1959

Tracks:

Fool In Love - Veltones
'Cause I Love You - Carla & Rufus
Gee Whiz - Carla Thomas
You Make Me Feel So Good - The Chips
A Love Of My Own - Carla Thomas
Last Night - Mar-Keys
I Didn't Believe - Rufus & Friend
I'm Going Home - Prince Conley
(Mama, Mama) Wish Me Good Luck - Carla Thomas
Morning After - Mar-Keys
The Life I Live - Barbara Stephens
About Noon - Mar-Keys
Burnt Biscuits - Triumphs
I Kinda Think He Does - Carla Thomas
Foxy - Mar-Keys
You Don't Miss Your Water - William Bel
Formula Of Love - William Bell
Goofin' Off - Macy Skipper
Wait A Minute - Barbara Stephens
Sunday Jealous - Nick Charles
That's The Way It Is With Me - Barbara Stephens
No Tears - The Tonettes
Pop-Eye Stroll - Mar-Keys
The Three Dogwoods - Nick Charles
Why Should I Suffer With The Blues - The Canes
Whot's Happenin'! - Mar-Keys
Just Across The Street - The Del-Rios
There's A Love - The Del-Rios
Can't Ever Let You Go - Rufus Thomas

Tracks:

Green Onions - Booker T. & The MGs
Behave Yourself - Booker T. & The MGs
Any Other Way - William Bell
I'll Bring It Home To You - Carla Thomas
Sack-O-Woe - Mar-Keys
These Arms Of Mine - Otis Redding
Teardrop Sea - The Tonettes
The Dog - Rufus Thomas
Jelly Bread - Booker T. & The MGs
I Told You So - William Bell
Bo-Time - Mar-Keys
Home Grown - Booker T. & The MGs
My Imaginary Guy - Deanie Parker & The Valadors
Just As I Thought - William Bell
What A Fool I've Been - Carla Thomas
The Hawg, Part One - Eddie Kirk
Don't Be Afraid Of Love - Oscar Mack
That's My Guy - Cheryl & Pam Johnson
Chinese Checkers - Booker T. & The MGs
Somebody Mentioned Your Name - William Bell
What Can I Do - Bobby Marchan
That's What My Heart Needs - Otis Redding
What Can It Be - The Astors
Bango - Billy & The King Bees
Them Bones - Eddie Kirk
Walking The Dog - Rufus Thomas
I'll Show You - William Bell

Tracks:

Pain In My Heart - Otis Redding
Gee Whiz It's Christmas - Carla Thomas
Mo' Onions - Booker T. & The MGs
Frog Stomp - Floyd Newman
Can Your Monkey Do The Dog - Rufus Thomas
You Won't Do Right - Bobby Marchan
Wondering (When My Love Is Coming Home) - The Drapels
Each Step I Take - Deanie Parker
The Honey Dripper - The Van-Dells
Who Will It Be Tomorrow - William Bell
Come To Me - Otis Redding
Don't Leave Me This Way - Otis Redding
I Don't Want You Anymore - Eddie Jefferson
Restless - The Cobras
Somebody Stole My Dog - Rufus Thomas
Big Party - Barbara & The Browns
That's Really Some Good - Rufus & Carla
Night Time Is The Right Time - Rufus & Carla
Security - Otis Redding
Dream Girl - Oscar Mack
Closer To My Baby - Dorothy Williams
I've Got No Time To Lose - Carla Thomas
Young Man - The Drapels
Soul Dressing - Booker T. & The MGs
After Laughter (Comes Tears) - Wendy Rene
Can't Explain How It Happened - Ivory Joe Hunter
Bush Bash - Mar-Keys
Please Return To Me - The Fleets

Tracks:

Jump Back - Rufus Thomas
Chained And Bound - Otis Redding
In My Heart - Barbara & The Browns
Spunky - Johnny Jenkins
Bar B-Q - Wendy Rene
The Sidewalk Surf - Mad Lads
Can't Be Still - Booker T. & The MGs
A Woman's Love - Carla Thomas
Yank Me (Doodle) - Baracudas
That's How Strong My Love Is - Otis Redding
Mr. Pitiful - Otis Redding
Don't Let Her Be Your Baby - Del-Rays
Can't See You When I Want To - David Porter
My Lover - Barbara & The Browns
Got You On My Mind - The Admirals
How Do You Quit (Someone You Love) - Carla Thomas
Biggest Fool In Town - Gorgeous George
Banana Juice - Mar-Keys
Little Sally Walker - Rufus Thomas
A Place Nobody Can Find - Sam & Dave
Goodnight Baby - Sam & Dave
Boot-Leg - Booker T. & The MGs
Outrage - Booker T. & The MGs
I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) - Otis Redding
I'm Depending On You - Otis Redding
Candy - Astors
Give You What I Got - Wendy Rene

Tracks:

Stop! Look What You're Doin' - Carla Thomas
Willy Nilly - Rufus Thomas
Don't Have To Shop Around - Mad Lads
Crying All By Myself - William Bell
I Take What I Want - Sam & Dave
When You Move You Lose - Rufus & Carla
Respect - Otis Redding
Make It Me - The Premiers
The World Is Round - Rufus Thomas
In The Twilight Zone - The Astors
Blue Groove - Sir Isaac & The Do-Dads
You Don't Know Like I Know - Sam & Dave
Grab This Thing (Part 1) - The Mar-Keys
Be My Lady - Booker T. & The MGs
Comfort Me - Carla Thomas
I Can't Turn You Loose - Otis Redding
Just One More Day - Otis Redding
I Want Someone - The Mad Lads
Birds & Bees - Rufus & Carla
Philly Dog - The Mar-Keys
I Had A Dream - Johnnie Taylor
Satisfaction - Otis Redding
Things Get Better - Eddie Floyd
I'll Run Your Hurt Away - Ruby Johnson
Hot Dog - Four Shells
Let Me Good To You - Carla Thomas
Hold On I'm Comin' - Sam and Dave

Tracks:

Laundromat Blues - Albert King
Sugar Sugar - Mad Lads
Share What You Got (But Keep What You Need) - William Bell
Marching Off To War - William Bell
My Lover's Prayer - Otis Redding
Your Good Thing (Is About To End) - Mable John
I Got to Love Somebody's Baby - Johnnie Taylor
I Want A Girl - Mad Lads
Knock On Wood - Eddie Floyd
B-A-B-Y - Carla Thomas
My Sweet Potato - Booker T. & The MGs
Booker Loo - Booker T. & The MGs
Oh, Pretty Woman - Albert King
Said I Wasn't Gonna Tell Nobody - Sam & Dave
Never Like This Before - William Bell
Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song) - Otis Redding
Patch My Heart - Mad Lads
Sisters' Got A Boyfriend - Rufus Thomas
Come To Me Darling - Ruby Johnson
When My Love Comes Down - Ruby Johnson
Try A Little Tenderness - Otis Redding
Crosscut Saw - Albert King
Little Bluebird - Johnnie Taylor
Toe Hold - Johnnie Taylor
Jingle Bells - Booker T. & The MGs

Tracks:

You Got Me Hummin' - Sam & Dave
You're Taking Up Another Man's Place - Mable John
All I Want For Christmas Is You - Carla Thomas
Please Uncle Sam (Send Back My Man) - Charmels
Something Good (Is Going To Happen To You) - Carla Thomas
Raise Your Hand - Eddie Floyd
Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One) - Johnnie Taylor
I Don't Want To Lose Your Love - Mad Lads
When Something Is Wrong With My Baby - Sam & Dave
Let Me Down Slow - Bobby Wilson
Hip Hug - Her - Booker T. & The MGs
Everybody Loves A Winner - William Bell
Mini-Skirt Minnie - Sir Mack Rice
When Tomorrow Comes - Carla Thomas
The Spoiler - Eddie Purrell
I Love You More Than Words Can Say - Otis Redding
If I Ever Needed Love (I Sure Do Need It Now) - Ruby Johnson
Same Time Same Place - Mable John
Tramp - Otis & Carla
Soul Finger - Bar-Kays
Knuckelhead - Bar-Kays
Shake - Otis Redding
Born Under A Bad Sign - Albert King
Soothe Me - Sam & Dave
I Can't Stand Up - Sam & Dave
Don't Rock The Boat - Eddie Floyd

Tracks:

My Inspiration - Mad Lads
Love Sickness - Sir Mack Rice
Sophisticated Sissy - Rufus Thomas
I'll Always Have Faith In You - Carla Thomas
How Can You Mistreat The One You Love - Jeanne & The Darlings
Love Is Doggone Good Thing - Eddie Floyd
Groovin' - Booker T. & The MGs
Slim Jenkins Place - Booker T. & The MGs
Glory Of Love - Otis Redding
I'm A Big Girl Now - Mable John
Wait You Dog - Mable John
You Can't Get Away From It - Johnnie Taylor
Eloise (Hang On In There) - William Bell
Knock On Wood - Otis & Carla
I'm Glad To Do It - C.L. Blast
C.L. Blast/Double Up - C.L. Blast
You Can't Run Away From Your Heart - Judy Clay
I'll Gladly Take You Back - Charmels
Soul Man - Sam & Dave
Daddy Didn't Tell Me - Astors
Give Everybody Some - Bar-Kays
On A Saturday Night - Eddie Floyd
Don't Hit Me No More - Mable John
Somebody's Sleeping In My Bed - Johnnie Taylor
Winter Snow - Booker T. & The MGs
Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday - William Bell
What'll I Do For Satisfaction - Johnny Daye
Pick Up The Pieces - Carla Thomas

Tracks:

Down Ta My House - Rufus Thomas
As Long As I've Got You - Charmels
Soul Girl - Jeanne & The Darlings
Cold Feet - Albert King
Wrap It Up - Sam & Dave
Wrap It Up - Sam & Dave
(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
Don't Pass Your Judgement - Memphis Nomads
Lovey Dovey - Otis & Carla
I Got A Sure Thing - Ollie & The Nightingales
Big Bird - Eddie Floyd
A Hard Day's Night - Bar-Kays
Next Time - Johnnie Taylor
A Tribute To A King - William Bell
Every Man Ought To Have A Woman - William Bell
Able Mable - Mable John
The Memphis Train - Rufus Thomas
I Think I Made A Boo Boo - Rufus Thomas
What Will Later On Be Like - Jeanne & The Darlings
Hang Me Now - Jeanne & The Darlings
Soul Power - Derek Martin
Bring Your Love Back To Me - Linda Lyndell
A Dime A Dozen - Carla Thomas
Whatever Hurts You - Mad Lads
The Happy Song (Dum Dum) - Otis Redding
(I Love) Lucy - Albert King
I Ain't Particualar - Johnnie Taylor

Customer Reviews:

Do you really want this?.......2007-04-17

If you're reading this, you probably don't need me to tell you about how great the music was that came out of Stax records in the 60s. What you probably do want to know is if you should plunk down $100 of your hard-earned money for this box set.

If you're not already a fan of Stax or 60s soul, this probably isn't the best place to start. Check out the 4-disc Stax Story, which includes 3 discs of primo Memphis soul and a disc of killer live tracks. If you're left wanting more, this singles collection is the next step.

Next, you should know that you're not getting nine discs of solid gold. There is some filler, but amazingly little. If you enjoy discovering obscure or hidden nuggets, there's a whole gold mine waiting for you here. During the years covered here, the quality control at Stax seems to have been set at an incredibly high level.

Finally, note the dates in the title. This set ends in 1968, when Stax records dissolved its partnership with Atlantic. This box is released by Atlantic, so it also ends in 1968, although Stax continued releasing music into the mid-70s. This is something that will drive completists crazy, although it's not a deal-breaker, at least in my opinion. Following Otis Redding's death in 1968, the music coming out of Stax gradually became smoother and more orchestrated, so the music collected here is mostly the grittier, hard-grooving Stax. That said, though, this set won't get you the gems that did come out of late period Stax, so if you're looking for classics like the Staples Singers' "Respect Yourself" or "I'll Take You There," Jean Knight's "Mr. Big Stuff," Isaac Hayes' "Theme from Shaft," or Linda Lydell's "What a Man"--all classic, well known songs--you won't find them here.

Stax/Volt is monumental!.......2006-06-05

"Knock On Wood", "Soul Man", "Gee Whiz", "Green Onions,"
"Last Night", "Hold On I'm Comin'", "Walkin' The Dog" and
"Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay." What do all these songs have in common? Sure, they're great soul and rhythm & blues tunes, but something more. What do Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Sam & Dave, Eddie Floyd, Otis Redding and Albert King have in common? Rhythm & blues and soul superstars, yes, but that same something is also true. These songs and these artists all recorded for the "little label that could": STAX. In the '60s, Stax became a local R&B music giant in Memphis. The company was founded and ran by Jim Stewart, a country fiddle player and former banker, who was first exposed to R&B when he recorded a local doo-wop group called the Veltones with their song, "Fool In Love." As Rufus Thomas a local disc jockey heard the song, he and daughter Carla cut "Cause I Love You", a great R&B gem for Jim. When the record got out, Atlantic Records heard this fresh new sound and got in on the distribution deal with Stax that would exist as a handshake deal to a documented deal up until May 1968. What also happened during that time? Musical history.

At nine CDs, this set offers the complete history of what made Stax absolutely phenomenal. As you listen all the way
through, hopefully not all in one sitting since it's quite exhaustive unless you end up loving it that much, you'll notice as you start from disc one the experimental stages at trying to find and develop a distinct sound and progressing towards it. Some of the songs on disc four display it and from there on all the way to disc nine, it's there and ever-driving as can be. This is the ultimate example at what a box set is all about: covering as much material as possible. That doesn't even begin to describe what's presented here; it's too good because it is what it is: complete. There are 244 tracks in all and each CD has 25+ tracks clocking in with 70+ minutes of music on each.
It's complete all right for it features every A-side released by Stax and the subsidiary Volt along with a few well-known B-sides. That means every Stax or Volt record released by the stars like Rufus Thomas, ("Walkin' The Dog", "Can Your Monkey Do The Dog", "Jump Back", "Sophisticated Sissy", etc.), Carla Thomas ("Gee Whiz", "B-A-B-Y", "Stop! Look What You're Doin'", "Pick Up The Pieces", etc.), Otis Redding ("These Arms of Mine", "Mr. Pitiful", "Respect", "Try a Little Tenderness", etc.), Booker T. & the MGs ("Green Onions", "Jelly Bread", "My Sweet Potato", "Hip-Hug Her", etc.), Sam & Dave ("You Don't Know Like I Know", "Hold On! I'm Comin', "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby", "Soul Man", etc.), Eddie Floyd ("Things Get Better", "Knock On Wood", "Raise Your Hand", "Big Bird", etc.), William Bell ("You Don't Miss Your Water", "Never Like This Before", "Share What You Got", "Eloise Hang On In There", etc.), Albert King ("Laundromat Blues", "Crosscut Saw", "Born Under A Bad Sign", "Cold Feet", etc.) plus so many, many more. So if you know that those artists who were very consistent at Stax, there's pratically a full CD's worth of their songs here spread throughout the nine discs. Whether they were hits or not, everything is here including some unusual numbers that seem to break the normal Stax scheme like Macy Skipper's "Goofin' Off" which is humorous dee-jay kind of track, Cheryl and Pam Johnson's "That's My Guy", which sounds like a show-bizzy, TV commercial kind of tune, Nick Charles' "Sunday Jealous" and "The Three Dogwoods" which sound like soft, dry pop songs of that era,
and the Del-Rays' "Don't Let Her Be Your Baby" which tries to emulate the Beatles or the Dave Clark Five. This has got everything, so calling all collectors! It comes with a little 80-page book that could be worth about $15 separately so getting this with music is a bargain. The book has liner notes about the artits, the music, some real nice photos of the stars plus a track by track listing including the original catalog number and chart position (for those applicable) for each song.

Is it worth it? Absoultely. Pricey, but worth it. Finding this kind of music is getting rarer and rarer. Especially considering that about less than of these tracks didn't chart at all. Sure, the well-known hits can be found on smaller collections. This is the only collection that I know that has all the other stuff with it. Don't worry about parting with that kind of money. Being a musician and music fan, I can't think of a better investment, and if it's something you really enjoy, that makes it even more worthwhile. Here they are preserved on CD forever.

It's more than music to listen to. It's music you can dance to and groove to. Just listen to the sizzlin' guitars, the deep, pumping bass, the tight drums, the soulfulness of the vocalists and just the whole formula of each song. The sound quality is not good...it's perfect! Though everything is in big fat mono, since these were from the master tapes used on the original 45s (hence "singles" in the name), the sound is crisp and crystal clear. It sounds amazing on a system with adjustable bass output. Just crank that bass up, baby; it's practically what makes R&B. Every song is worth listening to for they help tell the story of Stax. They are all little gems. If a record didn't chart at all or it charted very low, so what? These people made music at leisurely paces and were great improvisers and just wanted to get out there, jam and do their own thing. If it sold and it was a hit, fantastic. If not, well, it was worth a shot. There is a good balance of the fast songs as well as the slow ballads. These are practically the unsung heroes of soul music; absoultely raw, gritty, rock-solid, vital and energetic they were. It was the opposite of Motown, their seemingly unbeatable giant of a competitor that was more slick and stylized in soul music. What's important lies in the musicality of the musicians and singers. Truly, this is what soul music is all about; it tells a story and expresses every human being's innermost and outermost feelings. Musicians can learn so much from this, for everyone involved here shows true musicianship. The thing was to make people appreciate and, yes, make them move to it. You can laugh with it, cry with it, and feel absolutely "soulified." It could make everyone, young and old, black and white, get up and dance and throw their cares away. It didn't matter what they were singing like Rufus Thomas on songs that have silly-sounding titles or lyrics like "Somebody Stole My Dog", or "I Think I Made A Boo Boo", you can just get up and let the driving music move you. You can laugh, but you'll find that you're laughing because it makes you feel good. So, they weren't Dylan or Lennon & McCartney. One listen to this entire set is all it takes, and you're hooked. Give this to a six year old and he or she will be a fan for life. Really, you'll never get tired of this music. The '60s were a time of social change and civil rights awareness. If only this music could have been more well-known and all these songs could have been hits, this would have brought everyone together to dance the day and night away. There's nothing like soul music. What more is there to say except that if you would like to have just one box set for your music collection, you just found a gold mine. That being said, if American music was the equivalent of a jewelry collection, all these songs would be the rare, precious and priceless gems.
So, to quote from a Mar-Keys' song, "grab this thing" because you'll want to keep it forever. It is thee essential and complete relevance of why Stax was the "little label that could"...and did!

