Black Brown & Beige [Extra tracks]

Amazon.com essential recording
As a composer and bandleader associated indelibly with the nightclub scenes of pre-Swing Era jazz, Duke Ellington would have a difficult time getting respect in the button-down world of concert music. And when Ellington premiered his first long-form piece, Black, Brown and Beige, in 1943 (available on the stunning Carnegie Hall Concerts, January 1943), he was considered a dilettante. He laid the work aside until this recording, which came in early 1958--with the added oomph of gospel vocalist Mahalia Jackson on board for all the suite's vocal parts. On this expanded reissue, Columbia has added an alternate take of the entire piece as well as two unrelated tracks recorded during the Black, Brown sessions but never before released. The suite is an expansive look, from Ellington's vantage, of course, at the evolution of African American history and culture. So there are ripples of spirited tone poetry, soaring gospel vocals from Jackson (with spare, aching piano from Ellington in spots), thundering horn-fronted swing from the band, and a consistency and unity on par with any symphonic work of the modern era. Ellington was always sensitive about this piece. After all, it showed a lot of what he held in high esteem: history, musical meditations on culture, and a full, colorful use of a band that Ellington held together for an amazingly long time. If only for Mahalia Jackson's takes on "Come Sunday," by now an acknowledged standard, this set is awesome. --Andrew Bartlett

Black Brown & Beige,Duke Ellington,Mahalia Jackson,Sony,Big Band,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop

Average customer rating: Groovy Classics Remixed Exciting! Remixed not recommended for "re-listening". Good remixes

Remixed Bond (string quartet) , Grant / Bond Crichton Stuart / Black , Trevor / Bond Crichton Stuart / Gray , Michelle de / Vries, Marius de Crichton Stuart / Vries , Magnus Fiennes , Tonci Huljic , Gil Nevo Yoad / Brown , Orion , Pussy Galore , Mark Wright Andy / Jolley , Brian Gascoigne , Julian Kershaw , Z. Vracevic , Millennia Strings , Clem Clempson , Estaban Antonio , London Session Orchestra , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , Kuljit Balma , Luis Jardim , Phil Todd , Craig Pruess , Gareth Cousins , Anita Kelsey , and Shashi Pandit Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Classified Explosive: The Best of Bond Shine Born Bond - Live at the Royal Albert Hall ASIN: B0000C3ICL Release Date: 2003-09-16

Tracks:

1. Viva - Orion Mix
2. Victory - Sharp Boys Wild Strings Edit
3. Wintersun - Bobby D'Ambrosio Mix
4. Speed - Crash Club Mix - Radio Edit
5. Fuego - Caliente Mix
6. Homecoming
7. Atlanta
8. Shine - Dubshakra Mix
9. Time
10. Duel - Hectic Mix
11. Bond On Bond - Hectic Mix
12. Jingle Bell Rock - Pussy Galore Mix

Customer Reviews:

Groovy Classics.......2007-01-09

A great way to introduce the classics to the person who is too hip to listen to Mozart!

Remixed.......2006-06-01

Hmmmm....what can I say? Remixed is the 3rd album Bond has released, consisting of remixes of old favorites and several new tracks. For those of you who don't know, Bond is a rock string Quartet made up by 4 young women. Similar in style old Vanessa Mae.

The Album starts with an exciting opening, of Viva! (Orion Mix). This is made up from a remake of Antonio Vivaldi's Allegro from Winter (The Four Seasons). Its an enjoyable piece, very simple, but the drums and the occasional shouting of "VIVA!" makes it a great song.

The second track is a remix of one of Bond's more famous piece. Victory was a huge success, but the remix wasn't so in my opinion. The 'Sharp Boys Wild Strings Edit' was a strange one. It didn't contain much of the original. After a tedious drum beat and strange sounds for about 1 minute and 10 seconds, a short clip of strings come on the original melody. For the next minute more drums, then more repeating of the melody heard in the middle.

Third track was a remix of Wintersun. Wintersun (Bobby D'Ambrosio Mix) was basically the same, but a bit more of a disco style.

Again, with Speed (Crash Club Mix). Sam thing, but a lot more of the disco sounds. I actually found myself enjoying it more than the original! It really sounds like some one is...driving a car or something.

Fuego's remix (Caliete Mix) I also enjoyed more than the original. It has a longer introduction, and more music to back up the strings. It also has a very fast sita (sp?) solo in the middle, making it sound very Spanish!

Homecoming, Atlanta and Time are new tracks. Not my most favorites, but they are very calm, remind me of Asia. Except for Time which sort of gives you the feeling that all the clocks are moving at the same time. Bond also uses Clock sounds in the middle for effect.

Shine (Dubsharka Mix) is by FAR the best song on the album. Its a fantastic dance track, with a fantastic solo and playing in the song. Its a Bollywood styled song, making you think of India. I was a little disappointed however, since this song was released on their earlier album (Shine, 2002). Although I love it, they should have put the Indian Summer Mix on instead, which cant be found anywhere except on Atlanta/Time

Duel and Bond on Bond (Both 'Hectic Mixes') I just couldn't stand. They were absolutely ridiculous. Just having the tracks played twice as fast. If I wanted to do that, I could have gone into Media player and pressed Fast Forward x2.

The Last song is Jingle Bell Rock (Pussy Galore Mix). Its an interesting one, just jazzing up the original Jingle Bell Rock.

Overall, this album is great for something like a party, for its mainly disco music. Not the best Bond Album, but very good anyway.

However, If you are a big bond fan, I would suggest you get the Import (Includes 2 videos of Victory and Fuego) or the Japanese Edition (Includes and Extra mix of Viva!, original Jingle Bell Rock, Duel Indonesian Mix and Innocent)

Hope you enjoy this CD!

Exciting!.......2004-09-07

I got Bond's debut album a couple years ago.  Although not as exciting as Vanessa-Mae's album "Storm," it was better than Vanessa-Mae's debut crossover album "The Violin Player" and approximately equal to her third album, "Subject To Change."  The Bond debut had a lot of energy, but to me it was begging for a little stronger beat.

So when I found a Bond remix album late last summer, I grabbed it!  How cool can that be--a Bond remix album!  Whoo-hoo!!!

When I got it home and listened to it, I was a bit disappointed because it wasn't quite remixed enough.  I wanted the mixes to be hotter, and the bass and drums more pronounced.  But under-remixed is far preferable to over-remixed, which is a problem with Vanessa-Mae's song "Storm."  This is my favorite Vanessa-Mae song; the four-minute album length is not nearly long enough for me, so when I learned there was an 8-minute remix, I just had to have it!  I had to buy this Vanessa Mae CD single from a store in England (via Amazon's used CD vendors) since I could not find it stateside.  And I was very disappointed:  The remixer had so vastly remixed it that not only did it lose all its energy, it wasn't even recognizable!  So between over-remixing and under-remixing, I prefer under-remixing, thus I am happy enough with the remixes on this Bond album.  But they could have done better, I think.

