Blue Bird

1. Klact-Oveeseds-Tene (The Chase)

2. Don't Blame Me

3. Quasimodo (Embraceable You)

4. Crazeology

5. Bluebird

6. Parker's Mood

7. Constellation [I Got Rhythm/Honeysuckle Rose' Bridge]

8. Marmaduke

9. Slow Boat to China

10. Scrapple from the Apple

11. Move

12. 52nd Street Theme, No. 1

13. 52nd Street Theme, No. 2

14. Cool Blues

15. Ornithology (How High the Moon)

16. Rocker

17. Sly Mongoose

18. Star Eyes

19. Lester Leaps In

20. How High the Moon

Blue Bird,Charlie Parker,Eclipse Music Group,Big Band,Bop,Jazz,Leader,Pop,Sax (Alto)

Jazz

Music

jazz

music

Average customer rating: Light without being too sappy...love it! this is great music The Bird and the Bee is Buzzing with Tropical Excitement Haven't taken it out of my CD Player!!!! Mismatched songs and lyrics/vocal range

The Bird & The Bee The Bird & The Bee Manufacturer: Blue Note Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Retro Space Age | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Electronic Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Blue Note Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: All Rise The Reminder Back to Black The Good, the Bad & the Queen Alright, Still ASIN: B000LV63SG Release Date: 2007-01-23

Tracks:

1. Again & Again
2. Birds and the Bees
3. F*cking Boyfriend
4. I'm a Broken Heart
5. La La La
6. My Fair Lady
7. I Hate Camera
8. Because
9. Preparedness
10. Spark

Amazon.com

As intoxicating as a Brazilian breeze and ironic as a David Lynch night in L.A., the Los Angeles duo the Bird and the Bee make a soothingly hip, deliriously cool blend of pop. Inara George is a breathy singer who channels Astrud Gilberto via Julee Cruise. Although still little known, she's the daughter of the late Lowell George of Little Feat, and she already has recordings out with a couple of other bands. Keyboardist and producer Greg Kurstin has worked with Beck and the Flaming Lips, among many others, and the duo share a passion for that brand of art pop along with the more whimsical indie strains of Le Tigre. The album is overflowing with references from '60s pop harpsichords to girl-group choruses. You half expect Lesley Gore to come out singing harmony on "I'm a Broken Heart," an homage to "It's My Party." A jazz aficionado, Kurstin has put all kinds of jazzbo touches in here, including some unlikely chord changes and tropicalia moods. Only "F*cking Boyfriend," with that phrase chanted in the chorus, seems artlessly out of place on an album that revels in sly innuendo and emotional ambiguity. --John Diliberto

Album Description

Made up of vocalist Inara George, who has been aptly referred to as "a modern day Audrey Hepburn with the voice of an angel," and keyboardist/producer Greg Kurstin, who has lent his talents to records by Beck, The Flaming Lips, Lily Allen, Peaches, and many more. The Bird and the Bee take elements of everything from the Beach Boys to 60's Brazil electronica, spinning them into this irrepressible collection of ten sunshine-drenched, semi-psychedelic ditties.

Customer Reviews:

Light without being too sappy...love it! .......2007-06-16

I love The Bird and The Bee. Inara's voice is enchanting and the songs are unlike anything else you'll hear around. I'm no music guru, but I do love their sound. F*ing Boyfriend is probably my fave song. You wouldn't expect the lyrics with the mood of the song, but that's what I love about it.

this is great music.......2007-06-14

so wonderful for so many reasons. atypical arrangements and melodies, clever lyrical turns, beautiful stacked vocal harmonies, fun modern/synth-based sounds, an obvious and healthy love of THE HOOK and jazz standards, sweet, optimistically pessimistic, emotive, straightforward (as opposed to slackerly ironic). really one of the best records i have heard.

The Bird and the Bee is Buzzing with Tropical Excitement.......2007-06-02

Basia meets Sergio Mendes. That's how this cd sounds to me. It is brimming with tropical flavor. It's the kind of music you would expect to hear on the streets in Rio. Great songs and interesting chord changes. The only downside to the cd is one smutty song ("My F*en Boyfriend".)Other than that,I recommend this cd to anyone who likes Sergio,Basia,Shakatak, The Carnival, Sandy Valentino,etc.

Haven't taken it out of my CD Player!!!!.......2007-06-01

I was able to catch The Bird and the Bee at a Lily Allen show a few months back. Unfortunately I got into the show a little late and only heard about 15 minutes of their set, but what I did hear was unbelievable. I knew I had to have this CD!

Mismatched songs and lyrics/vocal range.......2007-05-23

The music itself is fairly well-arranged overall. However, the lyrical aspect leaves much to be desired. The one song in particular is f*cking boyfriend - while the music behind it is of good quality, the lyrics are not. In short, they don't match the song or the people producing it. The often repetitive phrases seem to be more "filler" than not (and in an apparent way); taking some of them out or improving the word choices would improve the overall feel and impact of the song(s). Their style is quite interesting when one considers the style of chords and "flavor" of both instruments and vocals and was the initial attractant which prompted a purchase, but again - high quality music should also incorporate high quality lyrics. In some instances the liberal use of vocal autotune is also quite apparent - indicating that the main singer is not as talented as necessary. In conclusion, The Bird & The Bee has a good musical foundation and could go much further with complementary lyrics. Three Stars.

