Winners [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
When Atco had a surprise hit in 1964 with Bobby’s version of Edith Piaf’s 'Milord', they once again reached into the vaults for an album to follow up the single. This time, though, there was a complete album session from 1960 just sitting there begging to be released, a small jazz combo session that Bobby Scott had arranged. And, once again, the vaunted Darin versatility surfaces, for this is the jazziest album of his career, a mixture of uptempo and ballad numbers handled with equal aplomb by the legend. Includes 'Milord; Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea; Anything Goes; Do Nothin’ ’Til You Hear from Me; Golden Earrings; When Day Is Done; I Found a New Baby; What a Difference a Day Made; What Can I Say after I Say I’m Sorry; Hard Hearted Woman; Easy Living', and 'They All Laughed.'

Tracks:

The Crush Collision March
Combination March
Harmony Club Waltz
Original Rags
Maple Leaf Rag
Swipesy Cakewalk
Reacherine Rag
Sunflower Slow Drag
The Augustan Club Waltz
The Easy Winners
Cleopha
A Breeze From Alabama
Elite Syncopations

Tracks:

The Entertainer
The Strenouous Life
March Majestic
Something Doing
Weaping Willow
Patr Leaf Rag
The Favorite
The Sycamore
The Cascades
The Chysanthemum
Bethena
Bink's Waltz
The Rosebud March

Tracks:

Leola
Eugenia
Antoinette
The Ragtime Dance
Searchlight Rag
Gladiolus Rag
Lily Queen
Rose Leaf Rag
Heliotrope Bouquet
The Nonpareil
Fig Leaf Rag
Sugarcane
Pineapple Rag

Tracks:

Wall Street Rag (1909)
Solace (1909)
Pleasant Moments (1909)
Country Club (1909)
Euphonic Moments (1909)
Paragon Rag (1909)
Stop-Time Rag (1910)
Felicity Rag (1911)
Scott Joplin's New Rag (1912)
Kismet Rag (1913)
Magnetic Rag (1914)
Reflection Rag (1917)
Silver Swan Rag (1917)

Customer Reviews:

The Complete Piano Music of Scott Joplin.......2007-06-08

John Arpin does a great job with these pieces. The songs carry a consistent sound and are played very close to as-written, which comes and goes with old ragtime pieces. The stamping on Stop-Time Rag doesn't have a consistent sound to it, can be a little distracting. Everything else is great, overall I think that it's a great buy, I'm very happy with it.

Another Performer Rewrites Joplin's Masterpieces.......2007-05-31

Once again, another performer feels the need to rewrite the music of the King of Ragtime. Scott Joplin spins in his grave each and every time this recording is played.

Again, to those who believe that concert music is meant to be rewritten by each and every performer I ask, is the same treatment also acceptable for Chopin's and Rachmaninoff's music? Would "Moonlight Sonata" sound better if played at twice the tempo and with a reprise of the first Adagio movement thrown in at the end? Obviously, the answer to these questions is a resounding NO!, so why does one of America's greatest composers get such disrespect?

Interpretation is an integral part of every performance. Adding one's own notes, phrases and chords where none should be is not. Randomly changing the structure of the piece is not. Playing a piece at twice the indicated tempo is not.

One the plus side, the depth of this collection is outstanding. Joplin's lesser known pieces like "Harmony Club Waltz" really shine. The recording is decent in quality, although a bit bassy in places.

While its been stated before, I feel its worth repeating: Buy Joshua Rifkin's performances of Joplin in order to hear how the Master intended his pieces to sound.

complete piano music of Scott Joplin on 4 CD's.......2007-02-14

Although all of the music is terrific it is rather a lot of a similar sound. I think I would have preferred 2 CD's of selected piano works of Scott Joplin. But I did get the music at a good price.

Ragtime Marvel.......2005-10-09

This collection of Scott Joplin's piano music is outstanding. As a lover of ragtime which was a prelude to jazz, I am thoroughly enjoying this collection. If you are not a lover of jazz, you may be a lover of ragtime. Jazz can sometimes be grating on the nerves, whereas ragtime lifts the spirit.

Complete, but poor quality.......2005-09-25

I have been learning some ragtime and wanted to hear more to find other selections to learn. Listened to Maple Leaf Rag, my favorite, first and was disappointed. Listened to others and was more disappointed. Maple flies - much faster than anyone would play it, you can't make out some of the phrases. And talk about ad libs - Tempo, dynamics, embelishments, nuances - I really think he plays some wrong notes too because he's going so fast. It's really a poor recording - and that's just on Maple Leaf. Others with "intros" start quick and then there's a grand pause, not a rest, but nearly a five second break. It's hard to argue how Joplin would have played it, but this is hardly anything I want to try to imitate. The only qualitating factor is the number of songs for the price. A lot of variety of a poor interpretation is only worth 3 stars. if that. Look for Rifkin or a copy that is as written to listen to first, then go for the ad libs and "artistic interpretations"

Woody's Winners: 20 Classic Tracks from the Films

Average customer rating:

Woody's winners are THE winning ticket !!!
Perfect except for ONE PIECE!
Have a listen at Woody's impressive record collection!

