The Best of Sweet [Import]

Track Listings
1. Ballroom Blitz    
2. Blockbuster    
3. Need a Lot of Lovin'    
4. New York Connection    
5. Rock & Roll Disgrace    
6. Hell Raiser    
7. Burning    
8. Done Me Wrong All Right    
9. Reflections    
10. Little Willy    
11. Funny Funny    
12. Co-Co - Sweet    
13. Chop Chop    
14. Alexander Graham Bell    
15. Poppa Joe    
16. Santa Monica Sunshine    
17. Tom Tom Turnaround    
18. Wig-Wam Bam    

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
18 Classic Tracks Including Ballroom Blitz, Blockbuster, Hell Raiser, and Others.

The Best of Sweet, Music, Sweet, Bubblegum, Glam Rock, Glitter, Hard Rock, Pop, Pop/Rock, Rock, Rock & Roll
The Very Best of Benny Goodman
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Falls Short Of The Glory
  • Very Best of Benny Goodman.
  • The Very Best of Benny Goodman
  • The Very Best is a Great One!
  • The Best of Benny Goodman
 The Very Best of Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000050G85
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Tracks:

  1. Bugle Call Rag
  2. St. Louis Blues
  3. Swingtime In The Rockies
  4. One O'Clock Jump
  5. Exactly Like You - Benny Goodman Quartet
  6. Sweet Georgia Brown - Benny Goodman Trio
  7. I Know That You Know
  8. And The Angels Sing
  9. Stompin' At The Savoy
  10. After You've Gone - Benny Goodman Trio
  11. Avalon - Benny Goodman Quartet
  12. In A Sentimental Mood
  13. The Glory Of Love
  14. Goody Goody
  15. Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen (Part 1) - Benny Goodman Quartet
  16. Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen (Part 2) - Benny Goodman Quartet
  17. I Cried For You - Benny Goodman Quintet
  18. Moonglow - Benny Goodman Quartet
  19. King Porter Stomp
  20. Sing, Sing, Sing (With A Swing) (Parts 1 & 2)

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Falls Short Of The Glory.......2007-05-18

I must warn you up front: tracks 2,10,11,15,16,17 and 18 are ALTERNATE TAKES, not the masters you are probably use to. And it is NOT advertised on the package! So if you know these songs by heart, you will either be pleased to have them or very annoyed. Just to warn you.

The transfers are fine but the song selection is missing a bunch of songs that I would consider essential to a "Very Best" collection of Benny's RCA period. It is just not one without "Don't Be That Way", "Loch Lomond", "Goodnight My Love", "Goodbye", "Down South Camp Meeting", "Changes" and "Body & Soul". I would say go with "Pure Gold" or "Sing, Sing, Sing" instead.

5 out of 5 stars Very Best of Benny Goodman........2007-05-08

To appreciate this one has to have danced to this orchectra. Been there and done that. Most talent heard in one group---ever. No omne has ever come cliose to Benny Goodman playing the clarinet.

5 out of 5 stars The Very Best of Benny Goodman.......2007-04-11

I was a young teenager during Benny Goodman's era. My father loved the music and we listened to it frequently. What a great instrumentalist Mr. Goodman was! This is a terrific collection of his best songs.

5 out of 5 stars The Very Best is a Great One!.......2007-03-22

The only band leader who can hold a candle to Glenn Miller!

4 out of 5 stars The Best of Benny Goodman.......2007-02-22

I love the Big Band era and especially Benny Goodman. This is a good quality remastering of a variety of Goodman hits. I bought it for certain specific cuts I needed for a seminar I was giving, but it would be a good choice for someone just becoming acquainted with Benny Goodman.
The Best of Sweet
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • An album that perfectly suits Sweet's music.
  • Sweet is good
  • Very SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Great Band
  • Fun Band
 The Best of Sweet
Sweet
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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GlamGlam | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000002UQF
Release Date: 1993-05-04

Tracks:

  1. Little Willy
  2. Wig-Wam Bam
  3. Blockbuster
  4. The Ballroom Blitz
  5. Teenage Rampage
  6. The 6-Teens
  7. Fox On The Run
  8. Action
  9. The Lies In Your Eyes
  10. Lost Angels
  11. Fever Of Love
  12. Stairway To The Stars
  13. Love Is Like Oxygen
  14. California Nights
  15. Mother Earth
  16. Sixties Man

Amazon.com

They were glam, they were hams, and they made great singles. From "Little Willy" on, they forged a pop sound, always with a sly wink at the audience, never taking themselves too seriously. But when you had songs like "Ballroom Blitz," "Blockbuster," and "Fox on the Run," who really cared if you wore more makeup than a phalanx of runway models? For several years, Sweet could do absolutely no wrong. The remarkable thing is that, some quarter of a century on, the great stuff still sounds as fresh and as fun as it did when everyone wore feather cuts. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars An album that perfectly suits Sweet's music........2007-07-19

"Best of" albums are not for fans of the band. They are for rock music listeners who don't give the chronicled band top priority in their purchases but still need an economical means to fulfill a small craving for a band's broadly familiar sound. Sweet is the perfect band for a compilation like this. It is a band of modest achievement whose music is sheer entertainment and nothing but. Their infectious brand of power pop is easily compiled in this fashion for the tastes of the average rock consumer, who, on average, is most likely to be a casual listener to Sweet. That is why I can easily recommend this album to the average fan of rock music. At 16 tunes, this album, with me being a casual listener, is neither too long nor too short. Enjoy it.

5 out of 5 stars Sweet is good.......2007-07-08

While I don't know as much about Sweet as the reviewers below seem to, I just wanted to say I originally bought (well, received) this Best of Sweet disc because I had an obsession with "Love Is Like Oxygen" back in the mid 90's (a local Baltimore radio station used to play that song like CRAZY!) Though disappointing to find that it's the short version included here, I believe every other song is the original length. What a GREAT guitar riff that song has, though. Even after all these years I can't seem to get enough of it, or the gloomy vocal melody for that matter. Great stuff.

The rest of the songs on this disc seem to steer clear from any kind of moody atmosphere like "Love Is Like Oxygen" and focus more on having fun with upbeat vocal hooks. I was really surprised that I actually recognized the majority of these songs- some of them I haven't heard in a good 20 years all of a sudden came rushing back memories for me. A really good collection of catchy bubblegum pop songs that will make you feel like rocking out and maybe even dancing.

5 out of 5 stars Very SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-05-06

Always been a fan of "Love Is Like Oxygen","Little Willy" & "The Ballroom Blitz".Than being a big fan of Def Leppard,opened my eyes more. For those who don't know,Def Lep always points out,Sweet, as an influence in their songs.It does show.I ordered The Best of Sweet and enjoyed it pretty much.Was very familiar with "Action",because Lep covered it. This album has many fun songs that rock and roll. Standouts..."Little Willy","Wig-Wam Bam","The Ballroom Blitz","The 6- Teens","Fox On The Run","Action","Love Is Like Oxygen" & "California Night's". reading the liner notes,was surprised,Sweet sold so many albums,especially overseas. Check this one out,if you are on the verge of buying it. It is a rockin' album!!!!!!!!!!

5 out of 5 stars Great Band.......2007-04-22

Here is one of the best 70's bands.Man they produced some good songs.
They formed in the late 60's or early 70's but statrted to have alot of success in the mid to late 70's.
The band were introduced to the writing partnership of Chinn and Chapman, who were to provide the band with a string of hit singles. However, the band were writing their own hard-rock songs on the b-sides of these hits. This resulted in Chinn/Chapman coming up with heavier pop-rock numbers, most notably the powerful Blockbuster, which reached number 1 in the UK at the beginning of 1973. This group had a glam-rock image and had a succession of Top 10 hits.

4 out of 5 stars Fun Band.......2007-01-08

I had pretty much forgotten this band until I heard the song Ballroom Blitz in a spin class at the Y. This band obviously had a great time making infectious music. Well worth the money.
Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Fabulous for any Broadway-lover
  • Top Shelf
  • TERRIFIC CD'S
  • Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs
  • Great Compilation!
 Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00064ADMK
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

  1. Give My Regards To Broadway- Joel Grey
  2. Swanee- Al Jolson
  3. When The Moon Shines On The Moonshine- Bert Williams
  4. A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody- John Steel
  5. My Man- Fanny Brice
  6. Fascinating Rhythm- Fred Astaire, Adele Astaire
  7. If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie)- 78rpm Version Eddie Cantor
  8. Someone To Watch Over Me- Gertrude Lawrence
  9. Bill- 78 rpm Version Helen Morgan
  10. Ol' Man River- Paul Robeson
  11. Ain't Misbehavin'- Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
  12. Ten Cents A Dance- Ruth Etting
  13. Body And Soul- Libby Holman
  14. Brother, Can You Spare A Dime- Bing Crosby
  15. Night And Day- Fred Astaire
  16. Heat Wave- Ethel Waters
  17. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes- Tamara
  18. You're The Top- Ethel Merman
  19. Summertime- Anne Brown
  20. September Song- Walter Huston
  21. My Heart Belongs To Daddy- Mary Martin
  22. It Never Entered My Mind- Shirley Ross
  23. Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered- Vivienne Segal
  24. Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning- Irving Berlin
  25. Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'- Alfred Drake

Tracks:

  1. New York, New York- Cris Alexander,Adolph Green,John Reardon
  2. If I Loved You- John Raitt,Jan Clayton
  3. Come Rain Or Come Shine- Ruby Hill,Harold Nicholas
  4. There's No Business Like Show Business- Ensemble
  5. How Are Things In Glocca Morra? From "Finian's Rainbow"- Ella Logan
  6. Once In Love With Amy- Ray Bolger
  7. Wunderbar- Alfred Drake,Patricia Morison
  8. Some Enchanted Evening- Ezio Pinza
  9. Lost In The Stars- Todd Duncan
  10. Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend- Carol Channing
  11. Luck Be A Lady- Robert Alda,Guys
  12. Getting To Know You- Gertrude Lawrence
  13. Who Cares?- Jack Carson,Betty Oakes
  14. Stranger In Paradise- from " Kismet" Doretta Morrow,Richard Kiley
  15. Ballad Of Mack The Knife- Gerald Price
  16. Hey There- from "The Pajama Game" John Raitt
  17. Whatever Lola Wants- Gwen Verdon
  18. I Could Have Danced All Night- Julie Andrews
  19. Standing On The Corner- from "The Most Happy Fella, 1956" Shorty Long,John Henson,Alan Gilbert
  20. The Party's Over- Judy Holliday
  21. Glitter And Be Gay- Barbara Cook
  22. Tonight- Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence

Tracks:

  1. Seventy-Six Trombones- Robert Preston
  2. I Enjoy Being A Girl- from "Flower Drum Song, 1958" Pat Suzuki
  3. Everything's Coming Up Roses- Ethel Merman
  4. My Favorite Things- from "The Sound Of Music" Mary Martin
  5. Put On A Happy Face- from "Bye Bye Birdie" Dick Van Dyke
  6. Try To Remember- Jerry Orbach
  7. Camelot- from "Camelot" Richard Burton
  8. Love Makes The World Go 'Round- Anna Maria Alberghetti
  9. I Believe In You- Robert Morse And Co.
  10. The Sweetest Sounds- Diahann Carroll,Richard Kiley
  11. Comedy Tonight- Zero Mostel
  12. What Kind Of Fool Am I?- Anthony Newley
  13. As Long As He Needs Me- Georgia Brown
  14. Hello, Dolly!- Carol Channing,Cast
  15. People- Barbra Streisand
  16. Anyone Can Whistle- from "Anyone Can Whistle" Lee Remick
  17. If I Were A Rich Man- Zero Mostel
  18. Night Song- Sammy Davis, Jr.
  19. The Impossible Dream- Richard Kiley
  20. If My Friends Could See Me Now- Gwen Verdon
  21. Open a New Window- from Mame Voice

Tracks:

  1. Willkommen- from "Cabaret" Joel Grey
  2. Let The Sunshine In- James Rado,Lynn Kellogg,Melba Moore,Cast
  3. I'll Never Fall In Love Again- Jill O'Hara,Jerry Orbach
  4. The Ladies Who Lunch- from "Company" Elaine Stritch
  5. Tea For Two- Roger Rathburn,Susan Watson
  6. I'm Still Here- Yvonne De Carlo
  7. I Don't Know How To Love Him- Yvonne Elliman
  8. We Go Together- Adrienne Barbeau,Barry Bostwick,Walter Bobbie,Cast
  9. Corner Of The Sky- John Rubinstein
  10. Send In The Clowns- Glynis Johns
  11. Ease On Down The Road- Stephanie Mills,Tiger Haynes,Ted Ross,Hinton
  12. One- from "A Chorus Line" Cast
  13. All That Jazz- Chita Rivera,Ensemble
  14. Tomorrow- Andrea Mcardle
  15. Don't Cry For Me Argentina- Patti Lupone
  16. Come Follow The Band
  17. Lullaby Of Broadway- Jerry Orbach
  18. And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going- Jennifer Holliday
  19. The Bells Of St. Sebastian- Raul Julia

