Got Swing!

Track Listings
1. String of Pearls    
2. Stompin' at the Savoy    
3. Choo Choo Ch'Boogie - Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel, Manhattan Transfer    
4. Straighten Up and Fly Right - Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel, John Pizzarelli    
5. Sugar - Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel, Manhattan Transfer    
6. Skyliner - Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel, Manhattan Transfer    
7. Blues in the Night    
8. Avalon - Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel, John Pizzarelli    
9. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)    
10. Clouds, Adapted from Nuages - Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel, Manhattan Transfer    
11. Jumpin' at the Woodside    
12. Flying Home    
13. I'll Be Seeing You - Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel, Janis Siegel    
14. Sweet Georgia Brown    

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra here offer a veritable tour of the swing era. Kunzel has been conducting the orchestra since its formation in 1977. The set includes many of swing's cornerstone numbers, of course including Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)," which is also celebrated as the source of the genre's name. The music flourished in the '30s and '40s, popularized by composers and bandleaders such as Count Basie, Glenn Miller, and the Dorsey brothers. To help realize this project, a number of vocalists were enlisted, all of whom have current resumes rich with forays into the swing era: the Manhattan Transfer, John Pizzarelli, and Janis Siegel (who's also a member of the aforementioned vocal quartet). From soaring group vocals on such numbers as "Skyliner" to straight-ahead instrumental grooves as on Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton's "Flying Home," this 14-song set celebrates the swing era by making it sound fresh today. --David Greenberger

Got Swing!, Music, Antonio Hart, Richie Goods, Rick Van Matre, Harold / Mercer, Johnny Arlen, Charlie Barnet, William "Count" Basie, Kenneth / Pinkard, Maceo / Bernie, Ben Casey, Nat King / Mills, Irving Cole, Eddie / Gray, Jerry DeLange, Edward "Duke" Ellington, Sammy Fain, Benny / Hampton, Lionel Goodman, Benny / Sampson, Edgar / Webb, Chick Goodman, Vaughn / Darling, Denver / Gabler, Milt Horton, Al / DeSylva, B.G. / Rose, Vincent Jolson, Maceo / Mitchell, Sidney / Pinkard, Edna Pinkard, Django Reinhardt, Erich Kunzel, Steve Hass, John Pizzarelli, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Julie Spangler, James (Jim) Pugh, Scott Belck, Vincent DiMartino, Richard Jensen, Paul Patterson, Cheryl Bentyne, Janis Siegel, Band, Band Music, Chamber, Classical, Conductor, Guitar Solo, Instrumental Pop, Jazz Music, Miscellaneous, Miscellaneous Music, Miscellaneous Vocal Music, Orchestral & Symphonic, Orchestral Pop, Rock/Pop, Vocal, Vocal Music
Songs That Got Us Through WWII
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A hit with the WWII generation
  • great compilation of 40's music.
  • Songs That Got Us Through WWII
  • My Review
  • Songs that got us through "the big one"...
 Songs That Got Us Through WWII
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Songs That Got Us Through WW2, Vol. 2
  2. Great Records Of The Decade: 40's Hits, Vol. 1
  3. Those Were Our Songs: Music of World War II
  4. Glenn Miller - Greatest Hits
  5. G.I. Jukebox: Songs from World War II

ASIN: B0000032SP
Release Date: 1990-03-16

Tracks:

  1. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - Andrew Sisters
  2. I'll Be Seeing You - Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
  3. Don't Get Around Much Anymore (Never No Lament) - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
  4. Till Then - Mills Brothers
  5. G.I. Jive - Johnny Mercer
  6. I'll Walk Alone - Martha Tilton
  7. When The Lights Go On Again (All Over The World) - Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra
  8. Yours - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra
  9. Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive - Johnny Mercer
  10. I Don't Want To Walk Without You - Harry James & His Orchestra
  11. I Wonder - Louis Armstrong
  12. Long Ago (And Far Away) - Jo Stafford
  13. I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You) - Ink Spots
  14. (There'll Be Blue Birds Over)The White Cliffs Of Dover - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra
  15. Comin' In On A Wing And A Prayer - The Song Spinners
  16. Sentimental Journey - Les Brown & His Orchestra
  17. Waitin' For The Train To Come In - Peggy Lee
  18. It's Been A Long, Long Time - Harry James & His Orchestra

Album Description

They may have rationed meat, milk, canned goods, and gasoline, but there was no limit to the musical talent during World War II. Morale-boosting sounds on the home front and "over there" were one of the Allies' most potent weapons. WWII gave birth to many of the 1940s' most popular artists and songs, as well as many of the most important independent record labels. Songs That Got Us Through WWII is the first of a two-volume series collecting the hits that kept the home fires burning and brought a little bit of America to the G.I.s overseas. Compiled and developed by singer/songwriter/music historian Billy Vera, Vol. 1 features many of the era's biggest artists, including The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, The Mills Brothers, The Ink Spots, Harry James, and many more.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A hit with the WWII generation.......2007-07-15

We played this CD at a family reunion honoring our elders (who either fought in WWII or were married to those who fought). It was a hit. The tunes ranged from bouncy to sentimental, but all were enjoyable.

4 out of 5 stars great compilation of 40's music........2007-03-18

i was born in 1961, but like the geeky audiophile that i am, i have eagerly dug into all the decades that have produced recorded music. i always thought that the forties were one of the weaker decades out there when it comes to sonic delights. so why do i love the two volumes of "songs that got us through wwii" so much? rhino records has a lot to do with it. as all audiophiles of the cd age now, rhino is one of the best outfits around when it comes to compilations of music. on these 2 wonderful discs from the forties, they have done it again. pure pleasure is to be had here. one drifts back to another time, across decades, to experience the popular songs of another american culture. this is a perfect introduction to that decade for anyone. having heard these two volumes, i can't wait to give the forties another chance. i am being won over, i think. thanks rhino.

5 out of 5 stars Songs That Got Us Through WWII.......2007-01-04

When my mother heard this CD that I played on a recent road trip, she sang along with every one! She loved it so much that I bought one for her, plus the second one in the set. The selections are great (variety of songs and artists) and recording quality very good considering a lot of these were recorded 60 years ago. This is a great CD for anyone over 50 who grew up with this music or listened to their parents play it.

5 out of 5 stars My Review.......2006-11-20

The songs on this CD are the songs I loved listening & singing to when I
was a young teen. Wonderful CD!!!

5 out of 5 stars Songs that got us through "the big one"..........2006-11-20

World War II was the most catastrophic in history. Fifty-five million people were killed in just five years. Music had the power to make people feel better even when life was this rough; and this CD proves it.

The CD starts on a strong upbeat note with The Andrews Sisters belting out "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." Vic Schoen and his orchestra perform the musical arrangement which packs a big punch! I like this song for its "swing" feel and its playfulness at the same time.

The next song, "I'll Be Seeing You," switches right away to the sadder aspects of war. This classic tearjerker song deals with the pain two lovers or spouses experience when one must go to war. Frank Sinatra sings this beautifully. Other songs that deal with the pain and stress of war include "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" performed flawlessly by Duke Ellington and his Orchestra; "I'll Walk Alone" by Martha Tilton and "I Don't Want To Walk Without You" sung by Helen Forrest with Harry James and his Orchestra.

The CD also gives us songs that express hope for a quick end to the war so that a sense of normalcy can return. I love the beautiful "When The Lights Go On (All Over The World)" and "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs Of Dover." These are truly classic pop vocals.

"G.I. Jive" and "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive" are great upbeat songs, too. Terrific!

The CD has a solid ending with the touching "It's Been A Long, Long Time" sung by Kitty Kallen with Harry James and his Orchestra performing the musical arrangement.

