Trouble Is

Amazon.com
It's not hard to understand the appeal of Kenny Wayne Shepherd, currently being hailed as the heir to Stevie Ray Vaughan. He's young (an increasing rarity in blues and blues-related genres), he writes catchy songs, and his "Blue on Black" is widely played on rock radio. Trouble Is . . . is an enjoyable listen, from rockers like "Slow Ride" and "Chase the Rainbow," to swingy mid-tempo songs like "True Lies" and "(Long) Gone," to slower almost-ballads such as "Nothing to Do with Love" and the all-pervasive "Blue on Black". Expect to start hearing "I Found Love (When I Found You)" at high school proms and homecoming dances. It remains to be seen how Shepherd will develop, but he's among the most promising young guitarists out there today. -- Genevieve Williams

Trouble Is,The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band,Warner Bros / Wea,Blues-Rock,Contemporary Blues,Modern Electric Blues,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Trouble Is

Average customer rating:

Very Good Stuff
Outstandingly Awesome
disappointment
One of his better CD's
Because he's not Stevie Ray he sucks?

Trouble Is...
The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Chicago Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

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Ledbetter Heights
Live On
The Place You're In
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10 Days Out (Blues from the Backroads)/ (CD/DVD)

ASIN: B000002L5I
Release Date: 1997-10-07

Tracks:

Slow Ride
True Lies
Blue On Black
Everything Is Broken
I Don't Live Today
(Long) Gone
Somehow, Somewhere, Someway
I Found Love (When I Found You)
King's Highway
Nothing To Do With Love
Chase The Rainbow
Trouble Is...

Amazon.com

It's not hard to understand the appeal of Kenny Wayne Shepherd, currently being hailed as the heir to Stevie Ray Vaughan. He's young (an increasing rarity in blues and blues-related genres), he writes catchy songs, and his "Blue on Black" is widely played on rock radio. Trouble Is . . . is an enjoyable listen, from rockers like "Slow Ride" and "Chase the Rainbow," to swingy mid-tempo songs like "True Lies" and "(Long) Gone," to slower almost-ballads such as "Nothing to Do with Love" and the all-pervasive "Blue on Black". Expect to start hearing "I Found Love (When I Found You)" at high school proms and homecoming dances. It remains to be seen how Shepherd will develop, but he's among the most promising young guitarists out there today. -- Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

Very Good Stuff.......2007-05-25

Kenny Wayne continues to record very good music. Noah Hunt's vocals are awesome. Usually like only one or two songs on any cd...I like them all on 'Trouble Is".

Outstandingly Awesome.......2006-09-17

This CD is just great. Kenny can play an amazing guitar. I really like Noah Hunt's voice and he makes the songs that much better. Every song is a good listen. Most people know about Blue On Black, but all the songs are good here.

disappointment.......2006-09-02

The music wasn't bad, however the vocals are a MAJOR disappointment. I kept expecting something better with each song. Then I realized the problem; there was no raw feelings conveyed, no personality, no life. You can't sing blues songs with a polished pop voice.

One of his better CD's.......2006-07-01

Solid flowing cd.....great tones love his playing and singing.
Didn't care for his other cd's as much I'm going with 5 on this one

Because he's not Stevie Ray he sucks?.......2005-09-20

I think KWS has a wonderful gift of playing the blues with passion and intensity. No he is not Stevie Ray and how in the hell are you going to say he sucks because he isn't? And Stevie Ray is no John Petrucci or Al Dimeaola so I guess he sucks as well. Come on people, stop being such music snobs. I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

OUTTAKES ? YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ! (Some of this stuff is SRV's best)
Great SRV Compilation CD
A real winner!
2 and 1/2 stars : an average record with some good songs
Left overs from other albums

The Sky Is Crying
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

In Step
Couldn't Stand the Weather
Texas Flood
Soul to Soul
In the Beginning

ASIN: B0000027KO
Release Date: 1991-11-05

Tracks:

Boot Hill
The Sky Is Crying
Empty Arms
Little Wing
Wham!
May I Have A Talk With You
Close To You
Chitlins Con Carne
So Excited
Life By The Drop

Amazon.com

Released after Vaughan's death in a 1990 helicopter accident, The Sky Is Crying collects unreleased studio tracks from throughout the guitarist's recorded career. In Vaughan's early years, he was a stylist who thought nothing of using ten notes when three would have worked. Rock stardom, cocaine, and alcohol did little to temper his tendency towards overstatement, but by In Step, his last studio album (and first clean-and-sober effort), he'd begun to transcend his many influences to forge a hard-boiled style of his own. The collection documents this passage, starting with unreleased covers of Lonnie Mack's "Wham" and Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" from the time of his debut album. "The Sky Is Crying" was originally cut by Elmore James, but Vaughan's lead guitar owes its stylistic debt to the bluesman who had a most profound influence on his playing, Albert King. The highlights are two tracks cut at the time of In Step--the hard-edged "Boot Hill," with Vaughan on slide guitar, and "Life by the Drop," in which Vaughan accompanies himself on acoustic guitar and toasts a life that would end far too soon. --John Milward

Customer Reviews:

OUTTAKES ? YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ! (Some of this stuff is SRV's best).......2007-07-21

The Sky Is Crying (1991) is an album of songs recorded by Stevie Ray Vaughan that weren't used on albums he officially released before his untimely death at 35 on August 27, 1990, in a helicoptor accident. Why, I don't know. There is some really great blues here. The best song on the album is the title track. Originally an Elmore James song, Stevie gives it the full-tilt, wild electric guitar, slow blues treatment (think Texas Flood), and it's as good as he's ever done. His instrumental take on Jimi Hendrix's Little Wing sounds really good, too, and a lot like Jimi. I wish Stevie would have sung on it, too. Boot Hill is excellant electric slide guitar boogie with trademark SRV vocals. May I Have A Talk With You is very good, and Stevie speeds things up with the lusty Close To You. One of the biggest treats on the album is the 12-string acoustic guitar solo, Life By The Drop. Stevie sings of being left behind by his best guitar mate, who chose pursuing his dream over drinking his life away (living life by the drop). It's a moving performance of a poignant song. Lovingly produced by his brother, Jimmie Vaughan, The Sky Is Crying sounds as good as any of SRV's albums. While a couple of the instrumental songs are uneven and really nothing new, the album as a whole is very good, and it's essential for the fans of a great bluesman, Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Great SRV Compilation CD.......2007-07-18

Critics cite Texas Flood and In Step as SRV's bests albums, but this is easily my personal favorite. It's a nice sampling of his unbelievable and seemingly unattainable talents and abilities.

