1 comments about John Murray Anderson's Almanac And Other Broadway-London Revues: Cast Recording.

1. I owned this many years ago and made a tape from it--which has gone the way of all old tapes, so it was a delight to discover this available on CD. Of course there's a ton of references that kiddies won't get--like Hermione Gingold's first impression of New York "First the harbor, then the skyline--and that enormous statue of Judith Anderson." But there's no dating of her hilarious "The Borgias are having an orgy" and her song for a drug musical, "Cocaine." If you appreciate old revue songs (remember songs? those things with melodies and words you can hear over the crash, crash, crash of the tom-toms?), and you have a sense of humor, you'll get a genuine kick out of this charming old collection.

5 comments about The Secret Garden.

1. I am very familiar with three different casts for Lucy Simon's "Secret Garden", the Original Broadway Cast, with Daisy Eagan and Patinkin; the Aussie Cast, with Anthony Warlow and Philip Quast (both of Les Mis fame); and this, the London Cast.
   
   Honestly, of the three, this is my least favourite. Were I to create a dream cast, I would add John Cameron Mitchell, Luker, and Eagan to the Aussie cast. While I loved Quast in this, Mary was too "American Idol" for me, and Luker's oddly haunting lilt was lacking. Eagan's petulance and fundamental "childishness" was also abscent. While this version more closely tracks the book, it lacks in many other areas. If you want the book; buy the book or the motion picture. If you want the show; go with the American or Aussie versions (though the Aussie cast can be difficult to find).



2. This is not the one I had hoped to get. I had a Secret Garden cassette years ago that I have misplaced and was hoping this was it. It was not.
   So...I ordered another one (different cover) and it was worse!! No vocals at all. I give up.



3. A friend lent me this recording of "The Secret Garden," and I have to say I was very underwhelmed. Phillip Quast, who I loved on the "Les Miserables" Symphonic Recording, just sound like he's capable of the vocal demands of the role of Archibald Craven. Most of his songs on this recording are in noticably lower keys than the original, which, for me, robs the songs of their emotional impact, or power. Also, at times he seems to be trying too hard to be "emotional." For me, this was a disappointing version of this wonderful show.



4. I bought this CD because it got a couple of very high ratings but it's really not that good. The arrangements are all new and though I do like some of them for the most part I found this version of the musical to be hollow and soulless. Songs that I really liked in the original are no where to be found. To begin with 'Clusters of Crocus' is completely gone which really disappointed me as I found it a hauntingly beautiful doorway into the world of 'The Secret Garden.' 'The House Upon the Hill' is also missing which is a great shame because I felt it set the stage of Misselthwaite Manor perfectly. 'There's A Man' is gone as well robbing you of a great deal of insight into the characters of Archie, Neville, Lily and Rose. And most of the songs that remain are somehow missing something essential. 'If I Had A Fine White Horse' has lost it's charm, 'Winter's on the Wing' has lost it's wonder, 'Wick' has no magic, and most terrible of all, 'How Could I Ever Know' is devoid of it's ethereal enchantment. As for the performers, I think Daisy Eagan from the original Broadway cast made a far better Mary in regards to acting and singing. And the Lily on this album is a pale shadow of the remarkable performance given by Rebecca Luker in the Broadway version. Alison Fraser and John Cameron Mitchell from the Broadway cast also made a better Martha and Dickon. As I said I did like some of the new arrangements, 'Prologue,' 'Garden Suite 1' and 'The Storm' for example. And I did like some of the performances on this CD, Colin is actually better and Archie is very good though he lacks a bit of Mandy Patinkin's panache. However, the majority of the songs are definitely inferior to what you find on the Original Broadway Cast recording. So, unless you are an absolute 'Secret Garden' diehard don't waste your money on this, get the Broadway version of the musical.



