title: Review of Papi (1937) "Lucia di Lammermoor" with Lily Pons

text:
I am sure that Amazon will tuck this review away on either a Callas or Sutherland "Lucia," so I open by noting this is a review of the 27 February 1937 MET broadcast of "Lucia di Lammermoor" conducted by Gennaro Papi starring Lily Pons, Frederick Jagel, John Brownlee, and Ezio Pinza.  The particular release is by "The Fourties" (sic) in a remastering made on a Cedar Sound System.

Despite the remix, the sound is pretty dim and dreary.  This is odd because we have two other recordings from the MET from that magnificent February ("Aida" and "Norma," both with Cigna).  As is always the case, one's ears open up and the recording sounds generally better going on, but there are some really bad portions on the second disc.  Nowhere are sound problems more noticeable than with Pons' loud, high, and sustained notes of the glorious mad scene.  What happens here (and occasionally when one of the gents sings loudly) is that the sound distorts so much that it isn't clear if Pons actually hit all the notes.  I am pretty sure she did, and squarely at that.  But the sound here offers less proof than the wild cheering of the adoring crowd.

Pinza is terrific as Raimondo.  He really shines in ways that I do not hear in the "Norma," as solid as he was just a week before.  Jagel (Edgardo) had qualities to his voice that remind me of Schreier, another tenor punching above his weight.  While I cannot point to any horrible fault of technique, Jagel sounds like he is going to have an aneurysm or strangle himself on a carotid artery flapping in a stiff breeze like a halyard against a flagpole.  It is forced and a bit painful, but decidedly not bad. Instead he is just at the limit of what his four cylinders could easily muster. Brownlee is rather boring; I am not sure how or why, but he is not vocally convincing as an actor in any way in this "Lucia."

So that brings us to Pons, the reason why I bought this album.  How can one evaluate one of the most famous sopranos of the first half of the century without some sort of bias?  Her voice was bright, exact, gymnastic in quality like the best of bel canto sopranos.  She was exciting and lovely, like the bird in the golden cage warbling away. And, ladies and gents, could Pons ever warble!  Nonetheless... nonetheless... something is missing here, just like it is (to my ears) with many of Melba's recordings.  That something is what Callas and Sutherland really brought to the role (Sills less so, but she still had some of what Pons missed).  And that is acting.  Pons is to singing what rhythmic gymnastics is to ballet.  Lucia isn't mad in her mad scene. She is just a perfect bird warbling perfect notes in a golden, loud, and energetic way.  Sutherland and especially Callas were mad women.  And we care about them as we are repulsed.  In contrast, Pons is just a fabulous and athletic technician as Lucia; does she even know what she is singing about or why? She has something of what in a tenor or baritone of that era was called "park and bark."  Does she sing beautifully?  Yes!  Much more so than Callas!  But she completely lacks the requisite emotion, dramatic context, and any of the dark vocal palette that really is needed to make this role stand up and cast a shadow.  Pons is perfect.  Too perfect.  She sounds artificial and without appropriate vocal coloring, shading, or whatever the correct words are for adding proper the nuance to what is merely beautiful sound.

Am I sorry for this purchase?  No.  It is interesting and informative.  Sound-quality issues aside, it allows me to appreciate a very special voice in her prime.  Pons could sing this role like no other.  The problem is, no one should want to sing it this way. This amazing, skillful performance completely misses the point.


title: Review of Panizza (1937) "Norma" with Cigna, Pinza, Martinelli, Castagna

text:
As I write this review of "The Fourties" [sic] release of the February 20, 1937 MET "Norma" staring Cigna, Martinelli, Castagna, and Pinza, there are 35 other reviews listed.  As far as I can tell they are all of various Callas or Sutherland recordings. Those are wonderful performances, but a review of them isn't going to help you decide whether to buy this much earlier "Norma."

The 1936/7 season of the MET saw the formation of one of the most exciting (if short-lived) quartets ever to strut the boards. Giovanni Martinelli (tenor) and Ezio Pinza (bass) had long sung at the MET, and Bruna Castagna (mezzo) had joined just the year before. The addition of the dramatic diva Gina Cigna (soprano) in February 1937 completed this Italian dream-team. This radio broadcast  "Norma" followed Cigna's debut two weeks earlier in "Aida" (see my review of the Melodram release) with the same crew.  In between, she also sang Gioconda and Leonora in "Il Trovatore" -- a very busy two weeks, indeed!  I write this to show how historic this month and season were for New York opera.

In brief, Martinelli and Pinza are wonderful and solid. There is nothing whatsoever to complain about, but nor do their performances rise to the level of their greatest. The brilliant star, as in the "Aida" two weeks earlier, is for me Castagna.  As Adalgisa, note after note she hits perfection in a beautifully understated way. Cigna begins a little rocky, her "Casta Diva" that day was not one of the great performances of that oh-so-difficult aria. It is in her pairings with Castagna (which start off a little rocky) that her voice opens up and finds perfection.  By the time she contemplates infanticide, she is frighteningly good. At the end of "Norma" she is not only literally--but also vocally--on fire.  For several years, the Met wanted Kirsten Flagstad to sing Norma, and I wonder what sort of a Brunnhilde Cigna would have made riding into that Wagnerian funeral pyre; the roles are not as different as they may seem.

The recording quality is not bad and "The Fourties" [sic redux] have remastered the performance using a Cedar Sound System. I find this much clearer than many of the woefully-poor and dim live recordings of Callas from 1949 to the mid-1950s, even though this is a dozen or more years older.  Yes, there are bad spots (a noticeable periodic "thump" or beat from a bad 78 disc on CD2, and rather dim sound towards the beginning of the opera) but they are relatively short lived.  This is listenable and becomes more so as the work progresses.

Callas was undoubtedly the grand mistress of the role of Norma, as she was of Tosca. But Cigna--like Sutherland--also brings something special to this role. Her pairing with Castagna is fabulous and hair-raising. But so too is Cigna's *other* great "Norma" recorded just a month later (and into the summer) with the stunning Ebe Stignani as Adalgisa!  That Cetra recording (Gui 1937), made in the studio, is another must have recording in even better sound.  These two 1937 "Normas" are more fodder for the perennial debate of the excitement of live versus the perfection of studio opera.

If you love "Norma," you probably already have Sutherland and at least two Callas performances.  Get both the live and studio "Normas" recorded in 1937 starring Cigna and the best Italian voices then singing on both sides of the Atlantic.


title: Review of Aida (Panizza 1937): Cigna, Martinelli, Castagna, & Pinza

text:
Amazon never seems to get my reviews in the right place.  This is of the legendary February 6, 1937 performance of "Aida" at the Met starring Gina Cigna, Giovanni Martinelli, Bruna Castagna, and Ezio Pinza, directed by Ettore Panizza as released on Melodram.

"Aida" is practically synonymous with pageantry in opera.  I remember seeing it as a kid in a sports arena with live elephants and giraffes.  There are a zillion fine performances, many in exceptionally clean sound with the best voices of the great sound era.  So why would anyone care about a performance that is over 80 years old, taken (I assume) from private parlophone records of a radio broadcast?  The answer is simple.  It is hard to believe that there ever has been a better cast of this opera, or a more exciting historic performance.

Let's back into this, starting with Bruna Castagna.  For many years, Castagna was the deep, smokey Italian mezzo of the old Met.  She is absolutely fabulous here; maybe even the best of the performances given on this set.  Her Amneris is perhaps the most professionally sung I know. Every note is hit and hit right.  She does not strain or stress.  And her performance is beautifully understated. Some sing Amneris as an evil harpy, a venomous and spoiled pharaoh's daughter.  This is a noble Amneris, not an evil cardboard cutout.  And she isn't over the top.  Castagna's is just about as perfect a performance as I can imagine.

Next we have Ezio Pinza, one of the most famous bassos (and sometimes baritones!) in the history of opera and musical theater.  He is better preserved on film, sadly, than from his 20+ years at the Met.  There are not many "complete" recordings of Pinza singing an opera.  This is one of the better ones.

Giovanni Martinelli was one of the greatest immediately post-Caruso tenors, and the two will always be compared.  Of course, that is a comparison that no one can win.  I think of Pavarotti at his best as a golden trumpet, Domingo is not as warm or expressive but has a consistent punch. So is it with Martinelli, whose voice was more metallic (silvery when perfect, steely when not), and a little colder than Caruso's rich, warm Alfredo sauce.  This is Martinelli pretty late in his career but he is still really quite good. Radames has no chance to warm up before his big entrance; Martinelli hits it, even if he is a little dry and frayed and strained.  By the end--the tomb scene--he is in the finest of voices.  Really a terrific late-ish performance from a great star.

So this brings us to the reason why I bought this disc:  Gina Cigna.  My friend Doug Haydn-Fan introduced me to her with an Italian "Norma" recorded a couple of months later.  Cigna put the word "dramatic" into dramatic soprano.  Her acting is always over the top, and I just love it.  She is not subtle.  Sometimes she seems to lose control a bit on the very tight and rapid vibrato of the time.  But, come on!  She is fantastic.  One of the voices of the century.  Her full recordings are not too common:  this "Aida," a "Norma" just a few days later at the Met, a "Norma" in Italy also in 1937, a fantastic "Trovatore" with Bjoerling, the *greatest* Turandot recording (with a baby Magda Oliver) before Nilsson took on the role.  You gotta have these recordings.  She puts the pageantry into this Aida.

Did I forget to mention that this exciting live recording was Cigna's operatic debut at the Met?  What you can hear is the sudden realization that this might be the greatest soprano since Ponselle.  I am probably wrong about this--but this was either the year that Kirsten Flagstad started at the Met or the season right after.  Can you imagine that?  In the late Depression, what it must have been like to have these two suddenly alight in Manhattan?

