The London Sessions [SACD]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
This Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD) recording offers high-resolution sound and is playable on both standard CD players and SACD-compatible devices.

Tracks:

Prologue (Little Shop Of Horrors) - Michelle Weeks, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell, Bill Mitchell
Skid Row (Downtown) - Michelle Weeks, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell, Ellen Green, Rick Morranis Donny Gerrard
Da-Doo - Rick Moranis, Michelle Weeks, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell, The Do Wops
Grow For Me - Rick Moranis, Michelle Weeks, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell,
Somewhere That's Green - Ellen Green
Some Fun Now - Michelle Weeks, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell,
Dentist! - Steve Martin, Michelle Weeks, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell, Robby Perkins, Robert Billig,
Feed Me (Git It) - Levi Stubbs,Rick Moranis, Michelle Weeks, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell
Suddenly, Seymour - Rick Moranis, Ellen Green, Michelle Weeks, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell
Suppertime - Levi Stubbs, Michelle Weeks, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell
The meek Shall Inherit - Rick Moranis, Michelle Weeks, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell, Robby Merkin, Frank Oz...
Mean Green Mother From Outerspace - Levi Stubbs, Chorus
Finale (Don't Feed The Plants) - Chorus

Customer Reviews:

Offbeat enough to be worth your time........2007-06-02

This adaption of a famous Broadway play is a truly funky story with overtones of science fiction and some of the greatest music ever performed on screen. I never get tired of the soundtrack and play it often.

A great album.......2007-02-04

This album contains must of the song fron 1986 movie. This movie is great the music is fantastic. Unlike the on the movie the song are all unabriged on the track. The final song one the second version of the movie mean green mother from outer space for reason I don't understand was abriged for the movie. The songs running time was drasticaly cut from about 4.5 minutes on the album to about a little over 2 minutes. This originally was not the final song for the movie. When this movie was original first the last song was Don't Feed the Plants from the off brodway play. However six months after the movie was first released the whole ending sequence of the movie with Rick Morransis, Ellen Greeen. Levi Stubs and Jim Bilusie had to be shot over again due to negative audience reactions from several people who were upset and not stastified with director Frank Ozze's original first ending. As a result of the ending being modified from a sad depressing ending to a lovely romantic happy ending the song Don't feed the plants and the footage that went along with it were instantly trimed out of footage and only a small fragmet of it exist on the dealete scenes and out take portions of the dvd. However for reason I could never figure out don't feed the plants is include as the final song one the last track of the album even though it no longer exist in the current dvd and vhs formats of the movie

Little Shop At Its Musical Best.......2006-09-21

The film recording of Little Shop is the best recording of the score yet (despite missing many of the stage version's more superflous and campy ditties)The vocal arangements and orchestrations are the best and most appropriately complementary to the piece. They capture the sound, and spirit in full and with fun and excitement. The cast is superb, and Ellen Greene proved herself quite brilliant in her ability to adapt her stage performance for the small size of film. The performance of Levi Stubbs, criticized on this site, is actually the BEST interpretation and vocal performance of Audrey II to date, anywhere. It is the only performance to truly bring the role to life and is damn funny. The cuts and changes are all logical for the medium of film, and obviously approved of as they were made by Howard Ashman himself. The original off-broadway cast (yes, the show was NOT an official broadway show, therefore could not have won a tony for anyone) is the next best recording. But to those who harp on the film for cutting the stage songs, the original cast album is not the full score, and has cuts made as well. The New Broadway Cast recording, which had great potential and money behind it, is the full stage score. Yet the worst in orchestration, quality, and casting to date. Though bland enough to easily digest, it is no where close to the film's sound and energy.

Great Soundtrack.......2006-07-25

Nice adaptation of the show to the screen. Rick Moranis in the best part of his career. And having Ellen Greene preserved on film as Audrey is wonderful. One of the best musical comedy performances of the 80's. Too bad the original was an Off-Broadway production. She deserved a Tony.

Little Shop of Horrors -The Moview CD.......2006-02-18

If you are a fan of the movie, then you will really enjoy this CD. It revives the memory of the movie in every song that is played. First rate soundtrack.

