1 comments about Jazz Weekend.

1. Concord Jazz delivers a 3-CD collection that will make any weekend into a "Jazz Weekend Celebration", from beginning to end...Disc One: "Jazz At Week's End", selections that put a spring in your step, but not over-doing it...Disc Two: "Saturday Afternoon Jazz", relaxing yet playful, with a sunny-breezy attitude that makes this day special...Disc Three: "Jazz & The Sunday Times", the nice n' easy mellow with blue skies shining through the kitchen windows kind of day, actually relax and catch up by taking a sip of your favorite morning cup of coffee.

   As usual the stand outs: "HAVEN'T GOT A WORRY", with Rosemary Clooney, girl singer always terrific..."SOFT WINDS" what a talent Gene Harris is, never be another like him..."BLUE SKIES" another legend no longer with us, only in his music Stan Getz..."EMBRACEABLE YOU", Gershwin composed it, but Scott Hamilton shows us why it's so special..."ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET", Ernestine Anderson and legend icon George Shearing, make up the perfect ingredients for this time-less tune and great standard.

   Concord gives us thirty-three outstanding selections to soak-up on a daily basis or weekend...This collection has it all, Concord is only getting better with each "Jazz Moods" release, for you...music makes the moment!

   (Total Time...Disc One: 58:37 on 11 Tracks & Disc Two: 62:37 on 12 Tracks & Disc Three: 58:58 on 10 Tracks)...Concord Jazz-CCD3 5217...(2000)

5 comments about Masterpieces: 1926-1949.

1. This as a wonderful 3CD set with an incredible 68 tunes. The sound is great, and includes just a hint of 'hiss and pop' on the earliest recordings, (as it should), so you can imagine the 75 rpm record spinning and this jumping jazz coming out. Melodious masterpieces from the maestro.
   Foxtrot anyone?



2. This four disc set is just fabulous. It has many songs that I was having a difficult time finding. If you are new to Ellington this is a great place to start. And even if you have already known what a genius this man has been since he was born you'll love this set.



3. Recently had a 80th Birthday party for a family member. Showed pictures of his life story with Duke playing in background. Guests his same age as well as the birthday boy throughly enjoyed the moment.



4. This has blown me away.
   A bargain considering the price I paid for four disks.
   I love the variety and tones of the music.
   This collection spans several different styles.
   It's just wonderful.
   
   There are some old recordings here, which are authentic and par for the course.
   It would seem unreal if they were digital smooth.
   The classic feel of the sound just ads to the experience, and does not detract.
   I have hours of great music here.
   Enjoy!



5. Some of the reviewers have complained here that these are not the definitive versions. I have to say one of the delights of listening to "Jazz" of this quality is listening to different versions of each song. As a matter of fact that's a KEY issue. Ellington probably never played any of these songs the same way twice. That's just how it works. These guys were constantly exploring different ways to play it and different sound combinations, and that's a big part of the enjoyment. Isn't that an essential component of Jazz? Constant surprise. For me owning zillions of Ellington versions of stuff is wonderful.
   
   This box set has some pretty good sound, execllent in some places. Maybe not the very very best all over but heck there is some great stuff on here. I'm really digging it. On any recordings this old you have to use your imagination to really understand the amazing aural qualities that live performances must have had. If you give it a chance the essential information about sound that Ellington was transmitting will come through.

5 comments about Way Back Home.

1. Purchased this item as a gift for my brother, he was blown away. I've listened to some of the tracks and I have to say that it appears to me to be one of the best collections I have come across. If you're a fan of the Crusaders you won't be disappointed, this is a wonderful set that shows the talent and diversity of these amazing musicians.



2. This is a great box set with much(but by no means all)of their best material. I'm glad that they included something from the "Unsung Heroes" album, but considering their output over the years, any any attempt at a "Best Of" compilation would be like trying to stuff a 13-course Roman meal in a doggie bag, thus the inevitable ommission("New Time Shuffle", for one example). Someone reviewing a '70's greatest hits collection of theirs said any one of us could come up with our own Crusader's "greatest hits" package and it would be every bit as good as the one he was reviewing, there is that much material to choose from. That's a compliment to the group and the quality of their music.This is a very fine collection, which should also encourage anyone to seek out the original recordings(which is what I am doing now!!)



3. the Crusaders have always been One of My All-Time Favorite Musical Acts Ever.there Fusion of Music has no limits.here you get a tight cover of the Beatles "Eleanor Rigby"(Which Happens to Be my Favorite Beatles Song they Ever did)"Sweet&N Sour",is the Jam dig that whole Built Up&Vamp.the way the horns kick In&Groove.Stewart Levine&The Crusaders Strike a Great Balance on all fronts.the Arrangements just got stronger&full of more Fusion&Risk with each passing Album&they always seem to explore another Musical Direction&Make it work.I Listen to this Box Set at least Once a Month.The Crusaders are one of the Greatest Musical Bands in any Style or Era for me.



4. The music on this set is terrific and the choice of music to put here is excellent. If you have an album/CD or two of the Crusaders and are looking for an easy way to survey their career then this collection is made for you and you'll not be disappointed.

   The musicianship and sound quality are first-rate throughout, no complaints there. I have two minor complaints. First the track order _may_ have made sense to whoever assembled this but not to me. Its not chronological nor is it in any other logical sequence that I can figure out. Within an indivdual CD, tracks are arranged in groups by the original release, but material from the same LP often appears on more than one CD. It may be that there was an attempt to group similar sounding tracks together--in any case, it makes it less useful as a history of the group but sounds fine. Second, the packaging is a flat box with the size of an LP--fine if you have LP-sized storage, not-so-good if your storage is CD-sized.

   Despite the niggles, and they are that, this is a set of great music and I enjoy it a lot. If you like jazz fusion, so will you!




5. I'm glad to see that they included something from the "Unsung Heroes" album(Crossfire, fine Wayne Henderson). There was another version of "Freedom Sound" that I liked better than the one on this collection, but all in all this is first rate music by one of the greatest jazz groups of all time, one that was not afraid to actually connect with an audience musically instead of playing over people's heads(You should read the interview that they did in Downbeat magazine in the mid 70's-Stix Hooper's comments especially-they discuss this issue at length). As for the title of my review, if only every album that they have ever done was still in print....

4 comments about The Impulse Years 1973-1974.

1. I'm not a big Keith Jarrett fan at all, so I was very pleasantly surprised when I got this on a friend's recommendation. This has some of the best Dewey Redman I've ever heard. Definitely a must-have, especially for Ornette fans.



2. Though it never achieved the popularity of the Standards Trio, the European Quartet, or his solo performances, Keith Jarrett's American "Quartet" was one of his most exciting groups. Jarrett, tenor saxophonist Dewey Redman, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Paul Motian were all strong musical personalities, but the creative tension they generated was conducive to some great music that "thought outside the box". It tied together a wide array of seemingly incompatible strands in modern jazz: the loose, quirky free-bop of Ornette Coleman ("Misfits", "Angles"), the romantic lyricism and harmonic richness of Bill Evans ("Still Life, Still Life", "Prayer"), and the groovy, gospel-infused soul jazz of Bobby Timmons and Cannonball Adderley ("De Drums", "Le Mistral"). It also drew on traditions outside jazz: Asian and African music ("Roads Travelled, Roads Veiled", "Kuum"), 20th century classical, and even hints of rock'n'roll ("Treasure Island"). And when the Quartet was not satisfied with the traditional jazz instruments, they tried others: Jarrett played soprano sax, Redman played a Chinese musette, and every member of the group played odd percussion. (The group usually included one or two additional percussionists.)

   Though the group also recorded for Atlantic, Columbia and ECM, the bulk of their work was done on the Impulse label. This box set packages the first four Impulse albums (Fort Yawuh, Treasure Island, Death and the Flower, and Backhand) on 5 CDs; each album showcases a different facet of the band's personality. Conveniently for LP-philes, the albums are presented on separate discs by initial running order (rather than chronologically, by session). The packaging is nice and compact -- a double jewel case holds all 5 CDs and fits into a neat slipcase.

   Fort Yawuh, on the first two CDs, lets the group stretch out live at the Village Vanguard -- most of the tunes are between 10 and 20 minutes. Treasure Island (disc 3) is the most accessible and rock-influenced; most of the tunes have strong backbeats and two tracks feature electric guitar. Death and the Flower is more reflective and revolves around the magnificent, organic group improvisation of the title track. Disc 5, Backhand, showcases the band at its jazziest; this may be my favorite album by the group.

   Since at most 2 of the albums are currently available domestically (Death and the Flower may be going out of print), this box set is probably the best investment for someone interested in this music. It is probably less expensive than the four albums would be individually. At any rate, any fan of Jarrett or post-bop jazz should hear this music is some form. People who like this set should also check out the classic "Survivor's Suite" (on ECM) and the 4 CD set of 1975-76 Impulse material titled "Mysteries".