Vaughan's deranged vocals and fiery slide guitar hit you like a freight train on "Boot Hill," the CD's first song. "Chitlins Con Carne" is a wonderful example of his jazz guitar--pure elegance--suitable as a backdrop to a formal dinner. In addition, SRV's "Life By The Drop" is a haunting ballad played on 12-string acoustic guitar--a fitting cap stone to a great retrospective CD and brilliant career.

A real winner!.......2007-07-13

This is easily on par with SRV's first three albums. It's, as you may know, a posthumous release of recordings made throughout his career. Many people rave about the "Little Wing" cover--and it is great--but I'm knocked out by the Kenny Burrell cover of "Chitlins con Carne." Every song is a keeper, not a throw-away in the bunch, just a slightly wider variety of SRV's playing than you'd get elsewhere.

2 and 1/2 stars : an average record with some good songs.......2007-07-06

i don't understand the five stars ratings for this record, for me it is really average; the bad news first : i don't like his voice and it rather detracts the music than the contrary, plus personally, and that is purely subjective, i think he plays with too heavy strings; 'Little Wing' is a bad endless version, way too repetitive (the fact he didn't understand that playing the same musical theme over and over again was to turn this great song of Hendrix into such a repetitive thing is beyond me); the good news: the sky is crying, May I have a talk with you (raw and bluesy, my favorite track), Life by the Drop (a simple but nice bluesy ballad), the instrumental Chitlins con carne, are good though i find his guitar playing on the excellent 'May i have...' a little bit repetitive, he seems to play the same melodic theme, with some bits of variations over and over again; however the four songs that i quoted are worth a listen.

Left overs from other albums.......2007-06-22

NOT BAD FOR A POSTHUMOUS ALBUM.

These tracks come from recording sessions starting with Stevie Ray Vaughan's second album (Couldn't Stand the Weather) through his last (In Step). They were tracks that did not make it on to those other albums.

You got to ask yourself, why weren't these songs included on other albums? It wasn't like any of Vaughan's albums were too long. They were all under 40 minutes, some around 35 minutes long, and had plenty of room for more songs, even for LP standards. The average LP is 20 minutes a side but could hold up to 30 minutes of music on one side.

Many people are saying this is Vaughan's best album. So, was Vaughan a complete idiot and didn't know how to pick songs for his albums while he was alive?

For a posthumous album, this isn't bad. Many albums that were released after an artist died or a group broke up are a mess of scrapings off of the floor. There are usually odds and sods of novelty songs and incomplete tracks. Unlike those, The Sky is Crying is mostly an album of complete songs, and almost sounds like a normal album.

There are a few glitches in some of the songs, but nothing significant. Probably most notable is the mixing errors in Chitlins con Carne.

There are some very good tracks on this CD, especially the instrumental Chitlin con Carne. This is one of those great slow blues numbers from the Couldn't Stand the Weather days. The instrumental version of Little Wing is also pretty good.

Other songs are not quite as good, being overloaded with the Vaughan cliches of the screaming vocals and running up the guitar screens. I am guessing that some of these songs were left of the original albums because they were just too much of the same thing.

I don't think this CD is anywhere in the class of Couldn't Stand the Weather or In Step, but it is certainly better than Soul to Soul.

Music for a Darkened Theatre, Vol. 2: Film & Television Music

Average customer rating:

Priceless, at any price
Good overview
Great Music!!!!!!!!!
Very nice for a Danny Elfman collection
Bring on Volume 3

Music for a Darkened Theatre, Vol. 2: Film & Television Music

Manufacturer: Fontana Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000002P4P
Release Date: 1996-12-03

Tracks:

Edward Scissorhands Suite: Main Titles
Edward Scissorhands Suite: Storytime
Edward Scissorhands Suite: Suite
Edward Scissorhands Suite: Suburbia-Barber
Edward Scissorhands Suite: The Grand Finale
Dolores Claiborne Suite: Main Titles
Dolores Claiborne Suite: Vera's World
Dolores Claiborne Suite: Flashback
Dolores Claiborne Suite: Sad Room
Dolores Claiborne Suite: End Titles
To Die For Suite: Main Titles
To Die For Suite: Suzie's Theme
To Die For Suite: Busted
To Die For Suite: Wheepy Donuts
To Die For Suite: Finale
Black Beauty Suite: Main Titles
Black Beauty Suite: Baby Beauty
Black Beauty Suite: Jump For Joy
Black Beauty Suite: Frolick-Sick
Black Beauty Suite: Bye Bye Jerry
Black Beauty Suite: Memories
Black Beauty Suite: End Titles
Batman Returns Suite:Birth Of A Penguin
Batman Returns Suite: Trouble Suite
Batman Returns Suite: The Finale
Batman Returns Suite: End Titles

Tracks:

Mission Impossible Suite: Trouble
Mission Impossible Suite: Looking For Job
Mission Impossible Suite: Betrayal
Sommersby Suite: Main Titles
Sommersby Suite: Return Montage
Sommersby Suite: Finale-End Titles
Dead Presidents Suite: Main Titles
Dead Presidents Suite: Daughter
Dead Presidents Suite: Montage
Dead Presidents Suite: Nam
Dead Presidents Suite: Nightmare
Nightmare Before Christmas Suite: Overture
Nightmare Before Christmas Suite: Jack And Sally Suite
Nightmare Before Christmas Suite: Christmas Eve Montage
Freeway Suite: Main Titles
Freeway Suite: On The Road
Freeway Suite: Back In The Car
Shrunken Heads Suite: Main Titles
Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Amazing Stories 'Family Dog'
Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Amazing Stories 'Family Dog'
Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Amazing Stories 'Mummy, Daddy
Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Barkley Superhero 'Nike Commercial'
Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: The Flash 'Theme'
Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Pee Wee's Playhouse
Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Beetlejuice - Animated Tv Series 'Theme'
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
This Is Halloween (Original Demo For Nightmare Before Christmas)

Amazon.com

A delightfully buoyant, mock-creepy collection of film scores from Hollywood's first and best call for quirk, strangeness, and charm. Focusing on Elfman's post-1992 work (much of it for director Tim Burton), this 2 CD set features excerpts from Edward Scissorhands, To Die For, and Batman Returns, among other lesser items. -- Jeff Bateman

Customer Reviews:

Priceless, at any price.......2007-07-06

Years ago, watching peter Jennings cover the funeral procession of Princess Diana, my soul was captured by some hauntingly beautiful music that at times played in the background. So began my mission to find out what it was, who wrote it and how I could get it. After some correspondence with the network I was put in touch with the woman who "put together" that part of the programming. All she could remember is that it came from the movie "Black Beauty". THEN I found out how many versions of that had been made lol. With determination, I finally found it, and had a local music store order it for me.
There are no words to describe what this music does to me. I did try listening to some of the other tracks, but they didn't even come close. I rate this music right up there with the 1971 score for "Jane Eyre" by John Willams... and that's pretty high :D

Good overview.......2007-04-18

Very nice overview of Elfman work. Insufficient by itself but worth having along with the full soundtracks. Bonus disc is a nice extra.

