The Swing Album

The Swing Album

ASIN: B000058TBQ

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
The World got it's first taste of Jools Holland's musical abilities when, at age 15, he co-founded Squeeze with Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook. Then he helped create the modern swing craze when Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra released The Full Compliment album in 1991. Valley Entertainment is proud to present a compilation of his UK swing albums simply titled The Swing Album. The songs on this CD come from the U.K. releases: The Full Compliment, Live Performance, Sex & Jazz & Rock & Roll, and Lift The Lid.

When the 18-piece band is not touring, they can be found backing Holland and his guests on the Later... with Jools Holland TV show on BBC America. Jools was also seen in the U.S. in the early '90's as the co-host of NBC's Night Music program along with David Sanborn.

Tracks:

Sultans Of Swing
Lady Writer
Romeo And Juliet
Tunnel Of Love
Private Investigations
Twisting By The Pool
Love Over Gold (Live)
So Far Away
Money For Nothing
Brothers In Arms
Walk Of Life
Calling Elvis
Heavy Fuel
On Every Street
Your Latest Trick (Live)
Local Hero / Wild Theme (Live)

Amazon.com

This compilation repeats seven tracks from 1988's Money For Nothing anthology. Given that Mark Knopfler and crew have recorded one new album during the decade between best-of collections, how different could Sultans of Swing be? For one thing, CD dominance has made for longer compilations, and this one is fleshed out by singles, three tracks from 1991's On Every Street, and Knopfler's solo "Local Hero" theme, performed live. More importantly, the second track here is the band's terrific second single, "Lady Writer," previously only available on the otherwise dismal Communiqué LP. Five tracks from Dire Straits' huge Brothers in Arms LP appear here, but only two tracks surface from Making Movies, the group's pinnacle achievement. Ultimately, if you own Making Movies and this compilation, you own the essential Dire Straits. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews:

Sultan Schmultan.......2007-06-10

This work has there more famous hits, and a bunch of secondary ones if you ask me. Stick to their first album. Good tunes, but they start to sound lot alike after awhile.

Great Band, so-so Collection.......2007-03-04

While this was as good a compilation of Dire Straits as you could find for a time, the recent "Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler" ups the ante for two reasons. First and foremost, on that 2-disc collection, the Dire Straits songs are included in their full length versions (edited versions are here for "Money For Nothing" in particular), and the live cuts - especially "Love Over Gold" - are replaced with studio versions. Since Dire Straits were always a product of studio perfections and the belief that great things last longer than 4 minutes, losing almost half of "Money For Nothing" just isn't acceptable.

Secondly, the "Private Investigations" set has its second disc devoted to the best of Mark Knopfler's solo career. Since that was madly uneven, it beats his spotty solo albums. Here, "Local Hero" is the only solo track, and again in a live version.

While I have long been a fan of Dire Straits ("Love Over Gold" and "Brothers In Arms" were the two CD's I often used to show off - gawd I'm Getting Old - the brand new CD player and its spanking new technology), "Sultans Of Swing - The Very Best Of" under represents the band. On the other hand, "Private Investigations" leaves off "Heavy Fuel" and the goofy "Twisting By The Pool." That was the first time Knopfler showed off his sense of humor prior to (the also missing) "Industrial Disease." ("Private Investiagtions" also completely ignores the "Communique" album).

I have a few personal favorites here. The shock of hearing "Sultans Of Swing" during the period of all things Clash or Sex Pistols has never worn off. As a calling card of Mark Knofler as new guitar hero, it remains very hard to beat. The Noir detective tale of "Private Investigations" has long affected me, as has the call for understanding of "Brothers In Arms." My personal favorite missing songs are "Skateaway" and "The Bug." But since they appear on neither collection, maybe Knopfler isn't too keen on them, either.

So while you may finds yourself drawn to the more expansive collection, if you're a casual listener, "Sultans Of Swing" will do ok. Just be aware that the two songs you probably most want here are trimmed from their LP versions. If you are really interested in them, starting with the debut album or the still incredible "Brothers In Arms" is an even better bet than this particular Dire Straits best of.

That's what I call music.......2007-02-03

Although not a Dire Straights loyal fun, when I heard this CD I realised what makes this band so special. It's not only the classic quality rock tunes, nor the deep and warm texture of the lead vocals. This CD rocks because you literally feel the songs. The quitar inputs and the general orchestration of this collection are simply exquisite, the melodies so symmetrically beautiful that you keep repeating the song inside you even when you're not listening to it. My favourite track is the 'Tunnel of love', so full of youth and nostalgia, I almost cry when I replay it, over and over again.
Do not hesitate. This is good rock material.

The Best of Dire Straits.......2007-01-10

The case was broken, other than that everything is fine.

Best dire straits........2006-12-26

I was a dire straits fan for several years. i have all their cds. i even have all their lps too and one of their cassettes and 45s. i have it all.
this is where i began when i was first a fan to dire straits back in may 2002. my dad introduced me to mark knopfler and i liked him a lot. he was a great guitar player and singer too he can sing really well. this is very good for beginners who want good taste in music. this has all the great songs.sultans of swing,lady writer,tunnel of love,money for nothing,calling elvis,and heavy fuel are maybe all the greatest songs this compilation has. there are a few bad songs on this,private investigations isn't a song at all,it puts me to sleep and there could have been better choices like telegraph road or industrial disease. another bad song could probably brothers in arms,ooh man that song makes me cry because it is a song about war.and the live tracks arent that great i wish those were removed from this.romeo and juliet was great for a while then got tired of that! go ahead.most of the songs are really good,get this with mark knopfler's sailing to philadelphia,ragpickers dream,golden heart and love over gold. recommended.

Average customer rating:

Five Stars Worth of Old Fashioned Romance, Bryan Ferry Style
The True Jazz Romantic That Is Ferry..These Foolish Things..
A surprisingly weak album from a great vocalist
Great record
Excellent

As Time Goes By
Bryan Ferry
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Another Time, Another Place
Frantic
These Foolish Things
Flesh + Blood
Boys and Girls

ASIN: B00001ZSTJ
Release Date: 1999-10-19

Tracks:

As Time Goes By
The Way You Look Tonight
Easy Living
I'm In The Mood For Love
Where Or When
When Somebody Thinks You're Wonderful
Sweet And Lovely
Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable To Have Lunch Today)
Time On My Hands
Lover Come Back To Me
Falling In Love Again
Love Me Or Leave Me
You Do Something To Me
Just One Of Those Things
September Song

Amazon.com

No stranger to covers, Bryan Ferry has often opted for classics from other times and places. As Time Goes By focuses on music largely from the 1930s and '40s and conjures that era's aura of fine cigars, sateen gowns, and gentlemanly romance. The opening title track summons images of Bogie and Ingrid, and is one of the finest moments in the collection. The swanky versions of Nina Simone's signature "Love Me or Leave Me" and "I'm in the Mood for Love" (which has a faint Martin Denny overtone) are perfectly suited to Ferry's low-key vocals (he's no real crooner, let's face it). His talented band swings with fervor, especially on the upbeat tunes "The Way You Look Tonight," "Lover Come Back to Me," and "Just One of Those Things." There are a number of intimate, romantic moments, but the highlight is Ferry's take on "Falling in Love Again," first made famous way back when with devastating sadness by Marlene Dietrich. Ferry's version is almost as moving. --Lorry Fleming