The quality of the remastering could be better. Throughout the CD there is a lot of surface noise and it is obvious that these songs were recorded a very long while ago. However, in the liner notes there is a note that these recordings were remastered before superior technology was available to reduce surface noise. I considered giving this CD 4 1/2 stars for this but the songs are so good that this will be a five star review.

Bill Vera contributes an informative essay for the liner notes and there are several great photos of the artists on this CD. You also get the song credits and the date each hit was released. Excellent!

Overall, this is a great CD for people who love American pop classics from the World War II era and big band vocals in general. I highly recommend this CD; and if you like it then I suggest you try volume two of Songs That Got Us Through World War II. May you enjoy this nostalgic CD as much as I did!

SMILE
Porgy & Bess
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Absolutely peerless
  • once-in-a-lifetime greatness
  • We love this album
  • Simply great
  • Porgy and Bess
 Porgy & Bess
Ella Fitzgerald , and Louis Armstrong
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Porgy and Bess
  2. Gershwin: Porgy & Bess [With Members of the Original Cast]
  3. Porgy & Bess: High Performance
  4. George Gershwin - Porgy & Bess / Trevor Nunn · Sir Simon Rattle · W. White · C. Haymon · Glyndebourne Opera
  5. Ella & Louis Again (Dig)

ASIN: B0000046Z5
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Overture
  2. Summertime
  3. I Wants To Stay Here
  4. My Man's Gone Now
  5. I Got Plenty O'Nuttin'
  6. Buzzard Song
  7. Bess, You Is My Woman Now
  8. It Ain't Necessarily So
  9. What You Want Wild Bess?
  10. A Woman Is A Sometime Thing
  11. Oh, Doctor Jesus
  12. Medley: Here Come De Honey Man/Crab Man/Oh, Deh's So Fresh And Fine (Strawberry Woman)
  13. There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York
  14. Bess, Oh Where's My Bess
  15. Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way

Amazon.com

Getting the two most personable voices in jazz to sing an hour's worth of George Gershwin's opera Porgy & Bess (Ella doing all the female parts, Satchmo all the male) was a good idea, but not quite as great as it sounded. Armstrong savors the down-and-dirty Charlestonisms that inspired the cadences of the music and lyrics, and they fit his happy rasp like an old shoe; Fitzgerald, conversely, sounds almost prissy every time she has to sing the word "ain't," though her melodic genius gets Gershwin's bold, supple tunes over. The arrangements are full-throttle Broadway, with a few leaps into Dixieland (including some fine Armstrong trumpet solos), but the disc works best when the vocalists break character and let their jazz side out. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely peerless.......2006-11-17

"Porgy and Bess" has just opened (with some controversy) in London's West End, though as a musical and not as an opera as it was originally conceived. Reviews have been promising and I aim to go down and see it soon. I decided to listen to this CD to put myself in the mood. I hadn't listened to it for years and I'd completely forgotten how good it actually is. Ella's voice blends with Louis' perfectly and Russell Garcia's orchestration gives them a dreamy landscape to perform against. I have one or two other CDs by Louis and Ella but this one is by far my favourite. The CD opens with "Overture" and its orchestral performance of classics like "Summertime", "I Wants To Stay Here", "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'" and "It Ain't Neccessarily So" set the tone nicely, leaving one ever so keen for the vocal versions. Louis Armstong has a very rough tone to his voice but the emotion he packs with it is moving, most especially on the mournful "Bess, Oh Where's My Bess?" And we get all this and Louis' wonderful trumpet playing too?

Gershwin and Gershwin must be among the top composers of the last century and this opera showcases their talents more than anything I've heard. Ella and Louis are peerless as a vocal duo and though I doubt the West End performance will capture the magic in the same way they did, I still remain very keen to go see it. Is it opera or is it a jazz performance? I don't really know. I just know that I love it. And strongly recommend it.

5 out of 5 stars once-in-a-lifetime greatness.......2006-10-06

Two thousand five hundred musicians have recorded "Summertime" --- it's a classic. (I bet most Americans can name Janis Joplin and no other singer.) As for "Porgy and Bess," the folk opera from which "Summertime" springs, it's such a classic that it's hard to believe anyone ever had a harsh word to say about it.

But after its premiere in 1935, no less than Duke Ellington said, "It has grand music and a swell play, but the two didn't go together. It does not use the Negro musical idiom --- the times are here to debunk Gershwin's lampblack Negroisms."

A quarter of a century later, the producers of the film version had trouble assembling a cast. Harry Belafonte rejected their offer to play Porgy. Sidney Poitier took the part --- and wished he hadn't. Poitier later wrote that the movie insulted black people; when he chose clips of his best performances for his tribute at the American Film Institute, he picked nothing from "Porgy and Bess."

And in 1985, when Grace Bumbry was a sensation as Bess in a Metropolitan Opera production, she slammed the opera: "I thought it beneath me, I felt I had worked far too hard, that we had come far too far to have to retrogress to 1935."

All that may be. All I know is that I have, in a long life, rarely been confronted with more genius than in the Fitzgerald/Armstrong recording of "Porgy & Bess." Set aside the achievement of George and Ira Gershwin in transforming DuBose Heyward's novel into a folk opera. Let's just focus on Armstrong and Fitzgerald, who were at the peak of their popularity when this record was made in 1957.

"Summertime" --- the first song --- sets the tone. A baleful horn figure, then violins. And then Armstrong's trumpet: slow, steady, dignified. But wait --- here comes a slurred note. And a cool little improvisation. Just enough of each. Very tasty.

Fitzgerald sings a verse. She is cool and formal. A lady. Not to be taken lightly. Now it's Armstrong's turn. Tender, but let's not kid ourselves --- this is not singing as others define it. This is melodic speech: rough, gutteral. And thus he is ideally cast: His Porgy may have his charms, but he'll have to stretch to keep Bess.

And so it goes throughout the CD. Trumpet mastery --- Armstrong has dazzling control. His tone is bright, but never shrill; there's a warmth in his playing no one else could produce. And Fitzgerald is just a study in inevitability; to hear her is to wonder how anyone could sing these songs any other way.

"I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'." "Bess, You Is My Woman Now." "A Woman Is a Sometime Thing." "There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York." "Bess, Oh Where's My Bess?" "Oh Lawd, I'm on My Way."

All brilliantly conceived, orchestrated and recorded.

The greatest trumpet player in this history of jazz.

The father of scat singing.

The queen of the jazz vocal.

There are no-brainers, and then there is this Ella Fitzgerald-Louis Armstrong collaboration --- music that imprints on your soul.

5 out of 5 stars We love this album.......2006-08-22

We hope they will someday bring this beautiful story back to the stage

5 out of 5 stars Simply great.......2006-03-04

The fusion between the great two voices and the orchestra is just brilliant. Very good brass and violins that accompany Fitzeralds and Armstrongs magic voices leaves you with your mouth open.

A must have for everyone!

