I Have Returned

I Have Returned

ASIN: B000008L5B

Track Listings

1. Thus Cacked Henrietta (A/K/A/ Also Sprach Zarathustra)

2. Hugo (The Human Cannonball)

3. Vacation Bible School

4. Armchair Quarterback

5. Ballad of the Blue Cyclone, Pt. 1

6. Ballad of the Blue Cyclone, Pt. 2

7. Kiss a Pig

8. Haircut Song

9. Pirate Song

10. Punk Country Love

11. Santa Claus Is Watching You

Tracks:

Dedication
The Nut Tree
You Are Like A Flower
My Love Is In Bloom
Vain Serenade
The Path To The Beloved
When The Sun Shines
Miriam's Song I
Miriam's Song II
Morning Song
Autumn Mood
To Evening
Did I Just Dream?
The First Kiss
The Tryst
Black Roses
Hail Mary
Song To The Moon
Return, Victorious!
I Have Live For Art
Csardas
Somewhere
I Could Have Danced All Night

Customer Reviews:

Soaring Lyric Soprano at Her Best in Diverse Compilation.......2005-05-08

I was fortunate enough to see the magnificent soprano Karita Mattila perform the title role in Janácek's "Kát'a Kabanová" at the Metropolitan Opera last December. A striking blonde and a charismatic presence onstage, she lifted me from my upper balcony seat by the sheer volume of her voice. As this best-of compilation proves, Mattila is an accomplished singer who knows how to wrap her voice around the most challenging of measures and still display a rare communicative gift to all who listen. This wide-ranging collection (recorded from 1995 to 2001) shows how she effectively uses the timbre of her voice to gauge the emotional terrain of a song. It's a testament of her interpretive artistry that you never hear her reaching for an unnecessary flourish.

Mattila's versatility within the Romantic movement is showcased to strong advantage in the Schumann and Brahms selections, where she handles the delicacy of the melodies with lovely economy. Then there are a series of pieces by master composers from her homeland, Finland - Oskar Merikanto, Erkki Melartin, Toivo Kuula and the most famous, Jean Sibelius. It helps that so many of these selections invoke the haunting, desolate beauty of Nordic landscapes, which are ideally infused by the cool radiance of her vocal tone. Especially in the Sibelius sections, you hear how Mattila captures his very powerful modal implications drawn out over a number of notes. Ilmo Ranta accompanies on piano with immaculate skill on all the Romantic and Finnish selections.

From that point, the disc goes into more familiar programming starting with a lovely version of Schubert's "Ave Maria" and an ethereal performance of Dvorak's "Song to the Moon" from "Rusalka" with a rich string accompaniment. More dramatic interpretations follow with her one-two punch of Italian arias: a rousing "Ritorna vincitor" from Verdi's "Aida" and the bitter melancholy she expresses in Puccini's "Vissi d'Arte" from "Tosca". For all intents and purposes, the disc should have ended with the high-flying dramatic runs she displays in her impressive live performance of Strauss' "Klänge der Heimat" from "Die Fledermaus". Jukka-Pekka Saraste masterfully conducts the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra on all these selections.

Alas, the last two tracks highlight Mattila's ability to crossover to Tin Pan Alley. It's arguable as to whether their inclusion is necessary - a harp-introduced rendition of "Somewhere" from Bernstein and Sondheim's "West Side Story", which she sings with thankfully elegant simplicity, and more frustratingly, a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed version of "I Could Have Danced All Night" from Lerner and Lowe's "My Fair Lady", where her Finnish accent betrays her only when she enunciates "dance" with the roundest of o's. Regardless, Mattila is a lyric soprano with powers of expansive generosity, a mature and warm tone in the middle register, and an upper register that effortlessly releases the excitement of an emotional climax. Even with the Broadway tunes, she displays a sophisticated gift for phrasing. Strongly recommended.