What a waste of money this was.............2005-11-07

Having been a casual fan of Stax records for a few years; I decided earlier this year that I should go all out and splurge on this 9-CD box set. Big mistake.

I have many, many complaints about this set; but what it basically boils down to is that this whole set is an absolute mess. It misses many key B-sides such as Otis Redding's "Hard To Handle" and Booker T & The MG's "Tic Tac Toe"; and doesn't even include every a-side the label released, despite the title of the compilation (where are the sides that Hoyt Johnson released for the label?). The linear notes by Steve Greenberg (the man who gave us that phony "Soul Queen" Joss Stone; and the headache-inducing Baha Men) are horrible, mostly focusing on his personal opions of the artists and/or songs rather than the stories behind them. And within the sections for each disc in the booklet; they entries aren't actually arranged in any particular order (least of all the order of the tracks on the CDs, that would make too much sense). And there should've been more photos, too.

Add to this the set's main problem: the music. The fact is that most of the songs on here are really lame. Seriously. "Why did you buy it, then?" I hear you say. Well; the Stax songs I was familiar with (such as "Green Onions"; "B-A-B-Y"; "You Don't Miss Your Water"; "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay"; "Soul Man"; "Born Under A Bad Sign" etc) are all great songs. "Well, why don't you like this set then" you're thinking. Answer: because the 30-or-so great songs on here are sandwiched between over 200 filler songs over 9 discs.

If you think I'm being harsh on these songs, I'm not; I can appreciate songs like Wendy Rene's "Bar-B-Q" and the Memphis Nomad's "Don't Pass Your Judgement"; but aside from a few good numbers and a few pleasent-but-dull numbers, most of the non-hits on here are pretty bad.

Basically, if you really like a Stax artist then go and buy a best-of for that artist; if your looking for a sampler of Stax's best songs, then go and buy the 4-CD Stax Story; don't bother with this one.

AN EDUCATION IN SOUL MUSIC 101.......2003-07-09

I bought this set originally as individual CD's but thankfully was able to trade them in once I found out it had been boxed and got it with the Atlantic 8 CD box. They complement each other quite well with very minimal repition between the two sets. Originally this Stax/Volt set was released as a LP Sized box set with an appropriately sized booklet, so my review is based on that format. This set contains all of the Stax/Volt single "A" sides and key "B" sides to boot between the years 1959 and 1968 when Stax/Volt & Atlantic parted ways. The book is extremely informative, with great colour photos of original labels and the artists in question. I'm assuming it has maintained the same level of thoroughness in it's smaller format judging by the photo above. Like the Atlantic box this is an essential collection that serious music collectors should have and an incredible education on the roots of black soul music. Being Australian I hadn't heard 95% of this or the Atlantic stuff before with the odd Otis Redding, Booket T. & The MG's & Sam And Dave tracks reaching the airwaves or record shelves here. It's only with adult hindsight that I was able to delve backwards to investigate further.. I was in "Time Warp" mode back in the late 80's/Early 90's thanks to a similarly named Record store here in Sydney. This set is lovingly compiled and most of the tracks reveal a gritiness missing from today's so-called version of R & B (don't start me on that!) There isn't a lot I can add that my fellow reviewers haven't already stated. From one stand point this music is probably very personal to those who grew up listening to it (like the Beatles for me). But I love soul music too and to hear the grooves put out by that Stax/Volt house band puts so many others to shame for sheer quality and toughness. There are probably those who don't understand the difference between Motown & Stax/Volt/Atlantic. From an Aussie view, it's like comparing the Beatles & the Stones.. The Beatles would be Motown (slick & professional, great sounding records but tough when need be - they were fans of and influenced partly by that label) while the Stones would Stax/Volt/Atlantic (not as slick in appearance, rough on the edges but bluesy & gritty - most of their influences came from the deep south & Chicago blues). I hope that make sense. I've wanted to get the other 2 Stax sets for a while and maybe down the track I will..it's on my 5 year wishlist plan! That said buy this set for some thoroughly great music and an insight into a great label's massive but very important legacy.

Whew!.......2003-03-23

Probably the greatest box set there is. Out of all the tracks there are only two out and out duds - the Nick Charles ones. What is so amazing about this set is the incredible continuity of quality. Booker T. and the MG's....this truly is their legacy. What fabulous musicians...the tastiest that ever scratched their sound into vinyl. All of the Stax classics are here (Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Bookert T.,Albert King, Bar Kays, etc.) but the real treat are the ones that I was never aware of (William Bell, Mable John, The Astors, Gorgeous George). This is maybe the only huge box seat that is worth the dough.

Gypsy - A Musical Fable (1959 Original Broadway Cast)

Average customer rating:

Let Them Entertain You
Fabulous! Fabulous! Fabulous!
One of the all-time greats, but it needs a new Kleigl light
Amazing to Discover
Essential Ethel

Gypsy - A Musical Fable (1959 Original Broadway Cast)
Jule Styne , Stephen Sondheim , Ethel Merman , and Jack Klugman
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B00000J28I
Release Date: 1999-05-18

Tracks:

Act I: Overture
Act I: Let Me Entertain You
Act I: Some People
Act I: Small World
Baby June And Her Newsboys
Act I: Mr. Goldstone, I Love You
Act I: Little Lamb
Act I: You'll Never Get Away From Me
Dainty June And Her Farmboys
Act I: If Momma Was Married
Act I: All I Need Is The Girl
Act I: Everything's Coming Up Roses
Act II: Together Wherever We Go
Act II: You Gotta Get A Gimmick
Act II: Let Me Entertain You
Act II: Rose's Turn
Some People
Mr. Goldstone / Little Lamb
Momma's Talkin' Soft
Nice She Ain't

Amazon.com

Considered by many to be the last great musical comedy, Gypsy tells the backstage tale of vaudeville entertainer turned stripper Gypsy Rose Lee and her overbearing mother, Rose. Stephen Sondheim's lyrics--composed in advance of Jule Styne's infectious music--provide a tight structure and natural language to the 1959 score, which produced more than its share of Broadway standards, including "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Small World," "Some People," "If Momma Was Married," "Together Wherever We Go," and the climactic "Rose's Turn." Although the role of Rose has seen subsequent memorable interpretations by Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, and Bette Midler, the show was written for Ethel Merman, and she remains the definitive stage mother.

For this 1999 release, the recording has been remastered with numerous short passages restored and four tracks added. Merman sings alternate lyrics to "Some People" and a medley of "Mr. Goldstone" and "Little Lamb," all with piano accompaniment. Two other tracks are songs cut in tryouts: "Momma's Talking Soft" (gently swung here by Laura Leslie) was a duet for June and Louise that provides some context to the later line "Momma's talking loud," while "Nice She Ain't" is crooned by Bernie Knee, who is infinitely more suave than Jack Klugman ever would have been. Expanded to 63 minutes, this essential cast recording is now even more essential. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Let Them Entertain You.......2007-01-27

Let me entertain you
Let me see you smile

I will do some kicks
I will do some tricks

(Mama Rose)
Sing out, Louise! Sing out!

I'll tell you a story
I'll dance when she's done

(Mama Rose)
You're behind, honey!
Catch up! Catch up!

By the time we're through entertaining you
You'll have a barrel of fun!

Gypsy remains one of the very finest musicals ever produced. With music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim how could you go wrong? Well, they certainly didn't go wrong; and this original cast recording proves it.

I agree with people who believe that the overture for this musical is one of the finest ever written. It flows beautifully and seamlessly through portions of many of the musical arrangements for the songs in this musical. Impressive!

The musical score on this CD contains many songs that to this day remain instantly recognizable. "Let me Entertain You;" "Some People;" "Small World;" "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and "Together Wherever We Go" boast those catchy Jule Styne melodies and incredible lyrics that only Sondheim could have written.

