5 comments about The Essential Johnny Mathis.

1. MY WIFE AND I SAW JOHNNY MATHIS IN CONCERT SEVERAL TIMES THROUGH THE YEARS,
   AND HE WAS MAGNIFICENT...ALWAYS HAD AN EXCELLENT ORCHESTRA (WITH STRINGS)
   AS HIS ACCOMPANIMENT (WHICH IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST FOR BALLAD VOCALISTS).
   HIS CONTEMPORARY RECORDINGS AREN'T AS WELL DONE AS THE 'OLDIES'...BUT HE
   STILL HAS THAT GREAT VOICE!!



2. This is a terrific CD. I bought it for "Brazil" and found many other great songs with wonderful sound.



3. The Essential Johnny Mathis is a splendid two CD set that is an absolute must have for fans of the great Johnny Mathis. The sound quality is excellent and I like the artwork.
   
   "Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)" starts the first CD with Johnny crooning just as well as any crooner ever could! The arrangement highlights Johnny's vocals and this suits me just fine. Johnny handles this tune with sophistication. "When Sunny Gets Blue" features Johnny with a lush musical arrangement; his voice is as smooth as silk. "It's Not For Me To Say" is a Johnny Mathis classic; he aces this number and it's gorgeous to hear! "Wonderful! Wonderful!" stuns me with its beauty; and listen also for "Chances Are." "Chances Are" is a rather romantic number that features Johnny front and center; it's beautiful when he delivers this so flawlessly.
   
   "A Certain Smile" again features Johnny's excellent vocal talents and the arrangement makes good use of the strings; and there's also "Misty." "Misty" is easily worth the price of this CD set alone; I love every minute of it! "What Will My Mary Say" is another huge hit for Johnny Mathis; he bats this one straight out of the ballpark! Awesome!
   
   The first CD ends with Johnny singing "The Look Of Love." Johnny never sings a superfluous note and this really impresses me.
   
   The second CD continues the hits. "I'm Coming Hone" is a fantastic tune and Johnny sings this with panache, heart and soul. "What I Did For Love," a song from A Chorus Song, showcases Johnny's vocal talents as he sings this with great sensitivity. "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" is a beautiful duet between Johnny and Deniece Williams; their voices complement each other perfectly and I love it!
   
   "Begin The Beguine" is a particularly fine number and it shines like gold when Johnny sings it; and listen for Johnny on "What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life?" This ballad was always one of my very favorite love songs; and Johnny delivers this like the pro he was and remains! "Because You Loved Me" is also a number I really like. Great!
   
   "Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries" may not be the newest song on this two CD set; but Johnny makes it sound fresh and new as he sings this with a lot of style! The second CD ends with Johnny performing "On Broadway." Johnny covers this song with a somewhat jazzy arrangement and the backup singers bolster Johnny's exquisite delivery of this ballad.
   
   Overall, this two CD set is guaranteed to make Johnny Mathis fans smile! This is also a wonderful package for those of us who enjoy classic pop vocals and even a few of the "oldies."
   
   Thank you, Johnny!



4. The emotion Johnny Mathis exudes when he sings takes my breath away...he is a gift to music...



5. This is a great start to exploring the beauty of the velvet voiced wonder. Highly recommended compilation of one of the truly great singer-stylists of the century, Mr. Johnny Mathis. Experience the legend of a remarkable vocalist!

No comments about The Marvelous Wonderettes.

5 comments about Camelot: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1967 Film).

1. If you follow my reviews you will find that I enjoy newer, less classical musicals usually. HOWEVER, Camelot was certainly enjoyable to listen to. The songs are enjoyable and give a nice outline of the show, the singers are pleasant, the lyrics are pleasing and clever. While listening to the two recordings of Camelot I own, I decided that this recording is better than the Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast) 1960 recording. I came to this conclusion because the singers on this album have more personality which makes the show more real for the listener. I am in no way saying the 1960 recording isn't good, this one is just better. Fav song: "If Ever I Should Leave You"



2. While Camelot, the movie, is magical, gorgeous, and heartbreaking, get the OBC for the music. It is a classic and Franco Nero can't hold a candle to Robert Goulet singing If Ever I Would Leave You.
   
   But if you want to watch a great romantic movie, this is it.



3. This, the soundtrack for the movie, featuring Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave is far superior to that made from the Broadway production (Richard Burton and Julie Anderews). Harris and Redgrave 'act' even while singing - Andrews is too pure a singer to allow much emoting beyond pure tones, and Burton...should really have stuck to speaking.



4. This was a present for someone else and they let me know there was nothing wrong with it.



5. Saw this movie with my husband before we were married. Loved the movie and enjoyed the record album for years. Record album disappeared along with the record player. Three years ago my husband passed away. Was so pleased to get this CD and be able to hear these songs again. Listening to the wonderful music on this soundtrack brings back many memories of happier times.

5 comments about Man of La Mancha: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Album (Original 1965 Broadway Cast).

1. I found the album version of this in college and loved everything about it, from the edgy Aldonza to the humorous Sancho. Beware, the album had much of the play's dialog on it which the CD lacks. Even so I'm happy to have the music back in my collection. My family appropriately thinks I'm a little crazy as I sing along loudly when I listen to the music.



2. Man of La Mancha accomplishes the impossible! Turning Cervantes classic (at least part of it) into a musical that works has to be a near miracle. The writers tried for years to get producers interested in it, but to no avail, no body beleived a musical version of Don Quixote could possibly work...well the rest is history. MOLM is one of the greatest American musicals. The book perfectly incorporates Cervantes story into musical form. The score is breathtaking, with Dulcinea and, of course, The Impossible Dream becoming two of the most beautiful songs written for the theater. Every word and every note work and further the story. Richard Kiley and Joan Diener's performances are now legendary, others in revivals come close, but no one can beat their original performances.
   A glorious recording!!!!



3. I finally wore out the cassette I had of this recording, bought in 1982. It is definitely the best of all the casts that are out there- I'm going to have to get the CD!



4. I was hooked on "Man of LaMancha" when I heard excerpts played on the radio in the mid-60s. I enjoyed adding "The Impossible Dream" to my personal repertoire.I was enthralled by a dinner theater staging I saw in the early 70s. And, like most, I was greatly disappointed by the movie version.
   Richard Kiley had already proved himself an exceptional singing actor in "Kismet" and "No Strings," but it was "Man of LaMancha" that really brought him the recognition he deserved.
   Mitch Leigh has written a fabulous score. The contrast from the pensive "To Each His Dulcinea" to the humorous " I Really Like Him" to the emotional "Impossible Dream" is enough to keep almost anyone's attention. The interplay between/among voices in "I, Don Quixote" and "I'm Only Thinking of Him" is glorious. It is too bad that Leigh proved to be a "one-hit wonder," although, personally, I like "Cry for Us All."
   The musical play itself deserves all the raves it has received. And the original cast recording merits all its positive reviews.



5. What more can be said about this timeless classic. Richard Kiley's best, I saw him in the original on Broadway, what a keepsake. People who see this show don't usually go once, they go 3-5-7 times.

5 comments about The Wizard Of Oz: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - The Deluxe Edition.

1. My only complaint may be that this collection has too much on it. I never realized how many songs are played in the background and not in the forefront of the movie. Thoroughly entertaining and well worth the money.



2. I absolutly love this set. It has all the songs and music from the movie, plus music to scenes that have been cut. It feels a little like watching an uncut version of the movie (with no visuals or dialogue). Of course, the main attractions are the songs heard in the movie. Even if you just want the songs, this set is great (although a four rating would be more appropriate if you only want songs). My only complaints involve the two WInkie songs on the set: The March of the Winkies do not include the 'Oh ee Oh' chant, and the reprise of Ding-Dong with the Winkies lost the background music and all but the lead singer. Other than that, this is a great set.



3. This is IT, folks! The ULTIMATE Wizard of OZ (aka, WOO) soundtrack/score album!
   
   Man, this is just Beautiful, believe me! What's amazing to me is how a man of 60 years (almost) has this bank in his brain for so many elements from this absolutely magnificent film. (How the Hell could Gone With the Wind have even been considered as "Best Picture" against this Timeless Classic? I think the intervening years have proven the "MPA" very wrong on this one. There is no way that this picture, and it's most wonderful musical soundtrack/score do not go to the top of the "Best Movies of All Time" list. Right up there right behind "Citizen Kane", which would make it #2, I believe.
   
   The folks at Rhino Records have taken this material and have lovingly and carefully cleaned it all up, and remastered it with the utmost care, and then, they have created a truly beautiful, deluxe package to "keep" it in! Those of us who treasure all things "OZ", especially from the movie, will find themselves thinking "I wish I'd bought this before!" You will be so pleased when you hear things that have never been released before from the score on records, LP's, previous CD's, etc. Truly a Priceless Album that you will delight in and treasure. What a treat when one is having a "bad day" to pop this into their player and be transported to the wonderful land of "Oz" for an hour and a half.....the best stress reliever I know! Order yourself a copy of this beautifully packaged and presented set, and ENJOY! ~operabruin



4. A lot of the extra songs are just meadley's of the hits but if you are a huge fan there are some neat audio goodies.



5. great great great condition and great price
   
   thank you

5 comments about Surrender.

1. I'm not a big ALW fan but his x-wife's singing turns his pompous, melodramatic works into sincere and romantic love songs.



2. Very happy in general with this CD and Sara's beautiful voice. A mixture of musical selections that wear well.



3. This CD is simply amazing! I prefer this album over "Dive" because Brightman sticks to what she knows best - which is opera! Surrender, Unexpected Song, Chanson D'efance, Tell Me on a Sunday, and Nothing Like You've Ever Known are simply brilliant and beautiful pieces music! Sadly, I do not prefer the 2 songs from Cats - about Macavaty and Gus. They really do not seem to fit to Brightman's style of music, for they are more outgoing! However, Memory from Cats (in Italian) is beautiful with soaring octaves! Everything's Alright is genius, with a 5/4 tempo, and it makes the song amazing. Pie Jesu is a beautiful piece, but I prefer Charlotte Church singing it. Brightman's vocals show to much vibrato, and it makes the song seem annoying! Amigos Para Siempre and the Spanish version of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" are fairly decent pieces from Brightman. If you love the Brightman from "The Phantom of the Opera", then buy this album!!!



4. The first couple of songs were fair the next few were crap and the next were hogwash and the last showed how a beautiful voice could crumble with lousy songs chosen for her Terrible ablum especially for 30.00 really terrible



5. I surrendered ..... you should too!

   This album is just incredible. As I'm sure you already know, this is a collection of Sarah singing the works of brilliant composer (and ex-husband) Andrew Lloyd Webber.

   Sarah just takes my breath away. Her technique is incredible and her voice is perfect- which I unfortunately can't say for all of her albums. Her Spanish pronunciation is nothing short of amazing on one of the album's highlights, 'No Llores por Mi Argentina', 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' from 'Evita' in Spanish. Another incredible highlight is 'Piano', 'Memory' from 'Cats' in Italian. Sarah really throws herself into it and it comes out sounding almost like an operatic aria. If you're looking for her famous 'Music of the Night' that's here too, as well as a brand new version of 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again', which definitely improves on the already fantastic version that's on the 'Phantom of the Opera' cast recording. 'Macavity: The Mystery Cat' from 'Cats' shows off a whole new side to Sarah's voice. When I first heard it I was amazed! I couldn't believe that it was Sarah singing it. Other amazing highlights (for me at least) are 'Unexpected Song' from 'Song and Dance', 'Tell Me On a Sunday' from the musical of the same name, and 'The Last Man in my Life' from 'Song and Dance'.

   The album includes fantastic liner notes explaining each song and the musical that it's from, courtesy of Andrew Lloyd Webber himself, and some really cool behind the scenes pictures. I strongly urge you to buy this album even if you already own the 'Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection'. I don't own that album myself, but from what I understand, it's basically a repackaging of this with a few song changes and different pictures. I'll probably buy it to get the songs that I don't have one of these days .....

   I adore this album. All Sarah Brightman, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and musical theater fans in general need this. In my opinion it's one of Sarah's 3 best works, (the other two being 'La Luna' and 'Time to Say Goodbye'.) Of course, with Sarah's huge and varied discography, your opinion is bound to differ from mine but I'm saying mine anyway.

   This album is one of my top favorites of all time. It's worth every penny. Buy it- you won't regret it.

5 comments about You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999 Broadway Revival Cast).

1. I can be rather picky when it comes to Broadway musicals, but You're a Good Man Charlie Brown is at the top of my list along with Wicked and Phantom of the Opera. Mix great vocalists and performers with funny lyrics and catchy tunes, you've got You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. A light-hearted show, I would recommend this musical to anyone who loves Peanuts, Broadway, or hilarious and entertaining songs.



2. Broadway revival cast albums are a tricky thing -- how do you make something fresh, while not copying the original, and not making a mess of it, either?
   
   This 1999 revival cast of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN is fairly decent. The arrangements have life, the performances are enthusiastic, and the humor is simple and clear.
   
   Anthony Rapp, Roger Bart, and the fabulous Kristin Chenoweth do a great job. A little silly, a little cartoonish, and perfectly suited for the material.
   
   Unfortunately, a few of the other performers aren't well-suited for this music. Ilana Levine is a little TOO over-the-top and comes across as inauthentic, and B.D. Wong just has too much vibrato to be playing a young boy.
   
   If you're looking for only one recording of this terrific musical, I'd suggest you go with the original Broadway cast. But if you're a fan of the musical (or of any of these performers), this is a good addition to your collection.



3. I was a little suprised to get a CD not in original case...but it played



4. "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" is a classic Broadway musical. This CD is wonderfully well-done and brings back fond memories of when I saw it on stage as a little girl. This is the revival cast including Kristin Chenoweth as Sally Brown who won the Tony for her performance. All of the cast members sing their hearts out and do a superb job. This CD is great for ALL ages...young or old. It can be a great introduction to musicals for your little ones. Highly recommended!!



5. This is a very fun musical. My children, ages 3 and 6, love it and sing along!

5 comments about 16 Most Requested Songs.

1. This CD of beautiful ballads by the silvery voice of Johnny Mathis took me right back to another time with timeless songs. I was not disappointed!



2. With a voice like beautiful and sensuous velvet Johnny Mathis weaves his magic on every track.



3. I was only 14 in 1958 when Johnny Mathis was running up a string of pop hits that resulted in a "Greatest Hits" LP staying on the best-seller charts for more than three years. This disc gives you that album and a few bonus cuts. We are no longer in a clean love song/sentimental era in music, but rather one with overt sexuality rampant and voices that seem to fit rapists rather than seducers. So, while the arrangements and the vocal stylings you'll hear on this one may seem dated, don't let that lead you into thinking that the songs are not usually first-rate or that Mr. Mathis was not a highly skilled artist. In many ways, we as a society are to be pitied because of the lost innocence about love and dating and courtship these tunes represent. No "hooking up" here. No confusing the terms "first date" with "all night sexual romp" or "cohabitation" and "marriage." Some people laugh at the Mathis manner with a lyric these days. Johnny laughed all the way to several banks.



4. I really enjoy the music on this CD. It also arrived in good shape and in a timely manner.



5. You can't go wrong with any of Johnny Mathis' music. The CD is fantastic.

2 comments about A Kiss To Build A Dream On.

1. A delightful mixture of familiar and unfamiliar songs beautifully sung by Jessica Molaskey, joined occasionally by her husband, John Pizzarelli. Accompanied by a great quartet, the music sings and swings. Obscure items like "Happy Habit" and "Everybody Loves Louie" and some originals give the whole disc a fresh flavor.



2. I program several radio stations. I am stunned at what I hear on this CD. Listen to the Pizzarelli family take on Les Paul and Mary Ford!!! Hello Sunshine Hello is simply incredible!!! Buy this Cd at any cost!!! It is unforgettable.

5 comments about The Essential Barbra Streisand.

1. Even if you are just a casual Streisand fan this CD is a must. And if you are more than just a casual fan you'll love this CD. Puts all her best at your fingertips. No need to carry a bunch of CDs with you, this one is all you need.



2. Her voice has never been matched by anyone, ever. She has a range and smooth delivery with a personality that always makes you feel better just by listening. A must have!



3. Listening to Barbra Streisand's voice it's no mystery why she has sold millions of cd's according to the Recording Industry (RIAA) and Nielsen SoundScan. Included in this set is her last Top Ten Hit on "The Billboard Hot 100", "I Finally Found Someone" a duet with Bryan Adams (from her movie "The Mirror Has Two Faces") She's won multiple Grammy's and an Academy Award for her music, multiple Emmy's for her various television work (and her February 14, 2001 Fox/TV concert special had 8.7 million viewers according to Nielsen Media Research) She won an Academy Award for her role in the movie "Funny Girl" (tied with Katharine Hepburn) and received a Tony for her Broadway work. She's also well known for her political work, including her support of Hillary Clinton for President, Hillary Clinton went on to receive more votes than any other Presidential primary candidate in history.



4. For anyone out there who's a Barbra Streisand fan, this 2-set CD is a must-have! I may not necessarily agree w/ Barbra's political views, but I certainly love her voice and acting abilities.
   
   I believe Barbra Streisand is a musical icon, and all should know who she is. This album is a masterpiece of all her greats, and I was especially happy to know that two of the Yentl songs were on this album. What a great movie that was!
   
   You'll love this CD-set! Enjoy!
   
   Debbie



5. I love this album. It is one of my favorites. The disco type song "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" with Donna Summer is a great 70s one. "The Way We Were" is a great slow song from 70s. Check out "Woman in Love" which is my favorite song by her. It is really just an amazing love song. "Memory" which is from the musical CATS she really sings well. A lot of other songs on here that are really good. She has such a great voice any song she sings sounds great. Sample them all. A great purchase.