| 1. Theme from Shaft - Isaac Hayes |
| 2. Bad Man - R. Kelly |
| 3. Up and Outta Here - R. Kelly |
| 4. Do What I Gotta Do - Donell Jones |
| 5. Rock Wit U - Alicia Keys |
| 6. We Servin' - Big Gipp |
| 7. Tough Guy - OutKast, UGK |
| 8. 2 Glock 9's - Beanie Sigel, T.I.P |
| 9. Summer Rain - Carl Thomas |
| 10. Automatic - Backbone, Big Rube, Sleepy Brown |
| 11. Pimp Sh*t - Too Short |
| 12. Cheatin' - Liberty City |
| 13. Fix Me - Eve, Jadakiss, Parle' |
| 14. How You Want It? - Mil |
| 15. Ain't Gonna See Tomorrow - Mystikal |
| 16. My Lovin' Will Give You Something - Angie Stone |
| 17. Serenata Negra - Fulanito |
Editorial Reviews
"Who is the man that would risk his life for his brother man?" Why, the same man who nearly 30 years later is brought to life by Samuel L. Jackson in John Singleton's remake of the 1971 classic. That's private eye John Shaft--any questions? Isaac Hayes won an Oscar for the original movie's theme and that double-album soundtrack remains an essential of its genre. It's a tall order to fill those flatfoot shoes, but there's plenty of fine soul music here to go around. R. Kelly scrubs away the varnish of modern R&B with two compelling old-school grooves, "Bad Man" and "Up and Outta Here." Donell Jones, Alicia Keys, Carl Thomas, and Angie Stone also ride out the early 1970s R&B vibe with lush strings and funky guitars backlighting the romantic mood. It's not all nostalgia, however. Big Gipp (featuring Goodie Mob), OutKast, Sleepy Brown, and others represent today's hip-hop laced with a healthy nod to the days of Philly Soul, Gamble and Huff-style. --Rob O'Connor
Shaft,Original Soundtrack,La Face,Film Music,Hip-Hop,Original Score,Pop,Pop/Rock,Soundtracks & Film Scores,Urban
Shaft [Explicit Lyrics] [Soundtrack]
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Shaft: Music From The Soundtrack (1971 Film)
Isaac Hayes Manufacturer: Stax ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000000ZML Release Date: 1991-11-07 |
Tracks:
- Theme From Shaft (Vocal)
- Bumpy's Lament
- Walk From Regio's
- Ellie's Love Theme
- Shaft's Cab Ride
- Cafe Regio's
- Early Sunday Morning
- Be Yourself
- A Friend's Place
- Soulsville (Vocal)
- No Name Bar
- Bumpy's Blues
- Shaft Strikes Again
- Do Your Thing (Vocal)
- The End Theme
Amazon.com
The "Theme from Shaft" is now so ingrained in popular consciousness as the blaxploitation-movie track that it's hard to listen to it without a faint smirk. ("Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks?"!!) But if you can get past the inadvertent humor, it's still a devilishly exciting piece of music--all hi-hat 16ths, wah-wah guitar, strings, and woodwind, like a Norman Whitfield Motown production taken to a baroque extreme. The rest of the album consists mainly of incidental mood music of no great worth: "Walk from Regio's," "Ellie's Love Theme"--you know the sort of thing. Only two other tracks feature the Black Moses pipes, while the endless "Do Your Thing" takes its place in the catalog of Hayes epics that began with Hot Buttered Soul. --Barney HoskynsAlbum Description
Of the many wonderful blaxpoitation soundtracks to emerge during the early '70s, Shaft certainly deserves mention as not only one of the most lasting but also one of the most successful. Isaac Hayes was undoubtedly one of the era's most accomplished soul artists. With the Theme From Shaft, Hayes delivered an anthem just as ambitious and revered as the film itself, a song that has only grown more treasured over the years, after having been an enormously popular hit at the time of its release. Soulsville operates effectively as the sort of down-tempo ballad Hayes was most known for, just as the almost 20-minute Do Your Thing showcased just how impressive the Bar-Keys had become, stretching the song to unseen limits with their inventive, funky jamming. This CD features cinematic moments of instrumentation, composed and produced by Hayes while being performed by the Bar-Kays - some down-tempo, others quite jazzy. A Stax recordsCustomer Reviews:
A Groovy Soundtrack album for a groovy movie!!.......2005-12-31
But,,I'm talking about Shaft.......2004-11-13
Ikes a bad mutha-.......2004-01-18
Nevertheless much like Curtis Mayfield with `Superfly', being recruited to provide a film score (In this case Richard Roundtrees awesome Shaft) seemed to unlock the door to a hidden world of inspiration inside Ike's mind.
Everybody knows the distinctive and tongue in cheek title theme which these days seems to epitomise everything 70s. The remainder of the album is largely scene-related instrumentals and mood music that never stops being pleasing on the ear. The other two vocal cuts are the jazzy `Soulsville' and the mammoth `Do Your Thing'. In its 3 minute radio edit form `Do Your Thing' is a classic hard fonk number, however, the album version is dragged out to no less than twenty minutes(!), largely by an overly long electric guitar solo. Whereas previous extra length songs by Hayes had justified every second of their playing time, for once Ike seems to be doing it purely for the sake of it. Still it's a good tune and other than that its difficult to find fault with this album, which was a major hit and sealed Ike's name in history forever.
One of those Must Own type records.