Average customer rating:

Fantastic!!
timeless
If you don't like this album, you have no soul
Blues With a Feelin', That's What I Have Today
Great Intro. to The Blues

The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions
Howlin' Wolf
Manufacturer: Chess
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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His Best

ASIN: B000002OAZ
Release Date: 1989-07-26

Tracks:

Rockin' Daddy
I Ain't Superstitious
Sittin' On Top Of The World
Worried About My Baby
What A Woman
Poor Boy
Built For Comfort
Who's Been Talking
The Red Rooster (False Start & Dialogue)
The Red Rooster
Do The Do
Highway
Wang Dang Doodle

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic!!.......2007-06-25

I absolutely loved this CD. Unlike other reviewers who didn't appreciate Hubert Sumlin playing rhythm guitar and Clapton playing lead, Howlin' Wolf and Mr. Sumlin, both tried and true together, give way to some new blues followers, and thank God. Look what has become of Eric as a blues front man! Not to mention the mark the Stones and Steve Winwood have left on the blues scene. I love the humbleness shown here. Also, if you watch Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival DVD from Dallas 2004, you will note Hubert Sumlin featured as a blues great playing along side Clapton, Buddy Guy, BB King, Robert Cray and Jimmy Vaughn. This CD is fantastic, I recommend it to any blues lover.

timeless.......2007-03-12

This cd exceeded my expectations. The 60's rockers backing up their idol Howlin Wolf in the twilight of his career sounded as if they had been a unit for years. The musicians manage to give the songs a fresh sound while still staying true to its roots. The Howlin Wolf although at the recording was becoming more and more ill infuses his ailing into his singing to make the listener feel the blues. Excellent CD.

If you don't like this album, you have no soul.......2007-02-13

I've often heard that "blues purists" have great disdain for this album, which leads me to think the definition of "blues purist" is "someone who tries way too hard to not like good music."

Sure, Wolf was old. Sure, you can tell he wasn't in great health. But he was still perfectly able to get a song over and still had ample power upon which to draw when he needed to. The performances by the backing musicians (particularly Ian Stewart) are generally impeccable, the arrangements are tasteful if at times a bit cluttered, and Eric Clapton manages to walk the fine line between showcasing his own chops and not stepping on the toes of Wolf or his material. I think he pulls it off splendidly.

My only two complaints about this album are A) The Steve Winwood organ solo on "Who's Been Talking" (more '60s psychedelia than Chicago blues, sounds out of place), and the criminal relegation of the great Hubert Sumlin to (barely audible) rhythm guitar duties. This is like asking Michelangelo to paint tract houses, and the album would have benefited if Clapton and Sumlin both played lead guitar.

Aside from those fairly minor gripes, there's not really anything to dislike about this album if you enjoy listening to great musicians play great music. Highly recommended.

Blues With a Feelin', That's What I Have Today.......2006-12-23

Released in 1971, the CD continued a trend to have legendary blues artists record with popular British rockers who were well versed in the history of the music.

Howlin' Wolf and guitarist Hubert Sumlin were joined by Eric Clapton (g), Bill Wyman (b), Charlie Watts (d), Jeffrey Carp (h) and other musicians, including Steve Winwood, Ian Stewart, Ringo Starr and Klaus Voorman in what was a tribute to the blues legend. Howlin' Wolf who was not in good health at the time of the recording, but he still packed a punch on these blues standards and - at least one time - showed who was the boss in the studio.

There is a false take for The Red Rooster where Howlin' Wolf stops the recording and chastises Clapton on the way he was playing his electric guitar. Clapton and the rest of the band then convince Howlin' Wolf to play his acoustic guitar along with singing, which follows in the second take.

The choice cuts include I Ain't Superstitious - Starr and Voorman are the rhythm section - Highway 49 and Wang Dang Doodle, where Clapton unleashes some wicked guitar work.

There are other collections that have recordings of Howlin' Wolf in his prime. But for fans who want to hear the influence of blues on British rock musicians or those who may not be familiar Howlin' Wolf, The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions is a great starting point on the trek filled unfortunately with great artists who are nearly forgotten with the passage of time.

Great Intro. to The Blues.......2006-10-15

If you like Classic Rock and Roll and are looking to get into The Blues this is a great place to start. Chess Records, in following the success of Fathers and Sons, ships both Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters to play with a who's who of British Rock. On this album, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Charlie Watts, and more accompany Howlin for a set of his classic tunes. While this may not be Howlin Wolf's best material it is still fun. The take out of Little Red Rooster is great where Eric and others try to talk Howlin into play along. Steve Winwood really shines on this album. Howlin while not at his peak is still a force of the blues. This is a great place to start and a great way to get someone into the blues. Won't spare the expense of the delux version.

Average customer rating:

Wow--Kickass Blues Riffs with a Superstar Backup Group
Look at it in context---it introduced The Wolf to a wider audience
beautiful set, awesome music!
better than i expected
Better than Expected -- Spirited and Enjoyable

The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions
Howlin Wolf
Manufacturer: Chess
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chicago Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Styles | Music

Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
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Blind Faith

ASIN: B00006LLOB
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Tracks:

Rockin' Daddy
I Ain't Superstitious
Sitting on Top of the World
Worried About My Baby
What a Woman!
Poor Boy
Built for Comfort
Who's Been Talking?
Red Rooster
Do the Do
Highway 49
Wang Dang Doodle
Goin' Down Slow (Bonus Track)
Killing Floor (Bonus Track)
I Want To Have A Word With You (Bonus Track)

Tracks:

Worried About My Baby (Rehearsal Take)
The Red Rooster (Alternate Mix)
What A Woman (Alternate Take)
Who's Been Talking (Alternate Take)
Worried About My baby (Alternate Take)
I Ain't Superstitious (Alternate Take)
Highway 49 (Alternate Take)
Do The Do (Alternate Take)
Poor Boy (Alternate Take)
I Ain't Superstitious (Alternate Take)
What A Woman (Alternate Mix)
Rockin' Daddy (Alternate Mix)

Amazon.com

Shipping sixtysomething blues icon Howlin' Wolf to England in May 1970, accompanied by his guitarist Hubert Sumlin, was a crapshoot. Wolf's health was poor and he hadn't recorded outside of Chicago since 1954. Not surprisingly, Wolf's London excursion remains a mixed bag. Certainly, the participants' hearts were in their music--with the notable exception perhaps of Wolf's--but the result never quite gelled. When the Brit rockers such as Eric Clapton the Rolling Stones' Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts dug into his songs, they collided with the ornery bluesman. Producer Norman Dayron later overdubbed Steve Winwood and Lafayette Leake's keyboards (along with horns on a few tracks) to salvage the sessions. Of all the classic Chess albums, this is an odd choice to expand with a second disc of outtakes, none of which are particularly revelatory. Still, Clapton is fiery throughout, and Wolf, although not in prime form, is never less than convincing. Though often criticized, most notably by Clapton himself, Howlin' Wolf's London Sessions offers a worthy--though not essential--snapshot of the legend in his waning years. -Hal Horowitz

Customer Reviews:

Wow--Kickass Blues Riffs with a Superstar Backup Group.......2006-03-01

Imagine the Rolling Stones as a rhythm section, Eric Clapton on lead guitar, and Stevie Winwood on keyboards. Heck, even you singing in your shower could sound good. Wang Dang Doodle is such a killer song, Clapton's guitar simply sings, and is so elegantly and tastefully done, you don't know its Clapton, but instinctively look at the CD notes to see who was playing those tastey licks!

This vinyl record was one of my all time favorites. When it came out on CD and remastered with bonus tracks, I ignored the stupidly high price and took a leap of faith.

If you like Clapton's blues guitar, Stevie Winwood's piano and the solid rhythm of the Rolling Stones (and who doesn't), you will love this album. I'd give it 5 stars, but I'm stingy with stars, so a 4 star it will have to be.

Look at it in context---it introduced The Wolf to a wider audience.......2005-10-01

The Howlin' Wolf London sessions made The Wolf known to a larger audience who probably wouldn't have picked up the album or noticed any other Howlin' Wolf material were it not for the big name musicians (Clapton, Winwood, Wyman, Watts, et al) and a really colorful cover (Let's face it, the old Chess re-issues didn't exactly catch anyone's eye). Unlike may other efforts at fusing young British and old American blues players, this one works well enough to be worthy of continuted availabiltiy and re-issue.

To appreciate this better, remember it was recorded around 1970, not 1948. The sound was different, the times were different, and the audience was different.

I got to see the Wolf shortly after this came out. No recording ever captured the mesmerizing nature of his voice.

This is a fun recording and I encourage listeners to enjoy it for what it is---a dynamic (and slightly imperfect) collaboration that added something to the blues and rock fusion that shaped a good deal of our musical heritage.

beautiful set, awesome music!.......2005-08-02

I don't get all the criticism for this collection. It is a beautifully put-together collection of one of the best blues collaboration with British rockers. I thought this CD is stellar - both discs. There are not many recordings where you get to hear the musical giants we admire conversing among each other in the midst of a jam session. This alone makes this set extra-special: the conversations during Red Rooster and Who's Been Talking false starts. The sound quality is superb. I thought it was remarkable in its own right that these guys were even able to cut such a record within something like a week. Playing with new people in unfamiliar environments can easily wreck a musician's ability to perform well. I was amazed that it was possible to get the right set of musicians together in such a hurry and work out their differences. I think when you take into account all the adversity that these people faced to make this record, you get amazed at what sort of musical talent was gathered for this record. The remixes and alternate takes on the 2nd CD are great. In fact, I like a few of them better than the originals. My favorite songs are "I Aint Superstitious", "Rockin' Daddy", "Poor Boy", "Red Rooster", and "Goin' Down Slow". But it's kind of hard to pick - I love all the songs on both the discs. And I thought the producer did great with splicing in the horn arrangements later on - in my opinion, they were quite tastefully done. The Keyboards that were added later on also provide a soft, classy touch to already great music.