5 out of 5 stars Porgy and Bess.......2005-10-14

Could not find this anyway locally. It is a great recording
Songs That Got Us Through WW2, Vol. 2
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Memories
  • Track titles mixed-up
  • Revies WW@ Vol 2
  • great 40's compilation.
  • Great Nostalgia
 Songs That Got Us Through WW2, Vol. 2
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Songs That Got Us Through WWII
  2. Those Were Our Songs: Music of World War II
  3. Great Records Of The Decade: 40's Hits, Vol. 1
  4. G.I. Jukebox: Songs from World War II
  5. Glenn Miller - Greatest Hits

ASIN: B0000033BK
Release Date: 1994-07-19

Tracks:

  1. Juke Box Saturday Night - Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
  2. Ration Blues - Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
  3. There! I've Said It Again - Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra
  4. Perdido - Duke Ellington & His Famous Orchestra
  5. Mr. Five By Five - Freddie Slack & His Orchestra
  6. Lili Marlene (German Version) - Marlene Dietrich
  7. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby) - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
  8. Caldonia - Woody Herman & His Orchestra
  9. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To - Dinah Shore
  10. On The Atchison, Topeka And Santa Fe - Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers
  11. Idaho - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
  12. Sweet Slumbe - Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra
  13. When My Man Comes Home - Buddy Johnson & His Band
  14. Mairzy Doats - The Pied Pipers
  15. Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) - Billie Holiday
  16. San Fernando Valley - Roy rogers (King Of The Cowboys)
  17. It Could Happen To You - Jo Stafford
  18. Flying Home - Lionel hampton & His Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Memories.......2007-07-22

The songs that were a part of the CD were well chosen, and they
fairly represented that era. My husband and I fully enjoyed this CD

5 out of 5 stars Track titles mixed-up.......2007-06-13

This isn't really a review of the songs (I like them.) I just wanted to say that when I put my CD in my PC and opened the player the track titles did not match the songs. They were all mixed-up. For example, when I double-clicked on "Lil Marlene" I got "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe'. Very strange. I have no idea how this happened. The songs all sound great, though. It's just odd that the titles didn't match the actual songs.

4 out of 5 stars Revies WW@ Vol 2.......2007-03-18

I am in mt mid-sixties (1941). I enjoyed Volume 2 better than the original CD. Both were good and if you are from my generation, you should enjoy either one.

4 out of 5 stars great 40's compilation........2007-03-18

i was born in 1961, but like the geeky audiophile that i am, i have eagerly dug into all the decades that have produced recorded music. i always thought that the forties were one of the weaker decades out there when it comes to sonic delights. so why do i love the two volumes of "songs that got us through wwii" so much? rhino records has a lot to do with it. as all audiophiles of the cd age now, rhino is one of the best outfits around when it comes to compilations of music. on these 2 wonderful discs from the forties, they have done it again. pure pleasure is to be had here. one drifts back to another time, across decades, to experience the popular songs of another american culture. this is a perfect introduction to that decade for anyone. having heard these two volumes, i can't wait to give the forties another chance. i am being won over, i think. thanks rhino.

4 out of 5 stars Great Nostalgia.......2007-01-04

I purchased this CD collection for my residents in a dementia/Alzheimers care unit. They enjoy singing along with the songs from their youth, and some can even name the band/artist performing. The CD is a fun collection of lively and sentimental popular hits from the 40s. It would make a great gift for a person who grew up during this era.
If You Got to Ask, You Ain't Got It!
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • supreme collection of a maestro's work
  • Hand Full of Keys
  • Meet Fats!!!
  • Wonderful introduction to Fats Waller
 If You Got to Ask, You Ain't Got It!
Fats Waller
Manufacturer: RCA Victor
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Swing GeneralSwing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Traditional Jazz GeneralTraditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music
Stride PianoStride Piano | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music
Jive JazzJive Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
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  1. Legends of Country Music
  2. Friends of Old Time Music: The Folk Arrival 1961 - 1965
  3. Stitt's Bits: Bebop Recordings 1949-1952
  4. How Low Can You Go: Anthology of the String Bass (1925-1941)
  5. Sound Grammar

ASIN: B000HEWGQU
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Tracks:

  1. Honeysuckle Rose
  2. How Can You Face Me?
  3. The Panic Is On
  4. Sugar Rose
  5. I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby
  6. Lost Love
  7. Our Love Was Meant To Be
  8. The Joint Is Jumpin'
  9. A Hopeless Love Affair
  10. Hold My Hand
  11. Patty Cake, Patty Cake
  12. Honey Hush
  13. Anita
  14. Squeeze Me
  15. Old Grand Dad
  16. All That Meat And No Potatoes
  17. Ain't Nothing To It
  18. Bessie, Bessie, Bessie
  19. Cash For Your Trash
  20. You Must Be Losing Your Mind
  21. Up Jumped You With Love
  22. Ain't Misbehavin'

Tracks:

  1. St. Louis Blues
  2. 'Sippi
  3. Thou Swell
  4. Numb Fumblin'
  5. Ain't Misbehavin'
  6. Love Me Or Leave Me
  7. Smashin' Thirds
  8. My Fate Is In Your Hands
  9. African Ripples
  10. Viper's Drag
  11. Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now
  12. Star Dust
  13. Carolina Shout
  14. Serenade For A Wealthy Widow
  15. Rosetta
  16. Functionizin'
  17. Loungin' At The Waldorf
  18. Blue, Turnin' Grey Over You
  19. In The Gloamin'
  20. Mamacita
  21. The Jitterbug Waltz
  22. Honeysuckle Rose

Tracks:

  1. (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You
  2. You're Not The Only Oyster In The Stew
  3. What's The Reason (I'm Not Pleasin' You)
  4. Lulu's Back In Town
  5. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
  6. Dinah
  7. There'll Be Some Changes Made
  8. Somebody Stole My Gal
  9. Christopher Columbus
  10. It's A Sin To Tell A Lie
  11. She's Tall, She's Tan, She's Terrific
  12. The Sheik Of Araby
  13. Two Sleepy People
  14. A Good Man Is Hard To Find
  15. Hold Tight (Want Some Seafood, Mama)
  16. 'Tain't What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It)
  17. Your Feet's Too Big
  18. Darktown Strutters Ball
  19. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
  20. You Run Your Mouth, I'll Run My Business
  21. Let's Get Away From It All
  22. 'Tain't Nobody's Biz-Ness If I Do

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars supreme collection of a maestro's work.......2007-04-02

This scrupulously assembled box solves the where-do-I-start question for anyone who wants some serious representation of this master's work in his or her collection. Waller's ouevre is immense, multifaceted, and essential. So a box like this that culls from his most important categories of music [one disk each of his own sung songs, instrumentals, and tin pan alley covers] is an invaluable boon to any jazz fans that want more than a single-disk 'intro' set. The selections are brilliant, the sound is dazzling, and the accompanying documentation is amazing. All in all, one of the best jazz boxes I personally have ever seen. Recommended with the highest honors.

5 out of 5 stars Hand Full of Keys.......2007-01-20

There's too little of Waller available on CD-this begins to make up the lack. As usual, his playing is what stands out in this excellent collection.

5 out of 5 stars Meet Fats!!!.......2007-01-19

Mr Orrin Keepnews, one of the legendary jazz producers has given us a great gift: a 3cd box set to get all music fans started on knowing and appreciating one of the great genious of early jazz: Fats Waller. Fats was a total package. He was a singer, an entretainer, an acomplished pianist, and one of the greatest composers in jazz. That he died before his 40th birthday is sad but also speaks greatly of the man who could compose songs just by opening his mouth.

The collection is divided in 3: disc one features Fats the composer, disc 2 Fats the pianist and disc 3 is Fats the entretainer (singing Tin Pan alley songs). Great care and love was put in selecting the songs and the packgaing. The booklet alone deserves a grammy. Great essays and photos. And the price is right. You dont have a reason why you should not get this box.

4 out of 5 stars Wonderful introduction to Fats Waller.......2006-10-03

My wife bought this set for me after hearing about it on NPR. Though I love jazz, my album collection is only fair to middlin' (e.g., Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Miles Davis, Coltrane, etc.) and this is my first Fats Waller album. Though it is my first, it won't be my last - as I listened to Fats' phenomenal stride piano and Armstrong-reminiscent voice, I became an instant fan. I have had it two days and have listened to it at home, in the car on the way to work and even at work. I can't get enough.

This is a fan review. I leave it to the real jazzophiles to provide technical reviews (e.g., I can't speak to the production quality or selection of songs, given how prolific a songwriter/performer Fats was). As a new fan, however, I highly recommend this set as an introduction to Fats' music and it's hard to beat the price for a box set. The set includes an informative booklet that provides background on and plenty of pictures of Fats, His Rhythm and his times.

