Prime

1. If

2. An Open Door

3. Toledo

4. Hoedown

5. Solar Flare

6. Castle Walk

7. Moonrise

8. Pepe Lique

9. Dark

10. Tammuriata

11. Mountain King

12. Cleguerec

13. Doff

Prime,Oregon,Camjazz,Fusion,Jazz,Pop

Average customer rating: It was for my boyfriend DO NOT BUY THIS COLLECTION. [Unless You Absolutely Must..] Remarkable! My sweetie's favorite Not quite Paradise, but dern close

Prime Prine: The Best of John Prine John Prine Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Fair & Square John Prine Sweet Revenge The Missing Years Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings ASIN: B000002I8Y Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Sam Stone
2. Saddle In The Rain
3. Please Don't Bury Me
4. The Great Compromise
5. Grandpa Was A Carpenter
6. Donald And Lydia
7. Illegal Smile
8. Sweet Revenge
9. Dear Abbey
10. Souvenirs
11. Come Back To Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard
12. Hello In There

Customer Reviews:

It was for my boyfriend.......2007-01-19

My boyfriend had this cassette years ago and someone took it. He told me about it. I wanted to do something extra special for him so I bought him this CD. He listens to it ALL the time!

DO NOT BUY THIS COLLECTION. [Unless You Absolutely Must..].......2006-12-13

Let me cut to the chase: John Prine is our Greatest Living American Folk Artist. Resoundingly so now that Johnny Cash is dead, and even before then it was a tie for first. Dylan barely touches the frayed hem of his coat.

He's put out some 19 albums, I think. I own six, and have most of the rest of his songs off concert bootlegs & such. This collection, though the first collection of his I ever bought, I do not consider as one of the them. The fact that I do not own everything John has recorded is cause for slight shame. I excoriate myself for this inadaquacy publically, so as to goad myself to action: My brother, my sister, we all ought immerse ourselves in the ocean of Prine. Get all pruny in Prine. Taste the primordial essence rich on our lips, lap it succulent with our tongues, suck marrow lush from the bone.. Ummm... Yummy.

Don't be ashamed. Don't be like I've been, like I am. Embrace the Prine, allow the anarchic hobo hippie beat bluecollar wobbly patriot mystic in you free. We need all aquire the entirety of John Prine's work.

I mean, allow me to clear this confusing silliness up here: this collection was issued in 1976. Thirty years, and some fifteen albums ago.. "Great Days: The John Prine Anthology" would be a better compilation for a broader taste of his career. Still,

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SELECT TEN - OR ANY OTHER NUMBER OF - SONGS BY JOHN PRINE AND LABEL THEM HIS "BEST."

His "best of collection" is his entire opus. Trying to select amongst that profusion of genius is a raw rancid obscenely ridiculous charade indulged in my record company flacks so as to rip you off. Not of your money - or not simply of your money - no, of something far more precious than mere filthy lucre (which is all those blinking scoundrels apparently care about, God help them) No, what they are gypping you of is the full beauty of John Prine's work. You need to bite the bullet and acquire it all. Every song. Do not deny yourself.

John is the equal of Townes Van Zandt, transcendent comedy to Townes' tragedy. An American folk Aristophanes to Euripides.

Analogy: Trying to pick the best of Prine is like trying to pick the best of Led Zepplin. I used to be a Zepplin fanatic, ages past, when I was still teething. It's a perfect analogy: Any true Zepplin fan would just shake his head if you suggested abridging the corpus. I mean, they only put out eighty songs. Once you've heard and loved one of them, you will inevitably hear and love them all. I mean, Sam Stone and Dear Abby may be equivalent to Stairway to Heaven and Black Country Woman.. excellent songs that everyone knows when they hear them.

But they're just the surface:

Christmas in Prison. Angel from Montgomery. The Hobo Song. In Spite of Ourselves. Sleepy Eyed Boy (I tear up a little just thinking how good this song is..) Muhlenburg County. City of New Orleans. Big Fat Love. I Just Wanna Dance with You. That's the Way the World Goes Round. Clocks & Spoons. Chain of Sorrow. The Accident (Things Could be Worse.) People Putting People Down.

I mean, Holy Freaking Smokes. All of these Songs are all utterly incredible, and NONE OF THEM ARE ON THIS COLLECTION!! Sheer travesty. A bloody silly joke.

Don't restrict yourself foolishly. Dive. Plunge into Prine. You will not - never ever - regret it.

This album is not even a primer, let alone a "best of album." These are all great songs, for sure - Dear Abby, Sam Stone, The Great Compromise, Sweet Revenge, Illegal Smile.. all great stuff.

So I give this album 5 stars +++ because I would never ever give John Prine anything less. But I recommend you NOT buy it. Buy everything - everything - else he's done instead.

Long Live John Prine. Keep picking my friend.

Remarkable!.......2006-05-25

if you're expecting something common, you're in for a surprise. If you think that these themes have been used, Then think again.

Instead, you get blown away by things that no one has thought to write songs about. The genre is a mix of blues, Folk and country. but the thoughts behind the music are fresh and original. Prine's voice may not be perfect, but his lyrics are.

yes, the album was premature and lacks several good songs of his. But it gives a very good overview of John Prine, and I highly recommend it.

