Amazon.com

While not as much of a commercial success as Quentin Tarantino's later film Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs is today regarded as a classic, although happily one that doesn't take itself too seriously. With its out-of-sequence narrative involving a diamond heist, its desperate characters expressing opinions on music and cinema, and the constant radio play (all the film's music is from source cues), Dogs remains shocking and exhilarating. Even stronger on the CD is the implication that the story is somehow being told by Steven Wright's deadpan '70s disc jockey. Tracks include "Little Green Bag" by the George Baker Selection, "Hooked on a Feeling" by Blue Swede, "I Gotcha" by Joe Tex, "Coconut" by Harry Nilsson, and the one that will always remind viewers of the movie's grisliest scene, "Stuck in the Middle with You" by Stealers Wheel. --Stanley Booth ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Fun Songs for a Fun Movie
I love the seventies songs on this CD. The mix is great, and I love remembering how they fit so well with the movie. Such a great movie. The opening song, "Little Green Bag" is probably my favorite for the great beat and groovy tune. Thanks to that adiquate torture seen, I don't think I'll EVER forget "Stuck in the Middle with You." The "Coconut" song is a little weird, but nice. The rest were pretty good too. The dialogues were the best possible moments they could have picked. The Madonna speech had me laughing in fits.

A lot of people complain that the CD is too short. It is. Really. But that still doesn't detract from the quality. I can't stop loving this CD, thus the five stars I feel it deserves. Short, but very sweet.

I love the CD!
I love all of the songs, except Harvest Moon. My favorites would have to be Little Green Bag, Stuck In The Middle With You, and Coconut. I don't see why a lot of people don't like it.. it's got all of the radio dialouge by Steven Wright which I really liked in the movie.. and the Madonna speech which was really funny. I reccomend the CD . . .

Overrated, but still good.
I'm more a fan of the film, but still decent tunes on here. Truthfully, these 16 tracks contain just 8 songs, the rest is dialogue from "Steven Wright" and others, and amusing just a listen or two. To be honest, unless this is your favorite movie ever, I think you'll find half of these songs annoying, and the only ones I really enjoy are "Fool For Love" and "Stuck In The Middle With You". The rest have been overplayed to death. I like the "Pulp Fiction" disc more, but still only play that once a year. I'll tell you which "Tarantino" soundtracks are excellent though: "Natural Born Killers" and "True Romance".

Boffo!
I'm listening to it and rocking out as I type this...what can I say? This CD is so funky, retro, and cool. Everyone should love it! Man, I'd really like to be "stuck in the middle" of Mr. Orange and Mr. Blonde! Alright, that was just corny. Cheers!
-J

K Billys Super Sounds of the seventies
What can i say, Quentin mate, you've done it again, this is a great soundtrack and i've enjoyed every song, espicially Little green bag, it's got such a cool funky tune to it, well i must go i have a plane to catch ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Offensive to some but it still is funny!
I bought this album because I think Eddie Murphy is (he truly is a Richard Pryor) one funny guy. This album proves just that with his hard hitting material from back in the day when he was quote on quote "Eddie Murphy". Some of his material might be offensive but it is still VERY funny. I highly recomend this album if you enjoy comedy. My favorite track is the last one when he is singing "Enough is Enough" in the Buchweat voice. I love this album with a passion.

Simply one of the best Comedians!!!
This is a hilarious cd every track on this album is good and hilariously funny it was done in the 1980's and is still one of the best Comedy albums today I would recommend anyone who likes Eddie Murphy to buy this album because this is a very good album and I really enjoy it I laugh so hard that I end up crying this is vintage "Eddie" when he very first came out and he was wonderful with his comedy so buy this album you will be glad that you did!!!

This cd is wicked good
this cd is one of eddie murphies funniest. it was before dr. doolittle, bowfinger, dr. doolittle 2, and before eddie murphy sucked. it is easily on par with raw and delirous. The bit about buckwheat is my favorite. why on earth he included two horrendous songs is anyones guess, but that is why i gave it four stars instead of five

????????????
How long is this CD. Anser my question online. My screen name is "el Redmanx3".

A young Eddie Murphy at his hilarious best
This is a great live comedy album. The year was 1982, and Eddie's career had only recently gone into maximum overdrive; that means you get Eddie at a raw, fresh, incredibly confident stage of his career. Eddie could have come out and read the Magna Carta and had people rolling in the aisles; the man is just plain funny. The fact that there is some truly hilarious material here makes this one of my favorite comedy albums of all time. Sure, the album's offensive, but this is comedy, not political speechwriting, and Eddie pretty much makes fun of every race and culture out there - including his own; yes, the language is a little strong, but they put that Explicit Lyrics sticker on there for a reason.

I can't use the title of the first track here in my review, but I can assure you it's funny. In Black Movie Theaters, Eddie explains the different ways that whites and blacks react to horror movies. Human disfigurement isn't normally very funny, but Eddie apparently does not know this and provides plenty of laughs in Hit By a Car. All of the comedy tracks here will have you holding your side, but three tracks stand out in particular. In Pope and Ronald Reagan, Eddie's guess as to why anyone would shoot the pope always cracks me up. Myths/A Little Chinese isn't politically correct, but it sure is funny, especially Eddie's bit about chopsticks. Then there is Doo-Doo/Christmas Gifts and its hilarious references to Eddie's grandmother; this is some of the funniest stuff I've ever heard, and Eddie milks it for all it's worth.

This album does include two "songs," Boogie in Your Butt and Enough is Enough, but I just try to pretend those two tracks don't exist. Just concentrate on the stand-up comedy, and you've got yourself a five-star, belly-bustin', foot-stompin' collection of hilarious material here. ... Read more

Reviews (125)

Great Album : )
I had read a little while ago that my favorite current bands had been greatly influenced by Velvet Underground. I was curious so I decided to order White Light/White Heat, since it was the album that I had heard the most about. Although I can't compare it to any of VU's other albums I can say that this album is great in and of itself. It truely creates its own genre, one of dark pop/rock music, although even that label is not totally acurate. It opens up with the energic, semi-blues feeling, pop song White Light/White Heat. The Gift is essentially John Cale telling a story about a man named Waldo mailing himself to his girlfriend, over guitar, bass, and drums. Lady Godiva's Operation, a personal favorite of mine, is a somewhat dark song about, well, Lady Godiva having an operation. Here She Comes Now, another of my favorites, is a short, light song with the same basic words repeated and a catchy toon. I Heard Her Call My Name is a chaotic, guitar powered song. Sister Ray is a 17 minute song, but still manages to be catchy, and not seem too long. Although the album essentially sounds like a demo tape, it's a darn good one and I highly recommend it.

The first side is excellent, but the second loses it
Loud distortion and guitar fuzz. That's what you will most likely hear if you lay down the needle of a record player on a random place on the Velvet Underground's second album. Lou Reed, a man who would keep a pattern of destroying his critical and commercial reputation for his entire career was ready to bleed eardrums and let out distorted noise on this album. So much distorted noise, in fact, in turned a streetwise epic, Sister Ray, what could have been four or five minutes of decent music into an unlistenable, unharnessed seventeen minute sonic assault. Fortunately, before that mess, White Light/White Heat delivers something resembling music. The title track continues the distorted, Chuck Berry-ish riffs backing Reed's poetry about drugs and desperation as heard on the Velvet's first album. The Gift and Lady Godiva's Operation are two very witty short stories that go well with the unique musical background and Here She Comes Now is another gorgeous pop tune with all the trimmings. And then the CD just bursts. Of coarse, this is the Velvet Underground, the original alternative rockers. No one wants them to make music to listen to while baking muffins. Still, there is no reason to crack plates. The first side is classic Velvet Underground gold with Reed's artsy songs and the band playing with the knobs on their amps and letting the music roar, while keeping a good sense of atmosphere and coherence, the second side, I doubt many people actually listen to.

A 40+ minute volume competition, an all-time favorite
I really don't know what to say. For me, this was it. The moment I turned it on, everything I'd ever known about conventional modern pop music was tossed out the window (defenestrated, if you will). But the question still remains: Of the two relevant VU albums (the ones with Cale), which is better?

I've argued with my friends and even myself and have concluded that the Velvets' fusion of avant-garde and rock n' roll is at its peak on White Light/White Heat, and it's dark energy may never be matched.

The distorted guitars and of "Run, Run, Run" have been turned up louder and the band rocks out with the messiness of "European Son" while the subject matter of sex, drugs and transexuals is preached over the music. Lou Reed never played guitar like this again, almost as if Cale's mind took over his hands. Some of his guitar solos are almost comparable to free jazz (I've read that other places, too), specifically on "I Heard Her Call My Name."

"The Gift" is pure sexual tension, and Cale's voice is perfect for reading the story over the band's jam. "Lady Godiva's Operation" utilizes vocals in imaginative ways.

"Here She Comes Now" is a display of what the third album could have potentially sounded like if Cale had remained with the group: much better than anything with Yule.

"Sister Ray" is where all of the tensions between Reed and Cale completely take over. For 17 and a half minutes, the two compete on guitar and organ ("There is no bass") and the result makes the Velvets seem like a primitive (thanks Moe Tucker) jam band for transvestite-junkies. None of the bootlegs of this song with Yule ever sounded anywhere near as good.

In conclusion, WL/WH sparked something in me, and I fell in love with its tense, violent sexual energy instantly. If you've ever thought that Led Zeppelin was boring, or that the Rolling Stones weren't the coolest band in the world, then I highly recommend White Light/White Heat.

The Velvet Underground... in their sophomore slump
White Light/White Heat (1968.) Velvet Underground's second album.

Following the release of their first album, 1967's Velvet Underground And Nico, the Velvet Underground decided they were in dire need of some serious changes. The first thing that they did was ditch Andy Warhol, who had produced their first album, managed them for some time, and provided the cover art for the first album. They also dropped Nico (but she went onto a fairly successful solo career.) After changing their sound drastically, what they had come up with was their second album, White Light/White Heat. Read on for my review of this album.

As my review title states, this is the Velvets in the sophomore slump that hurts so many musical artists. Fortunately, the Velvets' days in the slump weren't nearly as bad as those held by some artists. The band had changed its sound drastically, and it's obvious they hadn't fully adjusted to this change. The opening track, which is the title track, is one of the band's most interesting compositions. What other band would ever be capable of creating a song that sounds like a fusion of oldies rock and alternative rock? That's right, none of them. An extremely bizzare song the album has to offer is Gift. It's not really a song at all, it just a story being told with some psychedelic instrumentation going on in the background. The story is rather comical (it's about a boy who "mails himself" to his lover.) Awkward, but entertaining nonetheless. Lady Godiva's Operation is another interesting tune. John Cale's viola and Lou Reed's guitars are heavily distorted in this track, which just goes to show how unique of a band the Velvets really were. Here She Comes Now is free of the distortion that filled the previous track, and it too, is an excellent song. I Hear Her Call My Name is basically a guitar solo by Lou Reed, but sadly, what could have been a great song ends up falling flat. Lou's attempt to show off his jazz influences just doesn't work all that well on the guitar. Closing out the album is Sister Ray. This song gets a lot of praise from fans of the band, and while a good song, I don't think it deserves half the praise it gets. Although it's a rather excellent jam session, it's just too repetitive. It's basically fifteen-plus minutes of the same thing. Also, the band's live takes on this album would always put the studio ones to shame. I was only going to give this album three stars out of five, but then I considered many aspects of the album that people have praised - the sheer originality of the album being a major one. Although there is a lot of mediocrity on this album (it's probably their weakest overall album), there are plenty of reasons that I have decided to boost its rating up to a four out of five. Just be warned - this album is NOT for everyone.

Sadly, there is only one version of this album readily available in America (as of June 25, 2004.) This version of the album is the remastered one, but sadly, the remastering can't do very much to help the rather poor production of the album. The version of this album available in the band's box set has a ton of bonus tracks, but sadly, that version of the album isn't available outside of that set.

What more can I say? This is an interesting rock album through and through, but it the end it fails to top the debut - or any other Velvet Underground studio album, for that matter. If you're new to the band, start with their 1967 debut, Velvet Underground And Nico. If you like the distorted parts that you find on that album, then by all means give this one a listen. If not, pass this one by. It's a good album, but it's not for everybody.

Classic VU, but not for everyone
I really love this CD because I am personally a fan of the distorted noisy alternative/rock/blues stuff of the VU's first 2 albums. This album is for people like myself. If you like the distorted sonic chaos from parts of the first album, you will probably like this.

The beauty of this album is that, although there are only 6 songs, most of them you will find have great replay value. This attribute however is spoiled by 2 tracks in particular. One is the Gift, although clever in that it is a story put to music, it is only really entertaining once, and then every once in awhile afterwards. If it would have perhaps been put on the end of the album, it would eliminate the need for skipping over it all the time. If you have a stereo that can fade left and right, however, you can fade out the words and listen only to the entertaining blues jam that takes place on your right speaker. Otherwise, its not a great song. The other spoiler is I Heard Her Call My Name, which is, to most people (including myself), a noisy out-of-tune guitar solo. Although it's easy to tell that Lou was probably influenced by many jazz artists in this solo, it really just doesnt work on guitar.

The good songs on this album, however, are really fantastic. White Light/White Heat is an excellent 50's-style rocker with the distortion really cranked up. The best way I can think of describing this song is somewhere between Chuck Berry and early-day Nirvana.
Lady Godiva's Operation is a haunting story of a woman who dies during a sex-change operation. The guitar/viola in this song is really great, but it gets crazy once the "operation" takes place, and a slew of effects (mostly done just by vocals) come in creating the nightmarish impression of a hospital room.
Here She Comes Now is the only song that is free of distortion, and its a very beautiful. Drummer Mo Tucker does a really good job of creating subtle percussion for this one.
The absolute best song of this album, however, is without a doubt Sister Ray. This song is a 17 1/2 minute jam that blows me away whenever I listen to it. The song itself is about 2 or 3 chords, but it's a really nice upbeat tune. Although the lyrics are dark and include murder and some ding-dong sucking, the 15 minutes of jam time really make it uplifting. It is as if every member of the band (other than Mo, who, thank God, remains the steady backbone who holds the song together) is trying to play louder than everyone else. This song is a chaotic masterpiece.

All in all, White Light/White Heat more than makes up for the few stinkers it has in some really remarkable noisy masterpieces.

If you don't like this style of VU, I suggest the cleaner "Velvet Underground" album. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Jammed with the politics and poetry of the sixties
This cd is everything you want in a specialized anthology. "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" is pure art and poetry. It takes you full circle and makes your heart sink. "Eve Of Destruction" is full of rage and insight and truth. It's atomic in its message and presentation. "With God On Our Side" is one of Dylan's best songs (best version is by Baez). Pure poetry again. And the whole cd goes on like that. Great sound. The somber "Society's Child" and the hauntingly barefoot on shards of glass "Abraham, Martin And John" slices you in two. "Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)" is Motown exploding. "War" keeps the message movin'. "Signs" was always one of my favorite radio songs. This is a must for anyone who lived through the late sixties and early seventies and felt the rage and fear at the destruction and insanity from sea to sea. This collections serves as both great music and powerful inspiration. Buy it!

Fun and educational!
This excellent album combines some of the greatest protest songs of the sixties in one very listenable package. One might quibble about the song selection (what, no Dylan?) but one cannot argue with the excellence of the music presented. It's a wonderful collection, perfect for a sixties enthusiast, even the tracks you don't recognize (and I knew almost all) are excellent. Many are the best tracks by the artist. Standouts include (but are not limited to) 'Sky Pilot', 'Signs' 'War' and 'Eve Of Destruction'. This album is a true relic of the period, and expresses many of the political concerns of the hippie movement. Highly recommended, especially for fans of the era.

A complete waste of time and money
One star is far too generous. This CD obviously was cobbled together from someone's old tapes, complete with audible hiss. The selections are all downhill after Eve of Destruction and Universal Soldier. Sonny without Cher? Who ever heard of that? Who can listen to that?

Almost Good
My main complaint about this disk is that Hedgehoppers Anonymous song "It's Good News Week" is an abridged version. I haven't heard the long version since the WVVX (a Chicago-area FM station) dropped its "oldies" format in the early 1980s. Surely Rhino could have tracked down the long version.

Otherwise, this is a nice period piece

The Sixties Weren't Just About Peace And Love
As a child of the Sixties, I have a very strong emotional connection to these songs and as such find this a very enjoyable collection. If, however, you were to unearth these songs from a time capsule and listen to them for the first time thirty-plus years after they were first recorded, you might wonder what the fuss is all about. Certainly some of these songs were of the moment. To use an old cliche: You had to be there. After all, at age 30, Sonny Bono was a bit long in the tooth to play the angry young man. And "It's Good News Week" sounds more comical than biting satire.

But many of these songs retain their potency. Certainly, the carnival sound of "The 'Fish' Cheer/I Feel Like I'm Fixin'-To-Die Rag" is the perfect antithesis of the brutality of the Vietnam War. The Rascal's "People Got To Be Free" evokes John Lennon's sentiment that "All You Need Is Love." The Kingston Trio's version of "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" is a sad reminder of the price to be paid for war. Dion's "Abraham, Martin And John" still gives me chills. The one really glaring omission from this set is Dylan's "Masters of War." Only Edwin Starr's "War" comes close to matching Dylan's outrage.

If you need to remind yourself that the Sixties weren't all peace and love, this collection does a more than adequate job of showcasing the protest genre. RECOMMENDED ... Read more

Amazon.com

The term "Fourth World" has often been used to describe various ethno-electronic compositions. Joining trumpeter Jon Hassell in different combinations on Possible Musics are coproducer and synthesist Brian Eno and percussionists Nana Vasconcelos and Ayibe Dieng, among others. Hassell has found a unique way to summon a lush, otherworldly sound from his trumpet, applying the Indian vocal techniques he learned from Pandit Pran Nath to the way he plays his instrument. On Possible Musics, he mixes his ethereal brass sounds with hand percussion, bass, analog synths, Eno's trademark studio treatments, and the occasional looped trumpet or keyboard riff. The hypnotic fusion of Indian and African aesthetics creates a dreamy brand of otherworldly world music that, despite the electronic influences swirling around it, maintains a strongly organic feel. This classic recording predated all of the ethnoambient music that proliferated throughout the last decade, but unlike many of those efforts, it still retains a strong sense of identity. --Bryan Reesman ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Two masters in a perfect collaboration
I don't think I've listened any one album more than I have Possible Musics. I couldn't live without it. It's dreamy, earthy, soothing, evocative, shamanistic and very organic. It's power is extra-musical. You can listen to it deeply with headphones, or just catch a hint of it from another room and it's somehow just as rewarding. It really perfumes the air like no other music I've heard before, which to me, kind of makes it THE ultimate ambient album. Jon Hassel brings his stunningly gorgeous trumpet playing and his notions of Fourth-World, a kind of ethereal pan-exoticism that encompases everything from raga to "Caravan," together with Eno's meterological synth textures for a perfect collaboration. The two masters mind-meld to form suggestive sonic landscapes that turn your imagination all the way on. 100% non-superficial music that strokes the very soul.

A real turning point in modern music
Back in 1980, when this album was first released, few people could figure out how important it would have been. Brian Eno was already a star and Jon Hassell was quite known in the avant-garde scene. This is the result of their meeting: a stunning, hypnotic, forty minutes musical trip which takes the listener to fly over Africa savana and forests,melting together tribal percussion and computer treated trumpet. A must for every ambient/world fan and for anyone who loves Eno, world music and Talking Heads.

Beautiful, Chilling, Subliminal Psychedelia
Over a background of sonic loops by Eno and gently pulsating percussives, the wailing, harmonized flugelhorn of Jon Hassel brings to mind some kind of animal transforming into a human. The effect produced by this semi-ambient collection of instrumentals may seem strange and alien to western ears at first, but upon repeated listenings becomes sensually soothing, and works both in a capacity of background or meditation music to get lost in. Hassel's unique style emphasizes both the importance of notes and breath sounds, and truly gives his instrument a life of its own.

Fourth World Vol 1 (where are the others???) treads a line between jazz, ambent and eastern devotional music, finding its own niche in the course of listening. Of special note is the final track, "Charm (over Burundi Cloud)", clocking in at 21:29 and could have been longer if not for the limitations of vinyl production at the time of the original's release. One wonders if the original sessions of Possible Musics could be made available ...... my only criticism of this package being that it seems like more of a sampler, a teasing taste, of all that it could be.

* solo *

lights out
What a beautiful, strange, disquieting yet soothing, happy yet heartbreaking record. That dumb word "atmospheric" has been used to describe so, so many types of music, but it's just perfect for this. The music doesn't really qualify as "ambient" because there is so much happening, so much that demands focus and attention and alarm. Jon Hassell makes his trumpet sound like no one else's. To give an idea of what this is like, a friend in high school used to play "Rising Thermal" and the doves and caged birds she kept in her room would start whirring and hooing and nodding off. Jon Hassell sounds wondrous on REMAIN IN LIGHT and many of David Sylvian's solo records, but here he's truly at the height of genius. I think FOURTH WORLD ranks up there with Music for Films and Apollo and the Harold Budd project as one of the best recordings on which Brian Eno has worked.

Those Congas!
This is one of the more enjoyable Eno collaborations from the late sventies / early eighties period, and I think the reason is that the focus isn't on Eno, it's on Hassel. A lot of Eno's coauthored albums sound like Eno with guest musicians, but this one is different. Hassel is a great trance composer; he would have been a good DJ nowadays.

This record features a bizarre (yet pleasant) combination of styles: there are of course the indian influences, but there are also traces of Terry Rily (in the looped keyboards) and Brian's contemporary work with David Byrne. The instrumentation is sparse: Two Congas, Trumpet, Prophet V synthesizer, and Bass Guitar, but these colors are blended superbly to form some great sound paintings. I wish there were more records that use the Prophet V like this one does.

And the drumming - I have never heard such exquisite Conga work anywhere.

One warning: Hassel's style might grate on some people's ears, as it does with mine, but it can be handled in small doses. But the 22-minute-long song at the end of the record can get annoying in some places. If you have heard Hassel before and like it, you'll like this record, but if you're not sure, well, you were forewarned. ... Read more

Reviews (77)

Adam Sandler's Funniest CD
This is the funniest CD I have ever heard. I bought "What the Hell Happened To Me" and "What's Your Name" first, and thought nothing could be funnier. I was wrong! I bought this CD while I was in Boston on a field trip, and my friends and I listened to it on the entire ride home. We cracked up on every track. The buffoon is even funnier than the excited southerner. His phrase: F***in s**t still makes me laugh, even though I've heard it a million times. As you first listen to the CD he pops up at the most surprising places (He has a part in "I'm So Wasted" and "Teenage Love on the Phone in addition to his 2 starring roles). Of course, there is no doubt that Toll Booth Willie is the best overall Adam Sandler skit from any album. So, now that I own all three of his albums, I will give a brief synopsis of all of them: (I already talked about They're All Gonna Laugh at You) What the Hell Happened to Me was great, but I felt that The Excited Southerner joke went on a bit to long. Giving him the starring role in 5 tracks? Rediculous. 3 would have been better. The Excited Southerner in my oppinion was just to take up space. Don't get me wrong! It was all very funny. But went on a little to long. The Goat and Respect more than made up for that, though. I rate it 4/5. What's Your Name was good, but not great. I thought that having more songs was a good idea, but not all songs. 10 songs and 10 skits would have been better. Having all songs made it impossible to have a character such as the buffoon or the excited southerner. But, let's face it, the songs were funny as hell. 4/5

No better Adam Sandler CD!
Out of all the Adam Sandler CD, this one made me laugh the hardest. And get this: I only listened to 4 tracks! My friend has the audio tape cassette and let me listen to part of it, then,his little brother who was 6 or 7 at the time begged for it. This CD is not recommended for little kids because of its sexual content, but his little brother had an explicent content mind anyway so his life is over. I saw a trend or a pattern in this album. This album is about school and the OLDER KIDS in school, so I could relate with that. "Buddy" is a great song, but I liked the skits more. "Assistant Principal's Day off" is a hillarious skit with a pervert principal announcing the rules for the school. "The Longest Pee" is just one track off some dude takin a wizz and when he thinks he's done, he has to go again, and it won't stop! But its still pretty funny. My personal favorite is "The Bafoon and the dean of students." The bafoon who is a wierd talking nieve human being is havin an interview with the dean of students. The dean keeps on making up these excuses for what he says. Like when the bafoon says, "I Got a big old bona right now!", the dean relys with "Yeah, well, sensations of sexual behavior do come up whenever a person tends to get nervous or under stress." So over all, this is not the only the best Adam Sandler CD, its also the best comedy CD ever.

Funniest CD Ever!!!!!
This is by far Sandler's best. In Fact it is the best cd ever made. The best tracks are the Buffoon skits, At a Medium Pace, Toll Booth Willie, and So Wasted!!!

this CD was sooooo stupid.....
My husband and I are huge Adam Sandler fans. I bought this as a gift. WOW was I disappointed. This is the worst comedy CD I have ever heard. Could not been more ticked off. I not only want a refund, but would like to personally write Mr. Sandler and ask for my time back! Why did he put out such a rubbish. Don't get it. Shame on you Adam.... should take more pride in your work.

Fans Will Love This CD
I'm not a big fan of Adam Sandler's early comedy; I bought this CD for two of the full-length songs. "The Thanksgiving Song" is one of his most clever and best-known songs. With lines such as "Thanksgiving is a special night/ Jimmy Walker used to say Dynomite," and "turkey and sweet potato pie/ Sammy Davis Jr. only had one eye," the song is pure comic genius. "Lunchlady Land" is another gem, with the hilarious chorus, "sloppy joe/ slop/ sloppy joe." These songs make the CD worthwhile.

In total, there are 5 full-length songs, with the remainder of the CD consisting of comedy skits. The skits feature many Saturday Night Live alums: Rob Schneider, David Spade, and Tim Meadows. Fans of Sandler's early comedy and movies will probably love these skits. I find them rather unfunny, and somewhat offensive; they simply aren't as clever as Sandler's best work shows that he can be.

