Live Air [Live]

Amazon.com
The title begs the question: when wasn't Air live? True to its name, the late-'70s trio was the most contemplative expression of that widely influential Chicago coalition, the Association for the Advancement of Colored Musicians. But relative quietude notwithstanding, chaos rumbled in Air's exploration of rootsy timbres. The elemental trio consisted of Henry Threadgill on horns (primarily alto sax), Fred Hopkins on bass, and Steve McCall on percussion (later replaced by Pheeroan Aklaff). Hopkins's walking bass kept Air grounded, but when he pulled out his bow he could ride the tangents as well as McCall did his cymbals. Threadgill, meanwhile, eked spiritual vigor from squeaks, chords, and catchy riffs. The title of the closing cut, the album's most straightforward, says it best: "Be Ever Out." --Marc Weidenbaum

Live Air,Air,Black Saint,Avant-Garde,Avant-Garde Jazz,Free Jazz,Jazz,Jazz Music,Modern Creative,Pop

Jazz

Music

jazz

Tracks:

Making Love Out Of Nothing At All
Chances
Lost In Love
Sweet Dreams
Someone
Always
Unchained Melody
The One That You Love
Goodbye
All Out Of Love
The Way I Feel
Now And Forever

Customer Reviews:

Uhhh, Could've been better.......2005-03-12

It was alright. The mixing is a little off.The sound quality isn't what it could've been,. I wish they would've miked the audience better. I missed songs like "Here I Am" and "Even the Nights Are Better". It just seems kind of "low budget". But Russell Hitchcock is still my hero. He can do no wrong.Keep stirring the heart guys. God Bless Y'all

Great Cross between Old and New Air Supply - Live!.......2004-06-16

The best way to sum up Air Supply's "Greatest Hits Live: Now and Forever" is that this is not your regular live album. This album brings 10 of the best Air Supply songs performed live with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra. There are two studio songs: There is a new song called "The Way I Feel" and a remake of an earlier Air Supply classic "Now and Forever". The live songs are really the pieces that are going to fuel this album's strength. The live pieces were recorded in Taipei, Taiwan in 1995. Air Supply's days as a hit-making machine had long passed for about 12 years now. By 1995, the band still had a solid following (especially outside the U.S.), so by finally releasing a live album almost 20 years into their careers they had nothing to lose. This effort would help continue to keep the existing fan base happy, help some of the old fan base rediscover Air Supply, and harvest some new Air Supply fans.

Air Supply's performance on this collection is augmented a couple of ways. They are accompanied by some outstanding studio musicians - most noteably a pianist named Guy Allison who is going to help compliment the outstanding keyboards already in place by Graham Russell. Allison has played a role in 90s Air Supply as a songwriter too - co-writing the songs "Always" and "Someone". You'll hear the power of the piano and keyboards many of the big name classics that are included on the album. The interesting thing is that the Orchestra doesn't have as prominent role as on other albums by artists who have done live albums with one. The Orchestra's role is perfect making this very much an Air Supply album with a key focus on the talents of the stars - Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock. It will be the combination of Graham Russell and Guy Allison's keyboard and pianos that really are going to steal the show when it comes to the instrumentation - especially on tracks like "Making Love Out of Nothing at All", "All Out of Love", "Lost in Love", "Sweet Dreams"

The trademark Air Supply vocals are on this album. Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock have some tremendous dual harmonies on the songs "Lost in Love", "Sweet Dreams", and on the classic remake of "Unchained Melody". What I like about their version of "Unchained Melody" is how they use the classic Air Supply crescendo to build up the song at the end, nobody does this better than Air Supply. There is a lot of true emotion on this CD, but none comes to life better than in "The One That You Love", when Russell Hitchock shows an elated emotion with a slight chuckle of joy when he sings "we have the right you know". As usual Graham Russell is perfect in complimenting Hitchcock's lead vocals. This is also heard on "The One That You Love". You will hear some classic trade off on the lead vocals between Graham and Russell; noteably on the song "Goodbye" (which is a David Foster penned song, you can hear his trademark keyboard influence).

