Stranger in Town [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
A working-class hero is something to be. Just ask Michigan native Bob Seger, whose R&B-based rock and poetically uncomplicated lyrics made him a less cerebral alternative to Bruce Springsteen. For those who want the studio album that comes closest to a greatest-hits package, you can hardly do better than this 1978 LP. The follow-up to the previous year's smash, Night Moves, Stranger scored Seger a triple-platinum home run with can't-shake-'em-from-your-head hits like "Hollywood Nights," "Still the Same," "Till It Shines," and "We've Got Tonight." And even if the jukebox staple "Old Time Rock & Roll" has grown stale with time, Seger and company balance it out with the epic melancholy of the album's closer, "Famous Final Scene." Backed by incessant touring, Stranger in Town erased any lingering doubts about Seger's talent for crafting blue-collar rock anthems, cementing a reputation and a sound that's continued to hold up for decades. --Bill Forman

Tracks:

Hollywood Nights
Still The Same
Old Time Rock & Roll
Till It Shines
Feel Like A Number
Ain't Got No Money
We've Got Tonite
Brave Strangers
The Famous Final Scene

Amazon.com

A working-class hero is something to be. Just ask Michigan native Bob Seger, whose R&B-based rock and poetically uncomplicated lyrics made him a less cerebral alternative to Bruce Springsteen. For those who want the studio album that comes closest to a greatest-hits package, you can hardly do better than this 1978 LP. The follow-up to the previous year's smash, Night Moves, Stranger scored Seger a triple-platinum home run with can't-shake-'em-from-your-head hits like "Hollywood Nights," "Still the Same," "Till It Shines," and "We've Got Tonight." And even if the jukebox staple "Old Time Rock & Roll" has grown stale with time, Seger and company balance it out with the epic melancholy of the album's closer, "Famous Final Scene." Backed by incessant touring, Stranger in Town erased any lingering doubts about Seger's talent for crafting blue-collar rock anthems, cementing a reputation and a sound that's continued to hold up for decades. --Bill Forman

Amazon.com

Bob Seger Photos

More from Bob Seger

Face The Promise
Nine Tonight
Against the Wind

Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits 2
Night Moves

Customer Reviews:

This album(CD) ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-07-03

If you like Bob Seger, you'll LOVE this one. It brings me right back to the late seventies and I crank it up. Not even one bad track. Enjoy!

The greatest.......2007-05-17

I had searched everywhere for this. I think that it is his best music. Love Love

Great .......2007-03-19

I'm very happy to have found this copy. It was a favorite of mine and I've been looking for it a while. Then it hit me to look here. I'm a happy person.

Seeker in Town...............2007-02-04

Yes people. I went out yesterday to see if I could see my shadow. All the townspeople clapped because I saw it! You know what this means, don't you? At least 6 MORE WEEKS of Metamorpho reviews! And, hopefully many more when the weather gets balmy (although some out there think I'm balmy enough already. Go figure). In any event- I am now imprisoned in my environment due to 2 feet of snow outside. So, I have grabbed a hot toddy and am now ready to reflect on this fine selection. Oh, before I forget, I resolved the imitation issue with my apprentice T. He had dated video tape to prove his whereabouts. He, however, directed your Metamorpho to a prankster named Jack. I will let you know how this turns out.
In an effort to rock on and prove to Guido a few things, I have picked Bob Seger's excellent "Stranger In Town" to review. What can one say about this gifted rock artist? I have always seen Seger as a white rock-soul artist (listen to that gritty soulful vocal approach!), but I do not like labels and, thus, you colour in your own impressions.
Some fine rock and ballads inhabit this great album. And he has hit upon at least one all-time classic with the airy, lovely "We've Got Tonight". Just a generous gem for sure.
The key motif for alot of Seger's songs seems to be his relationships with women. How their meeting is intense, how they come together like a blaze and, unfortunately, how they both move on. He moves along the slippery slope of human connections. However, wisely, sprinkles the music with a balance of rave-ups, excitement, melancholy, regrets and, finally, rambling forward with his quest. The rockers rock, the easier rock is smooth and glossy, and the ballads are all heartfelt. Quite nice.
We begin with that train-gallop of a beat with "Hollywood Nights". Yes. She had all the right skills but, as ill-fate would strike him (often) he eventually woke up alone. As a side note- in all of Seger's songs he somehow always seems to create an infectious "groove". And having a talented creative band doesn't hurt either. Listen to "Still the Same" and you'll see what I mean. A girl that gambles - and Bob knows a relationship with her would be a gamble that he would lose. Inclusion here of those backup female voices. The song oozes like sweet syrup.
"Old Time Rock & Roll" fits the Seger sound like a glove. Not much else to say here except if you haven't heard it a copy of it will be sent out IMMEDIATELY to your igloo in the artic. "Till It Shines" is a nice groove ballad about rising up from the imposed chains we put on ourselves. Nice word imagery here. "Feel Like a Number" is a nice rocker that is Bob's ode not to be just another face in the crowd. "Ain't Got No Money" (sounds strangely like "The Fire Down Below". No?) is the classic Seger strut song. No one is better at this than him.
I have already mentioned "We've Got Tonight", which I think is definitely the best ballad he's ever written. Then people, we get to one of Metamorpho's favorites "Brave Stranger". Sort of reminiscent of "Night Moves" subject matter. Listen to the piano, listen to the groove, listen to how the whole thing moves. We then have that stop and that soulful middle with the sax and those background singers. White soul extraordinaire. A joy, and then it moves upward, insistently, back into the main groove again. A wonderful tune. One that gets Metamopho's old blood cells moving once again
Then the ending, "The Famous Final Scene" which, ironically is last and one that, sadly, conveys all the ingredients included in a breakup. Listen to the crying sax- listen to Seger's mournful, soft, yearning vocals. So fine. So very fine.
In conclusion, this album has to be considered as one of his finest offerings - but, believe Metamorpho - there are many more. It is nice to see Mr. Seger out there recording again after such a long abscence. I asked my guides to "will" this to happen. After all, we missed that quality and had to have it in the 21st century. For all who like good rock- this is a must.
Well- that's it. Now I can only hope that some kid comes around that will shovel me out of this snowy mess. Do you think he'll accept spiritual currency? It's like a savings bond. Takes time to mature.
Anyway my people. Thanks for reading and hopes that you won't be hit by snowballs....
Looking to buy a 4-wheel drive----Metamorpho

Bob Seger - incredible!.......2007-01-15

Great CD... Seger and his band at their best.... loved it.

Average customer rating:

Criminally underrated gem
The CD you would take to a deserted island
Richie is just as good alone
A window to a guy who is often in the shadows
Unappreciated Blues Rock Gem

Stranger in This Town
Richie Sambora
Manufacturer: Island / Mercury
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Lunar Eclipse

ASIN: B000001G16
Release Date: 1994-06-14

Tracks:

Rest In Peace
Church Of Desire
Stranger In This Town
Ballad Of Youth
One Light Burning
Mr. Bluesman
Rosie
River Of Love
Father Time
The Answer

Customer Reviews:

Criminally underrated gem.......2007-06-03

After achieving so much with their band, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora decided to go their own ways and see what they could do as solo artists. Jon Bon Jovi's Blaze of Glory proved to be an immediate success, both musically and commercially; while Sambora released his debut a year later to mixed reviews. Although the average Bon Jovi fan took to the album right away, from a commercial standpoint, it didn't earn Sambora quite what he may have hoped for. Regardless, musically, Stranger in This Town is a terribly overlooked gem, and it exudes unadulterated songwriting brilliance.

Behind Richie Sambora, there are two of his long-time band mates: David Bryan on keyboards and Tico Torres on drums. Torres' playing strictly serves the purpose of the songs; he doesn't really do any lengthy drum acrobatics, but there are pieces that allow him to shine through. Bryan, on the other hand, is integral to the overall sound of the album, as his keyboards are, at some point, the defining factors of the songs. Also, he co-wrote two tracks: the beautiful album intro "Rest in Peace", a wonderful song based on profound blues licks and Sambora's emotive vocals; and the ambitious title track, which sees the duo merging nifty acoustic guitars with delicate synth lines. Bryan is also highly audible on the truly moving ballad "Father Time", complete with Desmond Child's signature hooks, distant female vocals, and a warm melodic edge.

Though a solo album, only three of the ten songs were written entirely by Richie Sambora. "Church of Desire" is the mid-paced piece, centred around moody keyboards and blues-inflected guitar riffs. The song is carried by a thick bass groove, and Sambora's guitar solo is truly heartfelt and emotional. On "River of Love", Tony Levin's bass arpeggios become central to the piece, especially when supported by Torres' spare drum beats. Finally, "Mr Bluesman", by many known as the album's minor hit, Sambora's greatest influence, Eric Clapton, makes a guest appearance playing an improvised blues solo where he rips it up. Despite its five-minute running time, even Torres gets to play a brief drum solo, yet it's all within the context of the song and the writing is truly impressive.

That said, the album being more on the blues rock spectrum of things didn't really produce any radio hits. Actually, Sambora did collaborate with Desmond Child on two tracks, one of them being "Rosie", arguably the most popular cut off of this track. Also co-written by Jon Bon Jovi, the piece has a solid hook, but truth be told, it does not gel that well with the rest of the pieces, which seem more honest and from the heart. Likewise, "One Light Burning" might have been his take on poppier songwriting; he tries to merge cool beats and percussion work with Randy Jackson's bass playing whilst injecting the piece with a sing-along main chorus, but it doesn't really work -- Sambora is simply more of a blues-ridden rock guitarist than someone who can churn out easily accessible melodies. That's obviously Jon Bon Jovi's strong side.

Stranger in This Town is in many ways better than most of the Bon Jovi catalog. Even after sixteen years, most of the songs are still timeless and still imbued with emotional power. It's also filled with material we'd normally never hear on a Bon Jovi release, so kudos to Sambora. He was totally right when he wrote that "listening instruction" in the liner notes: "Turn down the lights, light a candle... Welcome..."

The CD you would take to a deserted island.......2007-03-22

If you like the blues that has been modernised you will love this cd. It is ashame his following cd did not keep with the blues feel Richie Sambora could of taken over for Clapton for a new generation of blues fans.

Richie is just as good alone.......2007-01-18

While best known for his jammin licks in the band Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora holds his own this solo album. Full of grit and soul.

A window to a guy who is often in the shadows.......2006-04-26

Richie Sambora, guitarist of stadium rockers we all know (and either loathe or love) put this disc out in those bygone days of 1991 and - surprised us.

We didn't get a bunch of 2nd rate BJ tunes. We didn't get endless widdly diddly excess nor crap attempts at showing a blues/roots tinge.

What we got was an album that really opened up some possibilities for Richie. There were typical soft rock tunes like hit 'Ballad of Youth', youthful love gone wrong tracks like 'Rosie' but there was also more on display.

The more on display is a guy with some body to his music, with an ear for a decent tune, a guy who with this album has perhaps shown the world that he isn't just a guitar player but a musician.

Taken as a whole I can't give this album more than three stars as it's a bit overwrought in places and a little too understated too often/too long in other parts. But it does give anyone into melodic hard rock or BJ or afficianados of 80's rock a real glimpse at a guy who definitely has a voice of his own. Any fan of this genre should try to at least hear this disc. More metal fans may find the whole thing somewhat wanting in ooommpphhh.

Unappreciated Blues Rock Gem.......2006-03-23

I have been a Bon Jovi fan for over twenty years and always thought Richie Sambora was very underrated and unappreciated for his guitar playing. Happened to pick this CD up out of curiosity recently and WoW.

This is a great album. Deserves to be heard. It is very Blues influenced and doesn't sound like Bon Jovi at all.

Just buy it.

Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)

Average customer rating:

Fabulous for any Broadway-lover
Top Shelf
TERRIFIC CD'S
Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs
Great Compilation!

Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Best of Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
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ASIN: B00064ADMK
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous for any Broadway-lover.......2007-01-30

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

Top Shelf.......2007-01-04

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

TERRIFIC CD'S.......2006-03-23

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

Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs .......2005-06-14

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

Great Compilation!.......2005-01-17

If you are a fan of the Broadway Musicals, this is a collection that you should purchase. Since I got the 5 disc set I've enjoyed listening to it. The majority of the songs are done by the original singers. The collection is priceless considering that you will have over 100 songs from popular musicals since the beginning of Broadway

Average customer rating:

A Timeless Tradition
A nice blend of music for Christmas

Candlelight Carols
The Choir of Trinity Church
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 1991-09-13

Tracks:

O Come, All Ye Faithful
Candlelight Carol
Carol Of The Bells
All Poor Men And Humble
Shepherd's Pipe Carol
The First Nowell
What Is This Lovely Fragrance?
King Jesus Hath A Garden
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Sleeps Judea Fair
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O Holy Night
Suo Gan
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I Wonder As I Wander
O Little Town of Bethlehem

Customer Reviews:

A Timeless Tradition.......2005-12-15

I have been listening to this choir since 1982. I wore out the original tape, in the days before CD's. I have been to the actual performance, a week before Christmas three times and am going back this year 2005.

The performance is so delicate, yet so powerful that it is emotional and moving, regardless of your orientation. Imagine this performance, in the manificent HH Richardson-designed Trinity Church, Copley Square, Boston. People wait for hours to get in. The lights go out, the Choir, brass timpani and organ just work so well together. One by one, candles are lit, and the huge church comes alive. The choir processes down the asiles singing in strength and everyone joins in.

It is a spiritual experience even if you are not religious. The strength of the performance invites you to participate. I find myself singing louder than I do anywhere else.

After my first child was born, I held her in my arms, and "Candlelight Carol" became my anthem:
How do you capture
The wind on the water?
How do you count all the stars in the sky?
How can you measure
The love of a mother
Or how can you write down
A baby's first cry?

I am not a musician and to my ear, the Chorus is professional. The tunes are classic, but they bring a new life to familiar tunes.

If you've been feeling stressed out, this is the perfect time to calm the nerves, focus on meaning and purpose, and let you enjoy yourself for a few minutes.

If you can't attend, do the next best thing, get the CD, turn it up till you hear the bass of the organ rumble your rafters and sing your heart out.

Enjoy!

A nice blend of music for Christmas.......2003-12-30

This is one of my favorite discs at Christmas time. It is at once peaceful and calm, yet joyous and expectant. There are the usual brass and organ carols, but also stunning arrangements and performances of lesser-known things. Prime among these are the setting of "Away in a Manger" that makes me want to pull off the highway and listen just to that song without distractions, and the pulsing, exciting "What Strangers are These", which I have never heard anywhere else. Chorally, the disc is a little unsatisfying because of balance issues with the rest of the disc--some songs are loud, others very soft, so it makes it hard to listen to without having to adjust the volume periodically. However, I still wouldn't trade it for all the Messiahs in the world!

Average customer rating:

Stranger in This Town
Mick Taylor
Manufacturer: Red Distribution, in
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock Guitarists | Rock | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000008LF4
Release Date: 1990-10-16

Average customer rating:

Invite this stranger in
I Want Some More of This!

A Stranger in Town
Gene Ammons
Manufacturer: Prestige
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

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Release Date: 2002-04-23

Tracks:

The Song Is You
Light'n Up
Short Stop
They Say You're Laughing At Me
Salome's Tune
Blue Coolade
A Stranger In Town
Scam
Count Your Blessings
Cara Mia
Night Lights
Nature Boy
Calypso Blues

Customer Reviews:

Invite this stranger in.......2007-04-08

A rather late CD re-release in the Prestige run of numerous albums by Gene Ammons, this one sort of ties up some loose ends, releasing tracks from 3 different LPs (Velvet Soul, Sock!, and Night Lights). Results are mixed and range from the superb (LIGHT'N UP, THEY SAY YOU'RE LAUGHING AT ME) to the downright schlocky (COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, CARA MIA). Gene Ammons was a kick-[...] tenor player who could also deliver a gorgeous ballad: A STRANGER IN TOWN, played very slowly (and with the verse) is Gene's ballad playing par excellence. He was also a marvelous blues player; the medium-slow LIGHT'N UP finds Gene in a down-home, lyrical mood (same with SHORT STOP, though the tempo is a bit brighter). SALOME'S TUNE has an exotic feel to it, and CALYPSO BLUES IS JUST THAT, with a searching Wynton Kelly piano solo to boot. THE SONG IS YOU is a big-band track that contains a gutsy Ammons solo and an Oliver Nelson alto solo to match. Ammons for all his personal problems was a consistent performer who aired out his soul every time he blew a note. Not up there with the very best of his albums, this CD still offers terrific music by a jazz tenor master.

I Want Some More of This!.......2002-07-15

I was not familiar with the work of Gene Ammons until I heard the "Nature Boy" track on our great Minneapolis all Jazz station KBEM. It was soooo goood that I called the station to find out about the artist and the cd. When I found the cd and listened for the first time, I quickly went online to buy more of Ammons' work. This disc is that good.

The album includes recordings originally done from 1954 to 1970. You'll hear Ammons lead different bands in various styles, doing material that ranges from covers to originals, but always with a master's sense of the blues and a harmonic touch that satisfies the soul.

There are NO poor cuts and the remastering is good.

If you enjoy great tenor saxophone with strong keyboard collaboration, this disc will knock you out. Unlike so many things in life, this album is the real deal.

Tracks:

Lonely Town
Why Did I Choose You
Moment Musical Opus 16 No.3 In B Minor
In Love In Vain
Ruth's Waltz
Scenes From A Silver Screen
I'm Gonna Laugh you Right Out Of My Life
You My Love
Prelude En La Mineur
The Folks Who Live On The Hill
Easy On The Heart
Theme For Charlie
Wayfaring Stranger

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Bassist Charlie Haden was an integral part of Ornette Coleman's pioneering avant-garde groups in the '50s and '60s and led his own equally forward-thinking Liberation Music Orchestra. His ensemble Quartet West, with tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts, drummer Larance Marable, and pianist Alan Broadbent, revealed a sentimental side of his musical personality that surprised many. This recording, with string arrangements by Broadbent, sounds like a soundtrack to a Raymond Chandler film as Haden's sturdy bass tones make him a worthy supporting actor. But although Shirley Horn's ethereal voice sparkles on "Lonely Town," "In Love in Vain," and "I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out of My Life," and crooner Bill Henderson's towering pipes are radiant on "Why Did I Choose You," "Ruth's Waltz," "You My Love," and "Easy on the Heart," all of the material is in pretty much the same ballad tempo, which, compounded by the time length of the CD, robs it of the romantic resonance it could truly shine on the listener. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Customer Reviews:

Age breeds a shining moment.......2003-11-20

The criticisms miss the point. This is an effort that does a rare thing - it brings together men and women who can put the experience of life to judicious use in their art. Unlike listening to the deterioration other performers have faced, in later years, at the hands of studio production teams that no longer know what to do with them, Charlie Haden has found a way to create a beautiful volume of space in which to let the years of these venerated performers shine through. It is in this space you shall hear the notes of lives lived and savored.

Nice but dismissable........2001-08-09

Haden's pleasant miscellany of neglected but deserving ballads is indeed a mixed bag, but somehow his focus, purpose, and method elude this listener. Neophyte writers are frequently enjoined to compose with a sharp, definitive, unified "thesis." Haden could have used a bit of coaching along these lines before producing this collection. Even drawing upon a common composer (as opposed to ranging from Kern to Rachmaninoff to public domain) might have provided the needed coherence to the project.

In any case, it's always a welcome experience to hear Shirley Horn; the revival of a touching ballad like "In Love in Vain" merits our appreciation; and though I was never a big fan of Bill Henderson (an acquired taste), he deserves to be recorded based on the evidence of this recording.

In sum, this album is more than anything else a "sampler" and should have been priced accordingly.

Disappointing by Quartet West standards.......2001-05-09

The outstanding Quartet West album is 'Always Say Goodbye'. On that CD, Broadbent demonstrates his skills at orchestral arrangement, and Haden deftly selects great oldies to intermingle with some of his own superb compositions. Haden also takes some historic performances -- such as Jo Stafford on vocals -- to bring a resonance to the new covers. The experiment was very successful.

You can see the logic behind this subsequent album: instead of using dusty old recordings, why don't we use today's state-of-the-art production to capture the voices of several current artists? And why don't we let Alan orchestrate the whole album?

The trouble is that the orchestration, beautiful though it is throughout, constrains the band terribly. And the vocals swamp the album. (Actually the Jo Stafford track on 'Always Say Goodbye' is one of the weakest on the album.) They say that the saxophone is the instrument closest to the human voice, and it is Ernie Watts who suffers most on this album, The sax is simply crowded out by all the singing. It is only on the stand-out track, 'Prelude en la mineur', an instrumental re-working of a Ravel piece, that Watts finally gets a chance to let rip.

Shirley Horn's vocals are fine, particularly on 'Lonely Town'. But I simply cannot listen to any of the tracks containing Bill Henderson's voice, and sadly, there are four of them.

The most touching song is the last one, where Haden himself bravely takes the vocal lead. It's a song his mother used to sing on the radio, back in the early 1940s, when the entire Haden family would appear on KWTO Springfield. It is a farewell to the dead, and also a reassurance that one day they will meet again.

If you want a quick survey of this CD, check out tracks #1, #9 and #13. It's a long way from the days of Haden's playing with Ornette Coleman and the Liberation Orchestra, and it's very mellow.

If you breathe and have ears, buy this record!.......2001-04-15

I first heard of Charlie Haden on Dublin's best radio music show - The Mystery Train presented by John Kelly on RTE Radio 1. I bought this CD and it has never been off my current play list. This is beautiful music that touches the heart. Listen to Wayfaring Stranger, Lonely Town, I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life, or Ruth's Walz after a tough day at the office or jammed in traffic and you will be back in touch with the good things in life. As someone who has evolved though Thin Lizzy, The Eagles, Eric Clapton, Queen, U2, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, BB King, Grant Green etc, Charlie Haden is proof of my graduation. After since buying other and even better Haden CD's, I am looking forward to seeing him in concert with Quartet West here in Dublin on April 29. BUY IT NOW!

A Night and a Lonely Town.......2000-05-24

Despite its problems, I think this album still deserves a five-star rating. Seemingly inspired by the music of moody classic cinema, a listener might well envision a seedy nightclub in a fog-swept black & white San Francisco of the 1940s or a tearful Ingrid Bergman about to board a twin-propellor leaving Rick and Casablanca behind her forever.

Regardless of which side of the Atlantic you envision on your moody musical journey, this is definitely a lounging type of music, perfect for lazy Sunday afternoons, after-theatre drives around town on warm summer evenings, warm candle-lit baths, or romantic dinners for two. The beautifully romantic ballads range from the longing "Lonely Town" to the mostly-resolute "I'm Going to Laugh You Right Out of My Life" to the quietly complacent "The Folks Who Live on the Hill." Interspersed with these great standards, however, are wonderful instrumental pieces which frame the remaining vocals with stunningly dramatic moods.

The only flaw is the rather unappealing voice of Bill Henderson, who seems to be suffering from a weak set of lungs, if not from lack of enthusiasm. Henderson seems to strive for the vocal capabilities of Shirley Horn, who sings on 1, 4, 7 and 10, but is incapable of achieving those same dramatic pitches of his fellow artist. Nevertheless, he does an adequate job on "Ruth's Waltz" and "Easy on the Heart" even if "Why Did I Choose You" is downright painful to listen to. Haden, who sings on 13, seems similarly incapable of reaching Horn's heights, but "Wayfaring Stranger," the traditional song he chose to render, is capable of carrying itself with the slow somber tone it evokes in the listener.

Tracks:

American Ballads (Roy Harris)
Prairie Idylls (Rubin Goldmark)
Sonata for Piano (Quincy Porter)
Scuppernong (Three Pieces for Country Folk) (John Work)
In the Bottoms (R. Nathaniel Dett)
Rhapsody in Blue (George Gershwin, arr. by the composerfor piano)
Homage to The Lord's Prayer (arrangement by Donald Dumpson)

Album Description

Piano music by American composers that include folk and jazz elements in their compositions. An incredible performance by Clipper Erickson with superb sound.

Average customer rating:

Another strong Broadway by the Year

The Broadway Musicals of 1953

Manufacturer: Bayview
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Broadway Musicals of 1960
Broadway Musicals of 1939
Broadway Musicals of 1943
Broadway Musicals1940
110 in the Shade (2007 Broadway Revival Cast)

ASIN: B0006OSDMW
Release Date: 2005-04-12

Tracks:

Big Black Giant [Me and Juliet]
Tin Pan Alley [John Murray Anderson's Almanac]
Little Bit in Love (Wonderful Town)
Quiet Girl (Wonderful Town)
How Far Can a Lady Go? [Carnival in Flanders]
Sudden Thrill [Carnival in Flanders]
Ohio (Wonderful Town)
Ev'ry Street's a Boulevard (In Old New York) [Hazel Flagg]
You Become Me/My Mind's on You [Maggie May]
C'est Magnifique [Can-Can]
Come Along with Me [Can-Can]
I Love Paris [Can-Can]
Stranger in Paradise [From Kismet]
You Can Take the Word of a Gentleman [Carnival in Flanders]
You're So Much a Part of Me [John Murray Anderson's Almanac]
One Hundred Easy Ways to Lose a Man (Wonderful Town)
Salomee [Hazel Flagg]
No Other Love [Me and Juliet]
Here's That Rainy Day [Carnival in Flanders]
And This Is My Beloved [From Kismet]
Baubles, Bangles and Beads [From Kismet]

Customer Reviews:

Another strong Broadway by the Year.......2006-08-20

Scott Seigel's concerts, Broadway by the Year gather a group of the current crop of Broadway performers and turn them loose on songs from Musicals that opened during 1 year on Broadway. It helps that 1953 was a strong year musically, with Bernstein's Wonderful Town, Porter's Can Can, Kismet and Me and Juliet from Rogers and Hammerstein. Jule Styne also chimed in with Hazel Flagg which contains one almost standard "Every Street's a Boulevard in Old New York. Some great stuff on this album, wonderfully sung as almost always. I love this series and hope to acquire each and every one at some point.

Average customer rating:

A refreshing new jazz albumn
Emerging Jazz Star
Exactly what I was looking for!

Stranger in Town
Peter Eldridge
Manufacturer: Rosebud
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Fool No More
Decorum

ASIN: B00005B07O
Release Date: 2001-01-01

Tracks:

Spring is Here
If You Could See Me Now
Every Time We Say Goodbye
Gentle Rain
Little Did We Know
This Nearly Was Mine
Stranger in Town
A Flower is a Lovesome Thing
Sweet Lorraine
TheTouch of Your Lips
Someone to Light Up My Life
Out of This World
Exactly Like You

Album Description

Vocalist Peter Eldridge, of New York Voices, solo CD of mostly jazz ballads. Melancholy and swinging.

Customer Reviews:

A refreshing new jazz albumn.......2003-07-31

If you're a fan of Peter Eldridge, make sure to pick up a copy of Sranger in town; you won't be dissapointed! If you've never experienced Peter's soothing voice , then you're in for a real treat. This CD is done very tastefully, and it includes jazz giants such as Lewis Nash, David Finck, and Andy Ezrin. I first heard of Peter Eldridge when I saw him accompany Jane Monheit on her DVD, Live at the Rainbow Room. Along with Jane Monheit, Peter Eldridge is one of the most exciting new talents to emerge. Also, look for Peter on his New York Voices albumns.

Emerging Jazz Star.......2001-10-29

Peter Eldridge's debut jazz outing is one one the most refreshing and inviting discs to emerge from the vocal jazz world in a very long time.Eldridge's ecnomical style and impeccable phrasing are put to good use on these thoughtful arrangements of Rodgers and Hart,Jobim,Dameron, and more.Also a great use of an all star cast of the jazz elite including Michael Brecker, Claudio Roditti and Lewis Nash.I can't wait to see what is in store for jazz lovers next with this young vocal giant.--Lee Wurtsal The Jazz Advocate

Exactly what I was looking for!.......2001-10-27

I highly recommend this CD! I am always looking for new artists to add to my collection, and this CD will get a lot of play. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Peter Eldridge is a household name.

Music Review:

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