5 comments about Dive.

1. A must have. First solo release without Andrew Lloyd Webber. It's a glimpse at a little creative freedom she had. It's a themed album focused on the sea, oceanic animals and animal rights. Very cute in a sense and vital if beginning a Sarah Brightman collection. I feel it is some of her best "pop" work. Very innocent and natural.



2. In this album, I think Sarah Brightman is finding her voice. It's not flawless, and some parts are not even pleasant. But it's a very good attempt of bringing a new sound to people. I honestly think that she's gained her best sound in her more recent albums (Harem, La Luna, Classics). But this is her rock/crossover album.



3. I'm New To Sarah Brightman And Three Things Decribe Her ! She Is Beautiful-Her Music Is Beautiful-And Her Concerts Are Beautiful !



4. God gave talent and beauty in one package, and Sarah Brightman is that package. Not enough recognizable music, but the talent is undeniable and so listenable.



5. Sarah is on top of her game on this CD, maybe one of her best efforts. The CD is fantastic from start to finish. A must have for any Sarah Brightman fan. "Once in a Lifetime", "Seven Seas" and "Ship of Fools" are excellent tracks found in "Dive"

5 comments about Very Best of Harry Belafonte.

1. I could listen for hours. It reminded me so of my father walking around our home singing this music. This is ageless.



2. I was looking for a comprehensive Belafonte album...and I found it. This has all his great hits and some I've never heard. A great album to put on for a party or to drive.



3. Brilliant cd with all the familiar Belafonte songs. Some were new to me but just as good.



4. First thing's first, not 100% of this album deserves 5 stars. 1 song is downright painful, a little over 1/2 are ok, and the rest are incredible. I was expecting 20-ish tracks just like my favorite upbeat calypso songs. That is not what this album is. It also includes Belafonte's slower songs, many of which are the album's low points.
   
   So why in the world would I give 5 starts for such a lackluster combination? Because those songs that are great make the whole purchase well worth it. The stand-out tracks are so good and so infectious that I had to stop listening to the album for a few days because I couldn't stop singing them to myself. Fun, fun, fun music!
   
   I'd list which songs I think are worth it so you can just buy those tracks if you agree with this review, but I'm sure opinions will differ as to which are the best tracks. Also, some tracks I didn't think I'd like have become my favorites after subsequent listenings.
   
   Bottom line: I'm very happy with my purchase of this album.



5. Ah, the 1950's. Statehood for Hawaii. Castro takes over in Cuba. Tiki culture is everywhere. And the scion of all this grand tropicalia is a handsomely nondescript mulatto with the romantic-sounding surname of "Belafonte." White women swooned. Their husbands fumed. But the reality was that the commercially-filtered calypso sounds of Trinidad and Tobago had found a home in the living rooms of the very same Yankees that the calypso pioneers out in the field frequently derided in their lyrics. None of this mattered to Belafonte. He was on top. He did not write any of his hits, as the calypso pioneers did, but sweetly intoned the rebelliously island-themed confections his songwriters had crafted for him. And how rebellious, how very ethnic, is "Jump In the Line"! Just rebellious and ethnic enough to get played on white Yankee radio!
   
   To be honest, anyone who knows anything about calypso knows that if Belafonte was the "King of Calypso" in the fifties, then Che Guevara was the Prince of Wales. I shall not sully the name of the true king of classic calypso by typing it here, other than to say that it bears a strong resemblance to that of Jack Sparrow, hero of the recent maritime-horror-tropicalia blockbuster, "Pirates of the Caribbean."
   
   So please, if you do order this album and actually listen to it, enjoy a nice heaping plate of Oreo (TM) cookies as you listen. What a hepcat you are!

5 comments about Hasten Down the Wind.

1. I love Linda's voice and I own all of her solo material. There are always some great covers and originals on her albums and you can always expect great songs and musicians to be following Ronstadt.



