Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey: Swingin' In Hollywood (Film Soundtrack Anthology) [Soundtrack]

Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey: Swingin' In Hollywood (Film Soundtrack Anthology) [Soundtrack]

ASIN: B000007RQG

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Rhino has lovingly created this compilation of the Dorsey brothers' film music, and the resulting 21 tracks all make for a fun listen of some of the finest musical work the siblings performed. Tunes from Jimmy's I Dood It ("Star Eyes," "So Long, Sarah Jane") and Lost in a Harem ("Noche de Ronda," "I Know It's Wrong") and Tommy's Thrill of a Romance ("Battle of the Balcony Jive," "The Guy with the Slide Trombone") are all highlights. The pair's melding of Dixie and pop idioms is near perfect. And though it's an album of contrasts--Jimmy's ensemble specialized in playing fast and swinging hard, while Tommy's went for mood and tone--all of the tunes originate from the early '40s, a great vintage when both Dorseys were in their prime, working for MGM. Nostalgia abounds. --Jason Verlinde

Tracks:

Overture
It's A Boy
1921
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Eyesight To The Blind (The Hawker)
Christmas
Cousin Kevin
The Acid Queen
Underture
Do You Think It's Alright?
Fiddle About
Pinball Wizard
There's A Doctor
Go To The Mirror!
Tommy Can You Hear Me?
Smash The Mirror
Sensation
Miracle Cure
Sally Simpson
I'm Free
Welcome
Tommy's Holiday Camp
We're Not Gonna Take It

Amazon.com essential recording

Tommy had the dubious distinction of being the first-ever rock opera; however, it's none the worse for that, Ken Russell's adaptation notwithstanding. Due largely to Pete Townshend's skill as a songwriter and composer, Tommy tells a coherent story and includes quality rock and roll at the same time, an impressive feat by itself. While surprisingly more linear than the later Quadrophenia, Tommy boasts several songs that stand up well on their own, including the classic "Pinball Wizard," "The Acid Queen," "I'm Free," and "Sally Simpson." Much of the rest doesn't make much sense lyrically unless you listen to the entire album, but you'll probably want to do that anyway, preferably with the lights low and the stereo cranked. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

"Sickness Will Surely Take the Mind Where Minds Can't Usually Go" (* * * * 1/4).......2007-06-13

The Who's Tommy had been foreshadowed lyrically by "A Quick One, While He's Away" - which Pete Townshend referred to as "Tommy's parents" on Live At Leeds - and musically by the two-part "Rael" from The Who Sell Out. (Although I am not sure about the continuity between "A Quick One" and Tommy.) Granted, the foreshadowing was subtle, but clearly Townshend had big things in mind as The Who's stature grew. But as a "rock opera", if we are to use that term, Tommy was not an entirely original creation. It was presaged by The Pretty Things' S.F. Sorrow in 1968. Moreover, word had apparently leaked to Townshend that Ray Davies was working on Arthur, or: the Decline and Fall of the British Empire. So just as The Kinks had influenced The Who's early sound, eg, "I Can't Explain", so too would they appear to have influenced them in the middle period of their heyday.

The centerpiece of Tommy is "Pinball Wizard", whose strummed chords are among the most recognizable in rock, and which serve as a motif throughout the record. However, I should note - as others have - that it is not too far removed from the chords heard on "Old Man Going" from the previously mentioned S.F. Sorrow. (But hey, even the opening to "Stairway To Heaven" had a precursor in "Taurus" by the band Spirit.) Of the two dozen tracks on the album, this is probably the only one known to a wider audience, and rightfully so. This is an excellent single which stands well on its own, and serves as one of the pillars for an album that also includes three instrumentals ("Overture", "Sparks", "Underture") and several under one-minute adhesive pieces, which are at times reminiscent of the fake commercials on Sell Out. Among the other solid, free-standing songs are "Amazing Journey", "Christmas", "Go To the Mirror!", "Sensation", "Sally Simpson", and "I'm Free". Pete Townshend wrote all of these songs, and most of the others on Tommy. But there is also the smartly chosen cover of Sonny Boy Williamson's "Eyesight To the Blind (The Hawker)". Plus, John Entwistle's two tracks introduce the unsavory characters one would expect from him, in this case the bully "Cousin Kevin" and the alcoholic, sexually abusive Uncle Ernie ("Fiddle About").

Tommy is surely to be praised for its great songs and ambition, but also for the fact that the story holds together quite well. It is easy to criticize it for being sketchy, but no libretto can serve to illustrate every scene of an opera perfectly. Townshend obviously expected it to be presented on stage. I will not go too deeply into the plot, but it is worth pointing out the highlights. Tommy witnesses the murder of his mother's lover by his father, long thought to have been killed in World War I ("1921"). Terrified by his father's insistence that he saw and heard nothing, and that his never to tell anyone about it, he is psychologically struck deaf, dumb, and blind. His parents, bereft of hope, first seek to heal him first through a strange spiritual leader ("Eyesight To the Blind") and then hallucinagens ("The Acid Queen"). Both fail, but in the meantime Tommy discovers he has an uncanny talent for pinball, which catapults him to fame. Soon after this, his parents find a doctor who discovers that Tommy's symptoms are psychosomatic ("There's A Doctor"). The refrain of "See me, feel me, touch me, heal me" comes from Tommy, who is aware of what is happening even though he cannot express himself. Tommy is healed when his mother destroys the mirror into which he perpetually stares, and through which he saw the murder happen ("Smash The Mirror"). Thought by many to have been the recipient of a miracle, he acquires legions of followers, who too hope to have their senses revived figuratively the way Tommy's were literally ("Sally Simpson", "Welcome".) Alas, like most so-called gurus, Tommy insists that his followers gain enlightenment the same way that he did. This, coupled with the fact that Uncle Ernie is heading up the camp, cause his followers to abandon him ("We're Not Gonna Take It"). Fortunately, Tommy does not abandon himself as the latter half of "We're Not Gonna Take It" - released in single form as "See Me, Feel Me" - indicates.

