Oliver! (1963 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Lionel Bart's wonderful musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic was the first London stage musical to be transplanted to Broadway with the same kind of sensation it received in Britain-- something that is now common in these post-Cats/Les Miserables times. Although no one from this British cast ever became enormously famous (future Monkee Davy Jones was in the second Broadway cast)--and Sir Carol Reed's film version receives all the critical accolades--this remains the better recording, featuring all the songs cut from the film, while excluding the film's musical interludes that simply seem annoying without the visuals. Just compare Bruce Brochnik to the film's Mark Lester in the title role. Or Clive Revill to Ron Moody's Fagin. Or any of the principals, for that matter--and the differences are remarkable. --Bill Holdship

Oliver! (1963 Original Broadway Cast), Music, Lionel Bart, Clive Revill, Georgia Brown, Cast Recordings
Rosenrot
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • half steam ahead
  • Definitely not "leftovers," more like dessert!
  • Leftovers plus more, these "B-sides" get an A+
  • Awesome! Very recommended to any metal lover.
  • A massive disappointment
Rosenrot
Rammstein
Manufacturer: Republic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Alt IndustrialAlt Industrial | Industrial | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GermanyGermany | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Progressive MetalProgressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
Alternative MetalAlternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
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Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Reise, Reise
  2. Mutter
  3. Herzeleid
  4. Sehnsucht
  5. Rammstein - Lichtspielhaus

ASIN: B000BK8FH4
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Tracks:

  1. BENZIN
  2. MANN GEGEN MANN
  3. ROSENROT
  4. SPRING
  5. WO BIST DU
  6. STIRB NICHT VOR MIR // DON'T DIE BEFORE I DO
  7. ZERSTEN
  8. HILF MIR
  9. TE QUIERO PUTA!
  10. FEUER UND WASSER
  11. EIN LIED

Album Description

East German industrial titans follow up 2004's Reise Reise with this fifth studio album, whose title translates as "Rose Red". It consists of leftover material from the Reise Reise sessions which the band felt strong enough to merit a release in its own right. On this album they continue to broaden their palette with a track in Spanish and a duet with Texas's Sharleen Spiteri on "Stirb Nicht Vor Mir" ("Don't Die Before Me"). Includes the single "Benzin" ("Petrol").

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars half steam ahead.......2007-03-23

Personally, I like what Rammstein continues to put out, but I'm more than a little disappointed at how some of the songs on this CD turned out so...generic.

Don't get me wrong, I love this band, one of my favorites in fact. I just can't say I love most of the songs on this CD like I do on Sehnsucht, Mutter, or Reise Reise. I'm a fan of their older CD's; full of dark, heavy industrial metal, but not so much of this...I'd go as far as saying white noise on this CD. It reminds me of listening to the radio. Theres a few gems to be heard on the radio, but most is filler and consequently, white noise because it all sounds the same.

I did like a few on this CD though. Mann Gegen Mann, Rosenrot, Wo Bist Du, even Don't Die Before I Do, and to a lesser extent, Spring

5 out of 5 stars Definitely not "leftovers," more like dessert!.......2007-03-22

I bought this CD simply because it is a Rammstein CD and I LOVE Rammstein with every ounce of my being. I was a little surprised to see the Parental Advisory sticker on the cover, but I assume that's just because of the DVD. The lyrics can't possibly be offensive to those individuals who don't understand German. Anyway, upon first listen, I didn't hear anything remarkable. I shrugged and put Rosenrot away, trading it for my well-worn copy of Reise, Reise. I don't know when it was that I decided to put Rosenrot back in. Perhaps I had heard "Mein Teil" and "Moskau" a little too much. At any rate, I gave it another chance. I was not disappointed. The first stand-out track to me was "Hilf Mir" (Help Me). Absolutely amazing song. Next, I fell in love with "Wo Bist Du" (Where Are You?), "Spring" (Jump) and Zerstoren (Destroy. Yes, I know that I didn't use the O with the diaresis). The point is that there is SO MUCH here besides typical b-sides and filler. I love most every song on here. Yes, I dislike the one that everyone else does. Stirbt nicht vor mir isn't entirely unlikeable...if you can get past the lyrics. Being fluent in both German and English, I am unable to and it really kills what is an otherwise beautiful melody.

But, if you are reading this, you are a Rammstein fan and you are wondering if you should pick this up. I think so. Mann Gegen Mann (Man Against Man) is a song that some might find offensive if they translate the lyrics, but it is quite catchy. Benzin is okay, perhaps not the best choice to open up the disc. Have I missed any of the songs? Feuer und Wasser (Fire and Water) is another beautiful song. I suppose I'm not the best reviewer because I can't express just how much I love these songs. If I had to pick the best one on the CD, I would go with Wo Bist Du. If you don't speak German, translate the lyrics. It's not just another song about an unrequited love. It's quite haunting. I love it.

The bottom line here is that this CD shouldn't be overlooked or shunned just because these songs "weren't good enough to make it to Reise, Reise." There are some AMAZING tracks here and they deserved to be looked at on their own. There are solid songs, there are a couple (Stirbt nicht vor mir & Ein Lied) that aren't as strong. I don't think any true Rammstein fan would be disappointed with this album. There are loud songs, quieter songs, melodic songs, etc. It's a very good album and my digipak case is becoming quite worn out from multiple listenings. I highly recommend this album to fans of the band, and the genre in general.

4 out of 5 stars Leftovers plus more, these "B-sides" get an A+.......2007-02-12

Rammstein's "Rosenrot" has some leftover material (six tracks in all) from the studio sessions of the album "Reise Reise", which I honestly did not care for that much compared to prior Rammstein releases. On this album however, I felt that the band had recorded some deeper, more atmospheric tunes that tended to get away from the addictive beats and rhythms that I again, experienced on past albums. Rosenrot also includes five new tracks besides the Reise Reise "B-sides".

The songs on here are a good mix of the driving, crunching formula of stomping chants and powerful riffs that we know the band can deliver, but also have a good number of songs that escalate more into a progressive feel. The album starts off with a staunch assault called "Benzin" that has an epic, haunting background of darkness that is backed by forceful guitars. The title track has catchy sounding lyrics that although make little sense to this listener (I don't speak German well) still comes across with great, daunting tone. Another great track that reflects some great guitar work. "Wo Bist Du" is a choppy, crashing tune and has an elegant if not dire synth sound in the background during the chorus parts.

The track "Zerstoren" will excite any Rammstein fan, as it's a fast, frenzied thrashing tune that never lets up in intensity. Eleven tracks in all, "Ein Lied" rounds out the list and is one of my favorites. It starts off slow with a small guitar piece playing along and slowly seeps into a sweeping, harrowing song that is not brutal but stays Melodic and soulful, and is backed by some ghostly singing in the background that one might find in an old Vincent Price film.

I'm not a Rammstein fanatic, just a big fan. Although some scoffed "Rosenrot", its versatile combination of edgy laden metal and drifting, slower paced tracks make it a solid album.

5 out of 5 stars Awesome! Very recommended to any metal lover........2007-01-20

Well, I'll make it short. This cd is very good. Any Rammstein fan will love this but others who like metail genre in general will probably like it too. The assortment and sound of the sound in the album is quite nice. This album as well as Mutter and Sehnsucht are my favorites and if you like the albums I've mentioned you'll surely will enjoy this one too. Also, if you liked this you may want to check out Megaherz, Eisbrecher, Puhdys which are some of the other awesome German metal bands (you may have to get them from German Amazon though).

Anyway, good addition to any metal fan's cd collection!

2 out of 5 stars A massive disappointment.......2007-01-18

A long time ago, Rammstein was one of my favorite industrial/metal bands. Their first three albums are considered classics to me. When the band released "Reise Reise" in 2004, I was completely underwhelmed and unimpressed by the garbage they released. I hated their then new hard rock sound. I did not care for the lack of synths in the band's music so right then and there, I decided to move on and find other bands that can satisfy my thirst for aggressive industrial music. "Rosenrot" is a collection of songs leftover from the "Reise Reise" sessions. I found a copy of the cd at my local library. I was even less impress with the collection of half-baked hard rock sounds. Not that the songs were terrible but I can't honestly say they were remotely good. I understand the band's desire to evolve but frankly it ain't cutting the mustard with this long time Rammstein fan. The only song I really did like on the cd was the duet with Sharleen from the Scottish band Texas. Overall, generic, average, mediocre, half-arse hard rock music from what was once a great band.
The Black Halo
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • black halo
  • Just background music
  • the best ever
  • Finally, power metal to be taken seriously...
  • BEST CD EVER MADE
The Black Halo
Kamelot
Manufacturer: Steamhammer Us [Spv]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Progressive MetalProgressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
Death MetalDeath Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. Epica
  2. Ghost Opera
  3. Karma
  4. The Fourth Legacy
  5. Once

ASIN: B0007OASII
Release Date: 2005-03-15

Tracks:

  1. March Of Mephisto
  2. When The Lights Are Down
  3. The Haunting (Somewhere In Time)
  4. Soul Society
  5. Interlude I: Dei Gratia
  6. Abandoned
  7. This Pain
  8. Moonlight
  9. Interlude II: Un Assassinio Molto Silenzioso
  10. The Black Halo
  11. Nothing Ever Dies
  12. Memento Mori
  13. Interlude III: Midnight - Twelve Tolls For A New Day
  14. Serenade

Album Description

Kamelot inked their recording contract in 1994 and released their debut, Eternity, the following August. The press praised the album as one of the most promising first offerings ever. 1996 saw the arrival of Dominion, an album that sounded even more varied and diverse than its predecessor. In spring 1997 Kamelot found Casey Grillo and the former Conception vocalist Khan, who joined the group during the production of Siege Perilous. In autumn of the same year, the new line-up embarked on an extensive European tour and returned to Gate studios in Wolfsburg twelve months later to work on the album that set a new standard for the band; The Fourth Legacy. In summer 2000, Kamelot's first live album was recorded during the New Allegiance tour, which took them through Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Greece and Spain. Only a few months later, Khan, Youngblood, Grillo and Glenn Barry presented their fifth studio cut, Karma, and embarked on a European tour. Epica arrived in 2003, followed by another tour as Headliners in Europe, Japan, Mexico and the US as well many top Festival appearances. The Black Halo adds another exciting and epic chapter to the band's brilliant history.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars black halo.......2007-07-15

This cd from beginning to end is fantastic. I have finally found another band to add to my collection. I would recommend this album and any other from Kamelot.

3 out of 5 stars Just background music.......2007-06-29

Blah blah blah, this CD is just so-so. It's probably good for just putting in your 100-CD changer and set the player on "random." If songs from this CD play, well fine. I judge a CD by how many times I've just got to keep playing it.........this one didn't get too much attention. It's not bad, it's just not special. This band has so much potential to do great....perhaps they need new management, a better song selector, or just a spark.

5 out of 5 stars the best ever.......2007-04-13

A sterling fusion of melodic power metal and classical orchestra. The current pinnacle of progressive metal. My favorite album of all time. I've given this one to all my friends, and bought myself several copies to archive. 'Nuff said.

5 out of 5 stars Finally, power metal to be taken seriously..........2007-04-12

The Black Halo is the second part of a story based around German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's version of Faust, following main characters Ariel, Helena, and Mephisto. The first part was Kamelot's previous album, Epica, and as such is basically mandatory listening for anybody who really wants to get the full experience out of The Black Halo. However, for the stubborn among us - Epica covers Ariel's abandonment of everything he has known in order to begin pursuit of the answers to the great mysteries of life. Unfortunately, things don't quite work out for him in the wide world, and he begins to long for the promising days of youth. This subsequently leads into his meeting with Mephisto, who - being the devil in disguise - arrives in the shape of a beautiful woman when Ariel is at his lowest and offers him all the pleasures a man could want. Ariel temporarily succumbs to Mephisto's offers and abandons his search. He indulges in "the life", as it were - food, drink, women, et al - and goes on to sign a contract with Mephisto that will turn out to be the proverbial deal with the devil. After all of this, he encounters his childhood love - Helena. They share a moment together, and Ariel learns that she is pregnant with his child, but Ariel ends up pushing her away in fear that the deal he had just made with Mephisto would bring her too much suffering... and as a result, Helena drowns herself in the river. Ariel becomes trapped between Mephisto's malevolence and Helena's goodness (who reappears as an angel), and Epica essentially ends there. The Black Halo, in turn, starts off with a depiction of the absolute peak of Mephisto's power over Ariel. The album sees Ariel given another chance at love (which he also rejects), and consequently descends into a dark conflict that takes place entirely in his mind. Several enlightening realizations bring him to a final confrontation with Mephisto, a tragic reunion with Helena, and ultimately culminate in a scene that portrays his death and takes the listener back to the very beginning of the overall saga. There are many little details, nuances, twists, and turns to discover along the way, but I'll leave that up to you. Suffice it to say, the concept is very well thought-out and quite moving.

The album features various guest musicians, including - guitarist Thomas Youngblood's wife Mari as the voice of Helena, Dimmu Borgir's Shagrath as the voice of Mephisto, Epica's Simone Simons as the character Marguerite, a full blown professional choir (dubbed the Kamelot Choir), the Rodenberg Symphony Orchestra, Stratovarius' Jens Johansson on keyboards, and more.

Impressive. Most impressive.

The music is rooted firmly in a power metal aesthetic. However, this is the most plausible form of power metal I have ever heard. I'm not even a fan of power metal - I could never get into the trite and boring high fantasy themes, extreme falsetto vocal nonsense, flat and predictable musicianship, and overall feeling of dreadful cheese. Kamelot, on the other hand, seem to take this inherently disastrous genre of metal and completely drop everything that makes it so laughable, substituting instead a sincere sense of sweeping power, genuine emotion, and soaring drama.

The band, from an instrumental perspective, manage to not completely fall into the trappings of their chosen genre. Save for a few essential performances from Jens Johansson (for example, his lead in the middle of "March of Mephisto" which is supposed to act as the devil's instrument), there aren't any obnoxious keyboard leads to be found here. The drums extend past incessant double bass marathons, offering moments of impactful glory (also best exemplified on "March of Mephisto"), and even some time signature changeups. The guitars range from high-speed tremolo riffing to mid-tempo work that can be quite heavy but never grates on the listener's ears; the guitar leads are highly melodious and fitting to the atmosphere of a given song and its place within the progression of the story, never really descending into pointless wankery. However, the real gem here is vocalist Roy Khan. He has immense range, but chooses to hang around the mid vocal registers for much of his delivery, which makes those moments where he extends up high or drops down low that much more moving. Those allergic to power metal shouldn't get discouraged by the "up high" comment... he doesn't indulge in the kind of over the top vocal acrobatics many have come to expect from this genre; he simply changes things up occasionally to keep a dynamic flow and stay with the mood of the song. Furthermore, his voice is filled with a fiery passion that's perfect for getting across the feelings and depicting the internal conflicts of the main character, Ariel... and he has several absolutely breathtaking performances throughout - namely, his duet with guest vocalist Simone Simons on "The Haunting (Somewhere In Time)", and his bone-chilling delivery on "Abandoned" that's multiplied ten-fold by the stellar backing of orchestra and choir.

There are three interludes during the course of The Black Halo that aren't really songs, but serve as transitionary performances that bring to light critical aspects of the storyline. The second of these, "Interlude II - Un Assassinio Molto Silenzioso" (translates into "A Very Silent Murder"), features Italian singer Cinzia Rizzo who's performance is of note. The third interlude, dubbed "Interlude III - Midnight, Twelve Tolls For A New Day", is also quite significant in that it depicts Ariel's final glimpse of Helena approaching him just before the moment of his death. His pained uttering of her name brings the album proper to a close. There is another song to be found afterwards, though. "Serenade" isn't part of the album's story, but is a joyous and upbeat song that is essentially a glorious celebration of life.

There are several other moments I'd like to briefly discuss.

The first is the opening track, "March of Mephisto". This song is just so unbelievably powerful. It's meant to represent the peak of Mephisto's influence over Ariel, and it gets this feeling across admirably as the united, methodical pulsing of drums and guitars sounds like a massive mustering of Mephisto's armies and their inevitable march to war with Mephisto himself snarling at their backs. As another reviewer said, it's like a freaking revolution. I can only imagine what kind of reaction this song garners in a live setting.

The second is the track "Memento Mori". Being the longest song that Kamelot have written to date (at around nine minutes), it sees Ariel, Helena, and Mephisto together one final time. The staple of this song is the line "I am the God in my own history", where Ariel finally realizes that he has the power to control his own destiny and casts Mephisto from his mind. Powerful performances from Roy, Mari, and Shagrath.

...and that's about it.

The Black Halo is like the "anti-power metal" power metal album, or maybe it's the purest embodiment of what power metal was always meant to become. Either way, it's a stunning, gorgeous, and intelligent album that I would recommend whether you're a fan of metal or not.

Not to be missed.

