Strangers

NME
"…it’s the best of his career." (8 out of 10)

Product Description
The critically acclaimed new album by the Mercury Prize nominee. Includes US only bonus track.

Strangers

Strangers,Ed Harcourt,Astralwerks / Emd,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,Alternative Pop/Rock,Chamber Pop,England,Indie Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter

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Strangers

Average customer rating: A great new Artist. Newhouse News Review

Letters from Sinners & Strangers Eilen Jewell Manufacturer: Signature Sounds ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Country Folk | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Boundary County Translated From Love Balls Your Town Tonight Diamonds in the Dark ASIN: B000R348AI Release Date: 2007-07-17

Tracks:

1. Rich Man's World
2. Dusty Boxcar Wall
3. High Shelf Booze
4. Thanks a Lot
5. Heartache Boulevard
6. Too Hot To Sleep
7. Where They Never Say Your Name
8. How Long
9. In the End
10. If You Catch Me Sleeping
11. Walking Down the Line
12. Blue Highway

Amazon.com

It's hard to tell where the traditional ends and the original begins in the music of Eilen Jewell, a sweet-voiced young singer who steeps her material in the hard times of old, reviving the stories and musical styles of the Depression. On her own "Rich Man's World," she casts herself as a "lonely rambler girl" while conjuring comparisons with Gillian Welch. Another original, "In the End," sounds uncannily like Lucinda Williams, while a revival of Eric Andersen's train-hopping "Dusty Boxcar Wall" and the double-entendre blues of the traditional "If You Catch Me Stealing" reinforce the sense of Jewell as a musical throwback to a time before she was born. Yet there are timeless pleasures here as well: a bittersweet reading of Charlie Rich's "Thanks a Lot," an understated, harmony-laden rendition of Bob Dylan's "Walking Down the Line," the sultry cantina twang of her original "Too Hot to Sleep." When the musical arrangements aren't generic Hot Club and the songs seem more like role-playing, Jewell sounds like a singer with enough promise to develop her own identity. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

A great new Artist........2007-07-26

This could be my favorite new CD this year.Eilen (rhymes with feelin') Jewell combines folk, country ,Bluegrass and Pop yet manages to have her on unique style. She in part Madeleine Peyroux, part Kelly Willis but all Eilen Jewell. The songs are top notch, not a bad cut. She takes an old Johnny Cash Sun cut, "Thanks a Lot" and puts such a fresh coat of paint on it that it took me a few listens to recognize it. There are a couple of other outstanding covers, Eric Andersen's "Dusty box car wall" and Dylan's "Walking down the line" In both cases she makes them her own. However it's the originals that really shine. "Rich Man's world", In the end", "too hot to sleep", as I said, not a bad tune in the 12. I especially like "High shelf Booze" which would not have been out of place on an early Emmylou Harris" album. A terific CD!

Newhouse News Review .......2007-07-24

Eilen Jewell's first name rhymes with "feelin'," and there's little doubt that she'll leave listeners hooked on that feeling from listening to her smooth heartache songs, most sung in a drawl that's occasionally reminiscent of Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch.

"Letters from Sinners and Strangers" is primarily comprised of originals, along with a few notable exceptions including a standout, harmony-filled version of Bob Dylan's "Walkin' Down the Line" and a tasty take of Eric Anderson's "Dusty Boxcar Wall."

Yet Jewell sounds most at ease working against some jazz-textured fiddle and guitar work in the red hot "Heartache Boulevard;" going retro-country on the upbeat "Rich Man's World;" singing wondrously in the Williams' flavored "In The End;" or getting into a blues mood on "Where They Never Say Your Name."

She's got a great band working with her throughout the album, especially guitarist Jerry Miller and violinist Daniel Kellar. This one is first-rate from start to finish from an artist whose star is on the rise.

Average customer rating: A MUST for Ryan Adams Aficionados Ryan Adams & company shine - blows away his solo work! wintertime is the only time Other stuff to check out Heartbreak in widescreen

Strangers Almanac Whiskeytown Manufacturer: Outpost Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Country | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Faithless Street Pneumonia Heartbreaker Jacksonville City Nights Easy Tiger ASIN: B000002RBZ Release Date: 1997-07-29

Tracks:

1. Inn Town
2. Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight
3. Yesterday's News
4. 16 Days
5. Everything I Do
6. Houses On The Hill
7. Turn Around
8. Dancing With The Women At The Bar
9. Waiting To Derail
10. Avenues
11. Losering
12. Somebody Remembers The Rose
13. Not Home Anymore

Amazon.com essential recording

Strangers Almanac first grabs you because it sounds so great. It's filled with dynamic performances that smolder moodily, then flare quickly into firestorms of twangy and soulful guitar rock that fuse Uncle Tupelo with the Stones, the Replacements, with Gram Parsons. But what makes this album essential are the songs of frontman Ryan Adams. Take "Houses On The Hill," about a man merely going through a box of old letters: in just two verses, and to a melody that's the definition of bittersweet, Adams relates a drama more rich in detail than most novels. One of '97's best albums. --David Cantwell

Customer Reviews:

A MUST for Ryan Adams Aficionados.......2006-12-18

I've never been a Country music fan, more like a Hater, if truth be known, therefore, was hestitant to lay out the big bucks for a Whiskeytown CD. However, since Ryan Adams has never recorded a piece of music that doesn't speak to some part of me, I gritted my teeth and ordered "Strangers Almanac". SA must have set the whole alt country listening community on it's collective ear; I've never heard anything like it. Brilliant, provocative, ground-breaking, genius - this band of musicians play their hearts and souls out. My especial favs are "Yesterday's News" just a heart-twister of a song; "Turn Around" and, for it's originality and grace, "Somebody Remembers The Rose". Just buy it, shut up and listen. Betcha can't stop. (Ryan Adams was 22 and writing songs on the back of takeout pizza boxes at the time)

Ryan Adams & company shine - blows away his solo work!.......2006-11-02

I discovered Ryan Adams's solo work a few years ago and only recently began listening to his earlier work with Whiskeytown. I enjoy most of his solo albums, some better than others. I saw him in Baltimore at the infamous Meyerhoff show in 2005 where he was absolutely horrendous. However, on Strangers Almanac, he, Caitlin, and the entire band are wonderful.

