Soul of Jazz

1. God Bless the Child

2. Verdict

3. Zambesi

4. Don't You Ever Change

5. Beauty of Wonderful Love

6. Hot Fun in the Summertime

7. I Am for You

8. Mix Jam Groove

9. Divine Imitators

10. Mwami

11. Pasión de la Noche

12. Love to Love You Baby

Soul of Jazz,Terry Burrus,Ichiban Old Indie,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop

Jazz

Music

jazz

music

Average customer rating: The CD from a rap band with no words... Actually, There is a "Mix-Up" Here... three sets of listeners, three sets of reviews Listen to The Music not the critics. Play this CD anytime.

The Mix-Up Beastie Boys Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Soul-Jazz & Boogaloo | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: Icky Thump Zeitgeist Era Vulgaris Libertad We Are the Night ASIN: B000PY32CE Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

1. B For My Name
2. 14th St. Break
3. Suco De Tangerina
4. The Gala Event
5. Electric Worm
6. Freaky Hijiki
7. Off The Grid
8. The Rat Cage
9. The Melee
10. Dramastically Different
11. The Cousin Of Death
12. The Kangaroo Rat

Amazon.com

Having long since shed their image as hip-hop's clown princes, the Beastie Boys now bring what feels like their emeritus recording, a celebratory instrumental memoir of all of the influences (except punk) that brought them to their secure place among hip-hop's fickle elite. The party opens with the aptly titled "B for My Name," its plodding bounce staking claim to the mid-tempo path the album treads almost throughout. "14th St. Break" picks up the pace, especially in the auxiliary percussion breakdown, complete with rally whistle. Then, beginning with "Suco de Tangerina," the album drops into a deep groove cut from dub- and dancehall-tinged ostinati that carry through a full third of its tracks. Among these, "The Gala Event" suffers from a lack of developmental motion that characterizes many of these tracks, but highlights still abound. "Off the Grid," for example, departs from the otherwise unbreakable chill and rips the proceedings wide open, blooming again and again in a series of pulsing riffs that celebrate the very institution of the instrumental groove. More than 20 years since Licensed to Ill took a long, irreverent piss into the mainstream, it seems you can still fight for your right to party. --Jason Kirk

Amazon.com

The Mix-Up is Beastie Boys' first-ever full album of all-new instrumental material. The follow-up to 2004's To The 5 Boroughs, The Mix-Up features Diamond, Horovitz and Yauch back on drums, guitar and bass, with able assistance from Keyboard Money Mark and percussionist Alfredo Ortiz, on 12 brand new wordless, sample-less, scratchless originals. Sure to please fans of the instrumental cuts from Check Your Head and Ill Communication and the cult hit compilation album made up largely of those tracks, The In Sound From Way Out!, The Mix-Up finds NYC's favorite sons drawing on one of their arsenal's primary strengths and pushing it into bold new directions.

Beastie Boys Photos

More from Beastie Boys

Paul's Boutique	Check Your Head	Ill Communication
Licensed to Ill	Awesome, I Shot That	DVD Video Anthology - Criterion Collection

Customer Reviews:

The CD from a rap band with no words..........2007-07-16

The Beasties have done it again. This is the album a lot of fans wanted- after hearing tastes of the band's musicianship on songs included in previous albums, one can finally hear the funky stylings of what has been one of the most progressive and influential bands of the last 20 years. Casual fans may not get it- for them, I suggest using it as background music for other activities. In that setting, the hooks may draw you in, or, at worst, you create a non-obtrusive atmosphere of funk driven by vintage street cred.

Actually, There is a "Mix-Up" Here..........2007-07-16

...somebody replaced the new Beastie Boys disc with a 1960's cheesy lounge record!

At least that's what it sounds like to this Beastie fan. I've bought all of their albums, but after one listen to the "Mix-Up," I'm going to have to leave this one on the shelf. The "5 Burroughs" album wasn't perfect but it was a step in the right direction (from the bizarre "Hello Nasty"), but this new "all instrumental" album is a bore to listen to. I think that some people will really like it--perhaps I'm just missing their sense of "irony".

three sets of listeners, three sets of reviews.......2007-07-14

More than likely you will fit into one of these three categories, each with a different take on this album:

1. You like the BB's as hip hop artists, especially the funny lyrics, and enjoy the old school beats. You like Hello Nasty and To the Five Boroughs more than Check Your Head. Chances are good that you won't care for this album---don't buy it.

2. Your favorite album is Check Your Head and you really like the funky instrumental interludes on that and other albums of that era. BUT, you are not an avid listener of funk/acid jazz and are not familiar with Medeski, Martin, and Wood, etc. You will probably like this album and should buy it.

3. You fit into Category 2 EXCEPT that you ARE familiar with MMW, recent collaborations by John Scofield, Grey Boy Allstars, etc. You will be disappointed in this album because it just doesn't measure up. Frankly, this album comes off as very amateurish and shows that, though the BB's have developed some chops, they can't pull off a full album of instrumentals. The interludes in Check Your Head were just that---interludes---and you can't support a full album on interlude music. Not being a hater---I love the BB's too---but check out any of Stanton Moore's albums and you will see exactly what I mean.

Listen to The Music not the critics........2007-07-10

Wow. Some of the reviews on this page leave my mouth agape with wonder. What in the world is so very wrong with this album? There are a few that are saying there's "no fun' in this record or the 'dynamic is gone'(whatever that means).What record are you listening to? To all of you naysayers I say Fooey and double Fooey! THIS ALBUM IS GREAT. It's a groovy little record period. But that's all it is. It doesn't have to be the next Sgt. Peppers or Paul's Boutique or whatever. You have to take a look at it on it's own. I will say this for this album, no other band is making music like this right now. This is completly original music. Why aren't these guys given the chance to grow and expand? If you don't like this album fine, whatever. Go listen to your 12" of Brass Monkey until your parents kick you out of the basement.
For those of you out there who want something a little groovy and different, get it. Meanwhile I'm going to mix myself a gimlet and listen to a great little combo called the Beastie Boys. Their new album is cool as hell.

Play this CD anytime........2007-07-10

Just put this CD on when you're not specifically trying to listen to music. Just let it play. It's fun, but can't be the center of attention like the Beastie's cds that you're used to. It's not all that entertaining to sit down and listen to (like when driving) even for a fan of jambands like myself, but it's the perfect album for anytime.

Average customer rating: Great selection Continuing writers block The Legend Continues... Rock the gypsy in your soul Ancient Highway

The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3 Van Morrison Manufacturer: Manhattan/EMI ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Blue-Eyed Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Van Morrison At The Movies: Soundtrack Hits The Essential Paul Simon (2 CD/DVD) Live In Dublin Live at Montreux 1980 and 1974 Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur ASIN: B000IY0FDA Release Date: 2007-06-19

Tracks:

1. Cry For Home
2. Too Long In Exile
3. Gloria
4. Help Me
5. Medley: Lonely Avenue/4 O'Clock In the Morning
6. Days Like This
7. Ancient Highway
8. Raincheck
9. Moondance
10. Centerpiece
11. That's Life
12. Benediction
13. The Healing Game
14. I Don't Want To Go On Without You

Tracks:

1. Shenandoah
2. Precious Time
3. Back On Top
4. When the Leaves Come Falling Down
5. Lost John
6. Tupelo Honey
7. Meet Me In the Indian Summer
8. Georgia On My Mind
9. Hey Mr. DJ
10. Steal My Heart Away
11. Crazy Love
12. Once In a Blue Moon
13. Little Village
14. Blue And Green
15. Sitting On Top Of the Wolrd
16. Early In the Morning
17. Stranded

Amazon.com

Navigating Van Morrison's extensive catalog since 1993 is a formidable task even diehard fans might not want to attempt. The Irish icon has flirted with blues, jazz, country, pop, Celtic, and his own style of indescribable into-the-mystic spiritually-oriented poetic folk on his numerous releases, making for quite a thorny culling assignment. So the EMI brass were probably ecstatic when the singer took the job himself. He weeds through a dozen or so albums released since Volume 2's mile-marker, and adds a clutch of previously unavailable mixes, rarities, and live tracks. The result: a nearly two-and-a-half-hour, 31-track double-disc set as sprawling, eclectic, and tenacious as Morrison's vision and discography. From occasionally rambling but spirited duets with veterans Bobby "Blue" Bland, Junior Wells, Georgie Fame, Lonnie Donegan, B.B. King, the Chieftains, Ray Charles, and even Tom Jones to concert versions of hits such as "Moondance" and an impressive take on Sinatra's classic "That's Life," along with hidden gems like "Steal My Heart Away," this is a beautifully assembled and sequenced collection. It presents most of this multitalented auteur's facets and softens his often crusty exterior by showing his appreciation for the journeymen that helped develop the trail that Morrison then blazed in his own distinctive style. --Hal Horowitz

Album Description

The new 2-CD collection, compiled by Morrison himself, offers a comprehensive overview of his later material. The set's 31 tracks include previously unreleased collaborations with Tom Jones and Bobby Bland, as well as duets with John Lee Hooker, B.B. King and Ray Charles.