My sweetie's favorite.......2005-07-09

My man, Norman LOVES John Prine and this CD. we are going to see John in concert in a few weeks, oh boy! I'm not the fan my Norman is, but I like it fine. country meets Grateful Dead, and a wee bit more. dang good.
~~~
edited to add:
well, we went to the concert - I am now a full-fledged John Prine fan! I gotta have ALL his CDs! he's blues, country, folk, rock, a little Johnny Cash, a little Joan Baez. full of feeling and a lot of heart. and funny. Lake Marie, and some of the really good ones - I got tears in my eyes!

Not quite Paradise, but dern close.......2004-01-09

Look, I'm not going to feed you crap here. Prine is dang near the best songwriter ever. He is right up there with Dylan, Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, and Randy Newman as one of the greatest American songwriters (as if we know any other kind of songwriters...Elton who?). This early "Best of" might have been a bit premature at the time, but has a great collection of songs, especially for anyone who is not familiar with Prine.
It's too bad that "Paradise" is not included on this set. If you're ready to drop a little more change and get a better range of John Boy's stuff, go for the Anthology. It's well worth it.
Prine was "discovered" by Kris Kristopherson, and wrote a lot of songs with Steve Goodman. If you're a fan of either of those artists, or any of the many they've influenced (Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen, Todd Snider, etc), then you'll love Prine.
If you're already a Prine fan, and you just want to know if this album is worth it, don't. Get the Anthology instead. It has better recording quality, and much more of Prine's hits.

Average customer rating: Wonderful Soundtrack DOLLY WILL NEVER GO AWAY The excitement is there, but..... Goodbye, Dolly! Toxically Corny!!!!

Hello, Dolly! (1964 Original Broadway Cast) (Deluxe Edition) Jerry Herman , and Carol Channing Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout 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: Mame (1966 Original Broadway Cast) My Fair Lady (1956 Original Broadway Cast) Fiddler on the Roof (1964 Original Broadway Cast) Gypsy - A Musical Fable (1959 Original Broadway Cast) Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B000099SZ0 Release Date: 2003-06-03

Tracks:

1. Prologue
2. I Put My Hand In
3. It Takes a Woman
4. Put on Your Sunday Clothes
5. Ribbons Down My Back
6. Motherhood
7. Dancing
8. Before the Parade Passes By
9. Elegance
10. Hello, Dolly!
11. It Only Takes a Moment
12. So Long Dearie
13. Finale
14. I Put My Hand In [*] - Mary Martin
15. Before the Parade Passes By [*] - Pearl Bailey
16. Hello, Dolly! [*] - Pearl Bailey
17. So Long Dearie [*] - Mary Martin
18. Love, Look in My Window [*] - Ethel Merman
19. World, Take Me Back [*] - Ethel Merman
20. On Recording Hello, Dolly! [*] - Carol Channing
21. When Did You Sense That Hello, Dolly! Would Be a Hit? [*] - Carol Channing
22. On the Title Number [*] - Carol Channing
23. "Dolly Changed Me..."; the Book [*] - Carol Channing
24. Plot [*] - Carol Channing
25. Optimism, And Finding One's Character [*] - Carol Channing
26. Prime of Life [*] - Carol Channing

Amazon.com

Sitting in the balcony at the final preview of this 1964 Jerry Herman show, still very much in school and long before my career as a critic began, I knew somehow that I was witnessing theatrical history. Even as that callow youth, I was certain that Carol Channing had been born to play the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi, the meddling turn-of-the century New York widow who had been adapted from Thornton Wilder's straight play The Matchmaker. Channing has proved me right by playing the role ever since, of course, miraculously only improving with age. Beyond Dolly herself, however, the musical emitted a synergistic exuberance (at least five years before we used the word "synergy"). The supporting cast, including David Burns, Eileen Brennan, and Charles Nelson Reilly, were terrific. Herman's tunes and lyrics were sublimely crafted both to create their characters and stand alone. (The title song took on a life of its own.) The show's designers, librettist Michael Stewart and director Gower Champion, combined to transport the audience to 60 years earlier in little old New York. This wasn't all just my opinion: Hello, Dolly! won a record 10 Tonys. The original cast recording can still take you to that other time and place, even if you didn't see the original show. But, at the risk of offending my inner adolescent, the 1994 revival, naturally starring Channing, was even better--both on stage and on disc. --Robert Windeler

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Soundtrack.......2007-06-27

This is the original recording, with all of the best names included. Wonderful, wonderful music.

DOLLY WILL NEVER GO AWAY.......2007-05-17

Great re-mastering of original BWay cast album with wonderful other Dollys, particularly Pearl Baily who makesHello, Dolly! (1964 Original Broadway Cast) (Deluxe Edition) the title tune her own. It is still a great score and a delight to own.

The excitement is there, but............2007-01-24

Hello Dolly is one of my favorite shows. When you listen to the cast album, you really do--as others have said--feel the excitement of being there on opening night when Broadway history was being made. The wonderful RCA cast album has been a best seller for 43 years. But while I do feel it is necessary for any musical fan to have this cast recording in their collection, this is not personally my "Dolly" album of choice. I have three of the 5 major DOLLY recordings in my collection; this Original Cast, the Barbra Streisand movie soundtrack, and the Mary Martin London cast on LP (the others I do not have are the Pearl Bailey cast album and the Carol Channing revival). My preferred recording is a tie between the movie soundtrack and the Mary Martin album, with this one trailing (not far) behind. As far as the supporting cast are concerned, the original cast wins hand down. But HELLO DOLLY is really about the star, and in my opinion, Carol Channing can't sing...err, croak...her way out of a cardboard box. I realize that that is Channing's trademark, but it just doesn't work for me. As I said, this album is required equipment in any serious musical lover's collection, but I think that I too will "stick with Streisand." And for God's sake, I wish RCA would get off their rump and get the Mary Martin cast album out on CD, and reissue the Pearl Bailey cast album too while they're at it!

Goodbye, Dolly!.......2005-10-30

This Deluxe Edition of the orginal "Hello, Dolly!" has three distinct problems.

For starters, this is not the classic musical that afficianados would have you believe, nor is it Jerry Herman at his best (that honor goes to "Mame"). Rather, this is a fair to middling score with three socko numbers (title tune not included), three rather fine songs (title song included) and the rest either average or inadequate. "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" and "Before the Parade Passes By" are two of the most galvanizing songs ever written for the Broadway stage and no singer can detract from their euphoric energy (though Carol Channing tries -- more on that later). "So Long, Dearie", though slower in tempo than Barbra Streisand's definitve rendition, is a showstopping character song that's both clever and compelling. These three numbers are what gives "Dolly" it's class and they are three of the best things Herman ever wrote. Then we have "Dancing", "Elegance" and (gulp!) the by now overly familiar title song, each an accomplished tune that propels the plot with, well, elegance. The song "Hello, Dolly!" may now annoy as a Broadway warhorse, but it was as fresh as daffodils when it first premiered. The rest of the score, sadly, isn't up to these standards. "It Takes a Woman" and "It Only Takes a Moment" are indistinguished at best, and "Ribbons Down My Back" is downright annoying. Worse still, "I Put My Hand In" is a lackluster opener that pales in comparison to "Just Leave Everything to Me", its replacement in the movie and a bonifide Jerry Herman rouser. And "Motherhood" sounds like exactly what it was, a stage wait for the scenery to move in. Totally expendable.