My first Whiskeytown purchase was Faithless Street, another fantastic album in its own right. At first listen to Strangers Almanac, I didn't think it was as good. However, overtime, I changed my opinion entirely; this one certainly tops Faithless Street.

The low-key, somewhat somber opening track "In Town" conjures images of returning home to a small town after being away for whatever reason (college, military, etc), reconnecting with old friends, and realizing quickly nothing has changed, but you still call it "home". The fiddle on the track definitely sets the mode. "Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart" is a strong honky-tonk influenced broken heart type of song (thus the title ). Here, the slide guitar carries the track. I like this version much more than the bonus track version on Faithless Street.

While the album is dominated by that signature Alt-Country sound, there are some serious rockers on here, like "Yesterday's News" and "Losering". "Everything I Do" has a great blues feel to it. I love the story told in "House on the Hill" - it plays like a great short story that you've read in high school literature class. "Dancing With the Women at the Bar" has the sound and feel of a prequel to "When the Stars Go Blue" on Adam's "Gold" solo disk. If I had to pick one and only one favorite track on the album, it would be "Not Home Anymore", which closes out the album, with its sadness and desperation, building to a climatic crescendo and leaves the listener only wanting more.

There isn't a weak track on the album and the CD never tires. It easily makes it into my rotation every week or so. So, while I may not pay to see Ryan in concert after my Baltimore experience, I will still continue to listen to and love his music, especially when my mood matches his somber and sad songwriting. I highly recommend, you won't be disappointed!

wintertime is the only time.......2006-07-02

this is easily one of the best albums produced in the 20th century. who puts almanac in the title of a record? this really changed my life and taste in music- if it were possible to wear out a CD, then that's what woulda happened the winter I got this back in 97 or 98. problem is, now I just can't listen to it in warm weather, it's incongruous with the attitude the album has to me.

Other stuff to check out.......2006-06-21

I am a huge fan of alt-country, roots rock, Americana or whatever you wanna call it. This is a classic in the genre. Here are some lesser known albums in the genre that are fantastic.
1) End Of The Day by The Reivers
2) Idiots by Frog Holler
3) Banjos and Sunshine by Sixty Acres

Heartbreak in widescreen.......2006-04-03

The soaring steel guitar figure which opens "Excuse Me If I Break My Own Heart Tonight" is THE definitive alt.country riff of all time--for me, anyway. It doesn't get any better than this song. Desperation, awe, anguish, love, and a resolve to communicate to the other person that what they're doing is a tremendous mistake--all delivered in the form of a song that, musically, sweeps you up, propells you along, and makes you catch your breath. A fully realized vision. The rest of the album's pretty great, too.

Average customer rating: Is it Schenker or the Hand of the Lord? Schenker's showcase UFO at their best Holds up perfect after almost 30 years Simply one of the best

Strangers in the Night UFO Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Live Albums | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Classic Rock | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Lights Out Live and Dangerous Force It Phenomenon Obsession ASIN: B00000JPYQ Release Date: 1999-08-10

Tracks:

1. Hot 'N' Ready
2. Cherry
3. Let It Roll
4. Love To Love
5. Natural Thing
6. Out In The Street
7. Only You Can Rock Me
8. Mother Mary
9. This Kids
10. Doctor Doctor
11. I'm A Loser
12. Lights Out
13. Rock Bottom
14. Too Hot To Handle
15. Shoot Shoot

Customer Reviews:

Is it Schenker or the Hand of the Lord?.......2007-06-06

Schenker's playing on this record is as good as any music anywhere. The four killer tracks are This Kids, Love to Love, Lights Out, and Rock Bottom. Every now and again, Schenker seems to tap into the divine, and when he does, he's untouchable - as here. But also see Walk on Water, Adventures of the Imagination, The Odd Trio, and Endless Jam Continues. He is just as good now as he was then.

Schenker's showcase.......2007-06-02

One of the finest, if not THE finest array of live recordings ever created. If there were ever a live album that pinpoints the pinnacle of a band's career, this is it. After hearing this, it is difficult to imagine UFO without Michael Schenker. The album showcases most of the classic UFO songs well known to fans in extended form, with some additions since the original release in '79. However, the star of the show here is Schenker, whose flying V is on fire with each solo. For example, check out the guitar work on "Rock Bottom". This is intense stuff...not for the faint of heart. Highly recommended.

UFO at their best.......2007-05-06

This CD is worth twice the price just for "Rock Bottom! Michael Schenker must have been temporarily possessed during his lead solo on this song. I have this release on vinyl, can't wait to hear it with the clarity of CD. If you can only fit one UFO album (CD) in your collection, please make it this one. On this release, not only do you hear the songs, but you feel them. That doesn't happen very often. Must have been magic in the air that night (or nights) it was recorded. I would suggest you sweep your floor before you listen to "Rock Bottom" so your jaw doesn't get dirty when it drops.

Holds up perfect after almost 30 years.......2007-03-11

By the ratings most people give here I guess I am NOT the only one who knows how great this album is. I do not think it is THE greatest live album, The Who Live at Leeds is in my opinion the best rock album live or studio. But that takes nothing away from this beautiful masterpeice. The ironic thing is I have never liked this genra of music. I never cared for Kiss, Nugent, AC/DC,Def Leppard,Van Halen, or hair metal, which it seems UFO helped pioneer. But there is something about this album that greatly exceeds expectations. The simple answer would seem to be Micheal Schenker. I am not a fan of his other projects, so it must be the sum of the whole band. The songs themselves stand on their own, but are sizzling in this live disc. It has the best collection of guitar solos that are not pretentious, but melodic, and keep with the song structure. I do feel the crowd noises are juiced up at times, and that can be a slight annoyance. I read it was supposedly done with no overdubs, but in "Only You Can Rock Me" Phil Mogg seems to sing over himself in the final chorus, so that is a dubious claim. I bought the album when it came out in my senior year, and my metal head bro-in-law bought me the CD 10 years later. It is the only one he ever gave me I kept.

Simply one of the best.......2007-02-16

The epidome of hard rock. A capturing of an era at its very very best.
Wasn't always good with the studio work, kind of dry for me.
If you only own one UFO cd, this is it bar none.

Average customer rating: Excellent CD A Respectable Comeback Love My Perfect Stanger My Favorite Purple Disc A Milestone!

