5 comments about The Essential Tony Bennett (Rm) (2CD).

1. This is a great cross-section of his body of work!!
   It includes some of his best recordings....
   The CD is in EXCELLENT condition.....



2. The Essential Tony Bennett (Rm) (2CD) An outstnding performance by Mr. Bennett even though made long ago - a perfect selection of music lore.



3. 2nd CD is the best of the two. "Smile" and "The Very Thought of You" bring tears. What a guy.



4. He didn't have Frank Sinatra's technical skills nor Bobby Darin's finger snappin' swagger, yet Tony Bennett deservedly carved himself a niche in American popular music as one of its most legendary performers, and his career is still going strong today.
   
   "The Essential Tony Bennett" is an excellent career spanning compilation from Bennett's early 1950s' glory days to his hugely successful 1990s' renaissance, where he managed to defy the generation gap and appeal to even the MTV crowd.
   
   Classic songs such as "Because Of You," (a perennial wedding favorite and one that was played at the weddings of many of my older relatives) "Rags To Riches," the timeless "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," "I Wanna Be Around," "The Good Life," "The Shadow Of Your Smile," and "Steppin' Out With My Baby" all show off Tony's marvelous voice as well as the indominatable spirit and vitality that he puts into his music. His heart may be in San Francisco, but his soul is in every song he sings.
   
   The sound quality is excellent, very clear and sharp. The liner notes are lacking, but contain some nice photos. Overall, this is a truly essential collection of one of America's most beloved entertainers.



5. Sure, if you have a large collection of Tony Bennett recordings, you may not need another one, but if you're in the market for a compilation, this is the best 2 disc collection around. It is one of the few that contains what Tony has referred as his favorite song - "I Do Not Know A Day I Did Not Love You".

5 comments about Isn't It Romantic.

1. Michael Feinstein is a Romantic's Romantic! He's able to capture gut level emotion with his words, voice and piano. His song 'My Favorite Year' is one that will bring an Old Flame right back from the dead and have it blazing before your eyes once more! He's gentle yet powerful and there is a humble quality about his presentation that makes you just want to embrace him. Very easy to listen to, yet provocative.



2. Michael Feinstein came to my attention in 1988, twenty years ago. Then,
   using cassette tapes, I listened to his remarkable renditions of George
   Gershwin's wonderful music. Accompanying himself on the piano, Michael
   Feinstein has a talent for making each piece of music evoke warm and
   heartening feelings in the individual listener or in a group. A dear friend and I had the pleasure of attending one of Mr. Feinstein's performances at the Colonial Theater in Boston. . .standing ovations followed the close of each performance. Mr. Feinstein has a gift, that being the ability to use his voice as its own instrument. . .lively, emotional, sad, humorous.
   ISN'T IT ROMANTIC? has been a favorite of mine since college days, eons ago. You will never regret your purchase of this superbly well remastered
   CD. Sing on, Michael, sing on!



3. This particular Michael Feinstein CD is among my favorites. His voice is as smooth as velvet, and the selections include not only very familiar and much loved standards, but also some new (to me) songs that fit perfectly with the overall theme of romance. A little candlelight and a glass of wine (optional)and you have yourself a beautiful romantic evening. I've sent several people copies for just that purpose. That's how I was introduced to it, too. Enjoy.



4. "Creating this album of romantic songs has truly been a labor of love. I have never before experienced such unconditional dedication and commitment from so many different people, all working toward a single goal. Collaborating with Johnny Mandel is a dream come true. He is a genius, a tireless worker, a gentle soul and a lovable man. It has been a privilege to work with him. If you have the feeling that I had a ball doing this album, you're absolutely right!" ~ Michael Feinstein ~
   
   This collaboration between Michael Feinstein and Johnny Mandel is one of the best-ever Feinstein recordings of all-time. Mr. Mandel, who is a brilliant composer/conductor/arranger and has done several film and television musical scores and known as one of the best Sinatra arrangers, did a superb job on the stunning arrangements. The Oscar-winning composer also produced this album and chose the best studio musicians in this project most notably one of my favorite pianists, Alan Broadbent.
   
   Presented in this "labor of love" album is a dozen of songs interpreted in sheer beauty and perfection. Mr. Feinstein has always been very resourceful in compiling songs that he would record and his musical knowledge is simply amazing. All his liner notes have been so informative and give accurate details about the origins of each song. He collected some of the best works from Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein, Larry Hart, Sammy Fain, Harry Warren, Jerome Kern, Burton Lane, and the Bergmans, among others, to offer another remarkable album not only for his fans but also for everyone who enjoys fine music.
   