5 out of 5 stars BEST CD EVER MADE.......2007-04-01

This is THE ONLY ALBUM ever created that I can listen to from start to finish without feeling the need to skip anything or interrupt a song from bordom. If you have never heard anything from Kamelot, this is the album you want to buy to get you started. Best of the best, gaurenteed.
Reise, Reise
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Gimmicky and disturbing...
  • It rocks!
  • Rammstein returns....in color
  • Boring -- Beware the "musical" snobs
  • Simply Phenomenal
Reise, Reise
Rammstein
Manufacturer: Republic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Alt IndustrialAlt Industrial | Industrial | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GermanyGermany | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. Mutter
  2. Rosenrot
  3. Sehnsucht
  4. Herzeleid
  5. Rammstein - Lichtspielhaus

ASIN: B0002XDODU
Release Date: 2004-11-16

Tracks:

  1. Reise, Reise
  2. Mein Teil
  3. Dalai Lama
  4. Keine Lust
  5. Los
  6. Amerika
  7. Moskau
  8. Morgenstern
  9. Stein Um Stein
  10. Ohne Dich
  11. Amour

Album Details

The German Kings of Power Metal Never Stray Too Far from Controversy and this is the Follow Up to their Breakthu Album "Mutter". The Wall of Sound Comes at You at 1,000 Mph and Won't Let Up! features the First Single "Mein Teil".

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Gimmicky and disturbing..........2007-07-09

Rammstein uses a lot of gimmicks in this album and without these gimmicks Reise, Resie would fall flat on its Aryan face. A lot of crowed noises and synthesized voices and strings are implemented to strengthen the hypnotic percussion and simple guitar riffs.

The lyrics in this album are particularly disgusting. Rammstein's song subjects are usually weird but Mein Teil probably takes the cake. The songs has a lot of energy and power to it and musically it's a great song, but the lyrics are about meeting a cannibal and being eaten by him which make the song a little less pleasant to listen to.

Moskau is another song that's almost good. Musically it's pretty strong, and the gimmick of having a woman singing in Russian makes the song sound good, but the description of the city of Moscow as a prostitute makes the song less enjoyable.

Also, what's up with the solos in this album? Los would almost be a pretty good song, except the guitar riff is lacking in originality and a pathetic solo near the end of the song. Also, the "guitar solo" in Amerika sounds like it was tackled by a guitarist who wasn't fast or accurate enough to have made it work.

There are a few good songs on the album, but all in all I think this album sucks and I kind of wish I hadn't bought it.

4 out of 5 stars It rocks!.......2007-06-28

I have always been a fan of Rammstein but I must confess that this is actually the first cd I have purchased of theirs. Mostly because I love the song Amerika. The song perfectly captures my sentiments about Globalization and the spread of American consumerism and capitalism.
Also, it totally rocks.

3 out of 5 stars Rammstein returns....in color.......2006-11-02

Not sure if that makes sense, but as good as their previous albums were, most of the songs were either slow or driving. Reise, Reise represents a progression of the band in my eyes. The songs here linger more and arent quite as driving, but are less strained and more colorful. I have to admit missing the driving nature of Rammstein songs that was prevalent on the Mutter album. Ich Will on the Mutter album simply rocked, the best 'driving' Rammstein song in my opinion. Its easy to dismiss the Reise, Reise album because theres no song like Ich Will on it. I think thats unfair to the album however.
I have to admit at first listen I underestimated this album and considered it inferior to Mutter. But as I continue to listen to it, I think this album has the most A grade songs on it of any Rammstein album to date.
I would rate it 5 stars now, a definitive buy for Rammstein fans.

1 out of 5 stars Boring -- Beware the "musical" snobs.......2006-06-04

I'm sure that hard-core Rammstein-lovers will slam my review by checking "not useful" simply because they love the album and want to hammer me, but they are not who I am writing this review for. This is for people who, like me, who don't care who the artist is, but look for a certain type of music.

I originally bought the Sehnsucht album based on a fiend's recommendation, and I loved it. My son and I particularly enjoyed blasting the first 6 songs to wake up and get motivated while driving to his 6 a.m. hockey games a couple of years ago.

So I read the reviews and figured this album would be good, too. Wrong. BORING! It's more like a less-interesting version of the second half of the Sehnsucht album.

I suppose if you're the type who gets into analyzing the "musicality" and clever interplay of the instruments and the soulfull lyrics and blah blah blah, then yeah, you'll probably love this one.

If you want the kind of music with a hard-driving beat and sound that makes you bob your head up and down like the first half of Sehnsucht, don't waste your time and money on this album. That is not what this is.

Again -- if you love Rammstein or are some sort of musicality afficianado, you'll probably like it. If you want something hard-driving like the first half of Sehnsucht, you'll be disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars Simply Phenomenal .......2006-05-15

Fresh from their 2001 masterpiece "Mutter", German industrial metal merchants Rammstein return with a bang with their phenomenally epic 2004 masterpiece entitled "Reise, Reise". Not a single word can truly describe how phenomenal this album is. From beginning to end, this album will no doubt take you on an epic breathtaking journey that you'll leave you breathless, and sometimes bring tears to your eyes. Every song on here is simply awesome. Till Lindemann's vocals are just absolutely awesome and very enchanting. Paul Landers and Richard Z. Kruspe-Bernstein's guitar riffs are tight, crisp, and very menacing. Doktor Christian Lorenz's keyboardwork is great, and Oliver Riedel's bass, and Christoph "Doom" Schneider's drumming are all good as well.

Favorite songs include -
1. Reise, Reise: The opening title track, and my all time favorite song on here. No words can describe how much I love this song. The chorus is very addicting. It just brings tears to my eyes whenever it sinks into my brain.
2. Mein Teil: The first single off the album I believe, and a hard hitter as well. Till's vocals are very aweome on here. Great song.
5. Los: This song has a bluesy like accoustic riff throughout. Pretty cool song.
6. Amerika: Another one of my favorite songs, and a catchy headbanger. The chorus on this song is sung in English which I believe is a first for Rammstein. There's even a solo on this song which is pretty cool.
7. Moskau: This song has another headbanging beat that is very catchy throughout, and the chorus will stay stuck in your head for days. I like the guest female vocals on here too.
10. Ohne Dich: The chorus and the keyboard riff on this song brings tears to my eyes whenever I hear it. Another one of my favorites.

The whole song list and ratings:
1. Reise, Reise - 10/5
2. Mein Teil - 5/5
3. Dalai Lama - 5/5
4. Keine Lust - 5/5
5. Los - 5/5
6. Amerika - 5/5
7. Moskau - 5/5
8. Morgenstern - 5/5
9. Stein Um Stein - 5/5
10. Ohne Dich - 5/5
11. Amour - 5/5

Well there you have it. A must have for any fan of Rammstein, metal, industrial metal, or just good music in general. Buy this masterpiece now.

LONG LIVE RAMMSTEIN!!

The Blues and the Abstract Truth
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • So Many Superlatives
  • Great Small Group Writing
  • Stolen Moments is the classic
  • patrician cheesiness
  • Truth is a beautiful thing
The Blues and the Abstract Truth
Oliver Nelson
Manufacturer: Grp Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Speak No Evil
  2. More Blues & the Abstract Truth
  3. Song for My Father
  4. The Sidewinder
  5. Maiden Voyage

ASIN: B000003N7E
Release Date: 1995-08-15

Tracks:

  1. Stolen Moments
  2. Hoe-Down
  3. Cascades
  4. Yearnin'
  5. Butch And Butch
  6. Teenie's Blues

Amazon.com

Oliver Nelson had recorded several sessions for Prestige when the fledgling Impulse! label gave him the opportunity to make this septet date in 1961. The result was a rare marriage between an arranger-composer's conception and the ideal collection of musicians to execute it. The material is all based somehow on the blues, but Nelson's structural and harmonic extensions make it highly varied, suggesting ballads, hoedowns, and swing. The band is one of those groupings that seem only to have been possible around 1960, a roster so strong that the leader's name was actually listed fourth on the cover. Nelson shares the solo space with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, alto saxophonist and flutist Eric Dolphy, and pianist Bill Evans, while bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Roy Haynes contribute support and baritone saxophonist George Barrow adds depth. In stark contrast to Dolphy's brilliant, convulsive explosions, Nelson's tenor solos are intriguingly minimalist, emphasizing a tight vibrato and unusual note choices. It's not quite Kind of Blue (nothing is), but Blues and the Abstract Truth is an essential recording, one that helped define the shape of jazz in the '60s. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars So Many Superlatives.......2007-06-12

This CD is packed with superlatives. Oliver Nelson's writing and arranging leads the pack. He gives the blues a serious workout with his songwriting. Each song starts and ends with an orchestrated statement of a theme. Each theme is catchy, quirky, and a bit reminiscent of funky TV show themes like Sanford & Son with the heavy sax representation. The songs each has their own mood, running the gamut from cheerful to somewhat dissonant. The group of all-stars plays like they pay together every day - absolutely solid, yet expressive group playing. After the introductory themes, everyone gets their turn to show their stuff. Although I am a big Bill Evans fan and I enjoy his effective foray into the blues here, I find myself looking forward to the horn solos even more when I listen to this CD. Multiple saxes, trumpet and flute provide plenty of voice variety and each player has their own compelling style. This CD made an instant Freddie Hubbard and Eric Dolphy fan out of me. If you are looking for a very listenable example of some of the finest players ever getting together when classic jazz was near its peak, you couldn't find a better place to start than this.

5 out of 5 stars Great Small Group Writing.......2007-05-09

I can't think of a better album to study for small group writing. Plus, the variety of soloists makes the album worth buying. Listening to Eric's freer style of improvisation and then having Oliver come in with a very 'Trane influenced pattern style of improv makes every song a classic.

5 out of 5 stars Stolen Moments is the classic.......2007-02-27

Oliver Nelson was a great jazzman who really never got his complete due. He was a reasonably original tenor sax man, but his real talent was composing and arranging. This is an exceptional album, both because of the high quality of arrangements and because of the creativity of the musicians Nelson surrounded himself with in this album. Eric Dolphy was in the mold of Coltrane, and definitely a free spirit, but he was also thoroughly grounded like Trane was. Bill Evans, well, what more need be said. He was the pianist for Miles on "Kinda Blue", he established himself as a major piano figure and he was a master accompanist. Freddie Hubbard was a master jazz trumpet player. The rhythm section is tight and more than just competent. All in all, this is a wonderful CD, and the highest of the high has to be Stolen Moments. Not only the arrangement, but also the way each soloist listens to the soloist just before him and continues the same "story". This is jazz, both written and improvised, at its best and this album ranks nearly as high as "Kinda Blue".

4 out of 5 stars patrician cheesiness.......2007-01-05

I have seen the tbin-tie wearing white boys gasp in horror at their realization this music could not get them laid in the Summmer of Love.
For many sad jazz dee-jays Oliver Nelson celebrates the acme of post-bop bachelor pad cheese. This is by no means a terrible record; "Stolen Moments" is a deserved classic, tho long relegated to elevators, dentists' office foyers, and high school pep bands. Don't rush out and get this record... yet. Try Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" and Grant Green's "Idle Moments" - make-out sides for the man of distiction i.e. in his 60's. Oliver Nelswon leads to Creed Taylor leads to fusion.

5 out of 5 stars Truth is a beautiful thing.......2006-11-06

I heard a few sections of this disc on my local jazz station and had to buy it. A great purchase
Natural Born Killers: A Soundtrack For An Oliver Stone Film
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A Classic
  • not bad...
  • A masterpiece
  • WHAT A TRAGIC WASTE OF AN A-TO-D CONVERTER
  • lady on Natural born killers soundtrack
Natural Born Killers: A Soundtrack For An Oliver Stone Film
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Fontana Interscope
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Lost Highway (1997 Film)
  2. The Crow: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  3. Reservoir Dogs: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  4. Natural Born Killers
  5. Pulp Fiction: Music From The Motion Picture

ASIN: B000001Y6N
Release Date: 1994-08-23

Tracks:

  1. Waiting For The Miracle - Leonard Cohen
  2. Shitlist - L7
  3. Moon Over Greene County - Dan Zanes
  4. Rock N Roll Nigger - Patti Smith
  5. Sweet Jane - Cowboy Junkies
  6. You Belong To Me - Bob Dylan
  7. The Trembler - Duane Eddy
  8. Burn - Nine Inch Nails
  9. Route 666 - Brian Berdan
  10. Totally Hot - Remmy Ongala And Orchestre Super Matimila
  11. Back In My Baby's Arms - Patsy Cline
  12. Taboo - Peter Gabriel And Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
  13. Sex Is Violent - Jane's Addiction/Diamanda Galas
  14. History Repeats Itself - A.O.S.
  15. Something I Can Never Have - Nine Inch Nails
  16. I Will Take You Home - Russel Means
  17. Drums A Go-Go - Hollywood Persuaders
  18. Hungry Ants - Barry Adamson
  19. The Day The Niggaz Took Over - Dr. Dre
  20. Born Bad - Juliette Lewis
  21. Fall Of The Rebel Angels - Sergio Cervetti
  22. Forkboy - Lard
  23. Batonga In Batongaville - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
  24. A Warm Place - Nine Inch Nails
  25. Allah, Mohammed, Char, Yaar - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan And Party
  26. The Future - Leonard Cohen
  27. What Would U Do? - The Dogg Pound

Amazon.com

Another Oliver Stone film hailed by many as some sort of genius. Nine Inch Nail's Trent Reznor was brought in to helm the soundtrack. He shows a gift for choosing diverse, if somewhat disparate musicians, running the gamut from Patsy Cline to Lard. It's a nice collection, if a little wanting for a thematic center. Cowboy Junkies' version of the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane" is simply awesome, and Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, and Leonard Cohen lend superstar firepower, even if the songs are available elsewhere. NIN's own "Something I Can Never Have," previously heard on Pretty Hate Machine, is the most overt attempt at what Reznor was hoping to capture. It's Pulp Fiction for the schizophrenic Gen X'ers. --Scott Wilson

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Classic.......2007-07-13

I have to say that this soundtrack is timless and will stay as a landmark in soundtracks for decades to come. Can't list all the great tracks here, Dylan's You be long to me, or Patsy Cline's Back in Baby's arms, Leonard Cohen.... or the more 'violent' tracks.. there are tracks for every taste, and every mood. and of course the soundtrack is a must for this movie lovers as it recalls every great scene as you listen to it. This soundtrack along with Pulp Fiction are a must in every 'soundtrack' section. its a genius blend of different songs from different eras and different styles.

3 out of 5 stars not bad..........2007-05-25

...but it was much cooler in 1994, that's for sure. What seemed haunting and beautiful then, is kind of cheesy in 2007, especially now that most of the artists have gone even further mainstream (Nine Inch Nails) or totally vanished (L7). "Sweet Jane" by Cowboy Junkies is one that has not faded at all, though...gives me chills!

5 out of 5 stars A masterpiece.......2006-08-23

Beyond the worth (or lack of it, depending on your opinion) of the movie, this soundtrack stand the test of time and is still in 2006 one of the most impressive soundtrack ever produced.

It is, in my very humble opinion, the finest work in Trent Reznor discography.

2 out of 5 stars WHAT A TRAGIC WASTE OF AN A-TO-D CONVERTER.......2006-04-12

Inspiring? No! Pleasant? No! Entertaining? No! Worthwhile? No!

What are you folks sniffing out there anyway? Whatever it is, please consider passing it along, because other than the single authentic and melodic track by Patsy Cline (i.e., Back In Baby's Arms, which is available on a zillion other collections including some of her own), this CD doesn't have an ounce of redeeming musical, lyrical or social value in my view. Nada! Zip!

Even the Dylan track is junk! The entire CD is essentially drivel, put to the dull, homicide-provoking sound of endless, droning noise, with an overall signal-to-noise ratio of about one (1.0)!!! What a WASTE of an A-to-D converter!

5 out of 5 stars lady on Natural born killers soundtrack.......2006-02-23

A terrific soundtrack. I really like how they have clips from the movie on the cd. The music is terrific and really helped make the movie. If you have the movie, I highly suggest getting the soundtrack and vice versa.
Oliver! (Deluxe Edition) (1963 Original Broadway Cast) [CAST RECORDING]
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Food for Thought - Great for Productions
  • Oliver is a classic and meant to be heard and seen.
  • PLEASE SIR! I WANT SOME MORE!
  • Oliver-The Broadway Cast
  • spectacular Broadway album
Oliver! (Deluxe Edition) (1963 Original Broadway Cast) [CAST RECORDING]
Various Artists
Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Fiddler on the Roof (1964 Original Broadway Cast)
  2. Oliver!
  3. My Fair Lady (1956 Original Broadway Cast)
  4. Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast)
  5. Annie (1977 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B0000996JO
Release Date: 2003-06-03

Tracks:

  1. Overture/Food Glorious Food - The Boys
  2. Oliver! - The Boys, Wiloughby Goddard, Hope Jackman, Bruce Prochnik
  3. I Shall Scream - Wiloughby Goddard, Hope Jackman
  4. Boy for Sale; Where Is Love? - Wiloughby Goddard, Bruce Prochnik
  5. Consider Yourself - Crowd, Michael Goodman, Bruce Prochnik
  6. You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two - Bruce Prochnik, Clive Revill
  7. It's a Fine Life - Georgia Brown, Alice Playten
  8. I'd Do Anything - Georgia Brown, Michael Goodman, Alice Playten, Bruce Prochnik, Clive Revill
  9. Be Back Soon - The Boys, Michael Goodman, Bruce Prochnik, Clive Revill
  10. Oom-Pah-Pah - Georgia Brown
  11. My Name - Danny Sewell
  12. As Long as He Needs Me - Georgia Brown
  13. Who Will Buy? - Bruce Prochnik, Chorus
  14. Reviewing the Situation - Clive Revill
  15. As Long as He Needs Me (Reprise) - Georgia Brown
  16. Reviewing the Situation (Reprise) - Clive Revill
  17. Finale

Amazon.com

Lionel Bart's wonderful musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic was the first London stage musical to be transplanted to Broadway with the same kind of sensation it received in Britain-- something that is now common in these post-Cats/Les Miserables times. Although no one from this British cast ever became enormously famous (future Monkee Davy Jones was in the second Broadway cast)--and Sir Carol Reed's film version receives all the critical accolades--this remains the better recording, featuring all the songs cut from the film, while excluding the film's musical interludes that simply seem annoying without the visuals. Just compare Bruce Brochnik to the film's Mark Lester in the title role. Or Clive Revill to Ron Moody's Fagin. Or any of the principals, for that matter--and the differences are remarkable. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Food for Thought - Great for Productions.......2007-07-03

If you are considering a production of Oliver this is a great recording that has good background information. It does skip some of the overture music but the rest of that tracks are well done.

