In Nashville [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Budget price collection featuring 18 tracks. Karussell.

Tracks:

If The Whole World Was A Honky Tonk
Somewhere Down In Texas
The Seashores Of Old Mexico
You'll Be There
High Tone Woman
Good News, Bad News
Oh, What A Perfect Day
Texas
Ready For The End Of The World
She Let Herself Go
By The Light Of A Burning Brige

Amazon.com

Country's most reluctant superstar can always lend gravity to even the weakest of songs, so masterful is his phrasing and restrained, expressive delivery, and so artful his picking and the production that surrounds his Everyman baritone. On Somewhere Down in Texas, many of George Strait's songs are semiautobiographical and ring with authenticity. The title track portrays a man who's weary of the road and yearns to stay home with his family; "Texas" salutes the state that made him what he is; and "You'll Be There," the heartfelt single that talks of meeting a loved one in the afterlife, likely hits a nerve with the singer, who lost a child some years ago. Strait also does well with the terrible twins of country dance-hall fare, misery and grief--particularly on the honky-tonk weeper "Ready for the End of the World" and the killer ballad "Good News, Bad News," a duet with Lee Ann Womack, who cowrote the tune with Dean Dillon and Dale Dodson. Womack sings rings around her fellow Texan, giving her reading of this exquisite song of heartbreak an emotional resonance that sticks in the mind long after it's over. But Strait conveys a stoic acceptance of a tragically missed chance at love, and it plays just right for a cowboy antihero. Somewhere Down in Texas could have benefited from the addition of an irresistible rhythm tune or another example of the western swing that Strait embraced so fervently early in his career. But every time ol' George refers to his heroes by name--Haggard, Nelson, and Jones--you know time will show him to be, if not precisely in their league, certainly a close second. --Alanna Nash

Recommended George Strait

50 Number Ones	Strait Out of the Box	Pure Country soundtrack
Blue Clear Sky	Chill of an Early Fall	Greatest Hits

Customer Reviews:

George is the greatest .......2007-03-08

I've been a George Strait fan for years and years - he just gets better with age.

Sure is Good.......2007-01-13

Hey you guys, how is it goin'?!

I'd like tellin' ya that I'm really happy with this cd from George.

Incredibles songs!!!! I don't know how he gets, but he gets better each new cd!!

Other thing: I'd like to thank Amazon for the excelent service!!

See ya!!

he's still the man.......2007-01-10

George Strait is still the man to go to when you want to hear great country music. this CD did not disapoint me in any way. Great music to dance the night away.

Somewhere Down in Texas.......2007-01-06

What else can be said about George Strait. He just continues to turn the best music.

I liked it!!.......2006-08-24

Of course, I always like George Strait...but thought this CD was good.

Average customer rating:

One of the best crossover albums of all time
The Telluride Sessions (Strength In Numbers)
Bluegrass a little less blue
As fresh as ever
Acoustic fire!

The Telluride Sessions
Strength in Numbers
Manufacturer: Mca Nashville
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Traditional | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Country | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Jazz | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

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

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

Skip, Hop & Wobble
Uncommon Ritual
Music for Two (Bonus DVD)
The Bluegrass Sessions: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 2
Appalachian Journey

ASIN: B000006EJJ
Release Date: 1998-03-24

Tracks:

Future Man
Texas Red
Pink Flamingos
Duke And Cookie
One Winter's Night
Macedonia
The Lochs Of Dread
No Apologies
Slopes
Blue Men Of The Sahara

Amazon.com essential recording

This acoustic supergroup joined forces in the summer of 1988, and the result was a true landmark in "new acoustic" music. As if bluegrass (and even "newgrass") was too constricting, the quintet--Sam Bush (mandolin), Jerry Douglas (dobro), Bela Fleck (banjo), Mark O'Connor (violin), and Edgar Meyer (bass)--incorporates classical-style themes and arrangements within the context of bluegrass instrumentation. Their unbelievable technique and musical ability was never in question; however, what makes the album special is the uncanny blend of precision and freedom, of improvisation and structure. Each of the 10 compositions were written by a different twosome (do the math permutations). Playful bluesy lopes ("Pink Flamingo") accompany tinges of reggae ("The Locks of Dread"), Celtic ("Macedonia"), and Middle Eastern ("Blue Men of the Sahara") music. There are urgent burners, somber mood pieces, and tender ballads, all delivered with grace. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

One of the best crossover albums of all time.......2007-03-08

The incredible chemistry of this ensemble of string wizards mixes bluegrass sounds with every other genre in a way not yet duplicated. Unreal. You must have this CD.