5. Both versions of The Secret Garden came into my possession at the same time without prior knowledge of the show. I listened to the Broadway version first, and after it, I was quite disappointed. The soprano scoops, and has a horrid accent. Her voice is pretty and pure, but too scoopy from note to note. Colin goes flat and then sharp too often to be ignored. Mary is wonderful, though a little scoopy, but not to where it interferes with her voice. Archibald I could not get past as a tenor, for such a dark and brooding character having him as a tenor takes all the power out of his part. I didn't find Mandy Patinkin's portrayal strong enough. I also found Martha and Dickon's accents too abrasive to be able to enjoy their parts.
   I then listened to the RSC version, and was quite impressed with their version of the musical, in thanks for the most part to a large scale re-working by the composer and lyricist for the London premier. While one really should not compare the two because they are so different, it is hard not to because the show has been so much improved.
   The best improved character is Archibald Craven, played here by Philip Quast. Thankfully Mr. Quast shies away from the soulless Patinkin version, especially in Where in the World. The Patinkin version seems to drag, while Quast drives it forward with force. He adds an intensity to the part that was lacking in the Broadway recording. Lowering the part adds something that was missing from the character. I normally love Mr Patinkin, but this part fares much better with Mr Quast in the role.
   Martha and Dickon fare much better as well- their accents are pleasant to hear, not harsh as they are in the Broadway version. The only problem with Dickon is that sometimes he sounds a little insane, but for the most part I find him much improved.
   Some do not like Meredith Braun's Lily, but I find her quite nice. She sounds young to be sure, but I thought that was one of the characteristics of Lily, as they always referred to her as young. She floats easily up to most of the highest notes and has a light tone that fits the part quite well. She doesn't scoop up to any of the notes, which is a relief, and, though a little weak in a few places, she does quite a good job with her part overall.
   Moving the song Lily's Eyes to the second act also strengthens the plot, because it seems to fit so much better there. Also, Mr Quast and Mr Patterson's version seems more electrically charged and therefore more powerful. Also, since the part of Archibald was lowered for Mr Quast, the song becomes a duet for baritones, which is an anomaly in theatre, yet quite strong in this case- much more so than having it as a duet between a tenor and baritone.
   Overall, each of the songs seem to be more driven, while on the Broadway recording they seem to lag ever so slightly behind the beat. The singers I found to be much more impressive, and the entire quality to be richer. I would recommend this version over the Broadway cast in an instant.

5 comments about Call Me Madam (1995 Broadway Concert Cast).

1. As we all know "Call Me Madam" role was originated by the great Ethel Merman and we were happy to hear Tyne Daly took on this part. We (my mom and I) purchased this CD being fans of the talented Tyne Daly. Her role is that of US ambassador Sally Adams and her voice stays in a Southwestern accent for all of the songs. We have a couple of favorite songs on here which are "Washington Square Dance" and "Hostess with the Mostes' on the Ball". Another song we like is "Can You Use Any Money Today?" It doesn't disappoint and all of the singing is good. The whole cast does a wonderful job on this musical. Like when she did "Gypsy" on Broadway this lady proved she can sing. This album has all the Broadway sounds and is a great purchase!



2. Listening to this musical I must admit it isn't bad. It's just old fasioned. If you like old type musicals then this is probably for you. If your into the new pop stuff don't be fooled into thinking this is for you. As far as the singing goes, this has some good singers on it. Infact I loved listening to "It's a Lovely Day Today" when I have heard many a bad rendition. This musical is also a nice blend of ballads, a duet, and chorus/dance numbers. It is definitly a traditional piece. Some of the lyrics are cheesey, but again that fits in with the time period. So bottom line, if your into the campy old-broadway, this is fo you! Favortie song: "Once Upon A Time Today"



3. When we were kids, my younger sister and I drove the family crazy with our renditions of "It's a Lovely Day Today," "You're Just in Love," and "The Ocarina" - three tunes from this Irving Berlin Broadway hit that I can still remember all of the words to. In addition, the score included "The Hostess with the Mostes' on the Ball" (who can forget Ethel Merman's peerles version of this one?) and the topical (at the time) "They Like Ike." Among the Tony Awards conferred on the show were those for Mr. Berlin, Ms. Merman, and for Russell Nype, who played the part of Kenneth Gibson. After the show completed its 644-performance run at the Imperial Theatre, Parmount Pictures went against traditional Hollywood wisdom and cast Ms. Merman in the film version, with Donald O'Connor filling in for Mr. Nype.
   
