4 comments about Classic Jazz.

1. An excellent and interesting collection of classic jazz tunes, cleverly arranged and very well performed by a variety of musicians and groups



2. This ranks up there, in my opinion, with Pure Jazz & Pure Jazz Encore for total goodness. This offers a wide variety of songs for those of us who are just "discovering" jazz. Put these in, sit back, and enjoy.



3. When I started learning about jazz, I didn't have any idea what kind of jazz or which jazz artists I liked. I bought several compendiums of jazz music to try and get familiar with some songs and artists. For whatever reason, after a steady seven months of buying jazz CD's, this is one compilation/collection that I still keep listening to. Several tracks I've had trouble tracking down, and a few others are likeable, but not enough to make me want to buy a whole CD. So, I keep coming back to listen to this one, and I like the convenience of that approach. The fact that it is three CD's gives you a lot of music to choose from, so there is always something to listen to that suits my mood. The selection of tunes also complements sheet music used in my piano lessons, which represents great value and time saving for any aspiring jazz musician who buys this collection. I'm very happy with this set, and I recommend it to anyone who is looking to get into jazz, just starting to listen to jazz, or who wants to add something different to their classical or popular music collection.



4. Ideally, this set will whet your appetite for more of each of the artists included, but these recordings alone make a strong case for their classic status. You can't go wrong with the depth and variety of this music. These instrumentalists, singers, and composers must be counted among the very best that America has produced. If you're looking for a definitive introduction to the jazz idiom, look no further.

5 comments about Yes I Can! The Sammy Davis Jr. Story.

1. I have no idea who on Earth ever thought to record this guy. If there is any value to anything he ever did was he was funny with out knowing he was a total clown. I did enjoy laughing out loud at times but for the most part I wanted to poke out my ear drums.



2. This is the boxed set you need to get. What a varity of songs! It comes with a book and 4 disc...each disc has over 20 songs to enjoy. Disc 4 has a recording of him on stage. You can almost see him in your mind on stage, comedy, singing and his impressions of celeberities is pretty funny. Can't say more about this.



3. Even though I'm relatively new to the long list of Sammy Davis Jr's fans, I've really taken to his music. I wanted a good compilation of his music to start my collection, and after reading reviews here on Amazon, I thought this box set would be the best option. I was right.
   I've had mine for only a couple days and haven't even gotten through all the discs yet, but I'm definitely pleased with it. I was already familiar with a handful of the songs in this collection, and am enjoying the "new" songs as well. I also love seeing the rare photos of Sammy and look forward to reading the personal accounts froom his friends and fellow entertainers in the booklet that came with the set.
   I would recommend this box set for any Sammy fan.



4. This is a wonderful box set in highest quality with wonderful and rare pictures of Sammy Davis jr. Included are four artfull created CDs, the sound of the music is clear and smashing. Sammy in best-voice!



5. I cannot say enough about this box set- it has everything you could want to hear from Sammy Davis. I have always enjoyed his music and I do have one or two of his other cd's but nothing can compare to this set. I especially like the 4th disc- his imitations are just wonderful and to me it has the feel of being right there with him in the nightclub. This is one set that is going to get a lot of play!

5 comments about Frank Sinatra & the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.

1. in conjunction with one of THE best big bands. Many examples of takes he would re-record 15 - 20 years later at Capitol. Master of some tracks crisper than same song recording on other CD's.



2. Some Sinatra fans have a strong preference for his early work, others for his "middle years" (the mid 50's through early 60's) and still others for his later years. I have a particular fondness for the middle years. With that as a preface I declare this early CD to be one of my four favorite Sinatra CDs. The young Sinatra voice blends beautifully with Tommy Dorsey's terrific Big Band sound. Indeed, Dorsey and his band are a major selling point of this compilation of early 1940's recordings. Dorsey ranks among the greats band leaders, alongside Goodman, Shaw and Miller.
   All three discs feature over an hour of fantastic music. There isn't a single cut that disappoints.
   Most of the tunes are familiar and many were to become among Sinatra's standards throughout his career.
   If you're any sort of a Sinatra fan this CD is a must. If you particularly like his early recordings...well, I can't believe that you wouldn't already have this gem.
   Why is it the best of Sinatra's early work? It could be that, as with Nelson Riddle and Count Basie, the partnership with Dorsey came at the perfect time for both. I just know the sound is wonderful.