Nothing Better!!.......2003-12-08
A Classic Soundtrack.......2003-11-30
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New York New York
Various Artists Manufacturer: Asv Living Era ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000069HGR Release Date: 2002-08-13 |
Customer Reviews:
A piece of history.......2006-06-03
A BIG disappointment!.......2004-08-19
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Great Film Music
Manufacturer: Polygram Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000004265 Release Date: 1996-05-14 |
Tracks:
- Journey To The Center Of The Earth: Mountain Top And Sunrise
- Journey To The Center Of The Earth: Prelude
- Journey To The Center Of The Earth: The Grotto
- Journey To The Center Of The Earth: Salt Slides
- Journey To The Center Of The Earth: Atlantis
- Journey To The Center Of The Earth: The Giant Chameleon And The Fight
- Journey To The Center Of The Earth: The Shaft And Finale
- The Seventh Voyage Of Sinbad: Overture
- The Seventh Voyage Of Sinbad: The Duel With The Skeleton
- The Seventh Voyage Of Sinbad: Baghdad
- The Day The Earth Stood Still: Outer Space
- The Day The Earth Stood Still: Radar
- The Day The Earth Stood Still: Gort
- The Day The Earth Stood Still: The Robot
- The Day The Earth Stood Still: Space Control
- The Day The Earth Stood Still: Terror
- The Day The Earth Stood Still: Farewell And Finale
- Fahrenheit 451: Prelude
- Fahrenheit 451: Fire Engine
- Fahrenheit 451: The Bedroom
- Fahrenheit 451: Flowers Of Fire
- Fahrenheit 451: The Road And Finale
- Gulliver's Travels: Overture
- Gulliver's Travels: Minuetto-Wapping
- Gulliver's Travels: Hornpipe
- Gulliver's Travels: Lilliputians 1&2
- Gulliver's Travels: Victory 1&2
- Gulliver's Travels: Escape
- Gulliver's Travels: The King's March
- Gulliver's Travels: Trees
- Gulliver's Travels: The Tightrope
- Gulliver's Travels: Lovers
- Gulliver's Travels: The Chess Game
- Gulliver's Travels: Pursuit
- Gulliver's Travels: Finale
Amazon.com
Captured on this one disc are the great film scores Bernard Herrmann did for several classic science fiction films of the '50s and '60s. Herrmann did not go in for simple atmospherics and cheap orchestral tricks with his music. He knew that the music would have to conjure a mental world all its own. This is especially true in "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad". It's a tone poem Rimsky-Korsakov could have written. The best here is "The Day the Earth Stood Still" with its use of the (then) revolutionary theremin. It's a clear masterpiece, all on its own. --Paul CookCustomer Reviews:
The other essential Herrmann CD.......2004-08-25
Unfortunately it is not available as I write this. Last time I visited this Amazon site, there was one CD for sale for almost $60. You'll have to make up your own mind if this music is worth that much to you. I made my choice long ago to own this and keep it in my library, conceivably forever.
With five film scores, 35 tracks and 72 minutes of the most high grade science fiction music, this CD should be considered the definitive source for Bernard Herrmann's non-Hitchcock film scores. Not only did he conduct the National Philharmonic Orchestra in these recordings, the composer approved of the Phase 4 recording and mixing. It is, as the notes say, a unique listening experience.
I have found this CD to be a constant source of imagination, vision and scope in film music that still has no peer 30 years after its production. The opening sequence to "Journey To The Center of the Earth" is better than it ever was in the theater, where the music was a hackneyed backdrop to an incredilbe film. In this CD, the music dwarfs the film action.
My favorite sequence in this issue is Herrmann's work for the Ray Bradbury novella "Fahrenheit 451", which was recast in some minds recently when "Fahrenheit 911" appeared in theaters throughout the country.
Every bit of the miracle of that little film is projected through this eerily wonderful music, which seems to comprise a world of its own. The sections help recall Sontag's first trip on the fire engine, the bedroom fire and the finale.
The lengthiest tract on this disk is the near 27 minute set from the film "Gulliver's Travels". I've never seen the movie but will attest that the music is out of this world in a very British way. This section seems closer to following the musical rules for a suite than any other on this disk.
Decca had the good sense to return the Bernard Herrmann-conducted Hitchcock scores to circulation, so maybe they will do the same with this miraculous disk. Again, the notes are nothing to write home about, but even with that considered no lover of film music or the music of Bernard Herrmann can consider their library complete without this disk.
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Bond and Beyond
Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000003CX1 Release Date: 2002-10-22 |
Tracks:
- Theme From Goldfinger
- James Bond Theme
- From Russia With Love
- Main Theme From Dick Tracy
- Crime Spree From Dick Tracy
- Main Theme From The Untouchables
- Al Capone From The Untouchables
- It's A Long Road From Rambo (First Blood Part Two)
- Medley Of TV Adventure Themes: Dragnet/Peter Gunn/Perry Mason/The F.B.I./Hillstreet Blues/Mission Impossible/The Man From U.N.C.L.E./L.A. Law/Miami Vice/Hawaii Five-O
- To Live And Let Die
- For Your Eyes Only
- Axel F From Beverly Hills Cop
- Theme From Leathal Weapon
- Woe, The Darkman, Woe! From Darkman
- Nobody Does It Better
- Theme From Shaft
- All Time High From Octopussy
Customer Reviews:
A great idea, but incomplete.......2000-10-26
Sometimes, you want to listen to the 007 music in instrumental only, and Kunzel and the Cincinatti Pops do a good job with the arrangements. But where are the rest of the songs? Missing are three of my all-time favorites, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, and Moonraker. I think the album would be better with 'more Bond, less other.' We certainly don't need TWO selections from Dick Tracy. And the theme from Darkman is stylistically quite similar to Dick Tracy; nothing is gained by playing both. Don't get me wrong; I like Danny Elfman (check out his "Beetlejuice" theme on Kunzel's 'Great Fantasy Adventure Album'). I just wanted to hear all my fave Bond pieces on the one CD.
