Box Sets Music

excellent serviceMonteverdi - L'Orfeo / Rolfe Johnson, Dawson, von Otter, Argenta, M. Nichols, Tomlinson, Chance, Baird; Gardiner

There are quite a few recordings of Monteverdi's first opera now available, however, I still feel that this is one of the strongest. The cast is very at home in this repertoire and various instrumental groups make very stylish contributions to the recording. Anthony Rolfe Johnson is a fine Orpheus. John Eliot Gardiner's interpretation is natural, well paced and expressive.

Gardiner's recording of L'Orfeo is exquisite. The samples of different tracks as well as other listeners' reviews were very influential in my decision to purchase these CDs rather than a different recording of the opera. I am very happy with my new CDs and would highly recommend this product.

WELL, YOU CAN READ ABOUT A DOZEN GLORIOUS REVIEWS OF THIS, MY FAVORITE OPERA, FROM OTHERS BELOW.

If you'd like some more balanced feedback before you spend a LOT of money on this set, you might consider reading on, though. \\I've been a fan of Monteverdi since I was 15, and of L'Orfeo since college days. I'm in my second half-century now, and still clinging to LP's of a period-instrument version of the opera and the Rodriguez concert suite version, alas never to come this way again.

In general, the recording here is decent. The enunciation is clear, the technical performances on the instruments well-executed, and the conducting is competent. What bothered me was, more than anything else, the poor acoustics- the resonances of a good concert hall just weren't there.

I also frankly didn't find that all the German and English-speaking singers had full mastery of Italian pronunciation and timing. In fact, timing was a bete noir for me on this-- the pacing was much too fast on most arias and many instrumentals.

But, hey, you can hear enough excerpts here to make up your own mind, right? For my money, and call me a cheap old geezer, I'm afraid I'm sticking with the ancient LP's a while longer.

Monteverdi - L'Orfeo / Rolfe Johnson, Dawson, von Otter, Argenta, M. Nichols, Tomlinson, Chance, Baird; Gardiner is a splenid recording with the Monteverdi Choir, The English Baroque Soloist and His Majesties Sagbutts & Cornetts under the guidance of John Elliot Gardiner. Archiv Prouktion have done a great job with the sound quality and it truly sounds as if one is hearing this in person. The book-let is of a very high quality and one must say that Gardiner picked some amazing singers (Willard White and Ann Sofie Von Otter). The book-let is a massiv 124 pages long and is filled with many fine photographs, an excellent essay written Gardiner and the complete lyrics. This is a recording not to be missed. 5 well deserved stars.

I was new to Beethoven when I bought this set. Upon listening, I honestly thought I did not like Beethoven or piano music for that matter. I was not able to even listen to one whole cd because it was so sickeningly distasteful. I just bought Friedrich Gulda's complete set and I cannot get past the first cd because I keep listening to it over and over again. So, in conclusion, if you are new to Beethoven and happen to buy this cd and not like it, try another one.

There is one reason to buy this cycle and that is the Hammerklavier. I rate Barenboim's performance of this sonata, the Op 106, as one of the major achievements in the history of piano playing. Especially the third movement, the adagio, is performed in such a manner that it beggars belief, the sheer beauty of it, the intensity of it, the tragedy of it... it is all brought out by Barenboim in masterly fashion. Here, in the adagio, is where Barenboim's slow playing connects perfectly with the score. The rest of this cycle is not anything I ever listen to anymore.

I've owned many Beethoven sonatas, but never before a complete set - the good price won me. I have no way of judging whether this now elderly set cuts the mustard with newer sets or versions by other great pianists. All I know is this; this is extraordinary music, of great depth and expression. It is typical Beethoven, meaty, rock-solid stuff that knows exactly where it's going and gets there. That Daniel Barenboim gets across this message means (to me anyway) that it must be good.

What flaw you're wondering? The slow moments are just too slow. It's not that I'm against slow music if that's what you're wondering, but Beethoven surely didn't mean for this music to be played at such tortoise paced speeds. I have heard at least 2or 3 renditions by other pianists of the slow movements and they are all faster. Barenboim surely meant to play these at his own peculiar tempo. Whether to be "iconoclastic" or not I think he misses the mark. Listening to the Waldesntein finale is excrutiatingly frustrating. Playing it more slowly does not add to the emotional impact at all, quite the opposite as you spend more time subconsciously urging on the dozy pianist closer to Beethovens intended vision.

Other than that, this set is great. Although recorded in the late 60s, the (stereo) sound is clear and crisp. The microphone sounds like it's placed at an ideal position not so far away as to sound distant and cold, not too near to near get that "can't see the wood for the trees" effect similar to viewing a painting too close up.

As for the music itself, Beethoven was one of the first composers to fully explore the *dynamic* possibilities of the instrument, rather the "alternative harpsichord" attitude that had prevailed before. So rather than relying on an endless run of pleasant little ditties he's not afraid to throw in some fortissimo chords in, which might wake you up with a bang if you have this of for "relaxation". The piano was arguably Beethovens instrument of choice for his deepest personal expression,so expect a wide range of moods contained herein. There is as you may expect the typical minor key excurions into almost mystical melancholy and fear, but he wasn't averse to a bit of playfulness here and there. It's quite a rollercoaster ride for the emotions.

The box itself is quite spartan in presentation. 10 CDs in individual cardboard sleeves showing a detail of Barenboim at the piano. One booklet with liner notes explaining the history of most of the famous sonatas.

So overall,good for the price. However, for the slow movements you may want to look elsewhere for more satisfying performances.

I heard Bachaus play all Beethoven recitals at Carnegie Hall, in NYC. At that time he was the acknowledged master of the Beethvoen Sonata. With Barenboim, the old order changeth, yielding place to new. These recordings have fire, tempestuousness and passion, all emotions that belong in Beethoven.

This is a rocking collection of songs the scared the bejesus out of our grandparents in the 50's! They are full of the raw energy of Rock and Roll in it's formative years. Most I had heard before, but there were a few things I either hadn't or had heard other bands do cover versions of. There are a few songs that may be a bit 'tame' and some others that should have been included, but overall this is a great set!

This four CD box set collects 104 of the wildest rock and roll songs of the 1950s. No doo wop or ballads here (not that there's anything wrong with that kind of music). All the founding fathers of rock and roll are represented here; including Elvis, Chuck, Bo, Buddy, Richard, Fats, Eddie, Gene, Carl, Roy, Jerry and Bill. And there are many other names, from the well known to the obscure. This is great stuff, some of which you've heard, and some of which you haven't. If you have any interest in 1950s rock and roll, you should own this.

I am 58 1/2 years old
My favorite music of all time is 50's doo wop and all the great music of the 60's.Oh and my mom's great music from the war years.
Gosh,come to think of it,I love it all !!

There is nothing that compares to these box sets from the 50's rock.
I suggest you get these sets,they are rare and a couple are already very
expensive.Here they are in no particular order.

Hot Rods & Custom Classics [BOX SET]
Rockin' Bones: 1950s Punk and Rockabilly
Loud, Fast & Out Of Control [BOX SET]
What a great,great set of music these box sets make.

Kids of today hopefully will explore these early rock sets.
They will be impossible to buy in a short time.
I paid an arm and a leg for Loud, Fast & Out Of Control [BOX SET] but what a gem !!!
These sets complement each other so beautifully.

I just sit and stare at them as I play them,remember how we sat and stared
at the album cover as the music played.
God,I sound like I am nutty as a fruit cake..
Anyway..these sets are gorgeous !!

This is a great set of '50's music, and standing alone it is pretty essential stuff. However, if you have already bought Rhino's Rockin' Bones set, you can pretty much dispose with picking this one up. That set has most of the rarities this one has at far below the larcenous prices some sellers ask.

Whereas Rockin' Bones is more narrowly focused on '50's Rockabilly, this one casts a broader net and revels more in music that the compilers envision the '50's juvenile delinquent set may have listened to. An interesting concept, but most any serious music collector is likely to already posess the rare cuts not on Rockin' Bones.

Excellent compilation of singles (some well known, some not) reflecting the darker side of 50's rock. Comes colorfully packaged with a very informative and witty booklet.

Though my wife and I lived through the PP&M music era, we didn't appreciate their talent and breadth at the time. Every track in this box set is a delight in itself.
An exceptional value!

This is a great collection of Peter, Paul and Mary songs. Covers a wide range of topics from the earliest songs of protest as well as their newer material. In a word it is comprehensive. It also includes a DVD which will bring back many good memories. If you are a Peter, Paul and Mary fan you won't want to miss this collection!Carry It On

This is an absolutely great CD. it has most of the songs that PP&M have ever sung. It will take days to listen to all of them. Share them with your kids, cry and laugh as you relive those moments in time that we all shared in trying to make the world a better place. Everyone should take the time to revisit the past and enjoy the songs that make you feel good.
Loved it!!!

I'm 53,live in Chiba-prefecture nearby Tokyo. PPM's music came over the radio ,when I was a elementary school boy.Then I didn't understand the lyrics. But I'd felt something resistant with them,which had all melancholic tune.Later I found them anti-war songs.Since then,I've loved them deeper.
These CDs are very good in sound.Its high-fidelity sound is remarkable. It is very importan for us to listen these CDs in the era The US-Iraq War.

I had the same problem as many other people with the hidden tracks. None of my CD players or computers could play them.
I decided to try to go to the source of the music, and sent this problem through the feedback email address of the Peter, Paul & Mary website(www.peterpaulandmary.com), asking for a solution.

To my surprise, I got a very rapid and clear reply from the webmaster of the site, pointing out where to download the songs. Here it is:

On the main page of thePP&M site, in the box labelled "latest updates", click on "free stuff", and there they are - all 4 of them, in mp3 format!!!!!. I guess they agreed that the hidden tracks were unworkable as recorded on the cd.
ENJOY!

It's nice to see that they (and the people taking care of their website) still care about their fans, and have NOT ben "assimilated"

Exactly what i expected from the product, thanks great doing business with you.

Duane

Not to be confused with the single disc "Original 80s Remix Album" CD, this is a 3 disc set.

Okay, let's break down this title. ORIGINAL-80s-REMIX.

Original? Sometimes--a good number of these mixes are not the original remixes.

80s? Well, for the most part, any of the mixes that are not the original remixes were done in the NINETIES. So WHY have them on an `original 80s remix' compilation???

Remix? Mostly. However, there are also quite a few album versions and 7" versions on here, some of them mislabeled.

These compilations seem to be getting more desperate to cash in on collectors' desires to have rare 80s 12" remixes on CD. But instead of taking the time to research what we're really looking for and hunting down the licensing, they keep rehashing mixes used numerous times, throwing in easier to acquire bad 90s remixes, and mixing in a couple of album versions. Having said that, there are, as usual, a couple of mixes here that are making their CD debut, making this one a necessity. The sound quality is excellent as well. Here's the breakdown:

CD1:

1. reflex...duran duran (6:35) (the 12" version)
2. penthouse & pavement (tommy D mix)...heaven 17 (1990s house mix)
3. lifeline...spandau ballet (12" version)
4. enola gay...OMD (4:08) (sash remix from the 1990s--and the vocals are resung)
5. The Circus...Erasure (4:05) (this is the single remix from the Erasure ebx 2 boxed set)
6. reap the wild wind...ultravox (4:45) (the 12" version)
7. situation...yaz (5:45) (this is the album version)
8. it's a miracle/miss me blind...culture club (9:12) (the original 12" medley)
9. blinded me with science...thomas dolby (5:10) (the original US long version)
10. he ain't no competition...brother beyond (5:42) (the original 12")
11. belouis some (3:35) (um...this would be the 7", NOT the 12". And how about the 12" version of "Some People" for a change???)
12. We Close Our Eyes...Go West (6:45) (BRILLIANT! This alternate 12" version to the "total overhang mix" is finally available on CD with the orchestral opening intact!)
13. love missile f-11 (westbam remix short version)...sigue sigue sputnik (long or short, this remix doesn't do the original song justice--it's more like a dub)
14. Heart of Glass...Blondie (5:50) (the absolutely easy to find original disco mix. A waste of precious disc space better used for something rare)

CD2:

1. keep on movin(M Beat bonus mix)...soul II soul (4:24) (EEK! A horrible breakbeat dub mix)
2. Good Life...Inner City (7:12) (HOT. The Silk Hurley mix)
3. hangin on a string...loose ends (5:53) (NICE. Downtempo house mix by Frankie knuckles)
4. Showing Out...mel & kim (4:35) (short mix! What a disappointment!)
5. in private...dusty Springfield (7:12) (the full 12")
6. respect...adeva (8:29) (the Dancin Danny D mix)
7. mony mony...amazulu (7:11) (interesting hi-nrg cover of the Tommy James and Billy Idol hit--but PLEASE someone put the 12" of MONTEGO BAY on CD!!!)
8. some guys have all the luck...maxi priest (5:39) (a cover of Robert Palmer and Rod Stewart track)
9. let's go all the way...sly fox (5:10) (The ALBUM version, not the 12", which is only 20 seconds longer, and available on the CD "Pulsating Grooves 3)
10. hot in the city...billy idol (3:37) (original album version, not the 1988 version from the US release of Vital Idol)
11. once in a lifetime...talking heads (5:33) (Very hot. The 1984 12" remix. Very rare and collectible.)
12. let's stick together...bryan ferry (2:59) (Indeed it is not the original mix. Definitely remixed in 1988 as it says)
13. it's my life...talk talk (6:20) (the 12" club mix)
14. I just died in your arms...cutting crew (4:45) (NOT the 12". The Full length album version)

CD3

1. Dreaming...blondie (6:00) (an EDIT of the remix from the 1990s Blondie "Remixed Remade Remodeled CD)
2. to cut a long story short...spandau ballet (6:03) (more like, to cut a 12" version short. Edited by about 30 seconds as it is on the CD version of Spandau Ballet: The 12" mixes)
3. girls on film...duran duran (6:28) (remix from a 1999 remix CD single)
4. Souvenir...OMD (4:38) (So clearly a moby remix from the late 90s when he was big with his downtempo, moody mixes)
5. Play to Win...Heaven 17 (7:22) (original 12" mix)
6. We Came to Dance...Ultravox (7:35) (12" mix)
7. War Song...culture club (6:20) (This is ALWAYS mislabled as the Ultimate Dance mix, even on Culture Club releases. The Ultimate Dance Mix runs 6:50. This is the B-side to that vinyl mix, known as the Shriek mix. I have yet to see the actual Ultimate Dance mix on CD)
8. Icing on the Cake...Stephen Duffy (7:08) (worth the price of admission! First time I'm aware of the full 12" actually being on CD!!!)
9. don't stop the dance...bryan ferry (5:46) (the 12" mix)
10. back to life...soul II soul (6:33) (I didn't even know this mix existed. It's quite good. Downtempo, not a house mix)
11. heart and soul...t'pau (4:14) (the full length album version)
12. don't you forget about me...simple minds (5:00) (the jam & spoon remix from the late 1990s)
13. kids in America...kim wilde (4:02) (the d-bop techno/trance mix from 2001)

perfect quality DVD box of the TV series. a definite must have for every car enthusiast!

All these shows are given first class treatment. Great arrangements, great music, nice talks to camera WHEN he keeps them short and is not apologizing for writing a particular song. My main beefs are that he seems to be auditioning for a movie role in the first three by displaying his "acting" in pointless skits that waste lots of time. (And did he really have to use up 5 minutes of just his mom doing a very nasally, unfunny skit at the beginning of the 2nd show?) Please, Barry, people tuned in to hear you sing. The 4th is almost perfect except he keeps doing these fake backstage before-the-show-run-throughs and then segue ways into performing in front of the studio audience. Annoying gimmick. During the show he mentions his "lady friend". LOL! Well, Barry, most of us knew you were gay even then. The fifth show is him relaxed and doing what HE wants to do, singing the songs he loves and using lots of great talent sharing the spotlight. Excellent shows, all. Wonderful guests in each special. Well, I could have done without Penny Marshall singing and dancing. LOL! Barry is a talented writer, singer and concert performer. Enjoy!

I bought this DVD at his concert this year and it is the best investment I have ever made. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this DVD to all FANILOW'S!!!

always been a huge Barry Manilow fan and this Dvd set is worth every single penny. the Man is a Great all around talent of voice, arranging, Production and he puts all of that talent and takes it to the stage on these Tv specials. back in the day Acts might have a vairety show or specials. you knew you had hit the big time when a Major network wanted a tv speical or something with you.all of his tv specials are captured on this collection and the versatility and artists represented here is a testimony to the Musical versatility that is Barry Manilow. this is a Must for any fan of Barry's.

I don't like Manilow, but my wife does. I bought this for her and she watches it all the time. So I would give it 5 stars based on how much she likes it.

I find all TV specials regarding concerts, stage or studio performances quite facinating! I was indeed satisfied with Barry Manilows TV specials!

From 1997-2001, Depeche Mode were recovering from a string of mishaps that would have made a lesser band go kaput. In the early 1990s, they lost Alan Wilder, their main musician, and Dave Gahan had a near fatal brush with drugs that put him in rehab. Through it all, they managed to weather both storms and release two studio albums (1997's Ultra" and 2001's "Exciter") that sold respectably. "The Singles 31-36" covers this era and it features six singles, along with their original b-side tracks and remixes that appeared on the American and European versions of the twelve inch singles. Standouts include the remixes of "It's No Good," the deep house makeover of 2001's "Dream On," the quiet elegance of "Only When I Lose Myself" (which appeared on their 86-98 singles collection), and their b-sides "Headstar" and "Surrender." The "Useless" CD has videos of the singles "It's No Good" and "Barrel of a Gun," which can be viewed on your PC or Mac.The liner notes don't say much; we just get a tracklisting of the songs and songwriting/production credits. One of the newer entries of the box set series, "The Singles 31-36" is worth a purchase for those looking to complete their collection of the Mode's singles.

So I think the cool thing about these box sets is that you don't have tto go out and buy both import CD's to get all the remixes and b-sides from the CD singles. But you also don't get the 12" mixes. Whats up with that???? There's a Deep Dish remix of "I Feel Loved" that was completely left out of this set. There are other songs as well. I can only assume that DM ran out of room for that stuff. Overall it's a worthy Box Set. I only hope they take a cue from the fans and release a 7th Box Set maybe full of rarities, unreleased tracks, semi-unofficial remixes (like all the Razormaid mixes!) And maybe even studio outtakes. I mean if the Beatles can do it...why can't DM?