2. Bought 'Hasten Down The Wind' as an LP in college. My roommates dug her
   for her sex appeal (me, too). But, that voice just blew you away. Still
   does. This album (especially "Give One Heart" {love the reaggae sounding
   tag to the cut} and "Try Me Again") had been spun from September through
   May, when school was out. Sounded great then on the stereo, then the tape
   deck and soon, the CD in the vehicle. Another gem in Ronstadt's wide
   repetoire of covering familiar and new songwriter material.



3. While I have not always followed Linda's mucical journeys,I have found most of her work excellent."HASTEN DOWN THE WIND" is by far one of my personal favorites.Stand out tracks for me.."the tattler""give one heart""down so low""try me again"This collection was close to perfection and still puts alot of todays "song beater divas" to shame.



4. I happend to see Linda Ronstadt's great performance The Tattler on youtube and decided to buy this CD. This album is very nice too. We Japanese did not know Linda Ronstadt did great job like this.



5. This is music to ride into the mountains with. I listen to this while I drive to Mt. Rainier. It gives you goosebumps. Her voice is so crystal clear - so beautiful. Whether hiking, biking, walking or just dancing around the house or backyard, this will make your heart sing.

5 comments about Ingénue.

1. What can I say? k d lang is exceptionally talented and puts her heart and soul into her songs. Thank you k d for sharing your beautiful voice with the world.



2. This album is one of the best ever - right up there with "Graceland" by Paul Simon and "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heartsclub Band". It stays with you after the first playing. It's one of those albums that you remember where you were the first time you heard it.



3. I'm not sure how to categorize this album, genre-wise. It is jazz, torch, blues, or,----I just don't know. It is absolutely delicious to listen to, however. Kd lang's voice is so smooth, but she knows exactly when to pump up the torch or the edge. No wonder this was nominated for so many grammies. It's pure magic. I'm so glad she veered away from country.



4. The voice of K.D. Lang is captivating, full of energy, romantic, mellow... All at the same time.
   
   This CD has music to enjoy, to relax, to fall in love, to be happy... Let all your problems and bad mood far away, if you really plan to listen- and be pleased- by a crafted singer.
   
   The orchestration and sound quality of the recording are excellent, so the tunes selection. K. D. Lang gives the best of her voice and inspiration all throughout the album.
   
   Please pay special consideration to "The Mind Of Love", "Miss Chatelaine" (what a beautiful song this one!!), and "Constant Craving". Bravo K. D. Lang!



5. When KD Lang decided to flip off the Nashville Establishment that had whispered her into the margins, "Ingenue" was the result. Giving up the twang of the prairie for the late night neon torch, this was - no pun intended - KD's coming out party. Deep mood music, sliding into melancholy and only once perking up, "Ingenue" was a magic moment of artist, inspiration and timing.
   
   There is a lot of hushed desire and lustful longing here. The opening sanguine on "Save Me" (the closest to the old country KD of the past) drifts in on a misty guitar part as a wishful Lang obsesses over that object of desire. "Outside Myself" drifts by in waltz time. Of course, there is the worldwide hit "Constant Craving," so far Lang's only Top 40 moment. Melancholy haunts the minor-key melody, even as the infectious hook burrows in. Lang's crystalline voice soars above it all, making it a classic song.
   
   The sole flight of fancy comes via "Miss Chatelaine," with its cajun-lite bounciness. Lang has gone as far as playing this live with a bubble-machine, teasing the crowd with "I am a big Lllllll...awrence Welk fan" before breaking into song. It is that flirtation inherent in her later day music (even at its darkest - see Hymns of the 49th Parallel) that has made Lang a joy to keep hearing over the decades. even though her early music packs a joyous wallop, "Ingenue" was where the real KD Lang emerged.

5 comments about Barbra Streisand - A Collection: Greatest Hits...and More.