The two most powerful numbers are the first live song, "Making Love Out of Nothing At All" and the last live song (actually the 10th track since the remaining 2 are the studio cuts included), "All Out of Love". The live version of "Making Love Out of Nothing At All" even blows away the great studio version. Hitchcock again shows how in touch he is with the crowd and music when he sings "I can make all of the stadiums - ROCK!" (emphasis on the Rock). To me the "Rock" blows me away each time I hear it and it helps set the table for the remaining live cuts to have the high energy and emotion you would expect from an Air Supply live performance. On "All Out of Love", when Russell sings and holds the 'of' on "what are you thinking of" - instead of the classic slight pause you hear on the studio track, you'll hear a spectacular drum pattern followed by the significant pause. It's almost like a mini encore during the pause. The drum pattern lasts about 20 seconds and the pause goes about another 30 seconds. It is the perfect ending to what is a most powerful performance by the band. It's also worth noting that "Sweet Dreams" is very powerful number as well - the keyboard intro will just blow you away.

The liner notes are pretty good. All of the lyrics to all of the songs were included. It would have been nice to see on which songs the Symphony Orchestra played a more prominent role. It also would have been nice to put the album references on each song, but the song copyright date is included. I would have also liked to have seen some more photos (there are six - plus the cover photo).

As for drawbacks, the only real gripe I have is that only six of the classic songs are included from the album. Perhaps if they could have made this a longer album, they could have included tracks like "Just as I Am", "Two Less Lonely People in the World", and "Even the Nights are Better". Don't let this drawback deter you, because the later years stuff included is very good. This is a solid Live Album and one highly recommended for your collection. Judging this as a live album, it really does everything a live album should do - I give it the 5 star rating.

The best Live album I've ever heard.......2004-03-21

About 5 years ago I went to an Air Supply concert. It was really good I have to say, and I even got to go up and meet one of the performers during the concert. So after the concert I went out to buy this CD and grew attatched to the music very easily.

The CD starts out with "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All", which is a good beginning to this LIVE album. It is one of my favorite songs, along with the 7 minute, 14 second "Sweet Dreams". That song is really amazing in lengths that it has a huge piano solo in it in which when I heard it in the concert I was completely blown away. Guy Allison, the pianist, has a great talent that really shines in this album, and in particular this song.

Another song on this album that is remarkable is the ever so popular "Unchained Melody". Air Supply did a very good rendition of this song. One of their big hits, Lost in Love is also really good.

I liked the songs so much that I picked up "The Best Of Air Supply" song booklet for Piano/Guitar/Vocal. It shows you all of the chords and recreates the magic of their sound. A great momento if you are a music tracker type of person.

All in all I really enjoyed listening to this album for the past several years and am going to continue to listen to it a lot in the future. If you want yourself some good soft rock/classic rock sound to listen to, this is a great album to pick up. 5/5 Stars for sure.

#1, The Greatest!.......2002-12-21

Air Supply has always and will always be the best. All of their albums are gold. Russell has such a strong and beautiful voice that will just take your breath away. I have seen them in concert every year, and I can't wait until they come back. I know their next album will be as great as every other. I'm looking forward to their new album, which I understand will be coming out sometime in 2003. Keep on rock'n air Supply! You guys are great! Susanne Curro at eiscu2000@att.net.

Highly critical review.......2001-12-26

This is a terrible CD. I like their music, but this particular CD is absolutely awful...
Fro some reason, these guys are out of tune, their voices are shot (another review describes them as being "mature"), they cannot hit the hight notes, and sound like they both have a bad cold or the flu when they recorded this. I think this was a final effort to squeeze money out of a credulous public that did not expect these "artists" or their music to simply be so bad in person. I am embarrassed to own this album, and I advise you to save your money and spend it on something else.

Barbara Cook Sings Mostly Sondheim (Live at Carnegie Hall 2001)

Average customer rating:

Wow!
Everyone Should Whistle
An amazing intro to the body of work of a true master
Beautiful, moving concert
... and I love Barbara Cook

Barbara Cook Sings Mostly Sondheim (Live at Carnegie Hall 2001)

Manufacturer: Drg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Nostalgia | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Barbara Cook's Broadway!
Barbara Cook at the Met with Special Guests
Tribute
It's Better with a Band
The Champion Season: Live at the Cafe Carlyle

ASIN: B000059LFF
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Tracks:

Everybody Says Don't
I Wonder What Became of Me?
The Eagle and Me
I Had Myself a True Love
Into the Woods / Giants in the Sky (Malcolm Gets)
Another Hundred People / So Many People (Malcolm Gets)
Let's Face the Music and Dance / The Song Is You (duet with Malcolm Gets)
Happiness
Loving You
You Could Drive a Person Crazy
Not A Day Goes By / Losing My Mind

Tracks:

Buds Won't Bud
I Got Lost in His Arms
West Side Story Segment: Something's Coming / Tonight (Malcolm Gets)
Move On (duet with Malcolm Gets)
Medley: Hard Hearted Hannah / Waiting for the Robert E. Lee / San Francisco
Ice Cream
Send in the Clowns
The Trolley Song
Not While I'm Around (duet with Malcolm Gets)
Anyone Can Whistle

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Barbara Cook is one of today's most accomplished song stylists, and if you don't believe us, just listen to this live album. It's a master class in the art of singing. It documents an evening at Carnegie Hall during which Cook proved that she can dissect and extract the substance out of the simplest of lyrics. One of the best surprises is "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" (from Company), which is taken at an amiable trot and allows the singer to display its humor. Cook is not a swinging singer and uptempo is not her pace; give her a ballad, though, and she'll wring the last drop of emotion out of it. Her version of "Losing My Mind" (here paired with "Not a Day Goes By") is simply astonishing. The singer also performs songs that Sondheim has said he wished he had written, an awful lot of them by Harold Arlen. No complaints here. Guest Malcolm Gets solos on a few songs and duets with Cook on others, including "Let's Face the Music and Dance." This is classic material done masterfully by a classic singer. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Wow!.......2004-02-20

Having read the other reviews there is little more for me to add. I have been a Barbara Cook fan for a longtime and for me, this is one of her best concerts ever. I do, however, prefer the DVD. As with some other reviewers, I do not want to hear Malcolm Gets (as much as I like him) when I want to listen to Barbara. Her flawless interpretation of music is a hard act to follow for any singer! I managed to see this concert 4 times over a year and a half. Each time I saw her the voice was stronger and more assured (I would not have thought that possible). I can't help but think we will have the pleasure of hearing Ms Cook for many years to come. For those people who enjoyed his CD I strongly recommend purchasing the DVD. Barabara's rendition of So Many People is breathtaking (literally, I don't think I breathed once during the entire song). If you ever have opportunity to see her live - go! She has an ability to make you feel as if every song she sings and every word she speaks is directed to you alone. She can take a large venue and make it feel as intimate as your own living room. Having had the pleasure of meeting her I can say she is as youthful and pleasurable in person as she is in her performance.

Everyone Should Whistle.......2003-10-11

After being privileged to attend this concert, I had to own the CD. Once a lyric coloratura and the original Cunegonde in Bernstein's Candide, Ms. Cook has become (in her 70s) a true diva, blessed with a velvety, warm sound. Every note has meaning. Her high B-flat on "Ice Cream" is still the envy of any soprano today. Everyone should whistle after hearing the superb performances on this CD. Even better, though, is the experience of having been in the concert hall for the live performance. Brava, Ms. Cook!

An amazing intro to the body of work of a true master.......2003-06-16

When I first bought tickets for the 'Mostly Sondheim' show on tour (in San Francisco) I figured it couldn't be too bad. Besides, I had only been exposed to a few of his songs (Anyone Can Whistle, Losing My Mind...) and had only seen "A Little Night Music". On the way out of the theater I immediately picked up this recording of the program. It is truly amazing. I immediately began listening to it and have barely put it down in the last few months. Furthermore, my Sondheim CD collection increased in size from an unflattering zero to five (and it's still growing)! This is an amazing introduction to the works of Stephen Sondheim, who is now my favorite modern musical composer). Buy this now if you don't already have it!

Beautiful, moving concert.......2003-04-13

This is a wonderful CD set with a great selection of songs. I do want to express a slight reservation, however. Barbara Cook has been one of my favorite singers for a number of years and the way her voice defies time is extraordinary -- for her to be singing with such bright, beautiful tone in her mid-70s with no wobble or beat in the voice is an amazing achievment.