A few of my favorite songs from the album (so far) are "Honeysuckle Rose," "Hold My Hand," and "Honey Hush." That being said, I haven't heard a song I haven't liked.
Somewhere over the Rainbow: The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • They were right--there is NO business like the show business they did way back when !!!
  • One of the best cds I ever bought.
  • Never Sounded Better
  • Somewhere Over The Rainbow
  • "Hollywood Musicals of the Golden Age are still among us"
 Somewhere over the Rainbow: The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Ultimate Broadway
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  3. The Best Of Broadway (Cast Recording Anthology)
  4. Greatest Hits: Broadway
  5. That's Entertainment!: The Best Of The M-G-M Musicals - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology

ASIN: B000066RO5
Release Date: 2002-06-04

Tracks:

  1. Singin In The Rain - Gene Kelly
  2. Theres No Business Like Show Business - Betty Hutton, Howard Keel, Keenan Wynn & Louis Calhern
  3. 'S Wonderful - Gene Kelly & Georges Guetary
  4. Thats Entertainment! - Fred Astaire, Jack Buchanan, Nanette Fabray & Oscar Levant
  5. Stranger In Paradise - Ann Blyth & Vic Damone
  6. Easter Parade - Judy Garland & Fred Astaire
  7. Lullaby Of Broadway - Winifred Shaw, Dick Powell & Chorus
  8. Get Happy - Judy Garland
  9. Night And Day - Fred Astaire
  10. True Love - Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly
  11. Honeysuckle Rose - Lena Horne w/ Benny Carter & His Orchestra
  12. They Cant Take That Away From Me - Fred Astaire
  13. Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet - Nancy Walker & The M-G-M Studio Chorus w/ Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
  14. Baby, Its Cold Outside - Esther Williams & Ricardo Montalban
  15. For Me And My Gal - Gene Kelly & Judy Garland
  16. Puttin On The Ritz - Clark Gable & Co.
  17. Hallelujah! - Tony Martin, Vic Damone, Kay Armen, Ann Miller, Debbie Reynolds, Clark Burroughs & Co.
  18. Bless Yore Beautiful Hide - Howard Keel
  19. Taking A Chance On Love - Ethel Waters & Eddie "Rochester" Anderson
  20. As Time Goes By - Dooley Wilson w/ Elliot Carpenter (Bonus Track)
  21. Laras Theme (Main Title) - The M-G-M Studio Orchestra (Bonus Track)

Tracks:

  1. Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland
  2. Its A Most Unusual Day - Jane Powell
  3. Wunderbar - Kathryn Grayson & Howard Keel
  4. Cant Help Lovin Dat Man - Ava Gardner
  5. Going Hollywood - Bing Crosby
  6. The Trolley Song - Judy Garland, The M-G-M Studio Chorus
  7. Gigi - Louis Jourdan
  8. I Got Rhythm - Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney & Co.
  9. Aba Daba Honeymoon - Debbie Reynolds, Carleton Carpenter & M-G-M Studio Chorus
  10. The Lady Is A Tramp - Lena Horne
  11. The Best Things In Life Are Free - June Allyson & Peter Lawford
  12. Cheek To Cheek - Fred Astaire
  13. A Kiss To Build A Dream On - Louis Armstrong
  14. Put 'Em In A Box - Doris Day & The Page Cavanaugh Trio
  15. If Swing Goes, I Go Too - Fred Astaire
  16. Almost Like Being In Love - Gene Kelly
  17. Lets Face The Music And Dance - Fred Astaire
  18. Be A Clown - Gene Kelly & Judy Garland
  19. Embraceable You - Connie Francis
  20. On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe - Judy Garland & Co.
  21. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) - Fred Astaire

Amazon.com

The "Golden Age" referred to here spans The Jazz Singer and the advent of the talkies to the death throes of the old studio system in the 1960s. So vast was the era's musical landscape that even this 42-track, double-disc anthology can't encompass all its peaks. Not surprisingly, the bulk of this collection originated with the Tiffany's of the screen musical, M-G-M, a body of work whose riches here encompass both pop-cultural bedrock ("Over the Rainbow," "Singin' in the Rain," "There's No Business Like Show Business," etc.) and some less familiar, if equally delightful star turns: Clark Gable gamely "Puttin' On the Ritz"; the sassy, 1948 original of "The Lady Is a Tramp" by Lena Horne; and a loopy duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban. Fred Astaire's elegant, epochal reign at RKO and M-G-M is represented by "Night and Day," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," and three others, while Metro mainstays Gene Kelly and Judy Garland share equal time and billing. It's not perfect--Cagney's "Yankee Doodle Boy" and/or some Sinatra seem more logical choices than the odd "bonus" duet of Casablanca's "As Time Goes By" and "Lara's Theme" from Dr. Zhivago that close out disc one--but it's a stunning, surprisingly comprehensive primer on the Hollywood film musical nonetheless. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars They were right--there is NO business like the show business they did way back when !!!.......2006-11-18

Everything that happens in life
Can happen in a show
You can make 'em laugh
You can make 'em cry
Anything
Anything can go....

The clown with his pants falling down
Or the dance that's a dream of romance
Or the scene where the villain is mean
That's entertainment!

The lights on the lady in tights
Or the bride with the guy on the side
Or the ball where she gives him her all
That's entertainment!

The plot and the hot simply teeming with $ex
A gay divorcee who is after her ex
It could be Oedipus Rex
Where a chap kills his father
And causes a lot of bother

The clerk who is thrown out of work
By the boss who is thrown for a loss
By the skirt who is doing him dirt

The world is a stage,
The stage is a world of entertainment!

This two CD set amply proves that the musical melodies and lyrics from the golden age of the Hollywood musical remain unsurpassed to this day. This generous two CD set offers 42 incredible songs from Hollywood classic musicals. Most of these fine numbers are indeed from MGM, as Amazon correctly notes; but there are some RKO numbers and even a little from Warner Brothers. Thank goodness, though, that most of these songs came from MGM movies; MGM was the only studio that could boast that it truly had "more stars than there are in the heavens."

I love so many songs on these two CDs. Of course, there's the unforgettable classic "Over The Rainbow" sung by Judy Garland; she also performs "Easter Parade" and "Get Happy" on this two CD set and she carries most of the tune for "I Got Rhythm" even though Mickey Rooney helps her a little. I love "Baby, It's Cold Outside" for its' romantic overtones; and Lena Horne's "The Lady Is A Tramp" is flawless! We also get a rare chance to hear Clark Gable sing in "Puttin' On The Ritz;" and Bing Crosby's "Going Hollywood" may be brief but it's a fun song anyway.

There are two "bonus" tracks on the first CD: "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca and "Lara's Theme" from Doctor Zhivago. "As Time Goes By" is a good choice; it is another unsurpassed classic song that brings back memories and touches even the hardest of hearts. "Lara's Theme," however, is from the mid 1960s and I don't consider this period to be part of the "golden age" of Hollywood musicals.

The liner notes are excellent and they offer wonderful photos of the stars as well. The cover art is well done and the reverse cover art tells which movie each song is from and who is performing each song. Moreover, the quality of the sound is excellent especially when you consider that these numbers were recorded quite a few decades ago.

In short, this superlative two CD highlights the glory of the Hollywood musical when a certain type of sophistication dominated professional movie production. I highly recommend this CD for fans of Hollywood musicals, classic pop vocals and fans of the artists and actors who perform on this two CD set.

5 out of 5 stars One of the best cds I ever bought. .......2006-06-07

What an amazon collection of songs! This is bar none my favorite cd just because of the variety and the quality of songs on it. I love music from this era, and this cd is the perfect companion to my life. Love it! Buy it, you won't regret it for a moment!

1 out of 5 stars Never Sounded Better.......2006-03-16

Apart from the great selection of soundtracks, what really makes this compilation top value is the quality of the sound processing. Executed with finesse, these tracks sound better than when first issued and many are unedited, fuller versions: like "Singing In The Rain", for example. Throw in the great price, and this double disc set is a "must have" for all lovers of classic movie music.

5 out of 5 stars Somewhere Over The Rainbow.......2006-02-24

A Sensational CD with Lots of Showtunes that Keep You Happy and makes You Want To Sing Along With!!!

5 out of 5 stars "Hollywood Musicals of the Golden Age are still among us".......2005-07-13

Rhino Records and Turner Classic Movies Music present - "SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW: THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS", some of the long ago musicals and stars that will never be forgotten...a 2-CD-Set covering several decades from 1935-1965 with many of the show stoppers of that time...some rare moments from entertainers that you haven't heard or thought of in sometime.

The lineup is fantastic and gives the listener a variety of what musicals were all about in the "Golden Age of the Hollywood Musicals"
June Allyson, Kay Armen, Louis Armstrong, Fred Astaire, Ann Blyth, Jack Buchanan, Louis Calhern, Bing Crosby, Vic Damone, Doris Day, Nanette Fabray, Connie Francis, Ava Gardner, Judy Garland, Kathyrn Grayson, Georges Guetary, Lena Horne, Betty Hutton, Louis Jourdan, Howard Keel, Gene Kelly, Grace Kelly, Peter Lawford, Oscar Levant, Ann Miller, Ricardo Montalban, Page Cavanaugh Trio, Debbie Reynolds, Winifred Shaw, Nancy Walker, Ethel Waters, Esther Williams, Dooley Williams and Keenan Wynn.

On Disc One 21 Classic Songs from great musicals with songs in alphabetical order:
AS TIME GOES BY - Dooley Wilson with Elliot Carpenter, pianist (1942)
BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE - Esther Williams & Ricardo Montalban (1949)
BLESS, YORE BEAUTIFUL HIDE - Howard Keel (1954)
EASTER PARADE - Fred Astaire & Judy Garland (1948)
FOR ME AND MY GAL - Gene Kelly & Judy Garland (1942)
GET HAPPY - Judy Garland (1950)
HALLELUJAH! - Tony Martin, Vic Damone, Kay Armen, Ann Miller, Debbie Reynolds, Clark Burroughs (for Russ Tamblyn) (1955)
HONEYSUCKLE ROSE - Lena Horne with Benny Carter & His Orchestra (1943)
LARA'S THEME (MAIN TITLE) - M-G-M Studio Orchestra (1965)
LULLABY OF BROADWAY - Winifred Shaw & Dick Powell (1935)
MILKMAN, KEEP THOSE BOTTLES QUIET - Nancy Walker with Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra (1944)
NIGHT AND DAY - Fred Astaire (1934)
PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ - Clark Gable & Company (1939)
'S WONDERFUL - Gene Kelly & Georges Guetary (1951)
SINGIN' IN THE RAIN - Gene Kelly (1951)
STRANGER IN PARADISE - Ann Blyth & Vic Damone (1955)
TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE - Ethel Waters & Eddie "Rochester" Anderson (1943)
THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT - Fred Astaire, Jack Buchanan, Nanette Fabray & Oscar Levant (1953)
THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS - Betty Hutton, Howard Keel, Keenan Wynn & Louis Calhern (1950)
THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME - Fred Astaire (1949)
TRUE LOVE - Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly (1956)

On Disc Two more memorable performances from the Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals:
A KISS TO BUILD A DREAM ON - Louis Armstrong (1951)
ABA DABA HONEYMOON - Debbie Reynolds & Carleton Carpenter (1950)
ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE - Gene Kelly (1954)
BE A CLOWN - Judy Garland & Gene Kelly (1948)
BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE - June Allyson & Peter Lawford (1947)
CAN'T HELP LOVIN' DAT MAN - Ava Gardner (beautiful woman, who my youngest grandaughter is named after...Avalon) (1951)
CHEEK TO CHEEK - Fred Astaire (1935)
EMBRACEABLE YOU - Connie Francis (1965)
GIGI - Louis Jourdan (1958)
GOING HOLLYWOOD - Bing Crosby (1933)
I GOT RHYTHM - Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney (1943)
IF SWING GOES, I GO TOO - Fred Astaire (1946)
IT'S A MOST UNUSUAL DAY - Jane Powell (1948)
LADY IS A TRAMP - Lena Horne (1948)
LET'S FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE - Fred Astaire (1936)
ON THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND THE SANTA FE - Judy Garland & Company (1946)
ONE FOR MY BABY (AND ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD) - Fred Astaire (1943)
OVER THE RAINBOW - Judy Garland (became her theme song for the rest of her life) (1939)
PUT 'EM IN A BOX - Doris Day & the Page Cavanaugh Trio (1948)
THE TROLLEY SONG - Judy Garland & MGM Studio Chorus (1944)
WUNDERBAR - Kathryn Grayson & Howard Keel (two of MGM's favorite singing duos) (1953)

It was once said by the songwriters of that era - "There are two artists you want perform your songs on the big screen, they are Fred Astaire and Judy Garland they sing it just the way we wrote it, for which you will have a guaranteed hit on your hands"...well, this collections certainly has some merit to that statement...because with Judy Garland and Fred Astaire performing seven songs each, there must be something to it.

This collection of musicals still has the magic that we remember from those bygone years...but as long as we have the labels and networks who play and show these wonderful films of yesteryear, they will never be forgotten...hats off to Rhino Records, George Feltenstein (producer) and Doug Schwartz (engineer) and Turner Classic Movies for sharing those 42 selections from 42 films...celebrating decades of the tunes and artists that gave it their all...from what it commonly called "The Hollywood Dream Factory"...The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals is still among us...gotta love it!

Total Time: 2-CD-Set ~ Rhino Records 78323 ~ (6/02/2002)
We've Got a Live One Here
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • The Commander Rocks
  • BEST LIVE COMMANDER ALBUM
  • IT DOSEN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!
  • Never to Old
  • My favorite LPA alblum
 We've Got a Live One Here
Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Western SwingWestern Swing | Country | Styles | Music
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  3. Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
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ASIN: B000002KGE
Release Date: 1996-08-13

Tracks:

  1. One Of Those Nights
  2. Semi Truck
  3. Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)
  4. Big Mamou
  5. San Antonio Rose
  6. Eighteen Wheels
  7. Mama Hated Diesels
  8. Looking At The World Through A Windshield
  9. My Window Faces The South
  10. Milkcow Blues
  11. It Should've Been Me
  12. Back To Tennessee
  13. Seeds And Stems
  14. Rock That Boogie
  15. Riot In Cell Block #9
  16. Don't Let Go
  17. Too Much Fun
  18. Hot Rod Lincoln
  19. Lost In The Ozone

Amazon.com

Expert musicianship, a diverse repertoire, and an active sense of humor become an explosive mixture in the hands of the Airmen. Recorded during a 1976 tour of England, Live One shows the genre-twisting band in all its maniacal glory. Western swing standards, rockabilly romps, R&B chestnuts, and a rash of truck-driving songs all find their way into the potent blend, not to mention their offbeat, drug-addled originals. Bill Kirchen's nifty guitar work, Andy Stein's punchy fiddle, and Bobby Black's pedal-steel forays provide the meat: no matter how goofy it gets, their formidable musical chops keep it all together. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Commander Rocks.......2007-03-14

The Commander never came out to Australia (that I know of anyway) so I didn't see him and his Airmen but listening to his live albums got me part way there. I bought all his albums up until the first, settled band broke up; I think there were about 6 or so albums. The best two were the Armadillo live one and this one. When first released on vinyl, this "Live One Here" got fairly ordinary reviews amongst the critics who much preferred the Armadillo album. For my money, the Armadillo was only slightly superior which means they are both great live albums from the rockinest, swinginest, stonedest, weirdest country-rock band of all time. Billy C, The Commander, Andy Stein, Bobby Black, Bill Kirchin; all fantastic musicians. Their choice of cover material was fantastic and in the Commander, Bill Kirchin, Kevin Blackie Farrell (friend but not band member), Billy C and John Tichy, they had some mighty fine songwriters. If you survived the 70's, loved beer, girls and reefer, loved to rock out and loved your music dirty, sweaty and with a sense of humour, then you'll love this album.