Drawbacks:  This is an old, not so good recording.  The crackles are all there.  I cannot give it five stars for that reason. For this reason--and the positive sea of wonderfully recorded later performances--this should not be the first choice for someone wanting to learn "Aida."  But if you already have a few recordings and want to know what singing *really* was like at its best, this is absolutely a five-star.  This "Aida" needs--and demands!--the full treatment by one of the great sound engineers of our era.  The Wagner recordings of Flagstad and Melchior are getting that treatment.  Let's hope that Cigna, Pinza, Martinelli, and Castagna will soon have their due.


title: Stokowki (1961): a fantastic live recording, but please read below

text:
This is a brief comparative review covering some of the top-choices for “Turandot,” my favorite Puccini opera, and the one that first opened my eyes to this composer back in the early 1980s.  Until then, I dismissed Italian opera as over-emotional, tacky, and superficial.  Boy, was I wrong.
I am not reviewing Herbert von Karajan’s recording (with Ricciarrelli and Domingo) or the two Eva Marton recordings.  I think the first is not good and I do not know the latter recordings well enough to comment. I have been told there is a fabulous recording from Romania (Litvin 1970, VoxBox), but I haven’t heard it yet.

As you read reviews on Amazon, keep in mind that they probably are misplaced and have nothing to do with the particular performance you are looking at.  Read carefully—if the review does not explicitly state the performance (like I try to do here), discount it as probably erroneous.  I cannot emphasize this enough.

Historical Recordings (i.e., before 1960)

1. Erede (1955): Borkh/Del Monaco/Tebaldi) ***
2. Serafin (1957): Callas/Fernandi/Schwarzkopf ***

Borkh was a great Turandot, but I find all three leads in Erede (1955) to be too harsh. Del Monaco is strong and muscular but lacks emotional depth. Tebaldi’s Liù is not a delicate flower. As for Serafin (1957), Callas seems like a great choice for Turandot, but this is not a role she knew well. Fernandi is quite good but lacks the squilli of some of the more famous Calafs. Schwarzkopf is an odd but enjoyable choice.
My choice of these historical recordings: Serafin (1957). There are plenty of Callas fans out there who want everything she did, so this probably you do, too. Borkh, to my knowledge, sadly does not command such a fan base. Serafin (1957) also gives you a curious performance from Schwarzkopf and one of the very few chances to hear Fernandi on record.

Live Recordings (all mono)

1. Molinari-Pradelli (1961): Nilsson/di Stefano/Price *****
2. Stokowski (1961): Nilsson/Corelli/Motto ****
3. Gavazzeni (1964): Nilsson/Corelli/Vishnevskaya **
4. Mehta (1966): Nilsson/Corelli/Freni ****

Molinari-Pradelli (1961) is a stunningly great performance and an exceptionally clean recording (I have it on Andromeda). The quality of the sound will truly surprise you. It is really hard to find a flaw, except in Act II Turandot seems rather distant on the sound stage. I can’t recommend this one enough. Stokowski (1961) has to be heard only in the Pristine Audio version by Andrew Rose. Google this; it is not available on Amazon. The restoration is extremely good and brings this alive. The cast, including conductor, makes this is a must-have collector’s item with Corelli in very good form. The orchestra and the singers, though, are not always in synch. Gavazzeni (1964), sadly, suffers from very poor recording quality. Rose needs to get his hands on this one, too. I think Corelli’s performance here is his best on record. Vishnevskaya is an interesting addition. I generally am not enamored of her voice, but she sings a pretty Liù. Nonetheless, the sound quality (or lack thereof) precludes this as a choice. Mehta (1966) has very good sound quality, particularly of Corelli. Alas, this might be Corelli’s weakest of the live three performances reviewed in this section, but the Met orchestra and chorus are more organized here than under Stokowski.
My choice of the live recordings:  Molinari-Pradelli (1961) for a great cast and recording, with either Stokowski (1961) or Mehta (1966) as second choices.  If you go for Stokie, make sure to buy from Pristine Audio.

Studio Recordings (all in stereo)

1. Leinsdorf (1959): Nilsson/Bjoerling/Tebaldi ****
2. Molinari-Pradelli (1966): Nilsson/Corelli/Scotto ****
3. Mehta (1973): Sutherland/Pavarotti/Caballé *****
4. Lombard (1978): Caballé/Carreras/Freni ***
5. Mehta (2015): Bocelli/Wilson/Nuccio *

Leinsdorf (1959) is the first stereo recording of Turandot, and the performances are all strong. You might want it just to have Bjoerling. He was still in good voice (I don’t agree with those who say he was done), but he is oddly unemotional. There are better Nilsson recordings although she is remarkably consistent across all discs. The early stereo effects are a bit weird and extreme—"Nessun Dorma” has Calaf entirely in the left channel. The orchestra is a tad lax. Molinari-Pradelli (1966) has Corelli in the studio and it is magnificent; Scotto is fine but not my favorite Liù; the orchestra here, too, could be tighter. Mehta (1973) is a superb recording. A lot of folks argue about the casting, but they are off their rockers. Sutherland is an exciting and perfect Turandot, although quite different from Nilsson; Pavarotti is a golden throated and emotional Calaf; Caballé is my favorite Liù of all time; Ghiaurov and Peter Pears (!) round out this greatest of all casts. None of the other studio recordings have the emotional depth of this one; Corelli and Nilsson are all cold (but brilliant) muscle compared to Pavarotti and Sutherland. Lombard (1978) has Caballé as Turandot, which is a shame. Her timbre is too beautiful for this icy, metallic role. It is a physical stress for her to sing and the role accentuates the wrong aspects of her voice. This is Carreras’ best recording (there is a later one with Eva Marton), but he doesn’t have the muscular squilli of del Monaco, Corelli, or even Pavarotti and di Stefano.  Mehta (2015) is a gimmick.  Bocelli’s voice is completely miscast and lacks the training; Wilson is alright; Nuccio is just so-so.  Read my extended review of this on Amazon.
My choice of the studio recordings: Mehta (1973) is a clear favorite with a spectacular cast and recording quality. Molinari-Pradelli (1966) is a strong second choice, especially for those who want a clean version of Corelli and Nilsson. Truthfully, it isn’t all that different from Leinsdorf (1959).

Overall Favorites

I think studio Mehta (1973) is the logical first choice overall, and the one to own if you must have just one Turandot. I go with the live Molinari-Pradelli (1961) second, and with live Stokowski (1961) and studio Leinsdorf (1959) tied for third/fourth. This order is slightly different than my recommendations above, but if you can purchase all four you get all of the greatest Calafs: Pavarotti, di Stefano, Corelli, and Bjoerling. What could be better than that?  If, on the other hand, you want to maximize the variety of Turandots, ditch one of the recordings with Nilsson and go for Serafin (1957) to have Callas. You also might consider either of the Eva Marton recordings or Borkh, but none of these would not be my choice.

(N.B. this mini-survey is inspired by much longer, erudite, and informed surveys by Ralph Moore. He hasn’t done Turandot, so perhaps my thoughts are not redundant.)


title: SCAM recording of FAKE MUSIC--do not be fooled!

text:
This is not music interpreted by a conductor in front of an orchestra.  It doesn't even involve many months of programming, like Walter/Wendy Carlos' "Switched On Bach."  This is audio sampling by a dude whose one, single recording of Beethoven--#9--is perhaps the worst ever recorded.

And the price?  $189 on Amazon?  Go buy yourself a complete set of Karajan for about $27, or Furtwaengler for $13, or Bernstein for $28 or Blomstedt for $19 or Solti for $18 or Pletnev for $48 or Cluytens for $16. Or even Sir Simple Simon Rattle for $19. Or better yet, buy ALL OF THEM and see how much better even a bad or crazy reading is with a live orchestra.

This is not music.  It is a CON JOB, a complete SCAM


title: The Verdict from Southern Belize:  Great Recording!

text:
Well, it’s raining again in Toledo District, Belize.  That’s what it does here.  And just like everywhere else, when it rains, folks want to talk about Beethoven.  I see Mr. Akal and Kwax coming; even Kwax has lost his mischievous grin.  “Mr. Jeff!” he says.  Trouble, I think. “Me and Akal want to settle this once and for all.  We are getting tired of Beethoven piano concertos.”

“OK, gents. What’s your verdict?”

“Well,” says Mr. Akal, “Me and Kwaxi’ really like the excitement that Pletnev brings to the set.  But the orchestra is kind of lack luster compared to him.”  Kwax frowns; I can tell Pletnev’s wild style appeals to his dark side.  “Me and Kwax think overall that Kempff and Fleisher are both the best.  Maybe Kempff plays it a bit too cautiously,” heavy nods from Kwax, “and maybe Fleisher is a little more daring. Both the BPO and Cleveland are fantastic!c  We wanna hear more of that Szell guy.”

“Ok, so what about Lewis and Lupu?” I ask.

Kwaxi’s deep laughter and that twinkle in his eyes come back.  “Lupu puts me to sleep, and Lewis hops around like a dry foot that's smoked a bamboo.”  That’s an agouti, by the way, with a very large spliff.  “But Pletnev, Kempff, and Fleisher they all get five stars.”

“I sense, Kwax, that Pletnev is really your favorite, even more than Fleisher?”  This elicits a deep grunt.

“No, Mr. Jeff.  My favorite is Casadesus on #5”

“Really? The 1955 (with Mitropolous) or the 1961 (Rosbaud) version?”

“The outer movements on 1955 and the Adagio from 1961.”

Akal and I stand there with our mouths open.  That is madness, pure madness! But also pure Kwaxiru’.

I clear my throat.  “Ok, that settles it, gents!”

“Just a minute!”  Mr. Akal interjects.  The Fleisher box also includes the Triple Concerto.  It is amazing!”  Yes, it certainly is.  “That fiddle player is almost as good as Mr. Cus!”

“From San Miguel Village?” I ask. “Yes, they are both amazing.”

“What’s his name? Do you have anything we can take to Cus to listen to with him?”

“His name is Isaac Stern.  And I certainly do.  You want more Beethoven?”