Perfect Strangers Deep Purple Manufacturer: Island / Mercury ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | British Isles | Europe | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | British Isles | Europe | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classic Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Hard Rock & Metal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 International | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The House of Blue Light Who Do We Think We Are In Rock: 25th Anniversary (UK) Come Taste the Band Burn ASIN: B00000JBFW Release Date: 1999-06-22

Tracks:

1. Knocking At Your Back Door
2. Under The Gun
3. Nobody's Home
4. Mean Streak
5. Perfect Strangers
6. A Gypsy's Kiss
7. Wasted Sunsets
8. Hungry Daze
9. Not Responsible
10. Son Of Alerik

Customer Reviews:

Excellent CD.......2007-06-16

Perfect Strangers is the perfect CD. There is not a single track that I skip over on this CD and that is rare for me. The entire CD is classic. The sound is superb, the musicianship is tight and the CD simply rocks. If you like classic rock, get your hands on this CD. It will be worth it to you and you will have a hard time taking it out of the CD player.

Rock on

A Respectable Comeback.......2007-05-27

I remember waiting for this album like waiting for Xmas; And while only a handful of tracks could be considered 'classic Deep Purple', every song is solid, and all the players are in fine form. Blackmore is his usual unusual self, complete with angular, odd-scales, blues flurries, and his trademark, stinging vibrato; Ian sounds right at home, and the band just seems to follow close behind. This has been recently remastered(I don't know about the paticular version I'm reviewing, but I know it's out there...), so it sounds even better. And for being close to 25 years old, it still sounds great to me. A good CD to introduce younger listeners to these guys...it's old, but not that old.

Love My Perfect Stanger .......2007-01-13

I love this cd so much. I recommend that anyone who likes Deep Purple pick up a copy.

My Favorite Purple Disc.......2007-01-11

This album brings back a lot of memories for me. A friend of mine and I took a driving trip from Michigan to New Orleans shortly after this album came out, and it was constantly on our playlist during the drive. By 1984 many people had pretty much written Deep Purple off. They had not released an album as a band since 1975. Blackmore formed Rainbow, Gillian had his own band as well as a stint with Black Sabbath, and Glover and Paice had joined Whitsnake. Deep Purple had effectively dropped off the radar. "Perfect Strangers" would see the return of the mark II lineup of Glover, Blackmore, Gillian, Lord, and Paice and would prove to be one hell of a comeback. Personally this is my all time favorite Deep Purple album. Every song is great, the music is a perfect mix of the classic purple sound with an updated (for its time) contemporary feel. Two big AOR hits came from the album, the opener "Knocking At Your Back Door" and the title track "Perfect Strangers" Both songs rank with the best the band has ever done in fact the song "Perfect Strangers" is one of the best songs of the 80's in my book. The rest of the album is all great too. "Wasted Sunsets" is a ballad that Ian Gillian just kills. His voice is perfect for the song as he does what he does best belting it out. "Hungry Daze" is a rocking look back at the band's history and a look forward to their future. "Under The Gun", "Nobody's Home", "Mean Streak" "Gypsy's Kiss" and "Not Responsible" are all excellent as well. I got to see the band on this tour and the show was as good as the album. Sadly Deep Purple would follow "Perfect Strangers" with the lousy "House Of Blue Doors" which was a huge letdown after this one, and would be the last album from the mark II version of the band.

A Milestone!.......2006-12-11

Should you ever meet someone who's ranting about "the eighties" and the supposedly "bad" music of that decade... just put on this GREAT record!
The songs are well crafted, perfectly recorded and the whole album is absolutely NOT "trendy". With that I mean that you could never tell it was made in 1984. Clearly you can spot it's not from the seventies... but listening back to it, NOW, I notice how it hasn't aged a bit!
...and it features the most classic lineup of the band!
You just couldn't ask for more!! ;-)

Average customer rating: The Versatile Yo-Yo Ma Not for the average listener A thoroughly enjoyable trip through Central Asia and a few other places. Silk Road Journey A Detailed Review From A Non-expert Music Lover

Silk Road Journeys: When Strangers Meet Yo-Yo Ma , and Silk Road Ensemble Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon The Silk Road: A Musical Caravan Obrigado Brazil Soul of the Tango: The Music of Astor Piazzolla Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone ASIN: B0000641CG Release Date: 2002-04-16

Tracks:

1. Mongolian Traditional longsong
2. Legend of Herlen (Byambasuren Sharav)
3. "Blue Little Flower" (Chinese Traditional)
4. "Mido Mountain" (Chinese Traditional)
5. Moon over Guan Mountain (Zhao Jiping)
6. "Miero vuotti uutta kuuta" from Five Finnish Folk Songs (Michio Mamiya)
7. "Joiku" from Five Finnish Folk Songs (Michio Mamiya)
8. Avaz-e Dashti (Persian Traditional)
9. Habil-Sayagy (In Habil's Style) for cello and prepared piano (Franghiz Ali-Zadeh)
10. Blue as the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur (Kayhan Kalhor)
11. Chi passa per'sta strada (Filippo Azzaiolo)
12. Desert Capriccio (Music from the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon/Tan Dun) (Bonus Track)

Amazon.com

This disc introduces Yo-Yo Ma's latest and most ambitious adventure, the Silk Road Project. It explores the cultures that flourished along the Silk Road, the ancient trade route that for centuries connected Europe and the East. Founded by Ma in 1998, the project aims to create connections, mutual trust, and cultural interchange between people from different parts of the world through their only shared language: music.

This recording includes music from Mongolia, China, Persia, Japan, Iran, Azerbaijan, and an improvisation on an Italian Renaissance street song, performed by musicians from all those countries, as well as America, on both Eastern and Western instruments. Ma, who participates in every piece either as soloist or part of the ensemble, plays cello and a Mongolian "horse-head fiddle." There is also a Mongolian soprano, who sings a traditional song native to her region. For the uninitiated Western listener, the music requires some getting used to. Much of it is based on rhythmic ostinatos. The melodies use Oriental scales; the intonation is untempered; the music seems all color, texture, and atmosphere, without what might be called themes; and repetition takes the place of development. Contrast is achieved through sudden change, buildup by adding instruments. However, the music is often beautiful, delicate, dreamy, or peaceful; every listener will find his or her own favorite pieces. The playing is splendid, with much inventive improvisation. Inevitably, Ma's tone and personality stand out, but he never dominates in fact or spirit. The booklet offers essays by Ma and the project's musicologist, Theodore Levin, photographs of the players, and drawings of the Eastern instruments. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

The Versatile Yo-Yo Ma .......2007-07-24

Since returning from a trip to China, I have become very interested in the music and the entire culture and history of the Far East. To an American, it seems like such an exotic and mysterious world. Given the formidable languages and the vastness of it all, I can only say that I can only hope to acquire a superficial understanding.

