Storyteller

Claude Hall, December 2003 IMR
"This sweeping, magnificent tribute packs powerful memories and much of Tolkien’s magical enchantment for the heart and the soul."

Product Description
This magic musical adventure takes you as a Rock Opera where the master J.R.R.Tolkien has gone with his three volume, six book medieval tale "Lord of th Rings". This is a melodic epoch of Kings, Knights, Ladies, Warriors, Black Creatures, Little Friends, The White Rider and the magic of Gold, Castles and a Glorious Monarchy.

Storyteller

Storyteller,Canvas,Bay Sound Records,A Rock Opera that takes you as a magic musical adventure where the master J.R.R. Tolkien has gone with his three volume, six book medieval epoch, Lord of the Rings.,Rock/Pop

Average customer rating: Amazingly Wonderful Well chosen songs; poorly packaged Rod "The Bod" Stewart boxed Representative, but not the best material Excellent Anniversary Of Rod's First 25 Years

Storyteller: The Complete Anthology Rod Stewart Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Heavy Metal | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Unplugged...and Seated The Very Best of Rod Stewart Atlantic Crossing Never a Dull Moment The Rod Stewart Album ASIN: B000002LIR Release Date: 1989-10-23

Tracks:

1. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
2. Can I Get A Witness?
3. Shake
4. So Much To Say
5. Little Miss Understood
6. I've Been Drinking
7. I Ain't Superstitious
8. Shapes Of Things
9. In A Broken Dream
10. Street Fighting Man
11. Handbags And Gladrags
12. Gasoline Alley
13. Cut Across Shorty
14. Country Comforts
15. It's All Over Now
16. Sweet Lady Mary
17. Had Me A Real Good Time

Tracks:

1. Maggie May
2. Mandolin Wind
3. ( I Know ) I'm Losing You
4. Reason To Believe
5. Every Picture Tells A Story
6. Stay With Me-The Faces
7. True Blue-The Faces
8. Angel-The Faces
9. You Wear It Well
10. I'd Rather Go Blind
11. Twistin' The Night Away
12. What's Made Milwaukee Famous
13. Oh ! No Not My Baby
14. Pinball Wizard
15. Let Me Be Your Car
16. You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything-The Faces

Tracks:

1. Sailing
2. I Don't Want To Talk About It
3. Stone Cold Sober
4. To Love Somebody
5. Tonight's The Night
6. The First Cut Is The Deepest
7. The Killing Of Georgie (Part I and II)
8. Get Back
9. Hot Legs
10. I Was Only Joking
11. You're In My Heart
12. Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?
13. Passion
14. Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight
15. Tonight I'm Yours

Tracks:

1. Young Turks
2. Baby Jane
3. What Am I Gonna Do (I'm So In Love With You)
4. People Get Ready
5. Some Guys Have All The Luck - Rod Stewart R
6. Infatuation
7. Love Touch
8. Every Beat Of My Heart
9. Lost In You
10. My Heart Can't Tell You No
11. Dynamite
12. Crazy About Her
13. Forever Young
14. I Don't Want To Talk About It
15. This Old Heart Of Mine
16. Downtown Train

Customer Reviews:

Amazingly Wonderful.......2007-03-03

This 4 CD box set of Rod Stewart is extremely great, from start to finish, it's got a vast assortment of songs that Rod recorded between 1964-1990, all of which are great, you get a little of everything from Rod, during this time period. You get all the hits, plus some great rarities! If you love Rod, you'll love this, indeed! Also, I am pleased with the booklet that comes with it, lots of nice pictures and nice to hear Rod's comments on the songs.

Well chosen songs; poorly packaged.......2006-10-15

Box sets always bring up arguments as to what's missing but there is very little missing from this set. Having every one of Rod''s CDs, the only three missing tracks that I would have put on here are "I Feel The Whole World Go Round" from the 60s band Shotgun Express, "Farewell" from Smiler and "The Wild Horse" from Out of Order. (OK and maybe two or three others!) but overall, the selection was excellent. It puts Rod Stewar in context, and much of the 80s stuff holds up every well to the sacred early 70s stuff. (Rod was always a great singles artist, though some of his albums are really terrible.)

The box set was thrown together very quickly though, and the packaging is weak. The book is thin and flimsy and features just one essay by writer Robert Palmer, who does a good job of praising without going overboard. But Warners always treated Rod Stewart like [...] and this box set deserved a better package.

Rod "The Bod" Stewart boxed.......2006-01-11

He's done it all in his career: Classic rock, pop and now he relives the past in his The Great American Songbook series. This box set is of course is all about Rod at his very best. Not really a bad song in the four disc set which shows his transition from classic rock ("Street Fighting Man", Maggie May", etc) into the pop world ("Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?", "Downtown Train, etc). He has been one of only a few artists that could transition to different genres and still be successful. Very successful. I give the set a 4.5 based on sound quality (not remastered) otherwise, it's a 5.

