Into My Soul [Enhanced]

Into My Soul [Enhanced]

ASIN: B0000A0DVX

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Smooth Jazz and Memphis Soul come together on Into My Soul, sax star Kirk Whalum's 2003 tribute to his hometown. Featuring guest appearances by Isaac Hayes, Wendy Moten, J. Blackfoot as well as Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice White. 12 tracks including a bonus track, 'Postlude In B Major', plus an enhanced section that contains photos from the recording sessions with narration by Kirk Whalum. Warner Bros.

Into My Soul,Kirk Whalum,Warner Bros / Wea,Crossover Jazz,Jazz,Jazz Music,Jazz-Pop,Pop,Smooth Jazz

Mantras for Madmen
Average customer rating:

Wise words and cool tunes

Love it and Love Harry Manx

exotic, yet strangely timeless

another level for Harry

Mantras for Madmen
Harry Manx
Manufacturer: Dog My Cat Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music
Slide Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music
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In Good We Trust

ASIN: B000BITT1M
Release Date: 2005-11-08

Tracks:

Where Fools Die
San Diego-Tijuana
The Point Of Purchase
Never The Twain
A Single Spark
You Sweet Name
Afghani Raga
It Makes No Difference
Don't Take His Name Away
It Takes A Tear
Nothing Fails Like Success
Talkin' Turban

Customer Reviews:

Wise words and cool tunes.......2007-03-28

I guess the most obvious way to differentiate Harry Manx from his peers is his use of Indian instruments, and in paricular the Mohan Veena. Well, actually what's unique and very refreshing is the way he integrates those sounds into a fusion of Blues and Americana that remind me of some of the other artists I love, but also stands out from them.
For all the exoticism of the instrumentation, Harry's songs are actually pretty accessible, and like the best songs are a bit mysterious in their actual meaning but give you a feeling that he's really saying something. Don't Take His Name Away is a terrific song about life and death and memory. I wonder who it's about.
Another standout song is A Single Spark, which has the trademark Indian sound mixed with an emotive blues sound and an intriguing, memorable lyric.
There's not a bad song on the album, though It Takes a Tear, a duet with a singer who's not really interesting enough, comes closest to being one you might want to skip past.
I like the production, even though it sounds at times almost too clean and bright for Blues. The production favours the sound of the Indian instruments, and the couple of instrumentals using those instruments sound fantastic.
On the whole, one of the best albums I've heard for some time. I can see I'll be enjoying this one for years to come.

Love it and Love Harry Manx.......2007-01-10

I love this CD, I love Harry Manx, he is so blusey and his voice and music is undescrible, I recommend this CD for every blues lover and sitar music lover. Highly recommended.

exotic, yet strangely timeless.......2006-05-17

While most musicians are content to work within the accepted boundaries of their chosen style, lap-slide guitarist Harry Manx likes to color way outside the lines. His crayons? Soulful, raspy vocals, poetic lyrics, and the whining drones and mysterious melisma of Indian music. In addition to picking Hawaiian-style flat-top à la David Lindley, Ben Harper, or Kelly Joe Phelps, Manx plays the mohan veena-a 20-string archtop developed by Indian slide wizard Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. East/West fusions can sometimes sound forced or awkward, but Manx-who studied with Bhatt for five years-dodges that bullet. On Mantras for Madmen, mandolin, banjo, harmonica, tamboura, tabla, and haunting female voices swirl seamlessly around intricate slide melodies, creating an exotic, yet strangely timeless sound. Drawing from blues, ragas, and the story-telling heritage of British Isles folk music, Manx conjures songs that are as bewitching as they are unique.

another level for Harry.......2006-01-20

I've been listening to Manx' blues ever since I caught him in concert here in New Mexico. "Road Ragas" being my favorite until this new release which really showcases his talent at writing songs, let alone the unique Indian instrument (I would write the name but would slaughter the spelling-a sitar/guitar cross)he plays them to. Don't let Mantra in the title sway you into thinking this is true sanskrit mantra (which I also listen to) but I think it is his way of honoring his unique East/West style and he does have a terrific sense of humor which also prevails in his songs. Good go Harry-come back to New Mexico soon!

Average customer rating:

NIce !!
Greatest grooves from the 1980s
JOYCE YOU ARE 10/10 THE 1 AND ONLY QUEEN OF MUSIC
Great 80's Music!!
We Miss Ya Joyce!

Come into My Life
Joyce Sims
Manufacturer: Warlock Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

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Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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The Ultimate Collection
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Cherrelle Greatest Hits

ASIN: B0000010JU
Release Date: 1994-06-21

Tracks:

Come Into My Life
Love Makes A Woman
It Wasn't Easy
All And All
Lifetime Love
A Change In You
Walk Away
The All And All U.K. Remix

Customer Reviews:

NIce !!.......2007-05-17

I bought this CD for the track "Come Into My Life" which has always been a favorite of mine. I didn't expect that the rest of the CD would be as good as it is! I am very happy with this purchase!