As always, the versatile Yo-Yo Ma is quite soulful and technically brilliant in his musical exploration of the "Silk Road". The music, to me, captures the feeling of Asia. The liner notes are very educational in providing a context to the project.

I find Asian music to be very different from our "Western" traditions, but given time and an even chance, I think that you will find this CD to be very nice and enjoyable.

Not for the average listener.......2007-03-20

I was going to give it 2 stars, but then again i only listened to it once.
I was looking forward to this, but the music is plodding in many parts,
like a dreary symphony. There are fine moments, but I was looking for something a bit more accesible, rhymic, and lyrical. This is a mixed bag that seems to miss more often than hit.

A thoroughly enjoyable trip through Central Asia and a few other places........2007-03-15

I have just added this to my musical library and am enjoying it. From the first beat of the first note of Khongozurl's long song you are transported to central Asia - the land of horses and gers. Of all the pieces I was most interested in listening to the second piece - Legend of Herlen. This to me, was the real silk road. The morin khuur has a very rich and unusual tone that made we want to listen to the it over and over again. Each piece is different and reminds one of the many parts that make up the whole of central asia's culture be it music or diesel trucks competing for road space with camels. The music captures the variety that makes up the region. The Finnish Folksong tracks are a nice touch. I have a friend who was at a trade conference and met a man from Mongolia. Neither could talk to one another until they discovered a common language - Finnish! My friend's family is Finnish and his new Mongolian friend had lived for several years in Finland where he learned enough of the language to communicate. Listening to the Finnish Folksongs reminds me of the Finnish-Mongolian connection that my friend had described. It is a nice touch and complements the other pieces very well. Please don't neglect to read the information insert as this gives a wealth of information on the music and it's origins as well as some of the difficulties experienced by western players playing traditional middle Asian musical instruments. Ma's difficulties with his instrument are particularly interesing to read. The concludig track - Desert Capriccio is a very nice ending to a very rich musical experince. The music from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the perfect ending to this trip through central Asia. I highly recommend this CD to everyone.

Silk Road Journey.......2007-02-19

I saw a performance of the Silk Road Ensemble and was absolutely enthralled. So I bought the CD. But it was a big disappointment. It's not the type of music you can comfortably listen to in your living room - I'm sure it would be much more enjoyable in a concert hall. There was far too much that just sounded like "screeching" to me. However, some of the pieces that were much like what we heard at the performance were beautiful. So - a mixed review, but I disliked more than I liked.

A Detailed Review From A Non-expert Music Lover.......2007-01-12

In this review I will give my opinion on each of the 12 selections in this CD, and will also talk about some general themes related to the title "The Silk Road Project".

To anyone who has heard of the Silk Road in Ancient China, the title of this CD immediately brings up images of exotic peoples and their cultures in your mind. I think Yo-Yo Ma's efforts in creating such a culturally diversified recording are definitely welcomed in this era of globalization.

But after listening through this CD I felt that something was missing from the selections. One of the most important areas on the Silk Road is the Uyghur region in northwestern China. Their music is quite unique. Inclusion of their music in this CD would be really interesting. Also in this CD not all of the selections are chosen from those regions directly related to the Silk Road. So I guess the title is just a metaphor of "when strangers meet", but is not directly about the cultures along the Silk Road.

Now I will review each of the selections.

1. Mongolian Traditional Long Song

I am somewhat familiar with their culture and land. So to me this song is very beautiful and enchanting. One of the most important factors in conducting any cross-cultural communications is context! You really cannot take it out of context. The Mongolian Long Song might sound monotonous and drawling to a person who is more used to the Western tradition of chant, choral, or opera music. Yet if you know the traditional nomadic lifestyle of the Mongolian people on the vast rolling greens of the Mongolian grassland embellished with winding creeks and rivers, you would probably hear such long-singing voices reverberating between the green of the grass and the blue of the sky. The Mongolian people have some of the most beautiful songs that I know of.

2. Legend of Herlen

There are probably two broad categories of non-western ethnic musics. One is the authentic folksong tradition of the people, the other is westernized works composed by westernized local musicians. I guess Legend of Herlen might fall into the second category. It has some interesting tunes in it. But the overall listening experience is too dramatic. I guess the dynamics used in this piece might even go beyond the ppp and fff. In the Mongolian traditional music, dynamics are sometimes used quite dramatically, with sharp difference between two adjacent notes or phrases. So this piece here is probably not very surprising. Nonetheless I find it a little too dramatic, sometimes even disturbing. Again I am not familiar with the background of this piece, so that might explain the unusual drama.

3. Blue Little Flower

I am not sure what fusion should really sound like. But in this piece it does seem to me that a lot of musical traditions are intertwined in it: western music, Chinese folksong from Shaanxi, and probably Iranian or Indian drums. Somehow the only part of this song that I liked is the beginning line. It's very beautiful and delicate, reminding me of the theme music from the Couching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. But it is westernized, not authentic Chinese folksong. If this is still not a problem, then the drum used in this piece does cause a lot of funny effects. The drum sounds so distinctive and it represents some of the central or western Asia cultures. The images such drum beats conjure up are very incompatible with this northwestern Chinese folksong. So in this piece there are at least three threads: western, Chinese, and Iranian/Indian (I am not sure which one). But they do not converge. There is also the funny part of the singing included in this piece. It is out of place and unnecessary. The singing itself is just too frivolous to me.

4. Mido Mountain

I like this piece, especially the part played by the Sheng. Again there are some elements that sound a little bit too foreign to me, especially the percussion part. They use the same percussion/drum in this piece as in the previous one. But the overall effect of the arrangement does sound authentic and pleasant to me.

5. Moon Over Guan Mountains

If you know that Zhao Jiping is famous for his scores for films, you will probably understand this piece better. But of course understanding does not mean you will like it. This piece falls into the second category that I described above. For a lot of non-Western countries, the influence of western music is definitely immense. Many local composers are trained in both the western tradition and the local tradition. But there is probably a general feeling among composers in these countries that western music is richer in theory and methods. Many of these composers will use themes from folk songs to compose westernized music. I will give this piece a B+. It does include some themes from northwestern China, which sound really unique. As I said in this CD there is no selection from the Uyghur region in China, this piece might make up for that, since some of the themes seem to me to be from that region. But this piece is still too dramatic too, like a film score.

6. Five Finnish Folksongs No. 3

I love this one! The theme melody is so beautiful, and maybe a little bit nostalgic, and maybe a little bit romantic also? But this piece is straightly western music. There is nothing ethnic about it.

7. Five Finnish Folksongs No.5

This one is ok, but not very impressive. The overall structure of this piece sounds like very loose. There is not memorable melody either. But it does not have the maddening drama like in the two pieces I have just talked about. This is good.

8. Avaz-e Dashti
I am not familiar with Persian music. But there are indeed some very Persian melodies in this piece. The instruments used in this piece are all traditional Persian instruments. Maybe this is why it sounds so authentic to me. I like the haunting, floating tunes in this piece. They sound very ethereal to me.

9. Habil-Sayagy

Again this piece falls into the second category like the Legend of Herlen and Moon Over Guan Mountains. Such music is probably interesting to the performers, since they can let loose their inner floodgate of emotions and resort to pure artistic connections. But the problem for such music is that they are just too dramatic, and it's really hard to understand them without fairly good knowledge of the context and their unique cultural backgrounds. I am sure all these three pieces might sound profound, meaningful, and artistic once we know the cultural backgrounds better. But for the general listener, they are too abstract and too emotionally charged. Another problem for such western-traditional combination pure art form of music is that tradition might be distorted and represented in the wrong way.

10. Blue as the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur

I like this one better that the previous one, especially the middle part beginning at around 5 min 30 sec into the music. The melody is quite unique, and memorable. The bassline is very interesting too. It conjures up the image of merchants traveling on camel back through the desert. The pulse of the bass sounds like the steps of camels walking. One the instruments used, I am not sure which one, santur or kemancheh, is quite successful in bringing out the authenticity of the music style.

11. Chi passa per'sta strada

This one has the same problem as the Blue Little Flower: it does not sound like anything! It is not Italian, nor is it Iranian, nor Chinese, nor anything else. What is it? Who knows. The ethnicity of world music is tied to their unique musical instruments closely. I remember there was one year the Chinese traditional orchestra had a New Year's Concert at Vienna, and when they played the Radetzky March at the end of the concert, I was quite unimpressed.

12. Desert Capriccio

Tan Dun is similar to the composers I mentioned above like Zhao Jiping. Tan's music is unique and interesting to both western and Chinese audience, because of the same thing: they are both unfamiliar with Tan's music. To the Chinese audience, his music sounds western, but to the Western audience, his music sounds exotic. Nonetheless I still like some of this music, like the Couching Tiger and Hidden Dragon. Some of the melodies are really great. Again this piece makes up for the lack of Uyghur music in this album, since the "desert" in this piece is in the Uyghur region. But the music is not Uyghur at all.

There you have it. That's all for my detailed review of this CD. I would give it a B+ for its efforts and some of the really good tunes. As I am not an expert, I might be wrong in many of the points that I make in this review. So feel free to comment on my review.

Average customer rating: Absolutely amazing A pleasure from beginning to End Great singer, songwriter & pianist Late to the party A must have CD!

Warm Strangers Vienna Teng Manufacturer: Virt Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Chamber Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Waking Hour Dreaming Through the Noise Corrinne May Safe in a Crazy World Undiscovered Gems ASIN: B0000ZMHBU Release Date: 2004-02-24

Tracks:

1. Feather Moon
2. Harbor
3. Hope on Fire
4. Shine
5. Mission Street
6. My Medea
7. Shasta (Carrie's Song)
8. Homecoming (Walter's Song)
9. Anna Rose
10. Passage
11. The Atheist Christmas Carol
12. [Untitled Hidden Track]

Album Description

It's not unusual to see someone leave her high tech job these days to seek out new adventures. But how many of them wind up performing on the "Late Show with David Letterman" less than six months later?
By the time San Francisco-based singer/songwriter/pianist Vienna Teng, 26, quit her full-time software engineering job at Cisco Systems in 2002, she had signed with independent label Virt Records and was preparing for her full-length CD release, "Waking Hour." She was soon opening for such artists as Shawn Colvin and Joan Osborne. With her graceful melodies and evocative lyrics, Vienna has garnered critical acclaim and a rapidly growing legion of fans throughout the world.
Vienna has returned with her sophomore release, "Warm Strangers," a diverse collection of lush, melodic songs, incorporating Vienna's classical background and folk sensibilities within a contemporary pop framework. Whereas "Waking Hour," written during the high school and college years, was mostly autobiographical, "Warm Stranger"s marks Vienna's bold leap into fiction. Orchestral and acoustic landscapes, using everything from string quartets to slide guitars, provide an inviting sonic backdrop for her short stories of love, death, struggle and hope.

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely amazing.......2007-05-29

My favorite CD out of her three. "Harbor" has always been my favorite song, and the rest of her CD is amazingly strong and graceful. There is even a hidden Chinese song at the end of her CD!

My favorites from this CD are "Harbor", the hidden track, "My Medea", "Passage" and "The Atheist Christmas Carol"

A pleasure from beginning to End.......2007-02-22

Let me start this review off by saying that I am not a big pop fan at this point in my life. That is, I listen and play more jazz that I do pop stuff. That being said, I try to keep my ears open. A friend recently gave Teng's third CD, which captured my attention, so I went back for more. This 2nd CD is even better than her third. The songs are well written, the production is at the right scale, meaning it doesn't overshadow her understated style, and the sound of the recording is quite lovely. Her lyrics are intelligent but not deliberately oblique. There is absolutely nothing about this record that sounds the least bit self conscious or mannered. This is in a word, the work of a natural artist who has already found her sound. Amazingly, she was only about 26 when she made this recording.

This is music to live with. At first one listens to the sound of her voice and her picture perfect piano accompaniments. Then the stories reveal themselves. Teng is a skillful story teller and a very adept songwriter. Some of it reminds me a little of early Joni Mitchell, but not enough to label her as derivative. It appears as if Teng is an important new talent, and I for one am looking forward to watching her develop into the major musical force she is already showing signs of maturing into.

Great singer, songwriter & pianist.......2007-02-12

If you are looking for some great personal music, look no further. I disovered her by accidentially changing to some obscure channel. I was hooked instantly. Her music is very mesmerizing. In many respects, she reminds me of Tori Amos. Her voice and piano playing is incredible, but her songs seem more accessable. Both CD's are equally good.

Late to the party.......2007-02-04

OK...so, I don't know where I've been, but I recently got this album and it's amazing. Crystal clean vocals....interesting lyrics....great songs. I'm blown away how good this is. Why isn't this girl as big as Tori Amos or Kate Bush? Feather Moon starts the album out somber and slow, but then it picks up with Harbor and Hope On Fire...and it just gets better from there. If you like good music, buy this one. Better late than never!

A must have CD!.......2007-01-21

I never tire of listening to Vienna Teng's music, and this compilation of her songs is great. 'Safe Harbor' is my absolute favorite, but all of her songs are wonderful. She is so talented! You will not be sorry you bought this incredible CD.

Average customer rating: New territory for Melissa Ferrick comes roaring back with a winner

In the Eyes of Strangers Melissa Ferrick Manufacturer: Right on Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Willing to Wait Freedom The Other Side Long Night Moon Despite Our Differences ASIN: B000IONKVO Release Date: 2006-10-24

Tracks:

1. Never Give Up
2. Inside
3. Everything You Get
4. Closer
5. One Year
6. Stuck
7. Rest Now
8. Miss LIberty
9. Easy
10. Come on Life
11. It's Been a Long Time

Album Description

The sixth release on Melissa's own Right On Records, this disc maintains all of the passion of previous Ferrick albums, yet is infused with a new invigorated sense of urgency. Produced by Ethan Allen (Throwing Muses, Patty Griffin) the album's all-star cast of musicians include Daren Hahn, Julie Wolf, Tegan Quin, Erin McKeown, Natalia Zukerman and Rachael Davis. The emotional honesty of her lyrics, the force of her vocal delivery and the disciplined fury of her musicianship all come together on this disc to create her strongest release to date.

Customer Reviews:

New territory for Melissa.......2007-01-11

This is not the old Melissa Ferrick...but change is not a bad thing. After all, who wants the same thing for dinner every night? Her talent as a guitarist and singer still shines through on every song. The songs are richer in musical depth than past efforts, with the same insightful lyrics Melissa always delivers.

Ferrick comes roaring back with a winner.......2006-10-27

After a two-year hiatus of touring and falling in love, Melissa has returned with an album which rivals "Freedom" for passion and intensity. But guess what, fans? This time she's got a band! Yep, that's right, on In The Eyes of Strangers, Melissa has fully developed her inner rock stars and expanded her usual folk-rock sound to include the keyboards of Julie Wolf and the pulsing drums of Daren Hahn. To me, each Ferrick album sounds like shadowy blueprints for her impassioned live sound, but with this record, she created something which truly stands on its own with, dare I say, a pop rock sound. I'll take you through it, track by track.

Never Give Up: In a perfect world, this would be a single for Melissa; it's got a very catchy rhythm. This track is light, peppy and free, and beautifully sets the tone for the record. Natalia Zukerman accompanies on dobro and Tegan (of Tegan and Sara) provides backup vocals. 5/5

Inside: Formerly a charged but acoustic song, this song is fully reinvented with organ and that marvelous drumming. Listen to the brief organ interlude near the end of the track and prepare to be enraptured.

Everything You Get: Erin McKeown provides a fun electric guitar part on this track, but Melissa's vocals are at the forefront. Julie provides "poolymoog keyboard bass" and "clavinet, grand piano". I have no idea what a polymoog keyboard bass but it sure sounds cool. The chorus is joyous, with Melissa questioning "nothing is wrong, maybe that's what it is."

Closer: This one also would fit beautifully on radio. The guitar part is catchy and carefree; I think of this song as "Everything I Need" but more grown up. Backing up Melissa's guitar is Julie Wolf on piano. Remember in "E-mail" how Melissa sang "the journey is the destination"? Well, with this track, you actually believe she means it as she sings "with every little bang i get closer" to success, to happiness, whatever; it's up to you judge. The point is that this song reveals a peace within Melissa, a renewed confidence and motivation.

One Year: A beautifully, purely happy song celebrating her one year anniversary with her girlfriend. Melissa sings her own backup vocals on this song. Another happy chorus (I'm sensing a pattern here) as she sings "you have my heart and nothing is gonna get in our way". This is the most pure love song I've ever heard from Melissa. Gorgeous.

Stuck: Julie's hammond B3 provides flavor to this song. Stuck actually remains pretty close to its live acoustic version, but she sings it with renewed focus. Julie's hammond lends extra emphasis to the chorus that the guitar alone couldn't give.

Rest Now: This is probably my favorite song after Inside. It's a beautiful tribute to Chris Whitley and also provides the album title in the lyrics "In the eyes of strangers we will recognize our own hotel vast horizons". Again, drums and hammond give weight and drive to this song. Melissa's feelings shine through beautifully here, given more pizazz by the added instrumentation.

Miss Liberty: Wow. Just wow. A searing cover of Dayna Kurtz's song, Melissa's version is a full on jazz/blues rock sensation. It starts soft, and by the middle she's almost screaming as she says "you leave me broken like a spine / split open like a melon that's been dropped from a high high place". The lyrics are superbly fitting as Melissa completely inhabits this song. Julie's organ and Daren Hahn's drums provide a truly thrilling dramatic conclusion to this intense, wonderful song.

Easy: Here the guitar is at the forefront, as Melissa sings with the lyrics with that same sense of inner peace. Live, this song used to sound a little bitter; now it appears she's accepted the past and moved on.

Come On Life: A songlet without a chorus, this song somehow sounds complete now, as Melissa has fleshed out the lyrics. This one pulls back on all the instruments, which leads perfectly into the acoustic It's Been a Long Time.

It's Been a Long Time: As the last track and the only solely acoustic track, this song provides a telling insight into Melissa's state of mind as she suffered from exhaustation earlier in the year and was forced to take a break from touring. In concert, she said, "This is for me, but it's also for you. Thanks for waiting." It's only fitting that the track is last, as it is the most insightful glimpse into Melissa's journey as an independent artist. Particularly insightful are the lyrics, "I can't remember when all this running started/ But it took about 8 years for something in me to slip / I gave all I could give / And then I just kept giving ... my body had up and left". If you listen closely, you can hear a faint tapping in the background, as I assume Melissa keeps time as she sings this song seated. It annoyed me at first, but is now oddly endearing.

To sum up my novel, if you've never experienced Melissa Ferrick, this is the perfect introduction. It's the rockiest album she's ever made, and, in my opinion, it's the best.

Average customer rating: I only listen to it unintentionally... A wonderful cd ........... This album will creep up on you After Only a Few Listens Hmmmmmmm

Comfort of Strangers Beth Orton Manufacturer: Astralwerks ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Folk | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Similar Items: Fox Confessor Brings the Flood Eye To The Telescope The Believer Pass in Time: The Definitive Collection Black Cadillac ASIN: B000CBSHK2 Release Date: 2006-02-07

Tracks:

1. Worms
2. Conceived
3. Comfort Of Strangers
4. Heartland Truckstop
5. Shadow Of A Doubt
6. Safe In Your Arms
7. Countenance
8. Rectify
9. Feral Children
10. Shopping Trolley
11. A Place Aside
12. Absinthe
13. Heart Of Soul
14. Pieces Of Sky

Amazon.com

Few vocalists equal the expressive subtlety of Beth Orton, whose fourth album is both her most musically spare and artistically complex to date. Not only does the production and backing by Jim O'Rourke (known for his work with Sonic Youth and Wilco) capture Orton's vocal style at its most unstudied and unvarnished, the lack of embellishment focuses all the more attention on her songwriting. From the jazzy phrasing on the deceptively jaunty "Worms" through the haunting "Feral" and the amazing grace of the closing, hymnlike "Pieces of Sky," Orton's songs give voice to the sort of knotty, prickly emotions that are as hard to define as they are deeply felt. Most of the musical dynamic features piano or guitar over an elemental, insistent rhythm section, making the coloring of an occasional string section ("Conceived"), harmonica ("Absinthe"), or accordion ("Safe in Your Arms") all the more striking. As an indication of the emotional range of this musical minimalism, the title cut is soothing enough to please fans of Norah Jones, while "Heartlandstruckstop" is as edgy as Patti Smith. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

I only listen to it unintentionally..........2007-04-30

Comfort of Strangers sits next to all my other Beth Orton albums in my iTunes playlist (Trailer Park, Central Reservation, Daybreaker), and it never gets listened to unless I do a listen-through of Central Reservation and then forget to switch to something else once Comfort of Strangers follows. Despite multiple listens, these songs are just not growing on me in the way that all of Orton's other albums that I own did. Even Daybreaker, which I found originally to not be as captivating as Central Reservation, is well-loved by this point.

A wonderful cd ..................2007-03-04

I've listened to this cd 3 times now, and each time I take away a little bit more. To me, this is an excellent cd, with many exceptional tracks. My favorites are Rectify, Conceive, Comfort of Strangers, Shopping Trolley and Heart of Soul.

These tracks are expressive and compelling, to me. And her voice really works on them. I'll have to go back and give worms another try, since the song doesn't do much for me as of this writing. I really love the vulnerability in her voice, though for some it comes across as whiny. Not for me. I think she's great, and I'm really enjoying her more organic style.

This album will creep up on you.......2007-01-18

I got this album from a friend who told me that it was one of those albums that had really gotten under his skin, and that I had to listen to it a few times to give it a chance. I liked some of the songs right off: worms, place aside, safe in your arms; I was definitely prone to skipping around a lot. As I kept listening, though, I started to see new things in almost all of the songs and the album as a whole really started to get to me. Her lyrics are incredible, phrasing things that I had felt but hadn't been able to articulate, and she has a particular way of emphasizing the important things with subtle vocal changes, like the repeated lines at the end of pieces of sky: "there's so many people who need to know that you're still with them even when they don't know" and her voice rises and almost cracks on the 'you're'. In contrast to the sort of numb feel of the rest of the song, it highlights the desperate attempt to accept that it's over and time to move on. I find myself doing that a lot with this album, analyzing little things...and I recommend it to pretty much anyone who likes that kind of thing, especially someone trying to come to terms with their own complicated relationship issues (which, really, is most people).

After Only a Few Listens.......2007-01-10

This release has the typical melancholy sound that Beth Orton is known for and if you are looking for that quintesential mellow mood, this is your music. I have only listened to the entire CD twice, but my initial opinion is that it doesn't have much diversity of style. The songs sound very much the same and do not venture into the more experimental style of songs found on some of her other releases. That said, I will continue to listen to it because often it takes many more times through before a CD grows on a person. It is a nice alternative to the mainstream pop music which draws the listener in with a catchy beat and simplistic lyrics. This latest release, along with almost all of Beth Orton's music can never be accused of that. Her music forces the listener to focus on the lyrics which are often symbolic and her flat key segway doesn't allow you to drift away. This release continues that tradition. It may not be the CD I would recommend for those not familiar with Beth Orton's music but it carries enough interest for fans of Beth's music that I say it's worth a listen.

Hmmmmmmm.......2006-11-28

I'm sorry Beth but your voice gets on my nerves. Cheer up and stop whining. I have listened to 3 of your albums 3 times and tried to give you the benefit of the doubt. It's 3 strikes now and you are out of my collection and into a bottom drawer.

Average customer rating: wonderful! Don't Go to Strangers/Softly as I Leave You The Greatest Torch Singer! Track listing Another re-release that needed to be released!

Don't Go to Strangers/Softly As I Leave You Eydie Gorme Manufacturer: Gl Music Co. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Latin Pop | Latin Music | Styles | Music Bolero | Latin Music | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Best of Eydie Gorme We Got Us/Eydie & Steve Sing the Golden Hits Canta en Español Since I Fell for You Silver Screen Songs ASIN: B00009PA0W Release Date: 2004-06-08

Tracks:

1. How About Me?
2. What's New
3. What Did I Have That I Don't Have
4. I'll Be Around
5. If He Walked into My Life
6. Don't Go to Strangers
7. I Wish You Love
8. How Did He Look
9. I Wanna Be Around
10. Tell Him I Said Hello
11. When He Leaves You
12. Glad to Be Unhappy
13. You've Changed
14. For All We Know
15. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
16. What Is a Woman
17. Softly, As I Leave You
18. All Alone
19. Don't Worry 'Bout Me
20. Guess I Should Have Loved Him More
21. What's Good About Goodbye

Customer Reviews:

wonderful!.......2007-05-13

Eydie Gorme is the original queen of the "torch song." Forget Barbara Streisand (who is also great)--this is the real thing!

Don't Go to Strangers/Softly as I Leave You.......2007-04-26

The performance of Ms. Gorme in just one of the songs ( I want to be around ) is worth the 5 stars for the CD. The orchestration and sound is spectacular!

The Greatest Torch Singer!.......2007-04-11

My long playing record of Don't go To Strangers got lost and all I had was a sorry tape that I had tried to record. I pestered everyone about putting the tape on a CD but no one obliged. How thrilled do you think I was when I found her album among your CD's!? I am so thrilled with my CD of Eydie and I even got a bonus of Softly AS I Leave You on the same CD. I searched high and low to find this and now I have it. It is a true treasure to hear Eydie belt out all those great songs. Thanks, Amazon!

Track listing.......2006-01-05

1. How About Me
2. What's New
3. What Did I Have That I Don't Have
4. I'll Be Around
5. If He Walked into My Life
6. Don't Go to Strangers
7. I Wish You Love
8. How Did He Look
9. I Wanna Be Around
10. Tell Him I Said Hello
11. When He Leaves You
12. Glad to Be Unhappy
13. You've Changed
14. For All We Know
15. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
16. What Is a Woman
17. Softly, As I Leave You
18. All Alone
19. Don't Worry 'Bout Me
20. Guess I Should Have Loved Him More
21. What's Good About Goodbye

Another re-release that needed to be released!.......2005-11-07

My Father bought the "SOFTLY AS I LEAVE YOU" & "GREATEST HITS" albums on vinyl a long time ago back in the 60's and it somehow managed to survive in good shape. Later, I myself bought the "DON'T GO TO STRANGERS" album from a used vinyl store and was fairly happy with how these albums sounded on my Linn Turntable. WOW! When I heard these GL Music remasters on my Linn CD12, I could not believe the difference! (And this from a guy who usually finds the vinyl version sounds better.) An absolute must have, for not only Eydie Gorme fans, but ESPECIALLY all the people who think "WHAT'S NEW" is an album by Linda Ronstadt. The smooth soothing relaxing sound of these Eydie Gorme versions will make you forget about ever listening to the Linda Ronstadt versions again. Both of these albums are again one of MY ALL TIME FAVORITES in my collection.

Average customer rating: love songs easy to listen too This is an oldie but a goodie! Great for boring candlelight dinner or quick ride in an elevator. Beautiful music A Valentine's Day Gift for all time

Placido Domingo: A Love Until The End Of Time Ken Hirsch , Jule Styne , John & Paul McCartney Lennon , Consuelo Velazquez , John Denver , Andrew Lloyd Webber , Richard Rodgers , Henry Mancini , Johnny Mercer , Armando Manzanero , and Maureen McGovern Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Lecuona | Lecuona, Ernesto | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mancini | Mancini, Henry | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Domingo, Placido | ( D ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Bernstein, Leonard | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Holdridge, Lee | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Lecuona, Ernesto | ( L ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Mancini, Henry | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Rodgers, Richard | ( R ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Domingo, Placido | ( D ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Perhaps Love The Domingo Songbook Very Best of 100 years of Mariachi De Mi Alma Latina, Vol. 2 ASIN: B0000026H6 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Maria
2. Siboney
3. A Love Until The End Of Time
4. Noche Azul
5. La Comparsa
6. Save Your Nights For Me
7. Time After Time
8. Malaguena
9. Yesterday
10. Besame Mucho
11. My Life For A Song
12. Annie's Song
13. Siempre en me Corazon
14. Love Came For Me (Love Theme From Splash)
15. I Don't Talk To Strangers
16. Blue Moon - Moon River
17. Autumn Leaves
18. Adoro

Customer Reviews:

love songs easy to listen too.......2007-05-07

I love a classical voice singing this type of mustic, or sacred (from the operas (in English), or, out of print sacred. Wish I could find a source for some of my old tapes (some recorded from 78s) of artists like Jerome Hines (Holy City, 1962-3, 78 record I transferred to tape), Russel Davis (1970 or early 8os record I coped, of tape my Dad had copied), William Harness, Kathleen Battle, etc. etc. I enjoy a wide range of music, but had operatic training, so understand the requirements for superior vocal skill. John Denver had much of the quality. Music for me is part of the fabric of life.

This is an oldie but a goodie!.......2006-11-09

One of his first albums of "popular" songs and one of the best of the songs we have loved for years with a fresh, new Domingo treatment. Just as his album with John Denver was a something new for him, these songs are out of the opera world. You'll never hear any of them performed by anyone up to the "gold standard" of Domingo. That being said, I love this album, but - the accent gets in the way on the English songs. You have to be able to accept the accented English and just listen to the gorgeous voice singing some very romantic songs. I highly recommend!

Great for boring candlelight dinner or quick ride in an elevator........2006-10-31

As much as I enjoy listening to Placido Domingo's popular recordings this is not one of his best performances. Missing the full-blooded belting that can be heard on his other albums ("Be My Love" for example). The orchestration is very mediocre and uninspired.
For a romantic mood, "Perhaps Love" (simply fabulous) is much better choice.

Beautiful music.......2006-02-23

I have been looking for this title for a long time...in all the wrong places.

A Valentine's Day Gift for all time.......2005-02-02

If you truly want to touch someone's heart, give this as a Valentine's gift. I received the CD last year and I love every minute. It makes a loving gift of one of the greats. With such a long career you would think that Placido would disappoint. So far it hasn't happened. This year my honey and I will see him in concert! Another Valentine's day wish come true.

Rap Music:

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4. The Unplugged Collection [Import] [Live]
5. The War of Art [Explicit Lyrics]
6. Third
7. Time Machine
8. To Record Only Water for Ten Days
9. Together Alone [Import]
10. Trailer Park

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