better than i expected.......2005-03-27

I had read disappointing reviews but wanted to buy The London Sessions anyway. I love it. the first disc is superb, with great renditions of Killing Floor, Going Down Slow, and I Want To Have A Word With You as bonus tracks. Plus the original part of the album. The second disc could be better but listening to how a great blues master such as Howlin Wolf and his crew interacted with Brits best is amazing. the highlights for me though are the 19 year old harmonica player, Jeffery Carp, Eric Claptons skill as a blues musician, and the legend Howlin Wolf teaching the blues.

Better than Expected -- Spirited and Enjoyable.......2005-03-17

Given the drubbing over the years by purists and other blues snobs who never liked the idea of impressionable rock-star Brits recording with their American blues legend masters, I expected this disc to sound as bad as other entries in this genre, such as the Chuck Berry London sessions. Surprise!! It's a lot better than expected.

Pinned by Wolf's regular guitarist and joined by an on-fire Eric Clapton, these recordings are spirited, enjoyable, and go down real easy. Stevie Winwood contributes solid organ/piano lines,and the bass and drum support of Stones engines Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman is effortless and in the pocket.

Why the criticism? I think it's mostly intellectual, rather than visceral. Yes, Wolf has sounded better, and the concept is a bit cute, but the results speak for themselves and stand the test of time. This is a comfort album, more for kicking back and enjoying the groove, rather than for someone looking for the definitive performance by any of the participants.

One point mentioned by a fellow reviewer with which I totally agree: The "bonus" disk is a shameless attempt to charge double the normal price for this re-release. There's nothing in it worth paying for. The best part of the rehearsal sessions is actually on the original release, where a cranky Wolf shows Clapton how to properly play the slide guitar....priceless, memorable, and one of the small charms of this album.

The Best of the Capitol Masters: The London Sessions

Average customer rating:

VOCAL PERFECTION~BRAVO JUDY GARLAND!!!
Judy!
Arguably the best studio recordings of Garland's career
JUST JUDY
Judy, Judy, Judy

The Best of the Capitol Masters: The London Sessions
Judy Garland
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000DRE5
Release Date: 1992-08-11

Tracks:

Lucky Day
Medley: Judy At The Palace/Shine On Harvest...
Stormy Weather
You Go To My Head
Come Rain Or Come Shine
San Francisco
The Man That Got Away
Swanee
Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody
Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe
It's A Great Day For The Irish
You'll Never Walk Alone
I Happen To Like New York
Medley: You Made Me Love You/For Me And My Gal,...
Why Was I Born?
Do It Again
Chicago
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
After You've Gone
Over The Rainbow

Customer Reviews:

VOCAL PERFECTION~BRAVO JUDY GARLAND!!!.......2007-03-18

After a near fatal illness, Judy went to London and feeling better and on the mend went into a London studio and recorded these classic sessions which contain many of her finest studio performances which are beautifully arranged with a full studio orchestra...the results are totally stunning and these incredible recordings are also a preview of the legendary Carnegie Hall concert which exploded on the music scene the following year, selling millions and gave Judy Garland a much deserved "Five Grammy Awards" win including a Grammy Award for "Album Of The Year". "Judy In London" finds Miss Garland in great voice and in a wildly creative mood expanding her classic reportiore with new classics such as the most inspirational version of "You'll Never Walk Alone" ever recorded with a glorious vocal soaring to breathtaking heights showing Judy in peak form! Opening with an exhuberent and brilliantly sung "Lucky Day", it is clear that luck belongs to the listener of this treasure chest of tremendous performances...the richness of Garland's voice and the passionate and wildly soulful performances show that this great singer possessed the greatest voice of her generation and of the century...never before or since has Cole Porter's "I Happen To Like New York" been sung with such emotional depth plus a full-voiced rich vocal that is gorgeous and incomparable! A tour-de-force medley "Judy At The Palace" defines what great singing and the art of emoting are all about thus bringing the song to life for the listener in a most extraordinary way...and those rich heavenly tones!!! Judy manages to make an athem out of "It's A Great Day For The Irish" and this timeless collection is full of definitive performances of many of the greatest songs written over the past century...quite a accomplishment but Judy Garland's brilliant career was full of them and Judy left behind quite a collection of wondrous performances for us to savor and enjoy and these legendary sessions are as far as her recordings go at the top of the list...get it and enjoy the greatest singer ever! Bravo Judy and we miss you!!!

