Popular Guitar Music

On this CD:

1. Variations on "Marlborough S'en Va T'en Guerre" for guitar, Op 28
Composed by Fernando Sor
Performed by Diego Blanco

2. Introduction, Theme, & Variations on a Theme From Mozart's "The Magic Flute, " for guitar, Op. 9
Composed by Fernando Sor
Performed by Diego Blanco

3. Variations on "Ye Banks and Braes" for guitar, Op 40
Composed by Fernando Sor
Performed by Diego Blanco

4. Sonata for guitar in D, Op 14 "Grand Solo"
Composed by Fernando Sor
Performed by Diego Blanco

5. Sonata for guitar in C, No 2, Op 15
Composed by Fernando Sor
Performed by Diego Blanco

6. Tema variado, for guitar WoO
Composed by Fernando Sor
Performed by Diego Blanco

7. Venezuelan Pieces (5) for guitar
Composed by Vicente Emilio Sojo
Performed by Diego Blanco

8. Venezuelan Waltzes (4) for guitar
Composed by Antonio Lauro
Performed by Diego Blanco

9. Danza Paraguaya for guitar
Composed by Agustin Barrios-Mangore
Performed by Diego Blanco

10. Las Abejas (The Bees) for guitar
Composed by Agustin Barrios-Mangore
Performed by Diego Blanco

11. La Catedral for guitar, Nos 1-3, complete
Composed by Agustin Barrios-Mangore
Performed by Diego Blanco

Tracks:

Tamacu
Diablo Rojo
Vikingman
Satori
Ixtapa
Stairway To Heaven
Orion
Juan Loco
PPA

Amazon.com

How did two Mexican-born heavy-metal enthusiasts end up at the top of the Irish charts? The story begins back in their homeland, where Rodrigo Sanchez (lead guitar) and Gabriela Quintero (rhythm and guitar-top hand percussion) met as teenagers. Following years of fruitless struggle, they settled in Dublin, working as street entertainers, eventually wandering as far afield as Denmark and Spain. But over time, their virtuoso duo-guitar instrumentals garnered them a following, which in turn led to indoor engagements where they no longer had to freeze their hands off. And no wonder -- their eruptive mixture of Central and South American folkways, with its propulsive rock rhythms, plus grooves reminiscent of The Gipsy Kings' crowd-pleasing Catalan rumbas, is incredibly infectious. Yes, their frisky yet spot-on covers of "Stairway To Heaven" and "Orion" may goad some listeners into purchasing the album, but believe it or not, the original tunes are even more mesmerizing. "Ixapa," in which the pair are joined by noted Hungarian Roma (Gypsy) fiddler Roby Lakatos, has a wicked, pan-European swing, while the impossibly fleet "Juan Loco" should delight all comers -- once they catch their collective breaths! Produced by John Leckie (Radiohead, The Stone Roses, Muse), the USA release includes a DVD containing interviews, live performances and other extras. --Christina Roden

Album Description

The sleeve photo of a crocodile's eye with a faint image of Rodrigo and Gabriela superimposed, suits the artists' desire for something which didn't shout "Mexican guitarists" or "Couples." "It reminded us of Tamacun, the famous Mexican eccentric who is in Ixtapa where we lived for a while".

Tamacun -"Tamacun's message is to teach kids to respect nature." He handles crocodiles, and tourists come to photograph him.

Diablo Rojo - Inspired by a wild rollercoaster called 'Red Devil' at a theme park in Copenhagen, Denmark. Three rides in a row, each.

Viking Man - Another Danish inspired piece. The Viking Man was a homeless guy who encouraged Rod & Gab to tough it out on the streets, busking in minus zero conditions at Christmastime. John Leckie adds radio static.

Satori - Experiencing self doubt shortly after arriving in Ireland, Rodrigo y Gabriela were at a low ebb. No money, poor English and a deep sense of uncertainty. Only an unshakeable faith in perseverance kept them going. Satori describes the Zen - like moment of enlightenment they felt when they came through the storm.

Ixtapa - "Ixtapa is a very beautiful, very Mexican town." Roby Lakatos' wildly soaring violin solo is a perfect counterpoint to the melodic and percussive guitars.

Stairway to Heaven - "Ixtapa was our very own Stairway to Heaven!" Rod & Gab's take was initially inspired by Stanley Jordan's interpretation of the Led Zep warhorse. Growing from snippets in their live show, their unique version is at once both respectful and innovative.

Orion - This epic reworking of the Metallica song is the second time Rodrigo y Gabriela have covered Messrs Hetfield, Ulrich & Co: "A tribute to the style of music we love, it's what kept us playing the guitar through all those Spinal Tap years"

Juan Loco - The first attempt at recording this album in Mexico in Summer 2005 resulted in three weeks of sunbathing, beer drinking and power cuts. Enter Mr John Leckie, legendary producer of Radiohead, The Stone Roses and Muse, to name but a few; to midwife Rod & Gab's musical vision into what you hear today. 'Juan Loco' ('Mad John') is their Mexican nickname for Mr Leckie.

PPA - "The first P of PPA stands for Pinche, a Mexican term meaning f**king asshole. This is for all the people in the music business who think they know what's going on but actually don't have a clue".

Customer Reviews:

good flamenco guitar music.......2007-07-11

I had recently fell in love with flamenco dancing and music after seeing a performance in Santa Fe, NM. This cd is all music, there are no vocals, but it is very enjoyable. It runs the gamut from high energy spanish guitar to quieter guitar melodies. I am really enjoying it.

Gets the kid grooving.......2007-07-07

I'm submitting this review on behalf of my 7-year-old autistic son. He's been playing this disk over and over since we first got it a month ago. It just lights the little guy up and gets him grooving, so here's his 5 stars for it. (By the way, I'd give it a 5 myself).

TERRIFIC!.......2007-07-05

I'd been looking a long time for a great instrumental guitar cd before I saw these guys on Jay Leno. They are fantastic musicians and I can't wait until their next album

I'll go 4.5 stars.......2007-06-30

If you at all like acoustic guitar, buy this disk! The pair is simply amazing. Song-by-song, their work is unbelievable. The only thing that held me back from 5 stars is that it gets a bit repetitive. But when put in a tray with a few other disks and set to random, this CD is outstanding! The DVD is short, but great. They are really fun to see live. At $11, it is a steal!

Rodrigo and Gabriela rock!.......2007-06-26

"Rodrigo y Gabriela" isn't your usual Mexican guitar duo. They don't play Tejano or mariachi music, but flamenco with an edge. Their music is at once vibrant, passionate, and thoughtful. It's also an unusual album since it's purely instrumental.

The opening, "Tamacun",evokes a Mexican paradise in its serenity. "Diablo Rojo",with its percussive guitar style, conjures the clicking of an old wooden roller coaster. "Satori",which is the Japanese Zen term for enlightenment/nirvana,is of more a Eastern flavor. "Ixtapa" blends flamenco with gipsy violin;it sounds like a folk song. Rodrigo and Gabriela's covers of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" and Metallica's "Orion" are celestial. It's at once edgy flamenco and heavy metal with a gentler sound.

"Rodrigo y Gabriela" is an amazing instrumental album! Their best is yet to come. I look forward to listening to more of their music.

Average customer rating:

Haunting sounds
The phenom Ms Jones
Glad i bought it ( Part II )...!
I'd Love To....
Good for my ears.

Come Away with Me
Norah Jones
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Feels Like Home
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Corinne Bailey Rae

ASIN: B00005YW4H
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Tracks:

Don't Know Why
Seven Years
Cold Cold Heart
Feelin' The Same Way
Come Away With Me
Shoot The Moon
Turn Me On
Lonestar
I've Got To See You Again
Painter Song
One Flight Down
Nightingale
The Long Day Is Over
The Nearness Of You

Amazon.com

It is not just the timbre of Norah Jones's voice that is mature beyond her 22 years. Her assured phrasing and precise time are more often found in older singers as well. She is instantly recognizable, blending shades of Billie Holiday and Nina Simone without sounding like anyone but herself. Any way you slice it, she is a singer to be reckoned with. Her readings of the Hank Williams classic "Cold Cold Heart" and Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You" alone are worth the price of the CD. Jones's own material, while not bad, pales a bit next to such masterpieces. They might have fared better had she and producer Arif Mardin opted for some livelier arrangements, taking better advantage of brilliant sidemen such as Bill Frisell, Kevin Breit, and Brian Blade; or if the tunes had simply been given less laconic performances. Jones has all the tools; what will come with experience and some careful listening to artists like J.J. Cale and Shirley Horn is the knack of remaining low-key without sounding sleepy--sometimes less is not, in fact, more. --Michael Ross

Amazon.com

Norah Jones Photos (by Danny Clinch)

More from Norah Jones

Not Too Late
Feels Like Home
The Little Willies

Customer Reviews:

Haunting sounds.......2007-07-06

For 3 months, my Norah Jones CDs have taken over my car stereo. This woman is very talented!

The phenom Ms Jones.......2007-06-27

This is such an outstanding production, so much better than the later(I think) CD. Miss Jones should be careful which guitar players back her up. She should stick to Bill Frizell or maybe she should try Mark Knoffler, if she can get him away from Emmy Lou.

Glad i bought it ( Part II )...!.......2007-06-20

I knew that Nora Jones was good music but i had no idea just how good...My sister-in-law bought me this CD for Father's Day...i have listened to it 3 times today. The way i would describe her lyrics and delivery is equal to "Musical Rose Petals". So smooth and so inviting is her voice. I really love the Piano work also. Her birth name being "Geethali",Nora Jones along with the likes of Michael Buble have added a nice,new,fresh selection of music to today's currently enemic sound. This album made her only the second artist ever to sweep the "Big Four" being Album,Song,Record,& Artist of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2003. Standouts for me include: "Come Away With Me","Don't Know Why", and i really like her rendition of Hank Williams SR.'s "Cold,Cold Heart". With her throw back to Billie Holiday/Roberta Flack days voice coupled with a very welcomed piano based style, Nora Jones can take me away anytime! If you've waited to give her a listen ,as did I, do yourself a favor and don't wait any longer.

I'd Love To...........2007-06-05

Okay, she's not quite a standards specialist, but a lot of people think Norah Jones is well on her way to setting some new standards of her own.

The daughter of famed Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar, Jones grew up in Dallas with her mother, and her work is firmly rooted in the dry Texas soil. The youngest in this survey (she was born in 1979), Jones burst on the scene in 2002 with this debut album of nine original songs plus a handful of country and pop standards. Renowned for her sweet and soulful set of pipes, Jones has often been compared to Billie Holiday. There's also a touch of Roberta Flack and Emmylou Harris in there.

Come Away with Me is an honest-to-goodness country-blues recording that you can sit back with on the front porch rocker on a brisk autumn afternoon. Sort of like an early James Taylor, Jones mixes a little bit of country, folk, and soul into a collection that's the perfect antidote to today's insincere fare. The public must have sensed the same thing, because it bought this CD in boxcar loads, and in 2003 Jones walked away with eight Grammies, including album of the year and best new artist.

The title track, written by Jones, is the first new song I've heard in a long time that's utterly believable. "Come away with me and I'll never stop loving you," she begs, and it's as though she's singing it to you, personally. To Hank Williams's "Cold Cold Heart" she brings an R & B feel, petitioning in anguish to her lover man to come back, body and soul. "I've Got to See You Again" is an exquisite modern torch song in the same vein, while "One Flight Down" is an upbeat tune with chord progressions right out of Paul McCartney's Wings songs, like "Carry That Load." She ends with Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You." Close your eyes, let Jones's words envelope you with their soulful caress, and you'll sense that she's a lot nearer than your living room speakers.

Good for my ears........2007-06-02

I see some reviews calling her Snorah Jones, and others which debate whether what she sings is truly jazz. Who cares! If it tastes good I eat it: if it sounds good I listen to it. This girl possesses a unique and expressive vocal instrument. It sounds good to me, facilitative for relaxing in a comfortable chair with a martini or cabernet after a hard day's work. If I were three or four decades younger, it would be perfect make out music.

Average customer rating:

Highly recommended 2CD collection from a great artist.
The Must Have Album for Jackson Browne Fans!
Lives in the balance?
Great Anthology Of A Truly Righteous Rocker
Too much missing to call it the very best

The Very Best of Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits
Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits
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ASIN: B0001GOH98
Release Date: 2004-03-16

Tracks:

Doctor My Eyes
Rock Me on the Water
Jamaica Say You Will
Take It Easy
These Days
For Everyman
Red Neck Friend
Fountain of Sorrow
For a Dancer
Late for the Sky
Before the Deluge
Your Bright Baby Blues
The Pretender
Here Come Those Tears Again
The Load-Out
Stay

Tracks:

Running On Empty
You Love The Thunder
Boulevard
Somebodys Baby
Tender Is The Night
In the Shape Of A Heart
Lawless Avenue
Lives In The Balance
I Am A Patriot
Sky Blue And Black
Im Alive
The Barricades Of Heaven
Looking East
The Naked Ride Home
The Night Inside Me

Amazon.com

Though Jackson Browne's albums are not plentiful--in a career that stretches 32 years, he's released just over a dozen--they're filled with songs that serve as resilient touchstones for millions who passed through those decades. Originally forging a way for himself as a songwriter, his debut, Saturate Before Using, placed him at the forefront of the southern California rock scene. His contemporaries and compatriots, the Eagles, even took his "Take It Easy" to the top of the charts. Even at his most anthemic, his songs resonate with small details that keep the proceedings human-scaled. The sympathetic accompaniment buoys a voice that's remarkable for its lack of idiosyncrasies. His unmannered singing voice is an essential component in making songs like "These Days," "Fountain of Sorrow," and "Running on Empty" flow with a casual ease that belies the high level of craftsmanship throughout. --David Greenberger

Album Description

Over the past three decades, Jackson Browne has created and voiced many of the most literate and emotionally resonant compositions in popular music—and sold more than 15 million albums, including the seven-times platinum Running On Empty and the #1 Hold Out. This year Browne's artistry is celebrated with his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and with this new retrospective from Rhino. Browne's first-ever double-disc set compiles hits, singles, and choice album cuts from his acclaimed catalog, spotlighting both insightful works of personal introspection and passionately delivered songs of social and political observation. The 2002 recipient of the prestigious John Steinbeck Award (honoring those exemplifying the famed writer's environmental and social ideals), Browne is a mature artist and world citizen whose work shines on this long-awaited collection.

Customer Reviews:

Highly recommended 2CD collection from a great artist........2007-02-25

I bought this album last week and have been playing it in my car and at home. It is brilliant, and represents 30 years of Jackson Browne songs from 1972-2002. I do not know all that much else about Jackson Browne, but the songs here speak more eloquently than any biography you might read. This guy can really write, and his songs are always tuneful with strong messages, emotional truths, excellent use of words, and quite a lot of up-to-the-moment social commentary where he writes about the times we are living in from an American perspective (he's from California originally, I think) . Particularly fine, I think, are his mid-70's songs from albums For Everyman (the title tune has wonderful lyrics) , Late For The Sky ( rated by many as his best-ever studio album) , The Pretender and Running On Empty. I love the lyrics of songs like For A Dancer and Before The Deluge. Running On Empty is an acutely-observed road trip of how you have to try and keep going even when the pace of your life seems to be getting out of your control.The Load-Out/ Stay is a familiar tune that tells all about life as a touring musician. Somebody's Baby was a pop/rock tune I always really liked from the radio back in Grade 7 in 1982, and it's on here too ( previously it was only on a film soundtrack album ), while the satirical Lawyers In Love and the lovely In The Shape Of A Heart were great songs from the 80's. Not all songs are in the tuneful West Coast style of his 70's stuff, but he does not stray too far away from the lyrical style that brought him to prominence back then. Later stuff from the 90's and early 2000's shows that Jackson Browne's songwriting is still as fine as ever, and he is still touring , I believe.

There is a lot to love about this 2CD set and really I can't find anything on here I do not like.

Just one thing - fans of his 1986 duet hit with E Street band saxophonist / vocalist Clarence Clemons : You're A Friend Of Mine should note that this song is not on here. I'm hoping it'll turn up on the next Best Of... in a few years !

Highly recommended 2CD collection from a great artist.

The Must Have Album for Jackson Browne Fans!.......2007-01-16

Includes all Jackson's hits except "Love Needs A Heart", and "That Girl Could Sing".

Lives in the balance?.......2006-12-27

What has happened to the song "Lives in the balance" on this set? If you go to his website it sounds really great!!! On this set it sounds awfull!! It sounds as if he was in a really big hurry to get the song over with. The packaging if you could call it that is really lame. Foam dots for holders? What do you do when those fall off? I suppose you put the cd's in jewel cases or else they will get really scratched up. Not to mention it is missing some of his greatest work! True you do get alot of songs for the money but, there should have been more time planning this set out before actually producing it. If you own an I-pod I suggest you go to apples I-tunes web page and import the great songs this set is missing as well as the others you really like off of this set and you will probably have spent the same amount of money if not less.

Great Anthology Of A Truly Righteous Rocker.......2006-08-21

THE VERY BEST OF JACKSON BROWNE is a great anthology of Browne's best work from throughout his career. Over the course of 32 songs, you can hear him age gracefully from the innocence of the early days through his politically-edged work of the mid-to-late-80s, to the more mature work of his later years. Browne's belief, shared with most rockers of his generation, that the young Australian tourist jailed in Indonesia since 2005 on drug-smuggling charges was unjustly convicted makes THE VERY BEST OF JACKSON BROWNE an essential purchase for both your ears AND your conscience.

Too much missing to call it the very best.......2006-05-31

And it's too slanted towards Browne's later work. Save the $$$ on the compilation and just get his CDs. They're all worth it and the album cuts you are missing could be your favorite songs. I especially miss "That Girl could Sing."

Average customer rating:

Ridiculous Good
IT STILL MAKES ME CRY
The Second Best Album of All Time
yes siree... a MASTERPIECE to say the least!
Should be a 10 --

Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Moondance
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ASIN: B000002KAT
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Astral Weeks
Beside You
Sweet Thing
Cyprus Avenue
The Way Young Lovers Do
Madame George
Ballerina
Slim Slow Slider

Amazon.com essential recording

Never mind that Van Morrison is one of the most indelible songwriters of the 20th century--take each album on its own terms. On 1968's seminal Astral Weeks, a twentysomething Van Morrison can be found belting his gospelly, bluesy vocals in just as fine a form as he would be 20 years hence. In the sociopolitical context of the times, the album cried out about such ubiquitous '60s themes as cultural oppression and social upheaval. But it is Morrison's vocal dexterity and passion that maintains such timeless appeal. Take tracks like "Madame George" or "Cyprus Avenue" and you'll find such beautiful mourning, it'll be clear why modern songwriter Sinéad O'Connor once publicly exclaimed: "Van Morrison should be friggin' canonized." --Nick Heil

Customer Reviews:

Ridiculous Good.......2007-07-03

Half the songs on here give me goosebumps. Astral Weeks is probably my favorite Van Morrison album, granted Tupelo Honey and Moondance are a lot more fun, Astral weeks is transcendental. In this album Van seems very in love, nostalgic, or sentimental. Key tracks (really all of them) include:
Astral Weeks- Strong and solid,
Sweet Thing- The strings in this are awesome
Cyprus Avenue- More like familiar Van Morrison
Madame George- It's long, and good. Again and as usual, an awesome arrangement. (for David Gray fans, this is where part of "Say Hello, Wave goodbye comes from)

The other tracks on here are all good, no real dancing numbers, but all the songs are beautiful, the kind you put on a mix CD for a new (or not so new) love. Anyone who considers themselves a Van fan had better own this.

IT STILL MAKES ME CRY.......2007-06-21

I think it came out in '68 when I was a sophomore in high school...shy, insecure, just moved to a new school. These songs became part of my very being, and they will always be a part of who I am. There was just something about Van: the words, the stylings, the chord progressions. His music made my soul scream, and it felt so good.

The Second Best Album of All Time.......2007-06-13

FREE FORM VOCAL STYLINGS

This album rates very highly on many critics list of the all time best. It routinely comes up in the top ten. About 10 years ago, Rolling Stone magazine voted it the second best album of all time, behind the Beatle's Sargeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Released in 1968, this is Van Morrison's second solo album. It is 46 minutes long and the sound quality is good, although the music is mixed a little thin.

The Way The Young Lovers Do is the only thing on this album that is anything close to pop song along the lines of Brown Eyed Girl. I am not a big pop music fan, but I like this song. The rest of the album is something completely different.

The rest of the album is some nice music with some interesting playing, mixed really low. It is a mixture of jazz and folk with a little blues thrwon in. There are some interesting bits on flute, vibes and keyboards. But, the music remains just a back drop and is mixed in at a very low volume. The CD comes with a fold out cover that tries to give a historical perspective of the album. Intrestingly, it is pretty subdued and does not rave about the album like the critics do.

Morrison's wild and unstructured vocals are mixed loudly on top of the music. He seems to be always riffing and jamming. He'll be singing along and then he'll jump into a repeated riff, such as "you breath in, you breath out, you breath in, you breath out, you breath in, you breath out, you breath in, you breath out".

I know people are going to get mad at me, insult me and call me names, but I have to admit that I just don't get it. I don't think this is a personal, emotional album, and I don't think it has interesting stories. It comes off to me as an experimental album that didn't quite work.

Music is a very personal thing. People can get really mad when you don't agree with them on music that they really love. They take a low review on thier favorite album as a personal attack. They say nasty things about the reviewer.

To get even, people will mark a review as "hot helpful", like that evens things up. But, a review like this is helpful to buying public that might not know much about this ablum and are thinkging about buying it because of all the rave reviews (that is why I bought it).

Just because certain people love it doesn't mean everyone will. In fact, many people did not like this album. It is the only Van Morrison album not to chart. And you might wonder why Morrison did not do anything like this again. He certainly still had the artistic freedom to do what he wanted, because he had a pretty lose contract from Warner Brothers. What he came up with next, is Moondance, which was completely different. In later albums, Morrison did incorporate some of the Astral Weeks vocal stylings on some songs, but it was much more controlled.

Van Morrison started out in a group called Them. Them had a minor hit with Baby Please Don't Go, and bigger hit with Gloria, written by Morrison. Them was going through changes, so Morrison retired from music for a few years, before coming up with Brown Eyed Girl, and his first ablum, Blowin' Your Mind. He did not approve of the album and withdrew. His manager died, freeing him from his contract, so he was able to sign with Warner Brothers, have much more artistic freedom and came up with this.

yes siree... a MASTERPIECE to say the least!.......2007-05-23

Years and years from now, if the world is still in one piece and the human race hasn't made itself extinct, people and history books will hopefully have long forgotten these vapid, celluloid dolts of today (i.e. see Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton, Justin Timberlake, et al...) and remember and revere such artists as Van Morrison. Well... I guess one can always dream, right? Damn, I am one naive, lost soul! I still believe that it is 1982 and I am asleep, dreaming this all, waiting patiently to wake up. This really has to be some kind of joke right? Anyway, back to the reasons why this CD deserves five stars (actually I would put this one in that rare six-star category if I could).

This saintly, little genius from Belfast has produced some of the most beautiful music ever, in the history of beautiful music. Like Bob Dylan, Van wasn't blessed with a voice a la Sinatra or Tony Bennett. He was a very good guitar player, but he's not even in the same league as say a Jimi Hendrix or a Wes Montgomery or a Al DiMeola, et al... And lastly, his lyrics can't compare with that of Dylan's or even Simon and Garfunkel for that matter. All that being said (and I know that these are some bold words I'm about to pen), I can't think of any one musician that has had as long and as productive of a career as Van Morrison (besides Louis Armstrong of course, but it isn't fair to compare anyone to Pops when it comes to contributions to American music). This cat is something else for sure! I love Miles, and Duke, and Sinatra, and the Glimmer Twins, and I highly respect and enjoy quite a bit of Dylan, Paul Simon, McCartney, et al... But this guy is still doing it and hasn't missed a beat in over forty years now! All I have to say is un-friggin-believable! He hasn't really slowed down since he first started in the early 60's belting out such enjoyable songs as "Baby Please Don't Go", "Gloria", and "Here Comes the Night" to name a few. However, in 1967 after leaving the band "Them" he started getting really serious and his second solo album in 1968 'Astral Weeks' is, to put it mildly, sublime, and magical, and totally unique, unlike anything you have ever heard before or since. A true genius is almost always an artist who is way ahead of their time, and Van was (and still is) a true genius. This album is his crowning achievement, his greatest work which is saying a lot when you consider just how many great albums he has produced for going on five decades now - AMAZING!

I know, I know, this is only one man's opinion, and you may even consider the author of this review a bit... as my Italian relatives would say... PAZZO! However, any lover of good music (no matter what your favorite genre is) should really enjoy this. Van merges jazz, blues, rock, r&b, folk, and a little bit of Celtic music into this one and the results are outstanding. He sings and plays his guitar beautifully. Every song contains placid, poetic lyrics that will melt your heart, especially with the solitary way in which Van belts them out with such ardent fervor and emotion. The other great thing is the band behind the man, the men who helped Van create such magnificent music on this masterpiece are the following jazz greats - Jay Berliner (guitar), Richard Davis (bass), Connie Kay (drums), John Payne (flute, soprano sax), and Warren Smith, Jr. (percussion and vibraphone). They all sound inspired, and it's very difficult to pick out one performance over the others because each one is top-notch. I usually don't like writing no-brainer reviews, but this album has a real special place in my heart. Enjoy!

Should be a 10 --.......2007-05-13

This album doesn't suck.

Buy it. Put it on. Shut up. Listen to it. Don't be afraid to lose yourself (you'll find yourself again).

I'm going to put it on right now.

Average customer rating:

Ah, complete control over vibrational radiance.
Steve Vai and an Orchestra, pure magic.
Simply Sublime.

Sound Theories I and II
Steve Vai
Manufacturer: Red Int / Red Ink
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000QFCCV4
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

Kill the Guy With the Ball
The God Eaters
The Murder Prologue
The Murder
Gentle Ways
Answers
I'm Becoming
Salamanders In the Sun
Liberty
The Attitude Song
For the Love Of God

Tracks:

Shadows And...
Sparks
Frangelica Pt.I
Frangelica Pt.II
Helios And Vesta
Bledsoe Bluvd

Customer Reviews:

Ah, complete control over vibrational radiance........2007-07-01

It wouldn't be accurate to call this a live album. It's really more like an album that was recorded (mostly) in front of a live audience and HEAVILY edited. It sounds like a live album, though. Basically, Steve Vai has taken seven complete performances and, for each section, phrase, or sometimes even single note of all seventeen songs, chosen the most perfect of the seven. He then pasted all of these most favorable parts together to make one perfect whole. This is especially remarkable considering that Steve had to deal with the different sound ambiences of different venues.

In the liner notes, Steve writes that the two-part piece "Frangelica" has hundreds of edits, while other tracks (he doesn't specify which ones) have very few. It's fascinating reading how he carefully listened to each note of each instrument and replaced any less-desirable notes with notes from other performances or even from other sections of music. In some cases, when no "right notes" (defined by Steve as notes that were played with the correct pitch, phrase, confidence, and attitude) were available, he would try to "re-fabricate" the notes in the studio or take them out altogether. Only perfection is heard on this album!

I know it's an overused word, but Vol. I (entitled "The Aching Hunger") is brilliant! Each track on this disc showcases Steve's exceptional guitar work in completely refreshing ways. The old songs, with the backing of the Holland Metropole Orkest, often seem entirely new. There's a lot of newly composed material on this disc, too... all of it beautiful. The highlight here, in my opinion, is the perfectly arranged "Salamanders in the Sun," originally from the album Flex-Able.

Steve, as a guitarist, gives the impression that he has the ability to translate through his guitar absolutely anything that enters his head. It's always been amazing to hear Steve perform his most complex passages note-for-note, accurately and exactly as intended. With these new versions of the songs, we hear other instruments keep up with him note-for-note, as well. Even knowing that these performances have been highly edited, it's evident that Steve and the orchestra played amazingly tight together!

Personally, Vol. II (entitled "Shadows and Sparks") isn't nearly as accessible for me. It's without Steve's true expressive voice, his guitar, and frankly the compositions here aren't quite as brilliant (they are still very good, though). It's interesting and different and incredibly complex.

In addition to traditional orchestral instruments, there is often more eccentric instrumentation used. Saxophone, Moog synthesizer, electric guitar (not played by Steve), bass guitar, what sounds like at least one drum set, and even a referee-type whistle are commonly heard. This makes the Holland Metropole Orkest able to have a chameleon-like sound. It often resembles a traditional symphony orchestra, but sometimes it sounds more like a marching band or big band or, quite often, a jazz fusion group. Rarely does it sound like any one thing for too long, which keeps it interesting.

A few of the melodies on disc two are familiar ("Shadows and..." contains allusions to "Whispering a Prayer" and an excerpt from "Bangkok," for example) and some of the melodies are subtle and inspired, but some of the melodies don't make sense for me, musically. Some individual sections of compositions seem too different from one another or seem to exist without real purpose or are never really given a chance to develop. Many of the odd time and key signatures are overwhelming. I don't possess the musical understanding that is needed to appreciate exactly what Steve is doing.

Even if there are perhaps some shortcomings, I find disc two to still be a true wonder to listen to. Although it doesn't contain his guitar playing, it still contains Steve's magic. The standout track for me is "Frangelica Pt. II," one of the more accessible tracks on Vol. II.

There is an undeniable attraction to the music on both of these discs that has made me want to listen to them over and over. The title of this review is a phrase Steve used in the liner notes to describe the ability of a composer to "capture, and make real, the audio vision of their mind's eye." There's no doubt that Steve has captured something intangible and made it quite real. It's the ethereal magnetism of his music. Very few artists today are capable of this. It would probably be fair to say that not even all of Steve's releases have it, but Sound Theories most certainly does. It contains music with so many layers, so much depth, and Steve has so much passion for what he plays and creates, that undoubtedly both discs in this set will be spinning in cd players... and spinning heads... for years to come.

Steve Vai and an Orchestra, pure magic........2007-06-28

Sound Theories Vol 1 & 2", a double-live CD capturing legendary guitarist Steve Vai's electrifying collaboration with the Netherlands Metropole Orchestra. The two-disc set spotlights rare material pulled from five European performances, a studio session and a soundcheck rehearsal recording, all of which took place between mid-2004 and 2005.

"Volume 1" features Steve Vai playing guitar with the Orchestra, which has earned worldwide acclaim.
What he does on CD 1 is take those performances and blends them together so it sounds as though it was all 1 show. Truly amazing.

Steve Vai never disappoints.

Together Steve and the Orchestra they bring new life to both
existing and never-before-heard Steve Vai songs.

Highlights on disc 1 are

"For the Love of God", "Liberty", "The Murder", "Attitude Song", "Salamanders in the Sun".

That's not to say the rest aren't as good as those, they are but I feel that these are the songs that are just a bit above the rest and will be the ones you'll remember most.

"Volume 2" features the Orchestra by it self performing songs written and composed by Steve Vai.

Listening to CD 2 it sounds as though he's playing along with the Orchestra, but he's not.

Highlights on CD 2 are
Well CD 2 is the highlight as the whole disc is just that good.

So there you have it.

The question is should you buy it or not.
I say this is an album that Steve Vai fans and rock music fans and even some of you metal heads out there can agree on that is worth buying.

Simply Sublime........2007-06-26

Absolutely amazing! Vai's compositions sound so full and lush with the orchestra. Steve's attention to detail in the audio editing, is a lesson worth aspiring to also. The guitar playing is faultless - as you'd expect from any Vai release.

Go buy it know you knuckleheads! Or I'll hunt you down...

Average customer rating:

What a compilation! Definitive indeed!
chuck berry the definitive collection
Good looking back
For the casual listener...
"...Tidewater four-ten-oh-nine..."

The Definitive Collection
Chuck Berry
Manufacturer: Chess
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000A2H1D2
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Tracks:

Maybellene
Thirty Days
You Can't Catch Me
Too Much Monkey Business
Roll Over Beethoven
Brown Eyed Handsome Man
Havana Moon
School Day (Ring Ring Goes The Bell)
Rock And Roll Music
Oh, Baby Doll
Reelin' And Rockin'
Sweet Little Sixteen
Johnny B. Goode
Around And Around
Beautiful Delilah
Carol
Memphis
Sweet Little Rock & Roller
Little Queenie
Almost Grown
Back In The U.S.A.
Let It Rock
I'm Talking About You
Come On
Nadine
You Never Can Tell
Promised Land
No Particular Place To Go
I Want To Be Your Driver
My Ding-A-Ling

Customer Reviews:

What a compilation! Definitive indeed!.......2007-06-22

The title of this CD represents a tall order to fill. With a title like "The Definitive Collection" of one of the key progenitors of rock and roll, one expects a great deal. This CD delivers. The liner notes begin by stating that "Chuck Berry cooked up the basic recipe for rock n' roll." Berry was made a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, as one of the very first members--and justifiably so. As the notes continue, ". . .it was Berry who set the template for the songwriter-artist. . ."

Some of the major cuts:

"Maybellene" was recorded in 1955, one of his first major hits. Talk about class: Willie Dixon played bass. The thumping rhythm and driving rock beat makes this a quintessential Chuck Berry song. This song reached # 5 on the Pop Chart, making Berry a recognizable figure.

In 1956, "Roll Over Beethoven" Another great rocker: "Roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news." An infectious beat and driving singing.

"Up in the mornin' and off to School,
Teacher teachin' the golden rule."

So "School Day" goes, with the expectation of a lot more fun once the School Day is done.

"Rock and Roll Music" (1957) has the estimable Willie Dixon and Fred Below supporting Berry. Another rollicking early rock song that set the stage for what was to follow.

More greats from 1957--"Sweet Little Sixteen," a teaser of a song with a compelling pace; also from 1957, one of the greatest rock songs ever--"Johnnie B. Goode." "Go, Johnnie, go, go."

A number of these songs were covered by the "British invasion." British groups, such as the Rolling Stones and Beatles, covered such songs as: "Roll over Beethoven," "Little Queenie," "Come on," and so on.

This CD contains 30 of Chuck Berry's greatest hits, from "Maybellene" to "My Ding-a-Ling." If anyone is unfamiliar with Berry's oeuvre, this is a great place to start. For those who appreciate his role in rock and roll, this is a good addition, to pull together some of his best works. A good compilation. . . .

chuck berry the definitive collection.......2007-05-07

it has the best songs of his repertoire and my ding a ling
it couldn't be better unless they removed that song
though i suppose someone may like it

Good looking back.......2007-04-11

Chuck Berry is one of my old favorites. I danced to his music when I was a teenager. This CD contained many of my favorites from back in the day such as Johnnie B. Goode and Almost Grown. Also, some of his less known music was introduced. Havanna Moon was a surprising musical treat.

For the casual listener..........2007-04-03

...you won't find a package to beat this one. An inexpensive selection of Berry's biggest numbers. Definitely not "definitive" by any stretch, but a great record to throw in for a quick shot of one of the most important figures in rock/rhythm & blues history. Recommended.

"...Tidewater four-ten-oh-nine...".......2007-03-18

I saw Dennis Miller on "The Tonight Show" one time and he said, "what planet are Brando and the Beatles from and why can't we find it?" I feel the same way about Chuck Berry. I guess it would be hard to explain to a Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears fan, but if you are a fan of good ol' rootsy, r&b influenced rock n' roll, you know in your soul that Chuck Berry is the savant.

How can a guy come up with those riffs? Those simple, yet poetic lyrics? One of his rivals was the output of the Brill Building writers, but that was a group of enlightened kids (influenced by Berry, among others) feeding off of each others energy and ideas. Maybe the closest "rival" was Buddy Holly. Here is a poor guy from St. Louis who even pushed Presley, not to mention how he (along with Holly) inspired the Rolling Stones and the Beatles.

Bottom line: great sound, finally a great single disc overview of one of the greatest musical minds since 1950 and certainly one of the "Dead Sea Scrolls" if you are looking for the genesis of rock n'roll.

Average customer rating:

Sarah's Best Easy Listening CD
Best Brightman CD
Sarah Brightman is a Classic
Not The Best - Not the Worst - From Sarah Brightman
Nice Cover

Sarah Brightman Classics
Sarah Brightman , Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni , Francisco Tarrega , George Frideric Handel , Fryderyk Chopin , Sergey Rachmaninov , Giacomo Puccini , Antonin Dvorak , Andrew Lloyd Webber , Ludwig van Beethoven , Joseph Marie Canteloube , Francesco Sartori , and Paul Bateman
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Time to Say Goodbye
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La Luna

ASIN: B00005RD78
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

Ave Maria (new recording)
La Wally (from Time To Say Goodbye)
Winter Light (new recording)
Anytime, Anywhere (from Eden)
Alhambra (new recording)
Lascia Ch'io Pianga (from Eden)
Dans La Nuit (new recording)
Serenade/How Fair This Place (from La Luna)
O Mio Babbino Caro (new recording)
La Luna (from La Luna)
Pie Jesu (new recording)
Figlio Perduto (from La Luna)
Nessun Dorma (new recording)
Bailero (from Eden)
Time To Say Goodbye (New solo version--previously unavailable)

Amazon.com

Have some friends who still haven't discovered what the Sarah Brightman fuss is all about? You'll find the perfect introduction to make converts of them all in Classics, so they'll have no more excuses to remain clueless. Sporting a Botticelli-inspired image of the platinum-selling soprano on the cover, Classics is a classy anthology including highlights from three of Brightman's chart-topping releases along with seven new tracks. Songs personally selected by the diva as her favorite classical interpretations are culled from her previous blockbusters: Time To Say Goodbye, Eden, and La Luna. And whether you're a fan already in the fold or one in the making, the new material here shows the diva at the top of her form, in new renderings of "O Mio Babbino Caro" and "Nessun Dorma" (accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic)--fascinating displays of the operatic confidence she's developed over her career. Other new offerings include a touching version of Schubert's "Ave Maria,' "Winter Light," a fresh take on her signature song "Pie Jesu" (from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem). "Alhambra" and "Dans La Nuit"--a real treat, bathing the listener in Brightman's silky, sensuous vocalism--add two original titles to her famous adaptations of classical melodies to new lyrics (using Chopin's haunting E major Etude in the latter case). All told, a lovely affirmation of the directions Brightman has boldly taken in her career to date. -Sarah Chin

Amazon.com

Sarah Brightman Photos

More from Sarah Brightman

Time to Say Goodbye
Diva: The Singles Collection
Eden

Diva: The Video Collection
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Customer Reviews:

Sarah's Best Easy Listening CD.......2007-03-15

Sarah Brightman's talent is limitless. Her soprano and/or alto voice is among the best and she lets it show in 'CLASSICS'. CLASSICS is a beautiful, easy listening, and peaceful CD. CLASSICS is one to listen to in tranquil or relaxing moments. "CLASICS" is a collection of great pieces of music written by great composers (Shuburt, Handel, Chopin, Puccini, and the like). I have listened to CLASSICS about 15 times now and it always puts me in a quiet and peaceful mood (I am ~50 years old).

Best Brightman CD.......2007-02-07

A classical composition which showcases the beautiful voice of Sarah Brightman. A timeless CD which will continue to be a favourite over the years.

Sarah Brightman is a Classic.......2007-01-02

Sarah Brightman is at her best in "Classics." From Dvorak's "Rusalka" (Opera B.203) to Beethoven's haunting Op 52, slow movement (Symphony #7), Brightman's voice and lyrical style are a joy. I particularly enjoy her performances of Schubert's Ave Maria and Andrew Lloyd Weber's Pie Jesu. This is a great add to my collection of serious music.

Not The Best - Not the Worst - From Sarah Brightman.......2006-12-30

After purchasing this CD for my iPod for iTunes, I must say that I'm a little bit dissapointed. 7 new recordings and 8 old ones, ones that I already happen to have. I do like the fact that they're all on one CD! Some of her new recordings, including, "Ave Maria", "Winter Light", "Alhambra", "Dans La Nuit", and the new recording of "Pie Jesu" are just too breathy for my taste. It seems as with every changing CD, Sarah's voice changes. I'm not saying that the result is bad; it actually gives the songs more of a dream like quality, but I'm used to the younger, more Andrew Lloyd-Webber integrated Sarah. Scooping continually occurs in new recordings of "O Mio Babbino Caro", and "Nessun Dorma". In some tracks from La Luna, like "Figlio Perduto", Sarah's voice is TOTALLY dominated by harmonizing recordings that sound almost mechanical.

OVERALLY - The new songs sound O.K. and the old recordings are just as good as they were back then. This album is still a great buy!

Nice Cover.......2006-12-27

I'm a heterosexual guy who's not an opera aficionado - I only mention these facts because I seem to be right in the bull's-eye of the target market for this product. Sarah B. has a nice voice and she's pretty. Both of these are featured prominently on this CD. The cover and several pages in the insert are devoted to what must have been a very long and expensive photo shoot (and Photoshop) of a semi-clad Sarah looking marvelous. (The CD also comes with a flyer so you can buy various Brightman "Classics" apparel - perhaps not for the heterosexual male).

As far as the music goes: not bad, not great. I don't claim to have the most discerning ears for this sort of music, but everything was OK by me. However, the pieces on the CD with which I'm somewhat familiar, such as "O Mio Babbino Caro," didn't sound quite as good as other versions I've heard (and that includes by Charlotte Church, not just opera stars). Also, the solo version of "Time to Say Goodbye" didn't sound nearly as good to me as the duet with Bocelli.

In sum, there were 3-4 songs I liked enough to rip to MP3s - which is enough so that I didn't feel ripped myself...

A Day to Remember - Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day

Average customer rating:

A Beautiful Wedding
Wonderful!
Good CD for Wedding
A Day To Remember--Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day, O'Neill Brothers
great choice!

A Day to Remember - Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day
O'Neill Brothers
Manufacturer: O'Neill Brothers
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000066RG3
Release Date: 2002-04-25

Tracks:

Falling in Love - Tim and Ryan O'Neill
Wachet Auf - J.S. Bach
Air on a G String - J.S. Bach
Air (from Water Music) - Handel
Reminiscent Joy - Tim and Ryan O'Neill
Canon in D - Pachelbel
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - J.S. Bach
The Wedding Song (There is Love) - Stookey
Ave Maria - Schubert
I Will Be Here - Steven Curtis Chapman
The Gift of Love (Water is Wide melody)
Spring (from The Four Seasons) - Vivaldi
Ode to Joy - Beethoven
From This Moment On - Shania Twain
The Way You Look Tonight - Kern
Forever in Love - Kenny G

Album Description

After performing at more than 200 weddings, Tim and Ryan O'Neill recorded this beautiful CD of favorite wedding songs. It features a full hour of instrumental piano, string quartet, flute, and guitar music that can be played at your ceremony or reception.

It also gives suggestions for music at your wedding, including a special bridal website!
*Over 1,000 song titles listed
*Listen to samples of songs
*More ideas for each part of your ceremony, reception, and dance

Customer Reviews:

A Beautiful Wedding.......2007-07-10

This CD made all the difference in our wedding celebration. The songs were simply beautiful. The CD was delivered promptly. I would definitely buy from this vendor again.

Wonderful!.......2007-03-23

This is exactly what I was looking for for my wedding day. It's a beautiful cd, absolutely perfect.

Good CD for Wedding.......2007-03-21

All great music for weddings. It really does have all the music I want to use!

A Day To Remember--Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day, O'Neill Brothers.......2007-02-07

The music was just perfect for our wedding--not too formal, not too simple.

great choice!.......2007-01-10

There are so many different songs to choose from on this cd and it's a great buy. whether you want to play it while eating dinner at the wedding, to walking down the isle, it's wonderful!!!!

King Of The Surf Guitar: The Best Of Dick Dale & His Del-Tones

Average customer rating:

Dick Dale was the Pioneer...
Surf mandolin
A Great Album but not easy listening music . . . .
DickDale-King of the Surf Guitar
You Don't Know Dick

King Of The Surf Guitar: The Best Of Dick Dale & His Del-Tones
Dick Dale & the Del-Tones
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000348H
Release Date: 1989-08-04

Tracks:

Let's Go Trippin
Shake 'N' Stomp
Misirlou
Mr. Peppermint Man
Surf Beat
Take It Off
King Of The Surf Guitar
Hava Nagila
Riders In The Sky
The Wedge
Night Rider
Mr. Eliminator
The Victor
Taco Wagon
Tidal Wave
Banzi Washout
One Double One Oh!
Pipeline - Dick Dale And His Del Tones w/ Stevie Ray Vaughan

Amazon.com

This collection rightly concentrates on Dale's instrumental exploits as the Jimi Hendrix of surf music. Nineteen sixty-one's "Let's Go Trippin'" was the first real surf instrumental, although the pyrotechnic fretwork of later Dale records is largely absent. Those divebomb runs, reverb drenchings, and impossibly quick picking displays materialize on the next single, "Shake & Stomp," then bloom on the revved-up Middle-Eastern standard "Misirlou." Dale's instrumentals generally fell into two camps: standard-progression frat blasts ("Take It Off," "Night Rider," "Mr. Eliminator") and minor-key Middle-Eastern excursions ("The Wedge," the "Pipeline"-esque "Banzai Wipeout," "The Victor," even "Hava Nagila"--which Jewish purists must have regarded as a hora of Babylon), on which his blistering technique was more likely to find its spotlight Some of his best work is found on "King of the Surf Guitar," a Duane Eddy knockoff with great vocals by the Blossoms garnished by lightning flashes of boss guitar. With all the dazzling axe-work on display (also including a beautiful 1987 duet with Stevie Ray Vaughan on the Chantays' unearthly "Pipeline"), the coolest cut here may be the sole vocal, "Mr. Peppermint Man," on which Dale's rasp oozes a concupiscent slime over the murky tale of a lollipop Lothario who "carries a little sign that says, Have some dessert." Frat rock godhead. --Ken Barnes

Customer Reviews:

Dick Dale was the Pioneer..........2007-05-31

I knew of Dick Dale's more well known tunes, his first "Let's go tripping" & "Misirlou", but the lesser known tracks are quite good. It demonstrates Dale's growth from his first to the "Pipeline" remake. The tracks are pretty much layed out on chronological order, and that's good.

His style is all over this cd, no mistaking it. He's described as "High Energy", and I'm not a fan of harsh surf - some of that here, but all good.

I recommend this cd for surf tune lovers and how surf all started with Dick Dale.

Surf mandolin.......2007-03-05

Dick Dale was left-handed, yet didn't reverse the strings on his guitar. His technique is most accurately described as electrified mandolin that was augmented in 1962 with a portable Fender reverb unit. He is widely considered the father of surf music and there's no denying that those who came after Dale used his music as a starting point.

The Del-Tones never had a hit record in their time; not even "Misrilou" made much of a splash (forgive the pun). That song and Dale enjoyed a sort of notoriety 30 years after the track's release thanks to the film PULP FICTION. It was featured in the movie's opening credits.

In comparison to the surf music that followed in Dick Dale's wake (pun again), his stuff had more energy perhaps, but it just wasn't as good. Dale had a penchant for reworking tunes to his style that probably should have been left alone-- "The Wedge," "Riders In The Sky" and "Hava Nagila" are good examples of this.

The last selection, "Pipeline," features Stevie Ray Vaughan, and was recorded in 1987. RHINO did a fine job of remastering the older sides, and their liner notes are informative. THE BEST OF DICK DALE & HIS DEL-TONES is a collection that will appeal most to surf music completists, and historians of the "California Sound."

TOTAL RUNNING TIME -- 41:54

A Great Album but not easy listening music . . . ........2007-02-17

I am more partial to metal and hard rock, but Dick Dale is great! The first man to blow up amps and melt guitar picks. He used to start with a handful and flick them off into to audience.

Most of the tracks are a good cross section of the times; has artist as well as studio written and produced tracks. If you are interested in pre-Beach Boys 'surf guitar', this is one to get.

Most people will recognize Banzai Wipeout, but there are some 'studio produced' tracks as well that Dale was forced to record. They are insipid, but a good contrast to the artist's material. Dale wanted to see what he could do with a traditional melody, Hava Nagila has to be experienced . . . .its a great revenge track for all the boring whiny gangsta rap you hear in the summer.

DickDale-King of the Surf Guitar.......2007-01-21

Don't think Dale can play a song the same way twice. Didn't like the selection of songs nor the way they produced.
J

You Don't Know Dick.......2006-12-31

I've owned this particular CD for years, but I have been kind of reluctant to review it. Y'see, to me, Dick Dale is kind of like the Tao; "the Tao that is spoken about, is not the Tao..." The Dick dale that I speak about is not really Dick Dale.

Dick Dale needs to be experienced in order to be appreciated. I can't explain his music. It's kind of primal, kind of tribal, it's kind of raw and will gnaw at your gut for hours after listening to it. It takes a "different kind" of soul to not only listen to Dick Dale, but appreciate him. This isn't said out of arrogance, it's just said out of a knowing that not everybody will like him just like not everyone likes the Mills Brothers...

Shine little glow worm...

He is truly amazing. I saw him in concert a few times, but I remember one time he was playing so fast and so furious that he broke a guitar string in the middle of a jam session. Big deal you say? What would you say if I told you he changed that guitar string while he was playing it? He had a stage hand hold the guitar, while he changed the string with his left hand and played with his right. You wouldn't even believe how thunderous the applause was after that happened.

Every time I've seen him, I've been "deaf" for days. I've never left a Dick Dale concert without somehow changing in some way. He's like a Shaman, a wizard, an alchemist. He can transform the ordinary into something pure and golden. He is truly one of the world's greatest (and most overlooked) musicians.

He is the King.

So, buy this album. It's a great little starter and after you learn to appreciate this album, go to another, and another, until you'll finally be able to say, "Wow, I really do know Dick..."

Peace and Blessings, children

Paul Simon - Greatest Hits: Shining Like A National Guitar

Average customer rating:

Beautiful!
Amazing Songwriter
Add This To Your Shopping Cart.
I was pleasantly surprised!
You'll be flowing on a Cool, Cool, River while playing this

Paul Simon - Greatest Hits: Shining Like A National Guitar
Paul Simon
Manufacturer: Wea International
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

The Best of Simon & Garfunkel
The Paul Simon Anthology
Graceland
The Paul Simon Collection: On My Way, Don't Know Where I'm Goin'
Still Crazy After All These Years

ASIN: B00004T0VL
Release Date: 2000-05-26

Tracks:

Graceland
You Can Call Me Al
Mother And Child Reunion
The Cool, Cool River
50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
The Obvious Child
The Boy In The Bubble
Rene And Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War
Late In The Evening
Bernadette
Slip Slidin' Away
Take Me To The Mardi Gras
Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
Still Crazy After All These Years
Kodachrome
Loves Me Like A Rock
Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard
Hearts And Bones
Trailways Bus

Album Description

First ever 'Greatest Hits' package for the revered singer/songwriter. 19 tracks including 'Graceland' which has never a ppeared on any other Paul Simon compilation. Additional tracks include 'You Can Call Me AL', '50 Ways To Leave Your Lover', 'Slip Slidin' Away', 'Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes', 'Still Crazy After All These Years' and 'Me And Julio D own By The Schoolyard'. 2000 release. Standard jewel case. Remastered, includes 32 page full color booklet.

Album Details

A Summary of the Man's Post Duo Years that Includes Some Surprising Gems that Wouldn't Normally Be on an Album of this Nature.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful!.......2007-05-28

Beautiful collection... and one of the most beautiful portraits of Paul Simon I've seen. Does anyone know where I can get a poster of this album cover???

Amazing Songwriter.......2003-12-30

Paul Simon is one of the most amazing and talented songwriters ever! I love this CD, it is really, really unique, and a joy to listen to! The best songs (in my personel opinion) are "Kodachrome" (so catchy I could listen to it for hours!) "Me & Julio Down By The Schoolyard" (great guitar! Can't get enough) "Still Crazy After All These Years" and, or course, the mega-successful "Graceland". But all the songs are good, except for "You Can Call Me Al" . . . I know it's a classic but I don't really like it. Besides that, I adore this CD. But it, I promise you it will have a permanent home in your CD player!

Add This To Your Shopping Cart........2003-03-28

When you listen to this album, you'll soon realize Paul Simon loves drums and big band sound. I have no clue what his lyrics are saying, but they're great poetry. 4 selecions on this disc from the Monster hit 'Graceland' plus many more we've learned to tap our feet to. My personal favourites if I had to pick a couple are 'You Can Call Me Al' and 'Kodachrome', however the whole disc is well worth having. A major work and very very good quality.

I was pleasantly surprised!.......2001-02-05

I have almost every album that Paul Simon has made, so I bought this one only because I was in the habit of adding to my collection. I wasn't expecting much--after all, I have all of these songs on other discs, some in triplicate. (Yes, I am a devoted fan). But, I was very pleasantly surprised with this collection. The sound is superb and the choice of songs is excellent. The songs span his career--the ones I especially like are 'Rene And Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War' and 'Bernadette'. 'Bernadette' is reminiscent of do-wop and also sounds like something from 'West Side Story'. Both songs are gems and it is sad that classic rock radio passed them by.

The book accompanying the CD is very nice, with glossy paper, photos of Paul not seen before, and liner notes which tell about each song. Song lyrics are also included, which is something that is not often done. Nice collection!

You'll be flowing on a Cool, Cool, River while playing this.......2000-08-17

"...The Mississippi delta was shining like a national guitar..." the opening words to the opening track on this single CD Paul Simon best-of is the first of many things this CD does right! This package is named after the lyric in Graceland.

When one looks at the package, one sees tremendous care that went into it. The CD booklet boasts liner notes, photos, session details, and lyrics to all the songs! The CD clocks in at over 77 minutes and all the songs are remastered. The songs have never sounded better!

One may quibble with what's not on here (Gone At Last, Duncan, Something So Right). But with one CD covering an entire solo career since the S&G breakup, depth is sacrificed for breadth! One cannot quibble though, with what IS on here!

Some songs are edited, though. Loves Me Like A Rock is the edit appearing on Negotiations and Love Songs, and 50 Ways is the single edit appearing on his box set, and the UK import Anthology.

Oh... and some reviewers may speculate with why another greatest hits is coming out now, with Paul's new album on the way...but doing a retrospective covering songs from 1972's Paul Simon upto 1997's Capeman is timely. 25 years is a nice round number.

This is the best single CD covering Paul's career. One hopes a similar package appears domestically.

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