5 comments about Christmas Present.

1. This is one of my Top 10 Favorite Christmas Albums ever. Too bad it is out of print. I'll just have to be careful with my cassette version.



2. This is simply one of the best Christmas albums ever.Such a pleasure to listen to while your putting up the tree or when you turn of all the house lights with only the holiday lights going. A must buy if you enjoy Christmas music.If they have gone out of stock, you should periodically check back for their return or[...] may prove fruitful for you.



3. I love Andy Williams' Christmas Album. It's my favorite Christmas album ever, so when I spotted a CD version of "Christmas Present," I jumped all over it. Unfortunately, while Andy's singing is still excellent, the album is troubled in spots by really bad 70's music production: "wacka wacka" guitars, heavy-handed basslines, and some hippie-dippie flute solos.
   
   The good thing is that it doesn't persist across all the songs--the way it does with Dean Martin's later albums. Many of the songs have nicer baroquish guitars in them. For my money, I prefer the big beautiful band orchestrations of the 50's and 60's Christmas albums. If Amazon offered a half-point rating scale, I'd give this 3.5.



4. Andy Williams' first two Christmas albums from the 1960's are probably his most successful and best known holiday recordings. However, this excellent 1974 effort is another masterpiece that ranks alongside the finest Christmas albums ever made.
   
   Christmas Present is a more mellow Christmas album than his first two recordings, and the 70's era musical arrangments and production sound a little more modern while still retaining the authentic Christmas flavor that made Andy's Christmas recordings of the 60's so great. The result is one of the most soothing and tranquil Christmas albums of all time.
   
   Williams focuses on a great set of religious carols instead of the often-covered secular Christmas classics. Each one of these songs flows smooth and gentle, including "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "Joy to the World" which are often bold and dramatic in other versions. "Christmas Bells" is the only song that picks up the tempo at all. "O come all ye Faithful", "O little town of Bethleham", "I heard the bells on Christmas Day", and "It came upon a midnight clear" are some of the most serene and relaxing versions of these standards you will ever hear.
   
   The soft, angelic voice of Andy Williams only enhances the relaxing mood of the album. If you prefer the easy listening style of Christmas music, this great CD belongs in your collection.



5. The title says it all - it is a Christmas Present - Andy is in super-FINE voice - very smooth vocals; wonderful small orchestra arrangements; wonderful guitar, flute and musical quality is top-notch. This album is so much better than Andy's first two Christmas albums, in my opinion. Many of these songs start out very slowly, very softly with just a guitar and Andy's great voice then build into a spectacular song. Two great versions of Ave Maria to choose from. Little Town, O Come all Ye Faithful and Angels We Have Heard on High are really, really grand, and will be your favorites. I cannot say enough good things about this album. This is not your typical Las Vegas crooner LP, but a very classy, peaceful album. This is Andy's best album of all, and if you can only have one Andy Williams Christmas album, this is it. Merry Christmas everyone.

5 comments about Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers At RKO: Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology.

1. while the songs and the performers are terrific,the overall effect is somewhat unsatisfying without the images.It is as though it was recorded off a television set.The rating is not for the wonderful words and music(5) ,but for the audio quality(okay,no more) Freds best;'flying down to rio, needle in a haystack ..a foggy day'Ginger 'lets call the whole the thing off..pick yourself up'... Oh hell, 5 stars.



2. This 2-cd set is the best I've ever bought--I'm so glad someone decided to put songs from the Astaire/Rogers movies together. All the songs from their movies are included, and the quality of the sound is excellent. The best thing though, to my mind, is that the songs are exactly the same as they are in the movies -- that means the phrasing and movement of the songs are the same, dialogue is included, the taps are included, its great! Thank you!



3. Well, yes, I was one of those kids who took tap dancing and ballroom dancing lessons mostly due to Fred and Ginger movies along with keeping my twin brother and I out of mischief. But now to this extraordinary double CD set!
   
