Reviews (22)

Listen to Neil Diamond's soundtrack and skip the film
The decision to make a modern version of Al Jolson's "Jazz Singer" in 1980 is one of the more dubious ideas to come out of Hollywood. Putting singer Neil Diamond in the Jolson role opposite Laurence Olivier as his cantor father and Lucy Arnaz as the woman he loves had only one sure upside in that Diamond also did the music for the film. If your choice is between watching the film or listening to the soundtrack, then listen to the soundtrack.

Diamond was inspired by the immigrant element of the story to honor the national melting pot in the opening song "America," along with one of his better ballads from that part of his career "Hello Again." The songs also play to Diamond's strength in that several of them would be done "live" in the context of the film, and anyone who has listened to "Hot August Night" or any other concert album by Diamond knows he is a lot better live than he is in the studio. In retrospect that is clearly the point in Diamond's career where the hard rock and gospel influences went away and he began a soft rock/pop artist where songs like "Love on the Rocks" and "Summerlove" became the norm. His early songs are arguably his best, but it was not until his 1976 album "Beautiful Noise" that Diamond ever had an album go platinum.

To his credit Diamond does come up with songs that meet the narrative needs of the film, not that this is a reason to watch the movie, so do not accuse me of advocating you do that. There is no reason for you to see that "You Baby" is part of an awkward homage, for lack of a better word, to Jolson in black face. Also worked into the mix are some traditional Jewish songs, "Adon Olom" and "Kol Nidre/My Name Is Yussel," and Diamond makes an earnest attempt to do them right. The resulting mix might be uneven, but there are enough solid songs here to make this an above average Neil Diamond album.

Terrible Movie.. Decent Album
This semi decent soundtrack is good as long as you haven't seen the movie... otherwise the schlock of the movie will make this CD of work a bitter pill to swallow, and your thoughts will be filled with terrible, terrible acting by Lucy Arnaz and Lawrence Olivier. I would suggest buying another Neil Diamond CD made before this one. The Diamond CDs only get worse as the years go on, and the Jazz Singer Soundtrack is the last listenable thing made by Neil Diamond. "America", "Love on the Rocks", "Songs of Life" and "Summerlove" are pretty good tunes. Those tunes make the disc worth owning for a hardcore fan.. However, "You Baby", "Hey Louise", "Acapulco", "On The Robert E Lee" and "Jerusalem" are utter garbage. "Amazed and Confused" is unlistenable. "Adon Olom" and "Kol Nidre/My Name Is Yussel" are just things put on the album to take up space. I would suggest Stones, Moods, or Greatest Hits over this..they are money well spent.. the Jazz Singer is not.

His Masterpiece
The album you throw at anyone who says he was only a singles artist, the Jazz Singer is a terrible movie and the best piece of work he ever did. You Baby and My Louise could and should have been hits, Acapulco and Summer Love are wonderful charming songs, and with the exception of the one terrible cut Diamond puts on every cd to make sure you appreciate the good stuff (Songs of Life) this was and is a superior cd. Only Tennessee Moon has given it any competition in the last 20 years.

3 good songs and the rest is BAD!!!!
Starting with September Morn, all of his CDs have been very uneven and this is one of the worst. This has a couple of good songs on it (you know what they are) but the rest is REALLY BAD!!! I wish they would put out Greatest Hits Vol. 3 with all of his great songs since September Morn that aren't on Vol. 2 including That Kind, The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore, On The Way To The Sky, Right By You, The Drifter, First You Have to Say You Love Me, Front Page Story, Heartlight, In Ensanada, Turn Around, You Make It Feel Like Christmas, Sleep With Me Tonight, The Man You Need, Story of My Life, It Should Have Been Me, (I'll See You On The Radio) Laura, Me Beside You, Best Years of Our Lives, This Time, If I Couldn't See You Again, If There Were No Dreams, Don't Turn Around, Hooked On The Memory of You and a couple from Tennesse Moon and Three Chord Opera. Now that would be an AWESOME CD and you wouldn't have to waste your hard-earned money on awful CDs like this with only 3 or 4 good songs!!!!

Far...we've been traveling far.
This album made me want to go out and marry a shicksa. A true masterpiece "in it's time". Remember this was 1980, folks -- this was the sound back then and Diamond captured it. Except for Adon Olom, of which I've heard better versions of in a Synagogue in Des Moines on a Tuesday afternoon. ... Read more

Album Description

In his all too short life, Bobby Darin accomplished more than most artistscould ever dream. He was a teen idol, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, anAcademy Award-nominated actor, a Grammy Award-winner, a folk rock stylist and aVegas showman -- and that only scratches the surface. The consummate Americanperformer, his artistry is far beyond what mere words could describe. AcesBack To Back, the long awaited Bobby Darin collection on HYENA Records, paintsthe entire picture. Produced by Joel Dorn, in conjunction with Darin's managerSteve Blauner and Darin's official archivist Jimmy Scalia, the CD/DVD set isthe most comprehensive collection of Bobby Darin rarities ever released, drawingfrom long lost concert performances, previously unreleased radio broadcasts,out of print studio sessions and vintage film and television footage. Highpoints include performances from his 1970s television variety show on which Darindelivers definitive renditions of his biggest hits including "Mack TheKnife," "Beyond The Sea" and "Dream." Also included, for first time ever commercialrelease, are the fabled "Milk Recordings" that are among the only known Darinjazz vocal performances. The folk rock gems from his retreat to Big Sur areyet another invaluable addition highlighted by "Jive" and "Long Time Movin'." The DVD component includes performances from the aforementioned '70s televisionshow, but the feature is the never before seen black and white documentaryfilm that Bobby Darin was directing about his own life. Narrated by GeorgeBurns, the poignant footage captures Darin in the studio, with his family,performing around the world and finally from his comeback performance at the CoconutGrove.Aces Back To Back encompasses the brilliance of one of the 20thcentury's greatest artists like no retrospective that's come before! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Standards Done Intensely On This Third Ronstadt Set
If contemporary singers are to successfully tackle the Great American Songbook, it helps to understand and interpret the simple emotions behind the clever wordplay. Linda Ronstadt had a head start in that respect, covering the second great songbook of Hank Williams, Chuck Berry, the Bryants, and Motown. "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You," is an eloquent enough statement as Williams (then Ronstadt) sang it, but without that innate understanding of what a song means, you basically deal in stylistic exercises.

"For Sentimental Reasons" avoids that trap for the most part. Linda manages a touch of C&W/big band swing on "Am I Blue," while catching the innocence of "Little Girl Blue" and "When You Wish Upon A Star." The set missteps a bit with Nat Cole's "Straighten Up and Fly Right," and with "I Get Along Without You Very Well," which misses the inner turmoil Sinatra and Billie Holiday brought to their versions. But Linda manages the late-night desparation of "Round Midnight," ideally, making it a fitting finale to not only her short career singing these songs, but to arranger Nelson Riddle's long, legendary career arranging them. Recommended.

One of Linda's Very FINEST
The girl's come a LONG WAY since the days of "When Will I Be Loved" and "Different Drummer". Here we have a mature artist giving her own interpretations of these familiar old chestnuts, yet still retaining their original structure and melody. Compared with her 2 earlier CD's, "What's New" & "Lush Life", "Sentimental..." is a quantum leap in Ronstadt's skills and interpretive abilities. It would've been unthinkable for her in the 70s to sing a song like "When You Wish Upon A Star" with the tenderness and clarity that she does here. What adds poignancy to this particular CD is that it contains Nelson Riddle's very last arrangements (in fact he passed away before the final completion).