Greatest grooves from the 1980s.......2007-02-28

If this album contained only one song, "Come Into My Life", it would still be a classic. In fact, this song is so good, it really puts the rest of the album into the shade. "All and all" is a close second, however. Curtis Mantronik produced "Come Into My Life", "Lifetime Love", "A Change In You" and co-produced and mixed "All And All".

The song, "Come Into My Life" features a very sweet high A flat (the A one ledge line above the treble stave) near the start of song. Joyce Sims sustains it over several bars and sings it without force or drama. We could classify Ms Sims as a soprano.

There is a certain sense of Hip Hop in the drum patterns on this album. Of course, many will know that at the same time this album was released, Mantronik was involved in Mantronix, one of the most musically progressive and interesting Hip Hop outfits in the 1980s.

I can listen to "Come Into My Life" over and over and I think I will always love the title song. It is as great as the greatest slow jams of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, my other favourite producers of this period.

The album was released twenty years ago on the very interesting Sleeping Bag label in 1987.

JOYCE YOU ARE 10/10 THE 1 AND ONLY QUEEN OF MUSIC.......2006-10-07

I remeber this album so well and 1 thing i got to say is to me it was a 10/10 album back in the day and it is the same now i got it in my car cd changer and always have to turn it up when life time love comes on, but i like all the trax there are a very few albums i can rate as 10/10 and come into my life is 1 of them.

joyce simms holds her voice like non other. whitney??? sorry no comparison. i love you joyce pls make another album soon miss your music so much

Great 80's Music!!.......2006-01-27

"All & All' was the Jam!!!! Joyce came out with a unique voice and sounded like no other! and then she released 'Come Into My Life' one of my favorite songs! This was a great debut record from Joyce! It has that great 80's dance style..this cd also contains Joyce's strong cover of 'Love Makes A Woman'(Barbara Acklin, Phoebe Snow) & the big hit 'Lifetime Love', Joyce released a single back 1995 but we haven't got a full length CD since 1989's 'All About Love', Joyce make another CD!

We Miss Ya Joyce!.......2006-01-13

As a club DJ in the '80's "All and ALL" was popular but "Lifetime Love" was the bomb! Joyce has a silky voice that was not diminished by sometimes overly aggressive production.

This album is worth owning just for the above 2 trax.

"Some people listen to remember, some people listen to forget".

Average customer rating:

REALIABLE AND EFFICIENT
Into My Soul
DO U FEEL ME
Kirk at his best
I can feel the humidity in the air

Into My Soul
Kirk Whalum
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0000A0DVX
Release Date: 2003-07-22

Tracks:

Do You Feel Me
Into My Soul
Hold On I'm Coming
Another Beautiful Day
Hoddamile (Hot Or Mild)
I Loved You In Memphis
That's All Right
Memphis Reason
Club Paradise
You Had Me At Hello
Me, Me, & You

Album Description

Smooth Jazz and Memphis Soul come together on Into My Soul, sax star Kirk Whalum's 2003 tribute to his hometown. Featuring guest appearances by Isaac Hayes, Wendy Moten, J. Blackfoot as well as Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice White. 12 tracks including a bonus track, 'Postlude In B Major', plus an enhanced section that contains photos from the recording sessions with narration by Kirk Whalum. Warner Bros.

Customer Reviews:

REALIABLE AND EFFICIENT.......2007-01-10

I ordered two CDs(Into My Soul by Kirk Whalum and Groovin') on the 10th November 2006. I received these CDs intact, on time without any damages.

Into My Soul.......2005-10-12

I was at a basement party when I was just sitting there enjoying the company of others. My cousin had a cd playing various artists yet at random songs were playing off this complilation cd. Then the song "Into My Soul" came on. I bought a copy of it and that one song to this day is on repeat where ever I go, lol! Actually Im not sure of how the rest of the cd sounds. And at this rate I really don't care to know!

DO U FEEL ME.......2005-04-22

I brought this CD because of "cannond's" review. We are Philly Boppers and love to find new music for dancing. The 1st cut "DO U FEEL ME," is awesome for the Philly bop or DC hand dancing.

Kirk at his best.......2004-05-13

This is one of Kirk's best projects and its the bomb.This is one of those cd's that you will listen to without having to skip any tracks. 'I loved you in Memphis' is my favourite and Isaac Hayes and Wendy Morten spiced it up even more. I hope to see more of the BWB projects in future as the collaboration is very good. Keep it up Kirk and dont forget to visit SA again.

I can feel the humidity in the air.......2003-12-10

Listening to this CD is an awesome experience. You can almost feel the New Orleans humidity in the air while listening! "Do You Feel Me" (1st cut) is the perfect track to do the bop (hand-dance). While bopping, you can just drag that foot back real slow and put your back in it! I love this CD and it doesn't hurt that Issac Hayes is singing on it either.