Representative, but not the best material.......2005-11-12

Storyteller does not contain all of Stewart's best material. In fact, if you want all of Stewart's best songs, then just get his first 4 solo CDs, 4 CDs with The Faces, his CD with Jeff Beck (Truth) and skip Storyteller. I think these 9 CDs - released over just a 4-year period! - rival anything the Stones or Zeppelin ever did.

But if you want to hear a representative overview of his career - the good, the bad, and the ugly - then Storyteller is a good buy. Clearly, Stewart is an excellent singer and very talented, and some of his recent CDs (Vagabond Heart) are respectable, but today is generally hack.

Excellent Anniversary Of Rod's First 25 Years.......2005-09-06

Rod Stewart is one of the most successful artists in rock history. He is also one of its most diverse. Over the years, Rod has experimented with everything from folk to hard rock to disco to even modern R&B/hip-hop. In 1990, the four disc boxed set "Storyteller" was released to commemorate his first 25 years as a musician. Well, as we know, Rod has released quite a bit of work since then, most of it worth owning. So, how does "Storyteller" hold for a 15 year old compilation? Here are the positives and negatives.

Positives:
-If you want all the best from Rod's first 25 years, than this collection covers the entire spectrum. All of the hits from that period, inlcuding "Maggie May", "Tonight's The Night", "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy", "Young Turks", "Some Guys Have All The Luck" and "Forever Young", to name a few, are all on here.
-As with all boxed sets, there's a wealth of underrated gems and rarities on here. The entire first disc is filled with nothing but them!
-All the songs sound great.
-The liner notes, with an introduction by Robert Palmer and commentaries on each song by Rod himself, plus some nice photos, is excellent.
-Is fairly easy to locate.
-There's a great (then) new version of "I Don't Wanna Talk About It" only available here.
-It's available for about $ 50.00. That may seem expensive, but considering most boxed set can exceed $ 80.00, you get a pretty darn good deal.

Negatives:
-It doesn't contain all the wonderful stuff he did after 1990. So you won't find hit singles like "Rhythm Of My Heart", "The Motown Song" and "Have I Told You Lately" as well as other great stuff on here. However, since this collection was released before all that, it can't really be considered a negative as it was out of the compilers' jurisdiction.
-"I Was Only Joking" is edited. You should never put edited versions on a boxed set.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this boxed set. It is an excellent representation of Rod's best years. For the other excellent pso - 1990 material, download them.

Average customer rating: Storyteller, Poet, Philosopher--Tom T. Hall Quality Collection, but Interesting Song Selection An interesting, but incomplete, collection A wonderful retrospective album from one of the best The perfect compilation of music by the storyteller

Storyteller, Poet, Philosopher Tom T. Hall Manufacturer: Mercury Nashville ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Country Folk | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Essential Tom T. Hall: Twentieth Anniversary Collection-The Story Songs Country Songs for Children In Search of a Song/The Rhymer and Other Five and Dimers Tom T.Hall - Greatest Hits No. 2 Ultimate Collection ASIN: B000001EDY Release Date: 1995-11-14

Tracks:

1. Old Dogs, Children, And Watermelon Wine
2. Magnificent Music Machine
3. A Million Miles To The City
4. I Washed My Face In The Morning Dew
5. The Hitch-Hiker
6. Ballad Of Forty Dollars
7. I Hope It Rains At My Funeral
8. Turn It On, Turn It On, Turn It On
9. Strawberry Farms
10. Watergate Blues
11. I Want To See The Parade
12. 100 Children
13. The Year That Clayton Delaney Died
14. The Son Of Clayton Delaney
15. The Old Side Of Town
16. I Can't Dance
17. Last Of The Drifters
18. Mama Bake A Pie (Daddy Kill A Chicken)
19. A Week In A Country Jail
20. Spokane Motel Blues
21. Homecoming
22. Ravishing Ruby
23. Hello, We're Lonely
24. Down At The Mall
25. Fox On The Run

Tracks:

1. Shoeshine Man
2. Flat-Footin' It
3. Old Five And Dimers Like Me
4. Willy The Wandering Gypsy And Me
5. More About John Henry
6. Give Her My Best
7. Pamela Brown
8. I Flew Over Our House Last Night
9. Molly And Tenbrooks
10. The Monkey That Became President
11. That's How I Got To Memphis
12. Mama's Got The Catfish Blues
13. I Like Beer
14. Day Drinkin'
15. That Song Is Driving Me Crazy
16. Salute To A Switchblade
17. Margie's At The Lincoln Park Inn
18. Subdivision Blues
19. America The Ugly
20. Hang Them All (Get The Guilty)
21. Levi Jones
22. Faster Horses (The Cowboy And The Poet)
23. I'm Forty Now
24. Deal
25. Me And Jesus