Linda has been attacked by some in the media for taking on this kind of material, yet I agree with all those who have listened to this set. You will be amazed by her power, phrasing and diction. She is simply BRILLIANT! My fav's are "Am I Blue", "Straighten Up.." and of course the title track, "I Love You for Sentimental Reasons". She really glides on the faster-paced swingers. It's hard to keep the feet still when Riddle's orchestra starts kicking. Stop comparing her to Fitzgerald or Sinatra---it's unfair. It you must compare, pick her own generation of artists who tackled similar material (remember Carly Simon & Pia Zadora??) Need I say more? Linda adds enough zest, polish and individuality to lift these songs to a new level. Enough said---GET THIS CD!! You will be surprised how it will hardly leave your player.

An "A" for effort.
Beautiful packaging, Nelson Riddle, and classic pop standards! How could anyone pass this up? The only thing that left something to be desired was Linda's attempt at singing these songs. The voice sounds unsure and out of place. Other reviewers are displeased with those who compare Linda to other artist that have made these songs so famous, (Frank, Ella, ect.). But how can you not compare her? If someone were to record "Over the Rainbow" they would for sure be compared to Miss Judy Garland. The fact that Linda falls short is no surprise. Artists of her generation, Carly Simon, Pia Zadora, and most recently Rod Stewart have attempted similar material and have all missed the magic mark. And to show I am not biased of the "original" crooners, just listen to Olivia Newton-John's version of "The way you look tonight" from her "Warm and Tender" cd and you will see what a great singer can do with a great song.

Sound familiar?
There is a huge resurgance of Big Band sounds these days and lots of juicy horns and arrangements, but what is this? We had it here all along!

Who can resist Linda Ronstadt's unmanipulated vocals based on impeccable pitch and perfect stylized phrasing?

"Am I Blue" comes back to life with a hoot of an arrangement and circulation of her versatility.

"I Love You for Sentimental Reasons" is so romantic and lovely with instrumentals to die for by some of the most expertly trained band members ever to live. Nelson Riddle's Orchestra is so renowned and celebrated for a very good reason - the sound they created is the pinnacle of auditory treats.

I'm so glad I resurrected this cd of resurrected and reenlivened standards.

End of an Era
FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS was the final album in a chapter of Linda Ronstadt's career where she was doing old standards. Third time is a charm as usual, Linda turned in another great performance on this album. She sounds at ease singing songs like "When You Wish Upon A Star", or "Straighten Up and Fly Right". She does a great version of "My Funny Valentine". You have to commend Linda for trying new things and pushing boundaries, and testing her abilities. She handles her voice well on these standards, and sadly its often overlooked and disregarded. But don't miss this one. She does an excellent version of "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons", doing the romantic ballads on one hand and then the quirky uptempo songs, she has dimension as an artist which is clearly evidence here. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Even in the face of epochal success, it's tempting to ponder what Barbra Streisand might have accomplished had she not spread herself across so many diverse entertainment media; so much ambition, so little time. This collection of 19 Streisand duets chronicles collaborations with Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland at one end of the scale and Don Johnson at the other. It finds the singer dabbling--if, as her bluesy miscue with Ray Charles on "Crying Time" argues, not necessarily triumphing--in styles she largely eschewed elsewhere in her career. Still, her unlikely collaborations with Barry Gibb ("Guilty," "What Kind of Fool") and Donna Summer ("No More Tears (Enough Is Enough") during the disco era scored her some of the biggest successes of her career, ample proof that with the right chemistry, Streisand could be as powerful a pop music chameleon as she was a diva. New recordings with veteran Barry Manilow (the warm, low-key "I Won't Be the One to Let You Go") and Josh Groban (David Foster's overwrought "All I Know of Love") supplement recordings that stretch from the '60s kitsch-a-go-go of Harold Arlen's "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" across five decades of Streisand's unparalleled career. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (90)

Designed for the Casual Fan
If you are a casual Streisand fan with few of her albums in your collection, DUETS, like THE ESSENTIAL BARBRA STREISAND before it, is perfect for you.

The tracks that are the biggest treats here are those that haven't been released multiple times before. Obivously that would include the two new "pop" tracks, featuring Barry Manilow and Josh Groban. Of the two, the Groban track is stronger. Barbra's never sung with a male voice of Groban's caliber, and while the song itself is no great shakes, their voices together are a beautiful combination.

Other highlights and welcome inclusions include the stellar 1971 duet with herself on "One Less Bell To Answer / A House Is Not A Home," her duets with musical giants Judy Garland, Harold Arlen, Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis (which should have been a big adult contemporary hit but wasn't) and Frank Sinatra, taken from his album release of the same name. Of special mention is her "power 80's" ballad with Kim Carnes, the under-rated "Make No Mistake, He's Mine."

If you enjoy Streisand, you will enjoy this album.

What a Career!
This is a wonderful recording! I really loved the new duet with Josh Gorban and of course the Manilow Duet is nice. But some how they don't live up to the other career spanning duets. I feel almost a little sad listening to this new CD because have the feeling Barbra's career is coming to a close. Sure they'll be a album every year or so but she doesn't have the same passion in her selection of songs or in her voice. The lady is in love and that' s seems to be most important to her. Who can blame her! I am the ultimate Streisand fan and have been since the 70s. But I miss those albums like Gulity, Wet, Lazy Afternoon, etc... I remember when a new Streisand release used to be the highlight of the year!
Thanks Barbra for all you've given to us! I love you.

One final note: I agree with one reviewer here, it would have been so much more exciting if Barbra had released a cd of all the songs that didn't make it on her albums. I have read they arre several including two or three that never made it on her masterpiece album, Guilty . Please no more greatest hits packages!

No Other Compares............
Wonderful artists recorded with Barbra and what wonderful performances... Any listener familiar with Barbra, knows that every track she records is perfected to beyond perfection. Those of us lucky enough to have lived through these years of Barbra's duets remember how exciting it was when they hit the charts..
I would highly recommend this fabulous collection.. In truth..any recording Barbra has released would be highly recommend.. She is simply the worlds greatest artist..

Duets [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]
Duets [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]~ Barbra Streisand is a terrible album with an even worst singer. She looks like terrible with that huge nose and it is an eye sore that they put her trunk on the cd cover. This cd should be avoided at all costs...

Duets (2002)
Barbra Streisand has been one of the most extrodinary female solo artists for many, many years. Her voice has moved us in so many ways. Little did we know that during her years as a singer that she would perform incredible duets with so many other artists. This CD contains every duet that Barbra has ever recorded.

I WON'T BE THE ONE TO LET GO (w/ BARRY MANILOW) NEW SONG
I was shocked to learn of this song. I cannot believe that both of my mother's favorite performers have recorded a duet together. This is a beautiful song and it talks about how two lovers will never leave each other.

GUILTY (w/ BARRY GIBB) (from the album GUILTY)
I never liked this one. There's just something about it.

YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS (w/ NEIL DIAMOND) (from the album BARBRA STREISAND'S GREATEST HITS VOL. 2)
An okay song.

I FINALLY FOUND SOMEONE (w/ BRYAN ADAMS) (from the original motion picture soundtrack THE MIRROR HAS TWO FACES)
Beautiful song. It's obvious that the song is about how two people found the perfect lovers... each other.

CRYIN' TIME (w/ RAY CHARLES) (from the boxset JUST FOR THE RECORD)
Not a good song. Ray Charles' voice is horrible.

I'VE GOT A CRUSH ON YOU (w/ FRANK SINATRA) (from Frank's album DUETS)
Okay song. Although Frank's voice is not bad, I cannot call myself a fan.

TELL HIM (w/ CELINE DION) (from the album HIGHER GROUND) (from Celine's album LET'S TALK ABOUT LOVE)
Celine's voice in one corner, Barbra's voice in the other corner. These two have made the right choice in recording a song together because their voices are absolutely out of this world, especially when they sing together.

NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) (SINGLE VERION) (w/ DONNA SUMMER) (original version from the album WET)
Barbra's music is considered easy listening. Donna's music is considered disco. Who would have known that an EASY LISTENING artist would team up with the best DISCO artist? The original version is actually 8 minutes and 19 seconds long and it can be found on Barbra's album WET. The longer version is actually 11 minutes and 43 seconds and can be found on both Donna's albums ON THE RADIO: GREATEST HITS VOLUMES 1 & 2 and THE DANCE COLLECTION. This has to be the best DIVA duet ever, in front of LADY MARMALADE, by CHRISTINA, LIL' KIM, MYA, & PINK.

WHAT KIND OF FOOL (w/ BARRY GIBB) (from the album GUILTY)
Better than Guilty.

I HAVE A LOVE/ONE HAND, ONE HEART medley (w/ JOHNNY MATHIS) (from the album BACK TO BROADWAY)
Okay song, but Johnny Mathis is not a great singer.

ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER/A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME medley (w/ BARBRA STREISAND) (from the album BARBRA JOAN STREISAND)
Absolutley amazing and to make it a duet with herself is beyond incredible.

LOST INSIDE OF YOU (w/ KRIS KRISTOFFERSON) (from the original motion picture soundtrack A STAR IS BORN)
Pretty song, but Kris needs to stick to what he's good at: ACTING!

TILL I LOVED YOU (w/ DON JOHNSON) (from the album TILL I LOVED YOU)
Great song, but Don, stick to what you're good at.

MAKE NO MISTAKE, HE'S MINE (w/ KIM CARNES) (from the album EMOTION)
Not a bad song.

IF YOU EVER LEAVE ME (w/ VINCE GILL) (from the album A LOVE LIKE OURS)
Not bad.

THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT (w/ MICHAEL CRAWFORD) (from the album BACK TO BROADWAY)
Not bad.

DING-DONG! THE WITCH IS DEAD (w/ HAROLD ARLEN) (from Harold's album HAROLD SINGS ARLEN w/ Friend)
Silly!

GET HAPPY/HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN (w/ JUDY GARLAND) (from the boxset JUST FOR THE RECORD)
Judy's voice is absolutely amazing.

ALL I KNOW OF LOVE (w/ JOSH GROBAN) NEW SONG
Beautiful song. Should have been released as a single.

Barbra has performed so many great duets that they had to be re-released on this incredible album. Buy and prepare to be amazed. ... Read more

Album Details

Featuring Some of Engelbert's Favourite Songs, which Will Be Familar to all his Fans, Performed in his Own Inimitable Style plus Three New Recordings from
2004. This 2005 Release Coincided with his First UK Tour in Three Years. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Each album gets better than the last
I admit, the first song on this album was unusual for Engelbert.That is probably the reason there are some negative reviews. But, all the songs on this album grow on you. Some of the songs are instant hits, and I find myself singing along as I drive down the highway - and smiling, not believing how amazingly beautiful Engelbert still sounds. These songs are my favorite: When You Say Nothing at All, With You I'm Born Again, Three Words Ain't Enough, We're All Alone, Love Songs, Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?, My Confession. "My Confession" is a spectacular closing song.Rarely does one album have so many great songs. I can listen to this album over and over - endlessly.

My mom doesn't like him anymore...
I got this CD for my mom and after listening to it she asked me to take it back to the store, because she said there is no way it could be her favorite singer Engelbert. She was very disapointed. So I am stocked with this because the store would not take it back. Does anyone want it for free?

Enge's newest,and a new listening pleasure, CD.
I bought this new CD of Engelbert's. "Let There Be Love."
Enjoy, enjoy ! A bit different style, songs I had not heard him
sing before.
Gotta give Enge credit, he does new material, in a new style, and it comes off on top.
The song that I like most,"Have you really ever loved a woman?"
Wow........ that one make the goosebumps stand up.
I've heard several of the songs on this CD, by other artists in the past. But hearing Enge do them, in a style that is his own,
gives the listener a new pleasure. kp

Let There Be More, Much More
Engelbert once again serves up an ACE. I am more convinced than ever before that this man is in a class by himself. Yea, Sinatra, Bennet, Damone, Black, have set the vocal stage for many years, but this Man is by Far the best singer to grace this planet in the last hundred years. He can sing Celine songs,Gospel songs,Christmas songs and God knows, he is to Love songs, what Mercedes-Benz is to Cars.

Buy the album, better yet buy all of his works like I have done and then boast of having the finest collection of songs ever sung.

Ed Gibbons
Little Silver, New Jersey

Pop/Jazz Songsfor Midnight
Imagine being stressed out after a long day.You just want to mellow out with a little wine and an understated collection of soothing ballads blended with a little jazz and just a hint of country.Johnny Mathis?Nat King Cole?Two good choices.How about the King of Romance, Engelbert Humperdinck?No way, you think, his voice is too strong, too dramatic.The total musical experience would be overpowering, and I just want to drift into the music, not drown.Don't worry, not with this CD."Let There Be Love"isa hauntingly beautiful, softly-sungeclectic mix ofballads that are a radical departure from Humperdinck's forty-year body of work.He really takes some chances with this CD, and most of it works.I was stunned how carefully he controlled his still powerful baritone andmade no attempt to dominate the lyrics or the tempo of any of the ballads."With You I'm Born Again" is just incredible and "There's No Good In Goodbye" is going to become an instant classic.There is a smoky, pop/jazz tone to the CD, but it's subtle and several of the tracks have a distinct, country flavor to them.The only reason I don't give this CD five stars is that Engelbert doesn't always sound in sync with some of the synthesized instruments, but it doesn't lessen the CD"s appeal.And there's nothing wrong with Engelbert's voice.It's still strong, and his phrasing and sense of timimg is flawless.If there's a little raspiness, so what?You have to really listen for it, and it only adds to his mystique at age sixty-nine.I wouldn't call this an experimental album, but it's clearly an unusual choice for one of the greatest pop vocalists of all time.Buy it and listen to it at least twice before you pass judgment on it.It would be easy for someone of Humperdinck's stature to just cover his classic hits or okay another compilation, but he doesn't do that.The King of Romance is still growing musically and artistically at an age when most of his contemporaries are long retired.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! ... Read more

Amazon.com

It must be hard being a George Michael fan. Patience is only his fourth studio effort in the 18 years since Wham! split, so its release must be some cause for celebration. There always seems to have been something preventing him from releasing a new album--from arrests for lewd behavior, protracted battles with record companies, or prolonged periods of grieving for departed family and friends. Thankfully, Patience is pretty good.