Judy!.......2006-06-29

This is one of my favorite recordings of Judy. She had just survived a near-fatal battle with hepatitis and comes back with a vengence and a zest for life that is evident in her delivery of these songs. Her voice is older, more mature, not as clear and shrill as in her films in the MGM era, but it's a rich as caramel and chocolate. Each note is perfect, the phrasing is all-natural, and Judy sounds happy. Only Judy is able to allow her emotions to shine through a song, infusing each note and word with her whole being. And for this reason she is a legend, a star whose brilliance will never dim. She will always be loved by millions and never forgotten.

Arguably the best studio recordings of Garland's career.......2003-11-30

Judy Garland's famous London Sessions recordings, recorded during the first week of August 1960, stand as some of her most remarkable studio recordings ever. Judy had nearly died a year earlier and had been told that she would be a semi-invalid for the rest of her life. Free of her constant stress and worry over work, Judy's health and spirit actually soared miraculously. In June 1960 she recorded the album "That's Entertainment!" and soon afterwards flew to London, where she launched a series of European concerts that paved the way for her triumphant American concert tour of 1961. While in London, between August 2 and August 8 of 1960, she recorded the twenty incredible songs you will find on this album. Many of these were songs she would sing in her upcoming concerts, and it is fascinating to listen and distinguish tiny differences in pace and delivery between these studio recordings and their live-audience counterparts in such concert albums as Judy Garland a Paris, The Legendary Amsterdam Concert 1960, and the amazing Judy at Carnegie Hall. Show-stoppers such as The Man That Got Away, San Francisco, Swanee, and Rock-a-Bye Your Baby (With a Dixie Melody) had a much more energetic and exciting feel to them when Judy sang them in front of thousands of adoring fans, but these studio recordings reveal subtle yet hidden depths in these songs, and Judy had never sounded better and more in love with her music than she did in these London Sessions recordings.

Most of these songs are quite familiar and need no introduction from me. A few merit special attention, however. Lucky Day is a joyous song enlivened with the passion for life Judy was finally feeling at this turning point in her career. The Judy at the Palace medley harkens back to Judy's incredible nineteen-week run at Broadway's immortal Palace theater in late 1951; Roger Edens wrote the introductory verse and adapted Shine On Harvest Moon, Some of These Days, My Man, and I Don't Care into a special medley to honor some of the big names who had previously played the Palace. Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe was a song Judy began singing after the birth of her son, Joe Luft. Perhaps the most unusual song in this collection is Cole Porter's I Happen To Like New York; much of the song hovers around the same few notes before building into an awe-inspiring crescendo of sound toward the end. Why Was I Born? is a song Judy enjoyed singing, but in my experience it is not featured on very many collections of Judy Garland songs. Over the Rainbow, as always, deserves extra special attention. This particular version is remarkable for the haunting quality of Judy's performance; this is no longer the young Judy Garland dreaming of a better world, it is a mature Judy Garland singing about hopes unfulfilled and a deep longing for something never found.

Amazingly, only six of these songs were released during Judy's lifetime. 1962's "The Garland Touch" included Lucky Day, the Judy at the Palace medley, Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe, It's a Great Day For the Irish, You'll Never Walk Alone, and I Happen To Like New York. In 1972, all twenty of these songs were released on "Judy in London," but this album saw only limited distribution. This London Sessions CD marked the first digital release of all twenty of these Garland classics. This album is actually the third CD in the remarkable Judy Garland: The One and Only box set released in 1991. While The London Sessions CD is certainly well worth owning, I would encourage prospective buyers to seek out and purchase the entire box set if possible, thereby getting 45 additional Capitol recordings to complement the twenty treasures found on this one album.

JUST JUDY.......2002-01-22

OUTSTANDING,REMARKABLE, I think are the words to discribe such an extraordinary performance.You can feel the what is inside, all the pation that she use to put on her voice all the tenderness is reflected on this record and definitive there was and there allways will be just one Judy.

Judy, Judy, Judy.......2001-11-30

What can I say ? Judy Garland is a one of a kind. There will never be anyone else like her. This collection truly shows the wide range of a booming voice, that is the Garland Touch. Judy is the Greatest Entertainer who ever lived.

The Legendary Alberta Hunter: '34 London Sessions

Average customer rating:

Exellent spotlight on Hunter's caberet abilties
Refined Alberta Hunter
I need to hear A Hunter not the band to evaluate for purchac

The Legendary Alberta Hunter: '34 London Sessions
Alberta Hunter
Manufacturer: Drg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000000PF6
Release Date: 1989-09-08

Tracks:

Two Cigarettes In The Dark
What Shall I Do?
Soon
Where The Mountains Meet The Sea
A Lonely Singing Fool
Long May We Love
Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable To Lunch Today)
Be Still My Heart
Stars Fell On Alabama
Two Little Flies On A Lump Of Sugar
I Travel Alone

Customer Reviews:

Exellent spotlight on Hunter's caberet abilties.......2004-11-12

Alberta Hunter went to London to be in shows, and adapted very well to the sophistocated cabaret style. She sounds sophistocated and CLASSY ON THSI EXELLENT CD. VERY LITTLE JAZZ CONTENT IS HERE, HOWEVER JACK JACKSON'S OFTEN PEPPY BRITISH SOCIETYY DANCE BAND IS EXELLENT IN TEH RAY NOBLE, LEW STONE STYLE.

