Believe Me

Believe Me

Believe Me

ASIN: B00005BIU4

Track Listings
 
1. Old Cape Cod
2. Wanted
3. Make The World Go Away
4. Cry Me A River
5. Teach Me Tonight
6. Poor Little Robin
7. It Only Hurts For A Little While
8. Please Release Me
9. Crazy
10. Allegheny Moon
11. Unforgettable
12. You Made Me Love You

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
A true "coal miner's daughter," Norma Lee deSabla grew up in Charleston, West Virginia where she began her singing career in high school in the era of big bands. She crooned a tune at her high school graduation which she recently was asked to repeat at her 50th Reunion! After high school she journeyed to Washington, DC to help the WWII war effort and to satisfy her desires to see more of the world. While working for the Navy in DC, she met her husband to be, Joe, and they were soon married and raising three sons.

Norma continued to enjoy her passion for music . She sang in a quartet, a Sweet Adeline's Chorus. a hilarious country-comedy group called "The Hill Jills." and she could often be found singing the blues at a local club. Then, in 1970, at the age of 43, Norma suffered a devastating stroke. The doctors said that the stroke was so powerful it would have killed most folks, Norma couldn't speak for almost three years and she was paralyzed on her right side. But she had an agenda that didn't include dying young. She persevered and with the help and support of family and friends and several years of physical and speech therapy. she was able to recover the drive, joy, passion and spirit that had marked her pre-stroke years. Thirty years later, we find Norma still having a ball and enjoying a rich and full life. Even though she is still paralyzed on her right side and her speech is somewhat impaired, her singing voice has remained rich and beautiful. She has shared this amazing talent with many people over the years through concerts and informal gatherings. She has also helped lead many other stroke veterans out of the depths of depression and into a life filled with more joy by directing choirs of stroke veterans that perform and offer further inspiration and hope to senior citizens. Now, at 74, Norma has decided to share some of her music with a broader audience by producing her first CD. Her son, Tom inherited Norma lee's passion for music and plays much of the backup music on the disc and has helped Norma Lee assemble a great collection of ageless tunes for all to enjoy.

Product Description
If you like Anne Murray and Patsy Cline you will be moved by the soothing and distinctive voice of Norma Lee desabla. This debut release shows her in fine voice even at the age of seventy-five and after suffering a horrible stroke. Norma Lee's husband Joe died one year ago. He suffered from prostate cancer. Accordingly,from each CD sold, 1$ will be donated to the Lombardi Cancer Center and to The National Stroke Association.

Believe Me,Norma Lee deSabla
Be Thou My Vision
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A Listening Treat
  • Be Thoy My Vision CD
  • Really good, but don't listen to it all at once.
  • A must for choral music fans
  • An outstanding collection of Rutter's hymns
Be Thou My Vision

Manufacturer: Collegium
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by RutterAll Works by Rutter | Rutter, John | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ClassicalClassical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. The John Rutter Christmas Album
  2. John Rutter Collection
  3. Requiem & Magnificat/Rutter, Cambridge Singers
  4. Christmas Star
  5. Distant Land: The Orchestra Collection

ASIN: B00030ES2S
Release Date: 2004-10-01

Tracks:

  1. Be Thous My Vision
  2. Open thou mine eyes
  3. I will sing with the spirit
  4. A gaelic Blessing
  5. Wings of the morning
  6. O be Joyful in the Lord
  7. All things bright and beautiful
  8. I will lift up mine eyes
  9. As the bride groom to his chosen
  10. A prayer of Saint Patrick
  11. Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
  12. Look at the world
  13. O clap your hands
  14. The Lord is my light and my salvation
  15. Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace
  16. I believe in springtime
  17. God be in my head
  18. A Clare Benediction
  19. For thy beauty of the earth
  20. Thy perfect love
  21. The Lord bless you and keep you

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Listening Treat .......2007-03-08

What a delight to listen to this collection of pure Rutter ! The melodic sounds of the Cambridge Singers bring me such pleasure The sheer joyfulness of this music is to me a religious experience of such depth It is superb and will lift ones spirits instantly. highly recommended to all lovers of the English contemporary choral sound and scene,____ not to be missed

5 out of 5 stars Be Thoy My Vision CD.......2007-02-19

My husband sang many of these John Rutter compositions with his church choir, and this CD is perfect since the choir is directed by Rutter, singing his own music. If you love religious music, this will bring tears to your eyes, the choir is "that" perfect.

5 out of 5 stars Really good, but don't listen to it all at once........2007-01-07

I really liked this CD. It really showcases Rutter's knack for religious choral music. Perhaps it helps that I have sung some of his stuff with various groups. However, as with any similar compiliation, the composer's sameness of style and motif becomes apparent. This repetition can become boring on the third or fourth listening. On the other hand, this makes a great reference tool for any choral director or performer. Buy it, however, it's worth it, but don't listen to it all at once.

5 out of 5 stars A must for choral music fans.......2006-09-19

Simply fabulous, 10/10. These are all Rutter-composed pieces, directed by Rutter himself. If you have any interest in religious choral music at all, you must get this album! One of the highlights of my musical life was attending a concert of a University of Maryland choir in which my mom sang, that featured Rutter as a guest conductor. Listening to this album is almost as good! ;-) There are too many good pieces to start naming all of my favorites, but these are some of the best known ones: "Open Thou Mine Eyes", "A Gaelic Blessing", "All Things Bright and Beautiful", "As the Bridegroom to His Chosen", "For the Beauty of the Earth", and "The Lord Bless You and Keep You".

5 out of 5 stars An outstanding collection of Rutter's hymns.......2005-11-22

I sought a recording of Rutter's beautiful hymn, "Wings of the Morning", after we sang this lovely tune in church and this was the only CD I could find that contained it.

This collection includes many of Rutter's church hymns recorded over a period of 20 years performed by The Cambridge Singers, a group of Brits, that are conducted by the composer. Ergo, these performances must be considered definitive.

Many of Rutter's popular hymns are included here. "O be joyful to the Lord" and "All things bright and beautiful", a popular children's hymn done here by adults, follow "Wings of the morning" on tracks 5-7. Others you may have performed in church represented here are "O clap your hands", "Lord make me an instrument of your peace", "For the beauty of the earth", "Look at the world" and "The Lord bless you and keep you" among the 21 assembled hymns.

While The Cambridge Singers, on their Web site, identify themselves principally as an a capella group, I was pleased when I received this CD to find all the hymns supported by a full orchestra, the esteemed City of London Sinfonia. The renditions are uniformly lovely although some listeners may find the singing a bit on the white side lacking brilliance and individuality. Everything is done in keeping with Rutter's score markings and style.

The recording tends to be a little variable given the 20-plus year difference in performances. The most recent copyright listing is 2003, the same year "Wings of the morning" was published. I don't hear an appreciable difference in that recording than the others but still hear some age in older works.

If you seek a Rutter hymn collection you can't go wrong here. You have wonderful English performers mated to the composer in his more popular works. I'd recommend this without reservation to anyone seeking this collection.
Carnaval
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • World's best trumpet player
  • Credit Wynton Marsalis
  • stylistically wrong
  • Wynton, Wynton, Wynton.
  • Good, but not the best
Carnaval

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

DuetsDuets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by MooreAll Works by Moore | Moore, Thomas | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Paganini, Niccolò | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
ScherzoScherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
TrumpetTrumpet | Brass | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
Marsalis, WyntonMarsalis, Wynton | ( M ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
$7.99 and Under$7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
All Classical Music BlowoutAll Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Moore, ThomasMoore, Thomas | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Paganini, NiccolòPaganini, Niccolò | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Rimsky-Korsakov, NikolaiRimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai | ( R ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Marsalis, WyntonMarsalis, Wynton | ( M ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Opera & VocalOpera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Classical MusicClassical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Classical Instrumental MusicClassical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Opera & VocalOpera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Cornet Favorites
  2. Classic Wynton
  3. Wynton Marsalis - Baroque Music for Trumpet
  4. Greatest Hits: Trumpet
  5. Turn-of-the-Century Cornet Favorites

ASIN: B0000026EN
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Carnaval: Variations Sur 'Le Carnaval De Venise'
  2. Carnaval: The Debutante (Caprice Brillant)
  3. Carnaval: Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms
  4. Carnaval: Grand Russian Fantasia
  5. Carnaval: Moto Perpetuo, Op 11
  6. Carnaval: 'Tis the Last Rose of Summer
  7. Tsar Saltan: The Flight of The Bumblebee
  8. Carnaval: Napoli -- Variations on a Neapolitan Song
  9. Carnaval: Fantaisie Brillante
  10. Carnaval: Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
  11. Carnaval: Valse Brillante

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars World's best trumpet player.......2007-05-12

The incredible Wynton Marsalis plays the classics of the brass solo genre.
If you want to hear some very delightful music played by a most impressive instrumentalist, get this album.