Flitting between fraught ballads and up-tempo adult pop (the misguided sample-laden single "Freeek!" being the unnecessary exception), George here returns to the structure and mood of 1990s Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1. Patience is at its most delicate and moving with its title track, the intense, tabloid-attacking "Through" and the painful family memories of "My Mother Had a Brother." To balance this, hearts will be raised by "Amazing," with its echoes of the Bee Gees, "Round Here," in which George remembers his early days scampering around Bushey with Andrew Ridgley, and "Cars and Trains," which celebrates the kind of lifestyle that so riled the LAPD back in 1998. That's the thing about George Michael these days. Love him or loathe him, he is unapologetically himself. And fans should be very grateful for that. --Dominic Wills ... Read more

Reviews (98)

Patience pays off
On this aptly titled album from George Michael - his first of brand new original material since 1996's OLDER (there was the standards album SONGS FROM THE LAST CENTURY in 2000) - he delivers the goods. If you enjoy his past albums, it's a fair bet you will like PATIENCE. The first single is the bubbly uptempo track "Amazing", which is a good song to introduce the album with. There's a good balance of uptempo tunes and ballads. The dance songs are especially good, including "Flawless", "Precious Box", "Freeek" (which was a single a few years ago, now a new version), and "Cars and Trains". There's some nice profound ballads like the title track, "Through", "My Mother Had A Brother", and more. The North American version of this disc is slightly different than the UK. The UK has the song "Shoot the Dog", which is an anti-bush song, so they decided not to put it on the North American versions of the CD. It's a shame, great song! The UK version also has "Patience Pt 2". Overall, it was a long wait, but in my estimation I think it was worth it. A great listen.

George Michael is a musical genius!!!
Although I still consider "listen without prejudice" his best album yet. I still love this one. But I don't think many people can relate to him anymore and that's why I think his music doesn't sell as well as his "Faith" album did or his Wham days.I think he is getting better with age. But I think his worst mistake was making that album of remade songs. George, stick to your own stuff and leave everyone else's alone. They can't do what you do. As for this album, I think "amazing" is definitely what it is, amazing. that song is dedicated to his new love while" Please Send Me Someone (Anselmo's Song)" is for his past and both great songs. I also loved his new release "flawless" and my favorite "precious box". I just want to say that if you are truly a George Michael fan than put this in your collection. He is happy and back and better than ever and truly what I consider a musical genius!

Excellent & Worth the Wait
I've been a fan of GM since he went solo, I wasn't much of a fan of Wham. So when I bought this album, it just sat around here for about a month. But once I gave it a good listen, I realized what a masterpiece this is. I liked Older, and loved Listen without Prejudice, but this new CD is a gem. "Precious Box" is freaky and cool, Round Here is amazing, Amazing is a great sugar coated love song, Cars & Trains is a good pop song with meaningful lyrics, Flawless is a fun romp into the world of techo!! Some of his slow songs are a little too slow, but the others more than make up for it. What a talented writer, producer, singer,songwriter, This guy doesn't get the credit he deserves. If you liked Faith, you may find this boring, But if you liked his other solo efforts, then you will dig this immensely!!!

Patiently Bad
Man this is not the George Michael who I have really liked before. It seem like he just turned his recorder on in his living room when he was feeling mello and decided to make up a tune as he played. It would be OK for background dinner music or something to put the kids asleep to but thats it.

George Michael deserves the success of his new cd release
The justice I can give this new recorded release of George Michael is to say, "Bravo! Well done." I feel George Michael continues to mature musically and lyrically. "Older" is indicative of it and this new cd only further supports my claim. Great vocals, great up beat songs like "Amazing" and "Flawless," as well as the slow tunes. I suggest you try to view the videos to those songs on Launch.yahoo.com. The videos are addictive. The majority seems to suggest the imported version of Patience, and I totally agree. Get the imported version for the extra tracks. It is well worth the extra $$.

I wish you all the success George. You deserve it. You have given us some great music once again. How about a tour?? ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Creme de la creme
This is the LaMott album I always use when I'm introducing her to listeners whose discernment I trust. It offers the best combination of musical intelligence and emotive wallop. The tunes are all inspired choices and the arrangements are tasteful and not overwrought. (I'd have to list "Two for the Road" as a personal favorite.) Call her a jazz singer, a cabaret artist, a thinking person's Streisand--however you define her, she was just about the brightest, freshest, classiest vocal talent to emerge during the '90's. Then she succumbed to Crohn's disease and, insult added to injury, litigation that restricted and all but stopped commercial distribution of her recordings. Even if Amazon isn't carrying her precious half-dozen albums, look just a bit harder until you find someone who has them. Not all good things in life are a mere mouse click away.

another Mike Campbell loves it too
Buy this just to hear her sing the words "you, you" in RHODE ISLAND. Then ask yourself if you ever loved anyone with that deep a feeling. Essential CD.

Wonderful
Overall this is a wonderful collection that merits four stars only becuase it doesn't measure up to my favorite LaMott work - Come Rain or Come Shine. When compared to other singers, she's always in the five star range. She can interpret a lyric as well as anyone in the business. Other reviewers have commented about the brilliant medley of Good Thing Going/Not a Day Goes By and I agree completely. But, don't overlook No Moon at All/Old Devil Moon. Listen and enjoy.

Invaluable, indelible, incomparable.
One of those albums you buy multiple copies of to give to your friends. It never wears out; every song is inspired. The Sondheim pairing is about as close as you can come to crossing the line between aesthetic and autobiographical emotion, but Nancy stays on the side of art, maintaining a tension that would be heartbreaking were it not so uplifting. Her reading of Mancini's hauntingly beautiful "Two for the Road" is another of the revelations in this incredible collection.

A musical treasure
All of Nancy LaMott's CDs are wonderful, but this one has some real gems. Most notable is the incredible pairing of "Good Thing Going" with "Not A Day Goes By." I'm sure Sondheim was kicking himself over not putting these two songs together! (Christopher Marlowe and Nancy beat him to it.) All of Nancy's CDs will soon be unavailable due to legal battles with the estate. I urge those interested to buy any of her CDs that they can find. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Finally! A US release from Sissel
I'm not really familiar with Norwegian artist Sissel except hearing a bit of her gorgeous vocals from the soundtrack to the movie "Titanic". What little I heard was breathtaking... I immediately fell in love with the entire album. I have already listened to it three times today. The entire album is a collection of gorgeous pop songs with a tinge of celtic and new age music. Sissel has one of the most beautiful voices that I have ever heard. Some people have already lumped Sissel in the same category with Celine Dion. I don't know about that. Sissel's vocals are restrained unlike Celine who sounds like she is yelling every time she hits those high notes. Plus Celine's music gives me cavities and nausea simultaneously. For me I would associate Sissel with Sarah Brightman than Celine Dion (although Sissel sounds nothing like Sarah). Both do have that obvious classical training that is evident in their vocals. There isn't one song on this album I didn't like or didn't think was anything to write home. All the songs are excellent and breathtaking to listen to. I think I will have to check out Sissel's albums although they are a bit pricey but I'm sure it will be well worth the price. I absolutely love her self-titled album so price isn't a problem for me.

Sissel is not to be overlooked.
After hearing Sissel's album, I am really looking forward to finding her earlier European releases. I was turned on to Sissel from a coworker who insisted I at least find out more about her on the website. So far, I have liked everything I've heard. It's hard to believe that such a great artist isn't very known in this country...especially after reading all the praise for Sissel from these reviews. Hopefully people will learn to love Sissel as many already have. She has a very unique voice, something like the adult contemporary artists of today, but with more sparkle. She has a lot of potential here in the states, since she is already established in her native Europe. The album itself has a great medley of classical to pop to folk songs that really deserve a good listening to!