1. Many people criticize this Barbra Streisand album because it is not a Greatest Hits collection in its truest sense. True, there are many songs that shouldn't have been omitted that have been ("A Piece of Sky," "Till I Loved You," and "No More Tears" to name a few), and some songs included that shouldn't have been ("By the Way" is probably the best example). But if you take out of consideration that this is supposed to be greatest hits, the collection of songs here are fabulous.
   
   First off, this is a better album to buy than Memories, because not only are "Memory" and "Coming In and Out of Your Life" on here, but so are two other new songs, as well as "The Main Event/Fight," previously only available on the soundtrack, as well as all the big hits from Guilty. But even so, the songs here all sound great together, and they are all some of the greatest tracks of her career, even if they weren't top ten hits on Billboard. As for the two new tracks, "We're Not Making Love Anymore," is a pretty ballad (probably cut out from her last album at the time Till I Loved You), with great vocals and a catchy score. And "Someone That I Used to Love," another possible song recorded for Till I Loved You, is not as good, but still a gentle and emotional song.
   
   Basically, if you are looking for a greatest hits collection for her 80s period, you will be disappointed, since many of these songs weren't hits at all. But if you want a mixed bag of Barbra Streisand songs to see if you'll like her, this is perfect.



2. This is a very nice CD. It has several of my all time favorites.



3. I love the cd very much and i listend to it all the time the only things that i will love the words of the songs tell me how i can get the word of the song track thank you juliet.



4. This is a good collection of some of my Streisand favorites. I already had this in cassete form and chose to replace it with a CD.



5. I have been looking all over for this cd and have just ordered a replacement. I haven't listened to this collection in a long time, but just reading the reviews on this board makes me long to hear it again. Quality music from a gifted songstress. A must for any collection!

5 comments about Thank You for the Music.

1. If you are even a little bit of a fan of the ABBA music, you will LOVE this set!! The music on the first 3 is of course amazing, even a few songs I had never heard before! The 4th disc of never-before released and demos is interesting....not amazing, but good! But to top it all off is a beautiful color booklet inside the case detailing the band's beginnings, how they met, their whole story!! It is very interesting to read!!! I am SOOOO glad I got this!! AND it is SOOO much cheaper on Amazon, I checked MANY, MANY places online AND in stores, and Amazon has the LOWEST price, including shipping!!! For any fan of Abba, this is a MUST-HAVE!



2. The best part of this collection is the rare, previously unavailable tracks. Never mind that buying this item means acquiring songs one already has; it is the the above mentioned rare stuff that is worth the price of admission. Disc 4, Track 8, Medley, Pick a Bale of Cotton, On Top of Old Smokey, and Midnight Special are interesting. Whoever heard of ABBA singing a CCR song? And Track 11 on the same disc, ABBA Undeleted, in which they're "jamming" is a lot of fun, because it is so informal and spontaneous.
   Now, if only Agnetha Faltskog's early career German language recordings would once again be available...



3. I enjoyed all of the music in this CD. It brings me back to my childhood days where ABBA songs were played over the radio on a daily basis. It is good to know that I finally found and have the ABBA CD that I like!!!



4. Well I recentley purchased this box set and I was happy. My only two complaints are about tracks on this box set.
   
   Complaint #1:
   They say they have put every track on here ever released by ABBA. This is NOT true. It does NOT contain "Arrival", "Dum Dum Diddle", "Bang-A-Boomerang", "My Love, My Life", "Lovelight (Original Version)", "The Name of the Game (Long Version)", "Move On", tracks from their Spanish album "Oro: Grandes Exitos", "Intermezzo No. 1", "Ring Ring (Bara Du Slog En Signal)", any tracks from the Ring Ring album (aside from "Ring Ring", "Merry-Go-Round", "Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)and "Santa Rosa") so many of the tracks that ABBA released is NOT on here so it is NOT all of ABBA's singles (first to last) they leave many good ones out.
   Complaint #2:
   This box set remixes Lovelight and shortens The Name of the Game. Most people like the ORIGINAL version of Lovelight and the ORIGINAL version of The Name of the Game. Aside from this the box set is well worth your ABBA pleasure...