The second problem here is that this may be the worst sung original cast recording in Broadway history. Charles Neslon Reilly's wobbly tenor struggles to maintain pitch, Eileen Brennan's stilted soprano sounds more like light operetta than musical comedy, and David Burns makes his movie counterpart, Walter Matthau, sound like Mario Lanza in comparision. Then there is Dolly, the incomprehensibly overrated Carol Channing. From her first froggy notes in "I Put My Hand In" you know it's going to be rough sledding and, sure enough, she croaks and screeches her way through one song after another, rendering most of what she sings unlistenable. Channing's voice is thin, harsh and completely unequalized throughout its range and she effectively saps all of the charm out of "...Sunday Clothes" and "Parade". By the time the recording has ended, you want to banish this CD to a deserted island. But wait, there's more! An almost unrecognizable Mary Martin starts the "extras" on this disc with a shock. Some of her last recordings, these "Dolly" numbers unfortunately display how Martin's once lovely instrument had deepened and thickened over the years. A full throttle but somewhat tremulous Ethel Merman fairs little better on some poorly recorded songs added to the show when she took over. These two giants actually make the songs Pearl Bailey does on this disc seem all the more astonishing. While arguably not as talented as Martin or Merman (although, in reconsidering this recording and her career, I think I'm entirely wrong in that observation), Bailey hits a home run on each of her renditions and her recording of the title song is absolutely definitive. Someone should quickly get the cast recording of her "Dolly" back in circulation. "She" and "we" deserve it.

The final problen here is a lengthy recent interview with Ms. Channing that has to be heard to be believed. Does she actually think we're buying the idea that she was doing high kicks in the studio while recording her songs? Please! She barely catches her breath between phrases. And her comparing her premonition that the show would be a hit to a passage in the bible is as laughable as it is sacriligious. Yes, she may have done the show over 5000 times, but she lucked into a classic without earning her own classic status. No wonder all she could do was repeat herself for the rest of her career. Stick with Streisand.

And I guess from the reviews of THIS review, disliking Channing is sacriligous. I better watch my back.

Toxically Corny!!!!.......2005-01-22

A lot of my friends wonder why I violently detest Broadway Musicals so much. Well, this particular recording is at least one reason why. Exposed to this piece of Toxic Schlock at a very young age (about 4 I reckon), and ever since, for me it has epitomized EVERYTHING I detest about musicals, the thin corny plots, even cornier songs, people breaking out into song at the most ridiculous times and so much glitz that my system nearly went into toxic shock. The worst part of it all, CAROL CHANNING!!!! This woman CANNOT SING TO SAVE HER LIFE, PERIOD!!!

I've even asked people who DO like B'way what is the deal with her? I hear it's that she has charisma. OK, since when does charisma equal talent (I honestly believe they are NOT the same thing).

And I have even tried to listen to other musicals over the years, and I just CANNOT get the appeal of it on ANY level! I guess this is well-done as these things go (there is work involved), but I just CANNOT understand what the fuss is all about.

Signed,

One perplexed Owl.

Average customer rating: Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material! Beginner or Expert Very Informative and Enjoyable Frank's view Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra

Instruments of the Orchestra Various Artists Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra | ( M ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra | ( H ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra | ( M ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Op34; Simple Symphony Op4 What to Listen for in Music Study of Orchestration, Third Edition The Life and Works of Ludwig van Beethoven The Life and Works of Frédéric Chopin ASIN: B00006O0NT Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

1. Overture To 'Tannhauser'
2. Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
3. We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
4. Hungarian Dance No.7
5. The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
6. Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
7. But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
8. The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
9. The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
10. Csardas Music
11. The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
12. The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
13. Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
14. The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
15. Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
16. Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
17. The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
18. Tzigane
19. Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
20. Caprice No.24
21. The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
22. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
23. Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
24. Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
25. Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
26. The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
27. The Violin Muted
28. Clair De Lune
29. The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
30. Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
31. The Pizzicato Violin
32. Pizzicato Polka
33. In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
34. Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
35. Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
36. The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
37. The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
38. Hungarian Dance No.4
39. Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
40. The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
41. Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
42. Bolero
43. Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
44. Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
45. Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
46. Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
47. Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
48. Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
49. And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
50. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
51. The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
52. Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
53. The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
54. Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
55. Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
56. The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
57. Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
58. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
59. Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
60. The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
61. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
62. Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
63. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
64. Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
65. Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
66. To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
67. Elfenreigen

Tracks:

1. Introduction To The Viola
2. Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
3. Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
4. Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
5. Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
6. Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
7. The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
8. Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
9. The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
10. Cypresses (No.9)
11. The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
12. Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
13. The 'Period' Viola In Bach
14. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
15. The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
16. Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
17. Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
18. Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
19. Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
20. Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
21. In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
22. Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
23. But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
24. Elfentanz, Op.39
25. Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
26. The Protecting Veil (Opening)
27. A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
28. Flamenco
29. Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
30. Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
31. It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
32. Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
33. It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
34. Symphony No.9 (Finale)
35. Introduction To The Double-Bass
36. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
37. But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
38. Elegy No.1 In D Major
39. The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
40. Capriccio Di Bravura
41. Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
42. The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
43. Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

1. The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
2. Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
3. The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
4. Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
5. The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
6. Sa'Dawi
7. Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
8. Chamber Music No.II
9. The Piccolo - Aptly Named
10. La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
11. From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
12. Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
13. A Variety Of Techniques
14. Chamber Music No.II
15. Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
16. The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
17. From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
18. Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
19. An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
20. Naelden, Naelden
21. The Bachian Oboe
22. Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
23. Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
24. Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
25. The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
26. The Swan Of Tuonela
27. The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
28. Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
29. Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
30. Bolero
31. The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
32. Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
33. As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
34. Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
35. The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
36. The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
37. The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
38. ...And Quite Low.
39. Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
40. The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
41. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
42. But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
43. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
44. Introduction To The Saxophone
45. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
46. The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
47. L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
48. The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
49. Bolero
50. The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
51. Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
52. The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
53. Sax-O-Phun
54. The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
55. Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
56. The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
57. Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
58. Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
59. And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
60. Bolero
61. The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
62. Symphony No.3 (Opening)
63. The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
64. The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
65. Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
66. The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
67. The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
68. Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
69. The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
70. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
71. The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
72. Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
73. Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
74. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
75. The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
76. Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

1. The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
2. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
3. The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
4. Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
5. The Ceremonial Trumpet
6. Fanfare For The Common Man
7. Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
8. Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
9. The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
10. Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
11. The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
12. Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
13. The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
14. Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
15. The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
16. Billy The Kid
17. The Trumpet As Character Actor
18. Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
19. The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
20. Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
21. The Birth Of The Trombone
22. Aenmerckt Nu Hier
23. The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
24. Canzon 12 In Double Echo
25. The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
26. Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
27. The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
28. Hosannah
29. The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
30. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
31. The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
32. The Trombone As Caricaturist
33. Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
34. The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
35. The Horn And The Hunt
36. Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
37. The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
38. Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
39. The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
40. Walter Music (Minuet 1)
41. The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
42. Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
43. Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
44. The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
45. Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
46. The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
47. Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
48. The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
49. Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
50. The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
51. Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

1. Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
2. Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
3. At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
4. Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
5. Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
6. Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
7. The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
8. The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
9. Den Hoboecken Dans
10. Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
11. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
12. No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
13. Gymnopedie No.2
14. The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
15. Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
16. More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
17. Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
18. Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
19. Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
20. A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
21. Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
22. The Birth Of The Bongo
23. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
24. From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
25. Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
26. From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
27. Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
28. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
29. But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
30. Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
31. Taking Advantage Of Tunability
32. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
33. The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
34. Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
35. Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
36. The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
37. Ravel And The Xylophone
38. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
39. Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
40. Introducing The Vibraphone
41. The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
42. The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
43. Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
44. Folk Dances
45. The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
46. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
47. Introducing The Tubular Bells
48. Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
