5 comments about Hollybilly: Buddy Holly 1956 - The Complete Recordings.

1. Admittedly, this set is for the completist, but Buddy Holly was magnificent both as a musician and a vocalist. Plenty of these come from rare acetates (that's all that exist in many cases) and the complete Owen Bradley sessions are here in great quality (it's a shame Bradley didn't have a clue as what to do with Holly). The real treat is the Clovis demos (Norman Petty's studio truly must have been state-of-the-art) because those tracks, especially "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" really shine on their first ever undubbed debuts (it was overdubbed for a 60s release to "modernize" it...to call that unneccessary is an understatement). The sound quality varies greatly depending on the source material, but with the professional recordings (the Clovis demos and the Bradley sessions) I have never heard them sound better. Something tells me these sets from the El Toro label will be the Holy Grail of Buddy Holly recordings one day.



2. Nearly 50 years after his death, unheard Buddy Holly tracks still emerge despite the comprehensive, but now rare Vigotone bootleg set from the 1990s. On the present set, a new version of "Rock Around with Ollie Vee" (November, 1956) and some new demos from Clovis add to the listening pleasure. Sound is generally good and often superior to the Vigotone set. While looking forward to El Toro's next Buddy Holly set for 1957 (and perhaps ones for 1958 and 1959?) two minor irritations, a lack of track sources and details to the extent known and a total running time of 77 mins that could've been put on a single CD at less cost.
   As noted in a variety of web discussion sites - until Universal/MCA resolve the legal issues around Buddy Holly's recorded estate that began immediately after his untimely death and continue to this day - sources such as Vigotone, El Toro and the endless recompilations of the MCA recorded estate will have to do until the ultimate annotated box set with the total Lubbock, Clovis, New York and "Apartment" sources included appears. Hopefully this will happen before the CD format disappears and while Buddy's remaining fans still have their hearing!



3. Great service; great CD. Buddy Holly is timeless.



4. Buddy Holly was a excellent artist. His singing was amazing, I loved his screams, and the way he played his guitar. He wrote some amazing songs in his short life. His drummer, Jerry Allison was one of the best rock drummers in the early days and very underrated. Holly has plenty of greatest hit collections out but which one to get? I cant tell you. I do own all of his work expect one song. Anything that doesnt have the picks in it would be a great start.



5. For those who are dying to find out what is actually on this CD
   
   Track Listings
   Disc: 1
   1. Baby Won't You Come Out Tonight
   2. Love Me
   3. Don't Come Back Knockin'
   4. Midnight Shift
   5. Blue Days Black Nights
   6. Rock Around With Ollie Vee
   7. Rock Around With Ollie Vee
   8. Because I Love You
   9. Changing All Those Changes
   10. I Guess I Was Just A Fool
   11. It's Not My Fault
   12. I'm Gonna Set My Foot Down
   13. Rock A Bye Rock
   14. Girl On My Mind
   15. That'll Be The Day
   16. Ting A Ling
   17. I'm Changin' All Those Changes
   18. I'm Changin' All Those Changes
   19. Modern Don Juan
   Disc: 2
   1. You Are My One Desire
   2. You Are My One Desire (1)
   3. Rock Around With Ollie Vee
   4. Honky Tonk
   5. Good Rockin' Tonight
   6. Brown Eyed Handsome Man
   7. Bo Diddley
   8. Rip It Up
   9. Blue Monday
   10. Blue Suede Shoes
   11. Shake Rattle And Roll
   12. Ain't Got No Home
   13. Holly Hop
   14. Bo Diddley
   15. Brown Eyed Handsome Man
   16. Have You Ever Been Lonely
   17. Have You Ever Been Lonely
   18. Have You Ever Been Lonely
   19. Have You Ever Been Lonely 2
   20. Gone
   21. Gone 1
   22. Gone 2

5 comments about Billboard Top Rock 'n' Roll Hits: 1957-1961.

1. I BOUGHT THESE CD'S AND LOVE THEM. THEY HAVE ALL THE MUSIC I GREW UP WITH. I STRONGLY RECOMEND THESE CD'S TO ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE MUSIC FROM THESE ERAS



2. "Billboard Top Rock 'n' Roll Hits: 1957-1961" offers up some fantastic music from the golden age of rock & roll.
   The sound quality is great, as is the selection of hits.
   My problem is that there are only 10 songs per disk!
   Hey Billboard - this is the 21st Century - you're not selling vinyl anymore.
   This set could have been released on 2 CDs and the price set accordingly.
   So while I'd rate the music 5 "Stars", my overall rating is only a 3.