Amazon.com

Bryan Ferry Photos

More from Bryan Ferry

Boys and Girls
The Bride Stripped Bare
The Foolish Things

Mamouna
Let's Stick Together
Bryan Ferry in Concert

Customer Reviews:

Five Stars Worth of Old Fashioned Romance, Bryan Ferry Style.......2007-04-20

I bought this album for three reasons:
1. These old classic songs are great. After hearing them many times for many years I never tire of them
and I always find them romantic and moving; and as with a previous reviewer, they transport me to
another time and place.
2. The band on this CD is absolutely first-rate and the musical arrangements are perfectly matched to the
time period and lyrics of each song.
3. I love Bryan Ferry's unique, not-to-be-mistaken-for-anyone-else's voice. It really goes great with this
music.
As a bonus, Amazon.com's low price for this album was way below what I expected to pay.

The True Jazz Romantic That Is Ferry..These Foolish Things.........2007-01-11

Bryan Ferry to me always symbolized the lone romantic, the crooner who wished he was living in the 20's and 30's in the days of early Jazz.. and I say this as a die hard Roxy fan since their 1st LP came out.Ferry's obsession as a time traveller was always something that drew me to Roxy which were truly in an unclassifiable class all of their own as giants of their day whose music will always hold up even in a hundred years from now.
Fusing the right sonic contemporary details to his solo studio recordings adding a continental feel and ambiance to his amazing output of covers and styles Ferry deals with throughout his solo career all smack of "great" taste and added elegance, no doubt I would say that all future rock historians would add this in describing his music which was always Royal and lush.
Roxy's then use of sax and oboe were pretty amazing stuff adding tremendously to their sonic impact and Ferry is able to add interesting twists even when redoing his homage to his choice of covers.
On this CD covering the likes of Cole Porter,Rodgers@Hart,using jazz and violin,cello arrangements, all convey a limited appeal to the usual rock fan but for those who also listen to Satchmo and Holiday, will all understand the nod to bygone eras and it's greatness.

A surprisingly weak album from a great vocalist.......2006-09-07

Make no mistake; I love Bryan Ferry. I got this album after hearing "Falling in Love Again" (which granted is one of the rare winners on this crooner's CD) at a restaurant. The rest of the CD is so-so, and Ferry's voice wavers surprisingly over some of the note arrangements. Instead of the robust voice that melts thorugh songs like "Limbo" and "More than This," his performance is oddly tinny. Stick to his Roxy Music catalog.

Great record.......2006-06-30

I've just read every single review that appears before mine, and I'm amazed to see so many comparisons of Mr. Ferry's renditions to "the originals". WHAT originals? Most of these songs were written for Broadway, and all of them were written before the first ever cast album, "Oklahoma!", was released.

The term "cover", by the way, doesn't mean what a lot of people seem to think it means. Once singer X pays a songwriter a chunk of money for a song and records it, singer Y can then record the song virtually for free (not counting royalties, of course) and release his recording concurrently so as to cut into singer X's sales. Such a recording, and only such a recording, is properly called a cover. A recording of the song made after singer X's recording has had its run is not a cover. Chubby Checker's rendition of "The Twist" is an example of a cover because it was released very shortly after Hank Ballard's rendition, and with a big push from Dick Clark (who'd masterminded the operation) it quickly swamped Ballard's. "The Twist" became a hit again in 1989, but the 1989 version was not a cover because it did not cut substantially into the sales of Hank Ballard's record, which had eclipsed decades before (nor did it cut into Chubby Checker's, for that matter).

Excellent.......2006-06-13

Note please that this is NOT a "cover" album; you cannot possibly "cover" a standard, thank you very much.

Ad rem: One way to appreciate the quality of this record is to compare it to the Rod Stewart release of the same title. Whereas the Stewart recording ranges seemingly randomly over the years, this one focuses much more coherently on a single decade. It is stylistically consistent, with just a few fairly subtle anachronisms, delicately chosen. A great deal of care, including authorative historical research, obviously went into the arrangements (the ondes martinot on several songs is an inspired touch), but they are nevertheless always lively and never stiff. Stewart's arrangements, in contradistinction, are schmaltzy, gooey, and otherwise haphazard. (He even resorts to "synth strings" on several songs.)

It's true that Ferry is not in posssession of a powerful singing voice, but, in my opinion, the panache, wit, and intelligence in his delivery more than make up for any vocal deficiencies.

Average customer rating:

i love this album inside out
Diana's Tribute CD
good tribute Album
I am soooooooooo hungry!
Beatiful album cover, good idea, too big a variety of music

Diana Princess of Wales Tribute
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Something About the Way You Look Tonight
Diana, Princess of Wales, 1961-1997: The BBC Recording of the Funeral Service
NBC News Presents: Diana Revealed, The Princess No One Knew
A Dress for Diana
Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin

ASIN: B000002C4U
Release Date: 1997-12-02

Tracks:

Who Wants To Live Forever - Queen
You Have Been Loved - George Michael
Angel - Annie Lennox
Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace - Sinead O'Connor
Miss Sarajevo - Passengers
Shakespeare's Sonnet No. 18 - Bryan Ferry
Little Willow - Paul McCartney
Tears In Heaven - Eric Clapton
Everybody Hurts - R.E.M.
Streets Of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen
Don't Dream It's Over - Neil Finn
Hymn To Her - The Pretenders
Love Minus Zero/No Limit - Rod Stewart
In The Sun - Peter Gabriel
Watermark - Enya
Love Theme From 'A Star Is Born' (Evergreen) - Barbra Streisand
Every Nation - Red Hot R&B All Stars
I'll Fly Away - Aretha Franklin

Tracks:

I'll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy
Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
Gone Too Soon - Michael Jackson
You Were Loved - Whitney Houston
You Gotta Be - Des'ree
Hero (Live Version) - Mariah Carey
Prayer For The Dying - Seal
Missing You - Diana Ross
Wish You Were Here - Bee Gees
How Could An Angel Break My Heart - Toni Braxton
Love Is A Beautiful Thing - Tina Turner
All That Matters - Cliff Richard
Mama - Spice Girls
Don't Wanna Lose you - Gloria Estefan
Stars - Simply Red
Ave Maria - Michael Bolton
Pavane - Lesley Garrett
I Am In Love With The World - Chicken Shed

Amazon.com

Given the multimedia frenzy that accompanied Princess Diana's untimely death, it's somehow appropriate that the tragedy should inspire this album--a 2 CD set featuring 36 old and new tracks by an array of international stars--with a portion of the proceeds going to a Memorial Fund established in the late Princess' name. But, with Diana's death as the only unifying thread (and a tenuous one at that), it's not a particularly consistent or cohesive listen. But it's hard to argue with such an impressive array of stars including Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, the Spice Girls, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Puff Daddy, Aretha Franklin, R.E.M., Sinead O'Connor, Seal, George Michael, Des'ree, Bryan Ferry, and Michael Bolton (joining opera star Placido Domingo to perform "Ave Maria"). --Scott Schinder

Customer Reviews:

i love this album inside out.......2007-05-02

I borrowed this album like 10 years ago from a friend of mine. and it's just great! my all time favorite "Shakespeare's Sonnet No. 18" by Bryan Ferry; Amazing Aretha Franklin's "I'll Fly Away"; Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Philidelphia", Puff's "I'll Be Missing You", "Who want's to live forever" by queen, Touching; Mariah's Wonderful live performance on "Hero", "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion, also my farovite; etc.