Average customer rating: Successful crossing over from East to West One of the best solo guitar albums I have ever heard Virtuoso playing and an unusual repetoire

Si ji (Four Seasons) Manufacturer: Gsp Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Romance de Amor Paul Galbraith: French Impressions Mel Bay presents Ana Vidovic: Guitar Virtuoso A Jug of Wine and Thou David Russell: Art of the Guitar ASIN: B000AXWHEY Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

1. Wang Huiran: Yi Dance
2. He Luting: Shepherd Boy with Flute
3. Dietmar Ungerrank: Intonation & 4 Sound-and-Image Compositions - Intonation
4. Dietmar Ungerrank: Intonation & 4 Sound-and-Image Compositions - Long Out-stretched Pier with its Shadows
5. Dietmar Ungerrank: Intonation & 4 Sound-and-Image Compositions - Wind on The Hill
6. Dietmar Ungerrank: Intonation & 4 Sound-and-Image Compositions - Waiting for Guests
7. Dietmar Ungerrank: Intonation & 4 Sound-and-Image Compositions - Land Circus
8. Traditional - Heavenly Bird
9. Tradional - Lantern Song
10. Traditional - Mayila
11. Evan Hirschelman: Meditation No.2
12. Evan Hirshelman: Meditation No.1
13. Stephen Goss: The Blue Kite
14. Stephen Goss: Yellow Earth
15. Stephen Goss: Farewell My Concubine
16. Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 1 T'ai
17. Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 3 Lin
18. Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 4 T'ung len
19. Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 5 Huan
20. Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 6 K'uei
21. Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 7 Chieh
22. Stephen Funk Pearson: South China Sea Peace
23. Thierry Rougier: Four Seasons - Spring
24. Thierry Rougier: Four Seasons - Summer
25. Thierry Rougier: Four Seasons - Autumn
26. Thierry Rougier: Four Seasons - Winter

Customer Reviews:

Successful crossing over from East to West.......2007-07-06

Nowadays many classical musicians move to 'cross-overs' between Western classics to exotic works, and Chinese musicians and composers pioneer in cross-overs from Chinese music to Western.
Alas, not all attempts are successful. Either there has not been enough nurturing in the Chinese repertoire, or the western playing style has not yet been fully developed.
Ms. Yang is a young classical guitarist. Gathering from what she said in her own introduction to this disc, she is a musician with a great ambition. It is true that the classical guitar may not have a substantial repertoire as other western instruments like the violin and piano. Hence drawing materials from other culture in a guitarist's repertoire is both a necessity and an endeavour.
A guitarist from Beijing, Ms. Yang is familiar with classical Chinese instruments like the gu qin, the zheng and the pipa. These ancient Chinese instruments are like the guitar- all are played by plucking strings set on wooden surfaces. So as Ms Yang herself noted - the guitar originated from the Middle East, a 'cross-over' area of Eastern and Western culture.
In many of the modern works recorded in this disc, Ms Yang played the guitar to the effect of those ancient Chinese instruments, and this is quite stunning. Her familiarity with the Eastern musical style is fully demonstrated, adding the requisite flavour of authenticity to her interpretation. There are a number of great compositions of the gu qing, the zheng as well as the pipa, and I truly look forward to Ms Yang's transcriptions of those to the guitar in due course.
A highly recommended recording for guitar players, guitar lovers and Chinese music fans alike.

One of the best solo guitar albums I have ever heard.......2006-10-06

One of the most original CDs I've ever heard. This CD is full of incredible music. Yang XueFei plays with sensitivity, creativity and passion.
When I played this CD for my guitar teacher, he commented that it was rare for him not to have heard at least one piece on any particular classical guitar CD, yet all these pieces were new to him. Carlo Domeniconi (who wrote the masterpiece "Koyunbaba") has composed an outstanding suite based on the I Ching. The 3 pieces by Stephen Goss, which are based on Asian films, are themselves cinematic: "The Blue Kite" is a work of minimalist beauty. There are many other talented composers lending their gifts to this CD. Most of the selections are either composed for Yang Xuefei or are arrangements by her. All are inspired by Chinese culture and music. My favorite piece is "Long Outstretched Pier with its Shadow" (by Dietmar Ungerrank); it is elegantly written and the execution is sensual and rich.
Yang XueFei's technical agility, especially the right hand, (as in "Yi Dance") goes beyond that of her contemporaries. As impressive as this is, the passion she imbues into each work is what connects her to the songs and ultimately to the audience. Technique is there to help her express what is inside of her. It is as if the guitar is her lover. This just isn't a great guitar album; it is a great album period. Its emotional complexity deepens with each listening. Buy it!
I've also purchased "Romance de Amor" which is extremely good as well (listen to her version of "Requerdos de la Alhambra" as compared to one of her heroes, John Williams on "The Guitarist"), but "Si Ji" is totally unique. Don't miss it.
As an aside, If you do end up buying and enjoying this CD, you might listen to Lily Afshar. The influence of her Persian heritage is similar in effect to "Si Ji" by Yang XueFei. Both artists have breathed life into the modern repertoire of guitar music.

Virtuoso playing and an unusual repetoire.......2005-10-26

I am a classical guitar student, and an over-the-top consumer. So I have a lot (many dozens) of classical guitar CDs. They are for the most part quite good, but they tend to blend. I might be able to distinguish Tennant's Rodrigo or Barrueco's Scarlatti, but too many guitarists play an awful lot of the same repetoire, and they play it quite similarly.

This CD is quite different. The pieces are all Asian in flavor and by composers I had never heard of. And they are quite beautiful. Ms. Yang appears to be quite young, so this could be the start of a long and interesting career. But at least one of the pieces was written for her, so she has already apparently developed a solid reputation.

