Release [CD-single] [Import]

Product Description
New single from act which blends the traditional music ofWestern Africa & Ireland. This track has been building a massive following on the UK club circuit recently & is a favorite of influential DJ Pete Tong. Tracks 'Release' (Album Edit, Rollo Remix Radi

Tracks:

Not Going Away
I Don't Wanna Stop
Black Rain
Lay Your World On Me
God Bless The Almighty Dollar
Silver
Civilize The Universe
Here For You
Countdown's Begun
Trap Door

Amazon.com

Ozzy returns with a startlingly heavy ninth studio album, a record filled with vows to continue his rock 'n' roll ways ("Not Going Away," "I Don't Wanna Stop"), meditations on the state of a world that has changed surprisingly little since Black Sabbath's early days ("Black Rain," "God Bless the Almighty Dollar") and the obligatory ballad ("Here for You," which can be read either as a letter to a lover or a love letter to his fans). With longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde providing plenty of brutal, soul-searing riffs and solos, there's no shortage of reasons to throw the horns, raise your fist, and yell. The rhythm section of Mike Bordin (drums) and Rob "Blasko" Nicholson (drums) is simply the best since Randy Castillo and Phil Soussan joined up for 1986's The Ultimate Sin and fires most accurately on the title cut, "Lay Your World On Me" and "Countdown's Begun." There's no "Crazy Train" or "Mama I'm Coming Home" here but Black Rain is a more convincing statement for it. The promises Ozzy makes here are sincere, he's not going away anytime soon--and he's still got plenty of game. --Jedd Beaudoin

Customer Reviews:

Ozzy rocks.......2007-07-13

Ozzy rocks with this one. I would highly recommend it. Many of the songs are on current topics, war, global warming, but with the Ozzy and Zakk Wylde sound we've loved throughout the years. His voice has never been better.

If you're a true Ozzy fan you'll really like it. .......2007-07-11

Ozzy's Black Rain

I've been listening to Ozzy since I was 12, and I'm now 37. So we're looking at my 25th anniversary as a fan. I can't give an unbiased review because Ozzy means the world to me. Just the sound of his voice makes me feel like someone else sees the world the way I do. So that said, you can take this review for what it's worth to you.

Black Rain is a very good album. Of course it's not Blizzard or Diary, but it is a solid set of songs. True Ozzy fans will appreciate it; others probably won't--at least not all of it.

Here's a brief track-by-track commentary.

"Not Going Away" is a good start for the CD. The sentiment of "I'll never stop" is a bit cliché, but it works.

"I Don't Wanna Stop" is the first single off the album and repeats the "I'll never stop" theme of "Not Going Away". It's a disappointing song given its placement in the second slot.

"Black Rain" is a timely song, speaking to the war fought over the "black rain" of oil. I hate whiney political stuff in rock songs. Think Bono. But Ozzy isn't whiney and this isn't some stupid U2 song. He's a prophet of doom and this is his latest anthem. And don't forget this is the man who gave us "War Pigs." "Black Rain" follows nicely in the tradition of "Children of the Grave."

"Lay Your World on Me" is the highlight of the CD as far as I'm concerned. This ballad may be written with Sharon or one of Ozzy's children in mind, but it works even better if you interpret it as written for the fans--and who knows, maybe that's even (partly) what Ozzy intended.

"The Almighty Dollar" laments crass commercialism and perhaps the war. It's a little tough to take, given Sharon's crass commercialism, but it has a good sound.

"11 Silver" is excellent, dealing with addiction among other things. It really rocks and features a shredding solo from Mr. Wylde.

"Civilize the Universe" is another anti-war song, a theme that gets tiresome at this point on the CD. Still it has some great hooks, especially the chorus.
"Here for You" is the second ballad on the CD and repeats the theme of "Lay Your World on Me." It's a very good song, but not nearly as effective as "Lay Your World on Me".

"Countdown's Begun" is perfectly listenable album filler.

"Trap Door" is also perfectly listenable album filler, but a disappointing note to end on.

uninspired effort.......2007-07-11

I don't blame ozzy as much as i do zakk wylde. the songs sound like leftover b-side BLS songs, throwaway tracks with patheticly boring guitar riffs and zakk's weakest solo efforts of his career. not only are the riffs as stock and generic as the lyrics / vocals, but the songwriting is so weak that even a diehard ozzy fan will skip each track in hope that the next is worth it. ozzy's voice sounds so computerized and proves that if your not going to write a decent cd, than why taint your legacy? they complain that down to earth (2001) was weak but at least it had some good songs and ozzy sounded like himself, it was original and zakk's drunk out of shape guitar playing ruined this album, as it plaguaed his leads on the last one. he's washed up and forgot what it means to be a guitar hero. they said this album would be the one to blow away no more tears (1991), yet is by leagues ozzy's weakest album of his career, solo or with sabbath.

New style - the 80s are dead!.......2007-07-10

"Black Rain" brings a new Ozzy: industrialized and updated. The new album sounds a lot like Zakk Wylde's solo project: Black Label Society. The guitar's distortion is heavier and dirtier, and Ozzy's voice remains just the same. Incredible how his voice doesn't bow over to the years!

Black Rain has nothing to do with Blizzard Of Ozz, Diary of a Madman, Bark at the Moon, Wicked, No More Tears, Ozzmosis or Earth. It's a new sound. The 80s are dead, my friend. If you long for the old Ozzy, forget about it. Zakk's guitar work sounds lazier (compared to the previous efforts), less melodic, less magical. Nothing to do with the great old Zakk Wylde. It's XXI century Ozzy Osbourne. What can I say? I miss the 80's and early 90's...

