5 comments about Farewell Concert.

1. I enjoyed it throughly. The jokes and singing was even better when I saw it on video. It made the CD worth while. I recommend this to those who loved to see the Statler Brothers. It made made me miss their show even more. I give it a 5 stars.



2. Again my wife is a big Statler Fan. Great price and fast ship well pleased



3. This is an amazing DVD of one of America's best group of entertainers. I will enjoy watching time after time and will enjoy sharing it with others. Their work allows me to relive part of my youth that I will always treasure



4. Thanks so much for the quick service. I love The Statler Brothers and had watched this dvd I don't know how many times from other places and finally decided to order me a copy. The price was great and it got here very quickly & packaged well.
   
   Thanks Again



5. This is a rare collection of their presentations and well worth the cost
   be you a regular fan or not. Great DVD

5 comments about Cash: Ultimate Gospel.

1. Heard some of the cd before. Loved it. It will make a wonderful Christmas gift for my husband.



2. Excellent CD. The old traditional hymns really hit home. Definitely worth listening to such inspiring music. It is unfortunate that the old time hymns have been forgotten, and so this recording by Johnny Cash reminds one that there was once good Christian oriented music. By contrast, the new contemporary Christian music panders to modern "pop culture" and sounds is if it was sung by some washed up Vegas lounge lizard.



3. It's almost unbelievable that these tracks were recorded over a timespan of 34 years, from 1957 to 1981, since the music forms such a cohesive, seamless whole. The songs include traditionals, his own compositions and the work of others like Carl Perkins. The album opens with Here Was A Man, a spoken introduction about the life and influence of Messiah Yeshua.
   
   The next, The Preacher Said, is a type of duet with statements by evangelist Billy Graham. The following seven songs all date from the late 1950s, and my personal favorites include Belshazzar (1957), It Was Jesus with its unidentified black gospel backing vocals, Swing Low Sweet Chariot (1959) and The Great Speckle Bird from the same year.
   
   Two of the previously unreleased tracks, How Great Thou Art and It Is No Secret from 1981, are amongst the highlights. The legendary Carter Family provide backing vocals on amongst others: Peace In The Valley (1963), Angel Band (1979) and on Children Go Where I Send Thee (1979) together with the 21st Century Singers, whilst Far Side Banks Of Jordan is a duet with June Carter.
   
   Other great hymns worthy of special mention are In The Sweet By And By and Amazing Grace (both 1974) and Were You There (1962) with Maybelle Carter on autoharp and the family on backing vocals. The full spectrum of the spiritual experience is covered by these beautiful, timeless songs: sombre reflection, joy, melancholy, awe, comfort, devotion and gripping story-telling.
   
   This is my first album of the music of Johnny Cash and I'm hooked! His beautiful baritone is impressive on its own, but even more amazing when framed by the devotional backing vocals. The CD booklet contains one sepia and four black and white pics, information like recording dates and musicians for every song, plus a short bio written by Sylvie Simmons.



4. Johnny Cash passed away on September 12, 2003. If you were to judge exclusively by the number of CD's that suddenly became available in the wake of his death, his legendary status as a hero of both rock and roll and country music grew instantly and exponentially. This huge amount of posthumous releases usually dedicated themselves to portraying multiple aspects of Cash's monumental talent, as filtered through his even more remarkable persona. The fact is that there were so many releases that it overwhelmed much of his audience. Cash has always suffered (or celebrated) an incredible number of compilations and collections (allmusic.com features a list that contains over 300 entries for compilations alone!), so it becomes nearly impossible to sift through all of this to determine what is essential and what is peripheral, redundant or extravagant.
   For all of the above reasons, I fear that "Ultimate Gospel" may fall through the cracks and be overlooked, and that would be a shame. It is a plainspoken title for a beautiful, plainspoken concept album that handpicks Gospel favorites from nearly three decades of Cash's career. Before he sang rock and roll or country music, Cash considered himself a Gospel singer. In fact, he `failed' his first audition for Sun Records by relying exclusively on Gospel songs. Despite this rather inauspicious beginning, Cash has often returned to his roots as a Gospel singer, and some of his most heartfelt performances fall into this category. He revisited some of these selections on the (also posthumous) collection entitled "My Mother's Hymnbook," but while that collection features stark arrangements with nothing but Cash's guitar for accompaniment, these versions are considerably more elaborate, sometimes including lush instrumental accompaniment and a backing chorus. Some of the best selections here ("I Was There When It Happened" and "Belshazzar") date back to the 1950s, when he was still in Memphis and perceived as a rockabilly artist, while the latter-day selections from the mid-seventies capture an artist remaining true to himself in spite of commercial trends ("In the Sweet By and By" and "Amazing Grace").
   In the tidal wave of Johnny Cash collections that are flooding the market, it would be easy to dismiss this as something less than essential, but I'm certain that Johnny Cash himself would consider this to be some of his best work. If you are interested in Cash's Gospel side and wish to buy only one collection, I strongly recommend that you choose "Ultimate Gospel." A Tom Ryan



