Big Easy

Big Easy

ASIN: B00006FSUG

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Here, trumpeter and vocalist Kermit Ruffins has prepared a gumbo of a music that absorbs any influence, yet screams "Big Easy!" He may not have the technical prowess of other Louisiana trumpeters, but they'll never sing about their own funeral and make the listener dance and laugh while doing it, as on "When I Die (You Better Second Line)." Ruffins visits traditional New Orleans with the old standards "Basin Street Blues," "Tiger Rag," and "On the Sunny Side of the Street," and hangs on the modern jazz side with the cooker "Wake Up, Nessie" and a great cover of War's "The World Is a Ghetto." But his hometown is more than just jazz. There's the Latin tinge of "Skokiaan" and that simmering Allen Toussaint/Neville Brothers brand of Big Easy soul that's represented on "Palm Court Strut." For food there's the very cute "Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner" and the title track, an audio tour with culinary delights. Like another great Crescent City trumpeter, Ruffins's taken his horn-blowing gift, grafted it with an undeniably charming gruff singing style, and concentrated on making great records, of which this is one. --Mark Ruffin

Tracks:

Iko Iko - The Dixie Cups
Tipitina - Professor Longhair
Ma 'Tit Fille - Buckwheat Zydeco
Colinda - Zachary Richard
Tell It Like It Is - Aaron Neville & The Neville Brothers
Zydeco Gris Gris - Beausoleil
Oh Yeh Yai - Terrance Simien & The Mallet Playboys
Hey Hey (Indians Comin') - The Wild Tchoupitoulas
Closer To You - Dennis Quaid
Saviour, Pass Me Not - The Swan Silvertones
Buck's Nouvelle Jole Blon - Buckwheat Zydeco & Ils Sont Partis Band
Pine Grove Blues - Dewey Balfa

Amazon.com essential recording

While it didn't do for Louisiana music what the film The Harder They Come did for reggae, the soundtrack to director Jim McBride's steamy and stylized cops-and-corruption movie is a pretty good introduction to the region's extensive musical delights (even if gospel's great Swan Silvertones are from West Virginia). The late Dewey Balfa (who appears in the film's sweet porch-party scene) is to Cajun music's rural past what Terrance Simien and Zachary Richard are to its rocking present. Buckwheat Zydeco is to zydeco what Beausoleil is to Cajun: an intelligent synthesis of the old and new that you can dance to. It's a shame the St. Augustine's Marching Hundred's raw and jumping version of "Li'l Liza Jane" didn't make the cut from film to album. And it's an even bigger shame that star Dennis Quaid's awful ballad did. --Richard Gehr

Customer Reviews:

Louisiana.......2006-11-06

Great soundtrack, if you liked the movie and New Orleans! I love both!

One Of The Best.......2006-05-11

We loved the movie and discovered the sound track. As a New Orleans regular this CD just adds to the mood when we are back home. I predict you'all will jus' love it.

the best single disc intro to the music of new orleans.......2005-08-12

the keyword here is single disc. the whole album clocks in just under 47 minutes. don't know why, but back then the standard running time for a cd is about 45 minutes, so that's at least 20 some odd minutes worth of music they could have put into this cd. of course, at additional right fee. perhaps that was why we couldn't tap into the music of new orleans a little deeper.

that being said, this is a great compilation for beginners. the music of new orleans is an acquired taste that you may never get used to. no matter how much japanese people likes toro, the fatty belly section of tuna, if you don't like sushi, then you will never know. once you get a hang of sushi, you will get to love toro. once you start to liking the new orleans music, you will never get enough.

although new orleans is heavily influenced by the french, but they don't have this type of music over in france, so we can almost say that this is one of the most under recognized original american music. few people knows any new orleans songs outside of tell it like it is and iko iko, and frankly speaking tell it like it is really doesn't sound new orleans to me. it is about as new orleans as toto's africa is to africa. if nothing else, getting this disc to hear the music from the big easy is both fun and educational .

one single disc cannot do new orleans justice, so there is a 4 disc boxset: doctors, professors, kings & queens - the big ol' box of new orleans, also available here at amazon. that set, as comprehensive as it is, does not sound as good as this disc in terms of fidelity. there are only four songs from this cd that appeared on the boxset, but none of them are the same version as the ones appeared in the other title. if you get both you won't feel cheated.

Fabulous!.......2005-07-08

I have seen this movie several times over the years and it never fails to delight me.

Forgettable Movie, Unforgettable Sound Track.......2005-05-17

Some say, all music came from New Orleans. Jazz and blues, from which so much American music descended, got their start in the clubs of New Orleans and fields around the Mississippi delta. New Orleans, and Louisiana generally, remains a major center of musical vitality, if somewhat apart from the American mainstream.

In the mid-80s, I began to develop an interest in "New Orleans" music, and the many varied styles it encompassed including traditional "Dixieland", brass-band and more modern Jazz, as well as second-line, blues, rock'n'roll, cajun, gospel, zydeco and funk. About that time, the Big-Easy, a midling, formulaic picture, put out its sound track, and I was hooked. A sampler of the various styles, with the infectious, polyrhythmic beat so characterisctic of the The Big Easy.

There is so much they could have put on the album, and a one or two that could have been omitted. But since then, I have developed a life-long love of all the various music that represents NOLA.

Average customer rating:

Track titles mixed-up
Revies WW@ Vol 2
great 40's compilation.
Great Nostalgia
Remembering more great songs from WW2

Songs That Got Us Through WW2, Vol. 2
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Songs That Got Us Through WWII
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ASIN: B0000033BK
Release Date: 1994-07-19

Tracks:

Juke Box Saturday Night - Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
Ration Blues - Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
There! I've Said It Again - Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra
Perdido - Duke Ellington & His Famous Orchestra
Mr. Five By Five - Freddie Slack & His Orchestra
Lili Marlene (German Version) - Marlene Dietrich
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby) - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
Caldonia - Woody Herman & His Orchestra
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To - Dinah Shore
On The Atchison, Topeka And Santa Fe - Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers
Idaho - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
Sweet Slumbe - Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra
When My Man Comes Home - Buddy Johnson & His Band
Mairzy Doats - The Pied Pipers
Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) - Billie Holiday
San Fernando Valley - Roy rogers (King Of The Cowboys)
It Could Happen To You - Jo Stafford
Flying Home - Lionel hampton & His Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Track titles mixed-up.......2007-06-13

This isn't really a review of the songs (I like them.) I just wanted to say that when I put my CD in my PC and opened the player the track titles did not match the songs. They were all mixed-up. For example, when I double-clicked on "Lil Marlene" I got "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe'. Very strange. I have no idea how this happened. The songs all sound great, though. It's just odd that the titles didn't match the actual songs.