   No need to go into the reasons why an authentic original cast album was never released. What a loss! But thanks to City Center's Encores! and DRG, we have a pretty darn good recording of the score, which, I think, is Berlin's best for Broadway. Sure, he'll always be remembered for ANNIE, GET YOUR GUN, but Berlin was truly at the top of his form with MADAM. In addition to those songs already mentioned, there's "Lichtenberg" ("Too small to be a city, too big to be a town. Too poor to have an army and too easy to knock down"), "Can You Use Any Money Today?" ("Home in the states underground there's a cave full of gold. Back up a truck and we'll fill it with all it can hold. Take ten million and please don't fuss. If you find it can't be spent/You can lend it right back to us/And we'll pay you seven percent"), "Marrying for Love" ("If she must have gold, let it be in her hair. Rubies, let them be in her lips. Diamonds, let them shine in her eyes"), "The Best Thing for You (Would Be Me)," "Something To Dance About," and "Once upon a Time Today" ("But she was a princess/He was just a guy/So there was the royal devil to pay"). In addition to "Mrs. Sally Adams," the choral ensemble gets to shine in several numbers, and what other show features a sweet potato (ocarina) ensemble?
   
   No, Tyne Daly is not Ethel Merman and, yes, she has pitch problems. And sometimes she gives the impression that she is just walking through her part, but all in all, it's not a bad performance. Walter Charles makes a fine Cosmo Constantine, Melissa Errico is a sweet-voiced Princess Maria, Lewis Cleale sweetly sings the part of Kenneth Gibson (especially on "Once Upon a Time Today"), and MacIntyre Dixon, Christopher Durang & Ken Page have a high time with "They Like Ike" ("A Republican President? That's against the law!").
   
   Were it not for the so-so performance of Ms. Daly, the album would receive a 5-star rating. Too bad the producers didn't cast Kim Criswell instead.
   
   Highly Recommended.



4. A belter should have a brash, pingy and IN TUNE sound. Tyne Daly cannot sustain a pitch without a serious dip in intonation to save her life. She does okay as long as the line keeps moving, but G*d forbid she should have to hold a note. She ruined the ON THE TOWN recording, particularly "Some other time" for the very same reason.



5. CALL ME MADAM was a hit on Broadway in the 1950s starring Ethel Merman, but has been sadly neglected since then. In 1995, the musicals-in-concert series Encores! staged CALL ME MADAM and placed Tony-winner Tyne Daly in the lead role of Sally Adams, the "Hostess with the Mostes' on the Ball"!

   Tyne Daly's voice sounds much better here than on the 1989 revival-album of GYPSY (where she again played an Ethel Merman-originated role), and is at her best with "The Best Thing For You", "The Hostess with the Mostes' on the Ball" and "You're Just in Love" (the score's singular hit song).

   Also in the cast are Melissa Errico (still one of Broadway's most under-rated stars), Lewis Cleale, John Leslie Wolfe, Christopher Durang, Ken Page and MacIntyre Dixon.

   As usual, Rob Fisher conducts the Coffee Club Orchestra beautifully, while the sound-quality is superb. This was the first Encores! cast-album released in the series.

1 comments about Songs From The Hit Broadway Musical AVENUE Q (Accompaniment 2-CD Set).

1. To begin with, this is a great CD, it has many great songs from the show. But IT IS NOT A KARAOKE CD! It is an accompaniment CD, it has no video display lyrics. I would like to see this product re-labeled in the future.

4 comments about Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook.

1. Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook is a single CD with a whopping twenty-six songs, all wonderfully performed by the great Tony Bennett. Tony's voice is in excellent form throughout this album; and the music that accompanies him is very fine as well. The quality of the sound is excellent and that cover art is very nicely done.
   
   "This Can't Be Love" gets a fine treatment from Tony who plays with the tempo and keys a bit to put his own mark on this classic ballad. The musical interlude is very jazzy but it still works wonders for "This Can't Be Love." What a great start for this album! "The Lady Is A Tramp" also gets the royal, jazzy treatment from Tony and the musicians as they sing and play this to perfection--and beyond! Tony's excellent diction bolsters his performance and he never misses a beat, either! In addition, Tony makes good on "Manhattan;" this classic love song that is so optimistic truly shines just as brightly all these years later--and I love every minute of it. "Isn't It Romantic?" is another favorite tune of mine on this album; Tony gives this so much feeling that I'm convinced that Rodgers and Hart would both be so proud!
   