Great Music!!!!!!!!!.......2005-09-08

I Love Danny Elfman's music so much that I have started my own collection of the soundtracks that he composed. For a while, I was trying to find the "Beetlejuice" theme song from the TV show, but thanks to this release, I finally have it!!! Keep up the good work Elfman!

Very nice for a Danny Elfman collection.......2005-08-02

Music For A Darkened Theater, Vol.2 is a great cd!!! I love all of the tracks on both cd's,but my fav. ones are the t.v. scores and the This Is Halloween demo!!! If you love this,then i recomend looking at all the actually albums on this cd and his other works!!!! good job,Danny Elfman.

Bring on Volume 3.......2005-05-04

The liner notes and "This is Halloween Demo" on this compilation are well worth the CD price by themselves. Danny comments on each of the tracks on the CDs which is a rare and ego-free look at what a composer thinks of his own work.

Edward Scissorhands is magical, Black Beauty is a rollercoaster of emotion, and Dolores Claiborne makes me want to find the nearest piano. This is not a "Most Popular" compilation, rather it aptly showcases Danny Elfman's (and Orchestrator, Steve Bartek's) brilliance and wide range of style.

Every suite has an Elfman signature, such as the layered complexity which never sounds overdone, or the use of a choir as an instrument.

This (and Volume 1) are examples of the work of a modern day composer who consistently stands out as one of the best.

If you like this and have the spare cash, grab the individual scores from some of the movies he has worked on, including "Men In Black", "Spiderman", "Batman", "Batman Returns", "Nightmare Before Christmas", "Edward Scissorhands", "Mars Attacks" and so many more.

Average customer rating:

Very Enjoyable
Fun for Kids and Parent's too
A MUST- HAVE!
Come on along, buy some Happy Songs!!!
Happy songs cd by Milkshake

Happy Songs
Milkshake
Manufacturer: Milkshake Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

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General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Bottle Of Sunshine
PLAY!
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ASIN: B00006JBJK
Release Date: 2002-08-10

Tracks:

Happy Song
Tall
Breakfast Time
Never End
That's Me
Fingers & Toes
Dance On My Shoes
When You Were Born
Clap My Hands
Try
Scared
Goodnight Moon
When You Are Sleeping
Close Your Eyes

Album Description

Contemporary, fun, educational and heartwarming, Milkshake's debut recording "Happy Songs" is a potpourri of activity songs, upbeat inspirational rock songs and lullabies released on Deck Party Music. Milkshake's original songs are based in the pop-rock genre, and influenced by both the years spent performing tuneful, melodic music in their rock band alter ego Love Riot, and the classic sounds of great groups like the Beatles.

Customer Reviews:

Very Enjoyable.......2006-08-05

One of my daughter's friends 'really' introduced us to Milkshake. I'm surprised we didn't put 2+2 together since we are ardent XM Kid listeners and they play a lot of songs from Milkshake. I guess for some reason we got them mixed up with Scribble Monster. Anyway, we realized that "Happy Songs" was their song and bought this CD and the newer one too.

Overall, the music is top notch. The girls dance to it and enjoy it. I like the newer CD the best, but this one is very good too.

Fun for Kids and Parent's too.......2006-03-23

I'm not a fan of music for kids that parent's can't enjoy as well: case in point being anything by Barney. Milkshake is lots of fun. My kids (2, 5 and 7) always request "Scared" which they refer to as "the Scary song." I particularly enjoy "Goodnight Moon," and yes, it does reference the book. "Fingers & Toes" is lots of happy, peppy fun about hands and feet and counting! I highly recommend it for fun at home and in the car!

A MUST- HAVE!.......2006-03-10

My daughter is addicted to both Milkshake albums and I recommend them both highly. Really fun lyrics with fanciful sound effects (birds tweeting, bells ringing, etc). I find that they are the first albums that I reach for as well. Lisa Mattthews has a "Sheryl Crowe"-like sound which is refreshingly contemporary for kids music.

Come on along, buy some Happy Songs!!!.......2005-01-13

This album is the perfect mix for families. Notice I didn't say "for KIDS", I said for FAMILIES!! As an avid music listener, I was dreading having kids and having to listen to that purple dinosaur or other saccharine aural pacifiers, but Milkshake has saved my ears (halleluyah!). My 2.6 year old LOVES both albums and I enjoy listening to them too. Happy Songs is the perfect blend of hit songs (the title track has graced the XMKids Top Thirteen Under Thirteen for a good long time), silly songs (Anyone for some yummy critter fritters in "Breakfast Time"?) and good quality melodies that rival the likes of Jewel and Ani DiFranco. Do yourself and your kids a favor, buy both Milkshake CD's, force them to listen to them once through and you'll be chucking those dinosaur CD's out the window [ED: Author does NOT condone littering] in no time at all.

Happy songs cd by Milkshake.......2004-11-04

I have both of Milkshake's cd's, Happy Songs and the new one, Bottle of Sunshine, and I love them. My four year old is constantly singing and dancing to them, and has been enjoying Milkshake since she was two. I, too, know all of the words to the songs, and enjoy listening to them (unlike some other children's music which is not as pleasing to the ears of parents). I highly recommend both cd's.

Average customer rating:

Who?
Kiss Me Hello
Is it just me...
Lovely, with a few flaws.
finally

Trouble Is Real
Johnathan Rice
Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
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Extended Player - 24:26
Loneliness Knows My Name
Charlie Mars
Quite Often
Poor Man's Son

ASIN: B0007XT8BM
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

Short Songs For Strings
Mid November
Kiss Me Goodbye
So Sweet
Break So Easy
Lady Memphis
Behind the Frontlines
My Mother's Son
Leave the Light On
City On Fire
Put Me In Your Holy War
Salvation Day
Stay At Home
Acrobat
Hickory Wind (Outro)
I Wouldn't Miss It For the World

Amazon.com

Born in Virginia, raised in Scotland and having put in time in both Brooklyn and Los Angeles, Jonathan Rice has an accent that's impossible place and a dusky, windswept voice that makes it hard to believe he's barely hit legal drinking age. Even though the songs on his major label debut - recorded in Lincoln, Nebraska with members of Rilo Kiley, the Faint, and singer-songwriter Amy Correia - have become synonymous with teen dramas like The OC and Smallville, Rice's loyalty is to another generation. He channels vintage Van Morrison on the romantic "Break So Easy", a scratchy Bob Dylan in "Lady Memphis," and the Clash with the searing, fuzzy "Salvation Day." --Aidin Vaziri

Album Description

Scottish-born, New York City-based singer-songwriter-guitarist Johnathan Rice makes emotionally charged, literate modern music. Produced by Mike Mogis, Trouble Is Real spans the sonic landscape from folk ballads to psychedelic pop to full-on, punk-influenced rock. Johnathan Rice is real, too-the real deal.