Listening to this will make you realize the mediocrity of most of today's popular music. They don't grow people like Jean-Baptiste Arban any more.

5 out of 5 stars Credit Wynton Marsalis.......2007-01-25

This outstanding collection of turn-of-the-last-century cornet solos is a collector's item. Mr. Marsalis (and the ensemble) makes it all sound so easy and enjoyable. As an instrumental music teacher I find hearing these inspires many of my high school high brass players to work on them.

3 out of 5 stars stylistically wrong.......2005-05-29

Having studied with an international authority on cornet playing I can con fidently say that Wynton's cornet playing is ok at best. More than anything hes tryying to sell CDs rather than capture the essence of Cornet playing, like most of wyntons playing its alot of flash but no substance. Great if your a trumpet head and you get off on empty virtuostic fluff.

5 out of 5 stars Wynton, Wynton, Wynton........2005-01-01

There are times, when I'm listeing to Wynton, I get depressed like the flash of a 64th note played. His sounds is so pure and wonderful. He rocks. I don't mind realizing that there aren't many other trumpeteers out there like him.

I met him once actually. In Alice Tully Hall, after a holiday concert. He stood on the stage towering over my dad, brother and I. He called us "the frontline", after my dad telling him we play the trumpet, trombone, and clarinet. What a cool guy.

4 out of 5 stars Good, but not the best.......2004-11-28

Marsalis is an excellent trumpet player, there is no question as to that. He is certainly not the best in the world, however. I prefer a better recording of Carnival of Venice and many other cornet solos by Gerard Schwarz. The spirit of such solos is lost when they are put to ensemble accompaniment, Schwarz interprets them far better in my opinion. Also, his technical mastery is at least equal to that of Wynton's, or was when he made the album. His sound is sweeter and more perfect to my ear. And this is not the only album in which you can hear dazzling technical pieces, either. Sergei Nakariakov, Rafael Mendez, and Allen Vizzutti are the most proficient players with recordings out there. Nakariakov and Mendez both do better readings of the Paganini, playing the entire song double-tonguing and circular breathing. The Mendez Flight of the Bumblebee has a much better sound and fits the piece more, too. The most amazing song I have ever heard is the Carnival of Venus, by Vizzutti. Listen to anything by Wynton and then this song, you will be absolutely amazed. The last variation of the Marsalis is Vizzutti's first, and they get harder from there. Simply put, this is a good recording and the most accessible, but there are better ones out there. I wouldn't buy this to hear cornet solos or amazing technical pieces, but for hearing other interpretations. I prefer Schwarz, Mendez, Vizzutti, and Nakariakov.
Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Fabulous for any Broadway-lover
  • Top Shelf
  • TERRIFIC CD'S
  • Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs
  • Great Compilation!
Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

BalletsBallets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by BernsteinAll Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by GershwinAll Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by PorterAll Works by Porter | Porter, Cole | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Rodgers, RichardRodgers, Richard | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Sondheim, StephenSondheim, Stephen | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by WeillAll Works by Weill | Weill, Kurt | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by ManciniAll Works by Mancini | Mancini, Henry | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Film ScoresFilm Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Modern & 20th CenturyModern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
EnglishEnglish | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GermanGerman | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Classical MusicClassical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Classical Instrumental MusicClassical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Opera & VocalOpera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
MusicalsMusicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. The Best of Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
  2. Broadway: The American Musical
  3. Broadway: The American Musical
  4. Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
  5. Somewhere over the Rainbow: The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals

ASIN: B00064ADMK
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fabulous for any Broadway-lover.......2007-01-30

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

5 out of 5 stars Top Shelf.......2007-01-04

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

5 out of 5 stars TERRIFIC CD'S.......2006-03-23

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

5 out of 5 stars Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs .......2005-06-14

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

5 out of 5 stars Great Compilation!.......2005-01-17

If you are a fan of the Broadway Musicals, this is a collection that you should purchase. Since I got the 5 disc set I've enjoyed listening to it. The majority of the songs are done by the original singers. The collection is priceless considering that you will have over 100 songs from popular musicals since the beginning of Broadway
Spirituals in Concert
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • "Lord, How Come Me Here"
  • WOW!
  • uhm......yeah right!!
  • scadalise my name
  • Broadway takes on the spiritual ...
Spirituals in Concert

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Deutsche Grammophon: MusicDeutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Amazing Grace: Jessye Norman
  2. Kathleen Battle · Wynton Marsalis ~ Baroque Duet / Anthony Newman · Orch St. Luke's · Nelson
  3. The Essential Leontyne Price: Spirituals, Hymns & Sacred Songs
  4. Kathleen Battle & Christopher Parkening ~ Pleasures of Their Company
  5. So Many Stars

ASIN: B000001GDC
Release Date: 1991-03-08

Tracks:

  1. In That Great Getting Up Morning
  2. Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass
  3. Over My Head/ Lil' David
  4. Oh, What A Beautiful City
  5. Lord, How Come Me Here
  6. I Believe I'll Go Back Home-Lordy, Won't You Help Me
  7. Ride On, King Jesus
  8. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot-Ride Up In The Chariot
  9. You Can Tell The World
  10. Scandalize My Name
  11. Great Day
  12. Oh, Glory
  13. Calvary-They Crucified My Lord
  14. Talk About A Child
  15. Gospel Train
  16. My God Is So High
  17. There Is A Balm In Gilead
  18. He's Got The Whole World In His Hand

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars "Lord, How Come Me Here".......2007-06-18

I must add, to the praises above, that Kathleen Battle's "Lord, How Come Me Here" is the best "quick" explanation of the long-lasting effects of slavery that I can think of. The line, "They sold my children away," says it all.

And the VERY funny "Scandelize My Name" is also worth the price of the total album!

Alinde O'Malley

5 out of 5 stars WOW!.......2007-03-22

You know, after owning both the CD and VHS of this performance, and having been coached by Sylvia Olden Lee herself, it is no wonder why spiritual mean so much to me. And these two ladies bare their souls and bring these masterpieces to life! WOW!!!

5 out of 5 stars uhm......yeah right!!.......2006-06-21

Clearly you are mistaken. I don't know who that guy is-the person below recommended-but there is NO COMPARISON to JESSYE NORMAN AND KATHLEEN BATTLE!!!! Jessye Norman herself has *30* HONARY DOCTRATES from places like Harvard, Juliard, Yale, Cambridge....I mean HELLO!!!! That guy had no where near the ease, the musicality or even the breath support as these two veterans show!! It is a beautiful CD though it came out in 1991 and I HIGHLY recommend it.

1 out of 5 stars scadalise my name.......2004-10-29

this isn't that good specially after hearing William Warfeild sing it. You can find him at www.wlym.com

2 out of 5 stars Broadway takes on the spiritual ..........2004-01-29

... takes it on and puts it on the canvas by the end of the first round.

I'm going to be the dissenting voice here: thank goodness I signed this disk out of the public library 'cause I'm sure not going to listen to it twice.

There is nothing wrong with the performances. Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle sing beautifully, and there's no problem with the pick-up orchestra under James Levine.

The problem, and it's huge, is the conception of the show and the musical arrangements. To make the video marketable, I suppose, the producers decided that the concert had to be big: big names, big arrangements, big effects. So we have eighteen spirituals given the musical theatre treatment, with a philharmonic chorus providing chain-gang sound effects, big brass, and big percussion -- including a chinese gong. A chinese gong in a spiritual??? Spare me! Almost every track turns out sounding like either a curtain-raiser or a big, end-of-act production number with cute and predictable modulations between some of the stanzas and the sort of curly-cue orchestral ornamentation typical of Broadway shows.