Average customer rating: Diz 'n Bird dazzle One of The Best Live Jazz Albums 2 Concerts For The Price Of One...But Not Complete Blistering, Inspiring, Untouchable: Best Bird/Diz Concert This is it!

Diz 'N Bird at Carnegie Hall Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie Manufacturer: Blue Note Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Bebop | Live Albums | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Jazz | Styles | Music Blue Note Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Bebop | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Town Hall, New York City, June 22, 1945 Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall Complete Jazz at Massey Hall Jazz at Massey Hall Charlie Parker: A Studio Chronicle 1940-1948 ASIN: B000005H9I Release Date: 1997-06-17

Tracks:

1. A Night In Tunisia
2. Dizzy Atmosphere
3. Groovin' High
4. Confirmation
5. Koko
6. Cool Breeze
7. Relaxin' At Camarillo
8. One Bass Hit
9. Nearness
10. Salt Peanuts
11. Cubano-Be Cubano-Bop
12. Hot House
13. Toccata For Trumpet
14. Opp-Pop-A-Da
15. Things To Come

Album Description

This historic September 29, 1947, concert reunited Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker for five stunning performances and captures 11 selections by Dizzy's big band at the peak of its powers. Released in scattered form over the years, the complete releasable material from this important concert is brought together on CD for the first time with the best possible sound.

Customer Reviews:

Diz 'n Bird dazzle.......2007-03-25

I purchased this CD to play as part of a Black History unit on musical styles through the ages. This CD fit in perfectly and was enjoyed by my students. Any time I can introduce something from the past into a lesson so the students can see how it links to the present I am happy. This definitely happened here.

One of The Best Live Jazz Albums.......2006-07-24

I would rate this as one of the top 5 live jazz albums of all time. Bird and Diz are only together for the first five tunes, but don't let that deter you. They really tear it up on every song and Bird's amazing solo on "Confirmation" is probably the highlight. The remainder of the tracks is Dizzy Gillespie with his big band and while those songs aren't as exciting as the ones he does with Charlie Parker, they are still excellent. So if you're a jazz fan and you don't own this, get it. It belongs in every jazz fan's collection.

2 Concerts For The Price Of One...But Not Complete .......2005-12-23

The CD is somewhat misstated to gain notoriety but who cares with great music..The 1st 5 tracks are the reunion of Diz n Bird at Carnegie Hall (1947)and the remainder the big band set..The liner notes clearly mentions that Ella Fitzgerald was singing on 6 selections omitted here as well as other selections either unrecorded properly or intentionally omitted.

Blistering, Inspiring, Untouchable: Best Bird/Diz Concert.......2005-11-02

Don't let the recent discovery and hype surrounding the 1945 Gillespie-Parker Town Hall concert discourage you from picking up the 1947 Carnegie Hall concert. The audio quality isn't markedly inferior to either the Town Hall or Massey Hall dates, and the playing by Bird and Diz is not only worlds apart from the 1945 encounter but in some instances is superior to the later, Massey Hall performance.

Listen carefully to Bird's four-bar break on "Night in Tunisia," which Martin Williams analyzed in "The Jazz Tradition." Bird alters the meter and tempo ever so slightly, an aerialist who communicates the sense of being suspended in time and space, yet suddenly becoming reanimated just in time for the first beat of the chorus. It's very likely the most melodically-rhythmically complex four bars of improvised music every recorded, deserving a place right alongside Louis Armstrong's famous cadenza at the start of "West End Blues." You won't hear anything near this level of complexity on the Town Hall session, recorded two years earlier, let alone on any non-Parker performance. (Side-by-side comparisons of Bird's break with that of numerous other "name" saxophone players at the same juncture on the same tune inevitably is a disservice to the "pretenders." Listen, for example, to Lou Donaldson with Clifford Brown on "Art Blakey at Birdland, Vol. 1." Embarrassingly awful jive--merely meaningless motion.)

The remainder of the recording gives ample evidence of the heat and mastery of Bird as well as Diz (their unison ensembles defy credibility even today). And even though Bird gets more playing time in the small-group setting, there's enough heard from Diz to bolster the case of any listener who wishes to maintain that he was superior to Parker as an improviser (an argument I still have with some musicians).

Ignore the reviews that complain about the sound quality or the limited number of tunes featuring Bird. This contains some of the most exciting and significant Bird and Diz on record--if your ears are up to the challenge.

This is it!.......2005-08-21

I think that the quintet tracks on this album, which over the years have been released in a variety of forms and coupled with a variety of other material, are among the greatest jazz performances of all time. In particular, the playing and improvising in Night in Tunisia is at the highest level and, I would argue, Parker's entrance in Groovin' High is the greatest two bars of jazz in existence. I don't think it much matters what else is on the CD.

Average customer rating: Gone but not forgotten. One of real gems from the 70's.

Nice Baby and the Angel David Blue Manufacturer: Wounded Bird Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Stories Cupid's Arrow Com'n Back for More David Blue Me, S. David Cohen ASIN: B000JVSWF0 Release Date: 2006-12-05

Tracks:

1. Outlaw Man
2. Lady O' Lady
3. True to You
4. On Sunday, Any Sunday
5. Darlin' Jenny
6. Dancing Girl
7. Yesterdays Lady
8. Nice Baby and the Angel
9. Troubadour Song
10. Train to Anaheim

Customer Reviews:

Gone but not forgotten. One of real gems from the 70's........2007-02-19

David Blue recorded seven solo albums in his short career as a songwriter which spanned from 1965 to his death in 1982. It is regrettable that so few people have heard and appreciated his music. This album, "Nice Baby and the Angel" was his finest recording.