   "I Could Write A Book" features Tony Bennett squarely in the spotlight--right where he belongs! "I Could Write A Book" has a very, very pretty melody and this enchants me quite a bit. "Thou Swell" is another highlight of this album; and I'm sure you'll enjoy this timeless ballad very much. "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" has such a gentle treatment from Tony Bennett that I'm truly very impressed; and the horn works great for the musical arrangement, too. "You Took Advantage Of Me" is a number I have always liked; and when Tony sings it this number glows brilliantly!
   
   "My Heart Stood Still" is another charming love ballad with a fine musical arrangement; and listen for "My Romance." "My Romance" features Tony's vocals squarely front and center--and that's all right by me! "This can't Be Love" has an alternative arrangement that also sounds quite strong; and other extra tracks include "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" and "I Wish I Were In Love Again."
   
   Tony Bennett could always sing with the best of them--and he's still going strong! We are all so much better off for his sharing his talents with us. Tony Bennett fans will love this CD; and people who like music by Rodgers and Hart will want this,



2. "This album is a marriage of music, taste and performance. Tony Bennett, one of America's finest entertainers, loves, admires, respects and cherishes the constantly surprising refrains in the brilliant matching of Rodgers and Hart. They are, without argument, the definitive collaborators of the truly Golden Age of the Broadway Musical. You recognize love and respect in every decibel, the timbre of Tony Bennett's tones, his perfect interpretations. Ruby Braff's flawless cornet, George Barnes' matchless guitar together with Wayne Wright and John Giufrida, form a sparkling setting for Tony's gem-like performance." ~ Jack O'Brian ~
   
   I agree with what Jack O'Brian has written on the brief Liner Notes on this double delight twofer, "Tony Bennett Sings The Rodgers and Hart Songbook," a combination of two LP records compiled and remastered in one CD, which presents the very best of Richard Rodgers' charming and timeless music, and Lorenz Hart's meaningful lyrics. The first ten tracks were taken from the album "Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers and Hart Songs," and the rest of the tracks were taken from "Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers and Hart."
   
   I simply love the sound of a cornet that's why I'm drawn to this CD. Ruby Braff is a fine cornetist and I share Mr. O'Brian's sentiment about his playing, flawless, that is! I began to appreciate the beautiful sound of a cornet when I first heard Michael Feinstein's astounding version of "Darn That Dream" featuring a solo cornet by Warren Vaché on a stunning two-CD-set, Romance on Film/Romance on Broadway. The bass and guitar works can't simply be ignored and I applaud the fine musicians who made it spectacular - George Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitars and John Giufrida on bass.
   
   Even with sparse instrumentations and without an orchestral setting, the Emmy and Grammy winning crooner still shines in all his renditions and I believe that it's a clear testament that he can deliver outstanding interpretations in any setting, be it with a trio, a quartet, or an orchestra. He is a consummate artist -- a great singer with a unique voice, and not to mention that he is also a creative and remarkable painter. It is a known-fact that Mr. Bennett loves to sing and to paint and this is especially true with the recent released of his book, Tony Bennett in the Studio: A Life of Art & Music.
   
   My personal favorites include "My Romance," "I Could Write A Book," which includes a seldom-recorded intro verse, "Isn't It Romantic," the opener "This Can't Be Love," which sets the tone of this lovely CD, and of course "Manhattan."
   
   "I'd like to take a sail on Jamaica Bay with you
   The fair Canarsie's Lake we'll view
   The city's bustle cannot destroy
   The dreams of a boy and girl
   We'll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy."
   
   When you think of some of the enduring songs by Rodgers and Hart, consider this CD and I can assure you that it will be a wonderful listening experience. This is Tony Bennett at his prime and at some of his very best renderings! It is also a good introduction to the timeless music of this great songwriting pair.
   
   With my heartfelt recommendation for a lovely listen.



3. 
   Really enjoy this Tony Bennett CD
   So Smooth and very relaxing, we love It. 4 Stars.
   
   Eve and John



4. This is the long-overdue CD reissue of Tony Bennett's treatments of 20 Rodgers & Hart songs in 1973 on a pair of LPs for the Improv label. The new version remasters those 20, plus six never-before-issued tunes, on one CD for some splendid listening. Bennett's voice, of course, was much better then than it is now, but he still had the same enthusiasm and skill. The bonus is the splendid accompaniment by trumpeter Ruby Braff and guitarist George Barnes, who recorded some of these tunes as instrumentals on the Concord label a few years after doing them with Bennett. I was struck by the similarity of some of Bennett's treatments to those of Ella Fitzgerald when she recorded Rodgers and Hart for Norman Granz on the Verve label. It's not imitation, though; instead, it's evidence that two great singers felt the same inspirations for dealing with these priceless tunes. This album will earn a spot in your easy-listening rotation for a long time. It's great to have it now on one CD.

