1959

1. All of Me

2. Come Dance With Me

3. Learning the Blues

4. You Make Me Feel So Young

5. Maidens of Cadiz

6. Birth of the Blues

7. Witchcraft

8. How About You?

9. Just in Time

10. Love for Sale

11. In the Still of the Night

12. Just One of Those Things

13. It's All Right With Me

14. Night and Day

15. Easy to Love

16. I Love Paris

17. I Concentrate on You

18. It's De-Lovely

19. Tender Trap

20. I Get a Kick Out of You

1959,Oscar Peterson Trio,Giants of Jazz (Ita),Bop,Jazz,Pop,Swing

Jazz

Music

jazz

music

Average customer rating: Let Them Entertain You Fabulous! Fabulous! Fabulous! One of the all-time greats, but it needs a new Kleigl light Amazing to Discover Essential Ethel

Gypsy - A Musical Fable (1959 Original Broadway Cast) Jule Styne , Stephen Sondheim , Ethel Merman , and Jack Klugman Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Classic Musicals | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Classical 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 Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mame (1966 Original Broadway Cast) My Fair Lady (1956 Original Broadway Cast) The Music Man (1957 Original Broadway Cast) South Pacific (Original 1949 Broadway Cast) Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B00000J28I Release Date: 1999-05-18

Tracks:

1. Act I: Overture
2. Act I: Let Me Entertain You
3. Act I: Some People
4. Act I: Small World
5. Baby June And Her Newsboys
6. Act I: Mr. Goldstone, I Love You
7. Act I: Little Lamb
8. Act I: You'll Never Get Away From Me
9. Dainty June And Her Farmboys
10. Act I: If Momma Was Married
11. Act I: All I Need Is The Girl
12. Act I: Everything's Coming Up Roses
13. Act II: Together Wherever We Go
14. Act II: You Gotta Get A Gimmick
15. Act II: Let Me Entertain You
16. Act II: Rose's Turn
17. Some People
18. Mr. Goldstone / Little Lamb
19. Momma's Talkin' Soft
20. Nice She Ain't

Amazon.com

Considered by many to be the last great musical comedy, Gypsy tells the backstage tale of vaudeville entertainer turned stripper Gypsy Rose Lee and her overbearing mother, Rose. Stephen Sondheim's lyrics--composed in advance of Jule Styne's infectious music--provide a tight structure and natural language to the 1959 score, which produced more than its share of Broadway standards, including "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Small World," "Some People," "If Momma Was Married," "Together Wherever We Go," and the climactic "Rose's Turn." Although the role of Rose has seen subsequent memorable interpretations by Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, and Bette Midler, the show was written for Ethel Merman, and she remains the definitive stage mother.

For this 1999 release, the recording has been remastered with numerous short passages restored and four tracks added. Merman sings alternate lyrics to "Some People" and a medley of "Mr. Goldstone" and "Little Lamb," all with piano accompaniment. Two other tracks are songs cut in tryouts: "Momma's Talking Soft" (gently swung here by Laura Leslie) was a duet for June and Louise that provides some context to the later line "Momma's talking loud," while "Nice She Ain't" is crooned by Bernie Knee, who is infinitely more suave than Jack Klugman ever would have been. Expanded to 63 minutes, this essential cast recording is now even more essential. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Let Them Entertain You.......2007-01-27

Let me entertain you
Let me see you smile

I will do some kicks
I will do some tricks

(Mama Rose)
Sing out, Louise! Sing out!

I'll tell you a story
I'll dance when she's done

(Mama Rose)
You're behind, honey!
Catch up! Catch up!

By the time we're through entertaining you
You'll have a barrel of fun!

Gypsy remains one of the very finest musicals ever produced. With music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim how could you go wrong? Well, they certainly didn't go wrong; and this original cast recording proves it.

I agree with people who believe that the overture for this musical is one of the finest ever written. It flows beautifully and seamlessly through portions of many of the musical arrangements for the songs in this musical. Impressive!

The musical score on this CD contains many songs that to this day remain instantly recognizable. "Let me Entertain You;" "Some People;" "Small World;" "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and "Together Wherever We Go" boast those catchy Jule Styne melodies and incredible lyrics that only Sondheim could have written.

"Let Me Entertain You" is the first song on this CD; and Ethel Merman as Mama Rose with Jacqueline Mayro as Baby June and Karen Moore as Baby Louise perform this flawlessly. The song flows so naturally that you completely believe that the two young girls are truly being coached by their domineering mother as they rehearse for a kiddie show in a vaudeville theater. Ethel Merman delivers "Some People" very convincingly; it is here that we see the first undeniable evidence that Merman was born to play Mama Rose. Merman belts out this song passionately as only she could; Merman blows the roof off the house.

Other great songs on this CD include the beautifully arranged "Small World" which is performed with great sensitivity by Ethel Merman as Jack Klugman joins in to make the song even more romantic; the moving "If Momma Was Married" by Sandra Church and Lane Bradbury as they deeply wish for a reprieve from their pushy stage mother; "Everything's Coming Up Roses" sung without a single superfluous note by Ethel Merman and "Together Wherever We Go" performed by Ethel Merman, Jack Klugman and Sandra Church.

Ethel Merman also delivers one especially powerful number at the end of the musical, "Rose's Turn." Merman's voice remains as strong, vibrant and passionate as ever as her character laments that things didn't turn out as happily as she had planned. The musical arrangement underscores Mama Rose's descent into a type of nervous breakdown as Mama Rose performs her swan song.

The CD continues with four bonus tracks that include entire numbers that originally wound up on the cutting room floor. These tracks add color to the original cast recording and enable the listener to hear even the slightest of differences editors made as they rushed to release the LP only one week after Gypsy opened at The Broadway Theater. Look for some interesting changes in "Some People;" "Mr. Goldstone/Little Lamb;" as well as two songs that were dropped from this production of Gypsy entitled "Mama's Talking Soft" and "Nice She Ain't." Excellent bonuses!

The sound quality is rather good although there were times when I could hear minor surface noise in the background. The liner notes offer black and white pictures from Gypsy and essays by Martin Gottfried and Tom Shepard. There are liner notes reprinted from the original LP jacket by George B. Dale, too.

Gypsy was produced several times more after this production closed. However, this is the definitive version because Ethel Merman carries the show with her zesty and powerful voice. Nobody could or ever will touch Ethel Merman as the quintessential Mama Rose.

I highly recommend this CD for fans of original cast recordings of great Broadway musicals; and of course Ethel Merman fans will thrill to these superlative numbers.

Enjoy!

Fabulous! Fabulous! Fabulous!.......2006-06-28

One of the best scores ever written for the stage!

One of the all-time greats, but it needs a new Kleigl light.......2006-03-17

Despite its front-and-center place in the theatrical pantheon, one wonders if we can really do "Gypsy" justice anymore. A lot of termites have invaded the flats. For one thing it mysteriously morphed into a gay musical. That's because it's "about" an overbearing stage mother who was first played by a famous loudmouth. Well, that's simplistic. But "Gypsy" staged right is not about bossy broads; it's about vaudeville, and burlesque, and the heartache and triumph of reaching the top. It's also about stripping. We seem to have lost track of that given the long line of actresses who've tried in vain to overthrow Ethel Merman's memory: Roz Russell (too low-key and literary), Angela Lansbury (too British), Tyne Daly (too coarse), Bette Midler (too kitschy), Bernadette Peters...what's she doing there? Actually, she belongs there -- not as Mama Rose. Thirty-five years younger she could (and should) have played Gypsy. (John Simon, reviewing the misbegotten 2003 revival, noted a definite facial resemblance.) We forget too the stroke of genius that ends this show. Gypsy, having utterly wowed them at Minsky's, is "topped" by her own mother! So, this is a contest -- and a contest requires more than one person. What "Gypsy" deserves is two great actresses. Ethel Merman's hold on the memory of her part is safe. Now -- who here can tell me who played Gypsy? Natalie Wood, well, that's easy enough. But was she memorable? One thinks of how the real Gypsy denigrated Sandra Church. What this show needs is for people to stop approaching it as a strong-woman musical, and more as the story of a stripper's rise to stardom. Maybe the time has come to put the emphasis on Gypsy, and get comely actresses who know how to strip. Perhaps the writers of this unquestioned landmark chose the wrong work; they should have done William Wellman's "Lady of Burlesque" (based on Gypsy's ghosted mystery novel "The G-String Murders" -- there's a title!). That way it would have been all fun, and no overbearing significance, or stage mothers. Hmmm: Barbara Stanwyck as Gypsy? There's a thought.

But I've discussed the property when I should be discussing the cast album. There's little to say. People who call this the greatest show ever are being silly. Perhaps it is as an integrated whole. There are better scores. Indeed Jule Styne wrote better tunes; go back to his work with Sammy Cahn, and go back especially to that Harry James-Kitty Kallen immortality "It's Been a Long Long Time." Go back to Blue Eyes's renditions. No, I would not want to say this is better than "Show Boat." But it's still darned good. (Of the newly-renovated album it goes without saying.) The problem is, it could be better; and with Ethel Merman eternally ringing in our ears we know how difficult that will ever be. But we can always...have a dream.

Amazing to Discover.......2006-02-01

Of course I have always known of Ethel Merman and the general style of her singing, but I had never actually sat and listened closely to her until I bought this CD reissue of Gypsy. What an amazing talent she was. Her voice, though often impersonated for kitsch, was a remarkable instrument--that high belt was always clear, always focused on pitch and rhythmically precise (at least on Gypsy). This is a truly absorbing score to listen to, and the remaster has been done wonderfully well, with great taste and attention to detail.

Essential Ethel.......2005-08-14

1959's "Gypsy" was a landmark musical and arguably Ethel Merman's greatest role as Rose, the "stage mother" driven to make her daughter a star. In addition to Ms. Merman, the production included great performances by Jack Klugman and Sandra Church as Herbie (Rose's suitor) and Louise (aka Gypsy Rose Lee), respectively.

The classic score by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim is filled with memorable songs.

Best tracks include:

Some People
Small World
You'll Never Get Away From Me
All I Need Is The Girl
Everything's Coming Up Roses
Together Wherever We Go
Let Me Entertain You
Rose's Turn

Despite losing that seasons Best Musical Tony Award to "The Sound Of Music" & "Fiorello" (a tie), "Gypsy" remains a force on Broadway, revived three times since its original run, with Angela Landsbury, Tyne Daly & Bernadette Peters in the starring role. Each brought a different perspective to Rose, but the character will always belong to Ms. Merman!

A classic!

Average customer rating: MONO-TOWN the sound of a young america Longer Songs Pretty Much All You Need This is the Motown sound!

Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 Various Artists Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Disco | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Soul-Jazz & Boogaloo | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Teen Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Girl Groups | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Bubblegum | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music 1960s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music 1970s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music Compilations | Pop | Styles | Music | Dance Pop | Easy Listening | General | Oldies | Traditional Vocalists General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Northern | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Compilations | R&B | Styles | Music Motown | Compilations | R&B | Styles | Music Soul | Compilations | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music 1960-1969 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music 1970-1979 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | 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: Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1972-1992 Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974 Standing in the Shadows of Motown: Deluxe Edition The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 The Motown Box ASIN: B000006NUW Release Date: 1992-11-03

Tracks:

1. Money (That's What I Want) - Barrett Strong
2. Shop Around - The Miracles
3. Please Mr. Postman - The Marvelettes
4. Jamie - Eddie Holland
5. The One Who Really Loves You - Mary Wells
6. Do You Love Me - The Contours
7. Beechwood 4-5789 - The Marvelettes
8. You Beat Me To The Punch - Mary Wells
9. Stubborn Kind Of Fellow - Marvin Gaye
10. Two Lovers - Mary Wells
11. You've Really Got A Hold On Me - The Miracles
12. Come and Get These Memories - Martha & the Vandellas
13. Pride And Joy - Marvin Gaye
14. Fingertips- Part 2 - Little Stevie Wonder
15. (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave - Martha & the Vandellas
16. Mickey's Monkey - The Miracles
17. Leaving Here - Eddie Holland
18. The Way You Do The Things You Do - The Temptations
19. My Guy - Mary Wells
20. Devil With The Blue Dress - Shorty Long
21. Every Little Bit Hurts - Brenda Holloway
22. Baby I Need Your Loving - Four Tops
23. Dancing in the Street - Martha & the Vandellas
24. My Smile Is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down) - Crawford, Carolyn
25. Needle in a Haystack - Velvelettes
26. Baby Love - Supremes
27. Come See About Me - Supremes
28. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) - Gaye, Marvin

Tracks:

1. My Girl - The Temptations
2. He Was Really Sayin Somethin' - The Velvelettes
3. Ask The Lonely - Four Tops
4. Shotgun - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
5. Nowhere to Run - Martha & the Vandellas
6. When I'm Gone - Brenda Holloway
7. OOO Baby Baby - The Miracles
8. I Can't Helf Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) - Four Tops
9. First I Look At The Purse - The Contours
10. The Tracks Of My Tears - The Miracles
11. It's The Same Old Song - Four Tops
12. Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things) - Martha & the Vandellas
13. Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While) - Kim Weston
14. Uptight (Everything's Alright) - Stevie Wonder
15. Don't Mess With Bill - The Marvelettes
16. Darling Baby - The Elgins
17. This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You) - Isley Brothers
18. Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam) - The Monitors
19. Function At The Junction - Shorty Long
20. (I'm A) Roadrunner - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
21. Ain't Too Proud To Beg - The Temptations
22. What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted - Jimmy Ruffin
23. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
24. Love Gone Bad - Chris Clark
25. You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes
26. Beauty Is Only Skin Deep - The Temptations
27. Heaven Must Have Sent You - The Elgins

Tracks:

1. Reach Out I'll Be There - Four Tops
2. I'm Losing You - The Temptations
3. Standing In The Shadows Of Love - Four Tops
4. It Take Two - Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
5. The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game - Marvelettes
6. Jimmy Mack - Martha & The Vandellas
7. Bernadette - Four Tops
8. Ain't No Mountian High Enough - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
9. More Love - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
10. I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gladys Knight & The Pips
11. I Second That Emotion - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
12. I Wish It Would Rain - The Temptations
13. I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You - Rita Wright
14. Does Your Mama Know About Me - Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers
15. Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrel
16. Love Child - Diana Ross & The Supremes
17. For Once In My Life - Stevie Wonder
18. Cloud Nine - The Temptations
19. I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
20. Baby, Baby Don't Cry - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
21. Twenty-Five Miles - Edwin Starr
22. My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) - David Ruffin
23. What Does It take (To Win Your Love) - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
24. I Can't Get Next To You - The Temptations
25. Baby I'm For Real - The Originals
26. Up The Ladder To The Roof - The Supremes

Tracks:

1. I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
2. The Bells - The Originals
3. Gat Ready - Rare Earth
4. ABC - The Jackson 5
5. Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today) - The Temptations
6. The Love You Save - The Jackson 5
7. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - Stevie Wonder
8. War - Edwin Starr
9. It's A Shame - The Spinners
10. Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross
11. Still Water (Love) - Four Tops
12. I'll Be There - The Jackson 5
13. The Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
14. Stoned Love - The Supremes
15. If I Were Your Woman - Gladys Knight & The Pips
16. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) - The Temptations
17. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
18. Never Can Say Goodbye - The Jackson 5
19. Nathan Jones - The Supremes
20. I Don't Want To Do Wrong - Gladys Knight & The Pips
21. Smiling Faces Sometimes - The Undisputed Truth
22. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) - Mavin Gaye
23. I Just Want To Celebrate - Rare Earth

Amazon.com

Motown did so many things well in the '60s and early '70s that this overview of the label's smashes (and some lesser-known classics) practically demands four CDs. It gets them, too, filling them with single mixes of more than 100 tracks. That the running order begins with Barrett Strong's statement of purpose "Money (That's What I Want)" and ends with Marvin Gaye's statement of concern "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" says a lot about how far the company moved in its golden decade--but no more so than what the same two cuts' differences in sound get across. The company was able to blend the smooth and the harsh in ways that few other pop entities have ever mastered, thereby getting over not only to the feet and the wallet, but to the heart. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

MONO-TOWN.......2007-02-25

HITSVILLE USA is a box set that's clearly marked as a SINGLES COLLECTION-- that means these 104 tracks are in the original monaural sound. If you're looking for stereo mixes, this isn't the collection for you. That issue aside, the only real criticism of the album is one of programming-- songs tend to be clustered by artist or group. Perhaps a more thorough shuffle was in order.

Each CD jewel case is fronted with a repro of a Gordy Co. label, including one of the very first MOTOWNs, which was pale pink in color. The accompanying 68-page long box book is quite comprehensive. Recording dates for all songs and chart positions are given. There's lots of great photos; artists and groups are given a few pages of bio each. This HITSVILLE USA four-CD box set is fairly extensive, and about all you'd ever need in a compilation of MOTOWN 45s.

TOTAL RUNNING TIMES --
DISC ONE -- 76:10
DISC TWO -- 75:21
DISC THREE -- 77:09
DISC FOUR -- 74:10

the sound of a young america.......2006-12-28

this was my true introduction to the music of motown and now i see why motown was great a lot of these song i frist heard by other artist but hearing the orginals has made appericate the motown sound so much more and i believe anyone who hears these songs will enjoy them for a lifetime and i know i am

Longer Songs.......2006-12-09

The Songs on this are FANTASTIC! I Love Mono Recording. Everyone says that if it's stereo, it "sounds better". I think NOT! It Sounds alright. But, Hey, if you want longer mono versions of the music, without the unnecessary extensions, buy this. For example, Nowhere To Run on this box set-2:58.
Motown Box-Nowhere To Run-2:46-TWELVE SECONDS!There's A Big Difference there.
Also, With Dancing In The Street, my favorite part is on this, when Martha says "Yeah", at the end, on Motown Box, 4 seconds are 'remastered'. (frown)Therefore, it is'nt there. BUT, people, There are a few notable songs missing. Quicksand, By Martha & the Vandellas, Bye Bye Baby, By Mary Wells, Playboy, by the Marvelettes, When The Lovelight starts shining through His eyes, by the Supremes, Hitch Hike, By Marvin Gaye, and others, you know what I mean? So, overall, this is the better box to get.

Pretty Much All You Need.......2006-10-17

There are so many good songs here, you can't go wrong. Don't let the whole 'mono' thing scare you away, either. With a decent stereo, these sound just fine. Just turn up the bass a little and crank it loud. I like about 80% of the songs in this collection, and for the price you can't go wrong; Nice booklet w/ lots of cool pictures included. With this collection, you'd only need to buy a handful of other discs to complete your Motown collection...

This is the Motown sound!.......2006-08-11

What is Motown all about? The answer lies within the music of this rather impressive line-up of songs on "Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971." It's the story of how a gifted songwriter, Berry Gordy, Jr., makes his way on up the ladder of success spearheading one of if not the most successful
of all R&B-based record companies during the golden age of American popular music. Detroit, Michigan, known as the Motor City, gained yet another nickname: Hitsville USA. Everyone referred to it as Motown. In this collection, all of the well-known groups (The Supremes, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Miracles, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Jr. Walker & the All-Stars, The Jackson 5) are represented as well as the known solo artists (Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway). Included also are some wonderful one or two-shot wonders (Shorty Long, Brenda Holloway, Eddie Holland [of Motown's hit-making songwriting trio H-D-H], The Velvelettes, The Elgins, The Monitors, The Contours) and more. What's interesting about this set is that there are many of the well-known songs along with some songs that you probably just don't hear anymore or weren't that well-known. So you get your fair share of both like the Supremes' well-known "Baby Love" and Shorty Long's rare but wonderful "Function at the Junction." The downside of this set is nothing too alarming. Not all the artists' hit songs, big and small, are included and I think that's done so that other little-known-but-definitely-worth-discovering are given a chance at spin time, too; even some from the top artists, too. Think about it: if every single Motown record that made the charts was included, this collection would just balloon up, and there'd be no telling how far. So this is a very nice general overview of those first 12 and golden years of Motown. That's what this is all about: the general overview. Granted, if you want to investiagte further about a certain artist's music, there are numerous collections out there devoted just to them like the single "Ultimate Collection" CDs, or box collections of the artist. But, back to this one. Included within is a very nice 68-page booklet containing essays and phots of ALL the artists, plus musician credits, the track-by-track listing of the whole set, including original release date, label, and chart position.
In the middle of the book the different 45s are pictured all together on a two-page spread which was neat, and on the cover are the picture sleeves. It was an unusual move to put no artists and only songs on the back of the individual discs. The same goes for the back of the box. The paper inserts of the CD cases are record labels that have just the label name: Gordy, Soul, Motown, Tamla. Still, out of all the Motown best of various artists collections, this is the big one! It's great party music and dance music. People young and old will love this. The sound on here is terrific and powerful, but, yes, it is in mono. If you look in the back of the booklet, there is noted that the original single masters were used (the 45 RPM versions), so what does that tell you? Nevertheless, the sound is strong for 1992 remastering. Together, this set is living proof that Motown wasn't just a hit-making machine of a record-company, it was a feeling!

Average customer rating: Do you really want this? Stax/Volt is monumental! What a waste of money this was...... AN EDUCATION IN SOUL MUSIC 101 Whew!

The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 Various Artists Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Doo Wop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music 1950s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music 1960s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music Oldies | Compilations | Pop | 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 Northern | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Compilations | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music Southern Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music 1960-1969 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music 1950-1959 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Blues | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music R&B & Soul | Box Sets | 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 R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974 The Complete Stax-Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971 The Complete Stax-Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 3: 1972-1975 Chess Blues Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 ASIN: B000002IQU Release Date: 1991-04-30

Tracks:

1. Fool In Love - Veltones
2. 'Cause I Love You - Carla & Rufus
3. Gee Whiz - Carla Thomas
4. You Make Me Feel So Good - The Chips
5. A Love Of My Own - Carla Thomas
6. Last Night - Mar-Keys
7. I Didn't Believe - Rufus & Friend
8. I'm Going Home - Prince Conley
9. (Mama, Mama) Wish Me Good Luck - Carla Thomas
10. Morning After - Mar-Keys
11. The Life I Live - Barbara Stephens
12. About Noon - Mar-Keys
13. Burnt Biscuits - Triumphs
14. I Kinda Think He Does - Carla Thomas
15. Foxy - Mar-Keys
16. You Don't Miss Your Water - William Bel
17. Formula Of Love - William Bell
18. Goofin' Off - Macy Skipper
19. Wait A Minute - Barbara Stephens
20. Sunday Jealous - Nick Charles
21. That's The Way It Is With Me - Barbara Stephens
22. No Tears - The Tonettes
23. Pop-Eye Stroll - Mar-Keys
24. The Three Dogwoods - Nick Charles
25. Why Should I Suffer With The Blues - The Canes
26. Whot's Happenin'! - Mar-Keys
27. Just Across The Street - The Del-Rios
28. There's A Love - The Del-Rios
29. Can't Ever Let You Go - Rufus Thomas

Tracks:

1. Green Onions - Booker T. & The MGs
2. Behave Yourself - Booker T. & The MGs
3. Any Other Way - William Bell
4. I'll Bring It Home To You - Carla Thomas
5. Sack-O-Woe - Mar-Keys
6. These Arms Of Mine - Otis Redding
7. Teardrop Sea - The Tonettes
8. The Dog - Rufus Thomas
9. Jelly Bread - Booker T. & The MGs
10. I Told You So - William Bell
11. Bo-Time - Mar-Keys
12. Home Grown - Booker T. & The MGs
13. My Imaginary Guy - Deanie Parker & The Valadors
14. Just As I Thought - William Bell
15. What A Fool I've Been - Carla Thomas
16. The Hawg, Part One - Eddie Kirk
17. Don't Be Afraid Of Love - Oscar Mack
18. That's My Guy - Cheryl & Pam Johnson
19. Chinese Checkers - Booker T. & The MGs
20. Somebody Mentioned Your Name - William Bell
21. What Can I Do - Bobby Marchan
22. That's What My Heart Needs - Otis Redding
23. What Can It Be - The Astors
24. Bango - Billy & The King Bees
25. Them Bones - Eddie Kirk
26. Walking The Dog - Rufus Thomas
27. I'll Show You - William Bell

Tracks:

1. Pain In My Heart - Otis Redding
2. Gee Whiz It's Christmas - Carla Thomas
3. Mo' Onions - Booker T. & The MGs
4. Frog Stomp - Floyd Newman
5. Can Your Monkey Do The Dog - Rufus Thomas
6. You Won't Do Right - Bobby Marchan
7. Wondering (When My Love Is Coming Home) - The Drapels
8. Each Step I Take - Deanie Parker
9. The Honey Dripper - The Van-Dells
10. Who Will It Be Tomorrow - William Bell
11. Come To Me - Otis Redding
12. Don't Leave Me This Way - Otis Redding
13. I Don't Want You Anymore - Eddie Jefferson
14. Restless - The Cobras
15. Somebody Stole My Dog - Rufus Thomas
16. Big Party - Barbara & The Browns
17. That's Really Some Good - Rufus & Carla
18. Night Time Is The Right Time - Rufus & Carla
19. Security - Otis Redding
20. Dream Girl - Oscar Mack
21. Closer To My Baby - Dorothy Williams
22. I've Got No Time To Lose - Carla Thomas
23. Young Man - The Drapels
24. Soul Dressing - Booker T. & The MGs
25. After Laughter (Comes Tears) - Wendy Rene
26. Can't Explain How It Happened - Ivory Joe Hunter
27. Bush Bash - Mar-Keys
28. Please Return To Me - The Fleets

Tracks:

1. Jump Back - Rufus Thomas
2. Chained And Bound - Otis Redding
3. In My Heart - Barbara & The Browns
4. Spunky - Johnny Jenkins
5. Bar B-Q - Wendy Rene
6. The Sidewalk Surf - Mad Lads
7. Can't Be Still - Booker T. & The MGs
8. A Woman's Love - Carla Thomas
9. Yank Me (Doodle) - Baracudas
10. That's How Strong My Love Is - Otis Redding
11. Mr. Pitiful - Otis Redding
12. Don't Let Her Be Your Baby - Del-Rays
13. Can't See You When I Want To - David Porter
14. My Lover - Barbara & The Browns
15. Got You On My Mind - The Admirals
16. How Do You Quit (Someone You Love) - Carla Thomas
17. Biggest Fool In Town - Gorgeous George
18. Banana Juice - Mar-Keys
19. Little Sally Walker - Rufus Thomas
20. A Place Nobody Can Find - Sam & Dave
21. Goodnight Baby - Sam & Dave
22. Boot-Leg - Booker T. & The MGs
23. Outrage - Booker T. & The MGs
24. I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) - Otis Redding
25. I'm Depending On You - Otis Redding
26. Candy - Astors
27. Give You What I Got - Wendy Rene

Tracks:

1. Stop! Look What You're Doin' - Carla Thomas
2. Willy Nilly - Rufus Thomas
3. Don't Have To Shop Around - Mad Lads
4. Crying All By Myself - William Bell
5. I Take What I Want - Sam & Dave
6. When You Move You Lose - Rufus & Carla
7. Respect - Otis Redding
8. Make It Me - The Premiers
9. The World Is Round - Rufus Thomas
10. In The Twilight Zone - The Astors
11. Blue Groove - Sir Isaac & The Do-Dads
12. You Don't Know Like I Know - Sam & Dave
13. Grab This Thing (Part 1) - The Mar-Keys
14. Be My Lady - Booker T. & The MGs
15. Comfort Me - Carla Thomas
16. I Can't Turn You Loose - Otis Redding
17. Just One More Day - Otis Redding
18. I Want Someone - The Mad Lads
19. Birds & Bees - Rufus & Carla
20. Philly Dog - The Mar-Keys
21. I Had A Dream - Johnnie Taylor
22. Satisfaction - Otis Redding
23. Things Get Better - Eddie Floyd
24. I'll Run Your Hurt Away - Ruby Johnson
25. Hot Dog - Four Shells
26. Let Me Good To You - Carla Thomas
27. Hold On I'm Comin' - Sam and Dave

Tracks:

1. Laundromat Blues - Albert King
2. Sugar Sugar - Mad Lads
3. Share What You Got (But Keep What You Need) - William Bell
4. Marching Off To War - William Bell
5. My Lover's Prayer - Otis Redding
6. Your Good Thing (Is About To End) - Mable John
7. I Got to Love Somebody's Baby - Johnnie Taylor
8. I Want A Girl - Mad Lads
9. Knock On Wood - Eddie Floyd
10. B-A-B-Y - Carla Thomas
11. My Sweet Potato - Booker T. & The MGs
12. Booker Loo - Booker T. & The MGs
13. Oh, Pretty Woman - Albert King
14. Said I Wasn't Gonna Tell Nobody - Sam & Dave
15. Never Like This Before - William Bell
16. Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song) - Otis Redding
17. Patch My Heart - Mad Lads
18. Sisters' Got A Boyfriend - Rufus Thomas
19. Come To Me Darling - Ruby Johnson
20. When My Love Comes Down - Ruby Johnson
21. Try A Little Tenderness - Otis Redding
22. Crosscut Saw - Albert King
23. Little Bluebird - Johnnie Taylor
24. Toe Hold - Johnnie Taylor
25. Jingle Bells - Booker T. & The MGs

Tracks:

1. You Got Me Hummin' - Sam & Dave
2. You're Taking Up Another Man's Place - Mable John
3. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Carla Thomas
4. Please Uncle Sam (Send Back My Man) - Charmels
5. Something Good (Is Going To Happen To You) - Carla Thomas
6. Raise Your Hand - Eddie Floyd
7. Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One) - Johnnie Taylor
8. I Don't Want To Lose Your Love - Mad Lads
9. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby - Sam & Dave
10. Let Me Down Slow - Bobby Wilson
11. Hip Hug - Her - Booker T. & The MGs
12. Everybody Loves A Winner - William Bell
13. Mini-Skirt Minnie - Sir Mack Rice
14. When Tomorrow Comes - Carla Thomas
15. The Spoiler - Eddie Purrell
16. I Love You More Than Words Can Say - Otis Redding
17. If I Ever Needed Love (I Sure Do Need It Now) - Ruby Johnson
18. Same Time Same Place - Mable John
19. Tramp - Otis & Carla
20. Soul Finger - Bar-Kays
21. Knuckelhead - Bar-Kays
22. Shake - Otis Redding
23. Born Under A Bad Sign - Albert King
24. Soothe Me - Sam & Dave
25. I Can't Stand Up - Sam & Dave
26. Don't Rock The Boat - Eddie Floyd

Tracks:

1. My Inspiration - Mad Lads
2. Love Sickness - Sir Mack Rice
3. Sophisticated Sissy - Rufus Thomas
4. I'll Always Have Faith In You - Carla Thomas
5. How Can You Mistreat The One You Love - Jeanne & The Darlings
6. Love Is Doggone Good Thing - Eddie Floyd
7. Groovin' - Booker T. & The MGs
8. Slim Jenkins Place - Booker T. & The MGs
9. Glory Of Love - Otis Redding
10. I'm A Big Girl Now - Mable John
11. Wait You Dog - Mable John
12. You Can't Get Away From It - Johnnie Taylor
13. Eloise (Hang On In There) - William Bell
14. Knock On Wood - Otis & Carla
15. I'm Glad To Do It - C.L. Blast
16. C.L. Blast/Double Up - C.L. Blast
17. You Can't Run Away From Your Heart - Judy Clay
18. I'll Gladly Take You Back - Charmels
19. Soul Man - Sam & Dave
20. Daddy Didn't Tell Me - Astors
21. Give Everybody Some - Bar-Kays
22. On A Saturday Night - Eddie Floyd
23. Don't Hit Me No More - Mable John
24. Somebody's Sleeping In My Bed - Johnnie Taylor
25. Winter Snow - Booker T. & The MGs
26. Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday - William Bell
27. What'll I Do For Satisfaction - Johnny Daye
28. Pick Up The Pieces - Carla Thomas

Tracks:

1. Down Ta My House - Rufus Thomas
2. As Long As I've Got You - Charmels
3. Soul Girl - Jeanne & The Darlings
4. Cold Feet - Albert King
5. Wrap It Up - Sam & Dave
6. Wrap It Up - Sam & Dave
7. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
8. Don't Pass Your Judgement - Memphis Nomads
9. Lovey Dovey - Otis & Carla
10. I Got A Sure Thing - Ollie & The Nightingales
11. Big Bird - Eddie Floyd
12. A Hard Day's Night - Bar-Kays
13. Next Time - Johnnie Taylor
14. A Tribute To A King - William Bell
15. Every Man Ought To Have A Woman - William Bell
16. Able Mable - Mable John
17. The Memphis Train - Rufus Thomas
18. I Think I Made A Boo Boo - Rufus Thomas
19. What Will Later On Be Like - Jeanne & The Darlings
20. Hang Me Now - Jeanne & The Darlings
21. Soul Power - Derek Martin
22. Bring Your Love Back To Me - Linda Lyndell
23. A Dime A Dozen - Carla Thomas
24. Whatever Hurts You - Mad Lads
25. The Happy Song (Dum Dum) - Otis Redding
26. (I Love) Lucy - Albert King
27. I Ain't Particualar - Johnnie Taylor

Customer Reviews:

Do you really want this?.......2007-04-17

If you're reading this, you probably don't need me to tell you about how great the music was that came out of Stax records in the 60s. What you probably do want to know is if you should plunk down $100 of your hard-earned money for this box set.

If you're not already a fan of Stax or 60s soul, this probably isn't the best place to start. Check out the 4-disc Stax Story, which includes 3 discs of primo Memphis soul and a disc of killer live tracks. If you're left wanting more, this singles collection is the next step.

Next, you should know that you're not getting nine discs of solid gold. There is some filler, but amazingly little. If you enjoy discovering obscure or hidden nuggets, there's a whole gold mine waiting for you here. During the years covered here, the quality control at Stax seems to have been set at an incredibly high level.

Finally, note the dates in the title. This set ends in 1968, when Stax records dissolved its partnership with Atlantic. This box is released by Atlantic, so it also ends in 1968, although Stax continued releasing music into the mid-70s. This is something that will drive completists crazy, although it's not a deal-breaker, at least in my opinion. Following Otis Redding's death in 1968, the music coming out of Stax gradually became smoother and more orchestrated, so the music collected here is mostly the grittier, hard-grooving Stax. That said, though, this set won't get you the gems that did come out of late period Stax, so if you're looking for classics like the Staples Singers' "Respect Yourself" or "I'll Take You There," Jean Knight's "Mr. Big Stuff," Isaac Hayes' "Theme from Shaft," or Linda Lydell's "What a Man"--all classic, well known songs--you won't find them here.