Customer Reviews:

Great selection.......2007-07-12

I won't call this definitive, but the collection's got some previously unreleased and seldom heard numbers that merit the price and hype. This is a very listenable CD that's something you can just stick in the changer and let it play. Definitely worth the money.

Continuing writers block.......2007-07-10

Despite having most of this already I paid out my money and what did I get? A reasonable overview with some obscurities, one of which "Blue and Green" is worth the cost on its own. While the music is all first class the compiling has created some jarring between tracks. I've always loved The Skiffle Sessions album but Lost John between Leaves Come Falling Down and Tupelo Honey sounds bizarre. Nearly all the tracks he has re-recorded are done better in their original incarnation and one gets the feeling that with this, the movie "best of" and the country abomination Pay The Devil before them that he has nothing to say at present. I love Morrison's music and sincerely hope there is more of it to come, its now been a fair number of years since there has been an album of original material and he is overdue for his muse to return.

The Legend Continues..........2007-07-04

This 'Best Of' is a must for any Vanatic (Van fan)... but more importantly it is a must for anyone who thinks Van's career ended in the 1970s... all the tracks on "Vol. 3" are from 1993-2005 - Van's later writing and singing are well represented on this compilation and with a superb supporting cast of John Lee Hooker, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Carl Perkins, Lonnie Donegan, Bobby "Blue" Bland and the great Georgie Fame as they come along for the journey...

Van is still a mighty force in a world that needs more soul and less pop.

www.vanmorrisonnews.blogspot.com

Rock the gypsy in your soul.......2007-07-03

An amazing compilation of Van Morrison's enchanting and haunting melodies. Although I am not a big jazz or blues fan, he has managed to put those two elements together in a way that is a lyrical treat. The melodies are addictive and very catchy. As he has matured, his renditions of some of his earlier works are performed now with more conviction, passion, and confidence than ever before. Van is an extremely talented musician and lyricist that successfully impacts music for the ages. I could listen to Van Morrison 24/7.

Ancient Highway.......2007-06-29

Van is his element, you won't hear this almost 9 min track on
any broadcast radio station in the US.
I have quite a few of the tracks on other albums over 60% but
didn't hesitate on this purchase.

Average customer rating: slice of heaven... Moondance polished gems..... another morrison masterpiece. MOONDANCE IS A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.

Moondance Van Morrison Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Rock | Celtic | International | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Blue-Eyed Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music $8.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Jazz | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $8.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Astral Weeks Tupelo Honey The Best of Van Morrison His Band and the Street Choir Into the Music ASIN: B000002KHF Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. And It Stoned Me
2. Moondance
3. Crazy Love
4. Caravan
5. Into The Mystic
6. Come Running
7. These Dreams Of You
8. Brand New Day
9. Everyone
10. Glad Tidings

Amazon.com essential recording

Van Morrison went a long way towards defining his wild Irish heart with his first two classic albums: the brooding, introspective Astral Weeks (1968), and the expansive, swinging Moondance. If the first was the work of a poet, its sequel was the statement of a musician and bandleader. Moondance is that rare rock album where the band has buffed the arrangements to perfection, and where the sax solos instead of the guitar. The band puts out a jazzy shuffle on "Moondance" and plays it soulful on "These Dreams of You." The album includes both Morrison's most romantic ballad ("Crazy Love") and his most haunting ("Into the Mystic"). "And It Stoned Me" rolled off Morrison's tongue like a favorite fable, while "Caravan" told a tale full of emotional intrigue. Moondance stood out in the rock world of 1970 like a grownup in a kiddie matinee. --John Milward

Customer Reviews:

slice of heaven..........2007-06-22

She looked at me with those dark, mysterious eyes of hers and asked me to put on my favorite music. It didn't take but a moment for me to slip in MOONDANCE and so the night only got better from there. Smooth, mellow, rocking, with more soul then a Southern Baptist Church on a Sunday afternoon. No fillers here. Every song with a legacy of it's own. If music is the food of the gods then this one is a gift from the gods. Give it a listen and feel the rapture.

Moondance.......2007-05-03

This album came after "Astral week" I find "Moondance" every bit as good, in fact more enjoyable to listen to. It has a timeless quality about it, and it really dos not sound like it's 37 years old. Overall it has a good fel to it. The first song,"And it Stoned Me",reminds me a lot of the band, and the brass, which is used throughout. The album has a very soulful vibe. On a couple of the songs there's even a gospel flaver ("come running" and 'crazy love"). When he sings"iI want to rock your gypsy soul" in "into the mystic", he makes it sound like tere is nothing mor important in the world. The best moment on the whole album is"Turn it up? Turn it up? Turn it up? a little bit higher" in caravan.
If people listen to the album a few times, the songs will stay with them forever.

polished gems............2007-02-25

Every cut on this album is a polished gem; there are no fillers. "Stoned Me" starts the journey; "Moondance" still retains its sparkle (especially for Libras in October); "Into the Mystic" still haunts.

My personal favourite, "Brand New Day" still inspires me like a reverant hymn. Join Mr. Morrison for a quiet journey that soothes the senses.

another morrison masterpiece........2007-02-13

"and it stoned me," and "into the mystic" are two of the greatest songs of the early 70's in my heart. and the entire album is almost equally as fantastic. after "astral weeks" and "veedon fleece" this is my third favorite van morrison album. music full of emotion, joy and spirit, this should not be missed out on by any audiofile.

MOONDANCE IS A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. .......2007-01-24

Readers and reviewers, I will be writing a review on the legendary masterpiece album entitled "MOONDANCE" by one of Rock's most spiritual voices and one of Ireland's favorite son's, his name is VAN MORRISON. "MOONDANCE" was originally released in 1970 on vinyl/LP and 8-Track on the Warner Brothers Records label. I purchased one of the very first releases of this album on Compact Disc and the matrix or ID number is 3103-2. As always, if I hear any new additional information concerning this legendary album, I will edit this review immediately so that you the consumer will get the best informative and most accurate review possible.

VAN MORRISON is a true legend. MORRISON will always be remembered in Rock history as being one of the most gifted spiritual singers of all-time. MORRISON is actually having a spiritual experience while he is singing his songs. He not only sings to you, but he makes you feel the song along with him. U2 frontman Bono paid tribute to his fellow countryman by saying "America has the legendary Jim Morrison, and Ireland has the legendary Van Morrison." I couldn't have said it better myself. VAN MORRISON started his career as lead singer for the 60's Irish group "THEM" and scored international hits in 1965-66 with "Here Comes The Night," "Mystic Eyes" and "Gloria." MORRISON would begin a solo career in 1967 and score a top 5 U.S. hit with "Brown Eyed Girl." In 1968, MORRISON signed with Warner Brothers and released the album "ASTRAL WEEKS" followed by "MOONDANCE" in 1970. "MOONDANCE'S" themes of mysticism, romance and the personal quest are found in classic compositions such as the title track "Moondance," "And It Stoned Me," "Caravan," "Into The Mystic" and "Brand New Day."

Rather than list and describe all the songs in full detail, I am going to descibe one song in this whole album that really tells the full story and personality of this album. If there was ever any one song that makes the whole album worth while and worth listening to, it is the classic song "Into The Mystic." When I listen to this song, it makes me feel alive, and at peace with myself. The soothing mellow music makes you feel like you're home. "Into The Mystic" actually makes you feel like you are having a spiritual experience of joining your whole body and soul with your spiritual being. I love "Into The Mystic" and I hope you will love it too.

I highly recommend this album for those who are really deep into soul searching. This legendary album will stand the test of time and will always be around to be enjoyed and cherished for many years to come, NOW AND FOREVER.

In closing, VAN MORRISON is here to stay. Rock n' Roll needs a great spiritual singer to give Rock n' Roll the spiritual roots and rejoicing sounds it desperately needs in order to keep the spirit of Rock n' Roll alive. In my opinion, VAN MORRISON has accomplished these goals and more. Heres to you Van. And as the saying goes, "AND THE REST IS ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY," am I wrong? Thanks for reading my review and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for your reading pleasure. I also hope that you will read all of my other reviews in the near future when time permits. VAN MORRISON RULES. Long Live Rock n' Roll. Rock out always and take it easy. Forever in Rock, John L.

Average customer rating: stax of hits Two and a half magic hours Great mucic with great package Stax & back to my youth. Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration

Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration Various Artists Manufacturer: Stax ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Southern Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Memphis Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music R&B & Soul | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: Back to Mono (1958-1969) Van Morrison At The Movies: Soundtrack Hits Live at Massey Hall (CD/DVD) Back to Black Introducing Joss Stone ASIN: B000KP62UM Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

1. GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) - Carla Thomas
2. LAST NIGHT - The Mar-Keys
3. YOU DON'T MISS YOUR WATER - William Bell
4. GREEN ONIONS - Booker T. & The MGs
5. WALKING THE DOG - Rufus Thomas
6. I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU TOO LONG (TO STOP NOW) - Otis Redding
7. CANDY - The Astors
8. RESPECT - Otis Redding
9. YOU DON'T KNOW LIKE I KNOW - Sam & Dave
10. I WANT SOMEONE - The Mad Lads
11. HOLD ON I'M COMIN' - Sam & Dave
12. LET ME BE GOOD TO YOU - Carla Thomas
13. YOUR GOOD THING (IS ABOUT TO END) - Mable John
14. KNOCK ON WOOD - Eddie Floyd
15. B-A-B-Y - Carla Thomas
16. TRAMP - Otis & Carla
17. SOUL FINGER - The Bar-Keys
18. BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN - Albert King
19. SOUL MAN - Sam & Dave
20. (SITTIN' ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY - Otis Redding
21. I GOT A SURE THING - Ollie & The Nightingales
22. SOUL LIMBO - Booker T. & The MGs
23. I'VE NEVER FOUND A GIRL (TO LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO) - Eddie Floyd
24. WHAT A MAN - Linda Lyndell
25. PRIVATE NUMBER - William Bell & Judy Clay
26. WHO'S MAKING LOVE - Johnnie Taylor
27. I FORGOT TO BE YOUR LOVER - William Bell
28. I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING (TO ME) - Carla Thomas

Tracks:

1. TIME IS TIGHT - Booker T. & The MGs
2. SO I CAN LOVE YOU - The Emotions
3. WALK ON BY - Isaac Hayes
4. DO THE FUNKY CHICKEN - Rufus Thomas
5. JODY'S GOT YOUR GIRL AND GONE - Johnnie Taylor
6. MR. BIG STUFF - Jean Knight
7. NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE - Isaac Hayes
8. WHATCHA SEE IS WHATCHA GET - The Dramatics
9. RESPECT YOURSELF - The Staple Singers
10. THEME FROM SHAFT - Isaac Hayes
11. SON OF SHAFT - The Bar-Kays
12. THAT'S WHAT LOVE WILL MAKE YOU DO - Little Milton
13. I'VE BEEN LONELY FOR SO LONG - Frederick Knight
14. HEARSAY - Soul Children
15. IN THE RAIN - The Dramatics
16. I'LL TAKE YOU THERE - The Staple Singers
17. STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN - Mel & Tim
18. DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE - The Temprees
19. IF YOU'RE READY (COME GO WITH ME) - The Staple Singers
20. CHEAPER TO KEEP HER - Johnnie Taylor
21. I'LL BE THE OTHER WOMAN - Soul Children
22. WOMAN TO WOMAN - Shirley Brown

Amazon.com

When Concord Music purchased Fantasy Records in 2006, the bulging Stax catalog came along for the ride. Not a bad deal, especially since Stax remains one of the richest and most vital sources of '60s and '70s soul, blues, and R&B. The newly reactivated label's debut release is a lavishly boxed double-disc set of 50 highlights--as opposed to hits--from the Memphis label's voluminous vaults to celebrate its 50th anniversary. All the usual suspects appear, including Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Isaac Hayes, Johnnie Taylor, Eddie Floyd, Albert King, and the Staple Singers. But the compilers deliver a well-rounded, even eclectic collection by including tracks from such relatively obscure acts as the Astors, Ollie & the Nightingales, the Mad Lads, Linda Lyndell, and Mable John, whose "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)" is one of the great lost soul treasures. Propelled in large part by house band Booker T. & the MGs, the majority of these songs have become integral threads in the fabric of American soul. Even at two and a half hours, there's not a dull moment here. That is a testament not just to the Stax musicians, but to a label whose artists defined a classic sound that remains as timeless, relevant, influential, and electrifying as when it was recorded. --Hal Horowitz

Album Description

FIRST TIME EVER! 50 GREATEST STAX HITS IN A SPECIAL 2CD BOXED SET. Set includes chart toppers by Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Booker T & the MGs, Isaac Hayes, The Staples Singers, Johnnie Taylor, and more

*Packaged in a UNIQUE HARD COVER BOX with LENTICULAR COVER ART *EVERY MAJOR STAX AND STAX-ATLANTIC HIT from the label's 1960s and 70s heyday. *THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE STAX HITS COLLECTION EVER! *Release coincides with the 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF STAX *DIGITALLY REMASTERED *Features a MULTI-PAGE BOOKLET with notes from "Soulsville USA: The Story of Stax" by noted soul music historian Rob Bowman

Customer Reviews:

stax of hits.......2007-07-07

STAX have a reputation for pure soul as opposed to a certain label who
'motored' off in to a commercial watering-down of black music.Here we have
a generous fifty tracks on two cds of real soul music,not all hits,but all
representative of what STAX could do.A great compilation!

Two and a half magic hours.......2007-06-19

When "The Summer of Love" enters the conversation, most of us mean San Francisco, 1967. Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead. Be-Ins. Flower Power. Sgt. Pepper.

If by "love" we mean white kids from all over the country convening in urban crash pads --- well, that sets the bar pretty low, doesn't it? Given the opportunity, we could have done that. A lot of us would, even now. Just tell us where to show up.

A year before Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed there, it was a lot harder to show the love in Memphis. And yet, in an ancient movie theater in South Memphis, black and white musicians made some of the most inspired music we'll ever hear.

Let Motown own the slicker-than-snail-snot "commercial" franchise of urban black music.

And nine bows to Atlantic, with 18 singles on the Billboard Hot One Hundred Charts in the late Spring of 1967 --- ranging from Aretha Franklin doing the unofficial black national anthem ("Respect") to the white Long Island band, the Young Rascals. The only other competition Stax had in this rarified interracial zone in the late `60s: Sly & the Family Stone.

At Stax, something wonderful flourished, and it's in the grooves for all to hear --- starting with an interracial house band backing up such megawatt soul signers as Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Rufus Thomas and Eddie Floyd. Their influences were various: rock, pop, country, blues. Mixed together, they produced music that was at once familiar and not --- music that jarred the ear just enough that you had to listen to it.

But "produced" isn't quite the right word. At Stax, they mostly recorded "live." Even when they didn't, the theater's acoustics made music sound "live." As a result, you heard an excitement --- a vibrancy --- in these records that was available nowhere else in American popular music. Just listen to one of the 50 songs on the Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration when the horns --- horns! --- kick in and you'll remember how exciting music could be.

There was so much talent on the label it was able to survive the December '67 plane crash that killed Otis Redding and two-thirds of his backup band. The reason: Stax had the Staples Singers coming on strong. And Stax had Issac Hayes.

You remember "Shaft" --- "can you dig it?" But Hayes also self-produced "Hot Buttered Soul", a record that featured an unlikely 18-minute version of "By the Time I Got to Phoenix." This was as radically different from `60s pop music as Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On."

This two-CD boxed set has hits galore: "Green Onions", "I've Been Loving You Too Long", "Knock on Wood", "Born Under a Bad Sign" and "Respect Yourself." It also has songs you don't know, oddities that sure sound like hits.

The through-line: men and women singing one love song after another. The music can be raw --- loss makes for even better songs than happiness --- but I don't think I'm making it up when I say the primary ingredient of that music is love. First, of course, love of music, pure and simple. But more, love of the historical moment, love of the knowledge that when we're creating together, there's no reason we can't get along.

This Stax set is testimony to a grand idea, now honored too often only with empty words. It's also great fun, music that holds its own with the best pop this country has ever produced --- music so enjoyable you can forget the moral it contains.

Great mucic with great package.......2007-05-21

This is terrific music. These 50 songs will be among the best you will own in your life. No fillers.

Stax & back to my youth........2007-05-20

I am one of the original English fans from the 60's era & the music really took me back to my teenage years. Very good double cd & very speedy delivery service.

Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration.......2007-05-15

This is a fantastic CD set! Everyone who loved that good music the first time it came out and the second and third times needs to get it! Getting to Memphis to the Stax Museum should be on everyone's list of things to do, especially this year with all the 50th anniversary celebrations.

Average customer rating: Love her voice Deborah Shines Jazz & Blues with Deborah ! This is one of the top CD of this Year!!! Amazing departure from the beautiful Deborah Cox

Destination Moon Deborah Cox Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song Feel the Fire Ms. Kelly Call Me Irresponsible I Am ASIN: B000ND91U4 Release Date: 2007-06-19

Tracks:

1. Destination Moon
2. What A Difference A Day Made
3. Misery
4. Baby, You've Got What It Takes
5. This Bitter Earth
6. Squeeze Me
7. New Blowtop Blues
8. Blue Skies
9. I Don't Hurt Anymore
10. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
11. September In the Rain
12. Look To the Rainbow

Amazon.com

Those who don't know any better are apt to dismiss Deborah Cox as another R&B/dance diva determined to cling to the spotlight by whatever means necessary, including a giant genre-leap. Those who've been listening carefully, though, will check their doubts at Destination Moon's door. On this, her fourth disc, Cox sidles up to jazz--the jazz of her role model Dinah Washington--with subtlety and surefooted grace; along the way, she makes something of a masterpiece. From classics such as the title track to lesser-known but deeply felt compositions such as "I Don't Hurt Anymore," she avoids the temptation to rub a modern sheen over these songs and settles contentedly into the mood Washington carved for them instead. "This Bitter Earth" gets the "mm-hmm" treatment Dinah delivered so well, and "Misery" and "New Blowtop Blues" don't dream of belying their blueswoman roots. Best of all are the more delicate tracks: "Look to the Rainbow" captivates with a contemplative sadness, and "Blue Skies" is a natural wonder as beautiful as a dose of pure azure on a cloudless day. --Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

Platinum-selling recording artist Deborah Cox reinterprets the classic songs of Dinah Washington on her Decca debut, Destination Moon. Destination Moon thrusts the R&B/dance diva into whole new territory, showcasing her range and scope as an artist capable of tackling jazz, blues and "big-band" with ease and confidence. Deborah Cox's first exposure to Washington came very early, when she was a little girl. "I first became aware of Dinah when I was growing up, when I was about 8 or 9 years old" she says. "A lot of jazz was played about the house. I heard my mother playing a 45 of "This Bitter Earth" -- this first song I had ever heard from Dinah. It was the richness and the tonality of her voice that I gravitated to." For the arrangements and the production, Deborah turned to the highly-versatile New York-based music man Rob Mounsey, whose credits with such diverse performers include Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Aretha Franklin and Tony Bennett to name a few. The record was made live in the studio, with 40 musicians in the same room with her, playing and singing in real time under Mounsey's direction. "I'm doing this to broaden people's awareness of what I can do and also for the sheer love of her music." As a result, Deborah's homage to Dinah Washington does not lean overwhelmingly toward one particular style. It was designed from the beginning to be a compendium of several of Dinah's idioms - the big-band swing of "All Of Me" and "Destination Moon," swaggering R&B ("I Don't Hurt Anymore)," the blues that earned her the misleading nickname "Queen of the Blues" ("Misery," "New Blowtop Blues"), the lush ballads that put her on the jukeboxes of Middle America ("What A Diff'rence A Day Made," "This Bitter Earth").

Customer Reviews:

Love her voice.......2007-07-18

I guess I'm a big sucker for souful, strong, powerful voice. Me loving this album proves it again. It's all jazz standards, nothing new. In the past year, getting new albums from Diana Ross, Natalie Cole, Diana Krall, it's like one disappointment after another. So when I heard this new album, I was more than happily surprised how good it is. If you're a fan of jazz standards, I bet you'll like this one.

Deborah Shines.......2007-07-05

From her self-titled debut, to One Wish, to The Morning After to Destination Moon, Deborah's albums are like mini-greatest hits compilations, and Deborah scores again with her interpretations of Dinah Washington's songs on Destination Moon. Deborah has the best voice in contemporary music today, and this album continuously showcases her incredible range and talent. Personal favorites will include the title track, "Misery", and "This Bitter Earth". The album's best songs are "What a Difference a Day Makes" and the closing "Look to the Rainbow". Flawless from start to finish, Deborah again creates a masterpiece.

Jazz & Blues with Deborah !.......2007-06-25

Deborah takes the less is more approach with her first collection of standards. With a restraint that gives the arrangements plenty of room to breathe, she croons beautifully, showing us different facets of her vocal personality.
While her hits have generally called on her to be very angry or very sad, these classic songs allow her to be at turns gentle, sassy, reflective, happy and wry. The productions and arrangements are reminiscent of the golden era of era of Billie, Sarah, Dinah and others, but contain enough surprises to keep them from sounding old-fashioned.
Deborah - who shifted from pop siren to Broadway star with Aida, further expands her range to include jazz, blues and big band. Cox and her backing musicians were recorded live in the studio, playing and singing in real time. The effect pays off as Cox accurately renders each song with her own textures.
No one expects Cox to abandon the dance-floor (she just released a new dance track with Tony Moran), but her latest offering "Destination Moon" allows her to explore another musical landscape with glowing results.
Deborah takes the jazz route on "Destination Moon", a tribute to one of her all-time heroines, Dinah (The Queen) Washington. Whether you view it as a tribute album, a jazz debut or just a collection of good music, this album succeeds on all levels. From the swinging big-band to piano-voice ballads, Cox captures the essence of Washington, yet adds her own touches. Washington's milestone recordings are here. Cox gives "What a Difference a Day Makes" a mid-tempo turn with strings, getting the Queen's innocent voicing, but injecting more feeling into the lyrics.
"Baby, You've Got What It Takes" comes at us as a fast shuffle. Cox fills "This Bitter Earth" with Washington tics - the up-speak at the end of phrases, the self-satisfied "mmh-hmmm" after a line. Washington first made her name as a blues singer, and Cox lays the blues on in "Misery" and "New Blowtop Blues", that classic mean-woman lament where she sings of her run-in with a jealous ".45-packin' mama."
On "Destination Moon", focusing on Washington, the jazz singer, dishing out several of the standards most closely associated with her career, Deborah also wraps her powerful pipes around gems like "I Don't Hurt Anymore", "September in the Rain" and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes".
Producer/arranger Rob Mounsey pulled out all the stops for these sessions, surrounding Cox with a 40-piece orchestra that laid down a gorgeous foundation for her to build on. And she did just that.
In an interview conducted to promote her new album, , Cox said she recorded this record for two reasons -- to pay tribute to an artist who had so inspired her and to show that she, like Washington, was capable of doing a lot more musically than some people might have expected.
She succeeded on both counts. It's very nice work.
Think long, rainy afternoons, dinners for two and early mornings on the patio.

This is one of the top CD of this Year!!!.......2007-06-20

This CD is Amazing!!! Deborah Cox vocals are outstanding! I was very surprised to hear that she had a new CD release. They should be promoting this album like crazy. At first i heard that this was a throwback album so i wasn't sure how to take this but i went and purchased it anyway and i'm amazed at her depth of talent. Her Phrasing is just perfect and the live instrument just add to the excitement of the music. I would have to say that this is the top album released this year as a tribute.
Also check out Amel Larrieux new CD its the same kind of music. I love it!
Enjoy and reccomend!

Amazing departure from the beautiful Deborah Cox.......2007-06-20

When most people think of Deborah Cox, they immediately think of the diva of club anthems (Absolutely Not, Nobody's Supposed To Be Here, Something Happened On The Way To Heaven)--the woman with a voice that makes you want to dance all night long. When I first learned of Destination Moon, I had my reservations. Then, once I'd heard some track clips that were posted on her official website, I knew I was going to love this cd. Sure enough, Deborah Cox breathes new life into the songs (some classics, some not) of the legendary Dinah Washington. Her voice is so pure and rich, the songs so soothing--I imagine (or, rather, would like to think) that her (Ms. Cox) legions of younger fans will look deeper into the discography of the great Ms. Washington, and discover for themselves an entirely different style of music which was--and still is--jazz at its best.

Kudos to the incredible Deborah Cox. This cd has found a permanent place in my ipod. (Favourite tracks include the title track, Destination Moon, and the hauntingly beautiful Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.)

Average customer rating: Vintage Norman More Cool Licks Rivals his best work Missed opportunity sounds like RAP

Stay with Me Norman Brown Manufacturer: Peak Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: White Sand He Had a Hat Ladies' Choice Born 2 Groove You Are My Lady ASIN: B000NJL4WG Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

1. Let's Take A RideYou
2. You Keep Lifting Me Higher
3. Pop's Cool Groove
4. It ain't Over BWB
5. So In Love
6. Stay With Me
7. Soul Dance
8. Every Little Thing
9. A Quiet Place
10. I Need You

Customer Reviews:

Vintage Norman.......2007-07-08

This is Norman Brown in all phases. I have to admit the songs are original. However, I thought that his previous album,"West Coast Cooling" was one of his better album's. It had an upper-tempo, and a relaxing laid-back feeling of smooth jazz. Some cuts on this album has a little bit of Wes Montgomery and Lee Ritenour. I can say this because, I have all of Norman Brown's CD's.

More Cool Licks .......2007-06-27

and catchy musical phrases. I continue to love his guitarwork, if your a Norman Brown fan you'll like this CD. The only caveat is I'm not a big fan of the singing (2 or 3 songs). It's not bad, just not what I buy a Norman Brown CD for...

Rivals his best work.......2007-06-16

I guess it all depends on how you measure an album. Here's I how see this effort:

2 Lame Tracks (6,10)- kind of lame, the vocals ruined any chance of these being good songs.

4 Good Tracks (4,5,7,8) - the kind that fill out a really good smooth jazz outing

3 Excellent Track (2,3,9) - tracks you'll love to hear for the next month and will have trouble choosing whether or not to include on your own "Best of Norman Brown" mix CD.

1 Best NB Track Ever (1) - "Let's Take a Ride" is my favorite NB track ever, at least for now. It has that feel-good groove and great melodic guitar strokes. You know you shouldn't, but there is a lot of tempatation to listen to it over and over.

While this has more "lame" tracks than "After the Storm" or "Celebration" (my two fave NB discs) its "best 4" are all as good as any tracks on those discs, so I give this one 5 stars!

Missed opportunity.......2007-06-11

I've been reading all these comments and it's hard to believe that so many people (Including a smooth jazz webradio owner) praise this new Norman Brown's album like his best album to date. Arguably Norman Brown is one of the most gifted smooth jazz artist you can find. His MoJazz recordings will remain for many years to come as an absolute reference point for the genre. Said that and after carefully listened "Stay with me" quite a few times I can't find a genuine explanation why so many people agree on this new album as his best work. Surrounded by an amazing crew (including his partners with B.W.B., trumpeter Rick Braun and saxman Kirk Whalum)Norman Brown is unable to ignite the fire that I personally expect from a musician of his caliber. Bland vocals (Norman definetely should stick to his guitar and ocassional scats) mixed with a set of instrumentals that won't surpass anything Norman Brown has done to the present. "Soul Dance" and "Pop's Cool Groove" (you can tell Paul Brown is behind this composition) are the only songs that vaguely reminded me "After the Storm", til this day in my humble opinion the best Norman Brown's album and without any stellar names in the personnel. I feel a great opportunity has been missed this time around considering the outstanding group of musicians available for this work. (Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum, Paul Brown, Sam Riney, Brian McKnight, Paulinho Da Costa and the list goes on). Even so,I still remain loyal to Norman Brown as one of my favorite smooth jazz artist and given time, he once again will amaze me with his unique talent and versatility.

sounds like RAP.......2007-06-02

I really like Norman Brown. He reminds me of the late great Wes Montgomery, and Mr Brown was inspired by his music. However, this CD has only one good cut, mixed with what sounds like Rap music. I think his title begs the question, "Stay with Me". I don't think so, smooth jazz, please on your next CD.

Average customer rating: Awesome creative project On Point Always Love this Lady another GREAT Jill Scott offering Jill Scott is a Winner, Wonderful Voice

Collaborations Jill Scott Manufacturer: Hidden Beach ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Luvanmusiq In My Songs The Evolution of Robin Thicke Evolution of Robin Thicke Introducing Joss Stone ASIN: B000LV63RC Release Date: 2007-01-30

Tracks:

1. Love Rain (Head Nod Remix) - featuring Mos Def
2. Daydreamin' - featuring Lupe Fiasco
3. Good Morning Heartache - featuring Chris Botti
4. Said Enough - featuring The Isley Brothers
5. One Time - featuring Eric Roberson
6. Let Me - featuring Sergio Mendes & Will.I.Am
7. 8 Minutes To Sunrise - featuring Common
8. Funky For You - featuring Common & Bilal
9. Sometime I Wonder - featuring Darius Rucker
10. Slide - featuring Jeff Bradshaw
11. The Rain - featuring Will Smith
12. God Bless The Child - featuing Al Jarreau & George Benson
13. Kingdom Come - featuring Kirk Franklin
14. Love Rain (Coffee Shop Mix) - featuring Mos Def

Amazon.com

At the time of its release, internet rumor had it that Collaborations was a "taster" project--that is, a sampler to whet listeners' appetites for Scott's long-awaited third solo album, due in summer of 2007. But Collaborations doesn't play like something you'd listen to once before throwing your napkin (or, more accurately, your earbuds) down. Not only does it genre-jump with the kind of precision you don't normally find in an artist pinned to a certain musical movement (in Scott's case, neo-soul), it throws the weight of its bold names around without straining or slacking under the pressure. The hit here is "Daydreamin'," a fuzz-encrusted slice of alternative hip-hop off Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor, but there's so many other full-bodied contenders for mass adoration it could easily be eclipsed as the favorite. They include the soul-soaked "Said Enough," with the unmistakable Isley Brothers; the noirish thumper "8 Minutes to Sunrise," with Common (who also gets "Funky for You" together with Bilal); and "Slide," maybe the sexiest jazz-and-R&B hybrid ever to heat up a mainstream diva's disc. On that track, credit goes to Jeff Bradshaw for brilliance with his brass. But consider it: how many other singers could pull off sultriness alongside a trombone? Scott is a shape-shifting vocal wonder; Collaborations is the latest evidence. --Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

Talent, Innovation, Style, Charisma, Passion and Versatility are just a few of the words that come to mind when people talk about the true artistry that has become Jill Scott's trademark.

Jill's chameleon-like ability to passionately perform in an eclectic array of genres, from hip hop, to jazz, to urban alternative, to spoken word, to latin jazz and gospel, has led many of her fans and peers to call her "The Real Thing."

Jill Scott Collaborations is arguably the most unique set of collaborations by one artist ever assembled. The Jill Scott Collaborations CD has something for music fans of all types as it features many of Jill's collaborative efforts over the past six years including her incredible work with WILL SMITH, SERGIO MENDES AND WILL.I.AM of the Black Eyed Peas, MOS DEF, CHRIS BOTTI, AL JARREAU AND GEORGE BENSON, KIRK FRANKLIN, MOS DEF, LUPE FIASCO, and others.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome creative project.......2007-07-17

What can I say, she is such an incredible artist. Just when you think you've heard everything she's capable of Jill Scott emerges with more variety and new sounds. Every selection is like a unique work of art. Jill shows that she can lead or be the accompaniment and is comfortable doing hip-hop, jazz, and R&B. I love this woman!!

On Point Always.......2007-07-13

I have one word to describe this CD: Excellent. As always Jill delivered & did not disappoint me.

Love this Lady.......2007-07-05

I have a few of these songs on other albums already but love the production design of this double disc. The bonus tracks are super keen too, and Jill Scott's voice is like buttery, syrupy pancakes on a Sunday morning. Love it.

another GREAT Jill Scott offering.......2007-07-05

As a fan of Jill's, I have been waiting so patiently since the release of her last album Beautifully Human in 2004.

This music is fantastic! Disc one is very strong with great collaborations. Especially like: "good morning heartache", "let me", "eight minutes to sunrise" and "the rain feat Will Smith" - oh and "daydreamin" - too hard to choose! Disc two has samples of other artists, so I enjoyed listening to snippets of their styles as well.

Keep it going, Jill! You are a voice for these times! Do you forsee a tour on the West Coast? you have alot of fans here!!!

Jill Scott is a Winner, Wonderful Voice.......2007-06-25

Jill is sounding great, love her Philly sounding voice. Enjoyed the colloraborations with other singers.
Thanks for the bonus CD.

Average customer rating: "Totally Gnarly" or "Gag me with a Spoon"? Time Warp Shut up! missing tracks Excellent CD Set!

Like, Omigod! The '80s Pop Culture Box (Totally) Various Artists Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music | Vinyl Records | American Punk | British Punk | Emo | Garage Punk | Hardcore | Post Hardcore | Proto Punk | Punk | Punk Revival | Punk-Pop | Riot Grrl | Ska Punk | Straight Edge Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Disco | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Dance Pop | Compilations | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Blue-Eyed Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Power Pop | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Comedy Rock | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Dance & DJ | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music R&B & Soul | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Heavy Metal | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Dance & DJ | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Jazz | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Have A Nice Decade: The '70s Pop Culture Box Whatever: The '90s Pop and Culture Box I Want My 80's Box Hit Me with Your 80's Box! Pure 80's Love: The #1 Hits ASIN: B000068ZVP Release Date: 2002-07-02

Tracks:

1. Whip It - Devo
2. Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles
3. Empire Strikes Back (Medley) - Meco
4. Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
5. Celebration - Kool & The Gang
6. The Breaks (Part 1) - Kurtis Blow
7. Let My Love Open The Door - Pete Townshend
8. Call Me - Blondie
9. Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon
10. Turning Japanese - The Vapors
11. Lost In Love - Air Supply
12. 9 To 5 - Dolly Parton
13. I Love A Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbit
14. Sailing - Christopher Cross
15. Just The Two Of Us - Grover Washington Jr. w/ Bill Withers
16. Cars - Gary Numan
17. Ah! Leah! - Donnie Iris
18. Sweetheart - Franke & The Knockouts
19. Shake It Up - The Cars
20. General Hospi-Tale - The Afternoon Delights
21. The Stroke - Billy Squier

Tracks:

1. Dancing With Myself - Billy Idol
2. Working For The Weekend - Loverboy
3. Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
4. Genius Of Love - Tom Tom Club
5. Centerfold - J. Geils Band
6. At This Moment - Billy & The Beaters
7. Harden My Heart - Quarterflash
8. Hold On Loosely - .38 Special
9. Theme From "Greatest American Hero" (Believe It Or Not) - Joey Scarbury
10. Take Off - Bob & Doug McKenzie
11. Super Freak (Part 1) - Rick James
12. 867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone
13. Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
14. Time - Alan Parsons Project
15. Gloria - Laura Branigan
16. Maneater - Daryl Hall & John Oates
17. The Theme From "Hill Street Blues" - Mike Post featuring Larry Carlton
18. Valley Girl - Frank Zappa
19. Da Da Da (I Don't Love You You Don't Love Me Aha Aha Aha) - Trio
20. You Dropped A Bomb On Me - The Gap Band

Tracks:

1. Hungry Like The Wolf - Duran Duran
2. The Look Of Love (Part 1) - ABC
3. Tainted Love - Soft Cell
4. Rock This Town - Stray Cats
5. Lies - Thompson Twins
6. Words - Missing Persons
7. Don't You Want Me - The Human League
8. Love Plus One - Haircut One Hundred
9. Down Under - Men At Work
10. Steppin' Out - Joe Jackson
11. I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow
12. Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
13. Mickey - Toni Basil
14. Twilight Zone - Golden Earring
15. You Should Hear How She Talks About You - Melissa Manchester
16. Key Largo - Bertie Higgins
17. Pac-Man Fever - Buckner & Garcia
18. Total Eclipse Of The Heart - Bonnie Tyler
19. Africa - Toto
20. Goodbye To You - Scandal
21. Puttin' On The Ritz - Taco

Tracks:

1. Jeopardy - Greg Kihn Band
2. She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby
3. Electric Avenue - Eddy Grant
4. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Eurythmics
5. Our House - Madness
6. The Salt In My Tears - Martin Briley
7. Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
8. Talking In Your Sleep - The Romantics
9. Major Tom (Coming Home) - Peter Schilling
10. Always Something There To Remind Me - Naked Eyes
11. In A Big Country - Big Country
12. One Thing Leads To Another - The Fixx
13. Der Kommissar - After The Fire
14. Suddenly Last Summer - The Motels
15. Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
16. Let's Go To Bed - The Cure
17. Too Shy - Kajagoogoo
18. Maniac - Michael Sembello
19. Sister Christian - Night Ranger
20. Cum On Feel The Noize - Quiet Riot

Tracks:

1. Owner Of A Lonely Heart - Yes
2. Mr. Roboto - Styx
3. I'm So Excited - Pointer Sisters
4. Back On The Chain Gang - The Pretenders
5. I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner
6. Sunglasses At Night - Corey Hart
7. Missing You - John Waite
8. 99 Luftballoons - Nena
9. Tenderness - General Public
10. They Don't Know - Tracey Ullman
11. Heaven - Bryan Adams
12. White Horse - Laid Back
13. Let The Music Play - Shannon
14. Let's Hear It For The Boy - Deniece Williams
15. Cool It Now - New Edition
16. Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.
17. Footloose - Kenny Loggins
18. We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister
19. Rock You Like A Hurricane - Scorpions
20. The Glamorous Life - Sheila E.

Tracks:

1. Obsession - Animotion
2. Shout - Tears For Fears
3. Take On Me - A-Ha
4. Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
5. Walking On Sunshine - Katrina & The Waves
6. Voices Carry - 'Til Tuesday
7. Weird Science - Oingo Boingo
8. You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) - Dead Or Alive
9. "Miami Vice" Theme - Jan Hammer
10. Life In A Northern Town - The Dream Academy
11. Kyrie - Mr. Mister
12. Every Time You Go Away - Paul Young
13. We Built This City - Starship
14. St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) - John Parr
15. Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer
16. Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer
17. Rhythm Of The Night - DeBarge
18. You Look Marvelous - Billy Crystal
19. Heartbeat - Don Jonhson
20. Everybody Have Fun Tonight - Wang Chung

Tracks:

1. Venus - Bananarama
2. Walk Like An Egyptian - Bangles
3. Paranoimia - The Art Of Noise w/ Max Headroom
4. If You Leave - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
5. Keep Your Hands To Yourself - Georgia Satellites
6. What You Need - INXS
7. Walk This Way - Run-D.M.C.
8. Rumors - Timex Social Club
9. Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House
10. Holding Back The Years - Simply Red
11. I'll Be Loving You (Forever) - New Kids On The Block
12. Tuff Enuff - The Fabulous Thunderbirds
13. Since You've Been Gone - The Outfield
14. Only In My Dreams - Debbie Gibson
15. Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
16. La Bamba - Los Lobos
17. Wild, Wild West - The Escape Club
18. Don't Worry Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin
19. Right Here Waiting - Richard Marx
20. Roam - The B-52's

Album Description

You want your '80s! Fer sure! This is the mother of all tributes to the era of skinny ties, Reaganomics, and Pac-Man! Seven CDs, 142 hit songs, from New Wave to Pop to R&B to Hip-Hop to Novelty, including an incredible 49 #1 tracks! Starring Queen, New Edition, Duran Duran, Richard Marx, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Men At Work, Toto, The Cure, Culture Club, Cyndi Lauper, Bryan Adams, Simple Minds, Bangles, New Kids On the Block...and many more. Plus a 90-page book with hundreds of historical photos, facts, and memories from the decade that wanted it all! Limited edition sculpted rubber cover! Approx. 10 x 8 x 3/4 inches. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

"Totally Gnarly" or "Gag me with a Spoon"?.......2007-05-31

Some of the greatest moments of my life were in high school!! The mid 80's when I was carefree and lived life unfettered! No bills, no boss, no cares! Just me and my pastel suits and thin leather ties and full head of hair....(Man, I actually WORE those suits?!?!)
Fond nostalgia aside, the whole 'retro' thing is forcing the 80's upon us once again and you might as well admit that you were one of the characters from The Breakfast Club! (Mmmmmm....Ally Sheedy.)
Dropping these discs into my player and hitting shuffle just makes it all come flooding back!
But to tell a shameful truth? I really HAD to buy this set because of "Pac-Man Fever" by Buckner and Garcia and "Sweetheart" by Franke & the Knockouts. I've never seen these songs anywhere else!
I'm not sure I even looked at the other songs before my credit card was being swiped by the good folks at Amazon!!
So, yeah, again, I bought on impulse but I damn sure don't regret it!! In fact, I'd suggest we embrace the "ME, ME, ME" decade just once more and "BUY, BUY, BUY" this set.
If you went to high school in the 80's like I did, simply put, this will bring back some great memories.
(Unless, of course, your high school years sucked. To which, I say, "That's too bad. I'm sorry for you.")
Either way, just admit that the 80's were a great time for music and pastel suits and thin leather ties.........(chicks dig the thin tie still, right? Right? Anybody? Can I get a witness?)
Where's Don Johnson when I need him?
Oh, here he is....Disc 6, Song 19!

Time Warp.......2007-05-23

I guess only someone who was a teen or 20something could really appreciate
this set. The 80s were my high school and college years and I was
certainly guilty of listening to the radio .... This set is awesome and
is really made indispensable with the booklet. My only gripe lies with
the artists that were huge in the 80s, but evidently could not be licensed
for this set....Notably U2, REM, Hoodoo Gurus, Wall of Voodoo, etc

Shut up!.......2007-03-04

Like, for sure, half of it is like totally major gross-out, but the other half is like bitchin! Just shut up already and buy it!

missing tracks.......2007-02-26

lots of great 80's music available in these cds, but missing one of the greatest groups of the decade...Wham!

Excellent CD Set!.......2007-01-18

I purchased this set for my 13 year old daughter. It seems the 80's are making a big comeback. She loves it! I love it, too!! It has all the most popular songs from the 80's plus a few you do not hear anywhere now. It's great! It brings back a lot of memories, GOOD TIMES!!

Average customer rating: Ridiculous Good IT STILL MAKES ME CRY The Second Best Album of All Time yes siree... a MASTERPIECE to say the least! Should be a 10 --

Astral Weeks Van Morrison Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Rock | Celtic | International | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Blue-Eyed Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music $8.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Jazz | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $8.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Heroes | Warner Brothers Records | Stores | Music Similar Items: Moondance His Band and the Street Choir Into the Music Tupelo Honey Saint Dominic's Preview ASIN: B000002KAT Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Astral Weeks
2. Beside You
3. Sweet Thing
4. Cyprus Avenue
5. The Way Young Lovers Do
6. Madame George
7. Ballerina
8. Slim Slow Slider

Amazon.com essential recording

Never mind that Van Morrison is one of the most indelible songwriters of the 20th century--take each album on its own terms. On 1968's seminal Astral Weeks, a twentysomething Van Morrison can be found belting his gospelly, bluesy vocals in just as fine a form as he would be 20 years hence. In the sociopolitical context of the times, the album cried out about such ubiquitous '60s themes as cultural oppression and social upheaval. But it is Morrison's vocal dexterity and passion that maintains such timeless appeal. Take tracks like "Madame George" or "Cyprus Avenue" and you'll find such beautiful mourning, it'll be clear why modern songwriter Sinéad O'Connor once publicly exclaimed: "Van Morrison should be friggin' canonized." --Nick Heil

Customer Reviews:

Ridiculous Good.......2007-07-03

Half the songs on here give me goosebumps. Astral Weeks is probably my favorite Van Morrison album, granted Tupelo Honey and Moondance are a lot more fun, Astral weeks is transcendental. In this album Van seems very in love, nostalgic, or sentimental. Key tracks (really all of them) include:
Astral Weeks- Strong and solid,
Sweet Thing- The strings in this are awesome
Cyprus Avenue- More like familiar Van Morrison
Madame George- It's long, and good. Again and as usual, an awesome arrangement. (for David Gray fans, this is where part of "Say Hello, Wave goodbye comes from)

The other tracks on here are all good, no real dancing numbers, but all the songs are beautiful, the kind you put on a mix CD for a new (or not so new) love. Anyone who considers themselves a Van fan had better own this.

IT STILL MAKES ME CRY.......2007-06-21

I think it came out in '68 when I was a sophomore in high school...shy, insecure, just moved to a new school. These songs became part of my very being, and they will always be a part of who I am. There was just something about Van: the words, the stylings, the chord progressions. His music made my soul scream, and it felt so good.

The Second Best Album of All Time.......2007-06-13

FREE FORM VOCAL STYLINGS

This album rates very highly on many critics list of the all time best. It routinely comes up in the top ten. About 10 years ago, Rolling Stone magazine voted it the second best album of all time, behind the Beatle's Sargeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Released in 1968, this is Van Morrison's second solo album. It is 46 minutes long and the sound quality is good, although the music is mixed a little thin.

The Way The Young Lovers Do is the only thing on this album that is anything close to pop song along the lines of Brown Eyed Girl. I am not a big pop music fan, but I like this song. The rest of the album is something completely different.

The rest of the album is some nice music with some interesting playing, mixed really low. It is a mixture of jazz and folk with a little blues thrwon in. There are some interesting bits on flute, vibes and keyboards. But, the music remains just a back drop and is mixed in at a very low volume. The CD comes with a fold out cover that tries to give a historical perspective of the album. Intrestingly, it is pretty subdued and does not rave about the album like the critics do.

Morrison's wild and unstructured vocals are mixed loudly on top of the music. He seems to be always riffing and jamming. He'll be singing along and then he'll jump into a repeated riff, such as "you breath in, you breath out, you breath in, you breath out, you breath in, you breath out, you breath in, you breath out".

I know people are going to get mad at me, insult me and call me names, but I have to admit that I just don't get it. I don't think this is a personal, emotional album, and I don't think it has interesting stories. It comes off to me as an experimental album that didn't quite work.

Music is a very personal thing. People can get really mad when you don't agree with them on music that they really love. They take a low review on thier favorite album as a personal attack. They say nasty things about the reviewer.

To get even, people will mark a review as "hot helpful", like that evens things up. But, a review like this is helpful to buying public that might not know much about this ablum and are thinkging about buying it because of all the rave reviews (that is why I bought it).

Just because certain people love it doesn't mean everyone will. In fact, many people did not like this album. It is the only Van Morrison album not to chart. And you might wonder why Morrison did not do anything like this again. He certainly still had the artistic freedom to do what he wanted, because he had a pretty lose contract from Warner Brothers. What he came up with next, is Moondance, which was completely different. In later albums, Morrison did incorporate some of the Astral Weeks vocal stylings on some songs, but it was much more controlled.

Van Morrison started out in a group called Them. Them had a minor hit with Baby Please Don't Go, and bigger hit with Gloria, written by Morrison. Them was going through changes, so Morrison retired from music for a few years, before coming up with Brown Eyed Girl, and his first ablum, Blowin' Your Mind. He did not approve of the album and withdrew. His manager died, freeing him from his contract, so he was able to sign with Warner Brothers, have much more artistic freedom and came up with this.

yes siree... a MASTERPIECE to say the least!.......2007-05-23

Years and years from now, if the world is still in one piece and the human race hasn't made itself extinct, people and history books will hopefully have long forgotten these vapid, celluloid dolts of today (i.e. see Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton, Justin Timberlake, et al...) and remember and revere such artists as Van Morrison. Well... I guess one can always dream, right? Damn, I am one naive, lost soul! I still believe that it is 1982 and I am asleep, dreaming this all, waiting patiently to wake up. This really has to be some kind of joke right? Anyway, back to the reasons why this CD deserves five stars (actually I would put this one in that rare six-star category if I could).

This saintly, little genius from Belfast has produced some of the most beautiful music ever, in the history of beautiful music. Like Bob Dylan, Van wasn't blessed with a voice a la Sinatra or Tony Bennett. He was a very good guitar player, but he's not even in the same league as say a Jimi Hendrix or a Wes Montgomery or a Al DiMeola, et al... And lastly, his lyrics can't compare with that of Dylan's or even Simon and Garfunkel for that matter. All that being said (and I know that these are some bold words I'm about to pen), I can't think of any one musician that has had as long and as productive of a career as Van Morrison (besides Louis Armstrong of course, but it isn't fair to compare anyone to Pops when it comes to contributions to American music). This cat is something else for sure! I love Miles, and Duke, and Sinatra, and the Glimmer Twins, and I highly respect and enjoy quite a bit of Dylan, Paul Simon, McCartney, et al... But this guy is still doing it and hasn't missed a beat in over forty years now! All I have to say is un-friggin-believable! He hasn't really slowed down since he first started in the early 60's belting out such enjoyable songs as "Baby Please Don't Go", "Gloria", and "Here Comes the Night" to name a few. However, in 1967 after leaving the band "Them" he started getting really serious and his second solo album in 1968 'Astral Weeks' is, to put it mildly, sublime, and magical, and totally unique, unlike anything you have ever heard before or since. A true genius is almost always an artist who is way ahead of their time, and Van was (and still is) a true genius. This album is his crowning achievement, his greatest work which is saying a lot when you consider just how many great albums he has produced for going on five decades now - AMAZING!

I know, I know, this is only one man's opinion, and you may even consider the author of this review a bit... as my Italian relatives would say... PAZZO! However, any lover of good music (no matter what your favorite genre is) should really enjoy this. Van merges jazz, blues, rock, r&b, folk, and a little bit of Celtic music into this one and the results are outstanding. He sings and plays his guitar beautifully. Every song contains placid, poetic lyrics that will melt your heart, especially with the solitary way in which Van belts them out with such ardent fervor and emotion. The other great thing is the band behind the man, the men who helped Van create such magnificent music on this masterpiece are the following jazz greats - Jay Berliner (guitar), Richard Davis (bass), Connie Kay (drums), John Payne (flute, soprano sax), and Warren Smith, Jr. (percussion and vibraphone). They all sound inspired, and it's very difficult to pick out one performance over the others because each one is top-notch. I usually don't like writing no-brainer reviews, but this album has a real special place in my heart. Enjoy!

Should be a 10 --.......2007-05-13

This album doesn't suck.

Buy it. Put it on. Shut up. Listen to it. Don't be afraid to lose yourself (you'll find yourself again).

I'm going to put it on right now.

Average customer rating: Greatest bargain Cruisin' Music Extraordinaire Essential Musical History $15 is about right 60 classic "Spector" produced tunes + His Christmas Album You'll get your "Phil" here with this awesome 4 CD Set!!!

Back to Mono (1958-1969) Phil Spector Manufacturer: Abkco ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Latin Pop | Latin Music | Styles | Music Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music Latin Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Teen Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Girl Groups | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Baroque Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music R&B & Soul | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost and Found And I Feel Fine...: The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector Live at Massey Hall (CD/DVD) ASIN: B000003BDM Release Date: 1991-11-12

Tracks:

1. To Know His Is To Love Him - The Teddy Bears
2. Corrine, Corrina - Ray Peterson
3. Spanish Harlem - Ben E. King
4. Pretty Little Angel Eyes - Curtis Lee
5. Every Breath I Take - Gene Pitney
6. I Love How You Love Me - The Paris Sisters
7. Under The Moon Of Love - Curtis Lee
8. There's No Other Like My Baby - The Crystals
9. Uptown - The Crystals
10. He Hit Me (It Felt Like A Kiss) - The Crystals
11. He's A Rebel - The Crystals
12. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah - Bob B. Soxx And The Blue Jeans
13. Puddin' N' Tain - The Alley Cats
14. He's Sure The Boy I Love - The Crystals
15. Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Hearts - Bob B. Soxx And The Blue Jeans
16. (Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry - Darlene Love
17. Da Doo Ron Ron - The Crystals
18. Heartbreaker - The Crystals
19. Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love - Veronica
20. Chapel Of Love - Darlene Love
21. Not Too Young To Get Married - Bob B. Soxx And The Blue Jeans
22. Wait Til My Bobby Gets Home - Darlene Love
23. All Grown Up - The Crystals

Tracks:

1. Be My Baby - The Ronettes
2. Then He Kissed Me - The Crystals
3. A Fine, Fine Boy - Darlene Love
4. Baby, I Love You - The Ronettes
5. I Wonder - The Ronettes
6. Girls Can Tell - The Crystals
7. Little Boy - The Crystals
8. Hold Me Tight - The Treasures
9. (The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up - The Ronettes
10. Soldier Baby Of Mine - The Ronettes
11. Strange Love - Darlene Love
12. Stumble And Fall - Darlene Love
13. When I Saw You - The Ronettes
14. So Young - Veronica
15. Do I Love You? - The Ronettes
16. Keep On Dancing - The Ronettes
17. You, Baby - The Ronettes
18. Woman In Love (With You) - The Ronettes
19. Walking In The Rain - The Ronettes

Tracks:

1. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - The Righteous Brothers
2. Born To Be Together - The Ronettes
3. Just Once In My Life - The Righteous Brothers
4. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
5. Is This What I Get For Loving You? - The Ronettes
6. Long Way To Be Happy - Darlene Love
7. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons - The Righteous Brothers
8. Ebb Tide - The Righteous Brothers
9. This Could Be The Night - The Modern Folk Quartet
10. Paradise - The Ronettes
11. River Deep-Mountain High - Ike & Tina Turner
12. I'll Never Need More Than This - Ike & Tina Turner
13. A Love Like Yours (Don't Come Knockin' Everyday) - Ike & Tina Turner
14. Save The Last Dance For Me - Ike & Tina Turner
15. I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine - The Ronettes
16. You Came, You Saw, You Conquered - The Ronettes
17. Black Pearl - Sonny Charles And The Checkmates
18. Love Is All I have To Give - The Checkmates

Tracks:

1. White Christmas - Darlene Love
2. Frosty The Snowman - The Ronettes
3. The Bells of St. Mary - Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans
4. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - The Crystals
5. Sleigh Ride - The Ronettes
6. Marshmallow World - Darlene Love
7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - The Ronettes
8. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - The Crystals
9. Winter Wonderland - Darlene Love
10. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
11. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
12. Here Comes Santa Claus - Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans
13. Silent Night - Phil Spector and Artists

Amazon.com

Among producers, his name remains the simile of choice. If some hotshot studio whiz emerges in, say, hip-hop, he's inevitably labeled "the Phil Spector of rap." That's quite a statement given that decades have passed since this boy from the Bronx remodeled rock & roll to suit his own visions of grandeur. The story of the girl-group auteur is a fascinating one. Spector composed a No. 1 hit at 17 (the Teddy Bears' "To Know Him Is to Love Him," its title inspired by the inscription on his father's tombstone). By 19 he was head of A&R for Atlantic Records. By the time he was 22, he'd founded his own label (Philles) and was churning out Wall of Sound hits at an unprecedented clip, beginning with the Crystals' "He's a Rebel." The four-disc Back to Mono befits its singular subject in both presentation (the richly annotated booklet includes a piece by Tom Wolfe) and content (60 songs cut between 1958 and 1969, plus the entire classic Yuletide LP A Christmas Gift for You). --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Greatest bargain.......2007-05-16

A few months ago I ordered this set for only about $20 & it is the best CD bargain I've ever had. This set originally sold for about $75 back in the 90's (glad I waited to buy it!)& I keep wondering why it's so cheap now. (Is Spector not allowed to make money on his music anymore?) It is a BIG set in an LP size box (I store it with my old LPs on my shelf),comes with a great big book printed on high quality paper, comes with the Christmas album & even a button. Only thing not big about this set is the sound quality, it's typical 80s & early 90s thin-sounding CD quality, not exactly what I'd call a wall of sound. Also the book has the lyrics to all the songs except the ones on the Christmas album. So if you can get past the fact that Spector may have killed someone 40 years after these recordings (if he did,how could he? He produced John Lennon's "Imagine" for goodness sake!)this is still some of the 60s greatest music.

Cruisin' Music Extraordinaire.......2007-05-15

When I saw the "Back to Mono" box for 20 bucks, I first thought of the barrage of criticism that greeted this set when first released more than 15 years ago and, in particular, the near universal condemnation of the absolutely horrendous digital remastering that marred what should have been an unbeatable compilation. Then I thought, "So what? I LOVED this music 45 years - AUGH! - ago! This is the background music of my life! And a great collection! And I don't have much of it, vinyl or otherwise." So I bought it.

And yes, the remastering is indeed horrible, particularly when listened to through earphones. But if you can pump this music through a tinny 5-inch speaker, perhaps boosted from a '57 Chevy, it all sounds pretty damn fine. So: don't play it on your audiophile equipment: my vintage boom box does the music all the honor it requires.

And what music. A lot of this stuff didn't chart in the New York metropolitan area, so I'd never heard several tracks, but it's all vintage, no filler, hits and non-hits, lots of Ronnie Spector and the Ronnettes, the Crystals, and fewer, but important, sides from Curtis Lee), Ben E. King, Bob B. Soxx, the Righteous Brothers, the majestic Tina Turner and that sidekick of hers, and, of course, the patented Spector Wall of Sound, complete with timpani, maracas, glockenspiels, strings, horns, full brass section, yackety sax, everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink. On the tree of rock, Phil Spector is a taproot (and Bruce Springsteen the most celebrated emulator/branch).

But let's be serious: these are very basic sentiments, harking back to a very different, much simpler time, before Vietnam, Watergate, and universal irony really invaded our consciousness (the first 29 tracks before the Kennedy assassination). The Spector chronology tracks along through LBJ's "Great Society" and civil rights legislation, Nixon, and the onset of cynicism, skepticism, and the beginning of a much more complicated social and political fabric. Through all this, we underestimate the role this and other top-forty music played in shaping our imaginations: it played, constantly, to GROUPS of people in packed cars, at parties and dances, not to one solitary listener through iPod earphones, shaped romantic vocabularies, taught kids how to say "I love you" and how to rebel against parents who screamed "that guy's no good!" My wife's parents.

In short, this music and its peer recordings helped fill in pieces of our emotional identities. In this set we hear lots of 16 year olds pouring out their hearts into diaries via girl-group doo-wop. From the Righteous Brothers, a more mature, wistful kind of heartbreak with full choirs of strings. And from Ike and Tina, my god - River Deep, Mountain High has enough emotional energy to blow a bank of Marshalls, a clear high-point on a collection of high points.

The 96-page booklet is almost worth the price of the box. I didn't need the lyrics - many of them, goofy, saccharine, maudlin, trite as can be, are grafted into my brain, courtesy of that Chevy speaker - but the photos of those wonderful, innocent, vibrant faces, the essays (one by Tom Wolfe), and the discography are all splendid.

So: if you've ever loved this music - that's a significant qualifier: my kids (all in 20s and 30s) think it's virtually unadulterated corn (with the exception of River Deep, Loving Feeling, and a few other tracks) - forget about the atrocious remastering. (I'll bet Rhino will take care of that, sooner or later, and we'll hear these in gorgeous, layered monaural.) Just buy this now while you can get all four discs, the big booklet, and the huge box for 20 dollars or less. Then boogaloo or slow-dance your baby to these legendary tunes.

Essential Musical History<