Magdalena Kozená - Love Songs (Dvorak, Janacek, Martinu)

Average customer rating:

On the Subject of Intelligent and Sensitive Recitals
Lovely
A Beautiful Disc
A stunning burst onto the world stage
Wonderful songs, and a singer with great potential

Magdalena Kozená - Love Songs (Dvorak, Janacek, Martinu)
Antonin Dvorak , Bohuslav Martinu , Leos Janacek , Magdalena Kozená , and Graham Johnson
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00004SDO1
Release Date: 2000-08-08

Tracks:

Love Songs: Oh, Our Love Does Not Bloom
Love Songs: Death Dwells In So Many A Heart
Love Songs: Now I Stumble Past The House
Love Songs: I Know That In Sweet Hope
Love Songs: Gentle Slumber Reigns Over The Countryside
Love Songs: Here In The Forest By A Brook
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New Miniatures: Lounging
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New Miniatures: The Cheerful Girl
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New Miniatures: The Request
New Miniatures: The Tall Tower
Songs For A Friend Of My Country: Ponies On The Fallow Land
Songs For A Friend Of My Country: The Lost Little Slipper
Songs For A Friend Of My Country: A Religious Song
Songs For A Friend Of My Country: An Invitation
Four Songs: You Heartfelt Songs
Four Songs: Oh, That Was A Beautiful, Golden Dream
Four Songs: In Pain, My Heart Often Broods
Four Songs: Silence On The Mountains
Lullaby
Songs For One Page: Dew
Songs For One Page: Unlocking With A Single Word
Songs For One Page: Journey To The Beloved
Songs For One Page: The Footpath
Songs For One Page: At Mother's
Songs For One Page: The Virgin Mary's Dream
Songs For One Page: Rosemary
New Slovak Songs: So Tell Me
New Slovak Songs: I Had A Blouse
Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: Who Is The Posy For?
Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: A Lover's Picture
Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: Little Posy
Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: Constancy
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Good Night, My Darling

Amazon.com

The composers Antonín Dvorák, Leos Janácek, and Bohuslav Martinu might not be the names that first spring to mind when love songs are mentioned, yet this fascinating collection gives us a taste of what delights we have been missing. They range from seven Moravian folk songs, collected by Janácek at the turn of the century, to songs written by Martinu in the U.S. in 1942. There's also early Martinu--including songs he collected in Slovakia in 1920--plus the world-premiere recording of Songs for a Friend of My Country, a cycle he wrote in France in 1940 on his way to America. All of these songs are of interest in giving us another aspect of each composer's work; most have much more to offer. Many are achingly lovely, especially those by Dvorák--including his Op. 2, a reworking of four songs from a cycle he had written almost 20 years earlier, and Love Songs, a revision of eight songs from the same cycle. "Good night, my darling," from his 1886 cycle In Folk Tone, is worth the price of this CD alone. Czech mezzo Magdalena Kozená, who put together the program, sings with pure, attractive tone. Graham Johnson is her excellent accompanist. --Richard Fawkes

Customer Reviews:

On the Subject of Intelligent and Sensitive Recitals.......2005-05-19

Combing the recorded literature to find CDs that showcase singers who not only own brilliant vocal gifts but who also possess the intelligence to program recordings of lesser known works in a sequence that makes for intelligent recitals, it is becoming more obvious that there are many singers who opt for purity of purpose rather than 'salesmanship' of careers in the PR arena. Magdalena Kozená is one of these gifted singers whose intelligence and sensitivity match her physical and vocal beauty.

LOVE SONGS is a tastefully selected panorama of lesser-known songs by Kozená's fellow countrymen (Czech) Antonín Dvorák, Leos Janácek, and Bohuslav Martinu. And while many of the Dvorák and Janácek songs have been occasionally heard in recitals, the Martinu "Songs for a Friend of My Country", an exquisitely beautiful work written in 1940, here receives its World Premiere recording. Kozená's voice is in prime condition for these songs and she is ably accompanied by pianist Graham Johnson. The special flavor of these Slavic emotions and songs has rarely been so well captured.

But over and above the beauty of Kozená's performance of these neglected masterpieces shines the glow of her sensitive programming. Recordings such as these are rare and should be included in the libraries of those who appreciate the lieder genre. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, May 05

Lovely.......2004-03-25

This is a beautifully performed selection of Czech lieder. Kozena has a lovely voice and sings with precision and nicely modulated emotion. The accompanying pianist, Graham Johnston, is excellent. Despite the title, not all these songs are love or romantic songs but all are well worth hearing. The selection of songs is excellent. Different listeners will prefer different songs. For me, the highlight of this recording are the rarely heard Martinu songs, many of which exhibit the lyrical aspect of his compositional style. Recommended strongly.

A Beautiful Disc.......2002-01-06

This is simply a magnificent recording. I like it better every time I put it on. The voice is fresh, supple, and expressive. I even find myself trying to learn some of the Czech words (from the translation in the booklet) they sound so nice. Both Kozena and the brilliant piano contributions by Graham Johnson are faithfully caught on the recording. There is enough variety and contrast that one doesn't tire in the least (over the generous 67 minutes of playing time) of hearing these playful, sometimes poignant, songs. One of the best discs, in terms of programming, performance, and sound quality, of the past couple of years.