Sissel Kyrkjebø - in general
Coming from Bergen, Sissel`s home town, i have paid attention
to her since i first saw/heard her at TV in the early eighties.
What you like is a matter of taste, if you have liked any of
her CD`s i recommend you to listen to her recordings of
"Pie Jesu" and "Oh Mio Babbino Caro", another superb recording is the one done with The Three Tenors, Christmas In Vienna,where
she sings in "Silent Night" like no one else can sing.
It moves me everytime i hear these songs, try it !

When Sissel sings it's like an angel calling you home!
A lot of people, including myself, are just now learning about Sissel but she's actually been putting out music for quite some time now. She's a Norwegian pop princess that became fairly known in the USA with her haunting contributions to James Hornor's 'Titanic' score. She was unfortunately mired by the belting diva, Celine Dion, on the closing credits but it was Sissel's voice that worked most of the magic when it came to evoking emotions as the misty-eyed viewers watched the movie in awe. She was only part of the background there, accenting the instruments and resonating sound effects, but she's even more magnificent here with the primary focus being HER.

I stumbled upon her self-titled album close to a year ago and reluctantly bought it since the price was unbelievably cheap at Borders and I've yet to regret it. I'm always looking for new female singers to spark my interest for a while and this angelic siren has proven time and time again that she doesn't need to market herself or become commercial to be successful. Her music is pure and beautiful and heavenly and ... I could go on forever but it's truly something one must experience for them self. This is one of few CDs I keep returning to only to find myself enjoying it more and more every time I do. From pop ballads such as "Sarah's Song" and "Carrier Of A Secret" to the more upbeat "Can't Go Back" and "All Good Things", which has a tropical, Hawaiian vibe with carefree, fun-in-the-sun type beats, to the slightly somber "Molde Canticle" and the Celtic "Shenandoah", her gorgeous gift from God is laced with warm, operatic soaring that's clear in pronunciation and sweetly simple.

Sissel is like a burst of light in my often dark collection and I definitely plan on checking out her many imports in the near future. There's no question about it: This is one talented gal, and if I had to choose a favorite track on this record that won't relent its constant hold on me, it would probably be the wonderful message of love she conveys on "Weightless".

BTW, I've heard some people compare her to Sarah Brightman but I really don't hear the resemblance there.

A diamond in a potato chip bag
If I already knew what Sissel sounded like, I would have just returned this CD to the Library after reading the booklet inside.
Since I did not know how she sounded, I listened, but only long enough to find that out.

Sissel herself is fine, with a sensitive voice that demands a refined background, but this does not happen here.

These arrangements sound like a synthesizer programming exercise given for homework in a music school. Why write a cymbal crash every few bars, other than for programming practise? Did the producers of this effort have so little budget left after producing the booklet, that they could only afford two players (guitar and synthesizer) for most songs? A single pianist could be more effective.

The next CD from Sissel ought to be produced properly by those who would care enough to put together an artistic performance that would do justice to her voice and musical ability. Also, a better selection of material would go far in showing us the musical roots and abilities that Sissel obviously has. ... Read more

Amazon.com

An Italian tenor in the tradition of the enormously popular Andrea Bocelli, Alessandro Safina has long been admired and championed in the Netherlands, though he's made light of by his native country. Now, with his American major label debut, a self-titled collection, Safina soars into the popera limelight, hisdarkly sensual vocals powerful, assured, and flat-out sexy. Melodicallyaffecting in a manner oddly parallel to that of the Eminem/Dido vocaljuxtaposition on "Stan," Safina opens with "Only You (Luna)," wherein his masculine posturing is underscored and buffeted by an angelic female vocal refrain until the song fairly bursts like showers of fireworks in an open canvas of sky. Starting with the bar quite high, Safina's pipes nonetheless maintain the emotional posture of the record throughout, positing the singer as dream tenor of the year.--Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (47)

The Best of Its Kind
I first heard Alessandro Safina's "Only You" while watching the Brazilian telenovela O Clone, in which the song served as one of the principle love themes. I and a friend from Germany were blown away by the song. He downloaded just that song, I bought the CD and don't regret it for a second.

Safina is FAR SUPERIOR to Andrea Bochelli and Josh Groban. His voice demonstrates the fact that he has formally studied classical voice since childhood. He would be more truthfully and successfully compared with opera singers like Domingo, Pavarotti, and Carreras.

I love the inherent darkness in his tenor--it blows me away everytime I listen to his songs. I'm looking forward to purchasing future works by Alessandro Safina. My one disappointment is that PR for Safina doesn't seem to exist in this country.

Outstanding!
I happened upon this cd while listening to music samples at my local Tower Records store. After listening to only 4 tracks, I didn't want to leave the store. In particular, I played track #4 (La Sete Di Vivere/Thirst for Life) at least 5 times before a friend of mine pulled me out of the seat. I normally listen to jazz, oldschool R&B, real hip hop (The Roots, Mos Def, Outkast, Common) country music on Sunday mornings, and classical on Sunday nights. But Alessandro Safina's CD has been getting much play in my home since I purchased it. Before Alessandro Safina, Jill Scott was a new discovery that captivated me, but if Mr. Safina EVER performs in the Delaware Valley, I will be front row and center! What a beautiful voice to fall asleep and wake up to. I'm hooked!

honest
I just loved the honest way he approaches the material. He is not perfect and that is what makes his voice so real. There is a real quality and passion in his voice, one that comes from in side the heart. It is also nice to play music that my friends enjoy and to hear them request to look at the liner notes.

Overproduced
Safina does indeed have a beautiful voice. I would like to hear him actually sing a song or an aria, but on this album all we get is heavily orchestrated production numbers starting with a few simple lines and building to throbbing, bellowing conclusions. Mario Frangoulis brings off this kind of album with more variety and finesse. Hopefully Safina's other discs are more varied and restrainied.

This reviewer needs to get a life!!!
People who don't like opera have no taste. They don't realize the time and effort that opera composers like Puccini and Verdi have put into writing their operas. Opera is the most beautiful and sublime music on earth. It takes knowledgeable people with taste to really appreciate it. Also, you cannot compare Alessandro Safina to Pavarotti, Domingo, and Carreras. He is not an OPERATIC tenor. He is a POP tenor. There is a difference.

This CD does not contain any operatic music. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's been suggested that almost as many baby boomers were conceived to the romantic sounds of Johnny Mathis's voice as to Sinatra's--and when you consider that Johnny's Greatest Hits stayed on Billboard's Top 40 chart for 178 weeks beginning in '58 (that's more than twice as long as Dark Side of the Moon, folks!), it's easy to understand why. Sony has used this "16 Most Requested" routine on a number of their easy-listening vocalists (including Sinatra and Andy Williams), but this one is special in that it takes the cream of Mathis's Greatest Hits album and rounds it out with his 1970s take on several movie theme hits, including Love Story and Romeo & Juliet. A truly unique and romantic sound. --Bill Holdship ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Johnny Mathis's Voice Keeps Me Going
I have almost every album of Johnny Mathis, as well as the "16 Most Requested Songs by Johnny Mathis." Since my husband passed away this past year, and he also loved to hear Johnny sing, I listen to him on CD every morning before I go to work, and as soon as I come home from work. His beautiful voice (with so much sweetness in it) just makes my day and he is just unique. I like many singers, but Johnny Mathis is the very best. One of my biggest wishes is to meet Johnny Mathis in person one day.