"Let Me Entertain You" is the first song on this CD; and Ethel Merman as Mama Rose with Jacqueline Mayro as Baby June and Karen Moore as Baby Louise perform this flawlessly. The song flows so naturally that you completely believe that the two young girls are truly being coached by their domineering mother as they rehearse for a kiddie show in a vaudeville theater. Ethel Merman delivers "Some People" very convincingly; it is here that we see the first undeniable evidence that Merman was born to play Mama Rose. Merman belts out this song passionately as only she could; Merman blows the roof off the house.

Other great songs on this CD include the beautifully arranged "Small World" which is performed with great sensitivity by Ethel Merman as Jack Klugman joins in to make the song even more romantic; the moving "If Momma Was Married" by Sandra Church and Lane Bradbury as they deeply wish for a reprieve from their pushy stage mother; "Everything's Coming Up Roses" sung without a single superfluous note by Ethel Merman and "Together Wherever We Go" performed by Ethel Merman, Jack Klugman and Sandra Church.

Ethel Merman also delivers one especially powerful number at the end of the musical, "Rose's Turn." Merman's voice remains as strong, vibrant and passionate as ever as her character laments that things didn't turn out as happily as she had planned. The musical arrangement underscores Mama Rose's descent into a type of nervous breakdown as Mama Rose performs her swan song.

The CD continues with four bonus tracks that include entire numbers that originally wound up on the cutting room floor. These tracks add color to the original cast recording and enable the listener to hear even the slightest of differences editors made as they rushed to release the LP only one week after Gypsy opened at The Broadway Theater. Look for some interesting changes in "Some People;" "Mr. Goldstone/Little Lamb;" as well as two songs that were dropped from this production of Gypsy entitled "Mama's Talking Soft" and "Nice She Ain't." Excellent bonuses!

The sound quality is rather good although there were times when I could hear minor surface noise in the background. The liner notes offer black and white pictures from Gypsy and essays by Martin Gottfried and Tom Shepard. There are liner notes reprinted from the original LP jacket by George B. Dale, too.

Gypsy was produced several times more after this production closed. However, this is the definitive version because Ethel Merman carries the show with her zesty and powerful voice. Nobody could or ever will touch Ethel Merman as the quintessential Mama Rose.

I highly recommend this CD for fans of original cast recordings of great Broadway musicals; and of course Ethel Merman fans will thrill to these superlative numbers.

Enjoy!

Fabulous! Fabulous! Fabulous!.......2006-06-28

One of the best scores ever written for the stage!

One of the all-time greats, but it needs a new Kleigl light.......2006-03-17

Despite its front-and-center place in the theatrical pantheon, one wonders if we can really do "Gypsy" justice anymore. A lot of termites have invaded the flats. For one thing it mysteriously morphed into a gay musical. That's because it's "about" an overbearing stage mother who was first played by a famous loudmouth. Well, that's simplistic. But "Gypsy" staged right is not about bossy broads; it's about vaudeville, and burlesque, and the heartache and triumph of reaching the top. It's also about stripping. We seem to have lost track of that given the long line of actresses who've tried in vain to overthrow Ethel Merman's memory: Roz Russell (too low-key and literary), Angela Lansbury (too British), Tyne Daly (too coarse), Bette Midler (too kitschy), Bernadette Peters...what's she doing there? Actually, she belongs there -- not as Mama Rose. Thirty-five years younger she could (and should) have played Gypsy. (John Simon, reviewing the misbegotten 2003 revival, noted a definite facial resemblance.) We forget too the stroke of genius that ends this show. Gypsy, having utterly wowed them at Minsky's, is "topped" by her own mother! So, this is a contest -- and a contest requires more than one person. What "Gypsy" deserves is two great actresses. Ethel Merman's hold on the memory of her part is safe. Now -- who here can tell me who played Gypsy? Natalie Wood, well, that's easy enough. But was she memorable? One thinks of how the real Gypsy denigrated Sandra Church. What this show needs is for people to stop approaching it as a strong-woman musical, and more as the story of a stripper's rise to stardom. Maybe the time has come to put the emphasis on Gypsy, and get comely actresses who know how to strip. Perhaps the writers of this unquestioned landmark chose the wrong work; they should have done William Wellman's "Lady of Burlesque" (based on Gypsy's ghosted mystery novel "The G-String Murders" -- there's a title!). That way it would have been all fun, and no overbearing significance, or stage mothers. Hmmm: Barbara Stanwyck as Gypsy? There's a thought.

But I've discussed the property when I should be discussing the cast album. There's little to say. People who call this the greatest show ever are being silly. Perhaps it is as an integrated whole. There are better scores. Indeed Jule Styne wrote better tunes; go back to his work with Sammy Cahn, and go back especially to that Harry James-Kitty Kallen immortality "It's Been a Long Long Time." Go back to Blue Eyes's renditions. No, I would not want to say this is better than "Show Boat." But it's still darned good. (Of the newly-renovated album it goes without saying.) The problem is, it could be better; and with Ethel Merman eternally ringing in our ears we know how difficult that will ever be. But we can always...have a dream.

Amazing to Discover.......2006-02-01

Of course I have always known of Ethel Merman and the general style of her singing, but I had never actually sat and listened closely to her until I bought this CD reissue of Gypsy. What an amazing talent she was. Her voice, though often impersonated for kitsch, was a remarkable instrument--that high belt was always clear, always focused on pitch and rhythmically precise (at least on Gypsy). This is a truly absorbing score to listen to, and the remaster has been done wonderfully well, with great taste and attention to detail.

Essential Ethel.......2005-08-14

1959's "Gypsy" was a landmark musical and arguably Ethel Merman's greatest role as Rose, the "stage mother" driven to make her daughter a star. In addition to Ms. Merman, the production included great performances by Jack Klugman and Sandra Church as Herbie (Rose's suitor) and Louise (aka Gypsy Rose Lee), respectively.

The classic score by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim is filled with memorable songs.

Best tracks include:

Some People
Small World
You'll Never Get Away From Me
All I Need Is The Girl
Everything's Coming Up Roses
Together Wherever We Go
Let Me Entertain You
Rose's Turn

Despite losing that seasons Best Musical Tony Award to "The Sound Of Music" & "Fiorello" (a tie), "Gypsy" remains a force on Broadway, revived three times since its original run, with Angela Landsbury, Tyne Daly & Bernadette Peters in the starring role. Each brought a different perspective to Rose, but the character will always belong to Ms. Merman!

A classic!

The Best of Bobby Rydell: Cameo Parkway 1959-1964

Average customer rating:

The wait is OVER--a fine CD of Bobby's hits
This guy is great!!!
"Tremendous And Sad"
Brings you back in time
Nostalgic moments!

The Best of Bobby Rydell: Cameo Parkway 1959-1964
Bobby Rydell
Manufacturer: Abkco
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Best of Chubby Checker: Cameo Parkway 1959-1963
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ASIN: B000B8I8XM
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

Please Don't Be Mad
All I Want Is You
We Got Love
Kissin' Time
I Dig Girls
Wild One
Ding-A-Ling
Swingin' School
Little Bitty Girl
Volare
Sway
That Old Black Magic
I Wanna Thank You
Butterfly Baby
Good Time Baby
I've Got Bonnie
I'll Never Dance Again
Third House (In from the Right)
Wildwood Days
Cha-Cha-Cha
Best Man Cried
Forget Him
World Without Love
Jingle Bell Rock
Message from Bobby

Customer Reviews:

The wait is OVER--a fine CD of Bobby's hits.......2007-07-23

Bobby Rydell entertained millions of Americans in the late 1950s and the early 1960s while enjoying teen idol status. Fortunately for Bobby and all of us, he still remains a creative, energetic force to this day. This CD gives us twenty-four great numbers by Bobby Rydell and an extra "message from Bobby" as a type of bonus track.

The CD track set begins with the early rock and roll, doo-wop sounding "Please Don't Be Mad." Bobby sings this with all his heart and soul; and the backup chorus enhances the beauty of this opening number. "We Got Love" starts with the chorus singing these words and when Bobby comes in he positively takes flight! The chorus harmonizes so very well and the musical arrangement sports an infectiously happy, upbeat melody and tempo. Excellent!

"Wild One" speeds up the tempo even more as Bobby rocks this one to perfection! Love those ladies on backup--and the melody has a great beat to it! The percussion adds to the quality of the number, too. It's easy to understand why "Wild One" was a big hit for Bobby. In addition, Bobby sings a perfect cover of "Volare" with a stunning arrangement and a great female backup chorus. "Sway" sports an early 1960s Latin beat to it as Bobby croons this without a superfluous note!

"That Old Black Magic" gives us another example of Bobby taking a classic pop vocal and infusing it with a rock and roll arrangement to make "That Old Black Magic" his very own. Excellent! The tempo changes a few times on "That Old Black Magic;" and this only serves to enhance the number further.