Write on Point!.......2007-07-08

Skymac2 must be a ventriliquist. No need writing a review. Maybe when Metallica's next 'Tin Can Bangin' comes out, we can form a symposium for those who only know Ozzy since Zakk Wild, Wylde, Wilde (Ohh, whatever) has been the guitarist. Now don't attack me folk, Zakk is the best thing since Dime (Someone PLEASE, dispute me). I hate to say this, but, I think SOME groups need to revisit their early beginnings when they were Inebriated and they made GREAT music. Like Ozzy and Metallica. Megadeth, Exodus, Overkill, Anthrax and a ton of other 80's thrash bands are doing it. Over the Mountain is the PERFECT title of reveiw for the majority of Ozzy music in between Randy Rhoads and Zakk. Those other cats were ok until Ozzy started wearing Sequence. Look like that IDIOT from W.A.S.P.
PS, I think (not sure), SERIOUSLY think Zakk is from my hometown nown in Fords, NJ. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Average customer rating:

A Bluish Bag
Stanley Turrentine
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Straight Life
Manhattan Fever
Change
Introducing Kenny Cox And The Contemporary Jazz Quintet
A.T.'s Delight

ASIN: B000PUB3YC
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

Blues For Del
She's a Carioca
Manha Da Carnaval
Here's That Rainy Day
What Now My Love
Samba De Aviao
Night Song
Days Of Wine And Roses
Come Back To Me
Silver Tears
A Bluish Bag
With This Ring

Average customer rating:

One of the Stones' finest!
My Favorite Stones
Love in Vain
Knocked Out Abbey Road
The Stones' Best

Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
Manufacturer: Abkco
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beggars Banquet
Sticky Fingers
Exile on Main St.
Aftermath
Some Girls

ASIN: B000003BF1
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Gimme Shelter
Love In Vain
Country Honk
Live With Me
Let It Bleed
Midnight Rambler
You Got the Silver
Monkey Man
You Can't Always Get What You Want

Amazon.com essential recording

One of the Stones' most beloved albums, 1969's Let It Bleed was a benchmark for several reasons. First, founding guitarist Brian Jones died during the recording process. Second, the Stones take their last significant look at pure blues (Robert Johnson's spooky "Love in Vain") and country ("Country Honk," the two-stepping alter ego of "Honky-Tonk Women") before folding both styles into a cohesive rock & roll vision. Third, it contains some of the band's most eerie hits, such as the flame-enveloped "Gimme Shelter," the drug-reality anthem "Monkey Man," the epic "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and Mick Jagger's menacing "Midnight Rambler." --Steve Knopper

Customer Reviews:

One of the Stones' finest!.......2007-07-04

A bit of rock, a bit of blues, a bit of soul, a bit of raunch... just what you need to make a classic Rolling Stones album! Some will say this is the group's best, and if it weren't for Country Honk (a fiddle-driven parody of the contemporary #1 Honky Tonk Woman, which is infinitely better), it would be. Now it'll have to settle for being prime Stones. I'm sure it won't mind.
Is Gimme Shelter the best opener the Stones or anyone else ever recorded? Possibly. It's a terrifying song, in a positive way: the best fade-in known to man, wailing harp, one of the best guitar solos known to man, and Mary Clayton's chilling vocal. Cool! And that guitar solo... Keith Richards is better known for his rhythm guitar, but his leads all over the record are excellent. You can hear more of that great playing on the hilarious, sleazy title, country-blues title track (Stu really gets down and boogies!), the creepy classic "blues opera" Midnight Rambler, where Charlie plays the drums of a lifetime; the sneering Live With Me, which is also pretty funny (and Bobby Keys plays a cool sax!), and the underrated blues Monkey Man, which is again quite funny (listen to Mick's monkey impression in the fade! And the guitar/drum tradeoff thing they do in the instrumental break! And Bill's vibes! What a SONG!) While we're talking about Keef Riffhard, alias the King of Cool, we must mention You Got the Silver. This was the first Stones song he sang lead on, and he sings it well - not a bad little country-folk tune either!
The Stones do the soft as well as the loud (an acoustic take on Robert Johnson's classic Love in Vain - love it!) and the philosphical as well as the sleazy (the multipart classic You Can't Always Get What You Want, my favorite Stones song ever - just listen to all the stuff they managed to layer into this one! Their best lyrics, too). What's not to like? Oh yeah, Country Honk. We'll just pretend that it's Honky Tonk Woman, shall we?
Oh, and a little message to anyone who thinks this is a rip-off of the Beatles' Let It Be. That's just proving you know nothing about either group. Let It Bleed was released before either the album or the single Let It Be. Besides, listen to both albums side-by-side. Pretty different, no?

My Favorite Stones.......2006-07-14

Let it Bleed should be near the top of any rock cd list. Sticky Fingers is close behind.

Monkey Man is so crazy cool
Midnight Rambler
Gimme Shelter
Can't Always Get What You Want
Live With Me is also crazy cool

Amazing! Something else that is amazing is how fast they went down hill in the late 70's. There were a few good songs here and there after the mid 70's, but nothing compared to the era of late 60's and very early 70's.

By the way, I think Exile is a solid album with a cool vibe, but it's not in the same ballpark as Let It Bleed. How Exile gets put on the top 10 list ever is a joke. It's good, but not that good.

Anyway, LET IT BLEED rocks & should be in the top 10 ever.

Love in Vain.......2006-06-11

The Stones turned out a masterpiece with "Let it Bleed." There is not a bad song in the bunch, in fact the fact that every song on this album is a treasure makes it hard to pick a favorite, but for me, I have to go with the band's cover version of Robert Johnson's "Love in Vain." The soulful acoustic guitar work, Mick's pleading voice, the sad, unrelenting song, it's almost all too much. I cry every time I hear it. I've loved in vain, who has not. Then there is the dangerous sounding song, "Midnight Rambler." Boy that one will shake you. I also really love the way Mary Clayton's voice blends with Mick's in "Gimme Shelter. "And how could I not mention "You Can't Always Get What You Want." What a message in that song. Still, like I said, "Love in Vain," it's a heartbreaker, yes it is.

Knocked Out Abbey Road.......2006-06-11

Because of the problems the band was having with Brian Jones, Keith did most of the guitar work on "Beggar's Banquet," and what a job he did. One almost wonders why they needed another guitarist at all, however the boys is the band felt they did and hired Mick Taylor, who is great. Keith's work on "Gimme Shelter" is just chilling and his first solo vocal effort on "You've Got the Silver" is terrific. Dare I say it, this guy could have had a pretty good career all on his own, but if you've got to play in a band, he picked a pretty good one. Mick Jaggar is in top form rocking his socks off in "Midnight Rambler." That song is just scary, scary good, not scary bad. In fact the whole bloody record is scary good. It's easy to see why "Let it Bleed" dethroned the Beatles" "Abbey Road" as the number one record in England way back in Nineteen Sixty-Nine.

The Stones' Best.......2006-06-11

In some ways "Let it Bleed" could be called sort of a transition record. When the band started the recording sessions, Brian Jones was a member of the Greatest Group on Earth, when they finished he was out, soon to be dead and Mick Taylor had taken his place. Brian is only on two of the songs, but Mick Taylor is only on two songs as well. This is also the first record where Keith takes over the lead vocals on a song (You've Got the Silver). And this record picks up where "Sympathy for the Devil" left off. It's a rocker and it propelled the Stones into the stratosphere. No more are they living in the shadows of the Beatles. They are the number one band in the world now. It happened because of this record. "Let it Bleed" is to the Stones as "Blood on the Tracks" is to Dylan, an outstanding work that one simply cannot ignore.

Average customer rating:

Excellent collection

All the Classic Releases 1937-1949
Bill Monroe
Manufacturer: Jsp Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Selected Sides 1947-1953: The Very Best of Bluegrass
Volume 2: 1935-1941
The Carter Family: 1927-1934
Classic Cuts: 1933-1941
Off The Record, Vol. 1: Live Recordings, 1956-1969

ASIN: B00008Y3UU
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Tracks:

My Long Journey Home
What Is Home Without Love
What Would You Give in Exchange?
Little Red Shoes
Nine Pound Hammer Is Too Heavy
On Some Foggy Mountain Top
Drifting Too Far From The Shore
In My Dear Old Southern Home
New River Train
This World Is Not My Home
Watermelon Hangin' On That Vine
On The Banks Of The Ohio
Do You Call That Religion?
God Holds The Future In His Hands
You've Got To Walk That Lonesome Valley
Six Months Ain't Long
Just A Song Of Old Kentucky
Don't Forget Me
I'm Going
Darling Corey
My Saviors Train
I Am Thinking Tonight Of The Old Folks
Dreamed I Searched Heaven For You
The Old Cross Road
The Forgotten Soldier Boy
We Read Of A Place That's Called Heaven
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
The Saints Go Marching In
Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Where Is My Sailor Boy

Tracks:

Am I Ready To Go
What Would The Profit Be
Some Glad Day
I Have Found The Way
I Am Going That Way
Kate Cline
Roll On Buddy
Weeping Willow Tree
I'll Live On
Oh Hide You In The Blood
What Would You Give In Exchange
On That Gospel Ship
What Would You Give In Exchange (Part 3)
Let Us Be Lovers Again
All The Good Times Are Passed And Gone
What Would You Give Me In Exchange (Part 4)
On My Way To Glory
My Last Moving Day
He Will Set Your Fields On Fire
Sinner You Better Get Ready
Have A Feast Here Tonight
Goodbye Maggie
Rollin' On
The Old Man's Story
I've Still Got Ninety Nine
Little Joe
A Beautiful Life
Pearly Gates
On My Way Back Home
When Our Lord Shall Come Again

Tracks:

Mule Skinner Blues
No Lette In The Mail
Cryin' Holy Unto The Lord
Six White Horses
Dog House Blues
I Wonder If You Feel The Way I Do
Katy Hill
Tennessee Blues
Shake My Mother's Hand For Me
Were You There
Blue Yodel #7
The Coupon Song
Orange Blossom Special
Honky Tonk Swing
In The Pines
Back Up And Push
Rocky Road Blues
Kentucky Waltz
True Life Blues
Goodbye Old Pal
Footprints In The Snow
Blue Grass Special
Heavy Traffic Ahead
Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Toy Heart

Tracks:

Summertime Is Past And Gone
Mansions For Me
Mother's Only Sleeping
Blue Yodel #4
Will You Be Loving Another Man
How Will I Explain About You
Wicked Path Of Sin
I'm Going Back To Old Kentucky
It's Mighty Dark To Travel
I Hear A Sweet Voice Calling
Little Cabin On The Hill
My Rose Of Old Kentucky
Blue Grass Breakdown
Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong
The Old Cross Road
That Home Above
Remember The Cross
Little Community Church
Along About The Daybreak
When You Are Lonely
Molly And Tenbrooks
Shine Hallelujah, Shine
I'm Travellin' On And On
Can't You Hear Me Calling
Travelin' This Lonesome Road
Blue Grass Stomp
The Girl In The Blue Velvet Band

Customer Reviews:

Excellent collection.......2003-11-12

Very nice collection for a very good price. It's chronologically ordered, disc A is Bill & Charlie Monroe 1936; disc B is Bill & Charlie 1937-38; disc C is 1940-46; disc D is 1946-49. So from second half of disc C it's really Bluegrass with the Bluegrass Boys (including Flatt & Scruggs until the split after 1946).

I give this set 5 stars, although it's not 100% complete. I'm sure the Bear Family box set (Blue Moon of Kentucky 1936-1949 - 6 CDs; I don't have it) is more complete with probably more accurate liner notes, but it's also 5 times more expensive. So part of the stars are for getting so much for so little money.

Tracks:

Let Me Tell You Something
Going Under
The One
Illuminate
Conflict
Ever
Truth
Obsession (feat. Seabound)
Carve into You [2003 Edit]
Eternal
Passage
(bonus track) Conflict [cyberDJ medley]

Album Description

The follow-up to their successful 'Forward' and 'Conflict' releases, 'Illuminate' returns with a further cultivation of The Azoic's sound and style that will leave you wanting more! A solid blend of electronic dance that encompasses everything from trance to futurepop, industrial and synthpop. 12 passionate dance tracks, including a cover of Animotion's 80's hit "Obsession" featuring a guest appearance from Frank Spinath of Seabound!

Customer Reviews:

Let me tell you something.......2006-04-02

"Illuminate" is my first Azoic cd. I have always wanted to check out their music but that kept getting pushed back by other artists. I finally bought "Illuminate" not too long ago. I have to admit that "Illuminate" took some time to grow on me. Kristy Venrick's vocals had a tendency to sound a bit monotonous through out the cd. "Let Me Tell You Something" is evidence of just how monotonous her voice sounds. To be honest she sounded more like a man on this song. It's a catchy song but her voice is a bit flat and monotonous. Thankfully that is the one song where Kristy sounded like a man. I dug the bouncy synth beats of "Going Under". That song definitely has a good, bouncy club beat to it which makes it perfect to dance to. My personal favorite song has to be the title track. It has all the right hooks and beats to make this listener addicted to the song. I also love the cover of Animotion's "Obsession". Azoic does a great job of staying faithful to the song yet injecting their own sound of EBM to the song. There were a couple of weak tracks that lacked the same energy and hooks that "Illuminate" and "Obsession" possesses. Otherwise "Illuminate" is a solid Azoic cd for this first time listener.

You are an obsession.......2005-09-01

This is my first album from this group, and I can't say I'm disappointed. The music is very dancey and fast on some of the tracks. For the most part, the group has an industrial feel, leaning a tad on the techno-ey side. All of the music is done primarily with keyboards.
Stand out songs for me are `Ever' and `Truth'; just brilliant. I love their cover of `Obsession'. This song has always been so sexy and they make it even more so with their unique vocals and industrial instrumentation. It just seems to me that some of the songs in this album have more depth and emotion in them than others; very hit or miss with me.

The vocals are primarily done by Kristy Venrick with a few tracks accompanied with Steve Laskarides doing vocals. Kristy's voice is absolutely alluring. She has a rich, strong singing style. She really gives the music its edge.

If you like electronic music that is on the industrial side, check this out. It's not as despairing and bleak as most industrial music tends to be.

Heavenly vocals, great beats.......2005-07-08

This album has become my primary workout soundtrack. I love to run with this album on my iPod - it really gets me running hard keeps me going. Kristy's vocals get stronger with every release, but with this album, they took an exponential leap forward. Not only do the vocals hold a great deal of emotion, but they are so pure and crisp and she uses the full extent of her range. Outstanding tracks are "Let Me Tell You Something," "Illuminate," "Truth," and my favorite track on the entire album "Going Under."

A high energy release that's perfect for working out, getting down on the dance floor or just for playing any time you want to get your heart pumping. This album is highly recommended.

Album Of The Decade.......2005-04-23

"Illuminate" brings forth The Azoics new full length album boasting their astonishingly powerful new sound. The EP's "Conflict" and "Forward", both jaw-dropping in their own right, were but a sample of what The Azoic were preparing!

I will confess that the Azoics early releases weren't very interesting to me, but this album is probably my favorite album of all time, it has all the right hooks, melodies, beats, and GORGEOUS VOCALS by KRISTY VENRICK to claim that title, perhaps even, album of the decade!

The Azoic + their record label are creating an industrial/synth dance revolution, with quite a few other bands following their example or being brought to the attention of a wider industrial audience. So far, I have not heard anything bad surface from Nilaihah records.

The Azoic did it again!.......2004-10-04

The follow-up to their successful "Forward " and "Conflict" releases, "Illuminate" returns with a further cultivation of The Azoic's sound and style that will leave you wanting more! A solid blend of electronic dance that encompasses everything from Trance to Futurepop, Industrial, and Synthpop. Twelve passionate dance tracks, including a cover of Animotion's 80's hit "Obsession" featuring a guest appearance from Frank Spinath of Seabound! On Nilaihah.

Bert Williams: His Final Releases, 1919-1922

Average customer rating:

Bringing Back Those Wonderful Days
Really great!
Last, but not his least!
Truly BRILLIANT!!!
Great Laughs from the granddaddy of Black comedy

Bert Williams: His Final Releases, 1919-1922
Bert Williams
Manufacturer: Archeophone Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Middle Years, 1910-1918
The Early Years, 1901-1909
1922: An Angel's Voice I Hear
The 1890s, Volume 1: Wipe Him Off the Land
1921: Make Believe and Smile

ASIN: B000063203
Release Date: 2001-07-02

Tracks:

Oh! Lawdy
Bring Back Those Wonderful Days
Everybody Wants a Key to My Cellar
Its Nobodys Business But My Own
Elder Eatmores Sermon on Generosity
Elder Eatmores Sermon on Throwing Stones
Im Sorry I Aint Got It
The Moon Shines on the Moonshine
Checkers
Somebody
Ten Little Bottles
Unlucky Blues
Lonesome Alimony Blues
Get Up
Save a Little Dram for Me
I Want to Know Where Tosti Went
You Cant Trust Nobody
Eve Cost Adam Just One Bone
Youll Never Need a Doctor No More
My Last Dollar
Im Gonna Quit Saturday
Brother Low Down
Unexpectedly
Not Lately

Album Description

During the last three years of his life, legendary African-American vaudeville star Bert Williams made some of the most notable recordings of his career. Starting with "Oh! Lawdy" in 1919 and ending with "Not Lately"—a song recorded eight days before his death in 1922—these recordings range from Prohibition songs ("Ten Little Bottles," "The Moon Shines on the Moonshine"), to comic numbers ("Oh! Lawdy," "Eve Cost Adam Just One Bone," "You'll Never Need a Doctor No More,") to early so-called blues ("Unlucky Blues") and his parodies on hypocritical religious figures (the Elder Eatmore Sermons, "Save a Little Dram for Me").

Bert Williams: His Final Releases, 1919-1922 is the only commercial CD release that gives you all 24 of Bert Williams' final releases—complete, and in the order they were recorded. The package includes a 16-page booklet discussing the last three years of Williams' life, his stage career, and themes common in some of his later works.

Customer Reviews:

Bringing Back Those Wonderful Days.......2007-02-01

This recording introduces modern listeners to one of the giants of turn of the century humor. Bert Williams, aside from being African-American was a true genius at emphasis and timing, both essential elements in any great comedean. I have known of his work for over 40 years via original copies of his recordings but this new release makes the sound so much clearer than even good copies of his old records. True, these are all acoustic recordings made with no amplification and Willaims' accent and quiet manner were at odds with this early type of recording but the results (especially in this particualr CD) are quite wonderful.

Really great!.......2006-11-29

If this music is your type of thing (and of course, it isn't EVERYONE'S type of thing anymore), this disc is for you. Me, I love Bert Williams.

Actually, ALL of the discs put out by Archeophone are fantastic. They manage to find very good-sounding discs and clean them up just enough to sound good but not ruin the music. (In other words, yes, there's crackle here and there, but at least the music sounds clean and crisp instead of muffled, as can often happen with noise reduction.) Naturally the older the discs, the less clean they'll sound, but they're all quite listenable. If you're interested in more of their CD's, look them up on Amazon or go to their web site (which is the name of the company, plus .com). They've got samples of every track on every one of their discs.

I have almost all of their discs, so I have this basic review up on all of them.

Last, but not his least!.......2005-05-25

This groundbreaking CD of Bert Williams last recordings may have been his last but certainly not his least.All are wonderful numbers but tunes like"Everybody wants a key to my Cellar","It's nobody's business but my Own" and "Not Lately" are particular stand outs.
Many of the songs Bert recorded and some he didn't were done years later by many artists but one in particular stands out and that's Phil Harris.Phil had grown up as a youngster hearing these songs which he loved and he developed a similar singing/talking style like Bert.Many of Berts' songs,like those of other countless vaudvillians of the period like Sophie Tucker,Eddie Cantor and Al Jolson,were those that told stories that were either outright hilarious or semi-serious with tongue firmly planted in cheek.Either way the audiences of the day ate them up.Personally I have always loved this form of song done properly and Bert certainly was a master of its' form.
Mr.Williams was born in the Carribean in the late 1800s and his family moved to California when he was still a youngster.The entertainment bug grabbed him early on and after a time he bumped into a fellow performer by the name of George Walker.
The two developed this dandy/moax routine which is a form that still inspires and entertains even today.Walker would usually play the role of a dandy,high roller,con-man,etc. who would set about to outsmart the moax or unsuspecting victim played by Williams not always successfully.
There were many variations on this theme but it was VERY successful for them.So much so they eventually produced their own plays in the late 1800s and into the early 1900s.Besides becoming famous world-wide they were most noted for being major exponents of the popular dance craze the cake-walk and the first black artists signed to a major record label,Victor,then Columbia.
They even appeared before the King and Queen of England in a command performance.
In 1911 George Walker passed away from syphilis predeceasing his wife by only about three years.This left Bert with a large hole in his life both personally and professionally.He had always relied on George to take care of the business side of their work and to bounce ideas off of and now without him he drifted awhile trying to get back a sense of himself and to develop a viable character.
Eventually he realized his audiences wouldn't settle for anything less than something close to what he had already been doing all along.By the time he was out on his own a few years he had developed certain trademark routines and songs that audiences wouldn't let him offstage until they had seen and heard him do.His song "Nobody" and "The Gambler" being two of many.
Since his joining of Ziegfeld Follies in 1910,the first black in a major production,Bert realized that this venue with its' time constraints as just one performer among many also did little to enable him to stretch his character.These types of shows were always deliberately structured so that although a performers' time on stage may be limited it took into account(in the overall time frame) the fact that most of the established stars would get encores.And Bert rarely failed to get them,in spades.
With all of Berts' fame it never failed to cut him to the quick the very real prejudice he would experience by his peers and especially by those outside show business.How could a man feted by a King and Queen and seemingly loved by so many be treated at times in such a deplorable manner?
Born in another country he came to America,settled and got into the entertainment world.But he soon realized that the only way he was going to get anywhere was to study the American blacks with their own particular affectations,characteristics and mannerisms and portray them in this way in his own style as long as that style was of the acceptable parameters of the times.This included applying burnt cork and "blacking up".He,his partner along with countless other acts of the day whether white or black all did the same thing and like Berts' their audiences would have them no other way.
When he passed away in 1922 due to complications with pneumonia the world lost one of its' brightest stars.Bert Williams was an original and a singular talent the likes of which we had never seen before or will ever see again.
Archeophone records has completed the series(three so far,possibly more to come if any other material should surface) of a long overdue star of the first magnitude.Each CD in the series,as in this one,contains the usual copious liner notes and details on not only his recorded material but the man himself.Along the way there are articles written by Bert and his former partner George Walker so you can get a better feel for these men more up close and personal.
I cannot say enough about this series nor the company that produced them.They deserve our congratulations and our support.
Because in the end it brings back into the spotlight a man long forgotten,misunderstood and lost......but now thankfully found.
Encore!!

Truly BRILLIANT!!!.......2004-01-10

Bert Williams was truly the only brilliant vaudeveille singer, he was one of the BIG THREE(the other two being Al Jolson & Eddie Cantor). As where Cantor & Jolson had energy and were loud and annoying, in a good and bad way, Williams was lazy sounding, the way balcks were thought of back then. He makes wonderful points, and even mocks both balcks and white's. This is truly one brilliant man captured on a cd!!! Some highlights are Elder Eatmore's Serman on Throwing Stone's(later recorded by Lousi Armstrong), and You Can't Trust Nobody, as well as the comical Eve Cost Adam Just One Bone. This cd is both hilarious, serious, politacal, politcally incorrect(who really cares), and poigniant, all at once. Williams really makes you stop and think about how times wer, and makes you forget how much worst they are today!!! A masterpiece by a mastermind. Even two tough jazz critics Scott Yanow, and Will Friedwald have praised Williams recordings! A must buy!! ESSENTIAL desert island music!

Great Laughs from the granddaddy of Black comedy.......2002-02-20

Long before Richard Pryor, Martin Lawrence, Redd Foxx, or Dick Gregory were even thinking about being born, Bert Williams was the pioneer. The long-unavailable enclosed songs bring him back from histrocial obscusrity.

The songs are great for a laugh. Bert's specialty was songs in which he told funny stories. In "I'm Gonna Quit On Saturday," he refuses to work on a circus train with a lion cage because "Lions love dark meat." In "Lonesome Alimony Blues," his imprisoned character "don't need to know what the time is, 'cause you ain't going noplace." In "Bring Back Those Wonderful Days," he longs for the removal of "Tip-requesting waiters and those red-flag agitators." "Brother Low Down" will give you a good sermon ""once he's good and liquored-up." etc. etc.

I have spoken with very old people who remembered loving these tunes as children and you can see why. Louis Armstrong recorded Williams' "Elder Eatmore Sermons" in 1938 (see "Louis and the Good Book"). Jazz comedian Louis Jordan's father had known Bert Williams and passed down his influence to his son (in fact, Louis Jordan billed himself for a while as "The Modern Bert Williams)."

However, modern listeners and audiophiles should beware of the surface noise and static due to the age of these recordings. But once you get past that technicality, imagine that grandma and grandpa are cranking up the old victrola and enjoy.

An Introducton to Beethoven's Fidelio
Average customer rating:

A Wonderful Introduction to Beethoven's 'Fidelio'

An Introducton to Beethoven's Fidelio

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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An Introduction to Puccini's Turandot

Opera Explained: An Introduction to Puccini's Tosca

An Introduction to Verdi's Il trovatore

ASIN: B00008GQHO
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Tracks:

Introduction To 'Fidelio'
The Four Overtures And Plot Outline
Act I: Marzelline And Jaquino
Quartet: Marzelline, Leonore, Rocco, Jaquino
Entrance Of Pizarro
Leonore - Recitative And Aria - 'Abscheulicher!'
The Prisoners' Chorus - 'O Welche Lust!'
Leonore Learns Her Husband's Fate
Act I: Florestan In The Dungeon
Melodrama - Leonore And Rocco Dig The Grave
Leonore Reveals Her True Identity
Finale - 'Liberation From Tyranny'
Leonore Releases Florestan From His Chains

Customer Reviews:

A Wonderful Introduction to Beethoven's 'Fidelio'.......2003-06-29

Many people who have not been exposed to opera are intimidated by the very thought of it. Modern opera-house performances with supertitles have been very helpful in dispelling that condition. Here is another method of helping people get comfortable with the great operas. Naxos has already put out educational CDs - all written by Thomson Smillie - for such masterpieces as Mozart's Magic Flute, and Così fan tutte, Verdi's La Traviata and Aïda, Puccini's La Bohème and Tosca, Bizet's Carmen, and others. Here we have Beethoven's 'Fidelio,' his only opera.

The approach is this: First, there is a short introduction to the social, artistic, and political background of the composition of the opera and its story. Then - using Naxos recordings of the opera, in this case their wonderful recording of Fidelio [really one of the best available, in my opinion; only the 1960s recording conducted by Otto Klemperer is clearly better] - they turn to a leisurely recounting of the story of the opera with frequent recorded selections from the corresponding music. Smillie's text also points out many of the musical felicities along the way, e.g. 'listen to how the voices combine, each character singing his or her private thoughts, during this sublime quartet.'

The narration is neither too esoteric nor too 'dumbed down'; an intelligent older child would be able to understand it. I can easily imagine that this series is already being used in music appreciation classes, and if not, they should be. All this is helped by the clear narration by British actor David Timson, who also occasionally acts out some of the important moments in the plot.

All in all, it's hard to imagine a better introduction to the operas in this series.

Tracks:

Intro
Lead the way
No Love feat. Paul Wall & Chamillionaire
Song 4 U
Since you came
Temptation
Betcha She
Try Again
Try Again Pt.2 Feat. Gene Moore Jr.
Praise Him
Never Letting Go
Nothing Compares
Medley ( Oh How I love Jesus, Nearer to thee, I Need thee, This is my story)
Prayers of the righteous
When it seems
Humble yourself
No More
Keep On Holdin On feat. Skinner Sisters
Quit Bumpin
Outro Prayer

Customer Reviews:

Sub-Par.......2007-05-17

No doubt Shei Atkins can sing and the beats keep you interested, but the reviews of this cd mislead you. While this is a christian artist this cd clearly lacks the spiritual aspect that you look for in a christian cd. Some of the songs leave you wondering what was spiritual about that? Like the song "Betcha She" talks about her man cheating on her and she is chanting "Betcha she can't love you like I can" or something like that. The beat is nice but it sounds like all the other R&B fornication cuts. And other songs leave you with a look on your face like you just ate a lemon and you think "this girl has issues". This gets 3 stars only because of the beats and her voice but if you are looking for something to build you up spiritualy LOOK ELSEWHERE!

Life in Stereo.......2006-05-02

I like contemporary gospel music. So I decided to check out artists that are really not well known to hear something new. Well based on the reviews for this artist they were pretty good so I decided to give her a try. I must say that I was not dissappointed. This CD is definately R&B gospel with a message to live for God. She really ministers through her music. Whether you're going through hard times, relationship problems, family problems, she relates this through her music. I really enjoyed all the songs. The ones I liked the best were:
No Love-4/5
Temptation-5/5
Never Letting Go-4/5
No More-5/5
Keep On Holdin On-4/5
There was only one song I didn't like at all, "Quit Bumpin". I'm glad it was at the end of the CD because it was horrible. It kind of reminded me of Missy Elliott. But overall this is good music and very enjoyable. So if you love gospel with that R&B flavor, I recommend this.

Awesome.......2006-04-06

I love track 12 about how His plans are not man. Whenever I'm lost as to how things are going to turn out I listen to this song. Plus Praise has me praising hard in my ride and at home.

THIS IS A R&B GOSPEL CD EVERY YOUNG ADULT SHOULD OWN.......2005-08-22

THIS CD HAS A MIXTURE OF R&B GOSPEL THAT EVERY ADULT CAN RELATE TO. THE WHOLE CD IS WORTH BUYING BECAUSE I LOVE THIS CD ESPECIALLY THE SONGS TRY AGAIN PART I AND II, SONG 4 YOU,TEMPTATION,SINCE YOU CAME, BETCHA SHE, AND THE WHOLE CD. THIS IS A MUST HAVE CD AND GO OUT AND SUPPORT SOULMUZICK. CANT WAIT FOR THE NEW CD LITA MAE SHOW AND I KNOW ITS GOING TO BE GOOD!!!!!!!!

WONDERFUL.......2005-07-26

THIS IS A MUST HAVE CD. IT HAS BUMPING AND UP TO DATE GOSPEL MUSIC DEALING WITH REAL ISSUES. I LOVED IT

Average customer rating:

Fun, Fun, Fun
This is the best kids CD ever!
Delightful wordplay and whimsey for young listeners.
Old mr. mackle hackle
Let's all sing along!

Old Mr. Mackle Hackle
Gunnar Madsen
Manufacturer: G-Spot (City Hall)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Stories | Children's Music | Styles | Music

General | Children's Music | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00001T3GW
Release Date: 1999-10-12

Tracks:

Summertime Is Here
Chicken Road
I'm a Little Twerp
Born to Chew (We Eat Meat)
Dinosaur Song
Elephant Traffic Jam
Evelyn Way
Tiny Mosquito
Selling Lemonade
Old Mr. Mackle Hackle
Flying, Flying
Tiny Mosquito (Reprise)

Amazon.com

With Old Mr. Mackle Hackle, Gunnar Madsen offers up some of the freshest, funniest, and most inventive fare in the ever expanding crop of children's music. "Summertime Is Here" is a bluesy romp in celebration of that venerable season and "Born to Chew (We Eat Meat)" is a carnivorous-dinosaur spoof on '50s rock. "Chicken Road" is a talking country blues that'll leave listeners in stitches as Madsen tells of chicken lipstick, chicken donuts, chickens playing guitars, and just about every other brand of rooster and hen. Horns and squawky keys chronicle the "Elephant Traffic Jam," "Selling Lemonade" is a straight-up folk tune begging for campfire sing-alongs, and the rhyming title track bounces and boings away, lodging itself firmly into one's noggin. Fleshed out with rootsy and faux-classical instrumentation, Madsen's lyrics are smart, sassy, and right on target, operating on multiple levels, pleasing both adult and juvenile audiences. Winning and witty! --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews:

Fun, Fun, Fun.......2006-03-26

My kids and I have been listening to this on and off for over 5 years and it is still fresh and makes us laugh and feel good. We love "Ants in my Pants" too. This guy is a genius.

This is the best kids CD ever!.......2001-02-21

I am the mother of twin 2 1/2 year old boys so we listen to alot of music in the car. This CD is unbelievably entertaining (which says alot considering I have to listen to it over and over!). Our boys love it and so adults. We find ourselves singing "I'm just a tiny mosquito" all the time which is the kids favorite. Madsen's lyrics are hilarious for the ault listeners, and inventive and comical for children. He is like the Jim Carey of children's music. Some songs are making fun of opera, others jazz, still others are wistful. He should win some award for this one. A must if you have to have children's music! And guess what, you can throw away all those other dreadful tapes away!

