Desmond Blue [Limited Edition] [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Product Description
Part of the RCA 100th Anniversary Original Paper Sleeve Series. Limited edition Japanese JVC digital 24-bit remastered reissue of 1961 album. Packaged in a miniature LP sleeve reproduction of the original artwork.

Desmond Blue,Paul Desmond,Bmg Int'l,Cool,Jazz,Pop

Jazz

Music

jazz

music

Average customer rating: A Different Setting For A Great Player Showcase For An Alto Sax Master NO DAVE BRUBECK--NOT EVEN A PIANO I must be misunderstanding the 'star' rating system... A mediocre Desmond album?

Desmond Blue Paul Desmond Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Jazz General | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Jazz | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Take Ten Easy Living The Paul Desmond Quartet Live Bossa Antigua Like Someone in Love ASIN: B00005V6N2 Release Date: 2002-02-05

Tracks:

1. My Funny Valentine
2. Desmond Blue
3. Then I'll Be Tired Of You
4. I've Got You Under My Skin
5. Late Lament
6. I Should Care
7. Like Someone In Love
8. Ill Wind (You're Blowin' Me No Good)
9. Body and Soul
10. Imagination (Bonus Track)
11. Advise and Consent (Bonus Track)
12. Autumn Leaves (Bonus Track)
13. Autumn Leaves (Bonus Track)
14. Imagination (Bonus Track)
15. Advise and Consent (Bonus Track)

Customer Reviews:

A Different Setting For A Great Player.......2006-06-16

Normally, I don't have much use for records of jazz players with strings. They mostly strike me as needless attempts to somehow "legitimize" the artist as a serious player with a pseudo-symphonic setting, in hopes of getting non-jazz listeners to give him some credit.

This album is a wonderful exception to the usually contrived-sounding "jazzman with strings" album, or attempt at a "mood-music" atmosphere. Rather than sounding superfluous, as strings in jazz usually do, the Bob-Prince-arranged orchestra here seems to wonderfully complement the lyrical Desmond style. The orchestrations, at least on most cuts, actually sound like some creative thought went into them.

For the listener who is uncertain, I recommend starting out by listening to "Like Someone In Love." The orchestra's up-tempo intro raises expectations of something really special, and Desmond's soloing does not disappoint. He states the melody first, with phrasing not heard in any previous version of this Jimmy VanHeusen gem. Guitarist Jim Hall provides a nice interlude in the middle, followed by some more playing by Desmond that makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck whenever I listen to it.

Nearly every other track is nice, but none quite comes up to "Like Someone in Love" for my ears. Still, I'd recommend the album, especially if you like string albums--but even if, like me, you don't usually like them.

Showcase For An Alto Sax Master.......2005-09-03

With clean, melodic alto saxophone floating lyrically over a string orchestra's backing, "Desmond Blue(Desmond with Strings)is a wonderful showcase for one of the most tasteful instrumentalists of the West Coast "cool" jazz school. The strings never seem obtrusive; instead, the backing seems to accentuate Desmond's solos. He weaves melodically over these standards, lilting over the strings, and trading solos with the always-incredible Jim Hall's. When Hall takes the lead, his guitar work echoes Desmond's understated leads. "I Should Care" and "Late Lament"(one of two Desmond compositions) are two of the strongest offerings.

NO DAVE BRUBECK--NOT EVEN A PIANO.......2004-11-01

Unfortunately, since his death from lung cancer in the late 1970's, Paul Desmond has been largely forgotten-not receiving even a hint of the posthumous adulation his contemporary John Coltrane has. This is somewhat puzzling in that Desmond was the saxophone colossus in the original Brubeck Quartet that captured the imaginations of millions in the 1950's. While Dave Brubeck does not have the same cache in the jazz world as Miles Davis, unlike Coltrane Desmond did not cross over "into the ether" in his last several albums. Up to his very last session, Desmond remained inventive and accessible.

DESMOND BLUE is to Paul Desmond as LAYLA is the Eric Clapton. It is a classic among jazz saxophone albums and has been copied many times by lesser artists. Desmond's alto horn lines come through sweet and clear and Jim Hall's guitar counterpoint is sensitive and tasteful throughout. "Desmond Blue" and "Late Lament" are the only originals on this album. The rest are a well-chosen standards such as "Body And Soul" and "My Funny Valentine". On this particular CD release, seven outtakes are included as bonus tracks to place playing time well over an hour.