And ten years later, i finally own this album. It's still unbelievablly good! I think that's what we called classical, everlasting. just like Diana.

Diana's Tribute CD.......2006-04-28

I still love listening to the music on this 2 CD set.
After reading the negative review 2 comments down from me, I had to remark.
The music on this CD is what should have been reviewed, not your opinion of Diana.
If you were so "blindly" drunk and forgot you had heard the night before, how exactly did you remember then the next day?
As for going on about Diana's character, I don't ever recall hearing about her getting so blasted that she started having blackouts.
She did alot more for people within a few years than it sounds like you have done your entire pathetic life. You waste your time on booze and the internet. She spent hers helping mine victims.
Get a clue....

good tribute Album.......2006-01-02

alot of great talent paid tribute to lady Diana. my favorite track is "Every Nation" which was Composed&produced by the World Music GLobal King R. Kelly . this Disc has alot of Good material&great talent through out.can't believe it's been almost 10 years since Lady Diana passed.still very uplifting.

I am soooooooooo hungry!.......2002-02-08

As I was listening to this c.d., I got such an appetite! ;) i WAS LIKE, i'M GONNNA GO GET A BOWL OF CEREAL, AND IT WAS LIKE 4 IN THE AFTERNOON! LOL Sorry that I've been typing in caps. lol
The best thing about this c.d. is that it's all Priness Dianay and it helps us all feel that we somehow are/were a part of her life when in reality she had no idea who we were and probably didn't care about. I like to feel important. Gotta go eat! lol ;)

Beatiful album cover, good idea, too big a variety of music.......2002-01-21

I got this album when it first came out, like so many of us did, and was a little disappointed. Many musicians contributed to this album, some of them first released their songs here, but the variety is too great. While I like the idea of a tribute to the Princess this double album is a very strange mix of music, I've always wondered how someone came up with the selection. I do like many of the selections, but was this list compiled from artists in Diana's colllection of recordings or did various family members come up with people they liked? I do like the idea that someone thought to include "I am in love with the world" by Chicken Shed, they are a childrens group that the Princess was a Patron of.

Rockabilly Riot, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Sun Records

Average customer rating:

"Suprisingly Authentic Record From Neo-Billy Kingpin Setzer!"
Education in Rockabilly
"History of Rockabilly 101" little bit of a bore
A rockin' tribute
Wow

Rockabilly Riot, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Sun Records
Brian Setzer
Manufacturer: Surfdog Records Ada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Ultimate Collection: Recorded Live
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13

ASIN: B0009U7FM2
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Tracks:

Red Hot
Slow Down
Real Wild Child
Rockhouse
Put Your Cat Clothes On
Lonely Weekends
Get It Off Your Mind
Just Because
Glad All Over
Flatfoot Sam
Rock 'N Roll Ruby
Blue Suede Shoes
Tennessee Zip
Mona Lisa
Peroxide Blonde in a Hopped Up Model Ford
Get Rhythm
Stairway To Nowhere
Boppin' The Blues
Rakin' and Scrapin'
Sweet Woman
Flyin' Saucer Rock and Roll
Lonely Wolf
Red Cadillac and a Black Moustache

Album Description

This is the first of a multi-volume series where Brian will pay tribute to the music that influenced him, and in turn, made him one of the most influential musical figures of the last 25 years. Here are 23 amazing rockabilly songs (some hits, some obscure gems) that helped define an era. Setzer is determined to do whatever it takes to reach as many people as possible so they too can discover the music that has gone underappreciated for too long.

Customer Reviews:

"Suprisingly Authentic Record From Neo-Billy Kingpin Setzer!".......2007-06-18

Who've thought that one of the most authentic rockabilly albums in recent years would come from the former STRAY CATS front man and neo-swing pioneer Brian Setzer? Not this DJ! Mr. Setzer has always been an accomplished and talented guitarist/singer, kind of like our "rockabilly ambassador" to the outside mainstream world, but in recent years you'd be hard pressed to find many of his songs on rockabilly playlists around our retro-rockin' scene. Not that any of his post-Cats material was pedestrian -far from that. It's just that his slick, effortless and oft-times `overproduced' studio sound seemed a bit out of sync with the more "traditional" sounds emanating from the modern rockabilly revival.

Now, I can't help but admit that I've dug the Stray Cats since day one -you might even say that they were an early, unseen hand nudging me towards this retro rockin' lifestyle. "Rockabilly Riot! Volume One: A Tribute To SUN Records" brings Brian full circle back to those early inspirations as he headed back to the hills -the Tennessee hills actually, to record a heartfelt, sparse and authentic paean to those artists and the songs of Sam Phillips little/big studio on Union Avenue in Memphis. Using just piano, sax and acoustic guitar (when necessary) to augment the traditional "SUN" rockabilly sound (electric guitar, standup bass and simple drums), Brian has not only created a near perfect rockabilly primer, but also a heartfelt testament to the quality and timeless brilliance of SUN Records. His commitment to the album's concept was even carried over to the equipment used: strictly vintage mics and reverb/echo created by an old 1800's era water cistern found behind the house! This is a superb record that you wouldn't mind handing to a stranger or friend who wants to know what all this "rockabilly" fuss was about.

Generous quantity of material here -23 tracks! Great selection of straightforward standards and brilliant obscure-o-billy nuggets: you can't have a SUN tribute without BILL RILEY'S "Red Hot" & "Flying Saucer Rock And Roll," CARL PERKINS "Blue Suede Shoes" or JOHNNY CASH's "Get Rhythm." But what makes this album really rev right are all the rarely heard numbers like ROY ORBISON's "Rockhouse," "JACK EARL's "Slow Down," JERRY LEE LEWIS's "Real Wild Child," DEAN BEARD's "Rakin' And Scrapin'"," KENNY PARCHMAN's unissued "Get It Off Your Mind," and TOMMY BLAKE's "Flatfoot Sam" -all performed with wild abandon and informed flair by some of the best musicians in Nashville.

STAND-OUT HOT ROD TUNE: Dig the rowdy rollin' and rockin' "Peroxide Blonde In A Hopped Up Model Ford," unissued '57 track by SUN alum "Jumpin'" GENE SIMMONS. One of the coolest hot rod tracks ever, finally completed & committed to tape with a powerful `jived up' overhaul. That's Mr. Simmons himself on backup vocals and heard muttering at the end: "Think about it, killer!"