The Telluride Sessions (Strength In Numbers).......2007-01-12

I first heard the group "Strength In Numbers" years ago on a show called Lone Pine Special. The entire band was phenomenal. It took bluegrass in a whole new and exciting direction. Each player is amazing in his own right as well as mixing beautifully with the other players. Most of this music is what I consider a bluegrass jazz fusion. This is a wonderful CD to include in an otherwise standard collection of traditional bluegrass. The virtuosity of each of these musicians is mindboggling. Some of the cuts make you want to jump up and dance while others cause you to pause, intently listen, and examine the musical techniques presented. Being a banjo and guitar player myself, it was a real joy to listen to such prolific musicianship. I found myself challenged and awed by this CD. I highly recommend this CD.

Bluegrass a little less blue.......2006-12-13

Bluegrass remains in many ways a music that holds its devotees close but perhaps offers less to the uninitiated or to those for whom the insistance on rigorous adherence to some predefined bluegrass standard seems a bit self-involved. Often times reverence towards tradition and outright musical athleticism get in the way of what is at the core a very strong musical message. This CD is one that easily reaches across boundaries and, with bluegrass sensibilities intact but not binding, presents contemporary acoustic country at its best. The musicians present are all masters of their instruments and all have worked together and known each other for years. The music they produce seems almost effortless but at the same time conveys no sense of sloppiness or lack of professionalism. There is a clear musical statement here coupled with a strong feeling so that the musicianship serves an end rather than just becoming an end in itself. Standouts include One Winter's Night, Blue Men of the Sahara, and the wonderful mandolin duet on Macedonia featuring Sam Bush and reminding us that Mark O'Connor can play anything. For the bluegrass traditionalist, the music may seem heresy. For the rest of us, this is a wonderful recording suitable for repeated listening. Definitely not for bluegrass fans only.

As fresh as ever.......2006-09-07

I just bought it; 17 years after its release. Not that that should matter as I have purchased jazz recordings from the fifties. This CD is my first introduction to bluegrass or newgrass or whatever grass. I agree with some of the reviewers that this music is beyond classification. I don't think it gets any better than this. I love the melodies, the harmonies, musicianship and the quality of the recording. I listen to it at home and in the car. There are some world influences in couple of numbers. By the way, "Macedonia" has a Balkan tint to it, not celtic. Inspired by this CD I started tracking the recording of individual artists involved as the group represented a "summit" of sorts. Next thing I will be moving to the Appalachian Mountains.

Acoustic fire!.......2005-12-25

It all started when my friend Ashley used "Macedonia" (track six) to demonstrate the quality of his JBL iPod speaker ring. Never having listened to bluegrass before, I asked what kind of music it was and he said it is beyond classification. So I listened to "Slopes" and got the kind of euphoric rush you get when you're having a sports-related high or the ecstatic sensation of moving at great speed.
No matter what you think of bluegrass or banjos, anyone who takes delight in music that is intricate, brilliant, sensuous and evocative, will find much to love about this album. Jazz fans will appreciate the Pat Metheny undertones and harmonies in tracks like "One Winter's Night." I would be first in line for any new project by this line-up of virtuoso musicians. What a joy to listen to flawless musical jamming!

Average customer rating:

Shania Twain at her absolute best, great songs too!
Spunkiest Cowgirl of Any County
She started with Country, now it's pure (heavy) POP
Brilliant!!!
SUPER CD TWAIN AND LANGE!!

The Woman in Me
Shania Twain
Manufacturer: Mercury Nashville
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Come on Over
Up!
Shania Twain
Shania Twain - Greatest Hits
It Matters to Me

ASIN: B000001E68
Release Date: 1995-02-07

Tracks:

Home Ain't Where His Heart Is (Anymore)
Any Man Of Mine
Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?
(If You're Not In It For Love) I'm Outta Here!
The Woman In Me (Needs The Man In You)
Is There Life After Love?
If It Don't Take Two
You Win My Love
Raining On Our Love
Leaving Is The Only Way Out
No One Needs To Know
God Bless The Child