3. I got this for my parents for Christmas and they LOVE it. Great way to get your folks to boogie down and get their blood flowin'. They are having a blast with this CD collection.



4. I bought this box set for my dad for Christmas - his favorite "oldies" station in his rural hometown just switched to party mix! He really enjoys playing these CD's, although he's not really a CD collecting kind of guy. I'll be getting the next series for his birthday.



5. These are real hits from the years indicated and separated by disk into the separate years. If you were around in those years and listening to the radio, you don't have to be told this. If the price is right for you, then I highly recommend you buy.

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 Just for the Record....

1. What a grand collection this is of the legendary Barbra Streisand, full of unreleased verisons of Barbra's classics, landmark events in her career, unreleased studio and live tracks, original demo recordings, TV appearances, never-before-released show tunes, live nightclub performances, award nights and duets with Judy Garland, Ray Charles, Neil Diamond and more. This collection is approximately 4 hours long all together, it comes with a collector's book of rare photos and a song-by-song personal commentary by Barbra. "Just For The Record" covers every song that had a important impact in Barbra's career up to the point of releasing this boxset. The collection includes Barbra's first song that she recorded at 13 years old called "You'll Never Know". It also includes live songs from her first appearances on TV shows such as "The Ed Sullivan Show", "The Johnny Carson Show", "The Judy Garland Show" and many more. It also includes Barbra winning the best actress Oscar for "Funny Girl" and winning the Oscar for best song "Evergreen" which she wrote. It includes Barbra winning the 1965 Emmy for "My Name Is Barbra", Barbra singing "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" with Neil Diamond at the 1980 Grammy Awards. This collection also includes Barbra's famous songs most of them live versions like "A Sleepin' Bee", a live solo version of "Happy Days Are Here Again", a live "Cry Me A River" and many many more that Barbra is known for. Demos include "What Are Doing The Rest Of Your Life (duet with: Michel Legrand), "Evergreen", "Papa, Can You Hear Me?", "The Moon And I", "A Piece Of Sky" and even a score from "Nuts" that Barbra composed herself. This is a must, a absolutely for any Barbra fan.



2. If the Streisand fan in your circle doesn't already own this slice of heaven, what are you waiting for? With 4 discs covering 96 tracks, all the hits, non-hits, and even rehearsal demos are here, some of which have never been released. The elaborate booklet alone is like buttah. If you ever wondered why Babs was named the finest female pop vocalist of the 20th century, this audio biography of song should satisfy your curiosity.



3. Barbara Streisand is truly one of the Most Versatile Artists Ever. this Box set captures Her Career&showcases her Range in so many styles&different arrangements with different producers,Arrangers,etc.... but like all the truly great Artists Streisand has always had Her Musical stamp all over whatever she has released through Her Career.she was able to connect with her Music in so many areas&Yet maintain Her Idenity.



4. ... I came home and stayed up all night listening to every song, and loved them, and my respect and admiration for Barbra only increased all the way to the final note. This box set is absolutely magnficent! Not only does it have all the hit songs from 1961 to 1991 that we all know, it also has out-takes and never-released songs that are just as wonderful as any other she's ever sung. The 60s, the 70s, the 80s, it's all here and much, much more. No wonder Barbra Streisand is considered to be the greatest female singer of the 20th century-- no one else even comes close. Her vocal range, her variety of songs she has sung over her career-- over 40 years now! --she is simply amazing. And here it is the year 2003 and she is still as popular as ever and is on the verge of releasing what probably will be her most acclaimed work, "The Movie Album." Keep it up, Barbra! You will be the greatest female singer of the 21st century as well!



5. A four-disc collection of material that had mostly been previously unreleased, JUST FOR THE RECORD is a fascinating package indeed. Unlike most box-sets, this is not an extended "greatest hits" repackaging with a few rarities to pull in longtime fans. Sure, there are a few well-known recordings present ("People," Guilty"), but over 85% of the tracks on JUST FOR THE RECORD had never seen the light of day. This is exactly what many of Streisand's dedicated fans had been hoping for.