"Rockabilly Riot!" has lots of comfortable SUN covers, but also plenty of powerful surprises hidden deep under the hood. This is the album we all knew that Mr. Setzer could make if he ever got back to his roots. Now let's see if he leaves them Hollywood hills to tour in support of this rockabilly gem...!

-Del Villarreal, MOTORBILLY RADIO, del@motorbilly.com

Education in Rockabilly.......2007-01-01

If you don't know what Rockabilly is or are just getting into it here, this is a great transition to hear Brian's versions of Classic songs that every Rockabilly player does.
**WARNING: This CD might make you search out and collect many obscure and unheard of artists in the Amazon Archives! May be hazardous to your financial health.**
I did not heed the warning and am happily collecting artists I'd never heard of.

"History of Rockabilly 101" little bit of a bore.......2006-05-24

Just like some classes, it sounds interesting and intriguing, but once you sign up it's not what you expected. So you suffer though the semester, endlessly kicking yourself for enrolling in a class that sounded good, but wasn't what you thought it would be.

It's not until well after you've graduated do you really appreciate the experience.

Riot seems a lot like that to me. The high level of detail in recreating some popular tunes of the 50's sounds initially interesting, but my first impression was one of disappointment. I was hoping Brian would kick it up a notch, add a little Ignition style fire into the recordings, but Mr. Setzer, like a school teacher had a certain agenda and he stuck with it. "That kind of style didn't exist in that erra," he would lecture the class.

I stick to my guns and really, really want Brian to make another over the top guitar record like Ignition, but at the same time, I have learned to appreciate this record for what it is. It is honestly a record that is unlike anything else in my collection.

I will probably begin to appreciate this record more as I grow older. For now, I never get tired of Brian's over the top mixture of jazz/blues/country/swing that has me dropping my jaw. I'm not interested in a tamer scaled down version...just yet. Maybe I will later.

So, whenever I feel like enrolling in Rockabilly school, I just pop this disc in.

A rockin' tribute .......2006-05-16

Rockabilly Riot, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Sun Records is a fantastic homage to some of the best American music ever recorded. Setzer's musicianship is top-notch; more proof that he's probably the best rockabilly (and swing) guitarist to ever live. His voice is golden, sounding much better than on some of his recent recordings of original material.

The album captures the energy and emotion of the Sun Records rockabilly classics, stays true to it, but improves on it with updated recording technology. The paradox is that the recordings are so clean, they lack a bit of the rawness of the 50's recordings.

Being a collection of covers, it has built-in limitations. When trying to pull something like this off, the artist is trapped between trying to bring something fresh to the material without straying too far from what made the songs great in the first place. Inject too much of yourself into someone else's song, and you're accused of heresy, betrayal. Introduce nothing new to the songs, and you're panned as boring and unoriginal. Setzer avoided the horns of that dilemma by revitalizing without ruining these classic songs.

Fans of the original Sun Records artists should be glad that the material is being re-introduced to the public in a very reverential way. Setzer fans should be pleased by the fire in his playing and singing. The songs are a lot of fun. Listening to this album reminded me of why early rock n' roll was so stirring, inspiring, energizing to that first generation of fans - something 50 years later we tend to take for granted.

Wow.......2006-05-12

Just "wow". Maybe "WOW".

Brian gathers a nice selection of rockabilly standards and covers them wonderfully. The Jordanaires join him on several songs, which really add to them. There isn't a song on here I don't like. I sense that Brian would have been perfectly content to have been around when rockabilly was being born.

Average customer rating:

Grammy Nominees 9/11
Acceptable
Good Mix
Here is somethin' good.
Here is somethin' good.

Grammy Nominees 2002
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Utv Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Grammy Nominees 2003
Grammy Nominees 2001
Grammy Nominees 2004
Grammy Nominees 2000
Grammy Nominees 2005

ASIN: B00005Y1F7
Release Date: 2002-02-05

Tracks:

Video - India.Arie
Fallin' - Alicia Keys
Ms. Jackson - Outkast
Drops Of Jupiter - Train
Walk On - U2
Honest With Me - Bob Dylan
I'm Like A Bird - Nelly Furtado
Babylon (live version) - David Gray
Fill Me In - Craig David
You Rock My World - Michael Jackson
I Want Love - Elton John
Still - Brian McKnight
Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight - James Taylor
Shape Of My Heart - Backstreet Boys
Superman - Five For Fighting
Imitation Of Life - R.E.M.
I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow - The Soggy Bottom Boys

Customer Reviews:

Grammy Nominees 9/11.......2004-10-22

The tragedy of September 11th had a enormous impact on the entire entertainment industry. The 2002 Grammy Awards were no exception, as the nominees reflected the musical preferences afterwards. Same applies to the "Grammy Nominees 2002" album, the nominees, in general, convey a somber, traditional and very safe musical stylings. Thus the album doesn't reach the same diverse levels as previous installments:
(1) India.Arie. "Video" B+. What a refreshing breeze to see someone who's not afraid to be themself. As a single this is very important, meaningful and unique. Interesting lyrics and a defined purpose make this a very entertaining listen.
(2) Alicia Keys "Fallin'" A. Alicia has the uncanny ability to take worn out material and give a fresh new sound. "Fallin'" is a perfect example; her piano skills match with her heartfelt lyrics to create a deeply effective song.
(3) OutKast "Ms. Jackson" A. Not only does this have OutKast' trademarked cool, finky, hip style, but it a positive idea as well. The clever lyrics make you think that this person is truly sorry. Filled with meaning and dimension, this one of OutKast' best.
(4) Train "Drops Of Jupiter" A-. I'm not even sure what this song is about, and plainly don't care. The subject, whatever it may be, is beautifully expressed with strong images and creative lyrics. The song is catchy and intriging at all times.
(5) U2 "Walk On" C+. "All That You Can't Leave Behind" is a great album with three great singles. This is not one of them. The song has meaning and a good purpose, but it gets SO dragged out that it looses everything it achived. There is something here, but it gets lost along the way.
(6) Bob Dylan "Honest With Me" C. There was a time when Bob Dylan represented cutting edge music. But these days he just seems old and outdated. He thinks his style is still unique and different, when in truth its not bad music, but just average.
(7) The Soggy Bottom Boys "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" B-. This may possibly be the most perplaxing hit in years. The song would have been in the 1930s, the production feels unfinished and the elements never really come together. Yet it still has some charm and is very catchy. I guess it works as a period piece.
(8) Nelly Furtado "I'm Like A Bird" A-. No other person in the music industry has a voice quite like Nelly Furtado's. Her relaxed tone gives this song a touching and beautiful feel to it. There aren't many lyrics, but the few alot of depth and impact to inspire true emotion.
(9) David Gray "Babylon" B+. Why he chose this title is absolutely mind boggling. The rest is a rather touching and very slick male pop vocal performance. The writing may seem a little strange, but is still very effective in the end.*
(10) Craig David "Fill Me In" A. It took some time for Craig David to hit "the States", but it was well worth the wait. The material goes much deeper than expected and cetain sections have an strange dimension to them. This is a fast paced, cool pop song that remains in your head well after.
(11) Michael Jackson "You Rock My World" B. It may not be in the same league as MJ's classics, but it's definetly worth a listen. The track is catchy and highly enjoyable, but doesn't go as far as it could. Still you can't quibble too much with a song this happy and energenic.
(12) Elton John "I Want Love" B. A well made traditional pop peformance, but nothing more. It's listenable, but feels like the same stuff we've heard many times before. Atleast Elton still knows how to pull off a song.
(13) Brian McKnight "Still" B. No idea why it's nominated for a Pop Grammy, when it's clearly R&B. Doesn't really matter though, because the song is still very well done and somewhat effective. The only problem is that it seems like most of his other works and not that original.
(14) James Taylor "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" D-. An utterly terrible song, definetly one to keep off the Greatest Hits. For long stretches he's barely even singing and when he does its sleep inducing and set to weak music. This is a song James Taylor should be ashamed for making.
(15) Backstreet Boys "Shape Of My Heart" A. A very effective ballad with brilliant word choice. The lyrics are heartfelt, personal and carry much depth to them. The boys are known to make excellent ballads, but even this is exceptional for them.
(16) Five For Fighting "Superman (It's Not Easy)" A-. The group knows that they can accomplish alot just by laying back. Their method creates a powerful ballad that gets under the listener's skin. It may have a title suggesting superhoreos, but anyone can relate to this song.
(17) R.E.M. "Imitation Of Life" B. In the end this is a solid pop/rock track that just doesn't go much deeper. It sounds terrific and well crafted, but comes across as second rate work for a group like R.E.M.
Bottom Line: ***. The album has some great songs on it, but alot of songs that just aren't that memorable. "Ms. Jackson" and "Fill Me In" are the only songs that really have edge to be different. It's a good album, but not a great one. Reflecting current events is important, but awards last forever.
*NOTE: This recording of "Babylon" is a live performance, that is why you hear applause at the begining and end.

Acceptable.......2003-11-15

Not as good as other Grammy albums, but that is to be expected in a year of not so good music. India.Arie, Outkast, David Gray, and Nelly Furtado offer decent songs. Michael Jackson, Alicia Keys, and Elton John fall short of the mark. However, U2 Five for Fighting and BSB fall flat on their faces.

Good Mix.......2003-02-21

For a change there are actually some decent tunes on a Grammy CD. Most of the songs on the CD are more pop than rock, but that's okay. The live version of "Babylon" by David Gray is the best cut in my opinion, along with "Superman" by Five For Fighting and "Drops Of Jupiter" by Train. Even "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" from the movie Oh Brother Where Art Thou is a nice change of pace.

Here is somethin' good........2002-10-07

This is a good album. It is worth listening to over and over. Here is the track list for it:

Track List:

1. Video- India Arie
2. Fallin'- Alicia Keys
3. Ms. Jackson- Outkast
4. Drops Of Jupiter- Train
5. Walk On- U2
6. Honest With Me- Bob Dylan
7. I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow- The Soggy Bottom Boys
8. I'm Like A Bird- Nelly Furtado
9. Babylon (LIVE)- David Gray
10. Fill Me In- Craig David
11. You Rock My World- Michael Jackson
12. I Want Love (ALBUM VERSION)- Elton John
13. Still- Brian McKnight
14. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight- James Taylor
15. Shape Of My Heart- Backstreet Boys
16. Superman (It's Not Easy)- Five For Fighting
17. Imitation Of Life- R.E.M.

So what are ya waitin' for. Go and get it now or today. Thanks guys!

Here is somethin' good........2002-10-07

This is a good album. It is worth listening to over and over. Here is the track list for it:

Track List:

Tracks:

Original Sin
Melting In The Sun
I Send A Message
Dancing On The Jetty
The Swing
Johnson's Aeroplane
Love Is (What I Say)
Face The Change
Burn For You
All The Voices

Customer Reviews:

"Raw" Inxs combined with Experimentation; Garry Gary Beers Shines on this Complete Band Effort.......2006-10-02

Inxs' third album, 1982's "Shabooh Shoobah" would put them on the map in Australia. Their follow-up album, 1984's "The Swing" would continue the upward momentum that this band was making. In a lot of ways, "Shabooh Shoobah" would demonstrate the outstanding vocal talents of Michael Hutchence. Hutchence showed some incredible vocals on songs such as "Don't Change", "Here Comes", and "The One Thing". While Hutchence's vocals don't lose a beat on "The Swing", what we do see is the emergence of Inxs as a complete band with all of the members stepping up.

One fact that I find amazing about Inxs is that this six member band stuck together from their formation in the late 1970s through Michael Hutchence's untimely death in 1997. During this period, the band would release 10 studio albums, 1 Greatest Hits album, and 1 Live album. This has allowed the band to meld together and grow professionally. Much of this is due to the fact that three band members are brothers: Andrew Farriss (Keyboards), Jon Farriss (Drums), and Tim Farriss (Guitar). The other three members also stuck tightly with the band the whole way. These members include: Hutchence (Lead Vocals), Garry Gary Beers (Bass), and Kirk Pengilly (Guitar and Sax). Hutchence - known for his long hair and theatrical performances in concert often gets the most publicity. But the remaining five members all make major contributions from a musicianship standpoint. In addition, Hutchence is not just eye candy - he plays a key role in the songwriting. While in the later years with Hutchence, the songwriting duties would focus around Andrew Farriss and Hutchence - this album shows many of the members of Inxs making songwriting contributions.

I think Inxs' musical style can be considered an offshoot of the Punk and New-Wave movements of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The two distinguishing factors that give Inxs a style of their own are : 1) The infusion of Kirk Pengilly's saxophone into this punk/new-wave influenced sound; and 2) Michael Hutchence's powerful vocals really elevate the sound of the band. "The Swing" goes up a level more by showcasing some of the best work by bassist Garry Gary Beers, guitarist Tim Farriss, and drummer Jon Farriss - thus helping elevate this album to more of a complete effort by Inxs. At the same time, these contributions help deliver what might be a "raw" sound - but in a way, this "raw" sound captures the essence of Inxs. Inxs also adds a layer of experimentation (such as Funk) to this album making this one of their strongest collections. It is worth mentioning Beers' contributions - this is probably his strongest bass work he has delivered in his career.

Here is a song by song breakdown of the tracks:

"Original Sin": While not a household name in the U.S. yet, Inxs managed to recruit Nile Rodgers to produce and Daryl Hall to provide background vocals. Rodgers influence gives this a Funk sound. While this album has strengths on bass, guitars, and drums; one shouldn't forget Andrew Farriss is one great keyboard player as well as songwriter - and this track reflects it. I like how Hall's background vocals gel with Hutchence. Of course, Pengilly has a trademark sax solo at the end.

"Melting in the Sun": This song is all about Beers on the bass. He delivers a terrific bass track from start to finish - and works in perfect sync with Jon Farriss on drums. Very catchy hooks on this song.

"I Send a Message": Again we hear Beers' bass as the key to the track - working in conjunction with Jon's drumming. Beers and Tim Farriss deliver a great bridge mid-way through the song. This song demonstrates the "raw" sound.

"Dancing on the Jetty": As complete an Inxs song as I ever heard. The song sounds out with an orchestral-like beginning, then progresses into a Funk Rock (again showing experimentation) sound. Once again, the key is Beers bass working with Jon's drumming. However every member contributes - Tim's guitar, Andrew's guitar, Hutchence's vocals - and even Pengilly's saxophone (listen how he gels with Tim's guitar). This song is really what Inxs is all about. Great lyrics too as Inxs sings about world relations - (i.e. "watch the world argue; argue with itself").

"The Swing": Jon Farriss' drums open up this track - along with some mean guitar work. Not the strongest track on the album, but still pretty good.

"Johnson's Aeroplane": Beers' bass hits the money again. Hutchence works terrifically with the background vocalists. The keyboards and guitars almost bring a psychedelic quality to things. Pengilly has a terrific saxophone solo midway through the track.

"Love Is (What I Say)": Same comments as "Dancing on the Jetty". This song blew me away thanks to a complete team effort (minus the sax) - and once again is what Inxs is all about. Hutchence really shines on this track, but once again Beers' bass is on the money. Listen to how the guitar work jams just after the chorus.

"Face the Change": Terrific Funk-like track. Pengilly has his strongest sax solo on this track - delivered in a haunting manner.

"Burn for You": "Face the Change" has a nice segue into this track. This is more of pop-styled track. Andrew's keyboard work shines here, but perhaps the song's strongest point is the integration of a chorus for background vocals.

"All the Voices": Beers' bass gets one last chance to shine on another Funk-infused track. Definitely an experimental track. The percussion has almost an African sound toward the end. A very good song and a nice wrap up to a great album.

The one drawback of this collection is that there were not lyrics provided with the liner notes. Inxs has had a terrific career and certainly should be "Hall of Fame" material. If you have heard Inxs and have liked them, "The Swing" is the one album I would highly recommend you get for your collection.

The Swing.......2006-07-10

Recently "rediscovered" this great band and was looking to find some of their earlier work. This is classic INXS. Can't miss this one.

It never gets old........2005-11-29

On a day that many might get the new "Switch" disc, I suggest "The Swing" to everyone. Before they released the world-dominating "Kick", they put out three excellent albums, and this is one of them. The "Shabooh-Thieves" era was awesome, and many of these songs are the reason why. If you've only heard "Original Sin", I promise every other track on here is just as good. "I Send A Message", "Johnson's Aeroplane", and the title track are primo INXS. And the last songs are all as great as the first ones. Again, if you're a fan of any INXS, especially the earlier years, "The Swing" hits it out of the ball-park. Michael can never be replaced.

80s rule.......2005-10-29

This is my fav inxs album. Its different from the rest of there albums.

INXS @ their best.......2005-09-02

The swing is one of those CDs you can play front to back and love every minute of it. "Kick" may have been their best seller but, If you are a child of the 80's like me, you should really check out "The Swing".
It's the complete package.

Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1972-1992

Average customer rating:

Not the Motown I Know and Love
Order from Amazon.com directly instead.
El supremo follow up to Motown V-1
CLASSIC MUSIC@IT'S FINEST!!!!!
Great selection

Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1972-1992
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Motown
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971
Soul Spectacular! The Greatest Soul Hits of All Time
The Funk Box
The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974

ASIN: B00004U04R
Release Date: 2000-06-27

Tracks:

Got To Be There - Michael Jackson
Floy Joy - The Supremes
A Simple Game - Four Tops
Walk In The Night - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
Ben - Michael Jackson
Papa Was A Rolling Stone - The Temptations
Silly Wasn't I - Valerie Simpson
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) - Gladys Knight & The Pips
Touch Me In The Morning - Diana Ross
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Keep On Truckin' (Part 1) - Eddie Kendricks
Boogie Down - Eddie Kendricks
Dancing Machine - Jackson 5
Do It Baby - The Miracles
Shoe Shoe Shine - The Dynamic Superiors
Harmour Love - Syreeta
Love Power - Willie Hutch
It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday - G.C. Cameron
Love Machine (Part 1) - The Miracles
Walk Away From Love - David Ruffin

Tracks:

Quiet Storm - Smokey Robinson
Love Hangover - Diana Ross
I Want You - Marvin Gaye
Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
Got To Give It Up (Pt. 1) - Marvin Gaye
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
Easy - The Commodores
You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On) - High Inergy
Brick House - The Commodores
You And I - Rick James
Three Times A Lady - The Commodores
There'll Never Be - Switch
Heaven Must Have Sent You - Bonnie Pointer
Sail On - The Commodores
Cruisin' - Smokey Robinson
Still - The Commodores
With You I'm Born Again - Billy Preston & Syreeta
Let's Get Serious - Jermaine Jackson
I Need Your Lovin' - Teena Maria
Being With You - Smokey Robinson

Tracks:

Upside Down - Diana Ross
Give It To Me Baby - Rick James
One Day In Your Life - Michael Jackson
Square Biz - Teena Marie
Lady (You Bring Me Up) - The Commodores
Super Freak - Rick James
Right In The Middle (Of Falling In Love) - Bettye LaVette
Let It Whip - Dazz Band
All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie
Time Will Reveal - DeBarge
Don't Look Any Further - Dennis Edwards
I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder
Treat Her Like A Lady - The Temptations
Ebony Eyes - Rick James
Nightshift - The Commodores
Rhythm Of The Night - DeBarge
Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell
In My House - Mary Jane Girls

Tracks:

Part-Time Lover - Stevie Wonder
Who's Johnny - El Debarge
Lady Soul - The Temptations
Nail It To The Wall - Stacey Lattisaw
Talk To Me - Chico Debarge
Just To See Her - Smokey Robinson
One Heartbeat - Smokey Robinson
Dial My Heart - The Boys
Him Or Me - Today
Your Sweetness - The Good Girls
Where Do We Go From Here - Stacy Lattisaw
Rub You The Right Way - Johnny Gill
Slow Motion - Gerald Alston
Iesha - Another Bad Creation
Motownphilly - Boyz II Men
I Love Your Smile - Shanice
End Of The Road - Boyz II Men

Customer Reviews:

Not the Motown I Know and Love.......2006-07-11

I have loved the Motown sound ever since I was a little kid. So many of those songs have added pleasure to my life. A few years ago I bought the first box set and voraciously consumed it. Every song there was a classic. I only wished it included a lot more music.

I recently saw that there was a second installment to Hitsville USA. I bought it immediately, and I was encouraged by the generally good reviews here on Amazon. But, wow, I regretfully must report to you that this set does not have the Motown Sound that I know and love. Perhaps a quarter of these songs are very good, but the other three-quarters I do not like at all. They are campy, disco-like atrocities which in my mind are the antithesis of the earthy, passionate, natural sound of real Motown. I do like soul music outside of Motown, but these songs do not come close to even good, authentic soul music. Most of these are bad disco songs which have the second-generation Motown label affixed for prestige. Please don't get this expecting the classic Motown sound, because you won't find it here. Even the small percentage of good songs here don't sound like Motown; I'm not sure exactly how you would categorize them.

The remaining 75% of the music on these discs is of that category of "Music that I Affirmatively Try to Avoid." If Motown was one of the pinnacles of modern music, many of these songs are the valleys. Real Motown was silk; this is a plastic tarp. Again, I emphasize the synthetic, synthesizer-intensive foundation, with the pre-pubescent, screechy, annoying vocals. Motown is all about a thumping, plodding deep bass, with a great guitar groove, and supernaturally beatiful lyrics and voices. Even most of Smokey's stuff here doesn't do much for me, and I love Smokey. The amazing documentary film "In the Shadow of Motown" might have discussed this period in Motown's history, if it did, I'm sure it is characterized as the (steep, almost vertical) decline. The folks who were the subject matter of that film were REAL MUSICIANS, the best musicians the world has ever known; they weren't a bunch of beeping, buzzing computers and polyester-wearing prancing disco-dancers.

I will never listen to these discs straight-through again. I'll just skip over to the few good tracks. The preponderance of these songs were downright painful, they represent the worst of the 70's and 80's. I wish they had merely augmented the collection of real Motown, rather than used the songs which rode on the coat-tails of the real (and legendary) Motown.

Order from Amazon.com directly instead........2006-03-16

In the past years I have ordered from individuals via Amazon as opposed to Amazon.com directly. This time, this particular item was offered through Amazon at basically the same cost and I received the item faster than I ever had before. From now on if Amazon offers any item I wish to purchase, I'll order it through Amazon directly.

El supremo follow up to Motown V-1.......2006-02-21

Not quite as strong as the first Motown boxed set but then again I'm partial to the earlier songs during the illustrious Motown of the '60s. 4.5 stars.

CLASSIC MUSIC@IT'S FINEST!!!!!.......2004-09-06

ALL I CAN SAY IS IF YOU LIKE THE MOTOWN SOUND THEN YOU WOULD LIKE THIS CD. I LIKE IT AND ENJOY IT AND I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND ANYONE WHO LIKES THE MOTOWN SOUND OF YESTERYEAR TO BUY THIS ALBUM BECAUSE YOU WOULD DEFINITELY ENJOY IT.

Great selection.......2004-05-12

The tunes on these disks are varied in style and sound quite different from one another. The older selection from 59-71 has a real sound from yesteryear.
They are both great selections of singles from their day.

Average customer rating:

Dan Akroyd at his finest
I used to love this song!!
We Are The Hits (that never were)
Charity rock or one big Pepsi jingle?
I aint got the cd

We Are The World: U.S.A For Africa
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Do They Know It's Christmas
We Are the World - The Story Behind the Song (20th Anniversary Special Edition)
Very Best of
The Best of Dark Horse (1976-1989)
Shouldn't a Told You That

ASIN: B000001FCX
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

We Are The World - U.S.A. For Africa
If Only For The Moment, Girl - Steve Perry
Just A Little Closer - Pointer Sisters
Trapped - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Tears Are Not Enough - Northern Lights
4 The Tears In Your Eyes - Prince & The Revolution
Good For Nothing - Chicago
Total Control - Tina Turner
A Little More Love - Kenny Rogers
Trouble In Paradise - Huey Lewis & The News

Customer Reviews:

Dan Akroyd at his finest.......2005-07-20

I was the biggest fan in america of the USA for Africa group. I had heard about them and figured the album would be great. There had to be a great deal of excitement when you had the talent of Michael Jackson, the Pointer Sisters, Steve Perry, Cyndi Lauper and Bruce Springsteen on the same track. Well, something happened on the way to heaven. Dan Akroyd absolutely steals the show on this album. I remember seeing the "We are the world" video and being blown away by Akroyd's performance in the video. I knew he was funny, but he was just on his game on this album. Bravo sir Dan!

I remember being moved by the whole USA for Africa experience and put together a benefit album called, "East Douglas county for North Omaha". What an all star lineup. You had me on vocals along with Kevin Seitzer, Kroll, Meat, Jeff Benson and Julie Powers. Burns played the most gutwrenching keyboard riff ever heard on an album and members of meat's family piped in some truly old school polka. It was a great song for a great cause. We raised $3.78 for North Omaha. We made a difference.

I used to love this song!!.......2004-06-06

I was 8 when this album came out. My parents have it on tape and we used to listen to this all the time. I would like to get the CD because the tape is starting to go. I remember watching the video segement and the making of it because we have it on video somewhere. It was for a great charity and needs to be released again. The singers of today should record it again and do it for charity.

We Are The Hits (that never were).......2004-03-07

First of all: DON'T buy this CD just for the title song (Unless you need it for a special project) AND, don't buy it to help starving people in Africa. That boat sailed a long time back. For some reason, this CD has been Out Of Print for ages, so the proceeds will go to the reseller who has to charge a MINT for it because of its scarcity. So, WHY BUY IT? Bruce Springsteen, Steve Perry, Chicago, Tina Turner, Huey Lewis, Kenny Rogers, The Pointer Sisters and Prince. If you're a fan of any of those artists: the extra songs unique to the collection are among the best they've done. They're all superstars trying to one up each other. So, they're great. Each song could have been (and should have been) a hit single. Bruce Springsteen's first official (non seasonal) live release with the E Street Band "Trapped" is a great take on a Jimmy Cliff song. I can't get the tune out of my head. Steve Perry's contribution blows away his solo hit as well as most Journey tunes. Tina Turner, Kenny Rogers, Huey Lewis & The News and The Pointer Sisters were all hot at the time too, and their tracks show it, too. We Are The World is a triumph of Quincy Jones and and an apparently still on top of his game, Michael Jackson, trying to squeeze the kitchen sink into one song. They did it, and it has worn out its welcome for most listeners, but all in all, this is a great collection anyway because We Are The Hits you haven't heard.

Charity rock or one big Pepsi jingle?.......2004-02-28

USA For Africa's We Are The World was a well-intentioned helping hand for Ethiopian famine victims. To that aid, an all-star ensemble of artists comprising a cross-section of American artists, mostly pop, rock, and soul, sang the title track, initially solo bits with artists like co-writers Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Rogers, and Stevie Wonder, before they all sung in unison. While this song helped me identify this unhip guy who was who, back in the day when he was struggling to choose what to listen to, in retrospect, this sounds more like a seven minute Pepsi jingle that went to #1 on the charts and won the Grammy for Best Single.

As for the other songs, most don't come close to the usual oeuvre of the artists concerned. Most of all, what relevance do they have to the issue of starvation? Take off the "We Are The World" song and this might as well be an odds and sods albums of tracks by well-known 80's artists unreleased on their respective albums because they weren't up to scratch.

"If Only For The Moment, Girl" by Steve Perry, is nothing special and something that might've been a B-side on any of his Street Talk singles. And the Pointer Sisters' inject a muted dose of their sassy hokum on "Just A Little Closer." Call this one "I'm Not So Excited."