5. I own this by ABBA, and I Truly think its the Best Collection of ABBA's Songs! I Never get tired of listening to them! This 4 CD Set and Booklet is well worth the money and listening time!

5 comments about Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1982 Original Broadway Cast).

1. Andy Webber and Tim Rice did this concept musical recording first, then produced "Jesus Christ Superstar" as a concept recording, and it swept the world. That was nearly 40 years ago. The success of Superstar led to the release of the Joseph score on Scepter Records, and the independent success of "Joseph" led to a stage version. While "Superstar" also has a stage version and was a popular movie, too, "Joseph" is more fun, and if you get a chance to attend a production, don't miss it. Its light tone and variety of musical styles make it a joy to see. The original Broadway cast version sounds just fine, although Donnie Osmond, who resurrected his career by playing Joseph, did not come along until later. Even after owning one version or another of this score for all these decades, I still enjoy an annual listen, because the writing is just so smile-producing.



2. This is an excellent version of Joseph. This is the standard to which all other versions should be compared!



3. I think "Joseph" is an enjoyable listen as a whole. I mean, obviously Webber and Rice were just beginning to find their stride, so it's not as strong as some of their later stuff, but it is a good start. As far as this CD goes, I personally think the 'Joseph" is a tad weak as a singer. I don't really know how to explain it. He isn't bad by any means, but it is only average. The 'narrator' is good though. It, as a whole, is a good interpretation of what I'm sure Webber and Rice had in mind.



4. I had just watched yet another production of "Joseph" and decided to purchase the DVD to keep the music going. I'm a happy camper!



5. I first met "Joseph ..." with a national touring company in the mid '80s, and was grabbed by it. The productions I have seen since have all been so "campy" that the story line was almost neglected. The production I saw first is proof that "Joseph ..." can be done as a real musical.
   It is, of course, a mishmash of musical styles. Almost everybody will like something in it; and almost everybody will dislike something in it. But altogether, it plays well.
   For me, the enjoyment comes from listening to the music, not from seeing the productions that are now being staged.

5 comments about Sometimes I Dream.

1. I walked into the Borders in Kona and heard this incredible voice and immediatly went in search of a clerk who found the last CD on the shelf.
   An exciting voice, rich, smooth and passionate. I have purchased and sent it as gifts for weddings, birthdays, etc.



2. Gr8 collection of songs and lots of energy put into the production of this album. Every song is good, unlike many CD's by artists. Unlike classical tenors, Mario Frangoulis does not sound like he is singing 'operatic pop'. So, buy it and take a listen and see if you agree with my opinion.



3. Mario should someday become very famous. His knowledge of languages along with his voice will take this young man to great heights. I would like to hear him do a cd of operatic pieces.



4. Mario is not for the "opera snobs"....his style appeals for lovers of "Cross Over" opera and lighter pieces.....however, his rendition of
   "Lucevan Le Stelle" (Sometimes I dream) was so refreshing and romantic....his voice carries you with him as he dreams. I and several of my friends who were recently introduced to Mario, hope that he makes more recordings and I hope he comes to the U.S. and especially to Los Angeles California so that we can enjoy his singing and continue to dream along with him.......Bravo Mario!



5. 
   Mario Frangoulis has the most magnificent voice. Ihave listened to several male singers in opera and broadway. Mario has them all beat as
   we are concerned. We're very anxious for Mario come on tour here in states.
   
   Sincerely yours,
   Jacqueline J King
   
   marjak7@aol.com

5 comments about Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions.

1. This album contains a selection of fine songs from several different songwriters. The music is more folk than country, with maybe one or two songs belonging to neither of these genres, there's even some pop/soft-rock influence. EH and LR turn in some pretty good performances (but I don't think either ladies are 'at the top of their game').
   