   The first two discs are dedicated to material recorded in the sixties, and they include many live recordings from the decade when Streisand gave the most public performances. Live performances culled from Streisand's appearances on "The Jack Paar Show," "P.M. East," The Garry Moore Show," The Tonight Show," "The Ed Sullivan Show," and "The Judy Garland Show" are all absolutely priceless. Eight tracks from Barbra's legendary "Bon Soir" performances (which were initially intended to be her first record) are included, and they present the then-twenty year old singer at her rowdy best. This is the Streisand that many of her sixties fans dearly miss.

   The two sixties discs also cover her years on Broadway (previously unreleased live performances from FUNNY GIRL), performances from her first four television specials (including three songs from the still- unreleased BELLE OF 14TH STREET soundtrack album), and a terrific live medley from her performances at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, which includes her only recorded performances of "When You Gotta Go" and "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning."

   The remaining two discs (one devoted to the seventies, the other to the eighties) feature less live performances, but are just as enthralling. These two disc feature several great recordings that were released, but never appeared on a Streisand album. It's great to finally have Streisand's sizzling rendition "You're The Top" from WHAT'S UP, DOC? and "Cryin' Time," her wonderful duet with Ray Charles on disc. Even better are the recordings from unfinished projects, or the ones that were scrapped from finished albums and movies. Tracks from the aborted albums THE SINGER and BETWEEN YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW (also known as LIFECYCLE OF A WOMAN) finally surface, and I'm so glad they finally found a home here. The unused UP THE SANDBOX theme "If I Close My Eyes," The alternate theme song to THE WAY WE WERE (heard here in a live rendition from 1980), Barbra's rendition of Billie Holiday's "God Bless The Child" and the medley "A Quiet Thing/There Won't Be Trumpets" (both left off of 1974's BUTTERFLY), YENTL'S sensual "The Moon And I" (which was replaced in the film with the superior "No Matter What Happens"), and the absolutely phenomenal rendition of Tim Rice's "I Know Him So Well" (which just didn't fit onto THE BROADWAY ALBUM) all make their debuts here.

   Also included are the original demos of "Evergreen" (with Barbra playing the guitar) and "Papa, Can You Hear Me," as well as the instrumental theme from NUTS (the soundtrack of which is nearly impossible to find), and the Grammy-nominated "Warm All Over" (an intended preview of BACK TO BROADWAY that ended up not making the cut). In addition to the bountiful amount of unreleased material, Barbra provides detailed liner notes (which are worth the price of admission alone) and thousands of rare photographs. It all comes packaged in a lovely, cloth-covered box, with a beautiful rose motif carried throughout the entire set.

   Extremely rare for [a] box set, this four-disc collection hit a very impressive #38 on the Hot 100 and was certified Platinum in sales (and this before the RIAA had a separate criteria for multiple-disc packages). JUST FOR THE RECORD is proof that the material of Streisand's that has sat unreleased is every bit as interesting as what was officially issued. An essential purchase for any Streisand fan.

5 comments about Greatest Hits Collection: Vol, 1, 2 & 3 (3CD).

1. There are five different complitations on the market that span Joel's entire career. As noted by the official review, this compilation joins GH1&2 with the single disc GH3 - so you get all the same tracks at a price that's much cheaper than buying these seperately.

   The most comprehensive complition is Complete Hits Collection (1997) 4CDs @52.99 - the first three disc are exactly the same as GH1-3 except that you get "Don't Ask Me Why" instead of "Honesty". But basically you are paying another $19 just to get the fourth outtakes disc. So why bother?

   Essential (2001) costs $26.99, but has only two CDs. Compared to GH1-3, you get "You're My Home" and "Miami 2017" plus two classical bonus tracks - Waltz no 1 and Invention in C. Okay...
   But of course one fewer discs mean fewer total tracks, so you don't get: "The Strange", "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant", "Big Shot", "Pressure", "You're Only Human", Keeping the Faith", "This is the Time", and "Shameless" plus the three bonus tracks at the end of GH3. You lose 13 tracks, but get 4 alternative tracks and save a whopping $7. Personally I like a number of these omitted tracks.

   Ultimate (2001) is a 2-CD European import selling for $36.99. Compared against GH1-3 you gain "You're My Home", "Miami 2017" (which Essentials also included), "Don't Ask Me Why" (also on Complete) plus "Streetlife Serenade", "All for Aleya", "Leave a Tender Moment", "Modern a Woman" which aren't found on any other collection. Meanwhile you lose out on "Captain Jack", "The Stranger", "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant", "Only the Good Die Young", "Big Shot", "Pressure", "Night is Still Young", "Keeping the Faith", "This is the Time", "And So it Goes", "Shameless", "Lullabye" and the 3 new tracks. Considering you are actually paying $3 more and getting one disc fewer, there's no reason to get this.

   Finally, Piano Man -the Very Best of @30.99 was just put out. It's three dollars less, but only one disc of 19 songs. The only song unique to this mix is "Scandinavian Skies". Also included is "Don't Ask Me Why". The remaining 17 can be found on GH1-3. And while these 17 tracks are the cream of the crop of GH1-3, it's worth the extra $3 dollars to get the other 25 songs not include on the Very Best of.

   Needless to say, GH1-3 is the collection I'd recommend and the one I plan to get. The only way they could improve on it would be to add "Don't Ask Me Why"




2. This is fun for everyone. The man is a genius and is actually generous in sharing the stories behind his songs. Great travel set, even in heavy traffic, you stay entertained.



3. I just bought this CD set at a local Media Play, and I can't believe it. All the songs are fantastic, and most of my favorites ("Goodnight Saigon," "We didn't Start the Fire," "Keeping the Faith," "Piano Man," "Only the Good Die Young," "She's Always a Woman," "My Life," "Big Shot," "Pressure," "Allentown," "Uptown Girl," "The Longest Time," "An Innocent Man," "A Matter of Trust," "This is the Time," "Leningrad," "I Go to Extremes," and "The Downeaster 'Alexa'") are included. I was very surprised to find, however, that this set was an Australian import, and I wish it had been released in the US as well.



4. i dug older Billy Joel material from the early 70's until the middle 80's after that it lost some of the fire."New York State of mind","The Stranger"."My Life" that's the era of Billy Joel that really stands out for me.a very talented composer.this set contains all of his hits.



5. No wonder this CD is out of stock- It is the best... Great soundtracks and the 4 discs are separated according to years. Do yourself a favor and buy it!

4 comments about David Bowie Box.

1. This 10 CD boxset comprises of the last five Bowie studio CD's: Outside, Earthling, Hours, Heathen, and Reality. They're presented as 2CD set editions in album type sleeves (with the original cd booklets). One CD is the original cd and the second disc consists of "b" sides, alternate mixes, and rarities from the time period. For those of you looking for feedback and reviews of the individual CD's I will suggest you research them individually. For the die hard Bowie fans who own the original cd releases, I highly recommend this set.
   
   Trying to collect the individual singles and various versions in which alot of these rarities have appeared on is insane, as well as expensive.
   This boxset puts it all together and I consider this a must own for any Bowie fan. If you don't have any of these CD's and are thinking of purchasing them, I suggest that this is the way to go. This is a great deal for the money as well as being a great package.
   
   I consider this era of Bowie music very underrated and overlooked. Upon purchasing this set, I was able to rediscover and enjoy these CD's again and develop a new appreciation for them. The bonus disc's with the rare material and "b" sides was real treat as well. Get it while you can, you won't be sorry.



2. Great deal on 5 double CD albums. I collected all the single CD mini-albums from Japan on Bowie but passed on the final five because I haven't heard much from this later period and they were more expensive to boot. Then, I stumbled on this Europe-produced box set that completed my mini collection for about $12 a title rather than $30 or more. The extra tracks vary from great to OK and I've greatly enjoyed listening to this set. The mini-sleeves are nicely produced and are the same size as my single ones from Japan. I don't know how the design of these sleeves compares to the ones produced from Japan, but I'm happy.



3. No need to review the actual music on this new box set as it has all already been released. Just check out the various reviews that have gone before. The question is, why this new format and is it worth it?
   
   Yes, it is a reissue of material that has for the most part, already seen the light of day, but what great new packaging! All of those inconvenient CD singles can now come off the CD rack, clearing up about 10" worth of space and be replaced with this one 2" wide box.
   
   And perhaps even more importantly, instead of having to change CDs to hear 2 or 3 remixes or outtakes contained on the singles every 15-20 minutes, all relevant remix material and outtakes to each of the five most recent David Bowie releases are contained on the second disc of each new double-disc album.
   
   Another advantage is the mini-LP packaging, which can cost anywhere from $20 to $40 each if purchased from Japanese sources. On this new 10-CD box set, the cost works out to $6.10 per disc. Hardly a catastrophic expense for old fans or new-comers (and by the way, recommended to both).
   
   While these albums should have been originally released in this manner, it is certainly welcomed now, again:
   [1] to save CD rack shelf space;
   [2] to be able to hear all the CD singles for each album combined into a single convenient disc; and
   [3] to have all of these albums in neat, collectable mini-LP format.



4. This box set is strictly designed for the fans who want to obtain the rarities and b-sides from this era of Bowie's career. Considering that you can find the majority of this stuff, if not all, seperately does not make this set essential to Bowie fans. Both Earthling's and Hour's remixes can be found outside of this set is testemant to that, (I own both two disc sets that have all of that material on it)
   
   This is simply a way to obtain the rarer tracks from each album and nothing more. each album is presented in a mini sleeve and contains the same book as was included with each disc individually.
   
   The music is great, and in my opinion worth owning, but it comes down to whether you want to spend the money on the set if you already own all the albums in their single disc forms.

5 comments about Long Train Runnin': 1970-2000.

1. While living in the Bay area during the turn of the decades (69-71) there was a fashionable shift in the music scene brought about partly by the so-called "end of the hippie era" and growing social consciousness that (rightly) put those "dazed and confused" years behind.
   Concerts were less a hodge-podge of available acts 'cause promoters had become savy to the ever growing fanbase(s) with similar "vibes". Example: you'd be hard pressed to find a concert billing that paired, say, 'The Moody Blues' with 'Steppenwolf', or 'Black Sabbath' with 'Donovan'.
   
   Out of this music schism people flocked to their favorites and fiercly tribalized behind the sounds that best exemplified their inner state.
   It was this enviorment that gave birth to the Doobie Brothers, who over several years capitalized on the "good vibe" manifesto challenged by the scenes more politically conscious and/or progressive contemporaries.
   Having seen them gigging around the Bay in those early 70's I was well aware of that part of their popularity. I fell away from their music as the 80's approached but heard snippets over the airwaves time and again.
   I was a little concerned as I considered this box if the later stuff would interest me (ie disc 3). Though the Doobies "sound" had morphed somewhat (line-up changes included) I can still see their appeal. There is a consistancy throughout which still harkens back to what I liked way back then. None of their appeal has diminished with me, I STILL find the music uplifting, propulsive, and a darn fine listen.
   
   This is a box set worthy of its subject. Four cds stuffed with music covering a solid representation of the 'DB' sound. A nice fat booklet full of info, all housed in a hefty long box.
   
   I won't quibble about the inclusion/exclusion factor, each to his own. The music is all Doobies and the "vibe" is what made/makes them so popular, still.
   
   All in all a great box set!



2. The first 3 discs are sort of a "best-of" collection, with a little too much stuff (and not necessarily the best-chosen songs) for the casual fan. The 4th disc, with the rarities, is definitely for the hardcore fan. I own pretty much everything else by the Doobies, so I would have liked to have been able to just get the rarities. I guess that kind of thing wouldn't be expected to sell well enough on its own, though. (BTW, disc 3 also features a couple of "rarities" as well: "Wynken, Blynken & Nod," which was the only decent track on a various-artists kids' songs LP, and the awesomely fun, brand-new cover of "Little Bitty Pretty One.")
   
   Since my interest lies in the rarities, I haven't concerned myself with the other tracks (except for the fact that this set frustratingly misses the opportunity to restore "Neal's Fandango" to the full length version that was on the original STAMPEDE LP but not the CD).
   
   The rarities are often fascinating, and worthwhile beyond their historical interest. Between Disc 4 here and the various unauthorized editions of a set of early demos that exist (EXCITEMENT, ON OUR WAY UP, etc.), it's clear that the Doobies' debut album did not include the best material they had available. Songs like "Four Days Gone" and "Bluejay" are not just good by reject standards -- they're good, period.
   