   First, there is a lot of charming music in this collection which has excellent sound quality. The songs include not just the singing parts but also the dancing parts. So, you can visualize the duo dancing while your eyes are closed just listening. Plenty of excellent music is included. All of the big hits. There is also a nice booklet included with plenty of info about the songs, movies and Fred and Ginger. There are also plentiful "Behind the scenes" pictures. So OK, the song "The Piccolino" is not included in this set. It's just that Rhino Records could not buy the rights to the song for a "Fair" price (in Rhino's opinion). But, since the overall double CD set is just so wonderfully put together, you don't even really notice it, folks.
   
   This is a real treasure of song, dance and memories taking you back to a time when the only things that seemed "dirty" were your knees as you were trying to dance like Fred Astaire. OVERALL RATING: A-



4. I've kept thid for threeyears.It was my first cd I ever got.Fred dose a beautiful job.On they cant take that away from me.But in the booklet they talk mostly about ginger.And they even say that some of Fred's dances are silly!Also how unfair that Fred was given top billing not Ginger.Outside of the way they talk in the book.This is a wonderful cd.



5. After years of success on the Broadway stage, Fred & Ginger started off their movie careers in 1933 with the frothy comedy, "Flying Down To Rio," and went on to make ten films for the RKO studio, each of which, naturally, included plenty of high-class hoofing and Tin Pan Alley songsmithing. This generous 2-CD set gathers nearly all the musical numbers from these films -- "Top Hat," "Gay Divorcee" and others -- along with some incidental dialogue and even extended passages with the ratatatat-tarrrump!! of Astaire's tapdancing. It's classic material, with lively versions of some of the biggest standards of the 'Thirties (Astaire's films were often used as vehicles to introduce pop hits to a mass audience...) There's also a roughness and informality to these recordings that many folks might find appealing, as the music is lifted straight from the actual films, and that's part of the charm... Okay, so maybe we have to admit that Ginger Rogers was a terrible singer, but Astaire's gentle crooning more than makes up for it, and all of these old tracks are tremendously entertaining, as well as historically rich. Recommended!

2 comments about 16 Most Requested Songs of the 1950's, Vol. 2.

1. As with Volume I, there are no duds here. Overall a good collection with excellent sound.



2. Both Vol 1 and Vol 2 are good. This is only true if you are old enough to have listened to these selections on the radio and played them on a juke box. If you are the correct age, they will bring back many happy memories.

2 comments about Songs for Christmas.

1. I am a huge fan of Andy Williams and was so pleased to find this CD! It has songs which I have loved to hear Andy sing over the years. I love every one of them on this CD. The sound quality is excellent in my opinion.
   
   I ordered this from Overstock through Amazon. It arrived in a reasonable time via the postal service. It had the cracked case which was specified by Overstock. It appeared to be in its original wrapping. When I opened it, there were several scratches on the disc. Happily, when I played it on my computer, the songs were clear and scratch-free. I am very happy with this CD and plan to enjoy many hours listening to Andy's wonderful voice!



2. These 10 tracks are an incredible bargain, especially when you consider that four of them (O Little Town of Bethlehem, What Child Is This, Angels We Have Heard on High, and I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day) are from the out-of-print Christmas Present album. Just the fact that they're not available on CD anywhere else at this time makes this a great addition to any Christmas music collection.

5 comments about Complete Manhattan Tower.

1. Still great after all these years.The cd certainly sounds better than my old scrathed LP.



2. Other reviewers have mentioned owning the "original" lp version of "Manhattan Tower." I will go further back than that to the 45 rpm records on which the work was first presented, in a shorter form. These came out just about the time we were married, 55 years ago. Some of the text has become catch-words for our marriage--"That's a pretty dress you're wearing, Mrs. B," "Where is Noah?" to recall a just couple of them
   This is a very entertaining musical story. However, to me, expanding from the original shorter version to adapt to longer playing times has overstretched a good concept, and much of the charm has been lost. This is my reason for not giving a five star rating.
   Nonetheless, this is a very enjoyable recording, and I will continue to listen to it regularly.



3. This a memorable recording of an old Robert Goulet record I used to own. Now some 20 years later I can enjoy this ode to New York.



