5 comments about Stages.

1. I brought this package for the DVD only. I really enyoyed the DVD of the LIVE performance in Ireland and also enjoyed the CD's.



2. When the others want to see, listen and experience how it's done - this does it and more. No wonder they keep coming back for more. The Class act of entertainment.



3. I love this set. I have purchased many as gifts.
   The creativity of this presentation makes a very attractive package not to mention the great variety of music included in the 5 CD's. The DVD gives a delightful picture of what it would be like to tour with Neil and the Band. My favorite quote from Neil on the DVD: "I'm burned out...". It's a little human touch to a very great performer.



4. I was originally just going to order one as a gift for my brother -- I decided to buy one for myself as well. Glad I decided to order one for myself! What a treat and a MUST HAVE for all Neil Diamond fans. Next best thing to a live concert. I have attended five Neil Diamond concerts (so far) 1976 - Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts, Las Vegas, NV; 1983 - The Forum, Los Angeles, CA; 1985 - Capital Centre, Laurel, MD; 1995 - MGM Grand Gardens, Las Vegas, NV and 1999 - TD Waterhouse, Orlando, FL -- and STAGES rekindled fond memories of those concert experiences.



5. A very well compiled & presented edition.Cost was most reasonable
   & delivery was only 4 days, most impressed

5 comments about We're Gonna Rock - We're Gonna Roll.

1. Unbelievably wonderful and affordable compilation. The only place I've found to get so many original versions of songs that were covered by other artists. Especially the original rythm and blues version of "Tryin' to Get to You". I would recommend this to anyone and not just Roots music fanatics. This is one heck of a collection!!



2. A great box set and at very affordable price. Well worth the money and a great addition to and rock-a-billy fans collection. Lots of good info on the liner notes. Kind of like gettin' a musical history lesson!
   
   The Mean Eyed Cat
   KNON 89.3
   Dallas, Texas



3. "We're Gonna Rock - We're Gonna Roll" is an excellent audio history of how Rock & Roll came to be.
   The set is divided into four genres: R&B, DooWop, Rockabilly and finally good old early Rock & Roll.
   The tunes selected are truly representative of their era and genre (with the exception of the rockabilly CD which leans more towards hillbilly swing) and the sound quality is excellent.
   Also included is a highly informative liner notes booklet.
   As with all the box sets I've gotten from Proper, this set offers great music and an excellent value.



4. Trying to keep the hyperbole to a minimum is darn near impossible when the topic is the superlative (oops--there I go!) box set, WE'RE GONNA ROCK - WE'RE GONNA ROLL. Five stars simply aren't enough to grade this collection-- its that good!
   
   There are 118 tracks here (not 70) on 4 CDs. The discs are stored in reinforced paper sleeves, each cover is uniquely illustrated. A 67 page booklet is included; this contains photos and plenty of details on each song. There's also a color catalog from PROPER records to tempt you with many of their fine box sets. All this is packaged in a box that looks like it could barely accomodate 2 CDs, let alone four, plus literature.
   
   Each CD has a theme: #1 is BLUES & RHYTHM, #2 is JUMPING & DOO WOPPING, #3 is called HILLBILLY BOPPING and the last CD is entitled IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N' ROLL.
   
   If you love rhythm & blues, rockabilly and early rock & roll, by all means . . . buy WE'RE GONNA ROCK - WE'RE GONNA ROLL. You won't regret it!
   
   PLAYLIST:
   
   DISC 1--
   (2:54) That's All Right - Arthur Crudup
   (2:51) Hound Dog - Big Mama Thornton
   (2:10) Party Girl - T-Bone Walker
   (2:28) Pledging My Love - Johnny Ace
   (2:47) Good Rockin' Tonight - Wynonie Harris
   (2:24) Mystery Train - Little Junior's Blue Flames
   (2:16) We're Gonna Rock - Cecil Gant
   (2:50) Rock And Roll - Wild Bill Moore
   (2:44) Rockin' At Midnight - Roy Brown
   (2:35) Rock The Joint - Jimmy Preston
   (3:00) Shake Rattle & Roll - Big Joe Turner
   (2:30) Rock And Roll - Laverne Ray
   (2:53) Why Do You Waste My Time - Tiny Grimes
   (2:34) Shake Holler & Run - John Lee Hooker
   (2:41) I Need You I Want You - Jack The Bear Parker
   (2:04) Teenage Baby - T-Bone Walker
   (2:28) Rockin' With Red - Piano Red
   (2:46) Train Kept A-Rollin' - Tiny Bradshaw
   (2:51) I Got A Woman - Ray Charles
   (2:51) Hey Little Girl - Billy Wright
   (2:39) Let's Rock A While - Amos Milburn
   (2:35) I Wanna Know (What Cha Doin' Down There) - Dolly Cooper
   (2:37) The Fat Man - Fats Domino
   (2:47) Bee's Boogie - Smiley Lewis
   (2:32) Lawdy Miss Clawdy - Lloyd Price
   (3:15) Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee - Stick McGhee
   (2:26) Country Girl - Dave Bartholomew
   (3:07) The Hucklebuck - Paul Williams
   (2:39) We're Gonna Rock We're Gonna Roll - Wild Bill Moore
   