Woody's Winners: 20 Classic Tracks from the Films
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Castle Pie
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

New Orleans & Dixieland Jazz | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

Dixieland | Jazz | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Soundtracks | Imports | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Broadway & Vocalists | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 International | 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 Soundtracks | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

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

Woody Allen Classics
Manhattan (1979 Film)
Woody Allen music from his movies
Film Music
Woody Allen's Movie Music

ASIN: B0000520AZ
Release Date: 2001-02-06

Tracks:

Radio Days: Frenesi - Artie Shaw & His Orchestra
Stardust Memories: Stardust - Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
Manhatan Murder Mystery: Big Noise From Winnetka - Bob Crosby & His Orchestra
Mighty Aphrodite: Whispering - The Benny Goodman Quartet
Radio Days: Take The 'A' Train - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
Radio Days: If You Are But A Dream - Frank Sinatra
Radio Days: I'm Getting Sentimental Over You - Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
The Purple Rose Of Cairo: Cheek To Cheek - Leo Reisman & His Orchestra
Stardust Memories: Tickle-Toe - Count Basie & His Orchestra
Hannah And Her Sisters: I've Heard That Song Before - Helen Forrest
Sweet And Lowdown: After You've Gone - Jack Teagarden
Stardust Memories: Body And Soul - Django Reinhardt & The Quintet Of The Hot Club Of France
Celebrity: Did I Remember? - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
Radio Days: In The Mood - Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
Hannah And Her Sisters: You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want To Do It) - Harry James & His Orchestra
Radio Days: The White Clliffs Of Dover (There'll Be Blue Birds Over) - Ray Eberle
Stardust Memories: If Dreams Come True - Chick Webb & His Orchestra
Radio Days: Lullaby Of Broadway - Richard Himber & His Orchestra
New York Stories: Sing, Sing, Sing - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
Radio Days: Goodbye - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra

Album Description

20 classic tracks from the films of Woody Allen, including Artie Shaw & His Orchestra-'Frenesi' from 'Radio Days', Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra-'Stardust' from 'Stardust Memories', Bob Crosby & His Orchestra-'Big Noise From Winettka' from 'Manhattan Murder Mystery', The Benny Goodman Quartet-'Whispering' from 'Might Aphrodite', Duke Ellington & His Orchestra-'Take The A-Train' from 'Radio Days' and more big bandclassics from Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra, Count Basie & His Orchestra, Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra to name a few. Standard jewel case. 2000 release.

Album Details

20 Classic Tracks from the Films of Woody Allen.

Customer Reviews:

Woody's winners are THE winning ticket !!!.......2007-03-20

This CD offers some of the very best songs and instrumentals that Woody Allen used as musical backdrops in several of his movies. We get excellent tracks from Radio Days, Stardust Memories, The Purple Rose Of Cairo and other Woody Allen films as well. The quality of the sound is excellent even on my portable CD player; and Woody's music reflects his exceptionally good taste in distinguished musical standards.

The CD opens with "Frenesi" by Artie Shaw & His Orchestra. The strings and horn carry most of the melody and whet your appetite for more. "Stardust" by Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra follows; and Louis and his musicians bat this one right out of the ballpark! This was recorded in 1931 which gives us a chance to hear a younger Louis Armstrong; his voice sure was gravelly even then! SMILE

Other great standards not to be missed are Duke Ellington's "Take The 'A' Train" with a magnificent musical arrangement that really swings hard; "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" by Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra from the movie Radio Days and Glenn Miller & His Orchestra perform a heavenly "The White Cliffs Of Dover (There'll Be Blue Birds Over)."

Fred Astaire sings "Cheek To Cheek" with great sensitivity and panache both at the same time; Leo Reisman & His Orchestra provide the musical accompaniment for this number. "I've Heard That Song Before" by Harry James & His Orchestra shines brightly on this album; this song is especially elegant with its wistful, sweet sentimentality and a flawless musical arrangement. Helen Forrest sings the vocals with flair and a certain grace that I rarely hear. Moreover, "After You've Gone" gets a somewhat bluesy feel for its intro but it sparkles as brilliantly as it ever did. The horn is great and Jack Teagarden sings this ballad without a single superfluous note.

The CD ends fittingly with "Goodbye" performed by Benny Goodman & His Orchestra; this bluesy number clandestinely sneaks into your heart as it captivates you with its beauty.

The liner notes include the song credits and the cover art work has a great rendering of Woody's face on the front. There is also a brief essay about the musical performances in Woody Allen's movies.

One reviewer notes that the final musical piece from Stardust Memories cannot be found on this album. Unfortunately, even a CD chock full of winners like this one just can't hold all of the great music Woody used in his movies. This is why I recommend other Woody Allen film music two CD sets including the set simply entitled Film Music and the two CD set entitled Woody Allen music from his movies.

I highly recommend this CD for Woody Allen film buffs; and people who enjoy the standards with that unforgettable big band sound will cherish this CD for quite some while to come. May you get this CD and enjoy it as much as I did! Enjoy!

Perfect except for ONE PIECE!.......2004-06-08

This CD is absolute perfection, but WHERE, oh, WHERE is the Dick Hyman recording of "Easy to Love" played at the end of "Stardust Memories"???? It's achingly beautiful and the one Dick Hyman recording I have of it isn't the slow, sensual version of it. PLEASE someone, let me know! (Woody, are you listening?)