   My top favorite from this collection is a sentimental gem of a song by Rodgers and Hammerstein, "No Other Love," a song I've been hearing from my parents' collection (versions from Perry Como and Ella Fitzgerald) when I was growing up and so glad to hear a new charming version with fabulous arrangement. I totally embrace and welcome new interpretations of nostalgic songs that now give new significance to life in general. Some of the choice cuts are "Isn't It Romantic," a medley of "I Can Dream, Can't I"/ "I'll Be Seeing You," "A Fine Romance" and "Wasn't It Romantic," a uniquely beautiful version, which showed-off his creative style of singing and his ear-catching vocal artistry.
   
   Mr. Feinstein is so privileged to be the first artist to record a meaningful song by Johnny Mandel/Alan and Marilyn Bergman "Where Do You Start?" It's a song that has the most poignant lyrics from this collection.
   
   "Where do you start?
   How do you separate the present from the past?
   How do you deal with all the things
   you thought would last, that didn't last?
   With bits of memories scattered here and there
   I look around and don't know where to start . . .
   
   Which books are yours?
   Which tapes and dreams belong to you and which are mine?
   Our lives are tangled like the branches of a vine that intertwine
   So many habits that we'll have to break
   And yesterdays we'll have to take apart . . .
   
   One day there'll be a song or something in the air again
   To catch me by surprise and you'll be there again
   A moment in what might have been
   Where do you start?
   Do you allow yourself a little time to cry?
   Or do you close your eyes and kiss it all goodbye?
   I guess you'll try. . .
   
   And though I don't know where and don't know when
   I'll find myself in love again
   I promise there will always be
   A little place no one will see
   A tiny part deep in my heart
   That stays in love with you."
   
   You'll enjoy this CD. It's truly a labor of love.



5. If you want to fully enjoy the grand nature of this CD, pour yourself a glass of VERY GOOD WINE, be sure it is poured into WATERFORD, lower the lights, light the fireplace, then sit down and enjoy!...You will be lost in the magic of this performance.

5 comments about 30th Anniversaire.

1. This is a collection that is worth having if you are a Piaf fan. You not only get her most famous songs but a good collection of those that are not as well known. All in all, it gives the listener a great feel for her miraculous voice and her Bohemian Style. You don't have to be French to love Piaf.



2. Edith Piaf was to French music of the 1930s to the 1950s what Sinatra was to American music; an unstoppable force. Much like Sinatra, Piaf sang with a naked raw emotion and gritty evocativeness that cuts right to your heart. And like Sinatra, her voice is immediately identifiable.
   "30th Anniversaire" is two things; first, a summary of her recordings from 1946 to her passing in 1963, and secondly, as a commemoration of the 30th anniversary of her passing. Perhaps there was a fear that Piaf was being forgotten in an ever-changing world, yet a listen to these tracks reveals her music to be timeless, transcending time and place. So long as there are lovers and romantics, Piaf will remain alive.
   
   "30th Anniversaire" covers Piaf's more mature work which is essentially the soundtrack to post-war France and includes many of her most memorable signature songs. For me, these are Piaf's most evocative and memorable recordings as her voice shows her to have lived these songs. Even if you don't understand a word of French, you cannot miss the powerful delivery and evocative nature of Piaf's voice, and if you understand French you fully comprehend the gripping and vital lyrics of love, loss, anger, regret, and a life well lived with no regrets. The sound quality on the recordings is quite good, especially when compared with other recordings of the era that have sometimes been inadeptly re-mastered. There are other Piaf compilations out there, perhaps the most notable the "Love and Passion" set which covers 1936 to 1950 in an impressive 5 CD set, and that particular one is perhaps the best starting point for Piaf, not to sell "30th Anniversaire" short. I've seen quite a few Piaf compilations over the years but nothing matches the breadth, scope, quality, and depth of this collection. Any beginner would be wise to start here.



3. It doesn't get much better. This is a great mixture of soulful, emotional cuts that make your heart long for the past. This CD's songs paint a picture of one tormented soul, who was able to express her pain through her music. You almost feel her pain as you listen.



4. One of the greatest voices of all time - past, present or future. What a voice, what a personality. You don't need to understand French to enjoy the music of Edith Piaf - she transcends language barriers. Be prepared to be transported to the 1940's/1950's.



5. Fantastic collection for the price. Not much literature with this but the music speaks for itself. Highly recommend.

5 comments about Where Are You?.