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Classic Ray Stevens

I Have Returned
Ray Stevens
Manufacturer: Universal Music & VI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000DWG8
Release Date: 1993-02-10

Customer Reviews:

Classic Ray Stevens.......2006-08-28

There are very few albums I would call classic, especially comedy albums. But, this is Ray Stevens' best ever in my opinion. It has The Ballad Of The Blue Cyclone parts 1&2, The Haircut Song, The Pirate Song, Punk Country Love. There is no need to name them all, because this is an album with no bad songs(the intro is The Theme from 2001 sung by chickens, it caught me off gaurd too. but its funny). This is a well written, well produced album. It is very hard to find on cd and I paid out the nose for it, because I have the cassette and I knew how good it was. He has rerecorded several songs off of this album on the box set and on #1 With A Bullet. However, none of those remakes even come close to the delivery and timing on this album. If you like Ray Stevens, it is well worth the money.

Ritorna vincitor! - The Legandary Birgit Nilsson (2 CDs)

Average customer rating:

Return to Valhalla OhValhalla Goddess
Birgit Nilsson Now Sings In Heaven
Ave Atque Vale, Birgit Nilsson
RIP BIRGIT NILSSON - 5/17/1918 - 12/25/2005

Ritorna vincitor! - The Legandary Birgit Nilsson (2 CDs)

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Wagner: Opera Arias & Duets
Nilsson Sings Verdi

ASIN: B00008MLU4
Release Date: 2003-05-13

Tracks:

Ritorna Vincitor! - John Pritchard
O Don Fatale - Aregeo Quadri
Pace, Pace, Mio Dio! - Argeo Quadri
Nel Di Della Vittoria Io Le Incontrai... Ambizioso Spirto... Vieni T'affretta! - VIRGILIO CARBONARI
Vissi D'arte - Lorin Maazel
Einsam In Truben Tagen - Edward Downes
Starke Scheite Schichtet Mir Dort - Sir Georg Solti
Allein! Weh, Ganz Allein - Sir Georg Solti
Ein Handwerk Verstehst Du Sicher Nicht - Walter Berry
Ah! Du Wolltest Mich Nicht Deinen Mund Kussen Lassen, Jokanaan!... Sie Ist Ein Ungeheuer, Deine Tochter... Ah! Ich Habe Deinen Mund Gekusst - Gerhard Stolze

Tracks:

Dich, Teure Halle - Edward Downes
Mild Und Leise Wie Er Lachelt - Hans Knappertsbusch
I Der Engel - 'In Der Kindheit Fruhen Tagen' - Sir Colin Davis
II Stehe Still! - 'Sausendes, Brausendes Rad Der Zeit' - Sir Colin Davis
III Im Treibhaus - 'Hochgewolbte Blatterkronen' - Sir Colin Davis
IV Schmerzen - 'Sonne, Weinsest Jeden Abend Dir Die Schonen Augen Rot' - Sir Colin Davis
V Traume - 'Sag', Welch Wunderbare Traume' - Sir Colin Davis
Var Det En Drom? (Was It A Dream?) - Bertil Bokstedt
Flickan Kom Ifran Sin Alsklings Mote (The Tryst) - Bertil Bokstedt
Svarta Rosor (Black Roses) - Bertil Bokstedt
Sav, Sav, Susa (Sigh, Rushes, Sigh) - Bertil Bokstedt
Diamanten Pa Marssnon (The Diamond On The March Snow) - Bertil Bokstedt
Hostkvall (Autumn Evening) - Bertil Bokstedt
Varen Flyktar Hastigt (Spring Flies Fast) - Bertil Bokstedt
En Svane (A Swan) - Bertil Bokstedt
Fra Monte Pincio - Bertil Bokstedt
Varen (Spring) - Bertil Bokstedt
Melodi (Melody) - Bertil Bokstedt
Bon Till Natten (Prayer To Night) - Bertil Bokstedt
Skoldmon (Valkyrie) - Bertil Bokstedt
En Gammal Dansrytm (An Old Dance Rhythm) - Bertil Bokstedt
I Could Have Danced All Night - Herbert Von Karajan

Customer Reviews:

Return to Valhalla OhValhalla Goddess.......2006-03-11

Birgit Nilsson was without a doubt the most powerful soprano of the 20th century, even a greater singer than Maria Callas, despite the fact that audiences loved Callas a lot more. Since her death on December 25th, 2005, I've listened to many of her recordings (and there are plenty, she was well-documented on recording). Nilsson was a versatile singer, and not just a Wagnerian specialist. This recording album of various arias represent her versatility and flexibility and even with all these arias of diverse repertoire, it's still not enough to capture her vast prowess. Not featured on here are her accounts of the Baker's Wife in Strauss' Die Frau Ohne Schatten and Minnie in Puccini's La Fanciulla Del West, or Agathe from Weber's Die Freischutz, not to mention her interpretation of Beethoven's heroine Leonore in Fidelio and Venus from Tannhauser. She was known for her ability to sing both Elisabeth (soprano) and Venus (mezzo-soprano) in Tannhauser!!