And you know what? It all kills the spirituals stone dead. The spiritual is one of those musical forms where less is more and very little is best of all. That's how they started, after all. That's how and why they worked for their original audiences, and that's why they were powerful enough to make the transition from folk song to art song. If you want to hear Battle sing spirituals that are irresistible, listen to the set on her Salzburg recital CD, also with Levine (ASIN B00000E31B). There, the music speaks for itself and speaks with a strength and a beauty that the tracks on this disk never approach.
FORT MINOR : WE MAJOR (MIXTAPE)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • better than Rising Tide
  • Fort Minor: We Major (Official Mixtape)
  • Dope
FORT MINOR : WE MAJOR (MIXTAPE)

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
Similar Items:
  1. Rising Tied
  2. Lupe Fiasco Touch The Sky (Mixtape) CD DJ Enyce
  3. 2000 Fold
  4. Megadef
  5. Rock Phenomenon DJ Vlad & Roc Raida (Mixtape) CD Hosted by Mike Shinoda

ASIN: B000ERH6KQ

Product Description

The Evil Genius Lends A Hand To LP's Emcee DJ Green Lantern invades the mixtape game with Fort Minor on this major motion mixtape. For those unfamiliar, Mike Shinoda (lead singer for the platinum rock group Linkin Park) has branched out and created his hip-hop identity, Fort Minor. With an album due out at the end of '05 (executive produced by Jay-Z), this is the official mixtape beforehand.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars better than Rising Tide.......2007-02-04

I loved Rising Tide. but after playing it for a few days, I grew quite tired of it. and after listening to the Mixtape, I realized what I was missing. The Mixtape is absolutely worth listening, it is like no other remix out there. I mean, Jimi Hendrix remix? hell yes! My favorite is the Bloc Part ft. Apathy and Styles of Beyond. and including Lupe Fiasco just made this mixtape all the more enjoyable. GET THIS

5 out of 5 stars Fort Minor: We Major (Official Mixtape).......2006-05-31

Wow. Now let me repeat myself. Wow.
This is a Mixtape Masterpiece.
Now first off, I'd just like to point out that this Mixtape, is in fact legal.
Not like most Mixtapes that are actually illegal.

Second of all, I'd like to mention that, like most all Mixtapes, this Mixtape only contains "Explicit Content", and yet does not contain a "Parental Advisory" sticker.

Thirdly, I'd also like to mention that Mike Shinoda himself (aka Fort Minor) has said that anyone who wants to, may download this Mixtape for free off of the internet, and he (Mike Shinoda) actually debuted the Mixtape for free download on the internet, before it was ever even released in CD format, on a well hidden MySpace page.
So after you've purchased the Mixtape CD, feel free to make copies of it, and give it to friends, but please encourage them to also buy a copy, so as to support M. Shinoda (aka Fort Minor), along with getting a copy or two of "The Rising Tied".

And fourth, I'll give you the complete tracklisting.
--------------------------------------------------
Tracklisting:
01. Green Lantern Intro
02. 100 Degrees
03. Dolla
04. Bloc Party
05. S.C.O.M.
06. Remember The Name (Funkadelic Remix)
07. Bleach (Jimi Remix)
08. Spraypaint & Ink Pens
09. Petrified (Doors Remix)
10. Get It
11. Be Somebody
12. Respect 4 Grandma
13. There They Go (Green Lantern Remix)
14. All Night (Rush)
15. Nobody's Listening (Green Lantern Remix)
16. Cover And Duck
17. Remember The Name (Album Version)
18. Petrified (Album Version)
19. Outro
--------------------------------------------------
There's the tracklisting.
Now I'd like to point out that there is also a "Fort Minor: We Major EP" Vinyl available that contains the only available "Edited Versions" of the Mixtape.
Here's the tracklisting for the Vinyl:
Side A:
01. Spraypaint & Ink Pens - Clean
02. Spraypaint & Ink Pens - Dirty
03. Nobody's Listening (Green Lantern Remix) - Dirty
04. Nobody's Listening (Green Lantern Remix) - Clean
Side B:
01. S.C.O.M. - Dirty
02. S.C.O.M. - Clean
03. There They Go (Green Lantern Remix) - Dirty
04. There They Go (Green Lantern Remix) - Clean
--------------------------------------------------
I'll also recommend some other items that I think you will enjoy, if you do indeed purchase this Mixtape:
01. Fort Minor - Fort Minor: We Major EP
02. Fort Minor - The Rising Tied (Edited Version)
03. Fort Minor - The Rising Tied: Special Edition (CD+DVD)
04. Fort Minor - Believe Me Pt.2 (the 3 track version)
05. Fort Minor - Where'd You Go (the 3 track version)
06. Fort Minor - Petrified/Remember The Name (Vinyl)
07. Fort Minor - Petrified/Remember The Name (Promo CD)
08. Styles Of Beyond - 2000 Fold (the 18 track, 1999 version)
09. Styles Of Beyond - Megadef
10. Styles Of Beyond - Spies Like Us / Winnetka Exit (Promo CD)
11. Linkin Park & Jay-Z - Numb/Encore (CD Single)
12. Linkin Park & Jay-Z - Numb/Encore (Vinyl)
13. Linkin Park & The X-Ecutioners - It's Goin' Down (Vinyl)
14. Linkin Park & The X-Ecutioners - It's Goin' Down (CD Single)
15. Linkin Park - Reanimation
16. Linkin Park - H! Vltg3 (Vinyl)
17. Linkin Park - Pts.Of.Athrty/H! Vltg3 (CD Single)
18. Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
19. Linkin Park - Underground v2.0
20. Linkin Park - Underground v4.0
21. Linkin Park - Underground v5.0
--------------------------------------------------
Well, there's the basic information.
I might write a more indepth review, and post it later.
If there are any more questions at all, please just E-Mail me at: jeremiah@mit.midco.net
Oh, and one last piece of advice: Buy It!

5 out of 5 stars Dope.......2006-04-18

This is the best mixtape I've ever heard. I'm not really into the mixtape scene, primarily because most of them recycle the same beats too much for me, but this one is way different. Fort Minor got creative with this one.

The production on this mixtape is off the charts. It makes the cd. Shinoda kills this mixtape production wise, and he is quickly becoming one of my favorite producers in the game. This cd contains some innovative sampling from bands you wouldn't expect to hear on a hip hop mixtape including: Guns N Roses, Jimi Hendrix, Rush, and Bloc Party; and some of the beats on here will amaze you.

Shinoda is not the most gifted emcee, but he is capable of holding his own on the mic. Apathy and Lupe Fiasco spit some fire on this cd though. Styles of Beyond and Celph Titled have their moments on the mic as well. There is even surprise guest appearance by Juelez Santana on here, who spits a hot verse also.

The official cd Fort Minor put out-"The Rising Tied" used to get a lot of air time in my whip, but this mixtape has pretty much replaced it in my cd rotation. One of my boys told me "DUDE, You GOTTA burn this cd for me" after hearing three songs on it. Fort Minor: We Major is an underground gem.

Here is a quick summary of this review--You want to own this cd. The End.
Michel Legrand by Michel Legrand
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Michel Legrand
  • Sunlight on his fingertips
  • all the stars you've got
  • Maestro Legrand , at last !
  • For Jazz piano purest... Only!
Michel Legrand by Michel Legrand

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Film ScoresFilm Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
FranceFrance | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Vocal Jazz GeneralVocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Smooth JazzSmooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
The Decca Records StoreThe Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Michel Plays Legrand
  2. The Essential Michel Legrand Film Music Collection
  3. I Love Paris
  4. Summer of 42
  5. Legrand Jazz

ASIN: B00005YW0W
Release Date: 2002-04-16

Tracks:

  1. I Will Wait For You
  2. The Windmills Of Your Mind
  3. The Summer Knows
  4. How Do You Keep The Music Playing?
  5. Watch What Happens
  6. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?
  7. His Eyes, Her Eyes
  8. The Hands Of Time
  9. Ordinary Man
  10. Summer Me, Winter Me
  11. You Must Believe In Spring
  12. Once Upon A Summertime
  13. L'Amour Fantome
  14. Yentl Medley: Papa Can You Hear Me/The Way He Makes Me Feel/A Piece Of Sky

Amazon.com

If the American pop culture profile of French composer-jazz pianist Michel Legrand doesn't seem what it once was, don't be misled: his European indie film scores continue six decades on, now numbering nearly 200. But Legrand's most beloved work remains the lovely, evocative themes he created in the '60s and '70s, including "I Will Wait for You" from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Thomas Crown Affair's "Windmills of Your Mind," the theme from Summer of '42, and his work on Barbra Streisand's Yentl. This collection marks Legrand's first solo piano recordings, presenting those and other film score highlights in spontaneously improvised performances that offer a glimpse of Legrand's musical soul. If, as in "Windmills," his enthusiasm gets the best of him and he occasionally lapses into flights of melodramatic pianistic self-parody, there are more than enough sublime moments here to compensate, especially on lesser-known songs like Best Friends' "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?," "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" from The Happy Ending, and Brian's Song's "Hands of Time." --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Michel Legrand.......2007-03-12


This is a great CD! Sound is awesome. I highly recommend it.

5 out of 5 stars Sunlight on his fingertips.......2005-08-10

Sunlight on his fingertips

The very bright talent of Michele Legrand you can feel especially when Maestro is playing piano himself.

I heard some orchestra performance of Legrand before, that was good, but I was still thinking about him just like about pop music composer.

Now I think different - he is Genius!