I do have to say that by 2001, when this concert was recorded, Cook seemed to have a lost a little bit of power and intensity in her singing. This is only natural for someone of her age. Her voice is still lovely, but you can sense her keeping it in reserve a bit. She's as expressive as ever, but compare the rendition of "I got lost in his arms" on this album to the one on her previous album recorded in 1999, "The Champion Season", and there's less urgency and vocal depth in her singing here. That said, the high B at the end of "Ice Cream" is sensational.

So, despite that caveat, this is, again, a wonderful album, a must for Cook fans, especially for the gorgeous renditions of songs I'd never thought I'd get to hear her perform: "Not a Day Goes By", "Happiness/Loving You", "San Francisco", etc. Buy it!

... and I love Barbara Cook.......2003-02-11

This recording is a disappointment for me. It is not her best work, and Malcolm Gets is uninspired. My biggest complaint however is the engineering of the recording. Throughout the speaking was to soft, the singing volumes uneven, and the applause deafening. I will be passing this CD on to friends, and will later donate it to my local library.

Average customer rating:

Phew.
Organic Ambient Trance Funk
what i expected
Clean and Beautiful: A prelude to the live experience
Eclectic Electric Jazz Electronica

Nomad
Lotus
Manufacturer: Harmonized
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Post Grunge | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Germination
The Strength of Weak Ties
The New Deal
Artifact
All This Everything

ASIN: B0002ZYEAA
Release Date: 2004-09-21

Tracks:

Suitcases
Livingston Storm
Spiritualize
Plant Your Root
Travel
Greet The Mind
Ball Of Energy
Jump Off
Colorado

Customer Reviews:

Phew........2006-01-29

What gets me about Lotus isn't just that their sound is crisp and their melodies beautifully composed. What gets me is that their songs--often relaxed, very chill, meandering through a song almost effortlessly--can be so infectious and bring you to a completely different mental plane. Nomad is an incredible studio synthesis of their talent. Seeing them live is the best way to go (it's incredible) but Nomad really gives you a great scope of their talent... although, they are also this tight in person.

Organic Ambient Trance Funk.......2005-08-16

I just had to write this review because this cd deserves an average rating of 5 stars. This is a very sophisticated interpretation of Lotus's live sound. No self-indulgent meandering, just very tastful, structured compositions. However, i don't think everyone has the capacity to appreciate the aesthetic value of this music, along with the overall musicianship.

This cd jams, but in a subtle way. Lotus leaves out alot of the uneeded tension in alot of music today and replaces it with a easy vibe that is equally relaxing as it is danceable. The music is part ambient so its not music that demands to be listened to. It fits well in the background at a party or in the car. Its not all about the individual solos, instead more about the vibe the music, as a whole, gives off. It is as equally interesting as it is ignorable. It's downtempo electronica that perfectly combines organic jams with ambient textures. This is one of my favorite albums i own, and i'd recomend it to anyone who appreciates good music.

what i expected.......2005-08-15

Someone told me about lotus so I checked them out. The "live drum and base/jam techno" scene is on the rise and Lotus along with bands like MFA, djnotadj, and signal path is certainly one of the pioneers. The cd sounds great with many varied explorations into different styles of the live techno genre. Check it.

Clean and Beautiful: A prelude to the live experience.......2005-05-13

Yo ladies N gents, I go to college in PA, and the first time I really heard anything about Lotus came when a kid on my floor bought this disc and I spun it in my room. First and foremost, this album is totally righteous. If youre into classical improv and jamming, this is for you, and also, if youre into dance/trance this is for you as well. Furthermore, if youre into funk, they lay it down in kingly fashion. I've seen lotus twice this year, and the first time they were awesome, and the second time (a mere 3 months later) they were completely unreal. Whoever wrote that B/S about STS9 being better than lotus has obviously not seen them live, or was candy flippin too hard to understand. Sound tribe is a complete and utter joke compared to this band; in fact, there is no comparison. Please do yourselves the favor and go see Lotus live, and while youre at it, get this disc. Peace

Eclectic Electric Jazz Electronica.......2005-03-28

You may have heard the buzz about this band. They
are truly a formally well-educated musical band
that likes to improvise off the audience's energy.
The use of improvisation, as well as certain music
phrases, or riffs, classifies them as jazz
performers. Rolling Stone magazine calls their
music "Loose, spontaneous Jam Rock instrumentals.
Funk and Latin influences surface in both the guitar
figures and the overall rhythms, while the drums
show a real jazz-inflected approach to dynamics and
may be the group's strong point." The drummer,
Steve Clemens (related to Samuel Langhorne?) is
indeed dynamic and delivers a great sound. But I
think the melodic/harmonic interplay between the
guitarist (Mike Rempel) and keyboard man (Luke
Miller) sustains the compositions over the length
of the musical program.
The music ranges from Smooth Jazz to Grateful
Dead concert jamming--definitely an eclectic mix.
In fact it seems at times that Mike is channeling
Jerry Garcia (not a bad contact)!
So, if you like instumental music that is great
to listen to (for both background and fore) pick
up this CD. The samples provide good examples of
the sound quality and dynamics of Lotus'
material.

KFOG 104.5 FM / 97.7 FM - Live From The Archives II (2)

Average customer rating:

KFOG 104.5 FM / 97.7 FM - Live From The Archives II (2)

Manufacturer: KFOG Radio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000FPRLJS

Average customer rating:

Remember Earl Wild...?
AMAZING!!!!!

Earl Wild - The Romantic Master

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Improvisation | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Earl Wild plays Gershwin
Earl Wild at 88
The Complete Chopin Nocturnes (2-CD's)
Earl Wild's Legendary Rachmaninoff Song Transcriptions
The Virtuosity of Earl Wild

ASIN: B0000029OE
Release Date: 1995-11-14

Tracks:

Le Rouet d'Omphale, Op. 31
Air And Variations: The Harmonious Blacksmith
Piano Concerto No. 2 In F Minor: Largo
Midsummer Nights
Paraphrase On Sleeping Beauty
Improvisation On 'Apres un reve'
Hommage a Poulenc
Don Giovanni: Serenade
Reminiscences of Snow White: Reminiscences Of Snow White: 'Whistle While You Work'; 'I'm Wishing'; 'One Song'; 'Heigh-Ho'; 'Someday My Prince Will Come'
At The Ball
Swan Lake: Dance Of The Four Swans
One Lives But Once
Liebesleid

Customer Reviews:

Remember Earl Wild...?.......2005-08-02

Sometimes it takes a while before a man becomes a legend. With the rebirth of appreciation for the "Romantic pianists" (pianists who took great liberties with scores when the composer was in the tradition of such changes in his lifetime - like Liszt, etc) comes a renewed appreciation for the piano mastery of Earl Wild. Somehow always under the shadow of his contemporaries such as Rubinstein, Horowitz, Serkin, et al, Wild had a strong following among a few orchestras and devoted recital attendees. But in his lifetime his popularity waned when he began emphasizing his own 'transcriptions'.

Well, now with the release of this never less than interesting CD the artistry of Earl Wild is bound to gain a new applauding audience. These pieces are his own transcriptions of well known works by composers such as Saint-Saens, Handel, Rachmaninov, Bach, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Kreisler, and some of his own 'homages' to Faure and Poulenc. The playing is incandescently romantic: for sheer exhilaration of excitement these transcriptions are inimitable. The only other album to some close to this is Wild playing Liszt's transcriptions of operas!

This is a well-produced and very fun album for any mood. And it just may well be the kind of entry to the big works that young people need! Grady Harp, August 05

AMAZING!!!!!.......2000-09-06

As a pianist myself, I truly appreciated this cd. Wild is a genius! I especially loved "Reminiscenes of Snow White". I'm positively dying to get my hands on the score of it!!!! Very well done!!

Average customer rating:

kiri kern
Kiri sing Kern is a great experience
Lacks Splendor
White Glove Kern
mildly disappointing

Kiri Sings Kern: Dame Kiri TeKanawa
Dame Kiri TeKanawa , Jerome Kern , Jonathan Tunick , and London Sinfonietta
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Kiri Sings Gershwin
Kiri Sings Porter; Dame Kiri TeKanawa
Kiri Sings Berlin
Kiri Te Kanawa - Greatest Hits ~ 14 Favorites of Opera, Popular & Traditional Song
Christmas with Kiri

ASIN: B000002SK3
Release Date: 1993-03-16

Tracks:

The Songs Of Jerome Kern: The Folks Who Live on the Hill
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: I'm Old Fashioned
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: The Way You Look Tonight
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: The Song Is You
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: All Through The Day
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: The Last Time I Saw Paris
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: A Fine Romance
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Yesterdays
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: All The Things You Are
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Bill
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Long Ago And Far Away
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Look For The Silver Lining
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man

Amazon.com

As Hammerstein writes in the opening song, "Many dames with lofty aims strive for lofty goals"--and Te Kanawa strives for successful crossover. Her beautiful singing exhibits impeccable diction and excellent phrasing; but "A Fine Romance" lacks anger and humor, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" lacks a storyteller, and "All the Things You Are" lacks romanticism. However, happy songs like "All Through the Day," "Look for the Silver Lining," and "The Folks Who Live on the Hill," are successfully interpreted. Jonathan Tunick's orchestrations enhance Kern's beauty through his captivating use of obbligato instruments. A pleasant, if not wholly satisfactory, listening experience. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews:

kiri kern.......2007-03-29

Kiri is sensational on this CD. Jerome Kern music is stupendous and the arrangements superb. Three top esses.

Kiri sing Kern is a great experience.......2004-01-18

I love the way she sings Kern's songs. Though certainly not opera, Kern's songs benefit from an an operatic approach--not all of them, but certainly ones such Smoke gets in your Eyes, The song is you, All the things you are. I love Kern;s songs sung in many styles but Kiri's way is one of the best.

On the other hand, I did not like Kiri singing Berlin.

Lacks Splendor.......2002-09-01

Though I do enjoy Kiri's interpretation of most music, and this CD was decent, I did not find any piece particularly memorable.

The voice is undeniably beautiful, and Kiri has managed to keep her maturing voice sounding somewhat young, yet I find that I much prefer her rendition of "The Laughing Song" to that of "Smoke Gets in YOur Eyes."

If you love Kern, and couldn't care less who performs it, than purchase this CD. If you are a fan of Kiris', then perhaps it would be best to avoid this purchase...for it is not a shining star in her vast collection of CDs. All in all, it was a disappointment.

White Glove Kern.......2001-05-20

I am the first to admit that most "crossover" albums, be they of classical performers singing pop or vice versa never quite cross over. This album does splendidly. Kern's music is the most related to classical operetta , and therefore the least jazziest. Operatic soprano Kiri Te Kanawa gives luscious, heartfelt readings of these wonderful songs, backed by glamorous orchestrations. Hearing a voice of such opulence and beauty in this music is a rare treat. Just listen to "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" ,"Long Ago and Far Away" or "The Song is You" and prepare to be swept away to another, more elegant time.

mildly disappointing.......2000-09-30

Sometimes cross-over works, sometimes not. While Kiri te Kanawa has a beautiful voice, she never gets into the idiom of these Jerome Kern masterpieces sufficiently to convey their stories or their subtleties. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes especially stands out, she sings it with none of the pathos the song demands and her version pales compared to the Platters. The orchestral arrangements are decent and in many of the songs the purity of her voice is enough to carry them, but overall I would say this is a disappointing example of a crossover record. Ms. te Kanawa should stick to what she does best.

Average customer rating:

Interesting, but studio versions are better
Smokin' Live Album
In pine effect

Live
Curved Air
Manufacturer: Repertoire
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Midnight Wire
Airborne
Air Cut
Phantasmagoria
Second Album

ASIN: B000000136
Release Date: 1999-01-11

Tracks:

It Happened Today
Marie Antoinnette
Back Street Luv
Propositions
Young Mother
Vivaldi
Everdance

Album Description

Import reissue of 1975 album. Repertoire.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting, but studio versions are better.......2003-07-04

This is a good representation of how the band sounded live back in the mid 70's. There is a decent balance of songs off their first three albums, but it would have been good to have expanded it to a double-album.

The songs are generally heavier than the studio versions. On the good side, the songs are somewhat rearranged, so the listener gets something new. On the down side, the recording quality is a bit raw, loosing the polish that makes the studio versions sound much better in contrast. Sonja Kristina, though a great singer, tends to over-exaggerate the vocals in this live setting, for added emphasis. Although this might have seemed like a good idea at the time, it unfortunately makes her singing a bit annoying. She does a much better job on the studio albums.

This is still a must for Curved Air fans. For those new to the band, I'd recommend their first two albums instead (Air Conditioning and Second Album).

Smokin' Live Album.......2000-04-19

Despite what anyone says, this is the one Curved Air album to buy. In the studio they always sounded more than just a little timid and underproduced, but live they cut loose. Sonja Kristina's vocals are like an unleashed screamin' demon(well maybe like a more British Ann Wilson crossed with the arti-ness of Peter Hammill)especially on my favorite cuts "It Happened Today" and "Marie Antoinette".Daryl Way is one of the greatests violinists you will hear. If you are a fan of 70's progressive you'll be amazed by this record.

In pine effect.......2000-03-30

This album features songs from Curved Air's first three albums, including classic songs like "Vivaldi" and "Back street luv". Curved Air offered a harder rocking sound on stage, and all in all, this album is more satisfying than their often very slick studio efforts. However, there's also an album available called "Live at the BBC". This is probably a better purchase because there are much more songs on this disc, even some pieces from Curved Air's later-era albums "Midnight wire" and "Airborne".

Average customer rating:

Life Upon the Wicked Stage
Carole Cook , Jerome Kern , Grant Geissman , David Stout [trombone] , Dan Fornero , John Fumo , Brock Peters , James Anderson , Jane Lanier , Lauren Kennedy , Linda Michele , Marissa Jaret Winokur , Melissa Errico , Reece Holland , Robert Morse , Rod McKuen , Roger Rees , Ronnie Franklin , and Steve Orich
Manufacturer: Lml Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocalists | Compilations | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Broadway & Vocalists | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Tap Your Troubles Away - The Words and Music of Jerry Herman (Historic All-Star Tribute)
Kurt Weill: The Centennial
ABC (Adler, Bock, Coleman)
Over The Rainbow: The Music Of Harold Arlen (1995 Benefit Concert Cast)
Dream: The Lyrics and Music of Johnny Mercer

ASIN: B0000658H9
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Tracks:

The Song Is You - Jamie Anderson
How'd You like To Spoon With Me? - Jane Lanier
The Land Where The Good Songs Go - Pamela Myers
All The Things You Are - Alan Campbell
The Folks Who Live On The Hill - Lee Lessack
She Didn't Say Yes - Marissa Jaret Winokur
Pick Yourself Up - Street Sounds
You Couldn't Be Cuter - Marsha Kramer
Shimmy With Me - Lea Thompson
They All Look Alike - Bruce Vilanch
There It Is Again - David Holladay
Remind Me - Ron Rifkin
In Love In Vain - Melissa Errico
Make Believe - Linda Michele
Ol' Man River - Brock Peters
You Are Love - Dale Kristien
I Won't Dance - Bonnie Franklin

Tracks:

The Last Time I Saw Paris - Charles Busch
Long Ago (And Far Away) - Pam Dawber
They Didn't Believe Me - Pat Marshall
Look For The Silver Lining - Rod McKuen
A Fine Romance - Jane Carr
Sure Thing - Sally Kellerman
Don't Ever Leave Me/Why Was I Born - Joely Fisher
I'm Old Fashioned - Robert Morse
Yesterdays - Joan Ryan
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Dorian Harewood
In The Heart Of The Dark - Dale Kristien
Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man - Valarie Pettiford
The Way You Look Tonight - Hugh Panaro
Life On The Wicked Stage - Carole Cook
I've Told Every Little Star - Carole Cook
Till The Clouds Roll By - The Company

Average customer rating:

Bill Nelson was hot, but...
LIVE (kinda)
Life in the PROGressive age!
Deluxe Be-Bop
Lost treasure of the 1970s

Live! In the Air Age
Be Bop Deluxe
Manufacturer: One Way Records Inc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Sunburst Finish
Modern Music
Axe Victim
Futurama
Drastic Plastic

ASIN: B000002R0N
Release Date: 1995-08-08

Tracks:

Life In the Air Age
Ships In The Night
Piece Of Mine
Fair Exchange
Mill Street Junction
Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape
Blazing Apostles
Shine
Sister Seagull
Maid In Heaven

Album Description

1990 reissue of 1977 release for British rock act led by guitarist Bill Nelson. Standard jewel case.

