Baltimore

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Originally cut in Brussels for the CTI label, this 1978 studio effort is something of an oddity in Nina Simone's lengthy oeuvre. The repertoire ranges from the Randy Newman title track to the Hall & Oates hit "Rich Girl" to the traditional "Balm in Gilead." (Simone complained that she "no say whatsoever" in the song selection.) Sidemen include studio pros Andy Newmark, Will Lee, and Eric Gale, who explore reggae and rock rhythms that have dated a bit. Nevertheless, the material matches Simone's maturing voice, making Baltimore an estimable if not earthshaking accomplishment. --Steven Stolder

Baltimore, Music, Nina Simone, Jazz, Jazz Music, Jazz Vocals, Pop, Standards, Vocal Jazz
Children's Favorites
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Children's Favorites a solid purchase
  • The perfect package
  • A Wonderful Introduction to the Classics
 Children's Favorites

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

BalletsBallets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00004Y6T3
Release Date: 2000-09-05

Tracks:

  1. March Of The Tin Soldiers - Leon Jessel
  2. Variations On 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' - Walter Klien
  3. The Nutcracker: Dance Of The Reed Flutes - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
  4. The Nutcracker: Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
  5. The Sorceror's Apprentice - Paul Dukas
  6. Peter And The Wolf (Extract) - Brandon de Wilde
  7. Invention No. 8 In F Major - Christiane Jaccottet
  8. Invention No. 11 in G Minor - Christiane Jaccottet
  9. Invention No. 13 in A Minor - Christiane Jaccottet
  10. Prelude And Fugue No. 21 In B Flat Major (Book 1) - Christiane Jaccottet
  11. Sonata For 2 Pianos In D Major, K. 448, 1st Mvt. - Rudolf Firkusny
  12. III. Allegretto - Walter Klien
  13. Kinderszenen: Of Strange Lands And People - Walter Klien
  14. Kinderszenen: Curious Story - Walter Klien
  15. Kinderszenen: Entreating Child - Walter Klien
  16. Kinderszenen: Perfect Happiness - Walter Klien
  17. Introduction And Royal March - Marylene Dosse
  18. The Elephant - Marylene Dosse
  19. Kangaroos - Marylene Dosse
  20. The Aquarium - Marylene Dosse
  21. Cuckoo In The Woods - Marylene Dosse
  22. Birds - Marylene Dosse
  23. Fossils - Marylene Dosse
  24. The Swan - Marylene Dosse
  25. Finale - Marylene Dosse

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Children's Favorites a solid purchase.......2006-03-09

This CD mostly delivered what was expected of it. The only critique I have is that some of the tempos could have been cleaner, and that it should be cross-referenced by the other composers besides J. S. Bach.

5 out of 5 stars The perfect package.......2005-10-23

This is the most wonderful collection to have on 1 CD. Children from birth on up can benefit from this musical collage.
Songs from the "Nutcracker" are familiar and comfortable for many children. What child wouldn't love "March of the Tin Soldiers?"
Selections from Saint-Saens' "Carnival of the Animals" is a must in my creative movement library. Every child should be exposed to this music. Well,I believe every age should be.

5 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Introduction to the Classics.......2003-03-11

With total playing time clocking in at 78:04 minutes of music, you'll be paying about 6-cents/minute, which is a better bargain than long distance phone calls, and often more rewarding!

This disc is far superior than most other "Classics for Kids"-type recordings I've sampled for a number of reasons:

1) This album was expertly engineered. The production quality on this disc is first-rate from start to finish with crisp, clear sound.

2) The pieces were expertly picked. There is wonderful sonic variety here, spanning hundreds of years of wonderful melodies. There are orchestral pieces, harpsichord pieces, solo piano, and a piano concerto, capped off with Saint-Seans whimsical Carnival of the Animals. What kid (or adult) wouldn't love that?

3) The performances are, without exeption, expert! The pieces were definately screened for quality as well as content. Many are simply a joy to behold. Walter Klein is a particular stand-out, almost giddily prancing through Schumann's pieces. Believe it or not, he sounds even more impressive when backed up by the always inspiring Minnesota Orchestra on Mozart's Piano Concerto #17.

In short, this album is a great album even before you factor in the great price. You and your children are almost guaranteed to enjoy every 6-cents worth!
The Best of Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Some interesting choices, indeed
  • Great CD
  • Great selections, but bad transfers
  • Yes this is Some of the Best of Broadway!
  • The music of Broadway comes alive
 The Best of Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)

Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Very Best Of Broadway Musicals
  2. Only Broadway CD You'll Ever Need
  3. Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
  4. The Best Of Broadway (Cast Recording Anthology)
  5. Ultimate Broadway

ASIN: B0002W4T9E
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

  1. There's No Business Like Show Business
  2. Swanee
  3. Ol' Man River
  4. You're The Top
  5. Oklahoma
  6. Luck Be A Lady
  7. I Could Have Danced All Night
  8. America
  9. My Favorite Things
  10. People
  11. If I Were A Rich Man
  12. The Impossible Dream
  13. Cabaret
  14. Let The Sunshine In
  15. Send In The Clowns
  16. One
  17. Tomorrow
  18. Memory
  19. The Music Of The Night
  20. Good Morning Baltimore
  21. Defying Gravity

Amazon.com

A companion to the fabulous PBS series, the 21-song, 77-minute The Best of "Broadway: The American Musical" provides about as good a single-disc compilation as anyone could hope for. (There's also a five-CD version.) What sets it apart from so many other "best of Broadway" collections is its breadth--because it had access to a variety of record-label vaults it doesn't have to try to disguise gaps by using revivals or solo recordings. Here you get all the authentic stuff, including: Paul Robeson singing "Ol' Man River" from the first modern American musical, Show Boat; Ethel Merman singing "You're the Top"; the title song from Oklahoma!; Julie Andrews singing "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady; West Side Story's "America"; Betty Buckley singing "Memory" from Cats; Hairspray's "Good Morning Baltimore"; and "Defying Gravity" from Wicked, the newest show discussed in the PBS series. And it's hard to argue with the songwriters represented: Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Frank Loesser, Lerner and Loewe, Leonard Bernstein, Bock and Harnick, Kander and Ebb, Stephen Sondheim, and Andrew Lloyd Webber, among others. Obviously, no single-disc compilation could ever please everyone (did we really need two ALW songs?), but as a sampler intended for people who watched the series and want to hear more of the Great White Way, The Best of "Broadway: The American Musical" can't be topped. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Some interesting choices, indeed.......2006-03-02

This is a pretty good compilation, but I have to wonder at some of the choices that went into it.
"Good Morning Baltimore" is almost the least impressive song from Hairspray. "You Can't Stop the Beat" was a much more anthemic song from that show.
I agree that it's too bad Les Mis didn't make it in. I would have traded that for anything Sondheim, although that's a personal preference :) .
Still, the opportunity to hear the original performers and orchestras perform these works, all in one place, is a great deal.

5 out of 5 stars Great CD.......2005-11-01

This one plays in the car, on the ipod and in the house. When the kids were little they would ask if we could take them to "The Street". That is what they called Broadway (little did they know at that time how famous that street is). They still love it and we can not get enough of it. This CD covers the best and makes you want to go and see a live performance. You can not beat that.