Amazon.com essential recording

Shania Twain comes full circle on this album, cowriting 11 out of 12 cuts and proving that she can do more than sing. Once again she crosses over into pop-rock territory with this multiplatinum affair, bringing legions of new fans into the country camp. Peppered with hits such as "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" and "Any Man of Mine," Twain's sophomore effort features crisp and clear vocals and country-flavored pop arrangements. Husband and cowriter "Mutt" Lange, known for his production work with hard hitters Def Leppard, has produced a fresh sound for country, enhancing the traditional with a more gritty, gutsy sound; even the more delicate tunes resemble those power-pop tunes from the 1980s. This is music for all occasions: danceable, romantic, and powerful. --Paula Ghergia

Customer Reviews:

Shania Twain at her absolute best, great songs too!.......2006-10-21

This is the first Shania Twain album that I ever bought and it still sounds as fresh to me as the day I bought it. Her personality and gift for singing with real feeling comes across here more strongly than most of her albums. There is a sensitivity, warmth and zest for life that is communicated that is hard to put into words. Both the fast and slow songs on this album are very good and the ballads are particularly moving.

Spunkiest Cowgirl of Any County.......2006-08-19

Shania Twain is thoroughly entertaining. She bridges the sexes and most major categories of pop music with her spirited vocals and spunky attitude. On her smash 'Come on Over' she conquered country, pop, and rock with numerous fusions that made a fun ride. Truer to country, this previous effort is even better overall. Her tender moments resonate well, and the progressive numbers do what no one has done before. She does to "hot new country" what Patsy Cline did to country in its modern beginning.

Her tenderness is done with finesse on her opener, "Home Ain't Where His Heart Is (Anymore)," but is even bettered on "Raining on Our Love" Then she really kicks it into gear with a fun gallop on "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under," "You Win My Love," and "No One Needs to Know". But, if these numbers don't win you over, her smash hit, "If You're Not in It for Love (I'm Outta Here)" is worth the price of the CD. With vocals that ably fill the ebb and flow of the spunkiest country song--possibly ever conceived--the band actually fills up in a big way what even her voice can't even do. (Her back-up band is particularly accomplished on this album.)

There isn't a bad song on 'Woman in Me,' and, while 'Come on Over' is the favorite commercially (and maybe even more entertaining) 'The Woman in Me' showcases women's country where no one has tread before.

She started with Country, now it's pure (heavy) POP.......2006-04-24

The first Shania Twain record I bought was Come On Over and
although it was a #1 worldwide smash, I didn't like it except
for some ballads. I thought..is this Country? And if it is so
what happended to Country music during the 90's? The only thing
left on most songs is the steel guitar but the rest are screaming
electric guitars + lots of other noises. It seems like heavy
rock to me compared to Country music from the 60's through the
80's. With the second try of a Shania Twain record it was again
a flop. "Up" has some nice ballads but out of 19 songs only 3
or 4 are bearable. Since 1997 Shania Twain cannot be considered
a Country artist nor a crossover artist. It's pure Pop.
My last try, however, was this "Woman in me" because all the
reviews said it was more country like. This is true. Shania
Twain WAS Country during the first half of the 90's. On this
CD at least 8 out of 12 are real nice. Instead of buying new
material I will go backwards and get the first Shania's records.

Brilliant!!!.......2006-03-31

An Absolutely Wonderful Album:

1.) Home Ain't Where His Heart Is (Anymore)-Very Good Ballad
2.) Any Man of Mine-FABULOUS!
3.) Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?-okay
4.)(If You're Not In It For Love) I'm Outta Here- VERY GOOD!
5.) The Woman In Me (Needs The Man In You)-Never gets old
6.) Is There Life After Love?- I never cared for this one
7.) If It Don't Take Two-toe tapper
8.) You Win My Love-One of my favorties of all time
9.) Raining On Our Love- NAH!
10.)Leaving Is The Only Way Out-Don't care for it
11.)No One Needs To Know-The Reason I Bought the Movie "TWISTER"
12.)God Bless The Child-Not as good as the video version but alright.

SUPER CD TWAIN AND LANGE!!.......2006-02-15

MAN, SHANIA AND MUTT YOU DID A GOOD JOB WITH THE ALBUM. YOU ROCK SHANIA!!