5 out of 5 stars all the stars you've got.......2005-01-29

Bill Evans once said that technique in jazz "is the ability to translate your ideas into sound through your instrument." If that's the case, Legrand possesses technique in spades.

Before commenting on this rewarding disc, a few words about Legrand himself:

Is there a better songwriter or a more versatile all-around musican alive today? I think you have to go back to people like Gershwin and Billy Strayhorn to find a rough parallel to Legrand's multifaceted, genre-crossing genius. A pupil of Nadia Boulanger (who studied with Faure and taught many important American composers, including Aaron Copland and Philip Glass), Legrand is an heir of the great French tradition of music--but one who has chosen to express himself through popular songs, film scores, and jazz. He possesses that rare combination of an absolutely rigorous theoretical knowledge of music and an intuitive, spontaneous instinct for both melody and improvisation. He combines exquisite refinement with a popular touch, a need to communicate directly with all who love music. To me, his work represents the most perfect expression of such typically French traits as lightness, insouciance, wit, melodic charm, and direct emotional expression since Poulenc.

Here you'll find many of Legrand's signature songs--"I Will Wait for You," "The Windmills of Your Mind," "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?," "The Hands of Time," "You Must Believe in Spring," etc.--reharmonized and enriched in stunningly beautiful solo recreations. Those unfamiliar with Legrand's pianistic abilities will probably be surprised by what they hear, for he's no part-time piano tickler. He can easily hold his own in the company of the best modern jazz pianists. He has a wonderfully refined touch that is incapable of making a harsh sound and a profusive sense of fantasy that keeps you constantly guessing as to where the music will go next. Yet you always feel satisfied when you find out, because Legrand possesses a composer's comprehension of harmony and form. And his own style is in no way compromised by an occasional nod here and there toward Bill Evans, Erroll Garner, Rachmaninoff, and so on. (Please: disregard the Amazon reviewer's remark about "flights of melodramatic pianistic self-parody." It's called a stride chorus, and it's just one example of Legrand's surprising way of recasting these songs--and of his encyclopedic command of jazz styles.)

This disc represents the essence of Legrand. It really should have been recorded a long time ago, but the fact that it has captured his undiminished abilities as he enters his twilight years lends it an added poignance--a sense of "just in time!"--that makes it all the sweeter. If you're already a Legrand fan, it should be a self-recommending treasure, and if you're a fan of great piano playing or of sophisticated jazz treatments of great songs, odds are you'll find this a very rewarding disc indeed. For me, the highlight is this version of "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" in which every note seems inevitable--not at all an easy thing to make happen in an improvisation.

Miles Davis once said of a Duke Ellington recording, "Give that one all the stars you've got." That's the way I feel about this disc, and I thought that phrase "all the stars you've got" was appropriate because it almost sounds like the title of a Legrand song.

5 out of 5 stars Maestro Legrand , at last !.......2004-10-10

Legrand has recorded at last one of his more intimate renditions to himself with his most remarkable themes along his brilliant career .
From a summer of 42 , The windmills of your mind (The Thomas crown afair) , what are you doing the rest of your life or the romantic Umbrellas of Cherbourg ; all those unforgettable themes are played in this album for piano solo in the real intimacy between him and the listener .
Legrand is the golden master of soundtracks in France and one of the top in the world . He owns that inner vision to catch the spirit of every movie he accompains . He composes music as he was a real director movie . The psychological concerns , the romantic efluvies and the precise and lyrical atmosphere , with that touch of class, artistic elegance and sublime eloquency .
Think also in the important recordings with Miles Davis . That issue will give you the size of that artist and anothe point to remark . In 1954 , Legrand made a golden jewel : I lvoe Paris (See my review) that has become through the years in the most famous and the best album of instrumental music ever recorded .
What other background do you need to acquire this gem ?

4 out of 5 stars For Jazz piano purest... Only!.......2002-09-07

I love the music of Michele Legrand! It is a rich mixture of
graceful tones and notes, that create memories of a certain
time and place in each of our own lives.
When accompaned with great orchestration Its wonderful. When done in a jazz piano style, its not as good. Not to take anyting away from the talents of Mr Legrand as a pianist. Its just that like hearing a lusher, grander version of his music. So if you like jazz piano music, and Michele Legrand.
Then this is the cd for you!
Andrew Lloyd Webber: Now & Forever
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • I waited for this for five years
  • Excellent collection but BIG PUBLISHING MISTAKE!
  • ONE OF LLOYD WEBBER'S BEST COMPILATIONS, DESPITE A FEW FLAWS
  • SUCH MAGICAL MUSIC OF THE NIGHT!
  • A Must Have for Sir Andrew fans
Andrew Lloyd Webber: Now & Forever
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

RequiemsRequiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
NoelsNoels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
RequiemsRequiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Contemporary MusicalsContemporary Musicals | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
General ChristmasGeneral Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Broadway & MusicalsBroadway & Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Box Sets | Stores | Music
The Decca Records StoreThe Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
General ChristmasGeneral Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Gold: The Definitive Hits Collection
  2. The Very Best Of Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Broadway Collection
  3. Evita (Original London Cast)
  4. Andrew Lloyd Webber - The Royal Albert Hall Celebration
  5. Andrew Lloyd Webber - Masterpiece (Collector's Edition) (Bonus CD)

ASIN: B00005R5UJ
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

  1. Oh What A Circus - David Essex
  2. Memory - Betty Buckley
  3. The Phantom Of The Opera - Sarah Brightman/Steve Harley
  4. All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman/Cliff Richard
  5. Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball
  6. Any Dream Will Do - Donny Osmond
  7. Amigos Para Siempre (Friends For Life) - Sarah Brightman/Jose Carreras
  8. As If We Never Said Goodbye - Barbra Streisand
  9. The Perfect Year - Dina Carroll
  10. With One Look - Petula Clark
  11. You Must Love Me - Madonna
  12. The Heart Is Slow To Learn - Kiri Te Kanawa
  13. A Kiss Is A Terrible Thing To Waste - The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra
  14. Whistle Down The Wind - Tina Arena
  15. No Matter What - Boyzone
  16. The Vaults Of Heaven - Tom Jones
  17. Try Not To Be Afraid - Boy George
  18. Pie Jesu - Charlotte Church

Tracks:

  1. Make Believe Love - Wes Sands
  2. Down Thru' Summer - Ross Hannaman
  3. I'll Give All My Love To Southend - Ross Hannaman
  4. Believe Me I Will - Sacha Distel
  5. Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1969 Radio Luxembourg Commercial) - Joseph Consortium/Pete Murray
  6. Try It And See - Rita Pavone
  7. Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You - Time Rice And The Webber Group
  8. Goodbye Seattle - Paul Raven
  9. John 19:41 - The Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra
  10. What A Line To Go Out On - Yvonne Elliman
  11. Disillusion Me - Gary Band
  12. The Ballad Of Robert And Peter - Tim Rice
  13. Christmas Dream - Maynard Williams
  14. It's Only Your Lover Returning/All Through My Crazy And Wild Days/Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Julie Covington
  15. It's Easy For You (1977 Jungle Room Session Version) - Elvis Presley
  16. Magdalena - Tony Christie
  17. Buenos Aires - The Roja Rockers
  18. Pollicle Dogs And Jellicle Cats - Andrew Lloyd Webber
  19. Mungojerrie And Rumpleteazer (Live At The Sydmonton Festival 1980) - Gemma Craven
  20. I Could Have Given You More - Petula Clark
  21. I've Been In Love Too Long - Marti Webb
  22. Benedicite - The Stephen Hill Singers

Album Description

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

Disc 2: Selections from Starlight Express, Requiem, Phantom of the Opera, and Aspects of Love

Disc 3: Selections from Joseph nad the Amaziong Technicolor Dreamcoat, By Jeeves, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle Down the Wind, and The Beautiful Game

CD 4: 1. "Oh What a Circus" --David Essex 2. "Memory" - Betty Buckleey 3. "The Phantom of the Opera" -Sarah Brightman, Steve Harley 4. "All I Ask of You" --Sarah Brightman, Cliff Richard 5. "Love Changes Everything"--Michael Ball 6. "Any Dream Will Do"--Donny Osmond 7. "Amigos Para Siempre (Friends for Life)"--Sarah Brightman, Jose Caerras 8. "As if We Never Said Goodbye"--Barbra Streisand 9. "The Perfect Year"--Dina Carroll 10. "With One Look" --Petula Clark 11. "You Must Love Me" 12. "The Heart Is Slow To Learn" --Kiri Te Kanawa 13. "Whistle Down the Wind"--Tina Arena 14. "A Kiss Is a Terrible Thing To Waste"--The Metal Philharmonic 15. "No Matter What"--Boyzone 16. "The Vaults of Heaven"--Tom Jones and Sounds of Blackness 17. "Try Not To Be Afraid"--Boy George 18. "Pie Jesu"--Charlotte Church

Disc 5: (All tracks available for the first time) 1. "Make Believe Love"--Wes Sands 2. "Down Thru' Summer"--Ross Hannaman 3. "I'll Give All My Love to Southend"--Ross Hannaman 4. "Believe Me I Will"--Sacha Distel 5. "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: 1969 Luxembourg Radio Commercial--The Jospeh Consortium, Pete Murray 6. "Try It and See"--Rita Pavone 7. "Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You"--Tim Rice and the Webber Group 8. "Goodbye Seattle"-- Paul Raven 9. "John 19:41"--The Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra 10. "What a Line To Go Out On"--Yvonne Elliman 11. "Disillusion Me" --Gary Bond 12. "The Ballad of Robert and Peter"--Tim Rice 13. "Christmas Dream" --Maynard Williams 14. "It's Only Your Lover Returning/All through My Wild and Crazy Days/Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Julie Covington 15. "It's Easy for You" (1977 Jungle Room Session version)--Elvis Presley 16. "Magdalena"--Tony Christie 17. "Buenos Aires"--The Rioja Rockers 18. "Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats"--Andrew Lloyd Webber original demo 19. "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" (Live at Sydmonton Festival 1980)-Gemma Craven 20. "I Could Have Given You More"--Petula Clark 21. "I've Been in Love Too Long"--Marti Webb 22. "Benedicte"-- Stephen Hill Singers

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars I waited for this for five years.......2006-06-30

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

The concept is great. The packaging is great. The recording is great. Disc five is really cool for an ALW aficionado. There are a few real gems on it; my favorites are Petula Clark's "I Could Have Given You More" and "Benedicite."
I've always thought "Gus the Theatre Cat" made a great medley on the piano with "Unexpected Song" and "I DOn't Know How to Love Him," but wished there was an alternate lyric to match the other two songs. Now that I know there *is*, and it's a good lyric, it's a dream come true.
The melody of "Benedicite" is one of my favorites from _Sunset_ (the book mis-identifies it as "SUrrender"; it's actually "The Lady's Paying" and "Eternal Youth is Worth a Little Suffering"). The lyrics are the canticle from Daniel 3, which comes up every odd Sunday in the Divine Office, so it's nice to have cool music to sing it with.

I haven't bought _By Jeeves_ or _THe Beautiful Game_ yet, to it was great to sample them.

There are other parts of the CD taht aren't found in my collection. I like CD 4 "The Hits."

But the selections on CDs 1-3 don't make sense.

First, any self-respecting ALW fan has the Original London Cast of _Phantom_, so six tracks are totally useless. Why not draw from the Canadian cast with Colm Wilkinson? Or pull out some obscure recordings never published.

Why two different tracks with Michael Ball singing "Love Changes Everything", yet they're hardly any different?

On Disc 5 is "It's Only Your Lover Returning," sung by Julie Covington. It's an early draft of the song (Lloyd Webber and Rice went through several suggested titles) and quite nice. The very thing one expects on a Boxed Set.
So why have the Julie Covington "Don't Cry for Me" on disc 1?? The only difference is a few words, but it's otherwise identical. Why not Elaine Paige or Patti Lupone or Madonna?

The _Evita_ section is otherwise the best, choosing a sample from each major recording, though I'd have chosen slightly differently (as above).

There is a great selection of "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" from the Sydmonton festival, using the original music that was changed when _Cats_ went to Broadway_. It would have been nice if they'd included more recordings from Sydmonton, like the original lyric of "All I Ask of You" shown on the second DVD to the _Phantom_ movie.

With so many great actress-singers who've played Norma Desmond, why does the collection beat us over the head with Glenn Close?

Paul Miles Kingston must be set for life in royalties, for the number of albums the original recording of "Pie Jesu" has appeared on. "Amigos Para Siempre" is nice, but it reminds me of Shari Lewis's "The Song that Doesn't End," especially when it's been used on so many compilations.

In short, this is a great collection for the obscure material, if you can get it cheap. But for a boxed set, it's a poor sampling, drawn mostly from the most familiar recordings.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent collection but BIG PUBLISHING MISTAKE! .......2006-01-10

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

4 out of 5 stars ONE OF LLOYD WEBBER'S BEST COMPILATIONS, DESPITE A FEW FLAWS.......2005-03-21

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

Over the years many compilations of his work have emerged. In the late 80-is and early 90-is it was the "Encore" series and lately the one-disc collection called "Gold". The one in question here can be considered one of the best currently on the market. First, it includes a 3-disc selections from all of his shows, minus the latest one, i.e., "The Woman in White", which, considering the triviality of the score, is no great lost. The fourth disc covers some of his most known songs sung by the famous artists. Then, there is the fifth disc with previously unreleased material, most of which are the songs ALW wrote with Tim Rice for various artists during the 70-is. The disks are all neatly packed in a hardcover book that features 67 pages of pictures and text with information about each of ALW's shows. One of the other assets here is the perfect sound quality, since all of the tracks have been digitally remastered.

Here are my basic impressions and comments regarding the material on the discs:

* Disc #1 has the selections from "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Evita", "Cats" and "Song & Dance". The Superstar material mostly comes from the Concept Recording. Although the songs sound beautiful as always, their orchestration is a bit dated now. Only Steve Balsamo's "Gethsemane" from the 1996 revival cast has a modern rock sound. "Evita" comes with the material from all of the major recordings: London, Broadway and the movie productions, as well as the Concept album. No objections here; since this is one of ALW's most satisfying works, every song is just perfect, although Patti LuPone, the Broadway and overall the best Evita, is left with only a couple of lines. With the selections from "Cats", however, I have some doubts. A plus to the choice of the "Jellicle ball" impressive orchestral sequence from the 1998 movie version and "Mister Mistoffelees" from the 1981 London cast. One of the best known ALW's songs, "Memory", also comes from that album. It's a pretty version and Elaine Paige's rendition cannot be matched, but why include this when the definite version, featuring an 80-piece orchestra and Elaine Paige with much better interpretation, can be found in the same movie version. Thusly, one has to buy Elaine Paige's latest 2-disc compilation "Centre Stage: The very best of Elaine Paige" to get that one. And "Gus the theatre cat" is more a recital than a song, so there was not much point in including that. Marti Webb brings her vocal charm to the "Song & Dance" sequence, Sarah Brightman sings "Unexpected song" with her famous soprano, but as much as I like her version, Bernadette Peters, who was in this show on Broadway is strangely left out here.

* Disc # 2 starts with "Starlight Express". This was never one of my favorite ALW's shows; the plot is even lighter than in "Cats" and the 1984 original cast recording is terribly dated. Yet, here we have one terrific duet, "I am starlight" from the original together with three songs from the later revivals and it seems that fresh orchestrations were just the thing Starlight needed. My favorite remains a touchy ballad, "Next time you fall in love". "Requiem" is the most solemn of all ALW's compositions, written in 1985 to commemorate the death of his father. Placido Domingo's tenor rides together with the chorus all the way through the strong "Hosanna", only to be joined by Sarah Brightman in the final moments of this song. She then gives an echoing deliverance of "Pie Jesu". What can be said of ALW's next show, "The Phantom of the Opera"? A phenomenon in its own right, it's easy to see from the six numbers included here why this is one of the best and most beloved musicals of all time. The cast, the music, the story - everything is perfect. Although "Aspects of love" was never a popular hit, it does have some of the most beautiful love melodies ALW has ever written. "Love changes everything" sung by Michael Ball is probably one of the best tunes ever about love. The rest of the selected material here has a dreamy love flavor and the melodies find their way into your brain in the best Lloyd Webber way.

* ALW's first musical, "Joseph and the amazing Technicolor dreamcoat" was more successful in its revival form than the original from the 70-is. The three songs included here are sung by the show stars, Jason Donovan and Donny Osmond. Maria Friedman was not a lucky choice to play the narrator, as the track from the 1998 movie version shows. "By Jeeves" was ALW's only big flop when it came to the stage in the 70-is. The 1995 revival sounds much better though, full of funny numbers in the best manner of the musical comedy. "Travel hopefully" remains one of the show's highlights on this compilation. "Sunset Boulevard" comes next. "Sunset" remains for me one of Webber's best scores; lush and beautiful. I listen to the original cast recording with Patti LuPone all the time. However, here most of the songs are performed by Glenn Close. A big mistake. If you've ever listened the American premiere recording with her, you'll know what I am talking about. She may have a strong stage presence, but her vocal abilities are too limited, and her aggressive approach to the role lacks any subtlety. Therefore, the two big numbers from this show, "With one look" and "As if we never said goodbye" are ruined by the fact she can't sing. The same goes for the American Joe Gillis, who was played by Alan Campbell. Luckily, Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson, the original Norma and Joe from the London production, make their brief entrance here with the "Perfect year"; enough to show how better they are. The funny thing is, on the jacket and inside of it, Glenn Close and Alan Campbell are credited as performers in this song as well. If this was a mistake on ALW's part, it was a good one. The next ALW's show, "Whistle down the wind" was never a critic's dear and yet the audiences rushed in to see it in London. The score brings back ALW to his rock and roll roots of the seventies and the story is quite interesting. But the selections here are not the happiest, since the cast recording boasts with much better songs. And finally, "The Beautiful Game". Again, we have one of those ALW's shows that is worth in its individual parts rather than as a whole. "Our kind of love" and "Let us love in peace" are two catchy ballads. The latter is a nice amalgam version not available elsewhere. The two other tracks here I could live without.

* Disc # 4 has the songs from all the above shows performed by different artists. The assembled tracks have their pros and cons. For example, we have some previously unreleased stuff, like Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's operettic rendition of "The heart is slow to learn", or a stunning and epic "A kiss is a terrible thing to waste" from "Whistle down the wind", performed by The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra. Then again, what was the point in including almost identical tracks as the ones on the previous disks? So we have Michael Ball again singing "Love changes everything" with only a bit different orchestration; Sarah Brightman comes out again with the same Phantom duets, but only with the different male singers. It would be much more appropriate to include tracks from the Toronto Cast of the Phantom, with Colm Wilkinson. Other pop deliverances (Tina Arena's "Whistle down the wind", Barbra Streisand's "As if we never said goodbye", Boyzone's "No matter what" and many more) were wisely chosen. Patti LuPone is again nowhere to be found and Petula Clark's "With one look" sounds too worn-out.

* The last disc is probably the one that will be of most interest to Lloyd Webber aficionados. It consists of entirely previously unreleased material ALW for the most part wrote for various artists during his early years, with Tim Rice. Some of these tunes, not successful as a singles, were later used in his shows. Thus "Down thru' summer" became "Buenos Aires"in Evita, "Try it and see", an unsuccessful attempt for the Eurovision was used for "King Herod's song" in "Superstar" and so on. Some of these songs are nicely made pop songs: "Make believe love", ALW's first recorded composition, for which he provided the lyrics; "Goodbye Seattle", sung by Paul Raven, who later became Gary Glitter; "Come back Richard, your country needs you", from a never made musical, sung here by Tim Rice, or Latin flavored "Magdalena", with Tony Christie singing. My all time favorite here is a song called "It's easy for you", sung by none other than Elvis Presley himself. Lloyd Webber and Rice sent him a demo recording that he accepted and recorded this live version a couple of weeks before he died. It's amazing to hear how his voice remained in the perfect shape. Also, there is a track of Andrew Lloyd Webber singing "Policle dogs and Jellicle cats" while plying the piano. His voice doesn't sound bad at all.


Taken as a whole, this compilation makes a perfect birthday or Christmas present to any fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, or just anybody interested in some of the best tunes from the modern era of the musical theatre; despite the flaws I mentioned above. To the former, it may just be the final addition for the Andrew Lloyd Webber collection.

5 out of 5 stars SUCH MAGICAL MUSIC OF THE NIGHT!.......2003-01-19

"Evita." "Sunset Blvd." "Starlight Express." "Jesus Christ Superstar." "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." "Requiem." "Aspects of Love." The man who is the most recognized composer in the history of the musical theatre, the man who has won more Tonys than any other composer, the man who boasts the best-selling show of all time ("The Phantom of the
Opera") and the longest-running show of all time ("Cats"), the man whose homes are filled with three Grammys, five Oliviers, a Golden Globe, and Oscar and too many other honors and hosannas to mention, the man knighted in 1992 certainly doesn't need an introduction. Now Decca Broadway pays tribute to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with "Now and Forever," a spectacular 5-CD set compiled and produced by Sir Andy himself. It's cheaper than a
ticket to "The Producers" ... and more much exciting. This treasure trove contains highlights from all of Webber's shows, and a bonus disc of tunes sung by Betty Buckley, Barbara
Streisand, Jose Carreras, Boy George, Charlotte Church, Madonna, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, even Elvis! A must for lovers of theatre---and good music.

4 out of 5 stars A Must Have for Sir Andrew fans.......2002-05-21

This five-CD collection of Andrew Lloyd Webber's career is fantastic. It leaves virtually no stone unturned. I have no doubt that diehard Webber fans will love this, especially for the 5th disc entitled "From the Vaults." This disc alone is worth the price as it contains tunes never before heard by the typical fan. Who knew Elvis did a Lloyd Webber tune?!? I didn't! Also the tune "Benedictine" which the composer wrote for his most recent marriage is not only pretty, but it has the same medley as "The Lady's Paying" from "Sunset Blvd." which I found highly enjoyable. Another great track is the composer himself singing a cut song from "Cats" entitled "Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats" which has the same tune as "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats," but to hear Sir Andrew sing is a blast...he sounds a lot like Al "Year of the Cat" Stewart.
The cuts from the musicals are great but are likely owned by ALW fans as they are on the original cast albums. And I'm glad that there were tunes included from the composers most recent efforts which have yet to make it beyond London (Whistle Down the Wind, Beautiful Game).
My only complaint is the inclusion of way too many tracks by Sarah Brightman. She must've received a great divorce settlement that included having tunes on any ALW collection until the end of time!! Her interpretations of some of the tunes were limp and uninspired. I would've much rather heard casts from around the world rather than yet another song by this disdainful soprano! How about Colm Wilkinson's version of "Music of the Night" from the original Canadian cast of "Phantom"? Or Michael Crawford's version of "Unexpected Song"? What? No Betty Buckley from "Sunset Blvd."? And of course there are songs you KNOW are going to be on the collection before you even listen to it as they have been on EVERY ALW collection for the past decade or so.
A great collection but too much Sarah Brightman!
For the Stars
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Loved this CD
  • I LOVE this CD!
  • Costello Partners with Hubris and Yields Variable Results
  • what's so funny about peace, love, and understanding?
  • No life in her (pop) art
For the Stars
Anne Sofie von Otter , and Elvis Costello
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Singer-SongwritersSinger-Songwriters | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Singer-SongwritersSinger-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
ClassicClassic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Traditional PopTraditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Traditional Vocal PopTraditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Deutsche Grammophon: MusicDeutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Anne Sofie von Otter - Speak Low ~ Songs by Kurt Weill / Gardiner
  2. North
  3. The Juliet Letters
  4. When I Was Cruel
  5. Deep Dead Blue, Live at Meltdown

ASIN: B00005A46I
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Tracks:

  1. No Wonder
  2. Baby Plays Around
  3. Go Leave
  4. Rope
  5. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
  6. Broken Bicycles / Junk
  7. The Other Woman
  8. Like An Angel Passing Through My Room
  9. Green Song
  10. April After All
  11. You Still Believe In Me
  12. I Want To Vanish
  13. For No One
  14. Shamed Into Love
  15. Just A Curio
  16. This House Is Empty Now
  17. Take It With Me
  18. For The Stars

Amazon.com

At a time when popular music has been micro-marketed to the far side of ad nauseam, Declan MacManus, a.k.a. Elvis Costello, has traded on his reputation as the brightest songwriter to emerge from the new wave era to foster any number of delightful, cross-genre/generation musical surprises, including soundtracks and collaborations with the Brodsky Quartet, Paul McCartney, jazz artist Roy Nathanson, and songwriting legend Burt Bacharach. The latest fruit of that generous, insatiably curious artistic spirit is this elegant partnership with Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne-Sofie von Otter. Though an admitted pop novice, Otter couldn't have picked a better confederate than Costello, an artist whose taste in songs has seldom been tainted by trend.

Together, they weave material from disparate sources--including a slate of compelling Costello material, a pair of Brian Wilson's evocative "Pet Sounds" confessionals, a Tom Waits song from Francis Ford Coppola's One from the Heart (oddly, though effectively, coupled in medley with McCartney's "Junk"), an Abba song, and the Beatles' "For No One"--into a musical tapestry of stately power and grace. Costello sparingly uses his voice as seasoning throughout, though his masterful touch is everywhere. Otter's novice pop singing reveals an easy knack for jazz phrasing that should tempt further explorations and a warmth that belies the rigidity that's so often a byproduct of classical training. Most gratifying of all, this album ultimately achieves what's become one of the loftiest plateaus in Pop music: common ground. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Loved this CD .......2006-06-13

Who would pair Costello and an opera singer?? Elvis, and somehow it works. I really love the tone and moodiness of it and lyrics that talk about love and life, failure and success. It's soulful, in a contemplative way, music for those tucked away, rainy days .