Amazon.com

If you hear Tom T. Hall's name and immediately think of "Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine" or "Harper Valley P.T.A.," this box set will be a revelation. The overview may begin with "Old Dogs," but it quickly turns to his keenest, most enduring work. Hall is the Raymond Carver of country songwriters: like no one before or since, he writes vignettes that are at once incredibly sad and funny, acute in detail, deep in common, human wisdom. Focusing on his strongest and frequently overlooked material, this overview is a tribute to Hall the narrative craftsman, the journalist of the interiors and exteriors of country life. "Harper Valley P.T.A." might not be here, but the memorable stories are: "I Flew over Our House Last Night," "Spokane Motel Blues," "I Washed My Face in the Morning Dew," and what just might be his finest tale, "I Hope It Rains at My Funeral." From his great satirical work to his honest love songs, all are rendered in an inimitable, true colloquial voice. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews:

Storyteller, Poet, Philosopher--Tom T. Hall.......2005-05-18

First of all, Tom T. Hall is a great person and a gentlemen as I got to meet him when he was just getting started, traveling with his friend Jimmy C. Newman whom he wrote "D.J. for a Day", and "Artificial Rose". At the time that I met him, he had his first hit "Harper Valley P.T.A." with Jeannie C. Riley which was a number one hit.
This collection is the best overview of his career. Many of his albums are not out of print and this group represents his top 20 singles and album cuts. This is a "must have" collection for the Tom T. Hall fans; the Rod McKuen of country music.

Quality Collection, but Interesting Song Selection.......2003-12-26

Once again, another Quality Collection from Tom T but as with other collections, obvious songs associted with Tom T are missing. The two most blanant obmissions are "Sneaky Snake" and "I Love", I would have thought these two songs could have been included since they are two of his biggest and well known songs. Also there is no order to the selections, it is like they threw the songs in a pile and drew them out with their eyes closed. The booklet included has a Bio on Tom T but no track to track insight or information about the songs.
However, given the fact that much of Tom T's music is unavailable or unissued on CD this is a refreshing collection, 50 songs included in the set and just about every track is worthy of being included. It just does not make sense to leave out some of the singer's biggest hits. However, if you buy the old Greatest Hits Vol 2, which includes the big songs left off this box set, in addition to this box you will have the best songs from this country legend

An interesting, but incomplete, collection.......2002-12-29

Before I bought this, I had Greatest hits 1 and 2 on CD - they were once available as a single CD - but I wanted more of Tom's music, so I bought this box. It is an extremely interesting collection of songs (as I expected) but it doesn't include all the classics. There are enough great songs of Tom's that could have filled a third CD of equal standard to the first two.

Many of his greatest hits are included, including Old dogs children and watermelon wine (my favorite), Faster horses (one of several hits missing from Greatest hits 1 and 2), I like beer, 100 children, Ballad of forty dollars and The year that Clayton Delaney died. You also get Tom's versions of some songs he wrote but which have been covered by others, including I washed my face in the morning dew, Margie's at the Lincoln Park Inn, Pamela Brown and That's how I got to Memphis. Three duets are included, these being Last of the Drifters (with Johnny Cash - it originally appeared on one of his albums), Molly and Tenbrooks (with Bill Monroe) and Hello we're lonely (with Patti Page). Elsewhere, the two CD's are filled with great songs, some of which I'd never heard before and which provide great entertainment.

The obvious omissions are I miss a lot of trains, I care, I love, Country is, The little lady preacher, Who's gonna feed them hogs, Sneaky snake, Little bitty and Harper Valley PTA. However, don't let the omissions put you off buying this - there are plenty of tracks here that are not available on any other CD. It is interesting that Tom suggests (in the booklet) that he never recorded Harper Valley PTA, saying that he didn't need to - yet a version is available on Ultimate collection (which is not that - like every other Tom T Hall collection, it misses some essentials).

As I write this, it is not possible to buy one Tom T Hall collection that contains all the essentials, but this is a great place to start. Most of the omissions I listed can be found on Greatest hits 2.

A wonderful retrospective album from one of the best.......1999-08-11

I've enjoyed the work of Tom T. Hall since I was 5 or 6 years old and my dad played "Sneaky Snake" for me. His songs still impress me so much; at his best, he'll make you laugh and cry and shrug and smile, all in the same song. His voice and his stories couldn't be more real. I grew up in Kentucky and, as long as I have Tom T.'s songs to listen to, I'll never be too far away. This is a really good collection of some (but not all) of his best work. Recommended highly.