As the two men retreat into the sheeting rain, their pockets stuffed with old cassettes, I think I hear the two of them whistling KV 231.  Undoubtedly, they have some new mischievous adventure planned.  Probably at all our expense.


title: For the completist

text:
Three stars for B&B, three for Schauspieldirektor, so 3 overall.  The performances are fine, especially in B&B.  The first is baby Mozart, and four stars is about as many as any performance could possibly merit (and there are a surprising number of recordings out there).  The second should be mature Mozart, but--sigh--he must have had an off day when he composed this.  More to the point, it is fundamentally a stupid play with a few numbers at the end.  Both to the advantage and disadvantage of this performance, they do give you the whole (or whole enough for me) tiresome play in German.  But neither the play nor the performers are up to modern standards or tastes.  Most listeners will not be overly amused, even if they understand the German.  Skip to the last few numbers, and thank G-d we do not have the play of Thamos to listen to!
An alternative might be to find SSD in your native language, with the play performed by actual stage actors.  At least, then, it makes more sense. The play behind SSD is a tad bit more sophisticated than, say, Peter and the Wolf, so potentially is of some interest if real actors perform it.
I have heard the two opera performed together in English for youngsters, and it makes for a diverting afternoon.  But it seems unlikely that this performance will frequent your CD player.


title: Haebler was one of the best at Mozart

text:
I'm not sure where vengeance and the lord fits in here. This is not a weaponized torpedo of G-d.  It is actually a heck of a lot more subtle than all of that silly hyperbole.  What we have here is a very simple und klar reading of Mozart.  No Romantic mumbo-jumbo.  No crummy period instruments that make you wonder if someone forgot to lift the lid on the piano.  What we have is an extraordinarily controlled and conservative reading of Mozart that shows us--what magic! what wonder!--what is in the music without all the Sturm und Drang.  Haebler was one of the best at Mozart, and she got there not by showmanship, but by these marvelous close and subtle readings.  This is not Mozart on steroids.  It is a subtle, and pure Mozart. Are their better interpretations out there?  Maybe there are one or two that will get your ya-yas going for the jihad.  But what I love is that here, we have only Mozart.  No personalities.  Wonderful.

As a note:  I found the beginning of disc 1 a little muffled.  Not sure why.  It opened up later.  Y'all can crucify me, but I'm writing this review before I've heard disc 4 because I love this so.

A week later:  It just gets more and more wonderful.  I've never heard a better version of K. 332.  If you can't hear where Chopin came from, you are deaf.  But Haebler does not push it into Romanticism.  Not in the slightest.  Wow. This is piano playing at its best.


title: cd set

text: Purchased for my husband and he really enjoyed them


New as listed, the product has a great selection of song to swoon by.


title: I love the Reactions!

text:
I love the Reactions!  Amazing.  I wish they were still around.

This CD has the earnestness that most bands lose after couple of albums.

The CD is SOLID.  Every track is good and a couple of them are awesome.  That is unusual.  In terms of style they are sort of similar to the Strokes or the Saints.


title: Old school Hillsongs- vintage Darlene Zschech

text: Some good choir tunes for music ministries that want to add some balance to church worship services. Throw the '40 somethings' praise and worship crowd a bone!


title: Top notch jazz album

text: Full disclosure, I'm a graduate of U of I (1971), and I already really liked jazz when I arrived. By the time I left, I totally loved jazz. At that time, UofI Jazz Band was one of the top jazz bands in the country and played a lot of jazz venues as well as touring the world for the State Department. Based on this album, they haven't lost a step.


title: Five Stars

text: In Your Presence and Kadosh two best worship songs, ever.


title: Special care in packing!

text: This cd was very carefully wrapped and sent promptly. Exactly what I hoped for!


title: Prayer in Song

text: I start my day out everyday with this cd. It has been such a blessing for me. It is actually a prayer in song. A prayer taken directly from the Word of God. There is power in the Word. As I go through my day, I continue to take these songs with me even if the the cd isn't playing. They stick in my head and I sing them to myself over and over again. Constant prayer. AWESOME!!


title: GREAT CD

text: This is a great CD. The words and the music are very moving. They touch the heart and soul. I recommend it!!


title: Great Record

text: As a huge fan of Jazz, Rock, and Psychedelic genres of music, I view this album as a "must have".  This album was truly a turning point in career of Miles Davis.  Recorded after (and partly inspired by) meeting Jimi Hendrix, and it shows.  Miles is more experimental and the entire album is free-flowing.  If you enjoy this sound, I would also recommend the album "Down On the Corner".


title: louisferreri9@gmail.com

text: This deceased Finnish jazz musician rewrote the book on rock jazz fusion and this CD testifies to that


title: Good quality

text: Good seller,Good quality, Good price.


title: Five Stars

text: simply amazing


title: Five Stars

text: Amazing


title: Superior Customer Service!

text:
The Tony Bennett Collection arrived, beautifully packaged and the product is in mint condition.
I am very, very pleased with my purchase. The thought that went into preparing the recordings
to mail was not lost on me; it was meticulously prepared, so the product arrived in perfect condition
and much appreciated for the extra effort taken to assure satisfaction. Bravo!


title: Thank You!

text: Thank You for your timely delivery of this album.  I had been present at the live taping of this album and had previously purchased a copy of this CD; however, I had lost it over a series of moves.  I saw it on Amazon, and had to order it!  The CD arrived very quickly and was in excellent/like new condition, as advertised.  The music is anointed, which I already knew it would be.  I'm glad I have it back :)


title: Billy Connolly and Gerry Rafferty

text: Billy Connolly and Gerry Rafferty . Nice Scottish folk rock from the 1960's. Most of the tracks are available on comps, you don't have to buy the import disc.


title: Prank record

text: This is a prank release from Beserkley Records.  There is no noise or music on the record. The grooves are silent.


title: Five Stars

text: very nice


title: Fun and Learn

text: Bought as a gift for a grandchild.  Big hit with him and his parents.


title: Super Great Transaction

text: Great transaction.  Thanks was packaged with great care. LOVE MY MELANIE THORTON R.I.P.


title: Five Stars

text: what I wanted and fast delivery.


title: Nice edition to my collection.

text: Nice edition to my Sabbath collection.


title: EXCELLENT mix of his Sun recordings plus some newer unheard ...

text: EXCELLENT mix of his Sun recordings plus some newer unheard songs! If you are a JLL fan, this is definitely a must for you. There are a lot of goodies on here that I don't believe were ever released before. Definitely worth checking out!


title: DFective Product

text: CD was damaged, cannot play the whole disk.


title: Five Stars

text: Wonderful for morning meditation.


He should really stop trying to do Luther, it didn't work on his first album and it still doesn't work. I had a listening party and everyone was like no please stop.


title: LOOK FOR THE .......

text: 3lp release (not the 2lp) or the dvd (all region dvd player required) for the complete show: This release contains a good part of the tracks performed but not close to the dvd or 3lp set. (EX) The track 'comes a time' played out 10+minutes not the case here you get a cut down version. There are 2 more cd releases + this one out there & if even collected all 3 you still would not have the entire performance. As for the sound quality on the 3lp set 10/10, the dvd is pro-shot.


title: BUY THIS

text: NOT BAD


title: Beware!

text: I've listened to most of the samples from this collection. They are NOT ALL ORIGINALS. Some songs aren't even the original artists. You just can't trust anybody any more.


title: Five Stars

text: Gotta love Hank Sr.


title: Just like real treasure

text: These look absolutely real. They are sturdy with true weight and true size. My son loved them. I gave them to home for Christmas as a pirate themed gift with a pirate jewelry box and a map. He truly believes they are real pirate treasure.


This album just gets better and better with each listen.  Album of the year for me.  Can’t imagine anything else topping this.  A must for electric guitar Blues fans.  Eric Steckel is the real deal.  Great vocals too.  As solid an album as it gets.  Thanks, Eric, for giving me something I enjoy listening to cranked, over and over again, during my daily commutes...  😁


title: Good but not as listed

text: Good songs, but most songs are not the same ones listed on the cover. I contacted Radiant Records and they are looking into it.


title: I Personally Prefer Federico to Di Sarli

text:
Most of the themes on this album are those recorded in 1940s - 1950s by a very famous Argentinean Orquesta Tipica de Carlos Di Sarli. This fact is not surprising given that it was in the Di Sarli's orchestra where Leopoldo Federico have started his musical career.
However those familiar with Di Sarli and expecting to find similarity between his smooth "salon" arrangements and Federico's renditions will be surprised. Leopoldo Federico performs them with incredibly strong canyengue feeling and emotionality that perhaps can rival that of Pugliese. It is a matter of personal taste, but I have always found the original orchestration of "Bahia Blanca" too restrained (and maybe even monotonous) for such a beautiful melody. Many thanks to Leopoldo Federico for giving it a long awaited passion.
The only problem with this CD is inherent to all the CDs originally released by MH Argentina company: it does not provide the list of participating musicians, dates of recording sessions or any other information. I personally would like to know, for instance, who was the first violin in this recording, since the violinist congenially complements Federico's bandoneon and leads a number of beautiful variations throughout the entire album.
Anyways, 5 stars for the work of genuine beauty and the real Orquesta Tipica sound (no drums, no electric keybords - some of the things modern tangueros like to add, everything is real, sound is big and captivating).


title: Jimi Hendrix of the Mouth Harp

text:
First of all, do not confuse the artist on this record with another Hugo Diaz, much more published bandoneonist from Uruguay (by the way a skillful musician, but not more). Obviously, "Hugo Diaz" is not the most rare combination of the first and last names in any Spanish speaking country.
This CD will acquaint you with one of Argentina's most hidden musical treasures. Hugo Diaz - the harmonicist - was able to make his Honner chromatic harmonica sound like saxophone, bandoneon or violin if needed. Unfortunately, neither blues, nor German folk music or any other musical culture, where the mouth harp is more "at home" than in Argentinean folklore could not produce a virtuoso of his caliber.
It is too sad, that the producer is not born yet, who will inspire some major record label to publish more of his recordings and make them available worldwide. This event is long overdue, and this musician deserves much wider attention than the one his memory enjoys nowadays, since his popularity today can be isolated to the circles of the tango enthusiasts or admirers of Argentinean music.
The only CD currently offered by the major internet resources is this one. It is somewhat unfortunate, because Hugo Diaz was not strictly a folklore musician; he also has been playing tango and jazz music. Therefore, this recording is not fully representative of the fantastic range of this musician's skills and styles. On the other hand, it shows the technical brilliance of Hugo Diaz along with his emotional depth.
Unfortunately, double CD set "Hugo Diaz in Buenos Aires", released by Japanese branch Victor is available only in Japan. Mostly composed of tango music, that CD is fully complimentary to this one, and is strongly recommended to all the enthusiasts of harmonica, tango and improvisational music in general. The other tango CD by Hugo Diaz, "Homenaje a Carlos Gardel" is available on the internet from the "Bridge to the Tango" catalogue in Boston. Try to get these recordings if you want to hear his explosive yet intimate version of "La Cumparsita" or to hear the low-pitched moaning saxophone-like sounds you never thought mouth harp can make on his rendition of "Guitarra, guitarra mia" by Gardel.
The overall mood of the tracks in this CD seem to be milder and the sound is more mellow than in some of his probably later recordings (which I prefer - but it is strictly a matter of taste), where his mouth harp sounds intense and tragic, and you can hear him breathing hard through its reeds. In this CD Hugo Diaz sounds sometimes solar and joyful and may be this is the "happiest" recording he have done, despite the melancholic mood typical for a number of Argentinean folk dances that comprise it.
Now about the shortcomings of this CD. First, the sound is not very good since, as far as I understand, there was no any restoration or cleaning work done to the recordings done over forty years ago. Second, as I mentioned before, the track selection is too one sided for the musician of such versatility as Hugo Diaz; and the third is that even out of the number of the "folklore" tracks recorded by him the ones were selected where his rendition of the original themes is less improvisational and free than in some other recordings (my guessing is that it is either earlier recording or it was the will of the producer which is also reflected in the title of the record).
This CD is certainly not the one, from which I would have suggested to start the acquaintance with the amazing musician Hugo Diaz ("Homenaje a Carlos Gardel" probably would be it), but since it is the only one available relatively widely, I will give it five (or more) stars. Buy it and listen to what a simple (?) harmonica can do.