Tracks:

  1. Memory- Betty Buckley
  2. I Am What I Am- George Hearn
  3. Move On- Bernadette Peters,Mandy Patinkin
  4. Do You Hear The People Sing?- Michael Maguire,Cast
  5. The Music Of The Night- Michael Crawford
  6. You're Nothing Without Me- James Naughton,Gregg Edelman
  7. The American Dream- Jonathan Pryce,Cast
  8. Doctor Jazz- Gregory Hines,Company
  9. With One Look- Glenn Close
  10. On Broadway- Adrian Bailey,Frederick B. Owens,Ken Ard,Victor Trent Cook
  11. Le Jazz Hot- Julie Andrews,Ensemble
  12. Seasons Of Love-
  13. Hakuna Matata- Max Casella,Tom Alan Robbins,Scott Irby-Ranniar,Jason Raize
  14. I Wanna Be A Producer- Matthew Broderick,Ensemble
  15. Dancing Queen- Louise Plowright,Jenny Galloway
  16. Good Morning Baltimore- Marissa Jaret Winokur
  17. Movin' Out- Michael Cavanaugh,Band
  18. I Go To Rio- Hugh Jackman,Company
  19. Defying Gravity- Kristin Chenoweth,Idina Menzel

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fabulous for any Broadway-lover.......2007-01-30

Packs into 5 CD's a sampling of Broadway tunes from the 20's thru (almost) today, mostly from original cast recordings. Includes not just well-known hits, but also some lesser-known gems. Sound quality is first rate, booklet is informative too. Have given this as a gift to several friends with rave reviews.

5 out of 5 stars Top Shelf.......2007-01-04

This is THE definitive collection of Broadway hits. I have other collections, and none of them measure up. A great deal of care was obviously taken in compiling and presenting this box set. It covers a lot of ground, starting with some long-forgotten but still very enjoyable hits from the days of yore, and finishing with present-day favorites. To the best of my knowledge, the recordings are by those who made them famous. You won't be disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars TERRIFIC CD'S.......2006-03-23

THESE BROADWAY MUSICALS CD'S ARE A BROADWAY LOVERS DREAM. WITH EACH SONG, MEMORIES COME FLOODING BACK. BOTH THE FAMILIAR AND THE FORGOTTEN SONGS ARE A TRUE LISTENING PLEASURE. IF YOU LIKE BROADWAY, YOU'LL LOVE THIS SET.

5 out of 5 stars Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs .......2005-06-14

This Collection was perfectly made it has almost all the most famous Broadway songs on this 5 cd set. The Music is great and has Broadways greatest treasures like "Memory""People""With One Look""Give my regards Too Broadway" just to name a few of this numerous cd set with over 100 songs. This is a great buy if you like musicals or The music of Broadway

5 out of 5 stars Great Compilation!.......2005-01-17

If you are a fan of the Broadway Musicals, this is a collection that you should purchase. Since I got the 5 disc set I've enjoyed listening to it. The majority of the songs are done by the original singers. The collection is priceless considering that you will have over 100 songs from popular musicals since the beginning of Broadway
Time Capsule: The Best of Matthew Sweet
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • If you've come this far, you're not going to be disappointed.
  • check this out too
  • flashes of brilliance, but something is missing...
  • Some Pleasing Material On This CD
  • Huge Sweet Fan...What a Great Album!
 Time Capsule: The Best of Matthew Sweet
Matthew Sweet
Manufacturer: Volcano
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Jangle PopJangle Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00004XR6H
Release Date: 2000-09-26

Tracks:

  1. Divine Intervention
  2. I've Been Waiting
  3. Girlfriend
  4. You Don't Love Me
  5. Time Capsule
  6. The Ugly Truth (Acoustic Version)
  7. Devil With The Green Eyes
  8. Someone To Pull The Trigger
  9. Sick Of Myself
  10. We're The Same
  11. Where You Get Love
  12. Until You Break
  13. Behind The Smile
  14. If Time Permits
  15. What Matters
  16. Hide
  17. Ready
  18. So Far

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars If you've come this far, you're not going to be disappointed........2007-04-02

It's a testament to Matthew Sweet's songwriting ability that this is a best-of that misses so many of his highs. In fact, his albums also miss some of his highs. Like many Sweet fans, this reviewer's favorite (and unfortunately omitted here) tracks include the soundtrack contributions such as "Happiness" (Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy) and "Farther Down" (Can't Hardly Wait).

This disc is, however, ideal for a casually interested fan of excellent power pop that owes something to the Beatles, Beach Boys and Byrds, as well as Television (Richard Lloyd is a frequent contributor to Sweet's songs), Neil Young, Big Star, R.E.M. and other more guitar-heavy and "crunchy" and/or "twangy" alt-rock power-pop acts.

"Girlfriend", "Sick of Myself", "Time Capsule", "I've Been Waiting", and "Where You Get Love" simply had to be included, and their appearance here make the disc worth the price alone. Yes, sadly, "Winona" and "Evangeline" were omitted, but Girlfriend, from which those two songs originate, is an album also worth it's price (and, in fact, an even more enjoyable musical experience, albeit demanding more time to reveal its true worth), meaning it's more lucrative to spread the disc space around more evenly across all five of Matthew Sweet's albums from the '90s, so that casual fans can get a taste of each album's offerings, in a more quickly digestible manner.

On that level, this compilation succeeds extraordinarily well. It's just that his best work doesn't fit into a mere eighty minutes, especially when some of his best songs, for whatever reason, don't even make it to albums or even those soundtracks (like "Strange Faces", a beautiful home-recorded piano ballad only found in demo form). This disc is also just a ridiculously enjoyable listen for fans of said guitar-heavy (and sometimes piano-based) power-pop/alt-rock. Only die-hard fans lament the omission of tracks like "Come to California", "In Too Deep", "Reaching Out" and the like. Casual fans who've never heard these songs and don't want to waste too much money on more than one disc shouldn't be disappointed with the music that is actually included.

A caveat: If your lyrical tastes are more geared towards, say, James Mercer (Shins) style oblique and nearly indecipherable poetry, Matthew Sweet's simpler (and for this reviewer's money, more charming) lyrics may not be for you. That said, his unpretentious lyrics can still frequently (especially on these tracks) lay bare stunningly honest emotion and/or fun conceits that play very well against the downright filthy-fun foil of the lead guitar of the excellent Richard Lloyd, Robert Quine and Pete Phillips.

