Best Jewish & Yiddish
The epic sweep of Ragtime is captured in its opening prologue, a nine-minute kaleidoscope of fictional characters mingling with historical figures from the early 20th century as originally captured in E.L. Doctorow's sprawling novel . Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens ( Once on This Island ) mix marches, cakewalks, and of course ragtime to create a rich, compelling score, including Sarah's song to her baby, "Your Daddy's Son," her soaring duet with Coalhouse, "Wheels of a Dream," Mother's self-revealing "Back to Before," and numerous set pieces, all performed by a perfect cast.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This was supposed to be the later full cast recording, when I went to download the MP3 it was the earlier version that eliminated much of the dialog, e.g., the opening number is only 3 minutes rather than the 5 to 8 minutes it should be for a full version."
"Marin Mazzie sings the remarkable "Back To Before" and Audra MacDonald "Your Daddy's Hands" making them songs that will stand as monuments to theatre the way that "People" does for Streisand, "Rose's Turn" For Merman, "Hello Dolly" for Carol Channing. The songs themselves are spectacular; each piece develops and we do hear character development themes; each repeated motif in a song has thickened and developed along with the character, so we never ever feel as though the score was written hastily."
"This great work would have made it on the music alone, but when you factor in some of the best voices in the business, it's incredible. The musical focuses more strongly on the black-and-white race relationships than the original novel, and this works to the advantage. The juxtaposition of cultures makes for not only great storytelling, but variety in musical numbers, keeping the boredom factor at bay. An example of this occurs when the Irish Fireman--after a blatant display or racism--claims, "They'll get used to it the way we had to," pointing out the fact that at one time the Irish were not treated so well in this country. The cons: This is not a short musical."
"An excellent cast performs an excellent musical."
"I forgot how good the show was and how great the voices of the cast are on the recording."
"THIS 2 DISC CD BRINGS IT TO LIFE...."
"This music is incredible."
"great Broadway musical play sound track about the immigration from europe to US at the turn of the 1900 century----. they made a dramatic movie starring James Cagney in his later years .....BUT THE MOVIE MUSICAL DOES NOT EXIST....ITS STRICTLY. BROADWAY STAGE PROPERTY......"
Fiddler was the longest-running Broadway show of its era, melting hearts from 1964-72 and winning nine Tonys.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"the superb, vividly captured orchestral playing (with magnificent clarinet trills in the "Wedding Bottle Dance"-- which, like "The Rumor," was a welcome addition to the CD transfer from the original LP -- and an evocative accordion in "Sunrise, Sunset") and 2.)."
"If you cared for the musical at all, THIS is the version to get."
"Fiddler is one of my favorite musicals, so it's nice to have remastered versions of these songs."
"Always enjoyed the song list, but some of the recording techniques sound dated now."
"You can be feeling low, and just put on "The Fiddler", and singing "If I Were a Rich Man".....da da da da da da da da da !"
"One of the greatest musicals ever!"
"How can you not love this soundtrack?"
"I drive up and down the east coast several times a year and I listen to the most amazing music ever recorded during my long treks."
This joyful celebration in song features some of the West Coast's top children's performers: Dan Crow, Marcia Berman, Uncle Ruthie Buell, J.P. Nightingale and Fred Sokolow.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Very comprehensive of the basic and even some more obscure traditional songs in Hebrew, Yiddish, and English as well some original works by members of the group."
"My grandchildren love it."
"I was looking for an adult-friendly (as in, not just for kids) Chanukah CD that measured up to the warmth of Christmas carols."
"Ive been searching for this CD, very happy I found it."
"Growing up, my family always listened to this (on cassette tape) in the car around Chanukkah."
"Wonderful collection of Jewish holiday songs by great performers."
"I have several Chanukah CDs, this one is my favorite."
Best Avant-Garde
Sanders will be forever known as the tenor saxophonist who stood beside John Coltrane during the last years of the ultimate tenor saxophonist's life, and on this 2 CD set, five of the 12 compositions are by Coltrane.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I love the song Light at the edge of the world and Lonnies Lament."
"It was only when I begin to see it as a kind of ultimate exercise by Sanders into the fabulous capability of the tenor sax to produce simply ravishing sounds that I began to see its genius. Thus, when I listen to his absolutely absorbing rendering of that incredibly overrecorded standard, Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood," I find myself first drawn in by his ravishing tone, then enfolded in the tune's inherent poignancy, in a way that I've never been with another player. In other words, feeling becomes an outworking of a technique so profound, so overwhelming, that one's only response is yield to the inherent emotional depth of the tune. Taken at a leisurely pace, sans pyrotechnics, Sanders (and the quartet) allows the inherent beauty of the tune to naturally unfold, as it were. This is so far removed from the deconstructionist tendencies (of which I, generally, am a fan) that rule modern jazz as to render Sanders almost an archaic figure. Yet they consistently provide the ideal playing enviornment for Sanders--and not in the mail-in-your-chops way that Sonny Rollins' bandmates for the last ten years seem to have done."
"There is a tangible melancholic mood to this sublime 2 disk album, with Pharoah displaying a restrained confidence and warmth, that for those listeners that are only familiar with Pharoah's work, via albums like "Karma" & "Africa" with be pleasantly surprised with this sorely underrated masterpiece. It's an album that is unhurried and tempo, and reflective in mood, and considering the majority of Pharoahs work, ultimately a more introspective and insular album."
"Listen to this set,and you'll discover a great tenor player,so close to his ancesters,Hawkins and Webster.I wish Albert Ayler was still alive,because I think he would have given us such great records,combining the respect and love for older masters and shades of the free years.Albert's voice can still be heard in David Murray's playing, thanks God.Here is the voice of a master of tenor saxophone,and this one can be heard and loved by all jazz lovers, even those who can't endure free jazz.Don't be afraid by the image you can have of Pharoah Sanders; if your saxophone references are Bean or Ben,or Don Byas,or even Lester, you'll like this record."
Best British & Celtic Folk
Though critically well received at the time, commercial success did not arrive till nearly 30 years later, when 30 seconds of 'Pink Moon' was used in a Volkswagen commercial.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Songs cut deep, The album has an almost trans meditation effect and can cause deep introspection at times....So much talent so much potential and so much loss... but I guess that is part of what makes Nick Drake so special....If he was living the high life, living in a mansion raking in the bucks; Vacationing in the Bahamas and just living a really good life......You might think hummm does this guy really know what he's talking about ?"
"for whatever reason i didnt really listen to nick himself. until 2007 when i was working at night by myself. listening to a playlist of hundreds of songs made by other coworkers, and this record came on the speakers."
"Nick Drake's soothing guitar and simple lyrics make life in a hectic world seem a little bit more clear."
"Modern folk singers aspire to this..."
"Woah baby, take it easy."
"Pink Moon, Road and Parasite are terrific songs, but I really enjoyed the whole album."
"I find it very interesting, a lot of details that would bug me about another artist's work (the insubstantial voice, the inconsistency of the lyrics, the limited dynamic range), absolutely don't cross my mind when I listen to this album."
Best Traditional Folk
The trio's passionate commitment to peace and social justice made them the conscience of an era as they soulfully communicated political concerns through music in an unprecedented way.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I prefer the newer version of "The best of..." But I'm sure there are many who prefer this older version of the songs."
"To that end, this must be a part of your classic collection of songs by Peter, Paul & Mary."
"I am so used to hearing Peter, Paul and Mary as older performers on their Christmas and 25th Anniversary DVDs that are regularly broadcast on PBS that I had forgotten how haunting their music was when they were at their best."
"I have their vinyl records, going back many years, but I now play CD's, so it was time to update."
"Love listening to the best of any group, but Peter, Paul and Mary transport me back to the sixties."
"This is the music that my generation (born late 60s) grew up with - listening to the songs that our parents loved as well."
"My favorite find on this album was the last song "Don't Laugh at Me"."
"So disappointed in the sound quality."
Best Contemporary Folk
The album also topped many critics' "albums of the year" lists and gathered major music awards in the process, including eight Grammy Awards.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I like to play her music at home, while having a glass of wine and cooking and it's a good end to the day or to start a weekend."
"Her voice sounds even better than ever in this format. The combination of her voice and this music, along with the spaciousness of the sound, make for a great SACD."
"I highly recommend this CD if you love female vocalists - jazz, pop, country western - and to be introduced to a singer who will certainly make her mark on the music scene for years to come."
"Very talented, great voice and great songwriting as well."
"If I feel crappy, I put her on, and she can make me smile just about every time."
"This record is perfect for laying on the floor on a warm afternoon with the sun shing through the window."
"A must have SACD for every Jazz collection!"
"Listened to this CD 50 times minimum."