Blue Skies

Amazon.com
Diana DeGarmo's is a voice--a big, melting, LeAnn Rimes-y kind of voice--in need of a sound, and on this, her debut disc, a team of experts including legendary producer Clive Davis attempts to find her one. The overall effect is a little like watching the baby faced would-be American Idol champ try on outfits at a department store: Half the time, she's riffling around the junior department, churning out angsty teen anthems (check lyrics like "I'm the one that you want/You know I'm heaven sent/I'm a little Lynyrd Skynyrd/A little 50 Cent" from "Then I Woke Up"), and the other half she's trying to find her size in the more grown-up misses racks (both "Blue Skies" and "Dreams" are drenched in an inspirational, Amy Grant-ish vibe best suited to lite FM radio). Luckily, DeGarmo's vocal derring-do saves her from seeming rudderless. The sweet, adult-leaning "Go On and Cry" proves for time eternal that 17-year-old pipes can soar, and the Idol showstopper "Don't Cry Out Loud," a cover of the Melissa Manchester classic, along with "Boy Like You" earn her instant access to the big-belter club. Blue Skies may run into clouds finding its audience, but it forecasts a clear career horizon for the talented DeGarmo. -Tammy La Gorce

Blue Skies,Diana DeGarmo,RCA,Adult Contemporary,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Teen Pop

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Blue Skies

Average customer rating: Yankee Doodle Dandy Review Yankee Doodle Dandy Amazing! Wonderful! Just buy it - you won't be sorry! What a find!! A Soundtrack Every American Should Own

Yankee Doodle Dandy Various Artists Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Yankee Doodle Dandy (Two-Disc Special Edition) George M. Cohan Tonight! Show Boat: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1951 Film) Singin' in the Rain (1952 Film Soundtrack) The Unsinkable Molly Brown ASIN: B000066RM7 Release Date: 2002-06-18

Tracks:

1. Main Title: Warner Bros. Signature/Yankee Doodle/Yankee Doodle Boy/Mary's A Grand Old Name/Off The Record - Warner Bros. Orchestra
2. Early Years Sequence: Columbia The Gem Of The Ocean/The Dancing Master/While Strolling Through The Park One Day/At A Georgia Camp Meeting - Walter Huston
3. I Was Born In Virginia - Walter Huston
4. The Warmest Baby In The Bunch - Sally Sweetland
5. Harrigan - Sally Sweetland
6. Yankee Doodle Boy - James Cagney
7. Little Johnny Jones Sequence: The Yankee Doodle Boy/Good Luck Johnny/Little Johnny Jones Special/Finale Special/All Aboard For Old Broadway/Rocket/Give My Regards To Broadway - James Cagney
8. Medley: Oh, You Wonderful Girl/Blue Skies, Gray Skies/The Belle Of The Barber's Ball - Walter Huston
9. Mary's A Grand Old Name - Sally Sweetland
10. Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway - James Cagney
11. Fay Templeton Medley: Mary's A Grand Old Name/Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway/So Long, Mary - Irene Manning
12. You're A Grand Old Flag - Walter Huston
13. Over There - Frances Langford
14. Medley: In A Kingdom Of Our Own/Love Nest/Nellie Kelly, I Love You/The Man Who Owns Broadway/Molly Malone/Billie - Frances Langford
15. Off The Record - James Cagney
16. Finale And End Cast: Over There/Yankee Doodle Boy - James Cagney
17. You Remind Me Of My Mother (Outtake) - James Cagney
18. Medley: Oh, You Wonderful Girl/Blue Skies, Gray Skies/The Belle Of The Barber's Ball (Piano Only Version) - Walter Huston
19. Give My Regards To Broadway (Rehearsal) - James Cagney
20. You're A Grand Old Flag (Rehearsal) - James Cagney

Amazon.com

When one thinks of musicals from Hollywood's golden age, the initials MGM come almost instantly to mind. Indeed when veteran song-and-dance man George M. Cohan was negotiating a film based on his colorful life story, his first choice was Metro--until a falling out with studio chief Louis B. Mayer. But L.B.'s loss eventually became Warner Brothers'--and film history's--gain when the Burbank studio's Cohan musical became a massive, patriotic hit in the opening months of World War II. As chronicled in this vibrantly restored, first-ever complete soundtrack for the film, it was a compelling twist of fate. James Cagney turns in one of the screen's most ostensibly unlikely--and ultimately indelible--musical performances (netting him his only Best Actor Oscar ^®), teaming with studio music director Roy Heindorf to update Cohan's once-quaint turn-of the-century patriotic ditties ("You're a Grand Old Flag," "Over There," "Yankee Doodle Boy") and infectious vaudevillian chestnuts ("Give My Regards to Broadway," "Harrigan") with bracing dollops of the studio's '40s orchestral sass--and, just months after Pearl Harbor, some crucial historical parallels. Also included are four bonus tracks that remarkably survived the film's preproduction, including an outtake of "You Remind Me of My Mother" and voice-and-piano-only rehearsal versions of "Give My Regards to Broadway" and "You're a Grand Old Flag" that further underscore Cagney's deceptively effortless ability to sell a song despite his limited musical gifts. It's a long overdue showcase for a true American film musical gem. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Yankee Doodle Dandy Review.......2006-11-03

It's an old movie with an old soundtrack, but I loved the movie, I love the music, and I'm very happy with my purchase.

Yankee Doodle Dandy.......2006-06-30

Excellent in black and white and color. James Cagney also got a medal from a President. (President Reagan!} If you like entertainment...this is it!

Amazing! Wonderful! Just buy it - you won't be sorry!.......2005-03-05

I am so very glad I bought this CD. I own the DVD of "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and watch it all the time, so I almost didn't buy this, wondering if I really needed yet another CD.

Well, thank God I didn't pay any attention to that dumb idea!

If you love "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and Cagney, you just have to buy this soundtrack. It's like being able to take the movie with you anywhere ... it's not just the songs - as others have said - but also includes bits of Cagney's voice-overs, even the tap-dancing from the end of "Little Johnny Jones." And since the audio system in my car is better than my TV's, it all seemed even bigger, richer and better. (George M. would love that!)

Wonderful, wonderful stuff!

What a find!!.......2003-06-15

I haven't been able to see this movie on TV since Turner bought it (don't get TCM), but if you've seen the movie several tims, as I have, listening to this CD is very nearly as good as watching it all the way through. (I'm so delighted with it that I'm even willing to forgive TCM for putting a paper ad inside with the disc.)

Monumental effort must have gone into this soundtrack, given the age of the original recordings. The tracks here are crisp, clear, and bright, with no evidence of how long ago they were first put down. The editors were also generous in their inclusion of dialogue that ties some of the tracks together (for example, we hear the man tell Johny Jones to watch for the skyrocket, then we hear the skyrocket as it leads into "Give My Regards to Broadway"). There are a couple of places where the endings are slightly abrupt but this is because, in the movie, the music fades into extended dialogue.

The only bit of dialogue I expected to hear in a song, but didn't, is in "Over There" near the very end of the film, when Cagney/Cohan has fallen in step with the soldiers going off to WWII, as they're singing "Over There", when the soldier nearest him says something like, "What's wrong, old timer, don't know the words?" and Cagney says, "Seems to me I do" and starts singing along. That's minor and pales next to how wonderful the rest of this soundtrack is.

One of the biggest treats on this CD is that we get to hear some of Cagney's tapping, notably in "Give My Regards to Broadway", "You're a Grand Old Flag", and - one of my favorite moments in movie history - when he dances down the White House stairs to "Yankee Doodle" near the end).

The outtake is not a humorous one, simply a track they decided not to use. It and the rehearsal tracks are all just the performers voices with piano accompaniment. I especially enjoyed hearing Cagney rehearsing "You're a Grand Old Flag".

If you like Cagney, if you like Cohan's music, if you like movies "the way they used to make them", or if you're not ashamed to get a little choked up with patriotism once in a while, you will not be disappointed in this CD!

A Soundtrack Every American Should Own.......2002-09-23

Finally! If you own that Hollywood Soundstage abomination of the "Yankee Doodle Dandy" soundtrack you can finally pitch it. Here is the real article. Rhino (Turner Classic Movies Music) lovingly restored the music from the beloved "Yankee Doodle Dandy" motion picture starring James Cagney. This soundtrack sounds astonishing considering it's 60 years old. It's very obvious some loving care was taken in it's production for which we all should be greatful. The liner notes also are great with informative text and wonderful photos from the movie. The marvelous George M. Cohan songs gives one goosebumps and bring tears to the eyes. We all need this type of patriotic pep rally, especially in these tough times. As I've said, this soundtrack belongs in every American's home just as much as that "Grand Old Flag"! I believe there are plans to release the movie on DVD, hopefully soon.

Average customer rating: The bluest skies you'll find F11's best to date A first time listener to Finger Eleven Deceptively complex Deep And Dark

Greyest of Blue Skies Finger Eleven Manufacturer: Wind-Up ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Post Grunge | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Tip Finger Eleven Them VS. You VS. Me Year of the Spider Saturate ASIN: B00004U38T Release Date: 2000-07-25

Tracks:

1. First Time
2. Drag You Down
3. My Carousel
4. Sick Of It All
5. For The Ocean
6. Broken Words
7. Suffocate
8. Bones + Joints
9. Famous
10. Walking In My Shoes
11. Stay And Drown

Customer Reviews:

The bluest skies you'll find.......2006-02-11

I've been a fan of Finger Eleven since I heard 'Tip' and I have to say that this is there finest album to date. I love 'Tip' as well as there latest self titled release but it's this album that really made me a fan. With the opening track "THE FIRST TIME" Finger Eleven show you they are here to stay, with Scotts haunting vocals and Rick and James burning up the guitars they present a smashing opener to their gloomiest yet most refreshing album yet. The second track "DRAG YOU DOWN" shows their heavy KoRn influence (I'm not saying they sound like KoRn but in interview Scott said that they were listening to a lot of KoRn during the recording of this album and it shows here)...I'm impressed with Rich's drumming here. "MY CAROUSEL" is the strangest song here and honestly I was not a fan upon the first listen through. The great thing about this album is that each song brings something different to the table and so when you look at it that way this is not too bad of a song selection. "SICK OF IT ALL" is a sad depressing look at drug addiction and it really shines on this album as one of the best here. The lyrics are haunting as is the riffs and the multiple voices over the bridge. "FOR THE OCEAN" was the second single and one of the more commercial songs on the album. "BROKEN WORDS" is softer and more delicate than any of the other songs here and it sounds almost like it could break at any minute...I know that may sound weird, but when you listen you'll understand. "SUFFOCATE" is a great track, very different with neat guitar work here by James. "BONES + JOINTS" as well as the Depeche Mode cover "WALKING IN MY SHOES" have a much different vibe to them and somewhat leave me a little wanting...they just don't satisfy me as so if I skip any tracks, these would be them. "FAMOUS" is just brilliant. Lyrically speacking of the downfalls to fame they shed a light on the fact that we are all human. Beautiful. This brings us to the most amazing Finger Eleven song to date, there closer "STAY AND DROWN" which is the most titilating beautiful love song, anti-love song, I have ever heard. With lyrics that cut to the soul of you I'm sure you will agree this is the best possible way to close this amazing piece of art!