"Wildwood Days" refers to that Jersey shore beach so many people always enjoyed in summertime during those simpler times. The relentlessly happy, upbeat tempo works wonders along with a wonderful female backup chorus. Bobby's voice is in perfect form for "Wildwood Days." His voice is energetic and full of masculine warmth. Who could ask for anything more?

"The Cha-cha-cha" sports a Latin beat; and "A World Without Love" shows us how well Bobby could cover a classic Beatles tune. "Jingle Bell Rock" comes off as a masterpiece; Bobby Rydell sings this along with Chubby Checker and the number comes off without a hitch! Awesome!

The CD ends with a track called "A Message From Bobby." This was originally on a 45 rpm record that came along as a bonus with a 33 rpm record. Bobby uses "A Message From Bobby" to thank his fans and reminisce a bit about his recent successes.

The liner notes include the song credits and Jeff Tamarkin contributes an informative essay about Bobby and these wonderful songs.

Bobby Rydell fans can rejoice that his greatest works for Cameo are here on this CD. I also recommend this CD as an excellent starting point for people who want to get to know Bobby's artistry for the first time. We are all much better off for Bobby sharing his talents with us; and hopefully Bobby will continue to perform as only he can for many years to come.

This guy is great!!!.......2007-02-22

I have loved Bobby Rydell (my little Italian boy) since I was a teenager.
Met him in Ocean City, Md. in the late 50's at a Buddy Dean record hop & was impressed at how sweet he was. I've had a crush ever since! Would love to see him again & know what's happeing in his life (children,career,
etc.) This CD is wonderful & brought back a lot of good memories.

"Tremendous And Sad".......2007-02-02

This has to be the most tremendous collection of Boby Rydell music put out! Nothing is ever ever perfect and even though "The Fish"is not included, so be it. By the Way, "Butterfly Bay" was a hit of his I believe within the summer of 1963.

Now, what is sad and it has nothing to do with this CD. I believe that from about '61 into'63 his talents were developing at an enormous clip. During the summer of '63 he had a STARRING role with Ann Margaret, Dick Van Dyke, and Paul Lynde in the HUGE movie "Bye Bye Birdie" and within the movie he sang a very moving song, "One Boy" with Ann Margaret. This is one of the most beautiful duets that I've ever seen and heard. The movie was a huge success. He followed the movie up with a touching and very big hit record,"Forget Him". That,sadly, became his swan song. Many americans truly did, very ashamedly, did "Forget Him".I feel as though with the movie "Bye Bye Birdie" and the two touching songs, "One Boy" (With Ann Margaret within the movie) and and the big hit, "Forget Him", which followed the movie, he was on his way to super stardom in both the recording fields and that of motion pictures. That is until the Beatles SQUASHED him with their fluff. He had (has) more talent within his little finger than all four of The Beatles ever had. In fact, his talents outweighed all of the fluff of the British artists that suddenly began to flood our american airwaves including not only The Beatles, but The Dave Clark Five, The Rolling Stones, Gerry and the Pace Makers, Hermans Hermets, and even many of the american artists such as The Beach Boys, etc. I'm even including groups like "The Hollies", etc. as producers of fluff that crushed Bobby Rydell. It was so very unfair when he was being totally cut out when his total talent was becoming more and more evident and more than likely super stardom was on the horizon. He was crushed by fluff.

It's tremendous that the CD is available and it's sad what The Beatles and other "artists" plus what the american public did to him. Shameless.

Brings you back in time.......2007-01-11

Just listening to this cd makes me think of another, younger time in my
life (not that I'm that old). Real music nostalgia for those who grew up
in the 60's. This is a definitely a must have cd for fans of rock and roll
and just good listening music.

Nostalgic moments!.......2006-08-26

I remember seeing Bobby Rydell on stage back in the '50's at home in New Zealand. This CD has everything I need to enjoy that era!

Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971

Average customer rating:

MONO-TOWN
the sound of a young america
Longer Songs
Pretty Much All You Need
This is the Motown sound!

Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Motown
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1972-1992
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ASIN: B000006NUW
Release Date: 1992-11-03

Tracks:

Money (That's What I Want) - Barrett Strong
Shop Around - The Miracles
Please Mr. Postman - The Marvelettes
Jamie - Eddie Holland
The One Who Really Loves You - Mary Wells
Do You Love Me - The Contours
Beechwood 4-5789 - The Marvelettes
You Beat Me To The Punch - Mary Wells
Stubborn Kind Of Fellow - Marvin Gaye
Two Lovers - Mary Wells
You've Really Got A Hold On Me - The Miracles
Come and Get These Memories - Martha & the Vandellas
Pride And Joy - Marvin Gaye
Fingertips- Part 2 - Little Stevie Wonder
(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave - Martha & the Vandellas
Mickey's Monkey - The Miracles
Leaving Here - Eddie Holland
The Way You Do The Things You Do - The Temptations
My Guy - Mary Wells
Devil With The Blue Dress - Shorty Long
Every Little Bit Hurts - Brenda Holloway
Baby I Need Your Loving - Four Tops
Dancing in the Street - Martha & the Vandellas
My Smile Is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down) - Crawford, Carolyn
Needle in a Haystack - Velvelettes
Baby Love - Supremes
Come See About Me - Supremes
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) - Gaye, Marvin

Tracks:

My Girl - The Temptations
He Was Really Sayin Somethin' - The Velvelettes
Ask The Lonely - Four Tops
Shotgun - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
Nowhere to Run - Martha & the Vandellas
When I'm Gone - Brenda Holloway
OOO Baby Baby - The Miracles
I Can't Helf Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) - Four Tops
First I Look At The Purse - The Contours
The Tracks Of My Tears - The Miracles
It's The Same Old Song - Four Tops
Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things) - Martha & the Vandellas
Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While) - Kim Weston
Uptight (Everything's Alright) - Stevie Wonder
Don't Mess With Bill - The Marvelettes
Darling Baby - The Elgins
This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You) - Isley Brothers
Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam) - The Monitors
Function At The Junction - Shorty Long
(I'm A) Roadrunner - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
Ain't Too Proud To Beg - The Temptations
What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted - Jimmy Ruffin
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
Love Gone Bad - Chris Clark
You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes
Beauty Is Only Skin Deep - The Temptations
Heaven Must Have Sent You - The Elgins

Tracks:

Reach Out I'll Be There - Four Tops
I'm Losing You - The Temptations
Standing In The Shadows Of Love - Four Tops
It Take Two - Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game - Marvelettes
Jimmy Mack - Martha & The Vandellas
Bernadette - Four Tops
Ain't No Mountian High Enough - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
More Love - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gladys Knight & The Pips
I Second That Emotion - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
I Wish It Would Rain - The Temptations
I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You - Rita Wright
Does Your Mama Know About Me - Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers
Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrel
Love Child - Diana Ross & The Supremes
For Once In My Life - Stevie Wonder
Cloud Nine - The Temptations
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Baby, Baby Don't Cry - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Twenty-Five Miles - Edwin Starr
My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) - David Ruffin
What Does It take (To Win Your Love) - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
I Can't Get Next To You - The Temptations
Baby I'm For Real - The Originals
Up The Ladder To The Roof - The Supremes

Tracks:

I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
The Bells - The Originals
Gat Ready - Rare Earth
ABC - The Jackson 5
Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today) - The Temptations
The Love You Save - The Jackson 5
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - Stevie Wonder
War - Edwin Starr
It's A Shame - The Spinners
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross
Still Water (Love) - Four Tops
I'll Be There - The Jackson 5
The Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Stoned Love - The Supremes
If I Were Your Woman - Gladys Knight & The Pips
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) - The Temptations
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Never Can Say Goodbye - The Jackson 5
Nathan Jones - The Supremes
I Don't Want To Do Wrong - Gladys Knight & The Pips
Smiling Faces Sometimes - The Undisputed Truth
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) - Mavin Gaye
I Just Want To Celebrate - Rare Earth

Amazon.com

Motown did so many things well in the '60s and early '70s that this overview of the label's smashes (and some lesser-known classics) practically demands four CDs. It gets them, too, filling them with single mixes of more than 100 tracks. That the running order begins with Barrett Strong's statement of purpose "Money (That's What I Want)" and ends with Marvin Gaye's statement of concern "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" says a lot about how far the company moved in its golden decade--but no more so than what the same two cuts' differences in sound get across. The company was able to blend the smooth and the harsh in ways that few other pop entities have ever mastered, thereby getting over not only to the feet and the wallet, but to the heart. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

MONO-TOWN.......2007-02-25

HITSVILLE USA is a box set that's clearly marked as a SINGLES COLLECTION-- that means these 104 tracks are in the original monaural sound. If you're looking for stereo mixes, this isn't the collection for you. That issue aside, the only real criticism of the album is one of programming-- songs tend to be clustered by artist or group. Perhaps a more thorough shuffle was in order.