Still, it's a keeper.
Excellent. The best of this style........1999-02-15
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Shaft
Isaac Hayes Manufacturer: Stax ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000YTP84 Release Date: 2004-01-20 |
Tracks:
- Theme from Shaft [Vocal Version]
- Bumpy's Lament
- Walk from Regio's
- Ellie's Love Theme
- Shaft's Cab Ride
- Cafe Regio's
- Early Sunday Morning
- Be Yourself
- Friend's Place
- Soulsville [Vocal Version]
- No Name Bar
- Bumpy's Blues
- Shaft Strikes Again
- Do Your Thing [Vocal Version]
- End Theme
Customer Reviews:
A Soundtrack Better Than The Movie - A Sonic Masterpiece.......2004-07-25
Those who only know Isaac Hayes as the voice of Chef on South Park are missing out on one of the true giants of early 70s soul/jazz/pop/rock music. His recordings for Stax are legendary, but perhaps nothing he did is more well known than The Theme From Shaft. With the Bar-Kays and The Movement laying killer grooves, the music here breaks all the rules and can't be pigeonholed - tough, gritty street music that is as smooth as satin at the same time.
A lot of care was taken in the original recording, and that shines through on this SACD. From the high-hat and wah-wah guitar riff that opens the CD, you know that you are in for a sonic treat. The whole CD is full of surprises, both musically & sonically. George Horn did a terrific mastering job on this and the warmth and detail of all the instruments here is breathtaking.
This is an incredible version of a classic recording!!
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New Horizon
Isaac Hayes Manufacturer: Hip-O Select ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000BPL3VE Release Date: 2006-11-13 |
Tracks:
- Stranger in Paradise
- Moonlight Lovin' (Mge Trois)
- Don't Take Your Love Away
- Out of the Ghetto
- It's Heaven to Me
Product Description
Isaac Hayes' path to stardom began as keyboardist for the legendary Stax Records house band in Memphis, where he can be heard backing the likes of Otis Redding. He continued his career arc as a writer and producer, notably for Sam & Dave with the smash hits "Hold On, I'm Comin'" and "Soul Man." As a solo artist on Staxs Enterprise imprint, Ike broke soul and pop boundaries, setting strings against a funky bottom in extended grooves. With the score for the movie Shaft, and later movie roles, he became an icon of love, black strength and gangsta cool. Accordingly, Hayes was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2002. For his debut album on Polydor, Hayes moved his operation from his beloved Memphis to Atlanta hence the LP title. He extended his grooves and moods even further, bringing in the renowned engineer-producer Tom Moulton to mix the album. Ikes suave/swinger persona was strongly evident in "Moonlight Lovin' (Ménage á Trois)," which clearly put him at the front of the make-out music line. And for this Select Direct edition, we discovered Moultons original uncut version of the song its made for lovin at a full six minutes longer than what was on the 1977 LP release. The album also features two of Ikes greatest ballads, Its Heaven To Me and Dont Take Your Love Away.Customer Reviews:
Isaac Hayes' superb Polydor debut now on CD........2007-04-15
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Anthology
Dando Shaft Manufacturer: Rpm Records UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00006BC7I Release Date: 2005-04-18 |
Tracks:
- Rain
- Cold Wind
- September Wine
- Cat Song
- In The Country
- Drops Of Brandy
- End Of The Game
- Lazily Slowly
- Coming Home To Me
- Railway
- Whispering Ned
- Sometimes
- Riverboat
- Kalyope Driver
- Waves Upon The Ether
- Dewet
- 'Til The Morning Comes
- Pass It On
- Prayer
- Lullaby
Tracks:
- Spring Clog Dance
- Thruxton Flute
- Digging Up The Roses
- Don't Forget The Animal
- Sun Clog Dance
- Road Song
- Is It Me
- Down To You, Up To Me
- Melancholic Fervour (It's Only Us)
- It Was Good
- The Harp Lady I Bombed
- The Plack Prince Of Paradise
- When I'm Weary
- I Heard Somewhere
- The Magnetic Beggar
Album Description
Collects the groups first three albums, An Evening With, Dando Shaft & Lantaloon plus two bonus tracks 'Lullaby' & 'Sun Clog Dance' (single A-side). Formed in 1968 Dando Shaft were a 5-piece folk-band from Coventry. 2002.Customer Reviews:
A much-welcome Celtic-prog treasure trove.......2004-01-18
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Wagner: The Rhinegold
English National Opera Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005B550 Release Date: 2001-05-22 |
Customer Reviews:
A Rose By Any Other Name..........2007-07-02
But most of the credit has to go to the music, the singers, and the recording as such. I believe that this (originally analogue) remastered recording has one of the best recorded sounds and acoustics of any Ring, studio or 'live'. It is wonderfully clear but warm, kind of velvety (very unlike Solti), with beautifully natural balaces between voices and orchestra. Audience noises can be heard (including a delightful little ripple of laughter) but never really obtrusively so, thankfully. And I love the thunderclap-sound effect when Donner strikes his hammer against the rocks - very tastefully done, and lending extra power to the scene.
All the time one reads in reviews everywhere of the very slow speads at which the music is conducted by Sir Reginald Goodall. Well, that may be so, but I, for one, am certainly endeared to Sir Reginald Goodalls 'caressing' of the music, as a result of which wich the Leitmotifs come out more clearly than ever. The slow - but nonetheless very concentrated, and always involved - playing has, to me, an almost mesmerizing effect. Certainly, compared to many other recordings, the music may sound stretched almost beyond breaking point. But in the end, I think it is really just that: a matter of speed, no more. The concentration never falters and the dramatic arc never saggs. There is live 'music magic' going on here, I feel, even if the English National Opera Orchestra may not be (as precise or as diciplined as) a Wiener Philharmoniker or a Bayreuther Festspielorchester. Certainly, Sir Reginald Goodall must have loved this music and these opera's: one feels a slowly beating but constant loving pulse that energizes the drama and the music.
But we also have the singers. And what a great singers! While the best may be yet to come (with Alberto Remedios as Siegmund and Siegfried, and Rita Hunter as Brunnhilde), we here, in The Rhinegold, already have one of the most commanding of Wotans (Norman Bailey, with wonderful burnished timbre). Also, Emile Belcourt stands out as a wonderfully sleek but full-voiced Loge. Derek Hammond-Stroud's Alberich may not be as black as Gunther von Kannen's (for Barenboim), for example, but there is enough anguish, frustration and anger to lend his character a convincing reality and depth. And the giants too, are a winning pair. Especially Fafner (Clifford Grant) is as imposing and powerful as one may ever wish.
With all the rave reviews, here and elsewhere I can't wait to hear The Valkyrie, (especially) Siegfried and Twilight of the Gods. This certainly is a winning 'Ring', to be kept alongside any other 'great' recorded 'Ring' out there, IMHO. To me, it can hold its own alongside any other favorite recordings.
Please, sample this Ring (try for example the Chandos website for fragments of all of the music) and decide for yourself. Highly recommended.
"Thus I salute the stronghold, safe from dread and dismay!.......2007-06-12
TIMING (Estimate):
Solti's Ring: 14 hours, 30 minutes
Bohm's Ring: 13 hours, 30 minutes
Karajan's Ring: 14 hours, 50 minutes
Goodall's Ring: 16 hours, 50 minutes
Boulez's Ring: 13 hours, 40 minutes
Janowski's Ring: 14 hours, 0 minutes
Levine's Ring: 15 hours, 20 minutes
Haitink's Ring: 14 hours, 10 minutes
Sawallisch's Ring: 14 hours, 0 minutes
CONDUCTING:
Solti: Solti's conducting is driven with sheer muscle, but sometimes he makes the Ring overemotional. His Walkure & Gotterdammerung Preludes are clear examples: they're annoyingly bombastic. Nonetheless he almost seldom loses control with anything. His clear focus on the drama is astonishing.
Bohm: I must say his live Bayreuth recording brings out some of the best. He puts more faith in the orchestral score, but he also gives it more intensity. His tempi are some of the quickest, but they still don't seem rushed at all (except maybe "Wohin schleich'st du eilig und schlau"). I especially like his "Forging Scene" & "Hagen Summons the Vassals"; both are the most energetic on disc.
Karajan: Karajan's chamber approach is very interesting. Instead of going for the drama or the energy, the conductor goes for the beauty. Almost everything in his Ring sounds very ethereal because of his excessive use of lyricism. His orchestral preludes (except Walkure Act 1) sound more beautiful than others, and much of the soft parts (such as Siegfried Act Three Scene Three) are controlled nicely. His "Funeral March" and "Immolation" are recommendable. Siegfried Act Three Scene Two could have improved with more tension.
Goodall: Oh, boy. While I do praise Goodall with his amazing attention to detail, his ridiculously sluggish tempi will tick some Wagnerites off: nothing is faster than andante. But I did enjoy listening to the slow beauty of his "Wotan's Farewell/Magic Fire Music". This was recorded live and sung in English.
Boulez: Here it is, folks - the controversial Centennial Ring. To fit the Ring Cycle in the industrial age, Boulez gives it a very Schoenbergian, Bartokian atmosphere. Much of his tempi are very quick, very Bohm-like, though they're still not as fast as Bohm. Keep in mind, though, this live Ring works only if you hear AND see it (the DVD's work best).
Janowski: This is a very classical Ring. Instead of bombast, spacious, or lyrical passion, maestro Janowski gives us the straightforward approach. He goes straight for Wagner's original intentions (precise tempi, dynamics, flow of leitmotivs, etc.), which makes this another exquisite Ring. "Hagen Summons the Vassals" is probably the fastest I've ever heard (along with Sawallisch's). Rheingold Scene Four can be best described as "sensational".
Levine: While he does stay true to the score like Bohm, this conductor makes for a somewhat dull Ring. His handling of the orchestra is nice, but the moderately slow tempi he chooses is flawed. It should be more animated. His beautiful "Funeral March" and "Erda's Warning" are two of the few flawless features.
Haitink: This might be seen as a disappointment. If you want great conducting, then this is for you. If you want a persuasive array of singers, look somewhere else. Haitink's conducting saves this work from being a total flop. There is nothing quite like his Rheingold & Gotterdammerung ("Siegfried's Rhine Journey" is a bit forced, but magnificent nonetheless).
Sawallisch: I guess you can say that Sawallisch is half-Karajan, half-Janowski. While he does stay true to the orchestral score like Janowski, he also puts in a little Karajan-like lyricism. At some points he loses track with orchestra and singers (as does every live recording) but Bohm has more control. This was also recorded live.
ORCHESTRA:
Solti's Vienna Philharmonic: The woodwinds are the most beautiful in Solti's Ring (the "Forest Murmurs" is clear evidence of that). French horns and Wagner tubas make this a recommended listening. The strings in "Heda Heda Hedo" could've added a bit more work, but they are strikingly spectacular everywhere else. The orchestra gives it their all in Siegfried Act Two & Three, but they are at their weakest in Walkure Act One & Three (Bohm's Bayreuth does it better). Overall, it's the loudest and certainly most bombastic out of all the Ring orchestras combined.
Bohm's Bayreuth Festival: The ultimate Wagnerian orchestra gives it their all. The brass both high and low are the most powerful, while the woodwinds are the most delicate. The strings are muffled only a few times, otherwise the eighteen anvils are perfectly loud and clear. Erda's scenes aren't as effective as Janowski's, but the entire Walkure is more successful than Janowski's when it comes to tone & technique. Overall, this orchestra is the most dramatic.
Karajan's Berlin Philharmonic: The entire orchestra sounds polished, not to say that it is bad. Indeed the drama is still there, but much of the suspense is lacking (the scenes with Fasolt and Fafner come to mind). The brass sometimes overpowers the strings, which can be a serious problem. Gotterdammerung "Three Norns" Scene sounds very mysterious, very eerie.
Goodall's English National Opera: This orchestra sounds nice, even if the sluggishness can bring them down at times. The Flight of the Valkyries doesn't sound too good in a slow tempo, but the entire orchestra does sound lucid here. Siegfried Act Two Prelude is the creepiest. All of the leitmotivs are heard loud and clear, just like in Janowski's version.
Boulez's Bayreuth Festival: While it doesn't really pack the same punches as Bohm's Bayreuth, it still delivers a stunning performance. Orchestral interaction between characters (Ex. Siegfried's motifs mixed in with Mime's motifs) fares better than Berlin's and English National's. Rhine maiden motifs are given more wit, while the Dragon motifs are played with less eeriness. Beauty makes up for the irritatingly quick "Wotan's Farewell".
Janowski's Staatskapelle Dresden: This orchestra has the same force & flair as does Boulez's Bayreuth Festival, only Dresden sounds much clearer due to the fantastic digital sound. Even minor details are heard clear in this Ring. The strings imitate the Siegfried forest very well, while the woodwinds representing the songbird are wonderful (but not as wonderful as Solti's songbird). Dresden's "Magic Fire Music" (along with Berlin's) is the most extravagant.
Levine's Metropolitan Opera: The brass and woodwinds are the true stars. The strings sound too tired to continue on in Siegfried & Gotterdammerung. The Finale to Rheingold is absolutely stunning (the trumpets and trombones will not disappoint), and the Second Act of Walkure is the most impressive, the most refined.
Haitink's Bavarian Radio Symphony: This may very well be like Metropolitan, only this sounds much more poignant. The strings sound better and the percussion sound clearer. The leitmotivs are almost never screwed up. First scene of Rheingold will take one's breath away.
Sawallisch's Bavarian State: Wrong notes in this live recording won't matter, as the entire orchestra gets everything going in all four nights at the opera. The strings never surrender to imperfection, and the winds are marvelously aligned. I just wish that some of the singers would keep up with the orchestra.
SINGERS:
-Wotan
Solti: Hans Hotter is the superior Wotan. He sounds powerful throughout the Ring (except Rheingold, in which a less stellar George London performs).
Bohm and Janowski: Theo Adam in Bohm's live recording is another treat. While he is not as equally impressive as Hotter, he can certainly conjure up everlasting emotions. Adam sounds weaker in Janowski's studio recording, but he still doesn't disappoint.
Karajan: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau plays Wotan in "Rheingold," while Thomas Stewart replaces Fischer-Dieskau in "Walkure" and "Siegfried". I don't think Fischer-Dieskau was a good choice; he sounds too humane and too light. Stewart makes an astounding improvement in both "Walkure" and "Siegfried".
Goodall: Norman Bailey has that divine spark that Hotter used to cherish. He's heavy and unblemished, and he handles the English text with flair and sheen.
Boulez: If you watch Donald McIntyre on the Centennial Ring production, then you can tell that he's a fine "industrial" Wotan. If you just hear him on CD, then you'll be disappointed. His diction is weak, his emotions are forced, and his voice sounds robotic. The DVD's will do.
Levine and Haitink: James Morris is a notch below Hotter, Adam, and Bailey, but he overpowers Fischer-Dieskau pretty much throughout the Levine's and Haitink's Ring.
Sawallisch: I may be biased, but Robert Hale just didn't do it for me. He sounded dull and tedious, and his Wotan's Farewell wasn't enough to sadden me.
-Brunnhilde
Solti and Bohm: Birgit Nilsson is the best Brunnhilde on the market. Her Valkyrie cry is delightful, and her final scene in Gotterdammerung is brilliant beyond belief.
Karajan: Regine Crespin is without a doubt one of the finest Brunnhildes after Nilsson. She's fantastic in Walkure Act Three. I just wish she stayed on as the Valkyrie later on in the Ring (Helga Dernesch is no good in Gotterdammerung, sorry to say).
Goodall: Rita Hunter is at her strongest in Walkure and Siegfried. She is at her weakest in Gotterdammerung. What may have caused her downfall in the fourth installment? "The world may never know."
Boulez: How can anyone not be impressed by the Brunnhilde of Gwyneth Jones? One can almost feel her excitement during Siegfried Act Three, and her fear in Walkure Act Three. Her weakest point is probably during her Gotterdammerung Prologue (a bit too stressed).
Janowski: Jeannine Altmeyer is basically the most controversial Brunnhilde on CD. Some people say that she's too light and weak, while others say she sounds young and very enchanting. I'm with those who think Altmeyer was a good choice, but you yourself (the shopper) are going to have to decide whether she's good or not.
Levine and Sawallisch: Hildegard Behrens is just like Nilsson and Crespin: while she's not the best, she is definitely another perfect Brunnhilde of choice. She's at her most dazzling when she performs Walkure (Levine) and Siegfried (Sawallisch).
Haitink: Hmph. I was hoping that Eva Marton would do well here. I was seriously let down by her strained singing. She does okay in "Annunciation of Death", but she is at her worst in "Immolation".