Stax/Volt is monumental!.......2006-06-05

"Knock On Wood", "Soul Man", "Gee Whiz", "Green Onions,"
"Last Night", "Hold On I'm Comin'", "Walkin' The Dog" and
"Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay." What do all these songs have in common? Sure, they're great soul and rhythm & blues tunes, but something more. What do Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Sam & Dave, Eddie Floyd, Otis Redding and Albert King have in common? Rhythm & blues and soul superstars, yes, but that same something is also true. These songs and these artists all recorded for the "little label that could": STAX. In the '60s, Stax became a local R&B music giant in Memphis. The company was founded and ran by Jim Stewart, a country fiddle player and former banker, who was first exposed to R&B when he recorded a local doo-wop group called the Veltones with their song, "Fool In Love." As Rufus Thomas a local disc jockey heard the song, he and daughter Carla cut "Cause I Love You", a great R&B gem for Jim. When the record got out, Atlantic Records heard this fresh new sound and got in on the distribution deal with Stax that would exist as a handshake deal to a documented deal up until May 1968. What also happened during that time? Musical history.

At nine CDs, this set offers the complete history of what made Stax absolutely phenomenal. As you listen all the way
through, hopefully not all in one sitting since it's quite exhaustive unless you end up loving it that much, you'll notice as you start from disc one the experimental stages at trying to find and develop a distinct sound and progressing towards it. Some of the songs on disc four display it and from there on all the way to disc nine, it's there and ever-driving as can be. This is the ultimate example at what a box set is all about: covering as much material as possible. That doesn't even begin to describe what's presented here; it's too good because it is what it is: complete. There are 244 tracks in all and each CD has 25+ tracks clocking in with 70+ minutes of music on each.
It's complete all right for it features every A-side released by Stax and the subsidiary Volt along with a few well-known B-sides. That means every Stax or Volt record released by the stars like Rufus Thomas, ("Walkin' The Dog", "Can Your Monkey Do The Dog", "Jump Back", "Sophisticated Sissy", etc.), Carla Thomas ("Gee Whiz", "B-A-B-Y", "Stop! Look What You're Doin'", "Pick Up The Pieces", etc.), Otis Redding ("These Arms of Mine", "Mr. Pitiful", "Respect", "Try a Little Tenderness", etc.), Booker T. & the MGs ("Green Onions", "Jelly Bread", "My Sweet Potato", "Hip-Hug Her", etc.), Sam & Dave ("You Don't Know Like I Know", "Hold On! I'm Comin', "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby", "Soul Man", etc.), Eddie Floyd ("Things Get Better", "Knock On Wood", "Raise Your Hand", "Big Bird", etc.), William Bell ("You Don't Miss Your Water", "Never Like This Before", "Share What You Got", "Eloise Hang On In There", etc.), Albert King ("Laundromat Blues", "Crosscut Saw", "Born Under A Bad Sign", "Cold Feet", etc.) plus so many, many more. So if you know that those artists who were very consistent at Stax, there's pratically a full CD's worth of their songs here spread throughout the nine discs. Whether they were hits or not, everything is here including some unusual numbers that seem to break the normal Stax scheme like Macy Skipper's "Goofin' Off" which is humorous dee-jay kind of track, Cheryl and Pam Johnson's "That's My Guy", which sounds like a show-bizzy, TV commercial kind of tune, Nick Charles' "Sunday Jealous" and "The Three Dogwoods" which sound like soft, dry pop songs of that era,
and the Del-Rays' "Don't Let Her Be Your Baby" which tries to emulate the Beatles or the Dave Clark Five. This has got everything, so calling all collectors! It comes with a little 80-page book that could be worth about $15 separately so getting this with music is a bargain. The book has liner notes about the artits, the music, some real nice photos of the stars plus a track by track listing including the original catalog number and chart position (for those applicable) for each song.

Is it worth it? Absoultely. Pricey, but worth it. Finding this kind of music is getting rarer and rarer. Especially considering that about less than of these tracks didn't chart at all. Sure, the well-known hits can be found on smaller collections. This is the only collection that I know that has all the other stuff with it. Don't worry about parting with that kind of money. Being a musician and music fan, I can't think of a better investment, and if it's something you really enjoy, that makes it even more worthwhile. Here they are preserved on CD forever.

It's more than music to listen to. It's music you can dance to and groove to. Just listen to the sizzlin' guitars, the deep, pumping bass, the tight drums, the soulfulness of the vocalists and just the whole formula of each song. The sound quality is not good...it's perfect! Though everything is in big fat mono, since these were from the master tapes used on the original 45s (hence "singles" in the name), the sound is crisp and crystal clear. It sounds amazing on a system with adjustable bass output. Just crank that bass up, baby; it's practically what makes R&B. Every song is worth listening to for they help tell the story of Stax. They are all little gems. If a record didn't chart at all or it charted very low, so what? These people made music at leisurely paces and were great improvisers and just wanted to get out there, jam and do their own thing. If it sold and it was a hit, fantastic. If not, well, it was worth a shot. There is a good balance of the fast songs as well as the slow ballads. These are practically the unsung heroes of soul music; absoultely raw, gritty, rock-solid, vital and energetic they were. It was the opposite of Motown, their seemingly unbeatable giant of a competitor that was more slick and stylized in soul music. What's important lies in the musicality of the musicians and singers. Truly, this is what soul music is all about; it tells a story and expresses every human being's innermost and outermost feelings. Musicians can learn so much from this, for everyone involved here shows true musicianship. The thing was to make people appreciate and, yes, make them move to it. You can laugh with it, cry with it, and feel absolutely "soulified." It could make everyone, young and old, black and white, get up and dance and throw their cares away. It didn't matter what they were singing like Rufus Thomas on songs that have silly-sounding titles or lyrics like "Somebody Stole My Dog", or "I Think I Made A Boo Boo", you can just get up and let the driving music move you. You can laugh, but you'll find that you're laughing because it makes you feel good. So, they weren't Dylan or Lennon & McCartney. One listen to this entire set is all it takes, and you're hooked. Give this to a six year old and he or she will be a fan for life. Really, you'll never get tired of this music. The '60s were a time of social change and civil rights awareness. If only this music could have been more well-known and all these songs could have been hits, this would have brought everyone together to dance the day and night away. There's nothing like soul music. What more is there to say except that if you would like to have just one box set for your music collection, you just found a gold mine. That being said, if American music was the equivalent of a jewelry collection, all these songs would be the rare, precious and priceless gems.
So, to quote from a Mar-Keys' song, "grab this thing" because you'll want to keep it forever. It is thee essential and complete relevance of why Stax was the "little label that could"...and did!

What a waste of money this was.............2005-11-07

Having been a casual fan of Stax records for a few years; I decided earlier this year that I should go all out and splurge on this 9-CD box set. Big mistake.

I have many, many complaints about this set; but what it basically boils down to is that this whole set is an absolute mess. It misses many key B-sides such as Otis Redding's "Hard To Handle" and Booker T & The MG's "Tic Tac Toe"; and doesn't even include every a-side the label released, despite the title of the compilation (where are the sides that Hoyt Johnson released for the label?). The linear notes by Steve Greenberg (the man who gave us that phony "Soul Queen" Joss Stone; and the headache-inducing Baha Men) are horrible, mostly focusing on his personal opions of the artists and/or songs rather than the stories behind them. And within the sections for each disc in the booklet; they entries aren't actually arranged in any particular order (least of all the order of the tracks on the CDs, that would make too much sense). And there should've been more photos, too.

Add to this the set's main problem: the music. The fact is that most of the songs on here are really lame. Seriously. "Why did you buy it, then?" I hear you say. Well; the Stax songs I was familiar with (such as "Green Onions"; "B-A-B-Y"; "You Don't Miss Your Water"; "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay"; "Soul Man"; "Born Under A Bad Sign" etc) are all great songs. "Well, why don't you like this set then" you're thinking. Answer: because the 30-or-so great songs on here are sandwiched between over 200 filler songs over 9 discs.

If you think I'm being harsh on these songs, I'm not; I can appreciate songs like Wendy Rene's "Bar-B-Q" and the Memphis Nomad's "Don't Pass Your Judgement"; but aside from a few good numbers and a few pleasent-but-dull numbers, most of the non-hits on here are pretty bad.

Basically, if you really like a Stax artist then go and buy a best-of for that artist; if your looking for a sampler of Stax's best songs, then go and buy the 4-CD Stax Story; don't bother with this one.

AN EDUCATION IN SOUL MUSIC 101.......2003-07-09

I bought this set originally as individual CD's but thankfully was able to trade them in once I found out it had been boxed and got it with the Atlantic 8 CD box. They complement each other quite well with very minimal repition between the two sets. Originally this Stax/Volt set was released as a LP Sized box set with an appropriately sized booklet, so my review is based on that format. This set contains all of the Stax/Volt single "A" sides and key "B" sides to boot between the years 1959 and 1968 when Stax/Volt & Atlantic parted ways. The book is extremely informative, with great colour photos of original labels and the artists in question. I'm assuming it has maintained the same level of thoroughness in it's smaller format judging by the photo above. Like the Atlantic box this is an essential collection that serious music collectors should have and an incredible education on the roots of black soul music. Being Australian I hadn't heard 95% of this or the Atlantic stuff before with the odd Otis Redding, Booket T. & The MG's & Sam And Dave tracks reaching the airwaves or record shelves here. It's only with adult hindsight that I was able to delve backwards to investigate further.. I was in "Time Warp" mode back in the late 80's/Early 90's thanks to a similarly named Record store here in Sydney. This set is lovingly compiled and most of the tracks reveal a gritiness missing from today's so-called version of R & B (don't start me on that!) There isn't a lot I can add that my fellow reviewers haven't already stated. From one stand point this music is probably very personal to those who grew up listening to it (like the Beatles for me). But I love soul music too and to hear the grooves put out by that Stax/Volt house band puts so many others to shame for sheer quality and toughness. There are probably those who don't understand the difference between Motown & Stax/Volt/Atlantic. From an Aussie view, it's like comparing the Beatles & the Stones.. The Beatles would be Motown (slick & professional, great sounding records but tough when need be - they were fans of and influenced partly by that label) while the Stones would Stax/Volt/Atlantic (not as slick in appearance, rough on the edges but bluesy & gritty - most of their influences came from the deep south & Chicago blues). I hope that make sense. I've wanted to get the other 2 Stax sets for a while and maybe down the track I will..it's on my 5 year wishlist plan! That said buy this set for some thoroughly great music and an insight into a great label's massive but very important legacy.

Whew!.......2003-03-23

Probably the greatest box set there is. Out of all the tracks there are only two out and out duds - the Nick Charles ones. What is so amazing about this set is the incredible continuity of quality. Booker T. and the MG's....this truly is their legacy. What fabulous musicians...the tastiest that ever scratched their sound into vinyl. All of the Stax classics are here (Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Bookert T.,Albert King, Bar Kays, etc.) but the real treat are the ones that I was never aware of (William Bell, Mable John, The Astors, Gorgeous George). This is maybe the only huge box seat that is worth the dough.

Average customer rating: Great remastering! Fine compilation The late 1950's come alive with this entertaining new collection from Eric records.

Hard to Find 45s on CD, Volume 9: 1957-1959 Manufacturer: Eric Collection ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Contemporary | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Doo Wop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Teen Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Oldies | Compilations | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Hard to Find 45s on CD, Volume 10: 1960-1965 Hard to Find Jukebox Classics 1956 Hard To Find 45s on CD, Volume 7: More 60's Classics Fabulous Fifties Divas Sing Their Hard-To-Find Hits Hard To Find 45s On CD, Volume 2: 1961-1964 ASIN: B000N69OYY Release Date: 2007-04-17

Tracks:

1. High School U.S.A. (National Version) - Tommy Facenda (CD
2. Endless Sleep - Jody Reynolds
3. Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - Jivin' Gene & The Jokers (Rare On CD)
4. Rocking Pneumonia & The Boogie Woogie Flu - Huey "Piano" Smith
5. Robbin' The Cradle - Tony Bellus (Rare On CD)
6. Click Clack - Dicky Doo & The Don'ts (Rare On CD)
7. Lucky Ladybug - Billy & Lillie (Rare On CD)
8. White Bucks & Saddle Shoes - Bobby Pedrick Jr. (CD Debut)
9. Sandy - Larry Hall (Rare On CD)
10. Rockin' Little Angel - Ray Smith (Rare On CD)
11. Mona Lisa - Carl Mann
12. Honey Love - Narvel Felts (CD Debut in US)
13. Everybody Out'ta The Pool - The Lifeguards (CD Debut)
14. Teenage Hayride - Tender Slim (CD Debut)
15. The Happy Organ - Dave "Baby" Cortez
16. Philadelphia U.S.A. - The Nu Tornados (CD Debut)
17. I Don't Know What It Is - The Bluenotes (CD Debut)
18. Alone (Why Must I Be Alone) - The Shepherd Sisters (Rare On CD)
19. You - The Aquatones (Rare On CD)
20. Tear Drop - Santo & Johnny (CD Debut)
21. Hideaway - The Four Esquires (CD Debut)
22. Chanson D'amour - Art & Dotty Todd (Rare On CD)
23. A String of Trumpets - The Trumpeteers (CD Debut)

Album Description

Finally, five years after the last numbered volume, Eric Records is pleased to release "Hard To Find 45s on CD" Volume 9 (1957-1959) featuring our trademark formula of charted hits not commonly found on other CDs and a generous helping of CD debuts!

Volume 9 contains 23 carefully chosen classic songs (53 minutes of music) from the beginning of the rock `n' roll era, 15 of which made the Top 30. Many rarities + 10 hits never-before-on-CD. Superbly remastered for highest quality sound. Includes a 12 page booklet with detailed biographies of all the artists by Greg Adams . No real oldies collection is complete without these "hard to find 45s"!

Customer Reviews:

Great remastering! Fine compilation.......2007-05-25

Whether due to tracking down original master tapes, or just plain old engineering skill, the tracks on this compilation have a warmth and vibrancy seldom encountered on similar reissues. The audio experience is similar to listening to mint 45s through a great system. If you have any interest at all in the material, don't hestitate to acquire this disc!

The late 1950's come alive with this entertaining new collection from Eric records. .......2007-04-27

They are songs you just don't hear on the radio anymore. Even the weekend specialty shows that for many years featured the great rock 'n roll and doo wop sounds of the 1950's have now largely disappeared from the airwaves. Thankfully, the folks at Eric records have once again come to the rescue with a great new collection featuring an impressive variety of genres from this period. "Hard to Find 45's on CD, Vol. 9: 1957-1959" offers up 23 of the most distinctive and hard to find records of this period. Many of these songs were by artists who were one hit wonders while others were largely regional hits. In any case, this is a collection of songs you just won't find anywhere else.
If you are a big fan of the rockabilly sound you will certainly enjoy hearing Ray Smith's "Rockin' Little Angel" and Carl Mann's pulsating rendition of "Mona Lisa". Those who dig instrumentals can savor the great sound of Dave "Baby" Cortez's #1 hit "The Happy Organ" as well as Santo and Johnny's "Tear Drop" from 1959. It was fun to hear Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns classic New Orleans tune "Rockin' Pnuemonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" which is also included here. Fans of great group harmony will not be disappointed either. You will surely appreciate the lovingly remastered version of The Aquatones great hit "You". One song many people have probably forgotten about is the Four Esquires "Hideaway". If you are a fan of the Four Lads then you are certain to love this one. It is probably my favorite tune on this disc. And there are some songs here that just don't seem to fit into any particular category but are highly enjoyable nonetheless. Among them is the great Art and Dotty Todd recording of "Chanson D'amour" from 1957 and Jody Reynolds Top Ten smash "Endless Sleep". There were also a number of tunes that I had never heard before that turned out to be very pleasant surprises. "Philadelphia USA" by the Nu Tornados features the string band sound while The Bluenotes "I Don't Know What It Is" turns out to be a pretty fair doo wop tune. Also, be sure to check out "String of Trumpets" from the Trumpeteers and Jivin' Gene and the Jokers "Breakin' Up Is Hard Do". Outstanding stuff!
"Hard To Find 45's on CD, Vol. 9: 1957-1959" comes with a fascinating 12 page booklet featuring biographical information and photos on just about all of these artists as well as Billboard chart information on each of these songs. As always the remastering job is first rate. If you have never purchased a collection from Eric before I urge you to give this one a try. Over the past several years this company has emerged as the top reissue label in the U.S. Highly recommended!

Average customer rating: This guy is great!!! "Tremendous And Sad" Brings you back in time Nostalgic moments! EXCELLENT!!

The Best of Bobby Rydell: Cameo Parkway 1959-1964 Bobby Rydell Manufacturer: Abkco ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Teen Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Best of Chubby Checker: Cameo Parkway 1959-1963 The Best of 1961-1966 The Best of the Dovells 1961-1965 The Very Best of Bobby Vee Johnny Tillotson - 25 All-Time Greatest Hits ASIN: B000B8I8XM Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

1. Please Don't Be Mad
2. All I Want Is You
3. We Got Love
4. Kissin' Time
5. I Dig Girls
6. Wild One
7. Ding-A-Ling
8. Swingin' School
9. Little Bitty Girl
10. Volare
11. Sway
12. That Old Black Magic
13. I Wanna Thank You
14. Butterfly Baby
15. Good Time Baby
16. I've Got Bonnie
17. I'll Never Dance Again
18. Third House (In from the Right)
19. Wildwood Days
20. Cha-Cha-Cha
21. Best Man Cried
22. Forget Him
23. World Without Love
24. Jingle Bell Rock
25. Message from Bobby

Customer Reviews:

This guy is great!!!.......2007-02-22

I have loved Bobby Rydell (my little Italian boy) since I was a teenager.
Met him in Ocean City, Md. in the late 50's at a Buddy Dean record hop & was impressed at how sweet he was. I've had a crush ever since! Would love to see him again & know what's happeing in his life (children,career,
etc.) This CD is wonderful & brought back a lot of good memories.

"Tremendous And Sad".......2007-02-02

This has to be the most tremendous collection of Boby Rydell music put out! Nothing is ever ever perfect and even though "The Fish"is not included, so be it. By the Way, "Butterfly Bay" was a hit of his I believe within the summer of 1963.

Now, what is sad and it has nothing to do with this CD. I believe that from about '61 into'63 his talents were developing at an enormous clip. During the summer of '63 he had a STARRING role with Ann Margaret, Dick Van Dyke, and Paul Lynde in the HUGE movie "Bye Bye Birdie" and within the movie he sang a very moving song, "One Boy" with Ann Margaret. This is one of the most beautiful duets that I've ever seen and heard. The movie was a huge success. He followed the movie up with a touching and very big hit record,"Forget Him". That,sadly, became his swan song. Many americans truly did, very ashamedly, did "Forget Him".I feel as though with the movie "Bye Bye Birdie" and the two touching songs, "One Boy" (With Ann Margaret within the movie) and and the big hit, "Forget Him", which followed the movie, he was on his way to super stardom in both the recording fields and that of motion pictures. That is until the Beatles SQUASHED him with their fluff. He had (has) more talent within his little finger than all four of The Beatles ever had. In fact, his talents outweighed all of the fluff of the British artists that suddenly began to flood our american airwaves including not only The Beatles, but The Dave Clark Five, The Rolling Stones, Gerry and the Pace Makers, Hermans Hermets, and even many of the american artists such as The Beach Boys, etc. I'm even including groups like "The Hollies", etc. as producers of fluff that crushed Bobby Rydell. It was so very unfair when he was being totally cut out when his total talent was becoming more and more evident and more than likely super stardom was on the horizon. He was crushed by fluff.

It's tremendous that the CD is available and it's sad what The Beatles and other "artists" plus what the american public did to him. Shameless.

Brings you back in time.......2007-01-11

Just listening to this cd makes me think of another, younger time in my
life (not that I'm that old). Real music nostalgia for those who grew up
in the 60's. This is a definitely a must have cd for fans of rock and roll
and just good listening music.

Nostalgic moments!.......2006-08-26

I remember seeing Bobby Rydell on stage back in the '50's at home in New Zealand. This CD has everything I need to enjoy that era!

EXCELLENT!!.......2006-08-08

WITH A VOICE LIKE BOBBY'S, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE HE DIDN'T HAVE BIGGER HITS. THIS CD HAS AN EXCELLENT VARIETY OF STYLES. I RECOMMEND THIS CD TO ANYBODY WHO ENJOYS OLDIES.

Average customer rating: "Mattress" CD was excellent an oldie but a goodie Nothing like the original -- Awesome I saw the original on Broadway

Once Upon A Mattress (1959 Original Broadway Cast) Marshall Barer Manufacturer: Decca U.S. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Once Upon a Mattress Once Upon a Mattress (1997 Broadway Revival Cast) Once Upon a Mattress : Vocal Selections Bye Bye Birdie (1960 Original Broadway Cast) Fiorello! (1959 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B000002ONH Release Date: 1993-04-13

Tracks:

1. Overture - Orchestra
2. Many Moons Ago - Harry Snow
3. An Opening For A Princess - Joe Bova and Ensemble
4. In A Little While - Allen Case, Anne Jones
5. Shy - Carol Burnett, Joe Bova And Ensemble
6. Sensitivity - Jane White, Robert Weil
7. The Swamps Of Home - Carol Burnett, Joe Bova And Ensemble
8. Normandy - Harry Snow, Matt Mattox, Anne Jones
9. Spanish Panic - Jane White
10. Song Of Love - Carol Burnett, Joe Bova And Ensemble
11. Quiet - Jane White And Ensemble
12. Studio Dialogue - Carol Burnett
13. Happily Ever After - Carol Burnett
14. Man To Man Talk - Matt Mattox, Joe Bova
15. Very Soft Shoes - Matt Mattox And Ensemble
16. Yesterday I Loved You - Allen Case, Anne Jones
17. Nightingale Lullaby - Ginny Perlowin
18. Finale - Joe Bova, Matt Mattox, Jack Gilford And Ensemble

Amazon.com

Based on Hans Christian Andersen's tale The Princess and the Pea, Once Upon a Mattress opened in May 1959 and was a solid success, if not a huge blockbuster. It did well enough, in any case, to warrant a 1997 revival starring Sarah Jessica Parker. The show was far from revolutionary, but it provided a really fun vehicle for a cast of top stage personalities, including black actress Jane White, who played Queen Aggravain (a part originally written for comedienne Nancy Walker) in whiteface. But of course, Once Upon a Mattress's heart and soul was Carol Burnett, who, in her Broadway debut created the part of Princess Winnifred and delivered two of Mary Rodgers's best songs, the hilarious "Shy" and the spunky "Happily Ever After," which sounds a bit like Jule Styne at his most rhythmic. Burnett's timing and performance remain as sharp as they were 40 years ago. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

"Mattress" CD was excellent.......2007-01-09

I've really enjoyed this CD. I only wish the play was available on DVD.

an oldie but a goodie.......2006-03-15

Loved Carol Burnett then and love her now. This original cast CD is a lovely trip down memory lane.