Each CD jewel case is fronted with a repro of a Gordy Co. label, including one of the very first MOTOWNs, which was pale pink in color. The accompanying 68-page long box book is quite comprehensive. Recording dates for all songs and chart positions are given. There's lots of great photos; artists and groups are given a few pages of bio each. This HITSVILLE USA four-CD box set is fairly extensive, and about all you'd ever need in a compilation of MOTOWN 45s.

TOTAL RUNNING TIMES --
DISC ONE -- 76:10
DISC TWO -- 75:21
DISC THREE -- 77:09
DISC FOUR -- 74:10

the sound of a young america.......2006-12-28

this was my true introduction to the music of motown and now i see why motown was great a lot of these song i frist heard by other artist but hearing the orginals has made appericate the motown sound so much more and i believe anyone who hears these songs will enjoy them for a lifetime and i know i am

Longer Songs.......2006-12-09

The Songs on this are FANTASTIC! I Love Mono Recording. Everyone says that if it's stereo, it "sounds better". I think NOT! It Sounds alright. But, Hey, if you want longer mono versions of the music, without the unnecessary extensions, buy this. For example, Nowhere To Run on this box set-2:58.
Motown Box-Nowhere To Run-2:46-TWELVE SECONDS!There's A Big Difference there.
Also, With Dancing In The Street, my favorite part is on this, when Martha says "Yeah", at the end, on Motown Box, 4 seconds are 'remastered'. (frown)Therefore, it is'nt there. BUT, people, There are a few notable songs missing. Quicksand, By Martha & the Vandellas, Bye Bye Baby, By Mary Wells, Playboy, by the Marvelettes, When The Lovelight starts shining through His eyes, by the Supremes, Hitch Hike, By Marvin Gaye, and others, you know what I mean? So, overall, this is the better box to get.

Pretty Much All You Need.......2006-10-17

There are so many good songs here, you can't go wrong. Don't let the whole 'mono' thing scare you away, either. With a decent stereo, these sound just fine. Just turn up the bass a little and crank it loud. I like about 80% of the songs in this collection, and for the price you can't go wrong; Nice booklet w/ lots of cool pictures included. With this collection, you'd only need to buy a handful of other discs to complete your Motown collection...

This is the Motown sound!.......2006-08-11

What is Motown all about? The answer lies within the music of this rather impressive line-up of songs on "Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971." It's the story of how a gifted songwriter, Berry Gordy, Jr., makes his way on up the ladder of success spearheading one of if not the most successful
of all R&B-based record companies during the golden age of American popular music. Detroit, Michigan, known as the Motor City, gained yet another nickname: Hitsville USA. Everyone referred to it as Motown. In this collection, all of the well-known groups (The Supremes, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Miracles, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Jr. Walker & the All-Stars, The Jackson 5) are represented as well as the known solo artists (Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway). Included also are some wonderful one or two-shot wonders (Shorty Long, Brenda Holloway, Eddie Holland [of Motown's hit-making songwriting trio H-D-H], The Velvelettes, The Elgins, The Monitors, The Contours) and more. What's interesting about this set is that there are many of the well-known songs along with some songs that you probably just don't hear anymore or weren't that well-known. So you get your fair share of both like the Supremes' well-known "Baby Love" and Shorty Long's rare but wonderful "Function at the Junction." The downside of this set is nothing too alarming. Not all the artists' hit songs, big and small, are included and I think that's done so that other little-known-but-definitely-worth-discovering are given a chance at spin time, too; even some from the top artists, too. Think about it: if every single Motown record that made the charts was included, this collection would just balloon up, and there'd be no telling how far. So this is a very nice general overview of those first 12 and golden years of Motown. That's what this is all about: the general overview. Granted, if you want to investiagte further about a certain artist's music, there are numerous collections out there devoted just to them like the single "Ultimate Collection" CDs, or box collections of the artist. But, back to this one. Included within is a very nice 68-page booklet containing essays and phots of ALL the artists, plus musician credits, the track-by-track listing of the whole set, including original release date, label, and chart position.
In the middle of the book the different 45s are pictured all together on a two-page spread which was neat, and on the cover are the picture sleeves. It was an unusual move to put no artists and only songs on the back of the individual discs. The same goes for the back of the box. The paper inserts of the CD cases are record labels that have just the label name: Gordy, Soul, Motown, Tamla. Still, out of all the Motown best of various artists collections, this is the big one! It's great party music and dance music. People young and old will love this. The sound on here is terrific and powerful, but, yes, it is in mono. If you look in the back of the booklet, there is noted that the original single masters were used (the 45 RPM versions), so what does that tell you? Nevertheless, the sound is strong for 1992 remastering. Together, this set is living proof that Motown wasn't just a hit-making machine of a record-company, it was a feeling!

Hard to Find 45s on CD, Volume 9: 1957-1959

Average customer rating:

Great remastering! Fine compilation
The late 1950's come alive with this entertaining new collection from Eric records.

Hard to Find 45s on CD, Volume 9: 1957-1959

Manufacturer: Eric Collection
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hard To Find 45s On CD, Volume 2: 1961-1964

ASIN: B000N69OYY
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Tracks:

High School U.S.A. (National Version) - Tommy Facenda (CD
Endless Sleep - Jody Reynolds
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - Jivin' Gene & The Jokers (Rare On CD)
Rocking Pneumonia & The Boogie Woogie Flu - Huey "Piano" Smith
Robbin' The Cradle - Tony Bellus (Rare On CD)
Click Clack - Dicky Doo & The Don'ts (Rare On CD)
Lucky Ladybug - Billy & Lillie (Rare On CD)
White Bucks & Saddle Shoes - Bobby Pedrick Jr. (CD Debut)
Sandy - Larry Hall (Rare On CD)
Rockin' Little Angel - Ray Smith (Rare On CD)
Mona Lisa - Carl Mann
Honey Love - Narvel Felts (CD Debut in US)
Everybody Out'ta The Pool - The Lifeguards (CD Debut)
Teenage Hayride - Tender Slim (CD Debut)
The Happy Organ - Dave "Baby" Cortez
Philadelphia U.S.A. - The Nu Tornados (CD Debut)
I Don't Know What It Is - The Bluenotes (CD Debut)
Alone (Why Must I Be Alone) - The Shepherd Sisters (Rare On CD)
You - The Aquatones (Rare On CD)
Tear Drop - Santo & Johnny (CD Debut)
Hideaway - The Four Esquires (CD Debut)
Chanson D'amour - Art & Dotty Todd (Rare On CD)
A String of Trumpets - The Trumpeteers (CD Debut)

Album Description

Finally, five years after the last numbered volume, Eric Records is pleased to release "Hard To Find 45s on CD" Volume 9 (1957-1959) featuring our trademark formula of charted hits not commonly found on other CDs and a generous helping of CD debuts!

Volume 9 contains 23 carefully chosen classic songs (53 minutes of music) from the beginning of the rock `n' roll era, 15 of which made the Top 30. Many rarities + 10 hits never-before-on-CD. Superbly remastered for highest quality sound. Includes a 12 page booklet with detailed biographies of all the artists by Greg Adams . No real oldies collection is complete without these "hard to find 45s"!

Customer Reviews:

Great remastering! Fine compilation.......2007-05-25

Whether due to tracking down original master tapes, or just plain old engineering skill, the tracks on this compilation have a warmth and vibrancy seldom encountered on similar reissues. The audio experience is similar to listening to mint 45s through a great system. If you have any interest at all in the material, don't hestitate to acquire this disc!

The late 1950's come alive with this entertaining new collection from Eric records. .......2007-04-27

They are songs you just don't hear on the radio anymore. Even the weekend specialty shows that for many years featured the great rock 'n roll and doo wop sounds of the 1950's have now largely disappeared from the airwaves. Thankfully, the folks at Eric records have once again come to the rescue with a great new collection featuring an impressive variety of genres from this period. "Hard to Find 45's on CD, Vol. 9: 1957-1959" offers up 23 of the most distinctive and hard to find records of this period. Many of these songs were by artists who were one hit wonders while others were largely regional hits. In any case, this is a collection of songs you just won't find anywhere else.
If you are a big fan of the rockabilly sound you will certainly enjoy hearing Ray Smith's "Rockin' Little Angel" and Carl Mann's pulsating rendition of "Mona Lisa". Those who dig instrumentals can savor the great sound of Dave "Baby" Cortez's #1 hit "The Happy Organ" as well as Santo and Johnny's "Tear Drop" from 1959. It was fun to hear Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns classic New Orleans tune "Rockin' Pnuemonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" which is also included here. Fans of great group harmony will not be disappointed either. You will surely appreciate the lovingly remastered version of The Aquatones great hit "You". One song many people have probably forgotten about is the Four Esquires "Hideaway". If you are a fan of the Four Lads then you are certain to love this one. It is probably my favorite tune on this disc. And there are some songs here that just don't seem to fit into any particular category but are highly enjoyable nonetheless. Among them is the great Art and Dotty Todd recording of "Chanson D'amour" from 1957 and Jody Reynolds Top Ten smash "Endless Sleep". There were also a number of tunes that I had never heard before that turned out to be very pleasant surprises. "Philadelphia USA" by the Nu Tornados features the string band sound while The Bluenotes "I Don't Know What It Is" turns out to be a pretty fair doo wop tune. Also, be sure to check out "String of Trumpets" from the Trumpeteers and Jivin' Gene and the Jokers "Breakin' Up Is Hard Do". Outstanding stuff!
"Hard To Find 45's on CD, Vol. 9: 1957-1959" comes with a fascinating 12 page booklet featuring biographical information and photos on just about all of these artists as well as Billboard chart information on each of these songs. As always the remastering job is first rate. If you have never purchased a collection from Eric before I urge you to give this one a try. Over the past several years this company has emerged as the top reissue label in the U.S. Highly recommended!