What we have here are wonderful accounts of arias from diverse operas. Let's analyze some of them, in hopes you can get hooked on Nilsson and check out her full-length opera recordings.

Wagner: Ring Des Nibelungen: Every opera connoisseur knows that Birgit Nilsson was the heir to Kirsten Flagstad's throne when it came to singing Brunhilde. Possessing a superhuman and radiant voice, she found a bit of her Swedish self in the mythic character of the Valkyrie Brunhilde. To me, there is no greater Brunhilde. She had a heroic voice so that the Immolation Scene in Gotterdammerung (featured here) is by far the best account. She appears in the Karl Bohm recordings of the Ring and the studio engineered Ring under the baton of George Solti. TRISTAN UND ISOLDE: Her debut role at the Metropolitan Opera was as Isolde. She masters the role, which is possibly the most difficult in Wagner opera, and essays the high tessitura with great aplomb. Not featured here is the great Curse Aria. The Liebestod was a piece of cake for Isolde, and it is featured here. She sings this well, no doubt, but her only fault is that she could never quiet her voice the way some sopranos could. If anyone had trouble hearing Nilssons' mega voice, something was wrong with their hearing! TANNHAUSER: She was able to sing Elisabeth and Venus, and she got into the character's romantic nature. The Hall Aria is on here and it's great.

STRAUSS: As excting as her Wagner heroines were, her Strauss heroines were just as impressive. She understood the intensity of the music and delved into the character's psyches, even more so than the Wagner roles. As such, her SALOME is largely regarded as the best on record. While she could not physically convince us as a teenage nubile princess who inflammes the passions of her pagan father, she was able to sing the role with electrifying power and frightening madness. If you listen to the Solti recording, you will note how she could get into Salome's twisted mentality starting from the scene in which she asks for Jochanaan's head and the finale in which she kisses the severed head. This final scene is on here, thank God. Her interpretation of ELEKTRA set the bar high for all subsequent sopranos. She once again got into the character's depravity and lunacy. The intensity of the role never took its toll on her and she tirelessly sings the part in a combo of dramatic power and beautiful singing. Please check out her Elektra recording under Solti again, where she is paired with Regina Resnik.

PUCCINI: Yes, Birgit Nilsson sang Puccini and she did a damn good job of it too. Very few critics gave her credit for her superb Puccini heroines. At the Met in the 60's, audiences saw her stage performances of Tosca, Turandot and Minnie from La Fanciulla Del West. Her TOSCA is powerful, unsubtle but dramatically compelling. In the Lorin Maazel recoding opposite Franco Corelli, she was able to make her voice sound more round, warmer and more "Italian". Here we have her "Vissi D'Arte" but she could really deliver in such moments as the Death of Scarpia, the Torture/Interrogation Scene and the Finale. In fact her cry "O Scarpia Avanti Addio!" is possibly the best on record. She sang TURANDOT at the Met opposite Franco Corelli in riveting performances, rivaling any other soprano who sang Turandot at the time. The size of her voice, her regal presence (fashion designer Cecil Beaton made a Chinese Empress costume, complete with a decorative crown, especially for her) and her command of the music made for a stunning Turandot. Check out the EMI recording with Corelli and Scotto.

