Michael Ball

An Untold Story: Assaggio No.1 In G Minor - Johann Helmich Roman
The Legend Of Casanova: Tambourins I/II From Daro - Jean-Philippe Rameau
I Yield To Love: Cello Concerto No.3 In D Minor - Leonardo Leo
Eternal Damnation: Overture From Les Fetes De Polymnie/Overture From Platee/Overture From Zoroastre - Jean-Philippe Rameau
The Doge's Decree: Concerto In C Major - Antonio Vivaldi
A Venetian Virgin - Alexandre Desplat
San Cremori At Dawn: Concerto In C Major For Harpsicord And Strings - Giovanni Paisiello
A Lover's Duel: Overture From La Madrilena - Vicente Martin Y Soler
A Terrible Mistake: Concerto A 5, Op.9, No.4 - Tomaso Albinoni
A Secret Lover?: Sinfonia From The Opera Farnace - Antonio Vivaldi
Marriage Is A Safe Haven: Concerto A 5, Op.9 No.4 - Tomaso Albinoni
Trailing Guardi: Sonata For Violin And Bassocontinuo, Op.5 No.11 In E Minor - Arcangelo Corelli
The Noble Pig: Concerto Per Quartetto No.8 - Francesco Durante
Paprizzio's Arrival: Concerto A 5, Op.9 No.2 In D Minor - Tomaso Albinoni
Inquisitor Pucci - Alexandre Desplat
: Concerto A 5, Op.9 No.4 - Tomaso Albinoni
A Big Idea: Harpsicord Concerto In B Flat Major - Francesco Durante
A Nom De Plume/Carnivale!: Concerto A 5, Op.9 No.6 In G Major/Bouree From Les Plaisirs Champetres - Tomaso Albinoni
The Plume's Nom Is Casanova! - Sonny Kompanek
Dancing At The Doge's Ball: Riguadon From Water Music Suite, No.3 In G Major/Bouree From Music For Royal Fireworks/Loure From Tafelmusik1 - George Frideric Handel
One Step Closer To Heaven: Concerto A 5, Op.9 No.4 In A Major - Tomaso Albinoni
Casanova's Confession: Sonata Op.5 No.7 In D Minor - Arcangelo Corelli
The Hanging: Violin Concerto 'Il Cimento Dell'Armonia E Dell'INvenzione' Op.8 No.11 In D Major - Antonio Vivaldi
A Great Escape: Overture From Zais/Overture From Nais/Overture From Achante Et Cephise Ou La Sympathie - Jean-Philippe Rameau
My Place Is With Casanova: Overture From Le Temple De La Gloire/Overture From Zais/Sonata For Violin And Bassocontinuo, Op.5 No.7 In D Minor - Arcangelo Corelli
All's Well...:Concerto A 5, Op.9 No.4 In A Major - Tomaso Albinoni

Amazon.com

The action in this tale about the 18th century adventurer and (at least in popular lore) seducer is set in Cassanova's native Venice in the mid-1700s, so it makes sense that the soundtrack would be loaded with Baroque pieces. The Venice-based Tomaso Albinoni is featured prominentaly, along with heavyweights such as Antonio Vivaldi, Jean-Baptiste Rameau, and George Frideric Handel, and lesser-known composers such as Arcangelo Corelli, Francesco Durante, and Alexandre Desplat. Er, actually Desplat is a contemporary French film composer who also released his score for the couldn't-be-more-different Syriana shortly after Casanova came out. Of the two pieces he penned here, "A Venetian Virgin" is in pure Baroque style, while "Inquisitor Pucci" betrays a more modern film-music vibe. Meanwhile, orchestrator Sonny Kompanek rearranged a couple of the tracks and authored the tense "The Plume's Nom Is Casanova," which doesn't sound embarrassing sandwiched between pieces by Albinoni and Handel. Overall, it would have been nice to get longer excerpts from the pieces--many feel chopped into too-small fragments--but the music's innate grace and elegance can't be beat for a period film. Or for any film, really: Vivaldi's Concerto in C Major ("The Doge's Decree") will be familiar to buffs, who will remember it featuring prominently in the Dustin Hoffman-¬Meryl Streep showdown Kramer vs. Kramer back in 1979. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Sheer Beauty for the Ears.......2006-07-25

For those that purchased this CD, I need not get into how masterfully infectious the movie was. After the first viewing, I found it charming, but after the second, I was hooked by the witty, clever story holding fun twists all along the way. So while I could go on and on about the movie and all of its wonderful aspects, the score was simply priceless. Apt in every scene, and all done with incredible baroque music that I had never had the opportunity of hearing before the film.

The disc walks you through the movie with no changes that I could tell from the original score. The only omission I found was that the song dubbed "Casanova's Theme" is played in much greater length in the closing credits, and that didn't seem to make it to the CD. Not a terrible loss.

Authenticity can sound great as well!.......2006-07-11

As an avid baroque music listener and performer, I can attest to the delightfully pleasing performances on the soundtrack as well as the painstakingly accurate performance practices utilized in the recording of this soundtrack.

The producers of this film fortunately went to the trouble of hiring some of the top period performance musician-specialists in the country (perhaps in the entire world) to record the soundtrack to Casanova. I know, because several of them were faculty members of the Oberlin Conservatory Baroque Performance Institute who went AWOL to Hollywood in June 2005 for the recording sessions. We all forgave them, and were actually quite excited that period music performance was having its day on the silver screen.

Do not miss this exquisite potpourri of wonderful baroque composers' works performed as closely as humanly possible to the way that they heard their works during their lifetimes! The film may not have been intended to be historically accurate (part of the fun), but the music certainly ended up that way. Not only that, but it sounds heavenly (unlike Casanova's antics) and up-to-date, not musty and old as if it were sealed in a museum case.

a little world of baroque sound.......2006-02-26

Lots of interesting baroque music unknown to me and
put together in dramatic sequences that add zest and
class to the listening experience. Also wonderful to
play in auto while driving thru boring country or in
slow moving traffic!
This CD will get a lot of play from me.
5 Stars!

Wonderful relaxing music........2006-02-25

Saw the movie and had to have the soundtrack. Great music to relax by. When you need to get away from the cares of the day the classics can't be beat. The producers of this movie certainly chose wonderful music to accompany it.

-.......2006-02-18

Good music but each is too short.
The original version of each may be better.

Average customer rating:

Beautifully Done
The Musicals
PLEASE!!
I just don't get it
The first collection of Broadway tunes from Michael Ball

Musicals
Michael Ball
Manufacturer: Polygram Label Group
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Centre Stage
Michael Ball Christmas
The Very Best of Michael Ball: In Concert at the Royal Albert Hall
Love Changes Everything: The Essential Michael Ball
I Dreamed a Dream

ASIN: B000006V66
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Tracks:

All I Ask Of You
Something's Coming
Losing My Mind
Memory
Don't Rain On My Parade
With One Look
Show Me
I Dreamed A Dream
You'll Never Walk Alone
Easy Terms
Last Night Of The World
Loving You
Anthem
Love Changes Everything
With One Look

Album Details

The Capable Vocal Gymnist Michael Ball Interprets Hits from the World of Broadway. Features Memorable Renditions of "Memory", "Love Changes Everything", "All I Ask of You" plus Twelve More.

Customer Reviews:

Beautifully Done.......2006-05-04

Michael Ball sings with such emotion it is easy to believe he is singing directly to you. My favorite singers, like Michael Ball do more than just voice the words, they put their hearts into them. You can turn up the volume and get lost in their music. "Easy Terms" is one of my favorite tracks on this CD, as well as "Anthem."

The Musicals.......2005-09-07

Michael Ball has one of the best male voices in musical theater. He has a powerful tone in his voice that allows him to competently interpret songs that need to be sung with vocal strength and range. But he can also do justice to those subdued songs where emotions take precedence over technical prowess.

A lot of the song choices were not exactly what would someone expect in a male solo vocalist. Songs that are generally sung by women like "With One Look" and "Don't Rain on My Parade" are in the album. As well as songs that are sung in duets like "All I Ask of You" and "The Last Night of the World". I think that's a great concept to include those kinds of songs.

His version of "The Last Night of the World" was beautiful. Makes me wonder how the song would've sounded if he played Chris opposite Lea Salonga in Miss Saigon. I also like his version of "I Dreamed a Dream" and "Losing My Mind". He was great in all of the tracks in the album, but those three songs are my favorite. .

Grade: A-

PLEASE!!.......2004-07-21

oh please!! he sounds like a night club singer!! he should stick to singing "les mis." maybe i was expecting too much. he was fabulous singing in "les mis." i thought that he would have learned more after singing along-side Colm Wilkinson!!

I just don't get it.......2004-05-18

HOkey, over the top arrangements and 3rd rate lizard lounge singing... I don't care for most British musical theatre stars and while I like Michael Ball in certain things, he is absolutely awful in this recording.

The first collection of Broadway tunes from Michael Ball.......2004-02-14

If you are going to do an album covering songs from Broadway musicals then you are going to want to provide listeners with something different from what they are familiar with from Broadway cast albums. For Michael Ball on "Musicals" that would be the segment where he does six songs in a row that were originally performed by female singers: "Losing My Mind" from "Follies," "Memory" from "Cats," "Don't Rain on My Parade" from "Funny Girl," "With One Look" from "Sunset Boulevard," "Show Me" from "My Fair Lady," and "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables." For me this is the strongest part of the album and I totally appreciate the idea of Ball singing songs that he would never be able to sing on stage in an actual performance (at the end of the album there is a one line reprise of "With One Look" in which Ball simply sings, "I could play any role"). The results are exactly the sort of "different" that we would hope to find on an album like this. Ball also picks some songs most listeners will likely have not heard before, which for me meant "Easy Terms" from "Blood Brothers," but could well be something else for you.

The other parts that stand out are the duets now reduced to solos, "All I Ask Of You" from "Phantom of the Opera" and "The Last Night of the World" from "Miss Saigon," and the best track is when Ball powers through "Anthem" from the often forgotten "Chess." The Broadway standards are a hit and miss proposition, with "Something Coming" from "West Side Story" having some excellent instrumentation but "You'll Never Walk Alone" from "Carousel" just being okay. I know that Ball began his career appearing in West End productions of "Les Miserables," "Aspects of Love," and "Phantom of the Opera," and after listening to this collection I would like to hear him in either "Miss Saigon" or "Chess" (okay, the latter is a pipe dream, but he would still be very good in it). For more of Michael Ball in a similar vein to this 1998 album, check out "Centre Stage," which is an even better collection of Broadway show tunes.

Aspects of Love (Remastered 1989 Original London Cast)
Average customer rating:

Absolutely Stunning

AN IMPROVED RELEASE OF ALW'S INTIMATE CHAMBER PIECE

Aspects of Love (Remastered 1989 Original London Cast)
Michael Ball , and Ann Crumb
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Starlight Express

The Likes of US

ASIN: B000BT7I78
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Tracks:

Railway Station At Pau, 1961 :: Love Changes Everything
A Small Theater In Montpellier
A Cafe In Montpellier:: Parlez-Vous Francais?
The Railway Station
In A Train Compartment :: Seeing Is Believing
The House At Pau
An Art Exhibition In Paris
A Memory Of A Happy Moment
In Many Rooms In The House At Pau
On The Terrace
Outside The Bedroom
Up In The Pyrenees :: Chanson D'Enfance
The House At Pau
Fairground In Paris :: Everybody Loves A Hero
George's Flat In Paris
First Orchestral Interlude
She'd Be Far Better Off With You
Second Orchestral Interlude
Giulietta's Studio In Venice :: Stop, Wait, Please
A Registry Office
A Military Camp In Malaya

Tracks:

Orchestral Introduciton To Act Two
A Theatre In Paris
Leading Lady
At The Stage Door
George's House At Pau
Other Pleasures
A Cafe In Venice
There Is More To Love
The Garden At Pau
Mermaid Song
Countryside Around The House, The (Third Orchestral Interlude)
The Garden At Pau
On The Terrace
The First Man You Remember
In The Vineyard At Pau
Up In The Pyrenees
George's Study At Pau
A Circus In Paris:: Journey Of A Lifetime
Outside The Circus :: Falling
Jenny's Bedroom In Paris
The Vineyards At Pau:: Hand Me The Wine And The Dice
A Hay Loft
On The Terrace
Anything But Lonely

Album Details

2005 Digitally Remastered Edition (At Abbey Road Studios) of the Original London Cast Album of the Critically Acclaimed Cast of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's Hit Musical that Launched the Career of Michael Ball. Includes Full Libretto and Deluxe Packaging.

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Stunning.......2007-02-01

so i guess i owe andrew lloyd webber for getting me into musicals with the phantom of the opera. at first i didnt really branch out too far from there. i mean i listened to and fell in love with cats and evita, but those are pretty general and most have at least heard memory or dont cry for me argentina. after those i started to branch out more and eventually came back to lloyd webber with aspects of love.

at first i was pretty reluctant. i mean the reviews overall and here on amazon were fairly negative. but some said that if u give this musical a chance it wont dissapoint, so after a LOT of thinking, pondering, and reading i finally said what the hell and just ordered it. well i certainly wasnt dissapointed.

andrew lloyd webber comes up with a stirring and moving score that relies on emotional content, not a large orchestra or elaborate flourishes. i love phantom but the softer touches here are very powerful. the lyrics by don black and charles hart both provide emotion and progress the story brilliantly.

almost the entire piece is sung which makes it all feel very natural that the characters are all singing. however the "real" songs dont feel as impressive as other works, but they're not suppossed to. they're all softer and more laid back.

because its all sung, a lot depends on the performers. they sure dont dissapoint. i dont think anyone could even say anything negative about michael ball at this point, but why would u want to. his performance here is emotional and brilliant. anne crumb as rose certainly is an interesting idea. she does well, and she is quite moving as rose. but i cant help but wonder wat would've happenned if sarah brightman sang the role like she was suppossed to. her version of anything but lonely sure blew crumb's out of the water. but crumb still is impressive. the rest of the cast is strong but mildly forgetable, no one really has a show-stealing number so they all kind of fall flat.

this is overall a powerfull piece that is moving and complex. the story is incredably intricate and intense. one definately has to go in with an open mind concerning both the plot and the music itself. this is a completely different sounding musical compared to lloyd webber's other pieces, but it is still as powerful and impressive as ever. this is a definate winner

AN IMPROVED RELEASE OF ALW'S INTIMATE CHAMBER PIECE.......2005-12-15

When "Aspects of love" premiered in April 1989 in London, wide audiences knew Andrew Lloyd Webber mostly by his big blockbuster musicals such as "Cats", "The Phantom of the opera" or "Evita. After the "Phantom", the composer decided to try something new, much in the same way he has done with "Cats" in the early 80-is after he decided to part ways with his lyricist Tim Rice. As the basis for his next musical he chose David Garnett's short novel of the same title.

The plot involves various love triangles and is as close to a soap opera as you can get in a musical. We follow a 17 year-old Englishman Alex, who is in love with an older French actress Rose Videle. They end up in the Spanish villa that belongs to Alex's uncle George, an elderly painter and writer. George in turn has an ongoing affair with a younger Italian sculptress Giulietta. George finds Rose and Alex in the villa and after Alex is called to the army, George and Rose begin living together, which at first Alex finds impossible to accept. Giulietta and Rose become quite friends, there is even a hint of a lesbian relationship between them. Even so, George and Rose get married. Some time has passed and Alex is out of the army and is reunited with George, Rose and their 14 year-old daughter Jenny in their villa in France. Jenny falls in love with Alex, something that a very old George, now depended solely on Jenny's love cannot agree to. Alex is torn between Rose and Jenny and soon George dies. At his funeral Alex meets Giulietta and they are instantly drawn to one another. Alex leaves with her, although Rose pleaded him not to leave her alone.

As you can see, the plot isn't quite as simple as it might appear. For this project Lloyd Webber decided to use a much smaller, almost chamber orchestra, however, that isn't a drawback. This is his most romantic score and the orchestra fits it perfectly. The music itself is full of beautiful and intimate love melodies, especially when the orchestra takes the lead in its interludes; you can almost see the nature and the scenery of the plot. The most popular songs from this show are "Love changes everything" sung by Alex and "Anything but lonely" sung by Rose. Of course, there are other catchy tunes, my favorite being "Seeing is believing", a romantic duet between Alex and Rose; "The first man you remember", sung sweetly by George to his young daughter Jenny; "Mermaid song", a shy duet between Alex and Jenny and a big ensemble number with a notable drums sequence called "Hand me the wine and the dice". It's important to note, however, that many parts of this musical is dialogue that is sung instead of being spoken, and this is the main difference between Aspects and the big Webber shows. This means that Aspects isn't meant to be played as background music while one does the dishes or cleans the house. The best way to listen it, for the first time anyway, is with headphones and paying attention to the libretto. It probably won't grab you after the first listen; it needs a bit of an effort, but after a couple of times you'll grow to like it for sure. Don Black's lyrics remain pleasing as ever.

The casting was done very well. Michael Ball, who made his name as Marius in Les Miserables, plays Alex. As always, his voice is a gem by itself. He was a perfect choice. Ann Crumb as Rose and Kathleen Rowe McAllen as Giulietta have similar voices. Kevin Colson makes you think he IS George; his voice and pronunciation sounds exactly as an elderly English gentleman should.

One of the merits of this new release is the fact that the two main problems of the previous one have been rectified: the sound quality, which was awful on the 1989 release, is superb here; due to the fact the CDs are digitally remastered. Likewise, the new libretto comes with the normal-sized font, unlike the previous one, which should also have included a magnifying glass if it was meant to be read. The CDs are also neatly packed in a slip case.

Aspects of love may not be Lloyd Webber's best known work, but a true fan of his will certainly enjoy and appreciate it.

Average customer rating:

Michael still shows his stuff
He's done it again
Lets be Fair!!!.....
Mediocre CD
Very good!

One Voice
Michael Ball
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Music
Michael Ball - Alone Together (Live at the Donmar)
Seasons of Love
Always
Michael Ball - Live at the Royal Albert Hall

ASIN: B000IB0CVI
Release Date: 2006-11-06

Tracks:

One Voice
Hero
Living Years
Where Do I Begin
Since You've Been Gone
I Don't Wanna Talk About It
I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing
If You're Not the One
Lyin' Eyes
Everybody Hurts
Home

Album Details

Michael Ball Returns with an Album of his Favorite Songs from the Last Three Decades. Like his 200k+ Selling "Music", the Album Again Sees Ball Covering Classic Ballads Alongside Some Unexpected Contemporary Tracks.

Customer Reviews:

Michael still shows his stuff.......2007-03-17

I was amazed when I first put this CD in my player and heard Michael singing "One Voice" a cappella. It is a great song and Michael sings it better than Barry Manilow. I also liked "And Then a Hero Comes Along'. It took me back to Sept 11, 2001 and the fundraiser that followed. Mariah sang her song well but Michael was at least equal to it or even better. "The Living Years" hit home to me as a family member just died and it reminds us all that we must let go of our bitterness and love each other before it's too late. I also liked "Since you've Been Gone." I am not much a a country western fan but I did like his rendition of "Lyin' Eyes" as well. Not all songs will appeal to everyone but this man constantly takes the risk to sing songs we would not necessarily expect to hear from him. He keeps adding to his repertoire - not singing only the "safe" songs. Frank Sinatra sang some real crap and off-key, I might add and he still has legions of fans even though he's been dead for quite a while. We don't have to be Simon Cowells and make comments on only what's wrong. Michael Ball is a top-notch performer. I don't think he ever disappoints. And we still have much more to look forward to in the future. Bring it on, Michael!!

He's done it again.......2007-02-10

I think this is a lovely follow-up to his last cd. The fact that he keeps adding new material and trying new things always impresses me. He never boxes himself in vocally. Always up for something a little different.

Lets be Fair!!!............2007-01-26

As a diehard Michael Ball fan, i will not lie to you....this is not his best cd compared to previous recordings. Michael,s voice is not the issue here ...is as perfect as ever , with that wonderful velvet/tenor/baritone range....outstanding....The sad part is that some of the songs selected in this Cd are not what we have grown accustomed to hear Michael sing........"one Voice" a manilow oldie to me is Beautiful , where do i begin (love Story) superb........growing years , very well sung......after that you might forget the rest of the songs and just remember Michaels wonderful voice ...just that.......still i bought it and like it....if you are a Michael fan you will probably feel like me.....and by the way the musical arrangements are not up to michael,s glorious voice.

Mediocre CD.......2007-01-13

A gentleman above says that only 4 from the 11 tracks are worthwhile. I have to compliment this gentlemen because he is extremelly generous.

Even the HOME song is monotonous. I believe Mr. Ball should continue the excellent job he did in the DVD ALONE TOGETHER.

And really expensive. It doesn't worth. It is disappointing.

Very good!.......2006-12-08

As a die hard Michael Ball fan, I am not surprised with the choice of music. Mr. Ball does not take the well traveled path, e.g. ALONE TOGETHER; and, each new project is better than the one before. The best surprise for me is "The Living Years". This has long been one of my favorite songs & Mr Ball's cover is better than P. Carratt. Overall, a really good CD - I bought one for the car & one for the house.

Average customer rating:

He has a nice voice,
Michael's "Music" is Essential
Long time fan not disappointed!!
Still the best, but not from Amazon
Loved it!

Music
Michael Ball
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Michael Ball - Alone Together (Live at the Donmar)
One Voice
Love Changes Everything: The Essential Michael Ball
Seasons of Love
Always

ASIN: B000BCE7V0
Release Date: 2005-10-24

Tracks:

Music (Prelude)
Show Must Go On
Fields of Gold
You Raise Me Up
Everlasting Love
Bridge Over Troubled Water
And I Love You So
Desperado
Life on Mars
I Am Loved
Sometimes When We Touch
Music

Album Description

Michael Ball, Britain's leading musical star and multi-platinum recording artist, releases his new twelve track album, which takes its title from John Miles' seminal mega hit of 1976. Features some of Michael's favorite pop songs from the last thirty years. David Bowie's `Life On Mars', for instance, is a key number in Michael's solo shows. `Fields Of Gold' is a double homage: in part to Sting, one of Michael's favorite artists and to Eva Cassidy whom Michael feels recorded the definitive version of this beautiful song. Simon & Garfunkel are represented by the classic `Bridge Over Troubled Water' which benefits from a simple, contemporary arrangement and vocal treatment; and the powerhouse `The Show Must Go On', one of Michael's all-time favorite songs and a smash hit with his live concert audience is also a poignant nod to the memory of the great Freddie Mercury. Ever keen to expand his musical repertoire and to challenge his voice, Michael has diversified on this album with the bossa nova-tinged `And I Love You So' which features a stripped down arrangement and some cool piano. Michael co-wrote a new song, `I Am Loved' which appears as the penultimate track on the album before he gives full rein to his superb voice on a magnificent rendering of the title track.

Album Details

2005 Full Length Album from the Perennial Theater Star. In a Departure from his Usual Choice of Standards and Songs from Shows and Films, this Material for this Album is Mainly Drawn from Ball's Own Favourite Songs from the Last 30 Years Or So. The Material Ranges from Artists as Disparate as Queen, John Miles, the Eagles, Sting and Simon and Garfunkel. Many of These Songs were Performed on his 2004 UK Tour and were Warmly Received by his Fans, with Some of the Songs Included at their Request.

Customer Reviews:

He has a nice voice, .......2007-06-18

I bought this cd because Mr.Ball voice.So,I thought it could be a good cd.I found a few good songs. others are really boring.
Conclusion.
Great voice, bad song selection.But, this is my opinion.

Michael's "Music" is Essential.......2006-05-27

This fantastic handful of songs might be derived from, "Just do whatever you want, Michael." All who work in the studio probably can't help but wonder what Michael and his people have in store next. We must also mention Michael is happy with his career that began in London's West End Musical Theatre. Founded for solo career by the great Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael spent time working along side many artists including Sarah Brightman and Elaine Paige. His big break was "Love Changes Everything" which was a big hit in 1989, and then in 1992's "It's Still You" got him into the studio for an album. Further albums and concerts were recorded based on his growing popularity to people across the world. While it's wonderful if an album is certified "Gold", it's even wonderful if it shoots to "Platinum". His "Movies" album did just this in 1998.
Michael takes many songs and just sings them. He throws a few different artsy takes into the album for good measure so it's not a Karaoke album gone glorified. There is nothing wrong with performing songs which mean something to you. Likely this is a personal pop album for HIM. All the songs are fine and he doesn't take them apart like other artists have and turn them into dance mixes or jam sessions with the intention to steal it for a hit.
A friend of Michael's, Brian Kennedy, steps in next to Michael to aide him in writing two compositions. Either new or out of an old folder, they still are worth a turn-up. A good pair of melodies that will surely catch the listener are "Sometimes When We Touch" and "Everlasting Love". It does seem, too, that every pop performer or such does "You Raise Me Up" from Josh Groban. It's no different than "My Heart Will Go On" as far as popular ballads of the day go. Michael has done this one and it's found on his "Love Changes Everything: The Essential Michael Ball" CD. It is a most beautiful rendition.
Michael just wants us to do one thing: Listen to the music. He even made the insert to the CD simple! Simple becomes superb!

Long time fan not disappointed!!.......2006-05-10

Just never get tired of listening to this man's incredible voice. The title track is my favorite on this one. But other songs are close behind. As long as Michael Ball keeps singing and recording, I(we)'ll keep buying.

Still the best, but not from Amazon.......2006-05-06

I keep buying all the Michael Ball music I can find but I've quit looking on Amazon because of the incredible mark-up they put on their imports. This CD sells for ?6.96 on amazon.co.uk, which converts to $12.94. You would think they were mailing each individual CD to the States all by itself.

Loved it!.......2006-05-04

Michael Ball has been my favorite male singer since seeing him as Marius. I buy all his CDs and love this one especially since he sings "Fields of Gold." He says Eva Cassidy sings the definitive version but as much as I like her, Michael does as beautiful a job or better. My other favorites are "Life on Mars", "You Raise Me Up" and "Desperado." Worth every penny.

Average customer rating:

Mixed feelings
Your love for this superb collection will be here to stay...
He's done it again
Absolutely 'S WONDERFUL!
A beautiful 2 disc CD-another hit for Michael

The Michael Feinstein Anthology

Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000065DVH
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Tracks:

Nice Work If You Can Get It
Isn't It Romantic
Swinging On A Star
Ask Me Again
Rhode Island Is Famous For You
'S Wonderful
Wonder Why
Too Marvelous For Words
Where Do You Start
Theme From The Bad And The Beautiful
Easy To Love
Alexander's Ragtime Band
Who Are You Now?
You're An Education
You Are There
Sophisticated Swing
Love Can Change The Stars
Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are
Half Of April (Most Of May)
Marianne
They Can't Take That Away From Me
I Love A Piano

Tracks:

That's Entertainment
My Favorite Year
Ten Feet Off The Ground (With Rosemary Clooney)
I Never Felt Better
Someone To Watch Over Me
Kiss Her Now
The Ugly Bug Ball
For You, For Me, Forever More
The Mole People
And So To Bed
You're All The World To Me
Old Friend
Isn't It A Pity (with Rosemary Clooney)
Pattisserie
Open Your Eyes
For Love Alone
I Won't Send Roses/Time Heals Everything
Get Out And Get Under The Moon (with Page Cavanaugh)
My Romance
Love Is Here To Stay
Violin (with Liza Minnelli)

Amazon.com

The line between evangelist and entertainer has always been somewhat indistinct. But as showcased on this 43-track, double-disc collection culled from his '87-'96 recordings for Elektra/Nonesuch/Atlantic, Michael Feinstein's dedication to spreading the gospel of the American song often blurs it beyond recognition. While the singer's pedigree for the task is impeccable (a long-term stint as Ira Gershwin's assistant and early career sponsorship by Liza Minnelli), his interpretations often succeed by playing off a tense axis of fervent emotionalism and a joyous sense of irreverence.

If his readings of romantic standards can sometimes tend toward the precious, they're often balanced here by sheer dramatic power and telling insights ("Isn't It Romantic" fairly bristles with ironic chauvinism) and a few loopy curves ("The Mole People," the Sherman Brothers' "The Ugly Bug Ball," and the previously unreleased "Rhode Island Is Famous for You"). Feinstein's dedicated song archaeology is also showcased on several gems: "Violin," a duet with Liza Minnelli; "My Favorite Year," a rejected ballad for the film of that name; the sublime "lost" Gershwin classic "Ask Me Again."

Sprinkled with live performances (the forum where Feinstein's talents seem most energized) and studio outtakes and featuring a lengthy print interview with the singer, the set chronicles both the pioneering efforts of one of pop music's most successful revivalists and, crucially, the cream of his beloved American songwriters, from stalwarts Gershwin, Berlin, and Porter to later legends like Herman, Styne, Lane, Martin, and Mercer. --Jerry McCulley

Album Description

The definitive collection of performances by the Grammy nominated singer features 43 tracks from 14 albums released by Elektra, Elektra Nonesuch, and Atlantic labels from 1987-1996. Plus 8 previously unreleased live tracks only available here 'Rhode Island is Famous For You', 'S Wonderful', 'Alexander's Ragtime Band', 'I Love A Piano', 'Patisserie', 'Get Out And Get Under The Moon' (with Page Cavanaugh), 'Love Is Here To Stay' & 'Violin' (with Liza Minnelli). 2 Digipacks housed in a slipcase with a booklet. Rhino Records. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Mixed feelings.......2005-10-05

This album has some GREAT songs on it; sophisticated swing being one of my favorites. However many of the other songs are too operatic and lame. I give three stars but this album is definatly worth it just for some of the better songs.

Your love for this superb collection will be here to stay..........2002-07-18

The magnificently talented Michael Feinstein has made one wonderful album after another for nearly two decades. Now that Elektra and Rhino have put together this anthology, I am blown away by the versatility and diversity in Feinstein's recorded output. Such amazing rare gems, combined with the most beloved favorites in the history of American Popular Song. Assembled with wit, intelligence, and obvious affection on the part of the record company, this set is a keeper. You'll love it!

He's done it again.......2002-07-15

Is there anything this man can't sing? This collection is so varied as to be the definitive collection of songs for any occassion.

This is perfect background music for a dinner party for a whole group but especially for two. Light, romantic and just gorgeous. You just can't go wrong when Michael Feinstein is your musical choice.

Way to go Michael, you've done it again!

Absolutely 'S WONDERFUL!.......2002-06-10

There are very few contemporary performers who can hold their own with the truly great interpreters of American popular song. Michael Feinstein is truly the ONLY performer of the "younger" generation who really understands what these songs are all about. His incredible knowledge of this music, and his enthusiasm and passion for it have fueled his career. Rhino Records has done a truly outstanding job of putting together an anthology that exemplifies why Mr. Feinstein has become so beloved by audiences around the world. The packaging is excellent, and filled with interesting photos and background information about many of the selections.

This collection not only contains all the favorites one would expect, but a neat group of surprises too. I especially love the duets with people like Liza Minnelli and Rosemary Clooney, and the various collaborative efforts with songwriters like Jule Styne and Burton Lane accompanying Michael at the piano.

This collection is a classic to be treasured. Bravo Michael!
Bravo Rhino!

A beautiful 2 disc CD-another hit for Michael.......2002-06-09

I have every CD Michael has ever made and this is by far one of the best ones because of Michael's range in singing and his wonderful singing voice. I love his duets with Rosemary Clooney and Liza Minelli. He is a wonderful performer on this double CD and am looking foward to the next CD.

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