Another caveat: Don't be surprised if, like me, you end up ravenously devouring everything else of his, eventually rendering this purchase practically redundant. In fact, Mr. Sweet's Girlfriend is one of my "desert island" albums, along with R.E.M.'s Murmur, Pixies' Doolittle, The Beatles' Revolver and Television's Marquee Moon. Kimi, Altered Beast and In Reverse are ridiculously awesome, too...

5 out of 5 stars check this out too.......2006-07-08

I am a huge fan of power pop with a little twang. I strongly recommend that you check out the following:
1) Teenage Symphonies To God by The Velvet Crush
2) Papa Nez: A Loose Salute To The Work Of Michael Nesmith by Various Artists
3) Nashville by Josh Rouse

4 out of 5 stars flashes of brilliance, but something is missing..........2006-04-04

A lot of music fans have mused over why Matthew Sweet did not achieve greater success with the masses despite his obvious ability to write very catchy songs. "Sick of Myself" single-handedly rejuvenated my faith in the power of pop music at a time when pop seemed to have exhausted its possibilities. But in retrospect Sweet simply wasn't a very marketable commodity for the music industry, and on top of that his vocals and lyrics somehow didn't grab people. Its not that he doesn't sing with passion or feeling, but somehow the words seem to get lost in the mix. Perhaps its a production thing; regardless, the vocals on a MS album always seem to be secondary to the music and that is a no-no for any great singer-songwriter. There are some truly impressive (albeit derivative) stuff here: "What Matters" is in my opinion the greatest Byrds song never written, "Hide" is a beautiful piano ballad that wouldn't seem out of place on Badfinger compilation, "If Time Permits" has some of the most beautiful chorus harmonies not written by Brian Wilson, etc. etc. "I've Been Waiting" works well in combining catchy melody with plaintive adolescent desire, and "Girlfriend" is for the most part a great rocker. However, after the relatively simple production of Girlfriend, his later albums got bogged down in an attempt to recreate a "wall of sound" feeling, which quite frankly doesn't really work unless you're Phil Spector. Not much here can be completely discounted and the new songs fit in quite well (although I probably would have included "Evangeline" at the expense of "Ready"). Despite the undeniable quality of the music there is nothing life-changing here and ultimately great music must at least have the semblance of being life-changing. Still heartily recommended for fans of catchy, melodic pop-rock.

3 out of 5 stars Some Pleasing Material On This CD.......2005-07-31

I first heard Matthew Sweet in the early nineties when 'Sick Of Myself' was getting some airplay over here in Australia. I liked the song so I went out and bought '100% Fun' on cassette. I enjoyed some of the songs, didn't like some others. So instead of buying it on CD I bought this 'Best Of' instead. My opinion of this album is the same as for '100% Fun'. Although most of the tracks are different from '100% Fun' there are only some songs I like enough to keep listening to. The rest aren't really that good. The tracks I truly enjoy are Sick Of Myself, We're The Same, If Time Permits and So Far. I guess it's not too bad to use as background music while you're doing something else (like writing album reviews!). The more attention you pay to the music the worse the songs sound, besides the few good ones. Matthew Sweet is certainly capable of writing good songs, just not enough of them.

5 out of 5 stars Huge Sweet Fan...What a Great Album!.......2004-06-22

It's so nice having most of Matthew's best stuff on ONE CD. That's not to dismiss the rest of the songs that didn't make it. Still, I absolutely LOVE "Ready" & hadn't heard it before this album. (I know, some Sweet fan, huh?) "Where You Get Love" is amazing as I've also heard a live version of this one & it only gets better.

Don't wait another minute before picking up this album. You won't be disappointed! (unless you were wanting mushy gooshy bubblegum pop or death metal)
The Best of Harry James
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Simply the Best.....
  • Harry's trumpet
  • Big band era music
  • Beautiful sound quality!
  • A Dozen Jewels from the Hi-Fi Remakes
 The Best of Harry James
Harry James & His Orchestra
Manufacturer: Curb Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. I've Heard That Song Before: Hits of Harry James

ASIN: B000000CXI
Release Date: 1990-10-16

Tracks:

  1. September Song
  2. A Sleepy Lagoon
  3. You Made Me Love You
  4. Two O'Clock Jump
  5. Jalousie
  6. Carnival
  7. It's Been A Long Long Time
  8. Ciribiribin
  9. Willow Weep For Me
  10. I'm Beginning To See The Light
  11. Cherry
  12. Velvet Moon

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Simply the Best............2005-12-03

Unfortunately for Harry James, when great trumpeters are discussed among the less-informed, people always talk about Miles, Dizzy, Satchmo, Maynard, etc. (And well they should!) But unless you are a big-band afficiando or a trumpet player, Harry James doesn't come up on the short list. And it should. Harry is unjustly labeled as "schmaltzy" because he made a few bucks on his many hits for the record-buying public back in the 40's, but the truth is...Harry was a "Mutha"! No one...repeat....NO-ONE was as powerful, technically perfect, hard-swinging, and as versatile as Harry. Clark Terry even remarked that "Harry was a BITCH!" Miles loved Harry as well. Adolph Herseth confessed he was a big Harry James fan as a youth. So this collection should not be missed by anyone who digs big-band, or anyone considering what CD's to start their jazz collection. This CD will satisfy! BUT.....if you liked this, you will LOVE "Trumpet Blues- The Best of Harry James". There is a KILLER version of "James Session" that will nicely illustrate the power and technique of Harry James.

5 out of 5 stars Harry's trumpet.......2005-09-29

Harry was one of the great trumpters. It was a pleasure to listen to his best works again

5 out of 5 stars Big band era music.......2005-08-25

Harry James and his orchestra were among the best of the swing era, and this CD offers a truly wonderful sampling.

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful sound quality!.......2003-12-25

Wow! Have I ever heard Harry's trupet blaring so gorgeously? The sound on this CD will astound you, especially everyone who has spent time listening to the James orchestra on vinyl. There are few pops, hisses or buzzes on this recording, it's clean throughout and a total joy.

So many "greatest hits" compilations miss the mark either in quality or song selection. But this disc lives up to its billing as the "Best" of the James orchestra. It contains one of the stellar and swingiest tunes of the Big Band era, "Ciribiribin," (though this version is inferior to the more famous "single" version). It's hard to listen to this song and not appreciate the brilliant arrangement and musicianship displayed here. Along with Goodman's "Sing, Sing Sing" and Glenn Miller's "In the Mood" this has got to be in the top ten of any Big Band all-time greatest list.