To the ears of the early twenty-first century, however, this album displays a serious drawback, which at the time of its release was one of its major selling points: that is the arrangements and orchestrating by Bob Prince. Orchestrations have long been added to rock albums since the Beatles SGT. PEPPER with notable contributions by the Moody Blues and Procol Harum. But DESMOND BLUE was released in 1961-well six years before these rock monuments-thus the sensibility was much different. While I am sure the serious listener in 1961 would not make this mistake, to modern ears these orchestrations on DESMOND BLUE more resemble the "lush sound" found on the old Jackie Gleason "make out/romance" records. Desmond himself was very happy with Prince's contributions but they sound very much out of character and place. Of course, that rich sound probably didn't have the association in 1961 we tend to have with it today. Still, for most of us today, it is quite distracting.

[Being a baby boomer, I have distressing memories of countless LPs entitled something like "The St. Paul Philharmonic Swings To Today's Top Tunes" or "Classical `Pops' Make Good Vibrations with the Beach Boys Hits" strung on us by public school music teachers to "raise" our appreciation of fine music. I particularly remember the cover of one such LP that had a comely lass in a bikini shaking her thing while some white-haired grandfatherly gentleman sat on a chair playing the cello. During in-school parties for the holidays, we could not play "our" records but these (typically owned by the math teacher) invariably ended up on the school phonograph.]

As it is, your appreciation for DESMOND BLUE may depend very much on your ability to "tune" these orchestrations "out". Even then, you may bemoan the fact that much of Jim Hall's guitar work is absorbed and lost in the swell of the strings.

For my money, Paul Desmond solo did not rank as high as when he was such an integral part of the Brubeck Quartet. There was just something about the quality of Brubeck's piano that brought out the best in Desmond. This is Paul Desmond in a more relaxed mode. (If you want to keep the Clapton parallel, then think of the more "at ease" sound Eric maintained as he imitated Don Williams for a few albums in the late 1970's.) But there is no denying DESMOND BLUE is an important chapter in the Jazz canon.

I must be misunderstanding the 'star' rating system..........2003-09-08

I have two copies of this LP under two different titles, both released by RCA. The original, titled "Desmond Blue", as here on the CD, I wore out. The second time around, it had been renamed (and repackaged - the cover must have looked too dated by then) "Desmond Gold". I like the arrangements by Bob Prince and I think Desmond is as well suited to a string recording as any saxman can be. I have not heard the 'bonus' tracks contained on this CD. I am rating this 4 stars because I love it - I just can't put it up there with 5 stars, since that, to me, means "greatest ever". How can the previous reviewer, who obviously dislikes the CD, give it 4 stars after thrashing it? If I do not like a recording, I give it 1 star; if I find something redeeming on a recording, I give it 2 stars; if it's good but flawed, I'll go 3 stars; if it is REALLY good, I go 4 stars. The best ever LPs, CDs are reserved for my 5 stars. Am I misinterpreting this system? I sure hope not...

A mediocre Desmond album?.......2002-08-19

Paul Desmond was probably the greatest jazz alto sax player out there, and he recorded surprisingly little outside of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Consequently, I'm a completist and try to obtain all I can by this artist, who seldom disappoints. Desmond Blue, however, disappoints. It is the first of his five or six albums recorded with Jim Hall in the form of a quartet (the five albums, including this one, are released in the form of the superb RCA box set) and it is by far the worst. What went wrong with this album? Well, the quartet is backed by an over-powering string section. The songs seem orchestrated and downright tacky because of these strings, and they get in the way of Paul Desmond¡¦s sax playing and actually make poor Desmond sound a bit whiney. The result is an album that is actually too annoying for me to really listen to that much. If you can get past the strings, you'll hear some excellent work by Desmond and Jim Hall's beautiful guitar, but thankfully Desmond recorded enough solo material with Hall that you don't have to settle for this. You're much better off with "Take Ten" (the classic Desmond solo album) or "Easy Living" (which I actually prefer to Take Ten). These albums are just the quartet, and they really can't be beat, but this album is only for Desmond completists who love Desmond¡¦s sax playing enough that they are willing to be disappointed.

Average customer rating: Finally rereleased Classic jazz from a classic sax player & Guitarist Great playing by Paul Desmond and company.

Desmond Blue Paul Desmond Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B000003G7O Release Date: 1997-02-11

Tracks:

1. My Funny Valentine
2. Desmond Blue
3. Then I'll Be Tired Of You
4. I've Got You Under My Skin
5. Late Lament
6. I Should Care
7. Like Someone In Love
8. Ill Wind
9. Body And Soul
10. Advise And Consent
11. Autumn Leaves
12. Imagination

Customer Reviews:

Finally rereleased.......1999-12-16

Unavailable on LP for many years after RCA removed it from the catalog, this was finally released on CD a couple of years back, and is tremendous. Mind you, this is not a hard jazz album... strings appear, harps, flutes and other stuff, but the settings are perfect, the miking on Desmond was intimate but not in-your-face... you can do almost anything with this record, from background mood music (which is what my parents bought the LP for in 1962) to serious study of Desmond's perfect phrasing and inimitable tone. Also worth paying attention to are Jim Hall's guitar backups and fills and Milt Hinton's legendary bass.

Classic jazz from a classic sax player & Guitarist.......1999-02-27

this album represnts pure music. It is not embelished with unnecessary instrumentation. I highly recomend this to any one who digs Brubeck, or Progressive jazz in general.

Great playing by Paul Desmond and company........1998-11-18

The smooth sound of Desmond's alto sax and the fine playing of Jim Hall on guitar, make this a great recording not just for Desmond (and Brubeck quartet) fans but for all Jazz lovers.

Average customer rating:

The Ultimate Wedding Collection Manufacturer: Madacy Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Boccherini | Boccherini, Luigi | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Johann Strauss Sr. | Strauss Sr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Wedding Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music All Bargain Titles | Easy Listening | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Soundtracks | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Clint Black - Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 ASIN: B0009K7RZM Release Date: 2005-06-28

Tracks:

1. Wedding Chorus from "Lohengrin"
2. Matrimonial Benediction in F Major, Op. 9 - Joseph Berger
3. Wedding March from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" - London Philharmonic Orchestra
4. Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314 - Vienna Opera Orchestra
5. Wedding March, Mazurka, Op. 20a - London Festival Orchestra
6. Champagne Polka from "The Bat, " Op. 211 - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
7. Flower Waltz: Op. 71a/8 - London Festival Orchestra
8. String Quartet, Op. 13, Minuet in a Major - Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
9. Radetzky March, Op. 228 - Vienna Opera Orchestra
10. Minuet in D Major - Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
11. Emperor Waltz, Op. 437 - Vienna Opera Orchestra
12. Ave Maria - Ernst Riedlinger

Tracks:

1. Moment Like This
2. You and I
3. Unbreakable
4. Forever and for Always
5. All About Loving You
6. Come Away With Me
7. Thank God I Found You
8. Could I Have This Kiss Forever
9. I Believe in a Thing Called Love
10. There You'll Be
11. When I Said I Do
12. If I Didn't Have You [Duet Version]

Average customer rating:

Desmond Blue Paul Desmond Manufacturer: Bmg Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00005L8ES Release Date: 2006-01-02

Tracks:

1. My Funny Valentine
2. Desmond Blue
3. Then I'll Be Tired of You
4. I've Got You Under My Skin
5. Late Lament
6. I Should Care
7. Like Someone in Love
8. Ill Wind
9. Body and Soul

Album Description

Part of the RCA 100th Anniversary Original Paper Sleeve Series. Limited edition Japanese JVC digital 24-bit remastered reissue of 1961 album. Packaged in a miniature LP sleeve reproduction of the original artwork.

Album Details

24bit digitally remastered Japanese limited edition in an LP-style slipcase.

Average customer rating:

Desmond Blue/Take Ten Paul Desmond Manufacturer: Collectables ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Cool Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00004WJZU Release Date: 2000-09-12

Tracks:

1. My Funny Valentine
2. Desmond Blue
3. Then I'll Be Tired Of You
4. I've Got You Under My Skin
5. Late Lament
6. I Should Care
7. Like Someone In Love
8. Ill WInd
9. Body And Soul
10. Take Ten
11. El Prince
12. Alone Together
13. Embarcadero
14. Theme From 'Black Orpheus'
15. Nancy
16. Samba De Orfeu
17. The One I Love (Belongs To Somebody Else)

Average customer rating:

Desmond Dekker - 20 Greatest Hits Desmond Dekker Manufacturer: streetlife ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Folk | Styles | Music ASIN: B000NVTER6

Product Description

selections include: 1. ISRAELITES 2. YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT IT 3. IT MEK 4. PROBLEMS 5. THAT'S THE WAY LIFE GOES 6. PEACE OF MIND 7. TIPS OF MY FINGERS 8. FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE 9. I BELIEVE 10. IT'S NOT EASY 11. PERSERVERANCE 12. INTENSIFIED 13. PICKNEY 14. TOO MUCH, TOO SOON 15. NINCOMPOOP 16. YOU GOT SOUL 17. THE MAN 18. GET UP LITTLE SUZIE 19. RUDE BOY TRAIN 20. MY PRECIOUS LOVE

Average customer rating:

Desmond Blue Paul Desmond Manufacturer: Bmg Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00005IAWS Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

1. My Funny Valentine
2. Desmond Blue
3. The I'll Be Tired Of You
4. I've Got You Under My Skin
5. Late Lament
6. I Should Care
7. Like Someone In Love
8. Ill Wind
9. Body And Soul
10. Advise And Consent
11. Autumn Leaves
12. Imagination

Album Details

Twenty-four Bit Digitally Remastered with Restored Original Artwork.

Average customer rating:

Dressed To Kill Records Presents, 17 Classic Ska Cuts by Original Artists FEATURING: DESMOND DEKKER, INTERNATIONAL BEAT, BIG 5, SPECIAL BEAT, NATURAL RHYTHM, THE ETHIOPIANS, DENNIS BROWN, HOT KNIVES, THE SKADOWS, DELROY WILSON, THE SELECTER, JUDGE DREAD, KING HAMMOND, MAROON TOWN, BUGSY MALONE, BOB MARLEY RUDI GOT SOUL - DESMOND DEKKER / MAGICAL FEELING - INTERNATIONAL BEAT , LIVE INJECTION - BIG 5 / MONKEY MAN - SPECIAL BEAT , BLUE BEAT AND SKA - NATURAL RHYTHM / TRAIN TO SKAVILLE - THE ETHIOPIANS , IT'S MAGIC - DENNIS BROWN / DRIVING ME MAD - HOT KNIVES , TWICE - THE SKADOWS / THIS OLD HEART OF MINE - DELROY WILSON , SHE'S MINE - INTERNATIONAL BEAT MISSING WORDS - THE SELECTER / HANDS OFF , REGGAE AND SKA - JUDGE DREAD / KING HAMMOND SHUFFLE - KING HAMMOND , CITY RIOT - MAROON TOWN , BEST FRIEND - BUGSY MALONE , and DUPPY CONQUEROR - BOB MARLEY ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000QJZQ4K

Average customer rating: An album more people should know... Once Upon A Time

Once Upon a Time/Blue Smoke Johnny Desmond Manufacturer: Musicrama/Koch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B00004RJO6 Release Date: 2000-03-28

Customer Reviews:

An album more people should know..........2005-03-02

The two-fer CD "Once Upon A Time/Blue Smoke" is simply one of the best vocal albums I have bought within the last ten years.

Period.

I owned both of them on vinyl (paying a pretty penny for them) and it took me a long time to be able to find it on CD. It was well worth it to keep looking.

"Once Upon A Time" is a collection of recordings with Norman Leyden conducting an orchestra comprised of many of Glenn Miller's former Army Air Force Band and recording, in stereo, twelve selections that featured Johnny Desmond with Miller during WWII. Recorded in the late '50's, Desmond's voice had developed a richness that was not present with Miller, Bob Crosby or Gene Krupa. The original arrangements sound wonderful nearly 15 years later and Desmond shows that his was one of the great voices in all of music.

"Blue Smoke" is a very moody album containing twelve "torch songs'. It is recorded with very simple instrumentation: Desmond's voice (even whistling), Tony Mottola's Electric Guitar and Bob Haggart's Bass and nothing more. It is very tasteful and beautiful in it's simplicity.

This falls under a Standards/Ballads/Easy Listening type category and is a very rewarding listening experience.

For anyone who is a fan of Miller's AAF Band or of Desmond's early solo work this is a must own album. Columbia needs to make this more readily available. That is my only fault with this collection.

By all means, purchase it...

...if you can find it.

Once Upon A Time.......2002-05-31

Rich arrangements reminescent of the 1940's , wonderful selection of famous ballads done as they should be, The vocals are emotive and sung only as a singer of this era could. Johnny Desmond happened to be one of the best of those times, though not always recognized commercially. This album captures the sound of the original Army Air Corps band at times. Excellent sound fidelity. For people who appreciate great music, i.e. Sinatra, you'll probably like this a lot.

Average customer rating:

Desmond Blue Paul Desmond Manufacturer: Classics France ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B00008EWR8 Release Date: 1997-05-22

Tracks:

1. My Funny Valentine
2. Desmond Blue
3. Then I'll Be Tired of You
4. I've Got You Under My Skin
5. Late Lament
6. I Should Care
7. Like Someone in Love
8. Ill Wind
9. Body and Soul

Jazz Music:

1. Dizzy Gillespie
2. East Coast West Coast
3. Evolution: The Polydor Anthology
4. fluent
5. Glad to Be Unhappy [Import] [Original recording remastered]
6. Hades Park [Import]
7. Happenings [Import]
8. His Final Work
9. How My Heart Sings!
10. Impulsions [Import]

Jazz Music

jazz music