A stunning burst onto the world stage.......2001-12-17

Magdalena Kozena is suddenly known around the world, thanks to this stunning disc of 42 lieder from her Czech homeland. Most of the songs are short - some come in under a minute, the longest 3-4 minutes. Each is a little gem and many have never been recorded before.

Kozena's voice is sheer delight. She does have resonances in her voice which are reminiscent of her compatriot, Lucia Popp, but is certainly a mezzo - although she has chosen her repertoire well so we hear no strain at the top. Her low resonances are delightful and consistent with her head voice. To compare Kozena's voice to that of the late diva (Popp), it is more pure, more consistent in tone from top to bottom, and doesn't have so much of the `squeezey' quality which Popp used to great effect in evincing the passion of her characters. Kozena can empty her voice of vibrato or let it out rich and full, and uses all her vocal resources to great effect in contrasting the individual songs. She has astoundingly mature lieder-singer's technique for such a young singer.

This recording rightly won a Gramophone award this year. Kozena deserves all the accolades she receives for this - doubtless all listeners will develop their own favourites from these delightful miniatures.

Wonderful songs, and a singer with great potential.......2000-10-08

What a wonderful, carefully thought out CD! Kozena obviously revels in these rarely performed songs by Dvorak, Martinu, and Janacek, and Johnson accompanies with his usual ease and sensitivity. What a pity the piano is balanced distantly -- we hear little of Johnson's variety of touch and dynamics. As for Kozena, she is obviously an intelligent musician with a voice of great potential. It is qutie beautiful as it is, yet the colour is still rather pale. Yes, there is something of the late Lucia Popp's timbre, yet it has little of Popp's depth and range of colour. BBC Legends released a CD of Popp a year ago which includes three Dvorak songs also sung by Kozena. The differences are quite marked -- while Kozena's timbre and interpretation suggests a dreamy yet earnest youth, Popp brings out an autumnal glow and a sharp pain that pierces at least this listener's heart. Kozena has started a wonderful career. Only time will tell how her voice will develop. I do hope it goes in the direction of Popp's unique lyric timbre. No one could ever equal Popp (perhaps it's obvious by now that Popp is my favorite singer of all time), but perhaps Kozena will become something of Popp's heir, while still being her own person. I hope so. But her musicality is not in question. Let's keep our ears open!

Average customer rating:

Finally a Messiah with fervor!
Great recording!
Good and Bad
This is a great recording!

Handel: Messiah

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Christmas at Trinity

ASIN: B00002R16A
Release Date: 1999-11-30

Tracks:

Messiah: No. 1 Overture
Messiah: No. 2 Arioso For Tenor
Messiah: No. 3 Air For Tenor
Messiah: No. 4 Chorus
Messiah: No. 5 Recitative For Bass
Messiah: No. 6 Air For Bass
Messiah: No. 7 Chorus
Messiah: No. 8 Recitative For Alto
Messiah: No. 9 Air For Alto And Chorus
Messiah: No. 10 Arioso For Bass
Messiah: No. 11 Air For Bass
Messiah: No. 12 Chorus
Messiah: No. 13 Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)
Messiah: No. 14a Recitative And No. 14b Arioso For Soprano
Messiah: No. 15 Recitative For Soprano
Messiah: No. 16 Arioso For Soprano
Messiah: No. 17 Chorus
Messiah: No. 18 Air For Soprano
Messiah: No. 19 Recitative For Alto
Messiah: No. 20 Air For Alto And Soprano
Messiah: No. 21 Chorus
Messiah: No. 22 Chorus
Messiah: No. 23 Air For Alto
Messiah: No. 24 Chorus
Messiah: No. 25 Chorus
Messiah: No. 26 Chorus

Tracks:

Messiah: No. 27 Arioso For Tenor
Messiah: No. 28 Chorus
Messiah: No. 29 Recitative For Tenor
Messiah: No. 30 Air For Tenor
Messiah: No. 31 Recitative For Tenor
Messiah: No. 32 Air For Tenor
Messiah: No. 33 Chorus
Messiah: No. 34 Recitative For Tenor
Messiah: No. 35 Chorus
Messiah: No. 36 Air For Alto
Messiah: No. 37 Chorus
Messiah: No. 38 Aria For Soprano
Messiah: No. 39 Chorus
Messiah: No. 40 Air For Bass
Messiah: No. 41 Chorus
Messiah: No. 42 Recitative For Tenor
Messiah: No. 43 Air For Tenor
Messiah: No. 44 Chorus
Messiah: No. 45 Air For Soprano
Messiah: No. 46 Chorus
Messiah: No. 47 Recitative For Bass
Messiah: No. 48 Air For Bass
Messiah: No. 49 Recitative For Alto
Messiah: No. 50 Duet For Alto And Tenor
Messiah: No. 51 Chorus
Messiah: No. 52 Air For Soprano
Messiah: No. 53 Chorus
Messiah: Amen

