5 comments about Asylum Choir II.

1. 
   Asylum Choir II is a wonderful recording.
   I've been through at least 3 vinyl LP's of this
   since it came out and was thrilled when it got to CD!
   Some of the words are a bit dated but the music is FUNKY
   and ROCKIN' and Leon is in top form (Ray Charles on acid).
   
   Also, this is one of my favorite PRODUCED albums ever.
   The sound seperation and "stereo play" of the different
   instruments and vocals is incredible and will DRAW you
   in closer. This great CD should be studied for ANY serious
   student of record production!
   
   I also like the first recording of the Asylum Choir
   named "Look In..." and would have gladly bought that CD
   too but for SOME REASON they decided to pick SOME of the
   better tracks of "Look In..." and use then as BONUS TRACKS
   for this release. Missing are "Indian Style" and the
   incredible "Thieves In The Choir" and a few others that
   NEED TO BE HEARD! Why they were ommited is just crazy!



2. If you have never heard Asylum Choir II and you are a student of classic rock n roll then you HAVE to get it on CD. So many underground classics are on this CD like Straight Brother, the risque Salty Candy, Sweet Home Chicago, Learn How To Boogie, etc.
   
   The CD has 5 bonus tracks that are questionable as to why those 5 were included (not the best choices in my opinion). But, the CD is excellent and unlike other artists of the era the songs are not dated.
   
   This is a must have for all who love rock n roll.



3. A classic blues album you would never think it was made in the seventies. Leon Rissel was with "Mad dogs and Englishman" and hasn't altered his style at all. excellent!!!!



4. As an aging hippie, this album brings back sooo many memories. The songs are also extremely relevant today since so many of Leon's early works were protest songs over the Vietnam war.
   The CD itself doesn't have the best sound quality - hasn't been enhanced at all - but it is as good or better than the old vinyl album.
   If you want to get an old hippie on his/her feet dancing, put on this CD and crank up the sound all the way.



5. leon and marc are both fantastic musicians get this disk it is true blue american rock blues country ....AWSOME

5 comments about This Time of the Year.

1. After all of the same old Christmas tunes, here comes a singer with substance...kind of like spending the holidays in your favorite nightclub. My wife is generally inclined to tune out a lot of the traditional offerings as semi-pleasant background noise, but she perked right up when Steve Tyrell came on the radio. "Buy me that CD for Christmas, please!" was her immediate request. Says it's the best present she got this year...



2. Cool, hip, and classy Christmas album. Steve makes it fun and even has the great Clark Terry (now in his 80s) playing his magical trumpet and doing a duet...true class. 'Nuff said.



3. This disc is OK, but in my opinion, not one of his best.



4. Steve Tyrell has such a warm, raspy voice...I could listen to it all year long.



5. This was the first Steve Tyrell CD that I've ever purchased and I was NOT disappointed! I prefer the more nontraditional Christmas songs, but Steve Tyrell's unique, gravely voice lent such a newness to even the traditional Christmas songs on the album, that I could play them over and over without tiring of hearing them. And the nontraditonal cuts on the album were superb! "This Time of Year" and "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" particularly standout. It's guaranteed that I will be sampling and buying more of his CDs.

5 comments about Christmas Portrait.

1. A good holiday CD, had all types of Christmas songs, hymns, pop, instrumental. Great for the season.



2. This is a classic Christmas Album! Great renditions of old standards and new material. With 40 songs, including 3 medleys, it's a great value.



3. I was very pleased with the product as well as the service. I am so glad it comes in CD as I only had the cassette tape & it is my very favorite.



4. Not only was the product shipped to the wrong address, the charge for the purchase was my paypal account, that for some reason charged to an expired credit card that was for some reason still in the system. I have been contacted by a collection agency to collect the $14 for the product plus a $45 returned payment fee!!! Ouch!!! You guys are really slipping.



5. This has been a favorite of mine for 20-30 yrs and her voice and her brothers arrangements on these Christmas classics are amazing to me and very traditional as how I like to see and hear the Christmas season.

5 comments about The Nightmare Before Christmas: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

1. When will Elfman get his due credit? The man is one of the most versatile composers of his day, and has not been awarded a thing. Personally I think that Nightmare before Christmas was his best. But Corpse Bride was fantastic. He know how to fit into Burton's visions perfectly.



2. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a legendary movie in my house, and this soundtrack, of course, follows suit. Danny Elfman is a genius! These songs are so much fun to listen to and sing along with! I highly, highly recommend adding this brilliant soundtrack to your collection!



3. 
   Setting aside that Danny Elfman (Oingo Boingo, The Simpsons, composer extraordinarie...) is "God," this album is one of his greatest masterpieces ever. His scores and songs truly bring Tim Burton's greatest movie masterpiece (with due respect to Beetlejuice) to life. The music of Nightmare is a full half of the magic of the film, the characters being the other.
   
   Every song is faithfully set to order here and flows seamlessly from one to the next. Unlike other soundtrack albums, this gem stands on its own as an auditory representation of the film, but also a pleasant album to listen to in its own right. I am far from being a fan of musicals, but this album is one of the great exceptions.



4. Seriously, there are great artists in this world, yet they aren't recognized like they should be. I'll admit I just finally got into this duos work (my mom would never let me see Nightmare becuase it's pretty dark themed) but, I'm a very musical person, so I could tell this is something that is worth so much more than it's given credit for. But everyone has an opinion, don't worry I haven't counted that out. Not just this soundtrack or even just the music but all aspects of their work. Danny Elfman and Tim Burton are freakin geniuses yet they are not acknowledged anywhere near enough for their work. Corpse Bride was not given near enough publicity or credit where due. It mat not be "as good" as Nightmare" but that what it's compared to and understandably so, but Corpse Bride is fantastic in it's own right! I mean, we'd be comparing Nightmare to Corpse Bride if CB is what came out first.anyways, this dynamic duo of geniuses needs to be given some award, they are so much more talented than some certain authorities in the show biz/music world(whoever they may be) are saying by not ackknoledging them near enough. I just realized I'm pretty repetitive.



5. Of the many collaborations of Director Tim Burton and composer Danny Elfman, Nightmare Before Christmas has been a favorite of mine. One thing that lends the film so much of its charm is this brilliant soundtrack. The songs are catchy and make you WANT to sing along. At times some of the words seem creepy " children throwing snowballs instead of throwing heads..."but that creepiness has a charm to it that is almost like that of Dr. Seuss. The only thing that makes the soundtrack BETTER than the film, is the narrations read by the great Patrick Stewart. If they were to re-release the films with those... it could only make a GREAT film better.
   Note: buy THIS version and not the 2 disc special anniversery edition with the remixes by different artists.

5 comments about Classical Kids: Hallelujah Handel!.

1. Katerina, heroine of Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery in the same Classical Kids CD series, has accompanied her grandfather, the Duke, to London. While there she meets and befriends a rather jolly composer and musician named G.F. Handel as well as a rather melancholy boy treble named Thomas. The storyline reeks of melodrama and is chock-a-block full of Dickensian coincidences critcal to the plot. All that sniffy stuff aside, however, this is another effective and enjoyable introduction for kids to a wonderful composer's work. The disc explores many aspects of Handel's output, humorously describes dealing with a difficult diva, hints at the sometimes uneasy relationship between artists and patrons; it also pokes fun at class stereotypes. While the story does not flinch at some of the uglier aspects of 18th Century London (poverty, the plight of orphans, drink and lawlessness) it does not overwhelm the sensibility of listening children. My four year old son has listened to this CD more than a dozen times; neither he nor I have tired of it despite such exposure. This disc succeeds nicely, as do all the CDs in this series, in presenting an iconic musical figure in a human and personable light. Good music, good entertainment, good value.



2. This Classical Kids story stars Katarina, from Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery. Having returned with her grandfather to London, she is attending a party when she meets the great composer George Frideric Handel. They're drawn together by a boy named Thomas, an orphan with the voice of an angel who never speaks and is rented by the cruel "Keeper" as entertainment. In trying to free Thomas from his slavery, convincing him to speak, and practicing with the orphans who will be singing Handel's Messiah, Katarina and Handel travel all over London, to operas and taverns, to orphanages and parks. It rises to a peak in the end with the joyful Hallelujah chorus. The music in this is wonderful, and I can honestly say that at 16 I love this as much as I did when I first got it (and that was probably more than 6 or 7 years ago). The plot is a nice vehicle to introduce people of all ages to the beauty that is the heart of all Handel's compositions, and I'd recommend it to everyone, regardless of age or musical tastes.



3. My older children really enjoy "Hallelujah Handel." It's subject matter is a bit mature for my little children as it involves a boy who, as a result of abuse from his "handler," can express himself only through music. The music is moving and the boy, Thomas, is tenderly cared for afer being rescued. We rated this CD four stars as it isn't quite as wonderful as "Mr. Bach Comes to Call."



4. Handel's music is, of course, grand and beautiful. I applaud Susan Hammond's creativity and hopes to introduce children to classical music. However, the fictional storyline is just that....fictional. Your (and your child's) impression and "memories" of Handel will forever falsely be tied to this fictional storyline of Thomas, Katerina, and Handel which never occured. There are of course elements of truth in the storyline but the majority never happened. Buy some CD's of Handel's wonderful music and listen with your family! There are several good books you can read about Handel's real life and they are not boring.



5. We love the cd's in this series. We listen to them on car drives and they have added so very much to our lives. Thanks to this series my 7 year old daughter can recognize the compositions of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Vivaldi while listening to the classical station on the radio. What a fun way for a family to become familiar with classical music.
   
   But the story line of this one is a bit too sad for small children. If the cd had a warning, something like " best for children over 9 years old", or something like that I would have appreciated it. My daughter became quite frightened listening to the story and so I put it away. Maybe in a few years.....

5 comments about Songs for Christmas.

1. Cool and ambitious takes on old and new tunes...plus fun packaging that makes the "hard copy" well worth it (actually, a steal.)



2. great twist on the classics and beautiful orginal compositions, though the collection is 5 CDs deep it is not a chore to listen through all, each song has wonderful holiday sentiments and melody. Sufjan continues to brighten the standards with his signature.



3. All five cd's are fabulous, I played them the entire holiday and gave this as a gift to everyone. A perfect blend of classics and new songs.



4. This box set is full of fun times as soon as you open it. Besides the amazingly complex yet honestly raw christmas songs, there are short stories that we can all relate to about the materialism of christmas and the coming together of dysfunctional families, as well as chords and lyrics to all of the songs so you can sing and even play along. My mother and i sang together for the first time ever when i put these CDs in the player.



5. This is what introduced me to Sufjan (and I have never been the same!). My mother, who is in her mid 50s, loves this set. I secretly look forward to Thanksgiving because I can put the album in my cd player for the next couple of months...and we play it while we're taking our tree down so we can enjoy it one last time before putting Christmas stuff up. It has many traditional Christmas songs, as well as some he has written, and some stellar renditions of old hymns that will be familiar to many. This has to be the best Christmas album ever.

5 comments about Songs from the Street: 35 Years of Music.

1. If you grew up on Sesame Street - or just want some music for kids that isn't annoying - this is the box set for you! The songs are clever, amusing, lively, and educational. We bought it for ourselves as a trip down memory lane before our son was born - and since then it has been our favorite baby shower or first birthday gift! Everyone who has it loves it!



2. I have always loved the music from Sesame Street, and as I have gotten older I have found that the next generation loves it just as much as I have, whether it be the older or newer songs. Since I bought this album, I have had it regularly playing at my sons' request. Funnily enough, anyone who walks in to our house smiles when they hear the music, ask what the album is, then sit back and enjoy it all - regardless of whether they have ever watched Sesame Street or not. Furry and real voices have universal appeal whatever the age of the listener! A beautiful album.



3. I bought this when my daughter was born, and two years later she still asks for them to be played. The set contains three CDs, on which are collected famous songs, and ditties from the Sesame Street show...favorites like C is for Cookie, Healthy, Happy Monsters performed by famous groups like REM and more. The songs are not just kid friendly, adults will enjoy the refreshing take on some old favorites too:)



4. About half the songs are the original television versions. But the liner notes for the other half list them as being "from" other COMPILATIONS released in the 1990s.
   Nowhere is it stated whether those compilations used the original versions or re-recordings, so who knows? Even the TITLE theme is not the original (It might be the version they use nowadays, but it's not the version most people know from the 70s).
   Sesame should have just used the original TV versions of all tracks as that's what collectors of vintage material would be looking for (and paying quite a lot for).
   They also should have focused more on the early years when the show was the most innovative. And as music was a major element, I'm sure there's a lot more material that could have been used, particularly those odd demonstrational songs about the number 5 or the letter R. Instead they've focused on the celebrity guests, most of whom don't really add much value.
   I personally hoped there'd be that funky counting to ten song that featured on almost every episode (not the Pinball one, which I love too).
   Disappointing, but until a better option comes along, this will have to do.



5. This set of 3 CD's had a great mix of classic and contempary Sesame Street songs.

5 comments about Jethro Tull Christmas Album (Bonus DVD).

1. As 'the season to be merry' now approaches, perhaps you are thinking of buying some music that reflects the more traditional aspects of Christmas; well this album should certainly 'fit the bill' and, at the same time, offer something a little different. Not only should 'The Jethro Tull Christmas Album' appeal to fans who prefer the band's 'folksy-medieval' sound, it could well be a revelation to others - those who find JT's edgier music either too strident or too complex, or those who haven't even heard of JT. Also, fans of Fairport Convention might want to give this album a listen.
   
   The songs all have a strong Christmas feel, yet they still offer variety : modern arrangements of carols and classical pieces, with remaining songs being Ian Anderson originals; the album includes 7 instrumentals and 6 songs which are re-makes (not simply re-mixes) of earlier JT songs. Ian Anderson returns to strong form vocally and with a somewhat smoother delivery. The musicianship is first class (featuring flute/piccolo, piano/keyboards/accordion, acoustic/electric guitar and mandolin, bass guitar and percussion - also, the Sturcz String Quartet on one track). Ian Anderson's flute playing still employs a 'fluttering' technique but he also uses a more fluent style; the guitar playing (both acoustic and electric) by Martin Barre, and the keyboards of Andrew Giddings on 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen', are truly outstanding. All the hallmarks of Ian Anderson's creativity are here - elaborate arrangements, frequent tempo changes and 'interesting' lyrics occasionally laced with some wry humour. I have 5 JT albums from the 1970s and, whilst the sound quality is reasonably good (if a little variable), it simply does not compare with the balance, clarity and consistency to be found on 'The Jethro Tull Christmas Album'.
   
   This album will be highly effective played only as background music to enhance the general atmosphere of a 'family' Christmas, but I hope you can also take the opportunity to listen to the music and lyrics more attentively (it is music you can listen to all year round) - but, at 16 tracks and over one hour, maybe not all 'in one go'. If you decide that you rather like this music, I would recommend the following JT albums also : Songs from the Wood (although 'Pibroch' may not appeal), Heavy Horses and, to a lesser extent, The Broadsword and the Beast (perhaps I should add - an album not well thought of by some music critics, but one that I enjoy a lot) - on these albums, the music is a little edgier, Ian Anderson's vocals are quirkier and the sound quality is not as good (but you could try the re-mastered versions); nevertheless, they share some similarities with 'The Jethro Tull Christmas Album'.
   
   JT's music divides opinion - even amongst fans, but I think this is one the best albums produced by the band for many years. Subjectively, I would have preferred a couple less re-makes in favour of some new material - but this might not bother you so much if you don't already have the original versions.



2. My husband is the Jethro Tull fan in our household, so when I saw this album I had to buy it for him. I myself am not a Tull fan, but I found myself enjoying this album. I appreciate Ian Anderson's take on Christmas celebrations and the music was great!! I would recommend this album to any casual Jethro Tull fan, or non-Tull fans as well.



3. Like this album so much that , though I gave my copy away thinking I'll get another one next year, I am not going to wait. If only I could have caught their show in November.



4. Is vintage Tull - a bit off the wall Christmas thing but not bad if you just like his style.



5. Ian Anderson and his crew are in fine form on this 2005 album, which includes many of his long-time band mates and a couple of younger musicians. Tull takes a brave approach with almost all new music, although many classic Xmas themes can be heard throughout.
   
   While lacking the hard edge of many Jethro Tull classics, it is worth savoring and sharing with friends during any time of the year. Likely to remain on both holiday and Tull playlists for many decades to come.

5 comments about Merry Christmas.

1. Christmas music that makes you want to get up and dance. Mariah is great.



2. This is by far the most enjoyed CD I've ever purchased! Mariah Carey has an incredible voice. Each selection has special meaning for me and enjoyment! I play this CD often -- at work, in my car and home. It's soothing, comforting and relaxing. I can't begin to describe how this CD puts me in a special mood! Throughout the holiday season, I've noticed the radio stations and stores play several selections from this CD. A real testimony to a great artist! I plan on expressing these sentiments to Mariah Carey. This is going to be a seasonless CD I plan on playing often right into the next season. I never tire of listening to this CD. Its messages are profound!
   
   THANX, MARIAH FOR SHARING YOUR MELODIOUS VOICE! I'll be purchasing her other CDs. Mariah apparently sings from the heart and life experiences!
   
   Blessings & Luv,
   Linda



3. This is one of the best Christmas albums I've heard. My wife had it on cassette years ago and misplaced it. I tried a couple of places to get it on CD and Amazon was where I found it.....Thanks!



4. I absolutely loved this CD, Mariah does a fabulous rendition of Oh Holy Night. It's a must have for any collection.



5. Mariah Carey's classic Christmas album, released back in 1994. This is album has dated very well. It contains her Christmas classic "All I Want For Christmas Is You", I wait every year to hear it on the radio and very seldom I'll pop it into my stereo to hear it anytime. She has a great voice, and I am glad she decided to record this masterpiece back in 1994. The album debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 and has sold approx. 5 million copies in the U.S. alone and 16 million copies worldwide.Making it one of the best selling Christmas albums of all time. Other standout tracks include Joy To The World,Santa Clause Is Coming To Town,Silent Night,O Holy Night,and Jesus Born On This Day. Mariah Carey is a great artist, I have always enjoyed her music. Hopefully, she can make another Christmas album one of these days. Keep rockin Mariah!

5 comments about White Christmas.

1. This is the best Bing Christmas CD. Another one that sells at Amazon and in stores is from an old radio show that is of poor quality. This CD is well worth the money and provides quality classic sound.



2. I have always liked Bings Christmas songs. This CD is great with all good songs everyone enjoys. Will always play this every year,



3. By far, one of my favorite Christmas singers & actors. This album was what I expected. It's a great remastered version.



4. except that Bing is "The Man". It's not Christmas without White Christmas and Bing's smooth voice can't be beat. This CD is THE classic Christmas CD.



5. Everyone should own this CD. It's a classic that is one of my favorites.