4. I bought the original 33 1/3 record in 1958. Over the years its age has shown. I was delighted to find a C D was just issued. It is a faithful reproduction of the original 1957 edition and I'm pleased to have it.



5. I first heard Manhattan Tower in 1962...a friend had the record and I couldn't get enough of it....I still have the original record at home I would never part with it....I'm so glad this came out in CD....it brings out so many memories.....Thank You so much

1 comments about The Very Best of Grappelli and Menuhin.

1. 
   Great CD. Great musicians, great selection of music.

5 comments about Sunset Boulevard (1993 Original London Cast).

1. When this CD was first released my partner and I listened to it every night and sometimes twice. We thought what a perfect vehicle for Patti and you could tell it was written for her vocal range. All the characters were fabulous and George Hearn as Max was cast in stone.~~~~~New Year's Eve and Glenn Close stopped into Andrew Loyd Weber's party where all were celebrating the success of Sunset Blvd. Close got up on the piano, cleavage showing, and sang one of Patti's songs. ~~~~~~~ Patti was replaced, handsomely, but with a slap from a girl who should have never left her side of the tracks. ~~~~~~~ So here we are with Patti soaring as she did from the start. She made this show. It was stolen. All that remains is her voice as Norma Desmond. ~~~~~ Webber, go pet your cats!Sweeney Todd in Concert



2. this is an exellent product!! has exellent qualaty and very good singers. its has diologue so it's like having the "thearter play" right in your own cd player!!



3. Sadly, I haven't seen the show on stage. I found it quite enjoyable on CD. Enough of the dialogue is included to follow the story. Plus both versions include printed lyrics and dialogue.
   
   This is a terrific dramatic musical. I give 4 stars to Lloyd Webber, et al, for songs and lyrics. I would have gone 5 stars, but there are a few songs where they get a good angsty mood going, then suddenly turn to a softer, sweeter mood. I felt they could hold the angst longer. Example: Joe singing to Betty in the final scene (after the phone call).
   
   I purchased both London and Los Angeles CDs. I listened to each carefully and tried not to imprint on one version. Result: I favor the Los Angeles cast, because they do a better job of conveying the emotion. I also recommend L.A. if you like a darker, angsty tale. London is good if you prefer a younger, more innocent Joe & Betty.
   
   ** London (4 stars)
   1. Patti LuPone (Norma) has a better voice than Glenn Close.
   2. Kevin Anderson (Joe) has a sweeter, younger, higher voice.
   3. Meredith Braun (Betty) has a sweeter, higher voice.
   
   ** Los Angeles (5 stars)
   1. Glenn Close (Norma) does a fabulous job of conveying emotion through her voice. Because she plays a "fading" 50-something, her less perfect voice didn't detract.
   2. Alan Campbell (Joe) has a deeper, darker, smoother, more adult voice. He sings most of the songs and he's better at carrying the show.
   
   Technical note: A Windows Media Player v 11.0 bug affects the London version: you can't easily rip all the songs into Media Player, because several have the same title. There may be a work-around, but I didn't find it.
   
   Los Angeles Version Link:
   Sunset Boulevard (1994 Los Angeles Cast)



4. Of the two cast recordings of Sunset Boulevard available, this original version got it right the first time. There is a perfect flow and rhythm. In particular, "The Lady's Paying" is much tighter here than in the Glenn Close recording, which screws with the momentum by adding a couple of humor changes that are unnecessary and do not add to the enjoyment of the song. Patti LuPone is spectacular, sad and maddening. The first act CD is cut just perfect. A perfect blend of song, lyric, and book.



5. Great cd. just a shame it took so long to get to me....however when i wrote in, amazon customer services did rectify this and get the product to me in a matter of days.... thanks Amazon.

4 comments about Happy Days (2007 Original Cast Recording).

1. I had the good fortune of seeing HAPPY DAYS A NEW MUSICAL September 2007 at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn NJ. The show was great. The music memorable! Meeting Gary Marshall and Paul Williams only added to the experience. Glad to have the cast recording; I can enjoy the music again and again. If you enjoyed the TV show, you'll love the musical. Joey Sorge is The Fonz! Don't miss your chance to see this show at Goodspeed Opera House this spring in East Haddam CT. Well worth the trip and a great venue.