-Siegmund & Sieglinde
Let's see. For the Siegmunds, we have James King for Solti and Bohm, Jon Vickers for Karajan, Alberto Remedios for Goodall, Peter Hoffman for Boulez, Siegfried Jerusalem for Janowski, Gary Lakes for Levine, Reiner Goldberg for Haitink, and Robert Schunk for Sawallisch. For the Sieglindes, we have Regine Crespin for Solti, Leonie Rysanek for Bohm, Gundula Janowitz for Karajan, Margaret Curphy for Goodall, Jeanine Altmeyer for Boulez, Jessye Norman for both Janowski and Levine, Cheryl Studer for Haitink, and Julia Varady for Sawallisch. Hmm . . . Jerusalem is good . . . and so is Vickers . . . Janowitz is charming, and so is . . . Oh, what the heck? All the singers for Siegmund and Sieglinde are fantastic. Three exceptions, though: Goldberg and Schunk don't sound heroic enough, and Norman for Levine doesn't sound young and innocent enough.
-Siegfried
Solti and Bohm: Wolfgang Windgassen may very well be the best Siegfried for the ages. His `Forging Scene" in both renditions are defiantly inspiring. His last scene in Gotterdammerung is celestial and overwhelming.
Karajan: Jess Thomas (Siegfried) and Helge Brilioth (Gotterdammerung) may not be as ideal as Windgassen, but they do know how to be a magnificent heldentenor. Thomas pulls it off with Act One and Three.
Goodall: Wow! What a singer that Alberto Remedios! He never drags in either of the last two installments, and he uses the correct emotions in every scene that he is in.
Boulez: Is Manfred Jung a good tenor? Yes. Is he a good Heldentenor? NO. He doesn't have that heroic voice like Windgassen and Remedios. Again, the DVD's are your safest bet.
Janowski and Sawallisch: Rene Kollo's Siegfried is a poetically expressive one. In Janowski's version he sounds playful when he's in Mime's home, and he sounds willed when he's in the Gibich Hall. He is not good enough in Sawallisch's version, however. His tiresome "Forging Scene" is obvious evidence of that.
Levine: Oh, Reiner Goldberg. At least you tried. Seriously, he sounds too tedious (especially in Gotterdammerung Act Three Scene Two) and too old. Levine should've chose Kollo or Jerusalem when he recorded his studio Ring.
Haitink: Have you ever seen Siegfried Jerusalem on the Levine/Metropolitan DVD? Well, here he is again, and this time, he sings with more valor and enthusiasm. Bravo!
-Alberich
Solti and Bohm: Gustav Niedlinger has a heaviness that overwhelms a few other baritones. When he sings his only sequence in Gotterdammerung Act Two Scene One, his emotion is so pure that his son Hagen would've drowned himself in tears (Too melodramatic? Sorry about that.). The only problem is that his character sounds too one-dimensional. Alberich isn't just some cardboard-cutout bad guy. He has a very good reason why he wants to take revenge on the world. Overall, Niedlinger is amazing throughout Wagner's Ring (He deserves many awards for "Bin ich nun frei?").
Karajan: I guess you can say that Zoltan Kelemen tries his best throughout. He is not good in Rheingold, but he gets better in Siegfried and Gotterdammerung.
Goodall: Derek Hammond-Stroud is three-dimensional, but not that much. Still, he can sound very demanding in Rheingold Scene One and Siegfried Act Two Scene One.
Boulez: What we have here is the weak Alberich of Hermann Becht. When he's in Nibelheim, the authority isn't there. When he's in the Neid-Hohle forest, the creepiness isn't there. And when he's near the Gibich house, the misery isn't there. Even on DVD he's unsatisfactory.
Janowski: Siegmund Nimsgern may be the most humane Alberich yet, but it's all good. He sings with more passion than Kelemen and more robustness than Hammond-Stroud. Niedlinger's ferociousness puts him below, however. "Schaf'st du, Hagen, mein sohn?" is noteworthy.
Levine and Sawallisch: Ekkehard Wlaschiha is one hell of a vigorous Alberich. I praise him in Rheingold Scene One and Three. His performance in Siegfried (both versions) could've improved with more distrustfulness towards Mime and the Wanderer.
Haitink: No offense, but Theo Adam as Alberich? Come on . . .
-Mime
Solti and Karajan: Gerhard Stolze is the creepiest Mime ever known to humankind. This dwarf outsings other Mimes on the market. When he sings "Die stucken! Das Schwert!" his anger and fear is the most effective to almost all Ring listeners.
Bohm: Erwin Wohlfahrt wins second place. He gives a first-rate performance in Siegfried Act One, but loses some of his edge in Act Two. He is an exceptional Mime nonetheless. Look for him in Karajan's Rheingold, also.
Goodall: Gregory Dempsey isn't emotional enough. He doesn't sound fearful or depressed at all, which makes him the dullest Mime for the Ring.
Boulez and Levine: Heinz Zednik is yet another excellent Mime, VERY fun to listen to. There is much humor and eccentricity in his voice, and that's what makes his dwarf much more compelling than Dempsey's dwarf. His performance in Rheingold Scene Three is pure gold, while his performance in Siegfried (particularly "Willkommen, Siegfried!") is a stunning achievement.
Janowski: Peter Schreier is for Siegfried, while Christian Vogel is for Rheingold. Vogel is less than perfect, while Schreier is way beyond outstanding. Schreier is less ghoulish and more benevolent, more three-dimensional than Stolze and Wohlfahrt. He is equal to Zednik when it comes to humaneness and lyricism. The only flaw I can find is his handling of "Die stucken! Das Schwert!" He could've added a bit more fear in that sequence.