5 out of 5 stars BEST LIVE COMMANDER ALBUM.......2005-12-29

THIS IS A GREAT LIVE ALBUM. A MUST HAVE FOR ANY COMMANDER CODY FAN. AWESOME VERSIONS OF BIG MAMOU AND MAMA HATED DIESELS (BETTER THAN THE STUDIO VERSION)

5 out of 5 stars IT DOSEN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!.......2005-06-20

I have bought many of the Commander's recordings over the years and finally had to break down and re-purchase this CD. My vinyl album was destroyed and I lost the cassettes that I had recorded over the years, so I had to have this CD. I just recently saw the commander and his new Airmen this past fall in Hartford and he's still rocking as ever. This album though is the commander at his best and in his prime with the best group of Airmen ever.
This is one of the best live albums that I have ever heard. Commander Cody is much more that just that guy who recorded Hot Rod Lincoln, he is a gem of a classic s--t kickin rocker.

5 out of 5 stars Never to Old.......2004-11-19

I first listen to this music when I was about 15 on a little ranch in Wyoming, and I'm still loving it. This album made me the hippie cowboy I am today. Still listenin to it in Wyoming 25 years later.

5 out of 5 stars My favorite LPA alblum.......2004-10-17

I have seen the Commander with and without the Lost Planet Airmen over many years... I own most of the titles listed here in Amazon, but this is by far the most bang for the buck. I have introduced many friends to the Commander by gifting this CD. After more than 25 years of listening to the band ... this is one of my all time favorite alblums in my music collection. This CD captures the band at the zenith of it's artistic arc. For a group that has a reputation for great live performances, this is the place to start.
The Essential Leontyne Price: Spirituals, Hymns & Sacred Songs
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • The Price Club
  • A living legend
  • not your daddy's old timey spiritual
  • Immaculate Vocals of Leontyne Price
  • Great Gospel Stuff
 The Essential Leontyne Price: Spirituals, Hymns & Sacred Songs

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. Spirituals

ASIN: B000003FWE
Release Date: 1997-01-14

Tracks:

  1. Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit - Various Artists
  2. Let Us Break Bread Together On Our Knees - Various Artists
  3. His Name So Sweet - Various Artists
  4. 'Roun' About The Mountain - Various Artists
  5. Swing Low , Sweet Chariot - Various Artists
  6. Sit Down, Servant - Various Artists
  7. Were You There - Various Artists
  8. He's Got The Whole World In His Hands - Various Artists
  9. Deep River - Various Artists
  10. Honor! Honor! - Various Artists
  11. My Soul's Been Anchored In De Lord - Various Artists
  12. On Ma Journey - Various Artists
  13. A City Called Heaven - Various Artists
  14. Ride On, King Jesus - Various Artists
  15. I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free - Various Artists
  16. Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass - Various Artists
  17. Sweet Little Jesus Boy - Various Artists
  18. There Is A Balm In Gilead - Various Artists
  19. Let Us Cheer The Weary Traveler - Various Artists
  20. Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit - Various Artists
  21. My Way Is Cloudy - Various Artists
  22. Nobody Knows The Touble I've Seen - Various Artists
  23. I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray - Various Artists

Tracks:

  1. Holy, Holy, Holy - Leontyne Price
  2. Lead, Kindly Light - Leontyne Price
  3. Blessed Assurance - Leontyne Price
  4. Ave Maria - Leontyne Price
  5. What A Friend We Have In Jesus - Leontyne Price
  6. Amazing Grace - Leontyne Price
  7. The Lord's Prayer - Leontyne Price
  8. Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior - Leontyne Price
  9. The Church's One Foundation - Leontyne Price
  10. Bless This House - Leontyne Price
  11. I Need Thee Every Hour - Leontyne Price
  12. Schlesische Volkslieder: Fairest Lord Jesus - Leontyne Price
  13. I Wonder As I Wander - Leontyne Price
  14. Ave Maria - Leontyne Price
  15. Porgy And Bess: Summertime - Leontyne Price
  16. America The Beautiful - Leontyne Price
  17. Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing - Leontyne Price
  18. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God - Leontyne Price
  19. Battle Hymn Of The Republic - Leontyne Price

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Price Club.......2005-04-28

"I am here," said Leontyne Price when interviewed as she opened the new Metropolitan Opera with Samuel Barber's underrated ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, "and you will know that I am the best and will hear me. The color of my skin or the kink of my hair or the spread of my mouth has nothing to do with what you are listening to." Back in the 1960s Price was one of the greatest divas in all of opera, and it wasn't just her voice but her magnificent stage presence, combined with her social activism. All of the above come into play in this collection of secular songs and ditties, some of them traditional plantation chanties and others, art songs and a scattering of pop music. And some of them, like Gershwin's "Summertime," cross the ever-permeable boundaries between Broadway and classical. These recordings were made at different times in Price's career, and her voice, while always angelic, has different shadings and reaches a different range of timbre in each separate recording date, but there is no question that, as time goes by, she is able to impart a richness of life experience noticeably absent from some of her earlier work.

"Ave Maria" sounds heavenly no matter which way you slice it, and as for "I Wonder As I Wander," it brings tears to your eyes. If you have a heart that's beating you will be moved by this rendition. "Ein feste Burg" is pretty strong, but Price seems more comfortable with the traditional spirituals, though perhaps it is the slightly off-kilter sounds of the Ambrosian Singers (what a name) who back her up on many of these tracks, that detract slightly from the experience. Compare "Lead Kindly Light" for a clear sense of what constitutes authority vs. what is a wee bit overproduced. If you had this compilation, and perhaps one of Leontyne Price's Christmas albums, you could attain nirvana any time you wanted to, just flip a switch and close your eyes, let her lift you up on wings of song.

5 out of 5 stars A living legend.......2005-03-10

Leontyne Price (still alive) and already passing into immortality amongst vocal artists, both classical and popular. Leontyne Price stands at the pinnacle of her classical art, but those who only know her work in La Forza del destino or the Verdi Requiem are in for a heart rending treat with this album where Leontyne Price goes home to her roots in Mississippi and gives an unabashed account of the classic spirituals she sang as a young woman. Like John Mc Cormacks rendering of Irish songs there is a personal longing and devotion expressed here that reveals a side of the artist not known in the bulk of their "classical" repetoire. A sense of going home like Citizen Kane's rosebud, or as Dorothy Gale observes at the end of the Wizard of Oz "everything I could ever have wanted was right in my own backyard "

1 out of 5 stars not your daddy's old timey spiritual.......2004-06-23

Agreed this is a good cd for a beautiful voice, but this is not, repeat not, for someone who wants to hear that old-timey religious fervor that you think of when you've been to a Black Baptist hand-clapping, standing, swaying, and singing service.

5 out of 5 stars Immaculate Vocals of Leontyne Price.......2003-12-31

IMMACULATE, SUPERB vocal range and style! There's no other words that can complement Miss Leontyne Price's vocal arrangements. Miss Price's voice is strong, and shrills very nicely to the instruments played on many songs listed on this double CD which is a joy to treasure; every song listed are songs I was raised to hearing and singing. Miss Price is the reason why many of these songs remain in popularity and presently used. Miss Leontyne Price has been incredible in many of her past performances. This is my fourth CD of Miss Price and I am glad to own this particular CD forever and ever. Many thanks to the executors who found this remarkable album and upgraded it to a CD format! **Angi**

4 out of 5 stars Great Gospel Stuff.......2001-04-12

This is a great CD. The only problem I have with it is that on some of the selections there is a boy's choir screaming in the background, and this takes away (a bit) from her performance. That said, her best selections are those that are either unaccompanied or those where her voice is not buried. Songs that strike me are - His Name So Sweet, He's Got The Whole World, Were You There, I Wonder as I Wander, Lift Every Voice and Sing, and my all time favourite Summertime. Enough said.
Spirituals in Concert
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • "Lord, How Come Me Here"
  • WOW!
  • uhm......yeah right!!
  • scadalise my name
  • Broadway takes on the spiritual ...
 Spirituals in Concert

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. Amazing Grace: Jessye Norman
  2. The Essential Leontyne Price: Spirituals, Hymns & Sacred Songs
  3. Kathleen Battle · Wynton Marsalis ~ Baroque Duet / Anthony Newman · Orch St. Luke's · Nelson
  4. Kathleen Battle & Christopher Parkening ~ Pleasures of Their Company
  5. So Many Stars

ASIN: B000001GDC
Release Date: 1991-03-08

Tracks:

  1. In That Great Getting Up Morning
  2. Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass
  3. Over My Head/ Lil' David
  4. Oh, What A Beautiful City
  5. Lord, How Come Me Here
  6. I Believe I'll Go Back Home-Lordy, Won't You Help Me
  7. Ride On, King Jesus
  8. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot-Ride Up In The Chariot
  9. You Can Tell The World
  10. Scandalize My Name
  11. Great Day
  12. Oh, Glory
  13. Calvary-They Crucified My Lord
  14. Talk About A Child
  15. Gospel Train
  16. My God Is So High
  17. There Is A Balm In Gilead
  18. He's Got The Whole World In His Hand

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars "Lord, How Come Me Here".......2007-06-18

I must add, to the praises above, that Kathleen Battle's "Lord, How Come Me Here" is the best "quick" explanation of the long-lasting effects of slavery that I can think of. The line, "They sold my children away," says it all.

And the VERY funny "Scandelize My Name" is also worth the price of the total album!

Alinde O'Malley

5 out of 5 stars WOW!.......2007-03-22

You know, after owning both the CD and VHS of this performance, and having been coached by Sylvia Olden Lee herself, it is no wonder why spiritual mean so much to me. And these two ladies bare their souls and bring these masterpieces to life! WOW!!!

5 out of 5 stars uhm......yeah right!!.......2006-06-21

Clearly you are mistaken. I don't know who that guy is-the person below recommended-but there is NO COMPARISON to JESSYE NORMAN AND KATHLEEN BATTLE!!!! Jessye Norman herself has *30* HONARY DOCTRATES from places like Harvard, Juliard, Yale, Cambridge....I mean HELLO!!!! That guy had no where near the ease, the musicality or even the breath support as these two veterans show!! It is a beautiful CD though it came out in 1991 and I HIGHLY recommend it.

1 out of 5 stars scadalise my name.......2004-10-29

this isn't that good specially after hearing William Warfeild sing it. You can find him at www.wlym.com

2 out of 5 stars Broadway takes on the spiritual ..........2004-01-29

... takes it on and puts it on the canvas by the end of the first round.

I'm going to be the dissenting voice here: thank goodness I signed this disk out of the public library 'cause I'm sure not going to listen to it twice.

There is nothing wrong with the performances. Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle sing beautifully, and there's no problem with the pick-up orchestra under James Levine.

The problem, and it's huge, is the conception of the show and the musical arrangements. To make the video marketable, I suppose, the producers decided that the concert had to be big: big names, big arrangements, big effects. So we have eighteen spirituals given the musical theatre treatment, with a philharmonic chorus providing chain-gang sound effects, big brass, and big percussion -- including a chinese gong. A chinese gong in a spiritual??? Spare me! Almost every track turns out sounding like either a curtain-raiser or a big, end-of-act production number with cute and predictable modulations between some of the stanzas and the sort of curly-cue orchestral ornamentation typical of Broadway shows.

And you know what? It all kills the spirituals stone dead. The spiritual is one of those musical forms where less is more and very little is best of all. That's how they started, after all. That's how and why they worked for their original audiences, and that's why they were powerful enough to make the transition from folk song to art song. If you want to hear Battle sing spirituals that are irresistible, listen to the set on her Salzburg recital CD, also with Levine (ASIN B00000E31B). There, the music speaks for itself and speaks with a strength and a beauty that the tracks on this disk never approach.
Menuhin & Grappelli Play Berlin, Kern, Porter & Rodgers & Hart
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A really Fine Romance
  • A Musical Treat
 Menuhin & Grappelli Play Berlin, Kern, Porter & Rodgers & Hart

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. The Very Best of Grappelli and Menuhin
  2. Menuhin and Grappelli Play "Jealousy" and Other Great Standards
  3. Menuhin & Grappelli Play...
  4. Anything Goes, With Yo Yo Ma
  5. Jazz in Paris: Oscar Peterson-Stephanie Grapelli Quartet, Vol. 1

ASIN: B000002SDR
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Cheek To Cheek
  2. Isn't This A Lovely Day?
  3. The Piccolino
  4. Change Partners
  5. Top Hat
  6. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
  7. Heat Wave
  8. The Way You Look Tonight
  9. Pick Yourself Up
  10. A Fine Romance
  11. All The Things You Are
  12. Why Do I Love You?
  13. I Get A Kick Out Of You
  14. Night And Day
  15. Looking At You
  16. Just One Of Those Things
  17. My Funny Valentine
  18. Thou Swell
  19. The Lady Is A Tramp
  20. Blue Room

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A really Fine Romance.......2007-07-05

It doesn't get any better than these two playing these guys! Some of it was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. Use your imagination... It's all just swell.

5 out of 5 stars A Musical Treat.......2006-01-08

"The true mission of the violin is to imitate the accents of the human voice, a noble mission that has earned for the violin the glory of being called the king of instruments." ~ Charles-Auguste De Bériot ~

Yehudi Menuhin and Stéphane Grapelli together had made some of the most beautiful music ever-recorded. And I believe that this is one of the many successful albums they recorded together. In this recording, both violinists have showed their excellent musicianship and interpretative eloquence as well, making it one of my most cherished CDs from my collection.

These are the main ingredients of a perfectly-made CD for your listening pleasure: mix violins, piano, bass and drums together, combine two terrific violinists, season with the best melodies in the 20s, 30s and 40s from Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter and Rodgers & Hart. Add the musical talents of Nelson Riddle, Max Harris, Martin Taylor, Eddie Tripp, Alan Clare and the rest of the studio musicians. Now all you have to do is to sit back, relax and savor these stunning melodies coming from your CD player. Listen to it in full-volume and fill your music room with the sheer beauty of these classics.

One of my favorite musical instruments is violin. With its four strings, it gives a whole wide range of musical versatility and I simply love the fascinating sound it produces.

My personal highlights are the best tunes from Jerome Kern - "The Way You Look Tonight" (Nelson Riddle arranged this particular track and conducted the Woodwind and Brass section), "A Fine Romance," "Pick Yourself Up," "Why Do I Love You?" and "All The Things You Are."

My choices from Irving Berlin's gems are - "Isn't It A Lovely Day?" featuring the great artistry of Nelson Riddle in arranging and conducting, "Cheek To Cheek" and "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm."

The Cole Porter repertoire represented his musical sophistication in "Night And Day," "I Get A Kick Out Of You" and "Just One Of Those Things."

The choice cuts from the talented and creative team of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart are "My Funny Valentine" and "Thou Swell."