5 comments about Gypsy: A Musical Fable (1959 Original Broadway Cast).

1. I had this LP many years ago. I had forgotten just how great this show was. It's better than any of the Rodgers and Hammerstein shows that also were so great during this era. It was the right vehicle to showcase Merman. Nobody else could do like her the new version with Patti Lapone pales in comparsion.



2. The rhythm of the score is very attractive about the music
   The slight sensual flare to several of the songs from this musical about a strip-tease has a toned down feel, yet still communicates the ordeal
   The vocal quality is perfect with practically no (I don't hear any) mistakes makes it more interesting
   All the songs are in the right place; no non-sequitor
   I love this musical



3. WHERE is the comparison???
   
   This is an amazing document of WHAT Broadway [and musicals] should be all about.
   
   The rest?
   
   Pale imitations - see track # 16!



4. Totally agree with the other reviewer who wrote about the overture. There is an overture from one other musical that comes close - "Funny Girl" - another Jule Styne score :-) As for "Gypsy", there is no point listing highlights. The entire score is magnificent!!!



5. In the beginning, God created the heavens, the earth, and the overture to "Gypsy." This is still one of the greatest cast recordings in the whole Broadway pantheon. Sheer bliss.

2 comments about Mel Tormé Meets the British: The London Recordings 1956-1957.

1. I own a dozen or more Torme CDs. He is my favorite singer. But this album is his worst, among the ones I own. Why? 1) Most people today have never heard of most of the songs; 2) The tempo is too slow.
   
   A matter of taste, I suppose. I recommend these Torme albums instead:
   1) The Bethlehem Years
   2) Torme
   3) Round Midnight
   4) That's All
   5) Swingin' On The Moon



2. Mel Torme was in his prime in the mid-50s, but somehow this remarkable album has never been released in the U.S. before. The first 12 tracks are the album proper that he recorded with the great British arranger Wally Stott. Wait 'til you hear Mel swing "The White Cliffs of Dover"! This was also the first time that Mel recorded the gorgeous ballad "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," and he would sing it for the rest of his career. And then there's the daringly homoerotic folk ballad "Geordie," unlike anything Mel ever sang again, stunning in its dramatic impact. You also get eight bonus tracks that were recorded in England the year before, with various arrangers. This is a major discovery, and bravo to Sepia Records for finally bringing it to these shores.

5 comments about Greatest Songs.

1. I have owned this CD for many years and I am surprised that no one has reviewed it here before. If you are a fan of Sinatra, then you owe it to yourself to check out the music of his friends and contemporaries, like Sammy Davis Jr. This is a really nice live album by Davis, along with, I think George Rhodes and the All Stars. They do an awesome and moving version of Mr Bogangles that is is far better than the studio version. At such a low price, this CD is a bargain that you'll be happy you picked up. Great atmosphere, well recorded, and a loving audience are all present in this excellent live recording.



2. You will notice that the title of this CD is "Greatest Songs" as opposed to "Greatest Hits" or "Best Of." That way Curb can't be accused of misleading the buyer into thinking that these are all original versions of his hit singles. To make sure this is understood they then add "the Original Recording of The Candy Man Plus his Greatest Performances."
   
   In the event you still weren't certain it only takes a second to realize that tracks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 were not Billboard hits for Sammy. Great performances in some of his LPs perhaps, but not hits.
   
   Gonna Build A Mountain was the B-side to the single of What Kind Of Fool Am I? and with regard to their performances here I can't say for certain that these two are not the original single versions which had the backing of Marty Paich & His Orchestra in 1962. There is certainly nothing inside the package to tell you one way or the other - in fact there are no liner notes at all which is par for the course when it comes to Curb. The only thing I DO know is that they are not live performances like the other tracks.
   
   Surprisingly, it's not easy to find all of Sammy's hit singles which he had for Decca [9 from 1954 to 1956], Reprise [8 from 1962 to 1968], MGM [5 from 1972 to 1974], and 20th Century (3 in 1975/76).
   
   Among the hardest [or rather impossible] to find from his Decca years are: The Red Grapes (# 28 in late 1954 with the Sy Oliver orchestra); I'll Know [# 87 in 1955 with the Jack Pleis orchestra from Guys And Dolls]; Five [# 71 in 1956 with the Morty Stevens orchestra]; Earthbound (# 46 in 1956, again with Jack Pleis); and New York's My Home [# 59 in 1956 with Jack Pleis, from Gordon Jenkins' 1946 musical Stop The World, I Want To Get Off).
   
   Difficult selections to find from his Reprise years include: Me And My Shadow [a # 64 duet with Frank Sinatra in 1962]; The Shelter Of Your Arms [# 7 Adult Contemporary (AC)/# 17 Hot 100 in 1963], Don't Blame The Children [# 37 in 1967]; and Lonely Is The Name (# 12 AC/# 93 Hot 100 in 1967).
   
   Another is The People Tree, [# 16 AC/# 92 Hot 100 in 1972] and, as with The Candy Man, done with The Mike Curb Congregation and Don Costa & His Orchestra. Now, wouldn't you think that that would have been a logical choice for inclusion in a Curb CD?
   
   An entertainer as important as Sammy should not have his songs presented in cheap 10-selection CDs with no liner notes. What we need here is the Ace Records of London, Bear Family, Rhino, Eric, or Varese-Sarabande treatment. In the meantime, we shouldn't be handing out 4 and 5 stars just BECAUSE it's Sammy Davis, Jr.



3. People can agree or disagree on whether or not the songs on this CD are really his very best; but there's no disagreement on this: this is a whopper of a CD! Each and every song packs a punch as only Sammy could sing them; and this CD proves it.
   
   The CD begins with what was probably his best selling single ever: "The Candy Man." Sammy is ably assisted with backups by the wonderful Mike Curb Congregation choir. This song has a universal appeal to the child in all of us; we all want to be treated well and to have some kindly grown up hand out candy--just because!
   
   Other songs that thrilled me were "Bye Bye Blackbird;" the show stopping classic "Lady Is A Tramp;" "Mr. Bojangles;" and "The Birth Of The Blues." The last song, "Talk To The Animals" brings us back full circle to the child-like awe and amazement from a wonderful fantasy life where we can not only enjoy playing with friendly animals but even talk with them, too!
   
   A great treat on this CD is "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby (With A Dixie Melody.)" At first looking at the track listing I couldn't figure out why this song (which I know so well) came in at a little over eight minutes. I listened and I was delighted! Sammy has a lot of fun with this song by doing impersonations of famous actors belting out verses of the song: Humphrey Bogart, Marlon Brando, Jimmy Cagney, Cary Grant--and more! The audience laughed as this was recorded live; and you'll laugh, too.
   
   The liner notes are sparse. You get a great black and white photo on the front cover of Sammy singing. He seems to be really enjoying himself as he performs. Otherwise, besides songs credits you get little else.
   
   The CD could have added a song or two; it weighs in at only about 40 minutes. However, it's still a very good deal--at this price it's worth every minute of it!
   
   I highly recommend this CD for fans of classic pop vocals, Sammy Davis, Jr. fans (obviously), and fans of the great musical standards of the 20th century. Enjoy! SMILES



4. The songs are okay but not what I expected. Most songs are from a live show and I wanted original recordings.



5. Sammy does not merely sing: He entertains. This CD, containing live recordings of several classic numbers, is not simply background music. You'll want to take the time to sit down and listen and have fun.

   The main reason I purchased this is that I heard one day Sammy singing Talk to the Animals, and was enchanted by it, and so far this is the only available recording I can find. He fills Leslie Bricusse's song with vivacity, playfulness and energy.

   Other highlights are Candyman (the only original studio track on the disc), Mr Bojangles (moving as ever) and Gonna Build a Mountain. Sit back, get those toes a-tapping and enjoy.

5 comments about Passion.

1. This album is a result of Carreras' wish to be able to sing some of the most beautiful instrumental music in the world. It's really a wonderful idea. I just wish he had had better lyricists.
   
   The English lyricists, unfortunately, aren't always on target here. I feel they have varying success with the lyrics written to this wonderful music. In my opinion the song "Close to me" is one of the better attempts here while "Love is a melody" is not. I read a review of this song somewhere and the reviewer said that it reminded him of a person locked out because of the sentences "Searching in the night, I found the light I found the key" and unfortunately I have to agree with him.
   
