1 comments about Essential.

1. This is not a collection and it's far from essential. This is 3 old Goodman CDs packaged together and called Essential. Each CD is only about 40 minutes long, and there's some very annoying narration on CD 1.
   
   There are much better collections out there. Skip this one.

No comments about Dance Hall Days.

1 comments about The Complete Decca Studio Master Takes 1935-1939.

1. It appears that with all these bargain boxes of Jazz cd's coming out the typical consumer sees price value and takes a chance..there are better sounding labels out there and my experience with Definitive Records,LoneHill Jazz,JSP and Proper Records have been positive and never felt beat by any of them.
   In the case of Definitive Records and this 4 cd set, exhausting the master takes of Satchmo's Decca sides for the time period of 1935-1939 (as well as the the additional 2 cd set covering the 1940-1949 Decca period issued as a separate release but same style of packaging), the sound and overall presentation is crystal.
   Informative liner and band notes are included.This label is really made for the Jazz aficionado and primarily the collector seeking hard to find quality releases...The label makes no bones and quite simply states that in it's honest approach .
   There are 6 cd's if you also include the 1940-1949 collection available as a 2 cd set...Wonderfully, also high resolution 24 bit.
   The music captures Armstrong at the tender age of 35-45 when he returned to the American studio after foreign travels and his great big band recordings of the early 1930's.History was still to be made.

No comments about The Jazz Collection.

No comments about Just a Gigolo.

No comments about The Music of Glenn Miller.

2 comments about Cradle of Jazz.

1. This box set has a good mix of well known and influential jazz music from the 20s, 30s, and 40s, and with 40 CDs each about an hour long, it took me quite a long time just to listen to all of them enough times to start to recognize the songs.

   However, after having listened to all of the CDs about a dozen times over the last few years, I feel that I have cultivated a broad knowledge of jazz standards. Now, when I go to a jazz club or even just listen to the radio, I can frequently name songs that my friends mistakenly assume are originals.

   The drawback of this collection is that many of the recordings, and the ones from the 20s, in particular, are inevitably of poor quality. In fact, it often sounds like the drummer was banging on a pie tin or the vocalist sang underwater. Nevertheless, more than two-thirds of the recordings are of acceptable sound quality, and I urge any one looking to expand his knowledge of early jazz for a pittance to buy this collection.

   I am giving this collection 5 stars despite the sometimes poor sound quality because it is such a bargain and provides a good, if not entirely comprehensive education in early jazz.




2. Nearly 40 hours of digitally remastered original 78s and 45s for less than $1 each. No, you aren't getting the 1000 greatest hits of the 30s & 40s, but this is a great collection, but at 10% of the price, you get a lot of standards.

   Also see the similarly priced "Big Band Box" and "Great Vocalists of Jazz and Entertainment" collections by the German "History" label.

No comments about Let's Dance.

2 comments about All-Star Merry Christmas.

1. Another craptacular selection from LaserLight DIGITAL.
   
   First: My cd had 15 tracks instead of 10.
   
   11. Carrol - Have yourself a merry little christmas
   12. Damone - The bells of st. mary
   13. Jones - o come all ye faithful (track 10. is Jones - white christmas)
   14. Page - it came upon a midnight clear
   15. Williams - joy to the world
   
   I found this in the campus bookstore and snapped it up for the 3 Joe Williams tracks. If you're not familiar with Joe Williams, check out his version of "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"(it's not on this cd). He's nailed that song, in my opinion, and everytime I can't help but chuckle at the end. No reason for anyone else to cover "Let It Snow!" as it's been mastered now by the best. Others need not apply.
   
   The review preceding mine describes this cd as being played by a junior high band so no need to repeat that (although I just did).
   
   The singers all sound far past their prime and I can only guess they came in and sang it cold.
   
   On the back of the cd: "recorded live to two-track digital at Sage & Sound.... March and April, 1991.
   
   I personally don't like or dislike the other stars "showcased" here, but "well-aged" seems an apt description. I've definitely heard better from them on more reputable labels. I hope they were paid well for their time and trouble. Mr. Williams if you need money.. please don't debase yourself like this in the future.
   
   Two track, indeed...
   
   I would give this zero stars if allowed.



2. I first heard this CD when my roommate received it in a care package. We had never heard of any of these merry "all stars" before, but that did not stop us from giving it a chance. The musicians sound like they were recruited from the local junior high and high school, and to put it nicely, the vocals sounded unpolished.

   I happened to live with this same roommate for four years, and we eagerly looked forward to the Yule season so we could get a good jolly laugh from this album. The song that really sends us into hysterics is "Oh Holy Night" in which the vocalist's voice does not reach the high notes, (not for lack of trying, mind you) as the junior high brass section swells out from the background.

   I do not recommend this CD to anyone who is looking for serious enjoyment of their favorite cherished Christmas tunes. However, if you are giving someone with a good sense of humor a gift, it might be just the right thing.

   This All-Star Merry Christmas has certainly become one of my fond memories, (thus the 3 whole stars) and I think of it each year with a smile.

No comments about Voice.