F11's best to date.......2005-10-12

This album is without a doubt Finger Eleven's best studio album. I am a pretty hardcore fan of their's. I own all 3 albums, plus their album before they were called F11. And after all that music, I feel this album is their best work.

First off the album carries a feel and story that the other CDs just don't offer as well. The title, Greyest of Blue Skies, holds up well here as the album is very dark and depressing if you take the time to decypher some of the cryptic lyrics. I say cryptic because F11 has some pretty out of place lyrics at time. But its all good because the music is always good.

Its hard to pick standout tracks because honestly this is some of the best rock you'll ever hear. Do yourself a favor and get this album.

A first time listener to Finger Eleven.......2005-06-29

This is a band I didn't know at all until purchasing this album 'The Greyest of Blue Skies' through Amazon.com whilst I was look for Filter CD's. This is a rock group undoubtedly however the band has their dark moods which is interspersed within the songs of this album release. Although this CD is quite listenable and actually after 2 or 3 times in your CD player gets enjoyable. I believe this is the band's sophmore release from 2000 and I am in the process of getting their other 2 albums. 'Finger Eleven' is a Canadian band with their own unique rock sound that fuses dark melodies with intense lyrics that are somewhat mysterious. The 11 songs on this CD are listenable and each follows on the other in a somewhat natural progression. 'Drag You Down' and 'Suffocate' are the heavier songs on this CD and my songs I most enjoyed were 'For The Ocean', 'Broken Words' and 'Bones + Joints'. Fans of nu-rock and alt rock bands should enjoy this sample from Finger Eleven.

Deceptively complex.......2005-06-24

I heard the single "First Time" on an audio-only satellite tv channel in South Africa in 2001. Much to our disappointment, music like this gets extremely little airtime on local radio these days; as a result, the album was not easy to find and I had to eventually ask a local retailer to import a copy for me. But that's another (long) story for another time.

Anyway, after much arguing and abusive emails back and forth, I moved to another retailer who supplied the necessary (and offered me a job, no less!) in about 2 days. I had downloaded First Time and Suffocate from the internet before purchasing; apart from these two tracks, though, I had no idea what to expect from the remainder of the album.

It is... unique. I can't think of another word to describe it adequately. The songs all move really well; there is a fairly good mix of fast and slow material (all pretty heavy, though; even the ballads are quite dirgy) and the imagery employed throughout is captivating. What really gets me, though, is the *sound* of the album. I can't quite explain it.

There are guitars and bass and drums; that's a given, because this ia rock band. But the way it's all put together... strange sounds emanate throughout the album, linking the tracks with a kind of high-pitched siren-like flanger/phaser effect (if you have ever played with a guitar flange-effect pedal, you will know what I mean right away) and the rest of the music seems to float in from nowhere. This is very vague, I know. My point is, it's difficult to imagine exactly how the sounds are made. If you were to pick up a guitar, you'd struggle to figure out the chords to a lot of the songs on the album, let alone actually trying to mimic the sounds you heard. But at the same time, it doesn't sound hugely sampled or over-processed like a Nine Inch Nails track might, and it's not nu-metal/DJ-based sampling like Linkin Park, because there is no DJ. The guitars soar and wail and buzz, when you can make them out, and the bass sits in a bit of a holding pattern, just really thumping out a solid groove. But its the other little bits which really make it.

Having said all that, there is simultaneously a massive wall of sound and a very minimalist approach to the thing. While I can't quite figure it all out - and I got this in August 2001 - I listen to it a hell of a lot. It's a really great album.

Deep And Dark.......2005-04-03

The album start off with "First Time" a great song with an awesome and catchy beat to it. The second song "Drag You Down" is in my books the heaviest song soundwise on the record, followed by "Suffocate". A very deep and dark album, with a mysterious side to it. If you have a dark side with a mysterious side, pick up this album, you two will get along perfectly. Scott's lyrics are very dark and mysterious. A lot of his words makes me wonder. A lot of people may not know exactly what he's talking about, but that's the cool side of it, it makes you wonder. It's all up to your imagination as to what most of the lyrics are about.

Average customer rating:

Story Of Johann Strauss In Words And Music Manufacturer: Vox (Classical) ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Children's Music | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs Under $7 | Waltzes | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Waltzes | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Story Of Brahms The Story of Tchaikovsky Story Of Chopin In Words And Music Story Of Verdi In Words And Music The Story of Schubert ASIN: B000001KDD Release Date: 1995-04-16

Tracks:

1. Blue Danube Waltz
2. Die Fledermaus (The Bat): Overture
3. Pizzicato Polka
4. Singer's Joy Polka
5. Emperor Waltz
6. Vegnugungzug (Pleasure Trip)
7. Voices Of Spring
8. Vienna Blood
9. Accelerations Waltz
10. Stadt Und Land (City And Country)
11. Blue Danube Waltz
12. Roses From The South
13. Blue Danube Waltz
14. Tales From The Vienna Woods
15. Die Fledermaus: Overature
16. Die Fledermaus: Laughing Song
17. Gypsy Baron: Overature & 'Open Roads, Open Skies'
18. A Thousand And One Nights: Overature
19. Emperor Waltz
20. Blue Daube Waltz
21. Tales From The Vienna Woods (Complete)
22. Blue Danube Waltz (Complete)
23. Vienna Blood Waltz (Complete)

Average customer rating: Irving Berlin at his best Get's my vote! Jazzy and Beautiful I love it! Simply Dreadful

Kiri Sings Berlin Irving Berlin , Jonathan Tunick , Abbey Road Ensemble , and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Character Pieces | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Te Kanawa, Kiri | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Kiri Sings Gershwin Kiri Sings Porter; Dame Kiri TeKanawa Kiri Sings Kern: Dame Kiri TeKanawa Kiri Kiri! Her Greatest Hits Live ASIN: B000002RYP Release Date: 1998-01-20

Tracks:

1. Let's Face The Music And Dance
2. I Got The Sun In The Morning
3. How Deep Is The Ocean?
4. What'll I Do?
5. Blue Skies
6. It's A Lovely Day Today
7. They Say It's Wonderful
8. Say It Isn't So
9. Cheek To Cheek
10. Isn't This A Lovely Day?
11. Always
12. The Song Is Ended
13. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
14. It Only Happens When I Dance With You
15. Easter Parade

Amazon.com

After several recordings of American popular music, Te Kanawa has become a very effective crooner, phrasing with heretofore missing panache. The easy, jazzy Riddle-like arrangements are bouncy and appealing. But after 15 selections, the mysterious dissatisfaction of eating Chinese food and feeling hungry an hour later remains. Tunick writes in his program notes that "the waltz ballads ... are poignant and moving, but never stray into sentimentality." But why not? A little mushiness would serve this recording well, and also contribute to a desperately lacking variety of interpretation. Still, the voice is consistently gorgeous; it would just be nice to distinguish the happy songs from the sad. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews:

Irving Berlin at his best.......2007-06-26

Kiri's glorious voice interprets Irving Berlin masterpieces beautifully with expression and respect for these American favorites.

Get's my vote!.......2004-04-03

OK. Full disclosure: I'm one of those helpless souls who is just madly in love with the sounds that emanate from Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's vocal chords. I suppose there are many artists who can interpret Irving Berlin's songs with more, what's the word, authenticity?

And I've heard many of them, and I love their work.

But Kiri Te Kanawa is different. She was given one of the most beautiful instruments in the history of sound recordings. Thank God the recording companies figured out what they had and put her in front of a microphone early and often.

We have had a rare opportunity to experience a great artist from almost the start of her career clear through to what now must be it's final stages.

I, for one, feel privileged.

Thank you, Dame Kiri. The world is a little better place because of you.

Jazzy and Beautiful.......2002-09-01

This album exemplifies Kiri's amazing, vast dose of talent for musical interpretation. Though I tend to enjoy mostly classical music, this album has opened doors to a wonderful world of classical-jazz, which I find quite beautiful! Perhaps for some, it is an aquired taste...yet I was hooked the moment I heard track one...and have since become quite the "modern Kiri" fan!~Brava once again~

I love it!.......2002-05-14

If you like Irving Berlin and Kiri Te Kanawa you'll probably enjoy this album as much as I do!

I can imagine Nick and Nora Charles listening to this at one of Nick's favorite dives! It will transport you to a sophisticated time and place that may have never existed except in literature and debutante coming out parties.

Gatsby would have loved it, and surely would have invited Kiri to all his parties!

Simply Dreadful.......2001-01-17

Just terrible! Although her voice has mellowed and is quite beautiful, Ms Te Kanawa has absolutely no instinct or feel for this distinctly American music. She's just lost in her own peculiar Kiwi wonderland. She is not aided but what have to be some of the worst arrangements of this music ever recorded.

Her version of "What'll I do" alone earns her a place on the top ten list of abominable recordings of American music.

Average customer rating: music BARKING DOGS, WALTZING CATS, AND A RIDE WITH ROCCO! Sleigh Ride: The Best of Leroy Anderson Leroy Anderson rings a bell .. and wood blocks .. and Wonderful Lite Classical Composer

The Best of Leroy Anderson: Sleigh Ride Manufacturer: Mca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Greatest Hits The Leroy Anderson Collection Leroy Anderson Christmas Sleigh Ride! Classic Christmas Favorites The Typewriter: Leroy Anderson Favorites ASIN: B000003N4R Release Date: 1997-11-18

Tracks:

1. Blue Tango
2. The Syncopated Clock
3. Jazz Pizzicato
4. Jazz Legato
5. Plink, Plank, Plunck
6. Fiddle-Faddle
7. A Trumpeter's Lullaby
8. The Typewriter
9. The First Day Of Spring
10. Song Of The Bells
11. Summer Skies
12. Forgotten Dreams
13. The Waltzing Cat
14. Bugler's Holiday
15. Sandpaper Ballet
16. Serenata
17. Sleigh Ride
18. Arietta
19. The Golden Years
20. Clarinet Candy

Customer Reviews:

music.......2007-01-27

The CD arrived on time and was new condition. It was all i expected.

BARKING DOGS, WALTZING CATS, AND A RIDE WITH ROCCO!.......2006-12-05

Every year about this time, I like to add some new Christmas related item to my collection of Ammyland Reviews, Lists, or Guides. This year it was between reviewing The Jingle Dogs album, where they bark holiday favorites, or THE BEST OF LEROY ANDERSON, where the composer conducts his own miniature orchestral compositions, including the classic version of his original instrumental, SLEIGH RIDE. If you're reading this, then you already know that the annoying canines got the boot. And they ran all the way to the Spring of 2007 with their tails between their legs. "And don't come back! Shut them dawgs up, April!"

OK, where were we? Oh, yeah: It was in December of 1996 when I kept hearing this particular instrumental version of Sleigh Ride played on the radio station I listened to every day while delivering fresh squeezed organic juice to a grocery store or health food store near you. This was the most imaginative, briskly paced, and snowy version of Sleigh Ride I'd ever heard: the horses were clip-clopping, the whip was cracking, and I was bundled up warmly with a lovely lady friend at my side in this imaginary Santa suit-red sleigh polished to a high sheen after twelve coats of wax and a Laurie Partridge in a pear tree. (Yeah, I know I get a little carried away, but what are ya gonna do?)

Soon I was obsessed with that musical piece. "Who does THAT version, Mr. DJ Man? Who does it?" Finally, on the thirteenth day of Christmas, my DJ said to me, "That was Sleigh Ride - Leroy Anderson." I was about to yell at the radio, "I know it was Sleigh Ride, and my name's not Leroy Anderson!" when all of a sudden, the light bulb lit up above my head... in the same moment that the light bar on the police car behind me lit up. (When the cop finally managed to catch up to me, he found me at the counter of my local music store, paying for a copy of THE BEST OF LEROY ANDERSON.)

To this day, my four favorite instrumentals of all-time are MOONLIGHT SERENADE; THE TRUTH WILL ALWAYS BE; BUMPIN' ON SUNSET; and SLEIGH RIDE. But not just any version of Sleigh Ride. No! It must be THIS recording, the one found on THIS disc, conducted by Anderson himself. I believe that Anderson may have recorded Sleigh Ride more than once, but THIS 1950 version is the one you want. Hey, would I lie to you about something so important this late in the season, and risk finding only lumps of coal in my stocking again?

Of course, there's other "stuffs" here that you might like also. As the informative liner notes say, "Many of these pieces have become part of the musical fabric of American life. Most everyone knows one or more of his tunes, though they may not know the name of the composer [*It's Leroy Anderson, remember?*] or even the title of the composition." For instance, there's BLUE TANGO, the first instrumental piece ever to sell over one million copies. And THE SYNCOPATED CLOCK, used as the theme for "The Late Show" on WCBS-TV in New York for over 25 years.

Anderson was incredibly imaginative and he composed each piece almost completely in his head. He stated, "When I'm making something up I never play a melody on the piano, because your fingers are used to falling into familiar patterns. You don't give your imagination free rein that way. In other words, your fingers are holding you back." I find his brief musical pieces to be very evocative. For instance, when I hear SUMMER SKIES, in my mind I seem to see images of Lee Remick romping in a bathing suit at the beach as if in a black and white montage from some classic movie of the 1950s. Or when I hear THE WALTZING CAT, I always seem to imagine a cat waltzing in my mind. THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING always makes me think of the first day of Spring ("Shut them dawgs up, April!"), and FORGOTTEN DREAMS always reminds me of... hmmm... I forget. But anyway, SLEIGH RIDE takes me for a ride in a sleigh in my wintry mind. And just how imaginative WAS Leroy Anderson? Get this! He composed Sleigh Ride during a 1948 July heat wave in Woodbury, Connecticut! OK? Uh-huh. That's what I'M talkin' `bout! So, what else ya wanna know?

For me, Christmas season begins the day after Thanksgiving every year, when I pull out my copy of THE BEST OF LEROY ANDERSON and blast the one piece of music that says "Christmas" to me like no other Christmas song does - this 1950 recording of Sleigh Ride. And I usually play the song at least once a day up through and including the 25th of December. Then I put the compact disc away for another year (after all, who really wants to hear about a waltzing cat? I mean really?!) Get into the swing of the Holiday spirit with THE BEST OF LEROY ANDERSON. Otherwise, I may just have to send Rocco over there to take you for a little (sleigh) ride... if you catch my (snow)drift.

Sleigh Ride: The Best of Leroy Anderson.......2006-03-09

Excellent CD. Got here very quickly.

Leroy Anderson rings a bell .. and wood blocks .. and .......2006-02-01

I have been a fan of Leroy Anderson ever since I played his music in middle school band in the 1950's. His classics were very inventive: imitating a typewriter (remember those?), a cat on a piano, a sleigh ride with bells and whips cracking, bugle calls, and so much more, most of it composed for highlighting specific instruments: trumpet, wood block, sandpaper block, pizzicato violin. Anderson is truly an accomplished, American composer. In this CD he conducts his own compositions. And the CD insert also taught me more about Anderson, the man, and his involvement with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Buy it, read it, and listen to it.

Wonderful Lite Classical Composer.......2005-09-23

Leroy Anderson was one of the best Lite Classical American Composers of the mid 20th Century and this CD won't dissappoint you. Taken from original recordings that Anderson conducted you'll hear the orchestrations as he wanted them to be heard. There's a mix of familiar and unfamiliar pieces that are all satisfying to listen to.

Average customer rating: WONDERFULL The kind of voice to give you goose bumps! Surprised...didn't even look when it debuted.. little baby doll A Funtastic Pop Album!

Blue Skies Diana DeGarmo Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Teen Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Some Hearts One Love Dreams / Don't Cry Out Loud / I Believe American Idol Season 2: All Time Classic American Love Songs American Idol season 3: Greatest Soul Classics ASIN: B0003035EK Release Date: 2004-12-07

Tracks:

1. Cardboard Castles
2. Blue Skies
3. Emotional
4. Then I Woke Up
5. All I Ever Wanted
6. Go On And Cry
7. The Difference In Me
8. Till You Want Me
9. Dreams
10. Boy Like You
11. Dream, Dream, Dream
12. Don't Cry Out Loud

Amazon.com

Diana DeGarmo's is a voice--a big, melting, LeAnn Rimes-y kind of voice--in need of a sound, and on this, her debut disc, a team of experts including legendary producer Clive Davis attempts to find her one. The overall effect is a little like watching the baby faced would-be American Idol champ try on outfits at a department store: Half the time, she's riffling around the junior department, churning out angsty teen anthems (check lyrics like "I'm the one that you want/You know I'm heaven sent/I'm a little Lynyrd Skynyrd/A little 50 Cent" from "Then I Woke Up"), and the other half she's trying to find her size in the more grown-up misses racks (both "Blue Skies" and "Dreams" are drenched in an inspirational, Amy Grant-ish vibe best suited to lite FM radio). Luckily, DeGarmo's vocal derring-do saves her from seeming rudderless. The sweet, adult-leaning "Go On and Cry" proves for time eternal that 17-year-old pipes can soar, and the Idol showstopper "Don't Cry Out Loud," a cover of the Melissa Manchester classic, along with "Boy Like You" earn her instant access to the big-belter club. Blue Skies may run into clouds finding its audience, but it forecasts a clear career horizon for the talented DeGarmo. -Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

WONDERFULL.......2007-01-02

THIS GIRL SHOULD OF WON.DIANA IS A GREAT SINGER I LOVE HER CD!!! EVEN IF IT DEBUTE AT NUMBA #51 IN THE BILLBOARD IT DOSENT MEAN IT'S A BAD CD THIS CD IS VERY GOOD AT LEAST SHE CAME IN #2ND PLACE IN AMERICAN IDOL SHE IS A GREAT SINGER!!

The kind of voice to give you goose bumps!.......2006-11-07

I have become an avid follower of the idol groups since its inception a couple of years back. Scouting for new talent becomes easy when you have this kind of competition on the go. Diana Degarmo has an absolutely stunning vocal ability. My favorite song is "don't cry out loud" which I believe she sang in the competition as well. I orginally heard this track done by Shirley Bassey a very heavy and almost dramatic rendition. Diana gives this song wings. She has an amazing vocal range and the produciton and arrangement on this album is first class. I highly recomend this to people looking for a combination of superior quality and great vocal talent.

Surprised...didn't even look when it debuted.........2006-09-03

I didn't give this young girl much credence when she came in second to Fantasia (wasn't really into Tasia, either.) Since I have been searching Clay ( my ultimate Idol) for his new "Without You" I have had to "endure" all the other Idol contestants. I was behind a bunch of them, but didn't pay much attention to Diana. Since I have listened to all of them on IdolWaves, I have come to just love Diana's stylings. I don't think anyone gave her much of a chance. Check her out...she has some very good cuts on this album. You go, Diana...love Kathy4clay from Wyoming, but willing to give you a chance.!!!!!

little baby doll.......2006-07-16

this is just ok I have listened to all the idols and I go way back to connie francis these people are just ok I heard a singer yesterday that really struck a note in my heart katharine mcphee thats more like it:

A Funtastic Pop Album!.......2006-07-02

This album is fantastic with all fun-catchy pop tunes. Diana DeGarmo's vocals are next to excellent, she delivers just the perfect blend on that was needed on this album. the 1st song "Carboard Castle" became an instant hit for me and the best way to start on the album. "Dreams" was a very nice ballad, that clearly expressed her vocal range towards the end. "Boy Like You" was a fun pop song to listen to and it'll have you singing along, as well as like so many of the other songs too. My favorite track on the album was "Dream, Dream, Dream" I LOVED this song, it just came out to become the best track for me on the album. Overall, I do highly recommend this album for anyone who enjoys listening to pop music and it's one of the best albums I've heard. I heard that she went into the broadway showbiz and I was really hoping that she would come out with a second album, she's such a talented artist and should continue pursuing in music.

Average customer rating: Listening is a singable thing..... Absolute brilliance A wonderful mix of lively, contemplative, and mellow tunes. Amazing Exceeded my expectations

Blue Skies Bryan Duncan Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Christian Rap | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Mercy Slow Revival The Last Time I Was Here Love Takes Time Quiet Prayers ASIN: B000002BTM Release Date: 1997-02-18

Tracks:

1. Blue Skies
2. Turnin'
3. After This Day Is Gone
4. One Touch Away
5. Dying To Meet You
6. A Whisper Heard Around The World
7. No Greater Love
8. Tell Me Where You Are
9. Joy Is A Singable Thing
10. Take Another Look At Me
11. Take Heart

Amazon.com

Let's get one thing straight: Bryan Duncan sure can belt out a song. On Blue Skies, the soulful and evocative Duncan showcases a powerhouse vocal talent second to none in the contemporary Christian music market. This pleasant album carries a mix of ballads, uptempo boogie, and jazz-fusion pop. "A Whisper Heard Around the World" captures Duncan's footloose and fancy-free style as he breezes through a fun-loving, feel-good romp of a tune. "After This Day Is Gone" and "Dying to Meet You" are quieter offerings, but still give a nod to Duncan's excellent vocal command, something he's exhibited throughout his lengthy career. Kudos to producer Dan Posthuma for arranging a group of fine Nashville session players to support a quality talent like Duncan. --Michael Lyttle

Customer Reviews:

Listening is a singable thing............2003-06-18

One of the best, and in my opinion most underrated, voices in Christian music is Bryan Duncan. His voice can make even the worst lyrics worth listening to. Luckily for us, the lyrics on this album are outstanding.

This 1997 release works not just because of his voice or the lyrics, but also because you can tell that he has poured his heart into it. Listen to "Dying To Meet You" and "A Whisper Heard Around The World" and you will understand what I mean.

In addition to soulful songs, Bryan Duncan also shows us how much fun he can have singing, as evidenced in "Joy Is A Singable Thing." I have always enjoyed listening to him when he sings songs like this one.

For fans of Christian radio, "After This Day Is Gone" will be instantly recognizable to you, especially since it still receives a decent amount of airplay these days.

Every Bryan Duncan album is one worth getting, and this one is certainly no different.

Absolute brilliance.......1999-05-11

This CD is music at its best; poetry. I have listened to it countless times (ever since my dad got it 3 or so years ago). Apart from the song Joy is a Singable Thing (which is, by the way, better than some other band's hit single), it is all endlessly relistenable. Buy it if you ever liked good music.

A wonderful mix of lively, contemplative, and mellow tunes........1999-05-03

This CD is definitely a keeper. Bryan's soulful voice is best demonstrated on the mellow tunes. "Dying to Meet You" is a wonderful song that makes you think of the day when we will finally get to meet our Lord, but the play on words makes the song even better. "No Greater Love" is also a great tune with a meaninful message. The final cut, "Take Heart" is a beautiful song of hope and grace for those with a troubled heart. In between the slow songs are a mix of up-tempo tunes and Bryan's rich, clear voice is featured effectively. A beautiful CD--just buy it!

Amazing.......1998-09-20

This CD is both touching and very beautiful. It is very worth having. I was at a Bryan concert last night and when he sang some of the songs from Blue Skies it gave me chills. You need this album!

Exceeded my expectations.......1998-08-23

When this CD was given to me, I was'nt expecting much. But I thought I would give it a chance. WOW! Bryan's music is rich and soulful, yet light. Not religiously overbearing, what I usually expect from christian music artists. His title cut "Blue Skies" is very uplifting. His melodies and voice are addicting. I am now a Bryan Duncan fan!

Average customer rating: If you like great musicals you'll love this!

Puttin' on the Ritz: The Great Hollywood Musicals The Singing Hoosiers Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Porter | Porter, Cole | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Stade, Frederica von | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Hadley, Jerry | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Gershwin, George | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Kern, Jerome | H to L | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Berlin, Irving | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Rodgers, Richard | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Lerner & Loewe Songbook for Orchestra Rodgers & Hammerstein: Songbook for Orchestra (Orchestral Suites) Rodgers & Hammerstein - The Complete Overtures ~ Opening Night / Hollywood Bowl Orchestra · Mauceri Beautiful Hollywood Bond and Beyond ASIN: B000003D05 Release Date: 1995-09-26

Tracks:

1. That's Entertainment
2. Blue Skies
3. Cheek To Cheek
4. Puttin' On The Ritz
5. Over The Rainbow
6. Forty-Second Street
7. Singin' In The Rain
8. Lover
9. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
10. The Continental
11. They Can't Take That Away From Me
12. I've Got you Under My Skin
13. On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe
14. A Fine Romance
15. Thanks For The Memory
16. Lullaby Of Broadway

Customer Reviews:

If you like great musicals you'll love this!.......2007-03-20

Eric Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops have done it again. This is a spectacular collection. It makes you feel like getting dressed up with a lot of glitz and glam and going dancing. Though I must admit that Fredrica Von Stade's rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" will definitely touch your heart.

Average customer rating:

Blue Skies Floyd Cramer Manufacturer: Ranwood Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Nashville Sound | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Forever in Love Piano Magic of Floyd Cramer Collector's Series The Piano Magic, Vol. 2 Piano Masterpieces (1900-1975) ASIN: B000000BBI Release Date: 1997-02-18

Tracks:

1. Let It Be Me
2. Put A Little Love In Your Heart
3. Love Me Tender
4. The Last Farewell
5. Love Story
6. Bridge Over Troubled Water
7. Green Green Grass Of Home
8. I Love You Because
9. Always On My Mind
10. It Makes No Difference Now
11. It Was Almost Like A Song
12. Blue Skies

Average customer rating: Just As Profound As Jimi Hendrix!!! Not as "revelating" as it could have been Imagination with Hendrix runs wild!!! Well worth getting.

The String Quartet Tribute to Jimi Hendrix Manufacturer: Vitamin Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Guitar | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Tributes | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: String Quartet Tribute to Led Zeppelin The String Quartet Tribute to the Beatles String Quartet Tribute to Pink Floyd The String Quartet Tribute to Queen The String Quartet Tribute to Pink Floyd's the Dark Side of the Moon ASIN: B0000DIJSB Release Date: 2003-11-04

Tracks:

1. Stone Free
2. Purple Haze
3. Manic Depression
4. Third Stone From The Sun
5. Bold As Love
6. Foxey Lady
7. Hey Joe
8. Up From The Skies
9. Little Wing
10. The Wind Cries Mary
11. Castles Made Of Sand
12. Blue Sunrise (Original Composition)

Product Description

1. Stone Free
2. Purple Haze
3. Manic Depression
4. Third Stone From The Sun
5. Bold As Love
6. Foxey Lady
7. Hey Joe
8. Up From The Skies
9. Little Wing
10. The Wind Cries Mary
11. Castles Made Of Sand
12. Blue Sunrise (original composition)

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

Just As Profound As Jimi Hendrix!!!.......2005-09-13

WARNING! YOU MAY FIND THIS REVIEW TO HAVE SOME SPOILERS--I HIGHLY RECCOMEND YOU LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM!!!