Last fall my brother drove me to San Antonio, TX, to hear him in concert at the Magestic Theater. Of course, it was a tremendous thrill for me to hear and see him in person. He is just the best of all, and I love him -- I thank him for being him.

Johnny Mathis, having the voice that he does, has to be a very kind and sweet person. I just love him, and his voice fills a void in my heart.

Thank you, Johnny.

Marcia Hendricks

Innocence Never Sung As Sweetly As On This Mathis Collection
Most 1950S crooners played (and lived, to a degree) the life of martini-mixing men of the world. Johnny Mathis, here with 16 of his greatest hits, gained his strength and fame from naivete'.

Handsome, athletic, gifted with pipes the timbre of Ella Fitzgerald's, Mathis and orchestral collaborators Percy Faith, Ray Conniff, Frank DeVol, and Glenn Osser crafted sparsely orchestrated, delicately sung hits celebrating love's opening moments. Mathis sings convincingly of love's discovery ("Gina," "Maria," the oh-so-good "Small World.") and fear of the unknown ("Chances Are," "It's Not For Me To Say," the definitive vocal "Misty," featuring music's most romantic introduction). Teenagers fell for this music which shared, at best, a thread with rock n' roll; Mathis sung the confusion and exhiliration they felt, only more tenderly.

The 60s-70s film songs (themes from "Star is Born," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Love Story," plus Jimmy Webb's "Didn't We") are well-sung, romantically done filler. They keep up the album's romantic mood, but lack the drama (and bombast)of the Streisand/Williams originals. Better to hear "Wonderful, Wonderful" and even the hokey "What Would My Mary Say?" for the jazz singer Johnny Mathis might have become but (fortunately, for him and us), did not. A classy set, and highly recommended.

Soulful, Jazzy ... A real classical evergreen ballads.....
A beautiful vocal by Johnny Mathis, especially songs like 'Misty', 'Chances Are'', 'Gina', 'It's not for me to say' etc .... a classical ballad worth keeping and listening as part of your collection........ this album had been digitally remastered to bring back the perfect vocal and songs ....

Not the songs I would request...
This is more of a greatest hits package (yet again) rather than a cd of actual requests. Perhaps the older fans would request these songs, and that's fine, but as for me, I'd rather hear songs like Pieces of Dreams, Life is a Song Worth Singing, Evie, anything off the I'm Coming Home album, This Way Mary, I could go on but won't. So I give it three stars because it's just the same stuff again.

16 Most Requsted Songs by Johnny Mathis
This is an excetional grouping of Mr. Mathis's best songs. I have enjoyed it thoroughly. I would not hesitate to recommend this C.D. to any Johnny Mathis fan. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Born, the debut album by four conservatory-trained young women, has little to do with classical music. It's a gimmick, fusing a string quartet of frivolous femmes, spicy girls who all want to be "Posh," with dance beats, a big production mixing their violins, viola, and cello with polished electronics. Taking themselves less than seriously--they played the James Bond theme at their Royal Albert Hall debut--pop"Victory" looks assured. This single bounces along with a dash of Rossini's Barber of Seville and a real sense of pop melodrama, in spirit little different from what guitarist John Williams did with his rather less photogenic band Sky in the late 1970s. What may surprise is that tracks such as the frenetic world-dance "Quixote" are penned by the film composer Magnus Fiennes, brother of the more famous Ralph and Joseph. "Winter" adds Jean Michel Jarre-style synth and voice-over to the ghost of Vivaldi and the infectious beat goes on, and on, and on. Sex sells, and Bond's success seems assured. This is a state-of-the-art product, but with a bonus remix of "Victory" by Mike Batt of Wombles fame, just don't expect it to be art.--Gary S. Dalkin ... Read more

Reviews (124)

Not necessarily "classical," but still excellent
As a maniacal fan of "true" classical music, I bristled when pop charts hailed Bond's "Born" as "the best classical CD to come out in years." After hearing the music on this CD, however, I've changed my tune on the pop quartet. While I still don't consider this music truly "classical," it definitely draws its influence from classical structure and classical style (the string players all display a very Romantic-era technique), and specifically includes several classical motifs--"Winter," for example, is based off a theme from the Vivaldi concerto of the same name; "Victory" employs the theme from the "Barber of Seville" overture, and the main line in "Duel" is another classical motif (whose name, unfortunately, is escaping me at the moment). Initially I was opposed to using these fine works as the basis for what's essentially technopop music, but the sheer energy and style of the performers made me take another listen. This music doesn't quite have a counterpart anywhere else, and that's what makes it so fascinating--as I mentioned, it's clearly classical/romantic in structure, and yet the energetic rhythms and pulsating drive are a nod to the music of today. Happily, Bond avoids synthesized techno drumbeats and most of the other gimmicks, using techno rhythms as a background to underscore the string playing--which is, indeed, virtuosic. What impresses me most is the range of musical influence the players were able to showcase--"Winter" and "Victory" are cut from the German/Italian classical mold, while "Korobushka" is a brash Russian piece (starting softly and building to an energetic climax, a la Gliere's "Russian Sailors' Dance") and the veiled strains of "Kismet" and more upbeat "Dalalai" showcase a definite Eastern influence. On the other hand, the haunting "Oceanic" and the solemn "Hymn" could have been pulled out of English or American contemporary life. I still found some sticking points with this CD, most notably that the tracks I didn't mention all seemed to blend together for me, with only the six or seven tracks noted above standing out in my mind. I particularly didn't take to Bond's reworking of Tchaikovsky's "1812" overture (in the aptly titled "The 1812,") which was more or less techno-ized motifs from the Tchaikovsky piece with no real originality. Still, seven good tracks out of fourteen is a good bargain for me, with "Victory" being a particular standout--of all of Bond's experiments with "modernizing" and innovating classical music, this track is easily the biggest success. It pulses with energy, clearly connected musical motives and, above all, incredible instrument playing from everyone involved. Overall, this CD could either offend or attract lovers of 18th and 19th century music, but the bottom line is that no one else has brought classical music into the new millennium the way the four women of Bond have, and that, if nothing else, makes this CD worth owning.

Nice CD.
I bought this CD before reading all of the reviews comparing this group to a Spice Girls-like contraption, so the whole bond "image" wasn't directing my impressions. The concept of a pop-classical quartet intrigued me, and I liked what I heard as samples in my local music store.

All in all, it's a very refreshing bit of pop-classical music. Several of the tracks tend to be somewhat overproduced; those that work best are the ones where the girls are really allowed to play front and center and show their not inconsiderable talents. Specifically, "Duel" is an excellent piece which really defines, in my view, what their fusion of pop and classical should be: a classical sensibility, played very well, but with a kicky pop melody to it. "Korobushko" is in a similar vein, and these two are probably my favorite tracks.

I would hope that in future releases, the girls will be allowed to showcase more of their playing abilities with pieces that put them as the main focus. They are talented musicians, they have a great concept, and their recordings ought to showcase that.

Techno Pop with Fiddles
Well, the ladies are pretty. Moreso with maekup, however; 2 are fairly ordinary without the glamour makeover.

These lasses can play, but the arrangements here are soulless techno-beats.