Listening to this CD is so delectable and equivalent to having my favorite dessert - be it Tiramisu, New York Cheesecake, Black Forest Cake, Chocolate Soufflé, Créme Brulee, Chocolate Mousse or Chocolate-Coated Strawberries! ;)

A musical treat.
Wonderful Town (Original 1953 Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Wonderful Town is a wonderful show
  • Light and lively musical comedy
  • a must-have recording for REAL Broadway fans
  • Leonard Bart-stein? Listen for yourself....
  • Quality over quantity
 Wonderful Town (Original 1953 Broadway Cast)
Leonard Bernstein , Betty Comden , and Adolph Green
Manufacturer: Decca U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. On the Town
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ASIN: B00005O6KS
Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

  1. Christopher Street
  2. Ohio
  3. One Hundred Easy Ways
  4. What a Waste
  5. A Little Bit in Love
  6. Pass the Football
  7. Conversation Piece
  8. A Quiet Girl
  9. Conga!
  10. My Darlin' Eileen
  11. Swing!
  12. It's Love
  13. Ballet at the Village Vortex
  14. Wrong Note Rag
  15. Opening (from the original Decca recording of "On the Town")
  16. Carried Away (from "On the Town")
  17. Lonely Town (from "On the Town")
  18. I Can Cook Too (from "On the Town")
  19. Lucky to Be Me (from "On the Town")
  20. Ya Got Me (from "On the Town")

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful Town is a wonderful show.......2004-10-25

This is a terrific show. It has a famous composer, great tunes and a good, upbeat story. Why it has so thoroughly faded from memory is a question that puzzles me greatly.

The orchestrations are attributed to another individual, but Bernstein must have taken some substantial role in their creation, for large parts of "Wonderful Town" resemble only one other musical, "West Side Story."

Rosalind Russell is the star here, and rightly so. She sings--or rather croaks--her material very well, indeed. Only in "Swing" is she overmatched by the musical requirements and even then she fights them to a draw.

Edith Adams is very good, too, as Eileen. I think of her as Edie Adams, a sixties icon, wife of comedian Ernie Kovacs, mayhem-minded member of the Nairobi Trio and super-sexy pitchwoman for White Owl Cigars. I had no idea that she had also starred on Broadway. It was a pleasant surprise to find her here.

The men in the lead parts sing in that typical Broadway growl: perfect diction and lousy tone. They are endearingly awful. And I mean that in the best possible sense.

Five stars, no doubt about it!

4 out of 5 stars Light and lively musical comedy .......2004-08-07

The first cast album of WONDERFUL TOWN sounds even better than ever in Decca's latest remastering. The sound is still somewhat flat (as are all Decca albums from the 40s/50s) but the Decca engineers have worked wonders on the 50 year old tapes making them sound as good as possible. Rosalind Russell was a perfect choice to play the acerbic Ruth. She doesn't have much of a singing voice but the songs were tailored to her limited range and she makes the character come alive. Edith Adams sounds properly winsome as her sister Eileen. In the supporing roles, Jordan Bentley comes off best as Wreck, but George Gaynes makes for a ponderous, somehwat stuffy Bob Baker.

In terms of album production, Decca eliminated the Overture and some of the dance music, and re-arranged "Christopher Street" to eliminate the spoken vignettes. Otherwise the score is presented in a faithful aural re-creation. The booklet offers a detailed synopsis to guide you through the score.

The bonus tracks are six songs from ON THE TOWN originally recorded when that show was playing on Broadway. This is NOT the definitive recording of ON THE TOWN. For that you need the 1960 album avaialble on Sony. But, the excerpts heard here provide an enjoyable bonus.

5 out of 5 stars a must-have recording for REAL Broadway fans.......2002-12-26

This marvellous new re-issue of WONDERFUL TOWN is a must-have for Broadway buffs. In fact, this is really two albums in one, as it also contains the rare 1945 studio recording of ON THE TOWN as a bonus!

The story is based on the play "My Sister Eileen", written by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov; as well as the stories written by Ruth McKenney. The play was later turned into a successful Columbia film starring Rosalind Russell (as Ruth Sherwood) and Janet Blair as Eileen. Several years later Columbia released a musical version (following the success of WONDERFUL TOWN) which starred Janet Leigh and Betty Garrett.

WONDERFUL TOWN originally starred Rosalind Russell (repeating her film role) as Ruth and Edith 'Edie' Adams as Eileen. The cast also included George Gaynes (GIGI, 'Punky Brewster') as the romantic male lead.

The score by Betty Comden and the late Adolph Green is gorgeous, and features the comical "100 Easy Ways", the lilting "A Little Bit in Love" and the showstopping "Conga!" and "Wrong-Note Rag".

No Broadway-recording collection is complete without the original cast of this landmark musical.

This re-issue from the superb Decca Broadway range also includes the rare 1945 set of ON THE TOWN, which featured original cast-members Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Nancy Walker singing their songs from the show, with Mary Martin singing "Lonely Town" and "Lucky to Be Me".

Highly-recommended.

5 out of 5 stars Leonard Bart-stein? Listen for yourself...........2002-09-23

Leonard Bernstein never erred on the side of subtlety, and this original-cast album contains two of his most enjoyable essays in musical near-mayhem: "Christopher Street" and "The Wrong Note Rag." The former is vastly like the theme music to "The Simpsons," and the listener can decide for himself how much of a coincidence this is or isn't. "The Wrong Note Rag" uses the tritone of the scale and a varied meter to make life difficult for the singers and anyone trying to count along. Unlike so many send-ups of the 1920s, this song ingenioulsy captures the musical and lyrical feel of novelty numbers like 1924's "Fascinating Rhythm"--or, better yet, the slightly later "Crazy Rhythm." A parody of the 1920s that shows any sense of the 1920s is a rare item, indeed. "Wonderful Town" is an interesting, enjoyable, and valuable historical piece, and I can only imagine what later performers did with it. I don't want to know.

5 out of 5 stars Quality over quantity.......2002-05-19

Yes, the original 1953 cast recording of "Wonderful Town" may not be the most complete cast recording of the hit musical BUT I would wholeheartedly reccommend this CD over any other version. Why? Because of its original cast members and its original orchestrations! Rosalind Russell is peerless as Ruth Sherwood (I consider her version of "One Hundred Easy Ways" one of the funniest songs in musical theatre history) and Edie Adams shines through radiantly. Listen to her sing "A Little Bit In Love" to understand what I'm talking about. Also, the original orchestrations gtive this CD more vibrance than any of the later incarnations INCLUDING the 1999 studio recording, which to me sounds too mechanical and the British orchestrator doesn't seem to get the rhythms right. The original cast recording is A MUST for the true theatre fan, abridged score or not

Track Listings:

  1. Great Pavarotti [Import]
  2. Haydn: London Symphonies, Vol. 2
  3. Hildegard: Symphonia Armonie Celestium Revelationum; Birgitta: Cantus Sororum / Les Flamboyants
  4. Honegger: Symphony No. 3 ("Liturgique"), etc.
  5. Honneger: Symphony No. 5; Symphony No. 3; Pacific 231
  6. International Tchaikovsky Competition, Vol. 1
  7. J.S. Bach: Selections From Notenbuchlein F [Import]
  8. Jason Peterson Plays Scriabin; Beethoven; Bach
  9. Johann Sebastian Bach: Partita No. 3, BWV 1006 For Unaccompanied Ukulele
  10. Lat Time Rag

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

The Very Best of the Guana Batz

Almibar

Basie Swings, Bennett Sings

Swinging Miller Thrillers [Live]

Let the Thunder Cry

Big Willie Style

Because It's Xmas

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Opp.109, 110, 111

All These Wounds

Bad! Bossa Nova

A Healthy Distrust

2 Leyendas

5 Inmortales de la Musica Nortena

The Best of TNT Records

More Stan Getz for Lovers