The perfect compilation of music by the storyteller.......1998-11-26

The title of this boxed set says it all. On the box set are many of his classics ranging from hits to album cuts. There are great liner notes by Robert K. Oermann, who compiled the set and the songs speak for themselves. If you want to listen to country storytelling at its best, pick this collection up. The songs on this collection are what he should be remembered for and they confirm that he is the storyteller.

Average customer rating:

We All Got Together And.../Storyteller Tom T. Hall Manufacturer: HUX RECORDS ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Folk | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Last of the Breed In Search of a Song/The Rhymer and Other Five and Dimers At My Age Revenge! Storyteller, Poet, Philosopher ASIN: B000P0IM0A Release Date: 2007-07-31

Tracks:

1. Turn It On, Turn It On, Turn It On
2. Souvenirs
3. Pamela Brown
4. Bourbon Man
5. Promise & The Dream
6. She Gave Her Heart To Jethro
7. Coot Marseilles Blues
8. Monkey That Became President
9. Pratt Street
10. High Steppin' Proud
11. Me & Jesus
12. More About John Henry
13. When Nobody Wants Your Body Anymore
14. Windy City Anne
15. Story Of Your Life Is Your Face
16. Willy The Wandering Gypsy & Me
17. St. Louis Named A Shoe After Me
18. Old Dogs Children & Watermelon Wine
19. Rolling Mills Of Middletown
20. Grandma Whistled
21. Piece Of The Road
22. One More Song For Jesus

Album Details

Tom T. Hall is Known as a Classic Country Music Singer/Songwriter, with a Keen Eye for Detail and a Knack for Narrative. The Composer of Eleven #1 Hits, He Has Written Songs for Dozens of Country Stars, Including Johnny Cash, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jennings and Alan Jackson. Very Early on in his Career, Hall Picked Up the Sobriquet of the Storyteller, and the Title "the Storyteller" was Used for One of Two Albums that Mercury Records Released in 1972, the Other Being "we all Got Together And…". Both of These Albums Registered on the Upper Reaches of the Country Chart in 1972, and Are Now Reissued Here on CD for the First Time. Digitally Re-mastered, These Two Exemplary Albums Are Now Reissued Together on One CD for the First Time. Included Here is the Country #1 Song, `old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine', Considered by Many Fans to Be Hall's Finest Recording.

Average customer rating: bluegrass of today Bluegrass storyteller Each lyric is delivered with very convincing emotion

Bluegrass Storyteller James King Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Thirty Years of Farming Bed by the Window Lonesome & Then Some These Old Pictures 40 ASIN: B0006V6TKI Release Date: 2005-01-25

Tracks:

1. Coldest Day
2. Echo Mountain
3. She Took My Breath Away
4. Stumbling In My Father's
5. Jerusalem Tomorrow
6. Flowers In The Dell
7. Second Hand Flowers
8. Saginaw
9. Garage Sale
10. Carrol County
11. Cold Hard Facts
12. Julie
13. Julie As The Sun Sets

Customer Reviews:

bluegrass of today.......2007-05-13

I have been a fan of bluegrass since the days of Bill Monroe, Reno & Smiley, Jimmy Martin, etc. . This singer and his music revert back to
what I have always enjoyed not like Allison Krauss, Nickle Creek, Rhonda Vincent etc. I now have 4 of Jas. King's albums and now listen to Bluegrass with a story again.

Bluegrass storyteller.......2007-03-22

I am a big fan of james king I see him perfrm every year its a great cd i purchased used and it was in great shape and no problems playing. If you look for some good bluegrass include this cd.

Each lyric is delivered with very convincing emotion.......2005-03-02

Playing Time - 45:51 -- James King's robust vocals are known for being raw, pure and full of emotion. King also has a clear affinity for sad songs. He plays no guitar on this project, and instead just concentrates on telling his stories. And a sad song like "Echo Mountain" (written by Billy Smith and Mac Elliott) might bring tears to your eyes. There are no rollicking and smoldering extremes on "The Bluegrass Storyteller," but rather messages and musicianship that hold your attention in a different sort of way emphasizing a more subtle bluegrass framework. James renders a ballad, "Jerusalem Tomorrow," with only his vocals, some mournful fiddle and rhythm accompaniment. Two other numbers ("Second Handed Flowers" and "Carroll County Accident") are sung solo; five songs are arranged for duets. This leaner approach to the vocals allows us to stay focused on James King's emotive messages and personal intensity. James delivers each lyric with very convincing emotion.

