Simply Sarah

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This is Sarah Chang's second encore collection, recorded when she was all of 15. (The debut recital was made when she was 9.) As in the previous collection, and most of her other recordings, Chang stays mostly with the Romantic era, although she does play the March from Prokofiev's Love for Three Oranges with a good deal of bite. This disc doesn't offer a profound musical experience, but if you like to be amazed by dazzling violin playing, it's a treat throughout. Bravo to Chang for reviving showpieces like those by Bazzini and Sarasate. Charles Abramovic, whose name you have to search for, plays well but could be more assertive. --Leslie Gerber

Tracks:

Perfect Love
Something Got Me Started
Holding Back The Years
More
A Song For You
Your Mirror
Fairground
My Perfect Love
Smile
Sad Old Red
For Your Babies
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye

Album Description

Simplified features both stripped-down versions of Simply Red's classic songs and fresh recordorm some material with only a piano as accompaniment. "What struck me when I listened back to the performance was just how much the song leapt out at you in those circumstances," he says. Classic Simply Red songs such as "Something Got Me Started," "Sad Old Red," "Smile," and "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" are reinvigorated thanks to these sophisticated, even jazzy, new arrangements. One of the group's most popular hits, "Holding Back The Years," is beautiful and still lush; recognizable, but with an added timeless maturity. Other songs featured on Simplified include "More," "Your Mirror," "Fairground," and "For Your Babies."

The lead-off track and first single from Simplified is the irresistible, upbeat, and distinctly Latin-flavored "Perfect Love." The Cuban vibe of this sensual new song is amplified by the vocals of Havana-based singer Danae. A Latin feeling runs throughout Simplified, inspired by the band's recent visit to Cuba. In fact, Simply Red is the first English pop band to have played in Havana, as they appeared at the landmark Gran Teatro early in 2005.

Simplified is the follow-up to 2003's highly successful Home, which sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. That release helped push the band to a level of over 50 million albums sold since forming 21 years ago. Although Simply Red's lineup of musicians has rotated throughout the years, the one constant has been Mick Hucknall, one of the finest male vocalists Britain has ever produced, and also one of its most accomplished, melodic, and prolific pop songwriters.

Customer Reviews:

What A Treat To Have Made This Album.......2007-05-18

Stripped down jazzy slower versions of old songs from The SImply Red catalog. Fans LOVE things like this, I LOVE this album, perfect for a rainy day alone with some songs that are like old friends. But older, wiser, mature, just wonderful. I Simply LOVE the stripped and simplified version of "Fairground", I love the orginial dearly...the sad slow melody over the Goodmen's drumming. But here it is sung as a ballad. This could have been an old standard that someone like Ella Fitzgerlad would have sung. can't say enough good things aabout this album, it is called "Simplified", but should be called "Timeless". This is the Greatest Hits for the fans, hits ethought. Again, rain falling outside makes this even better. Then again, we are all SR fans here, give it a try.

Great!!.......2007-03-26

The music has a variation of sounds and themes extremely diverse and exciting. This is a great CD -a fan can certainly appreciate the voice and themes, a new listener will turn into a fanatic right after this.
Excellent choice.

Wonderful Album.......2007-01-22

If you love Mick Hucknall's voice as much as I do you'll be glad you bought this album. He does some of his old songs in a slightly different way which is so interesting, and the new songs are wonderful. Simply Red is simply great!

Simplified and stripped down.......2006-09-06

Simply Red goes easy listening on this album. Every track is either a re-recording or the original master minus percussion. We hear a piano plus a string ensemble on many of these tracks. This is an ideal album for easy listening music fans,especially senior citizens who can't stand the sound of hard rock or heavy metal. Marty Balin clone Mick Hucknall,the band's frontman gives fans a nice collection of hit songs in subtle form.

Hucknel just doesn't stop.......2006-05-27

Simplified brings some new along with old favorites. Simply Red "smoothed" out old classics. The new material is just as good as the 20 year old tunes. A must for any Simply Red fan. And a cd that new listeners will enjoy.

Average customer rating:

At best these are okay performances...
Simply Sarah is simply delightful!
Fantastic! Most Thrilling!
Simply Dazzling!

Simply Sarah

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Fire & Ice
Debut
Sweet Sorrow
Sarah Chang - Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1 ~ Saint-Saëns: Havanaise / Sawallisch
Sarah Chang - Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35; Brahms: Hungarian Dances

ASIN: B000002RWO
Release Date: 1997-03-18

Tracks:

The Dance Of The Goblins, Scherzo Fantastique, Op.25
Cantabile In D Major
Introduction & Tarantella, Op.43
Waltz-Scherzo, Op.34
Berceuse, Op.16
Hora Staccato
Romeo And Juliet: Masks
Sonata No.12 In E minor, Op.3
On Wings Of Song, Op.34, No.2
Sonata Movement (Sonatensatz), Op. posth
Melodie
Banjo And Fiddle
Nocturne, Op.51, No.3
Zapateado, Op.23

