5 comments about The Music of Johnny Mathis - A Personal Collection (Repackaged).

1. I,have listened to these 4 C.d.'s over and over again and I, had difficulty giving any of these C.D's less than 10 of 10.Finally I,had to rate them 10 and 10 plus. IF there was ever a desert island disc, this is it. Solo's, duets they are all there. By the way I,love "Feelings and I, am thrilled that he included it.
   .



2. If you enjoy Johhny Mathis you will I am sure find this collection of Johnny's personal selction a treat to your ears.
   I was a teenager in high school during the late 50's when Johnny made what I believe to be some of his very best songs.
   This collection is so masterfully reproduced that the quality is phenomenal. So much better on CD's than the LP vinyls that we had back then. And of course the stereo systems that we have now further enhance the listening experience. Unfortunately Johnny's voice is now no longer anywhere near what it was back then so I am so pleased that we have these great songs archived on this new media.
   I just can't get enough of this great and wonderful voice. I'm just worried that I might wear out my stereo from playing these albums over and over again.



3. Although the products I ordered in December were just fine, the DHL delivery via llama was unbelievably slow and subsequently not received at all in time for Christmas. Amazon did reship, taking their own time about it, but at least used another carrier. Compared to everything else I ordered online at the same time, all free shipping by the way, this was absolutely the worst!



4. Johnny Mathis charted 37 song titles (not counting "Maria" twice) on
   Billboard's Top Pop 100 charts between 1957 and 1969. This box set
   includes only 13 of them --- omitting 24 of them. I find that very
   disappointing. Sure, what's on this set is fairly good overall but
   I think it's inexcusable to omit so much of his more significant
   recordings from his earlier days. This collection may be acceptable
   to those not interested in the early Johnny Mathis but for those who
   grew up with the Johnny Mathis music of the 50's and 60's, this set
   is sorely inadequate and that's why I'm so disappointed in it.



5. Excellent! A LOT of good tracks. Well worth the price.

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.

5 comments about Bowie at Beeb: Best of BBC Radio 68-72.

1. If you're a bowie fan, you're in for a treat. I first heard tracks from this album while I was sitting in a coffee shop. I thought he'd done some new live acoustic recordings, they sounded so fresh. There are a lot of tracks and some clunkers, but the good ones make up for it. Bowie is of course and incredible performer and the necessity of these stripped down BBC recordings lets his performances shine. He rips into the songs in a way that's not possible on a studio album. Magical!!



2. 
   If you have any notion of buying this great set, look at the used listings for the earlier, limited edition, now OOP, 3CD set.
   
   It contains a fabulous live disc recorded at the BBC London Theatre 06/27/00 that this later edition does not have.
   
   Check out the tracklist for the live disc:
   
   Disc: 3
   1. Wild Is The Wind
   2. Ashes To Ashes
   3. Seven
   4. This Is Not America
   5. Absolute Beginners
   6. Always Crashing In The Same Car
   7. Survive
   8. Little Wonder
   9. Man Who Sold The World
   10. Fame
   11. Stay
   12. Hallo Spaceboy
   13. Cracked Actor
   14. I'm Afraid Of Americans
   15. Let's Dance
   
   As of this writing, the OOP 3CD is available here on Amazon for less, used, than this 2-disc set, new.
   
   Don't pass up the opportunity to get the live CD. The audio is first rate, and the performance is excellent.
   
   Link to the original 3CD BBC set.



3. Contrary to the reviews here- i think disc One is the stunner here featuring many of Bowies earliest mod folk and acoustic rockers. God knows im good- (Brels) Amsterdamn -In the heat of the morning and well pretty much all of the first disc capture David at his early climb to fame. The interviews and radio chatter only enhance the uniqueness and rarity for fans. Its all very informative and captures a time and place and the sound is excellent- you can almost sense coming superstardom in the confidence of the material and in the band. Disc two contains most of his Ziggy Stardust material which ofcourse is all good but basically sounds like demos of that album and for the most part is very familiar even to the casual fan. The acoustic versions of Supermen and Andy Warhol would have sat better on disc one as they flow into that material better. This is a great bargain especially used nearly 40 songs of Bowie at his peak. Disc One however finds itself on permanent rotation in my cd player- i could listen to this all day.



4. CD2 - The first CD could be a symphony of (flatus) and I'd still give this 5 stars for the nearly immaculate performances on the second disk. In particular, "Hang Onto Yourself" (track 3), "White Light/White Heat," and "Suffregette City" (featuring Mick Ronson making this totally hot kissing noise with his guitar)crackle with energy. It is truly a thrill to hear these old favorites in such a new (as such) and exciting light. Bowie and Co. burn down the BBC studios. Repeatedly. Any rock fan (but especially an old Bowie fan, of course) is likely to meltdown in ecstacy upon hearing this.
   
