Legendary Performer

Legendary Performer

ASIN: B000002W14

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This "greatest hits" package begins with "Moonlight Serenade," the theme song of trombonist/band leader Glenn Miller's orchestra. The creamy, luxurious sound owes its character to the voicing of Wilbur Schwarz on clarinet over Hal McIntyre, Stanley Aronson, and Al Klink's alto saxophones and Tex Beneke's tenor sax. Three trumpets, three trombones, piano, bass, drums, and guitar complete the lineup. Miller's arrangement style was ensemble-oriented with a minimum of soloing and the emphasis on the song's melodic hook, which is why so many of these songs, including "Little Brown Jug," "Tuxedo Junction," "A String of Pearls," "In the Mood," and "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" were such big hits. --John Swenson

Tracks:

Harbor Lights
I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
Blue Hawaii
Jailhouse Rock
It's Now Or Never
Blue Suede Shoes
Such A Night
Baby What You Want Me To Do
How Great Thou Art
If I Can Dream

Customer Reviews:

Legendary Performer Series helped set standards.......2002-02-28

While a half-hour recording is paltry by today's standards for anthologies[thus a 4-start rating instead of 5], this series was a standard-setter for anthologies. In the mid-seventies there were many "Greatest Hits" and "Best of..." compilations, including Elvis' Gold Records and Worldwide Gold Award collections. But, for the Elvis fan who had everything these compilations offered a handful of rarities along with alternate versions of some hits. Some songs that have since appeared an many other compilations (i.e. Harbor Lights and Baby What Do You Wnat Me To Do) appeared first hear. There are excerpts from interviews and a cross-section of Elvis' diverse stylings, including Rock-a-billy, rock-n-roll, country, rhythm & blues and gospel. At [the cost] for the CD's, its worth it for even the casual Elvis collector who may not have some of these recordings already on CD. I would like to see RCA remaster and repackage the Legendary Performer series, especially Volu,es 1-4, into a single...

Average customer rating:

A legendary album
Incorrect Track Listing
A decent introduction to the Legendary Performer!
Awesome

Elvis: A Legendary Performer, Vol. 1
Elvis Presley
Manufacturer: Special Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Rockabilly | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music

Elvis: A Legendary Performer, Vol. 2
Burning Love and Hits From His Movies, Vol. 2
Pure Gold
Let's Be Friends
50 Worldwide Gold Hits: Volume 1, Parts 1 & 2

ASIN: B0000038QJ
Release Date: 1992-03-30

Tracks:

That's All Right
Heartbreak Hotel
Elvis (Excerpt From Interview Held Sept.22, 1958)
Don't Be Cruel
Trying To Get To You
Love Me Tender
(There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me)
Elvis (Excerpt From Interview Held Sept.22, 1958)
Tonight's All Right For Love
Can't Help Falling In Love

Customer Reviews:

A legendary album.......2006-01-06

Released in 1974 while Elvis was still alive, this compilation included for the first time outtakes and alternate versions of songs every fan knew by heart. It also included the master takes of some of his biggest hits.
This album was produced by Joan Deary who, at the time, was supposed to become Elvis's next producer after Felton Jarvis. Jarvis had been Elvis's own producer since 1966 but by 1974 nobody could get Elvis in the studio, not even Jarvis although RCA Records relied on him. They thought Jarvis was incompetent and they wanted to get rid of him, the record sales were becoming really bad since mid-1973 so RCA put Joan Deary in charge of Elvis's back catalogue. She did a tremendous job with LEGENDARY PERFORMER, the fans and the critics were happy and the mass audience could get another view of Elvis.
Elvis would do only three more recording sessions before his death (one in 1975, two in 1976), not showing at a fourth one on January 1977. Jarvis tried everything he could to keep his job, promising new songs and new records to RCA while Elvis did evrything he could to stop them. He was so bored at that time, full of medication, waiting for death.
This album (the first of the four volumes) did very well in the charts, selling more copies than Elvis's new records. But it did some good for his career too because just before his death his record sales began to rise again. His new albums sold more copies while the back catalogue did very well too.
It's truly a great album and I'm not sure Deary would have made a better job than Jarvis but at least she was the first person at RCA Records to take care of Elvis's musical legacy.

Incorrect Track Listing.......2004-11-14

The track listing above is not correct. Here is the correct track list:
1) That's All Right
2) I Love You Because
3) Heartbreak Hotel
4) Interview
5) Don't Be Cruel
6) Love Me
7) Trying to Get to You
8) Love Me Tender
9) (There'll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me)
10) Elvis' Farewell to His Fans (22 Sep 1958)
11) (Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I
12) Tonight Is So Right for Love
13) Are You Lonesome Tonight?
14) Can't Help Falling in Love

A decent introduction to the Legendary Performer!.......2004-09-18

Elvis A Legendary Performer Volume 1 is a fine place to get introduced to the man's music. This was the first Elvis album that I owned. While the album is extremely skimpy by today's standards, it is a good album.Out of the 10 songs two of them are excerpts from interviews, so in all reality there are only 8 songs, but among those eight songs are some of Elvis's best early recordings like Heartbreak Hotel, Don't Be Cruel,Love Me Tender, adn Can't Help Falling in Love, which I personally think some of these songs represent his strongest material, basically he was at his best during the 50's and early 60's. Some of these are the songs that drew me in to Elvis's music. There are many complations that cover his career in much more depth, but for a quick taste of Elvis's best years check out A Legendary Performer Volume 1.

Awesome.......1999-07-19

Being a young Elvis fan, this CD had a big meaning. My parents bought be this CD for Christmas one year and from then on I was in love with Elvis' music. I bought numerous CD's of his after this and I think that there is no other "Legendary Performer"

Average customer rating:

Glenn Miller Live!
A wonderful CD (but the tape is better)
Great Music And History...
poor quality
Not Exactly a Greatest Hits Package

Legendary Performer
Glenn Miller
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002W14
Release Date: 1991-09-24

Tracks:

Moonlight Serenade
Sunrise Serenade
Little Brown Jug
Danny Boy (Londonderry Air)
Tuxedo Junction
My Melancholy Baby
Pennsylvania 6-5000
So You're The One
Sentimental Me
Song Of The Volga Boatmen
Jack And Jill
A String Of Pearls
Star Dust
Everything I Love
Jingle Bells
In The Mood
Chattanooga Choo Choo
At Last
Moonlight Cocktail
(I've Got A Gal In) Kalamazoo
Juke Box Saturday Night
Moonlight Serenade

Amazon.com

This "greatest hits" package begins with "Moonlight Serenade," the theme song of trombonist/band leader Glenn Miller's orchestra. The creamy, luxurious sound owes its character to the voicing of Wilbur Schwarz on clarinet over Hal McIntyre, Stanley Aronson, and Al Klink's alto saxophones and Tex Beneke's tenor sax. Three trumpets, three trombones, piano, bass, drums, and guitar complete the lineup. Miller's arrangement style was ensemble-oriented with a minimum of soloing and the emphasis on the song's melodic hook, which is why so many of these songs, including "Little Brown Jug," "Tuxedo Junction," "A String of Pearls," "In the Mood," and "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" were such big hits. --John Swenson

Customer Reviews:

Glenn Miller Live!.......2005-07-05

His biggest hits (Pennsylvania 6-5000, In The Mood, Cattanooga Choo Choo) recorded live. Mostly from Glen Island Casino, featuring Tex Beneke, Ray Eberle, Marion Hutton, the Modernaires and great Harry James. Sound is not that great but it's not that bad either. It is the document of the big band era.

A wonderful CD (but the tape is better).......2002-08-15

I began making musical adventures in my youth. I had always enjoyed old movie musicals as a child and there were many that involved big bands and swing music. So one day, I just went out and bought the tape, without any real familiarity with the music itself. It quickly became one of my most listened to tapes. Unfortunately for me, my two very favorite songs from the tape are not on the CD, I can not begin to tell you how very dissapointing that is to me. But I also know that a Glen Miller fan would enjoy hearing those old radio shows, it is something terribly sweet, innocent and wonderful about hearing them like that. There is a nice bit of back and forth banter that otehr recording would not have, and that makes this special as well. But I will tell you this, if you ever get a chance to hear a song called Elmer's Tune (I think Tex Benecke is singing lead w/the Modernaires), it really does encapuslate the flavor of those years, and the band's rendition of Tchaikowski's Piano Concerto No 1 is absolutely masterful. That peice really showed just how layered a Glen Miller arrangement could be. I listened to it so much, I can still hear it in my head and I miss it so much. Funny thing is I got the tape because it had "In the Mood", but I have come to love and sing Elmer's Tune.

If you enjoy Glen Miller, you will enjoy this CD, but if you ever heard Elmer's Tune or Piano Concerto No.!, this CD is a horrible let down.

Great Music And History..........2001-10-30

I've had this on record for years, and it's a must on CD! Think of it as an audio scrapbook of important musical dates in the band's career. (First broadcast from the Glen Island Casino, First Chesterfield broadcast,etc.) All wonderful, and the original 2-disks fit nicely onto one CD. Don't toss that vinyl copy, though-packaging here is pretty shoddy, and the booklet is a joke compared to the beautiful original-all the pictures, and about 3/4 of the narrative are missing.

poor quality.......2001-04-13

This is one hugely disappointing CD. The sound quality is poor--you could hear the scratches and pops of the original record. The recording itself--made off a radio broadcast--is not too great to begin with. What's more annoying--for me anyway--is that the radio announcer kept coming on to introduce this and that song, thus ruining whatever mood the album and the individual songs produce in the listener. For god's sake, he even came on DURING "Moonlight Serenade" to utter some nonsense or other. Now does this sound like your idea of a good time?

Not Exactly a Greatest Hits Package.......2001-03-26

Though it does contain Miller's best-known hits, this isn't really a greatest hits CD. Instead, this CD is compiled from notable radio performances. The sound is better than I would have expected, and all of the performances have terrific energy.

Tracks:

Three By Mancini: Days of Wine & Roses; Charade; Moon River.
Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet
Two For The Road
Moment To Moment
Dear Heart
Peter Gunn
Mr. Lucky
The Pink Panther Theme
Baby Elephant Walk
Theme from Hatari
Rhapsody In Blue

Customer Reviews:

Pleasant surprise.......2000-07-03

I have both Mancini Box sets and was disappointed that neither one included Mancini's cover of Rhapsody in Blue. I broke down and bought this CD just for that cut and was surprised to find that the medley "Three by Mancini" was a different arrangement of three popular Mancini tunes. Peter Gunn (new version) has a more modern "funky" bass line to and the brass section roars!

Average customer rating:

Legendary Performer
Harry Belafonte
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Calypso | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music

General | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000008DC6
Release Date: 1992-04-28

Tracks:

Banana Boat Song (Day-O)
Mama Look a Boo Boo
Matilda
Jump Down, Spin Around
Jamaica Farewell
John Henry
Shenandoah
Hava Nagila
Danny Boy
Scarlet Ribbons
All My Trials
When the Saints Go Marching In

Average customer rating:

Legendary Performer
Merle Haggard
Manufacturer: Beacon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

Honky-Tonk | Country | Styles | Music

Western Swing | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Okie from Muskogee
Mama Tried
Today I Started Loving You Again
Ida Red
I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink
Fightin' Side of Me
Bottle Let Me Down
Chill Factor
This Mornin', This Evenin', So Soon
That's the Way Love Goes

Jimmy Stewart: Smithsonian Legendary Performer

Average customer rating:

Not what was advertised
20 Jack Benny Radio Programs On 10 CDs! (NOTE: WHY THIS AMAZON PAGE SAYS THIS IS A "JIMMY STEWART" PRODUCT IS BEYOND ME!)

Jimmy Stewart: Smithsonian Legendary Performer
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Radio Spirits
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General Broadcasting | Radio | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Comedy & Spoken Word | Box Sets | Stores | Music
ASIN: 157019484X
Release Date: 2004-04-06

Tracks:

Robert Taylor Plays the Cello - Jack Benny, Robert Taylor
Harry Von Zell Subs for Don - Jack Benny

Tracks:

Is Jack Really Jack? - Jack Benny, Ed Sullivan
Football Game - Jack Benny,

Tracks:

From San Diego Marine Base - Joan Bennett, Jack Benny
Jack Takes Two Cadets to Barbara Stanwyck's House - Jack Benny, Barbara Stanwyck

Tracks:

Jack Returns After Illness - Jack Benny, Orson Welles
From St. Joseph, Missouri - Jack Benny, Jane Wyman

Tracks:

From Mitchell Field - Jack Benny,
From Palm Springs, California - Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor

Tracks:

I Stand Condemned - Jack Benny, Peter Lorre
Kid from Brooklyn - Jack Benny, Danny Kaye

Tracks:

From New York - Jack Benny, Al Jolson
Jack Tries to Reach His Advertising Agency - Don Ameche, Jack Benny

Tracks:

Jack's European Vacation - Jack Benny, Tyrone Power
I Was Betrayed - Jack Benny, Red Skelton

Tracks:

Cup of Coffee, A Sandwich and Murder - Jack Benny, Richard Widmark
Bend of the River - Jack Benny,

Tracks:

Road to Bali - Jack Benny, Bob Hope
Life of Bing Crosby - Jack Benny, Bing Crosby

Customer Reviews:

Not what was advertised.......2007-01-05

This is the item that should have gone with the wrong review that a person reported earlier. But, what was supposed to be radio shows turned out to be audio only of his popular movies.

20 Jack Benny Radio Programs On 10 CDs! (NOTE: WHY THIS AMAZON PAGE SAYS THIS IS A "JIMMY STEWART" PRODUCT IS BEYOND ME!) .......2004-11-30

Comedian Jack Benny was a mainstay on radio and TV airwaves for 33 years. His own self-titled "Jack Benny Program" varied very little in substance and style (and main cast) during its entire lifespan on both radio and television. Jack's radio show debuted in 1932 and ran until 1955. He performed both radio and TV versions of his show for five overlapping years (1950-1955). The Benny TV series continued through 1965.

This collection of Audio CDs gathers up Benny radio programs spanning a period of 1938 to 1953. (A detailed listing of shows is provided below.)

Big-name stars of the era were no strangers to "The Jack Benny Program". In this grouping of programs alone you'll hear such stars as Bing Crosby, Barbara Stanwyck, Jimmy Stewart, Orson Welles, Red Skelton, Bob Hope, Tyrone Power, and many others.

Along with the famous guest stars who would pop up each week, the Benny Program featured a first-rate regular cast: Don Wilson, Mary Livingstone (Jack's real-life wife), Dennis Day, Kenny Baker, Larry Stevens, Bob Crosby, Mel Blanc, Frank Nelson, Phil Harris, and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson. Many of the regulars in this group stayed with Mr. Benny throughout the entire run of the series, on both radio and TV.

In 2002, "Radio Spirits, Inc." (experts in providing Old-Time Radio material on CD and cassette tape) released this slick set of Compact Discs, featuring 20 radio episodes of "The Jack Benny Program" on ten CDs. Each disc has two full-length, thirty-minute Benny radio shows. Audio quality is very good, with each program having been "digitally restored and remastered". The 10 discs are housed in a compact, book-like package, with double-sided sleeves provided to hold the individual CDs. The sturdy plastic package measures approximately 7.0" (W) x 6.5" (H).

This set also includes an informative 32-page booklet, which provides details on the history of the Benny Program, along with a full page of info and data on each of the twenty radio shows in this CD set. Several rare and high-quality B&W photos are also included throughout the booklet.

Specific episode information follows (including original radio air dates) ......................

DISC 1:
1.) "Robert Taylor Plays The Cello" (Original Air Date: February 13, 1938). Guest: Robert Taylor.
2.) "Harry Von Zell Subs For Don" (March 27, 1938). Guests: Fred Allen, Kate Smith, and Robert L. Ripley.

DISC 2:
1.) "Is Jack Really Jack?" (March 26, 1939). Guest: Ed Sullivan.
2.) "Football Game" (November 9, 1941). Guest: Leo Durocher.

DISC 3:
1.) "From San Diego Marine Base" (March 8, 1942). Guest: Joan Bennett.
2.) "Jack Takes Two Cadets To Barbara Stanwyck's House" (October 11, 1942). Guest: Barbara Stanwyck.

DISC 4:
1.) "Jack Returns After Illness" (April 11, 1943). Guest: Orson Welles.
2.) "From St. Joseph, Missouri" (February 18, 1944). Guest: Jane Wyman.

DISC 5:
1.) "From Mitchell Field" (January 28, 1945). Guest: Ann Sheridan.
2.) "From Palm Springs, California" (February 10, 1946). Guest: Eddie Cantor.

DISC 6:
1.) "I Stand Condemned" (March 24, 1946). Guest: Peter Lorre.
2.) "The Kid From Brooklyn" (April 28, 1946). Guest: Danny Kaye.

DISC 7:
1.) "From New York" (May 18, 1947). Guest: Al Jolson.
2.) "Jack Tries To Reach His Advertising Agency" (November 21, 1948). Guest: Don Ameche.

DISC 8:
1.) "Jack's European Vacation" (December 4, 1949). Guest: Tyrone Power.
2.) "I Was Betrayed" (January 22, 1950). Guest: Red Skelton.

DISC 9:
1.) "A Cup Of Coffee, A Sandwich, And Murder" (November 12, 1950). Guest: Richard Widwark.
2.) "Bend Of The River" (April 27, 1952). Guest: James Stewart.

DISC 10:
1.) "The Road To Bali" (January 11, 1953). Guest: Bob Hope.
2.) "The Life Of Bing Crosby" (February 15, 1953). Guest: Bing Crosby.

--------------------------

This multi-disc set yields a very satisfying sampling of Benny episodes. Plenty of laughs with Jack Benny and his famous guests are in store for the owner of this stylish CD set of Old-Time Radio programs. Jack's deadpan humor and ever-present penny-pinching gags were (and still are today) guaranteed to evoke a chuckle or two, or three -- or maybe even 39 -- Jack's favorite number. :-)

In short, Jack's programs are just good clean fun. And, IMO, they hold up as well in the 21st century as they did all those many years ago when the shows first crackled over the radio airwaves.

Average customer rating:

Happy!

Manufacturer: All Star Sounds
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAGK16
Release Date: 2003-11-25

Average customer rating:

A Legendary Performer
Woody Guthrie
Manufacturer: Bmg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Folk | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000024L3B
Release Date: 1999-07-15

Tracks:

Great Dust Storm [Dust Storm Disaster]
I Ain't Got No Home
Talking Dust Bowl Blues
Vigilante Man
Dust Can't Kill Me
Dust Pneumonia Blues
Pretty Boy Floyd
Blowing Down That Old Dusty Road (Going Down the Road Feelin' Bad)
Tom Joad, Pt. 1
Tom Joad, Pt. 2
Dust Bowl Refugee
Do-Re-Mi
So Long (It's Been Good to Know Yuh)

Average customer rating:

Legendary Performer
Shirley Bassey
Manufacturer: Windsong
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Broadway & Vocalists | Imports | Stores | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000025AN1
Release Date: 2004-02-16

Tracks:

Goldfinger
What Now My Love
Something
As Long as He Needs Me
Kiss Me, Honey, Honey, Kiss Me
As I Love You
Big Spender
Send in the Clowns
I Am What I Am
I (Who Have Nothing)
And I Love You So
Never, Never, Never (Grande, Grande, Grande)
For All We Know
This Is My Life
All by Myself
This Masquerade
New York State of Mind
Can You Read My Mind
Only When I Laugh
Solitaire
New York Medley: New York, New York/New York, New York

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music