Customer Reviews:

Who?.......2007-01-28

I found Jonathan Rice quite accidentally in the college radio station...and I like having my own little secret. He is now one of my favorite artists. He receives sero publicity as far as I can tell, but songs like "Acrobat," and "Lady Memphis" sound like Indie sleeper hits to me. Once he breaks on the music scene, he'll fly off the shelves.

Kiss Me Hello.......2005-10-17

Johnathan Rice's first full-length set is a great CD with melody, exquisite musicianship and thoughtful lyrics. "Kiss Me Goodbye" is my favorite with its insistent pop melody and Rice's hushed vocals like an energized Nick Drake, "I heard you call my name from the top of the stairs, It'll never be the same, You know it's so hard to let you go." "So Sweet" is another standout with Rice's passionate vocals and the addictive chorus, "You're so sweet it makes me cry." "Salvation Day" boasts thundering guitars and Rice's airy vocals that float above the storm. "Break So Easy" is a soft acoustic folk tune that offers hushed Nick Drake-style vocals that also can recall Elliott Smith or David Gray at times. "Leave the Light On" is another strong track, "Fell out of love with rock & roll, left a hole in your radio." Rice who graduated from high school in 2001 and was raised in Glasgow, Scotland turns in an excellent effort on this Reprise CD. Enjoy!

Is it just me..........2005-08-20

First off, I don't understand why Johnathan Rice isn't receiving more attention and praise, he's amazing!
Yet, I can't help but hear an overbearing John Mayer quality in his voice. If John Mayer weren't as produced and afraid of taking chances (by the way, I'm a huge fan of his, so this is not meant to down play him at all), he would be Johnathan Rice, if not lyrically, vocally.
Lyrically, Johnathan is very mature and thought provoking.
I hope his career goes far because he has the talent to go as far as he wants.

Lovely, with a few flaws. .......2005-06-18

The first thing that is obvious about Johnathan Rice is that he has a lovely and distinctive voice. It is incredibly deep and rich without suffering from the crackling or shrillness that plague other distinctive voices. He's like if Bob Dylan had a smoother voice.

There are a lot of beautiful songs on this album, "Mid November" (also the Short Songs For Strings which blends with it), "The Acrobat," "City on Fire," and "Break So Easy" are my personal favorites, both being folk ballads that are wonderfully uplifting, well written and melodic. They both show his great potential, but some of the other tracks a much less spectacular. "Kiss Me Goodbye," "So Sweet," "Leave the Light On," and "Salvation Day" are pleasing upbeat rock tunes that bear a certain amount of originality and make up the group of songs I'd rank as my second favorite. "Lady Memphis" is a foray into country/blues that suffers from trying to be a little too gritty and "real", which is a problem that "I Wouldn't Miss it for the World" and "Behind the Frontlines" suffer from as well. However, in terms of esoteric and truly gritty styling, I love "Put me in Your Holy War," an all too short Americana style song. "My Mother's Son" would be a nice folk ballad, if it didn't have an overbearing orchestral background. "Stay at Home" was another track with an overbearing background, this one being in the cirsusy vein with odd trumpets and a children's chorus.

Rice has some really good songs here, but others could use some tweaking. I certainly have enjoyed listening to it, as the best songs here certainly are really very good.

finally.......2005-05-01

The long awaited album is finally here, and it doesnt let down. there is a great mix of music here, slow/fast, loud/quiet, folk/rock/pop. but it all comes together really well. if you've heard the ep the sames songs can be found here. pick this album up!

The Essential Leontyne Price: Spirituals, Hymns & Sacred Songs

Average customer rating:

The Price Club
A living legend
not your daddy's old timey spiritual
Immaculate Vocals of Leontyne Price
Great Gospel Stuff

The Essential Leontyne Price: Spirituals, Hymns & Sacred Songs

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Price, Leontyne | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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Spirituals in Concert
Spirituals

ASIN: B000003FWE
Release Date: 1997-01-14

Tracks:

Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit - Various Artists
Let Us Break Bread Together On Our Knees - Various Artists
His Name So Sweet - Various Artists
'Roun' About The Mountain - Various Artists
Swing Low , Sweet Chariot - Various Artists
Sit Down, Servant - Various Artists
Were You There - Various Artists
He's Got The Whole World In His Hands - Various Artists
Deep River - Various Artists
Honor! Honor! - Various Artists
My Soul's Been Anchored In De Lord - Various Artists
On Ma Journey - Various Artists
A City Called Heaven - Various Artists
Ride On, King Jesus - Various Artists
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free - Various Artists
Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass - Various Artists
Sweet Little Jesus Boy - Various Artists
There Is A Balm In Gilead - Various Artists
Let Us Cheer The Weary Traveler - Various Artists
Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit - Various Artists
My Way Is Cloudy - Various Artists
Nobody Knows The Touble I've Seen - Various Artists
I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray - Various Artists

Tracks:

Holy, Holy, Holy - Leontyne Price
Lead, Kindly Light - Leontyne Price
Blessed Assurance - Leontyne Price
Ave Maria - Leontyne Price
What A Friend We Have In Jesus - Leontyne Price
Amazing Grace - Leontyne Price
The Lord's Prayer - Leontyne Price
Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior - Leontyne Price
The Church's One Foundation - Leontyne Price
Bless This House - Leontyne Price
I Need Thee Every Hour - Leontyne Price
Schlesische Volkslieder: Fairest Lord Jesus - Leontyne Price
I Wonder As I Wander - Leontyne Price
Ave Maria - Leontyne Price
Porgy And Bess: Summertime - Leontyne Price
America The Beautiful - Leontyne Price
Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing - Leontyne Price
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God - Leontyne Price
Battle Hymn Of The Republic - Leontyne Price

Customer Reviews:

The Price Club.......2005-04-28

"I am here," said Leontyne Price when interviewed as she opened the new Metropolitan Opera with Samuel Barber's underrated ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, "and you will know that I am the best and will hear me. The color of my skin or the kink of my hair or the spread of my mouth has nothing to do with what you are listening to." Back in the 1960s Price was one of the greatest divas in all of opera, and it wasn't just her voice but her magnificent stage presence, combined with her social activism. All of the above come into play in this collection of secular songs and ditties, some of them traditional plantation chanties and others, art songs and a scattering of pop music. And some of them, like Gershwin's "Summertime," cross the ever-permeable boundaries between Broadway and classical. These recordings were made at different times in Price's career, and her voice, while always angelic, has different shadings and reaches a different range of timbre in each separate recording date, but there is no question that, as time goes by, she is able to impart a richness of life experience noticeably absent from some of her earlier work.

"Ave Maria" sounds heavenly no matter which way you slice it, and as for "I Wonder As I Wander," it brings tears to your eyes. If you have a heart that's beating you will be moved by this rendition. "Ein feste Burg" is pretty strong, but Price seems more comfortable with the traditional spirituals, though perhaps it is the slightly off-kilter sounds of the Ambrosian Singers (what a name) who back her up on many of these tracks, that detract slightly from the experience. Compare "Lead Kindly Light" for a clear sense of what constitutes authority vs. what is a wee bit overproduced. If you had this compilation, and perhaps one of Leontyne Price's Christmas albums, you could attain nirvana any time you wanted to, just flip a switch and close your eyes, let her lift you up on wings of song.

A living legend.......2005-03-10

Leontyne Price (still alive) and already passing into immortality amongst vocal artists, both classical and popular. Leontyne Price stands at the pinnacle of her classical art, but those who only know her work in La Forza del destino or the Verdi Requiem are in for a heart rending treat with this album where Leontyne Price goes home to her roots in Mississippi and gives an unabashed account of the classic spirituals she sang as a young woman. Like John Mc Cormacks rendering of Irish songs there is a personal longing and devotion expressed here that reveals a side of the artist not known in the bulk of their "classical" repetoire. A sense of going home like Citizen Kane's rosebud, or as Dorothy Gale observes at the end of the Wizard of Oz "everything I could ever have wanted was right in my own backyard "

not your daddy's old timey spiritual.......2004-06-23

Agreed this is a good cd for a beautiful voice, but this is not, repeat not, for someone who wants to hear that old-timey religious fervor that you think of when you've been to a Black Baptist hand-clapping, standing, swaying, and singing service.

Immaculate Vocals of Leontyne Price.......2003-12-31

IMMACULATE, SUPERB vocal range and style! There's no other words that can complement Miss Leontyne Price's vocal arrangements. Miss Price's voice is strong, and shrills very nicely to the instruments played on many songs listed on this double CD which is a joy to treasure; every song listed are songs I was raised to hearing and singing. Miss Price is the reason why many of these songs remain in popularity and presently used. Miss Leontyne Price has been incredible in many of her past performances. This is my fourth CD of Miss Price and I am glad to own this particular CD forever and ever. Many thanks to the executors who found this remarkable album and upgraded it to a CD format! **Angi**

Great Gospel Stuff.......2001-04-12

This is a great CD. The only problem I have with it is that on some of the selections there is a boy's choir screaming in the background, and this takes away (a bit) from her performance. That said, her best selections are those that are either unaccompanied or those where her voice is not buried. Songs that strike me are - His Name So Sweet, He's Got The Whole World, Were You There, I Wonder as I Wander, Lift Every Voice and Sing, and my all time favourite Summertime. Enough said.

Emma Kirkby sings Handel, Arne, Haydn & Mozart

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All hail the Queen of Early Music!
An uplifting experience
Mysterious Beauty
The divine voice of Emma Kirkby

Emma Kirkby sings Handel, Arne, Haydn & Mozart

Manufacturer: Decca
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The Emma Kirkby Collection
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ASIN: B000009DG1
Release Date: 1998-07-14

Tracks:

Alessandro Severo: Ouverture HWV A13 - George Frideric Handel
Britannia: Welcome Mars - George Frideric Handel
Dione: Pretty Warblers - George Frideric Handel
Hornpipe - George Frideric Handel
Rosamond: Rise, Glory, rise - George Frideric Handel
Ariodante: Ingrato Polinesso...Neghittosi or voi che fate?, HWV 33:41b - George Frideric Handel
Alcina: Credete al mio dolore, HWV 34:40 - George Frideric Handel
Alcina: Tornami a vagheggiar, HWV 34:15 - George Frideric Handel
March In D, HWV 345 - George Frideric Handel
Alexander's Feast: War, He Sung, Is Toil And Trouble, HWV 75:11 - George Frideric Handel
L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Sweet Bird, HWV 55:11-12 - George Frideric Handel
Saul: Capricious Man, HWV 53:37 - George Frideric Handel
Comus: By The Rushy-Fringed Bank - George Frideric Handel
Comus: Brightest Lady - Thrice Upon Thy Finger's Tip - George Frideric Handel
The Tempest: Where The Bee Sucks There Lurk I - George Frideric Handel

Tracks:

The Creation: With Verdure Clad - Emma Kirkby
The Creation: On Mighty Pens - Emma Kirkby
Il re pastore, K208: Aer tranquillo e di sereni - Emma Kirkby
Il re pastore, K208: L'amero, saro costante - Emma Kirkby
Voi avete un cor fedele, K217 - Emma Kirkby
Ah, lo prvidi!, K272 - Emma Kirkby
Zaide, K344: Ruhe sanft, mein holdes Leben - Emma Kirkby
Zaide, K344: Trostlos schluchzet Philomele - Emma Kirkby
Nehmt meinen Dank, ihr holden Gonner!, K383 - Emma Kirkby
Ch'io mi scordi di te?, K505 - Emma Kirkby

Customer Reviews:

All hail the Queen of Early Music!.......2004-10-27

I had the pleasure recently of attending a recital with Miss Kirkby and Fretwork, here in Houston. I had heard of her, but wasn't all too familiar with her voice. Then, I decided a couple of days before the performance that I would buy one of her discs, for her to autograph. Honestly, I chose this two-disc recital because it had a nice picture of her, with space for her to autograph!

I am happy to say that I chose what is surely one of the most pleasant soprano recitals on the market. Her voice is essentially "white," as opposed to a full operatic voice with vibrato, etc. Nonetheless, what she does with this ample selection of music, esp. Mozart, is truly incredible.

Rise, Glory, Rise, as mentioned by at least one other reviewer, is nothing short of stunning. I like the way she sings, "Bid the drum, bid the drum," with much enthusiasm. The orchestration is spectacular baroque, with the expert conducting of Hogwood, who conducts on the entire recital. (I had the pleasure to hear him conduct Ariodante here in Houston a couple of seasons back, at HGO).

Speaking of Ariodante, there is an aria from that opera, as well as other Handel arias on the first disc. Now, those of us who cut our operatic teeth on Joan Sutherland or Beverly Sills may not appreciate Emma Kirkby at first. Being used to Joan's upward transpositions, interpolated high notes, and intricate cadenzas, it took a couple of listens to appreciate Kirby's rendition of Tornami a Vagheggar. We must remember that the Sutherland and Sills interpretations took lots of liberties that Handel didn't necessarily intend!

While I do enjoy the first disc, I relish the second disc from start to end. First, there are two arias from Haydn's Creation. The orchestration is sublime, and Emma calms us with her "cooing" in the second selection. Then comes Mozart, which fills the rest of the second disc. Kirby's L'amero, Saro Costante is a miracle. To give you an example, I have heard Leontyne Price's interpretation, and had previously dismissed hte aria as a bore. Kirkby, however, sounds so sweet and virginal, so much so that you can really picture a young lady singing about fidelity. The purity and exquisiteness of Kirby's singing will melt you.

Another joy is Voi Avete Un Cor Fedele. Kirkby isn't a coloratura fanatic like our beloved Sutherland,but when she does coloratura, it is enthralling. Here, she uses rapid coloratura, a la Cecilia Bartoli, to stunning effect.

It would have been easy to choose a lot of Mozart standard arias, like Matern aller Arten. However, Emma steers clear of those chestnuts on this recital, instead treating us to lesser-known works. Just when you start to settle in the second disc, she melts you again with arias in German, from one of Mozart's lesser-known operas. The first of these three arias moved me to tears. Words simply can't express the purity of her tone, and the tender care she lavishes on the text! Beguiling, to say the least.

Finally, there is Non Temerte, Amato Bene. I first heard this aria on a recently-issued two-disc recital of Teresa Berganza. While Berganza charms us with her warm tone and vibrato, Emma Kirkby's interpretation is no less valid.

Even if you don't particularly care for the current early-music revival, any lover of the human voice and operatic arias should buy this treasurable recital.

An uplifting experience.......2002-06-05

This is not a muscial review. That would be beyond my talents. No, this is a "spiritual" review and here is the reason. I had experienced a personal tragedy and turned often to music to revive my spirits and maintain my hope that things would right themselves in my life. Works such as Hayden's "Creation," Beethoven's "Fidelio," many of Bach's cantatas, Vivaldi's "Glorias," etc. Then I bought this CD. Immediately, I couldn't get enough of it. I felt uplifted everytime I listened, and it wasn't the same track each time that gave me that small feeling of joy that only music can provide. All is well again in my life and I continue to adore listening to this CD. For me, it was, and continues to be, magical.

Mysterious Beauty.......2001-11-19

Classical music is one of the greatest joys in life. Opera on the other hand, is often too melodramatic to stomach. But there is nothing more enchanting than an Aria. On this 2 CD set, Emma Kirkby sings in sweet exultation. Her voice expresses power and agility yet a limpid tranquility. Clarity is the greatest achievement of any musician. With the aid of precision accompaniment on period instruments, shameless perfection is delivered. She soothes the soul longing for beauty. Her marvelous Soprano is rendered on 25 tracks in this eclectic ensemble. If you are a champion of Handel or a devotee of Mozart, you should not hesitate to purchase this CD. Emma Kirkby will have you beaming with delight and pining for more. Surely it will be one of the brightest of your collection.

The divine voice of Emma Kirkby.......2000-06-07

An outstanding collection of Italian, German and English arias, beautifully sung by my favourite soprano voice Emma Kirkby - the diva of renaissance and baroque music. All the arias are enchanting, especially "Rise, Glory, rise" an aria from Arne's opera "Rosamond". The conducting and playing of Christopher Hogwood and his team of period-performance specialist The Academy of Ancient Music are as always superb.These are all arias to have one wanting to go back to the complete operas. Strongly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Spirited performance of charming work
Alexander's Feast - English version
One of Handel's great works
Handel's Great "Feast" in an Impeccable Rendition

Handel: Alexander's Feast
G. F. Handel , The Sixteen , Harry Christophers , and Symphony Of Harmony And Invention
Manufacturer: Coro
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Handel: Belshazzar
George Frideric Handel: Esther

ASIN: B0007DBXJC
Release Date: 2005-03-15

Tracks:

Alexander's Feast: Overture
Alexander's Feast: 'Twas at the Royal Feast
Alexander's Feast: Happy, Happy, Happy Pair
Alexander's Feast: Timotheus plac'd on high
Harp Concerto Op.4, No.6 in B flat: Allegro
Harp Concerto Op.4, No.6 in B flat: Larghetto
Harp Concerto Op.4, No.6 in B flat: Allegro moderato
Alexander's Feast: The song began from Jove
Alexander's Feast: The list'ning Crowd
Alexander's Feast: With ravish'd Ears
Alexander's Feast: The praise of Bacchus
Alexander's Feast: Bacchus, ever fair and young
Alexander's Feast: Sooth'd with the sound
Alexander's Feast: He chose a Mournful Muse
Alexander's Feast: He sung Darus Great and Good
Alexander's Feast: With downcast Looks
Alexander's Feast: Behold Darius Great and Good
Alexander's Feast: The Mighty Master smil'd to see
Alexander's Feast: Softly sweet
Alexander's Feast: War, he sung, is Toil and Trouble
Alexander's Feast: The Many rend the Skies
Alexander's Feast: The Prince, unable to conceal
Alexander's Feast: The Many rend the Skies

Tracks:

Alexander's Feast: Now strike the Golden Lyre
Alexander's Feast: Revenge, Revenge, Timotheus cries
Alexander's Feast: Give the Vengeance due
Alexander's Feast: The Princes applaud with a furious joy
Alexander's Feast: Thais led the way
Alexander's Feast: Thus long ago
Alexander's Feast: At last Divine Cecilia came
Alexander's Feast: Let old Timotheus yield the Prize
Alexander's Feast: Let old Timotheus yield the Prize
Organ Concerto Op.4, No.1 in G minor: Larghetto e staccato
Organ Concerto Op.4, No.1 in G minor: Allegro
Organ Concerto Op.4, No.1 in G minor: Adagio
Organ Concerto Op.4, No.1 in G minor: Andante
Alexander's Feast (conclusion): Your Voices tune

Album Description

"A remarkable recording." - REPERTOIRE

The nature of Alexander's Feast is perhaps better summed up by its other title, The Power of Music. It is a celebratory ode for St. Cecilia's Day, written by Dryden in 1697 for the traditional celebration of the patron saint of music and set in celebratory style by Handel in 1736. At its first performance that year, he incorporated two delightful concertos, one for harp and one for organ, and these are included on this recording. Winner of the Deutschen Schallplattenkritic prize.

Customer Reviews:

Spirited performance of charming work.......2007-03-10

This performance of Alexander's Feast is, in my opinion, exactly right for the work; beautiful, clear voices singing the solos with good diction, a lovely balance in the small chorus, and superb playing of appropriate instruments for the piece and for the period. The notes on the flyer are also excellent, presenting the background and intention of the work.

Alexander's Feast - English version.......2006-02-26

This recording is a very complete version of Alexander's Feast, following the composer's practice of inserting other pieces to create a performance of appropriate length. Excellent soloists, orchestra, and chorus. A high quality recording.

One of Handel's great works.......2005-11-19

I just attended a live performance of Alexander's Feast and I saw many people who probably never heard anything else than Messiah, suddenly finding out that there is more to Handel than Hallelujah chorus. This music is exciting and original, you may know several arias like "War he said is toil and trouble" or "Revenge!" but it is great as a complete work. It was written for St. Cecilia's Day celebration, then re-written several times, but it remains as a beautiful example of Handel's mastery in choral composition and writing showcase arias. The soloists are great, especially Ian Partridge, and the chorus is outstanding. This is a wonderful performance of one of Handel's great works.

Handel's Great "Feast" in an Impeccable Rendition.......2005-08-22

"Alexander's Feast," Handel's 1736 setting of Dryden's ode in honor of St. Cecilia's Day (patron saint of music) is a masterpiece and a delight, but its odd length - too long for a mixed program, too short for a full evening - gave Handel trouble and apparently still presents a problem: this is at present the only recording of this inspired work in the catalogue, though some good ones have come and gone. Fortunately, this reissue of the Sixteen's 1990 version is first-rate, in fact the best I ever recall hearing, with chorus, orchestra, soloists and conductor all in top form. Furthermore, music director Harry Christophers has wisely chosen to include the two concerti - one for harp, the other for organ - that Handel inserted in his original performances. Not only do they lengthen the piece to a satisfactory 115', they serve a satisfactory dramatic purpose by representing respectively the power of music in its pagan form - the bard Timotheus's lyre represented by the harp - and Christian - Cecilia's (apocryphal) organ. Both receive sparkling interpretations here.
If you enjoy such Handel works as "L'Allegro..." and "Acis and Galatea," you will certainly enjoy "Alexander's Feast," which finds the composer in peak form, responding with eagerness to the high quality of the English verse before him. And it's hard to imagine a better way to get to know it than this wonderful performance.

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The Complete Caruso

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2004-11-09

Forbidden Broadway 2001: A Spoof Odyssey

Average customer rating:

As Always, Hilarious
Spoof Odessey worth the laughs!
better to be "Lost in Space"
Stretched Thin
Do the Math

Forbidden Broadway 2001: A Spoof Odyssey

Manufacturer: Drg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Forbidden Broadway Cleans Up Its Act!: The Unoriginal Cast Recording, Volume 5 (1998 New York Cast)
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ASIN: B0000584UL
Release Date: 2001-02-13

Tracks:

Forbidden Broadway 2001: Another Op'nin, 'Another Show
Futuristic Stewardess/Usherette: Come Fly With Me
Judi Dench: Why Can't The English?
Trouble In New Tork City: Trouble
The Music Man Revival 2001: Till There Was You
Cole Porter: You're The Top/From The Moment On
Kiss Me, Kate Revival 2001: Wunderbar
I Hate Ben - Marin Mazzie: I Hate Men
Cheryl Ladd In Annie Get Your Gun: There's No Business Like Show Business
Miss Saigon Farewell: Why God Why?
Saturday Night Fiasco: Stayin' Alive
Gwen Verdon & The Fosse Dancers: I'm A Brass Band/Steam Heat
Liza Minnelli 2001/Alan Cumming in Cabaret: Wilkommen
Let's Run Times Square Again: Let's Do the Time Warp Again
Ethel Merman & Elton John: I've Got Rhythm/Old Fashioned Wedding
Beauty's Been Decreased: Beauty And The Beast
Being Lupone: Being Alive
Sondheim's Blues: Buddy's Blues
Streisand's Farewell Tour: Happy Days Are Here Again/Mame
Les Miz 2001 - Edith Piaf/Milord
Aida - Amneris Intro: Every Story Is A Love Story/Heather Headley/It's Cheesy: Easy As Life
Elaborate Sets (Aida Cont.): Elaborate Lives
Angela Lansbury: I Don't Want To Know
The Full Monty: Let It Go
76 Hit Shows: 76 Trombones
Bows-Ta-Ta Folks: Another Op'nin, 'Another Show
Joseph And The Amazing High 'C': Any Dream Will Do

Customer Reviews:

As Always, Hilarious.......2007-05-03

This is so funny! Like all the Forbidden Broadway cds, its another knock-out. I feel like such a crazy person when I am in the car driving and I just burst out laughing. Its great and a must have for any Forbidden Broadway fan.

Spoof Odessey worth the laughs!.......2002-04-14

I enjoyed "Forbidden Broadway 2001: A Spoof Odyssey." This recording has some truly genius material, and although these actors' impersonations of famous Broadway stars aren't as strong as they have been in the past, the CD has a lot to recommend it.

Particularly strong is Track 16, "Let's do an old fashioned show tune," featuring Elton John and Ethel Merman duking it out over AIDA, which Merman says is "putting everyone here through hell." Likewise, Track 15, "Let's Ruin Times Square Again," tickles my funny bone. Also wonderful are the satires of Beauty and the Beast, Angela Lansbury, and the Full Monty; Gerard Alessandrini's done a tremendous job with these! In addition, this CD's introductory song is much stronger than those on the previous volumes of Forbidden Broadway. It really sets the tone for the best parts of this recording.

Unfortunately, with a few notable exceptions, the first half of the CD is a bit thin, which is why I give this recording 3 out of 5 stars: Even though it entertains me, there's a lot I have to skip over. For example, the Liza Minelli spoof annoying (though, I admit, a little funny), and in the Music Man revival satire, their Robert Preston impersonator sounds *nothing* like the original. (In earlier recordings, the actors *did* sound like the people they claimed to be.)

The good news is that the CD has 30 tracks in all, so even though there are 13 that I dislike, I just love the rest... I do recommend it!

better to be "Lost in Space".......2001-12-31

First and foremost, this CD is really for diehard fans of Forbidden Broadway, those of us who want the good, the bad and the ugly on the cd rack. I was extremely unimpressed with the latest offering.

While I agree with some of the other reviewers that there is some nice work, I don't know that Saturday Night Fiasco and Sondheim's Blues are sufficient to carry the rest of the tracks. Not much seems new or worse yet, important. Disney isn't new, nor is Les Miz. And while pointing out what is stale and pedestrian on Broadway was amusing on the last couple of releases, this Forbidden Broadway spoof clearly has joined the list of stale and pedestrian.

While there is some nice material on this disc, I really didn't laugh out loud, and that is why I have always bought these in the past.

If Alessandrini reduces the show to the same complaints of the same shows and then replaying lightly tweaked versions of past numbers, Trouble and Alan Cumming in Cabaret specifically, then he has himself is on the becoming a revival - and we know what he thinks of revivals.

The repeats might even be acceptable if there was something fresh in the perfomance, but both were done much better on their respective discs. I think Danny Gurwin is a great comedian, but he doesn't shine in either of these numbers. We also need a recording with no Ethel Merman or Liza numbers - give them a rest already. And why bring back Streisand with such a poor imitation? The earlier Barbara's were dead on vocal impressions as well as speech patterns. If you aren't going to improve on it, then don't drag it back out.

Alessandrini suggests that this is one of the best casts he has ever worked with. I don't know what he bases that on, but I beg to differ, either cast with Bryan Batt was significantly better, although they worked with fresh, clever material. Still, those recordings had verocious talent that brought Gerard's stinging wit to life for those of us who can't see every new production of FB.

Maybe it is time to go to off Broadway productions, or to the radio or the movies for some new ideas. Or else promise no references to the Gap, Disney, or Chorus Boys, (way over used on this recording), along with a Merman and Liza free season. Start from scratch. That might give us hope that Forbidden Broadway too might not be dead.

Stretched Thin.......2001-03-26

I just saw the stage production of Forbidden Broadway 2001: A Spoof Odyssey. I agree with the other reviewers who feel that Alessandrini is no longer at the top of his game. Perhaps he should lay off for a year or three and let Broadway present new things for him to lampoon - as it always will.

The opening sequence is forced and unfunny, and clearly in place only to batter the listener with the "2001" theme. Unlike a previous reviewer, I found the Judi Dench parody hysterical, though I question its accuracy.

The "Trouble" parody is, as it always was, incomplete and thin. My dear friend John Kenrick (...) did a better job with it - included the segments of the original song that GA left out, and in a funnier fashion. The Cole Porter parody is marginally amusing, but the Brian Mitchell/Marin Mazzie parody is dead on the mark, and VERY funny.

The parody of Cheryl Ladd remains in the show, although she's no longer in "Annie Get Your Gun" - Reba McIntyre is now in the role. Similarly, he stabs at Alan Cumming, who is no longer playing the Emcee. These numbers, while funny, lack punch. On the other hand, he once again skewers long time target Patti LuPone with an hysterical new parody of Being Alive. I suppose she's innately funnier, after all these years, than Alan Cumming, who is, after all, a relative newcomer.

The Rocky Horror parody is amusing, and the observation that sex has moved off 42nd Street and onto the Broadway stage is not without merit. The Beauty parody is amusing, and apt, but as has already been noted, GA has been clobbering us with the Disnification of Broadway for years now. I suppose he finds some glee in the fading success of this particular show.

I must say that while Gurwin is not the greatest singer, "Sondheim's Blues" is the most brilliant piece I've heard from Alessandrini in years. It's absolutely dead on. The friends I was with had never seen nor heard "Follies" and completely missed the point, but I was in stitches.

The "10 Years More" (which does not appear on this album, but remains in the show) has really begun to wear thin, especially with the closing this year of Cats and Miss Saigon. The Cameron Macintosh British mega-musicals are finally releasing their grip on Broadway, and this isn't as funny any more.

Broadway, despite the naysayers, will never die... and apparently, neither will Forbidden Broadway. I don't think it should - but I do think it needs a rest.

Do the Math.......2001-03-15

Four CDs cover the first 20 Years of Forbidden Broadway, Gerard Alessandrini's viciously witty satire of New York Theatre. The last year has seen Three new CDs, FB "Cleans Up Its Act" "20th Anniversary Edition" and now "2001 a Spoof Odyssey". Do the math.

Alessandrini is running out of ideas, and is spreading the remaining ones too thin. . Sanitized Time Square - Been there. Disnified Broadway - Done that, and so many times. Asinine casting faux pas, plotless pointless set-monster musicals, and Ethel Merman and Liza. We've heard it all before - and last time, it was funnier.

Now normally when a writer (or director or actor) has truly entertained me on numerous occasions, I'll forgive the odd show that disappoints. This would be the case here except for two things: Alessandrini is in the vicious parody business - he's never spared anyone else Besides, if he's going to actually include couplets like: "If lyrics are no longer witty... Then I don't want to go " he's inviting the pans.

When you hear the AIDA lampoon, you'll be reminded of the dim bulb in Cyrano de Bergerac who taunts the hero with the brilliant witticism: Your nose is very large

Yes, there are a few true Forbidden Broadway tracks on Spoof Odyssey. Dame Judi Dench singing "Why can't Americans do theatre like the Brits?" (with apologies to My Fair Lady), I Hate Ben (with apologies to Kiss Me Kate) and about 1/3 of "Let's Ruin Time Square Again" (no apologies necessary to Rocky Horror which understands how easy it is for good parody to go bad). Oh yes, there is one absolutely true Forbidden Broadway track: TROUBLE - yes, the same Trouble from Volume 3 which was just re-released on the 20th Anniversary compilation - and it's back again with a more hackneyed Robert Preston impersonation and all of 4 words changed. Granted it's one of the better bits, more worthy of rerunning than say, referring to Miss Saigon as Viet-Numb, but oh, he reran that gag too

Rap Music:

Rap Music

rap music

Recommended Music:

Puttin' on the Hits: The Ultimate Hitparty [Extra tracks] [Import]

Verdi: Four Sacred Pieces

Vol. 1-Hampton Hawes Trio (20 Bit Mastering) [Original recording remastered]

Music: Woman, Space and Love

Where You Wan to Be [Import]

Vibin on the Hood

We Will Know Joy-Worship Experience

Welcome to the Fold [CD-single]

Who I Am [Import]

Y Sus Inicios, Vol. 3: The Early Years

Unincorporated

Twin Smooth Snouts

Update Files [Import]

Girls of Grace

People Behave Like Ballads