   The lead and harmony vocals are good - the fragile soprano of EH combines well with the velvety alto of LR. The instrumental accompaniment is also good - courtesy of a bunch of consummate session musicians (and also Neil Young); BUT, a few tracks feature layered electric guitars/synthesized sounds and I think these should have been 'mixed back' because, at times, the vocal/instrumental backing and the lead/harmony vocals seem to be competing with each other (very noticeable with the opening chorus on the first track). This 'problem' doesn't exist on those tracks which are predominantly semi-acoustic (the tracks which I tended to prefer). Also, in more general terms, I found the sound to be a little 'bright' (but this could be my hearing) - to compensate, I play this album with my amp's treble taken down a few notches.
   
   I liked all tracks (some more than others) - a few brief comments about my personal favourites (songwriters in brackets) :
   
   FOR A DANCER (Jackson Browne) - Jackson Browne's voice has, I think, a slight edge to it, but this edge isn't present with LR's lead vocals (not a criticism, just an observation) - hers is a fine, straight forward and 'easy on the ear' rendition of a classic song from the mid-1970s L.A. singer/songwriter era. The song demands a wide vocal range and LR certainly has the skill to handle it well.
   
   WESTERN WALL (Rosanne Cash) - The lead vocals are shared by LR and EH (sometimes, on the lower notes, LR sounds a little like Rosanne). I haven't heard the original version but this version loses none of the poignancy that I often associate with Rosanne's songwriting. The instrumental accompaniment and the sound balance are both fine.
   
   SISTERS OF MERCY (Leonard Cohen) - Another 'blast from the past' ('blast' isn't entirely appropriate because this is a gentle song given a suitably gentle treatment - again, with LR and EH sharing the lead vocals). The track features a (now obsolete) instrument called an 'optigon' - a sort of organ. If you hear some occasional and faint background hum and crackling, rest assured that it is not your hi-fi, your hearing or the production - these 'sound effects' are characteristics of this instrument. It seems a rather curious choice to have on a modern digital recording and I found it's rather 'lo-fi' effect somewhat disconcerting (but some people might like it).
   
   1917 (David Olney) - A poignant song with remarkable lyrics about soldiers during WW1 seeking brief refuge from the horrors of trench warfare in the killing fields of Flanders. The 'story' is told from the perspective of a prostitute who fulfils her role by providing her clients with a night of comfort and 'cheap ecstasy', before they return to the battlefield and almost certain death. EH's lead vocals are superb and the instrumental accompaniment is restrained; but, a song which may not be to everyone's liking.
   
   THIS IS TO MOTHER YOU (Sinead O'Connor) - An exquisite song - a lullaby with a soft lilting melody. Sinead almost whispers her original version and I much prefer the more 'full bodied' vocals which LR lends to the song (but the ambience of the original is not lost, by any means).
   
   ACROSS THE BORDER (Bruce Springsteen) - A smooth 'laid back' sound with a slight Mexican feel to it. Everything works for me with this track - from LR's fine vocals to the outstanding playing (especially the wistful sounds of Neil Young's harmonica and Greg Leisz's pedal steel guitar).
   
   
   If you are a fan of either ladies, particularly their music from the mid to late 70s, then I strongly recommend that you do NOT buy this album on an 'unheard' basis. There are many substantial customer reviews here and I think you should also take look at some of these (5-star thru' 1-star), So, in conclusion, there was something about the sound/production, on a few tracks, that I found a bit distracting - had it not been for this, I would have unreservedly rated this album 4.5/5.0 stars; but, as it is, I can only give a rating of 4-stars.



2. Emmylou and Linda are a perfect duo on this CD. The vocal backing of Kate and Anna McGarrigle makes it even extra interesting. The most catching title on this CD,I think, is "Valerie".
   
   About a number of songs where Emmy does the lead vocal, one can hear that her stile is building up towards her later CD "Red Dirt Girl".
   