Verdi: She sang Verdi, though it was not a repertoire she followed up on extensively. Audiences saw her as Lady Macbeth, Princess Eboli, Elisabeth Di Valois (from Don Carlos) and Leonora from Forza del Destino. And of course as AIDA. Her Aida is not the most beautifully sung or the warmest, but in sheer volume and grandness she takes the crown. There is a studio recording she sang opposite Franco Corelli and Grace Bumbry. At the Met, audiences saw her paired with Jon Vickers' Radames. Ritorna Vincitor! Aida's first great aria in Act 1 is on here and it's the title of the album. Her LADY MACBETH is by far her greatest Verdi role. The cold, icy, unfeeling way she sings the part makes her Lady Macbeth by far the most wicked and dramatically convincing. Even without the Italian fire in the belly, she could get into character as good as the rest of them.

SWEDISH SONGS, BROADWAY AND MOZART: Her account of her native Swedish folk songs are lovely, and in her time, legendary, and even in her heyday as an opera singer she would sing Swedish songs on Swedish radio. As a girl growing up in her father's farm, she sung these folk songs which eventually drew the attention of Conservatory instructors and operatic voice coaches. Broadway ? I'm sorry. This is cute and experimental of her to sing "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady but this is not her forte. Her voice is too big for the role of Liza Doolittle and the waltz-like/operetta song is way out of her league. On a final note, Nilsson sang Mozart, namely the part of Dona Ana in Don Giovanni, which is found on at least two studio recordings, the famous one being the one with Cesare Siepi as Don Giovanni and Leontyne Price as Elvira under the baton of Erich Leinsdorf. Her Dona Ana is neither beautiful nor mannered, she sings with the usual Nilsson bravura and attempts to soften her voice but she shows no real command for the Mozart reperotire and again this was purely experimental for her.

LONG LIVE BIRGIT NILSSON! I WILL FOREVER REMEMBER HER AS BRUNHILDE, SINGING WITH SUPERHUMAN POWER AND PASSION IN THAT CLIMATIC IMMOLATION SCENE AT THE END OF GOTTERDAMMERUNG. NO ONE CAN MASTER THAT GRAND SCENE "Fleight Hom, Ih Rabens (Fly home you Ravens!) .."GRANE..MEIN ROSS (Grane My Horse!) HER VOICE GETS STRONGER, HIGHER AND MORE INTENSE, FLYING, FLYING EVER UPWARD TO VALHALLA.

Birgit Nilsson Now Sings In Heaven.......2006-01-22

On December 25th, 2005, the great soprano Birgit Nilsson passed away, and an era went with her. She was singing at a time in the mid 20th century just after World War II when other golden-age singers had made it big at the Met- among them Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi and Victoria De Los Angeles, the latter two which also died only recently. Nilsson will forever be remembered for her Wagnerian heroines- the Valkyrie Brunhilde, Isolde, and for her outstanding Turandot. But Nilsson sang a variety of repertoire, though critics snubbed her in such terrific roles as Beethoven's Leonore in Fidelio, Verdi's Lady Macbeth and Puccini's Tosca, roles which I think suited her well and she sang wonderfully. She also sang Mozart's Dona Anna, though this role for me was not suited to her voice. This album is a tribute to her supreme artistry. Here we have Aida's great aria Ritorna Vincitor! - an aria which is more stentorian and heroic sounding than the lush, lyrico-spinto renditions of such fine Aidas as Renata Tebaldi and Leontyne Price. The aria " O Don Fatale" belongs to Princess Eboli in Verdi's Don Carlo and should rightly be sung by a dramatic mezzo soprano. Nilsson handles the music to this quite well, however. Although she never performed Leonora in Forza Del Destino, the "Pace Pace Mio Dio" in this album is sublime. The rest of the arias include arias from Strauss' Salome, Elektra and Wagner's Gotterdammerung and Tristan And Isolde. Her distinctive voice is well captured on this album and any true fan of the late diva will want to buy this.

Ave Atque Vale, Birgit Nilsson.......2006-01-13

Every opera lover in the world met the news today of the December 25, 2005 passing of Birgit Nilsson with sadness. She was surely one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century, and in Wagnerian roles alone she was the equal of the great Kirsten Flagstadt. From her beginnings as a simple farm girl in Sweden she rose to the top of all of the international opera houses in the three decades when her voice was in full bloom. Her last public performance was in 1984 but she continued her legend in her masterclasses. She was a phenomenon whose glorious voice and presence will be much missed, but at least she has a huge recorded legacy that adds to her immortality.

This 2 CD set is a gathering of excerpts form many recordings and while it does not have the impact of, say, a full performance as Isolde or Brunnhilde or Turandot or Salome, it does offer a generous sampling of the many roles she mastered. Included on this set are arias form 'Macbeth', 'Aida', 'La Forza del Destino', 'Don Carlo', 'Tosca', 'Lohengrin', 'Die Götterdämmerung', 'Elektra', 'Salome', 'Die Frau ohne Schatten', 'Tannhäuser', 'Tristan und Isolde' and songs by Wagner ('Wesendonk Lieder'), Sibelius, Grieg, and Ture Rangström, and yes, even Frederick Lowe! She performs with various orchestras and conductors and pianists.

Not usually one for these 'best of' albums, this one is special, especially with the news that this extraordinary artist whose voice could reach the heavens is gone. An aptly titled memento -Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, January 06

RIP BIRGIT NILSSON - 5/17/1918 - 12/25/2005.......2006-01-12

The opera world mourns the passing of the great dramatic soprano. I never had the fortune to experience her performances live, but her many complete opera recordings and recitals are part of my CD library. This set is a perfect introduction to this diva's art and versatility.

Thank you for the music, Madame Nilsson.

Awake, sweet love... Songs and lute solos by John Dowland and his contemporaries / Bowman · Miller · The King's Consort

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Awake, sweet love... Songs and lute solos by John Dowland and his contemporaries / Bowman · Miller · The King's Consort
John Dowland , Thomas Campion , Thomas Ford , Anonymous , Edward [composer] Johnson , John Danyel , Alfonso (i) Ferrabosco , William Hunnis , James Bowman , David Miller , The King's Consort , and Richard Boothby, William Hunt, Mark Caudle Wendy Gillespie
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000002ZOC
Release Date: 1993-11-18

Tracks:

Can She Excuse My Wrongs?
Author of Light
Flow My Tears
A Fancy
Come, Tread the Paths
Since First I Saw Your Face
Sorrow, Stay
The Most Sacred Queen Elizabeth, Her Galliard
Eliza is the Fairest Queen
Eyes, Look No More
Oft Have I Sighed
Go Nightly Cares
Pavin
Thou Pretty Bird How Do I See
In Terrors Trapp'd
Now, O Now, I Needs Must Part
Preludium
A Fantasie
Say Love if Ever Thou Didst Find
I Die Whenas I Do Not See
The Frog Galliard
Awake, Sweet Love, Thou Art Returned
Tell Me, True Love

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I HAVE RETURNED

Manufacturer: KCP RECORDS
ProductGroup: Classical
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000KVRQ38

Product Description

OUT OF PRINT

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I Have Returned
Atom
Manufacturer: Nebulous Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Trance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0002VER9M
Release Date: 2004-09-21

Tracks:

You've Taken It All
I'm From The Stars
Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft
Everybody's Gotta Learn It Sometime
Under The Stars Tonight
Kinda Like Outerspace
Come With Me
Know Thyself
I Have Returned
Taking A Trip (Muzio Break Mix)
You've Taken It All (Muzio Vs. Atom Mix)
I'm From The Stars (Moon45 Break Mix)
You're Not Alone (Eddie Mix Tribal Dub Mix)

Average customer rating:

Beautiful music and lyrics
Dissapointing

The Pleasures and Follies of Love

Manufacturer: Koch Int'l Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Odes | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005J6ZZ
Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

Adieu To The Pleasures And Follies Of Love
The Pleasures: Dear, Do Not Your Fair Beauty Wrong
The Pleasures: Have You Seen But A Bright Lily Grow
The Pleasures: The Lowest Trees Have Tops
The Pleasures: Welcome To The Pleasures: Here The Deities Approve
The Pleasures: In A Garden So Green
The Pleasures: The Marigold
The Pleasures: Awake, Sweet Love
The Pleasures: Love's Constancy
The Pleasures: 'Twas Within A Furlong Of Edinboro Town
Ye Tuneful Muses, Z.T681: Ground in c 'With Him He Brings The Partner'
The Follies: I Saw That You Were Grown So High
The Follies: Woods, Rocks And Mountains
The Follies: O Solitude
The Follies: O Sweet Woods!
The Follies: The Self-Banished
The Follies: Bess Of Bedlam
The Follies: O Death, Rock Me Asleep
The Follies: Joy To The Person
The Follies: Go Crystal Tears
The Follies: The Faerie Queene: The Plaint

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful music and lyrics.......2004-08-17

I love this CD. When I first got it, I listened to it over and over ... especially the second half. Fine musicianship from the musicians and the singer, I think. I passed it to other baroque aficionados who were similarly delighted. Those not used to baroque instrumentation may think the songs all sound alike. I felt, however, that there was great emotional variety in these many lute songs. Beautiful.