Have a listen at Woody's impressive record collection!.......2003-07-10

Whether out of interest in Woody Allen movies, or perhaps a desire to listen to some supposed cinematic jazz, you'd be hard-pressed to ignore the fact that Woody Allen has great taste in music. This is quite a diversified sampler of the big-band (and not so big-band) jazz and swing music from the 1930's and early 1940's that Woody has intimately incorporated into his films over the past 30 years. What sets this apart from other big-band jazz/swing compilations is knowing this is not just a greatest hits compilation but rather a journey through someone's personal record collection. Nearly half of the music is (obviously) cued from "Radio Days", but there are also songs from the films "Stardust Memories", "The Purple Rose Of Cairo", "Manhattan Murder Mystery", "Celebrity", and "Sweet & Lowdown".

There are many other Woody Allen jazz compilations of similar quality, but with 20 songs clocking in at 70 minutes, this album is clearly the most generous. It showcases the clean and busy work of the famous orchestras of Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, and Benny Goodman. There are gentle vocal efforts as well; Fred Astaire sounding lighter-than-air on "Cheek To Cheek", a young Frank Sinatra swoons and croons "If You Are But A Dream", and Billie Holiday coos through "Did I Remember?" The wacky but clever instrumentals "Big Noise From Winnetka" and "Sing, Sing, Sing" also appear, as do some absolutely sweet & sublime guitar playing from Django Reinhardt on "Body And Soul", which pairs him alongside an angelic string quintet. The notable omission is, of course, Glenn Miller's classic "Moonlight Serenade", a song worthy of including in a 20th century time capsule. None of the tunes here come off as the loud, brash variety - shrill but blazing horn sections, basically - that you may be accustomed to hearing elsewhere.

Tracks:

Original Rags
Maple Leaf Rag
Easy Winners
Elite Syncopations
The Entertainer
The Cascades
Bethena
Leola
Gladiolas
Searchlight
Fig Leaf Rag
Sugar Cane
Euphonic Sounds
Paragon Rag
Solace
Wall Street Rag
Treemonisha
Magnetic Rag

Album Description

Celebrate the diversity of American music with RAGS TO RICHES: THE ESSENTIAL SCOTT JOPLIN, a comprehensive collection of 18 pieces by one of ragtime's greatest composers. From his signature hit "Maple Leaf Rag" to classics such as "The Entertainer" and "Wall Street Rag", RAGS TO RICHES: THE ESSENTIAL SCOTT JOPLIN contains some of the most revered tunes in musical history and will be treasured by music fans for years to come.

Customer Reviews:

What the heck???.......2007-03-20

Music is great, as is the playing. However, the last song is not Magnetic Rag but rather the same version of Maple Leaf Rag heard earlier on the album.

What is with that?

More Than Excellent.......2006-08-16

I had previously purchased a Scott Joplin CD and was disappointed by the dull quality and dispirited playing by the artist. This CD more than makes up for it. The music was beautifully performed and the recording was very clear. Every piece was perfect!

Average customer rating:

A great catalogue of an amazing musician's work
wish i'd known about her earlier...
You MUST buy this CD!
Stunning
A must-have.

Anita O'Day Sings the Winners
Anita O'Day
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Anita Sings the Most
Anita O'Day's Finest Hour
Pick Yourself Up with Anita O'Day
Anita O'Day Swings Cole Porter with Billy May
Incomparable!

ASIN: B00000478S
Release Date: 1990-06-01

Tracks:

Take The 'A' Train
Tenderly
Interlude (A Night In Tunisia)
Four
Early Autumn
Four Brothers
Sing, Sing, Sing (With A Swing)
My Funny Valentine
Frenesi
Body And Soul
What's Your Story, Morning Glory
Peanut Vendor (El Manisero)
Whisper Not
Blue Champagne
Stompin' At The Savoy
Hershey Bar
Don't Be That Way
Peel Me A Grape
Star Eyes

Customer Reviews:

A great catalogue of an amazing musician's work.......2007-01-10

I didn't discover this talented musician (Anita O'Day) until about a week or two before her unfortunate death at age 87. Her unique sound (I think which reminisces at times Judy Garland territory, but that's just a personal opinion), uncanny scatting abilities and amazing sense of swing engaged me enough to dig into her long musical legacy--and, since I adored her take on Miles Davis' "Four" after hearing it, I knew this was the CD to start out with (since it features "Four" as the, of course, fourth track), and it is indeed great. This re-release features the original set list from the first printing of Anita O'Day Sings the Winners and much more. "Four" happens to be my favorite song here and O'Day gives a tremendous performance with some brilliantly written lyrics (see album insert for details), but that's because it's the first song I heard from O'Day (and my favorite to date) and therefore I'm biased...but opener "Take the 'A' Train" (a classic), the amazing "Interlude (A Night in Tunisia)" (another favorite) and the scatwonderful "Four Brothers" make for perfect listens; "Frenesi," "Body and Soul," "Stompin' at the Savoy" and "Hershey Bar" are all wonderful as well. Songs like the Latin-influenced "Peanut Vendor" and standards like jazz favorite "My Funny Valentine" are only improved upon by O'Day's wonderfully brash, but confident, vocal delivery. Though she may no longer be here, her music lives on to this day...and Anita O'Day Sings the Winners is definitely an album to purchase for ANY music listener!

wish i'd known about her earlier..........2005-08-11

I watched a poorly produced jazz concert DVD, "Jazz on a Summer's Day" and didn't pay attention to O'Day because I was upset that the video showed footage of the the people during Monk's performance.

this is a great CD. all female jazz vocalists should give it a listen!