Haitink: Peter Haage sounds like he's entertaining young kids. His version of Mime is a bit childish, and the dark humor that the dwarf brings out sounds-over-the-top here. Nonetheless, he is still entertaining to listen to ("Wer halfe mir?" has never sounded better).
Sawallisch: Helmut Pampuch is just like Schreier and Zednik: he's very VERY good. Nuff said.
-Loge
Solti: Set Svanholm may be the weakest Loge. He is not very ominous throughout all of his scenes, and his lack of a sinister atmosphere is greatly affects the entire Rheingold. But he'll soon be forgotten later on during the Trilogy.
Bohm: Why the heck would the conductor have Wolfgang Windgassen play both Siegfried AND Loge? The demi-god needs to sound different from a son of a Walsung. Again, another Loge that's marred by lack of cunning.
Karajan: Gerhard Stolze is easily the most entertaining Loge to listen to. He has the wit, the craftiness, and the untrustworthiness that the character deserves. His scenes in Scene Three are delightful.
Goodall: Emile Belcourt isn't as good as Stolze, but he certainly can make some of the best of an English-speaking Loge.
Boulez and Haitink: I can summon Heinz Zednik's performance in just three words: Brilliant Beyond Belief!
Janowski: Peter Schreier is the most eccentric out of all of them, and that's a fact. Much of his singing involves imagination, peril, vengeance, and deviousness. Belcourt and Zednik depend only on vengeance and deviousness, Stolze only imagination and deviousness, Windgassen and Svanholm only peril. His odd conversations with Alberich and the gods/goddesses are classic.
Levine: Siegfried Jerusalem doesn't seem like a good choice for Loge. He's better off playing Siegmund or Siegfried, but not a demi-god.
Sawallisch: Robert Tear is on par with Stolze and Zednik. Sometimes he takes things too low, but all is forgiven with his management of character development.
-Everyone Else
Uh-huh, what can I say? Everyone else does a good job in all Ring recordings. Matti Salminen is the perfect Hagen (Janowski, Levine, and Sawallisch), while Kirsten Flagstad is the most brilliant Fricka (Solti). Anja Silja is the most memorable Freia (Bohm), while Kurt Moll makes the most fabulous Hunding yet (Janowski, Levine, and Sawallisch). The Norns and Rheinmaidens do a splendid job in Solti, Janowski, and Levine. The Vassals (male choir) are at their unsurpassed in Bohm, Goodall, and Boulez. The only flawed Erda is Anne Collins (Goodall), maybe too light and too heavy at times. All in all, no one here is graded C or lower.
CONCLUSION: I have yet to listen to Barenboim's Bayreuth presentation, Neuhold's Badische version, and the essential mono recordings (Furtwangler, Krauss, etc.), but I'm pretty sure that have their advantages and disadvantages. So there you have it. We have the histrionic Solti, the energetic Bohm, the otherworldly Karajan, the spacious Goodall, the industrialized Boulez, the truthful Janowski, the unhurried Levine, the abnormal Haitink, and the serious Sawallisch Rings. They have their own authenticities and setbacks, and they certainly have their own significances for Ring listeners everywhere.
The Box Set: Wagner: The Ring Cycle (Box Set)
-The Valkyrie (Part 2): Wagner: The Valkyrie
-Siegfried (Part 3): Siegfried (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English)
-Twilight of the Gods (Part 4): The Twilight of the Gods (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English)
Free at last!.......2004-09-18
I Love This Recording.......2002-04-05
What's so good about it? Three things stand out for me: First, the slow tempi that were a litle rough at first actually allow, upon repeated listenings, a new discovery and understanding of Wagner's unfathomable genius. Every nuance is slowed down just enough to be fully accessible. Second, the modern English translation really does make this a different experience...my initial mistake was thinking that English lyrics could allow me to listen to this as background music, and that's not the case. However, if one devotes the same attention to this as a German recording, the time wil be richly rewarded. Finally, the smaller orchestra creates an almost chamber music-esque setting, which compliments the music in an undefinable way. Despite being in English, this is almost more Germanic than original-language recordings.
I still probably wouldn't get this as the first foray into Wagner's RING (I still think Solti or Levine are the choices for that). But for someone who already has some familiarity with the work, this will provide a lifetime's enjoyment. Cudos to Chandos for resurrecting these recordings!
The Goodall Ring - 1975 - Restored and Remastered.......2001-06-08
As to the experience of the drama in English, that too is remarkable, at least for someone like me whose home-tongue is English. The drama takes on an immediacy that I have never experienced before. This factor alone is why you should explore this Ring. I can't overemphasize the impact on me that this recording had on me because it was in English and because it was well-acted. Surely this is what Wagner meant, at least dramaturgically (obviously allowing that you can't actually see the action).
Overall, the singing is competent, and in some places, it's excellent. None of the cast really stands out musically. Norman Bailey's wobbly Wotan could have certainly benefitted from a deeper, richer tone. Still, and perhaps more importantly, he creates a god who is clearly unsure of where the moral highground is, even when he's standing on "an open space on a mountain summit." Everyone, for that matter, is dramatically convincing, especially Emile Belcourt (Loge) and Derek Hammond-Stroud (Alberich) and Robert Lloyd (Fasolt), all of whom, by the way, have excellent diction. And speaking of diction, I almost could have done without the libretto when the men were singing. Not so with the women, whose diction was uniformly wanting.