After several excellent Dylanesque recordings which include the self- titled "David Blue" and "These 23 Days in September",the country-oriented "Me"(recorded under his real name S. David Cohen), and "Stories", David Blue found his voice and reached his zenith as a songwriter and recording artist.

This fantastic recording features 10 almost perfect folk/country rock tunes which stand out amidst the pack of country rock artists who dominated the scene in 1973 when this record was released.

Most listener's will immediately recognize the opening tune, 'Outlaw Man'
which Blue wrote for the Eagles' Desperado album. But, the essence of this recording is best realized on the ballads 'Lady O'Lady', 'On Sunday,
Any Sunday', 'Yesterday's Lady', 'Nice Baby'... and the terrific country rock tunes, 'True to You', 'Darlin' Jenny', 'Dancing Girl' and 'Train to Anaheim'.

Blue's poetic lyrics are wonderfully complimented by his tasteful musical arrangements that are propelled by his top notch studio band.

Blue is joined in the proceedings by the outstanding musicianship of
Dave Mason on guitar, Graham Nash on guitar and piano, John Barbata on drums, and the amazing David Lindley on slide guitar, viola, violin, and mandolin. The perfectly blended background vocals supplied by Jennifer Warren, Graham Nash, Dave Mason and Glen Frey are amazing

This is, by far, one of the best country rock records ever recorded and should be rated alongside records like Neil Young's 'After the Goldrush',
Poco's 'From the Inside', CSN's 'Deja Vu' and The Flying Burrito Brother's
'The Gilded Palace of Sin'.

If you enjoy "Nice Baby....", you'll want to buy David Blue's "These 23 Days in September" and Cupid's Arrow". Both are outstanding.

My thanks to Wounded Bird Records for realizing the importance of David Blues music and releasing his albums.

Average customer rating: Must be heard to be believed This is the definitive FFJ! Sounds Like A Vacuum Cleaner Ingesting An Owl comedy classic The "joke", never funny, is now painfully shabby

Florence Foster Jenkins & Friends: Murder on the High Cs John Charles Thomas , John Charles Thomes , Robert Merrill , Alexander Kipnis , Ezio Pinza , Florence Foster Jenkins , Jack Barnett , Earl Cahn Sammy / Brent , Felicien David , and Leo Delibes Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music General | Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romberg, Sigmund | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Nostalgia | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Glory (????) of the Human Voice The Muse Surmounted: Florence Foster Jenkins and Eleven of Her Rivals Nightingale - Der Holle Rache [Germany] "Jonathan & Darlene Edwards - Greatest Hits, Vol. 2" Jonathan and Darlene's Greatest Hits ASIN: B0000AE7AO Release Date: 2003-09-23

Tracks:

1. Queen of the Night Aria [From The Magic Flute]
2. Serenata Mexicana
3. Musical Snuff Box
4. Like a Bird
5. Bell Song [Lakme Dub]
6. Charmant Oiseau [Perle du Brl]
7. Adele's Laughing Song [Die Fledermaus]
8. Biassy [Prelude XVI]
9. Valse Caressante
10. Little Jack Horner - Alexander Kipnis
11. Sing a Song of Sixpence - John Charles Thomas
12. Blue Danube - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra, Josephine Tumminia
13. Little Old State of Texas - Ezio Pinza, The Sons of the Pioneers
14. Fireman's Bride [Up in Central Park] - Jeanette MacDonald, Robert Merrill
15. Song's Gotta Come from the Heart - Jimmy Durante, Helen Traubel
16. Real Piano Player - Jimmy Durante, Helen Traubel
17. Please Don't Say No [Thrill of a Romance] - Lauritz Melchior

Customer Reviews:

Must be heard to be believed.......2006-04-09

Even the brilliant Judy Kaye in the recent play "Souvenir" about Ms. Jenkins couldn't quite match the unique sound of this singer, although she came close. For those who like this sort of thing, this is the real thing. The sound on this Naxos CD is superior to RCA's "Glory of the Human Voice??" which covers most of the same territory. The Naxos CD also restores the piano intro to the Bell Song and the heretofore rare Valse Caressante of which only a few pressings are known to exist.

That said, the rest of the (non-Florence) cuts are mostly forgettable. More kitch than camp. Annoying music abounds but the in the realm of the truly, stupendously awful Florence Foster Jenkins remains in a class by herself. No one can really compete with Ms. Jenkins on her own camp grounds and there is no sense in trying. The one exception being the sung "Blue Danube" with Josephine Tumminia and the Jimmy Dorsey orchestra which falls in the "what could they have been thinking?" department.

Personally a little of this sort of thing goes a long way. The Faust Travesty on the RCA set holds a bit more interest (but not all that much). I think a more interesting compliation would consist of "straight" renderings of the various arias and pieces contrasted with Madame Florence's so the listener may fully savor what she achieves in these performances.

Florence gets five stars but the rest of it gets a minus one, so it ends up with four.