You MUST buy this CD!.......2004-09-09

This is the CD I live by. My greatest influence as a jazz singer is Anita O'Day and this is THE album to have. She scats like an instrumentalist of the highest degree and her phrasing is impeccable!! If you don't have one of her CD's yet, this is the one to purchase!

Stunning.......2002-08-23

This is one of the greatest albums done by any female jazz vocalist. Every track is superb but what Anita does with "Body and Soul" is nothing short of amazing. Her "Early Autumn" is purely gorgeous. She's in excellent voice, inventive, surprising, versatile (she's such a good uptempo singer people forget she does ballads beautifully with tenderness but none of the histrionics lady singers tend to love) and the accompaniments are first rate. The bonus tracks are from some of her finest recordings. This is what great jazz singing is all about and the production values, as with all of O'Day's Verve issues, are first-rate. I always loved this cover, too, but the Japanese cover is more glamorous.

A must-have........2002-06-02

Anita O'Day, whose singing career began in the big band era, was in the prime of her life when she recorded this LP for Verve in 1958. Amazingly, "Winners" was cut in only two days of that year, April 2 & 3, with Russ Garcia and His Orchestra on the first day (tracks 7-12), and the band of Marty Paich on the second (tracks 1-6). This CD has so many great cuts, it could have been called "The Very Best of Anita." "Take the A Train," "Peanut Vendor" and "Frenesi" are especially good. This is, without question, one of the best female vocalist recordings out there. Unfortunately, the six bonus tracks detract from the CD. But, that complaint aside, "Winners" easily rates 5 stars in my book.

Average customer rating:

Available at retailers for about $18
A classic compilation
A dis-service to Joplin
Unique
Great set

Scott Joplin: His Complete Works

Manufacturer: Bescol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Ragtime | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Complete Piano Music of Scott Joplin
King of the Ragtime Writers
Entertainer: Classic Ragtime from Rare Piano Rolls
Joplin: Treemonisha
Joplin: Piano Rags

ASIN: B000001RR2
Release Date: 1994-07-19

Tracks:

Please Say You Will - Richard Zimmerman
A Picture Of Her Face - Richard Zimmerman
The Great Crush Collision March - Richard Zimmerman
Harmony Club Waltz - Richard Zimmerman
Combination March - Richard Zimmerman
Original Rags - Richard Zimmerman
Maple Leaf Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Swipesy - Cake Walk - Richard Zimmerman
Sunflower Slow Drag - Richard Zimmerman
Peacherine Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Augustan Club Waltz - Richard Zimmerman
The Easy Winners - Richard Zimmerman
Cleopha - Richard Zimmerman
The Strenuous Life - Richard Zimmerman
I Am Thinking Of My Pickanniny Days - Richard Zimmerman
The Ragtime Dance - Richard Zimmerman
A Breeze From Alabama - Richard Zimmerman
Elite Syncopations - Richard Zimmerman

Tracks:

March Majestic - S. Joplin
The Entertainer - S. Joplin
Something Doing - S. Joplin
Weeping Willow - S. Joplin
Little Black Baby - S. Joplin
Palm Leaf Rag - S. Joplin
The Favorite - S. Joplin
The Sycamore - S. Joplin
The Cascades - S. Joplin
The Chrysanthemum - S. Joplin
Rosebud March - S. Joplin
Bethena - S. Joplin
Leola - S. Joplin
Sarah Dear - S. Joplin
Binks Waltz - S. Joplin
Eugenia - S. Joplin
Antoinette - S. Joplin
Snoring Sampson - S. Joplin

Tracks:

Gladiolus Rag - S. Joplin
Searchlight Rag - S. Joplin
The Nonpareil (None to Equal) - S. Joplin
When Your Hair Is Like The Snow - S. Joplin
Rose Leaf Rag - S. Joplin
Heliotrope Bouquet - S. Joplin
School Of Ragtime - S. Joplin
Fig Leaf Rag - S. Joplin
Sugar Cane - S. Joplin
Pine Apple Rag - S. Joplin
Wall Street Rag - S. Joplin
Solace - S. Joplin
Pleasant Moments - S. Joplin
Country Club - S. Joplin
Paragon Rag - S. Joplin
Euphonic Sounds - S. Joplin
Stoptime Rag - S. Joplin
Felicity Rag - S. Joplin

Tracks:

Highlights From Treemonisha - Richard Zimmerman
A Real Slow Drag - Richard Zimmerman
Prelude To Act 3 - Richard Zimmerman
Frolic Of The Bears - Richard Zimmerman
Lovin' Babe - Richard Zimmerman
Scott Joplin's New Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Kismet Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Magnetic Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Reflection Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Silver Swan Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Lily Queen - Richard Zimmerman
Sensation - Richard Zimmerman

Customer Reviews:

Available at retailers for about $18.......2006-12-21

Excellent collection - but there are re-sellers listed here that are selling this for as much $50 or $60. Yikes, most major retailers are selling this complete set for $18 - so beware.