Goodall's pace is notoriously glacial. Still, it's interesting to hear it parsed in this way, and I never had the feeling that I was going to fall off the world. Which is to say that the tempos were deliberate, not affected. This was definitely a labor of love for RG and the English National Opera. The orchestra is a little thin sounding, and perhaps, not entirely up to the score. Occasionally a horn mis-blew and a cello creaked. This is unavoidable in live performances, I suppose. Still, there is a surprising sense of smallness to the ensemble, even though there's never a moment when the balance between singers and players is lost. As a result, the overall effect is a balance of clarity and urgency that is clearly the upside of Goodall's idiosyncratic "vision" of the score. Not a huge or "erotic" sound, but always committed, intelligent, and sometimes impassioned.
For all of its flaws, this is an astonishing and, for me, an indispensible recording because it made me listen to this opera with new ears. While it's not the most lyrically pleasing recording (Karajan) or musically authoritative (that would be Solti, IMHO), dramatically, this Rhinegold excells any recording I know of. I will definitely buy the rest of the set.
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Music From And Inspired By Shaft
Original Soundtrack Manufacturer: Arista ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00004TDXT Release Date: 2000-06-13 |
Tracks:
- Shaft: Theme - Isaac Hayes
- Bad Man - R. Kelly
- Up And Outta Here - R. Kelly
- Do What I Gotta Do - Donell Jones
- Rock Wit U - Alicia Keys
- We Servin' - Big Gipp
- Tough Guy - Outkast
- 2 Glock 9's - T.I.P.
- Summer Rain - Carl Thomas
- Automatic - Sleepy Brown
- Pimp Sh*t - Too Short
- Cheatin' - Liberty City
- Fix Me - Parle
- How You Want It? - Mil
- Ain't Gonna See Tomorrow - Mystikal
- My Lovin' Will Give You Something - Angie Stone
- Serenata Negra - Fulanito
Amazon.com
"Who is the man that would risk his life for his brother man?" Why, the same man who nearly 30 years later is brought to life by Samuel L. Jackson in John Singleton's remake of the 1971 classic. That's private eye John Shaft--any questions? Isaac Hayes won an Oscar for the original movie's theme and that double-album soundtrack remains an essential of its genre. It's a tall order to fill those flatfoot shoes, but there's plenty of fine soul music here to go around. R. Kelly scrubs away the varnish of modern R&B with two compelling old-school grooves, "Bad Man" and "Up and Outta Here." Donell Jones, Alicia Keys, Carl Thomas, and Angie Stone also ride out the early 1970s R&B vibe with lush strings and funky guitars backlighting the romantic mood. It's not all nostalgia, however. Big Gipp (featuring Goodie Mob), OutKast, Sleepy Brown, and others represent today's hip-hop laced with a healthy nod to the days of Philly Soul, Gamble and Huff-style. --Rob O'ConnorCustomer Reviews:
Not As Bad As The Movie Was (3.5 Stars).......2004-10-05
There are a few mistakes to be found on this album though. Tracks like "Fix Me", "Pimp Sh*t", "How You Want It?", and "Cheatin" could have been left off of this album and I don't think anyone would have even noticed. There weren't necessarily bad songs, but they were definitely skippable. Donell Jones' contribution (Do What I Gotta Do) was somewhat predictable and boring. The same could be said about Angie Stone's song too. And the duet of T.I. (known as T.I.P. on this album) and Beanie Sigel (Two Glock 9's) mixes about as well as oil and water. And "Serenata Negra" from Fulanito seems VERY out of place on this soundtrack. I'd have to say that the negatives all end there.
Overall, I'd have to say that this soundtrack is pretty solid. It's not as fluid as its predecessor, but it's funky and fun in its own right. This was a great soundtrack in an era of cookie cutter soundtracks that accompany most "black" movies. I'd reccomend getting this album if you don't have these albums already. The good songs on this album definitely make it worth the money.
Standout Tracks: Bad Man - R. Kelly, We Servin' - Big Gipp, Automatic - Sleepy Brown feat. Backbone & Big Rube, Rock Wit U - Alicia Keys, Tough Guy - Outkast feat. UGK, and Summer Rain - Carl Thomas
If You Saw Me On Church On Sunday You Can Tell..........2001-10-09
But the shining moment for me is R Kelly's song "Up and Outta Here". It is in the same league as "I Believe I Can Fly". Here is an artist who really puts an effort in his soundtrack work. Anyone who has heard "I Believe I Can Fly", "Gotham City", "Take My Time Tonight" and "Freak Me" will know that R Kelly is at his best on soundtracks.
Hit- CD, every song's just great!.......2000-10-02
Donell Saves The Day.......2000-07-30
The Coolest Soundtrack.......2000-07-12
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Look What the World Found
Shuga Shaft Manufacturer: Who Ya Wit ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00005QXF1 Release Date: 2001-11-06 |
Tracks:
- Intro
- Gladiator
- Flirtin'
- Don't Hesitate
- Playa Hataz And Bustaz
- The Introduction
- Let's Ride
- Recognize
- Ghetto Niggaz
- Come On And Roll Wit G's
- Skit
- Look What The World Found
- January to December
- Mic Be My Crimey
- Would U Die For Me
- Skit
- Come And Get It
- Skit
- One Time
- Chunkums
- Here's To You
Customer Reviews:
San Diego Rapper- True West Coast gangsta shit.......2005-01-19
Rap Music:
- Skeezer Pleezer
- Soundtrack to the Streets [Explicit Lyrics] [Soundtrack]
- Southern Hospitality [Explicit Lyrics]
- Stay Strong [Explicit Lyrics]
- Straight out the Bangin' Bay [Explicit Lyrics]
- Testimonies of the Misundersto
- Tha First Chapter
- THAT'S THE LIFE [Explicit Lyrics]
- The Best of Electric Slide
- The Conflict [Explicit Lyrics]
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Piano Stas #54-62 / Fantasy in C / Vars in C & F
Scarlet Ribbons [Import] [Original recording remastered]
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