This is the definitive FFJ!.......2005-01-09

A fellow reviewer has not paid close attention to the contents of "Murder On The High C's": this release actually contains every recording that FFJ made. She recorded 9 arias and released them on 5 78's (the fifth, "Valse Caressante", was split), all of them gathered here for the first time. What this album omits from the previous cd release ("The Glory??? of the Human Voice") is the arias by an almost equally incompetent baritone. "Murder..." more than compensates for this with the inclusion of some unbelievably tragic recordings by artists who could actually sing but found themselves saddled with shockingly bad material; it's an absolute feast for those who love outsider music. The 'nursery rhyme' songs provoke bewilderment, the swing version of "Blue Danube" must be heard to be believed, and the excellent liner notes accurately describe Lauritz Melchior's valiant performance of "Please Don't Say No" as "the single worst recording of anything ever made by an opera star who should have known better". "Murder On The High C's" is an insanely delirious treasure.

Sounds Like A Vacuum Cleaner Ingesting An Owl.......2004-10-15

Florence Foster Jenkins was a socialite who enjoyed singing in vast disproportion to her musical talent. This CD has some of her greatest works (so to speak) although the disc pales in comparison to her masterwork "The Glory (????) of Human Voice." (In fact several of the songs on this CD are available on that recording.) Particularly ear-shattering are "Musical Snuff Box" (watch out for that last note if you have pets, they will seriously dislike it), "Bell Song" which is essentially a series of a cappella pentatonic scales by and large, and finally the unique rendition of "Valse Caressante" (which was actually released as a single!) which will leave any listener in a near delirium.

In short, these rare Jenkins masterworks are amazing and hilarious. I can't recommend them highly enough to anyone even mildly curious about outsider music. Why the three star rating? It is certainly not due to Florence's participation, rather due to the packaging. The cover boasts "Florence Foster Jenkins and Friends." Little will most people suspect that the "friends" make up about half of the CD, and are totally unrelated to Jenkins except for possessing no musical talent. Some of the songs are merely boring (like the Jimmy Durante selections), and some are quite laughably funny like the dreadful "The Fireman's Bride," and "Please Don't Say No." Finally there is the real puzzler from the "what were they thinking?" file, "Little Jack Horner," an operatic retelling of the classic children's tale. The other reason I only give this disc three stars is because four of the nine Jenkins' songs are available on "The Glory (????) of Human Voice." I had expected different material on this CD.

The bottom line is that this CD is for Florence Foster Jenkins completists. (Ponder that.) People who want more exposure to Florence should buy her delightful "The Glory (????) of Human Voice," which I can't recommend highly enough.

comedy classic.......2004-05-27

In the summer of 2003, I had the luck of hearing Florence's recordings. Even though no one is quite sure whether she meant to be funny or not, listening to her cds always puts me in the best mood. Hearing her try to reach those high notes and missing terribly is the funniest thing in the world!! My family and I love Florence!!!

The "joke", never funny, is now painfully shabby.......2004-03-07

It is sad that a person who apparently had too much money and time to waste could have done so in preserving for an unsuspecting posterity such awful sounds. The so-called friends who flocked by invitation to her concert to relish an event of mockery were at least as much to blame as the poor woman herself for having encouraged such eccentric egocentricity.

The whole matter stinks of making fun of a person afflicted by illness. What a cruel species we were - and still are.

Average customer rating: Great compilation A disappointment

DRG 25th Anniversary Show Stopping Performances Manufacturer: Drg ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Porter | Porter, Cole | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Previn, André | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Barbara Cook at the Met with Special Guests Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast) 110 in the Shade (2007 Broadway Revival Cast) ABC (Adler, Bock, Coleman) Company (2006 Broadway Revival Cast) ASIN: B00005Q6IN Release Date: 2001-10-23

Tracks:

1. A Day In Hollywood A Night In Ukraine: Just Go To The Movies - Priscilla Lopez/David Garrison/Frank Lazarus/Stephen James/Peggy Hewett/Kate Draper
2. Babes In Arms: I Wish I Were In Love Again - Christopher Fitzgerald Jessica Stone
3. Pal Joey: Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered - Patti LuPone
4. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend - KT Sullivan
5. Nunsense: I Just Want To Be A Star - Christine Anderson
6. Louisiana Purchase: Wild About You - Debbie Gravitte & New York Voices
7. Oil City Symphony: Beaver Ball At The Bug Club - Mike Craver/Mark Hardwick/Debra Monk/Mary Murfitt
8. Falsettoland: The Baseball Game - Michael Rupert/Chip Zien/Faith Prince/Janet Metz/Heather MacRae/Stephen Bogardus
9. Very Good Eddie: Isn't It Great To Be Married? - Virginia Seidel/Spring Fairbank/Charles Repole/Nicholas Wyman
10. The Fantasticks: A Perfect Time To Be In Love - Harvey Schmidt
11. Call Me Madam: You're Just In Love - Tyne Daly/Lewis Cleale
12. Taking My Turn: Fine For The Shape I'm In - Margaret Whiting/Marnie Nixon/Cissy Houston
13. A Party With Betty Comden & Adolph Green: The French Lesson - Betty Comdon/Adolph Green
14. The Madwoman Of Central Park: Better - Phyllis Newman
15. Greenwillow: Never Will I Marry - Anthony Perkins
16. Song Of Singapore: I Can't Remember - Loretta Swit & Company
17. Tintypes: Elite Syncopation/I'm Goin' To Live Anyhow, 'Til I Die - Lynne Thigpen
18. I Love My Wife: Someone Wonderful I Missed - Joanna Gleason/Ilene Graff
19. The Good Companions: The Pleasure Of Your Company - Malcolm Rennie/Christopher Gable
20. Forbidden Broadway 20th Anniversary: Liza One-Note - Christine Pedi
21. Meet Me In St. Louis: The Trolley Song - Donna Kane & Ensemble