Refined Alberta Hunter.......2000-05-30

Those lusty recordings that A.H. made late in her life were my introduction to her. When I bought this LP back in the early 1980's, I was surprised to hear her refined style, particularly on "Two Cigarettes in the Dark." I came to this site today to see if the LP was available on CD. And it is.

If you're expecting the blues, this isn't it. Her style and the arrangements are very sophisticated and pleasing. I recommend it very highly. I expect it will be back in my collection soon.

I need to hear A Hunter not the band to evaluate for purchac.......1999-09-30

More vocals needed to reveiw adequately

Average customer rating:

1965 London Sessions
John Lee Hooker
Manufacturer: Sequel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Delta Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000000PRP
Release Date: 1996-01-09

Tracks:

I Don't Want Nobody Else
Storming on the Deep Blue Sea
I'm Losing You
Go Back to School, Little Girl
Don't Be Messin' With My Bread
Mary Lee
I Cover the Waterfront
Crazy Mixed up World
Seven Days and Seven Nights
Little Dreamer
Lost Everything

Average customer rating:

Torme's most beautiful album!
The Love Sessions
London Sessions Revisited
I could cry just thinking about this album...
A wonderful representation of the genius that was Mel Torme'

The London Sessions
Mel Tormé
Manufacturer: Sandstone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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That's All
Jazz 'Round Midnight: Mel Tormé
Velvet & Brass
Sing Sing Sing
An Elegant Evening

ASIN: B0000001DN
Release Date: 1992-11-03

Tracks:

All In Love Is Fair
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
New York State Of Mind
Stars
Send In The Clowns
Ordinary Fool
Medley: When The World Was Young/Yesterday When I Was Young
Bye Bye Blackbird

Customer Reviews:

Torme's most beautiful album!.......2005-12-27

As an unabashed fan of Mel Torme, I love his late albums, full of jazz, scat, and complex rhythms, as he takes songs in new directions, always on perfect pitch. In this incredible album, recorded in 1977, one hears an earlier Mel Torme, a crooner whose magnificent voice is controlled to perfection, and ranges from the highest of the high notes to the lowest kinds of whispery confessions. Gifted with the ability to give new meanings to familiar songs through unique phrasing and unusual pacing, Torme here records songs of the seventies (six of which are more than five minutes long), documenting the loss of love and the sadness which follows.

Recorded while Torme was in the midst of a divorce from his wife of ten years, a marriage he thought would last forever, Torme's voice conveys his heartbreak through these narrative songs. Though most of these ballads are associated with other singers, they sound new and fresh in Torme's hands. Accompanied by a full orchestra but supported on some of his best tracks by the sax of Phil Woods, Torme creates moods--dramatic, personal, and intimate--and records what may be his most gorgeous album.

"All in Love is Fair," a Stevie Wonder song, never sounded so touching as Torme, his voice set off by Phil Woods's sax solo and later accompaniment, creates a pensive ballad which gradually becomes a jazzier, more passionate wail in his highest register. Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," featuring a guitar solo, is subtle, with Torme crooning softly and romantically, his mellow voice contrasting with Flack's harsher one.

Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind," is bluesy and restrained, and his interpretation of Janis Ian's "Stars," one of my favorites on the album, is sadder than hers and more meditative, without a trace of folkiness. "Send in the Clowns," becomes upbeat and jazzy, full of off-tempo variations and unusual phrasing, while "Bye, Bye, Blackbird," the only old favorite on the CD, is sung with agonizing slowness and melancholy before veering into wailing jazz.