I won't give up on them, but I hope they find some more lyrical music. This stuff is fine to ice-skate by, but I find no aural beauty in mixing synsthesizers with real strings and that horrid synthetic beat.

The music is neither classical nor symphonic nor orchestral. It pales, sadly, in relation to earlier failed attempts to make classical cool, such as "Switched-On Bach."

I am troubled that such capable players would regard this as worthy music. Even at the tender age of 24, they should know better.

I admire the try. Try again girls, but find some music to play.

Very Good First Album, Only A few Bad Points....
I am a big fan of classical/neo-classical music (I like Sarah Brightman, Opera Babes, and anything composed by Mozart). So, naturally, I was very happy when I discovered Bond. I've had this album for some time, and I'd thought I'd spread the word. Here are my opinions for each track:

1-Too much percussion, not enough bond... plus there are some weird vocals at the beginning and end of the song. Definitely not their best performance...(3 STARS).

2-Slower pace than #1 at first, then speeds up. Better balance of beat and bond on this track...(3+ STARS).

3-One of the best songs on the whole CD... good beat and rhythm. Buy some salsa and chips, grab a hot guy (or gal) who can salsa and DANCE!....(4+ STARS).

4-Starts out nice, then more weird lyrics (I can't recognize the language, not Spanish, Italian, or Latin as far as I can tell)...one of the more "classical" pieces, but it does show off some of bond's potnetial....(3+ STARS). Slow dance anyone?

5- Very balanced piece, absolutely beautiful...most tracks (I feel) place too much attention on the violinists and the viola... we finally get to hear Gay-Yee (the cellist) show her stuff. Excellent movement; change in tempo occurs, but it's not overdone....(5 STARS)

6- "classical" piece, not much percussion "boom" as in previous tracks... pure bond; has a Russian sound and feel to it. The backup orchestra was conducted well....(4 STARS). Big finish, don't have the bass turned up too much...

7- What can I say... Let there be dancing and glee! This piece is all about getting up off the couch and Jumping for pure joy... The vocals at the very beginning are good, well-placed...they make sense for the song (finally)....(4 STARS).

8- A display of skill, the bond girls talk to each other through their instruments, it's almost as if they interact with each other. Too many vocals, but they're not as irritating as before because they act as a harmony instead of detracting from bond...(4 STARS).

9-Slower pace, very Italian...I think Eos arranged this piece herself. Very nice to listen to...almost theraputic....(5 STARS).

10-First minute is traditional and then... all bond breaks loose, there are some very British interruptions in the song (listen and you'll find out...listen to the electric guitar)...(4 STARS).

11-Interesting start and melody... some like it, but I'm not particularly fond of this bond....(3 STARS).

12- After 9/11, this was a big song on my heart strings list (no pun intended). Almost no additional or tack on stuff. This was played a small candlelight vigial on Sept. 12th, so it brings back memories of sorrow...and hope....(5 STARS). This song gets passed over a good deal, so give it a shot, but be prepared with some tissues, I hadn't planned on it, but I cried.

13- THIS edit/cut of bond's first single was almost as good as the original song... there was another mix of Victory on their 3rd album, Remixed, and it was HORRIBLE...you couldn't even tell what the original song was. This version is more in line with the U.S. dance scene... Everything I liked about the original, with a dash of edginess....(5 STARS).

Classical Music, built for the Dance Floor!!!!!!
This is it, the CD that started it all, Bond's debut album. What can I say that the other positive reviewers have already said here? The musicianship is top notch, the arrangements are stellar and the beats are mad! Classical fans may want to stay clear, but dance fans (like myself) will eat the girls up :) !
The Victory Mix is just killer and is worth the price of the disc alone.
I highly recommend this CD along with Bonds new CD "Classified" and another great dance CD called "Techno Obsession" by mr.deviant. "Techno Obsession" is a powerful mix of rock and hard dance music that is just killer and very diverse. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great songs, great artist
I never really knew a lot of Neil Diamond songs. I knew songs that have completely infiltrated American culture like GIRL YOU'LL BE A WOMAN YOU or SWEET CAROLINE but didn't know too many other songs. But I did know the song THE STORY OF MY LIFE which is one my favorites of all times, and I decided to buy a cd with this song. Well, there aren't too many options out there and I decided to get this whole set of Neil Diamond works. I didn't regret it.

The first disc is my favorite, not just because some of his most popular songs are on there, but a lot of his early work is so tinged with 50s pop. HEAR THEM BELLS is an example of that, and it's one of my favorite songs on the entire compilation. But all 3 cds are great, and it's wonderful for long-time Diamond fans as well as newer ones.

Enjoyed this CD set very much
It has all my favorites, including "Heartlight" and "Love on the Rocks". The 3 CD set is great because it chronicles all of Neil Diamond's songs, from the beginning to his most recent. It's always interesting to see how an artist matures in his/her music. If you're a Neil Diamond fan, this is one set that you have to buy!

CEASE TO EXIST
NEIL DIAMOND DEFINES THE WORD "SCHMALTZ". HIS MUSIC IS POOP. A GREAT CD BOXSET FOR CLUELESS POP MUSIC FANS EVERYWHERE.

IF YOU LOVE HIM YOU WILL WANT TO OWN THIS
Yesterday i was itching to buy a cd of Neil and i found In My Lifetime. I just had to buy this collection. Even though i have most of his music i couldnt resist buying the collection for the demos and unreleased versions of his songs. These you will not get anywhere else.

And it is good stuff. Every Neil Diamond fan should have this collection. Buy it! the photos are great and the music is great. You will never regret. Some of the photos have never been seen before.

In My Lifetime...
If you have ever seen Neil Diamond in concert, you know this classy man owns any stage he performs on. I am pretty happy, divorced, a 47 year old female. I have been a Neil Diamond listener since high school. That's when I knew I liked this music but who knew we would all come along for such a grand ride. I was a teenager buying Neil Diamond Lp's with my precious allowance money. I was in college when I was buying Neil Diamond 8-tracks. Those were followed with Neil Diamond cassette tapes when I was in graduate school and a working junior exec. And finally, now, there are Neil Diamond CD's playing on the sound system in the business I own, along with Neil Diamond DVD's enjoyed at my home. Enough with the technology! But I am glad we have grown up together. In the beginning, I must confess, I was a bit of a visceral Neil Diamond fan. This happened one time when I was in college and I could only afford concert seating behind the stage. The music sounded fantastic, of course, but the view proved to be tremendously rewarding, too. Besides a lifetime of companion music, Neil Diamond gave me a lifetime appreciation for watching men walk. From behind was, at times, a very nice sight to behold and, come to think of it, a very pleasant concert reminder. And yes, Neil Diamond concert seating in the round was the best of both view worlds. But with true mutual reverence, Neil Diamond's musical talent sustains his listener completely. And for many of his listeners, there is very little other music that cares for us so perfectly. His style is more refined now so this box set is a delightful diary of our wilder musical past with gentle movement toward our mature present. I've grown into some of his songs in this box set and I am glad they were waiting for me to reach out for them. In a set such as this, there are songs that are old friends, memories of times in life. They thrill and comfort and, at times, they serve as gentle reminders of the music needed to help show us the way! Girl, you'll be a woman soon. Who else would or could say this with music? I am very grateful Neil Diamond's music has been "In My Lifetime." And, hopefully, the best part is we still have a lot of living and music to share. He writes. He performs. We listen and sing along. It's a mutual musical partnership that works. In good times and bad, whether happy or sad, I am so grateful I have been provided an adulthood of music from the creative heart and soul of Neil Diamond. ... Read more