Amazon.com

This is Sarah Chang's second encore collection, recorded when she was all of 15. (The debut recital was made when she was 9.) As in the previous collection, and most of her other recordings, Chang stays mostly with the Romantic era, although she does play the March from Prokofiev's Love for Three Oranges with a good deal of bite. This disc doesn't offer a profound musical experience, but if you like to be amazed by dazzling violin playing, it's a treat throughout. Bravo to Chang for reviving showpieces like those by Bazzini and Sarasate. Charles Abramovic, whose name you have to search for, plays well but could be more assertive. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

At best these are okay performances..........2006-12-04

...of these pieces...for some reason some of the recordings have a particularly dry sound -- "Hora staccato" and "Valse scherzo" sound like the bow was haired with sandpaper...much better performances can be found elsewhere -- look for Michael Rabin and, of course, Heifetz.

Simply Sarah is simply delightful!.......2005-12-21

I couldn't stop smiling while I listened to these bon-bons. She is an outstanding musician and the material, while definitely on the light side, is totally pleasing.

Fantastic! Most Thrilling!.......1999-01-06

This album features mainly bravura showpieces and lyrical pieces. In the showpieces, Sarah Chang's virtuosity is second to none. Her flawless, electrifying accounts of Bazzini's Dance of the Goblins, Sarasate's Tarantella and Zapateado, etc., are very likely the best ever. In contrast to the dazzlers, she makes listeners realize her remarkable versatility when she sings most winsomely in the lyrical pieces, with a spellbinding tone. Two seldom recorded pieces, Mendelssohn's On Wings of Song and Sibelius's Nocturne, are simply mesmerizing.

In conclusion, this disc contains many familiar encore pieces as well as some lesser-known ones. Miss Chang breathes invigorating new air into the well-known pieces, and makes obscure pieces sound equally compelling. Every track on this CD is a gem. Sarah Chang demonstrates (as usual) her peerless, stupefying technical mastery, which is well blended with her marvelous tone and mature musicianship. IMHO, this is probably Miss Chang's finest disc so far. A CD to treasure!

Simply Dazzling!.......1999-01-01

Another wonderful showcase of Ms. Chang's superb and passionate musical talent.

Average customer rating:

Simply Monica
Monica Crosby
Manufacturer: Stok
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | R&B | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00009EPAS
Release Date: 2003-01-01

Tracks:

Simply Monica
The Reason Why
Strangers
I'd Like To Be Baby To You
Think Straight
Disguises
Infant Eyes
We'll Always Be Together
Come With Me
Sack Full Of Dreams
Come

Album Description

Simply Monica is a wonderful journey of music through the idiom of jazz. From start to finish, Monica delivers a stellar performance celebrating her first solo CD project. Monica's smooth vocal delivery and tonal quality has lead her to call herself, "a song stylist". Her playful mastery of her vocal instrument, one hears a hint of Sarah Vaughn or Diane Reeves. One such critic has described has it as love in a bottle. In the title cut "Simply Monica" shows you her bluesy style, in "Strangers" Monica shows her R & B side, while in "Come With Me", she serves up a good dose of sultry vocals. On "Think Straight", Monica explores African rhythms and fused them with modern vocal styling, to cook up a powerful blend of new and old.

To add base, bottom, and flow, Monica has invited such jazz greats as: Dr Lonnie Smith, Melton Mustafa, and Jessie Jones and blended them with new but seasoned players: John Walker, Rudolph Brown Jr., Marcus France, David Frazier, Gilbert Salter Jr., David "Jodie" Hill, Jose Miller, Carlos Jorge, Ike Woods, Rod Percy, Mark Jackson, and Jay "JJ" Johnson to create a flavor that will appeal to the jazz in you. You will agree that "Simply Monica" is a must-have for your jazz collection.

Simply Great Music
Average customer rating:

A great compilation of up-and-coming Christian artists

Simply Great Music

Manufacturer: EMI / CMG
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0007ORSQS

Product Description

1. Filled With Your Glory (Starfield) 2. When I search (something like silas) 3. Great Big Mystery (Bethany Dillion) 4. Broken Heart (Falling Up) 5. Everything About You (Sanctus Real) 6. Take Me Away (Sarah Kelly) 7. Gravity (Shawn McDonald) 8. The ONe (Everyday Sunday) 9. Choices (Jadyn Maria) 10. Happy (Matthew West) 11. Things We Go Through (Hawk Nelson) 12. Open Skies (David Crowder band) 13. I Miss You (Shane and Shane) 14. Following You (Jadon Lavik)

Customer Reviews:

A great compilation of up-and-coming Christian artists.......2005-03-28

I got this CD free when I bought The David Crowder Band's "Illuminate", and I'm absolutely thrilled I did. There are a bunch of differet types of music genres on here, from Contemporary Christian to Hip-Hop to Rock. If you like all types of Christian music or just want a good compilation CD, this one is wonderful.

Music Review:

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