1. I think Frank's half-dozen or so "broken heart" LP's represent his highest quality work, and this one ranks just a hair below "In the Wee Small Hours" and "Only the Lonely." Of course, as a fan, I also like his six best "hat" albums, those bright and swinging affairs. But the subtle selling of these lovelorn lyrics, recordings in which his silences and his breathing are as vital to success as his enunciation of each word, is something to behold. I keep it one star below the two more famous efforts mentioned earlier because those songs, overall, seem more powerful to me. For all his personal (and personality) troubles, Sinatra is THE American singer of the 20th century. Here, a man with an inadequate formal education, a dysfunctional family of origin, and a low amount of voice and musical training, shows what "talent" might mean: a mysterious coming together of instinct, experience and effort that defies explanation.



2. Where Are You? is a wonderful Frank Sinatra album here for us to enjoy on CD. Frank sounds great and he delivers these ballads with panache. The sound quality is excellent and the artwork is excellent.
   
   The album starts with the title track, "Where Are You?" Frank's character laments the loss of his one true love; and the arrangement uses the strings to great advantage. Frank truly never does perform with any exaggerated emotion--and this enhances the beauty of the ballad all the more. "The Night We Called It A Day" features Frank front and center--and that's OK by me! This torch ballad tells the story of a breakup from the point of view of a man who's still upset about the ending of their love. Franks' voice is quite strong and full of energy, too.
   
   "Laura," from the movie of the same name, has Frank delivering this ballad to perfection--and beyond! The horn is very beautifully used and Frank never misses a beat! "Laura" is easily a major highlight of this album; and I predict that you'll like it very much. "Autumn Leaves" was a favorite of Edith Piaf; she loved to sing this and she would have been proud of Frank's interpretation! Frank sings this with all his heart and soul; and the slightly slower than normal tempo makes this ballad very pretty and sad at the same time.
   
   "I'm A Fool To Want You" was a song Billie Holiday often sang; this bluesy torch song sounds terrific when Frank Sinatra sing it; this tugs at my heartstrings and I think his rendition is awfully fine. The strings enhance the number, too. "I Think Of You" is yet another masterpiece when Frank Sinatra sings it; he performs "I Think Of You" with great sensitivity and his uncanny sense of timing makes this very beautiful.
   
   "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home" gets a really slow tempo but it all holds its own very well. Frank performs "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home" very well and the music that goes with his vocals complements his singing perfectly. "Rain (Falling From The Skies)" is quite memorable; this forlorn ballad displays Frank's true vocal prowess and you're sure to appreciate this song.
   
   The album ends with Frank Sinatra doing a great version of "Don't Worry `Bout Me." "Don't Worry `Bout Me" gets such a regal treatment that you're bound to be left wanting more. Don't be surprised if you find yourself pushing the "play" button on your CD player when this album is over!
   
   Frank Sinatra does a marvelous job handling these remarkably fine torch songs. I highly recommend this for Frank's fans; and people who enjoy the blues will also want this album in their collections.



3. I was very pleased with my purchase and with the speedy delivery. Great deal.



4. Though not as recognized as the similarly themed "In The Wee Small Hours" or "Only The Lonely," "Where Are You?" is easily up there with the best of Frank Sinatra's work. His voice is as strong as ever, his phrasing and breath control are forceful and precise, and the songs are among the most beautiful he ever recorded.
   
   This album marks a departure for Frank, as Nelson Riddle does not handle the arrangements but rather Gordon Jenkins makes his debut at the helm. Jenkins was known for his lush string arrangements, and his arrangements fit Sinatra's style and these songs to a T, adding an extra layer of depth to these already poignant tales of lost love.
   
   As he did with "In The Wee Small Hours" and "Only The Lonely," Frank completely immerses himself in the material. He becomes the song, living and breathing each phrase as if each line was the last he'd ever speak. Listen to the passion he injects to the title track, "The Night We Called It A Day," the haunting "Laura," the unforgettable "Lonely Town" (on the shortlist of Best Sinatra Performances), the definitive reading of "Autumn Leaves" and others. No singer had or has ever interpreted these songs with such an unprecedented level of sincerity or emotion. This reinforces my belief that Frank was as much an actor as a singer. He simply set his performances to acetate rather than celluoid. He sang as much from his heart, mind and soul as much as his throat.
   
   The standout track, for me, is "I'm A Fool To Want You." Frank is at his zenith on this track. All about Ava, Frank even co-wrote this number, his most personal recording ever. All the feelings of anguish and loneliness he felt when Ava had left him four years ago seemed to culminate on this track, resulting in quite possibly Frank's most emotionally invovled performance ever committed to tape.
   