Tracks:

1. 4 Guys Named Jose...And Una Mujer Named Maria!: Feel It - Philip Anthony/Henry Gainza/Allen Hidalgo/Ricardo Puente
2. Fame - The Musical: There She Goes!/Fame - Natasha Rennalls & Ensemble
3. Do Re Mi: What's New At The Zoo? - Heather Headley/The Animal Girls
4. High Society: Once Upon A Time/True Love - Melissa Errico/Daniel McDonald
5. Tenderloin: Artificial Flowers - Patrick Wilson
6. State Fair: Driving At Night/Our State Fair - Company
7. Kiss Me, Kate: Were Thine That Special Face - Brian Stokes Mitchell
8. Black And Blue: Black And Blue - Linda Hopkins/Ruth Brown/Carrie Smith
9. The Green Bird: O Foolish Heart - Company
10. Out Of This World: From This Moment On - Marin Mazzie/Gregg Edelman
11. The Boys From Syracuse: This Can't Be Love - Davis Gaines/Sarah Berry
12. Snoopy!!!: Poor Sweet Baby - Pamela Myers
13. SeesawNobody Does It Like Me - Michele Lee
14. March Of The Falsettos: I Never Wanted To Love You - Michael Rupert/Stephen Bogardus/Alison Fraser/Chip Zien/James Kushner
15. Lunch: Perfectly Alone - Carol Burnett
16. 3hree: Foolish Dreamin'/Something Beautiful/Real Enough To Change My Mind - Jessica Molaskey/Will Gartshore/Rachel Ulanet
17. Lucky In The Rain: Love Me As If There Were No Tomorrow - Barbara Cook
18. Godspell: All Good Gifts - Sal Sabella & Company
19. The Act: Walking Papers - Liza Minnelli & Company

Customer Reviews:

Great compilation.......2002-05-10

I don't actually own this particular compilation, however, since I own nearly every recording represented on these discs...I think I'm qualified to comment. This is a wonderful representation of the high quality of work that DRG Records does.
The previous review is way off the mark. This is definitely not a waste of time or money. This is 25 years of preserving Broadway shows, Off-Broadway shows, studio recordings (mostly from the city center concerts), etc. So what if they "aren't as good as the original", DRG is preserving many recordings and artists that other mainstream labels don't or won't. You have wonderful recordings from Brian Stokes Mitchell, Nathan Lane, Debbie Gravitte, Tyne Daly, Anthony Perkins, Joanna Gleason, Marin Mazzie, Carol Burnett, Heather Headley, Patti LuPone, Barbara Cook, etc., and many of these are from Original Cast Recordings just as they appeared on Broadway. This is an excellent sampler of the work going on at DRG. No...I'm not an employee...just an avid listener and collector of theatre recordings.

A disappointment.......2001-12-15

There's a reason you've probably never heard of most of the songs and shows on this album, not to mention most of the artists. This is a second-rate collection of second-rate numbers performed by mostly second-rate artists. In the case of the shows that were revivals, the performances on the original cast recordings were better. Don't waste your money.

Average customer rating: A Cambridge Singers high point How sweet it is Something about British Choral Music... Unbelievably gorgeous

There Is Sweet Music: English Choral Songs, 1890 - 1950 Cambridge Singers , and Rutter Manufacturer: Collegium ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Cambridge Singers a Capella Flora Gave Me Fairest Flowers Sing Ye Heavens - Hymns for All Time Cambridge Singers Christmas Album John Rutter Collection ASIN: B00006O0OB Release Date: 2003-02-25

Tracks:

1. Stanford: Partsongs Op. 119 No 3, Bluebird
2. Delius: To be sung of a summer night on the water, 2 songs for chorus
3. Elgar: Partsongs for chorus, Op.53 No 1, There Is Sweet Music
4. Elgar: My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land for Chorus, Op.18, No. 3
5. Vaughan-Williams: Shakespeare Songs for chorus
6. Moeran: The Sailor and Young Nancy, for chorus
7. Traditional: Brigg Fair
8. Irish Traditional: Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)
9. Anon.: The Three Ravens
10. Anon.: My Sweetheart's Like Venus
11. Anon.: The Oak and the Ash
12. Stanford: Quick! We Have But A Second for chorus
13. Britten: Flower Songs for SATB chorus, Op. 47

Album Description

`I have rarely been so stunned by the opening track of a disc before. The performance of Stanford's The Blue Bird here attains the sublime.' Hi-Fi News & Record Review

Customer Reviews:

A Cambridge Singers high point.......2005-10-17

One of the very best recordings this choir has produced, and a definitely top choice for anyone who loves this choir or English choral music in general. Absolutely first-rate singing...and the literature is just too gorgeous to be on a one disc and pass up. The Delius pieces will make you melt, and the Vaughan Williams 3 Shakespeare Songs are nothing short of phenomenal.

How sweet it is.......2005-09-26

This disc is a bit different from many of the Cambridge Singers' discs in that it is exclusively secular songs. This was recorded at the Great Hall of University College School, London, in 1986, and originally released on vinyl. I cannot find an analog/digital code (many vinyl originals were first recorded in analog and then transferred to digital, sometimes clumsily) - despite this, the recording quality is crisp, clear, and vibrant.