5 out of 5 stars I LOVE this CD!.......2005-09-01

Finally, an opera singer who knows how to channel her Classical training into a sound that is, as one critic aptly described it, "what pop singers would sound like if they could actually sing"! Although Elvis Costello does not join Ms. von Otter very often in the vocals, when he does they harmonize beautifully. With great melodies (some beautiful, some catchy) and sensitive (but not sappy) lyrics, this album makes a fine addition to any CD collection.

3 out of 5 stars Costello Partners with Hubris and Yields Variable Results.......2005-05-08

Having just heard Elvis Costello's masterful collaboration with Burt Bacharach, "Painted from Memory", for the first time this past month, I had high hopes for this equally unusual partnership with mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter released in 2001. This time, however, Costello acts as arranger and producer, and it is von Otter who is front and center on vocals. She is among the most revered of singers on the opera and recital stages, and she has impressed me in the past, in particular, with her Dejanira in the 2002 Marc Minkowski-led performance of Handel's "Hercules", among many other roles she has embodied. Here she is called upon to be a pop chanteuse, and while the beauty of her voice is inarguable in any setting, her ability to interpret the diverse lyrics in these songs is far more debatable. This is where a Marianne Faithfull, a Blossom Dearie or even a Joni Mitchell could capture more of the underlying feeling with a fraction of the vocal power von Otter can provide but with twice the nuance. There is a rather sterile sameness to the performances here, somewhat jazz-inflected in a cocktail lounge manner at times and at other times, rather morose and dirge-like.

Take, for example, her rendition of Brian Wilson's "Don't Ask (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)" from the legendary "Pet Sounds" album. It moves so glacially that it actually extricates the romantic subtext almost surgically. The same can be said for Jessie Mae Robinson's "The Other Woman", which has at least Magnus Persson's vibraphone to provide relief from the tedium. She's better on the other "Pet Sounds" classic, "You Still Believe in Me", where she cannily soars with the chorus, though Costello damages it by adding some odd, muffled rapping in the background. Ironically, it is on the Costello compositions where the recording most noticeably flails. The opener "No Wonder" starts as a "Greensleeves"-like madrigal and then turns into Beatlesque pop; "Baby Plays Around" seems to suffer from exhaustion by all parties; the two Fleshquartet collaborations, "Rope" and "Just a Curio", sound somewhat like extraterrestrial hymns done in a series of minor keys; and the closing title track, "For the Stars" includes peppy, Beach Boys-sounding harmonies which escape her grasp. In fact, "Just a Curio" would have been a more appropriate title for this entire recording.

On the other hand, the Gallic flavor of Benny Andersson's accordion effectively informs her rendition of Tom Waits' "Broken Bicycles", which melds perfectly with Costello's vocal on Paul McCartney's "Junk". Speaking of Andersson, a fellow Scandinavian, von Otter admirably covers a piano-led ABBA ballad, "Like an Angel Passing Through My Room". She also displays a meticulously casual bounce on Lennon-McCartney's "For No One", though it stops rather abruptly. Von Otter acquits herself surprisingly well on the jazzy "Shamed into Love", written by another unlikely duo, Costello and Rubén Blades, and performed as almost a smokier variation of Bacharach's "Alfie". And speaking of Bacharach, she does a nice turn on the lovely "This House Is Empty Now" from the 1998 Bacharach-Costello disc. Costello and von Otter are masters of their craft, but I think some of the collaborations reflect simply irreconcilable differences. While Costello seems to have an insatiable desire to expand musically, his hubris here appears to constrain the often preternatural vocal skill von Otter displays on the opera and recital stage. Consequently, what we have here is a nice album, a generous one with eighteen tracks, that doesn't seem to capitalize on either contributor's talent fully.

1 out of 5 stars what's so funny about peace, love, and understanding?.......2004-04-22

Nothing's funny about this boring duo. I picked this up FREE at my library and it didn't take me too many tracks to see why it was donated. The musical arrangements are hapless and dull, and her voice is Dion without the Vegas power finale. Come to think of it, the lyrics remind me of Dion; they are as saccharine as anything Dion has ever sung. I wasted a blank CD on this limp, sleepy pairing of two otherwise good artists.

1 out of 5 stars No life in her (pop) art.......2004-03-15

I am a big fan of both artists and wanted very much for this combination to work. It avoids the traditional trap of "oversinging" the pop material. But a few years after its release, in these American Idol era, is that really such a terror for pop music any more? So-called oversinging seems pretty popular these days!

The big problem is that von Otter has not found a way to communicate any emotion in this scaled-down form of singing. All her classical techniques are stripped away, and there's nothing to replace them. Sure, her voice is gorgeous, but it sounds exactly the same no matter what the lyrical content. The songs could have been made up of nonsense syllables for all the emotional life she communicates.

Deeply disappointing - but someone, somewhere, will figure out how to bring classically trained singers to the wonderful pop song repertoire that has been composed over the past 50 years. Elvis may very well be the person to do it, but not on this album.
John Rutter: Te Deum and Other Church Music
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • John Rutter: Te Deum
  • Absolutely amazing
  • Up to the usual high standard
  • Beautiful, excellent album
  • A new experience in familiar pieces
John Rutter: Te Deum and Other Church Music

Manufacturer: Collegium
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by RutterAll Works by Rutter | Rutter, John | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems
GeneralGeneral | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Te DeumTe Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Gloria: The Sacred Music of John Rutter
  2. John Rutter Collection
  3. Requiem & Magnificat/Rutter, Cambridge Singers
  4. The John Rutter Christmas Album
  5. Be Thou My Vision

ASIN: B0000031HH
Release Date: 1993-09-11

Tracks:

  1. Te Deum
  2. Be Thou My Vision
  3. I Believe In Springtime
  4. Lord, Make Me An Instrument Of Thy Peace
  5. O Be Joyful In The Lord
  6. All Creatures Of Our God And King
  7. A Choral Fanfare
  8. As The Bridegroom To His Chosen
  9. Christ The Lord Is Risen Again
  10. They Perfect Love
  11. The Lord Is My Light And My Salvation
  12. Go Forth Into The World In Peace
  13. Now Thank We All Our God

Amazon.com

Englishman John Rutter is today's most popular composer of church music, primarily owing to his accessible style and purposeful commitment to both professional and amateur choirs. This recording features some of Rutter's most popular sacred choral works from the 1980s--definitively performed by Rutter's own Cambridge Singers, conducted by the composer himself. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars John Rutter: Te Deum .......2007-05-14

Outstanding music and outstanding recording quality. This is a must for all who like the choral music of Rutter, a musical treat from the time you que up the disc.

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely amazing.......2006-08-21

Of the 5 Cambridge Singers recordings in my possession, this is my favorite. I absolutely love "Be thou my vision," and find the title track inspiring each time I listen to it. This is a CD that will not disappoint!

5 out of 5 stars Up to the usual high standard.......2006-07-13

What better version of the Rutter "Te Deum" than the composer and his group? This CD does not disappoint. Highly recommended!

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful, excellent album.......2006-02-19

I have wanted this album for several years and have finally found it and purchased it. I have listened to it dozens of times since I received it, and love it! I hesitated to buy it because it is more expensive than most music CD's, but it is worth it.

5 out of 5 stars A new experience in familiar pieces.......2005-10-05

This recording of the Cambridge Singers has them recording pieces composed by their own director, John Rutter. The 'Te Deum' is Rutter's version of a standard piece of liturgical music, representing classic influences ancient and modern, typical of Rutter's compositional style. This was recorded at in 1990 at the Henry Wood Hall in London, with the City of London Sinfonia and organist John Scott collaborating.

--Music--
'The Te Deum' is a piece that is standard for liturgy in Catholic and Anglican services. It is a song of praise, and here is it bright and powerful. 'Be Thou My Vision' is an Irish folk hymn, gentle and graceful, but Rutter has added something quite new to the rendition with his arrangement. The initial flourishes and fanfare for the standard piece 'All Creatures of Our God and King' lead to a triumphant song experience. 'The Lord is My Light and My Salvation' is once again a meditative and gentle moving piece, with good spirit.

The songs here are familiar for the most part, but Rutter's arrangements and compositions make this a thoroughly new experience in many ways.

--Liner Notes--
The notes include an introduction to the CD by Rutter describing some of the influences and expressions in his composition. Lyrics are included, all of which are in English on this collection. There is no listing of the performers of the Cambridge Singers, no description of the group, nor biographical information about John Rutter.