   This remastered edition boasts good sound as well as four bonus tracks, including Frank's classic 1953 reading of "Don't Worry 'Bout Me." These four tracks add to this already incredible album, an album that any serious music fan should snatch up in an instant.



5. Imagine some of the greatest ballads sung by arguably the greatest voice in pop music history, backed by a master of classical nuance, Gordon Jenkins. Well, you need not imagine it anymore. This is it. The track, "There's No You," is worth the price of the album.
   Tony Horowitz

5 comments about Infiniment.

1. A wonderful CD of one of the best writers and performers of our time. The singing oozes with intensity. Also, not so bad to get 40 songs on one CD.



2. You don't have to know too much french too feel Brel's music.
   The French version of "The Quest" from Man of la Mancha is a great version, and the disc came with a booklet with the english translation of every song, so you can have an idea of what he's singing. If youy are a true musician and like novelties, this is a great disc.



3. Many thanks to previous reviewer for comprehensive info about different versions available and detailed track listing. This really helped me to make an informed decision.
   
   Wish all my purchasing was as intelligently made!



4. As an opera lover, I usually don't appreciate singing artists who don't posses a superbly "beautiful" voice. But, M. Brel is an exception....a wonderful exception! He puts so much emotion and "drama" into his singing that you forget about the quality of his voice and you find yourself involuntarily focusing on the quality of his soul! He's that good!
   
   There is a "language barrier" to overcome, though. He sings only in French. This is "good" and "bad". The positive is that the French Language is a "musical language" which "musical quality" adds to the beauty of the songs. The negative aspect is that we English speaking people find it difficult to know what the songs are about. And, what makes it frustrating is that it is difficult to find "accurate" English translations of the songs. The off -Broadway play, "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well....." has "translations" but they are grossly inacurate and almost useless. That is where this CD comes in. "Infiniment" 2004 (not the 2003 import) has good tranlations included with the CD. This is the CD to purchase as an "introduction" to the wonderful "ouevre" (works) of Jacques Brel. After you buy this CD, you may become quite intrigued by this artist as I did...enough so that you might want to invest in the 3 DVD set which is now out.... which will permit you to see and hear this wonderful artist. Bon voyage and bon appetite! :o) Enjoy! (One more thing, I just found out that the credit for the VERY WONDERFUL translations for this CD is to be given to Thelma Blitz of New York City who did them for the record company. Brava to Ms. Blitz! I hope she translates more of Brel's songs in the future.) Email:boland7214@aol.



5. For those of us using Brel's songs to help us learn or improve our French, it's important to understand the difference between this 2-disc set, released in 2004 on the DRG Records label (ASIN: B0002PUHGU) and the other version of Infiniment released in 2003 on the Universal Music label (ASIN: B0000AA8V2).
   
   The songs themselves are the same. However, the DRG Records version includes official English translations of all 40 songs in the liner notes, along with English/French song titles. The original French lyrics are not included. The abbreviated song translations and excellent CD liner notes were done by Amazon.com Reviewer Thelma F. Blitz.
   
   The Universal Music version includes song titles in French only, and French lyrics for tracks 2 through 6 of Disc 1 only. There are no lyrics at all for the remaining 35 songs, and no English translations of lyrics for any of the 40 songs.
   
   To get all 40 songs in both French and English, one must purchase the DRG Records version of the Infiniment CD and a separate book of Brel's original French lyrics, such as "Jacques Brel, Oeuvre Intégrale" published by Robert Laffont S.A. in 1982 (ISBN 2-221-01068-X or -8).
   
   You'll also want an excellent French-English dictionary to fully appreciate Brel's songs, and I can recommend none better than Collins Robert French Unabridged Dictionary, 7th Edition (ISBN: 0060748931). This French dictionary is the best one I have ever used over the past 30 years, it's truly magnificent. (See my review of it and the 13 images I placed there of dictionary pages).
   
   The Songs on Disc 1:
   
   "La Quête" (The Quest, Track 1, Disc 1) is better known as "The Impossible Dream". This is Brel's version of the song also crooned by Elvis Presley, Andy Williams and The Supremes, and originally created by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion. I don't believe Brel's version is as satisfying as the original in English, however, at least for native English speakers.
   