If any band were to make the rock opera legitimate, The Who was surely the big band who could. Although S.F. Sorrow deserves its share of credit, and although Arthur is a better album, Tommy is the one that everyone knows about. Obviously such a large project ran the risk of being overblown, but Townshend's penchant for graceful but powerful singles and longer pieces prevented this from happening. Tommy may not be a Great album, but it is a very good one, and is worthy of its status as a major breakthough in the history of rock.

Tommy revisited.......2007-05-30

Tommy came out my freshman year in college and I listened to it continuously. The Dayton Ballet just did an awesome ballet version of Tommy in April, so I bought this for my daughter's 13th birthday, she loves it!

it started here.......2007-05-26

The music of Tommy is where I first began really appreciating rock and roll, way back in 1988 when I was only 7 years old. That was a very important day in the life of me. There's no telling which direction my taste in music would have gone had I not heard some of the wonderful tunes from Tommy. I fear it would have eventually gone towards Limp Bizkit and other similar unenjoyable bands.

The music on this album is simply incredible. It's one thing to make a concept album and tell a good story. It's another when you can take a story and wrap *extremely* memorable music around it, which is what Tommy does so well.

I didn't really appreciate Keith Moon's drumming when I first heard this album, or Daltrey's emotional roller-coaster ride of a voice, going from convincingly angry to touching and sad. He's very good at going back and forth between those two emotions.

Still, I can't help but think back to my childhood. The line "See me, feel me, touch me, heal me" has stuck with me all these years, and there's a feeling when I listen to how that melody is sung that strucks me on a personal note. The "Right behind you, I see the millions" vocal line is another hook that has always stood up well, and will probably continue to do so.

I admit, Tommy is probably not my favorite Who album these days, because I've familiarized myself with other Who albums in the last decade. Denying the influence this album had on me would be ignorant and wrong, because Tommy is where my rock and roll obsession took off. The rest is history, my friend.

been there done that go for it...........2007-05-15

Tommy some great guitar work here. Do you play you do I thought so you've heard of this album 'till you're looking here and well you should be there what's it about?

Somebody has it rough to begin with and somehow makes it out without falling down all the way to oblivion. Tommy gets it from the beginning parents not so together and a family that almost defies merit still the songwriter seems to have an uncanny insight into the whole outcome of such things if you have a little savvy of your own.

Nice music sometimes it's like you just stepped off the bus from home and set foot in the garden othertimes you're in a tractor's nuts with no place to go for a headache.

This may or not be intended as an opera but I don't know if you expect a full blown orchestra wallowing in the waters of oblivion you won't find it here just some very snappy rock and roll... or pop rather.

Tommy opens with an overture I don't know it's not strictly speaking a full symphonic movement but it 's got some french horn right where it counts sort of makes you wonder what next from an album called Tommy.

There's no Thomson machine gun jokes in Tommy in fact it's not in there.

Something deeper something a little closer to home. Kid has a rough childhood and makes good.... That's it. Okay so you can go too far and maybe that's the point of writing 24 songs all at once having made your point take what comes from that and PROCEED to the nearest exit.

There's an underture the opposite of a movement in formal music theory called an Overture strange place to be if you're one of those lucky people that don't want anything for themselves.

All the Who albums are pop music at it's best but I say Tommy is the first stop to make if you're on your way to the record man. It's a long album two albums actually the best of the bands diverse talents is brought to completion in this very pop record of a story about a boy that rises to the top and has it all and I mean all.

The web can put you straight on who's who and what's what after all with this record but they don't even ever have a personal review of their own encounter and there's the rub. I like rock and roll and this album provides.

Very nice record well done and to the point. Masterpiece in spite of what they tell you on page one!

A Classic.......2007-04-11

Tommy is Pete Townsend's classic rock opera. It tells the story of a boy born deaf, dumb, and blind, and his eventual coming out and triumph. The music is tremendous with great soaring pieces, well crafted lyrics, and an interesting story line. Plus, it's the WHO; probably the best rock band ever. This is the album the include I'm Free, Pinball Wizard, Amazing Journey, and We're Not Gonna Take It. Actually, I really like the Overture.
This was one of the first albums I bought. It was my introduction to the WHO. And, I play it quite frequently.
It is a classic album, and well worth the listen.

Average customer rating:

Finger Lickin' Good!
Great CD
Tommy is brilliant
Tommy rules
Great !

The Mystery
Tommy Emmanuel
Manufacturer: Favored Nations
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000GW8PQS
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Tracks:

Cantina Senese
Gameshow Rag/Cannonball Rag
The Mystery
Cowboy's Dream
Walls
Lewis & Clark
The Diggers' Waltz
Antonella's Birthday
And So It Goes
That's The Spirit
Footprints
Keep It Simple

Amazon.com

When Tommy Emmanuel opened this new album with the fire-breathing "Cantina Senese," I suspected he was finally going to do the rip-roaring country-old-timey-Celtic-jazz CD featuring the crowd-pleasing tunes he pulls out during concerts. But it doesn't take him long to slip into the more lyrical playing that has turned up on his recent discs. And that's not a bad thing. Emmanuel is the kind of player who scares other guitarists to death with the range of his influences and the precision of his technique. You can hear both on tracks like "Gameshow Rag/Cannonball Rag," with Emmanuel doing the 1930s Django Reinhardt thing. But the album is also full of delicate reveries like "The Mystery" and "The Digger's Waltz," the latter based on the military "Taps." The only shortcoming is "Walls," with Emmanuel and his wife, Elizabeth Watkins, in a vocal duet. It's heartfelt but sentimental, and its country-pop sound is like a speed bump in the middle of the disc. But he quickly redeems this "what the hell?" moment with "Lewis & Clark," as he plays gentle cross-rhythms against a melody that unfolds like an epic tale. The Mystery isn't definitive Tommy Emmanuel, but it shows why he's not only one of the finest players, but also one of the most detailed composers for finger-style guitar. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

Finger Lickin' Good!.......2007-05-12

What a player! This is a must have for any guitar fan! It's hard to believe all of this is done by finger picking. Chet Atkins found a gold mine in Tommy Emmanuel! This guy can flat play! He is so good that I don't care for the songs that have vocals. All I want to hear is his guitar! This is the first CD of his that I have bought, and I will be buying the rest of his arsenal. I was totally impressed and I'm more of an electric guitar fan. But, I apprciate any talented virtuoso styles. If you like guitar music, then check this guy out!

Great CD.......2007-01-16

This is a fabulous cd. It is no wonder he has been nominatted for a Grammy Award.

Tommy is brilliant.......2007-01-11

I just recently was exposed to this great artist when I saw a TV special on PBS. He impressed me so much I bought "Mystery", and after listening to it bought a second CD, "Midnight Drive". I am amazed at the sounds Tommy produces with his guitar on "Mystery". The music is beautiful and thoughtful. His music has a classical feeling, while remaining at grass roots level. No guiitar music lover should be without "Mystery" for their collection.

Tommy rules.......2007-01-10

Tommy Emmanuel is THE top guitar player. His music is great to listen to and his concerts are amazing. He puts his soul into his music and you can definately hear that in this CD. A must listen to.

Great !.......2007-01-10

My favorite : The Mystery ... a very great guitar player , you'll appreciate his smooth and free playing . I've been told he might have been created by an extraterrestrian experience for having such fast and long fingers...

Average customer rating:

Kickin'!!
solid blues,soul/ funk, rock n roll too
WOW, Tommy Castro's best.
Painkiller - Tommy Castro
Best TC to date

Painkiller
Tommy Castro
Manufacturer: Blind Pig
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Styles | Music

Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music

Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Dirty Deal
10 Days Out (Blues from the Backroads)/ (CD/DVD)
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ASIN: B000LXSSSW
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Tracks:

Love Don't Care
I'm Not Broken
Painkiller
Big Sister's Radio
A Good Fool Is Hard To Find
Err On The Side Of Love
I Roll When I Rock
If You Believe (In What You Do)
It's That Time Again
Goin' Down South
Lonesome And Then Some
It Ain't Easy Bein' Me

Amazon.com

Is Tommy Castro a soul man in a blues rocker's body, or vice versa? He doesn't seem to care--and neither should we, when the results of that dichotomy are as frisky and enjoyable as Painkiller. A better-than-average singer and guitarist, Castro has been hampered in the past by inconsistent material and the sense that he hadn't quite come to grips with his love of the Stax and Chess catalogs. Bringing in other songwriters has vastly improved the material on this collection, with eight original tunes co-written by Castro and veteran tunesmiths such as Gary Nicholson, Stephen Bruton, Bonnie Hayes, and Jimmy Hall. Castro sounds loose and comfortable hammering into riff-rockers such as "Love Don't Care" and Stones-styled material on the order of "I Roll When I Rock," both augmented by a horn section that adds dollops of R&B to the proceedings. Coco Montoya duets and adds typically sizzling guitar on a rollicking cover of Albert Collins's "A Good Fool Is Hard to Find," and Angela Strehli ups the heat for a soul-drenched take on Freddie King's "If You Believe (In What You Do)." Castro shifts into Tyrone Davis mode on "It's That Time Again," credited as an original but almost a rewrite of Davis's signature "Can I Change My Mind." The Al Green/Hi sound of "Lonesome and Then Some" brings out the best in Castro's Delbert McClinton-inflected vocals, and burns when he tears into a taut lead-guitar line. Call him a soul-drenched blues rocker if you must, but on Painkiller Tommy Castro successfully finds the sweet spot between his various influences and balances them like the pro he is. --Hal Horowitz

Album Description

Tommy Castro's newest studio recording, produced by John Porter (whose impressive list of credits includes Los Lonely Boys, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo, Santana, B.B. King, Elvis Costello, and Buddy Guy), features another spirited dose of the patented brand of infectious rock 'n' soul music that has endeared the Tommy Castro Band to legions of fans. Tommy tears it up again with his stellar band, and welcomes guests Coco Montoya (on a smoking Albert Collins tune), vocalist Angela Strehli, pianist David Maxwell, and singer/pianist Teresa James.

Customer Reviews:

Kickin'!!.......2007-06-12

Tommy's best. Alot of Delbert influence in his music on this CD. Great blend of horns and blues guitar. I've enjoyed Tommy's music for some time now, stumbling across a performance of his when I was in San Diego in 1998. His music has improved and this CD has provided the goods for me to turn more ears here on the east coast. Not a bad song on this CD.

solid blues,soul/ funk, rock n roll too.......2007-06-09

Tommy Castro plays and sings from the heart . He is supported by a great band, producers and management. check out his web site ,it is great. check out this cd and you will feel no pain.

WOW, Tommy Castro's best........2007-04-10

Having listened to Tommy Castro for the last 5 or 6 years, this is a truly great release from a fine electric blues and jazz guiter player.
I was impressed from the first track thru the entire CD. A must buy for all electric blues & jazz fans everywhere.

Painkiller - Tommy Castro.......2007-03-30

I had a chance to see Tommy perform at a local venue, he played a couple of songs from this album that sounded great. At the time the cd was not available in stores, just his website, which was autographed if bought from the website. Anyhow, after hearing the couple of songs live, I bought the cd and loved it. I'm glad to see the cd is doing well.

Best TC to date.......2007-03-22

I really think Tommy Castro has arrived as one of the best on the Blues scene today. Pain Killer is clearly his best effort to date. Most notably one should notice the work of Keith Crossan And Tom Poole (The Healthy Horns).

Average customer rating:

Great Songs and Great Sound
OUTSTANDING
Bring's hope that rock is still alive'
Influence
Great homage to influences of great musicians

Influence

Manufacturer: VH1 Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000MX7TRW
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Tracks:

Summer Breeze
Time Of The Season
Your Move
I Am A Rock
Lucky Man
The Sound Of Silence
California Dreamin'
On A Carousel
Dirty Work
For What It's Worth
Dance With Me

Album Description

Legendary STYX guitarist Tommy Shaw and former NIGHT RANGER and DAMN YANKEE frontman Jack Blades team up again for their second venture on INFLUENCE. INFLUENCE is also the first CD release coming out on the new created VH1 Classic Records label. From Tommy Shaw, on the making of INFLUENCE: 'This album has been years in the making. The recording process didn't take years, but the concept had been looming in our conversations for years. From the day Jack Blades showed up on my doorstep, we discovered our chemistry as writers almost immediately. We became best friends as a result of the music and the experiences we had because of it.' ' After two albums and two world tours with Damn Yankees, we decided to do our first Shaw Blades album, Hallucination. The album was a departure from Damn Yankees that it was more acoustic in nature, not nearly as heavy and more organically produced.' 'On INFLUENCE, we went song by song; some we held very close to the original version, while on others we departed from the familiar arrangements and made them our own.'

Customer Reviews:

Great Songs and Great Sound.......2007-06-27

I have always been a fan of both Styx and Night Ranger and a major reason for that has been the fact that these groups actually play music in their songs...not just a few power chords behind the vocals, but melody and counter melody, and intricate instrumentation. And I have been a fan of the work Shaw & Blades have done together in the past, so this was an easy purchase for me to make. And I was NOT disappointed.

The songs they chose to cover are all great songs. Reading the liner notes was very interesting to hear how they decided to approach each song, and let me say that my opinion is they did it right on every one. Some they left alone, some they changed up a bit, and they all work well. So good, fact, that not only do my wife and I love it, but my 3 year old and 7 year old daughters love it, and ask to listen to it over and over again. Best cd I've purchased in a long time.

OUTSTANDING.......2007-06-08

This CD is absolutely outstanding and highly recommend for any 60's and 70's fan.

Bring's hope that rock is still alive'.......2007-05-23

Wowser's what an lbum.. was listening to howard stern and upon hearing the guys in the studio had to have it ..thanks

Influence.......2007-05-15

Great music. Old standards with a twist. Very good. Shaw/Blades' harmonies are great together. Hope they do another one.

Great homage to influences of great musicians.......2007-05-14

Not all of these songs are my faves. That said, hearing them from Shaw/Blades point of view makes me wish I had paid more attention to what was forming the the influences of the music I loved. Yes, I loved earlier Styx, NR and later the Damn Yankees so checking out the the new versions of music that was created by musicians I am grateful for doing what they do, is pretty cool. The songs sound great (engineering wise) and the nuances that Tommy and Jack add make them better versions of the originals. I hope the original artists don't hear them, they'll be PO'd they didn't do them this good.

TV Land Presents: Favorite TV Theme Songs

Average customer rating:

good memories for me and fun "new" songs for my children
memories
TV Theme Songs
TV themes
Deja Vu

TV Land Presents: Favorite TV Theme Songs
Cyndi Grecco , and Jones, Jack
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006EXIL
Release Date: 2002-08-20

Tracks:

I Love Lucy Theme - Wilbur Hatch
Dragnet - Ray Anthony
The Twilight Zone - Rod Open
Bonanza - Al Caiola & His Orchestra
The Andy Griffith Theme - Earle Hagen
The Ballad Of Jed Clampett - Earl Scruggs
The Addams Family (Main Theme) - Vic Mizzy
Munsters Theme - Jack Marshall
The Ballad Of Gilligan's Isle - Morton Stevens
Green Acres - Eddie Albert
Jeannie - Hugo Montenegro
Batman Theme - Neal Hefti
(Theme From) The Monkees - The Monkees
Star Trek (Main Title & Closing Theme) - The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Mannix - Lalo Schifrin
Hawaii Five-O - Mort Stevens & His Orchestra
Theme From The Brady Bunch - The Brady Bunch
Come On Get Happy - The Partridge Family
Those Were The Days - Carroll O'Connor
And Then There's Maude - Donny Hathaway
Good Times - Jim Gilstrap
Movin' On Up - Oren Waters
The Rockford Files - Mike Post
Them From S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage
Happy Days - Pratt & McClain
Making Our Dreams Come True - Cyndi Grecco
Chico And The Man - Jose Feliciano
Welcome Back - John Sebastian
What's Happening!! - Henry Mancini
Barney Miller - Jack Elliott
Charlie's Angels - Jack Elliott
Love Boat Theme - Jack Jones
Angela (Theme From 'Taxi') - Bob James
It Takes Diff'rent Strokes - Gloria Loring
Theme From Dukes Of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys) - Waylon
Theme From Magnum, P.I. - Mike Post
The Theme From Hill Street Blues - Mike Post
Theme From Dynasty - Bill Conti
Theme From 'Greatest American Hero' (Believe It Or Not) - Joey Scarbury
Thank You For Being A Friend - Cynthia Fee

Album Description

TV Land brings you 40 of your favorite evening show theme songs. Highlights include 'Happy Days', 'The Greatest American Hero', 'Dukes Of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)', 'Laverne & Shirley', 'I Dream Of Jeanie', 'I Love Lucy', 'Welcome Back, Kotter', 'The Love Boat', 'Hawaii Five-O', 'The Golden Girls' and many, many more. 2002. Rhino.

Customer Reviews:

good memories for me and fun "new" songs for my children.......2007-06-27

We had ordered this for "The Dukes of Hazzard" theme song for our 4yr old and our whole family has fallen in love with the cd. It makes me want to share some of the old fun and simple shows with my children. I forgot about some of those shows. It brings back good memories for my husband and me and the songs are new and exciting for our children. It's a nice change from children's cd's, but our children still think it's fun. The sound quality is good and the songs included on the cd are a great mix. I would definately recommend this one.

memories.......2007-02-22

This cd is excellent it has a lot of very good music and true to the original sound, Am getting a lot of enjoyment,highly recomended

TV Theme Songs.......2007-01-13

This is a great CD for people who watch a lot of TV -especially TV LAND and reruns of old shows when shows had actual theme songs. I took the CD to work and everyone loved trying to figure out what show the songs were from.

TV themes.......2006-07-05

Not all what I expected, not all of the tunes are the original recordings you remember as the TV themes.

Deja Vu.......2006-02-17

Listening to these familiar themes as performed by the original artists certainly brings back wonderful memories! I was particularly pleased, not only with the quality of the pieces, but with the actual performances themselves, just as we remembered them!

Average customer rating:

amazing
My favorite
The Best
Amazing!!
Guitaer wizardry

Only
Tommy Emmanuel
Manufacturer: Favored Nations
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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Great Tommy Emmanuel

ASIN: B00006IT5A
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Tracks:

Those Who Wait
I've Always Thought Of You
Mombasa
Timberlake Road
Questions
Padre
Luttrell
Since We Met
Drivetime
The Robin
Train To Dusseldorf
Biskie
Stay Close To Me
Ol' Brother Hubbard

Amazon.com

Tommy Emmanuel is a veteran acoustic guitar player from Australia, where he's reputed to be a legend. He's written pop songs for Olivia Newton-John, Al Jarreau, and Sheena Easton and released skillfully played, if generic, smooth jazz albums. But it's as a solo acoustic finger-style player that Emmanuel makes jaws drop, and that's all you hear on this brilliant album. Emmanuel is an eclectic guitarist whose playing is infused with old-timey jazz on "Timberlake Road," New Age melodicism on "Those Who Wait," and a Celtic-classical tinge on "Padre." Emmanuel is capable of a dizzying array of harmonic effects, off-hand ornamentation, hammer-ons and pull-offs, and just about anything else you can do on an acoustic guitar. But while it's the technique that amazes, it's the songs that keep drawing you back with their intricate melodic invention. Perhaps because he's an unrepentant punster, Emmanuel is able to create just enough distance, with a cocked sideways glance, to keep his music on the right side of the line between sentimental and sublime. --John Diliberto

Album Description

2002 release from the native Australian who has 4 Platinum & 3 Gold albums. This is his first solo acoustic album and finally being released internationally on Steve Vai's Newly created Favored Nations Acoustic imprint. HDCD.

Customer Reviews:

amazing.......2007-05-09

This man plays the music of my soul. Every song is happy, soothing, and pleasent to listen to.

My favorite.......2007-01-10

A book of songs in this album have been edited so you can try and play as he does ... so bad it's a bit hard to have the same velocity as he does. Here Luttrel for a smart sample.

The Best.......2006-05-22

The best acoustic guitar playing I've heard to date. Absolutely beautiful! Every aspiring guitar player should own and treasure this CD.

Amazing!!.......2006-05-04

This album is absolutely amazing! Technically and melodically remarkable. The sound is difficult to explain. You really must just listen to understand the beauty of this album. The tracks range from ballad to all out jams. Highly recommended!

Guitaer wizardry.......2006-02-28

Tommy Emmanuel is in my opinion a giant amongst giants. This CD is not only technically fantastic but is smooth and silky as well.

Average customer rating:

Endless Road
Tommy Emmanuel
Dear Future Tommy Emmanuel Fan
Perfect Road Trip Music
Perfection

Endless Road
Tommy Emmanuel
Manufacturer: Favored Nations
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Only
The Mystery
The Day Finger Pickers Took Over The World
Great Tommy Emmanuel
Tommy Emmanuel - Live at Her Majesty's Theatre

ASIN: B00030CH1W
Release Date: 2005-03-08

Tracks:

Endless Road
Tall Fiddler
(The Man With The) Green Thumb
Bella Soave
Morning Aire
Angelina
Windy & Warm
Chet's Ramble
Son Of A Gun
Sanitarium Shuffle
La Visita
Mona Lisa
Christmas Memories/Wheels
Old Town
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
I Still Can't Say Goodbye
Today Is Mine
Struttin'
Pegao

Customer Reviews:

Endless Road.......2007-06-18

This album first captivated me for Tommy's sheer technical wizardry. After watching his early 2007 concert in Atlanta, and thereafter reading up more on whom I consider a music phenomenon, I began to understand why I could listen to this album in its entirety on a regular basis (it's become a permanent resident of my car's CD changer). Tommy seems to be able to tell a story with each song, with notes or measures emoted like words. Amazing. I'll venture to say, as a guitarist myself who strives to do so, that Tommy has gone beyond virtuosity to using guitar music as a language.

Some favorites are "Bella Soave" where Tommy slips in contrasty chord transitions, "Angelina" - whose universal likability is confirmed by several guitarists doing it on YouTube, and "Struttin," which creates a 20s imagery.

A musical treasure, in my opinion.

Tommy Emmanuel.......2007-01-24

Tommy's a fantastic guitarist. You have to see him life to appreciate his guitar talent. This is another CD that doesn't do him justice.

Dear Future Tommy Emmanuel Fan.......2007-01-17

If you love acoustic guitar, this album is definitely for you. Tommy Emmanuel can play with the best of them. Just turn up the volume and let the acoustic sound wash over you.

This is almost a totally solo album, with the exception of backup vocals on "I Still Can't Say Goodbye". Several of the songs follow the fingerstyle of Chet Atkins, and others follow the style of Merle Travis. Highlights include: "(The Man With The) Green Thumb", "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" (this arrangement alone is worth the price of the album), as well as the title track "Endless Road".

If you're a long time Tommy Emmanuel fan and you don't yet have this album, don't hesitate to get it. It continues Tommy's very high standard for acoustic guitar music. If you're not a Tommy Emmanuel fan yet, but you've loved the guitar music of Chet Atkins and Merle Travis, then this album is definitely for you. If you're new to acoustic guitar music altogether, then this is still a good place to start. I recommend this album as well as Tommy's new album "The Mystery". Buy both of them, and if you're not hooked, then, to coin a phrase, check your pulse.

Perfect Road Trip Music.......2007-01-12

The album "Endless Road" is a very satisfying blend of contemporary, jazz and "controlled jamming" music. It is one of the few albums I can listen to in its entirety and repeatedly. The first time I heard Emmanuel's "Over the Rainbow", I had to pull off the road and wait for the radio to identify the artist. It is shear acoustic artistry! The balance of the album is not remakes of earlier or familiar tunes, and each cut is sufficiently unique and satisfying to play during long commutes/drives or when needing time to think things over or when your spirits need a gentle uplift!

Perfection.......2007-01-11

According to Chet Atkins and myself Tommy Emmanuel is the greatest living guitar player. This disk is no exception. Tommy sits there and plays and you think there are many guitars playing at once. Everyone should have a chance to hear him.

Average customer rating:

Rock-solid rockin' Cliks
I think I'm in love!
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!
Great Album and Artist You Should Know

Snakehouse
The Cliks
Manufacturer: Tommy Boy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

L Tunes: Music from and Inspired by The L Word
Release the Stars
Volta
The Story
Life in Cartoon Motion

ASIN: B000NQR7RA
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

Complicated
Cry Me A River
Misery
Eyes In The Back Of My Head
Soul Back Driver
Start Leading Me On
Whenever
Oh Yeah
Nobody Else Will
Back In Style

Album Description

On "Snakehouse", The Cliks have created something mysterious yet transparent; specific yet universal; timeless yet intoxicatingly new. They're a band of such primal power and unguarded emotion that they'll take your breath away. This is music that seems to emanate from a parallel universe, one where fundamental distinctions are blurred, living passionately is the highest level of existence, and rock and roll is the ultimate form of expression.

Customer Reviews:

Rock-solid rockin' Cliks.......2007-06-20

This band opened the True Colors Chicago show, starting to a house that was about half-way empty, but they pulled 'em in when they kicked into OH YEAH and showed what no-nonsense rock can sound like in the right hands. All sexual politics aside, here's great rock: tough and simple. They can play any house, anywhere and proved it live; the SNAKEHOUSE album captures them just the same.

The album sounds as great as their live show; crank up the bass and rip it up!

I think I'm in love!.......2007-06-08

No, seriously.
I absolutely LOVE this band. Love, love, love. The songs are catchy, they're great to sing along to, and the lead singer's voice is great. Surprisingly enough, the only song I always skipped over was their hit "Oh Yeah". I saw them live and...now I'm excited to hear it. If you ever get a chance to see them live, DO IT! My friends and I drove 4 hours (round trip) on a work night to see them and none of us will ever regret the experience. The band is really friendly, they put on a great show, and they come out to meet everyone after they're done.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!.......2007-05-01

WOW!!! They are amazing live and in the CD!! You should definitely support this androgynous group because they are amazing and cool people! Lucas' voice just vobrates through your body, A++++++

Great Album and Artist You Should Know.......2007-04-29

I just got this album yesterday, but have been awaiting the release of Snakehouse for months. The Cliks are a great new band hailing from Canada. Their sound reminds me of a band called Tina & the B Sides, a modern Melissa Etheridge or even Fiona Apple with a kick arse backing band. The album standout is, so far, their initial release "Oh Yeah". I'm also enjoying their rendition of Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River", which came as a surprise. The lyrics seem to have a pain about them they are trying to release, "When I'm wasted you sucker punch me". I recommend giving this album and band a listen. It will be worth your time. [...]

Don't You Know Who I Think I Was? - The Best of the Replacements

Average customer rating:

Love from Minneapolis
What, yet another Mats compilation album?
A Great Best-of
One Historic CD
Great one disc Best of, Excellent with 2 new songs, but so short.

Don't You Know Who I Think I Was? - The Best of the Replacements
The Replacements
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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And I Feel Fine...: The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987
Open Season
Another Fine Day
Rather Ripped
Besterberg: Best of Paul Westerberg

ASIN: B000ESSTNS
Release Date: 2006-06-13

Tracks:

Takin A Ride
Shiftless When Idle
Kids Don't Follow
Color Me Impressed
Within Your Reach
I Will Dare
Answering Machine
Unsatisfied
Here Comes A Regular
Kiss Me On The Bus
Bastards Of Young
Left Of The Dial
Alex Chilton
Skyway
Can't Hardly Wait
Achin' To Be
I'll Be You
Merry Go Round
Message To The Boys (New Recording)
Pool & Dive (New Recording)

Amazon.com

Chronicling The Replacements' gloriously tempestuous decade on a single disc ostensibly seems akin to reading Cliff's Notes for the New Testament: No sooner do you grow fond of the protagonist than they've nailed him up. And if that comparison sounds a tad sacrilegious, perhaps you underestimate the Mats' hallowed place in modern rock history--and the hearts of their ardent fans. Yet somehow even this condensed format focuses the songs of Paul Westerberg and playing of bandmates Bob and Tommy Stinson and drummer Chris Mars into a dramatic arc that can't be denied. The initial tracks of this 20-track collection display a band joyously besotted by nascent punk thrash, yet one not so different from the scores of similar bands tearing up local clubs in the '80s.

But by the time of Hootenanny's "Color Me Impressed" and "Within Your Reach," something magical was clearly happening within Westerberg's songwriting and the band at large, even if it was largely inspired by terminal boredom, perpetual discontent, no small amount of alcohol--and an indifference to success that was one of their greatest charms. Within two years they'd produce one of the decade's--and perhaps rock history's--most compelling albums with Let It Be and the indie movement's first grassroots anthem in "Unsatisfied." They followed it up with Tim, a collection where Westerberg seemed able to conjure similar generational marching orders ("Here Comes a Regular," "Bastards of Young," "Left of the Dial") with preternatural ease; enraptured rock critics probably thought harder about his music than he ever did. Though highlighted by such gems as "Alex Chilton," "Skyway" and such pop-smart swan songs as "I'll Be You" and "Merry Go Round," the Mats' third act dissolved into the expected, if equally star-crossed solo career for Westerberg and the tragic death of Bob Stinson, events which can't help but cast a melancholy shadow over the unexpectedly gritty new old stock recordings "Message to the Boys" and "Pool & Dive." --Jerry McCulley

Album Description

The ragged and glorious alt-rock of The Replacements made them one of the greatest and most iconic American bands of the 1980s, and inspired countless groups to come. Fronted by lead singer, pianist/guitarist, and principal songwriter Paul Westerberg, these heroes of post-punk/pre-grunge rock `n' roll fused garage band greatness with powerful pop beauty. Fueled by both thrashing energy and a lyrical and emotive sonic flow, The Replacements' kamikaze live shows and richly textured albums made them music legends.

Customer Reviews:

Love from Minneapolis.......2007-03-25

How can anyone who lives in the muck of a society that prizes commerce, populism, media savvy, and dumbed-down entertainment above all else be surprised how little popular success or money or fame the Replacements achieved in their career? But our same American culture of mass-produced cr*p-by-committee fertilized their existence, out of which sprang this wondrous musical art, an art that is nevertheless woefully underrepresented in this single CD.

Not to bleat too much, but how does Rhino justify the omission of Androgynous and Swingin' Party, which, in all of their weird, surreal, organic, raw, sloppy beauty, epitomized the immediacy that helped make Let It Be and Tim the greatest back-to-back albums by any artist in the 1980s? These songs only get better with repeated listening, unlike the Mats' pre-Let It Be punk efforts that sound like the kind of speed metal that gives skateboarding fanboys hard-ons but grows increasingly tiresome with age.

It is funny to me that as their music matured and became more melodic and interesting, many of these same fanboys accused the Mats of selling out. That instinct to keep bands stuck in perpetual adolescence always drags down great music, but thankfully, Westerberg and Co. resisted, although at the unfortunate loss of a bandmate.

Despite missing some vital tunes, I still give this album five stars for Rhino's good sense to include Answering Machine and Here Comes a Regular, and because it is still the Replacements, who even at their worst could puke out better music than the soulless, high-polish, overproduced dreck that wins Grammy awards. If there is any justice, the Mats will be fast-tracked into the RnR Hall, thus affording them the opportunity to give the middle finger to industry tastemakers who overlooked them in their prime.

What, yet another Mats compilation album?.......2007-01-16

Yeah, Yeah, this has the Twin Tone recordings that All For Nothing did not have. Sure, that makes this a better compilation of hits (what hits?) album. However, where All For Nothing had a disc of rairities, this one hopes to entice Mats fans with two new recordings. Uhh, correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't Paul released like four (at least) solo albums since leaving the Mats (one could argue that the last Mats album was a Paul solo album)? I guess, Paul's solo works are different when he attaches the Mats name to it? So, uhhh, why exactly should you buy this CD? Well, if you are a fan and already have all of their stuff, there is no reason to buy this CD. I mean, come on. Chris was so indifferent about this project that he did not even bother playing drums on the two new cuts and Bob is dead. What, did you really miss hearing Tommy's bass-playing that much? Listen to some GnR for crying out loud. LOL

A Great Best-of.......2007-01-11

I'm going to keep this short and sweet: The Replacements are a "glorious footnote" in the history of rock music, a band that didn't sell enough to make an impact when they were together (at least on the superficial charts of the Eighties), but I guarentee every indie band that followed had a record or two and practiced "Can't Hardly Wait" or "Kiss Me on The Bus" to learn their instruments.

So if you're wondering what all the fuss is about, pick up this disc. I owned Hootenanny for a while back in the day, but foolishly let it slip out of my hands. So when I saw this disc, I had to get it. You can't understand alternative rock without the Replacements, REM, Joy Division, and Mission of Burma.

Do yourself a favor and get this, you won't regret it.

One Historic CD.......2006-12-19

For a compilation, this CD is awesome. It follows the Replacements from their punk rock roots to their more polished sound (lyrics and music). One of the best aspects of the Replacements was their refusal to apologize for not being famous rock stars. Sure, the critics loved them, and LET IT BE is on many top spots of top rock and roll albums of all time (as well it should be). Still, they never found the ultra-glamorous rock star lifestyle that so many seek. And their music is better for it.

The best way to listen to this is on a long, autumn drive on backroads, with the windows down and the volume loud. If you still have one of those archaic tape recorders, record a compilation tape and throw in some greats from this album. It only gets better with age.

And to address my own review title, I wish this had been two CDs. Or three.

Great one disc Best of, Excellent with 2 new songs, but so short........2006-12-05

This ablum is the cream of the Replacements catalog, but its hard not to want all of their music on this. It does not hit their twintone years, which I am suprised has not been done yet (the did it for soul asylum). But, this covers their sire years well, and is greatly complimented by the best of Paul Westerberg CD. A good starter CD, but also check out the "all for nothing/nothing for all" greatest hits released years ago, 2 cds of music with the second disc being B sides and rare recordings. You'll want all the replacements Albums after you get this one anyway, their addicting.

Average customer rating:

This should never have worked at all
A GREAT AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED MUSICAL FROM THE 80-IS
Chess
One of my favorites!
Concepts get better with practice

Chess
Bjorn Ulvaeus , and Tim Rice
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Chess (1988 Original Broadway Cast)
Miss Saigon (Original 1989 London Cast)
Evita (1978 Original Broadway Cast)
A Little Night Music (1973 Original Broadway Cast)
Sweeney Todd (2005 Broadway Revival Cast)

ASIN: B000002GLR
Release Date: 1996-07-23

Tracks:

Merano - The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas/Murray Head
The Russian And Molokov/ Where I Want To Be - The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas/Tommy Korberg/Denis Quilley
Opening Ceremony - The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas/Bjorn Skifs
Quartet (A Model Of Decorum And Tranquility) - Elaine Paige/Tommy Korberg/Denis Quilley/Bjorn Skifs
The American And Florence/Nobody's Side - Elaine Paige/Murray Head
Chess - LSO/Anders Eljas
Mountian Duet - Elaine Paige/Tommy Korberg
Florence Quits - Elaine Paige/Murray Head
Embassy Lament - Tommy Korberg/The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas
Anthem - Tommy Korberg

Tracks:

Bangkok
One Night In Bangkok
Heaven Help My Heart
Argument
I Know Him So Well
The Deal (No Deal)
Pity The Child
Endgame
Epilogue: You And I / The Story Of Chess

Amazon.com

Chess is a musical that sounds like it shouldn't work but instead succeeds surprisingly well. This is the original concept album that was recorded before the musical was staged in London. Chess is the story of a love triangle told against the backdrop of an international chess tournament during the height of the cold war. The composers are Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (the Bs in ABBA) and the lyrics are by Tim Rice, who supplied the words for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, as well as Disney's Aladdin (with Howard Ashman), The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. The six-member cast does a beautiful job with the songs, which are a combination of ballads, rock, and operatic choruses. Murray Head's version of "One Night in Bangkok" became a surprise hit in the mid-'80s and it still turns up on the turntables in dance clubs around the world. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

This should never have worked at all.......2007-06-18

And on that basis alone, you've got to cut it some slack. Fortunately, not all that much slack turns out to be necessary.

While "Chess" may be a document of an era that no longer exists, there's a lot more going on than the surface metaphor. It holds up very well indeed. When it aims for humor, it generally succeeds, and likewise when it aims to devastate. What more can you ask for?

A GREAT AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED MUSICAL FROM THE 80-IS.......2007-03-04

`Chess' is a musical that should be counted among the best of what the 1980-is had produced: side by side with `Cats', `The Phantom of the Opera', `Les Miserables' or `Miss Saigon'. The score as heard on this concept album, written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (formerly of ABBA) and with the exceptional lyrics written by Tim Rice, stand proof to this. And yet, due to various reasons, like the changing of the director half way through London staging; a heavy rewrite for Broadway and a pan review from Frank Ritch (a.k.a. `The Butcher of Broadway'), `Chess' seems to be unjustly neglected.

This concept album is the main reason why the show has so many ardent fans until this day. Tim Rice wanted to write the show with the main plot revolving around chess for years and after his long time partner Andrew Lloyd Webber remained uninterested, he found the new collaborators in Ulvaeus and Andersson. The subject matter follows two international chess players in a championship, a Russian (Tommy Körberg) and an American (Murray Head) and a woman called Florence (Elaine Paige) who is a manager to the American but falls in love with the Russian. The story also draws a parallel between the game of chess and the cold war/real life situations.

This concept album was recorded in 1984, two years before the original London production took place. As the authors noted in the accompanying booklet, it was a work in progress and thusly the story is not quite readable here from the musical numbers alone. Despite that fact (which is amended by the synopsis included in the booklet), this album remains a winner. The score (played here by the London Symphonic Orchestra) itself makes an intriguing bland of the famous ABBA sound, the classical; the rock and the pop enhanced by the orchestral solo passages and the strong choral parts. The lush orchestrations add an epic touch to it and on the whole it is melodic and hummable, packed with great tunes. Some of the songs achieved huge success outside the musical: `I know him so well', a duet between Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson, held the number one spot on the UK singles charts for 4 weeks in February 1985 and won Ivor Novello Award as the Best Selling Single; Murray Head's `One night in Bangkok' became one of the biggest dance hits of its time, often heard today. Some other notable tunes include `The Anthem' (Russian's deliberation on his homeland); the soaring rock songs `Where I want to be' and `Pity the child' (in the former, the Russian reflects upon his life under the spotlight; in the latter, the American ponders about his own unhappy childhood) or the gentle `Heaven help my heart' (in which Florence weighs up her relationship with the Russian).

A special reference must be made to Tim Rice's excellent lyrics. With `Chess' he managed to keep up to the high standards he set himself in `Jesus Christ Superstar' and Evita'. Again in this case he shows he is a lyrical wizard, with his familiar cynical touch. `The story of chess', in which he gives a history of the game in a couple of crafty verses, is a pure masterpiece. The same can be said of the song `I know him so well', where the two women reexamine their relationship with the same man. As a whole, `Chess' owes a lot of its appeal to Tim Rice's written word.

The cast on this album ranks the high standard of the material. The principal parts (sung by Elaine Paige, Tommy Körberg and Murray Head) are delivered in a strong and impeccable fashion.

This 2-disc edition comes with a booklet containing a note from the authors, a text about chess, a full synopsis and a libretto, together with the photos of the principal singers.

Anyone interested in the modern musical theatre should find `Chess' to be a great score with great lyrics, which should be enough to satisfy any aficionado.

Chess.......2007-01-15

A magnificent musical, i have enjoyed the music since i first heard it and read the storyline. Had been unable to find it in our local music stores.Very pleased to find it on your site.

One of my favorites!.......2007-01-12

I love "Chess"! I still remember the first time I heard the single "One Night in Bangkok" on my car radio. I thought it was so unusual and so very cool, so I tracked down the album and bought it. Then I taped it onto a cassette, which is what I've been listening to for years, so I finally broke down and got it on CD. Of course, it's on my iPod now. I've seen the musical, and I loved that, too.

Concepts get better with practice.......2006-11-27

I love this show! That said, I do not care for this version of it. The inclusion of the word "concept" in the title means it is just that. This was, thankfully, not the final version of the show that would later spawn the hit song, "One Night In Bangkok".

With most Broadway musicals, the musical numbers tell the basic story of the show. If you listen to the recordings of Phantom, Mama Mia, Beauty and the Beast, you can discern the basic storyline of the show. Listening to this particular recording of Chess, though, will leave you wondering "What was that?" The Broadway arrival of Chess saw a much needed reworking of the storyline and arrangement of the musical numbers. This recording seems too much like a mish-mash of songs that don't really relate to each other.

For musical fanatics (like myself), I say "yes, you should have this recording in your collection", if only to understand how much work went into the show before it opened on Broadway.

If you are only buying the album because of "One Night In Bangkok", purchase the Broadway recording instead; you'll be much happier with the performance by Phillip Casnoff rather than Murray Head.

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