   Another interesting rarity is the studio version of "Olana." I would have thought the band was breaking up before this would have been recorded. It falls short of the FAREWELL TOUR version (where's that keyboard riff that drives the chorus?), but it almost makes it possible to imagine the Doobies continuing post-Pat Simmons. (Note that I say "almost.")
   
   My only issue with what is and isn't included on the rarities disc is that the so-called "unissued live version" of "Jesus Is Just Alright" is actually the version from the FAREWELL TOUR album. (Not that many people are going to get the chance to find that out for themselves!)



3. Although they never garnered the critical praise of The Band, Mott the Hopple, CCR there were few bands that could hold a candle to the hit making strength of The Doobie Brothers. This collection gathers up a healthy sampling of their singles, best album tracks and rarities in a four disc set. While I would have paired back the selections from the band's weakest albums (including the awful "One Step Closer") (hence 4 stars), this collection doesn't skimp on the band's worthwhile output from their peak years.
   
   Sound quality is exceptional with a crisp detailed sound not heard before. Since fans will probably be familair with the bulk of the tracks here I'm only going to focus on the fourth disc with the bonus tracks. We get a number of good demos including Pat Simmons' "Daughters of the Sea","Four Days Gone", "Pat's Song"; Tom Johnston's "Osborne" (an early version of "Long Train Runnin'), "Lovin' My Way Back Home", "Peace in the Valley" all of which are strong tunes. "Bluejay" is also quite good and with "Peace in the Valley" one of the highlights here. It's a pity these songs never showed up on an album before now. "Armadillo Death Chang" is interesting as well--Johnston appears to have had a problem with song titles much like George Harrison in many cases as the title has absolutely nothing to do with this rockin' tune.
   
   "Outside of Barstow" is a demo with just Johnston and his guitar and, again, is a terrific little song that should have been revisited. "Spiel" is a John Hartman composition (the only solo composing credit the drummer received)that's really more of a joke track. I haven't listened to "Olana" in a while but this studio version of the Michael McDonald track is better than the live version from the 1983 final tour recording.
   The rest of the material was released in one form or another and these are either demos or alternate versions of the final tracks. We also get demos for "Sweet Maxine", "Shuffle" two demos from Michael McDonald "Takin' It To The Streets", "We Would Sail Away" both of which are strong demos. A Live version of "Jesus is Just Alright" from the live album sessions in 1982.
   
   The booklet has lots of rare photos, interviews and features the band discussing the changes over the years. If you purchased the most recent greatest hits release (2001)the text and photos from the booklet are the same. I was disappointed that there wasn't a DVD (much like the recent Pretenders set) as these guys in their prime were a powerhouse on stage. The four stars reflects the fact that the there could have been more previously unreleased material. I was hoping that the four tracks that Tom Johnston completed for "Livin' On The Fault Line" but withdrawn from the album would have been included but no such luck.



4. I found this at a wherehouse club for $38. There isnt a ton of gold to mine (even Michael Macdonalds 'You belong to me' is already on their expanded 20 track Greatest Hits.) I am a big fan of box sets and always ready to listen and learn. Its a good overview including the Michael Mcdonald songs from the 1976 Takin' It To The Streets album and a healthy sampling from Minute By Minute and One Step Closer.



5. Just a quick complaint about a great box set of Doobie magic,one of my fave tracks "Without You" ain't on it, was so disappointed!. But overall a great selection of all their classics and more.

1 comments about The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 3: 1963.

1. Holy Toledo ! Holy Motown !!! 1963- 5 discs , 119 songs , 5 hours , 26 minutes , 55 seconds. You probably already have the other two. You know what you're gonna get. Gem after gem. I challenge anyone to be able to NOT listen to any of these complete sets straight through. Makes a great evening! Volume 4 , 1964 anyone ?

5 comments about Clouds in My Coffee 1965-1995.

1. While waiting for Carly's new 2008 CD "This Kind of Love" to be released, I decided to fill the changer with Simon discs on a drive to South Carolina. For about eight hours behind the wheel, I had her all to myself! :) All three discs of "Clouds in My Coffee" played. Although I bought this boxed set upon its release in 1995, I found myself amazed at the depth of her material.
   
   "Do the Walls Come Down" from 1986's "Coming Around Again" captured my ear as if I were hearing it for the first time. What a delightful tune! "You're the Love of My Life" from 1992's "This Is My Life" is a simple piece, but one so warm and tender that it speaks volumes in the 16 years since it was released. "Life Is Eternal" has to be one of my favorite spiritually uplifting songs of all time, "Life is eternal, love is immortal & death is only a horizon." "Halfway 'Round the World" from her 1994 CD that I loved, "Letters Never Sent," impressed me with its strong dramatic quality and the way the music mirrors the imagery in the lyric. John Prine's "Angel from Montgomery" that was previously unreleased is given an expressive delivery by Simon.
   
   From the first disc are her marvelous hits like the breakthrough single "That's the Way I Always Heard It Should Be" with its lush arrangement and haunting melody, "Anticipation" that sounds fresh despite a gazillion ketchup commercials, "You Belong to Me" with its driving rhythm and addictive chorus and the gorgeous "Let the River Run" from the "Working Girl" soundtrack for which she won the Oscar in 1988. I'm amazed at how well these better-known tracks blend seamlessly with lesser known tracks like "Touched By the Sun," "Coming Around Again" & "Like A River." While the fickle finger of radio airplay has not been kind to our veteran musicians -- particularly women -- Carly Simon has continued to grow with remarkable consistency. "Clouds In My Coffee" is an excellent compilation that always thrills me each time I pull it from the shelf. Enjoy!



2. I bought this set for my wife for Christmas. She loves Carly. I have always had mixed feeling about Simon's music. Some of her stuff is so filled with insight and feeling that it makes me want to cry and I am convinced she is truly an artist on songs like "Raining" or "The Stuff That Love is Made Of". However, when she gets to going with the children's choirs and all that, she grates on me like a sandblaster. I can only listen to so much and then it is time for some serious music. As I said, my wife loves her, so Carly is OK by me, but I have to be in a mood for my feminine side to come out to get into her.



3. Carly Simon, who emerged in the early 1970s as one of the leading female singer/songwriters of the period, became the most commercially successful of all with the hit single "You're So Vain" and her album No Secrets in 1973. Despite critical derision, she maintained a loyal following even as her commercial fortune declined after another major hit album Hotcakes and a 1975 compilation that did not include her Australian hit "I've Got To Have You".
   
   "Clouds in My Coffee 1965-1995" was her first compilation since then, and at the time adoring "You're So Vain" I was eager to see more of her work from that era and beyond. However, "Clouds in My Coffee 1965-1995" shows that there was little of note in Carly Simon's work apart from the brilliant lyrics of her most famous song. Whilst many other songs show Carly Simon a very cerebral lyricist - which is no doubt why Tori Amos covered "Boys in the Trees" frequently during the time "Clouds in My Coffee 1965-1995" came out, very little of the material has melodies sufficiently moving or passionate to keep the listener interested. The lavish arrangements of "You're So Vain" and "The Right Thing to Do" are very touching, "Jesse" is somewhat (though not wholly) uplifting, and "Touched By The Sun" truly beautiful, but the second and third discs of "Clouds in My Coffee 1965-1995" are almost uniformly lame. The title "Cry Yourself to Sleep" really is very apt at describing what this music is about, with the songs close to generic easy listening without the intense atmospherics or brilliantly-played rhythms that saved something like Avalon from this fate.
   
   Overall, this compilation is more than enough to show Carly Simon as at best a second-tier singer/songwriter. Very little of the material here is worth your time.



4. .....what all the fuss has been about, this collection is for you. Carly Simon has been the voice of the "baby boomer" generation for a long time, and, for many of us, she still is. Carly has been known for three things: [1] Some really big hits...however you define the term, they're all here, and all on disc #1. [2] "Confessional" songs...heart on sleeve...pain displayed for all to see. Heaven knows, Carly has felt some pain...divorce...broken romances...illness in her kids...drugs...the loss of her Mom ["Like a River"]...breast cancer; whatever the pain, she has put it out in the open. Maybe we, her listeners, have been part of her therapy. I hope so. This approach turns some folks off, but, in America, nobody has to listen. Disc #3 is mostly her tear jerkers. [3] Sexually enticing album covers...sorry, not here.
   
   Disc #2 deserves special mention: it is made up of lesser known and unreleased material, though two of my personal favorites are on it..."Angel From Montgomery" and "Life Is Eternal". My one regret is also on Disc #2...the version of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" is NOT the one that was used for the closing credits of the Eighth Inning of the Ken Burns "Baseball" series...THAT version would melt the heart of a stone statue.
   