A classic compilation.......2006-10-07

This collection is one of my most treasured possessions. (My father gave me the original 5-album set in the 70's when it was originally released on vinyl.)

This is the definitive collection of Scott Joplin's work. Richard Zimmerman provides wonderful performances that accurately reflect Joplin's intentions. (As evidence beyond my personal opinion, I submit the recent releases of digital recordings made from Joplin's piano rolls.)

A few points to consider regarding negative comments you may encounter in other reviews:
* This is a digital recording from an analog master. Lack of quality in the recording does not imply a lackluster performance.
* This is a complete collection. Some similarity is due to Joplin re-exploring melodic themes. But some is due to the fact that these are "rags". One might as well complain that all 50's doo-wop (or all 70's disco) sounds the same.
* Many pieces of the period exhibit formal musical structures, such as the marches of John Phillips Sousa. (Both Sousa and Joplin performed at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis.) Actually, Joplin is responsible for extending the formal boundaries of ragtime to concert waltzes (Bethena) and opera (A Guest of Honor, Treemonisha)
* This is probably one of the few collections which will include selections from "Treemonisha". It is my understanding that after the initial release, one of Joplin's descendants made a copyright claim that was upheld in court. (I presume the issue was that Joplin had to finance "Treemonisha" himself, and therefore the customary performance clearances did not cover those selections.)

For ragtime students and enthusiasts, this is a "must-have" collection at a very affordable price.

A dis-service to Joplin.......2006-02-01

Sadly, the only virtue this set possesses is completeness.

The pianist does not play Joplin's pieces "as written", the piano is of poor quality, and not properly in tune.

This is emphatically NOT the set to buy. A far better set, beautifully annotated and well played on a good concert grand piano, is the complete works played by Guido Nielsen on the Basta Label.

This set is a dis-service to Joplin and his music. He deserves better, and gets it elsewhere.

Unique .......2004-10-19

I have several cd sets of Joplin's music: Rifkin, Arpo, Nielsen, and Zimmerman. All have their excellent qualities. What sets Zimmerman's set apart is the inclusion of excerpts from Joplin's opera, Treemonisha---especially "A Real Slow Drag." Why the other sets do not include excerpts from Treemonisha, I don't know---because they are some of his most beautiful and joyful pieces of music. Of course, you can hear the orchestrated version of Treemonisha in the Houston Grand Opera recording, and it is spectacular. But Zimmerman's piano version, especially of "A Real Slow Drag," is not to be missed.

Great set.......2001-10-16

I guess this will be a rather one sided review. I have been a fan of Scott Joplin since I first learned to play a piano.

I was shocked to see that one reviewer thought it all sounded the same. How silly. All of Frank Sinatra's music sounds like Frank Sinatra. All of Led Zeppelin sounds like Led Zeppelin. So, if the songs were drastically different, I would question if the same author composed them. As it is, though, each song on this set is fantastic!!

I don't know that I have heard of Richard Zimmerman, and I was a little leary as to what I would be getting, I certainly was impressed. Without a doubt the best renditions of "Weeping Willow" and "Bethena" I have heard, and at least a dozen songs I didn't know Joplin wrote.

Tracks:

Maple Leaf Rag
Something Doing
Weeping Willow Rag
The Entertainer
The Easy Winners
Pine Apple Rag
Solace
Gladiolus Rag
The Ragtime Dance
Sugar Cane
The Crush Collision March
Bethena - A Concert Waltz
Combination March
A Breeze From Alabama

Customer Reviews:

Best interpretation...is NO interpretation.......2007-02-24

This is as PLAIN a Ragtime CD as I've ever heard. No frills, no added notes, no interpretation going on here. Not everyone would like this style-without-a-style, but for me it's the best. I like to listen to these recordings with the sheet music in front of me, to see whether I can catch every note. (OK, so I do the same thing with Palestrina...I'm too left-brained to appreciate music the way musical people do.)
If you enjoy the solace of great ragtime, get a Joshua Rifkin or Dick Hyman CD. But if you crave the essence of Joplin's genius in the straightest, blandest form possible, this is the CD for you.
Also, don't dismiss the possibility of listening to a track on this CD, then on the Rifkin CD to develop a keener appreciation of Rifkin's unparalleled Joplin style. "Bethena" is a good one for this, as Rifkin brings so much PASSION to his interpretation. Well, a mechanical piano roll is not going to do that....

Days of Wine and Roses, Moon River and Other Academy Award Winners

Average customer rating:

Could Have Been Done Better
Remembering Frank Sinatra On His 90th Birth Anniversary
Don't Miss This One
Better than the movies.
Am I too critical? Compare This Effort with Frank's Best....

Days of Wine and Roses, Moon River and Other Academy Award Winners
Frank Sinatra
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Swing Along with Me
Strangers in the Night
Sinatra's Sinatra
Sinatra and Strings
Sinatra and Swingin' Brass

ASIN: B000002K9E
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Days Of Wine And Roses
Moon River
The Way You Look Tonight
Three Coins In The Fountain
In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening
Secret Love
Swinging On A Star
It Might As Well Be Spring
The Continental
Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing
All The Way

Amazon.com

Frank Sinatra and conductor/arranger Nelson Riddle teamed up in 1964 to record this collection of Oscar-winning songs from the previous three decades. While hardly groundbreaking, the results are extremely enjoyable. "Swinging On a Star" sounds as if it were written specifically for Sinatra, while "Days of Wine and Roses," "Moon River," "It Might as Well Be Spring," and "Secret Love" are also well worth the price of admission. Though it probably isn't the place to start your Sinatra collection, the album will certainly make a swell soundtrack for your next cocktail party. --Dan Epstein

Customer Reviews:

Could Have Been Done Better.......2006-12-23

This is a good album, not the best of Sinatra, but he was creative. I like what he did with "Days of Wine & Roses," a nice swinging, treatment. "Moon River" is done ok, but I know Frank could have done much better, probably if he had recorded this a couple years earlier.