   The Spanish song "En Aranjuez con tu amor" (the music written by Joaquin Rodrigo) is my absolute favourite song in this album. I can't comment on the lyrics as I don't speak a single word of Spanish, but the music is really beautiful and no-one sings Spanish like Carreras. I also love the aforementioned "Close to me" where the music is written by Brahms. It's a wonderful and romantic piece of music and when you add the sensual voice of José Carreras it's an absolutely irresistible combination.
   
   Even if I have a few reservations about the English lyrics I find this album to be very good; mostly because of Carreras' ability to make whatever he sings sound as though it comes directly from his heart. (I bet he could even sing my shopping list- which I might add, is not very exciting - with unrivalled passion). I wasn't sure whether to give the album 4 or 5 stars, but have decided to deduct one star, because of the English lyricists. José Carreras on the other hand, deserves 5 stars for doing a wonderful job with these sometimes soppy lyrics.



2. I am sure that most people know Jose Carreras as one of the Three Tenors. His reluctancy though, to confine himself to opera, has made his style of singing more accessible to everyone. His rich, velvety voice reaches out and touches our very souls. This cd covers some of the most romantic music ever, given new life with lyrics, and he sings them all with such passion. And so, this album is at the same time both intensely familiar, yet dramatically new. This is a wonderful album, guaranteed to stir the soul. Although, of course it may not appeal to those Classical Purist types, but then, who cares.



3. This is a really good CD for "singing classical musics". The passion and love Jose expressed can reach the audience's heart deeply. More than this, Jose sang a special Chinese song "a place far far away" as the 14th song for the Asian market. It is very nice to hear my favourite Tenor sings in my home language, plus that is one of the best Chinese songs composed. I feel very privilaged!



4. From the first note to the last, Jose Carreras has-once again-reminded both loyal fans and new friends what a lyric tenor voice should sound like! He's magnificent! From Ave Maria to Brave New World, his voice carries you on a wonderful journey of sound. Powerful as the opera and gentle as a breeze! A definite must for fans and new friends!



5. I heard this CD while doing dishes on Christmas Day. With all of the bussel, it was hard to get a true appreciation for the size of the music. I finally took the time to purchase the CD and played in in my car. By the time I drove home, I was in tears.

   The music is relaxing, uplifting, and introspective. It is power and heart and love. You can listen alone or with a friend; a glass of fine wine to compliment the relaxation. You can play it in the background and pick up on only some of the sounds to remind you of the power of the music.

   You can even do yoga to it. And while you are stretching and practicing breath control, think of the discipline and control and power Jose must have to do what he does. Thank You Mr. Carrares

5 comments about The Buddy Holly Story Live (1995 London Cast).

1. I'm not sure who played Buddy when this CD was recorded, but he did a fantastic job. I just recently caught the show when it stopped in Charleston, WV on May 19th. WOW! It was awesome. Erik Hayden's performance as Holly was like no other. It far surpassed Paul Hipp and even Gary Busey (No disrespect to Gary...he did a tremendous as well). The songs on this CD aren't as good as Hayden's, but they are still great and I recommened this CD to Holly fans. If you have a chance to see the show, PLEASE don't pass it up. You don't know what you would be missing!!! The show takes you back to the 50's. You feel like you are really there, witnessing the Surf Ballroom concert on February 2, 1959. It's very moving. Check it out!



2. I fpurchased this item a few weeks ago, and I thought to my self
   They will do a pretty good job, and boy I was wrong it was FANTASTIC.



3. what's up. i've heard most of the music from this show and it is fantastic. my school is doing the show in the fall. we are the first high school to ever do it. yeah MTH.



4. If you like the original style of Rock and Roll then you'll love this show (and cd). It's the best thing since sliced bread, or was it before that? Just kidding...Anyway, it's a must have for the music and musical lover. The show takes Buddy on his journey from a country singer in Texas to a singing style that's all his. The performers a fabulous and of course who can go wrong with the Music of Buddy Holly.



5. I saw the show in L.V. NV.& thought the whole show was great especially the music.The performers were terific! We need more shows like this to keep the music alive! I am trying to buy the cd and video but can't seem to find it. Can you help? Thank you