Customer Reviews:

Finally a Messiah with fervor!.......2005-10-20

I've hunted a thrilling performance of The Messiah through 240 versions so far. This is the best I've found. Some are self-conscious, dutifully singing as instructed. Some are almost childish in their lilt. Some are overblown with so much bombast that you can barely hear the heart of the music. Some are concentrated on faithfulness to the original instruments. If you want a performance that will make you shiver with the power and joy of the music, this is the one. The singers are singing about GLORY. They sound as if they are ecstatic. The musicians are at one with the music and they create a virtual cathedral wherever this CD is played, just close your eyes. Or, let your own imagery, be it celestial, or of great oceans...carry you away.

Great recording!.......2003-09-22

There are so many performances of the Messiah out there that it is very difficult to point to a difinative one, but I'd put this in the catagory of the "very good" ones. As other reviewers have said, every performance is different and has its own character. Each has stronger and weaker points. Here the conductor and musicians have made good, solid musical choices. There is an amazing attention to detail which is not so obvious the first listen through but which makes the piece shine. The tempos seem to be right on, and there is no frivolous over-embellishment by the soloists. There is no attempt to be showey. The dramatic dynamics in the first section of the overture are interesting, but seem to work after you hear it a few times. This performance also includes sections which are often omitted (Second half of "He shall feed his flock," "Thou art gone up on high," "Great was the company of the preachers," and "Death where is thy sting"). I prefer the more intimate quality of a small ensemble of musicians to the mega-performances by the London Philharmonic, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, etc.. As with this performance, the smaller group lends a clarity to the music, where the larger ensembles can get a little "muddy" at times. Just my personal preference. Overall, this is a very good performance, and certainly the low price (being on the Naxos lable) makes this a clear choice.

Good and Bad.......2000-04-09

I was more interested in "The Messiah" for the religious content than as a music critic, but this was too much. The strings are tinny. The orchestra is plodding. The soloists and choir are thankfully very good and seem to understand the meaning of the words. It is a shame the sound mix is uneven. The male parts come across loud and clear, but the poor women. For instance, No. 9 Oh thou that tellest..., the soloist sounded like she was singing in an echo chamber far from the mike. This is one of the most disappointing versions of "The Messiah" I have heard in a long time.

This is a great recording!.......2000-02-11

I was really surprised with the new that the Messiah's New World premiere was held at Trinity Church in October 1770, twenty-eight years after it was written. This fact only will make one proud in having this CD among his collection.

Anyhow, this is nothing more than a historic detail and would not count if this recording had not an outstanding first-rate ensemble of singers. Without doubt there is no definitive version of Messiah. Each one has its own distinctive touch and feeling and exploring it is always a pleasant journey through imagination.

As stated by the conductor: "we must concede that performing Messiah with twenty singers and an appropriately balanced instrumental ensemble represents, at best, an imperfect comprimise", it will be easy to understand that this recording does not stand among the greatest and will probably carry some imperfections. I will mention two that kind of disppointed me a little bit. The Overture and the Chorus Worthy is the Lamb, for some reason misses the habitual vigor and strenght. Everything else is great and this is definitely a worth buying.

Senior Soul/If She Walked into My Life
Average customer rating:

Nice to see it is still in print

They called him "the black Sinatra"

Billy's final two albums for Stax.

Senior Soul/If She Walked into My Life
Billy Eckstine
Manufacturer: Stax
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Stormy/Feel the Warm

ASIN: B000000ZNC
Release Date: 1995-04-28

Tracks:

I'll Always Have Faith In You
A Man Who Sings
A Song For You
Thank You For The Moment
Please Send Me Someone To Love
Today Was Tomorrow Yesterday
Don't Lose Faith In Me Lord
I Believe In Music
Living Like A Gypsy
When Something Is Wrong With My Baby
The Taste Of My Tears
Remembering
I Am Yours
Maybe This Time
Sophisticated Lady
If She Walked Into My Life
The Very Thought Of You
Loving Arms
All In Love Is Fair
Mister, You've Gone And Got The Blues

Customer Reviews:

Nice to see it is still in print.......2006-03-24

This disc is comprised of Billy Eckstines last two albums for Stax/Enterprise. The two albums are 'Senior Soul' from 1972 and 'If she walked into my life' from 1974. It is an interesting slice of musical history, to see how an old ballad-singer from the 40's was getting to grips with the 70's.

First of all, take your hat off to Stax, because they released these obsucre albums on CD fairly early, 1995, (you'll die waiting for a CD copy of 'Moment' from 1971) considering they weren't going to make a huge profit out of the CD. They made the provision solely for those interested in Mr.B.