On many of the numbers, Sinatra's voice sounds rough for some reason.

Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing could have used a more 'Concert Sinatra' approach. But this album seems like it was a rush job.

The Way You Look Tonight is a Sinatra classic and he does this just fine...I won't say anymore.

'Fountain,' 'Spring,' 'Continental,' and 'All the Way' are fine Sinatra re-do's.

Though not a bad album, it could have been done better. Great for that in-the-car listening.

Recommended for the "Way You Look Tonight" and if you want to hear a swingin' "Days of Wine & Roses."

Remembering Frank Sinatra On His 90th Birth Anniversary.......2005-12-12

On this day of December 12th ninety years ago, a baby boy was born to become the Entertainer-of-the-Century, the most-loved singer of all-time, the greatest singer ever lived and the most prolific interpreter of Great American Songbook. He left lasting impressions on each and every song he sung, making them his own and leaving the magic of his voice glued to every listener's ears. And I'm proud to say that I'm one of those listeners who caught the magic of his voice and his style of singing, I would say "The Sinatra Charisma."

My first exposure to his music was when I was growing up and constantly hearing from my late parents' collection of Sinatra's LP records. So his music is not new to me when I started my very own ever-growing collection. I have reviewed a number of his CDs and realized that I haven't written one for this recording of Academy Award winning songs, which is one of his greatest albums of all-time. Of course, its greatness was magnified not only by the legendary singer's superb interpretations but also by the simple fact that it was Nelson Riddle who arranged and conducted this awesome recording.

What do Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Dorothy Fields, Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini, Hoagy Carmichael, Sammy Cahn, Jim Van Heusen have in common? They were all great and each of them had made a name in the field of composing and songwriting. Likewise, they all have the much-coveted "Academy Awards Winning Songs" to add to their impressive credentials. And these winners are compiled in this CD starting off with two of my all-time favorites from Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini "Days Of Wine And Roses" (1962), and "Moon River" (1961).

The most enchanting tracks include a swing version of "The Way You Look Tonight" theme song from the 1936 movie "Swing Time." It's an achingly beautiful ditty that brings back a lot of fond memories to me. (Sigh). This song was composed by Jerome Kern and the lyrics were penned by Dorothy Fields.

"With each word
Your tenderness grows
Tearing my fears apart
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose
Touches my foolish heart."

One of the winners is "All The Way" (1957), my number one favorite song penned by the most eloquent songwriter America ever produced and Mr. Sinatra's very favorite lyricist, Sammy Cahn, and its music was composed by Jim Van Heusen. What a gem of a song - simply put, a sheer beauty.

The rest of the winners are "It Might As Well Be Spring" (State Fair, 1945), "The Continental" (Gay Divorcee, 1934), "Secret Love" (Calamity Jane, 1953) and "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing," from the 1955 movie of the same title.

What makes this CD a real winner? Frank Sinatra's superb singing, Nelson Riddle's sublime arrangements and orchestration and the Academy Award winning songs. It deserves a special spot in your music library.

Happy Listening!

Don't Miss This One.......2004-09-12

This album is another example of why Sinatra and Riddle worked so well together. You might think you that this is just a warmed over collection of show tunes but you would be wrong. This is a collection that shows how the exceptional can make even the familiar special. Frank is strong and clear and Nelson has the Band playing in a creative style throughout. Enjoy!

Better than the movies........2002-04-24

This collection, released as "Academy Award Winners" as well as "Days of Wine and Roses," is valued by most Sinatra fans for one reason only: Sinatra's singularly swinging treatment of "Just the Way You Look Tonight." As satisfying as that performance is, the other interpretations, despite what some critics have said, are practically on a level with the Jerome Kern classic. Sinatra's the only singer I can think of who sensed, as do practically all jazz instrumentalists, that the best way to do "Days of Wine and Roses" is up-tempo. And to compare his version of "Moon River" to Andy Williams' hit version, or of a popular period piece like "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" to the hit record by The Four Aces, is to come closer to the secret of Sinatra's greatness. Neither version is simply a soaring melody transporting us to some never never land. Sinatra finds the moments of poetry and drama in the material, bringing it to life in a way that is authentically personal and unmistakably real.

The only misjudgement, and a minor one, is the ballad-like treatment of "Secret Love." Granted, the song works fine that way when addressed to the heavens by the innocent voice of Doris Day. But here's where Sinatra and Riddle should again have followed the lead of jazz instrumentalists and gone with a straightahead swinging arrangement. Had they done so, there would have been not one but at least two singularly swinging reasons for owning this album.