Revies WW@ Vol 2.......2007-03-18

I am in mt mid-sixties (1941). I enjoyed Volume 2 better than the original CD. Both were good and if you are from my generation, you should enjoy either one.

great 40's compilation........2007-03-18

i was born in 1961, but like the geeky audiophile that i am, i have eagerly dug into all the decades that have produced recorded music. i always thought that the forties were one of the weaker decades out there when it comes to sonic delights. so why do i love the two volumes of "songs that got us through wwii" so much? rhino records has a lot to do with it. as all audiophiles of the cd age now, rhino is one of the best outfits around when it comes to compilations of music. on these 2 wonderful discs from the forties, they have done it again. pure pleasure is to be had here. one drifts back to another time, across decades, to experience the popular songs of another american culture. this is a perfect introduction to that decade for anyone. having heard these two volumes, i can't wait to give the forties another chance. i am being won over, i think. thanks rhino.

Great Nostalgia.......2007-01-04

I purchased this CD collection for my residents in a dementia/Alzheimers care unit. They enjoy singing along with the songs from their youth, and some can even name the band/artist performing. The CD is a fun collection of lively and sentimental popular hits from the 40s. It would make a great gift for a person who grew up during this era.

Remembering more great songs from WW2.......2006-12-16

Hide your heart from sight,
Lock your dreams at night,
It could happen to you.

Don't count stars,
Or you might stumble.
Someone drops a sigh,
And down you'll tumble.

Keep an eye on spring,
Run when church bells ring.
It could happen to you.

All I did was wonder how your arms could be,
Then it happened to me.

You had better keep an eye on spring,
Run when church bells ring,
'Cause, it could happen to you, to you, to you.

All I did was wonder how your arms could be,
Then it happened, then it happened,
Then it happened to me.

Songs That Got Us Through WW2, Volume Two boasts an excellent collection of songs that remain wonderful to this day even though they didn't always make it to the number one spot on the charts. Mainstream white audiences loved these songs; but many a black soldier and his woman also cherished songs and ballads by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five, Billie Holiday and Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra. This CD offers songs that appealed to both whites and blacks and that's excellent.

The CD starts off with the infectiously upbeat, happy-go-lucky "Jukebox Saturday Night" by the incomparable Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. The CD then takes a turn with the much more melancholy "Ration Blues" sung to perfection by Louis Jordan. Both black and white people could easily identify this song as rationing was very strict for everyone during wartime.

You won't find a single loser on this album. Other great songs include "There! I've Said It Again" by Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra; "Lili Marlene" sung in German by Marlene Dietrich; "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby);" "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To;" the Oscar winning "On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe;" "Mairzy Doats" and "It Could Happen To You."

The CD presents an excellent assortment of songs especially because there are various genres of music on this CD that were all very popular during WW2. "Mairzy Doats" and "Jukebox Saturday Night" were infectiously happy tunes and people could forget their wartime cares listening to these very well done songs. There's the universally shared lament of rationing in Louis Jordan's "Ration Blues;" and there's the human angst that accompanies a romance put on hold in songs like "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" and "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be)." Excellent!

The liner notes contain an excellent essay about these songs and American wartime experiences by Billy Vera; and there are crisp black and white photos of legendary performers including Billie Holiday, Johnny Mercer, Dinah Shore and Woody Herman. The quality of the sound is very strong even on my portable CD player--terrific! Bob Fisher at Digital Domain worked wonders when he remastered these songs for CD.

Songs That Got Us Through WW2 provides us with a wonderful listening experience and will certainly bring back memories for those of us who lived through WW2. The selection of songs is excellent; and the remastering is flawless. I highly recommend this CD for fans of big band vocals and classic pop vocals.

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 4: Bachelor Pad Royale

Average customer rating:

Ted Nugent, please phone home
Cool!
LOVE ULTRA LOUNGE!!
Title a bit of a misnomer but...
I love the Ultra-Lounge series.

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 4: Bachelor Pad Royale
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002TZM
Release Date: 1996-02-20

Tracks:

The Theme From Route 66 - Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra
Caravan - The John Buzon Trio
Sexe - Line Renaud
Cool - Lou Busch & His Orchestra
The Beast - Milt Buckner
Theme From 'Our Man Flint' - Elliott Fisher
Spring, Sprang, Sprung - Jack Fascinato
Night Train - Alvino Rey
Harlem Nocturne - Martin Denny
The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams/Fever - Sam Butera
Topsy - Joe Bucci Trio
Like Young - Dave Pell
Street Scene '58 - Lou Busch & His Orchestra
Playboy's Theme - Cy Coleman
A Shot In The Dark - Jimmie Haskell
Shangri-La - Spike Jones New Band
Black Coffee - Julie London
Melancholy Serenade - King Curtis

Customer Reviews:

Ted Nugent, please phone home.......2007-06-25

Ultra-Lounge Bachelor Pad Royale gives us a great selection of steamy romantic hits from the late 1950s and early 1960s that still sound great today! The lush and creative musical arrangements hold your attention rather easily and the quality of the sound is excellent.

The CD track set kicks off with "The Theme From Route 66" performed by Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra. The sound is cool, savvy and the melody goes along at just the right pace. The strings and percussion enhance this classic number, too. Great! The next track has The John Buzon Trio performing "Caravan" using the organ as they so often did to embellish the beauty of the number. The percussion hits it all just right and "Caravan" boasts a romantic and relentlessly upbeat melody.

"Cool" by Lou Busch & His Orchestra gives us an awesome rendition of this song from West Side Story; and "The Beast" by Milt Buckner oozes class and a certain type of panache you rarely hear these days. Like John Buzon and his buddies; the arrangement for "The Beast" makes good use of the organ. The piano shines on this number, too.

Alvino Rey's rendition of "Night Train" slinks along with a steamy, naturally romantic style that will prove beyond doubt that this music still retains its high quality control to this very day. Martin Denny was doing a lot of exotica by the late 1950s, but his version of "Harlem Nocturne" is sublime! The chimes work well; and the piano together with the bass make this number an instant classic. Hooray!

Sam Butera and his buddies perform a medley of "The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams/Fever" that leaves you sweating from its hot, hot, hot delivery; and "Street Scene '58" makes great use of the sax to romanticize this tune.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. The last two tracks on this CD are Julie London's "Black Coffee" and "Melancholy Serenade" by King Curtis. Julie sings "Black Coffee" without a single superfluous note; but you should know that although "Melancholy Serenade" gets the royal treatment from King Curtis, this is not the interpretation of this song that I have heard before. Instead of the dramatic and somewhat boisterous use of the horns; King Curtis's rendition places the organ squarely into the spotlight of the arrangement and the single horn tones down this angle drastically. Nevertheless, the arrangement works well.

The liner notes include an informative essay by R. J. Smith; and the song credits and recording dates are there for you, too. The artwork reflects good taste and there are even two drink recipes!

I highly recommend this CD for fans of "lounge music" and for people who want to remember a time when cool music for lovers actually was cool music for lovers.

Enjoy!

Cool!.......2007-05-13

Brought me back to the days of tuxedos, secret agents and private detectives. Cool, very cool.

LOVE ULTRA LOUNGE!!.......2007-05-12

Nothing can be finer that Ultra Lounge - never a bad thing to say.

Title a bit of a misnomer but..........2007-01-27

Hard to see how some of the tracks on this disc fit in with the whole late-night bachelor pad ethos as they are, quite simply, and in the words of the great Stan Freberg, "too loud, man". That said, this is a great CD. The music is fabulous and beautifully re-mastered (Cy Coleman's "Playboy's Theme" is the epitome of bachelor pad cool and, by itself, worth the price of the disc) while RJ Smith's liner notes are, as ever, entertaining, witty and evocative. In fact the whole package is life-affirming, high-quality fun: just the thing to chase those blues away.

I love the Ultra-Lounge series........2006-12-10

The sound quality of the Ultra-Lounge series is excellent, even though the songs were recorded mostly in the 50's and 60's. Capitol Records packs each CD with carefully chosen tracks consistent with the theme of the particular volume in the series. Many of the selections that appear here aren't available elsewhere, either because the original album on which the song appeared is out of print, or because the song was issued as a single and never collected in an album. A few 'previously unreleased' tracks also appear here. This series is a wonderful introduction to the music of a by-gone era, and each album includes detailed notes on each track (artist, writers, date recorded, how released, etc.). I heartily recommend it to anyone who has an interest in this type of music.

Average customer rating:

A Great Collection, But Not Quite Definitive.
How Do You Define Unparalleled Brilliance?
The definitive collection?
Frank's Best - What else can you say?
Perfect gift

My Way: The Best Of Frank Sinatra (2CD)
Frank Sinatra
Manufacturer: Wea International
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000024SLM
Release Date: 2000-11-27

Tracks:

My Way
Strangers in the Night
Theme from New York, New York
I Get a Kick Out of You
Somethin' Stupid - Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra
Moon River
What Now My Love?
Summer Wind
For Once in My Life
Love and Marriage
They Can't Take That Away from Me
My Kind of Town
Fly Me to the Moon - Count Basie Orchestra, , Frank Sinatra
I've Got You Under My Skin
Best Is Yet to Come - Count Basie Orchestra, , Frank Sinatra
It Was a Very Good Year
Come Fly with Me
That's Life
Girl from Ipanema - Antonio Carlos Jobim, Frank Sinatra
Lady Is a Tramp [Live] - Woody Herman, Frank Sinatra, Young Thundering Herd
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Mack the Knife - Hank Jones, Frank Sinatra
Love's Been Good to Me
L.A. Is My Lady

Album Description

Import only 2 CD 46 track retrospective featuring all of his hits from his stint with Reprise & Capital. Highlights include, 'My Way', 'Strangers In The Night', 'New York, New York', 'Somethin' Stupid', 'For Once In My Life', 'Girl From Ipanema', 'L.A. Is My Lady', 'In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning' and many more, no hit is overlooked on the collection! 2 CD slimline jewel case. 1998 WEA Release.

Album Details

Reissue of Two CD, 46 Track Collection. Repackaged in a Beautiful Slipcase.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Collection, But Not Quite Definitive........2007-06-11

An artist as well known and as marketable as Frank Sinatra is bound to have numerous amounts of copilations of his works released, each of them boasting be his "best" or his "greatest hits", some more deserving of the title than others.

"My Way: The Best Of Frank Sinatra", a 1997 imported collection of Frank's years at his self run Reprise Records, is better than most compilations of Ol' Blue Eyes but fails to hit the mark in areas. For a better perspective of what I'm saying, here are the positives and negatives of this collection.

Positives:
-All the major classics from Frank's Reprise tenure are here: "My Way", "Strangers In The Night", "New York, New York", "Summer Wind", "My Kind Of Town", "Fly Me To The Moon", "The Best Is Yet To Come" and so much more - they're all here.
-There's some great lesser known tracks included, such as his marvelous collaboration with Antonio Carlos Jobim on "The Girl From Ipanema", "The Very Thought Of You", "Bewitched", "Moonlight Serenade", "It Had To Be You", and "The Best Of Everything", as well as superior 1964 remake to his 1955 hit "Three Coins In The Fountain".
-Frank's version of "Mrs. Robinson" is included. Is is one of his best? Not by a logn shot. But man, is it great to have. Frank alters the entire mood and lyrics of the osng to fit his style, and had it done by any other artist
-The sound quality is great, except "What Now My Love" is somewhat flat.
-The packaging is attractive.

Negatives:
-There are, simply put a lot of songs that, while very nice to have, are as FAR from Frank's best as you can get, such as "Love's Been Good To Me", "L.A. Is My Lady", and "Somewhere My Love". Frank does two so-so Beatles covers, "Yesterday" and "Something" as well. (Frank did an excellent version of "Something" in 1978, but this 1969 version falters.)
-I would've liked to have seen different versions of certain songs included here. "Let's Face The Music And Dance" should've been the 1979 version. One song I wish was included was the 1963 rerecording of "(How Little It Matters) How Little We Know", which was better than the original.
-The 2 cd "The Very Best Of Frank Sinatra" has a better selection and is more affordable as well as easier to find. It also has superior liner notes.

Overall, this is a good Siantra collection with some nice unknown gems, but it includes too many unnecessary numbers to be considered definitive. There's no such thing as a bad Sinatra recording, but some are more worthy than others, and I would say that there are better collections than this one. In the end, though, you won't be disappointed if you do buy it.

How Do You Define Unparalleled Brilliance? .......2007-05-23

"I can't help myself. If a song is a lament about the loss of love, I get an ache in my gut. I feel the loss and I cry out the loneliness." ~ Frank Sinatra ~

This deliciously sweet 2-CD-set, "My Way: The Best of Frank Sinatra" contains some of the most loved Sinatra staples - songs that convey the many facets of love and romance. Its repertoire is something that will warm your hearts even on the coldest winter day! There's no denying that the Chairman's music is as everlasting as time, and his ageless music has always been a part of me. It has reached my heart and soul. Needless to say, his evocative music has moved and inspired me. It made me glad but it also made me cry.

The above quote from the legendary singer is so true. His interpretations of all the songs he recorded in this collection are sincere, heartfelt and credible. His stirring renditions combined with the flawless chart arrangements of the greatest arrangers/orchestrators of all-time such as Nelson Riddle, Johnny Mandel, Robert Farnon, Billy May, Gordon Jenkins, Claus Ogerman, Neal Hefti, Quincy Jones, Don Costa, Ernie Freeman, Billy Strange, Frank Foster, Dave Matthews, Lennie Hayton, Joe Parnello and Billy Byers make these compilation CDs some of the greatest recordings of all-time.

With so many nice songs in this set, it's so hard to select favorites, but I'm very partial to the Riddle-arranged-tracks. A proverbial match made in heaven, Sinatra and Riddle were a powerful pair! There's a mysterious allure in his interpretations. Consider the songs that are throbbing with varied range of emotions: "Moonlight Serenade," "The Way You Look Tonight," "All The Way," "Moon River," "Bewitched," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Summer Wind," "Love And Marriage" and "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning."

There's also a stunning combination of perfect arrangements and exceptional and immaculate renditions that make the rest of the songs absolutely appealing to my ears. You can almost feel the silkiness, smoothness and the sleek elegance of his voice on the slow tempo tracks, and the exuberance and perkiness that he projects on the up-tempo tracks.

"The Very Thought of You" - Robert Farnon
"Let's Face The Music And Dance" - Johnny Mandel
"Fly Me To The Moon" and "The Best Is Yet To Come" - Quincy Jones with Count Basie Orchestra
"Night And Day," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "For Once In My Life" and "My Way" - Don Costa
"They Can't Take That Away From Me," "I Get A Kick Out of You" and "Pennies From Heaven" - Neal Hefti
"It Had To Be You" and "Come Fly With Me" - Billy May
"Send In The Clowns" - Gordon Genkins
"The Girl From Ipanema" - Claus Ogerman

I can certainly say that this 2-CD-set is a heartfelt statement of Frank Sinatra's unparalleled brilliance as well as his love and dedication to his craft. Frank Sinatra is truly a phenomenon who earned a reputation as a world-class Entertainer of the Century. And he did it all . . . his WAY!

"I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fill, my share of losing ...
... The record shows, I took the blows
And did it my way."

If you enjoyed this set, say it and share it! Wholeheartedly recommended!

P.S. Thanks so kindly to a friend of mine and a fellow Amazon reviewer who provided me with this 2-CD-set. It's priceless and very much appreciated!

The definitive collection?.......2007-01-10

I put a question mark after the heading because I'm not sure. Sinatra is a wee bit before my time [a lot, actually], so I bought the two disc version of this title because it was dirt cheap and I felt I "should" have something by him, because of his stature. Broaden my musical experience, so to speak.

By "definitive", I suppose I have two things in mind: 1) Are the versions of the songs in this compilation the best ones by Sinatra? I'm not too sure about that but more on that later. 2) Are there terrific Sinatra songs that did not make this compilation but SHOULD have? Perhaps...more on that later.

Firstly, the thing that struck me first on this cd was the terrific stereo sound. It made me think of why I wasn't hearing a mono recording. Perhaps for the purists, the best of Sinatra is in glorious mono, but for me, the sound-brassy big bands-was a plus, not a negative. The sound on this cd is terrific, although there a few very minor glitches-probably coming from the master tapes, so unavoidable.

Back to my discussion of "definitive" versions of songs-I'll discuss the first kind I had in mind. Some songs where I feel Sinatra MAY have released a better version [according to my tastes] include tracks such as: "Love and marriage", "For once in my life" and "I've got you under my skin". The first track seemed to be done better, from memory, when used as the theme of a tv show "Married...with children". Going on memory or mistaken assumptions, there are other versions where Sinatra does the melody better. Could be wrong though-maybe I'm thinking of a version by a different crooner.

Another possible issue for listeners might be that Sinatra takes liberties with some of the songs that he covers, e.g. apart from losing verses from "Mrs Robinson", Sinatra has a very silly act of censorship in that song, from the second cd...he substitutes "Jesus" with "Jilly". To me, that's just ridiculous. With another song, "You are the sunshine of my life", Sinatra trails the song with "light my fire"...a cut and paste fade out of The Doors song. It didn't really bother me, but it may bother some. Same goes for "Mack the knife". Not a particular favourite of mine, so when Sinatra pays homage to those who have sung that song before him, it didn't really bother me. Might bother those who don't want that sort of deviation from the standard.

A variation on the above theme is that "The lady is a tramp" is performed live-so, if you are purist who wants the definitive studio versions of songs, that could be a gripe with this compilation.

Back to my other definition of "definitive", I seem to remember hearing a Sinatra song I liked called "You make me feel so young" [from memory]. That's not in here, unfortunately. Seeing as Sinatra does many cover versions of songs, I got to thinking that it would have been worthwhile if he had covered that Supremes song called, I think "It could happen to you" [at least the song featured that lyric].

Happily, the songs that I know best from Sinatra, and which I count as great songs, namely, "Theme from New York, New York" and "My way" are terrific. It's not a well known fact but "The theme from New York, New York" was actually a steal from the Australian musical "Wagga Wagga". These two songs still stand the test of time and may for many decades yet.

There are many other songs that I like from this compilation. I did find it a pity that the nice duet Frank did with his daughter Nancy was somewhat spoiled by Nancy's shy singalong style. She should have projected her voice more. "Send in the clowns" was nicely slow-played as well as some others that I didn't make a note of.

Sinatra is often described as having great "phrasing". I'm not really sure what they mean by that. In the last 5 seconds of "It was a very good year", Sinatra sounds like a drunken sot! Perhaps they mean by "phrasing" the melody he brings to the vocals. This is true for the songs I like, but in songs like "Moonlight serenade" he slows plays the melody in such a way as to lose the charm of the original instrumental, I think [see my review of John Farnham on this site for a more scathing critique of this practice].

I'll finish this review by relating Sinatra to artists that are more contemporary to me. When I think great "phrasing", I think Ross Wilson, in his Mondo Rock days, on such great pop songs like "Chemistry" and "Cool world". Wilson is a great pop/rock/little soul singer. And listening to Robbie Williams singing "Better man" on his "Sing when you're winning" album [reviewed here by me], I think how Sinatra would have killed to have had that song for himself. Williams does a great job on that original composition of his. It's a pity Sinatra never had the chance to cover that song himself.

I did hear about an Australian movie called "The night we called it a day" which dealt with Sinatra's controversial tour of Australia in the 70's, I think. Can't vouch for the quality of the film, but that tour did create a major incident, due to Sinatra slagging off a female journalist here.

Lastly, the other week I saw a docu about Sinatra and his mafia connections. No doubt about Sinatra's talents. Some people are so big, it doesn't matter what their background is...people are willing to ignore anything bad about them.

***P.S. I would LOVE to hear recommendations on cds to get which address my discussion on "definitive" compilations. Is this cd it? If not, which comes closest?

Frank's Best - What else can you say?.......2006-12-22

Frank Sinatra has indelibly become one of America's most iconic entertainers. Clearly the leading figure of the Rat Pack and of the whole golden age of TV and musical entertainment of the mid-Twentieth Century, Sinatra and Standard are almost synonymous. It seems that almost every song Sinatra sang became a standard, or he sought out standards to sing. The rest was something in the middle, making Frank a versatile and influential vocal star.

This collection of the vocalist's greatest hits the mark on a number of levels. On the one hand, it contains great songs written specifically for Sinatra, such as "My Way" by Claude François, Jacques Revaux and Paul Anka. Another such example is "Love and Marriage" with lyrics by Sammy Cahn and music by James Van Heusen.

However, some of the songs on this album were already part of the Great American Songbook, and Sinatra's renditions of them only secured their status in this canon. Cole Porter's tunes "I Get a Kick Out of You," "I've Got You Under My Skin," and "Night and Day" all make their appearances in Sinatra's repertoire. The Gershwin tune "You Can't Take That Away From Me" is also included, but unfortunately another Gershwin tune that Sinatra has performed, "A Foggy Day," is not included on this album. "The Lady is A Tramp" was originally written by Rodgers and Hart for the musical, Babes in Arms.

Other standards from the American Songbook performed by Sinatra and included on this album are "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Moon River."

Tunes such as "Strangers in the Night" and "New York, New York" originated in movies and were later adapted by Sinatra (the latter was famously sung by Liza Manelli as the title track of the 1977 Martin Scorsese film of the same name). "It Was a Very Good Year," written by Ervin Drake in 1961, was first recorded by The Kingston Trio and The Turtles before Sinatra chose to perform it. Yet Sinatra was the one who propelled the song to widespread recognition, as was often true with songs he touched. "For Once in My Life," written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Records and originally recorded by Jean DuShon, has also been covered by artists such as Tony Bennett, but perhaps its most famous version was done by Stevie Wonder.

In any case, the songs that Sinatra sang, whether he was the first to sing it or just one in a series of several performers, Sinatra added new charm and elegance to the song that helped shape that song's place in history.
Sinatra's greatest contribution to popular music was perhaps his phrasing ("rhythmic syntax" in musical terms), and the contributions he made to phrasing in the American-popular-song vocal language are everywhere.

Across his career, Sinatra has boasted a diverse and high quality repertoire in which his stellar phrasing and interpretaion become apparent across genres. This selection of hits is just the tip of the iceberg of quality Sinatra music, yet it is among the cream of the crop and should be enjoyed. Above all, Frank Sinatra was a very big star who took himself seriously as an entertainer, and his renditions of songs on this album are a testament to that fact.

Perfect gift.......2005-12-20

Listening to Frank could not get any better by having this 2cds collection of the best. I could not imagine a better gift for Sinatra fans. Perfect

Average customer rating:

Freakin' AWESOME
An all-acoustic, all-folky outing (no original material), very enjoyable
Brilliant
A New Direction For the Boys!
If you like Great Big Sea..

The Hard & The Easy
Great Big Sea
Manufacturer: Zoe Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rant and Roar
Something Beautiful
Courage & Patience & Grit - Great Big Sea In Concert [CD/DVD Combo]
Turn

ASIN: B000B8I8ZK
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Tracks:

Come and I Will Sing You (The Twelve Apostles)
Old Polina
The River Driver
The Mermaid
Captain Kidd
Graceful & Charming (Sweet Forget-Me-Not)
Concerning Charlie Horse
Harbour LeCou
Tishialuk Girls Set
French Shore
Cod Liver Oil
Tickle Cove Pond

Amazon.com

A band that has made a name for itself since 1992 by updating the Celtic and, more specifically, Cape Breton tradition, Great Big Sea has long mixed poppy original tunes with traditionals goosed up to fit a more modern aesthetic. On the band's eighth album, The Hard And The Easy, the Canadians focus wholly on traditional Newfoundland folk tunes of all shapes and colors. All the music is acoustic and most (surprise!) have a seafaring theme to them. These are tunes that band-members grew up playing at home with family and friends, and there is no pretension or airs. The band¹s sense of humor comes through on gems like country-ish "Concerning Charlie Horse" and "The Mermaid," while "Graceful & Charming" is a sentimental ballad. The Breton tradition comes through strongest on "Harbour Le Cou" and "Tishialuk Girls Set." Adding its musicianship and excellent vocals to the Celtic continuum, Great Big Sea has come up with one for and of the ages. --Tad Hendrickson

Album Description

Includes bonus DVD -- an exclusive concert and conversation with the band!

The Hard and The Easy is the ninth album from Great Big Sea, the Juno-nominated band that fuses Newfoundland traditional music with modern pop in a crowd-pleasing formula both heartfelt and vital. A pure force of nature - much like the ocean surge they take their name from - Great Big Sea's blend of instruments such as guitar, mandolin, bodhran, fiddle, and concertina, along with their vocal harmonies, revels in the melodies they create and the Newfoundland tunes they love. Their sound bellows joy. After almost thirteen years together, Great Big Sea is releasing a new kind of album, one that spans the spectrum of the Newfoundland songbook. This all-acoustic album of traditional and local songs is a first for singers and multi-instrumentalists Sean McCann, Alan Doyle, and Bob Hallett, but it's also a logical progression. Newfoundland music and Newfoundland culture are both their genesis and their raison d'etre.

Customer Reviews:

Freakin' AWESOME.......2007-04-10

As always, Great Big Sea put out a fantastic record. This CD touches a little more on inland Newfoundland. It speaks of logging, horses falling through ice and river driving, to name a few things. Of course the record is still full of nautical themes, too.

An all-acoustic, all-folky outing (no original material), very enjoyable.......2006-11-04

The normal Great Big Sea album contains both original material written by the band and more traditional (mostly Newfoundland) folk songs. When preparing their latest album, according to interviews at the time, they had so much material they decided to split the album in two - one dedicated more to the new music (which, I guess, became the album "Something Beautiful") and one dedicated to all folk songs. While I like Great Big Sea's original material (at least, some of it!), I usually prefer the traditional stuff, so I was thrilled to have a whole album of it. After having listened to it many times, I am still happy with the album, and would recommend it to anyone interested in the genre of "Canadianised Celtic" music.

For those that know the band and/or know the type of music they play, more description might be necessary. This album is quite low-key relative to their other outings - there are more "Donkey Riding" and "General Taylor" songs (i.e. acoustic or totally instrumentless) than there are "The Night Pat Murphy Died" or "Run Runaway". Perhaps this is the effect of the retirement of bass player Darrel Power from the band - the songs have little lower-end drive. However, it is not missed as the band manages to generate lots of energy when required.

The slower songs are naturally a mix of sentimental (Sweet Forget Me Not, The French Shore) and bittersweet (Tickle Cove Pond, The River Driver), but the best songs on the album are those with some pep and some humour. They include:
"The Old Polina," a song about whaling vessels racing between Ireland and St. John's;
"The Mermaid" where a sailor falls in love with a mermaid but bemoans the fact that her bottom half is a tail
"Concerning Charlie Horse," one of two (!) songs about a horse falling through the ice, where his drunken master and his buddies decide they need to haul him out of the pond and give him a proper burial
"Captain Kidd," which I consider a Nova Scotian song (I grew up near Oak Island, supposedly home of Kidd's buried treasure), rather than a Newfoundlad one, but never mind - about the "misunderstood" pirate who recants his wicked ways just before his execution.

Also included is an hour-long DVD with interviews and "live" performances of all the songs (many in Alan Doyle's living room). These live versions are by no means polished - Alan corrects Sean McCann's erroneous lyrics in one song, and changes the key half-way through in another ("Actually, this is supposed to be in E..."). All-in-all, a very enjoyable, if generally low-key, album from our favourite Newfie band.

Brilliant.......2006-07-28

Brilliant. It is back to the form shown in their early CDs and encapsulated in the "Road Rage Live" album. The track "The Mermaid" is wonderful. The accompanying DVD is excellent. As you can see I am a fan after seeing them live in Glasgow in 2001 with Runrig.

A New Direction For the Boys!.......2006-05-08

I was very much looking forward to this disk because GBS sang many of the songs on their tour this spring. And it is new ground. From the mysterious "12 Apostle" shanty to the bawdy "Mermaid" (which will explain the cover)to the eponymous "Graceful and Charming" (which I swear I have somewhere by Triona ni Dhomnail, but I can't prove it). All acoustic, all pure Newfoundland folk. I hate taking that 1 star away from my hard playing, hard working tundra troubadours. But there's just that little smidgeon of something that is not there, absent the audience and lights.

I'll broke two exceptions: "Captain Kidd", full of energy and exuberance, and "River Driver", a shanty accompanied only by drum (It's done with spooky effectiveness in concert). Pure musical bliss. The rest of the CD is terrific compared to those of mortals, but simply lacks the additional GBS sparkle from their live sets.

If you like Great Big Sea.........2006-03-10

Then you will like this album. I like traditional music, and this CD is nothing but traditional. With my favorite song on it being, "River Driver" which has some really interesting vocal harmony on the chorus.

Average customer rating:

LOVE IT!
Great for dinner parties
I love the Ultra-Lounge series.
Boreing
Mondo Exellento

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 1: Mondo Exotica
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

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Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 4: Bachelor Pad Royale
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 17: Bongo Land
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 3: Space Capades
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 2: Mambo Fever
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 5: Wild Cool & Swingin

ASIN: B000002TWF
Release Date: 1996-02-06

Tracks:

Swamp Fire - Martin Denny
Moon Mist - The Out-Islanders
Caravan - 80 Drums Around The World
Hypnotique - Martin Denny
Atlantis - Les Baxter
Alika - Webley Edwards
Misirlou - Martin Denny
Lust - Bas Sheva
Hana Maui - Chick Floyd & His Orchestra
Voodoo Dreams/Voodoo - Les Baxter
Jungle Madness - Martin Denny
Babalu - Yma Sumac
Simba - Les Baxter
The Girlfriend Of The Whirling Dervish - Martin Denny
Bali Ha'i - Tak Shindo
Pyramid Of The Sun - Les Baxter
Quiet Village - Martin Denny
Wimoweh - Yma Sumac

Customer Reviews:

LOVE IT!.......2007-05-13

Love this kind of music - can't get enough - have most all of the CDs. Excellent New Jersey-based company with excellent foresight and retro-understanding for the best party and jazz combos. Excellent choice for any kind of day or evening, party or relaxation time.

Great for dinner parties.......2007-04-04

It's very mellow, although there are some points where a woman is doing tribal screams or something. I think it's supposed to add to the tropical feel of the disc. It kind of surprised me, and I didn't particularly like that part but overall I really liked the CD. In fact, the whole Ultra-Lounge series is great.

I love the Ultra-Lounge series........2006-12-10

Boreing.......2005-10-08

I was a little dissapointed,very generic,kinda like hawaiian elavator music even the famus Marten Denny Quite Village was not the original it was more somber.

Mondo Exellento.......2005-09-29

I have purchased several of the other Ultra Lounge series, and this one is definately one of my favoites. The exotic sounds are much different than the music on the other compilations, from the different take on Misirlou to the wacky wildness of Jungle Madness. Anyone who is a fan of the Ultra Lounge series should check this out, but be warned, this is mostly an instrumental album.

Let's Dance, Vol. 5: Modern Collection (Michelle)

Average customer rating:

good beats to dance to
Actually, this is 3 and a half stars
Superb CD for both Listening & Dancing
Best ballroom
Excellent Dance Music

Let's Dance, Vol. 5: Modern Collection (Michelle)
Columbia Ballroom Orchestra
Manufacturer: Denon Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Let's Dance, Vol. 1: Invitation to Dance Party

ASIN: B0000034ON
Release Date: 1994-01-04

Tracks:

Around The World
Fly Me To The Moon
Charade
La Rosita
El Amanecer
Michelle
Autumn Leaves
Summertime
Moonlight Serenade
This Masquerade
Nocturne
Top Of The World
Sing
Liebestraume
Mozart: Concerto For Piano And Orchestra
Le Professionnel
Amazing Grace
Tango Notturno
Blue Tango
Felicia
Yapeyu
El Huracan
Wonderland By Night
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
St. Louis Blues
'S Wonderful
A Walk In The Black Forest

Customer Reviews:

good beats to dance to.......2007-04-12

As a beginning ballroom dancer, I was happy with this album, with samples of lots of different types of songs, with easy-to-follow beats. I would recommend it for some of the more basic ballroom dances -- waltz, tango, foxtrot. The songs are a little boring, but that's okay, because the point for me was just to provide some variety in backdrop music as I'm trying to learn the steps.

Actually, this is 3 and a half stars.......2007-04-04

Lots of good instrumental dance music at a very reasonable price. This is full orchestra dance music and the strings often carry the melody line. The beat, provided by plucked bass or bass guitar, is easy to hear. The cover lists the appropriate dance and the tempo (bpm). The tempos are appropriate to the suggested dance, with the exception of tracks 23, 24, and 25. I suggest foxtrot for tracks 23 and 24. Track 25 works with West Coast Swing. Oh, and track 14 (Liebesträume) has some slightly sour strings.

Here is the title, duration, suggested dance, and tempo:

Around the world, 2:27 Waltz, 30
Fly me to the moon, 2:28, Waltz, 30
Charade, 2:27, Waltz, 30
Rosita, La, 2:13, Tango, 33
Amanecer, El, 2:12, Tango, 33
Michelle, 2:26, Foxtrot, 30
Autumn leaves, 2:28, Foxtrot30
Summertime, 2:28, Foxtrot, 30
Moonlight serenade, 2:28, Foxtrot, 30
This masquerade, 2:26, Foxtrot, 30
Nocturne, 2:26, Foxtrot, 30
Top of the world, 2:08, Quickstep, 52
Sing, 2:05, Quickstep, 52
Liebesträume, 2:29, Waltz, 30
Mozart's concerto for piano & orchestra, 2:29, Waltz, 30
Professionnel, Le, 2:32, Waltz, 30
Amazing grace, 2:27, Waltz, 30
Tango notturno, 2:44, Tango, 33
Blue tango, 2:13, Tango, 33
Felicia, 2:11, Tango, 33
Yapeyu, 2:12, Tango, 33
Huracan, El 2:12, Tango, 33
Wonderland by night, 2:03, Foxtrot, 28
Smoke gets in your eyes, 2:07, Foxtrot, 28
St. Louis blues, 3:05, WCSwing, 28
S'Wonderful, 2:05, Quickstep, 52
Walk in the Black Forest, A, 2:03, Quickstep, 52

Superb CD for both Listening & Dancing.......2003-12-12

I DJ for Social Ballroom dancing here in Peterborough Ontario and am always on the lookout for new music. This and the other Columbia Ballroom Orchestra CDs that I have just received (5 in number) are superb. The music is in strict tempo for dancing and the songs are ones that all my dancers can relate to and sing along with. I just hope there are more Columbia Ballroom Orchestra CDs around that I can get my hands on.

Best ballroom.......2001-07-01

Best music for ballroom dancing, great arrangements, never boring. Latin songs esp. good. Wish they would put out more albums.

Excellent Dance Music.......1999-05-05

This CD is professionally recorded and very enjoyable to listen to. It's perfect to practice your dancing skills. The music is grouped in 3 or 4 of the same dance so that you can practice a particular type of dance several times in a row. I highly recommend this CD, along with Let's Dance - Latin Collection(see review).

Average customer rating:

So excited
It's NOT David Sanborn!
Seduction
In The "Seduction Zone"
Seduction by James Last

Seduction
James Last , and David Sanborn
Manufacturer: Collector's Choice
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0009A6MWG
Release Date: 2005-08-02

Tracks:

Fantasy
Dancing Shadows
Vibration
Seduction (Love Theme)
Falling Star
So Excited
Night Drive
Glow
Infight
It's Over

Product Description

1. Fantasy
2. Dancing Shadows
3. Vibrations
4. The Seduction (Love Theme)
5. Falling Star
6. So Excited
7. Night Drive
8. Glow
9. Infight
10. It’s Over

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

So excited .......2007-07-08

I am so excited to have finally found this after 20 plus years of searching. This is the ultimate mood music!!! It is like Christmas in July!! I haven't been this excited since receiving Carol King Tapestry in 1972(or 1973) for Christmas!! I could just pee my pants!!!! I have to give credit to my adoring husband who found this for me and never even heard of James Last Band until I turned him on to it!! Thanks, honey....love you to bits!!

It's NOT David Sanborn!.......2007-01-28

It's actually Ernie Watts playing the alto sax solo on this version of "The Seduction." David Sanborn recorded this tune on his "Hideaway" album after the James Last Band version hit the charts. In fact, on earlier pressings of the "Hideaway" LP, "The Seduction" is not on it. It was added to a later pressing of the album as an afterthought, I suppose...

Seduction.......2007-01-04

My Mom wanted a particular song on this CD - I did not know when I ordered it that it would contain profanity and not the version that she heard on the radio. Would not recommend, there is no reason for profanity in a love song.

In The "Seduction Zone".......2006-11-21

Nowadays, in part due to the noodlings of Kenny G., it is common to dismiss instrumental pop and rock music as nothing more than glorified Muzak, even though quite a few of those instrumental records have endured over time. Such is the case with this album from German-born band leader and arranger James Last which was originally released in 1980.

Straddling the worlds of disco, synth-pop, new wave, and smooth jazz, this is a thoroughly underappreciated ten-track collection of instrumental pop. All but two of the tracks were composed either by Last himself or by his son Ronald Last, and are extremely inventive combinations of jazz-rock fusion influences and synthesizers. The two non-original ones both have their origins in Giorgio Moroder's score for the Paul Schrader-directed 1980 film AMERICAN GIGOLO. One of them is "Night Drive", whose main melody is derived from the Blondie song "Call Me" that is on the AMERICAN GIGOLO soundtrack. The other one, of course, is "The Seduction", this album's title track and that movie's haunting love theme, with an uncredited alto sax solo by David Sanborn. That track was widely played on the radio and actually peaked at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1980.

Last's "band", so to speak, consists of a lot of great musicians, including string arranger Sid Sharp; drummer Rick Marotta; guitarists Robert "Waddy" Wachtel and Lee Ritenour; keyboardists Don Grolnick and Michael Boddicker; bassist Abe Laboriel; and sax maestro Ernie Watts. All combine on this album for a lush but not syrupy experience from a time when production gimmickry had yet to swamp the recording process. A hugely worthwhile album for anyone with a taste for instrumental pop and rock of a compelling kind.