--John Rutter--
Rutter was born in London and educated at Clare College, Cambridge. This was where his career as a composer, arranger and conductor began. His early work was with groups at King's College Chapel at Cambridge as well as the Bath Choir and Philharmonic Orchestra. He has worked for the BBC providing music for educational series such as 'The Archaeology of the Bible Lands', until in 1979 he began forming the Cambridge Singers, and has continued a remarkable career of performance and recording as their director ever since.

--The Cambridge Singers--
The Cambridge Singers are a mixed choir of voices, many of whom were members of choir of Rutter's college, Clare College, Cambridge. While they specialise in English and Latin liturgical pieces, they have a wide range of recordings that span from modern compositions (including a remarkable requiem by Rutter) to English folk songs of the Middle Ages. Many are former members of the choir of Clare College and other Cambridge collegiate choirs (hence the name, Cambridge Singers). In the quarter-century since the founding, the Cambridge Singers have produced an impressive body of recordings.

This is a wonderful collection.
Believe in Me
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Give Duff a chance
  • Good Solo Work By Duff (3.5)
  • Get it used and cheap,but worth having for Guns N' Roses fans
  • duff blows the bottle
  • believe in this album
Believe in Me
Duff "Rose" McKagan
Manufacturer: Geffen Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Izzy Stradlin & the Ju Ju Hounds
  2. It's Five O'Clock Somewhere
  3. Pawnshop Guitars
  4. 117°
  5. On Down the Road

ASIN: B000008IBF
Release Date: 1993-09-28

Tracks:

  1. Believe in Me
  2. I Love You
  3. Man in the Meadow
  4. (Fucked up) Beyond Belief
  5. Could It Be You
  6. Just Not There
  7. Punk Rock Song
  8. Majority
  9. 10 Years
  10. Swamp Song
  11. Trouble
  12. F@*K You
  13. Lonely Tonite

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Give Duff a chance.......2006-06-11

I just purchased this CD today and have listened to it a couple of times. I didn't know what I was going to make of it considering Duff isn't a "singer" in the technical term, but as soon as he started singing on the first track I fell in love with his vocals. He has a voice that's a little rough around the edges, but fits him perfectly.

highly recommended!

4 out of 5 stars Good Solo Work By Duff (3.5).......2006-03-27

Duff McKagan was a member of Guns n' Roses until their split. They were one of the most popular hard rock bands of the late 80s and early 90s, and as the bassist he offered some very significant contributions in the way of songs. His solo project entitled "Believe In Me" shows his impressive growth as an artist, songwriting abilities, and musical talent.

The self titled song opens this album, with a quite an obvious search for commercial appeal. The song itself is fairly catchy lyrically, but it is lacking in melody and is not one of my favourites. "I Love You" follows very well though, with a great guitar tune, and some raw vocals from Duff. "Man In The Meadow" has the musical feel of a GNR song, and rocks out pretty well. "(F*cked Up) Beyond Belief" is probably my favourite track on here, with its fierce intensity and powerful guitar. Matt Sorum plays drums on this song. "Could It Be You" is a softer song, and is less memorable than others. "Just Not There" has some impressive moments with a clean guitar solo at the end, and a pretty catchy guitar riff. "Punk Rock Song" is purely raw punk, but lacks musicality. "The Majority" is a good song with a strong vocal performance from guest star Lenny Kravitz. "10 Years" is my second favourite song on here, a ballad with a beautiful guitar melody and strong lyrical qualities. "Swamp Song" brings back the rock sound present throughout most of this solo effort, and it is a pretty good song. "Trouble" is a cool rocker, with very nice guitar work. The last two tracks on here close the album fairly well, and "Lonely Tonite" begins unusually with dialogue.

Overall, this is a pretty solid solo effort from Duff McKagan, former bassist of Guns n' Roses, and now playing with Velvet Revolver. He played guitar, bass, sung vocals, and played the drums on this album, and certainly has musical talent. His GNR roots are very much present on here, and they bring a good sound to his CD. I would recommend the album to all fans of Guns n' Roses and Velvet Revolver, as well as someone who wants a taste of different music. Duff has a very original sound.

3 out of 5 stars Get it used and cheap,but worth having for Guns N' Roses fans.......2006-01-21

"Believe In Me"(1993). Duff McKagan's first solo album.

By the time it was the early 1990's,even though Duff McKagan had had a very succesful career as the bassist of Guns N' Roses,things were not going exactly well for him. Not only had several problems arised in Guns N' Roses(mostly due to GN'R frontman Axl Rose),GN'R rythmn guitarist Izzy Stradlin,who was an important part of Guns N' Roses music,had left the band. And as a result,Guns N' Roses had been left in a little bit of a hassle. However,in the midst of two Guns N' Roses crises that Duff McKagan had been put right in the middle of,McKagan was able to release a solo album at a very critical point in his career,entitled "Believe in Me". How did the album meausure up? Read on for my review of this:

While this album may not be up to par with the music that Guns N' Roses released and the music that Velvet Revolver has released,it is an underrated record that shows the talent that is really possesed by Duff McKagan (for the most part). This album opens up with it's title track,which,while it is a little bit corny,is catchy,likeable,and is a good combination of the talents of both Duff McKagan and Bobbie Brown(the model who was in Warrant's "Cherry Pie" music video)as the songwriting and performances on the track are really good,as well as Bobbie Brown's dialogue and background vocals. And besides the album's title track,this CD has several fine moments to offer--"Man In The Meadow" is a good and interesting track that could have used by Guns N' Roses,"(F****d Up)Beyond Belief" and "Punk Rock Song" are very tough and strong songs,while the closing track here,"Lonely Tonite",is a really good jazz influenced track that has some of Duff McKagan's best lyrics and singing. It was a really good way for Duff to close his first solo record. This CD does sound flawed in some areas(especially with the rap song "F**k You" which is a duet between Duff McKagan and Doc Newmann and was written by both McKagan and Newmann),and while it does aim a little bit too much towards ballads,it is,for the most part,a good mixture of hard rock,punk rock,rap music,and jazz all on one album. Duff McKagan's talent as a songwriter and a bassist,for the most part,show here,and while McKagan's singing takes a little getting used to,is actually a bit catchy and pretty much works for any type of music. And not only did Duff do a really good job at putting this album together(there are some tracks on this CD that Duff performs on all by himself!!!),some of the celebrities that appear on this CD as guests(Slash,Lenny Kravitz,Jeff Beck,Sebastian Back,among others)also play a good part in helping make this album bpth sound and be really good.

If you happen to be a huge fan of Guns N' Roses and like/liked the contributions Duff McKagan had to GN'R(singing the GN'R song "So Fine",and co-writing some of GN'R's best material,some of which includes "It's So Easy","Dust N' Bones","Civil War",etc. that are fan favorites among a lot of Guns N' Roses fans)this album is worth checking out. I recommend getting it used and cheap(I like this album,I can see where both the good and bad reviews of this CD are coming from,and this CD is a bit of an acquired taste that is mostly for die hard fans of Guns N' Roses/Duff McKagan),but if you don't own this album and are interested in owning it,you should not hesitate in buying a copy of it.

5 out of 5 stars duff blows the bottle .......2006-01-06

i can't believe people have crictised this album so badly it's a raunchy punk rock record full of great riffs and excellent lyrics yes i must say duff mckagan's voice is unusual but lets not say it's not a bad voice it's a rough around the edges voice but once you get used too it..and once you get used to the diverse music on this album you'll love it like i do it took me 6 listen to love this album so be patiant and let duff have his 5 minutes being a solo artist he made this while the double albums use your ilusions were in the progress...and one song was inially going to be put on use your ilussions
great album from the master who made the bass fashionable
duff mckagan believe in him

3 out of 5 stars believe in this album.......2005-12-18

After avoiding this album for twelve odd years due to the negative things I had heard about it, curiosity got the better of me and I chased up a used copy. What a surprise! There is some really good stuff on here, 10 Years and Lonely Tonite are forgotten gems. Duff tries his hand at styles as diverse as rock, rap, punk and slows it down on a couple of tracks to mellow in the vain of So Fine, his major contibution to the Illusion set. Sometimes it doesn't work, most times it does. In fact, some of these tracks would not have been out of place on the Illusion albums, and could have taken the place of some of the filler including: Get in the Ring, the unnecessary second version of Don't Cry, and the two covers: Live and Let Die(Wings), and the awful Knocking on Heaven's Door(Dylan).

Album Review:

  1. Best of Both Worlds
  2. Best Of The Best
  3. Birth Of A Nation: A Patriotic Celebration Of American Music
  4. Blue Sky Town
  5. But I Do Love You [CD-single]
  6. Chris Murphy Salton Songs
  7. Christmas: The True Meaning
  8. Cloudless Sky
  9. Country Anthems
  10. Country Classics [Box set]

Album Review

Album Review