   DISC 2--
   (2:32) 60 Minute Man - The Dominoes
   (3:08) Ting A Ling - The Clovers
   (2:54) Gloria - The Cadillacs
   (2:07) Hold Me! Squeeze Me! - The Orioles
   (2:38) Hearts Of Stone - The Jewels
   (2:25) Mama (Your Daughter Told A Lie On Me) - The Five Keys
   (2:30) Mary Lee - The Rainbows
   (2:51) Can't Do Sixty No More - The Du-Droppers
   (2:39) Never - The Dundees
   (2:46) Rock Me All Night Long - The Ravens
   (2:31) Such A Night - The Drifters
   (3:05) A Thousand Stars - The Rivileers
   (2:09) Ling Ting Tong - The Five Keys
   (2:56) Earth Angel - The Penguins
   (2:29) One Minute Julep - The Clovers
   (2:30) Ooh Baby - The Teardrops
   (2:25) Honey Love - The Drifters
   (2:54) Shoo Doo Be Doo - Bobby Lester & the Moonlighters
   (2:30) No Help Wanted - The Crows
   (2:34) Fool Fool Fool - The Clovers
   (2:37) Trying To Get To You - The Eagles
   (2:45) My Loving Baby - The El Dorados
   (2:06) Bounce - The Spaniels
   (2:30) Sexy Ways - The Midnighters
   (2:36) Boot 'Em Up - The Du-Droppers
   (2:46) Bip Bam - The Drifters
   (2:51) Roll Roll Pretty Baby - The Swallows
   (3:05) She Rocks - The Cardinals
   (2:43) Lovey Dovey - The Clovers
   
   DISC 3--
   (2:46) Move It On Over - Hank Williams
   (2:51) I'm Movin' On - Hank Snow
   (2:46) Birmingham Bounce - Hardrock Gunter
   (2:41) Tennessee Saturday Night - Red Foley
   (2:14) Tennessee Jive - Johnny Horton
   (2:43) Rompin' & Stompin' - Curtis Gordon
   (2:22) TT Boogie - Charlie Adams
   (2:17) Blue Ribbon Boogie - Chuck Murphy;
   (2:27) Oakie Boogie - Jack Guthrie
   (2:33) Juke Joint Mama - Jimmy Swan
   (2:30) Hot Rod Race - Arkie Shibley
   (2:33) Hot Rod Mama - Jimmy Dolan
   (2:19) Too Old To Cut The Mustard - The Carlisles
   (2:33) I Ain't Nothin' But A Tom Cat's Kitten - Wayne Raney
   (2:53) The Band's A-Rockin' - Johnnie Lee Wills
   (2:44) Slick Chick Boogie - Porky Freeman
   (2:13) White House Blues - Bill Monroe
   (2:11) Juke Joint Johnny - Lattie Moore
   (2:16) Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down - Maddox Bros & Rose
   (2:43) Sugarfoot Rag - Hank Garland & His Sugar Footers
   (3:24) Guitar Boogie - Arthur 'Guitar Boogie' Smith
   (2:31) The Nashville Jump - Chet Atkins
   (2:11) Stratosphere Boogie - Jimmy Bryant
   (2:11) Don't Drop It - Terry Fell
   (2:08) Good Deal Lucille - Moon Mullican
   (2:24) Louisiana Swing - Bud Hobbs
   (2:46) Louisiana Boogie - Merle Travis
   (2:11) Wild Cattin' Woman - Lee Bonds
   (2:41) Hound Dog - Betsy Gay
   (2:36) There's A Leak In This Old Building - Brother Claude Ely
   
   DISC 4--
   (2:51) Rocket 88 - Jackie Brenston
   (2:40) Rockin' Is Our Bizness -The Treniers
   (2:46) Work With Me Annie - The Midnighters
   (2:13) Gee - The Crows
   (2:26) Sh-Boom - The Chords
   (2:48) Love Me - Willy & Ruth
   (2:59) Riot In Cell Block #9 - The Robins
   (2:40) Crazy Man Crazy - Bill Haley and the Comets
   (2:43) Please Don't Leave Me - Fats Domino
   (1:55) Rock The Joint - Jimmy Cavallo
   (2:21) The House Of The Blue Lights - Merrill E. Moore
   (2:23) Gonna Dance All Night - Hardrock Gunter
   (2:42) There's Gonna Be A Ball - Rudy Grayzell
   (2:04) Blue Moon Of Kentucky - Elvis Presley
   (2:23) My Sweet French Baby - Jimmy Logsdon
   (2:13) My Gal Gertie - Dub Dickerson
   (2:20) Real Rock Drive - Bill Haley and the Comets
   (1:56) I Love You Madly - Charlie & Ray
   (2:32) Shake Rattle And Roll - Bill Haley and the Comets
   (3:02) Money Honey - The Drifters
   (2:43) Blue Monday - Smiley Lewis
   (3:10) Tweedle Dee - LaVern Baker
   (2:54) Teardrops From My Eyes - Ruth Brown
   (2:30) Such A Night - Bunny Paul
   (2:17) Rock A Beatin' Boogie - The Treniers
   (2:53) Shake A Hand - Faye Adams
   (2:40) Honey Hush - Big Joe Turner
   (2:55) Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean - Ruth Brown
   (1:57) That's All Right - Elvis Presley
   (2:13) Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley and the Comets



5. Any collection that starts with Arthur Crudup's "That's All Right Mama" and ends with Elvis's version, and then "Rock Around the Clock" as its finale has something to offer. This is an encyclopedic view of where rock and roll came from, and there are a lot of suprises no matter what you think you know. The real plus is, it's more than just a catalog; this is one of the most entertaining collections I've ever bought. I especially like the "Hillbilly Bopping" set, which builds on the four-disc Proper Records box, "Hillbilly Boogie". Great music for the car.

5 comments about The Jesus Record.

1. Genuine and truthful composition and lyrics! The arrangements are the best I ever heard among many christian cds! The first time when I started to hear the songs( remake with orchestral arrangement version not the Mullen's original recirding)tears started to flow out of controll for its ultimate beauty and spirit filled composition....
   Chuck girald's ( Especially his spirit filled recently released cd), Vineyard music and this cd, Andra Crouch's, Richard Smallwoods' are the truely the astounding cream of the crop of American's High level Gospel music.



2. Every song is great. What else can I say? What person is more important than Jesus? What topic is more important than the Cross?