Once Upon A Mattress (1959 Original Broadway Cast)

Average customer rating:

"Mattress" CD was excellent
an oldie but a goodie
Nothing like the original --
Awesome
I saw the original on Broadway

Once Upon A Mattress (1959 Original Broadway Cast)
Marshall Barer
Manufacturer: Decca U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Once Upon a Mattress
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ASIN: B000002ONH
Release Date: 1993-04-13

Tracks:

Overture - Orchestra
Many Moons Ago - Harry Snow
An Opening For A Princess - Joe Bova and Ensemble
In A Little While - Allen Case, Anne Jones
Shy - Carol Burnett, Joe Bova And Ensemble
Sensitivity - Jane White, Robert Weil
The Swamps Of Home - Carol Burnett, Joe Bova And Ensemble
Normandy - Harry Snow, Matt Mattox, Anne Jones
Spanish Panic - Jane White
Song Of Love - Carol Burnett, Joe Bova And Ensemble
Quiet - Jane White And Ensemble
Studio Dialogue - Carol Burnett
Happily Ever After - Carol Burnett
Man To Man Talk - Matt Mattox, Joe Bova
Very Soft Shoes - Matt Mattox And Ensemble
Yesterday I Loved You - Allen Case, Anne Jones
Nightingale Lullaby - Ginny Perlowin
Finale - Joe Bova, Matt Mattox, Jack Gilford And Ensemble

Amazon.com

Based on Hans Christian Andersen's tale The Princess and the Pea, Once Upon a Mattress opened in May 1959 and was a solid success, if not a huge blockbuster. It did well enough, in any case, to warrant a 1997 revival starring Sarah Jessica Parker. The show was far from revolutionary, but it provided a really fun vehicle for a cast of top stage personalities, including black actress Jane White, who played Queen Aggravain (a part originally written for comedienne Nancy Walker) in whiteface. But of course, Once Upon a Mattress's heart and soul was Carol Burnett, who, in her Broadway debut created the part of Princess Winnifred and delivered two of Mary Rodgers's best songs, the hilarious "Shy" and the spunky "Happily Ever After," which sounds a bit like Jule Styne at his most rhythmic. Burnett's timing and performance remain as sharp as they were 40 years ago. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

"Mattress" CD was excellent.......2007-01-09

I've really enjoyed this CD. I only wish the play was available on DVD.

an oldie but a goodie.......2006-03-15

Loved Carol Burnett then and love her now. This original cast CD is a lovely trip down memory lane.

Nothing like the original -- .......2006-01-30

No offense to any of the subsequent "Freds" but Carol Burnett OWNS this role. The recording is as fresh and funny as anything being done today and this is the version musical theatre fans should have in their library. Get it.

Awesome.......2006-01-22

My school did this musical last year (Spring 2005) and I had never heard of it before, so I bought both the Revial and the Original Cast Recordings. Fell in love. I was Sir Harry and loved both songs that I sang in. In my opinion, those are the two best songs in the entire musical, but then again, I'm biased.

Once Upon A Mattress OCR is by far the best out there. Don't get me wrong, the Revival Cast did a wonderful job (soundtrack at least) But There is something about Carol Burnett. She was meant to sing be Fred. But one thing that I didn't like is that "The Minstrel, the Jester & I" wasn't in this recording. But that is really the only problem I had with this.

My fav songs include:
In a Little While (because I sang it)
Yesterday I Loved You (again, I sang it)
Many Moons Ago
Shy

Would I recomend this CD? YES I WOULD!! I would shout it from the rooftops that people should by this CD! It's a funny, quaint little musical that people need to know about. I LOVE IT!

I saw the original on Broadway.......2005-12-19

Once Upon a Mattress was one of the first Broadway shows that I ever saw and I was totally mesmorized and laughed so hard that my side hurt. Carol Burnett was the perfect person to play Fred and it was one of those magical performances that stays with you for a lifetime. The original cast album captures the fun and spirit of the show.

Later during the run of the show a friend of mine joined the chorus and when we talked about the experience, he told me that the joy that was on stage was similar to that felt by the cast and that was apparent on the album. They especially liked working with Ms. Burnett as she was a giving and caring actress.

I recommend this album to anyone who wants to spend some time just feeling good.

The Best of Chubby Checker: Cameo Parkway 1959-1963

Average customer rating:

4 and a half stars because of "Limbo Rock"
It's a shame this doesn't include all his top 40 hits...
THIS RELEASE WAS WELL OVERDUE,AND WELL WORTH THE WAIT
Let's limbo some more!
Finally...The Original Recordings

The Best of Chubby Checker: Cameo Parkway 1959-1963
Chubby Checker
Manufacturer: Abkco
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000B8I8XW
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

Dancin' Party
Twist
Toot
Class
Twistin' U.S.A.
Hucklebuck
Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On
Pony Time
Dance the Mess Around
Good, Good Lovin'
Let's Twist Again
Fly
Slow Twistin' - Chubby Checker, Dee Dee Sharp
Popeye the Hitchhiker
Limbo Rock
Let's Limbo Some More
Hooka Tooka
Loddy Lo
Hey, Bobba Needle
Birdland
Surf Party
Twist It Up
Twistin' Round the World
Jingle Bell Rock

Customer Reviews:

4 and a half stars because of "Limbo Rock".......2006-06-11

Unlike other reviewers, I won't quibble about the 3 missing
titles or the sequencing (I think "Dancin' Party" lead off
the CD because of the lyrical content; give it a listen). But my issue is with the very end of "Limbo Rock". If you still have "Limbo Rock" on vinyl in your collection, listen to the end of the vinyl version and then listen to the end of the CD version. It sounds to me like the drum flourish that closed "Limbo Rock" was tacked on a second time. No, my CD is NOT scratched! Hmmmm.....

HOWEVER, overall it is WONDERFUL that ABCKO has finally released
not only the ORIGINAL Chubby hits on CD, but nearly everything
else from Cameo-Parkway, almost all of which has been very hard to come by on CD. If you're not as fussy as I am about "Limbo
Rock", this CD is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (By the way, my favorite
is "The Class"! Hysterical!)

It's a shame this doesn't include all his top 40 hits..........2005-12-04

After waiting 20 years for Chubby Checker's original cameo-parkway hits to appear on cd, why did they have to leave off three of this top 40 hits? Too bad. I guess I STILL have to keep my old vinyl copies of the three missing songs: "Twenty Miles", "Lazy Elsie Molly", and "Let's Do the Freddie".

I would have rather had these than tracks that weren't hits (like "Toot" whose background music sounds like "Short Shorts" by the Royal Teens".

THIS RELEASE WAS WELL OVERDUE,AND WELL WORTH THE WAIT.......2005-11-03

THIS DISC IS GREAT.NOW WE CAN HEAR ALL HIS TOP 10 HITS ON ONE ALBUM.WE GET THE ORIGINAL HITS,NOT THE REMAKES,THAT SHOW UP ON OTHER CD COLLECTIONS.THE SOUND IS EXCELLENT.ITS BEEN AWHILE,BUT I AM GOING TO LIMBO,AFTER I FINISH THIS REVIEW.ENJOY THE MUSIC,IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT.

Let's limbo some more!.......2005-10-24

The wait is over. This collection brings us the official release of the original Parkway recordings of one of the era's most successful male solo artists. The set consists of 24 tracks total, all in mono, including 22 that hit the Hot 100. Missing are three top 40 hits ("Twenty Miles" that peaked at #15 in 1963, "Lazy Elsie Molly" that peaked at #40 in July of 1964, and "Let's Do the Freddie" that hit #40 in May of 1965). However, the b-side to the original release of "The Twist" along with one album cut are thrown in. The tracks are not in chronological order, but the digital sound is supreme. A four page essay (written by Jeff Tamarkin, who also authored the essay for the Cameo Parkway box set released in May 2005) plus five pages of credits and chart info detail the career of the former chicken plucker turned king of the dance crazes. Most fans and collectors will be satisfied (you can't beat the price). Highly recommended.

Finally...The Original Recordings.......2005-10-21

Why it took Cameo Parkway so long to release this muisc on CD is unclear to me, but it's nice to have the original recordings finally released after being unavailable for decades.

This 24-track collection presents 18 of his 21 hits that he recorded for the label. [The only missing hits are "Twenty Miles" (#15, 1963) and "Lazy Elsie Molly" and "Let's Do the Freddie" (both peaked at #40 in 1964).]

Checker's best known song is, of course, "The Twist." The song was so popular, it is the only song to reach No. 1 on the pop chart in nonconsecutive years (1960 and 1962). He also had million-sellers with "Let's Twist Again" and "Limbo Rock." Additional dance craze top ten hits included "Pony Time," "The Fly," "Popeye (The Hitchhiker)" and a duet with labelmate Dee Dee Sharp on "Slow Twistin'." Checker also had a holiday hit with labelmate Bobby Rydell on "Jingle Bell Rock."

My only quarrel with this collection is the sequencing. It should have been in chronological order, starting with his 1959 debut "The Class." And if you aren't going to do that, at least start with his signature song, "The Twist," not 1962's "Dancin' Party." With that aside, this is an enjoyable collection of dance songs. No serious lyrical content, just plain fun music. RECOMMENDED

Average customer rating:

Required listening. Sublime.
LONG-LOST SOUNDTRACK OF A TROUBLED MOVIE . . . . .
GREATEST PERFORMANCE OF GERSHWIN'S SCORE EVER!

Porgy & Bess (1959 Film Soundtrack)

Manufacturer: Back Biter
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00002MY3V
Release Date: 1995-05-08

Tracks:

Overture
Summertime
Woman Is A Sometime Thing
Wake- Gone, Gone, Gone- Porgy's Prayer
My Man's Gone Now
I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
Bess, You Is My Woman Now
Morning; Catfish Row
I Can't Sit Down
It Ain't Necessarily So
I Ain't Got No Shame
What Do You Want With Bess-
Street Cries; Strawberry Woman; Crab Man
I Loves You, Porgy
Red-Headed Woman
Clara, Clara
There's A Boat That's Leavin' Soon For New York
Oh, Where's My Bess-
I'm On My Way

Album Description

The story behind the controversial 1959 film adaptation of Gershwin's Porgy & Bess is a strange one. In the film starring Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge, director Otto Preminger took artistic license against Gershwin's wishes and the Gershwin estate eventually pulled the film from circulation and it has not been seen in over 30 years (although bootleg copies are sure to exist). The film's soundtrack itself has been called 'the definitive version' of Porgy & Bess and was arranged and conducted by Andre Previn. Vocalists include Cab Calloway, Pearl Bailey, Robert McFerrin (Bobby's father), Adele Addison and many others. A spectacular version of this 'opera', one that makes you long to see the withdrawn film. Bacbi.

Customer Reviews:

Required listening. Sublime........2007-05-13

Cab Calloway, as Sportin' Life, steals the recording. (For contractual reasons, he had to replace Sammy Davis Jr.(?), who was in the film. Lucky for us.)
Despite the Gershwins' own criticism, I believe this is the definitive version of the opera.
Let's hold our breath for the release of the film.
~!an

LONG-LOST SOUNDTRACK OF A TROUBLED MOVIE . . . . . .......2007-03-20

This 1995 CD from the German Back Bite label is a curious release. The occasional ticks and pops indicate that it is an LP-transfer to which too much noise reduction has been applied. The tape hiss is gone, but so are the upper ambient frequencies, giving it a peculiar "boxed-in" sound. Recorded in stereo, it has a very nice spatial feel with the orchestra placed behind the singers. However, at times the chorus seems too distant, too far away from the action. (Sounds great in the car, however.)

I agree wholeheartedly with Michael Portantiere's comments in The TheaterMania Guide to Musical Theater Recordings: ". . . Cab Calloway['s] . . . engaging performances . . . lack the sense of menace that the character needs. Despite its flaws, this recording is worth tracking down if only for baritone Robert McFerrin's extraordinary performance of Porgy's music . . . and Adelle Addison's lovely singing for Dandridge . . . both rein in their operatic voices for the film but they still sing beatifully, under the tasteful, respectful musical direction of Andre Previn and Ken Darby."

Perhaps Ms. Addison "reins in" her voice just a bit too much; I would have preferred a little more passion, especially in "What You Want With Bess?" and "I Loves You Porgy." (For an excellent example of "stage vs. movie" singing, compare Giorgio Tozzi's Emile De Beque on the 1959 film soundtrack of SOUTH PACIFIC and the 1976 Lincoln Center Cast recording.)

Not having seen the film, I can only assume that director Otto Preminger softened the roles of Bess and Sportin' Life to conform to the regulations of Hollywood's infamous Production Code (aka the Hayes Office). It most certainly would have been denied a code of approval if two of the major characters were a whiskey-guzzling "easy" woman and a drug dealing pimp - especially since neither had to "pay for their sins." Preminger challenged the Code with three other films - The Moon Is Blue (1953), the first film to use the words "virgin," "seduce," and "mistress;" The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), a film which graphically dealt with drug abuse; Anatomy of a Murder (1959), rape is the central issue - but I have a feeling he played it safe with Porgy, a major studio Samuel Goldwyn Production. (For further information about the film, go to the ISAM [Institute for Studies of American Music] website at htpp://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/isam.)

Because Ira Gershwin and the Gershwin estate were unhappy with Preminger's film treatment, rights to the movie were rescinded during the 70s. As a result, the film has never been legally transferred to video and only a few public showings have been allowed. When the hassles regarding the film are finally settled, hopefully the engineers at Sony/BMG will track down the original master tapes and produce a truly fine restoration of this long-lost movie soundtrack. All the proper ingredients are there; they just have to be pulled together.

Additional weirdness abounds on the CD's sleeve. None of the singers are listed - (Pearl Bailey and Brock Peters did their own singing, Loulie Jean Norman dubbed Clara's songs, and Inez Matthews sang the role of Serena. Sammy Davis, Jr. also sang his own songs, but Cab Calloway replaced him on the recording - due to contractural reasons) - and all of the photos are from some unidentified production of the opera, not from the movie. This recording may not be perfect, but right now it's all we have.

Recommended.

GREATEST PERFORMANCE OF GERSHWIN'S SCORE EVER!.......2002-08-30

One of the greatest crimes ever committed against the music and video buying public is the Gershwin Estate's denial to us of seeing and hearing and, most important of all, judging for ourselves, the merits of the Samuel Goldwyn film of PORGY AND BESS. Even worse, today's video buyers have to suffer through a boring, execrable EMI video made for public television in order to view PORGY AND BESS, thereby seeing Gershwin's masterpiece in the worst possible light. The 1959 film starred Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge, but both had their songs dubbed by operatic singers. Unlike the long out of print American Columbia sound track LP, this CD import actually credits the voice of Robert McFerrin (the father of jazz singer Bobby McFerrin) as Porgy. Still uncredited are singers Adele Addison (Bess), Loulie Jean Norman (Clara) and Inez Matthews (Serena). A special treat on this album is Cab Calloway as "Sportin' Life", who replaces Sammy Davis Jr. from the film, whose voice could not be used on the sound track album due to his exclusive contract with another record label. Calloway is far better suited to this role and his performance adds an edge to the character missing in Davis' more comic turn in the film. Calloway's vocals are backed up by the identical orchestral tracks (conducted by Andre Previn) used in the film for Davis. Although this version of Porgy and Bess was not well liked by the Gershwin family because it was treated more as a Broadway Musical than an opera, this film was immensely popular in its time and has gained stature over the years. The film was recently named one of the 100 greatest film love stories by the American Film Institute. The release of this matchless film on home video would be a cause for rejoicing. Andre Previn's conducting and especially Ken Darby's excellent choral direction have never been bettered in any performance of PORGY AND BESS. The 1959 sound track contains all the major musical sequences from the film and is arguably the finest version of Gershwin's score ever released to the music buying public. Amazingly, this album has never been released in the US on CD (with very limited distribution elsewhere). This import CD offers the most ideal way of hearing this magnificent sound track music short of a domestic CD release.

The Sound of Music (1959 Original Broadway Cast)

Average customer rating:

I love this 'Sound of Music'.......
Musical.
rosielyn
Mary Martin in THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Movie Sountrack More Enjoyable

The Sound of Music (1959 Original Broadway Cast)
Richard Rodgers , Oscar Hammerstein II , Mary Martin , and Theodore Bikel
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000AG6Y
Release Date: 1998-09-15

Tracks: