1 comments about L' Integrale 1936-1945.

1. This excellent selection of Edith Piaf's early recordings will take you back to the good old days, when the lyrics and music of a song had a meaning. There is a story in every song, and Edith Piaf sang them with all her heart and soul. She was a great artist, whom I had the privilege to meet in Paris, where I was born and raised. This set will be an asset to all the music lovers, who should also check The Early Years - volume 4. I am delighted that Amazon made this collection available to all of us. Great job and thank you, Amazon.

3 comments about The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection / Encore.

1. Both of these discs afford great pleasure. The Lloyd Webber compilation presents many of his biggest hits in fine performances by his ex-wife. The Encore disc gives fascinating glimpses of worthy but little known pieces from musicals. Arrangements are wonderful, and Sarah Brightman is in excellent voice throughout. At times she has a tendency to wax a bit operatic, but she certainly does have the chops to bring it off successfully, so I'm not complaining. Obviously, Ms. Brightman was trained in the classical tradition, and she knows how to use her voice to best advantage in service to the material. In short, she has musical integrity.



2. Before she was a sparkling pop/classical diva, Sarah Brightman was a Broadway star and the onetime wife of the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber. This two-disc set that includes her "Encore," a collection of songs from mostly-obscure musicals, and "The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection," several of Webber's songs (mostly picked from "Songs That Got Away" and "Surrender").
   
   "Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection" starts off with the gothic "Phantom of the Opera," but quickly moves on to lighter fare in the airy "Unexpected Song," a soaring duet with Cliff Richards in "All I Ask Of You," the sparkling "Love Changes Everything," and some tepid forays into the shrill "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" and "Memory."
   
   "Encore" is far more ethereal and steady. The piano-led "Whistle Down The Wind" starts it off on a strong note, before the aching "Away From You," operatic "Think of Me," affectionate "If I Ever Fall in Love Again," and the symphonic "Nothing Like You've Ever Known." A particular highlight is the sparkling "What More Do I Need," a little tune that celebrates how love brightens up even the most dingy little apartment, in the most miserable weather. "With your love/what more do I need?"
   
   Sarah Brightman was obviously on solid footing with these two CDs. It might leave a bad taste in some fans' mouths that "Collection" is mostly compiled from a pair of other Brightman albums, but if listeners don't have "Surrender" and "Songs That Got Away," this two-disc set would be an excellent way to acquaint themselves with it.
   
   "Encore" is steady and well-suited for Brightman's voice, as well as having a sort of Victorian-garden air. "Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection" has the most flaws of the two -- some of the songs like "Memory" aren't suited to Brightman's voice, and she comes across as shrill and uneasy. But in songs written for her talents and "Encore," her voice alternately soars and murmurs in an airy soprano.
   
   Sarah Brightman reached her artistic pinnacle so far in the velvety "Eden," but her stuff here is still quite beautiful. "The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection/Encore" two-pack is a satisfying look at some of Brightman's Broadway-based songs.



3. Yes, it's true. Sarah has nothing to do with these cds, but her voice. It's another record that Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really "not that" Useful Group release to make money. Those two cds are very good though. If you have one of them, i suggest to get the other separatly.

No comments about Legends Of Jazz With Ramsey Lewis Box Set (4CD/4DVD).

2 comments about The Essential Perry Como, Vol. 2.

1. This is the second volume in the Como Boxed Set and includes most of his hits from the 50's into the early 60's. It's a tragedy that most people under forty don't even know who Perry Como is and few have ever been exposed to his music. This album will introduce to some marvelous music, sung by the inimitable Perry Como. As a fan of Perry, Sinatra and Bing Crosby, comparisons to their voices is inevitable. Perry modeled himself closely after Bing and the influence clearly shows. His voice wasn't as deep and his range wasn't as great, but his voice was more mellifluous and mellow, particularly as he aged.

   I enjoy Perry's music as he got older. He learned how to use his vocal instrument more effectively as he got older. My only regret is the omission of Perry's last great song, "Wing Beneath my Wings," one of the great swan songs in American music. That will appear on volume three!

   Perry Como's music is timeless and anyone of any age can enjoy it. No one else sang quite like him with that beautifully restrained, sweet, gentle style. I've seen Perry in concert several times and he was a beautiful man, inside and out. His voice mirrors his soul and this is a superb collection.




2. This second volume of "Essential Perry" contains the entire contents of six classic LPs from the 50s and early 60s--So Smooth; We Get Letters; By Request; Sing to Me, Mr. C, Como Swings; and For The Young At Heart -- originals of which I had when they first appeared, but lost in a freak fire. No Como fan should be without them. When I heard they were out and available in a boxed set, I was delighted. The quality of production is great, though, of course, half of the originals are mono, having pre-dated stereo. But get 'em. Enough said.

3 comments about The First of the Singer Songwriters: Key Cuts 1924-1946.

1. Love it. Not only do we hear a lot of unknown Hoagie Carmichael tunes, we also hear a lot of never heard of bands.



2. This is a magnificent set, numbering 101 recordings (two previously unreleased) which span the years 1928 to 1946, and trace the impact Hoagy's compositions had upon the jazz scene, as represented by some of the outstanding bands and soloists of the time.
   
   The very first track exemplifies the point; the composition "Riverboat Shuffle" inspired the young Bix Beiderbecke to one of his finest solos. Hoagy's own performances are interspersed by the likes of Red Nichols, Frankie Trumbauer, Paul Whiteman, Jean Goldkette, The Chocolate Dandies, Mills' Merry Makers, Irving Mills & his Hotsy-Totsy Gang, and Ed Lang (and that's just the first disc!)
   
   To crown it all, there is an 86-page booklet which has been contributed by Richard M. Sudhalter, the author of "Stardust Melody: The Life And Music Of Hoagy Carmichael". All of which makes it a very considerable bargain.



3. I grabbed this box set because it was on sale cheap and my favorite song is "Stardust". Little did I know what a great investment I had made.
   I am only in my early 20s, so I was hearing all of these recordings for the first time and I wasn't disappointed. It's too bad this particular collection of CDs seems to be obscure and overlooked when you search for Hoagy Carmichael's music on Amazon. Don't let that fool you; it is great. There are 101 sides here, including recordings by the great Louis Armstrong, the Boswell sisters, Fats Waller, and many with Hoagy himself. The songwriter's own version of "Stardust" is wonderful.
   Also, this is the first set I have gotten from JSP Records, so I was pleasantly surprised to find the HUMONGOUS booklet of liner notes which came with this set. It was compiled by Hoagy's personal autobiographer and gives background and analysis for each of the recordings. It is so thorough, it's too thick for me to carry in my regular CD carrying case! All in all, this compilation of recordings from 1924-1946 are terrific and show a wonderful progression in the history jazz and also the works of one of the greatest songwriters of all time. (***** out of *****)

5 comments about The Classic Collection (13CD).

1. I had some of these cd's already, but I purchased this because I found it for eighty percent less than the price here, and I like Tony and box sets.
   Unlike some reviewers here, I get what they were going for with this set. First, elegance - hence the black velour outside and blue satin inside. Second, I think Tony selected the albums based on what he considered milestones or turning points in his career. I'm basing that on his own comments in his autobiography. For instance, Cloud 7 showed he could do more than pop hits, Art of Excellence marked his comeback, Unplugged showed acceptance with younger listeners, etc.
   As for the packaging, it looks nice, but it's badly assembled with sticky velour tape that started coming loose right away. The book is fine - brief comments by Tony about the albums, and pencil sketches. A better way to go would have been something like the Ella Songbook set - a small box with "mini lp's" in paper sleeves with the original art.
   The music is a mix. The earlier releases are magnificent, of course. In my opinion, the Bill Evans cd is sort of an aquired taste. Maybe one of Tony's Improv albums would have been a better representation of his non-Columbia work. "Perfectly Frank" is okay, but I think "Bennett/Berlin" found him in better voice, but still had the trio sound. "Unplugged" isn't really that great for a live set - the Carnegie Hall concert would have been a better choice. Finally, the "Singles" cd is totally superfluous. Most of the songs are available on several other greatest hits cds, and many are on other cds in this box anyway. The mastering is excellent as far as my ear can tell. I did notice that the duet with Ray Charles on Excellence is an alternate take - not better, just different.
   The bottom line is, unless you can get a great deal on this set or you're just a completist, you're much better off with the "Fifty Years" set which has the cream from all these albums, and much more (well over 100 songs), in a friendlier package.



2. The music in this set is phenomenal. Aside from it being Tony Bennett, sonically the CDs are top notch. Yes, I agree that to make this a truly special set, Sony/ Legacy could have thrown in some rare stuff. What Bennett fan, though wouldn't rejoice at having "When Lights are Low?" In many cases, original LP artwork and liner notes are reproduced...a lot of thought, it seems, went into the production of the discs and inserts.
   
   The physical flaws of the set are evident, and are quite stunning for a $170.00 set. When the box is opened, you see that the discs aren't in place holders....the 13 discs are just inside the box. At first, the booklet (which isn't that remarkable, sorry) was hard to get out. I can see the other reviewer's point that the box, physically, can't tolerate much or it will fall apart. Thus, physically, the design of the box leaves a lot to be desired. But the music, timeless and beautiful, makes the purchase worthwhile...although you can sense that for Sony it was a missed opportunity. How many fans are willing to spend this $$ for stuff they already have, and how many novices are willing to spend it on somebody they're wondering about? It's a good idea, not quite executed correctly.



3. After nearly 6 weeks I finally got today my new Tony Bennett Box.
   First my negative critics the quality of the box,not the content,is bad.The black velvet really looks good,but while opening the box it nearly broke,because of the bad way it was built together (gluestrips!).Tomorrow I have to fix it by myself,so that I have years of fun with this box.
   Now to the positive critics,the content.Except of Perfectly Frank,mtv unplugged and I left my heart in S.F.,all other albums are new to me.The quality of the remastered albums is good and it's nice that some unreleased tracks are added.
   In the end I'm really satisfied with this box,except of the critics I first mentioned.(That's the reason for the 4 stars).



4. As my title suggests, this is the most wonderful Tony Bennett collection which I have seen. Do not listen to those negative reviews. This is a wonderful set of jazz albums by one of the true greats. The albums in this set are a wonderful overview of his long career. All albums have new artwork and many are beautifully remastered and sound wonderful. The packaging is wonderful, with a hard-backed book of sketches and personal handwritten anecdotes about each album by Tony. The case that it comes in is beautiful and is great quality. It may be expensive, but it is well worth the cost for such a quality overview of Tony's career.



5. Sure do wish that "I" had read the reviews before ordering for my husband as a holiday gift.
   Perhaps I should have stayed with the "Duets" CD only.
   Will post "his" comments after the holidays.

No comments about Only the Best of Gloria Lynne.

1 comments about Our Love Is Here to Stay.

1. 1. MAD ABOUT THE BOY
   2. BABY YOU'VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES
   3. IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU
   4. A ROCKIN' GOOD WAY TO MESS AROUND AND FALL IN LOVE
   5. LOVE WALKED IN
   6. OUR LOVE IS HERE TO STAY
   7. DREAM
   8. COLD, COLD HEART
   9. MY HEART CRIES FOR YOU
   10. BABY GET LOST
   11. AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'
   12. THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE
   13. TELL ME WHY
   14. IT'S TOO SOON TO KNOW
   15. SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN
   16. THIS BITTER EARTH
   17. MIXED EMOTIONS
   18. SALTY PAPA BLUES
   19. SUCH A NIGHT
   20. TIME OUT FOR TEARS
   21. HARBOR LIGHTS
   22. I GET A KICK OUT OF YOU
   23. I WANNA BE LOVED
   24. SINCE I FELL FOR YOU
   25. I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN
   26. KEEPING OUT OF MISCHIEF NOW
   27. STARDUST
   28. THIS CAN'T BE LOVE
   29. ALL OF ME
   30. LOVE LETTERS
   31. CRY ME A RIVER
   32. SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES
   33. THERE GOES MY HEART
   34. HURT
   35. THE SONG IS ENDED
   36. IF I LOVED YOU
   37. SECRET LOVE
   38. GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE
   39. I BELIEVE
   40. WITH A SONG IN MY HEART
   41. BLUE GARDENIA
   42. AM I BLUE

3 comments about Chronicles.

1. I received my CD's on time in perfect condition! I love all the songs on these CD's. Thank You.



2. I'm proud to admit that my very first album as a child was Tom Jones "It's Not Unusual" (1965). Tom's music is just as cool today as it was when it first came out! Even though it is covered with scratches, I still have the original vinyl of "It's Not Unusual" and a turntable to play it on. Now, after all these years, I finally have it on CD! And the sound is spectacular! Crisp, clean, absolutely incredible. THANK YOU UNIVERSAL!
   
   This box set contains three complete Tom Jones albums in their original configurations:
   
   "It's Not Unusual" (1965)
   "What's New Pussycat?" (1965)
   "A-Tom-Ic Jones" (1966)
   
   If you're a Tom Jones fan -- especially of his incredible mid-sixtes music -- this is a MUST BUY!



3. O my god!! Just a while ago i was thinking about all the albums i have and would love to put into cd's but knew that i couldnt get these songs again ANYWHERE!. Lone and behold!!! I LOVE this set!!! I remember my sister playing ALL of these songs in her bedroom so loud!! Listening to these CD's i was amazed on how i didnt forget the lyrics. I really did AMAZE myself being almost 40 years old. If any of you had these albums way back in the 70s's,..you will LOVE it now on CD!! I DO NOT LEAVE my house without this set too play in my car. Just brings back a beautiful time period and that powerful, wonderful voice of Tom Jones!!! I dont care how old i get, I love this mans voice and music. Notice the sound of the instraments. You just dont get or hear this kind of music anymore!!! A MUST HAVE to any Tom Jones fans!!!

2 comments about Harry Belafonte - Greatest Hits.

1. I would surmise the producer was TOO YOUNG to know what the original songs from
   the 50s & 60s sounded like because what you heard in those years is not what is found on this
   RCA? greatest hits box set. I've noticed this to be the trend in artists from way back
   into the 50s and 60s. If you want to have the original releases then buy Harry Belafonte's
   individual (3) All Time Greatest Hits CDs as Vol. 1, 2 & 3 if they're still available. Luckily
   I have these. Lately greatest hits compilations are NOT true to the original recordings
   because the producer NEVER heard the songs as a youngster. You would be better
   off reading reviews from people who lived in the era when the songs were popular.
   It's too bad when a major label like RCA can't find someone to verify the authenticity
   of the recordings. You can't substitute alternate takes for the originals.
   
   Aloha,
   
   Roy Szanik



2. I bought this set because it had all of the Belafonte songs I was looking for. It has Danny Boy, Jamaica Farewell, Mama Look A Booboo, and Mary's Boy Child. Danny Boy is an amazing performance and can't be found easily. Perhaps my favorite Belafonte song, Mama Look A Booboo, is available out there somewhere in a better version, because the version on this record isn't anywhere near as good as the live version, the one with Harry laughing and playing with the lyrics. The other material on this cd set isn't up to the standard of Belafonte's very best, but then again, not much is.