title: Five Stars

text: Great Denver Comp.


title: An excellent set of radio recordings from one of Birmingham's lesser known groups

text: Brum Beat was the name given to groups like the MOVE and this band, the Idle Race from Birmingham England. In fact The Idle Race's guitarist/vocalist Jeff Lynne had been a buddy of the MOVE's Roy Wood for some time previously and later joined the MOVE during its last couple of years. The Idle Race also changed its sound somewhat during its short career and these recordings show all aspects of the band from light-weight pop to a somewhat edgier rock sound. The sound quality on these discs is quite good, transferred from good sources although not always impeccable. This set has also been joined by another BBC set and so helps showcase the brief career of this group.


title: A welcome collection of radio and live recordings by one of England's great Sixties groups.

text: Now that copyrights are beginning to lapse on older recordings the gates are open for recordings like these by the Animals from the mid 1960s to appear openly and more-or-less legally. Some artists have scrambled to capture royalties before they disappear and others, like Eric Burdon's group the Animals seem to have just ignored the opportunity and allowed others to benefit. These recordings have been in circulation for year on various bootlegs and under-the-counter releases but now can be openly sold. The quality is about as good as available, only possibly lacking the time and energy of careful use of masters and remixing. But given their age and origin they are quite good. They also reveal the true talents and abilities of a band that really needed little studio magic to make them sound good and solid. A few of the titles are truly rare, that is not available in studio versions, and others benefit from the spontaneity of Eric's vocals. It is definitely a welcome collection for fans both of the band and of the music from the period.


THIS ALBUM IS FIRE BUY IT NOW SO GOOD OML KILL ME


title: Awesome stripped down

text: Awesome stripped down, clean, authentic, direct blues/rock.  Fabulous vocals, powerful guitars, and creative lyrics.  If you like the the Detroit Cobras or the Dirtbombs, you might just love this.


title: Perfect

text: Everything looked great. Super happy I got one of my biases. Came on time was delivered way earlier than I thought it would.

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title: Perfect

text: My album came in great condition. Super happy. Got 2 of my biases.


title: Great

text: It came in great condition. I am big k pop fan and I am trying to collect from my favorite group. So happy it for the next day delivery.


title: Lively Conjunto Music

text: One of the best albums released in my opinion, very lively conjunto music here from the late great Conjunto Pioneer Tony De La Rosa.It Was Really Hard To Find,But I'm Glad I Can Now Add This Album To My Conjunto Music Collection, D Boys Really Did Great On This One


title: vinyl record

text: record was in very good condition


title: this is actually the Prague Philharmonic!

text: Looks like these guys licensed these tracks from Silva Screen, as its the City of Prague Philharmonic conducted by Nic Raine!  That can only mean one thing: wonderful re-recordings of great film scores!  Nowhere is it mentioned in the notes...


title: Awesome Release -- New CD less than $17 frm Smithsonian

text: Stunning release from Smithsonian Folkways where you can sample all tracks and get a brand new CD for $16.98


title: Worth buying

text: I liked all the songs but the title song. I love their music, so the album is worth buying. If you are a Christian, you know this is a about God working in our lives but if you aren’t you may not understand.


title: Mas Alla del sol

text: I loved the CD. Prefer to also hear the lyrics to all the song. But music was relaxing to listen too.


title: Excellent quality, great example of the famous West Side Sound.

text: Fantastic overall examples of the famous West Side Sound from San Antonio. Excellent quality of recordings and a must for anyone interested in this genre of music.


title: Great CD

text: Arrived on time, at great price, wife is completely satisfied!


title: Do not heasitate to buy this original packaging album

text:
This mag version is great! Everything looks so beautiful.
The album is great! Unconditionally is an amazing song...
I really love this album, and the packaging is amazing!


I have to say I was happy, and 'arrived healthy and intact, and' arrived with the times established, and now look the other order. Thank You


title: Five Stars

text: All ok as it should. But it arrived 9 days later than the initial prevision


title: Amazing.  Incredible.

text: I am not a Katy Perry fan in any way, really.  I love the songs Lost and Thinking of You off of One of the Boys, and everyone in the world loves I Kissed a Girl, but that's it.  However, I feel compelled to let everyone know that this is the only album I have listened to in the past two weeks at all.  It's amazing, it's incredible, every song is good, some are great and a few are breathtakingly spectacular.  Please take my word on this, it's worth a buy and many listens.  Take a chance and let yourself be pleasantly surprised and swept away like I have been.  She has really, truly outdone herself.  My personal favorites are Roar, Legendary Lovers, Unconditionally, Ghost, Spiritual and It Takes Two.


title: AN  AUDIO and VISUAL  Stunner!!!!!!!!

text:
OMG! This is one of the BEST concerts of the year!
I have every Sade album the group cut. Glad they are still making music
This Concert DVD, wow- the stage, the background graphics, Everything about it was fabulous
More SADE, Please


title: Not Bad Better Than Last Album

text: Way better than Teenage Dream. This album is not just filled with sex with bad overly obvious sexual innuendos that weren't really even innuendos because of they obvious they were. This album even while not perfect is much more consistent maybe a little boring to some as many of the songs are slower paced but it definitely is much more tolerable than most of the tracks off Teenage Dream which was recently voted worst album of the decade by Billboard voters.


title: Nice!

text: Great collector’s item!


title: Amazing work!

text: I really love this album! I love Katy and she's my favorite singer. Even if you're not a fan the songs will get you! Worth buying 18282 times :)


title: The Time Of Our Lives: Transitioning while having a good time

text:
After the release of her second album 'Breakout', first to be completely detached from Hannah Montana, Miley made it clear that she was going to be on her own and make music reflective of her true personality. The album was solid and the songs were about coming of age, teenage battles, ended relationships, etc. In 2009, following the release of Hannah Montana: The Movie and its respective soundtrack, as well as Hannah Montana 3, Miley took some time to make an EP with the purpose of promoting her clothing line and also showing her musical progress and giving us a taste of what's to come in her future albums. The album is like a more grown up version of 'Breakout', and more pop rock driven, distancing completely from teen pop. Here's my review:

1. Kicking And Screaming - The album's first track. A very rockish Ashlee Simpson cover, it shows an edgier and more agressive side of Miley, the song talks about rebelling and basically, kicking and screaming. A perfect introduction to Miley's new sound and edge. I give it a 5/5

2. Party In The USA - The album's second track and first single. The song was rejected by Jessie J because it wasn't edgy enough for her, and it was Miley's first huge worldwide hit, and with good reason, it's an incredible song incorporating themes of Americanism and having a good time, it's a dance-pop track that distances from the album's general pop rock sound, but is still incredible. I give it a 5/5

3. When I Look At You - The album's third track and second single. The first ballad on the album, it's a very romantic song about being in love with someone and looking up to that person, it was later used for Miley's movie The Last Song as she felt that the song fit the movie's theme. I think it's a beautiful ballad and shows Miley's growth as a vocalist. I give it a 5/5

4. The Time Of Our Lives - The album's fourth track. This song follows the theme of 'Party In The USA' about having a good time and enjoying yourself, I think these 2 tracks are the best representation of the album, which is basically about enjoying life and being independent. I give it a 5/5

5. Talk Is Cheap - The album's fifth track. Another song that shows Miley's agressive side, with very agressive vocals. It's not as good as the previous 4 tracks on the album, but it's still good. I give it a 4/5

6. Obsessed - The album's sixth track. The other ballad on the album, it's like a sequel to 'When I Look At You', in which Miley sings about being obsessed with someone and being unable to sleep due to thinking too much about that special someone. It's beautiful as well. I give it a 5/5

7. Before The Storm (Live) - The album's seventh track. A Jonas Brothers' song, Miley was invited by Nick Jonas to one of their shows and they sang the song together as a duet, which was recorded and included here. It's definitely a great duet, and kind of chronicles Miley and Nick's relationship. I give it a 4.5/5

This EP shows a lot of musical and lyrical growth, Miley shows maturity and moves away from her teen pop sound. As the title says, it's basically about having the time of your life, having a good time and just feeling good. The ballads are about falling in love, and they work as interims to the album showing that Miley can also be serious and have strong feelings. It's an amazing CD with amazing music, I'd say it's one of her best bodies of work to date, and it successfully Works as her transition to her following album 'Can't Be Tamed'.


title: a real stinker

text: Sounded like someone kicked off UK's got talent after the first note was uttered, and I say uttered because no way was that singing.  Was written to make you believe Helmut Lotti was the singer and the others the producers! How slimy can you get!


title: Five Stars

text: Excellent product and service!


title: Five Stars

text: Is the same that my sister was waiting for


title: Four Stars

text: Good new songs!


title: Long Epic Tunes That Actually Resonate

text: This is the future of Modern Doom . Combines the best of Doom, Sludge, And Post Metal sounds into a cohesive package. Reminder of Black Sabbath crashing into a Neurosis /Isis Show. Can't wait to hear Reflections Above A Floating World!