3. I have loved every song I have ever heard Rich Mullins sing. Knowing that the demo cd was the last he ever recorded made it more poignant and worshipful than hearing the versions made in styles I don't believe Rich ever would have used. With the exception of some of the tracks sung by Rick Elias, the songs on the "remake" were a bit lacking.
   The writing of the original songs is excellent and goes to a depth not heard before from Rich's music. The first time I heard "Jesus" I cried at how powerful a song it is. "Hard to get" is an accurate description of the thoughts that go through one's mind when in a desert place.
   All in all the writing is beyond excellent, but the mixes miss the mark.



4. Was purchased for church use for one song but we have not listened to it yet.



5. Arrived in good condition in a timely manner. I really enjoy a couple of the songs. There some songs I'm not really fond of. I wish I had been able to buy just one CD. It came with two that are exactly the same, except that one is a demo CD.

5 comments about Singles Collection: The London Years.

1. Contrary to the product title and description, this item is CD-only. If you want the SACD format, look elsewhere. Apparently, ABKCO is responsible for this confusion. [...]



2. Many of the items on this album have been released before in well known collections (Hot Rocks, More Hot Rocks: Big Hits & Fazed Cookies, etc.). However, this provides a nice survey of what the subtitle refers to as "The London Years."
   
   Especially welcome is Disc One. Here are a number of early works that draw upon the blues tradition out of which the Stones came. Their covers are as interesting, in some senses, as their own music. Chuck Berry's "Come on" illustrates. A nice rollicking version. Some of Willie Dixon's compositions are covered (e.g., "I Want to Be Loved," "I Just Want to Make Love to You," and "Little Red Rooster" [a cool version]). One of Buddy Holly's hits, "Not Fade Away," comes off well. Bobby Womack's "It's All over Now" is solidly sung (indeed, in a later Rolling Stones' tour, I saw Bobby Womack sing this as part of the opening for the concert). Stevie Wonder's "I Don't Know Why" is also included. The other songs on Disc One are primarily works by Jagger-Richards themselves. Toward the end of this are quintessential Rolling Stones works of the mid-1960s, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Get off of My Cloud."
   
   The second disc covers the years from "19th Nervous Breakdown" through the psychedelic album, "Their Satanic Majesties Request." Some rather little known works appear, but most are well known. Because of that, this covers much the same territory as "Hot Rocks" and is less interesting than the first CD. The final disc has a lot of the "greatest hits" of the late 1960s and early 1970s (think "Street Fighting Man," "Honky Tonk Women," "Brown Sugar," and "Sympathy for the Devil"). There are also some mildly entertaining trifles ("Jiving Sister Fanny" and "Memo from Turner").
   
   The most interesting of the CDs, then, is the first, since it shows off nicely some of the foundational works upon which the Rolling Stones' oeuvre is based.



3. This box set was release in the late 80s during the peak of the box sets revival. The problem with the collection here is that it included all of the 45 records on 3 CDs. This may seem like a good ideal, and I will be the first to admit it, I thought it was great until I got it home and started listening to it. The problem is that not only does it included all of the hits, from "Satification" to "Get off my Cloud" to "Sympathy For The Devil", it includes also the B-side of the 45s, which include such songs as "Little Red Rooster", "Jiving Sister Fanny" and "Who's Driving Your Plane?". The issue is not the good stuff, it the filler that kills it. The Stones have way to many great songs, both before and after "Exile on Main Street" then to waste time listening to almost half the songs on this album. If you love the stones in the London Years, trade this in for Hot Rocks.



4. This album is simply great fun from beginning to end. Made up of all the material on the Stones' singles, A and B sides, from the London years, it is a grand tour of their early years and their evolution as one of the top rock and roll bands of all time. The mix is good enough on the CD that the mono still sounds fine to me on a stereo system, so I have no complaints there. The sound is raw and energetic, much the way I expect their early concerts sounded. If you are a Stones fan, this is an essential addition to your music collection. So good that when the CD ends, you want to give it another listen.



5. Many, like me, read these reviews as a pastime. There are a few reviewers who must be more audiophilic than simply lovers of the Stones, or rock, or any particular group. In this particular case, since it is such a comprehensive and large box set--if you remember these were all singles, that's a LOT of vinyl replaced by 3 little discs--I am not going to be so particular.
   
   This is the first boxed set or CD of any kind my goil friend, and now wife, risked buying finicky me: she felt she could not go wrong! And she was 100% correct. Mono, stereo, SACD, AIFF, AAC, whatEVAH--If you were jumping up and down to these songs over some tiny transistor AM radio in the sixties, and singing these songs in the bathroom, and they came out of your dashboard on Saturday night when you had your date parked out in the woods, BUY THIS! It sounds great, absolutely amazing, song after song, compared to what we had then, and the hits keep right on coming. Try to decide which songs Mick was messed up on. Figure out which ones were influenced by some other band from that era when they came out. Dig how amazing Brain Jones was always!
   
   I don't think you can pack more coolness into a boxt set, as someone else said. This set of mine is like fifteen years old now, and I put it on iTunes a few months back. It gets played, in part, nearly every day, and I have 60 Gigs of iTunes! How good is that?

5 comments about The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991.

1. This is the first of the Bob Dylan official Bootleg Series offered by CBS/Sony and it offers up a delicious set of recordings that any Dylan fan just has to love. Most of these songs have appeared on Bootlegs over the years, but not all of them. There are some gems here that must have been shockers to both Dylan fans and Dylan bootleggers alike, especially the hauntingly beautiful "Farewell Angelina" that Dylan gave to Joan Baez to record. Hearing Dylan do it himself is a pure pleasure. And the two closing songs, "When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky" and "Series of Dreams" are just outstanding. What a rock song, "When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky" is. Wow!
   
   I particularly like the Infidels outtakes on disc three, from "Tell Me" through "Blind Willie McTell." But wait! There's more," the Alternate take of "Subterranean Homesick Blues," is just as good as the original and will have you singing the words right along with Dylan, if you still know 'em, that is. "Nobody 'Cept You," left off of Planet Waves is a heart rendering love song, "She's Your Lover Now," left off of "Blonde on Blonde, because they never got the last verse right, is a song I play all the time. Actually I play this whole set all the time. It's just great.



2. It's simple if you like Bob Dylan and want to hear new songs and versions that,for whatever reason, where held back from release order this now. If you know you have more patience then you did when you were younger and want to take this lyrical trip through the stories and feelings shared order this now. You can't be dissapointed.



3. This CD set is a super collection of terrific work. When I first heard Blind Willie McTell I was literally trembling a bit and a tear or two was running down from my eyes so good is this song. Bob chose to discard this because he said that it needed more development. But I cannot see how he could have improved on this one--maybe have Bruce Hornsby play some fancy piano work? I don't know. This collection of songs is packed with terrific surprises. Foot of Pride has an Indian-type beat and the song is equally terrific--a masterpiece as well. You have lots and lots of his old songs and many terrific surprises. Some of his earlier work is just as GREAT as some songs he did later on, and his voice is rich when he was younger. He sings his own version of an ancient ballad (House Carpenter) and he did it awesome--only him and his acoustic guitar! It's one of his best--ever. He can take center stage by himself w/his guitar and he needs no one else around him. That is how talented he is. You have so so many songs to choose from, and I guarantee you will not be disappointed in any way with this collection. You even have humorous songs, serious songs, lively songs and songs just to entertain you. I love "When the Ship Comes In" that he wrote during one night at a hotel--there is still another version of this one on the other bootlet series 7 that is even better (my opinion). That song is one of my favorites and should be appreciated much more than it is. I would like to hear "When the Ship Comes In" sung by a chorus. You have LOTS AND LOTS to choose from. Seven Days is AWESOME and is sung live, and too bad he never put that one on a CD (as far as I know) because he only did that song about 5 times and let it go. I have too many favorites from this set to mention but you will not be mistaken by buying this set. Trust me on this. I don't know how he is able to have composed so many good good songs. Gee Wiz my father was a exceptionally talented musician and composed music often, and I his own child CAN'T compose music in my waking hours. You really have to admire such talent because that is a gift from above.



4. I got it for my boyfriend's birthday along with a few other Dylan cds...I think he's morphing into another version of Dylan. He absolutely loved this series though. I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Mr. Bob Dylan!!



5. This was sent as a gift.... a perfect gift for any Die Hard Dylan fan....It came greatly appreciated and I enjoyed listening to it myself when visiting!!! Should have purchased two sets!!!

5 comments about The 35th Anniversary Collection.

1. Simply Stated... Smokey Robinson and the Miracles give you all there is to give and more! Kudos the Smokey's former wife Claudette who sings on a couple of songs and that brave soul Billy Griffin (Do it Baby, Love Machine)who followed Smokey! I'm truly a Miracles fan and I loved the musical journey! My favorites are Ooh Baby Baby, Special Occasion, Fork in the Road, and The Track of my Tears!
   As usual, we all will have a couple b-side hits that don't make the "cut" such as: Much Better Off and Give Her Up" which you can find on the Special Occasion album, but overall just a must! As my niece, Mia would say, you will experience "Tears of Clown" if you don't spend a little extra and put this in your archives of Musicology! ps Play often!OOOOOOOOOH Baby Baby!



2. First let me start by saying I purchased this Boxed Set years ago because I have been a fan of Smokey and the Miracles from back in the day.. I purchased it again because sometimes when company came over a friend expressed interest in purchasing this item. Several times they mentioned it to me so I decided to purchase it for them as a gift.
   
   Personally I thought a lot of the songs were put on the disc to take up space, and other songs were left off that should have been included.
   
   I was surprised to hear so many songs in mono when I know there are stereo versions. What was that about?
   
   Overall, I was disappointed with the Boxed Set. I just wanted all of them in one place because all the ones that I like I already had.
   
   For a person who really doesn't know Smokey and Miracles music, this is an OK place to start. I just think the group could have been presented better.