49. A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
50. Carmen Suite (Introduction)
51. But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
52. Introducing The Celeste
53. The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
54. Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
55. Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
56. Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
57. A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
58. The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
59. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
60. The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
61. Petrushka (Russian Dance)
62. The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
63. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

1. Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
2. Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
3. But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
4. Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
5. The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
6. An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
7. Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
8. Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
9. Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
10. Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
11. Mahler's Sleighbells
12. Symphony No.4 (Opening)
13. A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
14. Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
15. Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
16. Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
17. National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
18. And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
19. And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
20. The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
21. The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
22. The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
23. The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
24. The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
25. The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
26. The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
27. The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
28. There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
29. The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
30. Nocturnes
31. Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
32. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
33. The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
34. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
35. The Oboe As Duck
36. Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
37. The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
38. The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
39. The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
40. Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
41. Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
42. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
43. Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
44. The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
45. A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
46. Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
47. A Thunderstorm In A Million
48. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
49. the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
50. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
51. Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
52. The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

1. The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
2. Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
3. A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
4. Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
5. Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
6. String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
7. The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
8. String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
9. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
10. String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
11. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
12. String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
13. The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
14. String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
15. The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
16. Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
17. Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
18. String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
19. The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
20. Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
21. Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
22. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
23. In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
24. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
25. In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
26. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
27. In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
28. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
29. Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
30. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
31. And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
32. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
33. The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
34. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
35. Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
36. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
37. A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
38. Octet In F (Mvt 3)
39. The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
40. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
41. Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
42. Canzon 28
43. Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
44. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
45. From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
46. Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
47. Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
48. The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
49. Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
50. When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
51. Images (Gigues)
52. A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
53. Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
54. The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
55. Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
56. Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
57. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
58. A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

The one complaint I have is the last CD. This deals with the orchestra. I wanted more of a tour of how the orchestra has been used through history up to the present. Instead, it was a tour of how different groups of instruments sound. I thought it could have been better. The other 6 CDs are excellent.

Average customer rating: The Archies sing Sugar, Sugar. very grovy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Decent Quality, but... A budget collection of the bubblegum hits of the Archies Sugar, Sugar

Archies - Greatest Hits The Archies Manufacturer: Prime Cuts ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Bubblegum | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Compilations | Pop | Styles | Music | Dance Pop | Easy Listening | General | Oldies | Traditional Vocalists General | Rock | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Absolutely the Best of the Archies Tommy Roe - Greatest Hits [MCA] 25 All-Time Greatest Bubblegum Hits: The Ultimate Bubblegum Collection One Hit Wonders The Best of the Ohio Express: Yummy Yummy Yummy ASIN: B000002V5D Release Date: 1995-07-14

Tracks:

1. Sugar Sugar
2. Jingle Jangle
3. Bang Shang-A-Lang
4. Rock N' Roll
5. You Little Angel You
6. Feelin' So Good
7. Don't Touch My Guitar
8. Inside Out, Upside Down
9. A Time For Love
10. You Make Me Wanna Dance

Customer Reviews:

The Archies sing Sugar, Sugar........2005-09-11

When I was serving my country in South Viet Nam, I would hear this song every morning at about the same time. It would make me smile and think about the one I loved back in the states. I grew to love this song very much and still do. It's a shame that the stations do not play fun music like this on a regular basis.

very grovy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2005-02-22

cool,grovy,great,fantastic this cd is good you can hear the classic song of sugar,sugar,but the others are good too, dont forget jingle jangle,bang shang-a-lang,rock 'n' roll and the other songs

Decent Quality, but..........2004-11-25

There are better collections out there but it's good to hear "Time For Love" on this one. At least until the 'official' release comes out.