Beautiful, emotional narrative songs, in which Torme seems to confess his innermost thoughts, accompanied by full orchestra, take on new meanings and showcase Torme's voice and his expression, rather than his jazz talent on this CD. Soft and mellow, these ballads are among the best Torme has ever recorded, and this CD has become one of my new favorites. n Mary Whipple

The Love Sessions.......2005-07-02

The pain and emotion of lost love flows through Mel's voice on this album. "New York State of Mind" is simply a classic Mel Torme song. "Send in the Clowns" is fast, and the line, "Losing my timing this late in my career" seems to hint at the recent divorce that Mel was going through when this album was being recorded in London England. "All in Love is Fair" is sung with passion and pain! A classic

London Sessions Revisited.......2002-01-20

My first exposure to this work by Mel was over 15 years ago when I bought the original LP titled A New Album. Years past, record changer broken and library now in CDs I had almost forgotten about this gem. A search on Amazon found it reissued under the new title. What makes this such a collector's item is that it is unique in that most of the songs are contemporary to the 60's and 70's as compared to most other Torme works which feature tunes from the 30's and 40's. Mel's poignant treatment of these songs is faultless. The rich orchestral arrangements are interesting and effective with several European nuances. Adding to this collection is the soulful sax work by Phil Woods.
If you don't own this collection...you are missing one of the two or three absolute best of his career.

I could cry just thinking about this album..........2000-08-28

This is certainly one of Mel Torme's best. It's a true evolution from his innocent 50s and 60s years. After several disillusions thrown at him by life, a hardened Mel came back and expressed it all in song. And what expression! The first track will blow you away: beautiful arrangement of Stevie Wonder's "All in love is fair", and a voice that no longer exudes that vibrance - which always causes a smile and a happy sigh - but now occasionally crackles with sorrow and a darker tone. Listen to this track if you want a sample of what this album is about. Fourth track, "Stars" reveals much about Mel's changing view of some aspects of his career - as much as other tracks reveal about his past relationship(s).

Simply, this is an album where Mel Torme reminds us how important music is to him (his life) and how truly one can express themselves through the medium if they are master of their craft. It's an album where we are less a fan than a friend, perhaps a confidant. But, in his confiding in us, Mel displays inspiring gifts as well as being incredibly honest through the music. So, rather than this being just cathartic for the artist, Mel Torme has shared something personal with us, perhaps offering a lesson in life or maybe an understanding hand on the shoulder.

A wonderful representation of the genius that was Mel Torme'.......1999-06-09

The London Sessions, originally titled "Torme; A New Album" was recorded just a short year after a rather messy divorce for Mel and his English wife.The album is loaded with ballads, and Mel sounds at the absoulute TOP of his form. Outstanding tracks include "Here's That Rainy Day" (with a killer alto sax solo by Phil Woods), "All in Love is Fair" and "Bye Bye Blackbird". Mel's true genius as an arranger shows in the only up-tempo tune on the whole album, a swinging, knock your socks off rendition of "Send In The Clowns"!! This is a MUST have for all Torme' fans!! I HIGHLY recommend it!

Average customer rating:

Weakest of the Series
well worth a listen
Unsurpassed vocals
Superflous
I may be getting old

The London Muddy Waters Sessions
Muddy Waters
Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chicago Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Styles | Music

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The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions
The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues
King Bee
Right Place, Wrong Time
Folk Singer

ASIN: B000002OB1
Release Date: 1989-07-26

Tracks:

Blind Man Blues
Key To The Highway
Young Fashioned Ways
I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town
Who's Gonna Be Your Sweet Man When I'm Gone
Walkin' Blues
I'm Ready
Sad Sad Day
I Don't Know Why

Customer Reviews:

Weakest of the Series.......2006-10-15

Muddy Waters London Sessions is part of a multi-CD collection that Chess put out that includes this CD, Howlin' Wolf London Sessions, and Muddy Water's Fathers and Sons album. Of the set, this is the weakest CD. The other two are excellent. The songs come off flat, Muddy un-inspired and the added horn arrangements do nothing to improve the situation. As mentioned the Howlin' Wolf session is excellent and the half studio\half live Fathers and Sons is a must own for any blues\Muddy fan. This is for collectors only.

well worth a listen.......2005-03-27

For me, this is as good a place any to start an investigation into the music of this giant of the genre. Despite what others say, I like the backing musicians, particularly guitar and harmonica, and it doesn't suffer from the poor (by today's standards) recording quality of his earlier, 'classic' works. The voice may not have the towering force of his earlier stuff, but for me it's the sound of a (slightly) older man enjoying himself - and it's well worth a listen! My hair's turning grey too - you'd think it'd know the way I feel.

Unsurpassed vocals.......2004-12-11

It's difficult to compare the "London Sessions" recordings of selected blues greats, but this one has to rank with the very best. "Key to the Highway", "Walking Blues" are just a sample of tunes that Muddy trademarked as his standards on this album. Every song may not rate 5 stars, but the composite is. I think Muddy derived great joy in making it, as I have in tuning in to this recording.

Superflous.......2004-08-21

This is not a terrible album, but there isn't anything here which isn't readily available in better versions, and Muddy's London Sessions are certainly no match for his classic Chess sides...or his latter-day Blue Sky recordings, for that matter.
The late Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher comes off quite well, but Steve Winwood, Mitch Mitchell and Georgie Fame bring absolutely nothing to the party, and even Muddy himself sounds quite uninspired on these stale, unimaginative recordings.
2 1/2 stars...only for completists.

I may be getting old.......2004-04-05

Back in the early 1970s, Chess Records sent all of their major recording artists over to London to record. Muddy Waters was no exception to this gimmick. Muddy works here with a mixture of some of his regular band members and some young British rockers. The results are good, if not essential. Muddy had recorded most of these songs before, in superior versions. Not that these versions are bad, they are just lacking when compared to the original versions. Most of the songs here are given a more "contemporary" (circa 1970) feel to them, with mixed results. This is a pretty good album, but I would recommend starting with Muddy's older, "classic" material before you work your way up to this one.

The Live Sessions - Xfm Radio 104.9 London

Average customer rating:

The Live Sessions - Xfm Radio 104.9 London
Travis , Stereophonics , Guided By Voices , Reef , The Flaming Lips , Gomez , Merz , Sebadoh , Skunk Anansie , and Mercury Rev
Manufacturer: Select Magazine
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000LUD1H8

Product Description

Tracklisting: 1.All I want To Do Is Rock-Travis 2.I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio-Stereophonics 3.Streets Of Kenny-Shack 4.Hold On Hope-Guided By Voices 5.New Bird-Reef 6.Elephant Man-Suede 7.Waiting For Superman-The Flaming Lips 8.Rosemary-Gomez 9.Asleep-Merz 10.Cold As Ice-Sebadoh 11.Follow Me Down-Skunk Anansie 12.Tonight It Shows-Mercury Rev 13.Rocket Fuel-Seafruit 14.Dead From The Waist Down-Catatonia

Average customer rating:

Gorgeous!
Great CD, But Previously Released!

The London Sessions
Mel Torme
Manufacturer: Morada Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Avalon
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ASIN: B000083GLS
Release Date: 2003-03-18

Tracks:

Send In The Clowns
New York State Of Mind
All In Love Is Fair
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Stars
Ordinary Fool
When The World Was Young/Yesterday When I Was Younf (Medley) 8. Bye Bye Blackbird

Album Description

This Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD) recording offers high-resolution sound and is playable on both standard CD players and SACD-compatible devices.

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous!.......2006-01-20

Though Mel Torme will probably be best remembered for his late albums, full of jazz, scat, and complex rhythms (and always on perfect pitch), he was a crooner in his earlier career. In this gorgeous, early album, recorded in 1977, one hears a Mel Torme whose magnificent voice is controlled to perfection and ranges from the highest of the high notes to the lowest kinds of whispery confessions. Gifted with the ability to give new meanings to familiar songs through unique phrasing and unusual pacing, Torme here records songs of the seventies (six of which are more than five minutes long), documenting the loss of love and the sadness which follows.

Recorded while Torme was in the midst of a divorce from his wife of ten years, Torme's voice conveys his heartbreak through these narrative songs. Though most of these ballads are associated with other singers, they sound new and fresh in Torme's hands. Accompanied by a full orchestra but supported on some of his best tracks by the sax of Phil Woods, Torme creates moods--dramatic, personal, and intimate--and records what may be his most gorgeous album.

"All in Love is Fair," a Stevie Wonder song, never sounded so touching as Torme, his voice set off by Phil Woods's sax solo and later accompaniment, creates a pensive ballad which gradually becomes a jazzier, more passionate wail in his highest register. Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," featuring a guitar solo, is subtle, with Torme crooning softly and romantically, his mellow voice contrasting with Flack's harsher one.

Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind," is bluesy and restrained, and his interpretation of Janis Ian's "Stars," one of my favorites on the album, is sadder than hers and more meditative, without a trace of folkiness. "Send in the Clowns," becomes upbeat and jazzy, full of irony and off-tempo variations and unusual phrasing.

Beautiful, emotional narrative songs, in which Torme seems to confess his innermost thoughts, accompanied by full orchestra, take on new meanings and showcase Torme's voice and his expression, rather than his jazz talent on this CD. Soft and mellow, these ballads are among the best Torme has ever recorded. Mary Whipple

Great CD, But Previously Released!.......2003-01-21

Recorded in 1977, this CD is an excellent example of Mel's later works. Mel selected a variety of pieces from the old standard "Bye Bye Blackbird," to "New York State of Mind" by Billy Joel.

Backed by an excellent British orchestra, this CD is sure to please all generations!

One thing to be careful about!!! All of the material on this new "Super Audio CD" was previously released on the Gryphon label under the title "Torme - A New Album." There is no warning on the back of the CD that it contains previously released material!!!

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