   Once you love Emmy's and Linda's music, no doubt you should have this CD in your collection.



3. This 1999 collaboration between Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt is more folk rock than country in its unique atmospheric sound. It opens with Loving The Highwayman, where the two share lead and harmony vocals. Written by Emmylou, Raise The Dead has her on lead, harmony and electric guitar on a moving tribute to Hank Williams and Bill Monroe.
   
   They lovingly interpret Rosanne Cash's Western Wall, whilst 1917 is a slow melancholy ballad with some lines sung in Latin. The tempo picks up a bit on He Was Mine, a gorgeous display of interweaving voices, and on Sweet Spot, which is a type of brooding rock ballad. For me, the highlight of the album is definitely this evocative cover of Sisters Of Mercy. The simple arrangement does not stray too far from Cohen's original, but the harmonies are exquisite as are the backing vocals by Canadian folk legends Kate and Anna McGarrigle.
   
   The next track, Falling Down is in the big rock ballad mould and is followed by the lilting Valerie, a gripping song of the road. Another highlight of the album is the Sinead O'Connor song This Is To Mother You that gets a fragile and tender treatment. Emmylou's composition, the mostly acoustic All I Left Behind, is very poetic and moving. The album concludes with Bruce Springsteen's Across The Border, a beautiful song of transcendence and hope.
   
   Western Wall is a masterpiece in its execution, but requires some getting used to for devoted fans of Emmylou. Unlike all of her work, from Pieces Of The Sky to Stumble Into Grace, this album entirely lacks Emmylou's characteristic soulful expression. I award it four stars only in comparison to the best of Harris' work; as a folk rock album, it certainly belongs in the five star league next to the work of artists like Richard and Linda Thompson, the McGarrigles and Lucinda Williams.



4. Whenever you see reviews of an album that are as polarized as the reviews are for this one, check it out!! Those listeners expecting Ronstadt and Harris to stay in the same musical box as their previous "Trio" releases will be quite surprised. This music cannot be easily categorized. But it will enter your consciousness and you will find yourself thinking about it long after you've listened to it, and wanting to hear it again. For those who haven't heard it yet, give it a chance. For those who have heard it and dismissed it, listen to it again. For those who have heard it and love it, listen to it again.



5. This CD marks a high point in the brilliant careers of both Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, two of the finest singers of their generation. These exquisitely selected and performed songs show off both their voices and their taste.
   Two particular highlights: Sinead O'Connor's "This Is To Mother You," and Patti Scialfa's "Valerie." But every cut is fine.

5 comments about Measure Of A Man.

1. I happen to love Measure of a Man by Clay Aiken! His voice is just so pure and just a pleasure to listen to!All the songs have a meaning to them that anyone listening could find something to fit their lives!
   I listen to this cd daily, that is why I have to have multible copies!



2. the cd is great my spouse and i really enjoy it very much cause we had a hard time finding this but we are happy that we have our own copy now...



3. No disappointment here! As usual, his singing could give you chills. His range is unbelievable! He can hit notes that make you sit up and take notice. Excellent and recommend it to everyone.



4. Clay Aiken makes a stunning debut on his first album 'Measure of a Man'. This CD sold over 600,000 copies in the first week of release in the USA, and it's easy to see why. Clay's vocals have to be heard to be believed. His version of the Neil Sedaka classic 'Solitaire' is amazing, and he makes this song his own. Other stand-outs are 'The`Way', 'Invisible', 'Run to Me', 'Perfect Day' and the title track 'Measure of a Man'. You can't go wrong with this album.



5. Thank you, Clay Aiken, for a refreshing change to today's not-so-popular pop music. Not only is Mr. Aiken's voice relaxed, soothing, and versatile, he actually SINGS; he doesn't, for lack of a better term, "Mariah Carey" the notes all over the place. For this he should be commended - and emulated by future artists. Keep up the excellent work, Mr. Aiken!