A live version of Bruce Springsteen's "Trapped," originally by Jimmy Cliff, follows. Keyboard fills and rhythm guitar are heard while the Boss sings the verses, then Max Weinberg's drums and the guitars rise to a crescendo as Springsteen sings the chorus. One of the better songs here.

Canada's own joint artist collaboration, billed as Northern Lights present "Tears Are Not Enough," which follows the same initial individual vocals followed by a joint singalong. Loverboy's Paul Dean does guitar, Bryan Adams collaborator Jim Vallance is on drums. Adams, Dan Hill, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Geddy Lee, Anne Murray, Aldo Nova, Jane Siberry, future Heart-producer Dalbello, Bruce Cockburn, Corey Hart, Mike Reno, John Candy (!!), and Burton Cummings are among the vocalists. This is shorter and has less carbonation than "We Are The World."

The only track that bears a direct bearing is Prince and the Revolution doing the sober "4 The Tears In Your Eyes." It's a simple song about Jesus and his healing, preaching, and helping others, helped by the vocal harmonies by Wendy and Lisa. If I was to put it on one of his albums for sound consistency, it'd have to be Parade. A different version of this ended up on his The Hits/B-Sides compilation.

Peter Cetera was still with Chicago when they did "Good For Nothing", this decent-sounding light rock number about feeling slighted for not receiving thanks for helping some people out seems contradictory for the purposes of giving on this album.

The studio version of "Trouble In Paradise" by Huey Lewis and the News can be found on their debut album. This is a live recording in February 1985 complete with Tower of Power horns and some great sax by Newsman John Colla.

After making her comeback with Private Dancer, Tina Turner does a song that wouldn't have been a C-side song, the plodding "Total Control." Kenny Rogers does the brisk "A Little More Love," again a worthy song, but lyrically, nothing to do with charity.

As the grandaddy of 80's charity rock albums, We Are The World definitely deserves that accolade. However, some things make this effort a bit suspect. The line "we're saving our own lives" has an implication that they're singing about their own salvation. Surely none of the artists here would experience starvation or meet those Ethiopians who are starving?

And a cogent critical observation Jackson Browne made also makes a point: "That's the problem with North America. We think we ARE the world." In other words, geopolitical bias.

Despite its charitable intentions, this effort mutes the usually leftist stance in rock by rightist corporate yuppie materialism.

I aint got the cd.......2003-11-22

but ive got two of the tracks on it (We Are The World and 4 The Tears In Your Eyes) and they are amazing.

Average customer rating:

Speaks for itself
Not the best but still good
This Grammy Album Is A Winner
The best CD for 1999 Grammy Nominees
Enjoyable After Several Listens

1998 Grammy Nominees
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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1997 Grammy Nominees
1999 Grammy Nominees: Mainstream
1996 Grammy Nominees
Grammy Nominees 2001
Grammy Nominees 2000

ASIN: B000002P8E
Release Date: 1998-02-10

Tracks:

Where Have All The Cowboys Gone? - Paula Cole
Sunny Came Home - Shawn Colvin
Everyday Is A Winding Road - Sheryl Crow
MMM Bop - Hanson
I Believe I Can Fly - R. Kelly
Criminal - Fiona Apple
On & On - Erykah Badu
Silver Springs - Fleetwood Mac
Virtual Insanity - Jamiroquai
Don't Speak - No Doubt
Anybody Seen My Baby? - The Rolling Stones

Customer Reviews:

Speaks for itself.......2003-11-15

This entire album is full of "A" grade songs. Song writers are especially represented here. A good buy pretty much sums it up.

Not the best but still good.......2001-02-13

A good collection of songs, as are all the Grammy Nominees cds. The only problem really with these types of albums, is that the songs get so much airplay that you can get tired of hearing them after a while. That was the way with me and this disc. But now, 3 years later, I can listen to it again as most of the songs aren't played that much any more. This collection though, doesn't cover as many genres as other Grammy cds have. Everything on here is rock with a couple r&b.

This Grammy Album Is A Winner.......2001-02-07

I buy Grammy CD's not to really listen to them but to see if I can get a song that I do not have on tape or CD. This Grammy collection, was one that was put together well. And although I no longer like most of the artists on this CD, I did at one point like their songs. Paula Cole's "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?" was one of my favorites from 1997, but now I can no longer listen to her, Shawn Colvin, who in my opinion didn't desevre anything that night, back in 1997, on this CD, is one I did listen to because I had her on nothing but a cassette single, "Sunny Came Home" is another now that I can't listen to any more, but isn't it funny how both these artists won grammys and are no longer around. The real winners on this CD, are "Criminal" by Fiona Apple, "Silver Spring" by Fleetwood Mac, and "Everyday Is A Winding Road"(my favorite)by Sheryl Crow, but the surprise on this album was "MMMBop" from Hanson which I ended up liking in the end. Also it doesn't hurt that their is a Rolling Stones song on this album.

The best CD for 1999 Grammy Nominees.......2000-12-30

This CD is good for all you people who like watching the Grammys and for all you people who like to know what the nominees are.

Enjoyable After Several Listens.......2000-10-10

I, for one, usually love the Grammy Nominees compilations. And, while I love this one too, it just doesn't appeal at first. Sure, it has your chart-toppers, like "Don't Speak", "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone", and the unbelievably successful "MMMBop". But, the lesser known songs just don't have the catchiness I anticipate when purchasing a Grammy CD. "Silver Springs" is a beautiful song, as is "On & On", but the Rolling Stones' "Anybody Seen My Baby?" and Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity" are almost anti-catchy. But, regardless of the fact, this CD is, indeed, enjoyable. Fiona Apple, in my opinion, is deserving of her place in the Grammys. And R. Kelly's magnificent "I Believe I Can Fly" is a welcome addition. The gist of this review is as follows: Don't be frightened by the absent star. You'll love this CD... You'll just have to patiently listen to it many times first.

Rhythm of the Games: 1996 Olympic Games Album

Average customer rating:

The rhythm of Mary J is more like it...

Rhythm of the Games: 1996 Olympic Games Album
Various Artists
Manufacturer: La Face
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Unity: The Official Athens 2004 Olympic Games Album
1988 Summer Olympics Album: One Moment in Time
Summon the Heroes

ASIN: B000008QOW
Release Date: 1996-05-21

Tracks:

Impossible Dream - Tevin Campbell
Everlasting Love - Mary J. Blige
Reaching for My Goal - Brian McKnight
Imagine - Corey Glover
Dreamin' - Usher
Champion's Theme - Kenny G
You Gotta Believe in Love - Soul for Real
Reach - Gloria Estefan
Wildflower - Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey
You're a Winner - The Tony Rich Project
What Am I Doing Here - Jordan Hill
Star Spangled Banner - Boyz II Men

Customer Reviews:

The rhythm of Mary J is more like it..........2004-12-11

AWESOME!!!

The song title Everlasting Love sung by Mary J is one of her best recordings. If you haven't heard this one you're missing out...

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music

Boys and Girls	The Bride Stripped Bare	The Foolish Things
Mamouna	Let's Stick Together	Bryan Ferry in Concert