Reviews (490)

Diana is an amazing talent, you haters aren't fooling anyone
C'mon now, you can't honestly say this girl isn't talented. She has a voice and range that will blow you away, and at such a young age!! It is sad to see the Fantasia supporters hating on Diana so much and not giving her the credit she truely deserves. It is really sad to see that it is the same people writing the same thing in 10 reviews!! Do you think that the public is really that stupid that they don't know that the same person is writing the same insulting reviews over and over? Gimme a break!! If you are truely a Diana fan then you will love this cd. It is not the powerhouse over the top performances we seen on American Idol, but still a wonderfully arranged and vocaled cd. Dreams is a very beautiful song that will make you think of that special someone, Diana brings wonderful emotion to this song. The best of course is her version of I Believe. It is just breathtaking, she is truely gifted. What a beautiful song and she hits every not the way it should be, with great strength and emotion. No this cd is not flat or garbage like they won't you to believe. It is truely inspired, and if you love Diana's voice then you will truely love this cd and will be waiting anxiously for the full cd to come out!!

People, grow up!
I am disappointed that people writing reviews can't even give credit where credit is due, because they are still carrying on about Fantasia versus Diana. They are using this forum to carry on the way they did on the AI message boards, and Amazon.com should refuse to allow this to continue. These are two talented and gifted performers, very different in style, and so different they shouldn't be compared. The person who wrote that Diana sang flat doesn't even know what he/she is talking about. This is just ridiculous. I voted for Diana, but I can still appreciate Fantasia's talent. The contest is over, so GET OVER IT. I personally don't care for these songs on Diana's CD. Dreams is a ho-hum tune, and Don't Cry Out Loud was ruined when Melissa Manchester told Diana how to sing it. I Believe is probably the best one on there. However, Diana's voice is wonderful. She has tremendous talent and I sincerely hope she will go far and I will be first in line to buy her full-length CD when it comes out.

Diana DeGarmo sets the baseline for her music career
This CD-Single from Diana DeGarmo, the runner up for "America Idol 3" is really more of a memento, setting a baseline for her future. On this CD more so than listening to her in performance you are reminded that she is only 17-years-old and that she has to mature and not just as a singer. We are talking about a bright future here, but it is going to be a few years before we get to the point where she will be hitting her stride, which is fine since the vast majority of teenage singers crash and burn before they hit 20.

"Dreams" is clearly the best of the trio here. This was the other "official" song from "American Idol 3" and compared to "I Believe" it is the one much better suited to DeGarmo, not only vocally but in terms of the lyrics (e.g., "I guess we're just made of dream/Nothin' else matters/As long as we believe"). The cover of "Don't Cry Out Loud" is good, but I listen to it and I keep thinking about her potential more than where she is right now. As is the case with "I Believe," I really have a preference for the live versions she did on the show more so than these studio versions (but that seems to always be the case with me).

DeGarmo's single debuted at #2 on the pop charts, selling about 65,000 copies, which is less than half what Fantasia Barrino moved with her debut CD-single the week before (and less than the 81,000 Barrino sold to keep the top spot this last week). I am sure DeGarmo's fans will make a point of picking this up and hopefully in a few years they will be able to play it again and marvel at how much she has grown as a vocalist. That is because right now Diana DeGarmo has the distinction of having the biggest upside in terms of future growth of any of the "American Idol" finalists.

Very good CD
I must say Diana sings it better on CD than on the show, and that was good enough for me to think she should become the next American Idol. She is definatly the top of 70,000 contestants. I can't think of anyone I'd like to hear more.

Diana Rules
Great CD, great songs from American Idol my new favorite show. What more can I say? Oh, yeah, Diana's CD moved me over and over. What was Simon thinking when he said that junk?! She's great! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

While Diamond has never topped the work he did in the "Cherry, Cherry" days, some of his late-'70s adult-contemporary hits have aged better than they perhaps had a right to. If nothing else, his gruff voice can now be heard as a rebuke to Barry Manilow's chirpy tones. To paraphrase Neil Young, when Diamond answers Barbra Streisand on "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," he very nearly pushes the song out of the middle of the road and into the ditch.--Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Oddly mediocre offering from an excellent artist
It's difficult to consider these 12 cuts something you could call a greatest hits collection. Although several enjoyed moderate commercial success, there is nothing particular memorable about any of the included selections.

Aside from the powerful, energetic America and the nostalgic Yesterday's Songs, this is a strangely lifeless group of tunes that could easily slide out of the pop genre into easy listening. That is not to say that this is a bad disc. It is pleasant listening and Neil's singular voice still brings a smile to his fans. Nonetheless, compared to his earlier works, Neil Diamond's 12 Greatest Hits, Volume II is just that, second rate.

Full Circle
Neil Diamond's career has been a metamorphosis of sorts. He was born when he became known for tunes like "Solitary Man" and "Cherry Cherry".Then he started growing when he moved to MCA Records with "Brooklyn Roads" up to "Morningside".By the time he recorded for Columbia, he had matured with songs like "Be" and "If You Know What I Mean".This album shows his first decade with Columbia wasn't too shabby.It also beacme a turning point because after this collection, he only had hits sporadically. But by then, his place in history was secure.

This is good, but there's better Diamond available
There are great moments in this collection. There's the fun "Forever In Blue Jeans", "September Morn", the duet with Barbra Streisand: "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", the rousing "America", "Longfellow Serenade", "Love On The Rocks". And if all you want of Neil Diamond are the super hits, then yes, this along with the "Neil Diamond" collection are what you want. The two make a good set of samplers.

However, IMHO, Neil Diamond is one artist who just can not be captured on "Greatest Hits" CDs. You need the albums to really appreciate him. The one boxed set that really does him justice is "In My Lifetime", which includes the songs that started it all.

If your interest in the performer is strictly peripheral, this is fine. But to gain a greater appreciation, check out his other cds.

Neil Diamond- At His Best..& He Keeps Getting Better!
I have been a Neil Diamond fan for a long time. His style is very much his own. He gives his listners all they could ask for and then some! His music tells his story....Neil is a very powerful singer & song writer. He has a way of "touching"
everyone that listens to this CD! He's just awesome!!
Just when you think it doesn't get any better than this,
Neil can create another collection of songs that will, once again, stand the test of time! "A Music Icon"
Thanks Neil,
[A faithful fan]

A gifted singer/songwriter
I love Neil Diamond's voice and can never tire of hearing it. He is also a brilliant songwriter...every song here he either wrote or co-wrote. "Be" from the 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull Suite' is a wonderful ballad. As with a lot of his songs, they tell a story..."If you know what I mean" for example is a song about the loss of innocent dreams. This is a really good album, and for those of us who lived through the 70's, they stir up a lot of memories. At least, they do for me. ... Read more

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The people who felt betrayed when Linda Eder covered several pop songs on 2002's Gold will be relieved that her follow-up, Broadway My Way, is a return to the Great White Way. As if to prove that she isn't limited to either the songs of Frank Wildhorn or ballads, Eder tackles some well-known show tunes. The ballads tend to be overwrought, so it's best to look for the uptempo numbers. The singer's take on "Some People" is technically fine but so va-va-voom showbiz that it lacks the deranged edge that makes the song so compellingly dramatic. Things work a lot better on "I Am What I Am": while Eder doesn't take it t