5. HAVING BEEN A BIG FAN OF CASH EVERY SINCE I WAS YOUNG, I WATCHED HIM GROW AND MATURE OVER THE YEARS. AFTER HE MET AND MARRIED JUNE CARTER, HE RETURNED TO HIS SPIRITUAL ROOTS. THIS IS A GREAT COLLECTION OF SONGS FOR THOSE OF US WHO ENJOY AN EXPOSURE TO CASH'S SPIRITUAL LIFE AND HERITAGE. THERE WAS A LOT MORE TO JOHNNY CASH THAN MOST PEOPLE REALIZE BECAUSE JOHNNY WAS A TRUE BELIEVER AND HE ESPOUSED VALUES LATER IN LIFE THAT MADE HIM ONE OF US, A FELLOW CHRISTIAN AND A SPOKESMAN FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. i RECOMMEND THIS COLLECTION AND ANY OTHER RECORDINGS THAT REFLECT CASH'S SPIRITUAL JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE.

5 comments about The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters.

1. If you're an Elvis Presley fan there is no need to go into the details of the music that gave birth to R&R - it's all here. Everything he recorded in the 1950s. If you were born in 1977 or later and only know of The King from hearsay, this box-set is a musical history lesson.
   
   Adding to the lustre of this wonderful collection from RCA Victor is the multi-page book containing numerous photographs, record label reproductions, including the Sun 78 rpm issues, all his LP/EP covers, poster reproductions, a complete 1950s discography, and reams of fascinating liner notes by Peter Guralnick.
   
   There is also an advertisement giving you a compete listing of Elvis videos, along with a sheet of 36 "collectable" stamps depicting his album covers.
   
   All in all, a marvelous collection which truly lives up to the adjective "essential" like no other.



2. This is the definitive early Elvis recordings collection to own as well as begin one's journey when understanding where the roots of rock and roll began and forever changed the face of popular music. It is appropriately titled, ELVIS THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL: THE COMPLETE 50's MASTERS. These are master recordings that cover the years 1953-1959, and includes all of his legendary and classic hits, such as "Heartbreak Hotel," "Hound Dog," "Love Me Tender," and "Don't Be Cruel." Once one hears the somewhat haunting opening track, "My Happiness," a song made famous by Connie Francis, and subsequent unreleased tracks within the five CDs that have not been heard before, there is no doubt that Elvis had indeed an immaculate voice where he crossed musical genres and boundaries: blues, country, soul, gospel, rock and roll, and rockabilly; undoubtedly he said it all during a Sun recording session, " I don't sound like nobody."
   
   RCA and BMG music exceptionally and lovingly compiled this box set. Besides the five CDs, there also includes a beautifully presented souvenir book that provides a detailed chronology of Elvis's recordings, which includes his Sun and RCA records session dates as well as soundtrack sessions, catalog numbers of each US and UK album release, and most importantly, the book illustrates the excitement of Elvis mania with the display of photographs, singles, album covers, and short anecdotes and reminiscences of various sessions as noted by Peter Guralnick.
   
   ELVIS THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL box set will leave one breathless. Elvis Presley was one of a kind, and continues to be emulated by fans and new generations alike as they discover and rediscover his music. Indeed, Elvis is still everywhere.



3. Do yourself a favor and order this collection along with the 60's & 70's. There are songs you won't find on other CD's, and hear Elvis as a regular "guy" just makes you love him more.



4. THE KING OF ROCK 'N' ROLL: THE COMPLETE 50's MASTERS is a four-CD set, with a bonus disc containing alternate studio takes, and a lot of "live" Elvis recordings-- MGM Grand stuff, mostly. Except for the acetate of "That's When Your Heartaches Begins" and the few alternates, DISC 5 is fluff.
   
   The other four CDs however are a treasure trove of the music that defined "The King." From his one-of-a-kind 1953 recording booth acetate of "My Happiness" to the 1958 fast version of "Ain't That Loving You Baby," this set documents Presley's recording career in chronological order and without gaps.
   
   The 102-page long box-sized book includes sessionography, discography, color photos of all LP, EP and 45 picture sleeves, an excellent bio in easy to read print, and lots of other color and B&W photos. Sound quality is excellent. This one gets five stars for the biggest star of all!
   
   TOTAL RUNNING TIMES --
   DISC ONE -- 71:22
   DISC TWO -- 70:40
   DISC THREE -- 71:49
   DISC FOUR -- 62:39
   DISC FIVE (Rare And Rockin')-- 61:31



5. The songs are great, but they're not listed on the CD itself-only on the case. It's frustrating to put the disks in a multi-disk changer and not know what songs are on the disk.

5 comments about Songs 4 Worship: Country.

1. During one Sunday afternoon, I had the television on to CMT watching the top 20 songs when the infomercial for this album came on. While I love all of the songs, I will say that I am not crazy about all of the country updates. Overall, I would buy the album again because there are enough songs that I enjoy that would entice me to be interested in purchasing it.



2. This CD was very disappointing. I was hoping for something I could sing along with and this was not it!



3. I love this CD. It has the best country gospel sound of any I have.
   Great to get you moving in the kitchen or to sit and listen to in silence.
   Reminds me of the music from "Cowboy Church" in Nashville. Works for me.



4. The songs on the disc are as advertised, but the sound quality was extremely poor, no, not poor, but bad.



5. I have enjoyed listening to these familiar songs that are sung in churches every Sunday, including my own. All in all, it is a good album.

1 comments about Greatest Hits Live.

1. If you ever enjoyed an Conway Twitty concert or if you enjoyed great country music then this is one is for you so seat back and enjoyed the great singer at his best right before he died this is the last concert that he did so this is an must for any Conway Twitty fan.It has all the hits and then some so buy one and enjoy Conway as he was and always will be remember has the greatest voice that country music has ever had.
   
   Rondall Banks

5 comments about Glory Train.

1. I think the CD was in quality condition & I received it within 4 days of ordering this CD.



2. Part of me wants to give this four stars, but if I can be more objective, it deserves five. Mr. Travis really knows how to do a gospel album. Again, especially in comparison to most modern country gospel, this is really well-done: Very sensitive and not egotistical.
   
   I liked _Worship and Faith_ better; this seems just a little overproduced for my tastes and, overall, I don't care as much for the song selections. However, it's really not glaring, and people who thought W&F was too stripped-down will probably love it.
   
   The cover of "Precious Memories" is easily one of the best versions of that song I've ever heard.



3. Some folks have it and some don't...that special little something that lets you take almost any song and make it yours. I've been in gospel music all my life and Randy Travis puts a great spin on these old classic gospel books. That amazing warm baritone voice is just perfect for listening to anytime of the day or night.



4. He's been around a long time, but so have I! We both just get better with age! His voice is an old friend, soothing, comfortable, and dependably wonderful! His choices on this album are fantastic; great!



5. I have all of Randy Travis' gospel CDs and they are ALL wonderful. This one is no less wonderful. I love his rendition of Jesus On The Mainline and the absolutely beautiful renditions of Here I Am To Worship and Heart Of Worship. I can hardly wait for another Travis gospel CD. Thank you thank you Jesus for Randy Travis!

5 comments about Amazing Grace: 40 Treasured Hymns.