4 out of 5 stars Great selections, but bad transfers.......2005-07-27

This is a great taste of broadway. If you enjoyed the B'Way series at all, then you will probably enjoy this CD. My problem with it is that some of the songs sound like they were not remastered at all- the transfer to CD is terrible. The orchestrations in "You're the top" by Ethel Merman are muffled, and the song sounds like it was taken straight from an old record and slapped onto the CD without fixing it up. It doesn't sound very clear, which is a bit upsetting and annoying. Maybe this is just because that particular recording is older than some of the songs chosen to be on this CD. The more modern songs sound crisp and new and beautiful. "Swanee" is also very low quality as if it were just taken off of a record and put on the CD without any restoration. I just feel that these songs deserved better treatment and that we as customers deserve better treatment. Decca could have restored these songs and made them sound really good, but they decided just to slap them on the CD without touching them up.

I am surprised that nothing was chosen to be on this recording from Les Miserables since it had been on Broadway for 16 years and its tour is running until 2006. There were selections from Cats, Phantom of the Opera and Wicked, so I am not sure why nothing was chosen from Les Miserables.

Other than these few nit pickings, I think that this is a great introduction to musicals. It gives a little taste across the spectrum. Try getting the cast recordings of the songs that you really like on this collection. It's worth buying if you're a huge broadway fan.

5 out of 5 stars Yes this is Some of the Best of Broadway!.......2005-04-08

This CD from Decca Broadway is a wonderful selection of some of

the "Greatest Hits" of the Broadway stage. Decca and Sony have

done an excellent job of remastering the various recordings, some

of which still show some of their age, but come across quite

well. Are there a lot of songs that I would have put on this

disc? Yes, but the ones on here are good choices. I may have to

get a copy of the Five disc set and the DVD's just to see if any

more of my favorites made it on the list. What this disc seems to

try to do is show the evolution of the Broadway song from it's

early days to the present. It succeeds quite well I think.

If you enjoy Broadway theater this CD is a must!

5 out of 5 stars The music of Broadway comes alive.......2004-10-07

I loved listening to this CD. The music from Broadway's best loved musicals are on this album. I recogized most of these songs, even though I've only seen a few of them on the local stage. I have so many favorites on this CD. It is hard to pick one. I'm a big fan of Barbara Streisand. I loved her performance of People from Funny Girl. Memory is the hit song from the musical Cats. Betty Buckley's performance of this song is so emotional and sincere.

I loved the song Annie. It is a wonderfully optimistic song performed by the original Annie Andrea McArdle. Another highlight for me is the song One performed by the cast of a Chorus Line. Luck Be A Lady Tonight is another of my favorite broadway songs on this CD from Guys and Dolls. The music of the night is a beautiful song by Michael Crawford from Phantom of the Opera. Richard Kiley has such a strong and powerful voice. He sounds so inspirational singing The Impossible Dream from Man from La Mancha. My dream is to see some musicals on Broadway someday and listen to these songs performed live.

I'm surprised that there isn't any music from Miss Saigon or Jesus Christ Superstar included here. I think they are classic musicals with great songs Maybe they will appear on a future compilation from PBS.
The Essential Joshua Bell
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • So I'm just learning violin...
  • Joshua Bell...
 The Essential Joshua Bell

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by BlochAll Works by Bloch | Bloch, Ernest | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000A8AXUY
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

  1. Allegro Molto Appassionato
  2. II. Sicilienne
  3. II. Adagio
  4. IV. Allegro Quasi Presto
  5. III. Allegro Giocoso, Ma Non Troppo Vivace
  6. Caprice Viennois
  7. Toy-Soldiers March
  8. Waves At Play - Samuel Sanders
  9. II. Andante Assai
  10. Spanish Dance - Samuel Sanders
  11. Nigun (Improvisation)
  12. Zigeunerweisen, Op.20

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars So I'm just learning violin..........2006-09-21

and I can not play like Joshua Bell. For this, he better consider himself damn lucky as the world could not handle two of us Joshua Bells.

This was my first exposure to this phenom. Sorry, I had never heard of him until I got my first issue of STRINGS magazine and he was on the cover. My wife liked the cover and wanted to know if I got better would I not only sound like him but would I also look like him? I guess we'll never know how that will actually turn out. Safe to say, I'll end up not looking like him as I can never be quite as good as him. Again, damn lucky for Josh as I don't think the world could handle two of us.

This disc is an absolute gem not only for the Joshua Bell and violin fan, but the arrangements and the sound quality is superb. What this disc made me realize is that there are truly only a few out there that have complete and total control of their craft. It also made me decide that I would like to perhaps pick up a few more Joshua Bell recordings. For my wife, I guess I'll just duplicate them and give the copies to her in a blank cd case. I can tell her it's me playing. That ought to heat things up!

4 out of 5 stars Joshua Bell..........2005-12-05

This CD is a wonderful CD to see how Joshua Bell interprets some of the standard repertory of violinists of this century. The only thing I was dissapointed in slightly was that it included music from other CD's already produced by Bell, but otherwise, a wonderful gift for someone who has never heard Bell before.
Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Fabulous for any Broadway-lover
  • Top Shelf
  • TERRIFIC CD'S
  • Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs
  • Great Compilation!
 Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

BalletsBallets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by BernsteinAll Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by GershwinAll Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by PorterAll Works by Porter | Porter, Cole | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00064ADMK
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

  1. Give My Regards To Broadway- Joel Grey
  2. Swanee- Al Jolson
  3. When The Moon Shines On The Moonshine- Bert Williams
  4. A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody- John Steel
  5. My Man- Fanny Brice
  6. Fascinating Rhythm- Fred Astaire, Adele Astaire
  7. If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie)- 78rpm Version Eddie Cantor
  8. Someone To Watch Over Me- Gertrude Lawrence
  9. Bill- 78 rpm Version Helen Morgan
  10. Ol' Man River- Paul Robeson
  11. Ain't Misbehavin'- Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
  12. Ten Cents A Dance- Ruth Etting
  13. Body And Soul- Libby Holman
  14. Brother, Can You Spare A Dime- Bing Crosby
  15. Night And Day- Fred Astaire
  16. Heat Wave- Ethel Waters
  17. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes- Tamara
  18. You're The Top- Ethel Merman
  19. Summertime- Anne Brown
  20. September Song- Walter Huston
  21. My Heart Belongs To Daddy- Mary Martin
  22. It Never Entered My Mind- Shirley Ross
  23. Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered- Vivienne Segal
  24. Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning- Irving Berlin
  25. Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'- Alfred Drake

Tracks:

  1. New York, New York- Cris Alexander,Adolph Green,John Reardon
  2. If I Loved You- John Raitt,Jan Clayton
  3. Come Rain Or Come Shine- Ruby Hill,Harold Nicholas
  4. There's No Business Like Show Business- Ensemble
  5. How Are Things In Glocca Morra? From "Finian's Rainbow"- Ella Logan
  6. Once In Love With Amy- Ray Bolger
  7. Wunderbar- Alfred Drake,Patricia Morison
  8. Some Enchanted Evening- Ezio Pinza
  9. Lost In The Stars- Todd Duncan
  10. Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend- Carol Channing
  11. Luck Be A Lady- Robert Alda,Guys
  12. Getting To Know You- Gertrude Lawrence
  13. Who Cares?- Jack Carson,Betty Oakes
  14. Stranger In Paradise- from " Kismet" Doretta Morrow,Richard Kiley
  15. Ballad Of Mack The Knife- Gerald Price
  16. Hey There- from "The Pajama Game" John Raitt
  17. Whatever Lola Wants- Gwen Verdon
  18. I Could Have Danced All Night- Julie Andrews
  19. Standing On The Corner- from "The Most Happy Fella, 1956" Shorty Long,John Henson,Alan Gilbert
  20. The Party's Over- Judy Holliday
  21. Glitter And Be Gay- Barbara Cook
  22. Tonight- Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence

Tracks:

  1. Seventy-Six Trombones- Robert Preston
  2. I Enjoy Being A Girl- from "Flower Drum Song, 1958" Pat Suzuki
  3. Everything's Coming Up Roses- Ethel Merman
  4. My Favorite Things- from "The Sound Of Music" Mary Martin
  5. Put On A Happy Face- from "Bye Bye Birdie" Dick Van Dyke
  6. Try To Remember- Jerry Orbach
  7. Camelot- from "Camelot" Richard Burton
  8. Love Makes The World Go 'Round- Anna Maria Alberghetti
  9. I Believe In You- Robert Morse And Co.
  10. The Sweetest Sounds- Diahann Carroll,Richard Kiley
  11. Comedy Tonight- Zero Mostel
  12. What Kind Of Fool Am I?- Anthony Newley
  13. As Long As He Needs Me- Georgia Brown
  14. Hello, Dolly!- Carol Channing,Cast
  15. People- Barbra Streisand
  16. Anyone Can Whistle- from "Anyone Can Whistle" Lee Remick
  17. If I Were A Rich Man- Zero Mostel
  18. Night Song- Sammy Davis, Jr.
  19. The Impossible Dream- Richard Kiley
  20. If My Friends Could See Me Now- Gwen Verdon
  21. Open a New Window- from Mame Voice

Tracks:

  1. Willkommen- from "Cabaret" Joel Grey
  2. Let The Sunshine In- James Rado,Lynn Kellogg,Melba Moore,Cast
  3. I'll Never Fall In Love Again- Jill O'Hara,Jerry Orbach
  4. The Ladies Who Lunch- from "Company" Elaine Stritch
  5. Tea For Two- Roger Rathburn,Susan Watson
  6. I'm Still Here- Yvonne De Carlo
  7. I Don't Know How To Love Him- Yvonne Elliman
  8. We Go Together- Adrienne Barbeau,Barry Bostwick,Walter Bobbie,Cast
  9. Corner Of The Sky- John Rubinstein
  10. Send In The Clowns- Glynis Johns
  11. Ease On Down The Road- Stephanie Mills,Tiger Haynes,Ted Ross,Hinton
  12. One- from "A Chorus Line" Cast
  13. All That Jazz- Chita Rivera,Ensemble
  14. Tomorrow- Andrea Mcardle
  15. Don't Cry For Me Argentina- Patti Lupone
  16. Come Follow The Band
  17. Lullaby Of Broadway- Jerry Orbach
  18. And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going- Jennifer Holliday
  19. The Bells Of St. Sebastian- Raul Julia

Tracks:

  1. Memory- Betty Buckley
  2. I Am What I Am- George Hearn
  3. Move On- Bernadette Peters,Mandy Patinkin
  4. Do You Hear The People Sing?- Michael Maguire,Cast
  5. The Music Of The Night- Michael Crawford
  6. You're Nothing Without Me- James Naughton,Gregg Edelman
  7. The American Dream- Jonathan Pryce,Cast
  8. Doctor Jazz- Gregory Hines,Company
  9. With One Look- Glenn Close
  10. On Broadway- Adrian Bailey,Frederick B. Owens,Ken Ard,Victor Trent Cook
  11. Le Jazz Hot- Julie Andrews,Ensemble
  12. Seasons Of Love-
  13. Hakuna Matata- Max Casella,Tom Alan Robbins,Scott Irby-Ranniar,Jason Raize
  14. I Wanna Be A Producer- Matthew Broderick,Ensemble
  15. Dancing Queen- Louise Plowright,Jenny Galloway
  16. Good Morning Baltimore- Marissa Jaret Winokur
  17. Movin' Out- Michael Cavanaugh,Band
  18. I Go To Rio- Hugh Jackman,Company
  19. Defying Gravity- Kristin Chenoweth,Idina Menzel

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fabulous for any Broadway-lover.......2007-01-30

Packs into 5 CD's a sampling of Broadway tunes from the 20's thru (almost) today, mostly from original cast recordings. Includes not just well-known hits, but also some lesser-known gems. Sound quality is first rate, booklet is informative too. Have given this as a gift to several friends with rave reviews.

5 out of 5 stars Top Shelf.......2007-01-04

This is THE definitive collection of Broadway hits. I have other collections, and none of them measure up. A great deal of care was obviously taken in compiling and presenting this box set. It covers a lot of ground, starting with some long-forgotten but still very enjoyable hits from the days of yore, and finishing with present-day favorites. To the best of my knowledge, the recordings are by those who made them famous. You won't be disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars TERRIFIC CD'S.......2006-03-23

THESE BROADWAY MUSICALS CD'S ARE A BROADWAY LOVERS DREAM. WITH EACH SONG, MEMORIES COME FLOODING BACK. BOTH THE FAMILIAR AND THE FORGOTTEN SONGS ARE A TRUE LISTENING PLEASURE. IF YOU LIKE BROADWAY, YOU'LL LOVE THIS SET.

5 out of 5 stars Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs .......2005-06-14

This Collection was perfectly made it has almost all the most famous Broadway songs on this 5 cd set. The Music is great and has Broadways greatest treasures like "Memory""People""With One Look""Give my regards Too Broadway" just to name a few of this numerous cd set with over 100 songs. This is a great buy if you like musicals or The music of Broadway

5 out of 5 stars Great Compilation!.......2005-01-17

If you are a fan of the Broadway Musicals, this is a collection that you should purchase. Since I got the 5 disc set I've enjoyed listening to it. The majority of the songs are done by the original singers. The collection is priceless considering that you will have over 100 songs from popular musicals since the beginning of Broadway
Ultimate Copland Album
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Best of the the popular Copland...
  • A Great American Album
  • Must have this one...
 Ultimate Copland Album

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Copland: Music for Films
  2. Bernstein Century - Copland: Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, etc / Bernstein, New York PO
  3. Copland: Appalachian Spring; Rodeo; Fanfare for the Common Man
  4. Bernstein Century - Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, etc
  5. Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue - Piano Concerto in F - An American in Paris

ASIN: B00002S5EW
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Tracks:

  1. Fanfare For The Common Man
  2. From Four Dance Episodes From 'Rodeo': Saturday Night Waltz
  3. From Four Dance Episodes From 'Rodeo': Hoe-Down
  4. From Old American Songs: Simple Gifts
  5. Appalachian Spring: Variations On A Shaker Hymn
  6. From Music For Movies: Grovers Corners (From Our Town)
  7. From Billy The Kid: Introduction - The Open Prairie
  8. From Billy The Kid: Street In A Frontier Town
  9. From Billy The Kid: Mexican Dance
  10. From Billy The Kid: Gun Battle
  11. From Billy The Kid: Celebration (After Billy's Capture)
  12. From Billy The Kid: The Open Prairie Again
  13. From Billy The Kid: El Salon Mexico
  14. Appalachian Spring: Very Slowly
  15. Appalachian Spring: Allegro
  16. Appalachian Spring: Moderato: The Bride And Her Intended
  17. Appalachian Spring: Fast: The Revivalist And His Flock
  18. Appalachian Spring: Allegro: Solo Dance Of The Bride
  19. Appalachian Spring: Meno Mosso
  20. Appalachian Spring: Doppio Movimento: Variations On A Shaker Hymn
  21. Appalachian Spring: Moderato: Coda

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Best of the the popular Copland..........2004-12-26

Here's a great introduction to the popular music of Aaron Copland. When "Fanfare for the Common Man" begins, sparks of recognition will fly for most listeners. This song has been everywhere: presidential inaugurations, the olympics, commercials, movies, etc. Some flatten it as hopelessly clichéd, while others find it moving and inspiring. Copland also reprised it in the finale of his Third Symphony. Arguably Copland's most famous piece, "Appalachian Spring" closes the CD. In between, more great Copland: excerpts from 'Rodeo' (apparently the beef lobby has appropriated "Hoe-Down" as one of their themes); a great vocal rendition of "Simple Gifts" and a large chunk of another of Copland's best known works: "Billy the Kid". The only confusing piece is the "Variations on a Shaker Hymn" from Appalachian Spring when the entire Appalachian Spring is already included. Seems slightly redundant.

Though most of the pieces on this CD were written in the 1930s and 1940s, they tend to evoke the old west. With titles such as "Rodeo" and "Billy the Kid" this shouldn't surprise too many people.

Copland went on to compose more dissonant and twelve tone compositions later on in his career. These obviously weren't as popular with the public in general as the pieces on this CD. Nonetheless, if this disc whets the appetite, a foray into Copland's less popular works will yield much. It will help to expose the totality of Copland's output. This disc only represents a small portion of his work. Regardless, this disc is a great starting point for getting to know one of the United States' best known composers of the twentieth century.

4 out of 5 stars A Great American Album.......2004-02-13

This is a great album representing true patriotic American music. Songs like "Hoe-Down" are lively and energetic and give rememberance to what one can imagine as the true American spirit.

5 out of 5 stars Must have this one..........2002-09-17

I like all types of music, I wanted this album because I liked the song "RODEO" that is used on the beef commercials. This CD has made me into a Copland fan. It has many great songs. If you want a CD that says "I am an American." This is it. I am sending copies to a friend in Bombay and Tel Aviv. This is who I am put to music.
Berlioz: La Marseillaise - Love Scene from Roméo & Juliet - The Damnation of Faust, Three Excerpts, etc... / McNair, Leech, Zinman
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • All This Music Is Better Served Elsewhere
  • The production of a music genius
  • Wake up music
  • A middle of the pack offering--nothing magic, nothing tragic
 Berlioz: La Marseillaise - Love Scene from Roméo & Juliet - The Damnation of Faust, Three Excerpts, etc... / McNair, Leech, Zinman
Hector Berlioz , Baltimore Symphony Orchestra & Chorus , Sylvia McNair , Richard Leech , and David Zinman
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette; Le Troyens à Carthage
  2. Brahms, Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos [Hybrid SACD]
  3. Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale [Hybrid SACD]
  4. The Good Shepherd (Widescreen Edition)
  5. Syriana (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000003CUS
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Benvenuto Cellini: Overture
  2. Love Scene
  3. Minuet Of The Will-O'-The-Wisps
  4. Dance Of The Sylphs
  5. Rakoczy March
  6. Le Corsaire Overture
  7. Les Troyens: Trojan March
  8. Royal Hunt & Storm
  9. La Marseillaise

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars All This Music Is Better Served Elsewhere.......2006-05-04

On paper at least, this seems like an attractive sampler. And it is, as far as the music is concerned. These bits and pieces are some of the most inspired music from Berlioz's long masterworks for voices and orchestra such as Damnation de Faust, Romeo et Juliette, Les Troyens, and Benvenuto Cellini. In sterling performances, they're really enlivening music. Here, for a variety of reasons, they don't make the impact they usually do. First of all, Zinman, whom I usually admire, doesn't seem to warm up to the music. Maybe it's not his cup of tea--more of a Beethoven-and-contemporary music man, based on the stuff I've heard that he does really well. Also, as recorded here, the Baltimore Symphony doesn't seem to have the heft for Berlioz's dazzling orchestral display. Next to, say, the Montreal Symphony, which has done a lot of this music very successfully on disc, the Baltimore is lacking.

Then, as I suggest, a large part of the problem is the recording. Telarc's legendary recording technique don't seem to translate well to the Meyerhoff Hall, at least not in this recording; there's even some distortion in thickly scored passages. Argo/Decca got the measure of the hall better in their later and far more successful recordings from Baltimore.

So I say, shop around. You'll do far better with Dutoit, Davis, Nagano, Plasson, Nelson, et al.

5 out of 5 stars The production of a music genius.......2005-08-06

Really really terrific!
I prefer to do not say more... terrific!

4 out of 5 stars Wake up music.......2001-03-18

This is a good CD but not a great one. Mr. Zinman gives a decent rendition of some of the French "classics" and the Baltimore symphony is up to the task. In the defense of Mr. Zinman one must recognize that there is probably no real good way to play Berlioz. But the real value of this CD is to introduce one to Berlioz who still today does not rate as high as one would like; not to mention its status of "only one opus composer" that the Symphonie Fantastique seems to give him sometimes. The inclusion of Berlioz transcription of the Marseillaise is a curious touch. Berlioz tried to dignify what was after all a soldiers motivational anthem to go and kill into a more respectable piece suitable for a serious country. Nice try. However it is still an interesting and hyperactive piece and if we must listen to it on occasion we might as well do it here. In sum, here we have a nice mix that can be played as background music when we need to be energized.

3 out of 5 stars A middle of the pack offering--nothing magic, nothing tragic.......2001-02-17

If you've heard Toscanini's snappy Rakozcy March, then the lumbering version on this disc will just leave you frustrated. The Marseillaise here is pretty turgid, too. Not much else leaves even that much of a lasting impression. Okay if you can get it budget-priced.
Dick's Picks, Vol. 23: Baltimore, 9/17/72
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Worth every star
  • Ummm... can we say overrated?
  • Disc Two is in the Zone!
  • 9/17/72. Baltimore Civic Center. Baltimore, Maryland
 Dick's Picks, Vol. 23: Baltimore, 9/17/72
Grateful Dead
Manufacturer: Grateful Dead / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Dick's Picks, Vol. 22: Lake Tahoe, CA, 2/23-24/68
  2. Dick's Picks, Vol. 19: Oklahoma City, OK, 10/19/73
  3. Dick's Picks, Vol. 24: Daly City, CA, 3/23/74
  4. Dick's Picks, Vol. 20: Landover, Maryland and Syracuse, New York, 9/25/76, 9/28/76
  5. Dick's Picks, Vol. 21: Richmond, Virginia, 11/1/85

ASIN: B0002VETJK
Release Date: 2004-08-31

Tracks:

  1. Promised Land
  2. Sugaree
  3. Black-Throated Wind
  4. Friend of the Devil
  5. Paso
  6. Bird Song
  7. Big River
  8. Tennessee Jed
  9. Mexicali Blues
  10. China Cat Sunflower
  11. I Know You Rider

Tracks:

  1. Playing in the Band
  2. Casey Jones
  3. Truckin'
  4. Loser
  5. Jack Straw
  6. Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleloo
  7. Me & My Uncle

Tracks:

  1. He's Gone
  2. Other One
  3. Sing Me Back Home
  4. Sugar Magnolia
  5. Uncle John's Band

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Worth every star.......2006-05-26

1972 was a fantastic year for the Grateful Dead: the springtime Europe '72 tour, the two keyboard attack of Pigpen on organ and Keith Godchaux on piano, Pig's vocals and some of the best group mind playing of the Dead's career. Dick's Picks Vol. 23 is from a later show in the year after Pigpen quit mid year for health reasons, he died in 1973 from a hemmorage brought about by his excessive consumption of alchohol. While there are other shows with better versions of individual songs and the jamming isn't as stellar as some of the as yet unreleased shows from this banner year, there's a definite character about this DP 23 that makes it a must have Pick. For one thing every song is played very well, no phoned in performances for this show. The playing is tight and dynamic. But what really sets this show apart is it's sense of organic flow. Whether in the individual songs themselves or the between song transitions, there is a palpable organic unity to the Dead's playing. The Grateful Dead group mind is very much in evidence. Which makes for a subtle experience, and takes a couple of listens for the excellence of this show to sink in. At first I wasn't overly impressed, a very good, if not great show is what I thought. However with repeated plays I came to realize just how good a show DP23 was. Thats "show", the thing has to be heard and judged in its entirety. As a show, as a unified and here's that word again, organic entity, DP 23 is outstanding. Now I generally prefer the sound of earlier shows in the year because of Pigpen's vocals and organ, but until the Dead release the Springfield Creamery Benefit show from 08/27/72, DP 23 is the best (officially released) post Pigpen show from 1972 we are likely to hear. High quality recording and playing, what more could you want?

3 out of 5 stars Ummm... can we say overrated?.......2005-07-28

I really like the cover of this album; both how it looks and how it alludes to Poe's epic poem "The Raven" (quite appropriately, seeing as the featured concert took place in Poe's hometown of Baltimore). Quite unfortunately, however, the actual music isn't as stellar as one would expect. Don't get me wrong; it's good, but definately not mind-blowing in the way Dick's Picks 12 and 16 are.

Disc 1: Fairly boring versions of relatively commonplace and unexciting songs. "Friend of the Devil" and "Sugaree" have yet to reach the heights they wouuld achieve in 1977. "China Cat Sunflower" and "I Know You Rider" are always fun, but this rendition has neither the depth of the Dick's Picks 12 version nor the tightness of the Go to Nassau recording. The only highlight is the relatively rare "Bird Song," which allows the band to stretch out and jam just a bit. 2/5

Disc 2: The first set ends on an okay (but not extremely mind-blowing) note. "Playing in the Band" stretches out but doesn't get to anyplace exceptional (go to archive.org and download the 2/26/77 concert if you want to hear a REALLY stellar version of that song). Some may find the "Casey Jones" enjoyable, but I think it drags a bit. Then the second set starts and things begin to look up. "Truckin'" sounds like it has potential to seugue into something and start a really neat jam (like on the Englad '72 box set or Dick's Picks 12) but it just... stops. The other songs are all some of my favorites, but they're all fairly common, so better versions exist of all of them. "Mississippi Half-Step" is probably the most interesting song on this disc just because the arrangement is different from its usual one. 3/5

Disc 3: "He's Gone" is fairly typical... not the best or worst version of the song, but still pretty good. Then, the moment we've all been waiting for: a 40-minute "Other One!" This (along with "Bird Song" and "Sing Me Back Home") was the main reason I got this CD to begin with. Yes, it's just as epic as you'd think and goes all sorts of places... but it doesn't make up for the extremely tedious material on the other two discs. Then there's "Sing Me Back Home." I thought this was going to be some kind of cool jam-fest type thing because of its length and that I was going to be in for a rare treat... but it's really one of the worst songs I've heard the Dead do. Jerry takes a neat solo at the end, but that one solo isn't necessarily worth sitting through the rest of the song. The other two songs are typical Dead staples; as with pretty muche everything on this album, there are better recordings out there. 3/5

Bottom Line: This isn't really that amazing of a show. I suppose this album might be enjoyable for someone who hasn't heard these songs millions of times, but there are lots of better picks out there.

5 out of 5 stars Disc Two is in the Zone!.......2005-01-31

This is an excellent late-'72 Pick, from Baltimore in September, about 5 months after the European tour. The first disc is nothing special, a standard first-set. The band is energetic, but hasn't taken flight yet. The best song is "Bird Song," which flaps its eerie wings and takes a few leaps upward, and yet doesn't escape gravity. The worst moment comes on the segue from "China Cat" to "I Know You Rider," when Garcia and Weir get totally out of sync -- it's terrible, I don't know how anyone could consider this a high-quality performance. The "Rider" vocals are intense, which seems to me to indicate their frustration at having botched what is often a sublime moment.

All problems are left in the dust on Disc Two as the band achieves escape velocity with a 19-minute "Playing." Garcia uses his wah-wah pedal to great effect, and the soaring energy is not lost for the rest of the show, but this disc especially is superb Dead, just what people say you have to hear them live to experience. They're flying, riding the wave, in the Zone! "Casey Jones" features Keith on boogie-woogie piano at the end, the best version of the song I've heard. Likewise the rowdy 12-minute "Truckin'," with Bill bashing away on the drums, certainly one of the best available recordings of the AMERICAN BEAUTY counterculture classic. "Loser," which was a new song at the time, is modified from the studio recording on GARCIA with a nice guitar riff. "Mississippi Half-Step," which wouldn't be recorded for nearly a year, sounds great, especially the coda ("across the Rio Gran-dee-o, across the lazy river...").

On to Disc Three, an 11-minute "He's Gone" ends with a long, mellow jam, and then suddenly "The Other One" kicks in, leading to prime improvisation for 40 minutes. While not as intense as the great version on SKULLF**K, Garcia's soloing has a piercing, crystalline quality. In the spaciest section he uses the wah-wah again. Kreutzmann starts "Alligator" at one point with the cowbell, but it isn't pursued. That's the point the jam really ought to end, at about the 30-minute mark, but Kreutzmann starts a new rhythm and Garcia continues to solo introspectively for another 10 minutes. I'm not overly impressed with Merle Haggard's maudlin "Sing Me Back Home," but the band performs it slowly and with feeling -- Kreutzmann and Lesh deserve credit for maintaining forward momentum at such a slow pace. "Sugar Magnolia" is fine and strong, though Garcia blows a solo toward the end, perhaps discombobulated again as in the "China Cat/Rider" segue.

The closer "Uncle John's Band," one of my absolute favorite Dead songs, from WORKINGMAN'S DEAD, is fantastic, a great finish to a great show. When the a cappella chorus begins, after a pause, "Come hear Uncle John's band, playing to the tide...," it sends chills down the back of my neck. This is a fine addition to the Dick's Picks series, and strong evidence that THERE IS (STILL) NOTHING LIKE A GRATEFUL DEAD CONCERT!

5 out of 5 stars 9/17/72. Baltimore Civic Center. Baltimore, Maryland.......2004-08-31

Disc One:
Promised Land (3:39), Sugaree (7:59), Black-Throated Wind (6:34), Friend Of The Devil (4:19), El Paso (5:11) ,Bird Song (10:55), Big River (5:22), Tennessee Jed (8:05), Mexicali Blues (3:57), China Cat Sunflower (5:18), I Know You Rider (6:16)

Disc Two:
Playing In The Band (18:48), Casey Jones (6:12), Truckin' (12:19), Loser (7:20), Jack Straw (5:22), Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo (8:38), Me and My Uncle (3:16)

Disc Three:
He's Gone (10:21), The Other One (39:07),Sing Me Back Home (10:50), Sugar Magnolia (9:25), Uncle John's Band (7:22)

Buy this Pick. This is a Pick that you jaded, longtime heads will be blown away by, as well as one you can use to turn someone on to the Dead. Some of the Picks have a bunch of stuff I could take or leave but the Pick is worth it to me for this or that big jam, but Pick 23 has it all. You get excellent versions of several of the song-songs, and monumental explorations of the big jam vehicles.

The Birdsong is lovely though short, and the China > Rider is a great one... one of the best of the entire Dick's Picks series.

I don't have any of the Picks after #26 yet, and off the top of my head I don't remember what all concerts compromise Picks 27-32 so I can't speak of those right now, but from 1 through 26, the Playing in the Band on this Pick is the hands-down best of the series. If you don't care about anything else here but you're a fan of monster Playings, buy this Pick. The Loser just a few tunes later is another highlight of the set... truly a gorgeous rendition. Cap this all off with an epic exploration of The Other One that travels through many moods and rhythms and you got yourself one of the best Picks in the series.

This is also one of the best sounding Picks in the series. The sound is open and natural and the power of their tones shines right through. This Pick almost has the openness and airyness of the best audience recordings, but with the strength and presence of a soundboard.

Pick up this one, #19 (10/19/73) and #22 (2/23 & 2/24/68) and you have everything you need from this new batch of Picks.

Hilary Hahn ~ Beethoven - Violin Concerto · Bernstein - Serenade
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Smashing a Stradivarius
  • An amazing talent
  • Hilary Hahn scored an "A"
  • 5 stars for the Beethoven - should have stopped there.
  • And As For The Bernstein..........
 Hilary Hahn ~ Beethoven - Violin Concerto · Bernstein - Serenade
Ludwig van Beethoven , Leonard Bernstein , David Zinman , Hilary Hahn , and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Hilary Hahn ~ Brahms · Stravinsky - Violin Concertos
  2. Mozart: Violin Sonatas K. 301, 304, 376 & 526
  3. Violin Concertos
  4. Hilary Hahn - Barber & Meyer: Violin Concertos
  5. Bach Concertos

ASIN: B00000GV4L
Release Date: 1999-01-26

Tracks:

  1. Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In D Major, Op. 61: I. Allegro, ma non troppo
  2. Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In D Major, Op. 61: I. Larghetto
  3. Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In D Major, Op. 61: III. Rondo, Allegro
  4. Serenade for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion: I. Phaedrus. Pausanias (Lento - Allegro)
  5. Serenade for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion: II. Aristophanes (Allegretto)
  6. Serenade for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion: III. Eryximachus (Presto)
  7. Serenade for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion: IV. Agathon (Adagio)
  8. Serenade for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion: V. Socrates, Alcibiades (Molto Tenuto - Allegro Molto Vivace)

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Smashing a Stradivarius.......2007-03-29

Extolling the virtues of Hillary Hahn--the artist, is an eye-rolling redundancy. Anyone who knows anything about this genre realizes Hahn's extraordinary, bone chilling, once-in-a-generation virtuosity. That this particular recording does not receive five stars is certainly no fault of Ms. Hahn's. Like squirting black ink on the Mona Lisa, or more fittingly--like smashing a Stradivarius against a brick wall, the criminally-incompetent audio engineer for this recording had destroyed any possibility that this CD would ever become an all-time chef-d'oeuvre. To be subtle--like a broken leg, this compact disc should be packaged complete with an eight channel digital audio mixer to permit at least a partial fix of the careless clumsy effort wrought by the audio engineer [sic!]. In fact, one wonders if the so-called audio engineer's ability to hear was similar to that of Ludwig Van Beethoven himself.

5 out of 5 stars An amazing talent.......2007-02-10

Ms. Hahn plays the Beethoven beautifully, but I would hardly have expected any less. If you like the violin then you owe it to yourself to get all of her CDs.

5 out of 5 stars Hilary Hahn scored an "A".......2007-01-26

This album was released when Hilary Hahn was 19 years old. By the time the album was recorded, she hadn't yet graduated from her music school. Nevertheless, Hilary Hahn had already been noticed and acclaimed by critics for her beautiful performances on the debut CD, which accelerated her status from a music student to one of the most sought-after violinists. It would be very hard for one to judge Hilary Hahn's playing on this CD. A teacher would probably recommend this to his or her students, since Hilary has surpassed every single technical difficulty of the standard work. I have no doubt that when in school, Hilary Hahn was one of the best and most favorite students. However, I won't object to the conclusion someone has made that there's still a little something that makes the interpretation indefinitive. I'm just going to take the first prospect and say that this is a very good recording considering how she approached the piece and how much she carried it out. She had a very nice start-off and so far, she hasn't disappointed any of her fans.

5 out of 5 stars 5 stars for the Beethoven - should have stopped there........2006-12-19

I'll try to avoid the superlatives, but the Beethoven is a powerful masterpiece that I will never tire of, and I think Miss Hahn really gets it, just as she did as a teenager with Bach. I've no doubt she worked hard on her preparation for the piece, but that's completely transparent to the listener. This isn't a showy concerto as showy goes, and so it's all about getting out of the way and letting this ingenious and moving music come flowing through. She does that, and on every single passage.
A local band, the Baltimore Symphony, accompanies on this, and give it just the right balance of energy and delicacy.
The Bernstein Serenade is very well played and not bad music, but I really don't want it on the same disc with the Beethoven, which I think deserves its own album, even if it doesn't take up all the time you can cram onto a CD. I suppose it had to go somewhere.

5 out of 5 stars And As For The Bernstein.................2006-08-09

Most music lovers who buy or seek this CD will do so for the Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 and for good reason: Hilary Hahn offers a sensitive, intelligent and thoroughly informed performance as accompanied by David Zinman conducting the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Surely everyone has a favorite performance of this standard repertoire work: whether or not that performance rests comfortably in memory from a live concert or is secure in the recorded catalogue is a mute point. But few could argue the beauty and skill with which Hilary Hahn caresses this work. It is a very fine performance.

But for this listener the reason for adding yet another Beethoven Violin Concerto to the library is the amazingly beautiful Leonard Bernstein 'Serenade (after Plato: Symposium), for violin, harp, percussion & strings'! Having never heard this work in performance this recording is an eye opener. Some of Bernstein's most fluid melodies lie within the disparate structure of this 'Serenade' - aptly titled so as to not restrict the form to concerto standards. Yes, there are sections of the work that are far better than other sections, but the piece as a whole is a graceful addition to the violin/orchestra repertoire. Bernstein's penchant for introducing jazz in the piece is evident, not to the extent of 'Age of Anxiety' perhaps, but insertions of riffs are present. But the real thrill of this work is in Bernstein's orchestration - something very unusual for him: instead of full orchestra he confines his writing to strings, harp, and percussion with great success.

Hilary Hahn plays the piece as though it were written for her, changing moods and styles with enormous facility. Zinman and the Baltimore ensemble provide terrific collaboration. While there are many choices for the Beethoven concerto on recorded CD, there are not for the Bernstein. It is well worth the investment! Grady Harp, August 06
Kingdom Come/Sir Lord Baltimore
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • HELIUM HEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Strangest Band Ever
  • MUSICAL EXTREMITY AT IT'S BEST
  • Man...Sabbath couldn't have even pulled THIS off!!!
  • Sandwiched between Zeppelin and Purple was this band...
 Kingdom Come/Sir Lord Baltimore
Sir Lord Baltimore
Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001E4H
Release Date: 2005-01-17

Tracks:

  1. Kingdom Come
  2. I Got A Woman
  3. Hell Hound
  4. Helium head (I Got A Love)
  5. Ain't Got Hung On You
  6. Master Heartache
  7. Hard Rain Fallin'
  8. Lady Of Fire
  9. Lake Isle Of Innersfree
  10. Pumped Up
  11. Chicago Lives
  12. Loe And Behold
  13. Woman Tamer
  14. Caesar LXXI
  15. Man From Manhattan
  16. Where Are We Going

Album Description

Full Title - Kingdome Come/Sir Lord Baltimore. This 1994 reissue combines both of the Brooklyn-based outfit's two albums (originally released in 1970 & 1971) onto one CD, with the 16 tracks rearranged in the order in which they were originally intended to be heard. Polygram. 2004.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars HELIUM HEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-04-15

My second concert (1st was Zeppelin) I saw SLB at Massapequa High School on Long Island. They opened for Ten Wheel Drive, and yes, they blew them away! They were so incredibly heavy everyone was freaking out. Definitely ahead of their time. Complete with a singing drummer who sings on 3 of The Lizards CD's. But alas the second album was a disapointment and the band seemed to lack direction. (Not unlike Captain Beyond and Montrose) The first album is a classic. Listen to the sound clips and you'll see what I mean. This is raw, down and dirty metal. If you are lookin' for a clean, polished sound don't but this. This is the real deal!

4 out of 5 stars Strangest Band Ever.......2007-01-20

I'm not sure if SLB was the best bad band or the worst great band of the early 70's. I'm actually surprised people remember them but apparently their "legacy" lives on. What was most "weird" about Baltimore was that in many ways they were superior musicians to similar bands of the time, especially the Hendrix-y Dobra and the Appice-like Garner. The problem was the fact that they over-reached in every way. Instrumental sections designed to show off their slickness did more to reveal their sloppiness. At least they were trying. And maybe that is part of the charm. Garner had vocal chops but at times sang so wildly it was akin to a screaming banshee with bad intonation. This band is overkill in every sense of the word. (Think Spinal Tap's "Stonehedge" -- it would fit perfectly on Kingdom Come). KC is a peculiar cross between a joke, and a classic. But ask anyone who remembers when these boys hit the scene and their eyes will light up. They had something, that's for sure. But what it was, I'm not exactly sure.

5 out of 5 stars MUSICAL EXTREMITY AT IT'S BEST.......2006-01-03

It's very odd that this eclectic and innovative band , which is indeed one of the first heavy metal bands never got much acclaim... But the reason is simple... Sir Lord Baltimore was much too extreme for their time . The agression posed in Kingdom Come is earth shattering . Thats what seperates this band from Black Sabbath . Black Sabbath was dark and heavy, and Sir Lord Baltimore was bombastic and over the top. On top of that is the fact that they were "American" at a time when all the proto-metal bands were "British" excluding Blue Cheer . Their albums were very underground in their time. The albums could hardly ever be found back then unless you went to a real record shop most likely in a big city. They would have never had radio play either because their music just isn't "radio friendly" even in 1970. Musical Extremity at it's best . By the way the All Music guide entry on Sir Lord Baltimore is horrible . It's probably written by some old timer who doesn't know much about heavy metal. He calls Sir Lord Baltimore "generic" HE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HIMSELF . SOMEONE NEEDS TO WRITE A NEW ENTRY...

4 out of 5 stars Man...Sabbath couldn't have even pulled THIS off!!! .......2005-12-02

Oh sure we all know the Sabs are the kings of metal but it's usually just sludge fest after sludge fest with them....no real hyper-tension. Wait till you hear these guys! Sir Lord Baltimore was one of the heaviest of all early metal bands. Don't get me wrong...it dosen't completely sound like the latter day metal of Iron Maiden or Judas Priest but this is definately hard hitting stuff for 1970-1971...SLB was ahead of the times!!!!

This CD collects their only two records, "Kingdom Come," and their self-titled sophmore release. Lead singer AND drummer John Garner was a pretty incredible vocalist, he could sing a metal ballad like Dio (listen to "Lake Isle of Innersfree" from the first album). However on most of the songs, especially on the first album, he yells and screams nearly all of the lines and dosen't do the best job at it. This may be quite grating on your ears the first time around but he WAS a SINGING DRUMMER and this WAS the BEGININGS of heavy metal. You can't really say that heavy metal vocalists IMPROVED over the years.

Louis Dambra was an awesome guitarist...VERY HENDRIX on some of the tracks featured on the first album. The album was recorded at Hendrixs'unfinished Electric Lady Studios so, hmmmmm, makes you wonder. Gary Justins' bass playing was like a cross of Jack Bruce meets the funkier stylings of Mel Schacher from GFR (check out the break Justin and Garner play near the end of "I've Got A Woman"). Garner was a powerful drummer, not a Moon or Bonham, but darn good. Coupled with the fact he sang lead while bashing away is all the more impressive because you have to have some muscle and stamina to do that, especially when your band is as heavy as SLB!

Mainly all the songs from the first record, "Kingdom Come," are all speed demons. There is even elements of SPEED METAL and PUNK on a few like "Hard Rain Fallin," my favorite from the first that has a MC5 aggresiveness. "Lady of Fire" is a goofy bouncy punkish track that sounds ahead of it's time....lovely song about Garner meeting up one night with a prostitute. "Aint Got Hung On You" is out of control with Garners vocals SO over the top I actually ammused myself by imagining a sock puppet singing it! No joke!

The tracks from their second album from 1971 are more mature in structure due to the added presence of Joey Dambra. Alot of the songs sound more like latter day metal...your eyes will bug out when you hear the incredibally Sabbath-like "Woman Tamer" or "Loe and Behold." The song "Ceaser XXILL" (or however you put those letters together) is WAY ahead of it's time...even a bit of a Iron Maiden/Metallica/Danzig riffing in there. The centerpiece of the album is the 10+ minute "Man From Manhattan." A conceptual piece speaking of the first comming of Jesus on earth then switching to...the comming of the Anti-Christ?!?! I'm not sure but it's an epic of a song! Alot of reviewers (not here necessarily) have heaped criticism on this particular song but REMEMBER this was 1971 and the Jesus Movement was starting up. Alot of rock bands were dabbiling in biblical topics around this time because it was either in fashion to do so or because they had their own spirtiual convictions about the era in which they were living. I'd sure like to know where "Where Are We Going" was recorded...it's a live track and it sounds like the band has a pretty enthusiastic crowd there to see them. It's not one of the best songs on this collection though.

Get this CD! If you like everything else from this period like the mighty Zep or the mighty Sabs...you will love this album. They should have gotten more recognition than they did...WAY MORE! I'm glad I discovered it and can now pass on what I've expierenced to someone who's curious. Thanks for reading!

4 out of 5 stars Sandwiched between Zeppelin and Purple was this band..........2005-11-03

A former co-worker told me I would like this band, since I am a big fan of Zep, Sabbath, and Purple. After many months of searching, I found the double cd with both albums on it and immediately ran home to play it. The first album KINGDOM COME is just super-cool! I hear traces of Zep, Hendrix, Cream, Purple...just wild stuff! The vocals can be a bit grating but hey, they fit fine with the music really. I can picture David Lee Roth listening to this album and thinking "I can make a career out of screaming every other line!" Cool guitar work, reminds me of Blackmore at times. As for the 2nd album SIR LORD BALTIMORE, man...it's awful. Hard to believe it's even the same band. I still give this four stars for being just such a neat disc.
Baltimore
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Classic collection
  • More Beautiful Simone
  • Sublime Sounds
  • An Isolated Classic
  • Not a great introduction to Nina Simone
 Baltimore
Nina Simone
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000029K3
Release Date: 1995-07-18

Tracks:

  1. Baltimore
  2. Everything Must Change
  3. The Family
  4. My Father
  5. Music For Lovers
  6. Rich Girl
  7. That's All I Want From You
  8. Forget
  9. Balm In Gilead
  10. If You Pray Right

Amazon.com

Originally cut in Brussels for the CTI label, this 1978 studio effort is something of an oddity in Nina Simone's lengthy oeuvre. The repertoire ranges from the Randy Newman title track to the Hall & Oates hit "Rich Girl" to the traditional "Balm in Gilead." (Simone complained that she "no say whatsoever" in the song selection.) Sidemen include studio pros Andy Newmark, Will Lee, and Eric Gale, who explore reggae and rock rhythms that have dated a bit. Nevertheless, the material matches Simone's maturing voice, making Baltimore an estimable if not earthshaking accomplishment. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Classic collection.......2006-02-18

Baltimore is a mellow, melancholy Nina Simone and the songs are indelible. This must be the 5th or 6th copy I've owned - the others have either worn out or been pinched. I bought it on impulse because I decided I couldn't bear another day without a copy.

5 out of 5 stars More Beautiful Simone.......2004-08-02

Although Ms. Simone is quoted as saying that she had no say whatsoever in the selection of these songs and that the material was not her personal choice, this group of songs is still amazingly beautiful. "Baltimore" remains one of my favorite CD's by this consumate artist. First, there is the title song by Randy Newman with its reggae beat. Some of the others I cherish are "Everything Must Change", "My Father", "Music For Lovers", "Rich Girl", and the beautiful hymn "Balm in Gilead." Ms. Simone accompanies herself on many of these cuts. On "My Father", the beautiful tribute Judy Collins wrote for her father, the piano literally cascades. (The orchestra was added later and at times almost drowns out both Ms. Simone's voice and her piano. Some arranger should have done better on that one.) Anyone who has ever listened to this great singer knows there is literally nothing she cannot do as no style or form is too difficult for her. Here she is upbeat, soulful and then so beautifully tender and soothing in the grand hymn about there being a balm in Gilead that comforts the sinsick soul.

More beautiful Simone!

5 out of 5 stars Sublime Sounds.......2002-09-11

Nina has the ability to transform any lyric into a poem. Here again she proves her worth as a highly skilled interpreter of many different styles of music: ballads, gospel, folk, pop and soul. My favorites include the funky but heartbreaking The Family, the rousing Balm in Gilead and the uplifting ballad That's All I Want From You with its haunting lyrics: "A sunny day/with hopes up to the sky/Not a day that comes and dies/That's all I want from you". Her version of My Father is elegant and atmospheric, with a particularly brilliant arrangement. The varied material permits her unique voice to reveal more of its subtle hues. Baltimore is a gripping album of beautiful songs that will richly reward the listener.

5 out of 5 stars An Isolated Classic.......2002-03-27

Of all my Nina recordings, Baltimore remains my favorite. However, it joins the ranks of Teena Marie's "Emerald City", Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Illuminations" and Joni Mitchell's "Mingus" for controversy. There is no middle ground here. Fans either love or hate these albums. Unlike these other albums, where the artists had total control, Nina evidently had none for Baltimore and apparently does not like the album. Despite the circumstances, she unwittingly created another classic. This is the album that made me enough of a fan to buy 60 other Nina recordings, so I DO know what she is capable of.

I was hooked for life upon hearing the title track on the radio about 20 years ago. I was certainly not disappointed when I got the whole album. The recording here of Everything Must Change (though recorded by half the singers in the recording business) has only been equalled by the likes of Randy Crawford. The touching Judy Collins testimonial "My Father" is heartwrenching in Nina's hands. Hall & Oates' "Rich Girl" can be forgiven, or at least skipped. "Balm in Gilead" is a fine arrangement that she continued to use in concerts for years.

I really hope that Ms. Simone knows how she has touched people with this album. For those that just don't "get it" with "Baltimore", there are dozens of others to choose from. I don't think she lost any fans with this one the way the bulimic white girls abandoned Joni over "Mingus", and the hippies and moldy figs freaked over Buffy's "Illuminations" and even Teena herself disowned her own "Emerald City" fusion of Funk, Soul, Metal and World Beat.

Simply put, "Baltimore" is good music. It is among my prize possessions.

2 out of 5 stars Not a great introduction to Nina Simone.......2001-11-02

In the liner notes of this CD, the writer tells you that Nina Simone was not pleased with what was recorded finally to become "Baltimore," and that he disagreed with her opinion that this was inferior work. But I have to agree with Ms. Simone.

I am a HUGE fan of her music, and would like to steer potential fans to greater albums like "Wild is the Wind" or "High Priestess of Soul." Or if you're looking for a collection, "The Best of Nina Simone" (a live recording) is a seminal work with a most amazing rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne" on it. Or even the Nina Simone collection in the Sony Walkman Jazz series is a good intro to the eclectic song-styling, singing, arranging and piano playing of Ms. Simone.

When you listen to these other albums you will see why Nina Simone knew she could do better than "Baltimore." Definitely do not judge her artistry by this album.

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