To the albums, 'Senior Soul' is a tongue-in-cheek title, perhaps commenting on the fact that younger record-buyers aren't interested in older artist (I thik the cover art is also a nice little joke about that). However, the music on 'Senior soul' is probably as contemporary as Billy was going to get. It's very much 70's gospel-soul with a faint hint of jazz and at times Billy shows he's not scared to 'rock out'. It's an interesting album. Many of the songs feature brass arrangements, but my favourite is the more stripped-down rocker 'Today was tomorrow yesterday', with it's country-like twang. The whole album is very much gospel, and it covers many styles of gospel, from slower tunes like 'When there's something wrong with my baby' and 'I'll always have faith in you' to more pop-gospel tracks like 'A man who sings' to more uptempo pieces which are found in plenty throughout the album. I think it is a high-quality album.

The other album, 'If she walked into my life' is a ballad album. Mr.B is in fine voice, and the songs are nice, but for me the highlights are the two openers. 'The taste of my tears' is almost a dizzying array of styles, from gospel, country, adult contemporary, neo-classical. 'Remembering' is a really haunting, wonderful piece featuring some inventive glockenspiel work. The other songs are generally old-fasioned ballad's, featuring big orchestra's and strong vocals. A newer remake of 'Mr. you've gone and got the blues' is included, along with a cover of 'Sophisticated lady'. The one song that differs slightly is 'If you could see me now', a 70's sounding adult-contemporary styled ballad with a country flavour. He hits some really high notes in it. I remember 'All in love is fair' as being a strong song.

Overall, a nice addition to your collection, considering we're lucky to have it. His voice here, even though he was about 60 when this was recorded, is fantastic.

They called him "the black Sinatra".......2003-07-31

I first heard Billy Eckstine singing with Sarah Vaughan. They will always be my favourites. If you lived and loved in the 50's....Billy Eckstine's voice was part of your life. Warm, true, deep. And those signature collars on his shirts. Everyone was wearing "Billy Eckstine collars". He was a great musician and band leader. He was great.... Sarah was great...what a time they had together!

Billy's final two albums for Stax........2003-07-22

By the time of these two albums' release (1972 and 1974, respectively) Billy Eckstine's career was on the wane. "Senior Soul" is a mostly-uninspired album in which producer/arranger Artie Butler gives Eckstine current Pop and R&B hits to interpret--with mostly disastrous results. "If She Walked Into My Life" is an MOR/Jazz Ballad album in which Mr. B.'s rich, liquid baritone excels at interpreting lush, romantic ballads.

Average customer rating:

Perfecting the craft!

Ship to Shore

Manufacturer: Scabbydisc Music (Bmi)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

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General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00006G2T2
Release Date: 2002-09-02

Tracks:

If I Could Make My Dreams Into Movies
I'm Breathing
Radio Man
Open Your Heart To The Sea
Rainbow Wings
Let It Show
Gumbo Jim
Love's Villains
Vague Recollection
Pacific Wonderland

Album Description

Kevin Hendrickson may be the only man on earth who has started two separate buccaneer-themed rock bands. His signature melodies fueled Pirate Jenny in the mid-90s and later helped launch Captain Bogg & Salty's successful "Bedtime Stories for Pirates" CD.

Now Ship to Shore finds Hendrickson again breaking the pop mold with a variety of sounds and styles from the searing rock of "Let It Show" to the nostalgic folk of "Gumbo Jim." Though the album is technically non-themed (at least compared with previous releases) a theme of optimism emerges among tender ballads and blue-eyed soul echoing the songwriting craft of Squeeze or XTC, and the humor of They Might Be Giants.

Ship to Shore features the first-rate rhythm section of Tony Lash and Eric Furlong of Portland's Sunset Valley, John Morgan of Pirate Jenny, and Dave Owen of Captain Bogg & Salty. Other members of Captain Bogg & Salty also contribute their musical skills. The album was engineered by Jeff Saltzman.

The song "If I Could Make My Dreams Into Movies" was recently featured in the ABC Family Channel series "Knock First."

Customer Reviews:

Perfecting the craft!.......2003-08-16

Kevin Hendrickson has been involved in several recording projects -- including Pirate Jenny, Captain Bogg and Salty, and PKExplosion. This is his first 'solo' album, but it is a graceful extension to his other work. With top-notch production and recording, this album is very rich and smooth. The lyrics show a tender side, working with the vulnerable-sounding vocals. The music is pure pop -- in the best way! The songwriting is great, with a refined sense of melody and harmony; a variety of instruments weave in and out, creating a multi-layer texture. My favorite has to be the uptempo romp "Love's Villains."

A.E. Housman: A Shropshire Lad, Complete in verse and song

Average customer rating:

A.E. Housman: A Shropshire Lad, Complete in verse and song
Alan Bates , Anthony Rolfe Johnson , and Graham Johnson
Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005S85Q
Release Date: 2001-12-11

Average customer rating:

The Songs of Frank Bridge

Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000003010
Release Date: 1997-07-08

Tracks:

Sonnet: When most I wink
If I could choose
The Primrose
A Dirge
The Devon Maid
Dawn and Evening
Where'er my bitter teardrops fall
E'en as a lovely flower
Blow, blow, thou winter wind
Go not, happy day
Night lies on the silent highways
A Dead Violet
Cradle Song
Lean close thy cheek
Fair Daffodils
Adoration
So perverse
Tears, idle tears
The Violets Blue
Come to me in my dreams
My pent-up tears oppress my brain
Music, when soft voices die
Far, far from each other
Where is it that our soul doth go?

Tracks:

All things that we clasp
Love is a rose
Dear, when I look into thine eyes
Isobel
O that it were so!
Strew no more red roses
Where she lies asleep
Love went a-riding
Thy hand in mine
So early in the morning
Mantle of Blue
The Last Invocation
When you are old and gray
Into her keeping
What shall I your true love tell?
'Tis but a week
Day after Day
Speak to me, my love!
Dweller in my deathless dreams
Goldenhair
Journey's End

Average customer rating:

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME
a voice teacher and early music fan

George Frideric Handel: Esther

Manufacturer: CORO
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Handel: Jeptha
Handel - Joshua / Kirkby, Bowman, Oliver, Ainsley, George, The King's Consort
Handel: Alexander's Feast
Handel: Joseph and his Brethren / Robert King
Handel - Judas Maccabaeus / Kirkby · Denley · Bowman · MacDougall · The King's Consort · King

ASIN: B0001B0A94
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Tracks:

Overture Andante - Larghetito - Allegro
Recitative Habdonah/Haman: " 'Tis greater far to spare"
Aria Haman: " Pluck root and branch from out the land"
Recitative Persian Officer: "Our souls with ardour glow"
Chorus: "Shall we the God of Israel fear?"
Recitative First Israelite: " Now persecution shall lay by her iron rod"
Aria: " Tune your harps to cheerfull strains"
Chorus: " Shall we of servitude complain"
Aria Israelite Woman: " Praise the Lord with cheerful noise"
Recitative Israelite Woman: " 0 God, who from the suckling's mouth"
Aria Second Israelite: " Sing songs of praise, bow down the knee"
Chorus: " Shall we of servitude complain"
Recitative Priest of the Israelites: " How have our sins provoked the Lord!"
Chorus: "Ye sons of Israel mourn"
Aria Priest ofc The Israelites: "0 Jordan, Jordan, sacred tide"
Chorus: "Ye sons of Israel mourn"
Andante
Allegro
Adagio
Allegro

Tracks:

Recitative Esther/Mordecai: " Why sits that sorrow on thy brow?"
Aria Mordecai: " Dread not, righteous Queen, the danger"
Recitative Esther: "I go before the King to stand"
Aria Esther: " Tears assist me, pity moving"
Chorus: " Save us, O Lord"
Recitative Ahasuerus/Esther: "Who dares intrude into our presence"
Duet Esther/Ahasuerus: " Who calls my parting soul from death?"
Aria Ahasuerus: "0 beauteous Queen, unclose those eyes!"
Recitative Esther: " If I find favour in thy sight"
Aria Ahasuerus: " How can I stay when love invites?"
Recitative Third Israelite/Fourth Israelite: " With inward joy his visage glows"
Chorus: " Virtue, truth and innocence"
Arioso Priest of the Israelites: " Jehovah, Crown'd with glory bright"
Chorus: " He comes, he comes to end our woes"
Recitative Ahasuerus/Esther: " Now, a Queen, thy suit declare"
Arioso Haman: " Turn not, a Queen, thy face away"
Aria Esther: " Flatt' ring tongue, no more I hear thee!"
Recitative Ahasuerus: "Guards, seize the traitor, bear him hence!"
Aria Haman: " How art thou fall'n from thy height!"
Chorus: "The Lord Our enemy has slain"

Album Description

Handel's oratorios vary greatly in their presentation. In many ways, Esther is a rarity;it is by far the most intimate, not surprisingly as it was composed for the Duke of Chandos. The Duke's Palladian palace near the village ofEdgware had not been completed in time for the first performance so this may have taken place (as did Acis and Galatea) in the intimate surroundings of a small church, St Lawrence, Whitchurch.

We decided, therefore, that we should attempt to convey that intimacy of performance on disc; so we performed in the round with microphones in the middle, the orchestra in front of me, the choir behind and the soloists alongside. The result is everything that chamber music should be where players and singers can enjoy every aspect of Handel's masterpiece.

"The 'sound' of Esther, superbly communicated in the recorded performance here, is pure enchantment... The choral singing has an exceptional grandure, and the instrumental playing a shimmering beauty. Among the soloists, none of whom is less than accomplished, Nancy Argenta and Michael Chance dominate... Both singers affirm a new golden age of Handel interpretation".

Customer Reviews:

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME.......2007-01-26

Esther is the first of Handel's oratorios by a good many years, written when he was 33 and enjoying the patronage of the Duke of Chandos. When he later became his own impresario and was running into trouble as a composer and producer of Italian operas he turned to oratorio as a strategic alternative, but at this early date his concern was to deliver staged entertainments for the Duke, and Esther, contemporary with the work that later gained the title Acis and Galatea, seems to have been just an unusually serious specimen of its type.

As often with Handel, there is no fully official version of the score, and this particular score may not even be fully complete from any point of view. The libretto seems to have been the work of someone in the frivolously named association of big literary figures called the Scriblerus Club, perhaps Dr John Arbuthnot, dedicatee of Pope's great poetic Epistle, but Pope himself may have had a hand in it too. As we have it here, the work breaks into two very asymmetrical parts. Scenes 1 and 2 start with a recitative lasting only seconds from Habdonah followed by a longer one in which Haman announces his onslaught on the Israelites, and from there on feature only anonymous participants. Esther herself and the other named characters make their appearance first in scene 4, but the change of tone occurs in scene 3. At this point the music gains gravity first in the chorus Ye sons of Israel with its extraordinary modulations and then in the striking aria O Jordan, Jordan. I myself feel that this weightier tone is maintained to the end, whether or not the writer of the liner note is correct in saying that the long final chorus with solos is out of proportion to its context.

Throughout - in the first part as well as in scenes 3-6 - the instrumental writing is vivid and varied, with an extraordinary pizzicato accompaniment to Tune your harps and then an even more extraordinary obbligato from the harp itself at Praise the Lord. The harpist is no less than Jan Walters, but sometime I would like to see the score and check out what seem some odd rhythmic interactions here between her and the soloist Nancy Argenta. There are no fewer than ten vocal soloists in a work lasting a little over an hour and a quarter, and a very distinguished bunch they are. I was particularly pleased to find Michael Chance in the countertenor role of the Priest of the Israelites as I admire the strength of his tone, but there is no real weakness among them, unless Lynda Russell as Esther has a couple of very slightly awkward high notes in Flatt'ring tongue, which must be a little nerve-wracking to sing as she has to find her note for herself unaccompanied at the start and later at the reprise. You will see some big names among the instrumentalists too, with Crispian Steele-Perkins on the trumpet making a predictably fine contribution towards the end, and of course with Jan Walters in that marvellous harp part early on. The chorus gets some wonderful work to do, and rises to it fully. I really am unable to worry about the proportionateness of the final chorus when I hear that incomparable Handelian build of tone, sung by 18 singers and sounding as if there were 100.

There is a good liner note by Graydon Beeks Jr, not perhaps the last word in lucidity (neither is the plot of the libretto come to that) but worth re-reading. Harry Christophers himself contributes a short foreword largely concerned with the recording process and highlighting the contributions of Mark Brown and Mike Hatch, his long-time technical collaborators. I was interested to see also the name of Geoff Miles in a role described as `editor'. What responsibilities this involved is not stated and perhaps I ought to know without being told, but I know the work of Geoff Miles as recording engineer from elsewhere and it gave me confidence just to see that he is involved in the proceedings, and the technical work is predictably excellent.

My collection of Handel oratorios is now almost complete, and what a wonderful musical experience they are. Each is unique in its own way, but Esther is unique in some very special ways, and I suggest that you do not wait until you are my age to get to know it.

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-04-04

Handel began composing the oratorio 'Esther' in 1718. There is some confusion as to who actually worte the libretto for it, but the story follows very closely the biblical story of Esther in the Book of Esther in the old testament. The story tells of a plot of Haman, the Agagite (Michael George-bass) jealous and powerful vizier of King Xerses (Ahasuerus-Tom Randle-tenor) of Persia(485-464), to destroy in a single day all the Jews living in the Roman Empire. He is moved to this out of hatred for the Jewish servant Mordecai (Mark Padmore-tenor),who for religious motives refuses to render him homage. The day of the proposed massacre is determined by lot. Meanwhile, Esther,niece and adopted daughter of Mordecai, is chosen Queen by King Xerses. She averts the pogrom planned against her people and has the royal decree of extermination reversed against Haman and the enemies of the Jews. Mordecai replaces Haman, and together with Esther, works for the welfare of their people. As you can see this makes for an interesting Oratorio, which it truly is!
This is a "small" contribution compared to many of Handel's other works. However, it is not "small" in a musical sense. There is much creativity on the part of Handel as to orchestral scoring; he exploits his small orchestra and chorus in surprising ways, introducing new vocal and instrumental colours throughout the score, adding and subtracting instruments and voices in many and varied ways. This is a listening surprise as it moves along. And what a great performance on the part of the Christophers as well as some outstanding vocal soloists. Mark Padmore's (Mordecai) aria "Tune Your Harps to Cheerful Strains" was superb as was the Duet between Lynda Russell (Esther) and Tom Randle (Ahasuerus).But the aria that really drew me into the entire drama was sung by Michael Chance (Priest) "O Jordan, Jordan, sacred Tide." It was perfection itself!!!!The Chorus was extremely good and dictionally perfect. It is a great listening experience.

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Jazz Music

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