Dissapointing.......2004-01-25

I recently purchased this cd and had high hopes for it, being a fan of such music. When I actually got to listen to it, I was quite dissapointed. All of the songs sound identical, the same voice, and the same tunes. The woman's voice on this CD got a bit annoying since it sounds as if she's singing with her gag reflex. All in all, I'm not very thrilled with this cd.

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Awake, Sweet Love

Manufacturer: Arabesque Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000000T7T
Release Date: 1993-08-11

Tracks:

Come Again
Toss Not My Soul
Fine Knacks For Ladies
Mourn, Day Is With Darkness Fled
His Golden Locks
In Darkness Let Mee Dwell
Lachrimae
What If I Never Speed
Awake, Sweet Love
Away With Thee, Selfe Loving Lads
All Ye Who Love Or Fortune Hath Betray'd
Think'st Thou Then By Thy Feigning
Weep You No More
I Saw My Lady Weep
Tarleton's Riserrectione
Time Stands Still
If My Complaints Could Passion Move
Tell Me True Love
O Sweet Woods
The Lowest Trees Have Tops
Now, Oh Now I Needs Must Part

Average customer rating:

hilarious!

I Have Returned
Ray Stevens
Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Country Comedy | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Thus Cacked Henrietta (A/K/A/ Also Sprach Zarathustra)
Hugo (The Human Cannonball)
Vacation Bible School
Armchair Quarterback
Ballad of the Blue Cyclone, Pt. 1
Ballad of the Blue Cyclone, Pt. 2
Kiss a Pig
Haircut Song
Pirate Song
Punk Country Love
Santa Claus Is Watching You

Customer Reviews:

hilarious!.......2003-08-30

this album came along on MCA in 1985. the album cover is a spoof of General MacArthur in case nobody knew. This is the album in which "The Blue Cyclone" is presented in it's full two part length. I clocked the song a long time ago and i believe that each part is roughly seven minutes each. 14 or 15 minutes for one song is unheard of {except perhaps Don McClain's tedious "American Pie"}.I play "Armchair Quarterback" all the time minus the beer...i replace that with ordinary soda pop! I like the part in the song about "..if Howard Cosell came in now they'd never get out alive" and "don't go outside 'cause the neighbor's dog bites everything he sees". For pure Ray Stevens classic non-sense "The Pirate Song" is the one for you. this Gilbert and Sullivan satire is laugh out loud funny particularly everytime the gay pirate chimes in with "i want to sing and dance". In the sophisticated humor department "The Haircut Song" uses so many jokes and non-sequitur that some listeners will not understand why Ray delivers gibberish in the role of the southern barber. also, in this politically correct time {i'm not a fan of political correctness} there's something on every song that someone will find offensive. I've found that most people take offense to almost anything these days. Stereotypical humor goes back to vaudeville and burlesque houses. Ethnic humor the same way: on "Hugo the Human Cannonball" we hear Ray exclaim in a broad Italian accent: "are ya rea-dy Hu-go?" and the response "i'm a-rea-dy pa-pa!". the gay pirate on the other song is sure to offend the gay community. the gay barber on "The Haircut Song" is another stereotype that the '90s generation has been programmed to protest. On "Vacation Bible School" we hear the tale of a preacher who gets drunk and does impressions of Greta Garbo and Gary Cooper! The only 'harmless' song by political correct standards is "Kiss a Pig", but seeing how nobody is allowed to offend anyone intentionally or not, i wouldn't be surprised if a group of pigs wouldn't protest that song before they meet their maker in the butcher shop! just a thought! great CD all the same.

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Album Review

Album Review