Although I was a little disappointed that the mixes not being spruced up quite enough,  it does not mean I do not like this album.  Au contraire! I love this album! It is an album full of energy, life, vitality! It is an album that I nearly always play very LOUD! It as an album that I play when I'm wound up, feelin' good!!! Nearly every song is fast, and the beat never stops!

The album opens with "Viva!", a song that is also found on their DVD, which I bought around the same time I got this album. What a perfect song to start this album with! A sample of a group of females shouting 'VIVA!" plays from time to time throughout, adding to the energetic playing of the strings. On the DVD, this song is backed with video footage from their concert at the Royal Albert Hall in England; in the video, when the shouts "VIVA!" are heard, fireworks shoot out from the balconies and the stage at the theater--so exciting!

The next song is the remix of their first radio hit, "Victory," which starts out with a hot Latin beat and Spanish guitars. "Victory" and another track, "Fuego," feature frenetic string playing. The best song on the CD for dancing--and my second favorite song on the album--is "Duel." This has a driving bass line and percussion beat, an upfront electronic synthesizer riff, and a beautiful ethereal female nonverbal vocal accoutrement, with tubular bells even added toward the end. Spine-tingling! Wonderful!

Although "Duel" and my favorite song "Viva!" rule supreme in the degree of spine-tingling awesomeness, they're not the only ones to bring such a pleasurable reaction to me. "Wintersun" is played with deep heartfelt emotion; "Atlanta" also is full of emotion. I like "Speed" and "Time" because of their European technopop sound, especially "Time," which has a nice melodic, minor key electronic keyboard riff. "Shine" has a bit of a Spanish or Italian flair, another of many romantic flavors of this album.

There are only two songs on the album that I don't care for. One I absolutely don't like is "Jingle Bell Rock," but that's because I hate the song, not because I don't like their version of the song. If I am forced to listen to that song, I would likely choose their version. The other one I like okay, but it doesn't do for me what the rest of the songs on the album do: "Bond on Bond." This is a track of them doing the James Bond theme. A cool idea, and it works, but again, doesn't float my boat. Fortunately, these two songs are at the end of the album, so I can just end the album at the third to the last song, which is also my second favorite song, "Duel"!

Most of the DVD's music comes from their first album, while this remix CD has the best of their first two albums. I now have their third studio album, "Classified," which I like better than their first album (I don't have their second), but no surprise to me, this remix album of theirs is clearly my favorite. "Storm" by Vanessa Mae is my favorite secular album of all time, all genres combined, so naturally in the genre of classical crossover it is my favorite. Bond's "Remix" is my second favorite classical crossover album. It reaches down and touches the heartstrings of my musical soul and stirs them up to make a fabulous and emotional listening experience for me!

Remixed not recommended for "re-listening"........2004-07-27

Bond has impressed critics with their somewhat controversial performances of classical-crossovers. From using trance beats to the sounds of African drums... there is no limit to how much and what they can do to enhance classical music that they play.

With Bond Remixed however; it is quite a drag to put it simply. The album is a total re-mix album, so think of it as a compilation of single re-mixes put together. But also, there are three original tracks by Bond: Homecoming, Atlanta, and Time. All three of these tracks rely a lot on synth sounds and trance beats. Which get boring after listening to all these re-mixes, but keeping in mind that it is a RE-MIX album after all... so although the originality of Bond's previous albums: Born and Shine are not there, it is because they are re-mixed.

One of my personal favorite tracks is Viva [Orion Mix], which for those who have the Bond Live at Royal Albert Hall DVD all should know (For those who do not know, it is an extra video on the DVD, a live performance of Viva). Though I would have to say it takes repetition of classical music to its red line. Another great track to listen to is Jingle Bell Rock [Pussy Galore Mix]. Great example of good trance, combined with classical sounds. Bobby D'Ambrosio's mix of Winter, originally named Wintersun, is interesting enough by creating a new intro into the song. The rest of the song is shorter with a different beat.

The rest of the tracks seemed to use the original songs, but just add a different beat, more bass, and more synth. It puts the name of "re-mix" to a shame. Besides Speed [Crash Club Mix] which adds more excitement to the song as it is called Speed, the listener is better off listening to the originals. The prime example of horrible remixing is Duel [Hectic Mix] and Bond on Bond [Hectic Mix] (It's funny how both of these songs were badly mixed by the same person). In Duel, Hectic makes the song more faster-paced and adds a synth sound to the beat, which has a deeper bass. The song relatively stays the same. As goes the same for the Bond on Bond mix, where there is only a different, harder dance beat added to the original song. Also, Shine [Dubshakra Mix], doesn't even sound different. After listening carefully, you will notice the very subtle addition of more tambourines. But it sounds exactly the same; I listened back and forth from the "mix" to the original on the "Shine" album, and could not really tell.

If you want re-mixed Bond songs, this is terrible album to try to find some. Re-mixes are supposed to be a variation of the original song, almost as if the mix was a whole new song. But these "re-mixes" are sad to listen to. I am ashamed for whoever compiled this horrible playlist of tracks. Also, the original tracks by Bond are not what Bond is noted for, as if they were rushed to do these tracks.

A lot of artists do a "filler" album. Bond may have used a re-mix album to give themselves a year off, either for time off recording, or to make more time to record their 4th album, "Classified". Most likely it was to give the girls some well-deserved time off after releasing "Born" and "Shine".

Any fan of Bond will most likely find this album oddly dissatisfying, leaving a caustic taste in the mouth, and a penetrating headache. I would not recommend this album, unless you are a die-hard fan. But please, if you are a first-time listener to Bond, listen to "Born" or "Shine".

*There is two videos that can be played on your computer however; a video of Fuego and Victory, are fun to watch. But they are from their other albums, Victory from "Born" and Fuego from "Shine".

Good remixes.......2004-06-19

I generally stay away from remix albums simply because it's tough to improve on an original. However, I'm a huge fan of techno music and these remixes are heavier fixed with the sound of the dancefloor than the original tracks are. As you can tell by some of the reviews, some people love this, and some hate it. I think the ones that hated this CD are not fans of modern dance music and miss the whole point of dance CDs to begin with, so you can't judge anything by what they say.
This is a great dance CD, period. For the more consertive use of dance beats, see any of Bonds other releases, but this one is definately for the club fans out there. Another killer dance CD I want to suggest is Mr.Deviant's "Techno Obsession" which mixes power rock with killer dance beats to create some very original dance music. Both CDs are great!

Average customer rating: Warning: Check The Shingles On Your Roof.................... Funk, Laid Back and Suave Paid the Cost to be the Boss A Very Good Soundtrack The Godfather Takes Over Soul Music

Black Caesar James Brown Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music 1970s | By Decade | Soundtracks | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $7.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Payback The Mack Coffy (Score) Hell The Very Best of Willie Hutch ASIN: B000001DZS Release Date: 1992-09-22

Tracks:

1. Down And Out In New York City
2. Blind Man Can See It
3. Sportin' Life
4. Dirty Harri
5. The Boss
6. Make It Good To Yourself
7. Mama Feelgood (Lyn Collins)
8. Mama's Dead
9. White Lightning (I Mean Moonshine)
10. Chase
11. Like It Is, Like It Was

Customer Reviews:

Warning: Check The Shingles On Your Roof...........................2007-04-19

.........before playing Mama Feelgood, or vocalist Lyn Collins is going to leave your home in need of some repairs. From the guitar-piano-guitar introduction, Collins delivers a funk tour-de-force performance in a classic song on a great soundtrack for an underrated movie that stars Fred Williamson.

The score was composed by James Brown and Fred Wesley, which starts with a smoking R&B number - Down and Out in New York City - and ends drenched in the blues - Like It Is, Like It Was.

It is four consecutive numbers which makes Black Caesar not only a remarkable soundtrack, but one of the best albums ever issued by Brown. The mid-tempo of Boss bounces into Brown at his funky best - Make It Good to Yourself. Collins then tears it up, with the ballad - Mama's Dead - a gem of an emotional ride by Brown.

There are several instrumentals, with the jazzy Sportin' Life and the quick pace in Chase emerging as the best.

Brown wore the crown as "The Godfather of Soul" after the soundtrack was released in February 1973. And the soundtrack leaves no doubt that J.B. set the rules for admittance into the court of funky royalty.

Funk, Laid Back and Suave .......2007-04-18

Why 500 reviews of Radiohead and only 11 of this? I supppose this stuff is a little dated but it is truly a treasure trove of heavily (and nicely) sampled funk cuts - BLIND MAN CAN SEE IT, SPORTIN' LIFE. Similar to alot of what's on MOTHERLODE. Easy to see why they jumped on them - those are some superior moments of funk. Same instruments, same scales but a little more intricate than some of the James Brown megahits. MAMA FEELGOOD is a great uptempo track - the spacing of the instruments makes it move and the rythmn guitar part, while predictable is on the money. THE BOSS is also superb: a slow tune that's driving. Best of all the album is a nice mix of slow and fast, grandiose and mellow and for that it's one to put on and let play.

Paid the Cost to be the Boss.......2007-03-07

"Black Caesar" is some straight fire from the late legend (aka the king of funk), James Brown! Although short in length, this cut packs some serious hard hitters...gotta love it! a REAL Classic

A Very Good Soundtrack.......2006-01-30

I recently saw this movie on the FLIX cable channel. Buying the soundtrack was an easy choice. I've been buying a lot of James Brown lately. I recommend the compilations "Motherlode" and "In a Jungle Groove" (both remastered!).
There are a lot of excellent JB compilations and remastered albums available. Few of them are bad. The majority are great.
This is a great album.
It's not real long, but damn it's FUNKY. Enjoy.

The Godfather Takes Over Soul Music.......2005-03-11

This is The Godfather at his zenith. By the time of this project, he had already established himself as the kingpin of the funk/soul family. And composing a soundtrack is not like doing an album of all your own material.

He proved why he's considered an American musical giant; as usual, he's dead serious on all his arrangements, covering all the subgenres of R&B. From the ultra funky "Make It Good to Yourself", to the down-home sound of "Dirty Harry", to the hauntingly melodic, "Mama's Dead". This shows James Brown at a 360 degree perspective. You will see sides to his songwriting that you may not see on any of his other recordings. Just for that alone, it is worth getting if you consider yourself interested in his work. It is defintely a milestone in his illustrious musical portfolio.

Average customer rating: Duke Ellington and Mahalia Jackson No Hodges A Superb Production The Queen and the Duke: Three and One Half Stars The Official Portrait.

Black, Brown and Beige Duke Ellington Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | R&B | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | R&B General | R&B | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | R&B General | R&B | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Jazz | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 R&B | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Such Sweet Thunder New Orleans Suite Blues in Orbit Masterpieces by Ellington Ellington Uptown ASIN: B00000IMYC Release Date: 1999-04-27

Tracks:

1. Black, Brown, & Beige: Part I
2. Black, Brown, & Beige: Part II
3. Black, Brown, & Beige: Part III (AKA Light)
4. Black, Brown, & Beige: Part IV (AKA Come Sunday)
5. Black, Brown, & Beige: Part V (AKA Come Sunday)
6. Black, Brown, & Beige: Part VI (23rd Psalm)
7. Track 360 (AKA Trains) (Alternate Take)
8. Blues In Orbit (AKA Tender) (Alternate Take)
9. Black, Brown, & Beige (Alternate Take): Part I
10. Black, Brown, & Beige (Alternate Take): Part II
11. Black, Brown, & Beige (Alternate Take): Part III (AKA Light)
12. Black, Brown, & Beige (Alternate Take): Part IV (AKA Come Sunday)
13. Black, Brown, & Beige (Alternate Take): Part V (AKA Come Sunday)
14. Black, Brown, & Beige (Alternate Take): Part VI (23rd Psalm)
15. Studio Conversation (Mahalia Swears)
16. Come Sunday (A Cappella)
17. (Pause Track)

Amazon.com essential recording

As a composer and bandleader associated indelibly with the nightclub scenes of pre-Swing Era jazz, Duke Ellington would have a difficult time getting respect in the button-down world of concert music. And when Ellington premiered his first long-form piece, Black, Brown and Beige, in 1943 (available on the stunning Carnegie Hall Concerts, January 1943), he was considered a dilettante. He laid the work aside until this recording, which came in early 1958--with the added oomph of gospel vocalist Mahalia Jackson on board for all the suite's vocal parts. On this expanded reissue, Columbia has added an alternate take of the entire piece as well as two unrelated tracks recorded during the Black, Brown sessions but never before released. The suite is an expansive look, from Ellington's vantage, of course, at the evolution of African American history and culture. So there are ripples of spirited tone poetry, soaring gospel vocals from Jackson (with spare, aching piano from Ellington in spots), thundering horn-fronted swing from the band, and a consistency and unity on par with any symphonic work of the modern era. Ellington was always sensitive about this piece. After all, it showed a lot of what he held in high esteem: history, musical meditations on culture, and a full, colorful use of a band that Ellington held together for an amazingly long time. If only for Mahalia Jackson's takes on "Come Sunday," by now an acknowledged standard, this set is awesome. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Duke Ellington and Mahalia Jackson.......2007-01-18

Here I found something, I never expected: Mahalia Jackson in combination with Duke Ellington. What a pleasant surprise for an old Jazz addikt. Especially the up to now unreleased selections are a valuable addition to my collection.

No Hodges.......2006-05-27

People, look out. No Johnny Hodges here. No Hodges. In his stead, there's a lady singing. NO Hodges.
You know what kind of singers Duke had. Excepting Ray Nance, of course. I mean girl singers. After, I mean, Adelaide Hall and that razzy girl on the first Mooche and Ivie Anderson and Betty R0-shay and Joya Sherrill (of course he never gave her any good parts, but ..) and Kay Davis (when she wasn't singing English ...)
A femme chirper. Of the spiritualisticizing sort.
But no Johnny Hodges.
Where was he?
Johnny Hodges lives. He never went to the dentist's office.

A Superb Production.......2006-01-04

SACRED SOUNDS BY THE DUKE AND THE GREAT MAHALIA WITH UNPUBLISHED ACAPELLA SONGS AND BOUS TRACKS!THIS MAKES REAL SENS!

The Queen and the Duke: Three and One Half Stars.......2005-11-15

Firstly, I want to address an errror in the songlisting: Mahalia Jackson does not "swear" on this CD. Where did that come from? On the title track # 15 (the track in question) Mahalia says; "Aww Duke, you finna (Fixing to) cut this too!?... Jesus." Who heard a cuss word in that?

Anyway, I have only heard of this project in Mahalia's and Ellington's bios. I had never had an opportunity to hear it until recently. The majesty of the Duke's arrangements are classical in their approach with a feeling of a sacred contata. At times while listening I was reminded of musical arrangements such as "Porgy and Bess". Duke Ellington's jazz flourishes are well represented and present throughout the sections they are more subdued and less prominent on the "Twenty-Third Psalm" and "Come Sunday".

At times the CD is difficult to listen to as a entire project. It lacks fluidity because it's divided in the way the CD is formatted. I would've preferred the project be presented with the sections that comprised the original release with the previously unreleased sections as an addendum. The additions are what sounds like rehearsal outakes or re-takes because of errors; as in once instance Mahalia's need to cough. My disatisfaction with the formatt does not diminish the commanding performances of the Ellington Orchestra or Mahalia Jackson's rich and soaring contralto. On the acappela version of "Come Sunday" she is absolutely magnificent. This was recorded during a period in her career where her voice was matured and at its most lucious. The bottom of her voice is deep and resonant. Her upper register is in the mezzo-sporano range; simply beautiful. Her characteristic mispronunciations and her pronounced New Orleans accent are the only things that keep this song from passing as an operatic solo.

This is jazz and the sacred at its pinnacle. A superb blend. I'm glad I made the decision to track it down and purchse it. You will too.

The Official Portrait........2005-07-28

Ellington's "Black, Brown, & Beige" ranks as probably his most ambitious work and the one in which he made his heaviest emotional investment. When critics mauled its premiere in the early Forties, Ellington more or less withdrew it. Fifteen years later, he brought it back, substantially reworked, and with at least two of the original movements gone. We get here a kind of Official Portrait of, in my opinion, a more interesting original, but it's still an extraordinarily beautiful work. Also, the Ellington band plays the bejeezus out of it. Ellington wanted Mahalia Jackson for the recording. She had doubts, but Ellington soothed her out of them. Good thing, too. Her "Come Sunday" (written especially for her) ranks as one of her most extraordinary, uplifting performances, and that's saying something. I also love the solos from John Sanders on valve trombone and especially Ray Nance on violin. Grappelli, eat your heart out!

Average customer rating: Outstanding Incredible..Worth 30 stars Superb singing matched with superb arrangements Beautiful music Beautiful Music, Yet There Is No There Here

Blue Wheat Stephen Foster , John , American Traditional , Spiritual Traditional , and Dale Warland Singers Manufacturer: American Choral ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Foster, Stephen | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | 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 General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Folk Songs | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Harvest Home Christmas With the Dale Warland Singers Cathedral Classics December Stillness Christmas Echoes, Vol. 1 ASIN: B000003M4T Release Date: 1996-06-18

Tracks:

1. Oh, Shenandoah (Traditional)
2. He's Goin' Away (Traditional)
3. Skip To My Lou (Traditional)
4. Steal Away (Spiritual)
5. Wayfarin' Stranger (Traditional)
6. Soldier, Soldier Won't You Marry Me? (Traditional)
7. Pretty Saro (Traditional)
8. Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier
9. Black Is The Color (Traditional)
10. Red River Valley 9 (Traditional)
11. Nelly Bly (Stephen Foster)
12. My Lord, What A Mornin' (Spiritual)
13. Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair (Stephen Foster)
14. Hard Times Come Again No More (Stephen Foster)
15. Single Girl (Traditional)
16. Deep River (Spiritual)
17. Buffalo Gals (Cool White [John Hodges])
18. The Water is Wide (Traditional)
19. Black Sheep (African-American lullaby)

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding.......2007-06-06

Robert De Cormier's remarkable arrangement and Marie Spar Dymit's and Lynette Johnson's pure vocals of "Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier" are well worth the price of the entire CD.

Incredible..Worth 30 stars.......2007-05-16

The Dale Warland Singers are my benchmark by which I judge all other choirs. The uniformity of sound, blend, and precise entrances, uniformity are incredible - almost inhuman. Excluding the all male Chanticleer from the roster, this was the finest choir in America. Now that they have broken up, buy all of their CD's you won't be disappointed!

Superb singing matched with superb arrangements.......2004-07-03

A project like this one inevitably highlights the skill of arrangers, and Dale Warland has selected some of the most talented anywhere. Most of these selections will be familiar to listeners, but I doubt most people have heard, for example, "Red River Valley" in Carol Barnett's haunting version here, and ditto for her magnificent "Deep River."

The disc opens with a spectacular, panoramic "Shenandoah" that takes maximum advantage of the Dale Warland Singers' refined sound, and things only get better (if that's possible). Other favorites are a cheery, fizzing "Nelly Bly" and Mark Keller's strong reworking of Stephen Foster's "Hard Times Come Again No More."

Throughout the recording, the freshness of the arrangements is matched by the irresistible singing. This group is known for its outstanding performances and recordings, but this must be counted as one of their all-time best. The sound quality is terrific, capturing the gorgeous blend and precision of the group in a natural-sounding acoustic. Just stunning.

Beautiful music.......2003-07-03

I bought this CD after hearing a few of the recordings on our local NPR radio station. I was not disappointed in any of the selections. Very beautiful.

Beautiful Music, Yet There Is No There Here.......2003-01-13

The Dale Warland Singers (DWS) are among the relatively few musical professionals, who by their aesthetic standards and demonstrated artistry, have taken the less traveled and narrow road to exemplary artistic excellence.

The sound quality and acoustics are excellently engineered in this 20-bit original recording. The most delicately blend and inflection of the singers' voice can be heard. This sheaf of choral works has once existed in real space and time in the kaleidoscopic folklife of past generations. In recording the "Blue Wheat", the 40-member DWS, the creme de la creme of professional choral ensembles, has elevated the common oral tradition of American folk music into a rarified choral art form a capella "in the style of the chapel."

If the soul of the DWS is a capella singing, then Warland and the arrangers are the wings of the same soul. Among the kapellmeisters whose arrangements have graced this folksong anthology are the late Norman Luboff and Roger Wagner. Also included in this album are contemporary arrangements by other esteemed composers: John Rutter (conductor of The Cambridge Singers), Carol Barnett (the DWS resident composer from 1992 to 2001), and Stephen Paulus.

Gertrude Stein is famous for saying of her childhood home, Oakland, California, "When you get there, there's no there there." Purportedly, Stein opined this city by the San Francisco Bay lacked a defining sense of place. Bel canto notwithstanding, the folk melodies of "Blue Wheat" invoke a longing for something no longer possible. The abyss between the America today and the its past is impossible to bridge. Already, we have yielded to the abstractness of political correctness. Our past is either neglected, actively destroyed, or selectively museumed. We do not live in an understood land and culture. There is no there here in the presence of this music. It is only the poignancy of the moment that these beautifully rendered tunes live in our mind. We have to accept this reality as part and parcel of our rootlessness.

If the Oakland Raiders do make it to and win the Superbowl in 2003, there is a there there for some in the football community, albeit fleeting.

Average customer rating: Excellent intro to Foster and Sousa march review

Stories Of Foster And Sousa Manufacturer: Vox (Classical) ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Foster, Stephen | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sousa | Sousa, John Philip | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | 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 General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Children's Music | Styles | Music Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs Under $7 | Folk General | Folk | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Folk General | Folk | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Story Of Johann Strauss In Words And Music The Story Of Brahms Story Of Verdi In Words And Music The Story of Tchaikovsky The Story Of Handel ASIN: B000001KDF Release Date: 1995-04-16

Tracks:

1. Old Folks At Home
2. Oh ! Susanna
3. Old Black Joe
4. Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair
5. My Old Kentucky Home
6. Old Folks At Home
7. Camptown Races
8. Massa's In De Cold, Cold Ground
9. Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming
10. Beautiful Dreamer
11. The Stars And Stripes Forever
12. The Crusader
13. Offenbach: La Vie Parisienne
14. The Belle Of Chicago
15. The Gladiator
16. Semper Fidelis
17. Washington Post
18. High School Cadets
19. The Thunderer
20. Semper Fidelis
21. Washington Post
22. Hands Across The Sea
23. El Capitan
24. Stars And Stripes Forever
25. Semper Fidelis
26. Washington Post March
27. The Thunderer
28. High School Cadets
29. El Capitan

Customer Reviews:

Excellent intro to Foster and Sousa.......2007-02-25

This is a tremendous value considering the price and the number of tracks that you get. The renditions are not bad, but I have heard better Foster. There is a lot of narration, which makes this a great teaching tool to introduce Foster and Sousa. The narration is a bit more for Foster than Sousa. Some of the Foster songs seem to be cut a little short, giving you what is really more of a sampler than a rich collection of complete Foster songs. The Sousa marches seem to be a little longer and don't have quite as much narration. Even though both men were well known American composers, their type of music was quite different, so it's kind of an odd paring on this album. It's a pleasant listen, but not a "must have" item unless you don't have much Foster or Sousa in your music collection; it's a good starter album. Great for kids who might be interested in learning about these two famous composers.

march review.......2001-05-10

this cd gas a great selection of music on it. the sound of the music is perfectly clear and i definately reccomend it. it is an ideal disc for all march fans. two of the greatest american composers on one disc. this is also a great deal considering the amount of songs on this disc. definately but this cd.

Average customer rating: Burdon becomes Black-Man's burden They can't take away our music... war rocks Boring Just one outstanding song.

The Black-Man's Burdon Eric Burdon & War Manufacturer: Avenue Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Latin Rock | Latin Music | Styles | Music Similar Items: Eric Burdon Declares "War" Love Is All Around War All Day Music The World Is a Ghetto ASIN: B0000032Z6 Release Date: 1993-05-04

Tracks:

1. Paint It Black Medley: Black On Black In Black/Paint It Black/Laurel & Hardy/Pintello Ne
2. Spirit
3. Beautiful New Born Child
4. Nights In White Satin I
5. The Bird & The Squirrel
6. Nuts, Seeds & Life
7. Out Of Nowhere
8. Nights In White Satin II

Tracks:

1. Sun/Moon
2. Pretty Colours
3. Gun
4. Jimbo
5. Bare Back Ride
6. Home Cookin'
7. They Can't Take Away Our Music

Customer Reviews:

Burdon becomes Black-Man's burden.......2006-04-09

Here we're offered a clean and more polished Burdon backed up by some of the greatest musicians of the day. The Black-Man's Burdon didn't produce any hits, but it did showcase the raw power of War itself. Although Burdon's rhetoric is held somewhat in check here, it still manages to get in the way of the band at times on this 1970 MGM release. Eric Burdon & War's second offering (a double LP) would also be their last together. Burdon would never sound this poignant in his career again, and Spill The Wine (from Burdon declares "War") would be remembered as the only relevant material Burdon performed in the post-Animals era.

A point worth mentioning is that it's War's noodling (The Bird And The Squirrel and Nuts, Seeds & Life) in the wake of the classic Beautiful New Born Child that hold your attention. Setting you up for the relentless Out Of Nowhere (that should've been released as a single). In the twilight of the hippie era Jerry Goldstein produced some of the most social and introspective material of the year. Gun hints at a country sick and tired of the Vietnam conflict, while Sun/Moon soothes the listener for the pop sounding Pretty Colors. War's innovative fusion sound would carry them through the entire decade of the 70's, producing a string of 8 gold records in a row.

olofpalme63

They can't take away our music..........2005-10-03

five reasons to add this one to your all time good ones:

1. Sun/Moon

2. Nights in white satin

3. Spirit

4. Pretty colors

5. to remember not only Billie Holiday or Charlie Parker but also the black man's Burdon. Cheers!!!

war rocks.......2005-02-17

Eric Burdon can be a little annoying on some of the tracks, he seems a little full of himself. But when he works with War in a more integrated fashion, it is a fantastic match. The song cycle of Pretty Colors, Jimbo and Gun is one of the most powerful marraiges of psychedelia and soul ever. Feel the heat rise.

The cover of "Paint It Black" is also really cool, but a little out there with the wacky Burdon lyrics. Recommended album!

Boring.......2004-01-21

This is the worst of the 3 albums Eric made with War. Way too long songs that keep on repeating themselves. The Paint It Black Medley is explosivly energetic, and makes at least disc 1 wort to own. The relatively short track 'Out Of Nowhere' is also found here with a lot of deep lyrics. The rest of the album is just too boring to me. Eric himself hates this album, and so do I (almost). The other two albums, Love Is All Around and Eric Burdon Decleares War, is much better. Especially Love Is All Around.

Just one outstanding song........2002-10-11

I bought this CD only for "They Can't Take Away Our Music," which is a very powerful and beautiful song about black music in America. It got a fair amount of radio play at the end of 1970, which is when I started liking it. Interestingly, I still have never heard a single comment about what African-Americans thought about this song. I'm white and I love the song. The rest of the album was definitely disappointing, although a few songs have a nice Caribbean sound with guiro, like "Pretty Colors." The cover songs "Paint It Black" and "Nights in White Satin" are pointlessly long, too loosely structured, and add no new interest; they seem like trashy afterthoughts meant only as filler. However, Eric Burdon does all these songs with soul and seriousness, so the album's not really bad, just not very commercial.

Average customer rating: Magnificent "Bjorling" Frederick's Understatement. Remastering is not perfect THE ultimate singing voice

Jussi Björling Rediscovered Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Umberto Giordano , Georges Bizet , Jules Massenet , Edvard Grieg , Jean Sibelius , Carl Leopold Sjoberg , Pietro Mascagni , Francesco Paolo Tosti , Giacomo Puccini , Stephen Foster , Jussi Bjorling , and Frederick Schauwecker Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Foster, Stephen | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Grieg, Edvard | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sibelius | Sibelius, Jean | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Björling, Jussi | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Schubert, Franz | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | 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 Similar Items: Artists Of The Century - Jussi Bjorling, The Ultimate Collection The "Pearl Fishers" Duet Jussi Bjorling: Opera Arias Jussi Björling: Opera Arias Jussi Björling Edition: Studio Recordings 1930-1959 ASIN: B0000C0FB4 Release Date: 2003-09-09

Tracks:

1. Applause
2. Adelaide, Op. 46
3. Frulingsglaube, D686 (Op. 2 No. 2)
4. Die Forelle, D 550
5. Standchen, D957/Op. Posth. No. 4
6. Die Bose Farbe, D795/Op. 25 No. 17
7. Traum Durch Die Dammerung, Op. 29 No. 1
8. Cacilie, Op. 27 No. 2
9. Standchen, Op. 106 No. 1
10. Il Mio Tesoro
11. Amor Ti Vieta
12. Flower Song (From 'La Fleur Que Tu M'Avais Jetee')
13. Encore: The Dream 'Instant charmant; En Fermant Les Yeux'
14. The Swan, Op. 25 No. 2
15. The Dream, Op. 48 No. 6
16. Diamond On The March Snow, Op. 36 No. 6
17. Rushes, Whisper, Op. 36 No. 4
18. Black Roses, Op. 36 No. 1
19. Enocre: Visions
20. Addo Alla Madre
21. Encore: Ideale
22. E Lucevan Le Stelle
23. Encore: L'Alba Separa Della Luce Ombra
24. Encore: Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair
25. Encore: 'Come Un Bel Di Di Maggio'
26. Encore: 'Che Gelida Manina'

Amazon.com

Before there were the Three Tenors there was Jussi Björling, the great Swedish tenor who died in 1960 at the age of 49. His bright, sunny tone had a slight, emotion-laden tear in it that conveyed feeling as well as, or more than, any number of sobs and effects that other tenors use. His Carnegie Hall recital of September 24, 1955 has long been available; in addition, this CD features nine never-before released selections from that recital which either did not fit on the original LP or were omitted for some other reason. He can sing at any dynamic level, the voice is always secure, and his taste and musicianship, as always, are impeccable. I doubt we'll ever hear Tosti's Ideale sung more tenderly or "Che gelida manina" sung with such poetic abandon; the newly discovered Grieg, Sibelius, and Sjoberg songs are sung with an opera singer's--rather than a Lieder singer's--style, but it's doubtful anyone will complain. Björling fans should race to hear this; for those who came to opera after his heyday (or during the reign of other tenors), this will be a stunning ear-opener. A must have. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Magnificent.......2005-09-02

Some years ago I met an elderly gentleman who'd served as a co-pilot on a B-24 bomber during WWII. During a raid on a North German site their aircraft was badly damaged and they were forced to crash-land it in Sweden. The shaken but uninjured crew was picked up by the Swedish authorities and immediately interred (Sweden being a neutral country). They were sent to a dreadful and notorious Swedish internment camp--the largest and lushest hotel in Stockholm--and given something of an expense account. It just happened to be the same hotel where Jussi Bjorling had his digs.

Through a variety of happenings, the vet ended up befriending Bjorling, who he described to me as "one hell of a nice guy" and they became drinking buddies. He and his fellow aviators had front row seats at any and all recitals and apparently became society figures in cultured Stockholm. To my wonder and astonishment, this old Regular Joe fellow, no opera fan before Sweden, told me he was the guy who taught Jussi Bjorling the song "Pistol Packin' Mama." Now wouldn't we all pay good money to have heard him sing that!!

There's nothing more terrific than a great voice attached to a great guy who'd sit and drink with downed aviators and happily learn their favorite pop songs. This disc of music is as wonderful as the guy who recorded it.

"Bjorling".......2005-01-05

In a word - superb. This brings to mind the review of Bjorling's RCA LP "Bjorling in Opera" by Stereo Review's critic George Jellinek, shortly after it's release in 1959, which he ended by saying "highly recommended, especially for other tenors".

Frederick's Understatement........2004-12-22

It was 50 years ago that I met and fell in love with
the accompanist at the voice studio where I studied
for love of singing (i.e., mine was a modest voice).
She in turn introduced me to some of the great singers
then active, or who came through, Chicago. And also, her
own teachers and colleagues, including Dr. Rudolf Ganz and
Frederick Schauwecker. One day, when the topic of melody
came up, Dr Ganz suggested that all piano students should
hear Jussi Bjoerling deliver legato melody. And when Lynn
asked Mr. Shauwecker, who little praised anyone, even a client,
how Jussi did on the trip they were just back from, she was
astonished to hear him grudgingly admit that "Jussi is singing
like an angel. It can't possibly continue at such a level, even
for him." It didn't. As we found out a couple of weeks later
when we heard this recital live, it didn't "continue", it got
better. At the time I found it the greatest listening experience
of my life. Today, 50 years later, it still is. Whatever vocal
records you have by anyone, this is better. There are no equals.
"Like an angel" is one of Frederick's understatements.

Remastering is not perfect.......2004-07-20

This CD is a recording of one Carnegie Hall recital on September 24, 1955. Many composers are represented, including Beethoven, Mozart, Bizet, Grieg and Sibelius to name a few. There is even a Stephen Foster - Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair. The accompanying literature has all the lyrics.

Jussi Bjorling is obvious a tenor in top form, but this recording forty years later omits the higher overtones of his voice. Nevertheless, this is a recording of the highest caliber that does justice to this talented man who died too young.

THE ultimate singing voice.......2004-05-22

This live concert cd contains some of the most fantastic singing ever by a human being and that goes both for the lyric and the dramatic repertoire. Why RCA have denied us this fabulous sound for all these years really beats me. I have long cherished Bjoerlings Troubadour recording with RCA, but compared to the Bjoerling sound on this cd, his Manrico sounds like a light Wiener Sänger. The sound on this cd is simply the most ravishing sound I have ever heard.

Average customer rating: great mozart Reference Recording Musical bliss

Mozart: Clarinet Quintet, etc / Academy Chamber Ensemble Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Academy of St. Martin in the Fields | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Mozart - Clarinet Concerto & Oboe Concerto / Pay, Piguet, AAM, Hogwood Mozart: The Complete Piano Trios Mozart: String Quartets Nos. 14 - 23 Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante Mozart: The Six String Quintets ASIN: B00000411T Release Date: 1989-09-26

Tracks:

1. Clarinet Qunintet In A, K. 581: 1. Allegro
2. Clarinet Qunintet In A, K. 581: 2. Larghetto
3. Clarinet Qunintet In A, K. 581: 3. Menuetto
4. Clarinet Qunintet In A, K. 581: 4. Allegretto con variazioni
5. Horn Quintet In E Flat, K. 407: 1. Allegro
6. Horn Quintet In E Flat, K. 407: 2. Andante
7. Horn Quintet In E Flat, K. 407: 3. Allegro
8. Oboe Quartet In F, K. 370: 1. Allegro
9. Oboe Quartet In F, K. 370: 2. Adagio
10. Oboe Quartet In F, K. 370: 3. Rondeau: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

great mozart.......2005-10-12

In my opinion the clarinet quintet is one of Mozart's best chamber works. I am familiar with two other versions and this is the best of the three not so much for the strings - which are beautiful here - but for the wonderful tone in Antony Pay's clarinet. It is deeper and richer than that of the players in the other versions. Specifically I recently purchased Talich on Calliope records as part of their string quintets collection and while the string tone on that recording is wonderful the clarinet pales beside Pay's.
The other two pieces here are also quite enjoyable but do not rise above the general run of Mozart's generally good chamber works.
The sound is good.

Reference Recording.......2004-01-25

Anthony Pay's rendition of the Mozart Quintet is one for the ages. A flawless performance well worthy for the title of being the reference benchmark recording of the piece.

The quintet, a beautiful piece itself indeed, is played here with an incredible warm tone brought forth by not only Mr. Pay but the string quartet as well, led by violinist Iona Brown.

The other unforgettable recording of this piece out there, Dave Shifirin's rendition, is also a classic, but a completely different rendition than Pay's. The preference over which performance is better is completely up to the tastes of the listener. Sihirin's version is more clear, where this one is, as I have already said, more warmer.

Musical bliss.......2000-07-20

Of all the classical discs in my collection, this is the one that I reach for when I am looking for some guaranteed musical bliss. There is a quintessential serenity about Antony Pay's performance of the Clarinet Quintet that defies any kind of criticism. Also included on this generous disc is the enchanting Horn Quintet, given an ebullient account by Timothy Brown. The last work is the Oboe Quartet, deliciously performed by Neil Black. In fact all the performers communicate a great love of this music. This is nearly 70 minutes of musical heaven, a heaven that deepens with repeated listenings.

Average customer rating: Not Bad, but need a second album... An Excellent CD!!!!!! ew Totally Suprised!!!

Back in Baroque: The String Quartet Tribute to AC/DC Manufacturer: Vitamin Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Tributes | Pop | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Back in Bluegrass: The Bluegrass Tribute AC/DC String Quartet Tribute to Black Sabbath String Quartet Tribute to Aerosmith Backed in Black: Ac/Dc Tribute The String Quartet Tribute to Queen ASIN: B0000A0WHM Release Date: 2003-07-22

Tracks:

1. Hells Bells
2. Shoot To Thrill
3. What Do You Do For Money Honey
4. Give The Dog A Bone
5. Let Me Put My Love Into You
6. Back In Black
7. You Shook Me All Night Long
8. Have A Drink On Me
9. Shake A Leg
10. Rock & Roll Ain't Noise Pollution

Product Description

1. Hells Bells
2. Shoot To Thrill
3. What Do You Do For Money Honey
4. Give The Dog A Bone
5. Let Me Put My Love Into You
6. Back In Black
7. You Shook Me All Night Long
8. Have A Drink On Me
9. Shake A Leg
10. Rock & Roll Ain't Noise Pollution

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

Not Bad, but need a second album..........2007-06-24

How can you have an ACDC tribute album without Highway To Hell. The music on this album is very good, but is unfullfilling without the aforemenioned number. I encourage them to make a second CD with more ACDC tunes on it, to really cover all the bases.

An Excellent CD!!!!!!.......2003-12-19

I think that the reviewer that gave this CD a single star has not heard this CD because:

1. It is an excellent CD
2. The guy who did it, did the Coldplay CD
3. The site he gave is the Record Label that this CD is on and this CD can be bought there

I have listened to this CD over and over again and it is one of my favorite string tribute CDs. I own all of the CDs that this group has put out and if you want to see a list of all of the CDs they have done, you can check out their String Tribute Forum at:

http://tmrpro.com/phpBB2

ew.......2003-12-15

i respect the whole neo-classical thing, but this cd is bad. sounds like somone sequenced the songs in their synthesizer. check out http://www.thetributeto.com/acdc/ . they perform their tributes, and do it well. i haven't heard their ac/dc tribute, but their other tributes (linkin park, 311, coldplay) are awesome.

Totally Suprised!!!.......2003-09-01

I read about this CD on an AC/DC Fan site and they had a link to purchase it here. I bought the CD without hearing any clips or anything. So, buying it sight unseen, made me feel a little aprehensive.

Well, when it arrived I couldn't wait. I took it with me to work and played it in the car on the way. WHAT A GREAT CD & A GREAT IDEA!!! I love this CD! After hearing how well done this CD was, I decided to do something special for my wife ....and .... I took the next day off from work (which was a Friday) and prepared a wonderful steak dinner while my wife was at her job. I got a really good bottle of wine and I set the table with our finest table settings ... Candles lit and everything prepared ...When she got home, I had the candles burning, the lights were out, the table was set and I started the CD.... KAHPOWW!!! She freaked completely out! Needless to say, we had a wonderful time and what a way to romance my Rock & Roll Queen!!!

We've been fans of AC/DC since the 80s and this is probably one of our favorite AC/DC CDs, now!

I would suggest this CD to anyone who loves AC/DC and wants to add some spark to their romance .... We have candlelit dinners a couple times a month now and this CD is the main attraction!!!

Average customer rating: Now I know why they make jokes about Hoboken (see below) Many Undiscovered Treasures compendium of the richness of American innovation An interesting sampling of a musical dead end. Fantastic Collection

American String Quartets, 1950-1970 Manufacturer: Vox (Classical) ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Cage, John | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by George Crumb | Crumb, George | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Feldman | Feldman, Morton | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Electronic | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music | Computer General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Feldman: String Quartet (1979) Luciano Berio: Laborintus 2 Luciano Berio: Corale (Sequenza VIII), for Violin, 2 Horns & Strings / Chemins II (Sequenza VI) / Chemins IV (Sequenza VII) / Ritorno degli Snovidenia, for Cello & Small Orchestra / "Points on the Curve to Find...", for Piano & 22 Instrumentalists - Pierre Boulez Elliott Carter: Piano Concerto; Concerto for Orchestra; Concerto for Orchestra; Three Occasions Elliott Carter: A Symphony of Three Orchestras; Varèse: Deserts; Ecuatorial; Hyperprism ASIN: B000001K50 Release Date: 1995-09-26

Tracks:

1. String Quartet: 92
2. String Quartet: 144
3. String Quartet
4. String Quartet In Four Parts: Quietly Flowing Along
5. String Quartet In Four Parts: Slowly Rocking
6. String Quartet In Four Parts: Nearly Stationary
7. String Quartet In Four Parts: Quodlibet
8. Quartet No. 3 For String Quartet And Electronic Tape
9. Summer

Tracks:

1. Black Angels (Images) For Electric String Quartet: Departure: Tutti, Threnody I - Night Of The Electric Insects; Trio, Sounds Of Bones And Flutes; Duo, Lost Bells; Solo, Cadenza accompagnata Devi-Music; Duo, Dance Macabre (Due Alternative: Dies Irae)
2. Black Angles (Images) For Electric String Quartet: Absence (Crumb)
3. Black Angles (Images) For Electric String Quartet: Return (Crumb)
4. String Quartet No 5: Theme I (Hiller)
5. String Quartet No 5: Variations (Hiller)
6. String Quartet No 5: Theme II (Hiller)
7. String Quartet No 5: Varitaions (Hiller)
8. String Quartet No 5: Theme III (Hiller)
9. String Quartet No 5: Variations (Hiller)
10. String Quartet No 5: Theme IV (Hiller)
11. String Quartet No 2: (Druckman)
12. Structures for String Quartet (Feldman)

Customer Reviews:

Now I know why they make jokes about Hoboken (see below).......2005-10-27

Man, it's discouraging to see people piddling all over music like this. 1950-65 was a great era for American culture; sure the European influence was lingering but American composers (and artists and filmmakers) were finding a voice, an expression of some quality uniquely American that had never appeared before. American music could be something other than Hoe-Downs, Charlestons, and Nearer my God to Thee (sorry, Charles, and you know I love you anyway). This was a taut and crisp intellectual America that was finally gaining ascendancy, something new to the world, brilliant and beautiful. I think of a wonderful photo of Elliott Carter with Stravinsky in New York at some gallery or concert hall circa 1960 or so. Stravinsky looks old and seedy, like a Russian refugee even though he had years to ditch that; Carter, alert and in a sharp suit, looks like the future-on-the-half-shell. It all got blown out of the water by 60s and 70s-era lack of standards and discrimination and an unwillingness to TRY. Sixties-era, anti-culture crapola that still reigns supreme. To much pot. Hippies ruined everything.

What's startling about the bad review is these quartets are hardly over-intellectualized. In fact most are quite beautiful or evocative; the Cage stunningly so. The LPs this collection came off were among my favorites of that era and I doubt a better or more nightmarish Black Angels has ever been done despite recent attempts by Kronos and others. Amazing playing by committed performers. A deal and a bargain.

For ten bucks this is like gold for free. Have at it!

Many Undiscovered Treasures.......2003-01-08

It's almost laughable not to pick up this disc. The price alone makes the set worth it. Added to that the fact that many of these works are not available in other forms and this disc is a no-brainer for fans of the late 20th century string quartet. The sampling transcends styles, from the almost improvisatory sonic canvas of Earle Brown, to the surprisingly beautiful almost minimal quartet of Cage, the horrific depiction of war in Crumb's justly famous Black Angels, or the almost traditional sounding Schonbergisms of Stepan Wolpe, this is an eclectic collection and well worth the modest investment.

I won't review everything on the album, as there is just too much. Highlights for me include the Earle Brown quartet, which is one of Brown's strongest early works. Since Brown is poorly represented on CD, every release of his is worth having, but the Second Quartet is a masterwork of tonal subtlety. Cage's Quartet was written just before he moved into his more aleatoric phase. It is highly modal and almost a precusor to minimlism, a very pleasing work that should be more widely known. Christian Wolff is also a composer who is underrepresented on CD (though Mode is quickly redressing the imbalance.) Summer is also a protominimalist work, based on stark 5ths. The reading of Black Angels is good, though not anything to supplant the Kronos reading, which is still my favorite. Also interesting are Quartets by Wolpe and Leon Kirchner.

So if you have any interest in American string work of the late 20th century, you need this disc. It is indispensible and very beautifully played. And the Vox Box price is unbeatable.

compendium of the richness of American innovation.......2000-04-05

This is a great showcase of the American string quartet,innovation,vision,iconoclasm,all elements which we often overlook and forget easily.But only Elliot Carter is missing, and that's because he has what! Five Quartets now.Inclusion of the First Carter would have rounded things out. The Earle Brown here is a neglected masterwork. Based on graphic notation the performers don't improvise so much as are given entrance freedoms within a prescribed range. The affect can be mysterious,haunting,also innovative with a wide pallette of extended techniques, at the bridge, sul ponticello,plucking. We often forget the traditional beauty Cage engaged the early part of his career, the Forties. This Quartet is a fine consummate example of that,with soft,gentle lines, very sparce, and transparent,also he limits himself to a few tones,tossed around the various voices. Structures by Feldman is an early work here, the Quartet is treated as one monolith sound,indistinguishable voices playing harmonics,cello playing where the violin plays, same range. All of Feldman's floating gentleness is here as well,perhaps too much at times,like it overspends its welcome. Crumb's Black Angels is another classic, The Kronos has takened this around the block many times, Crumb always works well with a programmatic agenda in place, and here he transforms the Quartets introspective consititution to more a drammatic focus. Druckman as well also works well with a program but here there is none. He has a fine imagination for sonoric structures,balance,but its doesn't seem to amount to much. The Wolpe is one of his best works. His creativity was uneven, here the violence and charged motives he is found of are in place to jump, and reiterate, toss around in an environment of high energy. Wolff's Summer is an early work prior to his metamorphosis into utilization of political imagery by comparison, this is a beautiful work,but cold, Wolff also needs a program,which he profoundly found, He has alater Quartet he wrote in the Eighties that is more compelling.

An interesting sampling of a musical dead end........1999-06-18

Superb analog transfers and excellent playing, I suppose. (I mean, how can you tell with music like this?) OK, I'm not a fan of this kind of music, but at this price I thought the collection was worth chancing. So far, I've found that the best way to listen to this recording is to let the music wash over you while you enjoy the sheer variety of sounds that the composers and players create. And there are some pleasant surprises, particularly the Cage quartet (from 1950) which contains genuine emotion and ends with a brief movement chock full of--gasp!--sprightly tunes. Makes me wonder what might have been had these composers shown more interest in music and less interest in mathematical gymnastics designed to impress their colleagues at the academy. At any rate, I recommend this album as an interesting sonic experience and a good sampling of the dead-end serialist/avant-garde genre that is now being supplanted by a return to music that recognizes tonality. (If you really want great 20th century quartets, incidentally, buy the 6 by Bartok).

Fantastic Collection.......1999-03-24

This set is a must if you have the slightest interest in avant-garde music from the 50s and 60s. Not a single weak piece, excellent sound and performances, and the price can't be beat!

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