Traditional Pop Music

This is a fantastic collection of wonderful music. Diana Krall is the real deal; a terrific pianist and a voice made for Jazz/the blues ... the trio of musicians playing with her are three of the best in the business. Peter Erskine (a drumming God) is always worth the price of admission. Add Robert Hurst and Anthony Wilson and bada-boom, bada-bing, it's dynamite and then pure magic.

Totally the opposite of the sophistication of her "Paris" album; this is true basic wonderful jazz played for fun and with lots of innovation of the moment. It takes me back to the great innovators of the '40s and '50s.

i haven't seen her other dvd , but caught this concert while visiting family some while ago . i own it now . with anthony wilson (a killin' brit player) on guitar and peter erskine on drums , you are talking some serious swing my friends . i forget the bassist just at the moment , but he is terrific as well . the three musicians i mentioned by name are all leaders with many recordings in their respective catalogs . it's all here . the full range of expression . great sound and dynamic range do great honor to both whisper quiet intros and delicate solos as well as insanely swinging flights that rip it up . and what groves . expect to be transported . sublime . what a wonderful woman and what an exceptional group of artists . trad jazz 101

....a vulnerable little girl. [Nice feet]. But the musical performance is a strong as anyone could want. Once again, Diana is giving us well known standards in a manner that is pure perfection. Her vocal and piano genius are well augmented by as fine a group of side-men as you will ever hear...Anthony Wilson is a genius in his own right.

The specific numbers need no introduction....the connection with her audience was fabulous...the technical aspects are all way above standard. Diana Krall is a gift from God, a pure delight. Am I smitten? Of course. Grab this fabulous video, and see why.

"It's such an honor to be here - it's so amazing! This is a very important place for me and a very important international jazz festival. I thank my lucky stars I can play here for you with these great musicians: on guitar Anthony Wilson, on the bass Robert Hurst and on the drums Peter Erskine." ~ Diana Krall ~

This live concert of Diana Krall on the opening night of the 25th anniversary of Festival de Jazz de Montréal held at Bell Centre in Montréal, Canada on June 29, 2004 is a showcase of her gorgeous and sultry vocal flair, amazing chops on Steinway grand piano and songwriting skills. Her outstanding musical qualities combined with the incredible talents of the aforementioned back-up musicians are contributing factors that made this live concert a fabulous one. The venue was full-packed and the audiences were very appreciative of the effortless and engaging performances of the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/pianist and her trio of skilled musicians.

As Diana Krall settles comfortably and takes a seat at her favorite instrument, she exudes a confident persona and displays a terrific stage presence that flawlessly complements the magnificent trio of Wilson, Hurst and Erskine, three of the most creative musicians/soloists the jazz world has ever known.

Out of a dozen performances which include an encore, my top choices are "East of The Sun and West of The Moon," "All Or Nothing At All" and "Abandoned Masquerade," an original song that she co-wrote with "one of her favorite songwriters" who happens to be her hubby, Elvis Costelo. He wrote the lyrics, she wrote the music. What a sweet pair of songwriters they truly are. She sings this song with poignancy and heartfelt emotion particularly these lines...

"I have the skill still to disguise my tears...
...Even though you're suffering
You try to hide it
And pretend you're so nonchalant
You can cry a pool of tears
And sit beside it
Then perhaps you'll know what you want
I hope you'd never feel this much despair
Or know the meaning of that empty chair..."

She shares some tidbits behind her original songs and performed a song that she wrote about the place she came from - Vancouver Island, one of the most beautiful places in British Columbia, where she started writing songs and how important and how inspiring it is for her to be spending time there.

I could have given this a five-star-rating if there were at least more beautiful standards in the repertoire. The material is mostly a display of her original songs that were written with Elvis Costelo. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed it and would gladly recommend it for your viewing pleasure. I also look forward to watching one of her live shows this Spring. I just hope that she will perform some of my all-time favorite songs from The Very Best of Diana Krall and her forthcoming album, Quiet Nights. That would be awesome!

as a bluegrass musician, and fan of Alison Krauss, I learned of Dan T many years ago. He is a fantastic musician, and showman, and gentleman. You will not go wrong listening to any of his works... Top Rated!

Waited all year for this album. Great followup to Dan's first album. Not one dork song here. A must-have for your bluegrass collection. A++++++

...in baseball terms, this should have been a home run: an amazing all-star band and a charismatic, compelling leader. Yet, it feels like a ground-rule double -- a little bloop that hopped over the fence through some little miracle of time and geometry. Rather than push themselves, the band just coasts, and Dan's song selection is really, really week. He could have called up some of the best writers around...instead, he's got a pretty weak batch of cliched bluegrass/acoustic country cuts that are profoundly anonymous. The title track and the country oldie "Who's Shoulder Will You Cry On" are really the only standouts in a lame bunch.

I don't know...I just expected a lot, and this disk totally underwhelmed me. The picking is slick and unexciting, the vocals well-executed by predictable. Maybe now that the band has toured a bunch, they will be a little sharper...

I throughly enjoy this cd. If you like the song "I am a man of constent sorrow" by the Soggy Bottom Boys from the movie 'Oh Brother where art thou, you will like this cd. Dan Tyminski plays on that track. This solo cd does have some of his freinds from Union Station and Vince Gill sings on "How Long is This Train". Dan sings, plays guitar, and produced this cd which to me just shows the talent he has. There is a comfortable blend of country and bluegrass songs. If you love bluegrass you'll love this cd.

This is one of the best CDs I have listened to in this genre. I seem to like it better each time I hear it. Would highly recommend it to anyone who likes bluegrass music.

A must have for any Tony Bennett aficionado! My only complaint would be, it's too short.

I only own one of his greatest hits CD and the CD that goes w/ this DVD, both I enjoy listening to occasionally, but I tend to play more alternative style music. I received this DVD as a volunteer's gift and thought it was okay, just not great. Considering he was one of my parents' favorite crooners, is 80 yrs. old and STILL popular while singing old and new hits, well that's a miracle! Because of his quite long career this TV special tribute seemed quite skimpy. I did not see it air on TV so I cannot comment on the absence of other artists that were present on the TV show. However I did purchase my older neighbor a copy of this DVD for his BD later this month. I'm sure he will fully enjoy it as it hopefully will spawn memories of his happy youth.

Bluray looks good on my 1080P, but I could have saved money by sticking with my regular DVD.

Great performances both from Tony Bennet and the guests stars. Beautifully combined the songs with the introductions from the actors.
His voice is magic as usual.

Excellent picture quality, the Blu-ray is outstanding.
Was somewhat dissapointed with the length of the disk, felt somewhat cheated.

On this CD is the BEST (bar none) version of "What a Wonderful World" Louise Armstrong recorded. If you buy this CD that song is worth twice what you paid

product arrived quickly and was in perfect condition
Would buy from this person again.

One of the greatest CD's to purchase to bring back memories of Louis Anderson. Needs to be in every music lovers library. Excellent!

I bought this cd for the first song on it... What a Wonderful World. It's great and I listen to it often. However, the other songs on the cd don't hold the same appeal and I don't listen to it all the way through.

My hospice nurse recently lost her younger brother to an especially painful cancer..She was deeply saddened..he was the last of her family..and she was alone at age 62..She mentioned she was looking for a recording of Louis Armstrong singing "It's a Wonderful World.". Knowing she was planning a trip to nieces in Arkansas over Thanksgiving..I ordered the the CD with Louis singing her and her late brothers favorite songs.. Upon her return she said she played the CD all the way down to Arkansas, a good 6 hour drive, and all the way back..talking to her brother all the way. She was dealing with her grief...and keeps the CD with her in her car and at home..Louie's recording is helping her to heal and in doing so she is able to help her patients..me included..
M.L.Canfield

Muddy with members of the Butterfield Blues Band/ Electric Flag as a backing band...this is an outstanding concept...and the music is excellent, but not quite as earthshaking as I had imagined. I was hoping that Bloomfield would be loose and inspired in the presence of Muddy, but such is not the case...I do love this record, but Bloomfield just sounds more tame here than usual, and often not really like Bloomfield, and I love Bloomfield's playing...conversely, Butterfield is as cool as ever...while I understand that the band was justifiably deferential to great King Muddy, the music may have benefitted from more input from the various talented players present at the sessions.

Muddy is great form here, and the atmosphere is genuinely cool and spooky...but unlike, say, "Fleetwood Mac in Chicago", where Peter Green and co. share the spotlight with Chicago blues legends, on "Fathers and Sons" it feels like this is ALL about Muddy...again its not that these performances are lackluster, they actually are great, but they feel pretty safe, because they never stray very far from Muddy's original recordings...Although my own presuppositions about the potential of these sessions makes me a slightly hesitant in my review, I still recommend this fine recording, for it is a treasure from an era when American music was still great art and was truly culturally significant.

In my efforts to replace my vinyl LP's with CD's - this was a treasured LP, now a valued CD. This is a "must have" in any music collection.

Fantastic blues album,Muddy Waters,and Paul Butterfield on harp,what a great combination.A must for the serious blues collector.

I remember previewing this album at a used record store on a trip to Boston. I only listened to the first few seconds of each track, because I was already home. Perhaps my favorite album.

My friend Frank hates this album, but I think it sounds exactly like what it is...Muddy with a buncha younger kids who grew up listening to classic blues artists. Paul Butterfield (mouth harp) overplays a little (especially on the first track when he overdubs as well as plays along), but his chops are undeniable. If Mike Bloomfield had lived, people might not consider Eric Clapton the be-all and end-all guitarist. As a matter of fact, if they BOTH had lived on, they would be 60 year old blues men, like the Stones and have their OWN reputations to pass on. Sadly, they did not. The music here is spunky and feisty, leveling out all the mistakes made in past recordings. These guys know EXACTLY where they're going and must have been a real treat to see live, as the live tracks attest to. I'm so glad this part of Muddy's history was preserved for us now!

I think the songs sound great and I play this tape all the time.

The songs are good but I bought the cd for a 50's dance party but cannot use it because of the longgggg silence between each song (about 3 - 4 seconds)...which is an eternity if you think of people standing on the dance floor in complete silence! Not sure why it's a "dance" cd but has pauses...hmmmm. I'm not sure why "Ain't that a shame"(mellow song) and "The Rock and Roll Waltz" (really slow) are on a dance cd...all the rest of the songs are really upbeat and I could think of a hundred other uptempo songs they could have used instead of these two.

I would have enjoyed my order if you had sent me the one I requested: Chart Toppers - Romantic Hits -50's/dp/B0000060m4; instead you sent me Chart Toppers -Dances of the -50's. Your return policy wasn't convenient. I think you owe me the correct item;will return other,but opened if you provide mailer. I ordered the romantic hits specifically for one track something Santos. Thanks for asking, but I don't want to order more since the first time you didn't send me what I ordered, and that was a real bummer.

Sincerely,

Theodore L. Wood

If you love the 50s music, this is a must-have album! It's hard to sit still while this CD is playing. I listen to it over and over.

Chart Toppers: Dance Hits of the 50s is a terrific CD that gives us fifteen great dance hits from the 1950s! The quality of the sound is excellent; the remastering job was very well done. The artwork impresses me, too.

The CD track set opens with the Bill Haley And His Comets doing one of my very favorite `50s hits, "(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock." Bill never sounded better and this song has an incredible beat! The upbeat melody is very catchy. Jerry Lee Lewis sings `Great Balls Of Fire" very well with a good musical arrangement; and listen for The Champs to perform a spirited "Tequila." "Tequila" doesn't have many lyrics; but the Latin flavor to this number really makes it a hit!

"Let The Good Times Roll" continues the hits; this tune by Shelley & Lee features them handling key and tempo changes effortlessly. The percussion, drums and guitars carry the bulk of the melody; but watch out for that fearless horn solo in the musical interlude!

Bobby Darin's Queen Of The Hop" is infectiously upbeat and catchy; Bobby sings this to perfection and this truly is classic `50s dance music--and great early rock and roll as well. Bobby's excellent diction bolsters his performance even further. "Short Shorts" by The Royal Teens has a rockin' beat that blows me away; the brass is very strong and the hand clapping makes the song go far!

Pat Boone sings a slower tempo dance hit called "Ain't That A Shame;" many people will enjoy this torchy early rock ballad. Pat sings this with great sensitivity, too. In addition, there's also Kay Starr's charming "Rock And Roll Waltz;" this really isn't a rock tune but it's great for slow dancing with your sweetheart! Kay sings very sweetly and her diction is excellent. Kay sings of how her parents tried to dance a waltz to "a rock and roll song!" "Rock And Roll Waltz" is a very cute number.

Harry Belafonte also makes a solid contribution with his "Banana Boat (Day-O)." The drums start this nicely and Harry's voice fades in as he starts to sing this ballad. The backup vocalists do a great job harmonizing; the drums and percussion work very well on this number.

Overall, this is one CD fans of `50s music will want in their collections. Get this today and crank up the volume--you'll be dancing all night long!

As I am a fan of Johnny Cash since 1963 and in possession of some 100 albums I am very pleased with the possibility of buying this album. Some 10 songs are new to me and I also am specially pleased with the second version of Grandfather's Clock. As I am Dutch I have to hold this review short, but I can say: Johnny Cash still pleases and surprises me every day.
One of my desires still is the album Destination Victoria Station on CD.

Thankfully these days there are lots of children's albums out there by bands we would actually listen to on our own, They Might be Giants, Barenaked Ladies and now I find out Johnny Cash has one too! My kids love this, especially Nasty Dan and I play it every chance I get. You won't be sorry you got this one, and other parents will wonder how they can be as cool as you.

I don't know who likes this cd more - me or the kids. Great cd for family time. If you love Johnny Cash - you'll and your kids will enjoy this one!

This cd is perfect for kids learning letters and numbers. Not only is the music catchy, and easy to listen to, it's educational as well.

I really dislike most children's albums. I think they're so sterile & cheesy. That said, we love singing children songs together and doing all of the gestures. Some of our favorite albums are Curious George, Catch the Moon (Elizabeth Mitchell & Lisa Loeb), Songs to Grow on for Mother & Child (Woody Guthrie), & Leadbelly Sings for Children.
Johnny Cash's Children's Album is my boy's favorite- we especially love I Got a Boy and His Name is John and Grandfather's Clock. It's beautiful to hear the love in Johnny's voice for his kids- that's what makes this album extra special. He's not trying to sound kid-friendly or upbeat (hate that)- he's just singing from his beautiful heart. For people who want their children to have a rich and varied taste in music, this is a great bet.

This purchase was made from the comfort of my home (it was snowing and cold outside). It was easy, a much better deal than mail in music companies (about $12-15 cheaper), fast and arrived in a couple of days. VERY HAPPY!!! I WILL use this service again. Thank you for the time, money and frustration you saved me.

Pleased with the purchase. It was what I was looking for, arrived on time and in good shape. It was cheaper than if I had purchased it at a local store.

I bought this item for my brother as he couldn't find it anywhere in stores. He loved it and plays it in his truck constantly.

If you're a Dolly Parton fan (even somewhat of a fan), this is a must have for your collection. It will NOT disappoint!!

In the mid-90s, RCA finally began treating the back catalogs of its legendary artist with respect, with their Essential series, which included two volumes focusing on Dolly Parton's work during her 19-year stint with the label.

This new two-disc Essential collection from Sony BMG replaces the earlier RCA volumes. When RCA's parent company BMG merged with Sony, and the bulk of Dolly's catalog was controlled by one company, many fans, myself included, were excited at the prospect of finally getting an anthology that included hits from her Monument days through her 1987-1995 association with Columbia Records. It was inevitable that the RCA material would dominate, given Parton's long association with that label (1967-1986); however it is disappointing that her Columbia work remains under-anthologized. Only two of her Columbia hits - 1989's "Why'd You Come In Here Looking Like That" and her 1991 duet with Ricky Van Shelton, "Rockin' Years" are represented here. At the very least, "Yellow Roses", "He's Alive", "Eagle When She Flies", and "Silver And Gold", deserved inclusion in this collection. Instead, we get a single track from the Trio albums -- "To Know Him Is To Love Him" with Emmylou Harris on lead vocals, and a duet with Porter Wagoner, "Please Don't Stop Loving Me", which, though excellent, probably should have been excluded in favor of some of Dolly's solo work.

On the bright side, this collection does include a pair of brilliant early tracks that failed to catch on commercially at the time. It's nice to see that "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy" and "Dumb Blonde", her first (modest) hit for Monument Records, each earned a slot here. I'd have preferred more selections from these early years, instead of some of the later crossover hits which are widely available on other collections, but at least this was a step in the right direction.

The remaining tracks on this collection, are by and large, a rehash of the earlier RCA Essential volumes. It's impossible to do justice to such a long and successful career as Dolly Parton's with a two-disc set. It's also impossible to please everyone - I'd have made some different choices if I were the one compiling this collection - but overall, it is a good introduction to Dolly's work and the best retrospective of her career currently available, despite its shortcomings.

Diehard Parton fans might consider purchasing "The Tour Collection", a 4 CD boxed set recently released by Sony BMG in the UK that contains a handful of Dolly's hits, along with a generous sampling of rare tracks, several of which are making their first appearance on CD. There is some duplication with the Essential discs, but the two collections combined will provide a comprehensive look at this amazing singer-songwriter's entire career.

I first heard this band on a cable music channel and ordered the CD right away. Every song is as good as the last, and I have to say for a bunch of kinds from Boston, they can play bluegrass as good as any down home southern group! I have had this album for less then a week and have already listened to it so much (literally about 50 times) it is starting to skip in the cd player.

I highly recommend this album, it has a lot of character and a great sound.

Wile writing this review I am listen to the CD. And one thing that struck me, is the quality of the musicans. They are realy good and one get's the feeling that they are enjoying themselves while making very good music.
The singing is dreamy but get's the message trough.

Excuse my poor Englisch, feel free to correct where necessary.

Richard H.K. Pohlmann

I had never heard of this group until I heard them on you tube. I love them! Great talent! Inspires me to play better!!

Blue grass with an edge. Has a modern touch, but not too much to ruin the traditional flavor. Thoroughly enjoyed almost every track.

I am a big fan of Crooked Still, old AND new. However I think it's a bit of a stretch to entitle the newest album "Still Crooked" since the member switch up. "Hop High" and "Shaken By A Low Sound", and not to forget the live album "Live at Grey Fox" all have a very unique sound that impels the listener to get up and move! It's not all clean and beautiful, but raw and not afraid to get dirty as I like to put it. The latest album is more than just beautiful, but does not provide that same previous compulsion for movement or have the same raw energy. "Still Crooked" is not lost on me, but I do greatly miss the energy of the previous albums.

If you're into the more upbeat feel of bluegrass cello, banjo, bass and beautiful vocals I highly suggest starting with the earlier albums first.

Contrary to the product description, Whitmore actually has 3+ previous recordings (all on the Southern label). The trilogy -- Hymns for the Hopeless, Ashes to Dust and Song of the Blackbird -- share personal themes of love and loss, sin and grace; all amidst the backdrop of southeast Iowa and the Mississippi river. The duet EP Hallways of Always features tracks with fellow musician and friend Jenny Hoyston (Erase Errata) and has a more country flare. Hallways of Always was recorded by Luke Tweedy of Flat Black Studios who also recorded Animals in the Dark.

Animals in the Dark strays slightly from the personal narratives of his previous albums and focuses on larger political themes with more anthemic style. But for fans of his previous albums -- don't fret, there's plenty of Whitmore hollerin' style and banjo pluckin' to go around.

Highly recommended for fans of blues, folk and bluegrass. Or anything for that matter.

Do I have to limit this to 5 stars? Do I hear 5-1/2 or 6? This guy is so soulfully deep, so movingly down-to-earth, so emotionally REAL, that it's a little hard to believe. Traditionally rooted and heart-felt, Whitmore has a deep, strong, slightly gravelly voice that will take you down to the river, back through time, to a place of true American musical spirit. He sings with righteous wrath about the evils of exploitation and abuses of power. He also sings about hanging on through tough times, about comradery and mournful hope. His voice converys all these ideas and moods with deep conviction and natural ingenuity. This music is gut-level familiar but with a fresh and catchy twist. If no-flash musical brilliance and honest artistry are what you're after, please give this a listen.

Real good stuff from a younger guy. Political and personal with great playing. The production is sparse, kind of a Steve Earle dynamic. LP comes with MP3 voucher. Scoop it up.

I down loaded the free song and fell in love with this gravely voiced soulful singer, and had to buy the rest of the album. I will be purchasing more of this artist. Very real themes, beautifully thought out and just damn good.

Great lyrical content, great voice, I would highly recommend this to anyone. Not a bad song on it!