Lamenting the whole time how text in music had become detached from the language of everyday life, Partch ran music alongside newsboys' cries and hobos' diaries, following the forms, cadence, and dynamics of speech, rather than the other way around. From his juvenilia (a wonderful song he wrote at 18) to a 45-minute segment of his wake in 1974, the first steps towards exploring Partch's sparkling works fully are made here. --Robin Edgerton

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4. Kalpana-Improvisations: Instrumental & Dance Music of India [Import]
5. Koyasu 001 [Import]
6. La Copla Siempre [Import]
7. Le 3eme Age V.1 [Import]
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9. Mia [Import]
10. Miwakugeki [Import]

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