King's consummate bandmates add a lot to this project. Guitarist/mandolinist Kevin Prater's high baritone on "Echo Mountain" is spine-tingling. Ben Greene's banjo drives "Flowers in the Dell" and "Carroll County Accident." Adam Haynes is blessed with a silky touch on his fiddle bow that allows him to move effortlessly from note to note. Jerry McNeely's bass provides a rock solid foundation, especially on more up-tempo selections like "Saginaw, Michigan." That piece builds to a soaring 3-part chorus with Prater and Greene assisting.

James King has won great acclaim from the bluegrass community for his heartfelt and soulful singing. A vocalist also knows that he must interpret songs with poignancy and character. He draws material from Tom T. Hall, Lefty Frizzell, David Olney, Bob Ferguson, Fred Eaglesmith, Buddy Miller, Carl Jackson and others. With a distinctive country feeling, James Kings' "The Bluegrass Storyteller" tells a baker's dozen of beautiful, life-affirming tales. Lilting melodies and tender sentiments characterize this album which closes with a stirring gospel quartet on "Just as the Sun Went Down." (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

Average customer rating: The Whole Story Via A Legendary Frontman great even for the casual kinks fan Liking sitting in your living room Smiles The Storyteller

The Storyteller Ray Davies Manufacturer: Koch Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Return to Waterloo X-Ray: The Unauthorized Autobiography Muswell Hillbillies Arthur - Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire Kinked ASIN: B000CC4W28 Release Date: 2006-02-07

Tracks:

1. Storyteller
2. Introduction
3. Victoria
4. My Name (Dialogue)
5. 20th Century Man
6. London Song
7. My Big Sister
8. That Old Black Magic
9. Tired Of Waiting
10. Set Me Free
11. Dad And The Green Amp (Dialogue)
12. Set Me Free
13. The Front Room (Dialogue)
14. See My Friends
15. Autumn Almanac
16. Hunchback (Dialogue)
17. X-Ray
18. Art School (Dialogue)
19. Art School Babe
20. Back In The Front Room
21. Writing The Song (Dialogue)
22. When Big Bill Speaks/ The Man Who Knew A Man (Mick Avory's Audition Dialogue)
23. It's Alright (Managers Dialogue)
24. It's Alright (Havana Version, The Kinks Name Dialogue)
25. It's Alright (Up tempo, On The Road - Dialogue)
26. Julie Finkler (Dialogue)
27. The Ballad Of Julie Finkle
28. The Third Single (Dialogue)
29. You Really Got Me
30. London Song (Studio Version)

Amazon.com

If you haven't had a chance to catch Kinks leader Ray Davies' recent autobiographical music-and-spoken-word show, this disc will make a dandy substitute. If you have seen it already, here's your chance to enjoy a judiciously edited version, with the added bonus of not having anyone sitting behind you and singing along into your ear. Vibrant acoustic interpretations of Kinks klassics like "Victoria," "20th Century Man," and "Autumn Almanac" alternate with strong new Davies compositions like "London Song" and "The Ballad of Julie Finkle," as well as a charming interpretation of "That Old Black Magic." Of course, you also get the man himself, musing wittily on life before and after "You Really Got Me." --Dan Epstein

This is a reissue of the original 1998 album.

Customer Reviews:

The Whole Story Via A Legendary Frontman.......2007-03-18

THE STORYTELLER is a most endearing Album and a Must for any KINKS fan or newfound Rock and Roll historian in the making. I must recommend Reading X Ray the Book upon which Ray recites in between Musical interludes.
The Green Amplifier will be forever in your Brain!.
I have been lucky enough to have seen THE KINKS at least 15 times in my lifetime and the Shining of Ray's personality as well Tribute to Family and His Awesome Brother Dave.
One note, I myself parallel this whole x ray experience to Pete Townshends "PSYCHODERELICT" project.
A History lesson in Rock and Roll and super entertaining.
The question...is Julie Finkle the Greyhound Girl on PT's "Scoop"?.

great even for the casual kinks fan.......2006-09-20

I have seen Ray perform this concert twice and I own the CD. It is great. Just play the samples from Amazon and you will see. There are so many great songs you will recall and the insights Ray adds between songs are really funny and interesting. The concert is based on Rays book, "X-Ray". I have read the book and it is for more dedicated followers.

Liking sitting in your living room.......2006-04-16

I am lucky enough to have seen Ray Davies perform solo at the Westbeth Theater in NYC a few years ago. Like always, he's a captivating storyteller. All that's missing from this CD is "David Watts" and a few more Klassic Kinks bits he performed live. Ray Davies, and the Kinks, will always be consummate storytellers. Nothing comapares to hearing him sing his songs, with wistful and witty asides. Unless it's with his brother and band by his side. Buy this CD. Laze away a sunny afternoon, or morning, or evening. See Ray live. See the Kinks, if they come around again. He truly is this generation's poet laureate of England (according to Pete Townshend, who ought to know, as I would've nominated him next.)