3 out of 5 stars Oliver is a classic and meant to be heard and seen........2007-05-25

Many of these numbers are well known. And the dark tone of the story being told is well represented by the choices made by the actors and their directors. But it IS rough and dark and mournful. Not a road-trip CD, rather a show to see in the theater.

5 out of 5 stars PLEASE SIR! I WANT SOME MORE!.......2007-02-27

I starred in my local summer stock company's production of "Oliver," in the summer of 2005. I used this CD to practice learning the musical numbers, by listening to it on my iPod. It has some very memorable numbers such as "Oom-Pah-Pah," "Food, Glorious Food," "Who Will Buy?" "That's Your Funeral," and "Consider Yourself." The one Oliver song that gets on my nerves. But I just can't get enough of most of this music, after the great time I had in the show. I even listen to the soundtrack on airplane trips and car rides sometimes.

2 out of 5 stars Oliver-The Broadway Cast.......2006-03-17

As an original cast member with Florence Henderson's "Sound of Music" tour 45 years ago, I have a unique perspective about this recording. Even the musical director comments at the end that this version of "Oliver" was not particularly well sung but that the cast had a lot of energy.

Unfortunately,(in my opinion) this energy doesn't translate suficiently to the recording and I agree - it's not particularly well sung. Again, from the perspective of a former child performer singing with other kids, it actually is possible for a group of children to sing together and make pleasant-sounding music. The adults in this "Oliver" aren't up to musical snuff either.

Although I haven't heard it, I'd be willing to take my chances on the original London version before settling for this one (which, by the way, was recorded in an LA studio before it even got to Broadway.)

5 out of 5 stars spectacular Broadway album.......2006-02-15

The cast album to the 1963 Broadway premiere production of OLIVER! was actually recorded during the show's pre-Broadway run in Los Angeles. OLIVER! played to subsequent audiences in San Francisco, Detroit and Toronto before opening at the Imperial Theatre in New York on January 6, 1963. The show played 774 performances before prematurely ending the season to play a 9-month national tour, later returning to New York for a `farewell' run of 64 performances.

As she had done to rapturous acclaim in London three years previously, Georgia Brown played the role of Nancy, and earned similar praise for her performance in New York. Her rich, velvet-tinged voice is especially haunting with the chill inducing ballad "As Long As He Needs Me". Composer Lionel Bart wrote "It's a Fine Life" especially for Brown after learning she had been cast in the role in the London production.

Ron Moody had also scored heavily in London with his tour-de-force turn as Fagin, but with producers fearing his portrayal `too ethnic', the role was taken by Clive Revill for the Broadway premiere. Revill had just come from his celebrated role in IRMA LA DOUCE, and his interpretation of Fagin is every bit as valid as Ron Moody's. Bruce Prochnik is a winsome and wistful Oliver, and Michael Goodman is a delight as the Artful Dodger. Wisely-retained from the original London company were a handful of the first-rate supporting players: Hope Jackman's shrill Mrs Corney; and the up-and-coming Barry Humphries as Mr Sowerberry (Humphries would later graduate to playing Fagin before his beloved alter-ego Dame Edna unleashed herself on the world). The promising young belter Alice Playten was smartly-showcased as Nancy's offsider Bet.

But, the sound mix on the Broadway album has always been rather flat and dull, despite being recorded in the stereo format of the day. Voices and orchestra have no vibrancy or depth, and this was due to the studio in which they recorded it, where the ceiling was very low and the sound did not have the necessary acoustic projection. Nevertheless, the recording has a charm and energy which overrides the technical shortcomings.

This new CD reissue from RCA offers some interesting bonus materials including musical director Don Pippin sharing his memories of the show; Barry Humphries performing "That's Your Funeral" (from the London cast album but left off the Broadway album); and a live recording of Patti LuPone singing "As Long As He Needs Me" (LuPone played Nancy in a short-lived Broadway revival in 1986).

Good value.
Amadeus: Original Soundtrack Recording
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A Whitman sampler of Mozart
  • shows some of Mozart's highlight pieces
  • Great Price
  • An excellent soundtrack and an excellent film!!
  • If You've Seen The Movie....
Amadeus: Original Soundtrack Recording

Manufacturer: Fantasy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Amadeus: More Music From The Original Soundtrack Of The Film Amadeus
  2. Amadeus - Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
  3. Immortal Beloved / Sir Georg Solti (film 1994)
  4. Mozart: Requiem / McNair, Watkinson, Araiza, Lloyd; Marriner
  5. Essential Mozart: 32 Of His Greatest Masterpieces

ASIN: B000000XBT
Release Date: 1992-12-22

Tracks:

  1. Symphony No.25 In G Minor, K.183: 1st Movemen
  2. Stabat Mater: Quando Corpus Morietur And Amen
  3. Bubak and Hungaricus
  4. Serenade For Winds, K.361: 3rd Movement
  5. The Abduction From The Seraglio: Turkish Finale
  6. Symphony No.29 In A Major, K.201: 1st Movement: Allegro Moderato
  7. Concerto For Two Pianos, K.365: 3rd Movement
  8. Mass In C Minor, K.427: Kyrie
  9. Symphonie Concertante, K.364: 1st Movement

Tracks:

  1. Piano Concerto In E Flat Major, K.482: 3rd Movement - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Ivan Moravec
  2. The Marriage Of Figaro: Act III: Ecco La Marcia - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields
  3. The Marriage Of Figaro: Act IV: Ah Tutti Contenti - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields
  4. Don Giovanni: Act II: Commendatore Scene - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields
  5. Zaide: Aria: Ruhe Sanft - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Felicity Lott
  6. Requiem, K.626: Introitus (Eternal Rest Give To Them, O Lord) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Academy Chorus/Laszlo Heltay
  7. Requiem, K.626: Dies Irae (Day Of Wrath) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Academy Chorus/Laszlo Heltay
  8. Requiem, K.626: Rex Tremandae Majestatis (Awe-Inspiring King) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Academy Chorus/Laszlo Heltay
  9. Requiem, K.626: Confutatis (When Those Cursed Enter Flames) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Academy Chorus/Laszlo Heltay
  10. Requiem, K.626: Lacrymosa (Mournful Day) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Academy Chorus/Laszlo Heltay
  11. Piano Concerto In D Minor, K.466: 2nd Movement (Romanza) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Imogen Cooper

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A Whitman sampler of Mozart.......2007-05-02

Truth be told, classical music--like most other kinds--is best heard in the program context for which it was written. Yet any time you can get Neville Marriner, the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, and Mozart in the same place at the same time, you can hardly *not* go for it.

Like the famous chocolate sampler, you get a few of each flavor but not all you want of your favorite kind.

How then to decide? Well, viewing the rollicking good movie AMADEUS tips the scales towards buying and enjoying this fabulous, if disordered, compilation of the Mozart greats that went into the making of a movie that forever dissed the composer's rep but also gained him some fans among non-classical-listening movie-goers.

For the price you also receive a superb liner booklet that locates each piece within the film's narrative and says a word or two about the music on its own merits.

A winner for Mozart lovers.

5 out of 5 stars shows some of Mozart's highlight pieces.......2007-04-15

This CD to me pretty much has all of my favoirite songs that he has made, Especially the reqeium. A must listen to Cd that I think any classical music fan will enjoy, I sure did.

5 out of 5 stars Great Price.......2006-03-02

Great price for the product. I am so glad I logged onto Amazon.com for things like this. It arrived faster than expected. I will definitely continue to buy more in the future.

5 out of 5 stars An excellent soundtrack and an excellent film!!.......2005-05-23

Eventhough many kids in school listen to rap and all, I listen to classical. After watching Amadeus, I was moved by the pieces selected to be played in the film. I especially liked Symphony No. 29 1st Movement. Also, when Salieri is at the Archbishop of Salzburg's palace and reads Mozart's piece, Serenade for Winds, is among my favorites. In Serenade for Winds, Mozart creates a very emotional and almost night music feel to it. I was surprised that the director/conductor did not put in a few more famous pieces into the album . . . ex. Symphony No. 40, The Magic Flute, etc. This is an excellent album and anyone who wants to enjoy the genius of Mozart should purchase this. Take it from me, you will enjoy this album immesensely.

5 out of 5 stars If You've Seen The Movie...........2004-06-13

Wolfgang Amedeus Mozart's nervy youthfullness went far beyond his personal life.His choice of music very much reflects
his own spirit.He chose to set to music Le Nozze Di Figaro (a
play largely blamed for starting the French Revolution) put him
somewhat at odds with Emperor Joseph.His tendency (very much in
attendance here) to compose opera's in German at a time when
Italian opera was at it's post popular also made him a bit of a musical rebel of his day.I don't listen to alot of classical music (but certainly I have favorites,notably by Eric Satie) but Mozart's many concereto's,acts of his opera's and so
on demonstrate the youthful composers gift for melody and yes,
even hints at improvisation that set 18'th century Vienna (and
later the world) on fire!And Peter Shaffer was sure to include
acts from Mozarts errie unfinished reqeuim mass towards the end
of this CD.So to fans of the movie with more then a passing interest in classical music will enjoy this!And I think Mozart's
spirit will always be alive in those who choose to challange themselfs to innovate within music and get the public's ear to
stretch!
Vaughan Williams: The Nine Symphonies
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A Great First Buy on Ralph Vaughan Williams.
  • Vaughan Williams' wonderful music at last...
  • Previn & Vaughan Williams: An Excellent Coupling
  • Can't get any better
  • Comprehensive and Impressive Collection
Vaughan Williams: The Nine Symphonies

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Sibelius: The 7 Symphonies; Finlandia; Kullervo; etc.
  2. Vaughan Williams: Orchestral Works
  3. Ludwig van Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies - Arturo Toscanini / NBC Symphony Orchestra
  4. Dvorák: The Symphonies
  5. Kurt Atterberg: The Symphonies (Box Set)

ASIN: B00011MK74
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Tracks:

  1. A Song For All Seas, All Ships - Andante Maestoso - London Symphony Chorus
  2. On The Beach At Night, Alone - Largo Sostenuto - London Symphony Chorus
  3. Scherzo: The Waves - Allegro Brillante - London Symphony
  4. The Explorers - Grave E Molto Adagio - London Symphony Chorus

Tracks:

  1. Lento: Allegro Risoluto
  2. Lento
  3. Scherzo (Nocturne)
  4. Andante Con Moto; Maestoso Alla Marcia; Allegro; Lento; Epilogue
  5. Allegro Pesante - James Oliver Buswell IV
  6. Adagio - James Oliver Buswell IV
  7. Presto - James Oliver Buswell IV
  8. Overture

Tracks:

  1. Molto Moderato - Douglas Cummings
  2. Lento Moderato - Douglas Cummings
  3. Moderato Pesante - Douglas Cummings
  4. Lento - Douglas Cummings
  5. Allegro
  6. Andante Moderato
  7. Scherzo: Allegro Molto
  8. Finale Con Epilogo Fugato: Allegro Molto

Tracks:

  1. Preludio: Moderato
  2. Scherzo: Prestso
  3. Romanza: Lento
  4. Passacaglia: Moderato
  5. Explorer
  6. Poet
  7. Queen
  8. Allegro Moderato - John Fletcher
  9. Romanza: Andante Sostenuto - John Fletcher
  10. Finale: Rondo Alla Tedesca - John Fletcher

Tracks:

  1. Allegro
  2. Moderato
  3. Scherzo: Allegro Vivace
  4. Epilogue: Moderato
  5. Moderato Maestoso
  6. Andante Sostenuto
  7. Scherzo: Allegro Pesante
  8. Andante Tranquillo

Tracks:

  1. Spoken Introduction - The Ambrosian Singers
  2. Prelude: Andante Maestoso - The Ambrosian Singers
  3. Spoken Introduction - The Ambrosian Singers
  4. Scherzo: Moderato; Poco Animato - The Ambrosian Singers
  5. Spoken Introduction - The Ambrosian Singers
  6. Landscape: Lento - The Ambrosian Singers
  7. Spoken Introduction - The Ambrosian Singers
  8. Intermezzo: Andante Sostenuto - The Ambrosian Singers
  9. Spoken Introduction - The Ambrosian Singers
  10. Epilogue: Alla Marcia Moderato (Ma Non Troppo) - The Ambrosian Singers
  11. Fantasia (Variazioni Senza Tema)
  12. Scherzo Alla Marcia (Per Stromenti A Fiato)
  13. Cavatina (Per Stromenti Ad Arco)
  14. Toccata

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Great First Buy on Ralph Vaughan Williams........2007-06-05

Up until recently, I was only vaguely familiar with the music of British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. After reading the reviews and noticing the lower than usual price for this set, I thought I'd give it a listen. I'm definitely glad I did as this is some very beautiful music indeed.
All nine of Vaughan William's symphonies are included here along with four bonus pieces, the Concerto Accademico for Violin, the Bass Tuba Concerto, "Three Portraits from the England of Elizabeth" and the overture for the stage play "The Wasps".
Conductor Andre Previn definitely brings these works to life in a mighty way. The "Sea Symphony" is a real standout with its beautiful choral arrangements and orchestrations. Other standouts are the "Pastoral" third symphony and the dramatic Stravinsky-esque fourth symphony.
Indeed, all of the music here is something special and I'm very satisfied to have this set as my introduction to the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Like other reviewers have stated here, this is definitely a must-have collection and I can't think of a better way to start a Vaughan Williams library than with this.

A small footnote: After listening to the first movement of "A Sea Symphony", it may be quite possible that John Lennon sampled a small section of it for "Revolution 9" on the Beatles' White Album. The section in question occurs roughly 12 minutes into the first movement. It's very brief but it immediately stuck out once it was heard.

5 out of 5 stars Vaughan Williams' wonderful music at last..........2007-04-21

Ralph Vaughan Williams was in my opinion one of the very greatest composers of music. Never content with what he had just written, but nevertheless staunch in his principles, over his lifetime he created a series of amazingly vital and original pieces. I could write many pages about these works, so will just say a little about my favorite of all, the incredible Symphony No 8 in D minor. Written at the extraordinary age of 86, the sheer musical inventiveness of this truly unbelievable piece is without equal and I include here all the "great" classical composers such as Beethoven, Brahms and the like. The first movement "Variations in search of a theme" is serious, thought-provoking and modern, yet unmistakably RVW. Its one of the most original first movements ever written ( owing nothing whatsoever to the classical tradition) and though asking more questions than it answers, is a movement even if you have never listened to any of RVWs music before demands attention and absolutely requires you to listen more. The second movement "Cavatina" is one of the most ghostly-beautiful slow movements ever written. The only thing I can really compare it with is RVWs own "The Lark Ascending" though for me this is a far more complex and challenging piece. I have listened to Barber's famous " Adagio for Strings", written at about the same time as this,and for me, this is an even greater and more moving piece - well Barber hadn't written the so-called "Pastoral" Symphony for practice had he ? The third movement is a typically gruff RVW scherzo. I can just see the old geezer galumphing round his garden complaining about his musicians, modern taxation, life in general... It's really funny and whenever can you say that of Mozart, Beethoven , Brahms and company...?The fourth movement is is ...how on earth do you describe this absolutely extraordinary finale. Part village band, part religious apotheosis, this is music truly not of the everyday earth which we inhabit, but something much more glorious, more astonishing... In this movement RVW uses just about every musical instrument known to man - he must have had enormous fun composing it... but the first entry of the celeste is the moment you all need to listen for.

André Previn has chosen some of the very finest of RVWs works to record on this set and for me this is his greatest testament as a conductor. His sheer (and somewhat amazing in itself as a jazz musician) love for RVWs music comes out tops here. A great recording and an absolutely tremendous bargain.

5 out of 5 stars Previn & Vaughan Williams: An Excellent Coupling.......2007-01-10

I have some of these recordings on RCA Red Seal LPs from the late 1960's. I think it is one the best of three symphony cycles in my possession. The other two are Colin Davis/Sibelius and Herbert Blomstedt/Nielsen. Some of my RVW LPs are Adrian Boult and some are Andre Previn. I prefer Previn. Previn really digs into this music. My three favorites: #2 (London), #3 (Pastoral) and #5. It gives me goose bumps being able to listen to them without rice krispies in the background. Kudos to RCA for re-releasing these gems.

5 out of 5 stars Can't get any better.......2004-07-19

If you've ever thought of getting all of the RVW symphonies but haven't, because of cost or what not, there are no more excuses. This is the best set ever. Previn and the LSO had a magical relationship 30 years ago, and no one has ever done these symphonies better. If you find some of them tough nuts to crack, don't worry; RVW isn't easy music, but it is well worth it. It's not supposed to be simple. The only caveat: analog sound. Now RCA was capable of great sound in the 1970's, and the sound is frankly better than the newer RCA series with Slatkin. But if superb digital sound is paramount, you won't go wrong with Handley's set with Liverpool. It's another top notch cycle. Still, I rate Previn tops in this music. RCA is to be commended for releasing this set, as well as the others in the series...check them out!

5 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and Impressive Collection.......2004-04-07

Listen to the bold beginning of Ralph Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony, and you've captured the essence of VW at his best. This is the first of 9 symphonies by a composer who is surely England's greatest Symphonist. His essays in the form span the first half of the twentieth century, but include few of its radical elements. Vaughan Williams was a traditionalist throughout, and surely it was that conservative outlook that drew him to the symphonic form in the first place.

Listening to his second symphony, A London Symphony, one hears typical Vaughan Williams-almost entirely melodic in its conception, with lots of diatonic, modal or pentatonic writing, and a touch of chromatic harmony to flavour the melody. It's beautiful, and the music spans a wide emotional gamut from intense introspection to joyous celebration. Only in the 4th Symphony does VW really open himself to a more contrapuntal and dissonant style, and the consequence is that the composition becomes quite reminiscent of Prokofiev or Schostakovich, the two other great Symphonists of the time. Following the 5th Symphony, however, I feel that VW's artistic output suffers. The later pieces, with the exception of the 7th Symphony, Sinfonia Antarctica-based on music he'd composed for the film Scott of the Antarctic--lack the vigor and excitement of the earlier works. They're more introspective, perhaps as befits an older composer, but they don't speak to me as strongly as, say, the later symphonies of Mahler or Schostakovich. Perhaps it is that VW was resistant to change in his basic musical outlook, but by the 1950's, the diatonic/pentatonic ideas he frequented had become increasingly irrelevant. That VW was brilliant and a master craftsman is unquestionable, but he seemed to need new fuel for his compositional fires and was unwilling to consider the atonality of Schoenberg and his followers, the rhythmic vitality of Stravinsky and Bartok, or even the orchestral colours and dramatic juxtapositions of Gustav Mahler. There are still many moments of brilliance, but as a whole the later works move me less.

All of the performances by Andre Previn and the London symphony Orchestra are superb-no one plays this music better. With 9 Symphonies and four other orchestral works-the Concerto Accademico, the Tuba Concerto, the Wasps Overture, and Three Portraits from The England of Elisabeth-this collection is packed with value, and I can scarcely do it justice in the limited room I have. While the Concerto Accademico seems aptly titled and not terribly engaging, the Three Portraits are a gem of VW's work for television. Its worth the price for the first two symphonies and the Sinfonia Antarctica alone, everything else is just gravy--or perhaps I should say, baked beans on toast! All in all, a terrific deal.
Oliver! (1968 Film Soundtrack)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Needs major reissue, like its DVD
  • Good CD but.............
  • Best version--available elsewhere!
  • Still A Great Soundtrack CD Regardless Of The Nit-Picking!
  • Lyrically, Musical, A Fine Soundtrack
Oliver! (1968 Film Soundtrack)
Lionel Bart , Ron Moody , and Mark Lester
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Traditional Vocal PopTraditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
MusicalsMusicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B000002W8R
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Overture - LIONEL BART
  2. Food, Glorious Food - LIONEL BART
  3. Boy For Sale - LIONEL BART
  4. Where Is Love? - Mark Lester
  5. You've Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two - Ron Moody
  6. Consider Yourself - Jack Wild,Mark Lester and Ensamble
  7. I'd Do Anything - Jack Wild,Shani Wallis,Sheila White,Mark Lester,Ro
  8. Be Back Soon - Ron Moody and Boys
  9. As Long As He Needs Me - Shani Wallis
  10. Who Will Buy? - Mark Lester and Ensamble
  11. It's A Fine Life - Shani Wallis,Sheila White and 'The Three Cripples'
  12. Reviewing the Situation - Ron Moody
  13. Oom-Pah-Pah - Shani Wallis and 'The Three Cripples'Crowd
  14. Finale(Where Is Love?/Consider Yourself) - Orchestra and Ensamble

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Needs major reissue, like its DVD.......2007-01-13

As others have said, many of the songs are incomplete, missing verses from the movie. However, this may not be fixable, if the masters are lost. But the mix needs a major overhaul.

Currently bundled as a throwaway with the DVD, which also needs some help, before everyone associated with the production is dead...most of the cast and important crew are gone.

4 out of 5 stars Good CD but....................2006-12-06

I got this CD before I saw the movie. I fell in love with the songs immediately. It's easily one of the best musicals ever (in my opinion). But then I saw the movie. There was so much the soundtrack left out! "Pick a Pocket or Two" is missing verses; they don't have the reprise of "Pick a Pocket or Two" or "Reviewing the Situation"; and other songs are missing things. Hopefully they will re-release this on a better CD in the future.

5 out of 5 stars Best version--available elsewhere!.......2005-12-29

I grew up on this movie and after buying the Broadway soundtrack, missed the movie cast. Although this CD is out of print, the same CD comes free with purchase of the newest release of the film on DVD. The cast and orchestrations make this CD the best in my opinion, and under $20 for both DVD and CD is a steal!

4 out of 5 stars Still A Great Soundtrack CD Regardless Of The Nit-Picking!.......2005-04-09

Stop with the nit-picking and just enjoy the CD!

I swear, some people just aren't happy! We are so lucky to have a CD soundtrack of this film! Why must you say it doesn't sound good? How good CAN it sound considering the source materials from 1968??

I think it sounds damn good considering the age of the recordings.
There isn't anything wrong with the way it sounds, as far as I can tell, and I'm an audiophile! I have heard so much worse recordings when albums are finally 'remixed' & 'remastered' for CD!
As far as verses being left out, well,...I guess you'll have to listen to the original London stage cast recordings?

I had this on LP as a child in 1968 and played it almost to death, and I'm excited to finally get it on CD!!
These songs are so special to me because I listened to the record so much. I still know most of the lyrics!
My next Amazon.com purchase is the DVD!!

These are great songs, and this album still holds up well after
all these years.
If you like soundtrack recordings, you'll probably like this CD.

Yes, it may have flaws and 'missing' lyrics, but just enjoy it!

It could be worse--we might not even have this CD available at all!

4 out of 5 stars Lyrically, Musical, A Fine Soundtrack.......2004-03-20

There have been a few remakes over the years, and even this, too, is a remake. In general, due to the musical power of Lionel Bart, they all work. However, this is the one which won the awards and the hearts of listeners.

Why?

It sounds like it is fresh out of the box, without that contrived, "trying to sound like Broadway" vocalized music. These guys are singing, not just putting notes to words. Their accents are believable and never forced.

I first had "Oliver!" in LP form when I was a child, back when vinyl was the thing. The CD is great, but could be brighter. Hopefully, a better version is on its way. If they can fix that, my four stars will become six.

"Food, Glorious Food/Oliver!" -- This is the famous song about wanting what rich man have, indigestion!

"Boy for Sale" -- It is what you think, child slavery in Merry Ol' England. It is sing somber, cold and bitter.

"Where Is Love?" -- Oliver asks the eternal question, wandering empty and missing the family he never had. You can feel his pain and loneliness, a theme known by every character from Fagin to the Dodger.

"Pick a Pocket or Two" -- Fagin remarks his angst against society, and his response to poverty. He's half Pied Piper, half Robin Hood, and half mob boss and 100% bad. His voice is rich and layered.

"Consider Yourself" -- The Artful Dodger lets Oliver knows that family is family, even when they aren't family. Catchy song.

"I'd Do Anything" -- The Dodger and Nancy declare their bond of friendship, and Oliver and Fagin chime in.

"Be Back Soon" -- The song seems at first like it was tossed in, but Moody's elocution is perfect.

"As Long as He Needs Me" -- Nancy sings about her love for her thieving, deceitful man, Bill. Her love is buoyed by codependency and insecurity.

"Who Will Buy?" -- Mark Lester's quiet, meek voice is perfect for the role of Oliver Twist.

"It's a Fine Life" -- How living the simple life is not as bad as it seems, but aren't sure things couldn't be better. Fagin and Nancy, and the cast of children dialogue through song. "If you don't mind having to deal with Fagin. It's a fine life!"

"Reviewing the Situation" -- Fagin asks, "I'm reviewing the situation. Can a fellow be a villain all his life?"

"Oom-Pah-Pah" -- Nancy leads the chorus in a beer lifting song that is fun all the way through.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com
Off The Record: The Complete 1923 Jazz Band Recordings
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Renovating An Old Master
  • Mining the 78 Grooves with Custom Styli
  • THE set to get
  • Outstanding Transfer: Best So Far!
  • About As Good As It Is Ever Going To Get
Off The Record: The Complete 1923 Jazz Band Recordings
King Oliver
Manufacturer: Off The Record (distributed by Archeophone Records)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
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Traditional Jazz GeneralTraditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000K2VK8Y
Release Date: 2006-11-01

Tracks:

  1. Just Gone
  2. Canal Street Blues
  3. Mandy Lee Blues
  4. I'm Going Away to Wear You Off My Mind
  5. Chimes Blues
  6. Weather Bird Rag
  7. Dipper Mouth Blues
  8. Froggie Moore
  9. Snake Rag
  10. Snake Rag
  11. Sweet Lovin' Man
  12. High Society Rag
  13. Sobbin' Blues
  14. Where Did You Stay Last Night
  15. Dipper Mouth Blues
  16. Jazzin' Babies Blues
  17. Alligator Hop
  18. Zulu's Ball
  19. Workingman Blues
  20. Krooked Blues
  21. Chattanooga Stomp
  22. London (Cafe) Blues
  23. Camp Meeting Blues
  24. New Orleans Stomp
  25. Buddy's Habit
  26. Tears
  27. I Ain't Gonna Tell Nobody
  28. Room Rent Blues
  29. Riverside Blues
  30. Sweet Baby Doll
  31. Working Man Blues
  32. Mabel's Dream
  33. Mabel's Dream (take 1)
  34. Mabel's Dream (take 2)
  35. The Southern Stomps (take 1)
  36. The Southern Stomps (take 2)
  37. Riverside Blues

Product Description

Off the Record offers an amazingly fresh and simple alternative--one that proves to be a definitive step in presenting these truly classic sides. By special arrangement with Archeophone Records, Off the Record is proud to present all 37 issued titles by the Oliver band, newly transferred from the best available original sources, issued on two compact discs. Engineer and master sound recording restoration specialist Doug Benson--known for his definitive work on "The Complete Hit of the Week" on Archeophone Records--and David Sager--jazz historian and trombonist--have searched far and wide to gain access to the cleanest copies of all the Oliver discs, including the unique copy of "Zulus Ball" and "Working Man Blues." Using a meticulous musical ear, a wide variety of styli and the subtlest application of digital technology, Benson, perhaps for the first time, has revealed the natural ambience of these discs. Unprecedented Detail and Clarity: The Oliver ensemble has never been heard to better advantage. Passages long accepted as muddy and indistinct pour forth with unprecedented clarity. Even the introduction of the ultra-rare "Zulus Ball," often lamented for its poor condition, shines through crystal clear! Straight off the discs with as little processing as possible: There is no better way to bring these old discs to life than with the right stylus, a sensitive ear, and careful application of non-invasive processing. Whereas many reissues are marred by over-processing, resulting in muffled sound and/or digital artifacts, Off the Record has judiciously applied just enough non-invasive technique in order to remove ticks, pops, harsh resonances and other unwelcome noise--leaving the music to speak for itself. Expertly Speed Corrected: Just because we call them "78s" doesn't mean that they really are. Sound recordings from the early days of sound recording rarely spin at exactly 78 rpm. Back in those days there was no standardization regarding speed; often discs ran a

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Renovating An Old Master.......2007-07-15

I'm revelling in this new 2-CD set of King Oliver's complete 1923 recordings. In the excellent accompanying 32-page booklet, Dick Spottswood is quoted as saying that the Oliver Creole Jazz Band should be reissued every ten years as technology improves. I first heard some on the old Riverside LP release and, despite all the imperfections, knew that this was the real McCoy. Having progressed via the World Record Club LP and the Milestone double LP to the Robert Parker CDs, I think that this magnificent new set will suffice (that is, if I don't wear it out).

If you're coming new to Oliver, don't be misled into thinking that these recordings are raucous examples of a primitive music form. As the perceptive liner notes state (and these octogenerian recordings underline) "Oliver's band was first and foremost a dance band, as were most jazz bands of the day".

If you're already committed, you'll find the effect of hearing these recordings anew is analogous to that of viewing an Old Master after the accumulated dirt of the centuries (which we took for granted as part of the picture) has been removed and the original colours stand revealed in all their glory.


5 out of 5 stars Mining the 78 Grooves with Custom Styli .......2007-05-30

We can HOPE this will sound better 10+ years down the road (on a future re-issue), but this 2006 set is definitely a big improvement over all previous versions. I had purchased the late John R. T. Davies' 1996 Retrieval set (previously considered "state-of-the-art") only a few months ago and had listened to it several times. This new one wins hands-down for overall clarity and resonance. This is fun, rollicking music--classic New Orleans style--which has never really been surpassed within the genre. Don't expect modern sounding discs, but do treat yourself to this 1923 treasure. Excellent, informative liner notes are included.

5 out of 5 stars THE set to get.......2007-01-19

As anyone with more than a passing interest in jazz knows, these are among the most important records in the history of the genre. King Oliver was one of the legendary New Orleans jazz trumpeters of the 1910s who made the move to Chicago with his protégé, Louis Armstrong, in the early '20s. The recordings on this disc indicate clearly why Joe Oliver was "King." His band has an irresistible ensemble sound and a certain indescribable "drive" that no band since has captured in quite the same way. I've yet to hear any of the so-called trad jazz revival bands play with collective improvisation this tight. Just listen to "Froggie Moore" on this CD and you'll hear what I mean! This was exciting stuff when it was recorded in 1923, and it's still plenty exciting now! Undoubtedly, many people will be turned off by the relatively thin sound of these 85-year-old acoustic recordings, and that's a shame. These recordings are classics that every true jazz fan should own. The music here has been reissued many times in the past several decades, but *this* is the set to get. While the audio is a far cry from CD-quality, this 2-CD set presents the best-sounding transfers I have ever heard! I already had these tracks on releases from Olympic, Milestone, Joker, and Classics, and the hype is true: the sound on this new Archeophone/Off The Record set simply blows all previous reissues away. There's just a freshness and crispness on these transfers that has never been there before. These records have *presence* now. Listening to these on a decent set of headphones or on quality loudspeakers, the piano finally sounds like a piano again--not just some muddy percussive tinkling. Oliver's and Armstrong's cornets come shining through with full force. Even thought these are all acoustic recordings, there's a certain electricity in the air when listening to them. I had never fully appreciated King Oliver's band before, but now that I can better hear what's going on, I finally "get it." All of my collector friends who have purchased this set and compared it with previous reissues (those I mentioned plus the famous Retrieval set) agree--the sound on this issue is far superior. The beautifully-illustrated booklet (with scans of *all* the included records) contains lengthy detailed notes and discographical information and is worth the price alone. I simply can't say enough good things about this set. Get it!

5 out of 5 stars Outstanding Transfer: Best So Far!.......2006-12-23

I have several of King Oliver's jazz recordings, both LP, and CD, and this one is by far the best to date. I agree with the previous viewer: as far as the sound is concerned, our technology is limited, and this may be about as far as they can go with these recordings. But, hey, they still sound terrific. I have never listened to the original recordings [an original album] of King Oliver, however, this recording is outstanding and it sure puts the other recordings I have of King Oliver to shame. With the technology going about as far as it is going to go [at least for now] a remarkable job has been done in at least restoring the sound to some degree on this particular CD.

Irregardless, I like hearing King Oliver's sound. It's just great to listen to. I would also highly recommend this particular King Oliver CD, to other reviewers who are not sure just which copy to purchase. I remember hearing a lot of great talk about the Milestone issue [which I have] and this one definetly puts it to shame. I really did not realize how different the sound quality was on the Milestone issue, but after listening to this CD, WOW, what a difference! This is the one to purchase [for now anyway].

Some of the sounds on this particular recording are to name just a few: JUST GONE, CANAL STREET BLUES, MANDY LEE BLUES, CHIMES BLUES, WEATHER BIRD RAG, DIPPER MOUTH BLUES, FROGGIE MOORE, SNAKE RAG [a great one] SWEET LOVIN' MAN, HIGH SOCIETY RAG, SOBBIN' BLUES, WHERE DID YOU STAY LAST NIGHT, DIPPER MOUTH BLUES, JAZZIN' BABIES BLUES, ALLIGATOR HOP, and a lot of other great, great sounds. There are 37 tracks in all, and once again, I believe that these are the BEST King Oliver sounds that I have ever heard on CD. I highly recommend this particular CD to those who like the jazz sounds of the 1920s. My favorite era of jazz runs from about 1923, to the early 1930s. Not that the later periods are not good, I just like the sound of jazz during this particular era.

5 out of 5 stars About As Good As It Is Ever Going To Get.......2006-11-30

There is only so much music that can be recovered from these disks. They are what they are - acoustical recordings made in 1923 by budget label companies. Even if these recordings were made at one of the better studios, say Victor or Columbia, they would still wouldn't have captured the full sound of the Oliver band due to the limits of the acoustical recording process. The only way technology is going to capture this band in all its glory is when someone invents a time machine and goes back to 1923 with the proper recording equipment.

On to the CD at hand: I've heard the other sets (Milestone, Retrieval) and this one is much better since you can hear the individual players more distinctly than the other sets. I'm sure future sound restoration techniques can extract even more information from these disks but I think we are approaching (or have approached) a limit as to what can be pulled from these records.

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