title: One Star

text: The cover is so ugly.


title: Five Stars

text: Fun


title: A Pleasant Surprise

text: Purchasing this CD after hearing only 3 tracks, I was surprised that the entire album was a pleasure to listen to. This album has several tracks for people to enjoy and it's a great album.


title: Five Stars

text: I REALLY LOVE IT


title: For my niece

text:
She love it!!!
a great gift for the holidays, full with stuff, it's great for the little Katy Perry little fans.

totally worth it.


title: Amazing used Price

text: This is exactly how i expected it be.I bought a used one and it only cost $8.i love the stuff that comes in it.A must have for Katycats


title: Great CD!

text: I highly recommend this cd to any Ivan fun from the 80's, Baila is one of my all time favourites song, the cd have great sound quality. Also the song Te Quiero Tanto is a beauty, includes a new version of it as well that it is just ok, the rest of the song are pretty good, but for Me the winner it's Baila.


title: CANDY COATED SWEETNESS!!

text: Teenage Dream is a ridiculously good album for an artist that I think a lot of people often overlook. Katy really delivers with this Teenage Dream! The album is packed with songs that could be her next big hit! There are fun dance songs, but also some songs that cover more serious matters. I think Katy has always been good at being able to have fun, but be serious when she needs to be. This album shows how serious she is about her career! My favorite tracks are The One That Got Away, Firework, Teenage Dream, and Pearl. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!! - WT


title: Amazing!!!

text: I love it i has everything i had expected inside!!! :) in addition i LOVE katy perry so that just made it like 10x better!


title: BEST ALBUM!!

text: I love Jason DeRulo, and this album is truly taking it up a whole other level from JDR. LOVE LOVE LOVE the Album! "Vertigo" with Jordin Sparks is SO great!


title: Five Stars

text: Very good.


title: andrehudsonperry

text: FABOLOUS!! It'a fantastic!! Katy is the best!! I love Katy so much!! SHE'S my teenage dream! SHE'S my light! ❤


title: Will.i.am - #WillPower [JPN Edition 2 CD set]

text:
This article is a must-have for Britney Spears fans: this Japanese edition of #Willpower seems to be the only one, at least for the moment, of this release that includes both mixes of the smash hit single Scream & Shout feat. Britney Spears: Album Version & Hit-Boy Remix; watch the tracklist:

Disc 1
01. Good Morning 1:44.31
02. Hello 4:45.12
03. This Is Love featuring Eva Simons 4:39.02
04. Scream & Shout featuring Britney Spears 4:42.09
05. Let's Go featuring Chris Brown 5:33.71
06. Gettin' Dumb featuring Apl.de.ap and 2ne1 5:13.66
07. Geekin' 3:34.14
08. Freshy featuring Juicy J 4:06.43
09. #ThatPower featuring Justin Bieber 4:39.38
10. Great Times Are Coming 4:36.31
11. The World Is Crazy featuring Dante Santiago 3:59.25
12. Fall Down featuring Miley Cyrus 5:07.37
13. Love Bullets featuring Skylar Grey 4:11.02
14. Far Away From Home featuring Nicole Scherzinger 3:53.71
15. Ghetto Ghetto featuring Baby Kaely 3:52.50
Total Running Time: 64':41''

Disc 2
01. Reach For The Stars 4:21.24
02. Smile Mona Lisa 3:36.19
03. Bang Bang 4:41.03
04. Great Times (Damien Leroy) 3:12.00
05. Scream & Shout (Hit Boy Remix) featuring Britney Spears, Hit-Boy, Waka Flocka Flame, Lil Wayne and Diddy 5:55.02
Total Running Time: 21':47''

So I bought it just for track 4 of CD1 and track 5 of CD2


title: BORN THIS WAY THE REMIX [16 tracks JPN CD]

text:
I've all the JPN editions of Lady Gaga's albums:
THE FAME [JPN Deluxe Edition CD+DVD (CD with 17 tracks, bonus DVD with 5 music videos)]
THE FAME MONSTER [JPN Deluxe Edition 2CD set (the same 17 tracks of THE FAME, 8 censored tracks of the MONSTER)]
THE FAME MONSTER [JPN Deluxe Edition CD+DVD (CD with 8 uncensored tracks, bonus DVD with Bad Romance video and making of)]
THE REMIX [original JPN edition with 16 tracks (and then I've also the revisited international edition of 17 tracks)]
BORN THIS WAY [JPN Deluxe Edition 2CD set (17 tracks and 7 remixes)]
both USB editions of Gaga: that of The Fame Monster with 17 tracks & 8 videos and that of Born This Way with 23 tracks & 3 videos,
the blu-ray of The Monster Ball Tour

and now also this latest one:
BORN THIS WAY THE REMIX [JPN Edition (16 tracks)]
01. Born This Way (Zedd Remix) 6:31.10
02. Judas (Goldfrapp Remix) 4:41.34
03. The Edge Of Glory (Foster The People Remix) 6:09.72
04. Yoü And I (Wild Beasts Remix) 3:50.63
05. Marry The Night (The Weeknd & Illangelo Remix) 4:03.53
06. Black Jesus  Amen Fashion (Michael Woods Remix) 6:11.28
07. Bloody Mary (The Horrors Remix) 5:18.56
08. Scheiße (Guena LG Club Remix) 5:45.04
09. Americano (Gregori Klosman Remix) 6:07.55
10. Electric Chapel (Two Door Cinema Club Remix) 3:59.09
11. Yoü And I (Metronomy Remix) 4:20.62
12. Judas (Hurts Remix) 3:57.42
13. Born This Way (Twin Shadow Remix) 4:05.31
14. The Edge Of Glory (Sultan & Ned Shepard Remix) 6:34.19
15. Yoü And I (Mark Taylor Remix) 3:57.09 - JPN bonus track
16. The Edge Of Glory (Desi Hits! Bollywood Remix) 5:13.22 - JPN bonus track
Total Running Time: 80':49'' --------> incredible thing: I really don't know how is it possible that it's more than 80 minutes!!


title: BRITNEY SPEARS - THE SINGLES COLLECTION [CD+DVD]

text: This Korean Edition of The Singles Collection is the same of the others international, but has got a bonus booklet that contains a lot of information about all Britney's career and the normal booklet with photos is luster, so these are the extras of this Korean Edition, and for the rest the tracklist is the same.


title: Fun for a party!

text:
I grew up in the 50s and remember most of this music first-hand. It would be an eye-opener for a younger person. Recently I hosted a 50s-themed cocktail party and these CDs provided a great backdrop for conversation and dancing. I wasn't expecting the novelty songs, like Mel Blanc's "I tawt I taw a puddy-tat" but they broke up the flow of the ballads and juke-jive dancing songs.

Great CD package and it was a GREAT price.


title: Don't buy this!

text: This was a big big mistake.  It's a terribly cheesy album.  I thought it was $5.99 not $15.99- learn from my mistakes and don't buy it!


title: Very prompt seller.

text: I got this cd. Because of the trip because I love the firetruck song. I teach preschool three year olds and the children love that song. Thank you so very much.


title: Missung

text: Case was missing top cover..


title: Brain Idea unique

text: Brain Idea provides a unique brand of rock and roll.  Every cut on the LP is great and if you like new bands with great music buy this effort from Brain Idea.


title: what a great cd. I needed this after buying 'Red Planet' ...

text: Wow, what a great cd. I needed this after buying 'Red Planet' and 'Dusk to<br />dawn,' which teases with a couple of items by Graeme revell,, but are really a rip off of his name.


title: Anna : Musical Perfection

text: Another excellent music score from the ever dependable Eric Serra. He seems to always deliver when he does the music for a Luc Besson film. The album also has to pretty good songs in 'I Am Criminal' and 'My Beauty'. I am very happy with my purchase!


title: Fusion Brazillian -Egyptian ....wonderful music

text: Maybe this isn't traditional music,  maybe it is a living brilliant fusion of artists of widespread cultures making a breathing creation of coalition.  Listen carefully, there are many strands in these braided pieces.


title: Listen to what he does with the chords.

text: I like Baden's guitar artistry.  I don't enjoy Americanized orchestration.


title: Five Stars

text: It was great listening to the old music again - thanks.


title: Five Stars

text: Thanks


title: The album is great but I didn't get any of the extra stuff ...

text: The album is great but I didn't get any of the extra stuff that came with the disc so basically I spent 24 dollars just to recieve a disc instead of all of the extras.


title: Loved it!

text: Loved it!!  I want to share it with all my nieces and nephews.  My boys loved it and we talk about the funny parts all of the time.  We plan to read the book and research more about the Civil War.  We loved all the characters and how they were portrayed.  Thank you for all your hard work in making this available to families.


title: Glad I found it!

text: Love it!! I've been looking for it.


title: Very helpful

text: My son loves having an audio version so he doesn't have to read more textbooks.


title: What's done is done.

text: A gift.  The kind where you later ask yourself, "What the hell was I thinking?"


title: I love it!

text: I forgot to write a review but i bought both day and night versions and i absolutely love them!! i got jin and v's polaroid picture and 4 little other cards of like 3 bts members on it . I ordered it on june 26th and i was eligible for free 2 day shipping so of course it came on the 29th , the estimated time was supposed to be 8pm but it cam at 12:21 pm so i was really satisfied with it all. also it came with these posters which are kewl theyre posters of the album it basically looks like the front of the album covers but yeah big enough to stick to my closet door and main door.


title: Five Stars

text: all for 1 song<br />fast ship


title: Great Buy!

text: Everything was in the album. I got Momo's CD, Poloroid, and A photo card of her's that made me really excited since she is my bias! Everything was in great condition. I will buy from this buyer again in the future. Thank you for the extras that came on the side. Moms Hobby US never fails to make me happy!


title: Great album finally made it to CD.

text: Unavailable for so long, the extra tracks are gems.


title: Five Stars

text: the best


title: Five Stars

text: outstanding


Soul satisfying! Listen to this sweet album of music anytime, anywhere. Get it at once at DaveStryker.com and find out more about Dave Stryker!


title: Awesome cards

text: I like the condition of the card and i use it to duel


title: Mother's let down....