It's a pity that James has been somewhat forgotten today and shoved aside in preference of Benny, Glenn and Artie. Was his band as good as those giants? No, but this disc shows that his band could swing, had a phenomenal musician named Harry whose virtuosity remains amazing. This is a must have album for anyone serious about the Big Band era.

5 out of 5 stars A Dozen Jewels from the Hi-Fi Remakes.......2001-08-18

This increasingly rare issue (pressed to CD in 1990) is comprised of 12 cuts that were enormous instrumental successes for James during the war years, and which Capitol decided to remake in high-fidelity sound. Harry's theme song, Ciribiribin, gets a slightly different treatment, while other tunes are merely augmented by way of the improved sound, including Carnival, the best arrangement Billy May ever wrote (and THAT is saying something). These 1955 sessions have subsequently been released in their entirety by Mosaic Records, in a box set with Gene Krupa's 1950s sessions. The personnel is impeccable as one would expect, including the greatest of all lead trumpeters Conrad Gozzo (who ironically was often compared to James). Love James but wince at those sappy vocals? Nary a songbird appears on this CD, so don't sweat it. (And incidentally, don't feel like too much of a whipper-snapper if you never cared for big band vocals. Many of the folks around during that time had a similar opinion, and the band leaders to a man generally despised singers except as juke-box money-makers .) The Big Band Era was at the end of its heyday by the time these recordings were made, but as you'll hear, Harry James still had something more to give.
Ultimate Broadway II: The Very Best of Broadway Now
Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
  • redux
  • Moderate Quality
  • POOR EXCUSE FOR SOME GOOD THEATER MUSIC
 Ultimate Broadway II: The Very Best of Broadway Now
Various Artists
Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Ultimate Broadway
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  4. Greatest Songs from the Musicals
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ASIN: B000092Q7E
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Tracks:

  1. Overture (from Gypsy) - London Cast Recording
  2. Man of La Mancha (I, Don Quixote) - Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ernie Sabella
  3. Run, Freedom, Run! - Hunter Foster
  4. Your Daddy's Son - Ted Sperling, Ragtime Orchestra
  5. Music Of The Night (From The Phantom Of The Opera) - Colm Wilkinson
  6. All That Jazz (from "Chicago") - Bebe Neuwirth
  7. Gimme Gimme - Michael Rafter
  8. La boh; Act I; O soave fanciulla - Placido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Montserrat Caball
  9. Next Best Thing To Love - Randy Graff
  10. Cabaret - Natasha Richardson
  11. Springtime For Hitler (From "The Producers") - John Morris, Mel Brooks
  12. Losing My Mind - Barbara Cook
  13. Time Warp - Raparza
  14. Oklahoma!; Oklahoma - Finale: Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' (Reprise) - Musical Cast Recording
  15. Breeze Off the River - Patrick Wilson
  16. Big Spender - Jane Lanier, Valarie Pettiford, Shannon Lewis, Kim Greene, Kim Morgan, Dana Moore, Rachelle Rak, Elizbeth Parkinson, Dede LaBarre, Mary Ann Lamb, Mary McLeod
  17. Gee Officer Krupke - Cast
  18. Agony - Paul Gemignani
  19. Bring Him Home (from Les Miserables) - Colm Wilkinson, Colm
  20. Lullaby of Broadway (from "42nd Street") - John Lesko, Jerry Orbach

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars redux.......2007-07-06

Four of the songs on this CD (Oklahoma, Music of the Night, Cabaret, and All That Jazz) were on the earlier Ultimate Broadway. Of all the shows that have been on Broadway over the past 70+ years, including the ones that are currently running, there is no excuse for repeats!

3 out of 5 stars Moderate Quality.......2003-06-20

I believe that the show selection for this CD was excellent. However the song selection and song order were not. Why pick "Your Daddy's Son" from Ragtime when you can have the amazing and fantastic "Prologue" from the same show. Also I believe that a mistake was made by slecting "I Don Quixote" from Man of La Mancha instead of the much more listenable "Impossible Dream." Also the overture from Gypsy is not the proper song to start out a CD. Perhaps the "Overture" from The Phantom of the Opera.

This is however an excellent example of showtunes for inexperienced members of the theatrical world.

2 out of 5 stars POOR EXCUSE FOR SOME GOOD THEATER MUSIC.......2003-05-20

The best of Broadway? Sure, if you consider the best of Broadway only those songs taken only from RCA Victor cast recordings. Expect the expected: Tracks from "Ragtime," "Chicago," "42nd Street" and "Man of La Mancha," sung by the likes of Audra
McDonald, Bebe Neuwirth, Jerry Orbach and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Including a live recording of Barbara Cook warbling "Losing My Mind" from her "Mostly Sondheim" CD isn't exactly kosher. But then again, neither is this gimmick-riddled release. Curtain up?
Half-way, maybe. Light the lights? Dim them, please.
The Best of Kathleen Battle
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Kathy Rocks Ever!
  • A wide presentation of the work of an amazing artist
  • A Great Coloratura Soprano
  • Great compilation of Kathleen Battle's work
  • Beautiful Voice
 The Best of Kathleen Battle

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00068CVF8
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Tracks:

  1. Summertime
  2. I loves you, Porgy
  3. Porgi amor
  4. Welche Wonne, welche Lust
  5. S'altro che lagrime
  6. Una donna a quindici anni
  7. Depuis le jour
  8. E pur cosi / Piangeri la sorte mia
  9. Oui! pour ce soir... Je suis Titania
  10. Ah! tardai troppo... O luce di quest'anima
  11. 4. Pie Jesu (Sopran)
  12. Voices of Spring, Op.410 (Frohlingsstimmen) - vocal version
  13. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot / Ride Up in the Chariot
  14. Witness "Oh, Lord, what manner of man is dis?"
  15. Talk About a Child
  16. He's got the whole world in His hands

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Kathy Rocks Ever!.......2006-01-01

Oh,yeah!Also here in Brazil she commanded,complained,got her tantrums as well but,she is Kathy;highly gifted,charmingly glamourous,her elegant golden singing beautifully soaring over brazilian audiences and so on.About this cd,I would prefer a completely new one.However,this is a gorgeous compilation,just perfect to Battle beginners or her fans,especially these spirituals that belongs incontestablely to her heavenly throat.I hope much more from Miss Battle just 'cause she is a great performer,in fact nobody or nothing couldn't denies that no matter she's doing backstage.Cowardly,poisonous "kid's rewiews" show us solely how empty is this quarrel.I hope a DG reissue of her beloved,out of print Schubert recital as well.