Overall, if you love his earlier and raunchier work (e.g., Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore), then you'll probably love this CD. If you prefer his more recent and mature work (e.g., Punch-Drunk, The Wedding Singer), then you'll probably be a bit mystified by this CD. ... Read more

Album Description

Full Title - Golden Age of American Rock 'N' Roll - Special Novelty Edition. 2003 compilation featuring 30 of thefinest 'oddities' from the 'Golden Era'. All 30 tracks areBillboard chart hits & several are mastered from tape forthe first time. Ace. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Delicious!
After ten outstanding volumes in their "Golden Age Of American Rock and Roll" series, much to the chagrin of collectors, Ace pulled the plug on the series. However, they have continued to please us die-hard collectors and casual listeners alike with the likes of their "Country Edition" based on the "Golden Age" discs and now, with this "Novelty Edition". Novelty compilations abound in the CD reissue marketplace but in Ace's true fashion, while including some of the ubiquitous tunes, here are found several rarely-seen ones along with some first-timers to legitimate CD such as Spencer and Spencer's "Russian Band Stand" and the Dyna-Sores' version of "Alley Oop". All told, within the massive 30 tracks total, there are 12 tunes from the top-ten, six from the top-20 and the remaining 12 coming from the lower reaches of the top-100 charts. With this kind of mix, the appeal here is to both the casual listener and avid collector alike. And, in usual Ace fashion, these tracks have been mastered from the best sources available, so sound quality is as good as you'll find for these vintage tunes. Nine of the tracks (2-4,16,17,20-22,30) appear in stereo with the remainder in mono. Finishing off the piece is a massive 32-page booklet with lots of interesting and eye-opening tidbits on each of the included tracks. Ace has once again proved who is king of the reissue when it comes to golden-age American rock 'n' roll. No real collection should be without this. In a word, outstanding.

Ace Gives Their Special Treatment To Some Fun Tunes
This offering from Ace of London presents many of the same novelty tunes found on the CD A Novelty Experience, but in this case you also get their usual copious liner notes [none in the other CD] and a discography of the contents.

Many of the selections are readily available on numerous other compilations [e.g, Mr. Bass Man, Baby Sittin' Boogie, Mr. Custer, Beep Beep, Purple People Eater, and Witch Doctor], but even in those cases you have to be careful as often they are not the original versions. All of the tracks in this set are originals, and the sound quality is, as usual, excellent.

A full 12 of the tracks [1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 19, 26, 28, and 30] are by bona-fide "one-hit wonders" [not more than one on the Billboard Hot 100], and mixed in are some rarities like I Want My Baby Back by Jimmy Cross. Once voted as the most gross record of its time, this was a take-off on the teen disaster songs of the day like Teen Angel and Tell Laura I Love Her by the host of the syndicated radio series Country Concert, and tells how the "hero" gathers up the pieces of his girlfriend after an auto accident. It made it to # 92 in 1965.

Another is Ambrose (Part 5) - there never were Parts 1 to 4 - by Linda Laurie about a pair strolling through the New York City subway system while she jabbers incessantly. In reality Linda Gertz, she is better remembered as the author of the songs Delta Dawn and Leave me Alone (Ruby Red Dress), both hits for Helen Reddy.

Two more rarities are Psycho and Alley Oop by The Dyna-Sores. The former is a duet with Bobby Hendricks (Itchy Twitchy Feeling) and New York DJ Dr. Jive, who portrays a psychiatrist analyzing a whacko, while The Dyna-Sores' rendition of Alley Oop is the hardest to find of the three hit versions from 1960. Most of the time you will see either the one by The Hollywood Argyles (# 1) or Dante & The Evergreens (# 15), and so it's nice to see this # 59 hit re-released at last. The group included H.B. Barnum (Lost Love from 1961) and Jimmy Norman (I Don't Love You No More from 1962).

Jim Backus {Mr. Magoo) and Friend will get you to chuckling on Delicious as they indulge in some booze, as will Bob McFadden & Dor (Rod McKuen) with The Mummy - "eee eee eee eee eee eee ... I'm a mummy - aaaahhhhh" - but you'll be left wondering how Russian Band Stand ever made the charts [# 91 in 1959). In reality Spencer & Spencer were Dickie Goodman [who, with Bill Buchanan, also does The Flying Saucer] and Mickey Shorr, and this one is just plain idiotic. A better choice would have been Part 2 of The Flying Saucer.

Even so, a volume worth having if only for the liner notes and reproductions. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

I really liked it!
I'm an aerobics instructor. The music is a bit fast for step aerobics at @136 beats per minute, but if you have the equipment to slow it down a notch, it works great. You could also use it at regular speed for regular aerobics and of course walking. It keeps you going for an entire hour. I really like "Its my Life" and "Beautiful Life". Really good workout music.

A must have!
This CD really gets me going - it has a great mix of tunes at just the right speed. The music brings back memories of my pre-baby "skinny nights" out at the clubs. My advice: Crank up this CD and slap an old picture of yourself in your cutest club going outfit on your treadmill - MAJOR INCINTIVE!

Gr-8 CD!
I feel this is a very good CD. It has a great compilation of very cool songs I hear often at clubs. Also, songs blend seemlessly together which is a real plus! The only reason why I rate it with 4 stars is that I was expecting songs with higher beats per minute, since I want to use it for my advanced-step class where we usually work with 142 bpm. The highest in this CD is 138. But still, it's great to work up a good sweat and have fun at the same time!

This is Motivation!
I love to work out to this CD! It keeps me pumping. The tempo is right, I just wish I could find another like it. If music makes the difference in your work out, then buy this one!

The speed of this CD
People need to know that this CD runs from 135 beats per minute to 138. It stays pretty steady. I have found that the BPM is about what my heart rate gets to on any of these shape CDs. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Favorite Cartoon
Why aren't these cartoons on DVD yet? If you too love the Animaniacs, go here to help us get them put out on DVD... www.petitiononline.com/toon0001/petition.html

Incredibly fun and educational!
I have an old cassette of this soundtrack when it first came out. My four children and I had more fun listening to the songs and learning from them than I would have ever imagined!!! We all learned things like the state capitals and planets without even realizing we were "studying". I even sing the state capital song when I can't remember one. This music is super cool and hysterically funny!! I highly recommend it. I'm actually purchasing the CD because we wore the cassette out!

Great fun for Children and Adults Alike
This soundtrack is a wonderful collection of songs from the hit animated TV series from Warner Bros. and Steven Spielberg. Funny, entertaintaining, and educational, these catchy and often exceedingly clever numbers are sure to put a smile on your face, whether you're 8 or 88.

"Yakko's World" and "Wakko's America" alone are worth the price of the disc and are sure to become favorites among both the big and little ones in your family. Adults will be amused by the pop culture references and whimsical, yet intelligent lyrics of each song, while kids will get off on the catchy tunes, and playful attitudes of the voice actors from the series.

Whether you're a fan of the show or a casual listener, "Animaniacs" is a great CD collection for all ages!

Highly Recommended.

Animaniacs will cheer you up!!!
I had this as a tape when it was first released...My daughter was about 9 at the time and now she listens to the CD when she has a bad day at work. It will cheer you up if you need to be cheered and it will sustain a good mood if you already have one. I also like the educational value of this CD. It is helping my 8, 10, and 11 year olds with their States and Capitols. Nmenonic devices to help pass those tests, along with a catchy tune...ENJOY!!!!!

Classic
If you love Animaniacs, you'll love this soundtrack. This is the first cd released by the makers of the series and has the most popular songs on it. My personal favorite is schnitzelbach, but the universe song rocks too. buy it, you won't regret it. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Songs are alright but.....
I was disappointed in the sound quality.. i have bought similar CDs of by-gone era and i know good quality sound is achievable.

I guess you don't expect too much from it , it is a good buy.

Innocent Love Ballads by the Best Girl-Singers of the 60s
I haven't actually lived the "Leave It To Beaver" times of innocence and fun, but sometimes I wish I had. The carefree music of Vintage Rock & Roll seems here to stay. This CD is packed with great Girl Sound of the early 60s, featuring the big hits of the best known girl-groups and female vocalists of the era. The melancholy "It Might As Well Rain Until September" by Carole King, "Easier Said Than Done" by The Essex and "Johnny Get Angry" by Joanie Sommers are only some of the gems included. Then there is the ultimate dream-song "I Love How You Love Me" by The Paris Sisters and the equally beautiful "Wonderful Summer" by Robin Ward. Hits, hits, hits, and one better than the next one. If you are looking for golden oldies by the industry's best female artists, look no further, you found the perfect collection of songs on one smashing CD! Highly recommended!

A Time of Innocence, Pt. II
There is only a slight drop off in overall song selection with volume two of Rhino's excellent Best of the Girl Groups series. Yes, there's still the problem of there not being any of the classic Phil Spector hits or any of the Motown or Cameo/Parkway artists, but this is still powerful music.

There are classics like the Angels' "My Boyfriend's Back," the Toys "A Lover's Concerto" and Essex' "Easier Said Than Done"--all No. 1 hits. There are also lesser hits like "Wonderful Summer" by Robin Ward and the Shirelles' "I Met Him on Sunday," which didn't even crack the Top 40. [Which raises the question: Why was this song included when "Soldier Boy" and "Dedicated to the One I Love" were left off? Another odd choice is the inclusion of the non-hit "The One You Can't Have" by the Honeys in favor of Little Eva's follow-up hit "Keep Your Hands Off My Baby."]

On volume two Carole King is featured as an artist with her lone Sixties hit "It Might As Well Rain Until September," but she's better represented as the songwriter (with husband Gerry Goffin) of the classic "The Loco-Motion" by Little Eva and the Cookies' only Top 20 hits, "Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)" and "Chains."

Ellie Greenwich also shows up as a performer on volume two, both as a solo and with husband Jeff Barry as the Raindrops.

While the British Invasion led to the demise of the girl group phenomenon, from 1961 to 1965 these were some of the most charming and infectious songs on the radio. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Not as much good work as Vol. 1, but still good
Along with Vol. One, this cd presents sone really fine music; the female equavelent (some might say the female improvements) over male dominated do-wop. This disc also has a great cross section of these sweet sounding songs.

Not as many hits as Vol. 1 (why does this always seem to be the case?) Definately worth having, though.

Never Equaled
This group of songs are straight from the heart, clear and strong. It's tough to pick a favorite, but the Honeys and the Caravelles sing songs that take me back to my freshman year in Arlington Heights, IL. This is one set you should not pass up! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A great mix of hits from 1979
I was 10 years old in 1979, and I remember listening to a lot of these songs on the radio, especially "Escape"(Pina Colada Song). It was one of my favorite songs back then.
This greatly eclectic mix of genres will bring back some great memories of a year that spurned some great music.
Disco was fading, but Blondie got her hooks into it with "Heart of Glass", which starts this disc off right.
"My Sharona", the one hit wonder of The Knack is on here, along with a few 70's party standards for fast dances, "I will survive", "YMCA", and "Ring my bell".
The slower songs are sad love songs: "Just when I needed you most" and "Sad Eyes".
This is fun album to have on and sing along with(karoake here i come...)in the car, or at home in the background at a party.
I've actually recognized it being played at clubs, between bands.
I am highly recommending this for 70's music fans! It's one of the greatest if not the best compliation album I've heard for that decade.

Eileen Famiglietti

DISCO, COUNTRY AND BEAUTIFUL BALLADS
This excellent compilation contains four massive disco smashes, one stunning piece of power pop, three soulful ballads and one great country story song. The heavy presence of disco is to be expected since this dance style still rules the charts in 1979. I Will Survive and Y.M.C.A. became ageless club anthems, Ring My Bell is famous for its atmospheric syndrum effects and Heart Of Glass crossed the boundaries between new wave and disco in a big way. Escape (The Pina Colada Song) was a novelty hit and it still irritates me, but Just When I Needed You Most, Sad Eyes and Fire are great emotional ballads that have stood the test of time very well. The Devil Went Down To Georgia is still an amusing country song with some superb instrumental breaks. Nine great songs out of ten tracks make this one of the better Billboard compilations, reflecting all of the relevant styles that made 1979 such a great year for music.

Those Were The Days!!
Ah, 1979. It was the last year that disco ruled the pop charts, new wave began its rise, rap had its first Top 40 hit ("Rapper's Delight"), and every newscast began with a countdown of the number of days hostages had been held in Iran. As a 9 year old, I heard these songs everywhere, from "My Sharona" played round the clock on the radio, to "Sad Eyes" and "Just When I Needed You Most" played during slow skate at the local roller rink. I saw most of these songs lip synced to on "Solid Gold" (remember that show?), where Dionne Warwick's hair got shorter every week. I thought Charlie Daniels was one bad dude when he was talking about the Devil coming down south, where I lived at the time! Who knew then that "Y.M.C.A." would become the most played song in the history of the universe? And though I've listened to it for 25 years without tiring of it, I still don't have the foggiest clue what Debbie Harry is singing on "Heart of Glass?!" Needless to say, this CD sums up one year better than just about any other Billboard collection to date. Memories usually don't come this cheap!!! As we said in 1979, "Na Noo, Na Noo."

An Excellent Compilation
I really love Billboard collections. Instead of buying the individual albums that contain my favorite songs, I can buy a Billboard album that already has all of the hits on one disc. Usually, Billboard albums are chock-full of songs that I recognize and enjoy. This particular album, though, is especially rich with first-class music; the year 1979 must have been an extraordinary one for the music industry. "Billboard Top Hits 1979" starts out with "Heart of Glass," an upbeat, yet relaxing tune by Blondie. Next is a song that everyone recognizes but hardly anyone knows the artist -- "My Sharona" by the Knack. Although this song can get a little repetitive, I still enjoy listening to it from time to time. I really like its placement on the album; the rock tempo is a nice complement to "Heart of Glass." The album continues with another highly-recognized song, "Just When I Needed You Most." This romantic ballad is one of the few soft, slow, emotional songs; it adds variety while still contributing nicely to the whole. One of my personal favorites is the next track, "Escape," which most everyone knows as the infamous Piña Colada song. This song's memorable lyrics never fail to touch me every time I hear them. Next up comes two more rock tunes which have also become some of the more popular dance music of the last twenty years, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor and "YMCA" by the Village People. These two songs have a universal appeal that has already spanned generations since the time that they were first released; the longevity combined with the immense popularity make them some of the greatest songs ever written. The next track is "Sad Eyes" by Robert John; although it isn't a terrible song, it just doesn't deserve to be a follow-up to a song like "YMCA." Its mellow tune just doesn't seem in sync with its placement on the album. The album makes a recovery, though, with "Fire" by the Pointer Sisters, which was another one of my favorite songs with its mystical, enigmatic, fast-paced melody. "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward was also one of my favorites; it is a perfect follow-up to a song like "Fire," returning the album back to a more cheerful, light-hearted theme. Finally, the album closes with "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," which is not only a great song, but also a great story as well. The country flair of this song is different from the predominant rock/pop theme, ending the album on a different note and thereby contributing to the pleasant variety of music that this album exhibits. Overall, I thought that this was an outstanding album and I certainly recommend it to fans of 1970's pop, rock, and disco music. With such a diverse assortment of classic music all on one disc, this album is a treasure for music fans of all ages.

This hits collection is worth it just to have "My Sharona"
Wow, Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" must have been the best song of 1979 because it appears on both "Billboard Top Hits: 1979" and "1979: Billboard Top Dance Hits." This is one of those Billboard hit collections that really covers the music spectrum for the year in question. Not only do you have Disco with Gaynor and the Village People, you have Punk/New Wave represented by by Blondie and The Knack, whatever "Escape (The Pina Colada Song" happens to be, and Country Western with the Charlie Daniels Band. I think this album will make the cut for most people when it comes to checking out the play list to see if there are five or more songs you would like to add to your music collection. The downside is that there are half as many songs here that you will probably just pass over when you play the album. However, I cannot begin to count the number of times that the driving beat of "My Sharona" has gotten me through a late afternoon. That has to count for something, boys and girls. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Just as irony is being pronounced dead, along comes this boozy holiday compilation to suggest that rumors of its demise may be premature. Given the culture's simmering lounge mania, this collection (with its cheesy homage/rip-off Oceans 11 art direction) may be belated--but hey, punctuality was never these swingin' cats' bag, Jack. The novelty of having three of the 20th century's most notorious sinners belt, whoop, and sing the praises of sleigh bells, roasting chestnuts, and the virgin birth would be enough to recommend this dizzy, 21-track delight, but there's actually some rewarding pop archaeology here as well. Two of the best tracks--Sammy Davis's ring-a-ding-ding romp through "Jingle Bells" and Dino's dreamy "Peace on Earth/Silent Night"--hail from a vintage, ultra-rare Reprise sampler. Sammy's typically over-the-top "Christmastime All Over the World" and Nat Cole tribute, "The Christmas Song," also make their CD debut. Dino's holiday TV specials yield more unreleased rarities: Sinatra-Martin duets of the loopy "Marshmallow World" and a touchingly tipsy take on "Auld Lang Syne" that suggests the boys have shared more than one cup of kindness. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (28)

One Of My Christmas Favourites
When this came out last year I grabbed a copy from a fast-diminishing pile at my local record store. And I now regard it as one of my all-time seasonal favourites.

The opening lines from the insert tells it all: "Forget about ho-ho-ho and bells that jingle. This Christmas will be strictly ... Ring-A-Ding Ding. Yep, Frank, Dean & Sammy are serving a heaping helping of yuletide cheer featuring classic versions of holiday standards, rare first-time CD performances and hitherto unreleased bonus tracks."

This is followed by two pages of brief anecdotes from each of the stars, some of it related to the origins of the nickname The Rat Pack, as well as a note from Frank's long-time pianist Bill Miller relating their appearance in Las vegas while filming Ocean's Eleven.

A picture spread in the middle shows the three in action on stage, followed by three pages showing the contents and when the song first appeared on record. The earliest [track 11] dates to 1954 and the Capitol LP Merry Christmas To You while most of the remainder are culled from albums originally reeased in the late 1950s to early 1960s. Track 20 is from Dean's TV special on December 21, 1967 and track 21 is from his December 31, 1970 show. The only one previously unreleased is track 3, Christmas Time All Over The World by Sammy, and when you hear it you'll wonder why it was held back at the time.

Thank you Capitol for what is now surely an essential addition to any Christmas collection.

Christmas cocktails with Frank, Dino and Sammy!
Capitol has followed up their "Eee-O Eleven: The Best Of The Rat Pack" disc (one of the few excellent 'Rat Pack' compilations around; most others recycle the trio's bargain-basement material) with this brilliant Christmas-themed CD. While all of the songs Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin sing on their own have been released before on CD, this is a pretty good selection from that material.

From Frank, we get a few timeless carols, "The First Noel", "Hark! The Herald Angels", etc (backed with a choir), plus the beautiful "Christmas Waltz", and "I'll Be Home For Christmas". We even get treated to "I Believe", which is a somewhat rare single, and wouldn't really even be on this CD if not for a throw-away reference to Santa Claus!

From Dean, we get a few tracks from his "A Winter Romance" album (a priceless collection of frosty not-so-politically-correct charmers), as well as a few traditional by-the-numbers Christmas anthems: "Silver Bells", "White Christmas", "Rudolph The Red-Nose Reindeer" and "Winter Wonderland", all of which see Dean impeccably slurring his way along as only he can! A highlight is the stunning "Peace on Earth / Silent Night", which is taken from a ultra-rare Reprise Christmas promo album.

Another track from this album is the incomparable Sammy Davis, Jr.'s take on "Jingle Bells", which is given a Vegas arrangement that swings something fierce! Sammy's tracks really make you wish he'd recorded his own Christmas album. I suppose he was too busy wowing the world onstage as The Greatest Entertainer Who Ever Lived, to consistently blow the socks off everyone from the studio.

The only (minor) gripes are in the small print... For those who care, Capitol's telling a few badly-researched fibs in the liner notes. Dean's "White Christmas" is his '59 version, not the '66 as claimed; Sammy's "It's Christmas Time All Over The World" has in fact been released, and on so many budget Christmas LPs it's not funny, while Davis, Jr.'s sensational version of "The Christmas Song" was not originally from his "The Nat King Cole Songbook" LP, but from a 1963 album, "California Suite", devoted to songs written by Mel Tormé.

The two finishing tracks, Frank/Dean duets from Dean Martin's TV shows cap off a sensational album - the talent of these three guys will short circuit your CD-player if you're not careful, so pour yourself something stiff, and sit down to a nostalgically cool Yule! This CD is even enough to make this Australian reviewer forget that it's the middle of summer and as hot as blazes outside, and cry insanely into the bushfire smoke "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"

Coolest X-Mas CD ever
I was under the impression that I was cool BEFORE I got this CD. Now I just can't stand myself. Frank and Sammy tear it up, but Dean is my boy. What a pimp. This CD rocks.

Solid!
Overall I found the CD to be great - I was expecting a few more Christmas tunes but am very pleased with the selection the chose for this CD anyway. The recording quality is great and overall this inspires me to get more of the Rat Pack CD and DVD collections. What a blast it must have been to watch these guys live!

These hip cats set a swinging, partying mood!
I brought this CD home as a Christmas present for a coworker, but my husband claimed it before I could gift-wrap it. After he played it once, I realized it was the perfect gift for just about everyone on my list. I bought six more to give as gifts -- all to thrilled recipients. We took our own CD along to 2 holiday parties where the hosts played it nonstop and all the guests loved it. This is the perfect Christmas CD. The choir and orchestra are quintessential 1960s. The sacred songs get the respect they deserve, and the silly songs have never been more fun. Do what I did: get one for yourself and one for every music lover on your gift list. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Unbeatable seventies!
This collection stands out among every single 70's song ever broadcast. Some of the ultimate landmark songs include: "I Think I Love You", "The Rapper", and the song that will blast you out of you chair, "War". Almost unbeatable and only surpassed by Billboard 1960. However, quite limited in number of songs, which are only 10 tracks. This particularly CD is pretty much duplicated in Ultimate Seventies Collection-1970. If you own that CD, this is not worth buying, unless you are looking for repeats of these great songs. My recommendation list includes: The "Ultimate Seventies" Collection, Billboard 60's, and Billboard 50's.

Great CD
I got this cd for the simple fact that it has "Vehicle" by the Ides of March. I thought the people at billboard were very wise in making the decision to add that song to this series. Other cool songs included are "The Rapper" and "Green Eyed Lady."

Recalling what was on the radio in the year 1970
Do not be fooled into thinking that the ten songs collected on any particular album in the Billboard Top Rock'N'Roll Hits series represent the top 10 singles from that year or even that they are even all #1 hits. Still, if you were tuned to the radio in 1970 you will recognize every single track in this collection. By rule of thumb with such hit albums is whether or not they add five or more new songs to my music collection. I only have three of these already on CD ("Mama Told Me (Not To Come)," "I Think I Love You" and "I Want Your Back"--I know, pretty embarrassing), and of the seven other tracks there is not one of them that I do not mind listening to, taking me back to the year 1970 when we moved from Japan to New Mexico and I started high school. The only complaint would be that there are only 10 songs, but clearly my criteria has been met. "War" and "Spirit in the Sky" are the most worthy additions, and I think I have a 45 of "Venus" some where around here. I just do not have a record player anymore. Do the math yourself, and if you also come up with five songs you would like to have, pick this puppy up. Hippo Holidays, America.

High School Days Revisited
1970, the anticipation for me of what the next four years of high school would be like. These songs definitely bring me back without a doubt, the definition of what top 40 AM radio was like. Every song on this CD is great, no fillers here, the only thing I would change about it would be to put the extended version of "Green-Eyed Lady" by Sugarloaf on it. Perfect listening.

Incrdible collection of fun favorites for any generation
This CD provided endless hours of listening pleasure for those great pre going out Friday and Saturday nights in the dorm room. All the songs will make you want to dance and groove! ... Read more

Amazon.com

During the second half of the 1960s, before he became a ubiquitous TV star and commercial pitchman, Bill Cosby was America's most popular--and influential--standup comic. Unlike the generation of Borscht-Belt funnymen that preceded him, Cosby didn't tell jokes, per se. Instead, he delivered colorful, tightly structured tales drawn from his experiences as a child and a parent, adopting a multitude of voices to portray the colorful array of characters who populated the Philadelphia neighborhood in which he grew up. Cosby's 1967 album Revenge is awash in bittersweet, hilarious accounts of snowball fights, scary monster movies, and youthful one-upsmanship. --Scott Schinder ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Faster, faster, you fool, you fool!
This was the first Bill Cosby album I ever heard. It was in my parents' record collection and I used to listen to it all the time when I was a kid. I still think it's one of Bill's funniest albums. The whole thing is funny, but the absolute classic bits are "Revenge", "9th St. Bridge" and "Buck, Buck". By the way, this album was where the characters of Fat Albert and Weird Harold were introduced. Recommended to fans of classic comedy.

Seek Revenge with silly Bill Cosby!
REVENGE was recorded in Lake Tahoe,Nevada in or around 1967. The establishment was Harrah's Hotel and Casino which still exists today. The photo of the establishment is seen on the back cover of the LP. The best bits are the title track,TWO DAUGHTERS,SMOKING,9TH STREET BRIDGE and BUCK BUCK. The latter two tracks are listed as OLD WEIRD HAROLD and FAT ALBERT on the 1969 compilation THE BEST OF BILL COSBY. The other three aforementioned tracks have been recycled for MORE OF THE BEST OF BILL COSBY,released in 1970. The title track is about Bill and his friends Junior Barnes and Old Weird Harold attacking each other with snowballs. TWO DAUGHTERS is about Bill's daughters Erika and Ensa. TWO BROTHERS is about Bill's brothers Russell and James. On THE TANK,Bill tells about flushing a topcoat down a toilet. SMOKING is about Bill and his buddies sneaking cigarettes in a school restroom. WIVES is about post-wedding life. It's called marriage,of course. On COOL COVERS,Bill tells about his Protestant faith and how cool prayers and church are. On 9TH STREET BRIDGE,Bill tells about himself and Harold being frightened to death by monsters in a horror movie. BUCK BUCK is some kind of silly game that Bill and his buddies played in Philadelphia. This is where he mentions 2,000-pound Fat Albert and his trademark phrase,"Hey,hey,hey!". On PLANES,Bill tells about the potential crash of an airplane. This album is Cosby's fifth overall and originally released in mono and stereo.

Hillarious Even Today!!
I remember listening to the LP as a kid in the late 60's and I literally wore the grooves off the darn thing. Cosby is such a great story teller. From "Two Brothers" to my personal favorite "9th Street Bridge", he gives all of us a sense of what it was like as a kid and as a parent and uses his humor to make light of it. Highly, Highly Recommended!!

One of Cosby's best
This is one of Bill Cosby's early records. We are introduced to Fat Albert and "old wierd" Harold. Bill Cosby talks about life growing up in Philadelphia and being a new father. This CD contains some of Bill Cosby's best routines such as Buck Buck and the Ninth street bridge as well as the tiile track. One of the best parts is when he tries to scare Fat Albert and Fat Albert runs him over running out the biulding "I forgot I was behind him!" This recording is still just as funny as when I first heard it.

Cosby's "Revenge"
Hard to beleive that forty years ago Bill Cosby was one of the hottest standup comedians around. The numerous live albums he recorded all have very funny moments. Cosby told terrific stories, particularly about childhood. Those stories are the highlights here. The title piece is pure standup Cosby, a funny, biting, self-effacing tale that nails what its like to be a child perfectly. The other highlight on the album is two connected stories under the title "Buck Buck" that introduces Fat Albert, one of Cosby's most memorable characters. Another terrific childhood tale is "9th Street Bridge," in which Bill and Old Weird Harold get stranded at the horror movies.

Overall, an excellent collection of humorous stories from the man who was once the King of the standup comedians. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the many wonderful things about the film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was that it educated the populace on the school of drag. (At least a little.) Likewise, the film's soundtrack also enlightens those who may have wrongly thought that drag is rooted specifically in disco and torch classics. Sure, there's more than one version of disco stalwarts like "Shake Your Groove Thing," "I Love the Nightlife," and "I Will Survive," but this collection also finds the camp in songs like Paper Lace's "Billy Don't Be a Hero" and "Take a Letter Maria" by R.B. Graves. And of course, Abba's "Mamma Mia" emerges as the embodiment of overwrought dramatics. The soundtrack, with songs by the Village People and Vanessa Williams, is as much of a romp as the film. --Steve Gdula ... Read more

Reviews (34)

You gotta Love Women in Music...
What can I say? I love this thing! Maybe its because I have been looking for a CD with a lot of songs within my singing range, or maybe I just like that "I Don't Care if The Sun Don't Shine" song. I don't like ABBA though.. Mind you I didn't grow up with disco either. I wasnt even born yet! (I'm 17) A must-have for those nights alone with your hairbrush microphone! Guy Pierce is amazing! I'll admit, the movies better than the music. Caio!

Awesome soundtrack, a few too many extras
My only qualm with this soundtrack, which is one of my all time favorites, is the extra extended mixes of "I Love the Nightlife", "Go West", "Shake Your Groove Thing"(one of my fave dance hits of all time), and "I Will Survive". These are all really fun songs that came out of the 70's, but I don't need to hear them this often! Maybe as a party disc, I can see how these mixes would fit in. Or maybe if you are working out it would be a great collection of fast songs to get you moving, aside from the few slow ones. I just feel that there is too much repetition.
The disc is outstanding aside from that. This is such a fun group of songs to just pop in your c.d. player and groove to. It's always gets me dancing. It is very entertaining, and I even appreciate the older songs, "I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine", and "Can't Help Loving That Man", and "A Fine Romance". These are all by great female singers of an earlier generation than the 70's.
Being an Australian movie, they just had to throw a little ABBA in, "Mamma Mia". There are a few songs from the 90's, "Save the Best for Last" by Vanessa Williams and "Finally" by CeCe Penniston. Then there are a few obscure 70's songs, "Billy Don't be a Hero", and "Take a Letter, Maria". It is a very ecclectic mix, and the mix of songs all fit perfectly together. It's a perfect compliment to the film itself.
I highly recommend this soundtrack. This will not disappoint! Especially for fans of the movie!

A great collection of songs!
The CD opens with a song meant for camp purposes. But, you know it's a guilty pleasure because you'll start singing along too! We're all allowed.

The variety of songs on this CD is wonderful. From jazz to folk to disco to modern remixes of those old dance hits--you will not be disappointed.

As you can see, there are a lot of tracks and the CD is worth it! It's a great disc for parties and other fun activities.

During my cassette days, I wore out the tape. Now that I have a CD player, I can play the disc over and over and over as many times as I want. I still catch myself singing "Can't Help Loving That Man" from "Showboat." That's just one of many great songs on this soundtrack CD. Treat yourself to the movie and then relive your film experience with this CD!

'Wanna make your CD player smile?
Then, drop in this compilation of tunes selected for one of cinema's most unusual stories. Anyone that lived during the oh-so-delicious 70's, as well as anyone with a longing to experience the "ME decade" will delight in this offering. Even the early 90's "Save the Best for Last" and "Finally" have a place here among the disco gems of Peaches & Herb, Alicia Bridges, and the greatest dance song of all: "I Will Survive". Each of the latter are presented in multiple versions, sure to get one's feet a-thumping.

Now, where in the attic is that disco ball?

You know you love it! Admit it!
It's true. For all the earlier reviewers bashing this CD for having disco (gasp!), get over yourselves. Honestly, this is a fun CD that also is suprisingly well-balanced. Sure you get some disco classics, like Go West, SHake Your Groove Thing and I Will Survive. However, you also get Take a Letter maria, and I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine, to name a few. This CD is not meant to be some grand, serious affair. It's fun music that backed up a great movie. Relax, it's okay to love it! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Just What the Doctor Ordered.
Several years ago there used to be an affiliate of the now-defunked children's radio group known as Radio Ahhs! (Radio Ahhs! no longer exists because of the Walt Disney Company). Anyway, the local affiliate in the St. Louis area used to play some of the coolest music around. Just about everyone I knew from my younger siblings to high school students and our parents listened to the station from time to time because of the original and highly entertaining music. Some of the songs I remember hearing from those times are on this album and I know now that a lot of the music they played originated from Dr. Demento. Some of my favorites on the album include:

"Yoda"

"Fish Heads"

"Bulbuous Bouffant"

"Hellow Mudduh, Hello Fadduh (A Letter From Camp)"

"Star Trekkin'"

"Ti Kwan Leep/Boot to the Head"

"Marvin, I Love You"

"They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!"

"Bulbous Bouffant" and "Ti Kwan Leep/Boot to the Head" aren't really songs but are comedy sketches that are just as entertaining as anything done by Monty Python. "Fish Heads" is one of the songs I remember from Radio Ahhs! and in reading the liner notes that are included with the disc, I found out that Bill Muny from LOST IN SPACE fame is one of the two members of the group that sings "Fish Heads". Dr. Demento is largely responsible for Wierd Al Yankovic even having a career, but it's nice to see that on this album the only song by Wierd Al is "Yoda". However, Wierd Al also wrote the introduction to the liner booklet. "The Smoke Off" by Shel Silverstein is probably the most offensive song on the cd because of the cursing and the subject matter (it's about a pot smoking competition). There are a couple other tunes that verge on the edge of vulgarity, but "The Smoke Off" is really the only one that crosses the line.
Overall, this is a good album for anyone looking for some truly original music to own. It's also a good way to introduce people to dementia music and the crazy world of Dr. Demento.

Marvin, I LOVE you!
This is a very nice collection of some of Dr. Demento's best hits on his radio show. I actually have many, many other Dr. Demento albums and so when I bought this most of them were repeats for me, but it was all worth it for the song "Marvin, I Love You" by Marvin the Paranoid Android, which makes its first appearance on CD ever right here! This is a very sweet song and listening to it will make you almost want to cry for the poor robot. It's also nice to hear Dr. Demento himself getting in on the act in his rendition of "Shaving Cream." "Posioning Pigeons..." is one of Tom Lehrer's best, I just love his voice! "Bulbous Bouffant" and "Ti Kwan Leep" have musical qualities to them, but they're more comedy sketches than songs. "Fish Heads", "Hello Muddah...", and "They're Coming..." are great classics. I'm also glad that Dr. D. decided to only put one Weird Al song ("Yoda") on here as well, because he usually tends to overdo his compiliation albums with too many Al songs. I mean, Al's a great singer (I have all his ALbums), but leave room for other talented people! Be warned though, some songs are mildly offensive. Other than the obvious ("Posioning Pigeons...", "My Dead Dog Rover", and "Dead Puppies") one of the tracks features Shel Silverstein (and yes, I mean that late, great children's author) using many swear words (including the "f" word, but that one is bleeped out), "Shaving Cream" just fools you into thinking it's going to cuss, and "The Scotsman" jokes about what ISN'T present underneath those kilts. And finally, if you plan on collecting ALL of the other Demento albums (on CD's), then you should know that the only ones that aren't repeats are: "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow", "Nanook Rubs It", "Marvin, I Love You", "The Smoke Off", and this special version of "Shaving Cream." But, if you're like me, then it's still worth it.

Laughter is indeed the best medicine
Most of the songs on this compilation I have on the three retrospective collections that Rhino put out in 1991,1995,& 2000 respectively-I'm glad that Frank Zappa's "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow" & Shel Silverstein's "Smoke Off" are included on this disc-They are classic bits-The weakest track on this collection:Dr.Demento's desecration of "Shaving Cream"-Otherwise,I recommend it for lovers of novelty music everywhere.

Life, don't talk to me about life!
Is this where a fine English actor (Stephen Moore) should end - not deceased but alive and healthy as far as I know. As there are probably a few people who are wondering what the heck I am wittering on about, he is the voice of Marvin The Paranoid Android who has managed to get on to this collection - and not the best Marvin song either on the two singles I know about.

As to the album itself - get the anniversary editions - far more warped (demented), and there are only two or three extra tracks that are not on these, so myself, I would not buy this, however it looks like a great start for anyone who may be in need a decent fix of brain surgery from the Doctor - it is only your mind you have to lose!!

Silly Songs for Kids and their Parents
We absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Dr. Demento!! This compilation is A plus. I used to listen to Dr. Demento in high school on a local Los Angeles radio station on Sunday nights, I never missed it. We bought this and other Dr. Demento collections for our 5 yr. old (who has an amazingly black sense of humor) and we put it on and clean the house and dance and sing the songs. We especially love the sick, twisted humor of "Hamster Love", "THe Tennessee Birdwalk" and "Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road". Our absolute favorite is "Bulbous Bouffant" by the Vestibules, our son actually took the CD to his teacher: after writing down the wordsin the song, she used them for a spelling test!!! (he's in a highly gifted program) SHe thought it was a HOOT!!!!! An absolute MUST to cheer you and put you in a good mood, if you're life is as hectic and stressed as mine is with 2 small kids. Just don't tell your parents, they might not approve!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Album Description

Pop/jazz/rock cross-over star Michael Franks' first-ever holiday album sets the scene for mirth, merriment, and a cool yule all around. On tracks like "Said the Snowflake" and "I Bought You A Plastic Star (For Your Aluminum Tree)," the artist's trademark wit and lyrical worldplay are clearly in evidence. And throughout the disc's ten tracks, this master musician taps into his signature sense of timeless romance, wrapping his poetic songcraft in melodies as inviting as a blanket of freshly fallen powder. Delight your senses with the magic of the season, as observed by Michael Franks. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Producer and composer Paul Schwartz thanks many people on State of Grace, but there is one notable exclusion: the 12th-century nunHildegard von Bingen. Although these aren't her compositions, echoes of her ecstatic hymns and sequences resound throughout Schwartz's latest electronica-classical opus. He composes his own 21st-century gothic chants,which are sung by the impassioned soprano Lisbeth Scott. Scott is a powerfulsinger who brings a more emotional, perhaps even lustful, tone to these electro-Gregorian evocations, gliding over synthesizer ministrations and violin from the durable Gavyn Wright. Paul Schwartz was also responsible for the Aria CDs, on which he updated operatic arias with dance beats. State of Gracebenefits from the less oppressive rhythmic regimentation, letting these soaringmelodies ring out. When Schwartz deviates from his gothic inspirations, Stateof Grace flags, notably on a predictable rendition of "Amazing Grace," amisguided Celtic take on the Shaker hymn "Simple Gifts," and a trio of instrumentals. --John Diliberto ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Very soothing and relaxing to listen to
I recently found a copy of this album on one of my excursions to my favorite record store. I have been awfully curious to hear this album since I am also a big fan of classical/pop music. Plus the cd artwork was very intriguing and very Renaissance-like too. So I immediately fell in love with "State of Grace" the very second I put the cd into my stereo. I was fortunate to have found this cd... I found Lisbeth Scott's vocals very soothing and comforting to listen to, especially this morning when I was drinking coffee from a local coffee shop. I particularly enjoyed the stunning cover of "Amazing Grace". "Amazing Grace" has always been a beautiful song but it is even more beautiful with Lisbeth Scott singing the lyrics. I also really enjoyed track #3 "Miserere" and Auguries of Innocence part 2". "Be Still My Soul" is a stunning masterpiece. The lyrics really touched my soul. I found the song really soothing to listen to. Part of the credit goes to Lisbeth's restrained vocals and the breathtaking lyrics. It has been awhile since I have heard an album as beautiful as "State of Grace" it is awonderful album. I loved the album artwork. It has that Renaissance quality that I have always loved. I'm so glad that I came across this cd by chance. It is simply stunning. If there was one track that didn't really float my boat was the last track which kinda makes me drowsy, especially when I listen to the cd at the office. Overall I loved the cd. I haven't been able to stop playing it non-stop since this past weekend.

Above average, but...
Paul Schwartz, the genius behind Aria and Aria 2 (he is also responsible for Revolution that I like much less) writes and arranges the music for this collection of songs and instrumentals. It's a hit and miss kind of thing - hit when he allows Lisbeth Scott's unusual and lovely voice to explore the gems like Veni Redemptor or Angelica, miss when he concentrates on instruments in Auguries of Innocence or decides to suddenly do a bad rendition of Amazing Grace or Simple Gifts. Veni Redemptor and Amazing Grace almost seem like they came from two different albums made by two different people, so stark is the contrast.

I recommend this for those fans of Aria that just have to have more - now - and can't wait for hopefully a better outing from Paul Schwartz next time. This will satisfy an appetite a little. It's definitely one of the more beautiful "holiday-oriented" or "spiritual" albums you will ever hear, too. But it doesn't measure up to what it could have been.

Thanks For The Introduction To Mehdi
I've always enjoyed Paul Schwartz and this album is no exception, but while reading some of the customer recommendations posted on this page I discovered an artist by the name of Mehdi (pronounced meddie). After some investigation I found his site (SoothingMusic.Com) and listened to the samples...I also downloaded some of the free MP3 downloads that are available on Amazon.com.
I was instantly blown away by the quality of this music and so I gave it a try and now that I have listened to his CDs several times I really must say that although I'm still a Paul Schwartz fan I find Mehdi to be a tad more interesting. I have them both in my multi-disc CD player and love the way they compliment each other. I highly recommend that you give this artist a try or atleast just go listen to the samples, I have a feeling you'll be glad you did.

What was I thinking?!
I already wrote a review for this back in 2001. I just wish I would have given it 5 instead of 4 stars. Listening to State Of Grace is a beautiful, uplifting experience that exults the spirit into higher places, and the multi-talented Paul Schwartz has quickly become one of my all-time favorite musicians. He composes and orchestrates all the music while Lisbeth Scott's angelic voice glides like softly felt wings that radiates a deep sense of majesty over the ambient beats and the glorious strings and church choirs that sing their heavenly praises to the mighty forces that we must first believe in order to perceive. But fear not. You don't have to be religious to enjoy this. Just open your mind and, most importantly, your heart and let it wash over you... That's all I ask.

This is now one of my top 20 most cherished albums and that's saying a lot since I currently own over 500 cds!

Intense, intriguing and cool
A compelling collection of compositions by innovative composer and keyboardist Paul Schwartz. The mood of the album varies, but minor keys predominate and a mysterious, brooding reflectiveness pervades many of the selection to good effect. Christian lyrics in both Latin and English are sung by a soloist, accompanied by programmed groove beats and a lush orchestra of synthesized sound. Clear-voiced Lisbeth Scott does a nice job of emulating a boy soprano for the Latin numbers, the Joyful Company of Singers provides a full, if muted, choral sound in "Misere", and violinist Gavin Wright offers soaring descants and sweet leads on several numbers. But it is composer Schwartz who gives distinctive voice to this music with his multilayered programming. He is at his best in sweeping tracks like "Veni Redemptor Gentium", the choral "Misere", the symphonic "Auguries of Innocence, Part 2" and the delicately brooding "Angelica". Songs I could have done without, however, are "Amazing Grace" and "Simple Gifts", tunes that do not lend themselves to the groove beat phenomenon. While that seems to work well for plainchant and some symphonic and operatic selections, these already-metered folk songs would have been better off left in their traditional state. Nonetheless, "State of Grace" is a good listen--evocative, stirring, and generally well-matched in its fusions. If you like religious plainchant fused with modern musical elements, you might also enjoy "Vision: The Music of Hildegard of Bingen" by Richard Souther, Libera's self-titled debut album, and anything by Enigma. ... Read more