Nothing like the original -- .......2006-01-30

No offense to any of the subsequent "Freds" but Carol Burnett OWNS this role. The recording is as fresh and funny as anything being done today and this is the version musical theatre fans should have in their library. Get it.

Awesome.......2006-01-22

My school did this musical last year (Spring 2005) and I had never heard of it before, so I bought both the Revial and the Original Cast Recordings. Fell in love. I was Sir Harry and loved both songs that I sang in. In my opinion, those are the two best songs in the entire musical, but then again, I'm biased.

Once Upon A Mattress OCR is by far the best out there. Don't get me wrong, the Revival Cast did a wonderful job (soundtrack at least) But There is something about Carol Burnett. She was meant to sing be Fred. But one thing that I didn't like is that "The Minstrel, the Jester & I" wasn't in this recording. But that is really the only problem I had with this.

My fav songs include:
In a Little While (because I sang it)
Yesterday I Loved You (again, I sang it)
Many Moons Ago
Shy

Would I recomend this CD? YES I WOULD!! I would shout it from the rooftops that people should by this CD! It's a funny, quaint little musical that people need to know about. I LOVE IT!

I saw the original on Broadway.......2005-12-19

Once Upon a Mattress was one of the first Broadway shows that I ever saw and I was totally mesmorized and laughed so hard that my side hurt. Carol Burnett was the perfect person to play Fred and it was one of those magical performances that stays with you for a lifetime. The original cast album captures the fun and spirit of the show.

Later during the run of the show a friend of mine joined the chorus and when we talked about the experience, he told me that the joy that was on stage was similar to that felt by the cast and that was apparent on the album. They especially liked working with Ms. Burnett as she was a giving and caring actress.

I recommend this album to anyone who wants to spend some time just feeling good.

Average customer rating: 4 and a half stars because of "Limbo Rock" It's a shame this doesn't include all his top 40 hits... THIS RELEASE WAS WELL OVERDUE,AND WELL WORTH THE WAIT Let's limbo some more! Finally...The Original Recordings

The Best of Chubby Checker: Cameo Parkway 1959-1963 Chubby Checker Manufacturer: Abkco ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Best of Bobby Rydell: Cameo Parkway 1959-1964 The Best of Dee Dee Sharp 1962-1966 The Best of 1961-1966 The Best of the Dovells 1961-1965 The Best of the Tymes 1963-1964 ASIN: B000B8I8XW Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

1. Dancin' Party
2. Twist
3. Toot
4. Class
5. Twistin' U.S.A.
6. Hucklebuck
7. Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On
8. Pony Time
9. Dance the Mess Around
10. Good, Good Lovin'
11. Let's Twist Again
12. Fly
13. Slow Twistin' - Chubby Checker, Dee Dee Sharp
14. Popeye the Hitchhiker
15. Limbo Rock
16. Let's Limbo Some More
17. Hooka Tooka
18. Loddy Lo
19. Hey, Bobba Needle
20. Birdland
21. Surf Party
22. Twist It Up
23. Twistin' Round the World
24. Jingle Bell Rock

Customer Reviews:

4 and a half stars because of "Limbo Rock".......2006-06-11

Unlike other reviewers, I won't quibble about the 3 missing
titles or the sequencing (I think "Dancin' Party" lead off
the CD because of the lyrical content; give it a listen). But my issue is with the very end of "Limbo Rock". If you still have "Limbo Rock" on vinyl in your collection, listen to the end of the vinyl version and then listen to the end of the CD version. It sounds to me like the drum flourish that closed "Limbo Rock" was tacked on a second time. No, my CD is NOT scratched! Hmmmm.....

HOWEVER, overall it is WONDERFUL that ABCKO has finally released
not only the ORIGINAL Chubby hits on CD, but nearly everything
else from Cameo-Parkway, almost all of which has been very hard to come by on CD. If you're not as fussy as I am about "Limbo
Rock", this CD is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (By the way, my favorite
is "The Class"! Hysterical!)

It's a shame this doesn't include all his top 40 hits..........2005-12-04

After waiting 20 years for Chubby Checker's original cameo-parkway hits to appear on cd, why did they have to leave off three of this top 40 hits? Too bad. I guess I STILL have to keep my old vinyl copies of the three missing songs: "Twenty Miles", "Lazy Elsie Molly", and "Let's Do the Freddie".

I would have rather had these than tracks that weren't hits (like "Toot" whose background music sounds like "Short Shorts" by the Royal Teens".

THIS RELEASE WAS WELL OVERDUE,AND WELL WORTH THE WAIT.......2005-11-03

THIS DISC IS GREAT.NOW WE CAN HEAR ALL HIS TOP 10 HITS ON ONE ALBUM.WE GET THE ORIGINAL HITS,NOT THE REMAKES,THAT SHOW UP ON OTHER CD COLLECTIONS.THE SOUND IS EXCELLENT.ITS BEEN AWHILE,BUT I AM GOING TO LIMBO,AFTER I FINISH THIS REVIEW.ENJOY THE MUSIC,IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT.

Let's limbo some more!.......2005-10-24

The wait is over. This collection brings us the official release of the original Parkway recordings of one of the era's most successful male solo artists. The set consists of 24 tracks total, all in mono, including 22 that hit the Hot 100. Missing are three top 40 hits ("Twenty Miles" that peaked at #15 in 1963, "Lazy Elsie Molly" that peaked at #40 in July of 1964, and "Let's Do the Freddie" that hit #40 in May of 1965). However, the b-side to the original release of "The Twist" along with one album cut are thrown in. The tracks are not in chronological order, but the digital sound is supreme. A four page essay (written by Jeff Tamarkin, who also authored the essay for the Cameo Parkway box set released in May 2005) plus five pages of credits and chart info detail the career of the former chicken plucker turned king of the dance crazes. Most fans and collectors will be satisfied (you can't beat the price). Highly recommended.

Finally...The Original Recordings.......2005-10-21

Why it took Cameo Parkway so long to release this muisc on CD is unclear to me, but it's nice to have the original recordings finally released after being unavailable for decades.

This 24-track collection presents 18 of his 21 hits that he recorded for the label. [The only missing hits are "Twenty Miles" (#15, 1963) and "Lazy Elsie Molly" and "Let's Do the Freddie" (both peaked at #40 in 1964).]

Checker's best known song is, of course, "The Twist." The song was so popular, it is the only song to reach No. 1 on the pop chart in nonconsecutive years (1960 and 1962). He also had million-sellers with "Let's Twist Again" and "Limbo Rock." Additional dance craze top ten hits included "Pony Time," "The Fly," "Popeye (The Hitchhiker)" and a duet with labelmate Dee Dee Sharp on "Slow Twistin'." Checker also had a holiday hit with labelmate Bobby Rydell on "Jingle Bell Rock."

My only quarrel with this collection is the sequencing. It should have been in chronological order, starting with his 1959 debut "The Class." And if you aren't going to do that, at least start with his signature song, "The Twist," not 1962's "Dancin' Party." With that aside, this is an enjoyable collection of dance songs. No serious lyrical content, just plain fun music. RECOMMENDED

Average customer rating: Musical. rosielyn Mary Martin in THE SOUND OF MUSIC Movie Sountrack More Enjoyable MARY MARTIN FOREVER

The Sound of Music (1959 Original Broadway Cast) Richard Rodgers , Oscar Hammerstein II , Mary Martin , and Theodore Bikel Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Classic Musicals | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: My Fair Lady (1956 Original Broadway Cast) South Pacific (Original 1949 Broadway Cast) The Music Man (1957 Original Broadway Cast) Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast) The King and I: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Album (Original 1951 Broadway Cast) ASIN: B00000AG6Y Release Date: 1998-09-15

Tracks:

1. Act I: Preludium
2. Act I: The Sound Of Music
3. Act I: Maria
4. Act I: My Favorite Things
5. Act I: Do-Re-Mi
6. Act I: Sixteen Going On Seventeen
7. Act I: The Lonely Goatherd
8. Act I: How Can Love Survive?
9. Act I: The Sound Of Music (Reprise)
10. Act I: Laendler
11. Act I: So Long, Farewell
12. Act I: Climb Ev'ry Mountain
13. Act II: No Way To Stop It
14. Act II: An Ordinary Couple
15. Act II: Processional
16. Act II: Sixteen Going On Seventeen (Reprise)
17. Act II: Edelweiss
18. Act II: Climb Ev'ry Mountain (Reprise)
19. Bonus Track: The Sound Of Music-A Symphonic Picture For Orchestra
20. Bonus Track: Do-Re-Mi

Amazon.com

Most of the civilized world identifies this Rodgers and Hammerstein classic with the Robert Wise film, one of the most successful movie musicals of all time ("The Sound of Money," critic Pauline Kael termed it). Which is why this recording can be so disconcerting. Not only are there different tunes ("How Can Love Survive," "Laendler," "No Way to Stop It," but no "Confidence" or "Something Good," both written for the film), but Captain Von Trapp is played by heavyset folksinger Theodore Bikel, a far cry from young Christopher Plummer. Mary Martin was not only much older than the film's Julie Andrews, she wasn't even British! Then again, neither was the real Maria--and the stage version is, in many ways, more faithful to the Von Trapp Family Singers' true story. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews:

Musical........2007-03-03

This is the original version of The Sound of Music starring Mary Martin.. She does a wonderful job, I especially like the Lonely Goatherd.
A real difference from the Julie Andrews version. With extra songs left out of the film and one changed song. I thrououghly recommend this title.

rosielyn.......2007-01-13

This is the Sound of Music of my childhood. I never saw the show, but the music was all over when I was growing up. I have seen the movie many times, and went on the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg recently. So I got the original soundtrack. The movie is wonderful, but the music from the stage musical is much better. For one thing, they got the singers for their musical ability. No offense to Julie Andrews, a great actor and singer, but the music was written for Mary Martin, and it does show. The stage show did not have the benfit of the scenery of the movie, so the music in the stage show makes up for that. It's more about music, and less an accompaniment to the beautiful scenery around Salzburg. So watch the movie, and listen to this soundtrack

Mary Martin in THE SOUND OF MUSIC.......2007-01-11

Although the recording techniques were not as advanced as today, this recording is a wonderful reproduction of the original version of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. The digital sizzle of today's recordings is missing---but it sure beats vinyl. It's hard to believe that the first time audiences heard this music was not Julie Andrews in the 1956 movie version. Mary Martin was considered one of the musical theatre's first ladies and for students and fans of the art form, hearing her unique approach to the music should be very enlightening. Since Oscar Hammerstein died in 1960, one can assume that he had a good deal of input into the production of this recording. In effect we are listening to the musical, as the creators wanted us to hear it.

Movie Sountrack More Enjoyable.......2006-10-24

I have always considered myself a true music theatre buff, but never had the chance to listen to this soundtrack in it's entirety until recently.I love Rodgers and Hammerstein without a doubt and the movie musical is classic. I must say I like it considerably better than this original soundrack though, which for me is a rarity. The tempos drag and take away from some of the playfullness of its more popular numbers like Do-Re-Mi. The children do a wonderful job of keeping the energy up through all of their numbers though which distracts from that fact. My biggest complaint with the show though has to be Mary Martin. Her voice is a little too mature and the constant sliding into each and every note she sings is enough to give someone motion sickness. I envision the reverend mother as the children's governess every time she opens her mouth. There is no character or life to her delivery which makes each of her songs almost a chore to listen to. If I didn't have to refer to this soundtrack repeatedly when I choreographed the show, I would have probably discarded it and stuck to the movie soundtrack. That is the problem sometimes with making these shows into movies sometimes though. The deviation from the original can cause little nuances and details to change making it hard to have an honest opinion on one or the other. In my opinion, and that's all that it is, the movie soundrack captures the music much more vibrantly and for entertainment and listening pleasure is the more enjoyable of the two.

MARY MARTIN FOREVER.......2006-01-08

O dear!... we're way within the second millenium and..... what more would anyone of us fans of the `musicals' have to add of this OBC album.... after regarding the famous publicity shot of the trio: R. Rodgers, Oscar II and postulant-nun-clad Mary Martin hopping happily ever-after, as light as bird from brier, on the way to their Banks, after the hounds of Münich plagued... I mean `The Sound Of Music' played on Broadway for 1443 performances?

Following the Lunt-Fontanne and the Mark Hellinger Theater runs, we all know so well what happened: IN came the 1965 mamoth-blockbuster film starring First Soprano Assoluta Ms Julie Andrews, directed and supported by Robby Wise and Chris Plummer... aaah, and featuring the ageing, all the more gorgeous-- wishing she had a mouth organ to play-- Eleanor Parker.

"Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me"

(How can we EVER forget Chris Plummer's lovely, lovely inferior lip as he strummed his quaint guitar and lipsinked to this cutie, Alpine song...aaaw!)

Little to add; as we all remember, Andrews finally got her big break into movies via Poppins, Disney, co-star Dick Van Dike et al; she could then stick a stiff tongue out to Audrey Hepburn and she became (almost) every `musical' fan's daaaaarling.....Mary Pickford had preceded Dame Andrews in our granny's hearts, although Pickford --or granny-- could have never prevised Andrew's prodigious DICTION!. Anyway... what about `darling' Mary Martin... (Dallas' JR's mother, didn't you know by now??? )

What might be so laudatory about the 1959 Original Broadway Cast Album of your favourite musical movie? Robert Russel Bennet's orchestrations? Recording producer Goddard Lieberson???? (Who were THEY???) Yeah, I know:.... Mary Martin was too old to play the part of Maria.... Sure! So was Bernhard when she played L'Aiglon (and so was Tennesee's-Vivien Mrs. Stone `too old to play Rosalind' --said Coral Brown). But what about Mary Martin's voice, the awesome brivato, the delivery, the heartfelt every-Do-Re-Mi-notes she sang..... Who can beat her Sixteen-Goin-On-Seventeen-reprise number, or her `An Ordinary Couple torch song? Wwwweeeell.... mmmmm..... just listen to track 2; the title song... That's it, in a nutshell.

Average customer rating: Required listening. Sublime. LONG-LOST SOUNDTRACK OF A TROUBLED MOVIE . . . . . GREATEST PERFORMANCE OF GERSHWIN'S SCORE EVER!

Porgy & Bess (1959 Film Soundtrack) Manufacturer: Back Biter ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Soundtracks | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Gershwin: Porgy & Bess [With Members of the Original Cast] Porgy & Bess: High Performance The Josephine Baker Collection (Zou Zou / Princess Tam Tam / Siren of the Tropics) The King and I (1956 Film Soundtrack) Carousel (1956 Film Soundtrack) ASIN: B00002MY3V Release Date: 1995-05-08

Tracks:

1. Overture
2. Summertime
3. Woman Is A Sometime Thing
4. Wake- Gone, Gone, Gone- Porgy's Prayer
5. My Man's Gone Now
6. I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
7. Bess, You Is My Woman Now
8. Morning; Catfish Row
9. I Can't Sit Down
10. It Ain't Necessarily So
11. I Ain't Got No Shame
12. What Do You Want With Bess-
13. Street Cries; Strawberry Woman; Crab Man
14. I Loves You, Porgy
15. Red-Headed Woman
16. Clara, Clara
17. There's A Boat That's Leavin' Soon For New York
18. Oh, Where's My Bess-
19. I'm On My Way

Album Description

The story behind the controversial 1959 film adaptation of Gershwin's Porgy & Bess is a strange one. In the film starring Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge, director Otto Preminger took artistic license against Gershwin's wishes and the Gershwin estate eventually pulled the film from circulation and it has not been seen in over 30 years (although bootleg copies are sure to exist). The film's soundtrack itself has been called 'the definitive version' of Porgy & Bess and was arranged and conducted by Andre Previn. Vocalists include Cab Calloway, Pearl Bailey, Robert McFerrin (Bobby's father), Adele Addison and many others. A spectacular version of this 'opera', one that makes you long to see the withdrawn film. Bacbi.

Customer Reviews:

Required listening. Sublime........2007-05-13

Cab Calloway, as Sportin' Life, steals the recording. (For contractual reasons, he had to replace Sammy Davis Jr.(?), who was in the film. Lucky for us.)
Despite the Gershwins' own criticism, I believe this is the definitive version of the opera.
Let's hold our breath for the release of the film.
~!an

LONG-LOST SOUNDTRACK OF A TROUBLED MOVIE . . . . . .......2007-03-20

This 1995 CD from the German Back Bite label is a curious release. The occasional ticks and pops indicate that it is an LP-transfer to which too much noise reduction has been applied. The tape hiss is gone, but so are the upper ambient frequencies, giving it a peculiar "boxed-in" sound. Recorded in stereo, it has a very nice spatial feel with the orchestra placed behind the singers. However, at times the chorus seems too distant, too far away from the action. (Sounds great in the car, however.)

I agree wholeheartedly with Michael Portantiere's comments in The TheaterMania Guide to Musical Theater Recordings: ". . . Cab Calloway['s] . . . engaging performances . . . lack the sense of menace that the character needs. Despite its flaws, this recording is worth tracking down if only for baritone Robert McFerrin's extraordinary performance of Porgy's music . . . and Adelle Addison's lovely singing for Dandridge . . . both rein in their operatic voices for the film but they still sing beatifully, under the tasteful, respectful musical direction of Andre Previn and Ken Darby."

Perhaps Ms. Addison "reins in" her voice just a bit too much; I would have preferred a little more passion, especially in "What You Want With Bess?" and "I Loves You Porgy." (For an excellent example of "stage vs. movie" singing, compare Giorgio Tozzi's Emile De Beque on the 1959 film soundtrack of SOUTH PACIFIC and the 1976 Lincoln Center Cast recording.)

Not having seen the film, I can only assume that director Otto Preminger softened the roles of Bess and Sportin' Life to conform to the regulations of Hollywood's infamous Production Code (aka the Hayes Office). It most certainly would have been denied a code of approval if two of the major characters were a whiskey-guzzling "easy" woman and a drug dealing pimp - especially since neither had to "pay for their sins." Preminger challenged the Code with three other films - The Moon Is Blue (1953), the first film to use the words "virgin," "seduce," and "mistress;" The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), a film which graphically dealt with drug abuse; Anatomy of a Murder (1959), rape is the central issue - but I have a feeling he played it safe with Porgy, a major studio Samuel Goldwyn Production. (For further information about the film, go to the ISAM [Institute for Studies of American Music] website at htpp://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/isam.)

Because Ira Gershwin and the Gershwin estate were unhappy with Preminger's film treatment, rights to the movie were rescinded during the 70s. As a result, the film has never been legally transferred to video and only a few public showings have been allowed. When the hassles regarding the film are finally settled, hopefully the engineers at Sony/BMG will track down the original master tapes and produce a truly fine restoration of this long-lost movie soundtrack. All the proper ingredients are there; they just have to be pulled together.

Additional weirdness abounds on the CD's sleeve. None of the singers are listed - (Pearl Bailey and Brock Peters did their own singing, Loulie Jean Norman dubbed Clara's songs, and Inez Matthews sang the role of Serena. Sammy Davis, Jr. also sang his own songs, but Cab Calloway replaced him on the recording - due to contractural reasons) - and all of the photos are from some unidentified production of the opera, not from the movie. This recording may not be perfect, but right now it's all we have.

Recommended.

GREATEST PERFORMANCE OF GERSHWIN'S SCORE EVER!.......2002-08-30

One of the greatest crimes ever committed against the music and video buying public is the Gershwin Estate's denial to us of seeing and hearing and, most important of all, judging for ourselves, the merits of the Samuel Goldwyn film of PORGY AND BESS. Even worse, today's video buyers have to suffer through a boring, execrable EMI video made for public television in order to view PORGY AND BESS, thereby seeing Gershwin's masterpiece in the worst possible light. The 1959 film starred Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge, but both had their songs dubbed by operatic singers. Unlike the long out of print American Columbia sound track LP, this CD import actually credits the voice of Robert McFerrin (the father of jazz singer Bobby McFerrin) as Porgy. Still uncredited are singers Adele Addison (Bess), Loulie Jean Norman (Clara) and Inez Matthews (Serena). A special treat on this album is Cab Calloway as "Sportin' Life", who replaces Sammy Davis Jr. from the film, whose voice could not be used on the sound track album due to his exclusive contract with another record label. Calloway is far better suited to this role and his performance adds an edge to the character missing in Davis' more comic turn in the film. Calloway's vocals are backed up by the identical orchestral tracks (conducted by Andre Previn) used in the film for Davis. Although this version of Porgy and Bess was not well liked by the Gershwin family because it was treated more as a Broadway Musical than an opera, this film was immensely popular in its time and has gained stature over the years. The film was recently named one of the 100 greatest film love stories by the American Film Institute. The release of this matchless film on home video would be a cause for rejoicing. Andre Previn's conducting and especially Ken Darby's excellent choral direction have never been bettered in any performance of PORGY AND BESS. The 1959 sound track contains all the major musical sequences from the film and is arguably the finest version of Gershwin's score ever released to the music buying public. Amazingly, this album has never been released in the US on CD (with very limited distribution elsewhere). This import CD offers the most ideal way of hearing this magnificent sound track music short of a domestic CD release.

Average customer rating: This Set Gave Me What I Was Looking For & More why there aren't more outtakes on this set Great Music, reasonable price, stupid people!! Nothing wrong with 8th disc? for all the fans...

Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1952-1959) Ray Charles Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music R&B & Soul | Box Sets | Stores | Music Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Jazz | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Ray Charles: The Complete Country & Western Recordings 1959-1986 The Complete Library of Congress Recordings A Musical History Talking Heads Brick One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost and Found ASIN: B000A7KL7U Release Date: 2005-09-20

Tracks:

1. The Suns Gonna Shine Again
2. Roll With My Baby
3. The Midnight Hour
4. Jumpin In The Mornin
5. It Shouldve Been Me
6. Losing Hand
7. Heartbreaker
8. Sinners Prayer
9. Mess Around
10. Funny (But I Still Love You)
11. Feelin Sad
12. I Wonder Who
13. Dont You Know
14. Nobody Cares
15. Rays Blues
16. I Got A Break Baby
17. Blackjack
18. Ive Got A Woman
19. Greenbacks
20. Come Back Baby
21. A Fool For You
22. This Little Girl Of Mine
23. Hard Times (No One
24. Knows Better Than I)
25. Blues Hangover
26. Mary Ann
27. Drown In My Own Tears
28. Hallelujah I Love Her So
29. What Would I Do
30. Without You

Tracks:

1. Dawn Ray
2. The Man I Love
3. Music, Music, Music
4. Black Coffee
5. Lonely Avenue
6. I Want To Know
7. Leave My Woman Alone
8. The Ray
9. I Surrender Dear
10. Hornful Soul
11. Aint Misbehavin
12. Joy Ride
13. Sweet Sixteen Bars
14. Doodlin
15. Theres No You
16. Undecided
17. My Melancholy Baby
18. Its All Right
19. Aint That Love

Tracks:

1. Rockhouse Parts 1 & 2
2. Get On The Right Track Baby
3. Swanee River Rock (Talkin Bout That River)
4. Thats Enough
5. Talkin Bout You
6. What Kind Of Man Are You
7. I Want A Little Girl
8. How Long Blues - Milt Jackson & Ray Charles
9. Cosmic Ray - Milt Jackson & Ray Charles
10. The Genius After Hours
11. Charlesville
12. Bags Of Blues - Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
13. Deed I Do - Milt Jackson & Ray Charles
14. Blue Funk - Milt Jackson & Ray Charles
15. Soul Brothers - Milt Jackson & Ray Charles

Tracks:

1. Bags Guitar Blues - Milt Jackson & Ray Charles
2. Yes Indeed!
3. I Had A Dream
4. You Be My Baby
5. Tell All The World About You
6. My Bonnie
7. Soul Meeting - Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
8. Hallelujah I Love Her So - Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
9. Blue Genius - Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
10. X-Ray Blues - Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
11. Love On My Mind - Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
12. The Spirit-Feel (Live, 1958)
13. Blues Waltz (Live, 1958)
14. In A Little Spanish Town (Live, 1958)
15. Sherry (Live, 1958)
16. (Night Time Is) The Right Time (Live, 1958)
17. A Fool For You (Live, 1958)

Tracks:

1. Ive Got A Woman (Live, 1958)
2. Talkin bout You (Live, 1958)
3. Swanee River Rock (Talkin Bout That River)(Live, 1958)
4. Yes Indeed! (Live, 1958)
5. Early In The Mornin
6. (Night Time Is) The Right Time
7. Carrying That Load (Single Version)
8. Carrying That Load (LP Version)
9. Tell Me How Do You Feel
10. Fathead - David Newman
11. Tin Tin Deo - David Newman
12. Bill For Bennie - David Newman
13. Hard Times - David Newman
14. Mean To Me - David Newman
15. Sweet Eyes - David Newman
16. Weird Beard - David Newman
17. Willow Weep For Me - David Newman
18. Tell The Truth
19. Whatd I Say Parts I & II (Mono LP Version)

Tracks:

1. Whatd I Say Parts I & II (Stereo LP Version)
2. Tell Me Youll Wait For Me
3. Come Rain Or Come Shine
4. Dont Let The Sun Catch You Cryin
5. Just For A Thrill
6. You Wont Let Me Go
7. Am I Blue
8. The Spirit-Feel (Live, 1959)
9. Frenesi (Live, 1959)
10. Tell The Truth (Live, 1959)
11. Drown In My Own Tears (Live, 1959)
12. (Night Time Is) The Right Time (Live, 1959)
13. Whatd I Say (Live, 1959)
14. Let The Good Times Roll
15. Alexanders Ragtime Band
16. Deed I Do
17. When Your Lover Has Gone
18. Two Years Of Torture
19. It Had To Be You
20. Im Movin On
21. I Believe To My Soul

Tracks:

1. Rehearsal Session With
2. Ahmet Ertegun (1953)
3. Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand
4. Unknown Title
5. Piano Improvisation & Dialog #1
6. Losing Hand & Dialog #1
7. Little Rock Getaway & Dialog
8. Kentucky Waltz
9. Heartbreaker (Instrumental Version)
10. Heartbreaker & Dialog
11. Piano Improvisation & Dialog #2
12. Heartbreaker (False Starts 12)
13. Losing Hand & Dialog #2
14. Losing Hand & Dialog #3 (W/ Reverb)
15. Losing Hand & Dialog #4 (W/ Reverb)
16. Heartbreaker
17. It Shouldve Been Me & Dialog
18. Nobody Cares
19. Piano Improvisation & Dialog #3
20. Mess Around
21. Funny (But I Still Love You)
22. Sinners Prayer
23. Piano Improvisation & Dialog #4
24. Low Society & Dialog #1
25. Boogie Woogie
26. Low Society & Dialog #2
27. Worried Life Blues
28. Come Back Baby (Walter Davis Version)& Dialog
29. Low Society
30. (Night Time Is) The Right Time (Takes 17)& Dialog
31. Tell Me How Do You Feel (Take 1)
32. Rays Arrangement Suggestions For
33. The Genius Of Ray Charles Album (1959)Dialog
34. It Had To Be You & Dialog
35. My Buddy & Dialog Dialog
36. When Your Lover Has Gone & Dialog
37. Im Beginning To See The Light.
38. Let The Good Times Roll & Dialog

Tracks:

1. Ray Charles On Voice Of America, 1960(Live At The Newport Jazz Festival)
2. Lil Darlin
3. Blues Waltz
4. Let The Good Times Roll
5. Dont Let The Sun Catch You Cryin
6. Sticks And Stones
7. My Baby! (I Love Her, Yes I Do)
8. Drown In My Own Tears
9. Whatd I Say
10. I Believe To My Soul
11. Interview With Ahmet Ertegun

Amazon.com

Jamie Foxx's Oscar-winning turn as Ray Charles could only touch on the musical highlights of the American musical legend's career. But for those further intrigued by Charles' savory musical roots, this seven CD/one DVD anthology of Charles' epochal career at Atlantic Records (who purchased the fledgling star's contract from a small L.A. label for $2500) is the ultimate chronicle. While the singer's recorded output for the label was typically shuffled and jumbled across a series of contemporary albums and compilations, this set offers them up chronologically as originally recorded in NYC, New Orleans and elsewhere, a gambit that allows a clearer insight into the musician's artistic growth and burgeoning confidence as a performer in the bargain. Though focused on the `fervent r&b and soul sides he cut before crossing over into country and pop in the `60s, Charles' Atlantic tenure also includes insightful excursions into small jazz combo work that further underscored the range of his incomparable gifts.

The final CD in the set is a treasure trove of unreleased (mostly) solo performances that range from a lengthy 1953 rehearsal tape to a handful of hotel room-recorded arrangement demos for his 1959 Genius of Ray Charles collection. The set's DVD is another welcome bonus, containing the legend's complete performance at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival (though he'd just left Atlantic, his repertoire and band for the show are rooted in the era), capped with the modern reminisces of Atlantic founder Ahmet Ertegun. Lavishly packaged in a box that replicates a `50's-era 45-player and featuring a hard-bound liner book that includes reprints of the original albums' liner notes, a comprehensive sessionography and an insightful new essay from noted r&b biographer David Ritz, the collection lives up to its billing at every level: Pure genius, indeed. --Jerry McCulley

Album Description

Ray Charles is an American legend beyond compare. A ten-time Grammy-winning superstar who almost single-handedly laid the groundwork for soul music, Charles proved his mastery with countless jazz, country, R&B, and pop masterpieces as well. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the first year they gave the honors ('86), and his extraordinary career spanned seven decades. His remarkable life was celebrated in the 2004 biopic Ray-featuring Jamie Foxx's Oscar-winning performance as the artist-and now Ray Charles' musical genius is spotlighted in this comprehensive box of his seminal Atlantic Records era, 1952-1959. As preeminent music writer David Ritz notes inside, "These are the historic years of his creative explosion, the time when he reinvented himself as a musical revolutionary. These records will live forever."

Customer Reviews:

This Set Gave Me What I Was Looking For & More.......2006-08-02

For my taste, there seems to be three phases of Ray Charles' career... 1. His early Swing Time days (when he sounded more like Nat King Cole than Ray Charles) 2. The Atlantic Years (where the sound was raw, cutting edge, and powerful) 3. The ABC Years & Later (where the craft was more refined, instrumentally and vocally). What I had longed for was a compilation or box set that focused on those Atlantic days and drilled down past the standard Ray songs that are on just about EVERY Ray Charles CD you can find. For that, this set is unmatched. In addition to some of the more popular "live" cuts, there are a good 50 songs on here that I had never heard (I'm talking beyond the songs on "Anthology" or the movie soundtrack) that are fantastic and are every bit as much a part of my Ray Charles i-pod rotation as "I Got a Woman" or "Mess Around".

The real treat (in my opinion), is the 30 or so outtakes and rehearsal cuts. Here, you get to hear what it was like in the recording studio with Ray Charles... there is actually an 8 minute track that covers the recording of "Night Time is the Right Time", which allows you to experience how particular Ray was with the sound HE wanted. Knowing from past readings that multiple takes on a song were a pet peeve of his, one can actually hear his tone change with the band and the guys in the booth as the takes begin to add up... great stuff for any Ray fan who has wondered (as I often have), "How in the world does he do that?"

The only reason this set gets 4 stars from me instead of 5 is that there are many (as in 25 or so) instrumental tracks. Don't get me wrong, they are all solid jazz tunes (as good as any other jazz CD I own) but I would have preferred more of Ray's vocals. Still, my rating may very well not be fair. Afterall, it is the COMPLETE Atlantic Recordings.

It's quite a bit of money to put down and I pondered it for quite some time, but well worth it if you're looking for more than what you can find on a Greatest Hits compilation.

why there aren't more outtakes on this set.......2006-05-11

People complained about there not being more outtakes on this set. This might explain some things, since Ray Charles was an Atlantic recording artist:

"One of the most devastating vault losses in modern industry history occurred in February, 1978 in a fire in a non-air-conditioned Atlantic Records storage facility in Long Branch, N.J.

The warehouse fire destroyed virtually all of Atlantic's unreleased masters, alternate takes and sessions tapes by artists who had recorded for the label and its offshoots throughout its classic 1948-1969 first golden era.

Thousands of performances by nearly a hundred of America's most acclaimed r&b, soul, pop and jazz artists were lost in the fire. According to several sources, between 5,000 to 6,000 reels of tape were destroyed or damaged. Just a handful of the artists names reads like a short-form Who's Who in Mid-Century American Music." [...]
(Bill Holland wrote this for Billboard in 1997. I can't post the website this is taken from because A. won't let me.)

Atlantic probably doesn't have any unreleased RC in its vaults. I think the outtakes on this set were saved by one of RC's producers.

Great Music, reasonable price, stupid people!!.......2006-04-10

This set is great as far as it goes. All of the material is typical RC: wonderful. I was surprised that there weren't more out takes, however. If you have any of the other Atlantic sets there's a fair bit of overlap. (added June 5, 2006: I've since learned that pretty near all the older Atlantic material, including alternate takes, was destroyed by a fire where the material was being stored, which explains the lack of out takes and alternate material.) This set, along with the Rhino Ray Charles country music set makes a pretty darn good overview of Ray's spectacular career.
I was really shocked that so many people don't bother to read the label on the eighth disc, which clearly is marked DVD | Video. Naturally, it won't play on CD players.

Nothing wrong with 8th disc?.......2006-03-10

Um... I don't own this, but I was looking at buying it. Looking at the reviews, I see two people complained that disc 8 won't play in their CD players. Disc 8 is listed as a DVD, so it won't play in a regular CD player (try your computer). I have to assume there it nothing wrong with the product, but rather, the user. Just thought I should point that out to anyone thinking of buying this. I am giving it 5 stars just to offset the bad (mistaken) ratings

for all the fans..........2006-03-10

pure genious is a milestone in the story of music, all the people who love music must have one of this. sorry for my english, but i hope that you understand what i say! by the way ... ladies and gentleman ... the one , the only , the genious ... mr. ray charles

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