Seduction by James Last .......2006-02-26

first of all my cd was deleveredvto my home in 3 days time i"ve been searching for this c.d. for the last 20 yrs I live in a very small town so we have no music stores for 70 miles away in Panama City Fl.a friend suggesed i try Amozon . com & presto it was here & to top it off it was delevered on my 48th bday what a basy present to myself arter searching off & on for the past 20 yrg Amozon.com is the GREATEST. Thank u so very much.Geneisse

Average customer rating:

Hits of '47
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hits of '48
Hits of '46
Hits of '49
Hits of '45
Hits of 52: Here in My Heart

ASIN: B000006168
Release Date: 1998-03-17

Tracks:

Five Minutes More - Frank Sinatra
Rumors Are Flying - Frankie Carle & His Orchestra
Huggin' And Chalkin' - Hoagy Carmichael
For Sentimental Reasons - Nat King Cole
Zip-A-De-Doo-Dah - Johnny Mercer
La Mer - Charles Trenet
A Gal In Calico - Bing Crosby
Linda - Buddy Clark/Anita Gordon
The Anniversary Song - Al Jolson
Heartaches - Ted Weems & His Orchestra
That's My Desire - Frankie Laine
How Are Things In Glocca Morra? - Dick Haymes
Peg O' My Heart - Jerry Murad & The Harmonicats
Across The Alley From The Alamo - The Mills Brothers
Mam 'Selle - Frank Sinatra
Alexander's Ragtime Band - Bing Crosby/Al Jolson
When You Were Sweet Sixteen - Perry Como
Near You - Francis Craig & His Orchestra
You Do - Dinah Shore
Ballerina - Vaughn Monroe
This Is My Lovely Day - Georges Guetary/Lizbeth Webb
The Whiffenpoof Song - Bing Crosby
Chi-Baby, Chi-Baby, My Bambino Go To Sleep - Perry Como
Now Is The Hour - Gracie Fields

Average customer rating:

Cheese-fest
I love the Ultra-Lounge series.
Generic Ultra-Lounge
Cuttin' Capers
Smooth Enough

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 8: Cocktail Capers
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing Jazz & Big Band | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

Lounge | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 18: Bottoms Up
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 4: Bachelor Pad Royale
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 6: Rhapsodesia
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 12: Saxophobia
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 10: A Bachelor in Paris

ASIN: B000002U4R
Release Date: 1996-07-09

Tracks:

Roller Coaster - Les Baxter
Hey! Bellboy! - Gloria Wood
This Could Be The Start Of Something - Dave Pell
The Pink Panther Theme - Hollywood Studio Orchestra
Like Young - David Rose
Underwater Chase - Al Caiola
Binga Banga Bongo/Percolator - Terry Snyder/Earl Palmer
Call Me - The New Classic Singers
Mountain Greenery - The Ernie Freeman Combo
Charade - Si Zentner
Shooting Star/Jungalero - Les Baxter
Honorable Hong Kong Rock - The Out-Islanders
Odd Job Man/I Wanna Be A James Bond Girl - Leroy Holmes
Heap Big Chief - Muzzy Marcellino & His House Party Group
Blue Danube Rock - Jonah Jones Quartet
Pussy Cat - Cy Coleman
Teach Me Tiger - April Stevens
Lolita Ya Ya - Nelson Riddle
Bonus Track - Various Artists

Customer Reviews:

Cheese-fest.......2007-02-06

This is one of the cheesiest CDs around! It has a funky blend of music that is ideal if you believe you are Hugh Hefner and living in the 1950's and 1960's. Put on your smoking jacket and break out the cognac and cigars!

I love the Ultra-Lounge series........2006-12-10

Generic Ultra-Lounge.......2005-05-18

While there are some solid tracks such as "Like Young", "Underwater Chase", and "Odd Job Man/I Wanna Be A James Bond Girl", this volume is patchy compared to the others in the Ultra Lounge series. I think it's supposed to have an "international spy" theme considering its title and some of the tunes. It's probably worth getting to complete your Ultra-Lounge collection, but not essential as the best Ultra-Lounge volumes have at least a dozen great songs each.

Cuttin' Capers.......2003-04-11

Everyone has their favorites in the Ultra-Lounge series; this is one of mine. Unlike most of the volumes, this one doesn't stick to any one type of lounge music (Bossa Nova, Exotica, TV Themes, etc.). Instead, it is kind of an overview of ALL the styles this great series covers. So, if you'd rather start with a series entry and not the famous 'Fuzzy Sampler', this might be a good place to begin.

Highlights of Vol. 8 include: The eerie exotica of 'Jungalero' by Les Baxter, the fantastic movie theme 'Charade' (very James Bond), great spy music cuts 'Underwater Chase' and 'I Want To Be A James Bond Girl' (A song you want to sing along to, even though it hasn't any words!), a killer rendition of 'The Pink Panther Theme', and the two sultry & steamy vocal numbers 'Hey Bellboy' and 'Teach Me Tiger'. Saving the best for last, my absolute favorite 2 cuts on the disc are 'Honorable Hong Kong Rock' (what WOULD Austin Powers listen to if he were in Hong Kong?), and Nelson Riddle's astounding 'Lolita Ya-Ya' (from the film 'Lolita'). 'Ya-Ya' sounds like some demented fantasy of a bubble-gum pop song, as imagined by someone who HATES bubble-gum pop songs! Mindlessly cheerful and endlessly amazing...it's truly unique.

And don't forget our old friend 'Mr. Continental'and his hidden bonus track, 'You Go To My Head'!

Smooth Enough.......2000-11-18

Eighteen tracks, plus a bonus, and probably 7 really good ones. All in all, a good collection. The real standouts: A pumpin' "Pink Panther Theme" from the Hollywood Studio Orchestra. The solos portion is very reminiscent of Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloupe Island" and/or Us3's remake, "Cantaloop." Check out "Hey, Bellboy;" I swear you can hear the stiletto heels and the peroxide blonde hair in the ether of this track. Ya gotta like "Underwater Chase," from the original album "Music To Read James Bond By." An then there's the obligatory Burt Bacharach track, "Call Me" by the New Classic Singers. It's replete with those ubiquitous "bah bah buh-buh" non-lyrics, evoking those long-banned Benson&Hedges cigarette commercials. The liner insert is quite good too, with detailed info on the tracks, and the standard Ultra-Lounge graphics and drink recipes. All in all, a winner.

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