Delightful wordplay and whimsey for young listeners........2000-04-07

Old Mr. Mackle-Hackle showcases word play and whimsy that will delight young listeners of all ages. Composer and performer Gunnar Madsen draws upon his extensive background in classical, folk, and pop music to create lively and totally fun recordings which includes Summertime is Here (3:19); Chicken Road (3:38); I'm a Little Twerp (2:17); Born to Chew/We Eat Meat (3:03); The Dinosaur Song (3:11); Elephant Traffic Jam (1:07); The Evelyn Way (2:53); Tiny Mosquito (2:24); Selling Lemonade (2:51); Old Mr. Mackle Hackle (3:45); Flying, Flying (3:38); Tiny Mosquito-reprise (0:19). Old Mr. Mackle-Hackle is a delightful addition to any family, school or community library children's music collection.

Old mr. mackle hackle.......2000-02-08

I am a mother of two small sons(2 and 4). We have listened to Gunnars music since they were little.I love it. My boys love it. My husband loves it. Our imaginations fly with every song, we have a blast together and just sing sing sing!

Let's all sing along!.......2000-01-13

Both my kids took to this CD instantly. I think they have been listening to it almost non-stop since we got it.

When we are away from the music it has been a pleasure hearing the 6-year old singing Elephant Traffic Jam and the 2-year old sing "... ha ha hee the Evelyn way!..."

Unlike many children's songs that get trapped in your brain and won't come out until you think you'll go postal. Gunnar's songs are wonderful works that I enjoy having banging around in my skull.

Tracks:

Burned Out Love
Tomorrow Night
Turnaround
Get My Message
Love Is Like a Bullet
Karen
Mayday
She Satisfies
When Push Comes to Shove
Too Late
Your Imagination
Now and Then
Summer Rain
Curiosity
Pieces of Glass
Will You Spin for Me?
Too Soon
Double Talk
Boys Don't Lie
I Don't Wanna Hear It
I Don't Miss You
Hate to Run

Album Description

Perfect introduction to one of the finest pop bands to come out of the U.S. 22 of their greatest from 1977-1987, including 'Too Late', 'Tomorrow Night', 'She Satisfies' and 'Hate To Run'. 1987 release.

Customer Reviews:

a perfect "power pop" band that most have never heard of.......2006-08-30

Shoes were a Chicago suburb D.I.Y. power pop band. They had a lot of talent but never made it.

This compilation is excellent especially if your a fan of Beatles, Rubinoos, Fountains of Wayne, Rasperies, Knack and all the other power pop favorites.

What makes the Shoes so good is that they were really good songwriters. There are a lot of songs on this compilation yet the tunes are different and not repetitive. If somebody with the proper business acumen ever were to get involved with this band they would have been much bigger.

It seems as though the band has a bigger fololwing today (b/c of all the power pop affecionados) then when they were around. The music has a real lasting quality and sounds fresh and contemporpary today.

If you are looking at the entry for the "Shoes" it means that you are really into music. Go ahead take a chance, be adventurous and try a listen for this wonderful band. Evey song is a quality tune. I wont tell you the highlights since nobody is familiar with the titles anyway.

This is classic jangly guitars, multi-part harmony songs.

What hampered their career probably also enhanced the music. This stuff has not been infuenced by any corporate interests and is purely the work of a young band following their own muse.

A marvelous collection of power pop love songs.......2006-01-05

More than any group of the past thirty years, The Shoes were the most passionate practitioners of rock and roll pop songs about love in the tradition of the early Beatles and the Raspberries. There albums without exceptions are about love between guys and gals. Each song focuses on an upcoming date, the hopes of requited love, the heartache of a relationship that has ended, the regret of things gone wrong. Virtually none deal with love in full bloom; the songs always deal with the hope of love that may be or the lost of love that was. In other words, the wongs deal with the most enduring of all human themes, our need for love.

Musically, these songs stand out for three things: great vocal harmonies (two of the members, Jeff and John Murphy, are brothers, and siblings always seem to blend especially well, and Gary Klebe sounded like their long lost brother), tremendous hooks, and guitars. Interestingly, though they chose in the late seventies, eighties, and nineties to write particularly untrendy tunes on unfashionable subjects, the Shoes were always popular with the critics. This is only just, for these are absolutely great pop songs.

Shoes's fans tend to fall into two camps: many regard their early BLACK VINYL SHOES as their best album, while others (of which I am a member) prefer their two masterpieces TONGUE TWISTER and PRESENT TENSE. The latter two were combined into a single CD, a twofer that for me stands comparison with Gram Parsons's G.P./GRIEVOUS ANGEL or Big Star's #1 RECORD/RADIO CITY. It remains the single best Shoes CD to find, though it is currently Out of Print. Wish List it here on Amazon and get the first copy that you see available.

Though BOOMERANG and SILHOUETTE were also fine albums (though I will admit to liking STOLEN WISHES more than most reviewers, with the heartbreaking "Torn in Two," one of my favorite cuts by the band, which I wish had made it onto this album), most of the great songs on this anthology come from PRESENT TENSE or TONGUE TWISTER. "Tomorrow Night," "Turnaround," "Karen," "She Satisfies," and my favorite "Too Late" all come from one of those. Although this album hardly exhausts all of their best work, it serves as a superb introduction to anyone wanting to sample their work.

Anyone who loves great power pop will love this album. If you adore the early Beatles or Big Star or the Raspberries, this is an album you absolutely must own.

Best of the Shoes.......2000-06-14

This CD is a must have for rock and roll fans who like to mix a little acoustical guitar with some electric up-tempo tunes. The songs "Too Late", "The Summer Rain, and "Tomorrow Night" will have you singing along even when your not playing the CD. Most the songs are typical "boy-girl" relationship themed that should remind anyone of the fun and emotions of early adulthood.

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