Believe it or not, this album is truly a masterpiece! It was very maturely, and innovatively done, and will be appreciated by both lovers of classical and Jimi Hendrix (and, of course, good music!) It is by far one of the greatest albums I've ever listened to. The album is a mix of acoustic and electric string instruments (traditional, no adulterating guitar) and it has a very classical/asian sound overall. The whole album has a very full, robust, bassy tone, unlike the Led Zeppelin tribute (which sucks! Both of them--DON'T SUBJECT YOURSELF TO THEM!) which is all-acoustic and nothing but weak, squeaky, violin. This album has both cello and double bass (bowed, of course) I believe. Their are three highlights, and they are:

1.) Third Stone From the Sun
2.) Bold As Love
3.) Castles Made of Sand

Third Stone From the Sun is, by far, the most classical sounding, and, at the same time, mind-blowing, track (it will leave you in a stupor). The original track, which is largely trippy sound-effects, is rendered well. This is also, without question, the most electric track on the album, as, not long into the song, there emerges an unreal slur of distortion from the bowed electric instruments...sigh...and what a glorious ending...

Let's move on to my next favorite...Bold As Love...

This track immediately follows Third Stone (that track placement is just beautiful!) Throughout the song, there's one guy in the backround who, as my friend described it, is just sawing away on the violin. Eventually it bursts into a screeching electric solo. The rendition of the "fireworks" ending is not only note-for-note, but the sound is bent and distorted exactly the way it is in the original. It's the icing on top of the cake my friends, and it's a real treat!

Castle's Made of Sand is, as are the previous two, amazing. It has a very unique, asian-sound to it. Everything is adapted, including the psychedelic intro and outro (and it just sounds so mind-bending when done on the violin!) It sounds like they're using an esraj or dilruba (two exotic, unconventional indian instruments, which are like bowed sitars--both are very similar to each other) for the little solo in the middle and on the five/ten second intro/outro. It's definitely not a violin, and it sounds very, very asian. They also add a little twist to the end by hitting the notes really high (you'll hear what I'm talking about!)

Those are, in my opinion, the three most profound adaptations. That's not to say the others aren't! They extend Little Wing, making it almost six minutes long--adding some really warped string effects! There's a cry-baby violin at the end of up-from the skies. Stone Free is definitely one of the heaviest (sounds like someone's striking and bowing the the electric cello or double-bass every few seconds in the backround!), especially with the elctric violin solo!

I do, however, have one bone to pick. Manic Depression was completely changed! They took away the sound and made it sound like some tribal Native American dance--which isn't bad, but it's not upbeat like the original. I wish they'd done as good a job on this song as they did the others as it's one of my top picks for Hendrix songs. Don't be afraid of this album, it's not a disgrace to Jimi Hendrix. The opposite in fact. It's worth your money, and it deserves five big stars. It's surprisingly unpopular, which is a shame...Ironicaly I didn't even buy this album. A guy I knew burned it for me, but I like it so much that I'm gonna order it tonight! Heh. Well, happy listening!

(...)

Not as "revelating" as it could have been.......2005-07-02

If you go through the series of String Quartet tributes to various artists you really wonder if the compiler was a psycho, there is no logic at all, one would expect either giving more relevance to intrinsic artistic value or simply choosing the most successful artists in a hope to sell well. On the contrary you have a random selection which leave you bemused. However, there are a few interesting ones and by this I mean when the sheer beauty of the songs should be matched, one thinks, by the adaptability to a String Quartet format. The Jimi Hendrix one was obviously one of the more interesting on paper, if only to prove once again that he wasn't merely the greatest rock guitar of all times but also a rather dignified musician who could have given the world other masterpieces had he not succumbed to excessive drug use. Especially interesting for those familiar with the relatively famous jazz "treatment" given to some of his songs by Gil Evans, an experiment in some cases very successful. The problem with both is that, of course, you can't help but miss Jimi's guitar and you are sometimes frustrated by thinking what could have been The String Quartet WITH Jimi Hendrix or, in the other case, what were like the endless jams that Jimi played with John McLaughlin or what could have been the much-talked collaboration with Miles Davis. But I'm beating about the bush, so to talk about this album I'll just say that the choice of tracks is inevitably good, even if I resent the absence of any tracks from Electric Ladyland, that the playing is good and at times inspired, that the songs that translate better are the ones originally less centered around Jimi's solo (the standout for me is Bold as love) and that the arrangements are a little bit sedate. All in all, not a must for Jimi's fans but a tasteful addition to a slim discography (that is if you take out the posthumous albums).

Imagination with Hendrix runs wild!!! Well worth getting........2004-05-24

If your like me, your music tastes run the gamut. I can listen to opera, jazz, funk, rap and then rock without missing a beat. I just plain love music.

I especially love Jimi Hendrix. I saw this CD in a used bin and I thought I'd give it a whirl. Wow. This isnt some warmed over version of Jimi's music. It is a string quartet interpretation of Jimi's music. While an ardent fan will of course recognize the songs, my friends who have not been, ahem, musically educated think that this is a new classical album. When they are confronted with his Jiminess they are surprised and often pleasantly so.

Highlights for me include "Manic Depression", "Purple Haze" and "The Wind Cries Mary (I think the it is the standout track)."
Overall, if you like classical music, and Jimi Hendrix, I think you will like this collection. It is imaginative to say the least, and stands as a fine work of classical style art. Also, it confirms to me that Jimi Hendrix was a fine music composer who stands with the all time greats!

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1. Book of Shadows [Original recording remastered]
2. Bows + Arrows
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4. Chicken Skin Music
5. Conjure One [Limited Edition]
6. Crazy World of Arthur Brown [Import]
7. Desireless
8. Duke [Original recording remastered]
9. Going for the One [Original recording remastered]
10. Grace Like Rain

Rap Music

rap music

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