   Tracks 2 through 6 (Disc 1) are songs created in 1977, a year before Brel's death, but released for the first time by Brel's family through the International Jacques Brel Foundation in Brussels. Brel recorded these after part of one lung had already been removed due to lung cancer. Their release was somewhat controversial, at least with some of the musicians who worked with Brel over the years, because Brel had not finalized these recordings prior to his death. They felt that Brel's artistic vision would have been better served and better respected by keeping these recordings unpublished. On the other side, there was considerable demand for his last unpublished recordings and a lot of heartfelt gratitude towards the Brel family on the part of Brel fans around the world, who were ecstatic at this release of his previously unheard recordings.
   
   Tracks 7 through 10 (Disc 1) had been previously released in 1977 on the Barclay label. Track 11 (Disc 1) is J'Arrive (I Arrive), which was previously released in 1968 on Barclay.
   
   Tracks 12 through 15 and 18 through 20 (Disc 1) are in my view 7 of Brel's greatest songs of all, due to the elegant literary quality of his lyrics, the raw passion expressed in his voice, and the beautiful and haunting melodies and/or accompanying orchestrations.
   
   "Quand On N'a Que L'amour" (When We Have Only Love, Track 12, Disc 1) is Brel's quintessential theme song (circa 1960) for idealistic young lovers who believe that love conquers all, in stark contrast to Brel's later more jaded songs, ranging from "Le Prochain Amour" (The Next Lover, Track 18, Disc 1) in 1961 to "La Chanson des Vieux Amants" (Song of the Old Lovers, Track 19, Disc 1) in 1967. "Quand On N'a Que L'amour" strikes a similar tone of optimism as another Brel song, "Au Printemps", which is not included in the Infiniment collection.
   
   "Le Plat Pays" (The Flat Country, Track 13, Disc 1) is Brel's nostalgic homage to his home country of Belgium, sung with great affection. Although he grew up in Belgium, he spent nearly his entire musical career in Paris, France.
   
   "Mon Enfance" (My Childhood, Track 14, Disc 1), one of Brel's most passionate songs, takes a candid look back at what Brel describes as a quite unhappy childhood, accompanied by ravishingly beautiful accompaniment by piano, cello, "Ondes Martenot" (sounds like an American "singing saw") and orchestra that manage to convey a strong sense of nostalgia despite the misery Brel describes. The English translation is very abridged; for some reason some of the verses were not provided.
   
   "Les Vieux" (The Old People, Track 15, Disc 1), evokes a ticking clock as a metaphor for the passage of time. It paints a grim portrait of life in the twilight years, set to the beat of a grandfather clock, a triangle and a small orchestra.
   
   "Le Prochain Amour" (The Next Lover, Track 18, Disc 1) is Brel's world-wisened and world-weary evaluation of love: "...it's good to be in love... I know just the same that the next love will be my next defeat..."
   
   "La Chanson des Vieux Amants" (Song of the Old Lovers, Track 19, Disc 1) is a wonderful nostalgic look back at a romance of 20 years: all the storms the couple has endured, and "the sweet tender marvelous love" that continues today even as their "the tender war" persists. To me, Brel's passionate singing and the wonderful piano and orchestral accompaniment evoke all the romance and nostalgia of a World War II era Casablanca, making this one of Brel's greatest classic songs.
   
   "Ne Me Quitte Pas" (Don't Leave Me, Track 20, Disc 1) is Brel's most famous torch song, in which he uses exquisite imagery to press his suit with a girl who has already left him, descending in the end into abject desperation as he struggles to maintain a link, any link at all, with the object of his love. Frank Sinatra was moved to sing an English version of this song ("If You Go Away"), which unfortunately doesn't do justice to the stunning poetry of the French original. This version uses a gorgeous piano accompaniment and a soto voce orchestra in the background. The last verse adds a flute to the piano accompaniment. This is my favorite song of the entire Jacques Brel repertoire because of the power and the haunting beauty of the lyrics, Brel's impassioned voice and the evocative music!
   
   Some Great Songs on Disc 2:
   
   "Amsterdam" (Track 1, Disc 2) is one of Brel's most famous songs. It's about the sailors who disembark in this Dutch port and how they deal with the vicissitudes of their lonely lives and the dreams that haunt them once they reach the shore.
   
   "L'enfance" (Childhood, Track 6, Disc 2) is a song from the 1973 French comedy film "Far West" directed, co-scored and co-written by Jacques Brel, who also acted in the film. This song evokes a much more positive view of childhood then "Mon Enfance", and suggests how maintaining some of the elements of childhood can enhance life even in old age.
   
   "Marieke" (Track 13, Disc 2) is a nostalgic song about a first love that played out on the beaches of Belgium one summer in his teen years. It alternates charmingly between Flemish and French, the two national languages of Belgium.
   
   Other highly recommended Jacques Brel CDs you can find on Amazon.com include:
   
   Title (ASIN#) No. of Songs
   
   Quand On N'a Que L'amour (B00000IYC9) 49 songs (3-CD set with 31 pages of Brel Photos and a 24-page Essay)
   The Olympia '61 & '64 (B000BJ7D96) 30 songs with great English translations (2-CD set)
   Grand Jacques (B0009NDDDY) 15 songs including "Sur la Place"
   Vol. 1-Special Edition (B000042OFF) 16 songs
   Les Flamandes (B000006UOA) 21 songs
   Les Bonbons (B0000AKOLD) 14 songs
   Ballades Et Mots D'amour (B00003Q56T) 30 songs
   Vol. 1-Special Edition (ASIN: B000042OFF) 16 songs
   Master Series: Jacques Brel (B0000046O5) 16 songs (same songs as on Vol. 1-Special Edition)
   Volume 1 - Grand Jacques (B00000DXQY) 15 songs with "Sur La Place"
   Grand Jacques Integrale 172 Titres (B000025BD8) 172 songs (10-CD set)
   
   What's even more fabulous than the CDs, however, is the 3 volume DVD set released in 2003: Jacques Brel: Comme quand on etait beau. (ASIN: B0000AQJPR). The set includes 7.5 hours of live and staged performances as well as interviews and home video footage. Everything that the heart of a Jacques Brel fan desires to capture the essence of this very theatrical artist in a way that an audio only recording can not.
   
   Also of great interest: the VHS video "Jacques Brel" (ASIN: B0001P1XG4), a video biography on the life and
   music of Jacques Brel. Full length documentary features extensive live footage and interviews with Brel himself
   as well as his daughter and associates. It is also available on DVD, but only from Films Media Group.

5 comments about Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook.

1. For whatever reason this was one disc that I had simply never even noticed before. While perusing the audio rack at my local library I happened upon "Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook". It was a rainy Saturday and I decided that this would be the perfect day to crash and check out some CD's. I am so glad that I did because as it turns out that this disc is a real keeper.
   Released back in 2003, "Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook" features 11 of the legendary singers most popular songs. Of course I was curious as to how the producers would approach this material. And while I was pretty sure that Bette Midler had the pipes to pull it off I wondered if this would be an album that I would only listen to just once or something I would be eager to enjoy again and again. After hearing this disc but once I can say without equivocation that I would definitely fall into the latter category. Furthermore, I can attest to the fact that there really is not a bad track on this album. There are fresh new arrangements of Clooney favorites like "This Ole House", "Memories of You" and "Hey There". A really pleasant surprise was Bette's marvelous duet with producer Barry Manilow on the old Kay Kyser hit "On A Slow Boat To China". And speaking of duets, much to my surprise my favorite cut on this disc just has to be the remarkable duet with Linda Ronstadt called "Sisters". This tune was originally recorded by Rosemary and her sister Betty Clooney and appeared briefly on the charts back in 1954. Rosemary Clooney also performed the song in the classic Bing Crosby holiday film "White Christmas". Now the very idea of Bette Midler attempting the Mitch Miller inspired pop hits "Come On-A My House" and "Mambo Italiano" seems rather improbable but Bette Midler manages to pull it off with grace and style and makes these silly little songs all her own.
   Unfortunately, there is only about 31 minutes worth of music to be had on "Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook". The problem is that everything on this disc is so good that it leaves you longing for more. It certainly would have been nice to hear Bette Midler's remarkable voice on tunes like "Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)", "I Could Have Danced All Night" and "Half As Much" to name but a few. That being said "Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook" is a first rate production. Indeed, this is a disc I can see myself playing frequently in the future. As a matter of fact I will be ordering my copy as soon as I finish this review. Very highly recommended!



2. Bette Midler delivers some Great music. She is an artist that has tried just about everything (and has won Emmy, Grammy and Tony awards) Seeing her Live at Caesars Palace in Las Veges in 'The Showgirl Must Go On' is going to be my treat to myself ... saw Cher perform at Caesars, she was Great as always.
   ... Bette Midler's last tour, 'Kiss My Brass', earned $74,347,404 from 77 shows, played between December 10, 2003 to May 1, 2005 and sold 739,462 tickets (Billboard Boxscore) "Bette" CBS/TV sitcom ended the 2000/01 TV season at #79 (Nielsen Media Research ratings from Entertainment Weekly 6-1,2001) Bette Midler's strength and courage remind me of Senator Hillary Clinton's: In the 2008 Presidential Primary race, Hillary Clinton not only earned more votes than any of her rivals, she earned more votes than any Presidential Primary candidate in History.



3. Bette and Barry back together again! They make great music together! Rosemary Clooney is smiling from heaven! Midler's voice provides the great range and emotional sentiment of Rosemary's songs. The duet with Linda Ronstadt for "Sisters" was outstanding and joyful. The production of the cd by Barry Manilow is genius! Bette and Barry were meant to make music together!
   Kimberly



4. I don't believe this C.D. was available in shops in Australia and having found it on Amazon, I'm delighted. Have been a Bette fan for over 20 years and, being older, appreciate her renditions of songs heard when I was quite young. The Manilow arrangements are extremely authentic....in all, great entertainment from one of my favourites.



5. I think this is Bette Midler at her best! She gives a subtle and yet powerful rendition of Rosemary Clooney's works.
   
   I highly recommend this.

5 comments about Get Away from Me.

1. I love her more quirky songs and her voice is great but I was a little disappointed that a good number of the songs seemed a bit more traditional in style. However, her lyrics are very funny.



2. I have waited this long, expecting to find at least one of Nellie McKay's songs fading, dull, loosing vividness but yet the entire album "Get Away from Me" remains a perfect fit for our time. The superbly interesting music themes and rather frank, catchy lyrics continue to evolve in the next "Pretty Little Head" album. It's really difficult to recommend a particular song; Nellie simply is a great, entertaining performer.



3. I'm not quite sure what happened on this album. McKay or the record label must have gotten a strange and very bad idea that adding a component of rap music to other genres will make the music popular.
   
   I guess you can't blame whoever thought this up since it seems to have been successful with acts like Linkin Park or Red Hot Chili Peppers and so on. So, you can understand where they got this idea. But it doesn't work here and it ruins this album. There is still some of the "rapping" in the newer albums but it's not as prominent and its blended in better.
   
   There were other aspects of this album that I found unpalatable. I've forgotten exactly what, but I'm not going to dig the album up and put myself through having to listen to it again for the sake of writing a fully detailed review. The music itself is also better in the newer albums.
   
   Bottom line, even though I wanted to like this, I couldn't stand listening to this album. I'd recommend against purchasing this album and go straight to the other Nellie McKay albums.



4. This CD is so hard to describe. A blurb on the cover says Nellie is like Doris Day combined with Eminem, but I think it's more like Ricky Lee Jones and Kate Bush meet Dave Frishberg and Randy Newman.
   
   There are elements of Jones' funky jazz-like vocals, Bush's weird swoopy wails, but even more of Frishberg's and Newman's melody hooks combined with witty satirical word play. Nothing is sacred here, and nothing can be taken at face value.
   
   Nellie drops the F bomb here and there, but never gratuitously. She picks her phrases with a poetic, if somewhat kooky, precision. If that sounds contradictory, it is. And that's Nellie through and through.
   
   Nellie is a much better singer than either Jones or Bush. When she lays down a slow piano jazz tune (I Wanna Get Married or Really) it sounds like the real deal, however tongue in cheek the sentiment may be. There are also goofy bouncy songs about her dead Cat (Ding Dong) and newly found Dog (The Dog Song) that sound like true slice-of-life episodes, though the word play and imagery are so hilarious it's hard to know for sure. There's some great politcal rap (Sari) and swing jazz cum good natured male bashing (It's a Pose).
   
   But the thing I find about CD is that repeated listening is repaid with greater and greater appreciation of the musical quality and lyrical creativity on display. These songs will crawl in your head and live there. And you'll be happy about that.



5. This young woman's first CD of music in nothing short of terrific from beginnning to end. You must buy this CD and listen to it over and over again. How could you not? It's full of wit and delight.
   An artist to watch, listen to, and see perform!
   The best of 2004 and that's no lie.

5 comments about The Dresden Dolls.

1. I love this band and this album! They are so passionate it's amazing!!! You can really feel the sparks fly. LOVE IT!



2. I really, really, love this band. Both memebers have so much energy, there is so much passion in their music.
   I just recently discovered them on Amazon and am so happy I did! If you are a Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, PJ Harvey, Regina Spektor fan and like music of that genre you will love this group. Both members are incredibly unique and the lyrics are simply incredible. Buy this you won't regret the purchase, I can't stop playing their albums. I can't wait to see them play live!



3. Dark cabaret. That's what they call their music and I think it perfectly describes it. The lyrics are very raw and so unpoetic that it actually makes them poetic. The compositions are amazing and dynamic, which you wouldn't really expect of a two-person band.



4. I don't usually like music with voices and words; I much prefer to listen to instrumentals and not have to concentrate on anything but the tune itself; words usually just get in the way of a good listening experience. *However*, all that changed as I was driving home from work the other afternoon, listening to a segment on NPR devoted to how up-and-coming bands have to spend so much time marketing themselves and paying out money to do so, that they don't have as much valuable time to devote to their songwriting as they would like or need. They spotlighted The Dresden Dolls and played excerpts. And I love them! I love the songs! The edginess, the words, the melody, Amanda Palmer's piano and voice (which by the way, can be soft & sweet or totally in your face). There's only 2 of them: Amanda Palmer on piano and Brian Viglione on drums - add the words and melody, and that's all you need for a great band! This particular CD has two of my favorites on it: "Missed Me" and "Coin-Operated Boy". Now I find myself singing along to the songs whenever I play them in the car (when did I start doing that??). I'll be buying all their other CDs, and singing along to them as well!



5. The album has a few really good tracks, but overall it could use more variety.

5 comments about Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (1966 Original Off-Broadway Cast).

1. I have been looking for this CD for a long time. I have the album but it lacked one of the songs that the CD has. Now I can play this CD in my car and enjoy this special arrangement of Jacques Brel. Many thanks !



2. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Saw this in the village in 1969 and it brought back a lot of great memories. I have the album and now I am in the process of switching all the "vinyl" over to CD's. It will take me a while as it gets pretty expensive trying to do it all at once. To any of you who experienced the magic being 19 in 1969 and awakening to everything around you, this music enveloped it all!
   
   
   
   



3. Sadly, although I loved the show when I saw it, this cd seems dated to me.



4. This Jacque Brel digitally remastered is truly an ecellent to outstanding rendition of the long running NYC production. I have been playing it constantly since I received the recording. I had the old vinyl record of the show and the records disappeared many years ago. However, I am sure that the sound clarity could not have been close to this recording.



5. The music and musicianship is as exciting as it ever was. Brel is gone, but at least we still have this recording of the best production of his wonderful revue. The extra song is a grand bonus.

5 comments about The Best of Jane Olivor.

1. This is Jane Olivor at her best. Her voice is rich and full, and she uses her voice as an instrument to interpret the songs she sings.



2. Like everyone, there are tracks on this CD that I like and others I would have replaced, but I just thought I'd throw my 10c into the ring.
   
   The remastering is a revelation. The original 1980s CD pressings of all the albums sound flat and muddy by comparison. In fact, there is no comparison when you listen to this release and then the old versions.
   
   What continues to beggar belief is that Sony Legacy have not given all the original albums this treatment. The market is there, but I fear they may hold on to the original masters and then flog them to a reissue label like Wounded Bird, where the remastering process will be bypassed.
   
   Even if you don't absolutely love the 16 tracks selected for this CD, go and buy it for the ones you do love, as the sound is spectacular and maybe, just maybe Sony may take notice of the sales and grace us with all five Columbia albums in pristine sound like this. Either way it is good value.
   
   Are you listening Sony ?



3. This album is a wonderful collection of Jane Olivor's songs. Several were a delight to hear again after many years and find that I enjoy them as much or maybe more than before I bought this album. Years ago a friend took me to hear her at a bar in Dallas and to hear her voice agains brings back great memories as well as the delight of her singing. There are one or two songs that have never been favorites but the rest of the songs far out weigh the ones I don't like as much as others. I fully recommend purchasing this album.



4. The only song I wish would have been on this CD is Merry Go Round...... then it really would have been ALL the best of Jane.



5. I bought all of Jane's albums when they were albums, back in the late 70's, early 80's. I love her voice and I played them all the time. However, when I got a cd player, I didn't replace the albums with cds because the songs made me go back to that time, and I was in love and it was unrequited and my heart was broken. So I was browsing Amazon and found this cd and decided to order it.
   It's absolutely beautiful. It doesn't hurt to listen to it anymore, I've been able to get past the painful memories and just listen to the music.
   I remember seeing Jane in concert in the early 80's. She sat on steps and gathered us around her on the floor and it was so beautiful and intimate. I remember shaking her hand, she was so tiny and obviously nervous. It was one of the most beautiful concerts I've ever been to.
   I highly recommend this cd, it's very romantic and beautiful.