text: This item came to my mother as just a case. Nothing inside, just a case and it was a complete let down. She requested it and still has yet to get it. I will check another site.<br />1 Star because it would not allow me to proceed with 0 stars.


title: Nostalgia from the 80's

text: This CD sounds like my childhood.


title: Five Stars

text: Christmas present for my husband, he loves it! The case was broken when I got it, though.


title: Three Stars

text: The cds arrived ok, but plastic box cracked... :(


title: "On the Great River Road

text: Chris Almoada is a French rockabilly artist whose roots in the music go back to the 1970's. "Come to New Orleans" is his first album, and I am proud to have written the words to three of the album's five self--penned songs, including the title song, an alternate version of which appears on his second album, "On the Great River Road," on which I am the sole lyricist. In general, I think an individual who is connected in some way to an artist should not post a review, as the bias is transparent. However, since my contribution to this first album is very limited, since online music reviews, both in Europe and the States, have been overwhelmingly positive, and since I've waited over five years to post this review, I think I can be forgiven for finally speaking out about it. The self-penned songs aside, this album includes some great covers, and I dare say that some are better than the originals. One thing I truly like about Chris Almoada's music is that he employs a number of musical instruments to bring his great arrangements to life. On this album, they include rhythm guitar, double bass, piano, trumpet, drums, wood blocks, and spoons. I wish to assure you that even if I had no connection at all with Chris Almoada, I would urge you to buy this album. The songs have been praised for being both authentic and "fresh," and I think you'll enjoy them very much.


title: Item well packaged

text: I liked the fact that I got 4 albums of a great singer I love in one CD and the price was reasonable.


title: Who in their right mind would want to pay this ...

text: Who in their right mind would want to pay this kind of money for a CD when you can just download from iTunes or even here from Amazon for soooooooooo much less? SMH.


title: Surprisingly one of the Best TV Soundtracks Compiled!

text: Amazing assortment of BGM here from a TV series that has had very little fanfare compared to other sci-fi series.  If you liked this show as a kid or are finding it now this album is a fantastic way to extend the enjoyment of the show.  Liner notes are full of photographs and background on the series and the music.


title: A classic

text: My favorite Gospel artist.glad i found this.


title: A favorite

text: A very nice gospel record.


title: A good concert recording

text: A classic Gospel record.love it...


title: Five Stars

text: A great CCM cd.


title: A Great Album Of Early To Mid Beatles Songs

text: Another great album like all Beatles albums, this has great early to mid Beatles songs  And like all Beatles albums, has great singing and song writing especially by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and great musicianship by all four of them.


title: SOOTHING

text: Soothing, Soothing, Soothing.  That's all I can say.  I had to purchase from another source. Because it was stolen from my mail.


title: Item delivered on TIME as Promised .

text: Personal Enjoyment


title: Jonell Mosser Rocks!

text: My husband and I would go to 3rd and Lindsey in Nashville to listen to Jonell. She has a beautiful voice and always sings with conviction. This album has some of the songs that she would sing on it. Its really good- highly reccommend!


title: I got my bias!

text: I got a good deal and ended up with my bias's photo card (Xion).  I am very happy with my purchase


title: Five Stars

text: This is one of the most prolific mcs to ever grace the mic. Everyone should hear this album. Wow.


title: I love this great program

text: This is a really great program I really enjoy it.


title: Than You fantastic.

text: Somehow misplaced the one I had.  o glad to get a replacement.  No scratches and works fine.


OMG! This collection of Exitos is so great. I do recommend it to all of you. The CD is just amazing and I can not stop playing it. I am very happy I got this CD and the best part is that I did not pay that much money for it, it was very economic buying via Amazon. Thank you!


title: Solid new effort

text:
I Really love this new release with Tricky at the production helm.  I'm not going to say a welcome return , or his best effort since Maxinquaye, or Pre Melenium.. but it is somehow completely satisfying, and a welcome return to the more spare and somewhat experimental sound of some of his best work. It feels a bit similar to Almost God, an early release where he teamed with what for me at the time where more recognizable names in the music industry.  It is a collaboration with other artists , much like that album.

The man has always been productive, and to be admired for that, but I feel sometimes things felt a little rote, stagnant and similar in terms of formula. While this album doesn't stray too far from that, it does offer up some different vocalists and collaborators , and a more stripped down sound and feeling.

A definate recommendation for Tricky fans , and fans of the genre.


title: Great Show

text:
Way underrated show. At least judging from some of these reviews. This is quite possibly one of my favorite Dave's Picks, and I've been listening since DP's 13.

Some complaints about the sound? Sounds fantastic to me, especially if mastered from cassettes.

Incredible versions of Althea, Scarlet Bagonias , Fire on the mountain.

If your a Dave's picks fan, Dead Fan, or music liver in general, it's a great show.


Okay, I'm a huge Punk Floyd fan. I like them at every phase in their career, from Syd through Meddle, Dark Side through the Final Cut. After Waters left however, I really think things went downhill. I know he became an egomaniac, and I applaud the rest of them trudging on as Pink Floyd. They have every right to the name, but somehow they really lost their edge. I think Gilmour and Waters, along with the rest worked best together. It's the writing that suffers the most here. The lyrics are, well... not that good. It does have its moments ( Sorrow) and I love all these guys , but some of it sounds really dated, like 80's super group dated. Comparable to Asia and other such disasters. I don't mean to be so scathing,  but I have really tried to like this album. Really, really tried. I take it out every year or so and go eh... and put it away.


title: Five Stars

text: Great!


title: Episodes fade in and out

text: The Aldrich Family mp3 CD fades in and out while listening to episodes on my mp3/CD player.


title: The great  bud and lou

text: The great  bud and Lou


title: Love this cd

text: Great harmonies and some good new material.


title: My son love it.

text: Although not the same band from the 80s, the songs and dances are great and more up to date. I play it all day long and my son love it.


title: fresh celery

text: This is the onl full-lenght c.d. from maplewood greats Celery.  As one of St. Louis' noise-control masters, Celery did everything in its power to get people to like them, while forcing the audience to ask WHY?  Phil, Steve, and Barry (the other side, resist all, very metal) thats a killer line-up for a band.  I remember the 'celery-throwing' release for this c.d.  What a show.


title: SONY/LEGACY are selling this Box Set as a Low budget set

text: The Music is great, that’s why I gave it a three star rating.  The box on the outside was fine, on the inside they used some movable separators for each cd and that is a disaster.  They do move and attempting to use is as it was intended is a waste of time.  Sony/Legacy should treat all their box set the same and give the buyer in return something that justifies buying it!


title: This is a very good relaxation tape

text: Ive bought many of these for my patients to use to learn how to relax.<br />This is a very good relaxation tape, and I know I will be buying many more as needed


title: Older praise and worship songs

text: Used this product for listening to worship from years ago loved the simplicity of the choruses and songs


title: Perfect condition

text: It was in perfect condition!


title: DIVINE FOR SURE!

text: LEWIS CAPALDI IS GREAT.  IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO HIM WHEN EVER I WANT TO.


title: DUA LIPPA FOR SURE!

text: GET TIRED OF HEARING WHAT I WANT TO HEAR ONLY AS SOMEONE PLAYS IT.  FEEL LIKE I DISCOVERED HER.  SHE HAS A GREAT VOICE.


title: AWESOME!

text: SO GLAD TO FINALLY HAVE MY OWN COLLECTION OF ED SHEERAN!


title: Good songs, including cross over songs

text: Most songs are good. Not sure I like his effort on most of the ballads included. I prefer his fast rhytm fun songs in the CD.


title: Best Loretta collection EVER !

text:
You're Lookin' At Country : The Very Best Of Loretta Lynn is presented by Readers Digest Music.
Here are the tracks :

Disc One
You're Lookin' At Country
Coal Miner's Daughter
I Wanna Be Free
Here I Am Again
Rated X
Love Is The Foundation
Trouble In Paradise
When The Tingle Becomes A Chill
Somebody Somewhere (Don't Know What He's Missin' Tonight)
Out Of My Head And Back In My Bed
I Can't Feel You Anymore
One's On The Way
Hey Loretta
Home
They Don't Make 'Em Like My Daddy
Blue Kentucky Girl
What Kind Of A Girl (Do You Think I Am)?
Woman Of The World
I Know How

Disc Two

I'm A Honky Tonk Girl
Success
The Other Woman
Before I'm Over You
Wine, Women & Song
If You're Not Gone Too Long
Happy Birthday
You've Just Stepped In (From Steppin' Out On Me)
The Home You'r Tearin' Down
Dear Uncle Sam
Don't Come Home A Drinkin'
Fist City
Your Squaw Is On The Warpath
Red, White & Blue
I've Got A Picture Of Us On My Mind
Spring Fever
To Make A Man (Feel Like A Man)
Wings Upon Your Horns
We've Come A Long Way, Baby
The Pill

Disc Three
You Ain't Woman Enough
She's Got You
Why Can't He Be You
Crazy
I Lie
Lyin' Cheatin' Woman Chasin' Honky Tonkin' Whiskey Drikin' You
Heart Don't Do This To Me
Making Love From Memory
Cheatin' On A Cheater
Somebody Led Me Away
After The Fire Is Gone *
Lead Me On *
Louisiana Woman Mississippi Man *
As Soon As I Hang Up The Phone *
Feelins' *
The Letter *
From Seven Til Ten *
I Can't Love You Enough *
It's True Love *
I Still Believe In Waltzes *

*with Conway Twitty

The only solo singles missing in this collection are I Know How, You Wanna Give Me A Lift, Pregnant Again, Naked In The Rain, Breakin' It, Wouldn't It Be Great, Just A Woman and Who' Was That Stranger.

This collection is well worth the money.

P.S. If you're a Tammy Wynette fan, look for the hard to find "The Legendary Tammy Wynette" from Readers Digest music. It's the greatest too!


title: No 8 track players

text: I seen that you sell 8 track tapes but there are no actual 8 track players available on Amazon. 8 tracks were before my time, I only go as far back as compact cassettes.


title: A Nice Collection, But Slightly Lacking

text: This is a fine collection of soundtracks to George Pal films, made from the best sources possible. Intrada always produces quality products for the niche soundtrack collector market and this is no exception. The one disappointing factor is that there are so few key tracks available from "The War Of The Worlds".  As "TWOTW" is one of my favorite classic films, I was really hoping for more of the evocative score from that film. Otherwise, this is a well done preservation of nearly lost music.


title: A Nice Overview Of Summer's Pre-'80s Work

text:
This double album was originally released in 1980, not long after Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" album dominated the pop and dance charts. It contained two new tracks; the eponymous "On The Radio" ( featured twice, in both a single and a full length version ) and the hit duet with Barbra Streisand, "Enough Is Enough (No More Tears)" ( in a very long, extended mix ). These two tracks took up the entirety of side four, while the other three sides were made up of suites of Summer's previous hits.