1. No stars at all...This tape Stinks...very baaad.
   The backup singers ruin this tape.
   
   Ralphael, the OLD one



2. The booming bass of Tennessee Ernie Ford is truly something to behold. The envy of opera baritones, Tennessee Ernie Ford is one of the few singers (Crosby and Como come to mind) who can sing the saddest of laments one minute and turn around and sing the funniest of ditties the next. His discography reflects this, and spans from country to rock and from gospel to pop. But, of all Tennessee Ernie Ford's music, I prefer his gospel. His deep, emotive baritone is perfect for shading the notes of even the most wistful heavenly pleas. This CD compilation represents an excellent sampling of his many gospel LPs. Every type of gospel song is present, from the obscure to the ubiquitous. However, what separates these versions of hymns from others is untimely Tennessee himself. A man of deep Christian faith, he instils these hymns with a level of emotion and a depth of feeling seldom heard, and certainly beyond what even the original composers may have imagined. From these recordings, it is easy to see why his first album, aptly titled `Hymns,' spent 277 weeks on the best selling charts.
   
   The song choices can hardly be faulted, representing the complete spectrum of his gospel recording stretching from the early 1960's right into the late 1970's. Taken as a whole, this is an excellent sampling while we await the eventual re-release of his entire gospel discography. Though great, it is not a perfect release by any means. Not that there is anything wrong with the songs, mind you, just the quality and sources used. Although no documentation is provided, it appears that this CD uses at least three different levels of sourcing for its songs, which results in some very uneven sound quality. The good news is that there appears to be 1st generation masters used on many of the tracks, especially the tracks sourced from the `Spiritual' and `Hymn' long players. However, these are not original version of those tracks. In 1962 both aforementioned LPs were re-recorded in full stereophonic sound, and those are the versions brilliantly present here. There is one curious change though. The song "In the Garden" is sourced from the vinyl of the 1956 mono version, resulting in the worst sounding effort in the disc. Most other songs have middling sound quality, as all other songs, save the ones recorded with the The Jordanaires, appear to be sourced from 2nd generation masters.
   
   I strongly recommend purchasing this with the recently re-released LPs of `Hymns' and `Spirituals.' Although the track listing between those two albums and this set may seem to overlap, they do not. The versions are, in fact, completely different.
   
   If you like gospel music, you might as well start with the best, and this is it. You will not find a better singer of Christian songs.
   
   A.J. Smith
   A 19-year old music fan



3. Very meaningful and olden but golden songs along with songs that I'd not heard before.



4. Amazing Grace: 40 Treasured Hymns-I will take the title of this CD set and call it "Amazing Music" by one of my favorite singers of all time. His voice is always strong and soars about the backup singers. My favorite of the 40 hymns on these two CD's is: "Did You Think to Pray?". On the last chorus of this hymn, Tennessee Ernie takes the bass part and blends it with the backup singers in a way that touches my heart every time I hear it. A purchase of this item is money WELL spent! Bill Joe Nix, Shelbyville, Tennessee 37160



5. Awesome! For many years my husband and I have loved listening to Tennessee Ernie Ford, and we certainly are not disappointed with this collection. It is difficult to find these old hymns and, much more so, to hear them performed as only this man did.

5 comments about Three Wooden Crosses.

1. This CD is a great collection of Country Christian artists. The title song brings a lump to your throat.



2. I would agree with S. Friend below. Not bad, and unfortunately, not even all that good. Vince Gill, Josh Turner, and Allison Krauss top the list in terms of musical craftsmanship, melodies, and lyrics. The rest are sincere, earnest, but artless, bland, and in the case of John Michael Montgomery and "The Little Girl," just plain judgmental, and offensive.
   
   "Two non-believers, lost in this world. .. daddy drank all day and mommy did drugs... " which John Michael rhymed with the "hugs" the little girl never got. How about writing a song that doesn't sound holier-than-thou? How about reaching out to the "non-believers" instead of condemning them?
   
   What's the point of this kind of song? The people who need to hear this message aren't the "good Christians" that go to church and take good care of their kids. The lost souls need it. Don't turn them off totally.
   
   By the way, radical Muslims often refer to "non-believers" as a way of turning people against them. It's a sort of "hate language." Kind of makes you wonder why John Michael would choose to use those words?
   
   Carl Owen



3. This album is one I will listen to over, and over, and over again! The variety of artists, combined with the heart-warming and challenging themes makes it one I will never get tired of!



4. If you love country and want to be inspired by songs of God's grace and love, then you will love this one. A wide range of artists and styles.



5. THIS CD JUST BLEW ME AWAY. IT'S AWESOME, I MUST HAVE LISTENED TO IT 25 TIMES STRAIGHT THROUGH WITHOUT CHANGING TO ANOTHER CD. I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE EVERYONE I KNOW A COPY.

5 comments about Down From the Mountain: Live Concert Performances by the Artists & Musicians of O Brother, Where Art Thou?.

1. was very happy with it. Bought it used, but it played like brand new.



2. Stumbled upon a track by the Fairfield Four, searched for more by them, found this treasure instead . . .
   
   With an amazing array of TALENT who pour ALL of it into their performances, you get an amazing array of styles and musical genres that left ME wishing I could have been there to hear it in person !
   
   Now I have the DVD of the concert, the audio disk of the same, and still have yet to see the movie . . . and am enjoying it all very much !
   
   If you appreciate melody, harmony, great lyrical phrasing, and songs with a simple message behind them, don't miss out . . . get your ears wrapped around this music !
   
   Highly recommended !



3. If you liked the first and second addition, you'll most likely enjoy this one too. Most artists here are well published, but some are real finds. I like 'pitiful' music and if you do, there is a bit here for you. Enjoy



4. For many years, when I thought of country music, I thought only of the drawling pop singers on the hot country stations whose slickly produced songs are dripping with calculated sentimentality and lacking in honest emotion. Exposure to artists like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash have convinced me that good country music can be found if one knows where to look, and this CD confirms that belief. These Appalachian ballads and bluegrass numbers by a collection of old-timers and contemporary artists who are trying to keep the faith provide a real dose of Americana and an antidote to superficial country pretenders.



5. This is most, but not all, of the music from the DVD. It is missing Down To The River To Pray and the finale, the name of which escapes me. That it is missing the finale is a big disappointment, but the rest of the performances are wonderful.

5 comments about Today's Gospel Favorites.

1. This is the best Gospel music CD I have ever heard. Great songs and wonderfull voices to make wish there were more to listen when it is all over.



2. The Statler Brother's Gospel Favorites is one of my husband's favorite cd's. If you like good old songs gospel music this is the cd for you.



3. For someone who's musical tastes range from the neo-Cajun Pine Leaf Boys to hard rockers like Def Leppard and Motley Crue to edge-of-Country bands like The Mavericks and the Desert Rose Band, you'd probably think that a review of a Statler Brothers' album would seem out of place. However, I must admit that I have a very soft spot in my heart for these guys. Growing up in southwest Louisiana, my dad ruled the radio and was the primary music buyer in the family. I was treated to acts like Merle Haggard, Jimmy Swaggart, Fats Domino, and Marty Robbins. I also got a healthy dose of the Statlers who, other than Merle, were probably my dad's favorite artists. My first concert was a Statler Brothers show and I would eventually see them again in Dollywood a few years later. Their sound has stuck with me forever.
   
   This particular album shows the Statlers at their finest: singing Gospel music. I'm not talking about modern Gospel sounds. Nope, I'm talking about Southern Gospel, complete with four-part harmony, string pickin' and plenty of "oomph" to get you on your feet. Contemporary Christian artists can't hold a candle to traditional Southern Gospel sounds. From the wonderful "Just A Little Talk With Jesus" to the upbeat gem that is "I'll Fly Away," this album is wonderful. My personal favorite tunes include "Precious Memories" and "Turn Your Radio On."
   
   Yes, a kid who grew up with Guns N' Roses, Whitesnake, and Metallica does know what good music is. You may not fancy my other tastes in music, but give the Statler Brothers a try. You might be surprised at how much you will really enjoy them.
   
   Highly recommended.



4. This CD is a treasure for any Christian and Statler's fan. It will keep you humming all day.



5. Yes! This CD is a winner!! Cannot beat the harmony of the Statler Brothers and there were plenty of selections for wonderful listening. Buy it!!