5 out of 5 stars A wide presentation of the work of an amazing artist.......2005-12-23

This CD provides a sampling of Kathleen Battle's voice and interpretive abilities from coloratura virtuousity (Voices of Spring) to the simple, heartfelt spiritual (Talk about a child).

First of all, there's THAT voice. You hear a voice that is uniquely angelic and capable of expressing a wide range of moods. You hear a voice that glitters like a diamond, skips happily and effortlessly (and in impeccable tune) from note to note like it's nobody's business, one that that reminds you of moonbeams and early morning dew on pink rose petals. You've simply got to her it to believe it.

On this CD, the listener is provided with the the works/composers for which she's well known: Handel Opera (E pur cosi / piangero la sorte mia), Mozart Opera (S'altro che lagrime), Bel Canto Opera (Ah, tardai troppo...), French Opera (Depuis le jour), spirituals, and a few popular songs for sopranos such as Gershwin's Summertime and Faure's Pie Jesu

If you're just popping the CD in, try: (1) Ah, tardai troppo, (2) Voices of Spring, (3) Talk about a child, (4) I loves you, Porgy, and (5) Pie Jesu.

I suppose if you are a fan of heavy, dramatic voices, Kathleen Battle may not be to your liking. But I suspect that if you listen to her, you still might be amazed...

5 out of 5 stars A Great Coloratura Soprano .......2005-04-03

Coloratura sopranos are a dying breed today. The era of Lily Pons and Beverly Sills is long gone and opera audiences favor a more "heavy" coloratura sound- or at least a full lyric one, such as the voice types of Kiri Te Kenawa, Carol Vanness and Renee Fleming. Kathleen Battle was in many ways an artist who payed homage to the coloratura queens of olden days. Only Natalie Dessay, of late, represents that kind of singer. much This album showcases her best work, and she is in fine voice, bringing a luminous and sunny quality to her interpretations, while keeping the dramatic appeal of the text. She was at best a Handel/Mozart/Strauss/Gounod singer, and never fared well in the more dramatic reperotoire of Verdi or Puccini heroines. She never sang Madame Butterfly, which if she had gone through training, she could have nailed, especially because her dramatic aspirations coupled with her soft, vulnerable sound would have suited her as Ciao Ciao San, in the way that Ying Huang interpreted the role. Verdi opera must have frightened her and she could never dream of taking on the roles that Leontyne Price performed, surely an influence in her student days made all the more credible because Leontyne Price was a "sister" African-American. So Leonora, Aida and Suor Angelica were out of her reach. While she sang with Jessie Norman in concert and recitals (like the Spirituals Concert), she must have been secretly or overtly ? jealous of the fact that Jessye Norman had a voice that could swallow the world!! A big, beautiful voice such as Ms. Norman's is closer to the true goddesses of operas in the tradition of Maria Callas, while Battle is more of the "tiny, bright, canary" voice. She ranks among the best of the lighter sopranos- Beverly Sills, and like Sumi Jo today. Her fellow co-artists used to call her the "Singing Mosquito". But she is marvelous in singing Handel oratorio(the only times I've heard her sing live), Mozart- Sussannah, Zerlina, the Countess in Figaro, Gounod- Juliette, Bizet- Micaela, but could never truly master the more difficult Mozart heroines- Dona Ana in Don Giovanni or Fiordiligi in Cosi Fan Tutte or even Konstanza in Die Entfurung, though try she did. In Strauss operas, she made a fine Zerbinetta, though she always oozed a confidence that made it seem as if these difficult pieces were a piece of cake for her. Some arias in this collection appear that way too.

Kathleen Battle has long since disappeared from the opera world, singing off and on. Her last singing engagement was for the soundtrack to the Japanese action saga "House of Flying Daggers" in which she sings in a very Japanese/poetic style. Before that she sang in Mythodea opposite Jessie Norman in a massive choral work by Vangelis, and also in Disney's Fantasia 2000. Her constant bitchiness, diva antics and disrespect to conductors and singers became too much and finally Joseph Volpe fired her from the Met. She had stayed there for so long because James Levine took a shine to her. As a singer, she was a perfectionist and in her body of work it shows. But she displayed a nasty diva temperament that does not sit well today. In the 80's, she would come to rehearsals late, would criticize everyone from conductor to costuma makers and even once disrespected the much older and experienced Rosalind Elias, a beloved mezzo at the Met. While I think that Volpe did the right thin in firing Battle, I think that Battle's voice is glorious and would buy her albums, even if she mostly poses as if she were in Vogue cover shots.

5 out of 5 stars Great compilation of Kathleen Battle's work.......2005-03-26

This is a great compilation CD of recordings made by Battle, which are currently deleted by Universal Music.
The selections are first rate and capture the artistry of Kathleen Battle perfectly, a shimmering, silvery, clean and clear voice which has captivated millions of people worldwide

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful Voice.......2005-02-24

I find it hard to give anything under 5 stars for any work including Miss Battle. Her technique and mastery of the female voice is quite remarkable. I am a HUGE fan of the soprano voice and I have found no one who posses the talents, skills, and interpretations of Battle. I would like to have seen more variety in this compilation CD. Her Rosina, Zerbinetta, Semele, other such roles were obviously ignored in the making of this CD. I think anyone will be hard pressed to find any lyric/coloratura soprano who amounts to the skill level of Miss Battle. Talent is talent, and she's got plenty of it. A person's attitude has nothing to do with their abilities as a performer, and I am tired of people knocking Miss Battle because of the stigma with which she is attached. Personally, she has never done anything to me nor the number of others who criticize her for her actions which took place over a decade ago. You cannot say that this woman does not posses mad skills. She is a lovely woman who has accomplished great things. I would gladly buy any CD that carries the name "Kathleen Battle".
The Best of the Big Bands
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Get this with "The War Years"
  • An excellent collaction from the big band era
  • Great
 The Best of the Big Bands
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Compendia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000000BGQ
Release Date: 1996-03-04

Tracks:

  1. In The Mood - Glenn Miller
  2. Sing, Sing, Sing (With A Swing) - Benny Goodman
  3. Ciribiribin - Harry James
  4. Begin The Beguine - Artie Shaw
  5. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You - Tommy Dorsey
  6. Cherokee - Charlie Barnet
  7. Artistry In Rhythm - Stan Kenton
  8. Take The 'A' Train - Duke Ellington
  9. Minnie The Moocher - Cab Calloway
  10. One O'Clock Jump - Count Basie

Tracks:

  1. Let's Dance (Opening Theme) - Benny Goodman
  2. Woodchopper's Ball - Woody Herman
  3. Leap Frog - Les Brown And His Band Of Renown
  4. Flying Home - Lionel Hampton
  5. A-Tisket A-Tasket - Chick Webb
  6. Dippermouth Blues - The Dorsey Brothers
  7. It's Only A Paper Moon - Paul Whiteman
  8. My Shawl (Theme Song) - Xavier Cugat
  9. I Can't Get Started - Bunny Berigan
  10. Auld Lang Syne - Guy Lombardo

Tracks:

  1. Opus One - Tommy Dorsey
  2. Moonlight Serenade - Glenn Miller
  3. Two O'Clock Jump - Harry James
  4. Summertime - Bob Crosby
  5. Mood Indigo - Duke Ellington
  6. Beat Me Daddy, Eight To The Bar - Andrews Sisters
  7. On A Slow Boat To China - Freddy Martin And His Orchestra
  8. Jazznocracy - Jimmie Lunceford
  9. Apurksody - Gene Krupa
  10. Hell's Bells - Art Kassel And His Kassels-In-The-Air

Tracks:

  1. Stompin' At The Savoy - Benny Goodman
  2. Sentimental Journey - Les Brown And His Band Of Renown
  3. Rum And Coca-Cola - Vaughan Monroe And His Orchestra
  4. All Or Nothing At All - Harry James
  5. Pennsylvania 6-5000 - Glenn Miller
  6. Frenesi - Arite Shaw
  7. Oh! Look At Me Now - Tommy Dorsey
  8. Der Fuerer's Face - Spike Jones
  9. Davenport Blues - Bix Beiderbecke
  10. Goodbye (Closing Theme) - Benny Goodman

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Get this with "The War Years".......2006-04-06



Both items-, "The Best of the Big Bands" and "The War Year" are remarkable. They contain some extraordinarily rare recordings by famous artists such as a young "Doris Day" singing "Sentimental Journey" "Bing Crosby" singing "Shoo Shoo Baby," the latter being a wonderful piece of live history, and "Cab Calloway's - Minnie The Moocher"

Many of the tracks were originally "V-Discs" and intended for eventual destruction. That is, each "V-Disc" was to entertain the troops (of the greatest generation) for an allotted time, and then each fragile disc was to be melted-down.

I think, one can't own one box set without the other - they ought to be bought together to get an all-inclusive experience of the era.

However, don't look for flawless Glenn Miller recordings - or any other Big Band for that matter - in these box sets. Every recording in these box sets are presented in their original format - and what could be better! Personally, I don't want any of these recordings so clean that they are deprived of their original charm. Digital remastering can be taken a bit too far sometimes.

I've had to borrow this set for a longtime from a dear friend, but now I'll have my own.

5 out of 5 stars An excellent collaction from the big band era.......2005-10-08

I have to disagree with the previous reviewer. Great collection, yes, but NOT by Glenn Miller. Although there are some excellent Glenn Miller songs included, this collection has most of the Big Band theme songs played by the original artists, and a collection like this is hard to find. So if you have any interest in the music from this era, or want a bit of nostalgia, this is the set for you.

4 out of 5 stars Great.......2000-11-25

This is another awsome set of tracks by Gleen Miller. I loved listening to him and his band play the original jazz master pieces. This is a great addition to anyone's collection of fabulous jazz C.D.'s
Sweet Talkin' Girls: The Best of the Chiffons
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • Songs Yes - Sound No
  • A little more sour then sweet
 Sweet Talkin' Girls: The Best of the Chiffons
The Chiffons
Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000GFLI0A
Release Date: 2006-10-02

Tracks:

  1. He's So Fine
  2. Oh My Lover
  3. Lucky Me
  4. One Fine Day
  5. Why Am I So Shy
  6. My Block
  7. When I Go To Sleep At Night
  8. Mystic Voice
  9. A Love So Fine
  10. Only My Friend
  11. When The Boy's Happy (The Girl's Happy Too)
  12. I Have A Boyfriend
  13. I'm Gonna Dry My Eyes
  14. Easy To Love (So Hard To Get)
  15. Tonight I Met An Angel
  16. Sailor Boy
  17. When Summer's Through
  18. Strange Strange Feeling
  19. What Am I Gonna Do With You (Hey Baby)
  20. Nobody Knows What's Going On
  21. The Real Thing
  22. Tonight I'm Gonna Dream
  23. The Heavenly Place
  24. Did You Ever Go Steady
  25. Now That You're My Baby

Tracks:

  1. Sweet Talkin' Guy
  2. Down Down Down
  3. Open Your Eyes (I Will Be There)
  4. Thumbs Down
  5. Dream Dream Dream
  6. Out Of This World
  7. Just A Boy
  8. Stop, Look And Listen
  9. March
  10. My Boyfriend's Back
  11. I Got Plenty Of Nuttin'
  12. Keep The Boy Happy
  13. He's A Bad One
  14. If I Knew Then (What I Know Now)
  15. Just For Tonight
  16. Teach Me How
  17. Up On The Bridge
  18. Love Me Like You're Gonna Lose Me
  19. Three Dips Of Ice Cream
  20. Secret Love
  21. Every Boy And Every Girl
  22. I Don't Deserve A Boy Like You
  23. Remember Me Baby
  24. So Much In Love
  25. My Sweet Lord

Album Description

Two CD compilation featuring 50 of the best recordings by one of the greatest girl groups of all time. Features 'He's So Fine', 'One Fine Day', 'Oh My Lover', 'My Sweet Lord', 'Remember Me Baby', 'Every Boy And Every Girl'. and more. Stateside. 2006.

Album Details

The Chiffons Are the Archetypal Girl Group with a Classic Sound, Classic Look and an Almost Faultless Run of Singles from "he's So Fine" in 1963 Til the Last Months of the 60's: "One Fine Day", "What Am I Gonna Do with You", "up on the Bridge". Even the Supremes Struggled to Rival Such Consistency. They were One of Many Great Girl Groups from New York's Bronx District. Formed by Four High School Classmates: Judy Craig, Sylvia Peterson, Barbara Lee, and Patricia Bennett, their Teenage Innocence and Ability to Deliver Lively Vocals Helped to Give them their First Minor Hit in 1960, with the Song "Tonight's the Night". Their Biggest Single, "Sweet Talkin' Guy", Charted in 1966 and Again in 1972, When it Reached No. 4. The Group Split Up in 1971, the Same Year that George Harrison's "my Sweet Lord" was Released with the Classic Riff from "he's So Fine". Ronnie Mack's Estate Won that Lawsuit in 1975 and the Chiffons Briefly Re-formed to Cheekily Cover "my Sweet Lord".