   This is an absolutely wonderful, superbly presented, box set...it only covers up to 1995, but that's OK. The book of essays, with plenty of pictures, is a great supplement to over three and a half hours of wonderful music. I, for one, appreciated the thematic, rather than chronological, division of the discs. This set is essential for anyone who is even remotely a fan of Carly.



5. Now don't get me wrong here, I really loved this box sett when I received it, and still do. But after the enthousiasm, realism came in and I had to admit that a lot of stuff was missing on this box sett. I mean, cd 2 only contains 3 previously un-released tracks. Okay, there are a lot of rare recordings on the second disc, like "Take me out to the ballgame (a song I really dislike, but that's just my opinion). But where is a track like "It's hard to be tender"? My god, it's one of Carly's finest recordings and the lyrics are just amazing. Why is this track always overlooked? I mean, when the Anthology cd cam out, I hoped that one would contain the track, but again it was overlooked. And I know Carly herself likes the song in fact, so... why is it never included on any compilation?
   Yet there are so many other overlooked recordings that could have been included on this box set. One night surfing on kazaa and looking for rare Carly stuff I found her recording of Mama Cash's song "Dream a little dream". It's not even listed on Carly's official web-site, but it's definately HER voice! And her version is so great, so amazing! Why isn't that one included her? Normal songs like "We have no secrets" and "Have you seen me lately" are included instead, songs we allready have on her regular albums.
   That really lowered my enthousiasm. But still this is a great set, the greatest hits disc features all her hits up to then, and the third disc is a ballad compilation, and really included her most romantic tunes, allthough I missed Hurt and her self penned "From the heart" or her version of "In the wee small hours of the morning". But I guess there's always something to wish for, right?
   Allthough this review may seem like a negative one, it's not supposed to be negative. I really feel like this is a great box-sett, a must have for any Carly lover, I just hope one day there will be another box-sett which will concentrate more on her rare and un-released recordings!

5 comments about A Jazz Romance - A Night In With Verve.

1. Ballads, I believe, are the real test of musicianship. And this collection has a judicious and delicious selection which is perhaps the best balanced one I know featuring the all time great moments - Clifford Brown's treatment of Rodgers and Harts Where or When will bring tears to your eyes - as well as quirky less known works - If the Moon Turns Green sung by Billy Holiday - the "old", Ben Webster, along with the "new" Mark Whitfield. Please don't think this is or should be "background" music. You only have to listen to Bill Evans playing with Paul Motian and Gary Peacock on CD1 to realise this is a collection of some of the greatest moments in 20th Century music, regardless of genre.



2. This selection contains a bunch of great cuts and a few that I could live without, especially the Blossom Dearie tracks. However, as opposed to most collections with weak tracks, this one flows along so well that it is a pleasure to put all four CDS on and let it play in the background on a quiet evening "In." I prefer the companion 4 CD set called "A Night Out with Verve." I would recommend "Out" over "In."



3. I am a complete novice when it comes to Jazz. Don't know much about it except that I enjoy it. I have to say this set of CD's is a great mood-setter. Definitely softens the atmosphere and relaxes the body and soul. Great music for a night of serenity and romance



4. I put this cd set on my Amazon wishlist, and was very pleased to get it as a gift from my lover. All the old familiar songs, together with songs that I think I remember from my childhood, transport me to space where romance and sentmentality feel like comfortable old wool sweater. Think I'll just sit back... sip some good hot coffee..and hope the boyfriend joins me on the couch



5. Beautiful. Billie Holiday blends seamlessly into Dinah Washington into Johnny Hodges into... this four box is the perfect background atmosphere for your swank cocktail party or that evening of candlelight romance. The compilers have collected a remarkable selection of music from classic Verve jazz heavyweights like Elle and Louie, Sarah Vaughan, Clifford Brown, Coleman Hawkins to, surprisingly, a few lesser known French artists such as Michael Legrand (who wrote the score for the French film 'Les Parapluies De Cherbourg') and Laura Fygi. This is a highly recommended classic jazz collection that will beautifully compliment your romantic evening in and will fit nicely into any classic jazz lovers music collection.