3. Although the CD is on the way to me at this moment and I have not had the opportunity to review all the music, I was able to catch a good part of the Soundtrack in the Movie "Sinatra"~ How could anyone go wrong with Sinatra and Dorsey together? A must have for any Sinatra/Dorsey Lover. I can hardly wait to receive mine~ The "Never Ending Sinatra/Dorsey Together"~ What a Deal!!



4. This CD is by far the greatest compilation of Tommy Dorsey/Frank Sinatra work to date. It has over 60 songs from His days with the Tommy Dorsey orchestra. This is one of my favorite CD's it not only features the Voice of The Great Frank sinatra, But the muted trombone of Tommy Dorsey and and the screaming of trumpet of Ziggy Elman. Highly recommended to Frank Sinatar and Tommy Dorsey Fans!



5. This boxed set is the the most versitile set of its kind. The music brings back the best memories for me as well as my family. Sinatra in this Album has the sweetest voice out of all of his recording years. Polka Dots and Moonbeams, Violet For her Furs is the most cherished in my memories. I have many of Mr. Sinatra's recordings probably more than a hundred between the cassetts and CD's, but this is the culmiation of all of the best.

   Roseann Migliaccio

3 comments about Cool Cole.

1. For the money, this is as good of a box set as you are going to find. All of the trio's hits are here - - more to the point, the collection is a document of Cole at the height of his powers. It's stylish, urbane and superbly performed.
   
   This is an import for Amazon, and it appears from the Penguin Jazz Record Guide that it is going out of print. So if you are thinking about buying it, I'd buy it as soon as possible. You won't regret it.



2. I must have at least four different box sets of King Cole Trio material, but I feel this import, which covers a ten year span (1940-50) is arguably the best one to own, other than the huge COMPLETE CAPITOL RECORDINGS OF THE NAT KING COLE TRIO. Songs that aren't on previous collections, such as "In the Cool of the Evening", "Could Ja", "Lament In Chords". "Flo and Joe", "Exactly Like You" and "I Almost Lost My Mind" are featured here, plus the rare R&B rocker "For You, My Love", recorded with fellow Capitol artist Nellie Lutcher, is blazing with pure soul. Of course you have the Trio standbys: "Sweet Lorraine", "Straighten Up and Fly Right", "Route 66", "I'm An Errand Boy For Rhythm", etc., but also included are Nat's early solo hit songs, such as "Nature Boy", "Portrait of Jennie", "Lost April", "Mona Lisa" and "Lush Life". Plus with this excellent collection is a booklet which includes photos, a complete discography with group members, recording dates and places and the story of the Trio, and Nat's eventual rise to solo stardom. As good as it can get, and for a great price, too! Even if you own other box sets like I do, you'll want to have this one as well, and believe me, you won't be disappointed.



3. This four-CD boxed set collection of delightful tunes by the King Cole Trio surpassed all of my expectations; instead of simply hop-scotching its way through Nat "King" Cole's early days with thirty or so "hits," this set presents five magnificent hours of pure jazz at its best. One hundred and four grand tracks from the Trio, recorded from 1941-1950 (arguably the glory days of jazz), this is probably the best we'll get when it comes to collecting the essentials of a group that were truly the perfectors of the jazz era. No tricks here; just pure jazz in all its glory.

5 comments about Andrew Lloyd Webber: Now & Forever.

1. Between Amazone, Ebay and Napster, I don't usually buy CDs anymore, and I usually wait till I can buy them cheaper "new and used". When this set came out, I was excited, mainly by Disc 5, but wasn't going to spend $70 on it. I waited till it was cheap enough, and got it for Father's day this year.
   It was worth the wait.
   
   The concept is great. The packaging is great. The recording is great. Disc five is really cool for an ALW aficionado. There are a few real gems on it; my favorites are Petula Clark's "I Could Have Given You More" and "Benedicite."
   I've always thought "Gus the Theatre Cat" made a great medley on the piano with "Unexpected Song" and "I DOn't Know How to Love Him," but wished there was an alternate lyric to match the other two songs. Now that I know there *is*, and it's a good lyric, it's a dream come true.
   The melody of "Benedicite" is one of my favorites from _Sunset_ (the book mis-identifies it as "SUrrender"; it's actually "The Lady's Paying" and "Eternal Youth is Worth a Little Suffering"). The lyrics are the canticle from Daniel 3, which comes up every odd Sunday in the Divine Office, so it's nice to have cool music to sing it with.
   
   I haven't bought _By Jeeves_ or _THe Beautiful Game_ yet, to it was great to sample them.
   
   There are other parts of the CD taht aren't found in my collection. I like CD 4 "The Hits."
   
   But the selections on CDs 1-3 don't make sense.
   
   First, any self-respecting ALW fan has the Original London Cast of _Phantom_, so six tracks are totally useless. Why not draw from the Canadian cast with Colm Wilkinson? Or pull out some obscure recordings never published.
   
   Why two different tracks with Michael Ball singing "Love Changes Everything", yet they're hardly any different?
   
   On Disc 5 is "It's Only Your Lover Returning," sung by Julie Covington. It's an early draft of the song (Lloyd Webber and Rice went through several suggested titles) and quite nice. The very thing one expects on a Boxed Set.
   So why have the Julie Covington "Don't Cry for Me" on disc 1?? The only difference is a few words, but it's otherwise identical. Why not Elaine Paige or Patti Lupone or Madonna?
   
   The _Evita_ section is otherwise the best, choosing a sample from each major recording, though I'd have chosen slightly differently (as above).
   
   There is a great selection of "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" from the Sydmonton festival, using the original music that was changed when _Cats_ went to Broadway_. It would have been nice if they'd included more recordings from Sydmonton, like the original lyric of "All I Ask of You" shown on the second DVD to the _Phantom_ movie.
   
   With so many great actress-singers who've played Norma Desmond, why does the collection beat us over the head with Glenn Close?
   
   Paul Miles Kingston must be set for life in royalties, for the number of albums the original recording of "Pie Jesu" has appeared on. "Amigos Para Siempre" is nice, but it reminds me of Shari Lewis's "The Song that Doesn't End," especially when it's been used on so many compilations.
   
   In short, this is a great collection for the obscure material, if you can get it cheap. But for a boxed set, it's a poor sampling, drawn mostly from the most familiar recordings.



2. Please beware they made a mistake on this. It's actually the shortened Ray Shell version of STARLIGHT EXPRESS from the original 1984 London cast - NOT the El Debarge single from 1987 like it says on the box. I don't know how they let that goof pass. Sorry to Ray Shell. Having said that, this is an outstanding compilation of Lloyd Webber's greatest hits.



3. Regardless of the fact that some of his latest efforts (most notably, The Woman in White) are disappointing, there can be little doubt that Andrew Lloyd Webber is one of the greatest composers ever to work in the musical theatre. Ever since his "Jesus Christ Superstar" hit the stage in the early 70-is, it was clear that the conception and perception of musicals are never going to be the same again. Many of his songs became standards not only in the theatre history, but also as tops on the charts. Even though he's British, his influence on the shape of the modern musical theatre expanded over the West End boundaries long ago and has thus made an enormous impact on Broadway. Two of his shows ("Cats" and "The phantom of the opera") hold the record as two the longest running shows in the history of Broadway. He has also been the only composer to have three of his shows running at Broadway concurrently. Some of his awards include three Grammies, a Golden Globe, an Oscar and a bunch of Tony awards. But perhaps most of all, Lloyd Webber is responsible for bringing the musicals and the theatre appealing to the wide audiences, who in different circumstances would not consider seeing a musical. The secret of his success is probably the mixture of beautiful and catchy melodies, interesting subject matter (though some, like Starlight Express, are too thin) and grandiose staging.
   
   Over the years many compilations of his work have emerged. In the late 80-is and early 90-is it was the "Encore" series and lately the one-disc collection called "Gold". The one in question here can be considered one of the best currently on the market. First, it includes a 3-disc selections from all of his shows, minus the latest one, i.e., "The Woman in White", which, considering the triviality of the score, is no great lost. The fourth disc covers some of his most known songs sung by the famous artists. Then, there is the fifth disc with previously unreleased material, most of which are the songs ALW wrote with Tim Rice for various artists during the 70-is. The disks are all neatly packed in a hardcover book that features 67 pages of pictures and text with information about each of ALW's shows. One of the other assets here is the perfect sound quality, since all of the tracks have been digitally remastered.
   
   Here are my basic impressions and comments regarding the material on the discs:
   
   * Disc #1 has the selections from "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Evita", "Cats" and "Song & Dance". The Superstar material mostly comes from the Concept Recording. Although the songs sound beautiful as always, their orchestration is a bit dated now. Only Steve Balsamo's "Gethsemane" from the 1996 revival cast has a modern rock sound. "Evita" comes with the material from all of the major recordings: London, Broadway and the movie productions, as well as the Concept album. No objections here; since this is one of ALW's most satisfying works, every song is just perfect, although Patti LuPone, the Broadway and overall the best Evita, is left with only a couple of lines. With the selections from "Cats", however, I have some doubts. A plus to the choice of the "Jellicle ball" impressive orchestral sequence from the 1998 movie version and "Mister Mistoffelees" from the 1981 London cast. One of the best known ALW's songs, "Memory", also comes from that album. It's a pretty version and Elaine Paige's rendition cannot be matched, but why include this when the definite version, featuring an 80-piece orchestra and Elaine Paige with much better interpretation, can be found in the same movie version. Thusly, one has to buy Elaine Paige's latest 2-disc compilation "Centre Stage: The very best of Elaine Paige" to get that one. And "Gus the theatre cat" is more a recital than a song, so there was not much point in including that. Marti Webb brings her vocal charm to the "Song & Dance" sequence, Sarah Brightman sings "Unexpected song" with her famous soprano, but as much as I like her version, Bernadette Peters, who was in this show on Broadway is strangely left out here.
   
   * Disc # 2 starts with "Starlight Express". This was never one of my favorite ALW's shows; the plot is even lighter than in "Cats" and the 1984 original cast recording is terribly dated. Yet, here we have one terrific duet, "I am starlight" from the original together with three songs from the later revivals and it seems that fresh orchestrations were just the thing Starlight needed. My favorite remains a touchy ballad, "Next time you fall in love". "Requiem" is the most solemn of all ALW's compositions, written in 1985 to commemorate the death of his father. Placido Domingo's tenor rides together with the chorus all the way through the strong "Hosanna", only to be joined by Sarah Brightman in the final moments of this song. She then gives an echoing deliverance of "Pie Jesu". What can be said of ALW's next show, "The Phantom of the Opera"? A phenomenon in its own right, it's easy to see from the six numbers included here why this is one of the best and most beloved musicals of all time. The cast, the music, the story - everything is perfect. Although "Aspects of love" was never a popular hit, it does have some of the most beautiful love melodies ALW has ever written. "Love changes everything" sung by Michael Ball is probably one of the best tunes ever about love. The rest of the selected material here has a dreamy love flavor and the melodies find their way into your brain in the best Lloyd Webber way.
   
   * ALW's first musical, "Joseph and the amazing Technicolor dreamcoat" was more successful in its revival form than the original from the 70-is. The three songs included here are sung by the show stars, Jason Donovan and Donny Osmond. Maria Friedman was not a lucky choice to play the narrator, as the track from the 1998 movie version shows. "By Jeeves" was ALW's only big flop when it came to the stage in the 70-is. The 1995 revival sounds much better though, full of funny numbers in the best manner of the musical comedy. "Travel hopefully" remains one of the show's highlights on this compilation. "Sunset Boulevard" comes next. "Sunset" remains for me one of Webber's best scores; lush and beautiful. I listen to the original cast recording with Patti LuPone all the time. However, here most of the songs are performed by Glenn Close. A big mistake. If you've ever listened the American premiere recording with her, you'll know what I am talking about. She may have a strong stage presence, but her vocal abilities are too limited, and her aggressive approach to the role lacks any subtlety. Therefore, the two big numbers from this show, "With one look" and "As if we never said goodbye" are ruined by the fact she can't sing. The same goes for the American Joe Gillis, who was played by Alan Campbell. Luckily, Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson, the original Norma and Joe from the London production, make their brief entrance here with the "Perfect year"; enough to show how better they are. The funny thing is, on the jacket and inside of it, Glenn Close and Alan Campbell are credited as performers in this song as well. If this was a mistake on ALW's part, it was a good one. The next ALW's show, "Whistle down the wind" was never a critic's dear and yet the audiences rushed in to see it in London. The score brings back ALW to his rock and roll roots of the seventies and the story is quite interesting. But the selections here are not the happiest, since the cast recording boasts with much better songs. And finally, "The Beautiful Game". Again, we have one of those ALW's shows that is worth in its individual parts rather than as a whole. "Our kind of love" and "Let us love in peace" are two catchy ballads. The latter is a nice amalgam version not available elsewhere. The two other tracks here I could live without.
   
   * Disc # 4 has the songs from all the above shows performed by different artists. The assembled tracks have their pros and cons. For example, we have some previously unreleased stuff, like Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's operettic rendition of "The heart is slow to learn", or a stunning and epic "A kiss is a terrible thing to waste" from "Whistle down the wind", performed by The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra. Then again, what was the point in including almost identical tracks as the ones on the previous disks? So we have Michael Ball again singing "Love changes everything" with only a bit different orchestration; Sarah Brightman comes out again with the same Phantom duets, but only with the different male singers. It would be much more appropriate to include tracks from the Toronto Cast of the Phantom, with Colm Wilkinson. Other pop deliverances (Tina Arena's "Whistle down the wind", Barbra Streisand's "As if we never said goodbye", Boyzone's "No matter what" and many more) were wisely chosen. Patti LuPone is again nowhere to be found and Petula Clark's "With one look" sounds too worn-out.
   
   * The last disc is probably the one that will be of most interest to Lloyd Webber aficionados. It consists of entirely previously unreleased material ALW for the most part wrote for various artists during his early years, with Tim Rice. Some of these tunes, not successful as a singles, were later used in his shows. Thus "Down thru' summer" became "Buenos Aires"in Evita, "Try it and see", an unsuccessful attempt for the Eurovision was used for "King Herod's song" in "Superstar" and so on. Some of these songs are nicely made pop songs: "Make believe love", ALW's first recorded composition, for which he provided the lyrics; "Goodbye Seattle", sung by Paul Raven, who later became Gary Glitter; "Come back Richard, your country needs you", from a never made musical, sung here by Tim Rice, or Latin flavored "Magdalena", with Tony Christie singing. My all time favorite here is a song called "It's easy for you", sung by none other than Elvis Presley himself. Lloyd Webber and Rice sent him a demo recording that he accepted and recorded this live version a couple of weeks before he died. It's amazing to hear how his voice remained in the perfect shape. Also, there is a track of Andrew Lloyd Webber singing "Policle dogs and Jellicle cats" while plying the piano. His voice doesn't sound bad at all.
   
   
   Taken as a whole, this compilation makes a perfect birthday or Christmas present to any fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, or just anybody interested in some of the best tunes from the modern era of the musical theatre; despite the flaws I mentioned above. To the former, it may just be the final addition for the Andrew Lloyd Webber collection.



4. "Evita." "Sunset Blvd." "Starlight Express." "Jesus Christ Superstar." "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." "Requiem." "Aspects of Love." The man who is the most recognized composer in the history of the musical theatre, the man who has won more Tonys than any other composer, the man who boasts the best-selling show of all time ("The Phantom of the
   Opera") and the longest-running show of all time ("Cats"), the man whose homes are filled with three Grammys, five Oliviers, a Golden Globe, and Oscar and too many other honors and hosannas to mention, the man knighted in 1992 certainly doesn't need an introduction. Now Decca Broadway pays tribute to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with "Now and Forever," a spectacular 5-CD set compiled and produced by Sir Andy himself. It's cheaper than a
   ticket to "The Producers" ... and more much exciting. This treasure trove contains highlights from all of Webber's shows, and a bonus disc of tunes sung by Betty Buckley, Barbara
   Streisand, Jose Carreras, Boy George, Charlotte Church, Madonna, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, even Elvis! A must for lovers of theatre---and good music.



5. This five-CD collection of Andrew Lloyd Webber's career is fantastic. It leaves virtually no stone unturned. I have no doubt that diehard Webber fans will love this, especially for the 5th disc entitled "From the Vaults." This disc alone is worth the price as it contains tunes never before heard by the typical fan. Who knew Elvis did a Lloyd Webber tune?!? I didn't! Also the tune "Benedictine" which the composer wrote for his most recent marriage is not only pretty, but it has the same medley as "The Lady's Paying" from "Sunset Blvd." which I found highly enjoyable. Another great track is the composer himself singing a cut song from "Cats" entitled "Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats" which has the same tune as "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats," but to hear Sir Andrew sing is a blast...he sounds a lot like Al "Year of the Cat" Stewart.
   The cuts from the musicals are great but are likely owned by ALW fans as they are on the original cast albums. And I'm glad that there were tunes included from the composers most recent efforts which have yet to make it beyond London (Whistle Down the Wind, Beautiful Game).
   My only complaint is the inclusion of way too many tracks by Sarah Brightman. She must've received a great divorce settlement that included having tunes on any ALW collection until the end of time!! Her interpretations of some of the tunes were limp and uninspired. I would've much rather heard casts from around the world rather than yet another song by this disdainful soprano! How about Colm Wilkinson's version of "Music of the Night" from the original Canadian cast of "Phantom"? Or Michael Crawford's version of "Unexpected Song"? What? No Betty Buckley from "Sunset Blvd."? And of course there are songs you KNOW are going to be on the collection before you even listen to it as they have been on EVERY ALW collection for the past decade or so.
   A great collection but too much Sarah Brightman!

5 comments about A Night Out With Verve.

1. I would highly recommend this set to anyone who is starting a new Jazz Collection. It has a selection of all the greats & even some contemporaries. This set gives you the chance to listen & discover all of these artists & then it is up to you to investigate those artists that appeal to you. You won't find too many sets i'd imagine that have all these jazz legends in a set like this especially at this budget price.



2. Glorious, fabulous, fantastic! There are names here that no sane person could ever tire of. A delightful collection from an incomparable era. Enjoy.



3. I'm a die-hard Ella Fitzgerald fan, and when I heard her along with Louis Armstrong and such other greats as Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington, George Shearing, Chet Baker, Dizzy, and others, I absolutely had to buy it. Have given it as gifts on many occasions, and everyone loves it....even the youngsters ( between 25 and 40)!. Great buy, and great gift for any occasion.
   
   E. Perry



4. Absolutely love the collection from Verve's archives. Features some of the best and the most beloved performers of great Jazz era. Wining, Dining, Dancing and my favorite Romancing. Seems like there is a limitless list of absolute fantastic ballads and wonderful dance numbers. Beautiful music, will recommend to everyone I see.



5. I bought this box (paid a little more!) and it's totally worth it. Each disc sets a different mood with a mixture of standards and obscure tracks. Verve is one of the legendary jazz labels with many varied artists. The sound quality throughout is perfect. You can't lose.

3 comments about Forbidden Broadway, Vols. 1-4.

1. I have this afternoon heard 'I Sleep with Everyone' on BBC Radio 2 in the UK, in the show presented by Elaine Paige.I was in my car at the time, and nearly caused a traffic incident.
   I have ordered the CD on the back of one track - have to confess I had never heard of 'Forbidden Broadway', but I have now! Friends and I used to write spoofs of musicals we were either directing or writing as schoolteachers, for performance by our students.
   I also do Community and Hospital broadcasting - I am sure that those customers will love a bit of spice in their lives!(Better listen first, though!)Expect another review when I have heard more ..
   ..Spoofs Spice up Everything!



2. How come it took me so long to find out about Forbidden Broadway? A friend loaned me one CD, and I'm hooked. Got online and bought the boxed set. There's not a bad one in the bunch. I particularly love the impersonations of Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Julie Andrews, Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin. Even parodies of shows I haven't seen had me guffawing. Listen to Jonathan -- buy it!



3. You may have seen the show, in one of its many incarnations, or may have bought one of the five unoriginal cast recordings, but there is no way any Forbidden Broadway fan or musicals fan can go without buying this four volume boxed set. This is not only because there are so many songs to collect, but also, it is the only way you are likely to get to hear the majority of the songs you saw on stage (if you did so). Forbidden Broadway lampoons the musicals of Broadway from 1990-1996, and is absolutely hilarious. There REALLY is no point in buying just one CD, as you are likely to find that something you want on one is not on another an so on. It also come with a complete libretto to boost. There are some very fine performances and mimics, especially from the likes of Christine Pedi. I've said it once, I'll say it again... buy buy buy!

2 comments about You're The Top: Cole Porter In The 1930s - Cole Porter Centennial Collection.

1. Professionally and lovingly compiled by The Yale Collection of Historical Sound Recordings (HSR) and The Indiana Historcal Society, this box set is PHENOMENAL!!!(probably the nicest I will ever have the pleasure of owning..if I could give it 10 STARS out of a possible 5 I would)!!! First of all it includes 3 CD's (69 recordings/songs), 1 BRILLIANT BOOK (Cole Porter History, songs, performers, disography, etc), all enclosed in a wonderfully padded box decorated with the cover art of never-surpassed Broadway artist/caricaturist, Al Hirschfeld. Second, it encompasses the very hard to find recordings of Cole Porters sassy songs of the 1930's; the decade that he broke onto and redefined Broadway. Third, you get to enjoy several different takes of 1 CP song performed by perhaps the best artists of all time, the likes of which include Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, Teddi King, Lee Wiley, Billie Holiday, Mabel Mercer, Bill Evans, Sylvia Syms, Bobby Short, Fred Astaire, Artie Shaw, Rosemary Clooney, Benny Goodman Orchestra, Ethel Merman, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald,Tony Martin, James Stewart (yes! Jimmy Stewart sings), Lena Horne, and of course the man himself: COLE PORTER (and countless others). Not only will you have one of the best collections of Cole Porter's music but will also be introduced to the wonderful voices and jazzy styles of some artists you may have never been exposed to before-and I guarantee that this collecton will inspire you to go out and find their own recordigns too. Fourth, all the songs are organized under the subtitle of each 1930's CP Broadway musical for which it was written (i.e.The New Yorkers(1930), The Gay Divorce(32), Nymph Erant(33), Anything Goes(34), Miscellaneous Song(34), Adios Argentina(34), Jubilee (35), Born To Dance(36), Red, Hot, and Blue (36), Rosalie(37), You Never Know(38), The Sun Never Sets (38), Leave it To Me (38), The Man Who Came To Dinner (39), Broadway Melody of 1940 (39),Du Barry Was A Lady (39) -Finally, (as if this isn't enough) there is a FANTASTIC/VERY INFORMATIVE/TREASURE of a book enclosed in this 3-CD set that includes a wonderful history of Cole Porter, a break down of each song and (both it's own history as well as the very interesting stories of the peformers who sing it), an irreplacable CP Discography, and INCREDIBLE BLACK-AND-WHITE PHOTOS seen throughout! Can I get any better than this? What are you waiting for. BUY IT and demand they re-release this collection. In the meantime, if your debating spending the extra cash for this now OOP collection, I can assure you-IT'S TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!



2. This triple CD is a wonderful compilation of Cole Porter's songs, a MUST for any collector of Cole Porter's music. The producers have been brilliant in compiling variations of songs done throughout the years and one can compare the original songs rendered by Cole Porter himself or Ethel Merman among others in its original version and then go for the more modern sophisticated versions with better sound equipment. The comparisons are often delightful and undoubtedly ingenious. I highly recommend it.

2 comments about The Original Jazz Masters Series, Vol. 1.

1. If you are new to jazz or an old time jazz lover this mix will definitely make you happy for hours and hours. It's beautiful.



2. I highly recommend this set. As a (reasonably) young person that didn't really know much about Jazz, I purchased this set on a whim. I am very glad I did! If you are interested in learning about a wide range of good, listenable music, this is a great set. Has a wide range of Jazz artists and styles on it and every song is great. I cannot vouch for the other volumes of this series, but Volume 1 is outstanding.
   
   It's a great place for an all around introduction, or to listen to find out artists/groups that you want to find out more about.

No comments about 3 CD Box Set.