Average customer rating:

Joan Tower: Made in America

Manufacturer: Naxos American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

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

ASIN: B000OQDRWI
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Amazon.com

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

Average customer rating:

the Man
This is a fantastic CD
satisfied
One of the Best
One of the best country albums of the past decade

Smoke Rings in the Dark
Gary Allan
Manufacturer: Mca Nashville
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Honky-Tonk | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

$9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Country | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

$9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Alright Guy
See If I Care
It Would Be You
Tough All Over
Used Heart for Sale

ASIN: B00002CF4F
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Tracks:

Smoke Rings In The Dark
Right Where I Need To Be
Don't Tell Mama
Lovin' You Against My Will
Sorry
Cryin' For Nothin'
Bourbon Borderline
Runaway
Learning To Live With Me
Cowboy Blues
I'm The One
Greenfields

Amazon.com

After two close-but-no-cigar efforts for the now-defunct Decca label, Smoke Rings in the Dark marks Gary Allan's emergence as a major talent. The album was coproduced by MCA Nashville honchos Tony Brown and Mark Wright, who between them have been responsible for dozens of No. 1 country hits in the '90s. Thanks to shrewd song selections, Allan's sound bridges the gap between the contemporary Nashville mainstream and West Coast alt-country with style and integrity. With its haunting Roy Orbison-style refrain, the title track is among the most immediately memorable singles to penetrate country playlists in 1999. The ballads "Bourbon Borderline" and "Greenfields" recall labelmate Mark Chesnutt, whose traditionalist leanings Allan clearly shares. At the same time, he's not averse to slinking and strutting through the zoot-suit swinger "Sorry" and howling a faithful cover of Del Shannon's "Runaway." Smoke Rings should make Allan a bona fide star; it's already established him as a bona fide artist. --Rick Mitchell

Customer Reviews:

the Man.......2007-03-19

Hi you guys!
Just wanted to say i just found this guy as of late ,And can't get enough of him.Boy have i been missing out all these years.I think people should talk their favorite singers up more, As they reveiw guy's like him.He is just awesome and i'm getting all his cd's,I also like chris cagle alot give him a try if your not familiar with him.Be blessed you all,and keep the music crankin...Howie <>

This is a fantastic CD.......2006-11-25

I was recently introduced to Gary Allen's music, and this is one of my favorite CDs. I find myself listening to it over and over. Gary Allen has such a great voice, and his band is excellent, too. I don't know why country stations in my area don't play his songs more often. He's a better singer than some of the more famous country celebrities out there. When I'm driving in my car, I find myself turning off the radio and listening to this CD instead.

satisfied.......2006-08-11

I am excited for purchasing this cd because it is better than I expected.I bought it for just one song but I found out that I like all the songs as well.

One of the Best.......2006-02-05

Smoke Rings in the Dark is one of the best albums I own. I love every song on it. I saw Gary Allan in concert when he was touring this album... he sings like his album. A very talented artist.

One of the best country albums of the past decade.......2006-01-23

With "Smoke Rings in the Dark", Gary Allan achieved one of the rarest feats in music--the recording of a great disc that gets better with age. As with some of the very best, regardless of genre, this is an album that one can put on, press the "replay" button, and listen for hours. Allan's soulful voice and the true-to-the-song arrangements combine to make for the sort of moaning honky-tonk music that is simply so good it seems like it's been there forever. If you are at all a fan of country music, and especially of the Bakersfield sound, you must get this album.

Average customer rating:

The Beautiful Piano
PIANO MAN

Forever in Love
Floyd Cramer
Manufacturer: Bmg Special Product
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

Nashville Sound | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Country | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

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

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

Piano Magic of Floyd Cramer
Collector's Series
The Piano Magic, Vol. 2
Blue Skies
Piano Masterpieces (1900-1975)

ASIN: B000001U2U
Release Date: 1997-11-18

Tracks:

Could I Have This Dance
Have I Told You Lately
Longer
I Swear
When A Man Loves A Woman
Theme From Ice Castles (Through The Eyes Of Love)
Don't Know Much
Forever In Love
You Are So Beautiful
Sometimes When We Touch

Customer Reviews:

The Beautiful Piano.......2003-01-20

I think anyone would appreciate this man's talent. He plays the piano with such emotion especially with the love songs. I am sure this one belongs in your music library!!!

PIANO MAN.......2000-07-05

THIS REVIEW HAS GAVE ME THE CHANCE TO HEAR ONE OF THE GREATEST PIANISTS IN HISTORY IT INSPIRES ME TO PLAY THE PIANO MORE MOST KIDS AND MY FRIENDS LISTEN TO POP OR RAP BUT THE BEATUIFUL SONGS YOU RECORDED ON THIS CD ARE AWESOME POLIUM09@AOL.COM

Amy Beach: "Gaelic" Symphony; Piano Concerto

Average customer rating:

Splendid Works
The best recording of the Beach Piano Concerto
Amy Beach - a wonderful discovery
Naxos and the NSO do it again
Two Sunny Beaches

Amy Beach: "Gaelic" Symphony; Piano Concerto

Manufacturer: Naxos American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

$6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Rorem: Three Symphonies
Alan Hovhaness: Symphony No. 22 ("City of Light"); Cello Concerto
Virgil Thomson: Symphony No 1-3
Grofe: Death Valley Suite
Barber: School for Scandal/Symphonies 1 & 2

ASIN: B00008ZZ2Z
Release Date: 2003-06-17

Tracks:

Allegro Moderato
Scherzo: Vivaco (Perpetuum Mobile)
Largo
Allegro Con Scioltezza
Allegro Con Fuoco
Alla Siciliana - Allegro Vivace - Andante
Lento Con Molta Espressione
Allegro Di Molto

Album Description

Naxos brings together, for the first time on a single disc, two of Amy Beach's finest compositions, her Piano Concerto, Op. 45, and her "Gaelic" Symphony, Op. 32 which makes use of four traditional Irish tunes in addition to original themes composed in the same idiom and spirit. Born supremely gifted in piano and composition, she grew up in an era when society expected women to marry and stay at home, not have professional careers. Against opposition from family and society, she first became a concert pianist and, after marriage, this country 's first successful female composer of major concert works.

Customer Reviews:

Splendid Works.......2007-03-04

Although I have had a solid appreciation for classical music for 5 decades, and own an extensive collection, I had never had the pleasure of hearing Beach's music until I purchased this CD from Amazon. The sympony is well structured and true to 19th century styles, but the concerto is simply brilliant and very much on the Olympian level of Chopin and Liszt. I had also never heard the Nashville Symphony perform, and this is one very accomplished ensemble, not necessarily expected from the home of country music. This bargain priced CD is a gift from the Gods and a find that any lover of traditional classical music will certainly welcome.

The best recording of the Beach Piano Concerto.......2004-06-19

Finally a recording of the piano concerto that does justice to it! Feinberg works wonders with this piece, and Schermerhorn backs up his soloist to the hilt. This is really a symphony for piano and orchestra-many times the orchestra has the big, romantic melodies while the pianist plays glittering arabesques around it. For the pianist, many large cadenzas fuel the piece with virtuoso fireworks. The Gaelic symphony to me is not as amazing as the piano concerto although Schermerhorn does the work justice, but not as well as the Jarvi/DSO on Chandos. But either performance does not convince me that the 3rd movement is not a note too long. Anyway, a most impressive achievement, and a great addition to the Naxos catalog (I must have 1,000 Naxos CD's now!)

Amy Beach - a wonderful discovery.......2003-12-12

Thank you Naxos for bringing us yet again rarely heard performances of our American heritage of classical composers. This time around it is Amy Beach's Piano Concerto and "Gaelic" Symphony. These compositions are finely crafted pieces that are worthy of regular appearances in concert halls.
The Piano Concerto is richly and warmly Romantic, with the piano sparkling like a cold glass of champagne. Her "Gaelic" symphony has to be ranked as one of America's finest symphonic outputs ever. If you think of Gershwin and Copeland when you think of American classical music, then you are missing out on some truly amazing works.

Naxos and the NSO do it again.......2003-09-15

Scott Morrison has already provided the salient details about this wonderful recording. This was arguably the best of last season's NSO concerts, and the recording is even better. TPAC's Jackson Hall seems to be an excellent symphonic recording studio, an interesting contrast to the scattered "dead spots" one must occasionally suffer through as a concertgoer depending on the seat assignment (the symphony will move to a new, allegedly acoustically superior hall in 2006). For those few who might hesitate to purchase a recording by a "second tier" orchestra, I can assure you that the mostly youthful members are graduates of America's best conservatories and university music departments. The core group has been together long enough to establish a cohesive tone with precision which rivals the "name" orchestras when they play their best, as they do here. Bernstein protege Schemerhorn conducts these works with grace and sensitivity - and Feinberg's piano performance is amazing. Highly recommended.

Two Sunny Beaches.......2003-08-06

Oh, how I envy pianist Alan Feinberg. If I were a virtuoso pianist, his is the kind of career I'd choose. He specializes in mostly American, mostly new music and has the advantage of presenting generally unknown pieces to an admiring audience. He has recorded music by such composers as Andrew Imbrie (the Concerto), Charles Ives (Songs, other pieces), Charles Wuorinen (3rd Sonata, Trio), John Adams (China Gates), Henry Cowell, Mario Davidovsky, Ralph Shapey, Ruth Crawford Seeger, Leo Ornstein, Paul Bowles, and even Thelonious Monk, among others. He rarely plays 'old-fashioned' American music, although he has recorded some music by Charles Tomlinson Griffes, our primary impressionist composer. Here he plays, with the admirable support of the Nashville Symphony conducted by their long-time music director Kenneth Schermerhorn, the 1899 Piano Concerto of Amy Cheney Beach (1867-1944; known in my student days as Mrs. H.H.A. Beach, and invariably referred to by us whippersnappers as Mrs Haha Beach).

The Piano Concerto is a four-movement, 37-minute, grandiloquent showpiece that is from the sound world of Grieg or MacDowell: melodious, big-gestured, rigorously crafted with an immediately discernible Romantic form--a crowd-pleaser if ever there was one. And in its day it pleased many concert-goers. Beach herself played the solo part at its 1900 première by the Boston Symphony. It was recorded before, perhaps twenty years ago, by Mary Louise Boehm, a pianist who has made something of a specialty of Beach's music, but this new recording supersedes the older one largely because Feinberg's performance is more assured and brilliant, the sound is crystalline, and the Nashville Symphony's playing is much better than that by the Westphalian Symphony under Siegfried Landau.

Another advantage of this issue is that Beach's once-familiar 'Gaelic Symphony' (1896) is coupled with the Concerto. It has tougher competition on CD--a Chandos recording by Neeme Järvi conducting the Detroit Symphony--but this performance is quite as good, and of course Naxos's budget price, as usual, is a definite plus.

If anything, the 42-minute, four-movement Gaelic Symphony, making use of Irish tunes (as well as original tunes that Beach wrote in the style of Irish folksongs), is even more tuneful and immediately attractive than the Concerto. The Andante second movement is particularly appealing; its major theme is the kind that immediately sticks in your mind's ear and won't let go (what the Germans call an Ohrwurm, an 'ear worm'). The third movement (Lento con molta espressione) is luscious and deeply melancholic. The symphony ends with a congeries of Irish tunes and dances in a paean of dramatic exultation.

I have no hesitation in recommending this CD. It is another recording in Naxos's admired American Classics series which seems to go from glory to glory. Naxos is doing for American classical music what Lyrita, Conifer, Hyperion and Chandos have done for native British music. The ongoing discovery of the depth and value of our American classical heritage continues to thrill me.

Tracks:

Conversations in Silence - I
II: Conversations in Silence - II
III: Conversations in Silence - III
IV: Conversations in Silence - IV
Canzonetta
Endymion's Sleep
The Stone
Adagio
Blackberry Winter - I
Blackberry Winter - II
Blackberry Winter - III

Customer Reviews:

Mountain Dulcimer and the Orchestra!.......2006-11-06

I bought this album because of the dulcimer concerto on it, and it didn't disappoint. Teh liner notes were outstanding and I am so glad to have this piece in my collection!

Beautifully Moving and Imaginative.......2006-05-27

I got to see "Blackberry Winter" performed live in Nashville a few years ago and it was awesome. I took violin lessons from one of the violinists in the orchestra for a long time, so it was a little extra exciting. I got to meet the conductor, Paul Gambill about a year later and he was a really nice guy. He also conducted us in a big youth-orchestra gathering where we played the soundtrack to "Lord of the Rings."
"The Stone" is by far my favorite track on the CD. The mysterious Scottish and Irish themes entwined with each other are simply fantastic. It pretty much just transports you to another world.
"Blackberry Winter" is awesome, too. There's not many great recordings of a mountain dulcimer with an orchestra to back it up. Plus, the melodies and themes in that itself are really uniquely beautiful.
Overall, it's great quiet time and thinking music. It's definetely worth it!

Get the best fast.......2006-02-19

I heard this recording on NPR radio and loved it. While it was out of the mainstream usually stocked at music stores, I found it on Amazon, ordered it, and received in a matter of days! The recording is a lovely collection of Tennessee / Celtic pieces with wonderful solo work. Ellisor is a Nashville musician and composer and her "Blackberry Winter" for Tennessee music box is a real delight. Other pieces on the CD are by Barber, Kodaly, Mock, and Scearce.

wow!.......2005-04-28

I absolutely 'love' this CD. INNOVATIVE modern music. One of my favorites indeed.

Fresh & American!!.......2002-01-13

This is one exciting CD for several reasons. For those looking for orchestral sound that is uniquely American, Conni Ellisor provides the sound that has been missing since the end of Aaron Copland's career. In addition to Ellisor's compositions, the other tracks on this CD are an unusual and beautiful fit that compliments the other pieces. As is frequently the case in music, artists (Nashville Chamber Orchestra) and composers (Ellisor) off the beaten path are a national treasure. I use this CD for inspiration, relaxation, and restoration. One of the top 3 in my collection.

Average customer rating:

Vince Sings Like No One Else
country music excellence
Vintage Vince
Vince's breakthrough album
You'll believe in this album for years to come!

I Still Believe in You
Vince Gill
Manufacturer: Mca Nashville
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

$7.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Country | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

$7.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Country | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

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

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

When I Call Your Name
When Love Finds You
Pocket Full of Gold
High Lonesome Sound
Souvenirs

ASIN: B000002OLC
Release Date: 1992-09-01

Tracks:

Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away
No Future In The Past
Nothing Like A Woman
Tryin' To Get Over You
Say Hello
One More Last Chance
Under These Conditions
Pretty Words
Love Never Broke Anyone's Heart
I Still Believe In You

Amazon.com

Vince Gill has always been ambitious man: he got his start with the progressive new grass outfit Bluegrass Alliance but didn't stay long, and he soon became guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the country-folk middle-roaders Pure Prarie League. He stayed with the band for three years before working as a sideman to Rodney Crowell and eventually signing with MCA in 1984. His career skyrocketed, fueled by tasteful country material and his creamy vocals. 1992's I Still Believe in You was his biggest success, and the title cut a monster hit. It's not a spectacular record, but Gill's vocal strengths and guitar work are hard to deny, and these 10 songs, featuring guest spots by Delbert McClinton and Alison Krauss, represent his style very well. --Roy Francis Kasten

Customer Reviews:

Vince Sings Like No One Else.......2005-11-22

No one living today invites us into their soul like Vince Gill does when he sings a ballad. This man has no equal.

Except for the late, great Roy Orbison, Gill stands alone when singing of love's heartache or love's joy. He transmits more than words and a story when he sings. He gives us a glimpse into his heart.

In this album, Gill allows us to be his companion, confiding in us his anguish, his joy and his pain in such instant and forever classic love songs as "I Still Believe In You," Tryin' To Get Over You," "Love Never Broke Anyone's Heart," and "No Future In The Past."

Take you pick. Play them. Then play them again and again. If you aren't already, you'll be addicted to this man's voice and soul when you listen to this album.

country music excellence.......2005-01-09

Rooted in traditional country music, Vince Gill is one of country music's greatest talents, and shines as a songwriter, singer and guitarist on all ten tracks of this CD, which is a terrific mix of tuneful ballads, up-tempo numbers, and a big dash of humor with "One More Last Chance". Perhaps my favorite track is "No Future in the Past", which I doggedly tried to learn on the piano, and was surprised by the complexity of the composition, with its many changes while maintaining its lovely melodic line.

At 5 x platinum, "I Still Believe in You" has been Vince's biggest selling CD, and the title song was a big hit; it won many awards, among them the CMA Song of the Year and Album of the Year for '93, as well as giving Vince the Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year awards, and the '93 TNN Music City Awards gave Vince the Single of the Year and Instrumentalist of the Year award as well.
Vince's band is superb, and are a part of what makes this such an excellent recording, the booklet insert has all the lyrics and I do like the pensive b&w cover photo, rather unusual for a non-classical CD, but maybe appropriate, because this album is a 100 % country classic, and on my list as an essential for any CD collection of that genre.
Total playing time is 36'23 thoroughly enjoyable minutes.

Vintage Vince.......2003-04-25

With his distinctive, pure tenor and skilled songwriting ability, Vince Gill can always be counted on to deliver a quality product. 1992's I Still Believe In You was another solid, if not startling, effort from the team of Gill and megaproducer Tony Brown.

Gill wrote or co-wrote all of the songs included here with eight different collaborators. He claims only the title song was autobiographical. It is a reassurance of devotion to his wife Janis, even though the obligations of fame often impede their time together (alas, Amy Grant came along and permanently impeded their time together a few years ago). Many of Gill's slow songs have a tendency to sound alike. He gets away with it by using diverse subject matter and by coming up with lyrics that touch a universal chord. "No Future In The Past" deals with lost love while "Nothing Like A Woman sweetly extols the pleasures of having a woman to love. "Under These Conditions" looks at potential lovers who bypass adultery because their families need them while "Love Never Broke Anyone's Heart" addresses the reluctance to fall in love again for fear of getting hurt.

In addition to using diverse subject matter, Gill sequences his tracks well enough that the listener is never placed into a coma. The interspersed uptempo tunes place as much emphasis on the beat as the lyrics. "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away" is one of Gill's most soulful recordings ever, while "Say Hello" sounds as if it could be a revived classic from the '60s Bakersfield era - very similar to the kind of material that Dwight Yoakam has popularized. "Pretty Words" is a footstomping bluegrasse number, while "One More Last Chance" is a carefree slice of rockabilly. These faster tunes nicely convey that amidst all the seriousness, Gill relishes the chance to cut loose.

Vince's breakthrough album.......2002-07-19

I Still Believe In You was Vince Gill's breakthrough album. He does a fine job here. The title song, "I Still Believe In You", was Song Of The Year, and deservedly so. It's one of the best romantic ballads I've heard. Vince also had a couple of other mellow hit songs off this record: "Tryin' To Get Over You", which has become a classic breakup song, and the somber waltz "No Future In The Past". The other ballads aren't that bad either. The romantic song "Nothing Like A Woman", the slow two-stepping song "Say Hello", the positive love song "Love Never Broke Anyone's Heart", and the song "Under These Conditions"(where the guy meets a married woman and decides that he can't have a relationship because he, too, is married) are all strong ballads from Vince. Vince rocks out here, too, and showcases his fine lead guitar. On the funky opening song, "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away", Vince collaborated on the songwriting with Pete Wasner, his buddy and keyboard player. Also, "One More Last Chance" and "Pretty Words" are both strong, high-energy tunes. Vince put out an award-winning album that is fun and listenable. I don't think anybody should miss this one.

You'll believe in this album for years to come!.......2001-10-20

Vince Gill was one of the great country singers of the late 80s all the way up to the end of the 90s, and he still is even though he hasn't released any new music in awhile. I Still Believe in You is one of Vince's best, if not his best album that he has ever made.

Of the ten tracks, five of them were HUGE hits for the country music world. These five blockbusters are: "I Still Believe in You," "One More Last Chance," "No Future in The Past," "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away," and my favorite, "Tryin' To Get Over You." Even to this day, I still hear all of those songs on the radio a lot, that's how great they are.

The five non-hits in I Still Believe in You aren't bad either. As a matter of fact, all of them are good songs, especially "Nothing Like A Woman."

I'm 21 and I like Vince Gill's music, my mom is middle-aged :) and she's a fan, and my grandfather is 87 and he says Vince Gill is his favorite country music singer. In other words, it doesn't matter how old you are, if you like great country music, get this album while you can! Even if you're not that big on country music, at least give it a listen, it might surprise you.

Texas in My Soul
Average customer rating:
Texas in My Soul
Willie Nelson
Manufacturer: American Beat
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music
Nashville Sound | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music
General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Last of the Breed

The Best of Buddy Alan Owens

Live in Concert-Travis Tritt

Outlaw Country - Live From Austin Tx (Dig)

From the Cradle to the Grave

ASIN: B000MM0KWE
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Tracks:

Dallas
San Antonio
Streets of Laredo
Who Put All My Ex's in Texas
Hill Country Theme
Waltz Across Texas
Travis Letter
Remember the Alamo
Texas in My Soul
There's a Little Bit of Everything in Texas
Beautiful Texas

Music:

Music

Music