Album Details

Following a Long American Tour, the Band Decided to Record Some of their UK Concerts So Took a Recording Studio on the Road and Ended Up with the Live Album "Live! in the Air Age". The Album was Originally Released on Double White Vinyl, with One Record Being the LP and the Other a 12" EP. The Album Includes a Number of Concert Highlights Such as the Sarcastic Fair Exchange, the Leisurely Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape, and the Monolithic Instrumental Version of "Shine", which was Originally a Much Shorter and Far Less Monolithic B-side.

Customer Reviews:

Bill Nelson was hot, but..........2007-03-19

Bill Nelson, one of the most under-rated art-rock guitarists of his time, shows his stuff on some great solos. The band had a cult following, but like others of their genre, they lacked a certain "extra" quality that pushed bands like Bowie and Pink Floyd to the top. The problem with many British rock bands of that era is they were told they needed hit songs to propel their career. Just not true. Bob Dylan had very few "Top 40" hits. There's too much of a "we want to be like The Kinks" vibe to Be Bop's studio albums that makes me like them in limited amounts. If you're going to be a great pop band, you need to master the hook-filled, 3-minute format, and I think the creative/jamming nature of Bill Nelson prevented that, at least from American radio. (Reminds me of why Paul Westerberg's band, The Replacements, fared a similar fate.) Nonetheless, this CD shows that BBD were truly great in concert... even better than in the studio. Even if the only track on the disk was "Shine", I'd still buy it.

LIVE (kinda).......2006-01-20

Great CD but not really live... at times. If you compare this CD to other live BBD recordings, differences in sound become very apparent. This is because of studio over dubs which have really added value to the album. The guitar playing is exquisite, quirky and down-right, jaw-dropping beautiful... an impeccable onslaught of technique and art. The only draw back is the art work which adds a scifi dimension that isn't really picked up in the album's music but, thankfully, neither does it detract. Definitely a high point for BBD and Bill Nelson.

Life in the PROGressive age!.......2005-07-25

This is PROG rock at it's best. These guys rode the college radio air waves of 1977-78 along with Crack the Sky, Genesis, and Gentle Giant. Great hooks, guitars everywhere kind of sound, understandable but non-sensical lyrics, top notch musicianship. Along with Crack the Sky, BeBopDeluxe were the heaviest sounding prog rockers thanks to Bill Nelson's guitar histrionics. Great, Great, Great but you had to have been there. If you weren't, you might not get it. Anyway, minus a couple of songs, this is a greatest hits live package whether it was meant to be or not.

Deluxe Be-Bop.......2005-04-01

This is probably Be-Bop Deluxe's best album. I boughtz it on impulse in the late 80's and back then was floored by the energy of the recordings. Here Bill Nelson clearly is at the crossroads between the art-rock found on the previous albums and the more new-wave approach he would embrace on his solo albums a few years later. While the sound on some of the original Be Bop Deluxe albums has aged somewhat, the live album is quite extraordinary. Take Shine which is simply fantastic jazz fusion or blaziing apostles with its hard rock approach...stunning.

Lost treasure of the 1970s.......2004-03-07

It took a while for this group to find its feet. Rotating personnel in the early days and a bit too much homage to Mr. Z. Stardust prevented Bill Nelson and his cohorts from really breaking out. By their brilliant 1976 album, Modern Music, they had worked out the bugs. Live! in the Air Age takes Be Bop Deluxe to a whole new level: Older material such as "Sister Seagull" and "Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape" is so charged with energy that it charges out of the speakers in three well-defined dimensions, while obscurities such as "Shine" and "Mill Street Junction" reveal the new territories this great band had yet to conquer. Unfortunately, they made only one more album -- the synthesized wonderful new direction of "Drastic Plastic" in 1977 -- before punk and the touring treadmill convinced Nelson to opt for a more hermetic existence. (Sound-on-Sound by his Red Noise, and Quit Dreaming and Get on the Beam are brilliant slabs of entirely committed performance.) By now, Nelson has released as many albums as Zappa ever did, and the wander through the catalogue has its share of caveat emptor. But this album is five-star for both the Be Bop convert and the unfamiliar listener looking for an example of the great places the legacy of Hendrix left others to expand.

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

jazz music