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Songs Yes - Sound No.......2006-11-13

I have to agree with the first reviewer, and I can't add much to it. While this is the best selection of Chiffons tracks ever to be found all in one CD package, it's not an audiophile's dream. The "My Secret Love" tracks were recorded slightly faster than normal, not noticeable if you're a first time listener to these tracks but annoying if you've heard them played at normal speed. My own CD which I recorded myself from vinyl sounds better than what they used here. The masterpiece "What Am I Gonna Do With You (Hey Baby)" actually plays slightly slower here than the original vinyl. "Sweet Talkin' Guy" and some of the other tracks from the 1966 lp are available elsewhere in stereo, but presented in mono here.

Having said all that, I would still recommend it because it's the only place you can get all these great songs in one place. And it does include most of their "B" sides. I'm still hopeful someone will come up with the perfect Chiffons CD set in my lifetime. Until then, if you're a Chiffons fan you SHOULD own this, along with the 1990 Ace Greatest Recordings CD.

3 out of 5 stars A little more sour then sweet.......2006-10-13

The Chiffons are surely one of the great overlooked girl groups. Their harmonious sounds are the things music lover's dreams are made of. This CD set is the first of its kind to actually offer TWO discs and 50 tracks spread out between them. It is, unfortunately, a victim of rather poor mastering, making some of the tracks sound fuzzy and not as good as on previous collections. For fans (like myself) who hoped this to be the definitive collection, it's a bit of a disappointment.

The good news about this set, is that it brings some rare tracks to CD for the first time. The girls' immaculate 1964 single, "What Am I Gonna Do With You (Hey Baby)" is finally here on disc, as is their last Laurie single, the lovely "Love Me Like You're Gonna Lose Me". BOTH of these are essential Chiffons listening, and it's hard to believe neither has seen a CD release before. Also on here are select B-sides as well as some tracks from their very rare, and superb B.T. Puppy album, "My Secret Love". Oddly, some of the tracks from that album which could have fit on the disc are not here, including their great original version of "It Hurts to Be Sixteen", later recorded by Andrea Carroll and Barbara Chandler.

With all these rare gems, why is this set such a bummer? The mastering is pitiful, that's why. Listening to these tracks on headphones, it's clear that many of them came from old vinyl (presumably due to the master tapes no longer being available). While that would be understandable, the mastering of those MONO tracks for this disc is bizarre, with much of the music coming out of one speaker, while the other emits mostly hiss. Why they couldn't (or simply didn't) phase these tracks to mono properly, is beyond me, and it just comes across as very careless and sloppy mastering. Stranger still, is that such well known (and easier to find) tracks, like "He's So Fine", sound muddy as well. Surely there are enough good copies of that around, they could have done better.

Despite all these things, I am glad to have some of these tracks on CD, though for the price, the packaging (with very skimpy liner notes) and especially the sound, could have been much better. To date, my favorite Chiffons collection on CD is the Greatest Recordings single disc, released by ACE in the early 90s. Sadly it is out of print now, but is worth finding. While all the tracks on that set are also on this one, I think the liner notes and sound on that earlier set, far surpass this one. Here's hoping that another, better set is out there in the future. The Chiffons legacy is certainly deserving of such.
The Best of Merle Travis: Sweet Temptation 1946-1953
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Good compilation of a Country Giant
 The Best of Merle Travis: Sweet Temptation 1946-1953
Merle Travis
Manufacturer: Razor & Tie
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Country | Styles | Music
Western SwingWestern Swing | Country | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00004SBUY
Release Date: 2000-04-18

Tracks:

  1. Cincinnati Lou
  2. No Vacancy
  3. Divorce Me C.O.D.
  4. So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed
  5. Sixteen Tons
  6. Steel Guitar Rag
  7. Blue Yodel No. 1 (T For Texas)
  8. Any Old Time
  9. Three Times Seven
  10. Kentucky Means Paradise
  11. Sweet Temptation
  12. Fat Gal
  13. Dry Bread
  14. Cannon Ball Rag
  15. Lawdy, What A Gal
  16. Guitar Rag
  17. Deep South
  18. Re-Enlistment Blues
  19. Kinfolks In Carolina
  20. I'll See You In My Dreams

Amazon.com

Merle Travis made everything he did sound so effortless that it's easy to overlook his considerable gifts. Travis is best remembered today for the distinctive finger-picking-guitar style that often bears his name: "Travis picking," learned initially from the home folks in Kentucky, allows players to accompany their lead lines (picked with the index finger) with their own bass support (provided by the thumb). And while Travis certainly impressed with this technique, he was also a droll and resourceful songwriter and an easy-going and appealing singer. The combination of his talents resulted in a spry musical style that fused appealing pop melodies with touches of jazz improvisation and early honky-tonk. Travis had a hand in writing 15 of the 20 tracks here (exceptions include two Jimmie Rodgers covers, the traditional blues "Dry Bread," and a guitar showcase on the standard "I'll See You in My Dreams"), and most of the originals conform to this jovial formula, often featuring trumpet and accordion. He's supported along the way by many of Southern California's finest players of the day such as steel guitarists Speedy West, Joaquin Murphey, and Noel Boggs, and six-stringers Joe Maphis, Roy Lanham, and Johnny Weis. His most famous composition, however, remains the coal-miner's lament "Sixteen Tons," a tune that many assume is a traditional folk song but is in fact a Travis creation, heard here in a solo-acoustic performance. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Good compilation of a Country Giant.......2000-05-26

"Travis-pickin" is what is was called and it was a style of guitarplaying that Merle Travis popularized that influenced every Country picker from Chet Atkins to Scotty Moore and even Jerry Reed. This fine CD spotlights this overlooked giant. It's sad that Merle Travis never gets mentioned with the greats of Country Music but this CD is a sturdy reminder that he was indeed a great one. While it is his guitar playing that often gets Merle Travis mentioned in Country history books he was also a consistent chart topper during the period that this CD covers. His songs had a sense of humor ("Fat Girl"), addressed issues of the day ("No Vacancy" about the lack of housing Veterans faced when they returned from World War II, and he also wrote "Sixteen Tons". This CD is basically a replacement for Rhino's Best of from 1990 which is now out-of-print. While that CD had 18 songs this has 20 (with 13 of Rhino's appearing here, also). But the sound is better on this CD. With one glaring omission: the absence of Merle's classic coal miner anthem: "Dark as a Dungeon" (how could they skip that song!). You can find "Dungeon" on Folk Songs of the Hills, which is in print. If you haven't added Merle Travis to your CD collection this is the one to own. It's a good place to get to know a forgotten Country great.

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