Smiles.......2006-03-20

If you like the Kinks, and you consider Ray Davies a creative genius, this cd will only confirm that for you. It is really a lot of fun to listen to.

The Storyteller.......2006-02-28

It's great for all Kinks fans that The Storyteller has been made available again. As if experiencing the eclectic observations of Ray Davies by way of the Kinks Kanon isn't enough of a gratification, here he turns both inward and outward to present an affecting, if all too brief, live account of his formative years as a musical artist. Assuming the actual show was lengthier and more comprehensive, this CD is still a wonderful teaser for the pseudo-autobiography X-Ray. Is it all true? Who cares!

Ray's telling of his sister's passing at the age of thirty is especially moving as it gives meaning to the otherwise arcane tune "See My Friends", always one of my favorites. Equally moving is the story of the hunchback and it's musical incarnation in the song "X-Ray", as well as the romantic yearnings of "The Ballad of Julie Finkle".

Humor abounds in the story of the little green amp, the self-deflating account of the "... tease" at art school, the audition for a drummer, and the "perfect" first managers; not to mention the fly-fart hint of Dave yelling "... off!" during the initial recording of "You Really Got Me", which had me cracking up!

The album is also notable for a harrowing acoustic rendition of "20th Century Man"; another favorite which is a case of a song being equally great, but different, in all versions I've heard--this one, the original on Muswell Hillbillies, and the bonus track on One For the Road. I can say unequivocally that this is the version to which I return again and again.

"London Song", apparently an original on this album as it's performed acoustically live and concludes the album in a stirring studio version, is another in a long list of Ray's paeans to his hometown. The song itself is quite fine--again, equally great but different in the two performances here. Though I must admit I had to do a Google search on a few of the names Ray drops, e.g. the Kray twins. It didn't seem the joke was lost on the obviously British audience. Mention also must be made of Ray's beautifully dulcet tones in the classic pop standard "That Old Black Magic". Could he sing this well in his twenties?

This album, listened to uninterrupted, has become one of those experiences that I savor. At 74 minutes it's much too short. If it doesn't give ample evidence that Ray Davies is one of the world's great entertainers, then I'm thoroughly out of touch with the tastes of the world. I only wish I could have seen the show live...or perhaps it's best that it remain "wished" for.

Average customer rating:

Storyteller Andreas Vollenweider Manufacturer: Content Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | New Age | Styles | Music New Age | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Midnight Clear Magical Journeys of Andreas Vollenweider Magic Harp Magical Journeys of Andreas Vollenweider Kryptos ASIN: B000BL99G4 Release Date: 2005-11-25

Tracks:

1. Hall Of The Stairs-The White Boat (Remastered)
2. Sunday (Remastered)
3. Li'l Limba (Remastered)
4. Whitespread Wings (Remastered)
5. Stella (Remastered)
6. In The Woods Of Kroandal (Remastered)
7. Jugglers In Obsidian (Remastered)
8. Flight Feet &Root Hands (Remastered)
9. Cor Do Amor (Remastered)
10. Micro-Macro (Remastered)
11. The Play Of The Five Balls (Remastered)
12. Dance Of The Masks (Remastered)
13. Jacobs Dream (Remastered)
14. Hirzel (Remastered)
15. Littel Snap, Blues With Ray (Remastered)
16. Ang! (Remastered)
17. The Secret, The Candle And Love (Remastered)
18. Three Silver Ladie's Dance-La Lune Et L'enfant (Remastered)
19. Intro _from "The Storyteller"_ (Dvd)
20. At The Rockpalast Festival (Germany 1981) (Dvd)
21. Tokyo (Nhk 1987) (Dvd)
22. Locarno (Piazza Grande 1989) (Dvd)
23. Pearls &Tears (Video 1989) (Dvd)
24. Montreux Jazz Festival 1994 (Dvd)
25. Cosmopoly Project Basle (Switzerland 2002) (Dvd)
26. Cosmopoly Project Nyc (Switzerland 2000) (Dvd)
27. Andreas Vollenweider And Friends 2005 (Dvd)
28. Live At Sunset (Zich Switzerland 2003) (Dvd)

Album Description

Fully remixed and remastered in 24BIT Hi-Definition Audio, with bonus audio and video content. Edel.

Average customer rating: Near perfection... Her most satisfying work

Book of Days Manufacturer: Ecm Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ECM Classical | ECM Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music ECM Jazz & World | ECM Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mercy Meredith Monk: Dolmen Music Meredith Monk: Facing North Volcano Songs Our Lady of Late: Music for Voice and Glass ASIN: B000025ZJM Release Date: 2000-02-01

Tracks:

1. Book Of Days: Early Morning Melody
2. Book Of Days: Travellers 1, 2, 3
3. Book Of Days: Dawn
4. Book Of Days: Travellers 4 - Churchyard Entertainment
5. Book Of Days: Afternoon Melodies
6. Book Of Days: Fields - Clouds
7. Book Of Days: Dusk
8. Book Of Days: Eva's Song
9. Book Of Days: Evening
10. Book Of Days: Travellers 5
11. Book Of Days: Jewish Storyteller - Dance - Dream
12. Book Of Days: Plague
13. Book Of Days: Madwoman's Vision
14. Book Of Days: Cave Song

Customer Reviews:

Near perfection..........2001-05-18

Being an instrumentalist, I've never been bothered by the complaints of my friends that Meredith Monk has no lyrics -- like a great, perfectly blended wind ensemble, her cast gives a flawless and nuanced performance throughout. At equal turns ecstasy of beauty, eery and haunting, and laugh-out-loud spritely, the two parts I didn't like on this CD were, unsuprisingly, the improvisational bagpipe and the eery but jarring Madwoman's Song. But with an experimenter like Meredith Monk, not everything will hit with everybody, and these thematically provided appropriate contrast to the unrelenting beauty of the rest of the CD. Ms. Monk's unique style and ever strong voice fit perfectly with the medieval setting. Now, anyone know where to find the movie this is the soundtrack to? I've been intrigued with finding it since the day I got this CD of peace and beauty...

Her most satisfying work.......2000-11-13

The finest, most fully realized Meredith Monk cd, methinks. The medieval theme does her well, puts her vocal explorations in a context that really brings out the magic in the music. One of the few CDs I know that can completely transform the feel of a room it's being played in. Wonderful.

Average customer rating: Wonderful mixture of music and narration Excellent, beautiful stories My 5&6 year olds sat and LISTENED to the whole thing!

Listen to the Storyteller: A Trio of Musical Tales from Around the World Orchestra of St. Luke's Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Children's Music | Styles | Music Educational | Children's Music | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Listen to the Storyteller: A Trio of Tales from Around the World Gift Of The Tortoise: A Musical Journey Through Southern Africa ASIN: B00000K4IP Release Date: 1999-09-07

Tracks:

1. The Fiddler and the Dancin' Witch: Island In A Deep Green Sea
2. The Fiddler and the Dancin' Witch: Fiddle Ballard
3. The Fiddler and the Dancin' Witch: Trouble
4. The Fiddler and the Dancin' Witch: A Mind Of Its Own
5. The Fiddler and the Dancin' Witch: Wind
6. The Fiddler and the Dancin' Witch: Fiddle Tune
7. The Fiddler and the Dancin' Witch: Island In A Deep Green Sea (reprise)
8. The Lesson Of The Land
9. The Face In The Lake

Amazon.com

A sterling companion to the like-titled book, Listen to the Storyteller assembles three original narratives spun from Afro-Caribbean, Celtic, and Native American traditions. Scored in the classically appealing style of Prokoviev's Peter and the Wolf, Storyteller features exquisite compositions by notables Wynton Marsalis, Patrick Doyle, and Edgar Meyer. "The Lesson of the Land" pairs the even tones of Graham Greene with the famed Tennessee duo of bassist Meyer and dobro player Jerry Douglas. Kate Winslet narrates "The Face in the Lake" as Doyle's eloquently arranged string and woodwind sections make the music of the seasons. That tale begins "Once upon a very long time ago, when butterflies knew how to sing and the stars whispered to the trees," telling the travails of a beautiful maiden and her jealous brother. Stepping lively, Marsalis steals the show by performing the voices of each character in "The Fiddler and the Dancin' Witch," about a hard-headed boy so in love with music that he must battle a dancing witch for possession of a magic fiddle. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful mixture of music and narration.......2002-04-07

I have just heard the story, The Lesson of the Land, on our classical radio station. The narrator is not the only thing giving voice and character to the story, though he did a wonderful job. The music draws you in as well. This will be enchanting for adults and children alike. I am purchasing the CD based on the excellence of that track alone. From the other reviews, I am convinced I will not be dissapointed.

Excellent, beautiful stories.......2000-08-08

This was a real treat for me (a Kate Winslet fan) to listen to. The stories are great for all ages. But great little bed time stories for young kids. I recommend this highly.

My 5&6 year olds sat and LISTENED to the whole thing!.......1999-09-23

My 5 and 6 year old daughters loved this, the music was inventive and really helped to keep thier attention, and the stories themselves were great moral teachers.

Average customer rating: 100% PURE JOY! Awesome Sophomore Effort A "story" worth telling The greatest dance cd ever!!!!

Storyteller Crystal Waters Manufacturer: Polygram Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: Surprise Crystal Waters Finally Gypsy Woman The Best Of Crystal Waters ASIN: B000001E48 Release Date: 1994-05-17

Tracks:

1. 100% Pure Love
2. Ghetto Day
3. Regardless
4. I Believe I Love You
5. Relax
6. What I Need
7. Storyteller
8. Is It For Me
9. Listen For My Beep
10. Daddy Do
11. Lover Lay Low

Amazon.com

You know that skit from Saturday Night Live, the one where the two guys stand around a nightclub bobbing their heads and trying in vain to pick up women? Right, well this is the perfect disc for their head-bobbing. A slick dance-popper in the same vein as, say, Culture Beat or Haddaway, Crystal Waters kicks off Storyteller with her dancefloor trump-card: "100% Pure Love," as sure a club hit as was released in 1994. The rest is a bit less easily typecast--a few organs and ballads amid all the cow-bells--but it never strays too far from the basic formula: Unabashedly cheesy, and generally better off for it. Ain't no one gonna confuse this with Aphex Twin anyway. --Keven McAlester

Customer Reviews:

100% PURE JOY!.......2003-10-10

Storyteller is the fution of r&b and dance music well crafted. Crystal Waters was never reconigzed as a great talented writer and performer, although she well deserve the honor, Waters voice is enchanting and the dance sounds are not just crazy bumping beats, they also include great lyrics to it. "100% Pure Love" charted at #11 back in 1994, this is a undoubtly club classic, "Ghetto Day" mellow, mellow, great meaning, not usual for a dance oriented act, "Regardless" filler, "I Believe I Love You" soulful funny song!, "Relax" smooth dance joint, so fresh to enjoy, great track, bubbling under back in 1995, "What I Need" a plead song!, what I need is another great Crystal Waters album, this song resembles 100%, is great, saussy, "Storyteller" smooth song, great coffee shop type, "Is It For Me" jazzy joint, snappy, and fast. "Listen For My Beep" kind of boring, but manages to end it great. "Daddy Do" story about family violence, in a danceable way, great track. "Lover Lay Low" forgeattable song. This album should fullfil your needs for great dance music and chillout joints, it's worth it.

Awesome Sophomore Effort.......2003-04-27

Here we have more mixing-it-up with House tracks, R&B tracks and a couple of ballads. The result is another great album. Baltimore is still well represented!

A "story" worth telling.......2002-10-27

Crystal Waters is forever to be linked with her monster 1991 smash "Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)", a song that was evenly praised and condemned. Who can forget Kim Wayans's highly hilarious parody featured on "In Living Color"?

Based on the strength of this album's hit single "100% Pure Love", a disco dynamo, I purchased the disc. Well, some eight years later, I see the songwriter behind the throbbing beats.

Waters displays versatility in her writing that others work a lifetime to achieve. The songs range from the playfully erotic (the previously mentioned "100%" and the equally suggestive "What I Need") to a 90's version of a "torch song" in the title cut, along with a tune of social commentary ("Listen For My Beep"). She throws in a little inspirational ditty with the dance-friendly "Relax".

The best cut, however, samples heavily from the Fifth Dimension's "Stone Cold Picnic." "Ghetto Day" allow Waters to deftly explore the balance between the sadness and joys of life in the urban jungle. It may be dark, at times, but the sun does eventually shine.

And Waters, herself, gives off many "rays" on this above-average album.

The greatest dance cd ever!!!!.......1999-04-05

This is a must have for anyone who is into house,or dance, music! Every song on here is a winner, including the mega-hit "100 % Pure Love". Trust me-Buy this CD!!!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Storyteller ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items: Hello Lord Shepherd Song ASIN: B00005NHDA Release Date: 2001-07-01

Tracks:

1. Color of Truth
2. Seven Birds In A Cage
3. Truly Humble
4. Miracle Blossom
5. The Blessing Stone
6. The Key
7. See Forever
8. Four Kids In The House
9. Mama's Love/Pieta

Album Description

An album of songs and stories for children and adults. All will enjoy hearing these modern parables, told in Michael's simple homespun style. Each parable is paired with a song reflecting the story's lesson.

Rock Music:

1. That Should Cover It [Import]
2. The Fellowship of the Groove
3. The Greater Southbridge Soundtrack
4. The Pongmasters Ball [Limited Edition] [Live]
5. Too Late to Be Good: Vocal Harmony Vanguard
6. Towersound
7. Unbreakable: The Fragile Remixes [Import]
8. Volume Deux
9. When You Rock and Roll
10. White Diary [Import]

Rock Music