The suites were made up of edited versions of most of Summer's charting hits and some popular album tracks, segued together similarly to how they might have been mixed in a dance club. While this makes for a very enjoyable listening experience, some fans might be disappointed with the length of each individual song, as most are edited down even shorter than their 7" single versions. This was done because of the time limitations of vinyl albums, and because many of the original full length tracks were quite long.

Overall, this is a great long player with no filler, but the downside is that none of Summer's post 1980 work is included ( and there are a few glaring omissions; notably her hit cover of Barry Manilow's "Could It Be Magic" ). But, if you're looking for a good overview of Donna Summer at the peak of her disco career, then this disc is a great choice.


title: A Nice Collectable

text:
Please note that this review refers to the older, non-commercial promotional CD, which has the ITC promotional painting on the cover and does NOT reflect the Silva Screen Release. I mention this because somehow this review has also been attached to the page advertising the commercial release, and the information contained does not reflect the contents of the Silva disc. I have written a separate review that accurately describes the quality of the Silva Screen disc.

The second year of the series "Space:1999" was it's last, and to the chagrin of many of it's fans, it did not get a commercial soundtrack album release. Due to the lack of a proper soundtrack, this CD was a much sought after collectible during the lean years before the resurgence of commercial interest in "Space:1999".

The disc was produced in the early '90s by a staff member of 'Starlog Magazine', using copies of monophonic mixdown tapes from the personal collection of series composer Derek Wadsworth. A limited ( but presumably large ) number of original copies were produced. Most of these were given to Wadsworth for his personal use, and some were kept by the staffer who produced them.

Although labeled "For Promotional Use Only", several original copies made their way into the hands of fans and collectors, and with the proliferation of home disc duplicating technology during the mid 1990's, seemingly hundreds of bootleg copies suddenly became available at conventions, and on internet outlets like Ebay. Many of these copies were of dubious quality, and due to the limitations of home duping technology at the time, some would have tracks missing.

An original CD is easily identified by the image of the "Space:1999" logo, and the series ubiquitous 'Eagle' spacecraft, over an image of the moon printed directly on the disc. Most copies that I've seen, if they sport any artwork at all, have computer printed adhesive labels with varying images on them. So, caveat emptor!

As to the sound quality, the disc was well produced from mono tapes, so the mixes sound very close to the way they did on television - but with better fidelity. The tracks sound as though they run a tiny bit slower than the originals, and there are occasional defects from tape damage such as flutter, drag, and during one track an increase in volume, that remains until the end of the disc. The tracks are not all presented in the order that they appeared in the various episodes, and there are no tracks from the one other full score that Wadsworth wrote for the series; "The Taybor". However, despite it's minor deficiencies it's still a nice listen. This disc does have one track not found on any other release; a slightly different mix of the second unused alternate theme ( listed as "Alternate Theme Three" on the artwork ), but it's hardly worth paying an exorbitant price.

This CD was rendered somewhat obsolete by the release of a much more complete, fully remastered two disc set produced from the original stereo master tapes by Fanderson. But that set -now out of print- was available for sale to club members only ( although you can still find copies for sale at high prices on the internet ). Silva Screen will be releasing a pared down single disc of the stereo soundtrack in October of 2009. However, an original copy of this CD is still a nice, and somewhat rare collectable for the hardcore "1999" fan.


title: One Star

text: Did not like it because it skips a lot


title: Five Stars

text: I was totally satisfied with this album


title: Five Stars

text: Beautiful and totally love it!


title: great music

text: great cd there is alot of music that i grew up listening to. i will buy from you again.


title: this is a great compilation box set of their three biggest selling albums ...

text: This is the American version of the British's Four Light Years box set.  Both box sets have the albums "A New World Record", "Out Of The Blue", and "Discovery", but the British version does not have the seven inch single (45) of "Doin' That Crazy Thing" - you'll have to buy that separately on either a 12 inch vinyl or 7 inch vinyl.  Either way, this is a great compilation box set of their three biggest selling albums ever!  Now, I'm not saying that "Eldorado", "Face The Music", or even "On The Third Day" didn't do well; hardly, all I'm saying is that the earlier mentioned albums are some of their (ELO) best work ever!  I already have two copies of this box set, and I also have the box set of "Four Light Years" as well, so for me this is well worth the effort to spend a little money on some great vinyl!  Any ELO fan will love this box set, and I hope this review serves someone well.  Regards, Craig L.


title: First Movement--from Amazon.com/music

text: One of the last ELO compilation albums to hit the market, and it was very well done, in my opinion.  Has quite a few songs that other compilation albums have had in the past, but it's still one of the few that has lasted--aside from OLE ELO and ELOs Greatest Hits.  If people want to know more about ELO from the compilation album viewpoint, simply buy this on Amazon.com and you'll find yourself listening to some of the greatest songs Jeff Lynne ever wrote!


title: Modern German Art Songs Radiantly Sung

text: Another entry in Orfeo's 'Musica Rediviva' series.  Ullmann was a German Jew who was murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz.  He was 46 when he died so he, like Schulhoff, had a chance to build a body of work before the Nazis destroyed everything.  He was sent first to Theresienstadt, the "show camp" that the Nazis created so they could show the world something a little less horrifying than the actual death camps.  While he was there he created an astonishing list of works that survived only because he passed his works on to a friend when he was shipped off to Ausschwitz.  This set of songs consists of two disks, and most of the songs are sung by the wonderful Chistine Schaefer,  Two other singers are involved: Liat Himmelheber, a mezzo-soprano and Yaron Windmüller, a baritone.  Himmelhaber fortunately sings only two songs and isn't very good. The baritone is good enough but not as good as the radiant Schaefer.  Ullmann is generally regarded as the best of the composers who were murdered by the Nazis and these two disks are a nearly perfect display of his considerable talent.


title: A terrific set of 20th Century, mainly German, art songs

text: Ernst Krenek is a 20th Century German composer who had a major hit with his opera 'Jonny Spielt Auf' in 1927.  And then he spent the rest of a long life wandering the world after the Nazis drove him from Germany, writing music furiously.  He never repeated the success of 'Jonny Spielt Auf' and the quality of his music seems to have been seriously uneven.  But there's a lot of it.  The wonderful soprano Christine Schaefer chose 21 songs from Krenek's huge output and thrills us with a beautiful voice and secure musicality.  This is modern stuff so the composer makes his singer work for her supper, but Schaefer takes it all in stride.  Krenek spent some time in the U.S. and some of the poems he set are in English.  There are even a few in French.  (Do I have to mention that this is part of the 'Musica Rediviva' series on Orfeo?  This is, like the 'Entartete Kunst' series on Decca, and attempt to bring music back that was suppressed by the Nazis.  Krenek was not Jewish, but he still had to run for his life.  I'm not sure that we have to envoke the Nazis to justify listening to this music.  It's terrific.  And good music gets forgotten-- and then rediscovered-- all the time, without help from the Nazis.)


title: really amazing cd :D

text: I LOVE this cd very much, it is the limited edition and it comes with a fun DVD to watch and lots of songs to listen on the cd ...it comes with a photo- book which is so cute too <3 suG is such an amazing oshare kei group!!!!


title: good single cd (^_^)

text: Girugamesh did change their style of music a little and..being that they were visual kei and now they are turning more jrockish , the song incomplete it has some dubstep tune to it but it still a good song in my opinion,it also has a demo for the album monster...<<(i think that's what it is called)?? which u just get to hear clips of the songs for it. ^-^ ....overall its a good cd but not as great as their older ones.


title: No doubt Nusrat's Best

text: Just great, still the best of Nusrat. Another nice CD is Space Hotel of  Al Gromer Khan.


title: Album find sucees

text: It was great.


Quality was not great but I don't think it's the seller's fault.  It's a video from over 50 yrs ago put on CD.  I do wish it was clearer though.


title: Five Stars

text: Love it!


title: Lame bootleg

text: The last reviewer said the item was worth buying, even as a bootleg for the Beatles Movie Medley, well anyone can buy the single for under $5, with the picture sleve, which is far more desirable and potentially collectable than buying a bootleg.


title: Beatles Second Album/Something New

text: The CD was in great condition, no problems with shipping. Very prompt delivery.  The Beatles second album was the first record I ever owned and I have had a hard time finding it with its original songs.  This is my favorite album of all time.  I like Something New too and it contains songs you don't often hear on the radio.


title: Love song suitable for a wedding reception

text: This is the really good and edifying kind of music one might want to have disc jockeyed at a wedding reception, as "All My Life" is a love song.


title: Great singing, great playing

text: Very good intricate acoustic guitar playing and singing.  I appreciate the freedom by which Phil Keaggy wrote and composed the songs.


title: Awesome

text: Love John Lennon


title: Superior Artist & Songs at a Good Price

text:
This is an excellent 88-track collection, which contains the majority of Elvis Presley's biggest hits and most well-known songs.
And while it does not state on the packaging that these tracks have been digitally remastered, the good sound quality suggests it is very likely that they have been.
The accompanying 24-page full-color booklet contains an extensive Elvis biography plus numerous photographs.
My only gripe about this set would be that there is approximately 80 minutes of free space remaining across the 4 discs, which means there could easily have been many more songs included (in the range of 25 to 30). Or alternatively, this collection could have been only a 3-CD set.


title: Four nuggets worth repeat listenings

text:
Four nuggets worth repeat listenings

Quality-wise, if not style-wise, `Real Love' could have been an exquisite `White Album' track, had it been written back then. `If You've Got Trouble' caught nothing but grief from critics, but I think it's a lost gem, with a melody you can whistle, weird rhythm, lyrics with a point to make (denounced by critics for mentioning diamond rings), an inimitable Ringo Starr vocal and a nice crabby guitar solo from George. `12 Bar Original' has also been a target for critical scorn, but in the hands of the Beatles those 12-bars, though derivative, sound like no one else. The version here of `You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)' gives us the whole works and clears the path ahead for Monty Python's musical numbers. Of course, it IS great to have all these heretofore unreleased tracks available at last. However this plus pales before the riches of the solo Beatle years, underappreciated because those riches are embedded in so much dross.