Am I too critical? Compare This Effort with Frank's Best...........2001-12-05

...And then there is no contest!!! First off,his singing here is rough for some reason.The definitive "Way You Look Tonight" Okay,but that is mainly because of Mr. Riddle's glorious arrangement.Frank has a rough moment hitting the word "heart",though most of this tune does meet his normal remarkable standard."Days of Wine and Roses" has a very similar sound,a good cut but one you won't want to replay too much."All the Way" is well done here the second time around with less brass,more strings.Nice job,but the original is the one to hear. "Swingin on a Star"? Some sharp reviewers hear give it raves. IMHO, Bing's mellow humor,and generally silly arrangement fit this to a T. After all,this is a kid's song.Sorry, but Bing does outdo Frank on this one,and Bing recorded this twenty years earlier! "Secret Love" is really a wasted effort,and some of the others just don't do it for me. Actually,when I moved some time back,this is the only Frank CD that I kept in storage with the usual rock stuff that will remain there...Hey.I'm a Frank diehard,People who meet me probably think I'm crazy about Frank,and my response is always."No one can touch him!" (especially when any rock names come up)...But one has to be "true to your code",so I'll give this one a three,and a weak one at that. My comments on other Frank records may really be useful to the beginner,since I only give five stars to his very best,which is a heck of a lot!! Make this one maybe your 25th Frank CD purchase.

Philip Jones Brass Ensemble Greatest Hits

Average customer rating:

The Greatest brass ensemble...
Nothing better than this!
Welcome Back PJBE
Great start! Now where is the rest?
Nec plus ultra

Philip Jones Brass Ensemble Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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

Music from the Royal Court
The Antiphonal Music of Gabrieli
The Lighter Side
The 20th Century Album
Glorious Sound of Brass

ASIN: B000056PRA
Release Date: 2001-01-23

Tracks:

The Earle Of Oxfords March
Renaissance Ste: La Mourisque
Renaissance Ste: Bransle Quatre Bansles
Renaissance Ste: Ronde
Renaissance Ste: Basse Danse Bergeret
Renaissance Ste: Ronde Mon Amy
Renaissance Ste: Pavane Bataille
Battle Ste: Galliard Battaglia
Battle Ste: Courant Dolorosa
Battle Ste: Canzon 'In Imitation Of An English Bergamask'
Pavane
The King's Hunting Jig
Greensleeves
Qnt No.1 in b flat, Op.5: Moderato
Qnt No.1 in b flat, Op.5: Adagio
Qnt No.1 in b flat, Op.5: Allegro Moderato
Fanfare 'Narcisse'
Sonatine: Allegro Vivo
Sonatine: Andante Ma Non Troppo
Sonatine: Vivo
Sonatine: Largo - Allegro
Qnt, Op.73: Allegro Vivace
Qnt, Op.73: Chaconne
Qnt, Op.73: Con Brio
Spitfire: Prld And Fugue

Tracks:

Fanfare For The Common Man
Etude Characteristique No.1
Sleeping Beauty: Waltz
Four Pieces For Brass Qnt: Maestoso Alla Marcia
Four Pieces For Brass Qnt: Scherzo
Four Pieces For Brass Qnt: Andante Con Moto
Four Pieces For Brass Qnt: Allegro Grazioso
Ser in G, K.525 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik'
Ragtime Dance
Frere Jacques
Easy Winners
Le Petit Negre
Tarantella, Op.122
Humoresque, Op.101 No.7
Borage
Tico-Tico
La Peri: Fanfare
Stadt Wein: Fanfare
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade I
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Gnome
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade II
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Old Castle
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade III
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Tuilerie Garden
Pictures At An Exhibition: Bydlo
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade IV
Pictures At An Exhibition: Ballet Of Chicks In Their Shells
Pictures At An Exhibition: Two Jews - One Rich, The Other Poor (Samuel Goldenberg And Schmuyle)
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade V
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Weekly Market At Limoges/Catacombs
Pictures At An Exhibition: With The Dead In A Language Dead
Pictures At An Exhibition: Baba Yaga/Great Gate Of Kiev

Customer Reviews:

The Greatest brass ensemble..........2007-01-19

Philip Jones brass ensemble shows you musicality on a high level. The feelings they are playing with are suberb...music is feelings, not technical.

Buy it...

Nothing better than this!.......2006-07-11

There are many brass recordings available today with ensembles which are even technically more advanced, but nothing can compare with Philip Jones, because the PJBE is not only pure precision playing, it's musicality too and it's smart arranging. Jones understands how to use the characteristics of each instrument. He lets room for Tuba or Horn too, its not just Trumpet always playing the big parts like Empire Brass does.

Welcome Back PJBE.......2001-10-19

It is ironic that London/Decca waited until many of the important members of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble were dead before finally releasing this collection of highlights from the ensemble's considerable catalog. Don't misunderstand me! I am thankful for this substantial 2 cd set. For fans of the PJBE there is real cause for celebration; and for those who are just discovering the work of this important brass ensemble, you are in for a treat.

The remastering is first rate and you can't beat the 2-fer pricing. Get this set while its available because the wait for more will at best be a long one. Thankfully, I still have most of the PJBE recordings on vinyl and a good turntable for playing them. But I would still be near the head of the line to snatch up any subsequent reissues. Years ago I saw several of their recordings on cd, but foolishly passed on them, thinking they would be in circulation for awhile. Silly me. Like I said, grab this before they post the infamous notice "no longer available."

When the PJBE made it's first American tour back in the 70s I was already a huge fan. I went to hear them play, never expecting the concert to sound as good as the recordings. They opened with the Tylman Susato Renaissance Suite and their playing immediately blew away any Memorex memories of their recordings. Unfortunately, we will never again hear live such virtuosity and musicianship. The recordings DO serve as a fine memory of the first and foremost brass ensemble.

Great start! Now where is the rest?.......2001-05-31

I have always been a huge fan of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble. They set a very high standard of playing and the recordings, most of which are not available on CD, are excellent.

Where are their landmark recordings of such works as the Hindemith works for brass ensembles: Concert music for strings and brass, Morgenmusik for brass, Concert music for piano, brass and harps which they played flawlessly?

Where is their outstanding recording of the Gunther Schuller Symphony for Brass?

Please, Decca, give us more of the full course, not merely the teasers and encores.

Partial LP discography:

Baroque Brass: 1979 Baroque Venice: 1972 La battaglia (Battles for brass): 1981 Carnaval des animals: 1984 Classics for brass: 1972/73 Gabrielis in Venice: 1983 Golden brass: 1974 Just Brass: 1970 Konzertmusik (Hindemith): 1981 Modern brass: 1979 Renaissance brass: 1976 Arrival of the Queen of Sheba: 1983 Strings and brass (Gabrieli, Vejvanovsky, Vivaldi): 1970 Voices and brass: 1969 The world of brass: 1976

Nec plus ultra.......2001-04-01

Un grand merci aux créateurs de ce projet. Retrouvez les pionniers du cuivres en 2cds, qu'elle superbe idée. Byrd, Bozza, Arnold, Susato, Ewald, Arban, et j'en passe. Vraiment se double album est un délice pour nos oreilles. Alors à quant un double album avec les oeuvres contemporaines telles que: Addison, Dodgson, Salzedo, Premru, Bennett ? Le plus vite possible !!! Merci

Woody's Winners: Classic Tracks From the Films of Woody Allen

Average customer rating:

Woody's Winners: Classic Tracks From the Films of Woody Allen
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Castle Pulse
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

New Orleans & Dixieland Jazz | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

Dixieland | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Woody Allen's Movie Music
Woody's Winners: 20 Classic Tracks from the Films
Film Music
Woody Allen Classics
Woody Allen music from his movies

ASIN: B000EMSTZM
Release Date: 2006-05-01

Tracks:

Frenesi [From Radio Days] - Artie Shaw & His Orchestra
Stardust [From Stardust Memories] - Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
Big Noise from Winnetka [From Manhattan Murder Mystery]
Whispering [From Mighty Aphrodite] - Benny Goodman Quartet
Take the 'A' Train [From Radio Days] - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
If You Are But a Dream [From Radio Days] - Frank Sinatra,
I'm Getting Sentimental Over You [From Radio Days] - Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
Cheek to Cheek [From the Purple Rose of Cairo] - Fred Astaire, Leo Reisman & His Orchestra
Tickle-Toe [From Stardust Memories] - Count Basie Orchestra
I've Heard That Song Before [From Hannah and Her Sisters] - Harry James & His Orchestra
After You've Gone [From Sweet and Lowdown] - Joe Venuti
Body and Soul [From Sweet and Lowdown] - Django Reinhardt & the Quintet of the Hot Club of France
Did I Remember? [From Celebrity] - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
In the Mood [From Radio Days]
You Made Me Love You [From Hannah and Her Sisters] - Harry James & His Orchestra
White Cliffs of Dover [From Radio Days]
If Dreams Come True [From Stardust Memories] - Chick Webb & His Orchestra
Lullaby of Broadway [From Radio Days] - Richard Himber & His Orchestra
Sing, Sing, Sing [From New York Stories] - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
Goodbye [From Radio Days] - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra

Tracks:

Stompin' at the Savoy [From Small Time Croosk] - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
Pistol Packin' Mama [From Radio Days] - The Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby
Out of Nowhere [From Manhattan Murder Mystery] - Coleman Hawkins & His Orchestra
If I Had You [From Hannah and Her Sisters]
Easy to Love [From Anything Else] - Billie Holiday, , Teddy Wilson
Singin' the Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home) [From Bullets Over ...] - Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra
Opus One [From Radio Days] - Tommy Dorsey
I Got Rhythm [From Celebrity] - Teddy Wilson
Limehouse Blues [From Alice & Mystery of the Third Planet] - Ambrose & His Orchestra
They're Either Too Young or Too Old [From Radio Days] - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra, Kitty Kallen
If I Didn't Care [From Radio Days] - The Ink Spots
Flatbush Flanagan [From Curse of the Jade Scorpion] - Harry James & His Orchestra
Twisted [From DeConstructing Harry] - Annie Ross
I Can't Get Started [From Anything Else] - King Cole Trio, Lester Young
South American Way [From Radio Days] - Bando da Lua, Carmen Miranda
Moonglow [From Alice & Mystery of the Third Planet] - Artie Shaw & His Orchestra
Poor Butterfly [From Hollywood Ending]
(Back Home Again In) Indiana [From Sweet and Lowdown]
In a Mellotone [From Melinda & Melinda] - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
Beginning from an End - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra