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Bobby Darin was one of the most personally complex and unpredictable artists of the rock era. Indeed, it's hard to find another major artist who reinvented himself with the deceptive ease and overwhelming success chronicled on this 20-track highlight disc. After scoring three lively and considerable Top 10 successes in the space of a year in the late 1950s ("Splish Splash," "Queen of the Hop," "Dream Lover"), Darin traded in his teen idol sweater 'n' slacks for a tux and tie (evidence suggests he considered rock a passing fad!) and went gunning for Sinatra and the Rat Pack. The immediate results were the Grammy-winning No. 1 legend "Mack the Knife" (adapted from Kurt Weill's "Moritat" in The Threepenny Opera) and the enduring, French-inspired Top 10 hit "Beyond the Sea." If Darin spent the early '60s alternately goosing standards from the American songbook ("Clementine," "Bill Bailey," "Lazy River," "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby," etc.) and mending a few rock-pop fences ("Multiplication," "Things"), he still had another surprise in store. His Top 10 take on Tim Hardin's dolorous "If I Were a Carpenter" cast him all too convincingly as conscientious '60s folkie. Other highlights here include his irresistible, swinging take on the lyrically bleak "Artificial Flowers" and his successful, self-penned nods to the '60s Nashville sound, "You're the Reason I'm Living," and "18 Yellow Roses." Darin was considerably more than the first postmodern lounge Revivalist, and herein lies the evidence. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Almost all of Bobby Darin's Top 40 hits on one CD
"The Hit Singles Collection" comes to us courtesy of Rhino, which means you know you are going to get not only 20 choice tracks which include (almost) all of Bobby Darin's Top 40 hits but also solid liner notes from Bill Dahl. The chief attractions are the Top 10 hits, which would be "Splish Splash" (#3), "Queen Of The Hop" (#9), "Dream Lover" (#2), "Mack the Knife" (#1), "Beyond the Sea" (#6), "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby" (#5), "Things" (#3), "You're The Reason I'm Living" (#3), "18 Yellow Roses" (#10), and "If I Were a Carpenter" (#8). As you can see, that is half the album right there. Overall the songs reflect the wide range of Darin's career, where he did everything from popular standards to rock 'n' roll with a bit of folk-rocker and Vegas hip cat in between. Darin is often dismissed as a junior grade Frank Sinatra, but you have to give him credit for refusing to be limited to a particular type of music. This was a man who sang songs written by both Kurt Weill and John Sebastian, and who covered Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones in his nightclub act.

Is this a complete hits collection? Well, there are a pair of Top 40 hits missing ("If a Man Answers" and "Nature Boy") and Darin easily had another dozen songs that made the Billboard charts that could have been picked over. But these would be minor quibbles over all and you will be hard pressed to find a better single CD collection of Darin songs than "The Hit Singles Collection." Darin died relatively young (in 1973 during open-heart surgery) and his election to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 recognized that whatever his limitations his body of work is rather significant in terms of both the overall quality and the diversity. For those looking for something more ambitions Rhino also has a four-CD box set, "As Long As I'm Singing: The Bobby Darin Collection," which is more comprehensive in terms of not only hits but also B-sides and other obscure recordings. But I am happy with this one for now.

Bobby Darin, The Underrated
Ooh Bobby Darin. Ya can't beat that voice. The soothing sounds of Bobby Darin's honey coated voice. Just too sweet! This CD, is perfect in everyway. His songs are addictive, and get stuck in your head forever. These songs, are my drugs, I get a totally pure 'High' off of them. Ladies and Gentlemen Bobby Darin.

Darin does Sinatra does Tim Hardin.....
Bobby Darin could croon with the best---his take on Sinatra was surpassed only by Frank himself but the real treasure here is his cover of "If I were a Carpenter" which rivals Tim Hardens own version. Get this if for that track only and the rest will fall in place.....

Ultra Cool
Bobby Darin, like Dean Martin, had a cool demeanor that always came across in everything he touched, be it movies or music. This collection of his hits has just about everthing that was great about him and is a pleasure to listen to. All these songs have nice arrangements backing up Darin's catchy style and phrasing.

You need only look at the list above to see all the great songs included in this package. There is an overall light and breezy feel to this CD and it fits Darin's career perfectly. It is always hip, sometimes romantic, and definitely like nothing you'll hear today. Harry Connick Jr. sometimes catches the swing and swagger of Darin's style in his lighter moments, but this IS Bobby Darin, a true American origional.

How cool was Bobby Darin? "Beyond the Sea" was playing in a scene in Pacino's "Sea of Love" and an entire episode of televisions own approach to cool, "The X-Files", was built around this song. You'll have no doubt once you pick this up, Macky is indeed, back in town.... ... Read more

Album Description

As the official ambassador for the Disneyland 50th Anniversary Celebration Julie Andrews reflects on her favorite Disneyland memories as well as her favorite Disney songs. This compilation features some of the greatest Disney classics of all time, hand selected by Julie Andrews and accompanied by personal notes written by Ms. Andrews herself. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Just another compilation album
I totally misunderstood the description of this CD.I expected Julie Andrews to be singing her choices of Disney hits.Instead, these are the songs from the soundtracks of the original movies.So, if you are a Disney fan as I am, you probably have most of these exact tracks in your collection.

For some different arrangements of Disney classics, check out "Wishes!".Bette Midler singing "Baby Mine" is lovely, as is Tony Bennett singing "The Bare Necessities". ... Read more

Album Description

Import exclusive album finds the Greek tenor lending his sensual voice to a soulful collection of smooth pop ballads & classically flavored songs. Sony . 2004. ... Read more

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In collaborating on Miracle, Celine Dion and her partner in baby love Anne Geddescarefully sidestepped the L-word--a smart move, considering that the songs captured here, despite their electric-blanket warmth, aren't always lullaby-like in their delivery. Though the collaboration is about babies--the liner notes to this CD provide a sneak peek at Geddes' visual wizardry available in both the expanded box set and book--Miracle is not necessarily for them. Which works out great for Celine fans who have made contact with their maternal sides. More than anything, the disc plays as a valentine to new mothers: "Le Loup, La Biche et le Chevalier (Une Chanson Douce)," "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," and John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy" get the trademark melt-away vocal treatment, causing the need to keep a box of tissues at the ready. While tenderness flows from each track as consistently as formula from a baby bottle, though, the chanteuse doesn't shy away from the passion and note-pounding that are also her trademarks. Thus, the miracle of Miracle lies not in its ability to soothe the tiny creatures it swollen-heartedly celebrates, but in its ability to set the sentiments of listeners who love them to song. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

From her early days in the bathhouses to her rise as the star of her own concert film, Bette Midler has always brought a campy playfulness to her performances.Experience the Divine focuses on her radio hits for the bulk of its resources, although the kicky "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" is here. Midler's voice easily adapts itself to the material she's performing: "When a Man Loves a Woman" is charged with a raw sensuality whereas "In My Life," is as tender as a lullaby.The recent standards are here, "From a Distance" and "Wind Beneath My Wings," along with her star-making turn, "The Rose." Whether she's handling Cole Porter ("Miss Otis Regrets") or the Beatles, Bette Midler's voice is dynamic and expressive, according to the needs of the song. This astute ability to interpret without always going for the kill makes her versions of her chosen material some of the best ever recorded. --Steve Gdula ... Read more

Reviews (41)

The Rose
Bette Midler has a wonderful voice and this is a great album.
The CD starts with the extremely melancholy tearjerker, 'Hello In There' (1972) followed by a soft jazzy rendition of ' Do You Want To Dance' (1972).
Then there is that beautiful ballad, 'From A Distance' (1990), it is not an anti-war rave, but a beautiful song of spiritual contemplation.
Her version of 'Chapel Of Love' (1972) is also a great, feel-good number.

'Only In Miami' (1983) is a superb Calypso piece, which also brings to mind the plight of millions of Cuban exiles from the cruel Castro regime in Cuba.
'When A Man Loves A Woman' (1979) (is a bit different to the original, but certainly adds a soft touch 'The Rose' (1979) is one of the most exquisite, inspirational love songs of all times.

The jazzy 'Miss Otis Regrets' (1990) is a fun rendition of the 1935 Cab Calloway hit, and 'Shiver Me Timbers' (1976) is another lovely imagery hit and who can forget the poetic 'The Wind Beneath Mt Wings' (1988) from the 'Beaches Soundtrack.'
And I also enjoy Bette's 1991 rendition of John Lennon's 'In My Life'
This is a great compilation of some beautiful music.
Sit and listen , notonly to the words , but let the music speak to you !

Best of Bette's First 20 Years in Business (3.5 stars)
Sometimes referred to as a lesser Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler has not had such a star-ridden career, but what she did in her music was always worth hearing. This compilation chronicles the greatest hits from the first twenty years or so (1972-1992) of her career.

A few songs are taken from her breakthrough debut "The Divine Miss M", hit ballads "The Rose", "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "From A Distance" (the latter two big Grammy winners) are also featured. The take on Percy Sledge's "When A Man Loves A Woman" resembles Janis Joplin at her most emotional, while Cole Porter's "Miss Otis Regrets" is a great pop rendition of old standard. Also the remake of the Beatles' "In My Life" (from the movie "For The Boys" where she gave a stunning performance) is worth the name of the song.

Simply put, Bette Midler is a true artist who can sing a song. A good singer of good songs. And although her newer material has not been very successful in terms of sales, her level remains high.

Great covers and originals - all kinds of songs
Bette sings excellent covers of songs from several decades of popular music, each in her own distinctive style, as well as a few originals.

Among the originals, the outstanding song is The Rose, a song written by Amanda McBroom who was then unknown but has established herself as a cabaret singer since she wrote this song.

Bette is perhaps best known for two massive international hits. Wind beneath my wings started life as an R+B song but a Gary Morris cover made the top five in the American country chart. Lee Greenwood's cover became a minor British pop hit. Bette had a major pop hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Bette's version of From a distance, first recorded by folk-country singer Nanci Griffith, matched the success of Wind beneath my wings.

John Prine, an under-appreciated singer-songwriter, wrote Hello in there. Do you wanna dance is a rock'n'roll classic. Chapel of love is of a similar vintage, being originally recorded by the Dixie Cups. When a man loves a woman is a cover of Percy Sledge's classic soul song. The Beatles are represented by a wonderful cover of In my life.

Cole Porter wrote Miss Otis regrets, making it the oldest song here - it was a hit for Ethel Waters way back in 1934. Another old song, Boogie woogie bugle boy, was a hit for the Andrews sisters in 1941. Completing a trilogy of songs from the Great American Songbook is One for my baby, a 1945 hit for Lena Horne.

As a representation of Bette's music, this is excellent.

SHE'S CRAZY, SHE'S A DIVA, SHE'S DIVINE
I have to say that Bette Midler is a gifted and talented performer, but here role in music is somehow eclectic. This Greatest Hits Package is missing not a lot, is missing everything!, some great tracks are just somehow unfitted here. This albums tries to show the different styles of the Divine, but the package got lost in the mix, making an odd track order. Of course the GH includes Midler highlights, "Wind Beneath My Wings, Form A Distance, Do You Want To dance?, and of course The Rose", but the album is somehow missing the key factor that made Midler a star, a well produced ecletic album that doesn't fall in boriness, but this collection does fall.

Our Divine Gal "Experience"
My friends and I have enjoyed your music for several years. Myself, I have been listening since 1973, and am still. I don't believe that there are any tunes that are not in some way pleasurable to listen to. For the "Experienced" listeners, there is much to hear and understand about the little gal that literally flew in, took this city and rocked it!

We love ya Bette...from Toronto....the city of Pride. ... Read more

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Fans of small, pretty-voiced soprano Sarah Brightman will not be disappointed by this CD. In addition to some pop songs, Brightman sings high-flying excerpts from Orff's Carmina Burana, Puccini's "O mio babbino caro" (performed better by almost any other operatic soprano elsewhere), and "Alleluia" from Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate. One might call this a crossover disc; others might just see it as a recording featuring a pop singer with artsy aspirations. Whatever it is, Brightman's fans love her; others do not. Two duets with tenor Jose Cura remind the listener what opera singing really ought to sound like. --Robert Levine ... Read more

Reviews (207)

A Surprise Pleasure for Not Particularly a Brightman Fan
I'd rather listen to Sarah Brightman than watch her. Her voice is lovely, but very small. Her technique, I think, is miniscule. She does not belong in operatic repertoire. All that criticism out of the way, I'll say this is a most delightful album! (Surprise!).

I'm weary of hearing Bocelli, who I find sometimes pleasant at best, but essentially boring, so forget the first number. "There's No One Like You" is gorgeous. The two duets with young Jose Cura are sensational, although that's because of Cura, who has a stunning voice and with his singing and acting skills and appearance/personality ought to be a much bigger star than Bocelli. Any of you who haven't: listen to him, watch him when you can. This is THE big tenor star on the rise.

The "Aranjuez" number by Brightman is ever so appealing, as is "In Trutino". Yes, her voice is too small for the "La Wally" aria, but it's pretty nonetheless, as, of course, is "O mio babbino caro." All in all, this CD is somehow just an enjoyable listen. I even like her read on the Gypsy Kings number.

Songbird Soothes Our Tensions
This album is particularly relaxing. I love to kick back with a glass of wine in a comfortable chair with my eyes closed and just listen.

Sarah's voice is complemented by Andrea Bocelli on the title track and Jose Cura on several others. The material runs from classical to pop, all with an operatic flavor. This is a great album to ease into opera or classical appreciation with. It is not true opera, but emulates some of the vocal and orchestral stylings associated with classical opera. Classical "purists" should look elswhere.

Sarah puts on a strong performance, exhibiting a multitude of qualities with her voice, ranging from strength to wispy warblings and everything in between. She even speaks between the final two tracks, recorded live. Her speaking voice is a surprise! If you enjoy relaxing music in a classical style, you will enjoy this CD. I would put this in her top three recordings, alongside "Eden" and "La Luna."

Whoever said that Miss Brightman has a thin voice is crazy!
I must say that this is one of my most listend to Sarah cds. I wish that some people would just get over the fact that she has a small voice sometimes, and just listen to the music. For heaven sakes, she is famous and it making more money than i ever will, she can sing bad all she wants!! who are we to say anything different??
Go to one of her concerts. It is the most amazing thing. If you close your eyes, you will literally think that you are in heaven!! Because, obviously, she is the "Angel of Music"!!!
I think that Miss Brightman deserves 2 thumbs up!! BRAVO!!

Time to Say Goodbye
Miss Brightman sing like a little angel and the song become very nice and heartfelt. She is a tremendous vocalist that put many singers to shame with her sheer tallent and poise. Ok, so it is not high art or culture but it is fun album with great songs. Highly Recommended.