title: Five Stars

text: Great Cd


title: Not really broadcasts

text: Cream live was a virtuoso display of musicianship unequalled by anyone except maybe The Who live.  I have no quibble with the playing and singing.  This is rock at its best.  The title is misleading, though.  According to the liner notes, these performance appear to actually be taken from Cream's Bay Area shows from 1968 which were also excerpted for the live album of Wheels of Fire and Live Cream I and II.  (Hence the 4 stars).  Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker could be forgiven for their arrogance in calling themselves "Cream," because they were the cream of the crop.


title: More of historical interest

text:
In March of 1969, shortly after release of their double album "Odessa," Robin Gibb quit The Bee Gees, reportedly over differences with older brother Barry.  The Bee Gees never truly broke up as Maurice Gibb played on this one and even Barry played on a couple of tracks.  Robin's #2 hit in England, "Saved by the Bell," is on here.  The songs tend to have a sameness about them.  Robin signs all the vocal parts and shines there, but the instrumentation tends to lean heavily on orchestra with "Saved by the Bell" (released in the US on the 1990 box set) being typical with steady acoustic guitars.  "Saved by the Bell" was reportedly the first rock single to use a drum machine, so there is experimentation.  "August October" and "One Million Years," the first and last songs on the album, are kind of depressing, about unrequited love and death.  "Mother and Jack" shows Robin's storytelling talents which are very evident in some of the songs he contributed for Bee Gee 1st that were release on the expanded version.

Listening to Robin sing is not a bad way to spend 40 minutes or so.  Production-wise, however, this album is very much of its time and is a part of Bee Gees history that will be of interest mostly to Bee Gees fans.


title: Monty Python vs. Pompus Pip Pukus

text: This recording is a cult classic amongst studio theatre affectionados. If the phrase "Everybody graduates" doesn't mean anything to you, it will after you listen to Special Deliverance. The warped sense of cultural reflection and with an eternal vision is only outdone by the bizarre appearance of some buzzing flies during the recording. At times you happen to be scratching your head in wonderment of the genius of this performance. And yet, it's the content of the scripting that seems to blow your mind. Could Monty Python come up with something this entertaining and stimulating? Dunno. But I do know (in reality!) the two brilliant men who spent years developing and recording Special Deliverance, and trust me, they are so talented that they should not be on the street! Dangerously talented, enough to take credit for 32 voicings on this 2-sided piece of vinyl...unless you pick up the CD version offered here with bonus tracks, or have the original tape cassette as I do. Well, actually I have all 3 versions. It's that good. So, grab this piece of freakish fantazmia (not-a-real-word alert!) and follow the intense tale about Alan and his activities at WDHS. It'll ruin you for normality.


title: Great listening upset about the one song being listed but ...

text: Great listening upset about the one song being listed but omitted! To bad Dave didn't put something like this together for the fans instead of having to get a bootleg.


title: Amazing

text: The poster was very nice and it came with two photo cards!!!


title: Nothing Special to Zumba CD

text: Wanted to use these for water Zumba.  Not the songs I had hoped for.


title: Emmylou's Portraits collection

text: I've been looking for this collection and was happy to find this gently used set.


title: A hauntingly beautiful anime sone

text:
This is one of those sleeper anime songs that you don't realize you miss until the series is over. It is from  'Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom' which is one of those bittersweet anime series that seems to end too soon and too wrenchingly, for all that its quiet ending belies that (this series also is recommended).

This song, as I say, is hauntingly beautiful. Kokia has a sweet voice and the song holds up well under repeated listenings. The tempo switches up in interestingly ways that adds to its charm.

You are here either because you know the series and are tracking down the music, or know the artist, Kokia (whose discography is fairly extensive) and are tracking down her music. If you collect and listen to anime music to anime music I cannot recommend this song highly enough. I do believe you will enjoy it and listen to it regularly.


title: Audience Selected is Fantastic

text: I’ve been a Vast fan since the beginning. Always ready for more music from them, I was excited to get this double cd set (yes, I prefer a disc). It’s interesting the way Jon Crosby let his fans choose which songs made it to the record. I think the fans chose wisely because the “Audience Selected” cd is fantastic. It sounds just like I’d expect from them. I really love the cd from start to finish. I can’t stop listening to it!<br />However, I think they should have left “Audience Unselected” out. The second cd doesn’t sound like Vast to me and I won’t be listening to it much… just too weird. Great job on the first one, though.


title: Great packaging

text: Packaging was great. No dents or marks on the actual product. The album is also good.


title: Best Christian music I have heard in a very long ...

text: Best Christian music I have heard in a very long time. These Renditions of the old him are extremely refreshing


title: Four Stars

text: Been a fan since 1992 so I'm a bit biased!


title: Kent rocks!

text:
First off, here is this compilation's complete tracklist, along with a breakdown of its contents:

1. Last Warrior 5:47
2. Lonely Road 5:25
3. Last Thought 5:42
4. Father's Son 4:20
5. Time to Go 3:10
6. Red 3:04

*TRACKS 2-3:  Renegade - "Lonely Road" 12" single (11:07), recorded Oct. 1980 at Goldust Studios, Bromley, U.K.
*TRACK 1:  Renegade's contribution to "Kent Rocks" compilation (1981)
*TRACKS 4-6:  Red - "Demo '82" (10:34)

Now, onto the review:

Back in the heyday of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), long before the internet age ever dawned, there were still things called record stores (anyone remember those?).  With all the groups forming by the droves and issuing their own self-financed vinyl every week, what a pleasure it must have been for the headbangers to thumb through the latest crop of singles by various unknown bands, searching for buried treasures.

One such record store in England at the time was called White Witch Records.  So into this exciting scene were they, that the shop even got in on the act themselves, by releasing some of their own records, by local NWOBHM and rock groups of their choice.

Which brings us to Kent, England's RENEGADE.  Formed in 1979, with Steve Welch on guitar, Pete Smith-bass, Mark Cunningham-keyboards, and Paul Smith-drums, they were joined the following year by a chap from London named Paul Armfield, who solidified the line-up as the outfit's vocalist.

The group rehearsed like mad and were soon good enough to be noticed by the previously-mentioned White Witch concern, who gave RENEGADE the opportunity to lay down two tracks for a vinyl release on the label.

The resultant "Lonely Road" single, was captured on tape in the fall of 1980, and released toward the end of that year.  One odd aspect of the record was that, despite it only having two songs, it was actually issued as a 12" by White Witch, very unusual for NWOBHM singles of this time period.  But I digress.

As for the record's contents, the title track is a mid-paced number with a distinctive, catchy, driving main riff, repeated throughout the 5+ minutes of the song (no RENEGADE song committed to vinyl was ever under five minutes, incidentally).  The production is quite raw, kind of like the first DEF LEPPARD single, and it has an overall feeling of having been done "live in one take," which makes it all the more organic and energetic.  It also has some trippy, hypnotic keyboard interludes that, as Malc MacMillan noted in the "NWOBHM Encyclopedia" (2001), bring to mind what was also being done at the time (to similar effect) by other NWOBHM acts like SCORPIO and PHYNE THANQUZ.  All in all, a substantial, memorable effort, as well as a minor classic in the annals of the deep cuts of obscure NWOBHM.

On the reverse was "Last Thought," a more sedate, restrained piece, which kind of reminds me of some of the slower material on "LED ZEPPELIN IV."  Nevertheless, it also features the same kind of psychedelic keyboard passages as the title track, and it should be said that the speed and intensity pick up considerably during the song's last minute or so, again, somewhat like what ZEP' did on "Stairway to Heaven."  Not bad at all, though the A-side is definitely the highlight here.

The "Lonely Road" single sold well throughout the U.K., and certainly at the White Witch shop, so much so that White Witch offered RENEGADE the coveted opportunity to contribute yet another composition for use on their "Kent Rocks" local band sampler in 1981.  RENEGADE responded by providing the cut "Last Warrior," which ended up taking pride and place as the opening number on the compilation.  This song kind of picks up musically where the end of "Last Thought" from the previous year left off, only "Last Warrior" is fast, dynamic and upbeat throughout its nearly six-minute runtime.  It includes some highly impressive guitar work, charismatic vocals, not to mention the heroic, "sword-and-sorcery" kind of lyrical imagery that '70s metal acts like RAINBOW had previously explored.  Here, in fact, is an excerpt from the song's lyrics:  "In a different time, from a different age/Stands the last warrior of fire and steel/Hung by his side, the dueled sword/Before him, naked goddesses kneel."  Fantasy, semi-silly "dungeons-and-dragons" type lyrical slant aside, this track is a real keeper, but sadly it turned out to be the last song to be committed to vinyl by RENEGADE, especially when White Witch went out of business later on that year, going into liquidation and becoming essentially bankrupt.  This pretty much spelled the end of the line for most if not all of the label's existing roster, unfortunately, including RENEGADE, who would soon disband, with most of the members pretty much going their separate ways, and/or leaving the metal scene altogether.

In 1982 however, Paul Armfield went on to provide his services to an already-established outfit called RED, singing on the group's three-song demo (also included here).  All things considered, this cassette was a fairly nondescript effort, which, while being fast and furious for its time (somewhat reminiscent of MOTORHEAD or JAGUAR's "Axe Crazy"), ultimately fails to leave much of a lasting impression in the end, and doesn't really warrant repeated listenings.

So this compilation is unquestionably worth it for the three RENEGADE songs alone, and the good folks at Germany's High Roller label have put together yet another winning (2021) reissue, of this rare and long-sought-after material.  Included is a thick booklet with a thorough write-up by NWOBHM scribe and all-around guru, John Tucker, with contributions from vocalist Armfield, various band photos and press clippings from the day, full lyrics, not to mention the usual stellar remastering that has become High Roller's standard.  A recommended purchase for NWOBHM enthusiasts, for sure, but make sure to buy NOW, before it goes out of print!