5 comments about Ultimate Collection.

1. My most favorite 80's group. "All this love" is my all time favorite song. A must have for all DeBarge fans.



2. I had an Old School night and I am so glad I ran across the Debarge Ultimate Collection. I was in love with all of the Debarges back in the day when light skin was in...heheheh. I know you know what I mean.....you got to get this album. It is a must have for all the 80's prime time.



3. This CD is a must have , every song is very good!!!!



4. This is an awesome DeBarge collection.
   I was bopping away lol, it still has that awesome dance beat and the ballads are still beautiful to this day.
   This cd has the right songs on it and has picked the best songs from their solo careers, from El, Chico and Bunny - totally awesome.
   If I HAD to make 1 small critism its what Sharon said, the cd should have included the original version of Rhythm Of The Night as well as the 12" version as a bonus track but I love both versions so for me it totally rocks.
   It's definitely a feel good pop music cd.
   My fave songs are 'rhythm of the night','who's johnny' & 'you wear it well' - totally awesome cd.



5. With the ridiculous prices that some Amazon vendors are charging for original DeBarge albums, this is probably the best way to obtain most of DeBarge's best. Includes a couple of solo cuts from El and Chico.

5 comments about Rachelle Ferrell.

1. The site review puts her in the same company as Anita Baker. That's just laughable. She has a nice voice which is unusually deep, but there's plenty of work to do before she can stand next to Anita.



2. This is a cd that soothes the savage beast. Rachelle, Rachelle, that's all I can say. The range of her voice on this cd is out of this world, and though this was my first purchase of her music it will not be my last. Get this, you won't be disappointed.



3. This is one of my alltime favorite CDs. This is the second time I've purchased this particular CD. Rachelle has an absolutely wonderful voice and I can't understand why or how it is that more people don't know about her talent. Most of the time, when I mention her name people don't know who I'm talking about. When I play her CD for them, the love her voice. If you like singers like Minnie Ripperton or Denise Williams, then you'll love Rachelle Farrell. It's just about guaranteed that any CD you purchase with her name on it is a sure fire winner.



4. I have had this CD since 1992 and it remains an all time favorite. What ever music tastes one has, this is sure to compliment on various levels...
   AMP



5. This CD is by far one of the best jazz vocals in long time.Such great control of the voice. Iam in awe of her talent. She is truly a jazz singer extrodinare. It is amystery to me why this album was released in Japan first and not the USA.

5 comments about The Civil War (1998 Studio Cast).

1. I bought this because I thoroughly enjoy Frank Wildhorn's work. It is somewhat true to what one would expect from the creator of The Scarlet Pimpernel and Jekyl and Hyde but mostly it is a completely independent experience. My biggest complaint was that I am not a country music fan and Civil War is full of it. All in all I would say this is a stirring, unique and surprising oratorio from Frank Wildhorn who shows some greater depth in research yet lesser depth in composition.



2. The civil war cd was so amazing, i felt like i was back at the show.thanks Kay



3. After seeing a local performance of this musical, I started looking for a copy of the soundtrack and came upon this version. I loved it. I am not a civil war buff nor do I call myself a music know-it-all but this music is moving and inspirational. The many, varied well known artists only add to the ambiance- out of many walks of life do we share the history of the civil war- it is one of those historical events that bring us all together. I'll listen to this often.



4. I saw the play in Pgh. several yrs. ago and bought both cds. I wish EVERY American could see this show and learn about the Unbelieveable sacrifice of war. Pray for peace!



5. Being both a musical theater fan and an obsessive Civil War nut, I loved seeing the two combined in this great album. I've got to admit, I was a little put off when I saw that they had Hootie and the Blowfish, Travis Tritt, and a dozen other pop artists masquerading as historical figures, but the whole thing works surprisingly well. The music is closer to stuff you'd here on your local pop or country radio station than stuff you'd hear a bunch of Union Army personnel humming around a nineteenth century campfire, but it's very moving at times, and even funny at other times. And the lyrics are awesome! I can really tell the writers did their homework on this. Most of these songs were copied, almost verbatim, from old Civil War era letters and speeches. Bottom line is, this music is beautiful, and you might even learn a few things while you're listening to it.

5 comments about A New Flame.

1. I purchased this album in 1989. Now in 2007, i'm ordering it again. Why?
   Because it is perfect. Musically, it's something I've NEVER HEARD BEFORE. It takes you on a smooooooth, glowing ride of sounds--jazz,rock and soul. Comparing this work to Barry White is pretty good, as I am a
   fan of his as well. Mick & company have done a real great album and it
   sounds better as a CD.