If you've never heard anything better, this sounds good
I liked this CD for a little while when I didn't know of any singers that could sing better than her. She sounds okay on songs that are written for her because they make her voice sound less breathy and thin. Her voice is "sweet" but very thin. I have heard singers who have pretty voices that aren't so dramatic and full of vibrato as some of the other reviewers complain of opera singers.
Rebecca Luker
Dawn Upshaw (And she's a true opera singer)
Hayley Westenra

And if you think this is real classical singing or even anywhere close to classical singing listen to any decent Soprano over 16 who is classically trained and you will be amazed and how much better they are than her. ... Read more

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A great, comprehensive collection of Sinatra's most popular Reprise tracks, and worth having for any number of reasons, Very Best Of features tons of familiar hits--but requires a caveat for casual Sinatra fans. When Sinatra formed Reprise, he began to re-record many of the sides he'd released on Capitol, in an attempt to transfer his catalog to the new label. It was a smooth move, but his re-recorded versions seldom replaced the originals in the way he'd hoped. And many of the familiar songs here are Capitol remakes. It'd be a task to compare the track listing here with that of the Capitol Years set, but if you want to get serious about your Sinatra, that's the way to go. If you're just a music fan, this is a gem. --Gavin McNett ... Read more

Reviews (60)

A good companion to "The Capitol Years"
Although both "The Very Best of Frank Sinatra" and "The Capitol Years" qualify as greatest hits compilations, Sinatra fans would be well served to own both sets.

Even though many of the selections on this 2-disk set are remakes of the earlier Capitol recordings, there is enough new stuff to make "The Very Best" worth the extra investment.

"A Foggy Day", "The Way You Look Tonight", "The Summer Wind", "That's Life", "It Was a Very Good Year", "Wave", "Luck Be a Lady" and "New York, New York" are unique to this collection (as well as the execrable "Strangers in the Night"). And I prefer the Reprise rendition of "Night and Day", which Sinatra sings as a slow torch song. On the Capitol recording, it's done as a rerun of "I've Got You under My Skin." The more upbeat reading of "Witchcraft" also suits my tastes better than the earlier version. On the other hand, the introduction-only "Stardust" stikes me as strange.

On the whole, I prefer the Capitol recordings, even though the sound quality is somewhat lacking. And of course, there are simply more songs on the 3-disk Capitol collection.

Still, I'd strongly recommend this compendium to old Sinatra fans and those less familiar with his work. Flaws and all, it's classic Sinatra!

BEST of "the best"- The way you remember Frank at HIS best
A RARE collection indeed! Of the 3 dozen-plus Sinatra recordings i own this is the one i keep coming back to time after time. Not only a SUPER selection of 40 of his most popular classics (notably served up in a thoughtfully-ordered 2-CD songlist) there's another bonus hideen here as well: many of these tracks are stand-alone best evers. This is the way you remember Sinatra - smooth, rich and suave!

This is THE VINTAGE of vintage Frank - recordings waxed almost exclusively from 1960 and on - and thus, unlike so many of the dreaded "best" compilations, this set spares us the litany of tired "same-old" recordings in lieu of the better swingin', energetic (and otherwise hard to find) takes of familiar numbers like "Tender Trap", "Don'cha Go Away Mad", "Witchcraft" and "Come Fly with Me" -- it's such a koo-koo day!!

REPRISE's "The Very Best of Frank Sinatra" would make a teriffic FIRST dip into Sinatra for many -- and for my part, if faced with tossing all of my Sinatra CDs but one, this one would be the LAST to go.

ok
He is ok, but he blatantly copied AC/DC. I mean Angus & Malcolm invented smooth lounge singing way before Frank Sinatra.

The eternal crooner
Frankie was sociologically the man who fought against all the odds and obstacles , he overpassed them and won. He acquired the status of living legend just because he knew engage all a whole generation of people , he din't only sing to the golden age , but he took the place of Bing Crosby and made the arrangements to be in the fashion mood with the post war generation. His velvet , expressive an eloquent voice he added his presence in the screen (From here to the eternity , the man with the golden arm ,Manchurian candidate Von Ryan's express) and showed also his skills as actor.
To talk about all the innovative devices that Frankie made in the artistic world would overcome that brief review.
These Capitol years defined a style and melted to that golden generation of crooners as Nat King Cole, Bobby Darin , Dean Martin, Tony Bennet, to name the most remarkable.
He survived to the rock new sound and he knew how to keep the link with a main social target without sacrifice any particle of his craft.
Frankie was a powerful influence for the sixties generation , think in Tom Jones for instance or Engelbert Humperdinck.
I would need a book to talk about the huge influence that even still Sinatra is making now, in this age.
Acquire this set and don't forget that Frankie was also a blessed guy . He married with Ava Gardner ,a cosmic beauty.
And above all think in this point , the portrait made for Mario Puzzo in the Godfather was meangliness due the myth was built!.

The Standard By Which All Others Are Judged: Frank Sinatra!
When it comes to the music of the twentieth century, there are many musical presences that made tremendous contributions to the foundation, development, and elevation of American popular music and the greatness it has achieved, but no one and I mean no one has had a greater influence on the art form or impact on the public through the medium than the master, Frank Sinatra. Never before or since have we seen a single personality dominate the publics attention for such a lengthy period of time, (almost 60 years) with his music, movies, TV appearances, concert performances, and Rat Pack adventures. Even more so today, his massive body of work is cherished and enjoyed by countless numbers of adoring fans worldwide and rightfully so, he left us with an treasure chest full of priceless gems that is unequalled, at least in this century.

"The Very Best of Frank Sinatra" is a masterful compilation of his greatest hits that any music lover is sure to enjoy. There are many remakes of earlier recordings that Frank did with Capitol on this CD, several of which I like better than the originals, but my all time favorite Sinatra songs are also included on this CD and those are the ones I can't live without. When Frank starts to swing to "That's Life", "The Way You Look Tonight", or "The Best Is Yet To Come", you can feel his passion for the music pour out through the speakers and you are engulfed by his perfect sense of swing. Never has there been a more perfect version of "Night and Day", performed like only Sinatra could with his perfect tones and exquisite phrasing. "Summer Wind" is flawless, and there is no other song I know of that will lift you up off the deck and fill your sails with wind than the exhilarating "Theme from New York, New York".

I feel that this mixture of classic Sinatra songs is as near to perfect as you will ever find on a two CD set. Those of you who are already Sinatra lovers probably have many of these tunes on other Sinatra CDs, but I really like the way these tunes are arranged in order on these CDs and the quality is probably better than earlier recordings so I would still suggest you get this CD set also. For those of you who are just beginning to discover the musical genius that is Sinatra, this is a must have CD set no questions asked. After listening to this collection of songs you will surely be coming back for more. I guarantee it!

I recently discovered a new contemporary crooner named Monte Procopio that I also enjoy. He sings with a real passion for the music and his new CD, "Monte Procopio "Swingin' With Style" features a 13 piece band that really swings and deserves a listen. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

He has definitely made it
So many guilty pleasures will always come & go in this well-shown music industry. Yet, with all the manuifactured artists today, we often forget about guilty and simple pleasures from the past generations that continue to influence music from all around the world. That goes true for so many acts from the 70's, especially Barry Manilow. His songs have really brought out the best appeal to all around this great globe. As the first U.S. artist to have a album debut at #1 on the Billboard charts, Barry has been one of the few crowning acts that just keeps having very well near perfection with greatest hits records. A few years ago, Arista and Barry achieved surprising status upon hits with the recognized Ultimate Manilow from 2002, now it has been shown again.

The Essential Barry Manilow, is a reflected look at the legendary Barry Manilow's career on 2 cd's. The compilation is the first of Arista acts recognized from Sony's essential series, since the merger of Sony & BMG. The songs here are reflected graciously with so many of Manilows biggest hits recognized including his classics I Made It Through The Rain, the legendary Copacabana, the guilty pleasure piano ballad Mandy, Weekend In New England, Somewhere Down The Road, and many of his other greats. The collection has been remastered nicely, and is delivered quaintly well. Yet, for some who've bought any earlier Barry Manilow collection, this one might want to be a good addition for some, where others may just consider the earlier Ultimate Manilow collection, considering all 20 tracks from that collection are also here.

Nevertheless, Barry Manilow just keeps coming back with his great pop songs issued all over again. I just absolutely suggest this package for anybody who is interested into Barry Manilow and his great songs. He just can't keep smiling without you.

Songs: B+

Album Cover: B 1/2+

Price: B-

Mastering: B+

Overall: B

It Attempts To Be Essential.
Barry Manilow hand-picked these songs according to the packaging label.The songs and the booklet are impressively selected.What you'll find to be interesting are pieces from his 1977 "Live" album.There are three of those.What you may not find interesting is the absence of "Let's Hang On", "Oh Julie", "Stay (hit in the U.K.)", "I Wanna Do It With You", and at least "Keep Each Other Warm".The song did chart in 1989 as did two other songs from that self-titled album.
When Manilow went to another label in 1985, he recorded a dance track, "I'm Your Man", included on this compilation which was a hit in the clubs across the country and likely most of the world.Anyone wonder where "You're Lookin' Hot Tonight" is? Or "It's Just Another New Year's Eve"?In studying the success of the 1985 album he had another hit, "In Search of Love".We need to keep in mind what he had hits with in other places ofthe world.This also goes for where he "bounced" back from being on hiatus.Something from "Live On Broadway" would have been nice.
The word "essential" doesn't necessarily mean 'best of', although that's what we're being handed here. It is better to take action after saying "essential" with constituting an essence. The ones involved for making this CD didn't give an essence.Barry gave hits, but he didn't pull stuff out that would show some differences to his musical artistry.You can check out his box set from 1992, but even this has failures.
In closure, I would encourage him or other people to look at his albums differently and cut out compositions that show various angles of musical work.One song that does stand out that would have been excellent for the CD would have been "A Little Travelling Music, Please".He has performed it in concert and it was warmly embraced by his audiences."Live" versions of hits sound better because they could be sharper than the studio cut."Looks Like We Made It" is a definite example.When anyone hears his signature anthem, "I Write The Songs", more so than not the ideal way to hear this is a concert recording."Live" from 1977 would provide this elegantly, or his most recent concert 2 cd set, "2 Nights Live!" would suffice quite well.That CD is almost worthy of essentialness too.

Excellent double-CD of Barry's music
In an age where most people placed more importance on the beat of a song than the song itself, Barry came along in the seventies to remind us what great songwriting is really all about. He wrote or co-wrote several of his classic songs but he was always willing to record quality songs written by others. Fortunately for Barry, there were still enough people around in the seventies and eighties who loved great songs, so he was able to become a major star despite being unfashionable in some quarters. Of course, he got - and continues to get - plenty of criticism from those with different musical taste, but the appreciation of his fans provides him with more than adequate compensation.

This compilation covering his most successful years contains many of Barry's classic songs including all his important American hits though there are some notable omissions from a British perspective. Although Barry had many UK hits, only one of them actually made the top ten (I wanna do it with you) and it's not included here. Two other major UK hits (Let's hang on, Bermuda triangle) are also missing. Nevertheless, this is a fine compilation and a class act like Barry should not be judged on hits alone.

Among the many classic songs included here are I write the songs (ironically, not written by Barry), The old songs, Somewhere in the night, I made it through the rain, Daybreak, Trying to get the feeling, Ships, Looks like we made it, Mandy, Copacabana at the Copa, Can't smile without you and Could it be magic.

This compilation provides a great introduction to Barry's music while being more comprehensive than the Ultimate single CD.

The Most (almost) Complete Manilow Ever!!
I'm not a big fan of edits, I've always believed that songs are the length they are for a reason, radio needs to get over itself. Saying that, this collection is the most comprehensive of Barry's radio hits save for the two tracks already mentioned in the other reviews prior. The two albums missing to make this a comprehensive studio representation are "Singing With The Big Bands" and "Manilow Sings Sinatra."The song "Let Me Be Your Wings" performed with Debra Byrd would have made a nice inclusion but again, it wasn't a hit. What is here is a track from Barry's obscure gem "Manilow" and it's the ultra rare 12" inch version of "I'm Your Man."I loved this song when it was new, it's nice to hear it again in all it's digital splendor.One more overlooked song is from 1989's "Barry Manilow," "Keep Each Other Warm," a hit in it's own right and there is enough space left over to accomodate at least that track. Oh well, these small omissions do nothing to deter this collection from being the best currently available. Now that Sony has merged with BMG reissues of Barry's previously unavailable albums may be released on disc, maybe.

+ 1/2 stars as well!
I just wanted to add something to "cdlover2277"'s well documented and informing review.I have the vinyl 45 single of "Could It Be Magic", which incorrectly states a run time of 3:37 on the record label, thus leading to some confusion.The single version actually runs 4:16 and is exactly what appears on the "Essential Barry Manilow" CD set.While some reviewers have expressed disappointment with the inclusion of the single version, it should be clarified that this is how the song was played on Top 40 radio back in 1975.

Also, "It's a Miracle" does not appear in its correct single version form on this CD.The 45 runs shorter. ... Read more

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A meeting of two over-the-top pop minds was said a few years ago to have happened. If work between chest-pounding pop balladeer Celine Dion and legendarily eccentric producer Phil Spector hadn't been aborted in its early stages, fans of the Canadian superstar might have heard her best, most interesting music. As it is, Dion has shown herself game for a challenge, notably in a collaboration with Meat Loaf svengali Jim Steinman on the offbeat opus "It's All Coming Back to Me Now." All the Way... A Decade of Song is just what you'd expect of a multiplatinum seller's greatest-hits package, but it's also more. Displaying a generosity toward her fans, Dion cherry picks nine signature singles ("My Heart Will Go On," "Because You Loved Me," "Beauty and the Beast"), then fills the rest of the CD with seven new cuts when one or two would have done the commercial trick. Most of these are just what admirers and detractors would expect, and Sinatra lovers will hope that All the Way's title track is the last time his family allows an invented Frank-and-random-celebrity duet to take place. But the textures of "I Want You to Need Me" and "Live," while hardly understated, are more measured. They give hope that Dion may yet take herself to a higher artistic plateau, while still pleasing her millions of listeners. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (555)

Most Of Her Greatest Hits...And Then Some
The best part of this "greatest hits" CD collection isn't the old songs. It's the new ones. As a longtime Celine Dion fan, I was a bit dissapointed that some of her older hits ("Where Does My Heart Beat Now?", "Nothing Broken But My Heart", "If There Was Any Other Way") and newer, more interesting work ("The Prayer", "River Deep, Mountain High" were left off of this in favor of the songs that have already been overplayed on the radio. Does anyone really need to hear "My Heart Will Go On" again? Nine songs seems like hardly enough to call this work a true greatest hits CD. But with seven new songs, Celine gives both old and new fans almost a whole album's worth of new songs. Almost enough to tide us over while she goes into semi-retirement. By far the best of these new songs is "Live" written by Luc Plamondon, the French-Canadian composer who is responsible for Celine's amazing French-language "Dion Chante Plamondon" album. Other strong new songs include the upbeat "That's The Way It Is", the beautiful cover of Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "I Want You To Need Me". But if you find that you are going through Celine withdrawl after she retires, check out her French albums. She clearly takes more artistic chances in her native language and the music is constistenly more interesting and more beautiful than her English work. Still "All The Way" is a must-have for any Celine fan.

A look to her past and a glimpse of her present
Celine Dion's "All The Way" combines nine of her past hits along with seven new tracks to create an album that's half greatest hits, half new material.

As with any greatest hits collection, there will be arguments over what should and shouldn't have been included. Among the featured tracks are her "Titanic" hit "My Heart Will Go On" and one of her best efforts to date, "Because You Loved Me". Among her missing hits are her US debut single "Where Does My Heart Beat Now"; "When I Fall In Love", from the "Sleepless in Seattle" soundtrack; "Power of the Dream", an uplifting b-side that was featured prominently during the 1996 Summer Olympics broadcast; and "Nothing Broken But My Heart". But you could only fit so much on half a CD.

The second half consists of newly recorded material, including a nicely performed "duet" with Frank Sinatra on the title track. The highlight of the new tracks is "That's The Way It Is", a surprisingly light and upbeat tune from a singer known more for her power ballads. "Then You Look At Me", "Live", and "If These Walls Could Talk" are typical Celine ballads: not bad, but not extraordinary.

This is Celine Dion's last recording for some time; It gives diehard and casual fans a chance to hear some new songs while reliving her past glory.

Beautiful and Heart Warming Songs
Celine Dion has an amazing and beautiful voice, and the songs here showcase it wonderfully. Although I feel a few essential songs have escaped the collection, ie. 'All By Myself' and 'Think Twice', the majority of the songs here are great. Highlights include 'The Power Of Love', 'Beauty and The Beast', 'Because You Loved Me', 'That's The Way It Is' and the incredible and beautiful 'To Love You More'. The massive and Grammy-award winning hit 'My Heart Will Go On' is nice as well. The only reason I didn't give this album 4 stars is that I feel some of the songs are fillers, but all in all this album is an essential addition to any record collection.

All The Way... A Decade Of Song (1999)
In 1999, Celine had learned that her husband and manager, Renee Angelil, had become diagnosed with throat cancer. Celine was already considering a two-year break, so she and her husband can start a family of their own and so she can see her own family more often, but after learning of Renee's diagnosis, she decided it was time to stop for two years. In doing so, she released her tenth album, All The Way... A Decade Of Song. This is a 16-track album, where the first nine songs are her English-language greatests hits from 1990 to 1998, while the last seven are new songs. It's an amazing album and only Celine Dion has the voice to sing these songs.

THE POWER OF LOVE
From the album The Colour Of My Love (1993). This was originally recorded by Laura Brannigan back in 1988, but Celine Dion gave us the definitive version. I know that what I am about to say is something that I've said a million times, but I have to say it again: This is another song for my late grandfather, only this time, this song was dedicated to him by my grandmother. The lyrics are perfect for the the two of them because they most definitely had The Power Of Love.

IF YOU ASKED ME TO
From the album Celine Dion (1992). This one has always been one of my favorite Celine songs. It's a classic hit all the way.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (with Peabo Bryson)
From the original motion picture & soundtrack Beauty And The Beast (1991). From the album Celine Dion (1992). Definitely one of the most romantic Disney songs I've ever heard. Celine and Peabo sing it beautifully.

BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME
From the original motion picture Up, Close, & Personal (1996). From the album Falling Into You (1996). Another beautiful song. This is my mother's dedication to my grandfather and it's the perfect song for her.

IT'S ALL COMING BACK TO ME NOW (Single Version)
Original version from the album Falling Into You (1996). The album version ran to 7 minutes and 37 seconds, while this version runs to 5 and a half minutes and it is known as a power ballad. Both versions are incredibly beautiful and it's the song that made me a fan.

LOVE CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS
From the album Celine Dion (1992). A great song and among the many songs that was written by Diane Warren.

TO LOVE YOU MORE
From the album Let's Talk About Love (1997). I used to love this song, but now I think I wore it out for myself because I don't like it like I used to, but it's still a great song.

MY HEART WILL GO ON
From the original motion picture & soundtrack Titanic (1997). From the album Let's Talk About Love (1997). The Titanic may have sank, but this is a song that cannot sink, no matter how hard you tried to sink it. Her voice has always been known to be one of the most beautiful of voices, but her voice on this one gives Beautiful a whole new meaning.

I'M YOUR ANGEL (with R. Kelly)
From the album These Are Special Times (1998). A beautiful song and another one of my dedications.

THAT'S THE WAY IT IS
New song. Celine has said that she was getting sick and tired of having people write her ballads. She said that she does like ballads and she does enjoy singing them, but she does like up-tempo songs too. Max Martin had written this song with Celine in mind, so when he came to Celine with this song, Celine, excited about it, accepted the offer. It is, indeed, an up-tempo song and a great one.

IF WALLS COULD TALK
New song. Not bad.

THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE
New song. Although this is a beautiful song, nobody can do it like Roberta Flack. Roberta's version is the definitive classic.

ALL THE WAY (virtual duet with Frank Sinatra)
New song. This song was originally recorded by Frank Sinatra. Celine had planned to re-record this whole song by herself, but she decided to make it a duet. Being that Frank had already passed on, Celine made this a virtual duet by recording over half of the song he sang and leaving in the other half. She remade this one because it is her and her husband's "song".

THEN YOU LOOK AT ME
New song. Okay.

I WANT YOU TO NEED ME
New song. Diane Warren has written many great songs for Celine, including, Love Can Move Mountains, If You Asked Me To, I Love You Good-Bye, Nothing But My Broken Heart, Real Emotion, Next Plane Out, The Colour Of My Love, & Because You Loved Me. She has written yet another beautiful song for Celine and it's right here.

LIVE
New song. Not bad.

Celine has given us an incredible greatest hits album and all of you should own it. If not, then buy it, you'll enjoy it.

Céline is not only a singer...
Correction: Céline is not only a very talented singer but also both an excellent pianist and a songwriter; she has composed many songs (released: Don't Save It All For Christmas Day, Ce n'était qu'un rêve), but fortunately (or unfortunately) for her, she has been surrounded by some very talented songwriters and has released only a few. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Nat King Cole's death in 1965, this compilation is the CD companion of an excellent DVD/documentary. Produced with the blessing of his estate, this disc is a thorough survey of his timeless genius--all recorded on the Capitol label. It captures his sumptuous and soothing tenor voice crooning on the pop tunes he made famous, like the ethereal "Nature Boy," the melancholy "Mona Lisa," and the bouncy "Straighten Up and Fly Right," and "Route 66." It also features Cole's often-overlooked skills as an Earl Hines-style pianist. "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps)," and "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup," attest to his international appeal, and see if you can keep a dry eye when you listen to Natalie Cole's posthumous, digitally-enhanced duet with her father on "Unforgettable." From strings to big bands, Nat King Cole is never out of style. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

SPECIAL CONTENT: Watch Free Clips about Nat "King" Cole

The World of Nat "King" Cole (high bandwidth) (300k stream)

The World of Nat "King" Cole (low bandwidth) (56k stream)

... Read more

Reviews (18)

Classic Cole Compilation
This CD is a great starting point for anyone who is only casually acquainted with Nat's legendary career.Twenty-eight tracks, great audio quality, and terrific liner notes by Natalie Cole make "The World of Nat King Cole " a one-of-a-kind bargain.The songs are pretty much in chronological order from the 1940's through the 60's until Nat's untimely death in February of 1965.It's a classy 40th - anniversary salute to one of the greatest pop/jazz vocalists of the 20th-century.Cole, Sinatra, Bennett, and Torme form the Hall of Fame of the most brilliant interpreters of pop standards, and this CD is a worthy addition to that collective discography.Essential, five stars, and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

His Warmth Shines Through
Nat King Cole projects such warmth in performance.Although this project recognizes the 40th anniversary of his passing, he seems be eternally present through these marvelous recordings.Sisters Natalie and Carole Cole have worked hard to bring this project to fruition; and the result projects their love and care.Seeing the photograph of Nat with John Kennedy and the telegram from Martin Luther King Jr. highlights the importance of this performer during his lifetime.The fact that his brilliance reads to a new generation 40 years later testifies to his enduring legacy.

The music here is so consistently brilliant that it's hard to pick favorites.The whole CD is a highlight.At the top of my own personal top ten recently has been Chris Botti's instrumental version of "When I Fall In Love."To hear King's vocals with the lyric is a real treat, "When I give my heart, it will be completely; or I'll never give my heart."This is the type track that makes romantics everywhere melt!:)The instrumental version of "Nature Boy" in the film "Angel Eyes" where Jim Caviezel suffering from amnesia suddenly picks up a horn and plays this song impressed this melody indelibly on my mind.Then to hear it again in Moulin Rouge was another treat.This version of Nat King Cole's fully highlights the wistful and gorgeous melody.The soft-shoe rhythm of "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" puts a residual smile on my face.Newer singers like Peter Cincotti or Michael Buble who hearken back to this era have their exceptional talent and ability, but Cole will never be matched or surpassed for being good & cool, as Isaac Hayes notes in the booklet.Billy May's arrangement of "Let's Face the Music & Dance" bubbles joyfully & irrepressibly.The Cole penned "Straighten Up & Fly Right" is so delightfully silly and serious at the same time!Bert Kaempfert's "L-O-V-E" is so thoroughly familiar, but exquisitely delightful in Mr. Cole's hands.This set sparkles with the remastering and Nat King Cole will long be a cherished part of our recorded history.Bravo!

Nat KING Cole...The name says it all...
I've just gotten into the King and I am glad I did, better late than never, right? This album is PERFECT for any newcomer and even veteran fans. Most of these songs I've heard but only covers of including "Smile" and "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas." I was amazed at how this album is one of those great albums you don't have to skip over any songs. Each song is beautiful and it really brings a positive light and mood when you listen.

I was going to create a list of the tracks and rate them individually but the majority receive 5 out of 5 stars so it's pointless.

Great collection, Timeless Music
The World of Nat King Cole is a really great CD. Being that I am in my twenties, I admit, the most I knew about Nat King Cole musically was "Mona Lisa" and "Unforgettable," but the "World of Nat King Cole" CD opened up a whole new world of Nat King Cole Music to me.I found that songs like "Straighten Up and Fly Right" and "(Get Your Kicks On)Route 66" songs that have been remade and included in commericals were songs sung by the King Cole Trio.The music on this CD is so pop and upbeat.The sounds of the horns come alive through your speakers especially on songs like "Day In-Day Out."Other songs I enjoyed were "L-O-VE," "Too Young," and "Thou Swell."I enjoyed the whole CD to tell you the truth and so did my kids.This is timeless music.The CD iteself includes 28 Nat King Cole songs, including the duet with his daughter Natalie, "Unforgettable."This is a great collection at a great price.

Maybe the best NAT COLE Collection out there!
Nat is among the very greatest pop performers of all time! As a jazz pianist, he was the top. His later vocal career is surpassed in consistant quality by no one! In fact, only Sinatra recorded such consistly great material during the 1950's and early 1960's. When Nat died in his mid 40's in 1965, his great sound passed on too, but luckily for the world his recordings will always live on! This CD has most of his very famous hits, ballads and toe-tappers, along with some lessor known, equally fine, songs. Check out his version of SMILE, the best ever. Also, ORANGE COLORED SKY, ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE. LOVE, and my favorite YOU STEPPED OUT OF A DREAM, just a few among the hundreds of his best, 2 dozen which are featured here! For those who say "Just another Company making $$ on another 'Best of' Collection", I say, Great! Performers like Nat come along maybe once a generation, and his recordings are as timeless as anyone's, and can be appreciated by all ages. By the way, the late Ray Charles was greatly influenced by Nat, and his earliest recordings are almost carbon copies, until Ray realized he needed to initiate his own sound! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Neil Diamond is one of a rare breed. As a songwriter, his music has been covered successfully by artists as diverse as the Monkees, Deep Purple, UB40, and Smash Mouth. But Diamond used that three-chord alchemy to build an unparalleled career as a performer as well. The 38 tracks on these two discs address those interlocking legacies in the most comprehensive manner yet, gathering his material from Bang! Records (including such pop staples as "Solitary Man," "Cherry, Cherry," "Kentucky Woman," "Red, Red Wine," and "I'm a Believer"), Universal (highlighted by "Sweet Caroline," Song Sung Blue," "Holly Holy," and "I Am ... I Said"), and Columbia for the first time. And if Diamond has veered toward the middle of the road on those latter recordings (such as "September Morn," "Heartlight," and the Streisand duet "You Don't Bring Me Flowers"), there remains a remarkable consistency throughout his work. As if to underscore the point, a number of mid-period hits (including "Shiloh," "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show," and "Soolaimon") are featured as live recordings from fall 2001. These performances show that the sweet roughness of his voice has only grown in power and drama; it's small wonder that Diamond remains one of the top live draws in the business. Even if it overlooks Diamond's unlikely late-'90s hit country album (Tennessee Moon), this set manages to be both concise and thorough, the best introduction yet to an American music legend. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Songs sung blue.
This collection is very similar to his 2-disc "Greatest Hits 1966-1992", but I think this is the better one. For the casual fan, every song is here that matters, and with 38 hits, it really is essential. Included is "Solitary Man", "Sweet Caroline", "I Am...I Said", and "America", among many others. It also has my favorite "Heartlight", which wasn't a huge hit, but makes me feel good. It's true some of these tracks are live, but they're still nearly as enjoyable as the originals. Live "Neil" is pretty good after all. If you want just 1 disc, get the 18 track "Collection".

Super Collection with 3 Must-Haves for Diehards
Since most of the tracks on this collection have been released previously (numerous times for many of them), I will focus my review of this collection on the new live cuts, more specifically Captain Sunshine, He Ain't Heavy, and the medley of Yes I Will/Lady Magdalene.

Before I focus on them however, let me say that the studio recordings of Neil's greatest songs are all on this collection. Listening to all of these tracks, one can gain an appreciation why Neil Diamond is not only revered as a songwriter but as a vocalist. These are timeless pieces of Americana and popular music.

The three live cuts that are noteworthy in this collection are songs hitherto, unreleased as live recordings. In fact, they are songs that Neil has rarely performed live until this current 2001-2002 tour. For me, they represent two things, one the strong writing skills Neil Diamond has even in songs that never became 'greatest hits' and two, the enduring voice Neil Diamond has even after 60+ years.

1. Captain Sunshine is a song from Neil Diamond's 1972 album called Moods. The song was put into the current tour as a tribute to a longtime band member, Vince Charles. The song is a beautiful tribute to the man. Neil Diamond's voice on this song sounds as youthful as it has since the early 1980's (listen to Play Me on this collection as a early 1990's comparison to see how his voice improved from the 90's to today).

2. He Ain' Heavy, He's My Brother is in Neil's current show as a tribute to the heros and victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks and the troops that are currently fighting for the U.S. What is particularly interesting about this song is that Neil sang it before it ever became a hit. In essence, he discovered the song. Although sung differently than the way the hit goes (I believe by the Hollies), the song emulates a feeling of sincerity and love. Again, Neil's voice is solid in this song, although he does tend to talk/sing a bit in places.

3. Yes I Will/Lady Magdalene was put on this album, in my opinion, in response to the diehard fans that continually have requested that Neil sing this live in concert. Many Neil Diamond fans consider these two songs as Neil's finest compositions, and I concur. These two songs represent a more mystical side of Neil with lyrics that aren't as straight-forward as most of his songs. Not only are the words incredible, but the music is awesome. Neil sings these songs almost as well as he did in the studio back in 1973/1974. Truly this and the other three tracks are totally worth buying another greatest hits collection of America's greatest singer/songwriter.

A living legend? Neil Diamond is, and this collection proves it!

It's the newer "Live" ones that make this set unique!
There are at least four Neil Diamond's represented on this collection -- from the (1) very early "Bang" pieces (Cherry Cherry, You Got to Me) to the (2) classic studio hits (Sweet Caroline, I Am...I Said) to (3) mid-career MOR pop songs (You Don't Bring Me Flowers, Forever in Blue Jeans) to (4) newly recorded "live" versions of often-overlooked, but quite substantial, ND compositions (Soolaimon, Captain Sunshine, Yes I Will/Lady Magdalene).

It's the later group (found only on this CD) which makes it especially worthwhile, because in recording them here ND has (finally) learned to sing into the microphone, instead of shouting over it to the last row of the arena. Much better engineering than on previous "live" collections, excepting the full-throttle (original) Hot August Night, and 1997's hard-to-find "ND Live in Concert" 3-CD collection, whose Missa/Soolaimon and re-mastered Jonathon Livingston Seagull suites are not to be matched. Enjoy!

Sex, Drugs, Rock N Roll get old
this album is just too hardcore for me, with thrashing guitars and banging drums, i got a headache, maybe i have a tumor! but this cd sucks. Metal at its worst

The Best One Out There, But...
The studio stuff on here is great. Early stuff is in mono, later stuff is in stereo. Yes, as others have pointed out, 9 of the 38 tracks are live, and we all agree, the originals of the 9 are by far superior. Sony doesn't own the masters to those songs, but Universal does. There are a few Universal Collections, Like "Neil Diamond - The Collection" and "20th Century Masters, The Millennium Collection" that will complete the set. Unfortunately, those compilations don't have all the stuff this one does. Want it all, you'll have to buy both this one and one of the two I listed above, but it will certainly be worth it! If you do like the live stuff, I recommend the remaster of Hot August Night! ... Read more

Amazon.com

A year after his slickly produced recording debut launched him on a meteoric course to stardom, this combo CD/DVD set chronicles Michael Buble's crowd-pleasing live performances before amphitheater-sized crowds on a triumphant national tour. The audio portion kicks off with pair of new studio recordings again reinforce the 20-something Canadian heartthrob's 1950s-something artistic tack with mixed results: "Nice 'n' Easy" has a Sinatra-faithful jazzy swing; the overproduced, somnambulistic "Can't Help Falling in Love" evokes Perry Como more than Elvis. The remainder of the audio CD is comprised mostly of live versions of songs from Buble's debut, with his takes of "My Funny Valentine," "Fever," Van Morrison's "Moondance" and "Mack the Knife" again suggesting that Buble has an ear cocked wisely towards the Bobby Darin oeuvre. But with the notable exception of three elegant live-in-studio performances culled from Sessions@AOL, the live DVD does Buble's undeniabl! y charming stage presence a great disservice. Intercut awkwardly with offstage comments by Buble and his band, the balance of that disc suffers from an MTV-inspired, cut/dissolve-every-three-seconds style that's intended to focus one's attention, but does exactly the opposite. If sudden stardom virtually guarantees that Buble's impossibly smooth, expressive voice seldom ventures very far outside the Sinatra/Darin mold here, hopefully he'll leverage that fame towards greater artistic challenges in the near future. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (77)

Energetically regenerated Mel-oldies
Michael Bublé has this panache about him you HAVE to see to believe. So the DVD disc of this two disc set is like a window into this amazing performer's treasure trove of timing and turning an audience to putty in his hands.

You need to hear him sing only once to be completely wowed by his unique style. So the 8 tracks on the CD are split up into two new studio covers of "Nice 'n' Easy" and "Can't Help Falling in Love," and six tracks of recorded live performances: "My Funny Valentine", "Mack the Knife" (which is astoundingly well done), "You'll Never Know", and then live versions of those included on his debut CD: "Fever", "For Once In My Life", and "Moondance".

The DVD includes live performances from the United States, the U.K., and South Africa. The 12 tracks on the DVD include performance selections from his debut CD: "Come Fly With Me," "Sway," "How Do You Mend a Broken Heart," "Kissing a Fool," "For Once In My Life", "That's All", "Fever","Moondance" and my very favorite "The Way You Look Tonight". Others included on the DVD are "You'll Never Know", a breathtaking version of "My Funny Valentine" and "Mack the Knife".

Get this - 'cuz all that's old is affectionately Bublé and band renewed again.

A little disappointed
My wife and I saw Michael at Massey Hall in Toronto and thought it was the best concert we had ever seen. We were hoping that this DVD would try to give fans who have not seen him live, a chance to receive a similar experience. The problem was that the terrible fast editing job does not do anything to show how he performs or moves. In fact a lot of the video footage shown doesn't even sync with the audio. The backstage and other non concert footage was good, although he tried too hard to show that he was not a "goody-two-shoes".It was a kind of forced attempt to be edgy. I think his natural personality and talent are edgy enough. The CD was a great bonus, but why all the repeat of old released songs. I find I just skip to "my funny valentine", "you'll never know", "nice and easy" and "mack the knife". Sorry Michael I expected much more from you, the person I believe is the best male performer in the business today. People who compare Cincotti, Evans, Robbie Williams or even I dare say Harry Connick to Michael Buble....Puuhlease!.

2 1/2 stars for the dvd,3 1/2 stars for cd
I bought this album about 3 weeks ago,the first time i heard his "MICHAEL BUBLE"album,it was 1 year ago at hmv's store in singapore.....,and it was a terrific album. since then i was so anxious to watch his live in concert dvd and Finally, i found this cd dvd album.unfortunetly, the live concert on this dvd didn't really meet my expectation of what his concert supposed to be.too many interviews and it was like watching a video clip rather than a live concert but anyways u have to watch it for yourself, and u decide !! so 2 1/2 stars for the dvd and 3 1/2 stars for the cd

DON'T buy this CD package!
Michael Buble has recorded the theme for the new Spider-Man 2 movie and his version plays over the end credits but is not on the album.

However, Warner Music just issued the song as a single. But WAIT!...

Plans are in play to re-issue 'Come Fly With Me' as the current CD/DVD package BUT will include "Can't Help Falling In Love," "My Funny Valentine," "Spiderman" and a new mix of "Sway".

If you still want the CD single of 'Spider-Man', it features a Junkie XL remix. Junkie XL also did 5 remixes of the song 'Sway' on the same single.

A Must Buy For All Michael Buble Fans!
I have had Michael Buble in my DVD player and on my big screen TV for almost three months now, and each and every time I listen to Michael sing or watch him perform I gain a better understanding of how wonderfully talented this young man truly is.

Whether in my car, at work, or on my TV, I always get a feeling of satisfaction after enjoying his music. The DVD is very informative and the concert footage makes me feel like I am right in the middle of one of his concerts. With all the live performance and interview/backstage footage you really get to know what Michael Buble is all about. The CD includes some new material as well, and I especially like "Nice And Easy". With his gorgeous voice and unique style he will be a permanent fixture in the pop music scene for many years to come. This CD/DVD package is really marvelous and you can't go wrong buying it.

If you enjoy listening to crooners and Big Band Swing, I would also suggest Monte Procopio "Swingin' With Style" CD. His 13-piece band really swings and deserves a listen. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Kristin Chenoweth won a Tony for the supporting role of Sally Brown in the 1999 revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, made a memorably vampy Lily in the 1999 television film of Annie, and had an NBC sitcom created for her, Kristin! Now she grabs the spotlight in Let Yourself Go, her first solo recording. She mixes torchy standards ("My Funny Valentine," "How Long Has This Been Going On?") with Faith Prince-style sauciness ("If"), gets to show off her operatic and scat chops in the miniplay "The Girl in 14G," and shares a light duet with Jason Alexander (reviving his musical theater career post-Seinfeld). Perhaps her "Stranger Here Myself" isn't the weightiest you've ever heard, but this is an enjoyable album with a good deal of old-fashioned class, expertly accompanied by Rob Fisher and the Coffee Club Orchestra. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (50)

I love this CD so much I have two copies
I adore Kristin Chenoweth. I didn't quite know who she was until her short-lived NBC sitcom. It is because of that show that I purchased this CD. I listen to it a portion of it at least once a day.

Kristin has such an amazing voice and she really shines on this album. When I first listened to the CD, I enjoyed the faster songs more than the slow ones. Then I liked the slow ones more. Now I just love it all.

"Let Yourself Go" is a fabulous song to wake yourself up and get moving. It has the pep and spirit that shines so well in Kristin's personality.

"If You Hadn't But You Did", at times my favorite song, starts out slow but gains speed quickly. In this song, you can hear Kristin's ability to get into a character using only her voice.

"How Long Has This Been Going On" and "My Funny Valentine" really show off Kristin's voice and her ability to hit those high notes and hold them.

"Hangin' Around With You", a duet with Seinfeld's Jason Alexander, is a pleasant surprise. It's fun to listen to Kristin and Jason argue, they both have fabulous comedic timing.

"The Girl In 14G" is amazing. Here, Kristin showcases the range of her voice and shows off her opera training.

In "I'll Tell the Man in the Street", "I'm A Stranger Here Myself", and "Nobody Else But Me", Kristin captures her characters so well.

"Nobody's Heart Belongs To Me/ Why Can't I?" at first seemed like a slow boring song to me, but I found myself loving it. This song just packs so much emotion and can sometimes bring a tear to my eye. I could listen to it all day long.

"Should I Be Sweet?" is hilarious. Kristin switches her mood back and forth so easily.

"Just An Ordinary Guy", "Goin' To the Dance With You", "On A Turquiose Cloud", and "You'll Never Know" continue the flow of the album, bouncing from sweet and slow to peppy to a song merely showcasing Kristin's abilities to a beautiful love song.

"Daddy" is a great song to end the CD with. It is so much fun to listen and sing along with. Kristin sings it so well, and I always find myself listening to it twice.

Overall, this CD is fabulous. In the booklet in the CD, Kristin tells John Lahr of the New Yorker, "The one thing I don't want to do is sing a song because it's pretty. I want to tell a story. I want people to be transformed in the song." With her first solo CD, Kristin achieves this goal and so much more.

I can not reccomend it enthusiastically enough. Buy this CD! :)

Wonderful Voice, Mixed Bag of Standards Chosen
Being a huge fan of Kristin Chenoweth since seeing her perform on the Tony Awards as "Sally" in You're A Good Man Charlie Brown and on Rosie O'Donnell's Christmas Special, I was very excited to go out and purchase her debut album. While her voice is elegant, humourous at times, emotional, and basically just all around, great.....the songs she chose do not showcase her talent fairly. With the exception of Let Yourself Go, If You Hadn't But You Did, My Funny Valentine, Hangin' Around With You (With Jason Alexander), and The Girl in 14G, the rest of the songs are just filler. I hope the next time around, her producers select a complete track listing of songs that really show what a national treasure KRISTIN is! I look forward to her sitcom this next week! Keep up the great work Ms. Chenoweth!!

Excellent CD!
Kristin Chenoweth, as Idina Menzel said in her speech at the 2004 Tonys, is the "grace and light upon that stage every night." And her debut CD "Let yourself go" certainly shows how talented and charismatic Kristin is. This CD utilizes Kristin's amazing versatility and range. She can go from singing ballads such as "My funny Valentine" to upbeat numbers ("Let yourself Go") to "The Girl in 14-G" that has her singing opera and jazz in one number. If you are a fan of show tunes or just good music, you should buy this CD! Kristin is a rare gem in musical theatre today but her talent doesn't stop there. She is also a classically trained opera singer and has proven herself able to sing jazz, country, and gospel as well. On top of that, she is a kind woman who doesn't take anything for granted.

Let Yourself Go into many different types of singing
Kristin Chenoweth has the perfect combo of comedy and ballads...I love it!

Kristin Chenoweth is perfect once again!!
What can I say? The amazing Kristin Chenoweth has done it again. This CD showcases her voice beautifully; she has quite a range. A really good thing about this CD is that all of the songs are not exactly the same, so Kristin has a chance to show off her comedic singing ("If", among others), as well as her more serious material ("Why Can't I?", etc.), both of which she does extremely well. This should be a must-buy for any Chenoweth, music, or musical theatre fan anywhere! Kristin Chenoweth never ceases to amaze me, and I'm sure you will feel the same way after you listen to this fabulous CD. ... Read more

Album Description

Got you on my mind is the collaboration between chanteuse Madeleine Peyrouxand harmonica virtuoso/ guitarist William Galison, with whom she has touredextensively in recent years. On Ms. Peyroux's first recording since Deamland,Madeleine and William cover a wide variety of tunes, from a Josephine Bakerclassic through tunes made famous by Willy Dixon, Stevie Wonder and John Lennon, aswell as three delightful original compositions. The accompanying musicians arestars in their own right, including Bob Dylan's bassist Tony Garnier andSaturday Night Live's drummer Shawn Pelton, and there is a delightful cameo bynone other than Carly Simon. To many of Madeleine's fans, Got You On My Mindrepresents her exquisite singing at its most natural and unconstrained -- in aninformal, musical context close to her roots and to her heart. What comes acrossmost strongly from this CD however, is the amazing musical chemistry betweenthese two extraordinary artists. ... Read more

Album Description

From pop-culture icon William Shatner comes Has Been, an album unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. Produced and arranged by Ben Folds and featuring numerous notable guest appearances, Has Been is the result of the collision of two great creative forces — a surprisingly pop-driven, lyrically potent collection of songs to enlighten and entertain.

Throughout Has Been, Shatner’s own insightful lyrics are masterfully woven into perfect pop melodies written and arranged by Ben Folds. Giving Shatner and Folds a hand on the project is an incredible lineup of singers and musicians, including Jon Auer, Adrian Belew, Matt Chamberlain, Joe Jackson, Lemon Jelly, Aimee Mann, Brad Paisley, Henry Rollins and Sebastian Steinberg.

Highlights include the poignant "That’s Me Trying," penned by Ben Folds with High Fidelity author Nick Hornby, a brilliant version of the Pulp Britpop classic "Common People," featuring vocals by Joe Jackson and closing track, "Real," a duet with country star Brad Paisley, written exclusively for this project. ... Read more