--Music--
The music here is simply gorgeous. English musical tradition is long in the area of folk songs, but there was a waning of folk songs during Georgian and Victorian times. Also, despite the tradition of choral music which has been strong in England continuously, there was a definite resurgence of interest with the advent of the Oxford Movement in the nineteenth century.

The music here represents the work of many prominent English composers - Vaughan Williams, Holst, Britten, Delius, Stanford, and Elgar; others whose names are less well known generally are also represented, such as Moeran, Grainger, Chapman, and Bairstow. Vaughan Williams is represented in his setting of three Shakespeare texts to music ('Full Fathom Five', 'The cloud-capp'd towers', and 'Over Hill, Over Dale'). Britten is represented with Five Flower Songs. The title piece comes from a text chosen by Elgar - 'There is sweet music', according to Rutter, demonstrates a wonderful ability to match words to music in a way he describes as uncanny.

There is poetry in the texts and in the music here.

--Liner Notes--
The notes for this recording include the titles and words of each song together with source citations. There is also a brief essay on this musical period in English history. One thing conspicuously missing is much biographical information about John Rutter, or any descriptive information about the Cambridge Singers. This disc does not even have a list of the singers.

--John Rutter--
Rutter was born in London and educated at Clare College, Cambridge. This was where his career as a composer, arranger and conductor began. His early work was with groups at King's College Chapel at Cambridge as well as the Bath Choir and Philharmonic Orchestra. He has worked for the BBC providing music for educational series such as 'The Archaeology of the Bible Lands', until in 1979 he began forming the Cambridge Singers, and has continued a remarkable career of performance and recording as their director ever since.

--The Cambridge Singers--
The Cambridge Singers are a mixed choir of voices, many of whom were members of choir of Rutter's college, Clare College, Cambridge. While they specialise in English and Latin liturgical pieces, they have a wide range of recordings that span from modern compositions (including a remarkable requiem by Rutter) to English folk songs of the Middle Ages. Many are former members of the choir of Clare College and other Cambridge collegiate choirs (hence the name, Cambridge Singers). In the quarter-century since the founding, the Cambridge Singers have produced an impressive body of recordings.

This is a gorgeous recording.

Something about British Choral Music..........2005-07-19

It is such pleasure to see this re-release of 1986 recording by John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers from the Great Hall of University College School, London. The original recording has long been a favorite of legions of devotees of the British Choral tradition and this collection remains one of the finest samplings of significant a capella songs available.

Opening with the hauntingly simple and beautiful 'The blue bird' by CV Stanford (to whom this album was dedicated), the tone of the CD is set as a stroll through the mists and bogs of the English countryside. Songs by Frederick Delius (one featuring the then unappreciated tenor soloist Mark Padmore!), Edward Elgar, various folk songs beautifully arranged for four-part chorus, the 'Five Flower Songs' by Benjamin Britten, and finally the extraordinary 'Three Shakespeare Songs' set to music by Ralph Vaughan Williams are all included in this generous recital.

Vaughan Williams songs are brief but immaculately written choral works. 'Full fathom five' and 'The cloud-capped towers' find all the mystery in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' while 'Over hill, over dale' is the quintessential musical rendering of the fairies frolics from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Rutter and the Cambridge Singers are splendid and the acoustic of the recording hall adds just the right amount of resonance to complete the magic of these songs. Highly recommended! Grady Harp, July 05

Unbelievably gorgeous.......2005-04-09

This is one of my all-time favorite choral CDs -- from start to finish, the harmonies are gorgeous, the mood contemplative, and the singing (as usual with the Cambridge Singers) is inspired. The title track is stunning, and the Londonderry Air is one of the most beautiful wordless arrangements you'll ever hear. I also love "The Oak and the Ash," although it's hard to pick favorites on such a uniformly wonderful CD. I myself am a serious singer, and this is the kind of music that keeps me coming back to rehearsals. Buy it, you will definitely never regret it!

Average customer rating: A weak album WOW!What A Pleasant Surprise!

Sky Blue Passport Manufacturer: Wounded Bird Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz Funk | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: Iguacu Cross-Collateral Infinity Machine Looking Thru Earthborn ASIN: B00005Y2E7 Release Date: 2002-01-22

Tracks:

1. Ataraxia, Part 1
2. Ataraxia, Part 2
3. Sky Blue
4. Mandrake
5. Reng Ding Dang Dong
6. Loco-Motive
7. The Secret
8. Louisiana
9. Algeria

Album Description

Wounded Bird Records winds up it's series of CD re-issues by the German jazz-fusion group Passport. The leader of Passport was Klaus Doldinger, appearing on all of their albums. 'Sky Blue' was originally issued in 1978. 'Sky Blue' & 'Cross-Collateral' were Passport's 2 highest charting albums.

Customer Reviews:

A weak album.......2004-01-12

This album lacks inspiration. While the song Loco-Motive is wonderful emulating a steam locomotive then transposing into a fast moving fusion song with exceptional sax work by Klaus Doldinger, the rest of the album is missing the classic Passport sound.

WOW!What A Pleasant Surprise!.......2003-06-27

You'd think a Passport album of this latter 70's vintage would be soft or weak but none of this is!The "Ataraxia
Suite" (based on the LP's European title)is excellent chill out
fusion while catchy funky stuff like the tital cut,"Mandrake" and
the latin-spiced "Algeria" lend the entire affair a warm,upbeat
air."Reng Ding Dang Dong" and "Loco-Motive" achive much the same
affect with more of an electronic Krautfunk twist while "Secret"
and "Lousianna" once again sunbath by softer shores even as all nine cuts flaunt the savvy and versitility of Dolinger and company's vision.A grand statement by major players.

Average customer rating: A Hidden Gem! Good Stuff! I don't normally write reviews for CDs but.... Bare-bones Billy a man for all seasons

Happy Blue Billy Squier Manufacturer: J-Bird Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Classic Rock | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Enough Is Enough Creatures of Habit Hear & Now Tell the Truth Emotions in Motion ASIN: B00000AEHE Release Date: 1998-09-15

Tracks:

1. Happy Blues
2. The Pursuit Of Happiness
3. She Will
4. Grasping For Oblivion
5. If You Would Hate Me Less, I'd Love You More
6. Stroke Me Blues
7. More Than Words Can Say
8. Inferno (Everybody Cries Sometimes)
9. Long Way To Fall
10. River
11. Two

Customer Reviews:

A Hidden Gem!.......2007-07-09

This is the best work I've heard yet from Billy Squier--and I'm a fan from way back. This shows his guitar talent and his heart like nothing before. If you consider yourself a Billy Squier fan, this is an absolute must. If you are a guitar fan in general, this is a must. If you just love a great album you will never get tired of, do yourself a favor and get this one.

Good Stuff!.......2006-05-07

There is some serious music in here. Not for those seeking pop rock fluff or dash banging tunes. I'd put the track "River" up against anything Bruce Springsteen has done. It is positively electrifying without being an electric track. Unfortunately the samples of the tracks on this website just do not do the album justice. The production is a little uneven and you get the impression that the title track, neat as it is, was not the best take possible. There's a few other minor holes here and there, but overall it's just a breath of fresh air from an artist who seems quite content to have taken his former big 80's persona and chucked it. Hey, we all grow up after a while. The last track is a cute off the cuff lullaby to his son, I believe. Left turns like this can be risky, but I suggest if you have an open mind, and are a starving "Squire" fan, take it. After it was in my van for three days, I caught my kids singing along with it. So don't be surprised if it turns up missing in your family. I think that is about as big an endorsement as any average guy could give.

I don't normally write reviews for CDs but...........2004-01-11

I bought this CD after hearing Billy sing a sample on a local radio show. It is really amazing if you like a bluesy rock feel. It has been a few years now and I still listen to this all the time. A fabulous set of songs.

Bare-bones Billy.......2003-05-15

I have always loved Billy Squier's music, and when this album came out, we were fortunate enough to find out about a performance he was doing at a "Borders Books" of all places, right down the street by our house. We went down and saw the show from about 5 feet away from Billy--we were immediately captivated by his new project.

I instantly fell in love with "Grasping for Oblivion" and this is one of my favorite Billy albums. His melodies and distinctive vocal texture are a delight when captured in this acoustic forum, and he seemed much happier playing these stripped down tunes that were more reflective of his true nature.

If you are a fan of Billy this album is a must buy! Delightfully under-produced, it truly showcases how talented this man is in every apect of his performance--writing, singing, and guitar playing.

Side note:
We had the pleasure of meeting with Billy and talking with him after the show, he is a wonderful person--he even sat and talked with our then 8 year old daughter.

a man for all seasons.......2003-03-09

When this album was first released, I was more than delighted at the turn Billy had taken in his music. Having been quiet for so long, and being known for his trademark guitars-&-drums rock, this album was quite a departure for him. I have always considered Billy as one of the better rock guitarists right from his earlier days in the local clubs (yeh, THAT far back!) and in this album he shows his skill in blues and jazz. He has written songs that seem to come right from his soul, and he shares them with the listener. It is a very intimate recording, as if you're in a room together & he's playing for you alone. No gimmicks, no bells & whistles, nothin' but the man and his guitar. Billy has also added brief comments about each track, & gives a more personal glimpse of himself than ever before. This album is more of a gift to his listeners than any other he has done. Even after 5 years, I still can hear new layers. Oh, I'm sure there will be those who will say Billy should stay with rock (and anyone who got to see his performance on tour in 2001 would have to agree he's better than ever!), but everyone grows, and everyone needs to reach in other directions. This album more than proves that Billy Squier will always be one of our premier musicians, and I thank him for that.

Average customer rating: A surprising collection of music one more time!

Again & Again The Bird and the Bee Manufacturer: Blue Note Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Electronic Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Blue Note Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Bird & The Bee All Rise Talk to La Bomb Pretty Little Head The Garden ASIN: B000I0QKUQ Release Date: 2006-10-31

Tracks:

1. Again & Again
2. I'm A Broken Heart
3. F*cking Boyfriend
4. F*cking Boyfriend: Peaches Remix

Customer Reviews:

A surprising collection of music.......2007-06-27

This was not the music that I was expecting. I found it to have repetitive themes of the same ideas, and some rather vulgar use of the f-word. Too bad, because the melodies were good and the singing voices lovely. Not my type of music, I guess. I listened to the cd twice, then threw it away. It didn't grow on me.

one more time!.......2007-04-11

I cant get enough of this familiar yet refreshing sound!!

This band is fabulous!!

Jazz Music:

1. Blue Monk
2. Blues And The Abstract Truth
3. Champ (Jpn Lp Sleeve) [Import]
4. Chet Baker Introduces Johnny Pace
5. City Speak
6. Confirmation [Import] [Original recording remastered]
7. Deal Me In
8. Doctor Is in [Original recording remastered] [Import]
9. East Broadway Rundown
10. Electric Byrd

Jazz Music

jazz music