Zenith Made in Nougaro [Import]

1. Stances A New York

2. Nougayork

3. Rythm' Flouze

4. Lady Liberty

5. Sing Sing Song

6. Gardien De Phare

7. Tu Verras (O Que Sera)

8. Quatre Ou Cinq Jours

9. Pacifique

10. Angeles Eldorado

11. Cinema

12. Cri De Tarzan

13. Toi La Haut

14. Un Ecureuil A Central Par

15. Kine

16. Toulouse To Win

17. Armstrong

18. Quatre Boules De Cuir

19. Vive L' Alexandrin

20. Energie

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Tracks:

Highway Star
Child in Time
Smoke on the Water
Mule (Drum Solo)
Strange Kind of Woman
Lazy
Space Truckin'

Tracks:

Black Night
Speed King
Lucille

Amazon.com

Judging by the thick chugging that Deep Purple pull off as they enter "Highway Star" on this classic 1972 set, this band was of an era that appreciated size in sound. Ritchie Blackmore's guitar and Jon Lord's keyboards owned the evenings on the quintet's Japanese tour, giving the band a front-end density that kept drummer Ian Paice's snap heavy and loud. On tour in support of the album Machine Head, Deep Purple indulged in some great long-form jams, reaching into the 10-minute range for most of the main set and closing with the now-famed live read of "Space Truckin'." There's a reason this is regarded by many as one of hard rock's cornerstone live recordings. It's a boiler. This gold version of the title offers superior sound quality for a higher price than the standard-issue CD. --Andrew Bartlett

Album Details

25th Anniversary Edition Includes a Remastered Double CD Set which Feature Three Bonus Tracks which Were Not on the Original.

Customer Reviews:

MARK 2 LINE UP - MADE IN JAPAN.......2007-05-31

This is the famous line-up of Mark 2; Ian Gillan on vocals, Ritchie Blackmore on guitars, Roger Glover on bass, Jon Lord on keyboards and Ian Paice on the drums.

This is absolutely one of the best recorded live albums for me. Recorded live in Japan in 1972! Just buy the album and listen! If you own it in vinyl (LP) like me, it's better that you own it also in the form of a CD coz it's expanded with extra tracks like Black Night, Speed King and Lucille. These songs didn't appear in the first release of the album and even in the first release of the CD.

This is my third copy of this album already. I've got my first copy in the mid 70s and again in the 80s. Actually in the Philippines it was released as Made in Japan Volume 1 and Volume 2 in separate album.

All songs in the LP Volume 1 and 2 are in one CD only in this edition and the other CD contains the extra tracks from the same Japanese tour in 1972.

WOW - I forgot just how good it can get!.......2007-02-02

Perhaps I should thank those kids who stole all my CD's from my car. Cause now as I am replacing them, I'm also listening to some of the old classics. And Made in Japan is a classic!

Favorite song on the cd is Child In Time. But the entire CD is great!

If you like hard rock from the old days, this is a must have!

Driving a semi into space and never comin back!.......2006-12-19

This is fun and heavy music. Ian Gillian screams his head off, Ritchie Blackmore goes nuts with vibrato and tremolo on his Stratocaster, Jon Lord goes into intergalactic space and back with incredible Hammond electronic organ effects, and Roger Glover and Ian Paice somehow hold it all together in Japan. This is Deep Purple.

The music could easily fly over the edge with a lesser group, with such silly material as "Strange Kind of Woman" (a trite "girl I gotta have ya" rock song) or "The Mule" (with some totally bizarre lyrics flying into a drum solo), but Deep Purple somehow transform the fluff into amazing and deep music. I'd dare any other band out there to try this.

The high points are "Highway Star", which kicks things off with a bang, and "Lazy" and "Space Truckin'", which feature Jon Lord's bizarre virtuosity and cutting-edge analog modulation of the classic Hammond organ. The sound, although strange and definitely "70's", somehow holds up remarkably well 35 years later.

Everyone is in excellent form on the album. They hold their own and play well together.

Very good liner notes provide a glimpse into the concert, the band, and even how this was marketed at the time as the greatest concert ever recorded. That bold claim is not too far from the truth, even today. Speaking of recording, the sound is excellent, as it always has been, with excellent balance and clarity.

The three encores are an interesting, but not essential, addition. They're enjoyable, but unfortunately, they turn what could have been 1 CD into 2 CDs, making this more a little more expensive.

Overall, this is music that goes way over the top and rarely seems to come back, and it might not be for everyone. But if you enjoy hard rock and virtuosity, this is an essential purchase.

The promise of 70's hard rock is delivered.......2006-11-09

This could be one of the only hard rock cd's you ever need.

Fantastic from start to finish, this set shows everything that was right (and excessive) with the music scene in the early 70's.

Beyond any rating system

The best live album ever.......2006-10-16

This album alone, should put Deep Purple in the rock and roll hall of fame.

Made In Japan puts most live albums to shame, even the really good one's! A legendary band at their peak captured on tape forever. There is a god! This Remastered Edition is only better in that it has the great encore Black Night included on a three songs bonus disc.

Get it, turn it up and enjoy!

Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy-My Favourite Opera For Children

Average customer rating:

Opera for Children
Great Opera for Children
My six-year old liked it!
Fun, accessible opera for you and your child to enjoy

Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy-My Favourite Opera For Children

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Sutherland, Joan | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Troyanos, Tatiana | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

World's Very Best Opera for Kids... in English!
Classical Music for Children: A Toddler's Introduction to Classical Music
The Classical Child at the Opera
Children's Favorites
David Bowie Narrates Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf"

ASIN: B00000424Y
Release Date: 1994-08-23

Tracks:

Carmen: Children's March
Carmen: Toreador Song
Carmen: Toreador Chorus
The Barber Of Seville: Largo Al Factotum
Faust: Soldiers' Chorus
Il travatore: Anvil Chorus
Madame Butterfly: Humming Chorus
Die Walkure: The Ride Of The Valkyries
The Tales Of Hoffman: The Doll Song
Aida: Triumphal Choruses And March
The Magic Flute: Papageno's Song: A Birdcatcher Am I
The Magic Flute: Papagena! Papagena! Papagena!
The Magic Flute: Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa
Hansel And Gretel: Brother, Come Dance With Me
Hansel And Gretel: I Am The Little Sandman
Hansel And Gretel: Children's Prayer
Hansel And Gretel: Song Of The Gingerbread Children
Hansel And Gretel: Ral-la-la-la, Ral-la-la-la

Customer Reviews:

Opera for Children.......2005-10-14

This is an excellent CD to introduce children to some of the more familiar operas. I would highly recommend this CD for children and also for adults who want to become familiar with opera.

Great Opera for Children.......2005-05-01

This CD is an excellent compilation of opera for children and adults alike. The operas that are represented on this disc are: Carmen, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Faust, Il Trovatore, Madama Butterfly, Die Walkure, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Aida, Die Zauberflote, and Hansel und Gretel. People love the Children's March, as well as the Toreador Chorus, from the opera Carmen. The well known Toreador Song is performed on this CD by great bass- baritone Jose van Dam. Children who watch Bugs Bunny will recognize "Largo al factotum" from Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Sherrill Milnes performs the role of Figaro expertly, and his falsetto is evident in Figaro's famous patter aria. Great choruses, like the Soldier's Chorus from Faust, the Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore, the Triumphal Chorus from Aida, and the Humming Chorus from Madama Butterfly make appearences on this CD. The Doll Song from Les Contes d'Hoffmann is performed by soprano Joan Sutherland. She uses her voice to rise up and down, like a mechanical doll. My favorite German baritone, Hermann prey, performs Papageno's entrance aria from Die Zauberflote, as well was the duet with Papagena. Choruses from Hansel und Gretel round the CD.

My six-year old liked it!.......2001-04-02

My six year-old son enjoyed hearing this CD. We like to sing together, so we found many of the pieces quite alot. But to be honest, when we discovered the more recently released CD, The Classical Child AT the Opera, he went wild because all the pieces have been translateded into English, so it's much more enjoyable for us to sing along. So I would recommend it, but check out the other one as well -- your kids will be glad you did. All the best, Steven

Fun, accessible opera for you and your child to enjoy.......1999-11-05

I bought this CD for my then 3 year old son. He loved it then because it was the "Bugs Bunny" music he was familiar with from the cartoons. He listened to it for awhile then we put it away. After he turned 4, he said to me one day -- let's listen to opera, and now we listen to this CD every day. This music gets his blood going; he struts around his room when he listens to this. And, he is in every respect a typical boy who likes Pokemon and the Back Street Boys. So, I consider this CD successful in introducing opera to a youngster.

Average customer rating:

Joan Tower: Made in America

Manufacturer: Naxos American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Hailstork: Symphonies 2 & 3
Stephen Albert: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2
Romeo Cascarino: Pygmalion; Portrait of Galatea; Prospice; The Acadian Land; Blades of Grass
Alan Hovhaness: Symphony No. 60; Guitar Concerto; Khrimian Hairig
Douglas Lilburn: A Song of Islands; Aotearoa Overture; Forest

ASIN: B000OQDRWI
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Amazon.com

Two of the works recorded here are world premiere recordings: "Made in America" and "Tambor." The first uses "America the Beautiful" as its first melodic theme, and bits of it appear throughout the work. Tower interweaves the melodic fragments with many other original tunes, and she colors the work in what could be called the American idiom, with wide-open spaces. There is a central section of a darker nature, but the work ends in glory. "Tambor" is dominated by percussion of all kinds - drums, blocks, etc. - and is an exciting, propulsive work. There are long periods of solos for percussion instruments that act almost as mini-cadenzas. The Concerto for Orchestra is a terrific work that uses the sections of the orchestra as solos, duets and in bunches. Standout moments are a remarkable tuba solo, a dueling duet for trumpets, and a part for the cellos alone. It's a flavorful, fascinating work. Leonard Slatkin leads the Nashville Symphony in excellent performances. --Robert Levine

Average customer rating:

Try a little honesty for first time buyers/listeners
fitting coda to Queen's career
good but underrated album
Good Music!
This is the way things are now.

Made in Heaven
Queen
Manufacturer: Hollywood Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Glam | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Innuendo
The Miracle
The Works
Hot Space
A Kind of Magic

ASIN: B000000OE7
Release Date: 1995-11-07

Tracks:

It's A Beautiful Day
Made In Heaven
Let Me Live
Mother Love
My Life Has Been Saved
I Was Born To Love You
Heaven For Everyone
Too Much Love Will Kill You
You Don't Fool Me
A Winter's Tale
It's A Beautiful Day (Reprise)
Bonus Track
Bonus Track

Customer Reviews:

Try a little honesty for first time buyers/listeners.......2007-05-16

I had to write a review after seeing this album receive the same average ratings as "classic" Queen albums. This was a bad album which has garnered the sympathy rating from folks. I have everything Queen ever put out and love most of their stuff but this should be down in the ratings along with Hot Space. This is a thrown together effort after Freddie passed away and it plays like a thrown together effort. Nothing flows, no real theme or continuity throughout. It would be nice for reviewers to be honest so that when I see a cd I haven't ever heard I would be able to read real reviews and not just gushing fans who would give 5 stars to anything their favorite bands put out. I sometimes can get a better feel for what folks think about a cd by looking at the used prices. If it was/is so great you wouldn't see a boat load of folks dumping it at a ridiculously low price.

fitting coda to Queen's career.......2007-03-17

"Made in Heaven" is Queen's final studio album, released in November 1995. After Freddie Mercury's death in 1991, the remaining band members John Deacon, Roger Taylor and Brian May worked with Mercury's pre-recorded vocals to create the last Queen album with all four members having contributed.

The album feels and sounds like a late 80's Queen album with Freddie singing every song and sounding much healthier than he does on "Innuendo" as alot of this album has been taken from prior recordings. Only three songs were recorded by Freddie prior to his death: "A Winter's Tale", "Mother Love" and what would become "You Don't Fool Me". The song list includes:

* "It's a Beautiful Day" - a previously unreleased song written and recorded by Freddie Mercury at Musicland Studios in Munich, 1980.

* "Made in Heaven" - a track from Mercury's solo career, appearing on his album 'Mr. Bad Guy' in 1985. Taylor, May and Deacon reworked it (over Mercury's piano and vocals) to make it a Queen track.

* "Let Me Live" - the first single features a gospel-style choir for the opening. Freddie, Brian and Roger each then sing a verse.

* "Mother Love" - the last song Freddie Mercury recorded and co-wrote with Brian May, who on his website discussed the writing process he and Mercury had (writing both separately and together, and conscious of the nature of the song and the lyrics). May sang the last verse since Mercury wasn't able to do it.

* "My Life Has Been Saved" - composed by John Deacon in 1987-1988.

* "I Was Born to Love You" - originally recorded (piano, vocals, synths) by Mercury on 25th May 1984, for his 'Mr. Bad Guy' album.

* "Heaven for Everyone" - a track Roger Taylor wrote and tried out with Queen in 1986, but then dropped and recorded it for The Cross (his other band, where he was lead singer and rhythm guitarist instead of drummer).

* "Too Much Love Will Kill You" - a typical power ballad composed by Brian May (with Frank Musker and Elizabeth Lamers) sometime between the Magic and Miracle sessions. They wrote it in the US and Freddie Mercury sang on it.

* "You Don't Fool Me" - one of the last tracks recorded for Made In Heaven. It reminds me of a more mellow 'Scandal'.

* "A Winter's Tale" - the last song Mercury composed entirely ("Mother Love"'s music is by Brian May). He did the vocals and keyboards for it and completed the last verse around two weeks before he died.

The overall feel of the album is one of reverence, reflection and references to our existence. Only the song "I Was Born to Love You" has an up-beat tempo. The production is of a superb quality considering the difficulties the band faced.

Unfortunately, I dismissed this album at the time as I was into other mid-90's music and Queen felt long dead. The title, "Made in Heaven", was just too corny and I still felt (up until recently) that it was just an attempt to hold onto something that wasn't there anymore. It was only when I went back into a Queen phase (12 years later) that I even considered buying it. But it was very popular in the UK at the time with the first single "Heaven for Everyone" reaching No. 3 and the album going four times platinum selling 1.5 million copies.

Overall, this is a worthwhile coda to Queen's career. I find it very easy to listen to and reflect in turn on their impact on my life.

good but underrated album .......2007-01-10

i bought this on amazon for $3.99! good album. i would at least rank it to be as good as innuendo ,a kind of magic and the miracle(if you like those albums like i do). but nowhere as good as the classics, sheer heart attack, news of the world, the game, and even 1984. the most boring tracks are the last two 'bonus' tracks...boring stuff.

Good Music!.......2007-01-09

Is this vintage Queen?....The answer is no, but it doesn't have to be vintage to be great. MIH is mainly soft rock songs mixed with some pop elements. I like every song on this album, and you can't even say that about some of Queens best efforts, It's very consistent from beginning to end. My favorites are "made in heaven" The last vocal performance from freddie "mother love" roger talyors sublime "heaven for everyone" and freddie's last written song "a winter tale" is simply one of my favorite songs ever, very moving. It truly is good music.

This is the way things are now........2006-08-21

This was the "last" Queen album, released four years after the death of Freddie Mercury. Some of the songs had been released before in a different form, but never on a Queen album. Despite the somewhat "impure" origins of the album, it's actually quite good. While it was moderately successful in the US, it was a smash in the UK, where five of it's songs were hit singles ("Heaven For Everyone", "A Winter's Tale", "Too Much Love Will Kill You", "Let Me Live" and "You Don't Fool Me). The album ends on an odd note, with 22 minutes of ambient music, which is sometimes barely audible. This album is a fitting "last word" from Queen.

Average customer rating:

Life and Death On The Great White Way
Fantastic!
Well executed, entertaining, musical
Eclectic Mix
"Bye, bye love"....

All That Jazz (1979 Film)
Ralph Burns
Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Soundtracks | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Cabaret
A Chorus Line
Fosse
Fame
Chicago (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000008115
Release Date: 2000-04-25

Tracks:

Main Title (Instrumental) - Ralph Burns
On Broadway - George Benson
Michelle (Instrumental) - Ralph Burns
Take Off With Us - Sandahl Bergman & Chorus
Vivaldi Concert In G (Instrumental) - Ralph Burns
Ponte Vecchio (Instrumental) - Ralph Burns
Everything Old Is New Again - Peter Allen
South Mt Sinai Parade (Instrumental) - Ralph Burns
After You've Gone - Leland Palmer
There'll Be Some Changes Made - Ann Reinking
Who's Sorry Now - Chorus
Some Of These Days - Erzsebet Foldi
Going Home Now (Instrumental) - Ralph Burns
Bye Bye Love - Ben Vereen & Roy Scheider

Album Description

1995 reissue of the soundtrack to director Bob Fosse's acclaimed 1979 musical co-starring Roy Scheider and Jessica Lange. Ralph Burns arranged & conducted all 14 tracks, whichinclude performances by George Benson, Sandahl Bergman and Ben Vereen with Scheider. A Spectrum/ Karussell release.

Album Details

Accompanying Music to the Critically Acclaimed, Oscar Winning (For Best Art Direction, Best Score and Best Costume Design) 1979 Musical which features Musical Performances by Roy Scheider and Ben Vereen and also Stars Jessica Lange and Johnathan Lithgow. Includes the George Benson Standard "On Broadway", plus a Piece of Vivaldi's "Concert in G" and More.

Customer Reviews:

Life and Death On The Great White Way.......2007-06-24

Bob Fosse's 1979 ALL THAT JAZZ is perhaps most famous for the extreme reaction it provokes: you either love it or you hate it. There is no middle ground.

Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider) is a celebrated stage and film director famous for creating dance numbers with a super sexy style--and truly chaotic professional and personal life. Even as he edits a film he has recently directed, he begins rehearsals for a new Broadway show. Even as he duels with his acidic show-biz ex-wife over the needs of their daughter, he cheats on his girl friend with any lovely chorus girl who wants to fall across his bed. He goes from crisis to crisis in a round of late nights fueled by nicotine, caffine, alcohol, and drugs--and he loves every ego-gratifying moment of it. What he does not love is the heart attack he has in the middle of it all.

What divides viewers is not so much the plot as the overall style of the film. Like Joe Gideon, Bob Fosse (1927-1987) was most famous for his musicals, which were often akin to beautiful but distinctly dark hallucinations of super-stylized motion showing lots of skin. With ALL THAT JAZZ, Fosse takes his unique, highly surrealistic musical style and combines it with the similarly surrealistic approach of such master directors as Fellini. The result is a film that shifts between past, present, and future with glittering musical numbers that leap from the mind of Gideon himself to make wry comment on his egocentric madness--and in which beautiful show girls become the personification of death.

As Joe Gideon, Roy Scheider (perhaps best known for his tough-cop role in THE FRENCH CONNECTION) truly gives the performance of his career; he is amazing in the role of the driven, egocentric director/choreographer who will stop at nothing to pursue his desires, professional or otherwise. The film also gives us two performers who rarely appear on screen: Leland Palmer as Gideon's ex-wife Audrey Paris (a role based on Gwen Verdon) and Ann Rhineking as Gideon's long-suffering dancer-girlfried Kate Jagger (a role, ironically, based on herself.) Both prove extremely memorable--as does Ben Vereen, a performer I do not usually like, appearing here in as the emcee of Gideon's final and most memorable hallucination.

The cinematography by Giuseppe Rotunno is sharp, clean, disquieting, and manages to convey the New York of the late 1970s in remarkable detail; the editing by Alan Heim (who also worked on such memorable films as NETWORK and STAR 80) is also memorable. Indeed, be it lighting, costumes, casting, or overall art design it is virtually impossible to fault the film at any level. Even so--ALL THAT JAZZ remains as likely to divide viewers today as it did in 1979. Movie musicals have changed a great deal over the past decade or so, but ALL THAT JAZZ remains a unique offering. You either get it or you don't; you either like it or you hate it.

There are at least two DVDs on the market. One is a no-frills edition with a good transfer; the other offers several bells and whistles that fans of the film will enjoy. Recommended in either version.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Fantastic!.......2007-06-18

A Fosse lovers must see. I was up for the main group of dancers for this movie oh so many years ago. I remember what I wore to the audition. We all showed up at the St. James theatre in NYC even though there was no audition notice in the trades and no announcement. I remember Fosse coming on the stage and laughing saying "how the hell did you all know about this...?" Well, word of mouth among the gypsies, that's how! He had already chosen his dancers but he liked to see what was around just in case. I was always called back and got to the last call back. Too bad right! Well the rest is history...get this dvd, it is a piece of history and a kind of dance, director, choreographer and discipline that no longer exists. SO sad!

Well executed, entertaining, musical.......2007-03-25

The film is appearantly a loose auto-biographical account of the film's director Bob Fosse (Cabaret, Chicago, Star 80). A scrutinizing look at obsession leading to self destruction and finally the transference of pain to others. The film has too many technical high points to mention. Choreography goes without mention and has been mimicked by modern artists, sometimes blatantly. The screenplay is complex enough to be interesting but remains in the realm of 'easily digestible.'

Eclectic Mix.......2007-02-24

Since I adore the movie, I can't help but love the soundtrack to All That Jazz. I'm not sure this CD would move every listener as it does me, but I see every scene as I listen and can't help but dance along now and then. Like the movie, this soundtrack is bittersweet and very raw in some places, cheeky and sentimental in others. For a Fosse junkie like me, it's a must have.

"Bye, bye love"...........2007-02-09

Loved the DVD and this CD is just as entertaining. George Benson oozes showmanship so much so that it comes across just listening. "On Broadway and Bye bye love" are the stand out's.

Average customer rating:

Sophisticated Catchy!
A Great Introduction to Pizzicato Five
Clunky compared to later P5
one of the great pop bands of our time
P5 - a band like no other

Made in USA
Pizzicato Five
Manufacturer: Matador Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Dance | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Indie & Lo Fi | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Techno-House | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Point
Viva! La Woman
Happy End of You
Stereo Type A
Mars Audiac Quintet

ASIN: B0000036SZ
Release Date: 1994-10-21

Tracks:

I
Sweet Soul Revue
Magic Carpet Ride
Readymade FM
Baby Love Child
Twiggy Twiggy/Twiggy Vs. James Bond
This Year's Girl #2
I Wanna Be Like You
Go Go Dancer
Catchy
Peace Music

Customer Reviews:

Sophisticated Catchy!.......2006-10-04

I mainly bought this cd to have TWIGGY,TWIGGY but I ended up liking the entire cd. I had no prior knowledge of P-5 until I saw the video for Twiggy,Twiggy at a club here in Chicago. P-5 incorporates all different types of dance music; from retro sounding to hip hop beats-from many of the tracks utilizing the house sound. Nomiya Maki's voice compliments the arrangements which were penned by the brainchild of the group Konishi. I found later that P-5 in their earlier incarnations(late 80's)were 3 men including Konishi and K-taro who eventually went solo.
I irritated my freinds with this;as some of them couldn't stand TWIGGY,TWIGGY or any of the Japanese tracks for that matter of fact. The first track entitled "I" was featured in Pauly Shore movie as he was singing along with it in one of the scenes. You have to keep in mind that several of these tracks appeared earlier in other P-5 albums but were here for inclusion for P-5's American release. Eventually, I bought the Japanese releases with similar track listings but which included songs that weren't on the American releases.

A Great Introduction to Pizzicato Five.......2005-10-13

"Made in USA" was the first P5 album I ever heard, and I couldn't decide whether it was American, French, or Italian. To learn that a Japanese group could move so smoothly from styles that I'd always associated with European and American music of the Sixties and early Seventies. But P5 hasn't only mastered these genres. They've remade them in the band's own image. Fans of the group, used to its sometimes unusual, often eclectic, style may not think this P5's best album, but it may be the best place to start.

Clunky compared to later P5.......2005-09-22

I had an odd introduction to Pizzicato Five, my first album of theirs being the 2001 import "In The Mix," a Yoshinori Sunahara live mix album.

"In The Mix" is fantastic. The tracks, ranging from a snappily remixed version of "Baby Portable Rock" to a beautiful, live, acoustic version of "The Night is Still Young," are excellent as they are varied.

In comparison, "Made in USA" feels a lot less sophisticated and mature. The tracks generally lack the sort of captivating arrangements and lush, beautiful instrumentation that characterize P5's later work, and feel fairly dull and repetitive.

one of the great pop bands of our time.......2005-07-29

pizzicato five (P5, to those of you in the know) made a career (a career sadly that sadly ended a few years back) of making some of the catchiest, addictive pop songs you could ever hope to hear. thankfully, matador collected some of their finest pop nuggests and released them as 'made in the usa.'

how does one define p5? you don't. p5's influences are broad: electronica, bossa nova, chamber pop, baroque pop, art-rock, house, twee, etc, etc, etc. it's impossible to pigenhole a band who never sticks to one sound (and thank heavens for that).

some may argue: 'well, it's in japanese!' answer: so what. off the top of my head, two songs--the exquisite 'magic carpet ride' (my fav p5 track, along with 'on the sunny side of the street') and the charming 'baby love child'--nomiya maki sings in english. great pop songs are great pop songs, regardless of language. and besides, you can learn the japanese lyrics and impress your friends.

for beginners, 'made in the usa' is an excellent introduction the band. top tracks include 'twiggy twiggy' (try NOT to tap your foot or do a shimmy across the floor); 'magic carpet ride,' which borrows a bit from the beatles 'baby you're a rich girl,' and the positively infectious 'peace music.' these are but a few of the highlights on album completely devoid of duds.

if 'made in the usa' whets your appetite, check out 'big hits and jet lags' next. both compilations (greatest hits) are worth the heavy price tag.

i can't be totally objective when it comes to p5 because i love them dearly. i was saddened when i heard they decided to stop recording. i saw p5 in LA back in 1998 and it was by far the most entertaining and fun gig i've ever seen: costume changes, feather boas, dancing bears, and the dynamic, sultry, sassy, beautiful, glamorous nomiya maki. i've yet to hear her solo work, but i'm anxiously awaiting.

dive into the world of p5 and you'll hear all that's right with pop music. we love you, p5! oh yes we do!

P5 - a band like no other.......2004-01-07

I'm very big fan of this band. I bought this cd years ago. And yet i don't get tired of listening to it. The songs are a beautiful blend of jazz, blues, rock, and pop. Sweet Soul Revue and Baby Love Child are top tracks.

Average customer rating:

The picture

100 Hymns & Songs of Inspiration

Manufacturer: Castle Music UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Praise & Worship | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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

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

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

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

A Heritage of Hymns: Classic Recordings of the Great Songs of Faith and Inspiration
Abide with Me and other favourite hymns
Best Loved Hymns
101 Classic Piano Hymns
Praise to the Lord - Hymns From St. Paul's Cathedral

ASIN: B00008GEKT
Release Date: 2003-04-14

Tracks:

Love Divine All Loves Excelling - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Father Hear the Prayer We Offer - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Now Thank We All Our God - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
This Day, The First of Days - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Stars of the Morning So Gloriously Bright - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
God Save the Queen - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Day of Resurrection - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
God Rest You Merry Gentlemen - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Of the Father's Heart Begotten - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
O Come All Ye Faithful - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Awake My Soul and With the Sun - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
Thine Arm O Lord in Days of Old - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
All People That on Earth Do Dwell - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
Good Christian Men Rejoice and Sing - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
There Is a Green Hill - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
Lord of Beauty - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
Rejoice Today With One Accord - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
New Every Morning - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
O God Our Help in Ages Past - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral

Tracks:

Morning Has Broken - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Happy Are They - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
In Christ There Is No East or West - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Silent Night - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Be Thou My Guardian - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Ye Servants of the Lord - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
At the Name of Jesus Every Knee Shall Bow - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
To Thee O Lord Our Hearts We Raise - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Behold the Great Creator Makes - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Rejoice the Lord Is King - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Creator of the Stars of Night - Ely Cathedral Choir
He Comes With Clouds Descending - Ely Cathedral Choir
O Little Town of Bethlehem - Ely Cathedral Choir
Alleluya Alleyluya Alleyluya - Ely Cathedral Choir
This Is the Day the Lord Hath Made - Ely Cathedral Choir
How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds - Ely Cathedral Choir
Lord Thy Word Abideth - Ely Cathedral Choir
Jesus Lord We Look to Thee - Ely Cathedral Choir
O Lord Our God Arise - Ely Cathedral Choir
Lord of All Hopefulness - Ely Cathedral Choir

Tracks:

Soldiers of Christ Arise - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Lift Up Your Hearts - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Holy Father, Cheer Our Way - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Maker of the Sun - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
O King Most High - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
O Praise Our Great and Glorious Lord - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
We Love the Place O God - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Let Us With a Gladsome Mind - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Give Rest O Christ - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Come Holy Ghost Our Hearts Inspire - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
O Thou in All Thy Might So Far - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
O Christ, Who Art the Light and Day - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
O God Thy Soldiers' Crown and Guard - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
Strife Is O'er the Battle Done - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
O Christ Our Hope, Our Hearts' Desire - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
Jesus Shall Reign - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
God of Love My Shepherd Is - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
O Jesu Saviour of Mankind - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
Immortal Invisible God Only Wise - Choir Of Truro Cathedral

Tracks:

Ride on Ride on in Majesty - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
All Glory Laud and Honour - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Come Rejoicing - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
God Is Love and Where True Love Is - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Magnificat: The Great Advent Antiphons - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Come, Christ's Beloved - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Children of the Hebrews (Palm Procession) - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Veneration of the Cross/The Reproaches (Veneratum and Reproaches) - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Once in Royal David's City - Choir Of Keble College
God Be in My Head - Choir Of Keble College
O Thou Who Camest from Above - Choir Of Keble College
Judge Eternal Throned in Splendour - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
Christ the Lord Is Risen Again - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
For All the Saints - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
Thy Hand O God Has Guided - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
Christ the Dawn of Our Salvation - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
I Was Glad - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Locus Iste - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Praise My Soul the King of Heaven - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel

Tracks:

Stand Up! Stand Up for Jesus! - The Choir of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - The Choir of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury
O Worship the King - The Choir of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury
O Heavenly Word of God on High - Choir Of The Collegiate Church Of St Mary
Praise to the Lord, The Almighty - Choir Of The Collegiate Church Of St Mary
Jesus Christ Is Risen Today - The Choir of York Minister
First Nowell - The Choir of York Minister
Abide with Me - The Choir of York Minister
Breathe on Me Breath of God - Choir Of Keble College
Rock of Ages - Choir Of Keble College
On This Day, The First of Days - Choir Of Keble College
Jesu Sweet and Mary - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
O Quam Gloriosum - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Ye Holy Angels Bright - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
O for a Closer Walk With God - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Prayer of St Patrick - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Lord's Prayer - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Blessed Be the God and Father - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Day Thou Gavest Lord Is Ended - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Jerusalem (And Did Those Feet in Ancient Times) - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel

Album Description

Full Title - 100 Hymns & Songs Of Inspiration. UK box-set featuring 100 tracks performed by Britain's finest Cathedral Choirs including, Gloucester Cathedral, Norwich Cathedral, Sheffield Cathedral, & many more. Five standard jewel cases housed in a slipbox. Castle Pulse. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

The picture.......2006-12-11

I haven't purchased the CD but the picture of the inside of a church on the cover is not of a British church, like one would assume since it says its a recording of British choirs. This picture is of Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Just thought i'd let you know. I'll be honest; I'm one to judge things by it's cover and if the company took such care to choose a 'British' church for their British choir CD, I'm willing to bet the music is equally well selected... I'm being sarcastic. But I gave the product 5 stars because I didn't want to hurt its ratings just because i'm cynical. But check out the church if you're ever in Montreal, it's truly beautiful... here I'm not being sarcastic.

Average customer rating:

Could've been so much more...
An excellent compilation
Shady Deal
Made in the Shade
Start Me Up!

Made in the Shade
The Rolling Stones
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Sucking in the Seventies
Some Girls
Tattoo You
Voodoo Lounge
Black and Blue

ASIN: B0007P78S0
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Tracks:

Brown Sugar
Tumbling Dice
Happy
Dance Little Sister
Wild Horses
Angle
Bitch
It's Only Rock 'N Roll
Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)
Rip This Joint

Album Description

This album was originally released in June 1975 as a precursor to the Stones' 1975 American tour. It covers the choice cut from the bands first four albums of the seventies -- Sticky Fingers, Exile On Main St., Goats Head Soup and It's Only Rock 'N' Roll. It has only been available briefly on CD in the mid Eighties and is long sought after by collectors. EMI. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

Could've been so much more..........2007-04-26

Basically, this is rushes through the Mick Taylor years, collecting a bunch of big hits that are already available elsewhere in the first place - except for Dance Little Sister, which never was all that good in the first place. Now, out of the remaning nine, eight are amongst my favorite Stones songs: Brown Sugar, Wild Horses, Bitch (from the masterpiece Sticky Fingers), Tumbling Dice, Happy, Rip This Joint, Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) and It's Only Rock and Roll. Not an Angie fan, but that's just me. But this is a fine example of wasted potential otherwise. Moonlight Mile, Can't You Hear Me Knocking, Rocks Off, Winter and Time Waits for None could all make claims at inclusion. But are they? No.
Now, these nothing-but-the-basics comps can work quite well when done right, which generally implies them covering a longer timespan than the four years Shade touches on. Take Hot Rocks - that one gets a decade of the basics perfectly. So does the recent Forty Licks, for that matter. However, this fails because there's too little.
The cover's, um... interesting. Could be a potshot at David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust days, or just the Stones being the Stones.

An excellent compilation.......2006-11-04

This is a great compilation from what was arguably the best era for the band musically. The only thing that I think should have been done differently was to take out "Rip This Joint" and "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo" and put in "All Down the Line" and "Star Star". But it's still a great compilation. Especially if you're, for one reason or another, unable to make your own compilations of songs.

Shady Deal.......2006-08-11

Please bear with me as I may ramble a bit- I have been a Stones fan forever, and Made in the Shade is the best of the Stones "best ofs" this side of Hot Rocks. The song selection defines the Mick Taylor era and how they are arranged really gives this disk great punch (Angie right into Bitch is great). This album was a favorite for all of my rowdy years and I wore out my LP. I was very excited to see the remastered release and just picked it up. I must say, despite what some other reviewers said, I picked up a wicked hiss on a couple of songs- Pretty disappointing; otherwise the mix is bright and crisp. Heartbreaker is amazing.

Now for the rant. Previous reviewers have mentioned this in a softer tone. These remastered disks have no oomph or extra anything. The Stones have repackaged everything to death to wring one last dime out of their fans. I wish that when they undertook the last remastering that they at least gave us liner notes. The thought of a couple of live cuts or rarities from the time of each album is much too much to expect. Rhino Records work with re-release and remastering is the benchmark- great liner notes, disks stuffed with extras. Heck, even the notoriously money grubbing Who put a few extras on their countless re-releases.

I know we will never get this with the Stones and I knew what I was getting with Made in the Shade, and sadly I got nothing more. So... It is a great disk with a great line-up of songs from a great time in the bands career. Find it cheap, it's worth it!

Made in the Shade.......2005-12-09

I haven't listened to a lot of The Rolling Stones, in fact this is the first full album I've listened to by the group. But, it's a compilation of their first four albums and it's very well done.

1. Brown Sugar-5/5-Interesting lyrics.
2. Tumbling Dice-4/5-This song is OK.
3. Happy-5/5-Great song, doesn't sound like Mick Jagger on vocals though.
4. Dance Little Sister-5/5-Pretty cool song. It's catchy.
5. Wild Horses-5/5-The lyrics are pretty good on this song. Vocals on the chorus are great as well.
6. Angie-5/5-Awesome song.
7. Bitch-4/5-(No Comment)
8. It's Only Rock 'n' Roll-5/5-One of my favorite Rolling Stones songs.
9. Ooo Ooo Ooo Ooo Ooo (Heartbreaker)-5/5-Great song.
10. Rip This Joint-5/5-I love the title of the song...The song lives up to its title.

A-

Start Me Up!.......2005-06-01

The cuts sound fine. Due to the super (as the Reardon review noted) remastering job by Bob Ludwig, there's more imaging and sharper overall sound. Worth the bucks! The "Memory Hotel." It never seems to close.

Average customer rating:

turn it up!
Great CD for Blues Brothers' fans
Kickin Chickens
Wonderful
Just the best!!

Made in America
The Blues Brothers
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

Soul | Live Albums | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 R&B | 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

4-for-3 Blues | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Briefcase Full of Blues
The Blues Brothers: Original Soundtrack Recording
Blues Brothers - The Definitive Collection
Best of The Blues Brothers
Blues Brothers 2000: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

ASIN: B000002J5O
Release Date: 1995-08-29

Tracks:

Soul Finger (Including 'Funky Broadway'
Who's Making Love
Do You Love Me (Including 'Mother Popcorn (You Got To Have A Mother For Me')
Guilty
Perry Mason Theme
Riot In Cell Block Number Nine
Green Onions
I Ain't Got You
From The Bottom
Going Back To Miami

Customer Reviews:

turn it up!.......2007-05-07

this and "briefcase full of blues" are must haves. invite your friends over for a b-b-q and turn up the music. this was the first blues bros. album i owned, and i wore it out. finally got it on disk. i hope i don't melt it.

Great CD for Blues Brothers' fans.......2006-08-23

This CD was a great find. I love the Blues Brothers and I was worried this CD might be of low-quality because I had not heard of it. Fortunately I was wrong. I love this CD. It might be their best. If you are a fan of the Blues Brothers, this CD is for you.

Kickin Chickens.......2003-08-06

The Brothers of Blue sure belted out the tunes in their day! Pick it up a must have!!

Wonderful.......2003-02-07

After listening to every Blues Brothers cd, I am now in love with them. Every song on this cd is so great, I can't just name one! The Blues Brothers is the band that got me started in Blues in the first place. If you love Blues, you'll love the Blues Brothers.

Just the best!!.......2002-06-28

I love The Blues brothers!! All there movies, records, CD's, songs, DVD's, ... This is one of there best records. Some of the musicians on this records are switched with outhers, who were'nt in the movies. By it right now!

Average customer rating:

If you're made in England, you're built to last
One of Elton John's 2 best albums
How in the world did this one slip by me?!
A GREAT Album
this is a fine album

Made in England
Elton John
Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Big Picture
Songs from the West Coast
The One
Sleeping With the Past
Too Low for Zero

ASIN: B000008OM6
Release Date: 2005-08-01

Tracks:

Believe
Made In England
House
Cold
Pain
Belfast
Latitude
Please
Man
Lies
Blessed

Customer Reviews:

If you're made in England, you're built to last.......2007-07-03

After the twin triumphs of having "The One" peak in the US top ten and scoring a number one single with "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from The Lion King," Elton was charging through the nineties on a renewed wave of success. In 1995, he released "Made In England," and the first single, "Believe." There is a sense of deep seriousness about that song, and Elton delivers it with a great deal of emotional force. Paul Buckmaster's strings accent the song perfectly. It is one of his best anthems in a long career and is the highlight of the album.

There more than a few change-ups on "Made In England." After several albums with Chris Thomas, new producer Greg Penny (former Elton cohort dating back to mixing "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy") lightened up the sound to a point where it came closer to classic Elton than anything prior to "21 at 33." Bernie Taupin's lyrics were sharper than usual, a fact underscored by their terse single-word titles. And as they did on "The One's" "The Last Song," they took on a more serious topic in the lovely "Belfast."

It is a more jovial Elton that belts out the title track, which lives up to the line "here's my middle finger." A brief biography of Elton's childhood, it would have fit nicely on both "Captain Fantastic" or the recent "The Captain and the Kid." Along with the less interesting "Pain," it's the most upbeat song on the CD.

My personal favorite song on the album is "Blessed." With a lyric to an unborn child, it conveys all the love you can muster, cliches and all, for a baby to come. Bookending the album from the anthemish "Believe" ("Without love, I wouldn't believe in anything that lives and breathes") to the swelling expectations of the love for a life to come, it brought the album to a perfect close for me. Even though his output had slowed considerably since the glory years, Elton and Bernie proved again that they were capable of delivering quality music on "Made In England."

One of Elton John's 2 best albums.......2007-06-01

This album is the first revelation of the climax in the working collaboration between Elton's and his musical creativity and his lifetime friend and songwriter Bernie Taupin.
Favorites songs: Latitude, Belfast, Made in England and all the rest...

Also check "The Big Picture".

How in the world did this one slip by me?!.......2007-01-07

As a 35-year fan of Sir Elton John, I thought I'd heard all of them. I had never heard this CD before late 2005! It's extraordinary!

The album was produced by Greg Penny, who I must say I'm thoroughly unfamiliar with, but I have to applaud him. George Martin conducted the strings and orchestra for "Latitude", a bluegrass beauty that has me wanting to waltz every time I hear it! He was behind the Beatles' better work, and he's a man who obviously appreciates orchestration like I do. I'm definitely a sucker for a French horn in a song. Young people believe strings don't belong in popular music; that's unfortunate and it's their loss.

The great Paul Buckmaster conducted the London Session Orchestra on the songs "Believe", "House", "Cold", and the exquisite Celtic masterpiece, "Belfast", a song that absolutely brings tears to my eyes for its sheer beauty; it's outstanding. "Believe" was re-introduced to me through YouTube; it's a gorgeous work, with a powerful message and a great music video that went with it that features the Twin Towers in it and is done in black and white. Just gorgeous.

The title track is a hoot! In this homage to his birthplace Taupin writes, and Sir Elton sings: "you can still say 'homo' and everybody laughs!" And I found out that a blue Cortina is a car! "House" sounds as if it were written for or by John Lennon; this doesn't surprise me at all. I love "Pain"; it's an excellent uptempo rocker, and the lyrics definitely convey a sense of the pervasiveness of pain! "Please" has a rockabilly/Beach Boys feel to it that's very pleasant. I hear the organ by Paul Carrack on "Man", and it makes me think of the late Billy Preston. There's really not a bad song on the album. I don't think that's always been the case with his recordings of the 90s.

Can I talk about Sir Elton's musicianship? His powerful piano work in the song "Lies" is second-to-none, as it is throughout the album. Davy's guitar work is fabulous, and he obviously emulates the late George Harrison at times. I love listening to him. Sadly, Dee's been gone a while, but I wonder why Nigel wasn't a part of this recording? Charlie and Bob are admirable stand-ins, none the less.

Finally, reading Bernie Taupin's lyrics are a very good reason to forego downloading this once, at least until the booklet is available by download also.

Seems like I do remember the song "Blessed", but for some reason I never made the connection to this album. It's typical that the song they chose for the single wasn't the best choice. It's very mellow with a sweet sentiment, though, not the dance number I would have thought would have been radio-worthy. I have to keep in mind that there's a whole generation of people who don't realize that Elton John is first and foremost a piano man/saloon singer! Maybe the record company felt this would be the safest song to release, since that generation knows him primarily as a balladeer!

This album put me in mind to the old days when I would see the song titles on an Elton John record and try to imagine what the songs would be like while I saved up to buy it. I used a lot of allowance money on his records back in the day, and at 10 cents a week I sometimes had a long wait. If this one had been released in the 70s when I was a teen, and with its non-electronica, live instrument sound it easily could have, this would have been well worth the wait! It's the sound that made this black teenager stare at the stereo with open-mouthed wonder in 1972. Listening to strings in my music was no surprise to me, I grew up with the Motown sound and it was as common as copper pennies back then. I miss orchestration in today's music as much as I miss melody. For me, Elton John's "Made in England" album represents everything that's missing in today's popular music.

Made in England was a gift from Sir Elton John that I'm sorry about not remembering when it was a brand new recording in 1995. But I've got it now, drawn by the compelling CD cover shot by Greg Gorman of Sir Elton at his handsome best, and I'm sharing it with everybody I know who still appreciates good music, good vocals, good arrangements, and good songwriting. It's a classic.

A GREAT Album.......2006-09-23

If you enjoy Elton John's work of the early to mid 1990's Made In England will keep you smiling. No, it's not Madman Across The Water, but unlike some of Elton's music during the mid 1980's, there's a seriousness to this album that's refreshing. It appears Elton placed some emphasis on making a great album rather than just creating some good singles combined with filler songs.

The title track and Lies are fun and rockin' while Man has a tilt towards the gospely type songs E.J. excells with. Please, is catchy pop at it's best and I was disappointed it never bacame a single. It certainly would have been an automatic hit. In other areas, E.J. doesn't quite hit the mark as in the somewhat sappy, Blessed.

This was Elton John's best work in years up to that point. In my opinion, it's not the masterpiece of some of his 1970's albums but it ranks up there with his creative and throughly enjoyable albums of late such as Songs From The West Coast and The Captain & The Kid.

this is a fine album.......2006-09-07

in the mid 90's ELTON had a pretty good run THE ONE was a decent cd the LION KING was really big for him so this is a nice follow up. The stand out tracks were BELIEVE,BLESSED, PLEASE and one of my favorites LATITUDE,the song BELFAST could have been off MADMAN
or any of his early PAUL BUCKMASTER arrangements.well worth listening to.

International Music:

International Music

International Music