3. Admittedly this kind of jazz will not appeal to those whose idea of great music is Celine Deion, but it will reward those who have ears to hear the incredible interplay between the players on these recordings. If you like a lot of Ornette Coleman`s work, you will find much to love here. I am also a fan of Keith`s more "inside" work with DeJohnette and Gary Peacock as well as many of his ECM releases. But this stuff is, to my ears, the most challenging (ie. it takes a little work to get into) and the most rewarding.



4. My favorite part of this set was the "Fort Yaweh" material on the first two discs. And at that, the only piece that really moved me was the frenetic, Ornette-like "If the Misfits". The records cut by this quartet subsequently degenerate into very difficult, "free"-style playing. I like Jarrett's music when it has more structure to it, but find most of this relatively unlistenable and formless.

5 comments about The Reprise Collection.

1. This has all the Sinatra favorites. If you need to finish your collection this is one to have.



2. "Acting is integral to Sinatra's singing - not histrionics, but skillful, sensitive acting of lyrics and melody, with definite phrasing, economic use of italics, controlled gestures of voice, face and body, and a foundation of understated passion, he turns each song into a one-act play." ~ David McClintick, Liner Notes ~
   
   This four-CD-box-set, "The Reprise Collection" is a great compilation of Frank Sinatra's recordings during his Reprise years and most definitely a worthy addition to any Sinatra buff and collector. The collection producers, Mo Ostin, Joe McEwen and James Isaacs did a great job in this tribute to Frank Sinatra's 75th birthday and his 30th anniversary as a Reprise artist.
   
   Disc One contains 21 songs and the rest of the CDs contain 20 songs each -all remarkable recordings highlighting the illustrious and bright years of the legendary singer at Reprise. Some of the tracks are previously unreleased. Recording engineer Lee Herschberg made sure that the digital mastering and remixes are flawlessly done. The sound quality is excellent. The packaging is quite impressive and comes with an attached booklet with articles, photos and a thumbnail of 98 Sinatra albums. The interesting and informative articles are as follow:
   
   1. "So Frank Is Seventy-Five" by William Kennedy
   2. "Questions Without Simple Answers" by David McClintick
   3. "The Songs - An Introduction" - list and annotations of all the songs by Jonathan Schwartz
   4. Afterword written by James Isaacs
   
   The selection represents the works of the most brilliant and remarkable Sinatra arrangers/conductors/orchestrators such as Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Johnny Mandel, Gordon Jenkins, Don Costa, Claus Ogerman, Robert Farnon, Sy Oliver, Quincy Jones with Count Basie Orchestra, Neal Hefti, Eumir Deodato, Torrie Zito, Marty Paich, Ernie Freeman, Billy Strange, Joe Parnello and Billy Byers, and also features pianist Bill Miller and guitarist Tony Mottola.
   
   My list of favorites includes:
   
   Disc One: "Love Walked In," "The Second Time Around," "Let's Fall In Love," "Night And Day," "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To," "Come Rain Or Come Shine," "What'll I Do?" "I Get A Kick Out Of You," "The Last Dance," "All Alone," "A Garden In The Rain," "A Nightingale Sung In Berkeley Square," "Don't Take Your Love From Me" and "Without A Song," with lyric that ends with . . .
   
   "I'll never know what makes the rain to fall
   I'll never know what makes the grass so tall
   I only know there ain't no love at all without a song."
   
   Disc Two: "The Way You Look Tonight," "Moonlight Serenade," "This Is All I Ask," "Fly Me To The Moon," "Oh You Crazy Moon," "Pennies From Heaven," "The Best Is Yet To Come" and "I Have Dreamed," and of course "America The Beautiful" and "California."
   
   Disc Three: "I've Got You Under My Skin," "The Shadow Of Your Smile," "Wave," "Indian Summer," "How Insensitive," "Once I Loved," "Dindi," "I Concentrate On You," "You Make Me Feel So Young," "Summer Wind," and "Something Stupid."
   
   Disc Four: "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?" "More Than You Know," "Send In The Clowns," "It's Sunday" and "The Song Is You," with beautiful lyric that ends with . . .
   
   "Why can't I let you know the song my heart would sing?
   The beautiful rhapsody of love and youth and spring,
   The music is sweet, the words are true
   The song is you."
   
   I could go on and on with all the good things about this set but suffice it to say that this is one of the best-ever compilations of Sinatra recordings and I wholeheartedly recommend it to avid Sinatra fans.
   
   In closing, I share Mr. Isaacs sentiments written on the Afterword . . .
   
   " . . . Most of all, thank you, Mr. Sinatra for a monumental body of work, and for speaking to me when seemingly no one else could. Over the past 50 years perhaps 100 million other human beings have felt the same." ~ James Isaacs, August 1990 ~



3. Along with The Columbia Years, The Capitol Singles Collection, and Sinatra in Vegas, this is a must-have for any Sinatraphile. His Reprise years saw some great ballads and some excellent re-makes of older Sinatra classics. Because of the occasional inconsistency of Sinatra's later Reprise releases, this boxed set is an economical way to get the best of his later work without buying the later albums.
   Sound is excellent, and the set comes with a good booklet on Sinatra as well.



4. Few vocalists pack the drama, emotion, and swagger of Frank Sinatra and "The Reprise Collection" compiles Frankie at his best during that era. You couldn't possibly pack EVERYTHING her recorded on Reprise into a box set...it would be enormous! This covers the gravy of his recordings for Reprise from 1960 to 1986 and shows his career trajectory during those many years, going from a middle-aged pro to the twilight of his years. Anything and everything is pretty much here, from "Something Stupid" to pop classics like "New York, New York" all delivered in the inimitable Sinatra style. Reading over the track listing is a trip down memory lane and so many of these tracks were signature songs Sinatra defined and owned. Of course there's the age-old debate about whether his Capitol or Reprise years were his best; I say who cares! Pop these CDs in and you'll see Frankie was still the consummate artist until almost the end.



5. This is a great value if you are looking for the many highlights of Frank in the Reprise years. This will give you many (not all) of his great recordings. This will save you much time and money vs. trying to find many of these songs individually.
   
   In short: gives you alot of songs for the money. However, there is much more out there during the Reprise years to discover.

5 comments about Beauty Is a Rare Thing: The Complete Atlantic Recordings.

1. To any fan of jazz and especially of free jazz, this is one of the most essential box set you can get. It contains all of Ornette's Atlantic recordings (hence the title). It contains the albums The Shape of Jazz to Come, Change of the Century, This is Our Music, the famous (or infamous) Free Jazz, Ornette!, Ornette on Tenor, The Art of the Improvisers, Twins (with the first take of Free Jazz, literally called "First Take", which I think is better than the longer one), and To Whom Who Keeps a Record. It has a handful of unreleased tracks, including two superb classical/jazz recordings called Abstraction and Variations on a Theme by Thelonious Monk (Criss-Cross), which are conducted by Gunther Schuller.
   
   One of the amazing aspects of this music is that it doesn't date. It still seems as fresh and as innovative as it was when it was released. Ornette was so prolific during these sessions (1959-1961) that Atlantic released the material over a 15 year period. The last album of this material was released in 1975. Of course, this set has the famous (or infamous, according to some people) Free Jazz track. As much as I like this song, there's tons of greater music in this set. Ornette's music reminds me of the intricate arrangements of Zappa and progressive rock (which both of them had a huge jazz influence). Ornette shines here, playing, as he puts it, pure emotion. Cherry, Blackwell, and Haden play extremely well too. They are some of the best jazz players ever, and they compliment the genius Ornette so well. This is wonderful stuff.



2. Ornette Coleman's arrival in New York in 1959 signalled a change in the jazz world, a change whose rippling effects are still felt to this day. His legendary residency at the Five Spot club and his recordings with Atlantic Records polarized the jazz community at large-- some heralded him as the next logical step from the innovations of Parker and Gillespie, some heralded him as an upstart with no real theory behind him and no mastery of his instrument. One thing is certain, Coleman's music has had long-lasting effects, and his influence can be heard throughout jazz with musicians as diverse as Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, John Zorn and Branford Marsalis all citing Coleman as an influence. During these first years in New York, Coleman was signed to Atlantic Records, where he released six groundbreaking albums and had enough leftover material for three further albums and half a dozen further tracks. Such prolificness he'd never repeat in his career-- indeed the two and a half years he spent on Atlantic accounts for about a third of his released studio recordings. All of this material is collected here as "Beauty is a Rare Thing".
   
   The music of Ornette coleman is actually much easier to digest than most people would give it credit-- loosely stated, the critical part of his music is that the soloist determines the direction of the piece, not chord changes or some other limitation. The rest-- the odd harmonies, the intentional off key playing, etc., are all less essential. If this idea of spontaneous structure is something you can accept, you'll likely be able to enjoy Coleman's music.
   
   The records on here include several of his classics-- the six studio albums released during his tenure on Atlantic-- "The Shape of Jazz to Come", "Change of the Century" (both featuring the quartet of Ornette Coleman on alto, Don Cherry on trumpet, Charlie Haden on bass, and Billy Higgins of drums), "This is Our Music" (with Coleman, Cherry, Haden, and drummer Ed Blackwell), "Free Jazz" (featuring a double quartet of Coleman, bass clarinetist Eric Dolphy, Cherry, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, Haden, bassist Scott LaFaro, Higgins and Blackwell), "Ornette!" (Coleman, Cherry, LaFaro, Blackwell) and "Ornette on Tenor" (Coleman on tenor, Cherry, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Blackwell). Additionally, the three extras albums-- "To Whom Keeps a Record", "Twins" and "The Art of the Improvisers" are here in their entirity (although all material is presented in chronological order). Many classic and groundbreaking performances are contained here-- standards "Lonely Woman", "Peace", "Focus on Sanity", several takes on "Revolving Doors" under different titles, lovely ballad "Just For You", and of course, the stunning "Free Jazz" session.
   
   Of course, included in the set is the obligatory liner note essays, including pieces by Coleman and Cherry, and some quotes from musicians about Coleman, positive and negative.
   
   Is this for everyone? Probably not. If you're curious, pick up "The Shape of Jazz to Come", it'll give you an idea. If you're exploring Coleman, this material is all essential and probably worth the investment.



3. These recordings are the centerpiece of the genius of the great Ornette Coleman and are essential to any serious modern jazz collection. Ornette Coleman is definately the strongest voice of the alto saxophone since Charlie Parker's heydey. Don Cherry is an excellent cornetist and pocket trumpeter and makes a great sideman. You can just tell when Ornette's blowing the horn because of the rough squawk. It's amazing to hear the recordings like this which started as early as the late 50's! Ornette Coleman was a genius well before his time and even influenced the great John Coltrane(1926-1967). Now that's saying something. The unaquanted listener will definatley mistake this for the more famous Coltrane. As I mentioned in the title, this great man also influenced the late, Great Jerry Garcia(1942-1995) and at one time in the late 1980's, Garcia played on one of Coleman's albums! These recordings for Atlantic Records which spanned from 1959-1961 are very ahead of their time and just spell M-O-D-E-R-N J-A-Z-Z! I mean come on...No Piano???...That's weird!



4. Alto saxophonist Ornette Coleman broke new boundaries for Jazz music when he burst onto the music scene in 1958. His radical approach stripped the music of any fixed melody or harmony in favor of pure spontaneous improvisation. This was the birth of Free Jazz and was quite innovative and nearly unheard of for its time.
   Ornette's recordings for Atlantic Records are not only milestones for the label but for Jazz music in general. His quartet did not include a pianist which immediately throws out chordal structures altogether. The groundbreaking "Free Jazz" recording of 1961 finds Ornette in a 'double-quartet' setting consisting of two reeds, two trumpets, two bassists and two drummers all going head-to-head in a monumental epic improvisation. This recording as well as his smaller quartet recordings are included in the 6-CD boxed set "Beauty Is A Rare Thing" - a thorough detailed musical history of Ornette's complete recordings for Atlantic Records (1959-1962).
   Each track in this set is presented in the order that it was recorded beginning in mid-1959 with the sessions that produced the pioneering classic "The Shape Of Jazz To Come" and ending in late-1961 with his lone tenor sax album "Ornette On Tenor" as well as two 'avant-garde' classical style pieces composed by Gunther Schuller which Ornette contributed to. While it may seem odd for devotees to hear this music in a different order than what's on the original albums, it doesn't get in the way of making this an absolute enjoyable listening experience. While some tracks are without a doubt better than others, nearly every piece of music in this boxed set is a gem.
   The extensive booklet included in this set includes an extended essay by music critic Robert Palmer as well as commentary from those who know Ornette. Even Ornette himself contributes to the liner notes. There are also small details on the recording sessions as well as a discography and some rare photos of Ornette and his quartet.
   With all this said, this is an extraordinary set from one of Jazz's controversial but acclaimed pioneers. This is definitely a must for the die-hard Coleman fan. If you've got the bucks to shell out for this set, this also serves as the perfect introduction to his music as well.



5. You have to be dedicated Ornette fan to commit to a box set of this size and price. The problem is, most dedicated fans probably already own many, if not all, of these recordings. After all, we are talking about the essential material he cut for Atlantic from '59-'61. Still, the prospect of having all of these recordings together in one deluxe package is tempting, indeed. The real dangling carrot here is the previously unreleased material which may or may not appear as bonus tracks on the single CD's (I have the LP's, so I can't say for sure). So, if you are sure you are into free jazz and Mr. Coleman, in particular, and you don't already have alot of his Atlantic material, then this just might be the collection for you.

2 comments about the rat pack -10 cd-set.

1. If you own other stuff,by the Boys,this is a History lesson,and will complete your collection nicely.Sammy's set start's slow,but really swings,and you see early the great performer he is.
   Frank and Dino's,well its The Rat Pack Baby..I am enjoying it.



2. Yeah, sure pallie, this 10 CD import box set has about 175 songs on it. And, yeah, it's the Rat Pack, or at least it's The Leader, Drunky and Smokey Baby (that's Mr. Frank Sinatra, Mr. Dean Martin and Mr. Sammy Davis Jr. to you) singing.
   
   Sounds great, right? Well, it's not quite jake---
   
   For one thing, The Boys are each singing solo on nine out of the ten CDs. Only one disc has duets and triplets and is actually labelled "The Rat Pack." Even that one has mixed solos on it.
   
   For another thing, these discs are career compilations containing everything and anything from Frank's Bobby Soxer days to Sammy's throwaway studio tracks of vocal impressions, to Dean's rough cuts and first takes of various and sundry. The glory days of The Summit it is not.
   
   Still, it's not so bad, except that the recordings aren't remastered, leaving the volume variable from track to track and the sound often muddy or muffled. Basically, this is a dusty-attic collection of every Frank Sinatra, Dino and Sammy song you never heard in your life. None of the classic classics are here, and there's none of that priceless Rat Pack schmooze that makes LIVE AT THE SANDS or LIVE AND SWINGIN' so irreplaceable. Give them a listen for the "live" experience.
   
   It's low budget (at $17.99 it works out to a buck twelve bits and some per disc), and if you're a Rat Pack fan it's well worth having just for the odds and ends (at that price you can't go wrong if you're adding to your music library), but if you're just getting into the Rat Pack, don't be a Clyde. There are much better Rat Pack albums out there to spend your dough on---Try EEE-OH-ELEVEN or BOYS' NIGHT OUT for the "in-studio experience".

4 comments about Laughing in Rhythm.

1. I'll confess to an ongoing amour with the proper box set. I can't believe something this cheap (let's face it...the price is incredible!) is consistently of such high quality. They look great, feel nice, are beautifully packaged, and include booklets (yes! tiny books) with great info on and pics of their subjects.
   
   So what about Slim? Well this cat is jumpin'. He is high class and hilarious...what a great combination. And there's suprising variety through this invariably rhythmic set. Most tracks are upbeat and you could fill up the CD shuffler and dance to this all night. I just can't believe his name isn't as familiar to us as the likes of Louis Jordan.
   
   I was a bit worried about all this vouting...this guy sounded like he could get really annoying...and he wouldn't be around so you could slap him in the face and tell him to snap out of it. But he only indulges in sporadic vouting binges and they are only occasionally obtrusive.
   
   When I bought this I thought I'd probably select songs and boil it down in to one excellent CD I could love unconditionally. But this cat doesn't let you down...which has made for a least one very happy kitten.



2. When you're young, it's quite fashionable to bemoan the lack of authentic individuals. When you grow older, you learn that you were correct. My Cherokee ancestors believe that adulthood begins at 51, and as I get closer to that age, I realize how right they are. Well, here's an individual for you. Slim Gaillard.
   
   I have a four-CD set called LAUGHING IN RHYTHM. 1937 through 1952 from one of the great innovators in jazz. Musically creative, technically skillful, always soulful, lyrically hilarious, and perhaps an example of somebody under age 51 achieving adulthood. I can't stop listening to it. At home, in my MP3 player on the buses of China... Lemme get nuts here. If you ignore every other review I've ever written, note these three words. "Buy this one." It's like that, folks. Slim is da bomb.



3. It is incredible how much of his material would even for today be considered original and ahead of its time .
   But yet at the same time having this childish and simple humor such as de-ranging known phrases and basically creating his own language out of it.
   Slim is a one of a kind and should be remembered amongs the greats of jazz and witty music.



4. Slim Gaillard is what you get when you combine slapstick humor with bebop jazz. Even Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie couldn't resist playing on his records-they appear on a few tracks on this great 4 CD box set.
   Did I mention you get 30 tracks per disc making this the deal of the century? Such a deal! For the low price listed above you get at least 120 tracks of pure Slim brilliance. I have to warn you, though, his sense of humor is very non-PC but also not mean spirited, either. He lampoons every ethnic group under the sun including his own (in "African Jive" he runs down a soul food menu to a tribal African beat).
   I also liked his enthusiasm for ethnic food, particularly Jewish delicacies:
   Matzo Balls (sung Jimmy Durante style), Dunkin' Bagels ("splash! in the coffee"), and the classic Potato Chips ("crunch crunch I don't want no lunch").
   Recommended tracks: Popity Pop, Atomic Cocktail, Dopey Joe, B-19, Palm Springs Jump, Little Red Riding Woods, Tee Say Malee, etc. I could go and on. Dunk some bagels and enjoy!

5 comments about Frank Sinatra ~ The V-Discs ~ Years: 1943-1947 ~ Columbia ~ Two Volume Set.

1. Frank Sinatra - The V-Discs - Years: 1943-1947 is a wonderful two CD set of songs recorded by Frank Sinatra to be shipped overseas to the fighting men and the women primarily during the Second World War and a couple of years thereafter. The quality of the sound is rather good but there is some degree of surface noise on these older recordings; but I say they're still very much "worth it." The artwork is also very nicely done.
   
   The first CD starts with Frank singing "I Only Have Eyes For You." I'm sure this brought many a happy memory of the men overseas as they heard this tune and thought of their sweethearts back home in the states! Frank aces this easily and it's even a major highlight of this two CD set. "(There'll Be A) Hot Time In The Town Of Berlin" held out hopes for the soldiers that they were going to win the war--it was only a mater of time. The big band arrangement works wonders for this ballad. Listen also for "You've Got A Hold On Me;" Frank massages the lyrics to this song and it sounds fresh and new even today! Great! In addition, Frank Sinatra does an excellent job on "Long Ago And Far Away;" the surface noise doesn't bother me because this number is so beautiful and it probably doesn't have many alternate takes for us to choose from because this was recorded so many years ago.
   
   "All Of Me" gets the royal treatment from Frank; he swings brightly to make this number shine like silver and gold combined! The horns work well in the big band arrangement and Frank never sounded better! "Falling In Love With Love" also gets a fine interpretation from The Chairman Of The Board; and if you haven't heard this early rendition of this song by Frank I think you're going to like it!
   
   "If You Are But A Dream" on the second CD starts with a wonderful musical flourish; and when Frank comes in this number takes off like a jet! "Ol' Man River" also impresses me as Frank sings this to perfection--and beyond! "I'll Never Smile Again" is a tune that Frank sings with panache and the backup vocalists enhance the natural beauty of this fine ballad. Similarly, "Was The Last Time I Saw You" charms me with its beauty and Frank makes this into a masterpiece that only he could sing this well. Frank also sings Judy Garland's signature song, "Over The Rainbow;" Frank delivers this with ease and he handles the complicated tempo and key changes like the pro he always was and still remains! "My Romance" features Frank front and center--and that's OK by me! There's also Frank doing a fine interpretation of "They Say It's Wonderful;" "They Say It's Wonderful" is another stunningly beautiful ballad that I'm sure the soldiers loved to hear. "Come Rain Or Come Shine" gets a somewhat slower tempo than I'm used to but it all works very well; and the second CD ends well with Frank Sinatra singing "Stormy Weather." "Stormy Weather" was a famous song when Lena Horne sang it; and Frank's version would have made Lena very proud!
   
   Overall, this two CD set is an excellent one for Sinatra fans and people who enjoy music from the era of World War Two will love this two CD set as well.



2. What should have been a momentous occasion, that of Frank Sinatra's signing to Columbia and striking out on a solo career after fronting for Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, was nearly silent due to a commercial recording ban enforced by the Musicians Union from mid-1942 to 1944. Because the ban affected instrumental musicians, vocal-only recordings were allowed, meaning that Sinatra and Axel Stordahl had to come up with alternate vocal-backed arrangements that may not have ordinarily been chosen. The second loophole was that instrumentals were allowed on V-Discs, free recordings for the sole use of GIs overseas that were supposed to be destroyed when the war ended (the Library of Congress was allowed to keep one of each disc for posterity).
   
   Sinatra's V-Disc material encompasses 53 songs on two CDs, including material from airchecks as well as studio performances. There are many well-known Sinatra Columbia tunes such as All of Me, Nancy with the Laughing Face, Close to You, Ol' Man River, All the Things You Are, and She's Funny That Way, but many of the brightest gems are songs that Sinatra never got around to recording commercially for Columbia, such as Long Ago and Far Away, You've Got a Hold On Me, Hot Time in the Town of Berlin, Just Close Your Eyes, Come Rain or Come Shine and Noel Coward's I'll Follow My Secret Heart.
   
   Guests include Dinah Shore, The Pied Pipers and Tommy Dorsey. The remastering and clean-up of these decades-old songs is flawless, and Sinatra's charm is as fresh as ever. His transition from boy singer to teen idol shows him singing with remarkable poise and confidence, and Axel Stordahl's touch is unmistakable. The liner notes are courtesy of George Simon, Roy Hemming, and Will Friedwald. Amazingly, none of these 53 recordings are represented on Columbia's massive (and out-of-print) 12-CD Sinatra box set. This is absolutely essential listening for fans of Sinatra and 1940s popular music.



3. The 1994 edition of FRANK SINATRA * THE V-DISCS is the original long box format that would get an inferior redesign four years later. If you're interested at all in early Sinatra, the one that has a cover close-up of Frank with an NBC mike is the keeper. The reason: that long box album accomodates a gorgeous thirty page book, while the scaled back 1998 reissue sacrifices much of what was in that booklet.
   
   Sound quality of these rare early '40s V-Discs is darn good, and young Frank really turned out some fine sides for our fighting men overseas. Guest stars include Dinah Shore, Tommy Dorsey and the Pied Pipers. Contains six previously unreleased tracks-- this is the complete V-Discs sessions! If you love Frank, THE V-DISCS is essential to your collection. Highest recommendation.
   
   TOTAL RUNNING TIMES --
   DISC ONE --
   DISC TWO -- 74:26



4. Sinatra still has detractors who, whatever their actual reasons, choose to impugn his vocal quality. But more disturbing are the Sinatra defenders who casually accept and dismiss criticisms of the voice, insisting that phrasing and emotion are what count. In a way, they're right, but the sum effect is regrettable if Old Blue's singing comes to be seen as all about "attitude" rather than vocal production.

   If any one has doubts about the quality of his instrument, listen to "If You Are But a Dream"--or better yet, "Where Is My Bess." Both are all-out, impassioned performances in which nothing can be held back or covered up. The musical weight is entirely on the quality of that "bel canto" voice and the forcefulness of its underlying breath stream. Even Caruso and Pavarotti would have to stand back.




5. I am one of a very few who do not particularly care for Sinatra's work with Columbia, Reprise and such. My favorite Sinatra is the music he made with The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra from 1940 - 1942 (See "The Song is You" boxed set). I also love the first recordings that Frank made in 1939 with The Harry James Orchestra (also available on disc). However, the material on this cd is beautiful. It is a wonderful bridge between Frank with Tommy Dorsey and the Frank Sinatra that is mostly played on radio. This collection is obviously historic for it features songs that Frank would never record again (with the exception of one or two). It is also historic in the fact that these recordings were not meant for the public. They were part of special albums that were shipped to our service men and women overseas, so, for the first time in over 50 years these recordings are for public consumption. I would advise any Sinatra fan -- casual or serious -- or any collector of war era music to get this collection.

3 comments about The V-Disc Recordings.

1. This four-disc compilation represents some of the greatest Benny Goodman tracks ever recorded. There is little new here to Goodman's die hard fans, but for anyone new to the Big Band era, this is an excellent introduction. The one caveat is the sound quality. There is no excuse that these brilliant songs have to be compromised by numerous glitches, scratches and static. I have all of these songs on other CD's and the quality on those discs is superior.

   A strong element of this collection is that all styles of Benny's music are represented: patented swing numbers mixed in with slower tempo ballads and some ballads. Listen particularly to Peggy Lee's brilliant 'Why Don't You Do Right," and the sexy spin she puts on the song.

   If you are serious about Goodman you can do better than this collection with the sub-standard audio, but if you don't mind some bumps and scratches, this is the compilation for you.




2. IF YOU CAN ONLY OWN ONE BENNY GOODMAN CD THIS IS THE ONE. YOU GET QUINTETS, QUARTETS, AND FULL ORCHESTRA. THIS ALBUM HAS BALLADS, INSTRUMENTALS, SLOW, FAST: IN SHORT EVERYTHING. NOTE THAT THESE ARE RECORDED DIRECTLY FROM 78 RPM VICTORY DISKS, AND MAY CONTAIN THE ORIGINAL SCRATCHES FROM WHEN THE GI'S WERE PLAYING THEIR FAVORITES. (FOUR CD'S) MUST HAVE!



3. WITH OUT A DOUGHT THE MUST HAVE BENNY GOODMAN CD TO HAVE. THIS HAS QUARTET, QUINTET, AND FULL ORCHESTRA. SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY. (SOME OF THE CUT HAVE THE ORIGINAL SCRATCHES RETAINED FROM THE 78'S) I PLAY THIS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE HEARD EVERYTHING: OR THOUGHT THEY HAVE.