   CD1 - Many hardcore fans will surely (sweet milk) over CD1 as well although I'm not personally crazy about all of it. Some of David's early Brittish folk period is represented which can be a bit hippy-dippy at times. The first 4 tracks, recorded in May of '68, fit that description although they do feature brilliant in-studio orchestral accompaniment.
   
   Much of CD1 does in fact rock. "Let Me Sleep Beside You" and "Janine" are very good, easy-going rockers recorded with Junior's Eyes who had a short-lived collaboration with Bowie and the session was never broadcast. Bowie delivers a stunning solo performance of Jacques Brel's "Port of Amsterdam" (vocal and guitar). The same session shows off Mick Ronson just a few days after hooking up with Bowie for the first time. They perform an intriguing, half-written version of "Width of a Circle." Ronson really cuts loose on "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" and "Cygnet Committee" is positively intense. Some studio hum can be heard on the session, an atmospheric reminder of the electric nature of these proceedings (that may or may not appeal to the listener). "Memory of a Free Festival" had sadly been edited for time and remains so.
   
   Recorded in June of '71, the last session on CD1 features all of the future Spiders From Mars as well as some friends on vocals and guitarist Mark Carr-Pritchard who played for a phantom Bowie project called Arnold Corns. Early embryonic versions of "Moonage Daydream" and "Hang Onto Yourself" were recorded and released under that name. The group stomps through "Bombers," a rare HUNKY DORY-era cut that sounds better (and less cheesy) than the studio version which I have as a bonus cut from the RYCODISK release of HUNKY DORY. "Looking For A Friend" is a country-ish, Stones-y rocker and they also turn in a rousing cover of Chuck Berry's "Almost Grown." And Bowie performs "Kooks" solo on vocal and guitar which he had just written for newborn son Zowie.
   
   Note: Those concerned about excessive voice-overs from BBC radio hosts (like the ones that marred the Jimmy Hendrix BBC release) can relax. There's very little talking over the songs and quite a bit of interesting Bowie banter on CD1. CD2 has nothing but back-to-back songs. Tracks begin with actual songs, not the preceeding dialogue.



5. This is yet another interesting byproduct of the recent rush to re-release Brit groups and stars who performed during rock's glory age for various BBC TV and radio programs. Usually these are a mixed bag, as they often collect different time periods, different settings, different styles, and different sound dynamics, all wrapped onto one or two discs. Notable recent BBC collections include an early collection by the Beatles, a generally enthusiastic release from the Kinks, a great Led Zeppellin cd, and a very strong late-period Procol Harum set.
   
   This one is no different. Like those I mentioned, the first cd of Bowie at the Beeb collects several early live performances of a red-hot Bowie fresh off the high of "Space Oddity" performing an eclectic set of solo, small group acoustic, and rock performances. Leaving aside the annoying BBC host who is always omnipresent in these sets, Bowie turns in a strong yet tentative collection of his early songs, some joined by Mick Ronson toward the end of the disc. Standouts include "Janine," "The Width of a Circle," and a rave-up performance of "It Ain't Easy." Those familiar with the early Bowie sound will find it in abundance on the first cd, an obvious talent looking for the right sound and fit for his muse, trying on and abandoning different styles but always a solid performer throughout.
   
   The second cd finds a far more confident Bowie a few years later (1972) in a studio setting, bringing his amped-up Ziggy Stardust persona and ripping through a blistering set of highlights from that period. The sound (recorded with overdubs in the studio) is especially fine, and the performances first-rate -- Mick Ronson leaves no prisoners as he slashes through "Hang on to Yourself" and "Ziggy Stardust." Bowie even brings on a large contingent of supporters later on to help him with a superb set that includes "Starman," "Space Oddity," and "Changes."
   
   Bowie fans will rejoice. I hope the Bowie archivists start releasing more of his early and mid-period live sets, as we have seen with other similar artists, so we can fill in the missing pieces in the evolution of a singular rock icon.

5 comments about Bing! His Legendary Years, 1931 to 1957.

1. Bing - The Legendary Years
   Review
   
   This is the only disc, or set of discs, I own where I can say I love every selection on every disc. I can't even say that about Elvis. More about Elvis later...
   
   A bit about how I came to this set of CDs. I grew up with White Christmas, the song and the movie. I occasionally heard another song by Bing Crosby, and I always loved his voice. I got on a kick over the last year or so of picking up some of the singers my parents listened to while I was growing up - Andy Williams, Robert Goulet, Dean Martin, et al. I came across this 4 CD set on Amazon, read the reviews and added it to my wish list. It sat there for many months until I decided one day to just bite the bullet and buy it. I can now say it is worth every penny!
   
   I put on CD 1, and it didn't sound like the Bing I knew. So I stopped it and put on CD 2. That sounded more like Bing. As I was listening, I remarked to my husband how Bing's voice was almost completely absent of any vibrato, and how he seemed to have two different voices - a chest voice and a head voice. He reminded me of Elvis that way, and I became convinced that Elvis must have grown up listening to Bing Crosby. I felt that Bing was Elvis's vocal predecessor.
   
   I started reading the excellent booklet that came with the set and read about the earliest tracks of the CD, so I went back to CD 1 and listened to the whole thing. What a revelation! Here was young Bing, and I was very surprised to hear a very rapid vibrato on a lovely tenor voice, with only occasional glimpses of the deeper baritone he later became famous for. There were times I could swear I was listening to Dean Martin! Again, I figured Dean must have grown up listening to Bing Crosby.
   
   In the booklet, Will Friedwald talked about how important the words were to Bing. I wasn't really sure what he meant until my husband, who was discovering Bing with me, commented that he bet that Bing was difficult to accompany as he sung in almost a "singspiel" voice, a kind of talk-like singing. Then I realized that the cadences Bing used in singing were the cadences one would use in speaking those words. Ah, now I understood Friedwald's comments, and also understood that this is why Bing comes across in such an easy, casual, pleasant-to-listen-to and utterly delightful manner.
   
   Once I was over all the analysis (I admit to being something of a student of the human voice, it fascinates me), I sat back and listened to all four discs and by the time I was done, I was just in love with everything about them. Bing, his beautiful voice and easy delivery, the beautiful music, the peek into a bygone era where the term "political correctness" hadn't been conceived of, and where music was just plain fun! I only wish there were more discs in the set! Well I'll just have to find some more!



2. Harry Lillis Crosby began life in Tacoma, Washington on May 3, 1903, and kicked off his career as a singer when he and his partner, Al Rinker, were hired by Paul Whiteman in 1926, subsequently joining with Harry Barris to form The Rhythm Boys. After splitting from the Whiteman band in 1930, he scored his first hit singing on his own in 1931 with I Surrender Dear while with Gus Arnhelm's orchestra. That led to a CBS radio contract and the rest, as they say, was history.
   
   From then until his untimely death in October 1977 while golfing in Spain he would chalk up no less than 310 hit singles, even making what then passed for the R&B and Country charts six and two times respectively from 1942 to 1952, and adding five more to the Adult Contemporary (AC) charts after they were formed in 1961.
   
   His last, in fact, came in 1997 when the venerable 1947 version of White Christmas scored yet again, this time at # 26 on the AC charts. The # 1 selling single of all time, he first recorded it in 1942 and that version was a perennial hit every Christmas season until 1947 when, with the master virtually worn out, it was re-made using the same orchestra and backing singers but better recording techniques (it was so well done the second time that it's a;most impossible to discern the difference). Altogether it has sold close to 31 million, accounting for 10% of the estimated 300 million records sold [not counting his LPs and EPs]. Also not to be missed is his first version of Silent Night, Holy Night, done in 1935.
   
   As you can well understand, not even this magnificent 4-CD box set and its 101 selections can put a dent in the wealth of songs he recorded and left for posterity. In putting this together producers Andy McKaie and Steven Lasker chose to present three previously-unreleased selections, and these are to be found at: Disc 2 - track 13 which contains one of his many legendary and hilarious "blow ups" in the midst of a recording and which became an "under-the-counter" bootleg sale for years thereafter; Disc 3 - track 15 as well as rehearsal glimpses at tracks 9 and 12; Disc 4 - track 2.
   
   His musical backing reads like a Who's Who of contemporary bands and includes the likes of Georgie Stoll, Victor Young, Xavier Cugat, Jimmy Dorsey, Vic Schoen, Morris Stoloff, Bob Haggart, The Les Paul Trio, Lyn Murray, Woody Herman, brother Bob Crosby and, of course, John Scott Trotter, who backed the vast majority of his hits. Vocal collaborations involve The Andrews Sisters, Louis Armstrong, Jane Wyman, Mel Torme, The Ken Darby Singers, Al Jolson, and Road picture partner and long-time friend Bob Hope.
   
   All this is detailed in the extensive discography of the contents contained in the 67-page booklet, which includes the names of many of the noted musicians playing with the bands listed. Extensive and fabulous liner notes are provided by Will Friedwald, author of Jazz Singing [1992, Collier Books], and there are loads of great pictures, including a centre-fold colour shot of Bing, one of first wife Dixie Lee, several of his sons, numerous record album/poster reproductions, etc. etc.
   
   Just a magnificent collection covering but a portion of the career of a man ranked as the # 1 artist in Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954 book, and who received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1962.



3. Box sets and greatest hits compilations are the audio equivalent of a Whitman's Sampler; there's a lot to choose from and you may not like everything in it. Those compiling box sets face the challenge of what to include and exclude which is complicated when the artist has as lengthy and prolific a career as Bing Crosby. Suffice to say it would be hard to get any two Crosby fans to agree on a track listing as they'll differ on interests such as which era, which genre, which styles, and other issues. Most of what's included here are some of his better known tracks from 1931 to 1957; his most productive years and a pretty broad span of time! There certainly are tracks here I'd exclude and others I'd have like to seen included, but "His Legendary Years" is a good survey of Bing as an artist during his years with the Brunswick and Decca labels, albeit an incomplete one. And like the Whitman's Sampler there's enough here to give you an idea of what you like and can pursue elsewhere. The recordings were re-mastered and sound much better than other re-re-releases and the accompanying booklet provides a nice amount of information on Bing and his career. A great starting point!



4. All I can say is "Wow!" This is, hands down, the bes documentary made on the inimitable Mr. Crosby. There is an abundance of little-known film footage of Bing which really enhances the presentation. They include fan footage of Crosby at the horse races at Del Mar and Santa Anita and some behind the scenes footage of Hope and Crosby at charity events, on the Paramount lot and playing golf. There isn't a great deal of actual clips from Bing's movies pre-1950, which is a trifle disappointing. There is virtually no clips of him singing life, except a brief clip of him in London, entertaining the troops in 1944 and some stuff from 60's-70's TV shows like Flip Wilson.

   The interviews are interesting, though not terribly revealing. Rosemary Clooney has the most depth and explains Bing's notorious reticence and distance from other people. She says he relaxed more in later years with his second family. Kathryn Crosby is also shown, though her remarks on Bing are short and she says little new. None of his children from his marriage to Dixie or Kathryn is interviewed. We are thankfully spared commentary from Gary Crosby and the "Bing beat his kids" angle is not focused. There's too much emphasis on Bing's later life, probably because they can pad the story with clips from various 60's TV shows. I'd have liked to see more material on his early career with the Rhythm Boys, Whiteman and the Philco radio show, but the program is a solid effort. If you're a Crosby fan, you'll find much to praise here.




5. I bought this set some ten years ago, when I was a budding Bing fan, fearful that I might regret having dropped so much coin on an artist I wasn't thoroughly familiar with. After sampling a few tracks on each of the four discs, however, I realized there would be no buyer's remorse with THIS purchase.

   If you want to familiarize yourself with Bing Crosby, this is the perfect primer, covering his most prolific and influential years as the world's most popular entertainer. "Prolific" is the key word here. You can't not like Bing Crosby's music, because he masterfully interpreted so many genres that there's literally something for everybody. Popular Standards, Jazz, Country & Western, Hawaiian, Folk, Irish, Christmas Carols, Gospel, even Light Opera - he sang them all as though they were the reason for his existence. And it didn't hurt that he had one of the most appealing voices in the history of recorded sound. This package offers an enticing cross section of that incomparable versatility.

   The attractive and entertainingly informative booklet by the eminent popular music historian Will Friedwald (author of Stardust Melodies) complements the set perfectly.

   Be careful - purchasing this collection could start you down the road to full-fledged Crosby fanaticism, as it did me. Now THAT runs into money!

5 comments about Time Traveller, (4 disc box set).

1. I'd had a couple of the original Moody Blues albums as a teenager so I had a good notion that this box set would be enjoyable but I didn't dream that it would be as solid and consistent as it is. You could dub this entire history to your portable mp3 player, or at least the bulk of the set which covers the original albums that made the Moody Blues' reputations.
   
   Up through the last song from "Seventh Sojourn" the entire thing is spotless. The remainder of the set could be consolidated to round out the third disk. The weak part? From disk 3 track 8 up until their revival with "In Your Wildest Dreams" the only keeper for me was "Stepping In A Slide Zone". But from "Wildest Dreams" through the end of the set the band sets new heights with song after song.
   
   Is this the only Moody Blues set a person needs? For my money the classic album "Days of Future Passed" got shortchanged, represented by only the two hit singles. Unlike previous compilations however, both songs are here in their entirety rather than in edited single versions. "Cities", the b-side of "Nights in White Satin", dovetails perfectly with this collection and fills the role of lost gem quite nicely. The spoken introduction to the next album isn't named in the tracklisting but it's incorporated as one track with "Ride My Seesaw".
   
   Album after album, songs are well-chosen, discreetly leaving the occasional number that sounds dated to history, emphasizing the timeless quality of the vast majority of the Moody Blues' music. When presented as a whole these albums seem to have a narrative, building to a climax in "Seventh Sojourn" that the band simply couldn't trump.
   
   If you get the five disk version of this box set you'll find that the concert performances are pleasant but you don't need the Tin Pan Alley nouveau "This is the Moment". Disk five is nice but not essential so if it's out of print I'd strongly recommend the four disk version.



2. This is one exceptional, yet at times frustrating, boxed set with terrific sound and liner notes. The first two discs cover all except one LP from the "Core Seven" - basically the first seven LPs the Lodge/Hayward era Moodies released. These two discs are simply outstanding and capture almost every worthy track from these LPs. The sequencing is excellent and the tracks still flow as well as they did on the original LPs. One puzzling exception is their first LP, the classic Days of Future Passed, which is only represented by "Nights in White Satin" and "Tuesday Afternoon" - there are certainly other worthy tracks on that effort so I can only assume that when they selected the tracks they figured that every Moodies fan will want the entire "Days" CD anyway. Again most of the essential tracks are here with just a few exceptions.
   
   Disc 3 is a bit more problematic: It starts off very well indeed with six of the eight tracks from "Seventh Sojourn" but then we get detoured with no less than six numbers from the Hayward/Lodge venture "The Blue Jays". The tracks aren't bad, some are quite good, but this is supposed to be a Moody Blues set, right? And we're not given any tracks from the solo efforts of Thomas, Edge, or Pinder. Then we get the "Justin-fronts-10cc" track "Blue Guitar" which is also very good but musically sounds more like a 10cc number than anything the Moodies ever produced. Then we're back into Moodies territory with three tracks from uneven "Octave" - two strong tracks "Steppin' in a Slide Zone" and "Driftwood", but I would have so preferred that they dropped "The Day We Meet Again" and replaced it with the beautiful "Had to Fall In Love" or energetic "I'll Be Level".
   
   Disc 4, after another Hayward track, gets back on track with the rest of the Moodies catalog from "Long Distance Voyager" up through "Keys to the Kingdom" (possibly their weakest LP). "Long Distance Voyager" is considered by many the Moodies first and best LP from the 2nd phase of their career and it is excellent. So why we only get three songs from it is beyond me. Certainly Hayward's "Meanwhile" and Edge's "22,000 Days" would have made nice additions and, again, I would have preferred them over some of the tracks from "Blue Jays". "Other Side of Life", "The Present", "Sur La Mer", and "Keys to the Kingdom" are nicely represented with two or three tracks each from what were uneven albums (although "Want to Be With You" and "Deep" from Sur La Mer are both pretty strong). But since it's only the best tracks from these later efforts it's a consistently strong sampler of the more contemporary catalog.
   
   So three and a half excellent discs of Moodies music which does a fine job at presenting the early catalog in depth and the post 1980 "hits". I do recommend supplementing with:
   1: "Days of Future Passed"
   2: "Long Distance Voyager" and
   3: 1999s excellent "Strange Times" which sees a return to an earlier guitar based sound with some excellent compositions from Lodge and Hayward.



3. For new or casual fans of the MB's (who, like myself, don't own every album they ever recorded), this set is a wonderful introduction to this awesome band. A lot of people not too familiar with the Moodies just assume the group was Justin Hayward (Nights In White Satin) and four more guys. Well, this collection will introduce you to the talents of John Lodge (incredible bassist, driving rock numbers, vocals and songwriting), Graeme Edge (one of rocks most overlooked drummers), Ray Thomas (great baritone voice, songwriter, and superb flutist), and Mike Pinder(sublime singer, piano, organ and king of the Mellotron).
   
   This talented group are truly rock pioneers and THE most underrated band of all time. I would urge anyone who is interested in discovering the Moody Blues to get 'Time Traveller'. You will fall in love with these exquisitely talented men just as I and millions of other fans have.



4. ive been listening to the moodies since i was born. this helped me to exxperience the different lengths in which their music entailed. it goes from the psychedelic to the eighties. not one song will one want to miss, every song is as good as the next. i love listening to their albums but when i dont want to constantly change cd's i pop in time traveller... i love this compilation!



5. This album has the best songs (of the Moody Blues) EVER!!! If you like the Moody Blues, this is the album for you. They have a different sound than other bands. They arn't all about love like the Beatles are. (I happen to LLLOOOVVVEEE The Beatles and I have 18 cds) They make beautifal music.

3 comments about Lexicon Of Love (Deluxe Edition +20 Bonus Tracks).

1. What else can i say about this album that hasn't already been said brilliant piece of music, this remaster has improved sound over the last remaster.



2. Before I even knew what a "trevor horn" was, i was in awe of this album and Frankie's "Pleasuredome" within the same year. "Lexicon" set the standard for my pop/rock ears. It was truly the very first album i would obsessively listen to over and over without skipping a single track and all the while wondering "Why aren't all albums made this way??". Later, I would discover "Avalon" by Roxy Music (which actually came first, but not to my ears). ABC's original killer lineup (Fry, White, Singleton, Lickley, and, most of all, Palmer) had hammered out (with Horn) the ulitmate distillation of what HAD been great 70*s music to form the pinnacle of New Romanticism for the 80*s.
   
   The songs are an endless stream of witty couplets, like Satan himself had possesed your average dictionary of qoutations and was using it to sing the evils of love! The lowbrow take on highbrow lyricism all the while laughs at it's own haughty pretension, and Fry's ever-straining (though succeeding!) vocal delivery is emotive and leavening all at once! Tessa Niles (then Webb) made her mark as the angel of the New Romantic bands with her cameo parts here. Duran Duran would allude to her spots on Lexicon with their "Come Undone" single (that record seeming to mourn a bygone era).
   
   Trevor Horn (I know what one is now!) assembled the core army that would march forth as ZTT (and the before-mentioned Frankie) around this effort, and the collective genius of all concerned, coupled with an exacting attention to recorded sonics (predicting the digital era to come...) would rise to heights unimagined. This record is every bit as engaging and lofty as any classical symphony or suite. Horn even managed to "tart up' and incorporate a track produced by someone else (Steve Brown on "Tears Are Not Enough") seemlessly. Fortunately for listeners, the original 7 inch single version is here for comparison. Also of note is the FABULOUS jazz mix of "Poison Arrow" (which i long treasured on vinyl) that proves Trevor's chops as an ombudsman arranger and mixer! Some of you may like to know that a "scratch" mix of 'Look of Love" is out there (part 5), it has it's moments, really, but I can see why it missed the cut here...
   
   ABC's graphic sensibility PRE dated Pet Shop Boys and was in no small measure responsible for their success first time out. The Deluxe version exquistitely re-tailors the original graphics (Universal/Polygram in-house art has long been a leader in tasteful treatments, even when assigning such work to outside firms). Lots of Goodies for the eyeballs here, as well. The Live and Demo cuts are great, academically speaking. I only wish disc one had incorporated "overture" and "look parts 2 and 3" and left all else to disc two, it would have been less jarring. The sound has a certain "punched and compressed" quality in the percussion parts that was (like vintage Motown singles) a big part of it's vinyl success. It has obviously been decided to not mess with perfection in the audio approach, and the oddness of this approach is preserved (wise choice in my book!).
   
   I sincerely hope this album is one day given the 5.1 surround mix it so desperately deserves. It would definitely pose a challenge to Mr. Horn, and he may well feel it is too risky to mess with perfection. This album deserves that extra detail every bit as much as Roxy's "Avalon" did, and "Avalon" succeeded as such, so please Trevor, give a try for the old guard! THANK GOD THIS ALBUM HAS GOTTEN IT'S DUE HONOR AT LAST! You will proudly own the very best if you buy it, even the original vanity "Neutron" label is used! Purveyors of Supa-Fine Product, indeed!



3. When I found out the Deluxe Edition series was adding The Lexicon Of Love to their catalog, I was very excited. Since there was already a remaster, I was more interested in the bonus tracks. Well, both discs are brilliant. This time, The Lexicon Of Love was truly remastered - it sounds better than the first round - you can tell immediately on Show Me. It was a much better job from the master.
   
   The bonus stuff is worth it's weight in gold. The demos are my favorite as the songs are stripped down an a little undeveloped. It's cool to hear the genesis of song without the added production
   
   I have a live show from Germany (same tour) which is excellent. This one is from the Hammersmith 1982. If you have not heard the full live set from this tour - you are in for complete treat. Very classy.
   
   OH - pretty important if you want to save some cash. I bought mine from Amazon UK. For everything, the price was under $30.00. For some reason, our Amazon could not get the price lower. So, go there and save $10.00

4 comments about Malt Shop Memories.

1. It was a blessing to find that Amazon carried some of these Time-Life collections. Time-Life itself is known for fraudulent business practices in its direct marketing, including unauthorized credit card charges and signing customers up without their knowledge or consent for ReservationRewards, a negative-option marketing scam perpetrated by WebLoyalty.



2. I feel like I'm the only young man (I just graduated high school) who appreciates this type of music. Since my parents grew up with this music, it rubbed off on me because as a child, I heard it a lot! If you love the classic music of the 50's and 60's, you'll definitely love these! My favorites are My Boyfriend's Back, Love is like a Heat Wave, My Guy, Big Girls Don't Cry, Stand By Me, Sherry, The Shoop Shoop Song, I Get Around, The Little Old Lady From Pasadena, It's my Party, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, I Will Follow Him, Don't Be Cruel, The Twist, 16 Candles, and Earth Angel. These are my favorites.



3. My husband and I could not be happier with this collection. It brings back such great memories. Memories of when we were so much younger. It is just great.



4. These were my "teen years" and I did not realize what good voices most of the singers had and how beautiful some of the songs were. These cds transport me back to "the good old days". I am surprised that I remember most of the songs. I really, really enjoy this music.

5 comments about A Natural Woman: The Ode Collection 1968-1976.

1. When you get tired of listening to "Tapestry" you can switch to this album for a while. Great nostalgic experience, and I can't get "Up on the Roof" out of my head.
   
   Jane Chihal



2. I really love this album. I don't own this album, but I borrowed it from the library. I listened to it, before downloading onto my computer, when I did. I really love the way she hit's the piano key's on "Wasn't Born To Follow." "At This Time In My Life," just put's a picture in your head. Disc one inculdes "Tapestry," a classic album , but ties in some earlier song's , too. Oh, did I mention the lovely tune and lyric's Carole King tied into "Child Of Mine," and "Up On The Roof." By the way, nothing's wrong with you if you like Carole King, or if you hate her. Everyone has they're own thought, and your's count's. "Enjoy!"



3. Completely forgetting about her early Dimension singles(some of which, like "It Might as Well Rain" and "Nobody's Perfect", are gems)and choosing iffy album tracks over songs I've loved for years(like one of my favorites, "You Go Your Way, I'll Go Mine", arguably one of King's best songs), this 2-disc set still offers great moments and the entire "Tapestry" album(although the recent "Tapestry" remastering includes a bonus leftover not included here!). Two songs by King's unheralded pre-"Tapestry" band The City were enough to hook me("Wasn't Born to Follow" is gorgeously earnest)and a live track with James Taylor is a lotta fun. B+



4. After reading several negative reviews I was left with no choice but to write my own. I just purchased this set and I already knew it would be "GREAT"! Back in the early 70s when Carol King was pening & singing these songs Modern Rock music was not something that I listened to as I was and still am a true Country and Bluegrass music fan. Western Swing with the likes of the Great Bob Wills and Hank Thompson was the stuff I was into.Many of my friends at that time (30+ years ago)were dope smoking Hippies listening to that Hard Hard Rock Music of the day!During this timeI was wearing Motorcycle Boots with Ducktail short hair as I still am today at 50. The music of that time turned my stomach. I can still remember many folks going to them dope smoking rock concerts and my friends and me were buying tickets to go to the EastWind in Baltimore County to see Earnest Tubb and his Honky Tonk Band from TEXAS. To say the least I was a real hard sell for Hard Rock. A friend of a friend of mine was playing a record one day that I heard while I was back here in the States on leave from the Merchant Marines, it was Carol King's Tapastry. When I heard this music I thought to myself - Boy, this is some really good music ! After that first encounter I was sold and today over 30 years later I still know that Carol King is the Best Female Artist of our time. I have a huge Country Music collection of LPs,cassets and CDs with not much of any 1970s music except for Ms King .I have collected about eight of the Tapastry Album (I want to be able to pass down an original edition of this LP to each of my children and grandchildren as I have already given my oldest daughter who is 26 her copy) All my copys are in mint condition. I have more of Carol King then any other artist, even Johnny Cash ! So don't tell me nothing negative about this 2 CDset as I KNOW this is a real monument in music history ! "ENJOY"



5. NATURAL WOMAN:The Ode Collection 1968-1976, is all you really need from this gifted songeriter and talented singer. All of her classic songs are in this fantastic 2CD box set, including her greatest masterpiece "Tapestry" in its entirety. This collection is really fantastic and it also includes her two top ten singles "Jazzman" which I think is one of the best songs that she ever wrote,(excellent saxsophone solo) and "Corazon" which she actually sings in Spanish. There are only two songs that I can think of that should of been included in this collection but sadly were omitted and those are "Hold On" from her LP "Simple Things" this is a beautiful track that she wrote as well and I especially love the soft mellow acoustic guitar that she herself plays on this song. The other is one called "Morning Sun" which she wrote and recorded for the closing credits of the movie "Wanda Nevada" starring Peter Fonda and Brooke Shields from 1979. Overall this is a the best Greatest Hits collection ever assembled on this unique artist who is highly regarded as the most successful and influential female songwriter of her generation. The songs of Carole King are as timeless like the woman who wrote and recorded them.

5 comments about Golden Years of Al Jolson.

1. Surprisingly good sound, considering age of the original recordings. Terrific selection of songs. Very nostalgic. If you like Jolson you'll love the collection.



2. Easy to see why he was the greatest entertainer of all time. The songs are classic. Been looking for this kind of collection for a long time and only [...] had any kind of selection WELL DONE.



3. This three CD set of songs by Al Jolson will delight any Jolson or vaudeville fan. The three CDs total up to a whopping 60 tracks although, as some have noted, these are not the original recordings Jolson made of these classic numbers. Sure, they're not the original recordings--they probably do come from the 1940s and they've been remastered. However, they shine because they have been remastered; this lets us hear what Jolson really sounded like when he performed. Moreover, these recordings from the latter part of his life give us a more mature, seasoned Jolson which compensates for the absence of any older recordings for this set.
   
   The first CD starts with the relentlessly upbeat number "When The Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along." Love those horns! Al's voice is clear and he delivers this one with strength and style. "Swanee" was a frequent favorite with Al's audiences; Al sings this with an electric amount of energy to make this song his very own. Al's excellent diction enhances his performance. Al also gives a rousing performance of "Give My Regards To Broadway;" "Toot Toot Tootsie (Goo'bye)" and "California Here I Come." The chorus on "Give My Regards To Broadway" harmonizes to perfection and this bolsters the number.
   
   In addition, the first CD features Al singing "My Mammy," a tune made famous by Al's singing it in the The Jazz Singer, the first major "talkie" film ever. Al's spoken introduction is flawless and when he breaks into song Al positively takes flight! Awesome!
   
   The second CD continues to showcase Al Jolson's talents. "When You Were Sweet Sixteen" charms me with its beauty and simplicity. The melody relies on the violins and this works well for this ballad. "Dirty Hands, Dirty Face" appears to be one of the earlier recorded tracks for this set. "Dirty Hands, Dirty Face" allows Al to croon in his own special way as he sings of the joy his young son gives him. Great! "You Made Me Love You" gets the royal treatment as Al croons this, his voice swinging gently all the while. The musical arrangement enhances "You Made Me Love You" as well. Love those strings! Al also does an impressive duet with Bing Crosby for "Alexander's Ragtime Band." Their initial banter sweetens the number and they then sing it without a superfluous note! There's some minor surface noise on "Alexander's Ragtime Band" but you'll enjoy this one very much anyway.
   
   The third CD only serves to improve this experience. "Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away" features Al at the top of his game; and Judy Garland often sang this song to refer to her daughter Liza. The melody is infectiously happy, too. "After You've Gone" gets a slower than normal tempo as Al swings lightly to make this song a masterpiece. "I Only Have Eyes For You" has Al singing this passionately with all his heart; and "Carolina In The Morning" continues in the same vein. Excellent!
   
   The liner notes include an informative uncredited essay; and the black and white photos of Al reflect good artistic judgment.
   
   Al Jolson deserves to be remembered more than he is for his excellent ability to reach out to his adoring audiences and lead them wherever he wanted them to go. He touched the hearts of millions of people with his great performances and records.
   
   I highly recommend this three CD set for fans of Al Jolson. If you are new to Jolson and you wish to get to know about his artistry, this three CD set is an excellent place to start.
   
   Enjoy!



4. Great reproduction of these old and beloved tunes. A real bargain with three cds, sixty songs at the price of one. His famous tune "If I Only Had A Match" is worth the price. This truly is "A Trip Back in Time".



5. Al Jolson was a phenomenal success as an entertainer during the vaudville years and in early films (app 1915-1935). He had a voice and style that was youthful and energetic. This was the hallmark of the great Al Jolson. You get very little of that Jolson in this boxed set. Most of the songs (47 in this set of 60) were from recordings made in the late '40's after his film biographies. The voice is an octave lower than the original Jolson voice and the style is a bit tired. Add a third star if you like the songs. But if you want to hear the style and voice that made Jolson great you'll find very little of it in this set.

5 comments about Stax Story.

1. This is a good review of the Stax catalog. The "live" CD is especially good. I didn't care much for the way they categorized the music. One CD is call Finger Snappin' music. Most of the songs on that CD don't have that tempo. Overall, it's a good way to hear music from some of the lesser know talents in the Stax fold.



2. As an intro to the label from soulsville usa, Stax Story can do little wring. with favorites from hitmakers Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, and Isaac Hayes, to the sweet,sweet b-sides of Booker T, Rufus Thomas, and the Staple Singers, the only complaint from this reviewer is that there simply wasn't enough (despite over 100 tracks).



3. Together with my wife always been big fan of the Stax performers. Wasn't aware one can find still this music and even on CD. Over here in Europe, market is rather weak. Since I am working in the states I was happy to see the opportunities with the Amazon offers.
   Just one word: GREAT



4. Then buy this set of quality disks before the sun sets! (Sun Recording, Memphis has already set!) THIS IS THE true Memphis sound and one that many of us have tried to copy over the years. At the center of the Memphis sound are the several music pros in this set...if you get a chance, attend a Memphis Blues Festival held annually (at different dates and times) and puts all the rest to shame. This music was around a long time before Beal Street ever came on the scene and it's a real treat to sit in the clubs during Festival and watch who walks up from the audience and sits in...some well knowns, a lot of unknowns but don't let appearances fool you. It is a treat for me and likely for you to put one of these disks on, sit back in an easy chair and I defy you to not tap your foot and snap your fingers! This is music at it's finest........



5. WOW, This is the real thing...The motherlode...Incredible!!! Sure the Complete Stax Volt Singles 6-CD box set gives you every single released up until Atlantic pulled out as their national distributor. The Atlantic Rhythm & Blues collection covers the years 1947-1974 and includes numerous artists of the late forties and fifties like Ruth Brown, Al Hibler, Big Joe Thorton, Lavern Baker and Ray Charles. Then there's the Rhino box set, Thirty Years of Rhythm and Blues, a great retrospective in that it crosses over numerous labels and artists. This is a great place to explore the diversity of styles covering all the great regional styles from Motown to Philly to Memphis.

   But if your bent is hard driving, gut wrenching, R&B with a pinch of gospel and soul, then look no further. This collection is the bomb. With 98 (count 'em...98) bonifide super soul hits, this is positively essential for any collector. Five Stars just scratches the surface. This one should get 98 Stars (count 'em...98) one for every great single in this marvelous set.