2. I have and always will LOVE Simpley Red. The cd is awesome.....My favorites is ENOUGH.....Try it, I'm sure you'll like it.



3. These guys have such a rich sound. I still love the idea of traditional bands. And they still have the heart of the old school band. It sounds like they've known each other for years. 'The New Flame,' has this soothing, vintage quality that's unmistakably cool.



4. i listened to 'a new flame tonight,' as i finally found the copy i lost long ago. it blew my mind, just as it did the first time i ever listened to it when it first came out. i can't say enough about this cd. it is beautifully done - mick's vocals are flawless - he can make his voice do absolutely anything! it is so rich and soulful, powerful and gentle all at once. there is honestly not one bad track on this cd. i agree, SR's version of "if you don't know me by now," is incredible, but the rest of the songs deserve just as much attention and praise. really - i can't pick one song that outshines the rest, because they are all that good. it is a perfect mix of jazz, r&b, blues, rock and a bit of pop thrown in, just to keep things interesting. along with "picture book," "a new flame" has got to be simply red's best.



5. The most memorable song from this 1989 release is the awesome soulful cover of IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW,made famous by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes in 1972. This album,like Simply Red's 1985 debut PICTURE BOOK,was released on Elektra thus their labelmates being Motley Crue,Anita Baker and The Georgia Satellites. The other songs are good and I give the credit to frontman Mick Hucknall,a vocal clone of Jefferson Airplane/Starship's Marty Balin.

3 comments about Vagabond Lullabies.

1. I find music in a completely serendipitous manner: I work next to a music magazine and I grab their discards, either when they sell them for 3 bucks to raise money for charity, or eventually give them away at the end of the year when the cupboards are bursting with old reviewed cds. I grab anything that looks intersting and that I haven't heard before. This is how I have discovered some of my favourite music.
   
   And it's how I discovered Po' Girl. Aweful name, terrible album cover, so I'm still not quite sure why I picked it out. But boy, am I glad I did. Initially it was the opening track 'Tell Me A Story' that made me realize this was special. The harmonies, the soul, the blues, the alt-country sound: so beautiful. 'Movin' On', has a sexy catchy beat. 'Take The Long Way' which I am hopelessly addicted to starts out very Norah Jones and then morphs into the sweetest laid back rap by some dude who sounds straight out of PM Dawn. Pure magic . This is stunning stuff by five amazing singers and multi-instrumentalists who never jostle for centre stage but take turns in the spotlight and blend seemlessly over a series of sweet, but never saccerine, totally addictive songs.



2. I just love this CD. Po' Girl has penned some beautiful songs that leave you humming for days afterward.
   Before Po' Girl came about, I was a huge fan of The Be Good Tanyas for years, having caught their shows in Vancouver, Los Feliz & Hollywood.
   I'm so glad the members of that band joined their new friends and that they're all still playing and harmonizing together after major life changes kept them from recording for a spell. Take it from another mom, having kids will derail you for awhile, but it's lovely and very much worth the ride.
   I hope to hear much more from the angelic and rootsy voices that make up Po' Girl. They are a genuine gem among so many plastic, formulaic bands that are churning out forgetable CDs in the music world.



3. Well. I stumbled onto Po' Girl on emusic, and am just blown away by this, their second album. Can't stop listening to "Take the Long Way, with CR Avery rapping gently through the middle of the song. Bliss.

5 comments about Robben Ford & the Blue Line.

1. This guy is my favorite blues guitarist. He's fresh, talented and a super nice guy as well. I'm a blues bassist and member of the Alabama Jazz & Blues Federation. Robben Ford was the headliner at an all-day annual concert under the train-shed in Montgomery. I had a few moments to speak with him before he came on stage. He was very humble and gracious, yet so impressive as an artist and songwriter. Excellent 3-piece band. This is my favorite CD by him. His DVD's are good too!



2. Perhaps Robben Ford's first and best recording. Don't mistake versatility for imitation...his homage to the Vaughn brothers is genuine and personal. Nothing thin about the Blue Line either.



3. I recently had the distinct pleasure of seeing Robben Ford live in Tokyo with the incredible guitarist Larry Carlton at Tokyo Blue Note in Omotesando. Before that show I must confess that I was unaware of this fine musician! Since that show I wanted to hear more of Robben but unfortunately the record stores in Tokyo that I frequent had nothing in stock by him, nor had they even heard of him! So, I went to my trusty Amazon. com for CD`s of Robbens and bought three & have been listening to almost nothing else for the last month. This CD is dated, from 1992, but don`t let that keep you from buying it as it really is hot! I will not take the time to discuss each song, but the whole CD rocks! The first track "The Brother" and the 5th track "Step on it" are instrumentals and are incredible songs with searing leads & a fantastic bassist & drummer! Not a bad song on this CD & I highly recommend! Go see Robben if he is ever in your town as he will not disappoint! Cheers from Tokyo! Greg



4. Of all of Robben Ford's albums, this is the one I keep coming back to. He's spread out in different directions since then, as any artist or musician with a nagging muse would do, and has done so wonderfully for the most part.
   
   If anyone ever wanted an encyclopedia (read: lesson) of blues-based electric guitar styles embedded in solid songsmanship and tunecraft, this CD is the one to reach for. The guitar playing on this album should set the standard by which all similar efforts are measured. It's solid, melodic, and it soars. The songs are wonderful, and don't wear thin after even years of repeated listening; the guitar playing is dynamic without ever descending into cheap or gratuitous virtuosity, although RF can let it rip as well as anyone when it suits the movement of the music and the spirit of the moment. The solos are both blazingly and subtly alive, amazingly well-constructed, their notes and melody lines seldom predictable yet honoring tradition and never contrived, and I could go on and on ...
   
   Let's just say that when I first saw Robben Ford perform live, shortly before this CD was released, I said to myself, "Somehow, I always knew the guitar could be played like this, and now I've finally heard it". It was a reaction that I also had, in its own unique way, when I saw John Scofield play for the first time that same year. And while Scofield's playing may be the more idiosyncratically intriguing of these two musicians, Ford's playing grabs my heart and guts like no other guitarist ever quite has.
   
   This CD offers a good opportunity to get grabbed.



5. This is the ultimate blues masterpiece for the uninitiated. Very few blues discs possess this power and remain accessible to those who have yet to appreciate the blues venue. Can't say much more than this should appeal to anyone...it is that brilliant!

5 comments about Invincible.

1. Let's focus on the music. Forget about all the gossip, all the rumors and the BS talk about MJ's personal life. Music is what matters here. King of pop is back, and he rocks!
   
   Invincible opens with "Unbreakable", a great uptempo tune with a nice&groovy background. Michael's trademark singing style is there, intact. Next song is one of my favorite: "Heartbreaker". Lyrics are well written and the music has the punch that all MJ fans like. Invincible (contrary to what all detractors say) is a bout a girl, not a megalomaniac self-proclamation. This album has a lot of paced and reflexive tunes that will get you mesmerized: "Heaven can wait", "Speechless" and "Butterflies" stand up over the rest. "You rock my world" is definitively an impressive song. Michel's voice flows smoothly over this addictive old-school synth background.
   
   Invincible is an impressive album that will hook you from beginning to end. Give it a try, focus on the music and enjoy!



2. i love michael jackson and everyone makes fun of me i dont care,but this cd i think....sucked.i can only remember one maybe two songs that i actually liked..and im leaning toward the 1song more...*sigh*



3. Unfortunately, this album was never given a chance to succeed in the U.S. Whether it was a rift with the record company, poor marketing, Michael's image as a weirdo, or a combination of all, fans just didn't get to hear any of this album unless they went out and bought it.
   
   The best song on this CD is "Unbreakable," one of the most energetic dance songs he's ever produced, featuring a hard, hip hop beat. It's a little defiant and angry, but there's nothing wrong with that. "You Rock My World" was the CD's first single, and while it's no "Billie Jean" or even "Remember The Time," it's better than much of what we hear on the radio these days. "Whatever Happens" is a collaboration with Santana, and it's a song that takes listeners on a journey and tells a story. "Break of Dawn" and "Heaven Can Wait" are two above-average R&B ballads.
   
   I realize MJ has set a standard so high that it's almost impossible to live up to his own legend. I also realize that he feeds into his own hype, which makes anything less than perfect seem to be a disappointment. Every MJ album from "Off The Wall" to "Dangerous" is phenomenal. "Invincible" is not at that level, but it's much, much better than the new material from "History." If you give this album a try and accept it for what it is rather than comparing it to his past work, you won't be disappointed.



4. I had the cd before and i lost it and havent been able to find it anywhere. Then i was told to look on Amazon and i have been hooked. The cd was in great condition and thank you for having it at such a great price.



5. "Invincible" was released as a "comeback album" in 2001, two decades after Michael Jackson's landmark "Thriller." Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Lacking the creativity&genuine fun of its predecessor, "Invincible" is a sad,pathetic,tragic mess. MJ has become a ghost of his former self-- musically and humanly,and it shows. It's his sonic fall from grace. MJ wanders-unsuccessfully-into the worlds of Latin rock&hip-hop to become hipper to younger audiences.
   
   The opening track,"Unbreakable",morbidly features postmortem vocals of the late Notorious BIG. It's a megalomaniacal song,complete with MJ's weird vocalizings. MJ showcases his heavy breathing in the femme fatale "Heartbreaker." The title track involves some odd rapping. The easy listening pap of "Break of dawn" has corny lyrics like "You and me making love." It sounds inspired by a Harlequin novel. The "hit single","You rock my world" has comedian Chris Tucker egging on MJ to try to get the girl,saying he won't get her (because he's NOT INTERESTED,maybe?) "Rock my world" is a decent track,perhaps because it evokes MJ's '80s glory days. There's the gender ambiguous love song "Butterflies",with "all I can do is sigh" and "I wish I could be with you all night." Whoever the "you" is isn't specified. For the rap fans,there's the passive-aggressive "Privacy",in which MJ blames the media for his problems. He plays the victim,begging for sympathy. MOST hip-hop is aggressive stuff,but this one is a "poor me." Carlos Santana is dragged in for instrumentals in the bland salsa of "Whatever happens." It's a thankless duet,and Latin rock legend Santana is left on the sidelines. "Lost Children" is a creepy lullabye. There are samples of MJ's children talking&laughing. Disturbing stuff. Finally,in the rap "Threatened",MJ declares,"I'm the living dead!" Never were truer words spoken.
   
   "Invincible" is chock full of bland salsa,by-the-numbers hip-hop,and generic R&B. It's the King of Pap past his prime. Self-destruction never sounded sadder.

5 comments about Slideways.

1. Love a good slide guitar. This is a good player. After 5 minutes it just sounds like variations of the same lick over and over and over again. I would like to hear him play with others. Not enough on his own.



2. This album has a level of energy that I haven't found on many recent blues albums. Overall I think many of the other reviewers are being a bit too critical--this one is great for driving or background music during a loud party. I play it at work frequently, and almost every time someone will walk past and say "that's good stuff--who is it?" Considering some of the major disappointments I've purchased in the blues vein recently, this one deserves a solid recommendation.



3. I bought this after hearing the NPR piece, and thinking that this sounded like my kind of album. But...

   Roy Rogers is certainly a virtuoso guitarist and he knows his stuff too. In this album you can hear echoes of Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Clapton, Hendrix, even John Fahey. But the problem is that all the compositions are by Rogers, and while Rogers is a great guitar player, he is not much of a composer.

   This album would serve very well as a cv for Rogers if he was applying for a position as a studio musician, and I'm sure he would get the job. There are also a couple of tracks that I really like, particularly #6 which is a kind of atmospheric blues with a nice harmonica accompaniment, and #10 that reminds me a bit of Thorn Tree In The Garden, the final instrumental track on Clapton's Layla album. But tracks 1-5 and 13 are tiresome and do not improve on repeated listening.

   The album could be improved by cutting out tracks 1-5 and 13 and add some good standards like, maybe, some Hendrix numbers like Up From The Skies or Little Wing, and some classic blues or gospel tunes. The mark of a really good player is that he can take someone else's tune and make it his own, as for example Santana with Tito Fuente's Oy Como Va, or Peter Green's Black Magic Woman, come to think of it.

   So maybe Rogers is not quite up to that stature? Well, that's why I haven't given this album five stars.

   This sounds like a pretty dire review, but I do think that Rogers has a great album in him, though this is not it.




4. Like others here, I ordered this CD after hearing the artist on NPR. He has chops but to paraphrase Albert King's complaint about other players, he "just plays fast, ain't got no soul." I don't hear it, anyway. The tracks are mildly entertaining but there's nothing moving or particularly rewarding, much less memorable. "Uninspiring" and "two-dimensional" are references that come to mind. I deleted it from my iPod after just a listening or two.



5. Oh My God, Oh My GOD, OH MY GOD!!!!! I've listened to a lot of instrumental music in my life, but always thought "slide guitar - are you kidding, that's for backwater hillbillies". Boy was I wrong. I heard the NPR feature the other day on Roy Rogers and this album and was intrigued to say the least.

   If you have ears (even one will do), you must run out right now and get this CD. It made me jump, it made my laugh, it made me cry, it made me want to live forever, it made me feel like I died and went to heaven. There are no words to describe it.

5 comments about No More Drama.

1. RAIN DAYZ IS MY ONLY FAVORITE SONG ON THE ALBUM OTHER THEN THAT ITS GARBAGE



2. 
   Got some good joints on here, but not a great album overall.
   
   Top Joints:
   Family Affair (Dr Dre smash)
   No More Drama
   Rainy Dayz (w/ Ja Rule)
   Beautiful Day
   Dance For Me (Remix w/ Common)
   No More Drama (Remix w/ P. Diddy)
   Flying Away (My Personal Favorite)
   Never Been (A Missy Banger)



3. This is a great album! It's like Mary's "My Life" album where you can relate to the songs.



4. I hadn't listened to this CD for a while for some reason. Boy was I missing out! This is one of, if not my absolute, favorite Mary J. albums. It is truly beatiful. Her vocals on here are wonderful, the production is great. Every single song is great!
   
   I actually like the original version a little bit better. I would recommend finding the original and buying it along with this one. This re-release is still great and the new songs keep the quality and integrity of the album. (That is very rare with re-issues.)
   
   I definitely recommend this, along with the original if you can find it. This is one of my all time favorite albums.



5. I have several albums by Mary J Blije and have to say that this is by far one of her best. I am completely satisfied and happy with my purchase and would reccomend it to anyone, whether they are already a fan of hers or not. Even my father loves it.

5 comments about Can't Stop Dreaming.

1. There are a couple of ways to listen to Daryl Hall. One obviously is when he is teamed with excellent partner John Oates as part of the still highly successful Hall & Oates. That duo is arguably the greatest pop duo in the history of rock n'roll.
   
   The other way to listen to Hall is through his solo work, which I've found top notch. "Can't Stop Dreaming" is another tremendous solo effort by Mr. Hall. Yes, it does sound like Hall & Oates, that is Hall's trademark as he teams with long time writing partner Sara Allen, and adds Average White Band member Allan Gorrie here, who co-writes most of these splendid songs.
   
   The album is full of Hall's tremendous love songs, his longing for love, his heartbreak, his hopes, and his great images, especially on the unreal opening track, "Cab Driver" a fascinating number where one can just see our singer sitting in the cab.
   
   My favorite tune on the album is "Justify" -- an uptempo tune very reminiscent of Hall & Oates 80's material.
   
   I never thought I'd enjoy a remake of "She's Gone" -- one of the greatest rock/pop songs ever written and produced. But this accoustic version works beautifully. Daryl should've left out the programmed drumming. He has drummers on every track but that one. I know, it's not a drum song, but those with a sharp ear know the difference. Still, it works incredibly as a beautifully haunting version, though not as good as the original, of course.
   
   The last two songs, "All By Myself" and the tremendous "Fools Rush In" close out just a fabulous and underrated solo effort. A great album for lovers of smooth soul music, fans of Daryl Hall, and yes, fans of Hall & Oates, too, because it's very similar to that duo's great music.
   
   A tremendous effort!



2. Daryl Hall is one of the best artists to ever come out of the Philly area and his talent has not skipped a beat with this CD. This is one CD that you can play from start to finish without the need to skip a song. Every song is a hit in my book. It will always have a spot in my CD player in my car.



3. Soaring soulful vocals. This album never fails to make me smile and relax. Close your eyes and float away from whatever bothers you.



4. great sound...great voice...smooth and mellow...but not TOOO mellow. daryl hall knows how to deliver. a simple but sophisticated collection. heard "cab driver" on the radio and thought it was a new song....then found this cd and Soul Alone...don't know how i missed them..but glad i found em...they are already "regulars" on my play list.



5. I was a freshman in college when Hall & Oates began to make an impression on the music scene back in the '70s. So, for the next fifteen years I was a big fan of their "blue-eyed soul" music. Unfortunately for them the '90s didn't bode well for that particular genre of music. But guess what? What's old is new in the new millenium, and Darryl Hall (minus John Oates) kicks mega-a** on this CD. This is without a doubt the "best" effort Darryl Hall has put forth in twenty years!!! Do yourself a favor and purchase Can't Stop Dreaming immediately. And for all of us who remember AWB, Alan Gorrie collaborated on this CD and his influence really works for Darryl Hall,