3. 
   Let's see here...the Supremes are in...the Temptations are in...the Four Tops..the Jackson Five ...even Martha and the Vandellas are in , but the MIRACLES...MOTOWN'S FIRST GROUP... THE GROUP WHO'S HITS BUILT THE LABEL... THE GROUP THAT LAUNCHED A RECORDING EMPIRE...THE GROUP WHO'S SONGS HAVE BEEN RECORDED BY ARTIST AFTER ARTIST FROM THE BEATLES ,TO THE STONES ,TO ARETHA FRANKLIN,TO EDDIE MONEY, TO LINDA RONSTADT,TO KIM CARNES,TO JOHNNY RIVERS, THE CAPTAIN AND TENNILLE AND A HOST OF OTHERS... THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT GROUP IN THE COMPANY'S HISTORY...THE ONE THAT HAD THE LABEL'S FIRST MILLION-SELLER...THE GROUP WITH OVER 50 CHART HITS...DOESN'T MERIT INDUCTION INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME ? While at the SAME TIME , groups with NOWHERE NEAR the number of hits...NOWHERE NEAR AS INFLUENTIAL... AND NOWHERE NEAR AS GOOD continue to be inducted year after year ??!!... WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE ?? WHAT'S WRONG ? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S WRONG... THE CAPTION RIGHT NEXT TO THIS PICTURE !! IT SAYS "THE 35 TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION"...BY SMOKEY ROBINSON !!! NOT BY THE MIRACLES... NOT EVEN BY SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES... BUT BY JUST "SMOKEY ROBINSON " AND THEREIN LIES THE PROBLEM !!! Throughout the history of this legendary group, the MIRACLES have NEVER ...but NEVER received their rightful due AS A GROUP...it has always been only about SMOKEY !!! but,as any insider will tell you ...AND AS SMOKEY HIMSELF WILL TELL YOU... the MIRACLES HAVE NEVER BEEN JUST A ONE MAN SHOW !! they were ALL talented songwriters, singers , and producers ...ALL OF THEM have had a share in writing their many hits...(if you don't believe it,just read the writing credits on the labels},not to mention the hits of almost EVERY OTHER EARLY ARTIST ON THE MOTOWN LABEL... MARY WELLS, THE TEMPTATIONS, MARVIN GAYE ... YOU NAME IT !! BUT NOT ALL OF THEM SHARE THE CREDIT ... TO THIS DAY, DISC JOCKEYS ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY , AFTER PLAYING OLD MIRACLES RECORDS ...WILL ANNOUNCE " THAT WAS BY SMOKEY ROBINSON ! " LIKE THE MIRACLES DIDN'T... OR NEVER EXISTED....DO THEY DO THIS TO THE SUPREMES..? NO !! they still call them the SUPREMES ! RARELY DO DEE JAYS SAY "DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES" even though MOTOWN ACTUALLY CHANGED THE GROUP'S NAME MANY YEARS AGO!! AND NEVER, BUT EVER ...DO THEY JUST SAY "DIANA ROSS". the MIRACLES' album "GOING TO A GO GO, WHEN RELEASED IN 1965, OUT CHARTED AND OUT SOLD CONTEMPORARY RELEASES BY THE TEMPTATIONS AND THE SUPREMES... EVENTUALLY REACHNG THE TOP 10 ON THE BILLBOARD POP ALBUM CHART.QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT!! AND YES...IT WAS A GROUP ACCOMPLISHMENT !! BESIDES,LOOK AT THE TOPS, TEMPS AND SUPREMES...in the 1960's.. HOW MANY OF THEIR OWN HITS (OR ANYONE ELSES) did THEY WRITE?..BUT THEY'RE IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND THE MIRACLES ARE NOT ?? And for those who argue that SMOKEY was the group's only talented songwriter, I say " what about "LOVE MACHINE" ?(WRITTEN BY MIRACLES PETE MOORE AND BILLY GRIFFIN {SMOKEY'S REPLACEMENT} , a MULTI-MILLION SELLING NUMBER 1 POP SMASH...THE BIGGEST HIT THE GROUP EVER HAD..WHERE was SMOKEY when THAT one was written ? (not even in the group any more ).There's no question that SMOKEY is one of the greatest songwriters of ALL TIME!! But to only credit him and completely ignore the rest of the MIRACLES is definitely UNFAIR .THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE SOLO STARS HAVE BEEN INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK HALL OF FAME ... WHILE THE GROUPS THEY WERE ASSOCIATED WITH WERE ALSO INDUCTED ...MICHAEL JACKSON WAS INDUCTED AS A SOLO STAR...BUT HIS GROUP, HIS BROTHERS , THE JACKSON FIVE, WERE INDUCTED TOO !! CURTIS MAYFIELD WAS INDUCTED AS A SOLO...BUT HIS GROUP, THE IMPRESSIONS, (INCLUDING ORIGINAL LEAD SINGER JERRY BUTLER ) WERE ALSO INDUCTED ...EACH INDIVDUAL BEATLE - AS WELL AS THE GROUP ITSELF..ARE IN THE HALL... SO , ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME .... DO THE RIGHT THING . YOU'VE INDUCTED SMOKEY AS A SOLO... NOW PLEASE... INDUCT BOBBY ROGERS, WARREN "PETE" MOORE , THE LATE RONNIE WHITE ...CLAUDETTE ROGERS ROBINSON... MARV TARPLIN....BILLY GRIFFIN... AND WILLIAM "SMOKEY" ROBINSON ... AS A GROUP..INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME ...IT'S LONG PAST TIME...AND THEY CERTAINLY DO DESERVE IT !! IT'S TIME THE MIRACLES ...THE GROUP...RECIEVE THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE !!



4. There's a lot to be happy about on this box set but sadly there are a few negatives. There are some weak songs and it is my understanding that a few songs were left off that might have been better choices. The live songs are very weak. Since I am only a casual fan I'm not familiar with the songs that were left off. But they would have been nice to have instead of the weaker choices.
   
   Fortunately, the positives outweigh the negatives and this is still a good purchase (as long as you are aware of the negatives listed above). The first disc does a great job of showing Smokey and the Miracles as they went from unknowns trying to prove themselves to accomplished performers. It also shows Smokey's growth as a writer of monster hits.
   
   The 4th disc is incredible as it shows Smokey's solo career. You cannot beat any set that includes 'Crusin' and 'Being with you'.
   
   It's still a good purchase.



5. BEWARE!!! More than half of the songs in this boxed set are in mono-and many of these songs are available in stereo. I cannot for the life of me figure out why anyone would think that collectors would be happy with mono versions when stereo versions are available. Also, even though this is a boxed set it does not include all charted hits which is unforgiveable since so many of the titles included did not even chart!! The sound quality is fine but that is not the only factor to consider when rating a recording. I am very glad that I bought this set used because it is certainly not worth the new price.

5 comments about The Singles 1986-1995.

1. This collection includes all of Duran Duran's singles from 1986-1995. Also includes B-sides and remixes of the original singles, all of which are worth listening to and adding to your ever-growing Duran Duran collection.
   
   I'm not really into the remixes (but I will admit they are pretty good!), I enjoyed mostly the singles and their B-sides. "Burning the Ground" is mix of all their classic hits added in a dance-beat and song title chanted throughout. "Decadance" is similar to "Burning the Ground," only shorter and has a few new twists added in. "Needle & the Damage Done" great soft rock acoustic cover of Neil Young's song, just beautiful. "Yo Bad Azizi" is funky, it's based on the line "you're about as easy as a nuclear war" from their song "Is there something I should know?" "Throb" is 4 minutes of dance-pop goodness. "We Need You" "All Along the Water" "Water Babies" and "I Believe/All I Need To Know" are all great tracks and you'll enjoy them! Finally, "God" and "This is how a road gets made" are spoken tracks on the single for "Do you believe in shame?" So many good songs! Check them out!
   
   Five stars for an awesome collection. Wished we had more B-sides/unreleased tracks and not so many repeats of previous songs. Also, it's missing one B-side that needed to be part of this collection- STOP DEAD!!! You can find it on the "Come Undone" single, but it's not included with this collection.
   
   Hope they release another singles box in the future! Put those "Astronaut" tracks (Salt in the Rainbow, Beautiful Colors,TV vs. Radio, and Pretty Ones) on it, too!
   
   The "Mad Mind" has spoken.



2. I was very pleased with this product . The box set is fantastic , lots of singles to listen to and all good .
   If you are , like myself a very big Duran Duran fan then this is a must for you .



3. Duran Duran The Single Collection 86 to 95 is a really good set. The B Sides (We Need You, I Believe All I Need To Know, Decadance, Throb, Yo Bad Azizi, and The Needle And The Damage Is Done) along with the remixes are very interesting. One of the best parts of the collection is Burning The Ground which is made up different melodies and lyrics from different Duran Duran songs throughout the 80s woven together very smoothly. However, the singles for Ordinary World and Come Undone contains reruns. My Antarctica is on the Liberty album, Save A Prayer (single version) and Rio are on the original Rio CD and the rest of the 80s songs are on the Greatest album as well as the first singles collection. Do not know if EMI have any plans for re-releasing the UK Tour Edition Bonus CD from the Wedding album. However, this collection would have been complete if EMI would have included Fallen Angel, Stop Dead, Time For Temptation, Too The Shore (alternate version), and Diamond Dogs. Dispite that, this collection is a great addition for any Duran Duran fan.



4. Much like the first installment of singles, seeing these remixes and b-sides come out on CD in ANY form was a welcome sign.
   
   There are so many good tracks here like "We Need You," "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" and several excellent live recordings that its hard to overpraise the music contained herein.
   
   The packaging however is tough. All single CDs... I am sure I am not the only one to quickly make a compilation CD of the rare tracks and put the nostaglia sleeves away for safe keeping.
   
   Wish they would have done that for me.....



5. This is a companion collection to the original singles box 1980-1985. The packaging is similiar in that you get individual discs in original artwork of single sleeves. I finally get the single version of Meet El Presidente. I really enjoyed the B-Sides as well, as most of my singles were vinyl and don't play as well anymore. This is an awesome addition to a Duran Duran fans collection.

5 comments about Fruit Tree (limited).

1. Nick Drake was one of those rare artists who had great talents, but too little time on this earth. When he died in his mid-twenties in 1974, Drake left behind only three albums of poignant folk pop. Three albums, and a demo/B-side collection -- sadly, that was all he created.
   
   "Fruit Tree" collects all four albums together, in the order they were released: The first is his enchanting debut "Five Leaves Left," a wistful and startlingly polished first album. "Five Leaves First" is followed by the masterful, brooding "Bryter Layter," which many consider to be his best work of all.
   
   His swan song was the beautiful, tormented "Pink Moon," which hints at Drake's inner turmoil, but not in a raw or obvious way. Coming after that was "Time of No Reply," a solid collection of non-album tracks. Admittedly, it's a bit of an anticlimax after the veiled emotion of "Pink Moon," but still extremely good.
   
   It's a rare thing when am artist's entire discography is made up of beautiful songwriting and equally exquisite music. There is literally not a single bad song on the entire collection -- the worst songs on it can simply be said to be pretty good, but never bad. That in itself is a rarity.
   
   Drake's music is of a nearly-uniform mood -- wistful, brooding, soft and melodic. Normally a repeating theme is a bad thing, but Drake managed to keep it always interesting. He has a few catchier songs, a few bland-ish ones, and a few hopeful ones. But the overall sound is of a young man with romantic sensibilities, who was also sad and fragile.
   
   But despite his loneliness, Drake had immense writing ability. His songwriting has a simple eloquence, with poetic overtones. He also was a pioneer of the "folk pop" sound, mixing his finger-picking guitar style with viola, strings, piano, and other such instruments. It adds extra beauty -- and often ethereality -- to the grounded guitar.
   
   This particular edition of "Fruit Tree" is also graced by an exquisitely produced DVD documentary, "A Skin Too Few." Lots of interviews with musicians, family members and the like, clips of film, the atmospheric overlay of Drake's music and beautiful landscapes, and a regretful reflections on his all too short life (including the reminiscence that he said "I've got no more songs").
   
   Nick Drake left behind only a few albums, but "Fruit Tree" allows you to hear them all together. Exquisite, understated, and truly timeless.



2. i just recently bought this set. its pretty good. Pink Moon is the favorite out of the three. definately worth checking out if your into folk rock.



3. I first heard about Nick Drake from musical artist from south LA. Known as Dax Riggs..We Sing of Only Blood or Love I asked Dax what music inspires him and he mentioned Nick Drake. He told me to check out five leaves left. So I did and came across the song fruit tree and that was it. I had to hear everything by Nick Drake there after. It's strange what one song can do. When im down I turn on fruit tree and im up again.



4. Literally about 7 years in the making if you count the DVD "A Skin Too Few"....the entire presentation is perfect. A fitting monument to one of the world's finest songwriters. Bravo to All those involved in it's release. Nick Drake is Beloved.



5. This boxset is likely to increase the route to the mainstream of an artist long seen as anything but. Shades of upbeat wonder at life will make "Fruit Tree", and Drake's legacy, less of a cult depressant's bible.
   The sad story of Nick Drake is well documented, yet the question remains unanswered. Why was he unknown when he was alive? Though his work is timeless, it transports the listener to another England, a beautiful, rural, melancholy place.
   A career defined by three albums that had sold, in total, a startling, insignificant 4,000 copies did not make Drake's passing headline news.
   Few beyond his family and a coterie of fans and musicians had paid much attention to his records, and a crippling shyness, made worse by chattering audiences, meant he played no more than a dozen concerts. In 1970, he pulled out of his one UK tour halfway through, never to perform on stage again.
   Neither was he, in his own time, the cult hero critics have identified since. His producer and mentor, Joe Boyd, a key figure in the recording of folk rock acts from Fairport Convention to John Martyn, was instantly convinced.
   In an age when singer-songwriters were all the rage, Drake's delicately worded, intricately chorded songs about girls, trees, and the passing of time somehow failed to connect.
   By the end, Drake considered himself a failure. Living back at home with his parents in rural Warwickshire, he was treated for chronic depression. Whether or not he meant to kill himself, the general view when he died was that Nick had given up on the world and - or, maybe, because - he felt the world had given up on him.
   "Fruit Tree" is a box set comprising his three albums, "Five Leaves Left", "Bryter Layter" and "Pink Moon", plus the album of outtakes, demos and early material, "Time Of No Reply". The latter, in the previous edition, contained some lovely outtakes such as "Joey" and "Mayfair", and the early blues song that would make Afroman hang his head in shame, "Been Smoking Too Long". Yet it is the final songs he ever recorded which shine the most, in particular "Hanging From A Star" and of course the eerie fortelling that is "Black Eyed Dog".
   What we have here are four works of gold.
   "Five Leaves Left" captures Drake before what confidence he had began to waver and he became disillusioned with the music industry. "The Thoughts Of Mary Jane" is joyous, as is "Man In A Shed", proving that not all Drake's lyrics were morbid or maudlin.
   "Bryter Layter" is what producer Joe Boyd considers to be the best album he has ever worked on.
   Most of the songs are given arrangements boosted with flutes and stunning orchestration. This album is magnificent and contains three of the greatest songs ever written. "One Of These Things First" displays Drake's thoughts on reincarnation, and "Hazey Jane I" and "Northern Sky" could melt the coldest of hearts. However, like "Five Leaves Left", "Bryter Layter" was a commercial failure, and this troubled Nick greatly.
   Thus "Pink Moon" was comparitively stark and haunting, the only sound being Drake's voice and guitar, save for a piano overdub on the title track.
   "Place To Be" mourns the loss of childhood's carefree innocence, and "Road" suggests Nick had seen the direction his life was heading. However, the album finishes on a positive note, the promise a new day can bring in "From The Morning". Unfortunately, this promise never came true for Drake.
   "Time Of No Reply" has been replaced in the 2007 new version of "Fruit Tree" by a DVD, "A Skin Too Few", a 48-minute documentary with interviews with Boyd, Gabrielle Drake (Nick's sister), Wood, Paul Weller Boyd, Gabrielle Drake (Nick's sister), Wood, and Paul Weller.
   Drake is not as easy and comfortable listening as his soft voice suggests, but fans persevering through the box set are likely to be rewarded. Throughout the three studio albums, his songs progress with a true sense of not knowing where they are headed. The fierce spontaneity of tracks like River Man allow his ruminations on life to take him into the fearful unknown, which is where his music is at its most complex but also its best. No Nick Drake song will leave you fully satisfied in itself- but in the completeness of an album or, better, the anthology of his work, the rich possibility seeming to drive his acoustic wanderings is more appreciable and more durably likeable.
   Success painfully eluded Drake while alive and as impeccably remastered as this boxset remains, this retrospective collection holds many chances of great success.
   One can only hope that somehow Nick Drake knows how much he is now appreciated by so many.
   In US, where none of Drake's records was released in his lifetime, REM have waxed lyrical, Norah Jones has recorded his song "Day is Done", and Volkswagen have used "Pink Moon" as the soundtrack for a TV commercial.
   Any day now, sales of his albums should finally hit one million.
   It is the least he deserves.
   Songs from the Analog Playground
   Day Is Done
   Remembering Nick Drake

5 comments about Edith Piaf: L'Intégrale (Complete) / 20 CD / 413 Chansons.

1. Well, I think with a possible moments pause here, that I would respond to the question posed by my review title with an affirmative. This collection brings together for the very first (but doubtfully the last) time the early Piaf recordings originally owned by Polydor (1936-45) together with the Pathe Marconi years, 1946-63. It also includes many rarities, alternative takes and a representation of the Carnegie Hall 1956/7 shows. It is certainly the definitive Piaf, if not actually the "complete" recordings.
   
   On a positive note, the remastering is absolutely crystal clear with good deep sound staging and wonderful lifelike resolution of detail. Please remember these recordings are old though and you can't expect todays sound quality or anything close to it. Now, back to the music....
   
   I have a few gripes about this set. Firstly, the 30th Anniversary Sets produced in 1993 included material incongruously absent from this mammoth 20CD set produced in 2003 (second time round re-mastering). For instance, "L' Homme Du Berlin" recorded as a demo on a crude tape recorder is missing from this set but included in the 10 CD set from 1993 (and even the 2 CD sampler from that set). Whilst this set DOES include the same song, it is a polished studio take and although good in its own right, I personally like the intimate raw feel of the first recording. Okay, you can't please everyone all the time and there must be limits on space, but come on, this is a 20 CD set! Why not have made it into a 24 CD set and called it the COMPLETE RECORDINGS? It's frustrating for collectors and completists but nobody else need worry - this set is simply outstanding in its representation of Piaf at all ages and times.
   
   There are other "issues" which possibly need mentioning. The Carnegie Hall recordings are NOT complete. Again, for reasons better known to the folks at EMI France, the 1957 show has been abridged so that it fits neatly onto the disc 20 when the 1956 show spills over from disc 19 leaving the rest of the disc to cover the 57 show. I have not heard the complete 57 show but it was released on vinyl back in 1977 and according to people who own that issue, it is a better show and recording than 1956. It seems odd to compromise a recording familiar to the larger public for the sake of "space" when compiling such a big set to begin with. The 1956 show also has an instrumental introduction whereas the 57 show has Piaf singing the same song. Puzzling decision?
   
   There are no booklets included or any sleeve notes. I personally would have liked to see this but at the bargain prices this set can be found for, that is a small glitch in my view. Buy it now whilst you can and enjoy France's greatest ever singer. Then buy the biographies to help put the songs and recordings into some context.



2. I like to keep my reviews short and to the point (sometimes).
   
   And there is only one thing to say about this collection:
   
   If you are a staunch Piaf fan, buy this. It is likely the ultimate Piaf collection.
   
   It's more affordable than the accordeon set, but features the exact same track listing, newly remastered.
   The sound quality on all tracks is marvelous (though representative of the recording techniques and technologies of the time it was recorded).
   
   I adore this collection, and any Piaf fan would.
   Also, its fun to realize every now and then that you are hearing a track for the first time.
   
   Another plus, is the amount of essentially, demo recordings, alternate takes, and recordings of Piaf on stage at Carnegie Hall (the final two discs of the 20).
   
   Simply: buy it... you will have no regrets.



3. This box set is the 2007 re-issue of the 2003 "L'Integrale" box set released as part of the 40th anniversary of Piaf's passing in 1963. This box set is so far the most complete collection of Edith Piaf recordings put together. 413 tracks in total, including 6 "inedit" tracks discovered in 2003.
   This box consists of a CD-sized sturdy cardboard box that holds the 20 CD's in individual cardboard sleeves, with and outer slip case of the artwork shown. The CD's have a 2003 copyright, which confirms that this box set has not been remastered again. No booklet is included. Tracklistings are found on the back of each CD sleeve. The audio quality is great in most tracks, including the 6 "inedit" ones. Get this bargain while you can, since the box set can be found for as low as $80 on amazon, which makes each CD $4.



4. I don't own this set but have done some research on various "integrale" Piaf sets. This one is identical to the 2003 "Accordeon" box set in terms of musical content but totally lacking in any kind of documentation or recording information, be it recording dates, arrangers, or even composers. There's no booklet whatsoever. Worthless to any serious collector. A bargain if you're only interested in owning the music.



5. This is a real bargain reissue of the 2003 edition, which is identical in musical content and remastering. I have that. I wonder if this edition has the 2 books with photos from that 2003 edition (which were in French), or whether it has different books(in English? same photos?)or just the absolute minimum info (songs and dates?) Can someone educate us with another review? What is the internal packaging of the discs like: paper sleeves, cardboard sleeves, or CDs in little slots in a foldout?

5 comments about Time 3.

1. Arrived without a scratch.
   And these 3 cd's simply makes you feel good, if you like Journey.
   A lot of interesting details to find in the booklet. Absolutely great stuff



2. Thank you Amazon.
   I am very happy by yours service.
   Journey is the very good band!!!
   The "Time 3" cd is the best Journey album.
   
   Yours Sincerely,
   
   Fabricio - São Paulo, Brazil



3. It's a great triple cd album of Journey with a great boocklet with photos and history.
   Para los que lean esto en castellano es una pieza indispensable en la discografia de cualquier fan de Journey....



4. If you can't afford to replace all your old vinyl with the CD updates then this may be the compilation for you. It contains an interesting mix of old (pre-escape) and newer (escape-onwards) material, plus some that don't appear to be included on other albums. I've never been a big fan of the pre "Escape" Journey material, but with multiple listenings one or two of the older tracks have become firmly integrated into my 'favorites' now...
   My main critisism of this album is the cover. Although it's by the same artist as the Classic "Escape" album, it has a look of a hastily scibbled pre-production version, coloured-in with a *bumper pack* of felt tip pens. ...very shoddy artwork indeed. yeuch!
   
   I wouldn't call this a *must have* for Classic Journey fans, but if you're that way inclined, then I'm sure you'll enjoy this 3-CD collection.



5. For its time Times3 was a very good box set. The booklet explaining the history of Journey alone is worth the money. The B-sides included: For You, Good Times, La Raza del Sol, Only Solutions, Liberty, All That Really Matters, With a Tear and Into Your Arms. "For You" featured a lead singer {Fleischman} who's almost a Perry Clone. Fleischman wrote Wheel in the Sky and the song Perry sung when he auditioned for Journey. "Good Times" was Perry's tribute to Sam Cooke that never made any album. La Raza del Sol, Only Solutions and Liberty were out-takes from the Frontier era. Of those songs, Liberty, was by far my favorite out-take. Extended, I think it could have been a big hit. "All That Really Matters" is the lone song from the bands latter era where Perry isn't singing lead vocals. The final two songs "With A Tear" and "Into Your Arms" were meant for the Raised on Radio. The most disappointing part of this Box Set is Perry did not return to add lyrics to these two unfinished songs. They were simply added as insturmentals but when I hear them I always feel that they were meant to be. I also really enjoyed the live version of I'll Be Alright Without You. Of course this box sex excludes material from Trial By Fire because that album was released after the box set was made.