2. Bought the cd because I worked the show in NJ. Has some catchy melodies that take me back to that time. I'd recommend it, if you like showtunes.



3. Sunday, Monday, Happy Days, Tuesday, Wednesday, Happy Days. Joey Sorge stars in Happy Days. Ayyy, The Fonz is back.
   
   What a fun treat getting this CD was. I have been an acting/theatre teacher for 24 years now. From 1983-87 Joey Sorge was my student. In addition to having him as a student in my classes, I directed him in numerous comedies, dramas and musicals. Notable roles included Og, the leprechan in "Finian's Rainbow", Rooster in "Annie" and Danny Zuko in "Grease." There was no doubt in my mind he could be a musical star. He starred as Conrad in my production of "Ordinary People" winning an award for Best Actor in the Maryland High School Theatre Festival.
   
   As his career progressed- two years in "Forever Plaid" in Las Vegas, Sondheim's "Saturday Night" off Broadway (he is on that CD too) and "Follies" on Broadway. After appearing in the Broadway production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" he starred as Jimmy in the National Tour. Then for the last 2 years he had appeared in "The Drowsy Chaperone". Finally a role that is the culmination of all these years of experience, the iconic Fonz in "Happy Days." This cast album features the Papermill Playhouse production. It will be produced at the Goodspeed Opera House this spring before starting on a national tour in California next fall. See it.
   
   This album with music and lyrics by Paul Williams (Academy Award Winner for "Evergreen" with Barbra Streisand). The incredible Garry Marshall who created the TV show wrote the musical. It has the best of both worlds- the characters we love (from the Cunninghams to Arnold) and some new plot twists and fun songs. It is a delight and a fun stroll down memory lane.
   
   For me is it cool to hear Joey Sorge sing whenever I want. These days not being able to see him or talk to him, it is a great to see how far he has gone in these 24 years.



4. It has been observed that people may not remember what one *says* or what one *does*, but they will never forget how one makes them *feel*. Hold that thought. I'll come back to it. When I first heard that veteran producer, Garry Marshall, had written a stage treatment of his popular TV sitcom, "Happy Days," and that he had asked Hall-of-Fame songwriter, Paul Williams, to compose music and lyrics, I was intrigued, to say the least. In my humble opinion, which I prefer (to borrow Jack Benny's phrase), Paul Williams is the greatest songwriter of my generation. I have been a fan of Williams' songwriting since 1970. While he has written lyrics for some of the world's greatest composers, my favorite Williams' songs were those to which he had written both lyrics and music. My only reservation was how a stage musical about graduating teenagers in the 1950s could survive the inevitable comparisons to "Grease." Having listened to nothing except "Happy Days - A New Musical" since the CD was released last week, I am delighted, and I am confident enough to predict that the Marshall/Williams collaboration will make it to Broadway and, furthermore, that it will ultimately win a Tony Award as Best Broadway Musical. This seems only fitting, seeing that Williams has already received Grammy, Emmy, Golden Globe and Academy Awards for his songwriting achievements. While I have yet to see the stage production, one gets a pretty complete understanding of Marshall's story line through Williams' lyrics. One thing this production is not: Superficial. Though thoroughly entertaining, there are many interesting issues touched upon that will inspire thoughtful reflection and consideration long after the final ovations have subsided. One is left with a new appreciation of the beloved characters we all came to know through the long-running TV series, how well conceived and developed they were, and how they have held up through the years. The greatest triumph for this Marshall/Williams collaboration is how the audience will be left *feeling* when it is over. They will feel exhilerated! This is a CD that one will long to hear over, and over, and over again. Bravo!

5 comments about Reflections From Broadway.

1. I'm not really a Broadway fan at all, so I only recognized 3 of the songs. The only reason I bought it was b/c someone recommended it at his book signing. I absolutely fell in love with the album. My only problem is that when I try to import the CD on iTunes, it messes up some of the songs. If I listen to it on a personal CD player it's fine. Any one else having this problem?



2. John has such an amazing singing voice. Which will have you listening to the cd over and over again.



3. I received the CD quickly after ordering, and could not wait to hear it. And I was not disappointed. Great songs sung well. Instantly became a pivotal disk in my collection.



4. Slouch in your chair, lean back, shut your eyes, and let Barrowman's voice wash over you. Loved Red Red Rose; I remember an interview that said Barrowman's father recited this poem by Robert Burns for John and Scott's Civil Union ceremony. Changing the pronouns a little, of course. Another song, Tell My Father, is dedicated to Barrowman's father, and then there is Proud of Your Boy which is dedicated to both his parents. I like things like this, it seems to make the songs warmer, knowing the personal information behind them. Reading the liner notes, it looks like this was a personal work of love for Barrowman. I think I would have slowed down a couple of them (a production issue, not Barrowman's), but all in all, the songs were well done and very enjoyable to listen to.



5. I am upset to say that I was not overly thrilled with this CD. I really like John Barrowman as a performer but I didn't like the style of the work on this CD. I think that some of the songs sound great, however I think the orchestrations for it could be a lot better. I would say buy this CD to have in your collection, but if you like to hear songs done the way they should be, don't expect them all to be done that way.

5 comments about Mack & Mabel (1974 Original Broadway Cast).

1. The score for this show is outstanding. Performances by the late Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters are brillant. The story, sad and not designed for the stage would probably make a great movie musical. I will listen to this over and over again. Especially I WON'T SEND ROSES and TIME HEALS EVERYTHING.
   Thanks to John Barrowman for singing "I Won't Send Roses" and inspiring me to find the source.
   This is a show that needs to be remembered.



2. Herman's most underrated show, with Robert Preston and a very young Bernadette Peters. Give it a listen!



3. "Jerry Herman's finest score" "Jerry Herman's best" Those reviewers must have listened to different recordings than I did. Have they never heard "Mame" and "Hello Dolly"--even "Milk and Honey"? This is so-so Jerry Herman, at best.
   The show itself was so blah that both producer David Merrick and director Gower Champion all but gave up on it even before the Broadway opening. So little was expected of it that it hit New York with abnormally minimal advertising and almost no promotion. Dick Coe, in the Washington Post, hit the nail on the head when he wrote, "Loaded with all the zip of a dead flounder."
   The fault was only partly Jerry Herman's. There were some points at which he should have listened to his director, especially as to the Act Two opening, "When Mabel Comes in the Room," a shameless almost-copy of "Hello Dolly."
   Okay, the opening notes of the Overture promise that this will be a fun musical. Then Robert Preston's "Movies Were Movies" promises a bit of nostalgia. From there on, only "I Won't Send Roses" carries much appeal.
   Again, the fault was only partly Jerry Herman's. Walter Kerr, in the Times, recapped, "Telling the story through the songs, and the songs alone, is a profitless business for a musical comedy. In point of fact,
   Mack & Mabel hasn't got a story to begin with."
   Sorry, Jerry. This one doesn't do much for your legacy, except for introducing Bernadette Peters.



4. Mack and Mable was a musical I missed on Broadway in NYC. In fact it was one I bearly recognized by name.
   Then, this autumn my husband and I went to Niagara on the Lake to the Shaw Festival Theater and thoroughly enjoyed the production. I really loved some of the songs and kept repeating the tunes over and over in my brain. I decided to search Amazon for the soundtrack. Come to find out Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters were the original performers. I ordered the cd and have been playing it and singing to it ever since. I need to tell you I tap dance and the tune "Tap Your Troubles Away" is on my list of favorites!!!



5. I have searched for years for this recording. I had an old record but misplaced it. I suddenly thought of Amazon and there it was. Since I received it (and it was stupendously fast in arriving) I have played and played it. Shame the broadway production wasn't a hit, but we have the music which is just wonderful. I'm not generally a fan of musicals, but a friend played this for me years ago and I instantly fell in love with both the lyrics and the music. Robert Preston's voice is magnificent and Bernadette Peters' voice, although not 'lilting' is so appropriate for the part of Mabel.
   Thank you and I highly recommend the CD.