A budget collection of the bubblegum hits of the Archies.......2004-01-13

This budget collection of the "Greatest Hits" of the Archies only has 10 tracks recorded by faux-group spawned for the Saturday morning cartoon show. This is a decent collection of bubblegum music ("bubblegum" music was labeled as such because of its childish qualities, mass production values, and instant disposability), but since the Archies put out six albums you might want something with more sticks to get longer lasting flavor. I never watched the cartoon show (and read the comics only when every other comic book in my cousins' house had been consumed) so all I really remembered was "Sugar, Sugar," which is, of course, the one Archies' song that everybody remembers. I vaguely recalled there was another "hit" from the group, which turned out to be "Jingle Jangle" (well, gee, that should have been obvious).

Anyhow, everything in the Archies oeuvre might not be here, and certainly one has to be in the mood for this distinctive subset of pop music, but this is pretty good bubblegum music: "Bang Shang-a-Lang" could be your next guilty pleasure song. Most of the songs are written by Len Barry and Andy Kim, and performed by Ron Dante (who co-writes a couple as well). This is not first-rate bubblegum music, which would be Tommy James & the Shondells (and some stuff by the Monkees", but once you get to the second tier this is as good as it gets. Besides, Wilson Pickett did a soul cover of "Sugar, Sugar," so there must have been some pink gold here.

If you really like bubblegum music than the greatest hits albums by the Archies and Tommy Roe would be the only collections of individual artists in this genre worth having. Everything else worth having, such as "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy" by the Ohio Express and "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" by Edison Lighthouse, you can pick up on one of the various bubblegum hit collections.

Sugar, Sugar.......2002-12-16

Sugar, Sugar is the only song on the whole CD which is GREAT. The Other songs sound like [garbage]!!!!!!

Average customer rating: very original with righteous La Villa cover Prime time! It's Steve. What else can I say?

Prime Cuts Steve Morse Manufacturer: Magna Carta ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock Guitarists | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Major Impacts, Vol. 2 Bloom Major Impacts Split Decision Live in Baden: Baden Germany March 1990 ASIN: B0009CTVDQ Release Date: 2005-05-24

Tracks:

1. Heightened Awareness
2. Prognosis
3. La Villa Strangiato
4. The Clap
5. Quantum Soup
6. Busybodies
7. Led On
8. Air On A 6 String
9. Wooden Music

Album Description

A collection of Steve's finest work from his Magna Carta sessions Bonus: 11 minute video interview with Steve. Steve Morse performing with Terry Bozzio, Dave LaRue, James Murphy, Mike Portnoy, John Petrucci, Van Romaine, Jordan Rudess, Billy Sheehan and Mark Wood.

Take almost anything Morse does on these compositions, whether it's the ever-darting, constantly modulating ostinato on "Heightened Awareness", or the thematic line from "Busybodies", or perhaps the dense layers of "Wooden Music". You will notice that melody always takes precedence. Mind you, you' ll also get a good dose of speed and heightened articulation: Perhaps this is what happens when a left-handed player turns the guitar around and plays it the "right" way. It places his stronger hand on the neck, promoting dexterity—and adding a certain "meat" to the tone. Morse's lines don't whither or trail off. Of course, this is very much a conscious effort and has much to do with his right hand picking virtually every note—not a lot of slurring going on! Also key to his unique sound is the design of his instrument, one that has evolved from the early years when he employed multiple pickups to catch every string nuance.

Steve wears his southern influences on his sleeve. While his tone speaks of the blues greats, it also twangs of the country. Listen to the way he handles the Yes standard, "The Clap". No question, Morse can hang with the likes of Albert Lee any day.

Aside from deep country and that Dixie funk, Morse exhibits a huge variety of guitar influences, from Steve Howe to John McLaughlin, the latter who seemed to define for a generation the proper ratio of jazz to rock. Then there's this pervasive baroque thing, almost Mozart like in its staccato phrases and Bach like in its serenity—evidence, perhaps, of Steve's classical studies in Florida (check out "Air on a 6-String" or the figure that begins around 00.50 on "Prognosis"). No wonder he used to typify his work as "modern chamber music"!

Customer Reviews:

very original with righteous La Villa cover.......2007-05-10

If for no other reason, buy this strictly for the La Villa Strangiato cover. It is obvious to me that Steve uses this song as a warm-up; for he effortlessly shreds this composition from top to bottom in a truly unique and fresh way. I never thought it possible to improve on this song; but somehow Steve's guitar aggressively explores a new dimension - all in the spirit of the Rush original.

Aside from this cover, almost all other songs layer creative and fresh musical compositions that both sound good and demonstrate Steve's amazing musicianship.

Other talented guitarists aim to prove their worthiness by cramming a bazillion sixty-fourth notes into each passing measure. Steve knows better.

Prime time!.......2005-11-14

I just bought "Prime Cuts" and "Rapture of the Deep" by Deep Purple (featuring Morse on guitar). Both albums are enjoyable in different ways. "Prime Cuts" shows off Steve's guitar work on this instrumental disc. "Rapture of the Deep" shows Steve blending in with the other musicians of Deep Purple. A powerful rock album.

"Prime Cuts" = 4 1/2 stars
"Rapture of the Deep" = 5 stars

It's Steve. What else can I say?.......2005-07-08

While not the best way to get started on your collection of Steve Morse's music, for those of us who have everything else, it is a way to hear a cut or two you may not have.

I didn't have the RUSH tribute cut in my collection, for example.

Any Steve Morse cut is worth having.

By the way, I just got to see Deep Purple again and that may be another way to add to your collection of Steve's music. All of their material from the last 10 years is heavily laced with Steve's influence.

Average customer rating: A great cross-section Strange selection of "best" ST songs amazing! Duh! Suicidal Tendencies - 'Prime Cuts:Best Of' (Sony)

Prime Cuts: The Best of Suicidal Tendencies Suicidal Tendencies Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Lights...Camera...Revolution! Join the Army The Art of Rebellion How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today Feel Like Shit Deja Vu Controlled by Hatred ASIN: B000002BWZ Release Date: 1997-06-03

Tracks:

1. You Can't Bring Me Down
2. Join The New Army
3. Lovely
4. Institutionalized
5. Gotta Kill Captain Stupid
6. Berserk!
7. I Saw Your Mommy
8. Pledge Your Allegiance
9. Feeding The Addiction
10. I Wasn't Meant To Feel This/Asleep At The Wheel
11. Send Me Your Money
12. No Fuck'n Problem
13. Go Skate! (Possessed To Skate '97)
14. Nobody Hears
15. How Will I Laugh Tomorrow

Customer Reviews:

A great cross-section.......2006-12-06

"Prime Cuts" is a best-of album so, you either like ST or you don't. Being a 20-year ST fan, I love having a cross-section of their material. (Personally, I was surprised the "Controlled by Hatred" didn't make the cut (no pun intended). If you're not a ST fan, then this is a great introduction. They never really made it big but they had some great material. Any interest in skater-thrash or metal? If so, ST is for you.

Strange selection of "best" ST songs.......2006-11-16

This album only gets three stars from me because I genuinely believe they could have gone for a much better "best of" selection than they did. Gotta Kill Captain Stupid and Lovely wouldn't touch my top 20 ST songs. Having said that, it's still ST so it's gotta be great.

amazing!.......2006-11-08

I had this album years ago when i was in high school, for some unknown reason (young and stupid is probably a good guess), i sold it. For years i've missed the sounds of ST and wished i had it still. I'm glad i bought it again.

Duh!.......2006-01-03

Pedants would be forced to admit that this band is class. They're awesome live and are still trying to keep it real despite the detractors who want to criticise everything these guys do! Suicidal have provided just about everything to music and never get the appreciation.

At least they were bothered re-recording songs instead of just re-releasing them. The quality of music is high.

The variety is awesome.

Suicidal Tendencies - 'Prime Cuts:Best Of' (Sony).......2005-12-16

Well,what do you know?I was rummaging through some CD's I haven't heard in awhile and I came across this.'Prime Cuts' features tunes from five out of eight(at the time of this release,anyway)S.T. albums,plus two new songs "Beserk" and "Feed The Addiction".I've never been all THAT huge of a Suicidal fan,but I've always liked some of their better known material,here like "Institutionalized",their total ass kick-in-the-groin "Pledge Your Allegiance" and "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow".An added bonus to this disc is the art that appears on the back cover.Top of the line punk/thrash.Check it out.A should-have.

Average customer rating: In a word- Great background music.... Wonderful Musical Spectrum Help uggggg Prime

Prime Original Soundtrack Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: Duke Ellington & John Coltrane Happenstance Prime (Widescreen Edition) EP The Very Best of John Coltrane ASIN: B000BBOVDU Release Date: 2005-10-25

Tracks:

1. Ghostwriter - RJD2
2. In a Sentimental Mood - Duke Ellington and John Coltrane
3. Peach Trees - Rufus Wainwright
4. Rafi And David - Ryan Shore
5. Fake French - Le Tigre
6. Isnt this a Lovely Day - Stacey Kent
7. Still Got Me - Daniel Merriweather
8. Shelter - Ray LaMontagne
9. Laylo - Debbie Nova
10. Try - Sidsel Endresen / Bugge Wesseltoft
11. I Wish You Love - Rachael Yamagata
12. Prime Suite - Ryan Shore

Customer Reviews:

In a word- Great background music...........2007-02-14

Great background music for dinner/wine parties.... I love it.

Wonderful Musical Spectrum.......2007-01-28

This CD provides a lovely spectrum of "cool music" I love it.

Help.......2006-11-22

The house party scene, Biggie Smalls is rapping then it mixes into someone singing over the same sample while they are kissing in the cab on the way to his house. Does anyone who that is? And is it on the soundtrack?

uggggg.......2006-08-09

not good at all!!!! while watching the movie i thought it sounded like a great soundtrack... but i think they must have put all the bad songs on it

Prime.......2006-07-17

I loved the music from the film...haven't checked out the soundtrack yet.

Does anyone know who the artist and song is from the opening scene?

Average customer rating: Prime of My Life Sophisticated Lady One Of The Best Albums I've Ever Heard She was Prime~a worthy followup to Living All Alone BEYOND INCREDIBLE!!!!!

Prime of My Life Phyllis Hyman Manufacturer: Volcano ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Quiet Storm | R&B | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: I Refuse to Be Lonely The Legacy of Phyllis Hyman Under Her Spell: Phyllis Hyman's Greatest Hits In Between the Heartaches Ultimate Phyllis Hyman ASIN: B00000098D Release Date: 1991-06-11

Tracks:

1. When You Get Right Down To It
2. I Found Love
3. Don't Wanna Change The World
4. Prime Of My Life
5. When I Give My Love (This Time)
6. I Can't Take It Anymore
7. Walk Away
8. Living In Confusion
9. Meet Me On The Moon
10. What Ever Happened To Our Love

Customer Reviews:

Prime of My Life.......2007-01-03

A few nice ballads but not as good as the Legacy of Phyllis Hyman Album which I consider her best work regarding songs that made her famous and a legend as a female Jass and Rhythm/Blues Singer .
Nestor R. Mantilla

Sophisticated Lady.......2006-04-12

Prime Of My Life is a wonderful CD that showcases Phyllis' powerful vocals. I love every song from "When You Get Right Down To It" to "Whatever Happened to Our Love," and you all know that's the whole CD. If you can find a customized remastered version of this CD, there are some bonus tracks on there. If you don't have this, I recommend you buy it pronto, and buy every Phyllis Hyman CD that you possibly can. Phyllis is irreplacable; she's a legend, and I hope that she's happy and at peace.

See you on the other side, Phyllis. I love you!!!

One Of The Best Albums I've Ever Heard.......2005-08-25

I'm only 21 but i know good music when i hear it. I love everything about Phyllis Hyman. Prime Of My Life his my favorite album by her. You can hear the pain in her voice, you can feel her joy and love through the lyric's. She stands out as a R&B and Jazz legend. She is truely missed.

She was Prime~a worthy followup to Living All Alone.......2005-06-02

Prime of My Life was self poetic of Phyllis. She found her place and she was very comfortable with in her place on this CD. The songs, many of which spoke her truest feelings. It was her self assured title track that let her fans know that she was in her Prime. She exuded true poise and sophistication. Each track showed that she was in her zone and she was there to stay, even if for just a little while. Although she was a self admitted ballad queen, which is shown in the romantic track, Meet Me on the Moon and I've Found Love, somehow she kept finding her place and her voice on the dance floor with the #1 release, Don't Wanna Change The World. Not only does she tell the man that she doesn't want to change his world, she lays down a serious rap, and when she's finished, she asks, "Understand what I'm sayin'?" It doesn't get any better than that.

Then you move from that onto the trademark and heartfelt heartbreak tunes that Phyllis fans know her for: Whatever Happened to Our Love, When I Give My Love This Time and Walk Away. Alas, one mustn't forget the liberating tunes that she poetically recites in the most controlled voice at that point in her career: Living In Confusion, I Can't Take It Anymore and the When I Give My Love This Time. She makes the transition on this album seamless. It proved to those fans old and new that she was a woman in her Prime--listen to her roar a tune in a sophistication and class that solely belongs to Phyllis.

BEYOND INCREDIBLE!!!!!.......2004-12-17

That voice is beyond the signature of incredible power.......and control.....that lady had AMAZING CONTROLLLLLLLL!!! god, have u ever heard "Living In Confusion (The Album Version)" WOWWWW!!

When she yelled out "LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!" wow,she must have really be tired of going through what she was going through at that time she co-wrote the song......thats one thing about any song phyllis hyman sings,she convinces u to the maximum , that what shes singing about is the absolute truth......

OMG,I love Phyllis so much.....she is juss my mentor,my inspiration......i wish i had enough money to buy every thing by her at one time.....

believe me......u cant go wrong with anything Phyllis sings,its just straight up down to earth material,incredible power......strong lyrical arrangements....

I LOVE U PHYLLIS!!!!

Average customer rating: Interesting Mike Portnoy's Prime Cuts The name guaranties perfection...The label no honor mike portnoy's prime cuts???

Prime Cuts Mike Portnoy Manufacturer: Magna Carta ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Dream Theater - Score: 20th Anniversary World Tour Live with the Octavarium Orchestra Systematic Chaos Prime Cuts Systematic Chaos Drum Nation, Vol. 2 ASIN: B0009UC7IY Release Date: 2005-06-28

Tracks:

1. Mad March
2. Freedom Of Speech
3. Acid Rain
4. Endless Enigma
5. Chris & Kevin's Excellent Adventure
6. Working Man
7. By-Tor And The Snow Dog
8. Another Dimension
9. Three Minute Warning Edit

Album Description

"Mad March", Mike Portnoy accompanies Dixie Dreg's bassist Andy West. The drummer comes up from underneath, firing off barrages of double bass drums in challenging patterns that seem to complexify and invert themselves, injecting urgency into the apocalyptic vision. We don't get far into Liquid Tension Experiment's "Freedom of Speech" before we're lighting up the wooden matches, especially as Petrucci's first guitar solo nears its peak! This is romance-epitomized and, for Mike Portnoy, his finest hour. His drumming is built for the arena. Rapid-fire sixteenth notes on closed hi-hats are the showers in "Acid Rain", the pitter-pattering echoed by Levin and Petrucci at various junctures. "Endless Enigma" alternates from gentle to chaotic. The church-like cadence around the 2:00 point is a clever device, providing sanctuary and calm. A drum roll sets us up for "Chris and Kevin's Excellent Adventure". Mike's rollicking half-time shuffle is the perfect jaunty groove to complement a light-hearted, whistling theme. "Working Man", from the Rush tribute album of the same name, is as heavy as heavy gets, a musical migraine spiked by Lee's seamless scintillating guitar. Portnoy chooses his spaces, filling them with double bass drum/tom clusters. All the while, he forges ahead with the heavy touch of his mentor. "By-Tor and the Snow Dog", another hats off to Rush, evolves into a screamer (at least once the vocal takes over) that is equal parts Geddy and Ozzy. Note the drum solos, ever increasing in intensity, interspersed between ensemble themes. "Another Dimension" is an effective Gage remix in which chattering snippets of instrument voices and atypical snare drum timbres provide a haunting backdrop. The Vapourspace remix introduces a steady stream of unusual undulating tones, then slowly pulls them back, dissolving them into a mist of white noise. "Three Minute Warning Edit" begins as a funky, organ laced jam, and graduates through various movements in the same key until it winds down—perhaps due to a warning that the two-inch tape is at the end of the reel! Portnoy's opening contribution is joyfully bouncy, while his handling of the various transitions is brilliant. Such freedom, such compositional latitude! It reminds us why Mike Portnoy is the envy of the working drummer who enjoys no such free reign.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting.......2007-07-05

Title says it all: "Interesting" ( takes a drummer to understand that statement typed about 'Prime Cuts' ) A keeper here though!! :-)

Mike Portnoy's Prime Cuts.......2005-08-03

Mike Portnoy shows his stuff on this album. Great collection of tunes, showing musicality and taste. I recommend to anyone!

The name guaranties perfection...The label no honor.......2005-07-23

When I first came across this CD, I was confused. If you do not know yet, Mike Porntoy, when recording his DVD, asked permission to include some LTE and Dream Theater songs in it. Elektra Ent. gladly said yes for DT, but Magna Carta (Prime Cuts label)told him he had to pay them royalties for Liquid Tension. Unbelievable! Portnoy said that Magna Carta would never make another penny with his name, but apparently, they managed to do so with this CD. I would also like to point out that in Porntoy's website, Prime Cuts is not in the discography.
Despite the fact that this label has no respect to such a drum god, the CD does fulfill expectations, the majority of songs being from Liquid Tension Experiment. The first song, which was a project of Andy West (Dixie Dregs) called Rama 1, was recorded when Porntoy was initiating to have issues with the label. Once the rivarly began, Mike told Andy not to include his name on the cd, thanks to MC.
The two Rush covers and one ELP is Portnoy at his best, respecting the work of the two legendary drummers, but giving it his special signature.
The rest of the songs of LTE are masterpieces, with unsurmountable performances from Portnoy, Petrucci, Rudess and Levin. Although the Another Dimension re-mix is horrible. The original song is a classic, but the mix is dull, you can barely understand what you're listening to. The only low-point of this album.
******Bottom Line******
-If you are interested to know this prodigy's work, buy it. It's a good place to start. Although I should recommend also buy the Liquid Tension cd's, and check out from Dream THeater Scenes From A Memory and Images and Words.
-If you are a die-hard fan, and are familiar with all his work, it's your call. You've probably heard most of what's here; nevertheless, I remind you that Magna Carta has no shame, no honor...they're only interested in making money for themselves, not even the musicians.

mike portnoy's prime cuts???.......2005-07-22

I give this cd 5 stars only because it's MIKE PORTNOY!!! A good mix of songs (original and covers) performed by top players in music.You might be better off making your own mix of Mike's performances instead of this one,but otherwise a decent purchase.Also,NOT ENDORSED BY MIKE HIMSELF.SHAME ON MAGNA CARTA!!!

Average customer rating: Groover Rocks! Final album to start with A Must An honorable collection of a late great Great Grover !

"Grover Washington, Jr. - Prime Cuts: The Greatest Hits 1987-1999" Grover Washington Jr. Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Soul-Jazz & Boogaloo | Jazz | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Quiet Storm | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: Ultimate Collection Winelight Mister Magic Feels So Good Soulful Strut ASIN: B000034CZG Release Date: 1999-12-07

Tracks:

1. Take Five (Take Another Five)
2. Sacred Kind Of Love
3. Only For You (Siempre Para Ti Sere)
4. Please Send Me Someone To Love
5. Strawberry Moon
6. Summer Nights
7. Heat Index
8. Next Exit
9. Blues For DP
10. Soulful Strut (The Top Down Version)
11. The Love In His Infant Eyes
12. The Night Fantastic
13. Protect The Dream

Amazon.com

Washington's Columbia material wasn't quite as rapturous as his landmark records from the '70s (most notably Inner City Blues and Mister Magic), which minted the template for the smooth jazz. But Prime Cuts offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of a surprisingly adventurous period in the soulful saxophonist's career, which was tragically cut short by his death at age 56 in late 1999. There are classic Washington grooves like "Strawberry Moon" and his version of Brubeck's "Take Five," both songs showcasing his luminescent tone and sinuous inflections. "Only for You" and "Summer Nights" pour soothing horn phrases over lively percussion, while "Blues for D.P." puts Washington in a more straightforward, postbop setting with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Grady Tate. Of the three previously unissued tracks, "Heat Index," suffers from a stilted arrangement and not enough bottom-tone organ; a new rendition of "Soulful Strut" is marvelous but only marginally different than the original; and "The Night Fantastic" is a relatively standard workout enhanced by Washington's dulcet modulations and quickly punctuated crescendoes. The closer, "Protect the Dream," delivers the giddy eddies and melodic swoons most listeners now associate with Kenny G--except that Grover's are invested with twice as much soul. --Britt Robson

Customer Reviews:

Groover Rocks!.......2005-08-30

I'm new to Jazz and I'm only familiar with Kenny G's music, so I decided to explore contemporary jazz. This is my first Grover Washington cd and I have to say that Grover is probably one of the best contemporary jazz artist. I just love his style; you won't be dissapointed.

Final album to start with.......2004-11-23

This is definitely one of the ones I'ma keep into my collection sooner or the other. This is great start for him since he was with Columbia Records. Like to say this, this is one of his final compilation CDs before he passed just a week after it was released. It was sad to hear that he died from a heart attack while performing a segment for the CBS Saturday Early Show on that day. I was 15 when that happened. So maybe does he left us a lot of legacies he left behind. Even he not's here anymore, he still lives on. He's my inspiration to follow which I said.
This is highly recommended to those who want the real Grover.
Rest in Peace, Grover. Your spirit lives on in us.

A Must.......2000-09-21

Grover Washington Jr was a Class Act.His Music is Timeless&this Set Showcases His Depth&Tone To His Instrument.unlike The Watered Down Junk that gets called Jazz Today I Won't Name Names Because everyone in the Know Knows who it is or Groups.This Music here is Straight from the Soul&Heart.it has Passion&Drive.He Creates Different Styles&Combines them into one.a Must for Fans of True Musicianship&Creativity.

An honorable collection of a late great.......2000-07-28

One of the founding fathers of the "smooth jazz" genre, pioneering the blending of jazz with pop and R&B elements, Grover Wsahington consistently produced work of a high order: strong choice in material, enticing arrangements, and rich, soulful saxophone work. This collection sums up twelve years with Columbia Records neatly but thoroughlly.

His takes on classics were always exciting, and Washington breathing new life into Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" and the standard "Please Send Me Someone to Love" are no exceptions. But even the newer compositions sounded timeless, whether it was the sensual rhythmic vibe of "Only for You (Siempre Para Ti Sere)," the head-bobbing infectiousness of "Soulful Strut," or the sheer beauty of "Strawberry Moon," a gorgeous composition that has rightfully established itself as a classic smooth jazz cut. And then there's "Sacred Kind of Love," a duet with Phyllis Hyman that is the epitome of bittersweet: it's hard not to wonder, a bit sadly, what Washington and Hyman might have stood to accomplish if they were alive today. Still, hearing them pair up at the height of their artistry is a priceless thrill.

Throw in two tracks recorded especially for this collection before Grover's untimely passing (the slick and inviting "Heat Index" and "The Night Fantastic") and you have a satisfying compilation of one of jazz's most beloved saxophonists. If soul and technique are the meat of musical recordings, these are prime cuts indeed.

Great Grover !.......2000-06-15

A collection of award winning tracks in the inimitable style that was Grover's unique hall mark. A truely great talent and a benchmark in modern jazz. Once again his passion for truely great music shines through in this celebration of his most vibrant work.

A must for all Grover fans - truely golden !

Pop Music:

1. Progressions: 100 Years Of Jazz Guitar [Box set]
2. Pure
3. Putumayo Presents: New Orleans [Enhanced]
4. Quintette du Hot Club de France: 25 Classics 1934-1940
5. Quite Frank: The Songs of Sinatra
6. Radiance [Live]
7. Red
8. 'Round About Midnight [Original recording remastered]
9. Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Greatest Hits
10. Silver Rain

Pop Music