Album Description

Released in 1978, this collection of 'poetic doings' expanded his repertoire with legendary live and studio tracks. Tracks include 'The H20gate (Watergate) Blues', 'The Ghetto Code' and 'Space Shuttle' a bonus track from the '80's featuring Paul Weller of the Jam on guitar. The title 'Godfather Of Rap' evolved from these poems with music. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Like a Fool ...
I held an original LP copy of this release in my hands and DIDN'T BUY IT. Now ... finally ... I may be redeemed. Thanks to TVT for re-releasing most of GSH's back catalog. This record is not, IMHO, the right place to start for listeners not already steeped in the creative juggernaut that is/was/is again Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson. I highly recommend starting with both The Revolution Will Not Be Televised and From South Africa to South Carolina. And like a fellow reviewer here, I highly recommend the latter-day GSH releases such as Secrets, 1980 and Real Eyes. Nevertheless, The Mind Of... captures Gil in his element doing spoken word (which in another context was once called talking blues) over funky, jazz-inspired music. GSH's live shows in the day (the freaky 1970s) were filled with interludes and extensions, interpolations and extrapolations featuring Gil's spontaneous inventions and deeply spirtual politically explosive exhortations. This is music and language that should not be missed.

It's Chill
Gil Scott is a public intellectual and social commentator who is a gifted poet. Gil Scott keeps it real and doesn't bite his tongue when talking about the power structure and its exploitative policies. The only problem with the album is that Gil Scott is feeling himself a little too much in the intro in almost everyone of his pieces. What I mean is that you will have to fast forward 20 - 30 seconds into each piece to really get the beginning of that piece because the first 20-30 seconds is just an artist flapping his gums. Most of these pieces were recorded live, so you kind of get that stuff at live shows.

your mind my mind one and the same
THIS IS NOT MUCH OF A REVIEW BUT IT MUST BE SAID I DON'T THINK THAT THIER'S AN ARTIS OUT THIER THAT CAN MATCH THE MIND OF GILL SCOTT-HERON IN TOTAL DEPTH. HIS WORK IS SIMPLY UNTOUCHABLE IT'S NO WONDER I COULDN'T FIND A LOT OF THIS STUFF.KEEP ME POSTED ON UP COMING WORK.

This should not be kept a Secret
I want to let all gil scott heron/brian jackson fans know about the wounderful album called Secrets. I can't find it on cd but i do have the 1978 lp and it's the bomb. it still has me singing and dancing around my house.songs like angle dust,third world revolution and Three miles dowm are gil scott at his best. a must have for any serious gil scott and brian jackson collector. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Haunting Breeze
The beautiful collection of songs included in THE BREEZE AT DAWN is a wonderful introduction to the mystic poet Rumi. For someone like myself, who was not well acquainted with his work before, it provides an enchanting way in; for someone who already has a knowledge of the work of this great spiritual seeker, it would no doubt be another way to glean pleasure from his words. The haunting melodies created by Dale Zola and gently sung by Kirsten Falke seem to perfectly complement the sentiments expressed.

The selections chosen from Coleman Barks' lyrical translations open the heart and mind, letting the spirit soar along with that of Rumi himself. All are invited: "Come, come, whoever you are," he sings. "Ours is not a caravan of despair. Though you have broken your vows / A thousand times/ Come, come again, come!" What a wonderful message for our time, when so many of us suffer from guilt and despair. The more I listen to these songs the more the deep meaning of the lyrics emerge from behind the beautiful music. I would recommend this cd as a gift, a gift to oneself, to someone close or to any friend who needs some spiritual solace.

I hope that soon we will hear of more music being created by those who worked to hard to bring this to us. Not only are they fine musicians, but they also understand our times and what can bring us peace.

Joy of Falling in Love With Songs
I am having the joy of falling in love with one song after another on this CD. Kirsten Falke's pure voice is both beautiful and inspiring. The arrangements are so different that each song is fresh. I take this CD with me when I walk, and I find that I enjoy every song, and listen to it from start to finish. This CD is the perfect accompaniment for this time of solitude. When I listen to the CD at home, I find myself playing a song over and over again, and it is a different song each day. The songs resonate at deeper and deeper levels as I come to know them better. I have been playing this CD constantly for several weeks now, and I feel that I am just getting to know it. It feels like it is going to be an all-time favorite.

Spirit of Rumi
The Breeze at Dawn is spiritually moving, that's the best way I can say it. It catches the immediacy and depth of Rumi's poems. I commute and travel a lot and The Breeze at Dawn is always playing in my car. These songs make a dull landscape or traffic jam seem mysterious and full of meaning.

Absorbing Music
What an absorbing experience. I first listened to The Breeze at Dawn on the drive home from work, and before I knew it I was four exits past my regular one. Since then I have gone back to it many times, and find something new each listening. I've never written a review before, but I felt like I wanted to recommend this CD to everyone and share my fascination with it.

A Beautiful Gift of the Heart
The combination of Rumi's inspiring poetry, Dale Zola's beautiful melodies and imaginative arrangements, and Kirsten Falk's flawless vocals make this a CD that will warm your body and soul. I listen to it again and again and the richness grows with each hearing. A must-have for Rumi fans and for anyone who wants to learn songs that will allow them to carry bits of wisdom with them throughout the day. If you liked Gabrielle Roth's, Refuge, you will like the Breeze at Dawn. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In this 1994 speech--the first of three released by AK Press, oddly enough, in association with the punk record label Epitaph--Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Noam Chomsky shoots from the hip, criticizing the early days of the Clinton administration long before anyone had ever heard of Monica Lewinsky. Chomsky digs into Clinton's bungled health care plan, his business interests, his labor policies, and his involvement with the North American Free Trade Agreement. Despite being the world's foremost linguist, Chomsky is not exactly a charismatic speaker--he drones a bit and offers humor sparingly. His strong, simple words, though, and his big ideas are undeniably engrossing. He takes politics out of the ether and shows us how it affects our lives and the lives of those around us. --Michael Ruby ... Read more

Album Description

Aussie exclusive release boasts the enduring appeal of thefondly remembered comedy duo. Generously compiled with over 75 minutes of rapid-fire spoken word skits from the 'Golden Age of Comedy'. Features a rare 'long version' of the duo's most famous routine 'Who's On First?'. Includes eight pagebooklet with period photographs. Standard jewel case. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great collection of Abbott and Costello comedy
This album which runs about 77 minutes includes 6 sketches by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello mostly from their run on radio. "Flee-Flu" includes an appearance by Peter Lorre as head of a sanatarium. "Laugh, Laugh, Laugh" is an enjoyable combination of music and jokes. And, of course, there's the full 7 minute version of "Who's on First?" which is A and C's best known routine. A very enjoyable set of comedy pieces culled from radio that is only slightly marred by imperfections in the quality of the original recordings (especially during "Who's on First?"). However, in my opinion, this does not appreciably detract from the enjoyment you will have listening to these comedy sketches for the first time or for the 1000th time. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The similarities between former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra and 1950s "sick" comic Lenny Bruce get pretty weird here. Both were bad boys stung by the authorities for taking their satire too far (Bruce for his shooting off his dirty mouth and Biafra for distributing dirty pictures with DK albums). Both also then turned their careers into an increasingly bitter public airing of their own legal hassles and censorship woes. Biafra covers that ground on Cocoons and aims for his favorite target, Tipper Gore's dreaded Parents Music Resource Center. What keeps it entertaining--besides the sheer punk-rock nyah-nyah quality of Biafra's voice--is Biafra's own "sick" humor and his burning intelligence. A little dated, but forever defiant. --Michael Ruby ... Read more

Reviews (5)

typically pungent Biafra
Kind of like a sarcastic Noam Chomsky, Jello Biafra continues his crusade against censorship, corrupt politicians, and nearly everything else that's rotten about America. Like his other spoken-word albums, this one's well-rounded, but tracks like 'Mild Kingdom' and 'Stars and Stripes of Corruption' seem a bit...well...weak. After all, they're both (nearly) verbatim speeches lifted from ol' Dead Kennedys lyrics.

The First and the Standard
Biafra's first album prepared his followers for something they weren't used to listening to...Speeches. However, Biafra changed the common American punk rockin' fun lovin' kids' ideas about what life is really all about. Another thing Biafra taught us is simple: Speeches can be fun.

Take "Message From Our Sponsor" for a very prominent example. Jello speaks of a future world that's not too far off from our own at this point. Notice that a lot of Jello's SW pieces turn into songs. "Mild Kingdom" sure sounds like a certain DK song that I can't remember the name of right now. "Stars and Stripes of Corruption" is obviously the inspiration for the song version that goes by the same title.

Life to Jello is not about fist fighting like so many punk rockers out there. It's about freedom fighting. Jello, over all of his albums, has taught us one thing: we have to fight this. Corporations, republicrats, nuclear warheads, censorship, and racism IS out there.

This is what I like to think is Jello's most "fun" album. So many conspiracy theories and jokes packed in, you'll forget you're not watching TV! Is that a good thing?

buy it
very good. expand your knowledge with this set

Jello gets up in your face
Jello Biafra, the original politically-incorrect bad boy, splashes into spoken word with No More Cocoons. One of the most arresting albums I've ever listened to, NMC contains lots of material that, while dated, still relates to our lives today. Ronald Reagan may no longer be president, but with Jesse the Governor Ventura considering the office, it's healthy to think that "What Reagan Didn't Know" is probably a tenth of what Ventura doesn't know.

Other excellent pieces on this album are "Names for Bands", "Letter to Tipper Gore", "Urinalysis is Freedom" and "Why I'm Glad the Space Shuttle Blew Up". We may not hear about it anymore, but Gore once was a fierce advocate for censoring music in this country. We don't think to ask if they're still sending plutonium up in space shuttle flights, but would they really tell us anyway? We take our freedom for granted... Jello helps to remind us (again and again) that nothing in this world should be taken for granted. Especially our freedom.

Excellent exposure of the PMRC and what they stand for!
I have listented to this and The High Priest of Harmful Matter and they are both excellent depictions of the PMRC and the idiocy of our government. I disagree with his overall political ideologies but I agree that something must be done about the status quo. END ... Read more

Reviews (5)

OLD NEWS.
This is the only CD from Enya I've ever rated this low.I'm not sure but I think I heard Enya say that she was 28 years old in this interview? If thats so,this interview took place about 13 years ago.There has been a lot of changes over those years.On the plus side,this is the first time I heard her talking.It was worth the money to me just to listen to her voice.She talks the same as she sings,soft and gentle.And you get a glimpse into her personality.A warm and gentle personality.The worse thing about this CD is that its all on 1 track[about 1 hour long].If you have to leave in the middle and come back later,you have to start over.But all of this aside,im still glad I have this CD because it let me see a little into the personal life of my favorite singer.

Could be interesting for a fan but poor value for the money
I got this album a few years ago because I wanted to hear what Enya had to say about herself and her music. I was very disappointed because for your money you get an interview that wasn't very recent even then and was recorded under atrocious conditions. I would have gotten a lot more from it if the interview hadn't been conducted inside a very noisy cafeteria, the constant rattling of dishes was very annoying, they could have at least gone out in a hallway somewhere. I do seem to remember that Enya pronounced her name, I liked that because Irish Gaelic is so unusal to me.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS CD IS A MUST FOR THOSE WHO LOVE ENYA
I did have a slight bit of trouble with the background noise, but that wasn't enough of an annoyance to knock any stars off an item which obviously will be a treasure to Enya's greatest fans. She comes across the same as she does in her music, a very warm, very intelligent, very likeable human. And this recording makes one feel much as if they really know her.

A great way to learn about Enya
This interveiw provides good information about Enya. It is a good way to learn about her and understand her music. This is a must for fans. Even people who haven't listened to her music might want to get this to learn more about her. It was pretty long (about an hour) but it was very informative and interesting.

Never Underestimate A GOOD Review!
I must confess, this interview turned out rather boring after listening to it for sometime. Nonetheless, it's really interesting to listen to what Enya has to say about her musical career - from working with her Irish family group Clannad, to a rocky start as an individual new-age musician, to her stardom right now. Personally, I feel that hearing what she has to say helps you understand why she wrote her various songs. Yup - definitely something all Enya fans MUST HAVE! (But you know, even if you weren't an Enya fan, listening to what she has to say may spark off an interest in her music! Don't miss out on this great opportunity - you never know what could happen!) ... Read more

Album Description

33 track retrospective of the best by these true pioneers of rap that formed in 1969 on Malcolm X's birthday (May 16th). Contains cuts from their self-titled debut, plus cuts from 'This Is Madness', 'Delights Of The Garden', 'At Last' and the Jalal solo album 'Hustlers Convention'. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This Album Has NOT Been Sanctioned By Last Poets
...if it had, it would have received a much higher rating. "Real Rap" is a collection of many Last Poets classics, but because it is unauthorized, I would not advise its purchase. I presented the CD myself to Abiodun Oyewole [who is incredibly down to Earth and maddeningly cool] to have it autographed, and he told me himself he had never seen it before and was unaware of its production. Can you say, "piracy"?

That stated, the track titled "E Pluribus Unum" is definitely unique and a favorite, and as is typical of Last Poets music, it is very consciousness-elevating. It is one of the few songs on this album I had not heard outside of this album. But my advice is to find it on a legit Last Poets album. Nevertheless, I would be remiss to not share some of the lyrics of this particular track...

"SELFISH DESIRES ARE BURNING LIKE FIRES
AMONG THOSE WHO HOARD THE GOLD
AS THEY CONTINUE TO KEEP THE PEOPLE ASLEEP
AND THE TRUTH FROM BEING TOLD
RACISM AND GREED KEEP THE PEOPLE IN NEED
FROM GETTING WHAT'S RIGHTFULLY THEIRS
CHEATING STEALING AND DOUBLE-DEALING
AS THEY EXPLOIT THE PEOPLE'S FEARS [hmmmmm...]
AND NOW DOW JONES OWNS THE PEOPLE'S HOMES,
AND ALL THE SURROUNDING LAND
BUYING AND SELLING THIER HUMBLE DWELLING
IN THE NAME OF THE "MASTER PLAN"
'CAUSE PAPER MONEY IS LIKE A BEE WITHOUT HONEY
WITH NO STINGER TO BACK HIM UP
AND THOSE WHO STOLE THE PEOPLE'S GOLD
ARE DEFINITELY CORRUPT

NOW THE U.S. MINTS ON PAPER PRINTS
MILLIONS EVERYDAY
AND USE THE EAGLE FOR THEIR SYMBOL
'CAUSE IT'S A BIRD OF PREY
NOW THE LAURELS OF PEACE AND THE ARROWS OF WARS
ARE CLUTCHED VERY TIGHTLY IN THE EAGLE'S CLAWS
FILLED WITH GREED AND LUST
AND ON THE BACK OF THE DOLLAR BILL
IS THE WORDS, "IN GOD WE TRUST"
BUT THE DOLLAR BILL IS THE ONLY GOD
AND THEY DON'T EVEN TRUST EACH OTHER
AND FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE
THEY'D START A WAR
TO EXPLOIT SOME BROTHER'S MOTHER

AND OVER THE PYRAMID HEIGHT
IS THE DEVIL'S EYE

THAT STOLE FROM THE TRUTH
AND CREATED THE LIE
NOW "ANNUIT" MEANS AN ENDLESS AMOUNT
STOLEN OVER THE YEARS
AND "COEPTIS" MEANS A NEW EMPIRE
OF VAMPIRE MILLIONAIRES
AND "NOVUS" IS A LATIN WORD
MEANING "SOMETHING NEW"
AND "ORDO" MEANS "A WAY OF LIFE
CHOSEN BY A FEW"
"SECLORUM" IS A WORD THAT MEANS
"TO TAKE FROM ANOTHER"
KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM, AND UNDERSTANDING
STOLEN FROM THE BROTHER

NOW ON THE FRONT OF THE DOLLAR BILL
TO THE RIGHT
OF WASHINGTON'S HEAD
IS A SMALL SEAL IN THE SHAPE OF A WHEEL
WITH A SECRET THAT'S BEEN LEFT UNSAID
THE SYMBOLS IN THE MIDDLE REPRESENT THE RIDDLE
OF THE SCALES, THE RULER AND THE KEY..."

A timeless piece, indeed. Rather than recommend this album however, I would recommend instead, "Chastisement", "Holy Terror", "Time Has Come" and any additional albums blessed by Last Poets. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The American poetry renaissance rolls on, and this soundtrack to the PBS special proves that the spoken word isn't just alive and well, it's kicking and snorting and rapping and bopping, too. Relative unknowns sit right alongside big guns like Leonard Cohen, Robert Creeley, Amiri Baraka, and Joseph Brodsky on this disc. The works run from sexy murmurs to social commentary, from found poetry snatches to outright comic rants, such as Matt Cook's hilarious "James Joyce," wherein Cook moans, "James Joyce is stupid. I'd rather throw dead batteries at cows than read him." Tomandandy's atmospheric music lays a solid foundation for these wordsmiths to riff over. As a whole, this disc feels as much like a midnight road trip across this wide, weird land as anything else. --Michael Ruby ... Read more

Reviews (2)

So Beautiful
This is a good and sometimes powerful recording, worthwhile if only for the so beautiful "So Beautiful" by Indran Amirthanayagam.

Best mix of new American urban poetry & music
Great selections from the independent video project, featuring Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, Allen Gisberg, Ruth Forman, Amiri Bakara among others. The spoken words are wonderfully wrapped with Jazz, Rap, eletronic & classical music. Unfortunatelly, there are some other great poems missing from the original video score (such as Micheal Franti's and Jonny Depp's voices). ... Read more

Amazon.com

A very smartly assembled two-disc compilation of African American poetry, Our Souls Have Grown Deep Like the Rivers digs deep to unearth a wealth of unheard and rare material spanning almost the entire 20th century. The collection features some of the greatest names in black literature, and--as Al Young points out in the liner notes--it can be a revelation to hear, for instance, Harlem Renaissance leader Langston Hughes pronounce the word "Harlem" with utter pride and joy. Other notables include Ishmael Reed, Nikki Giovanni, Gwendolyn Brooks, Gil Scott-Heron, Maya Angelou, Rita Dove, W.E.B. DuBois, the Last Poets, Public Enemy, Wanda Coleman... You get the picture--it's sort of a greatest-hits of black spoken word. But it's too scattershot a set to be called definitive--anyone can bemoan the absence of this or that poet--but it is also a tremendously interesting document of hope and loss and rage and joy and perseverance--and, above all, remarkable poetry, works that each gain from the original authors' reading of their poem. Amiri Baraka's sonorous recitation of "Bang, Bang Outishly," a beat-era work dedicated to Thelonious Monk, is worth the price of admission by itself. --Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Audie Award Winner
This CD set won the 2001 Audie Award for Poetry from the Audio Publishers Association. This is the ONLY national award for poetry on audio and, in winning, "Our Souls Have Grown Deep Like the Rivers" beat some very hot competition, including movie stars (Al Pacino,Patrick Stewart, Kathleen Turner, Ruby Dee, etc.) reading Shakespeare sonnets. In addition, the collection was awarded an Earphones Award from "AudioFile" magazine.

The Ears Have It
A few things I think you should know before you buy, and you ought to buy: this is an essential collection, by far, for anyone interested in where poetry comes from. (And you can take that any way you want to!) First, almost all the poets are American. Second, it's not a sloppy compilation; it runs mostly chronologically and has the river theme as metaphor for longevity and timelessness and unstoppable power, surprising at times. Some of it is political... or maybe all of it is. Third, and most important, a caveat: this is for your ears only. Although there are really informative liner notes (tho the font makes them difficult to get into), there is no "lyric sheet." No way for the eye to see what the poets also intended their work to do. Most of the poetry here was created mindful of the page, and works quite well on it, and certainly would help preserve some measure of the poet's stature were it available at hand. (As it is, the Norton Anthology of African American Literature has most of them. Get it same time you order this.) You'll find the rivers run deep here, through European traditions and jazz and humor and regionality, cascading past the rapids of so much social strata that you begin to finally catch onto why this country sets the pace it does for the rest of the world.

Spoken word at its finest!
I enjoyed this set for many reasons. It is filled with the pictures, portraits and prose of, about, and from the poets featured inside. When listening to the voices of Langston Hughes, W.E.B. DuBois, Claude McKay, James Weldon Johnson, Countee Cullen -- the list goes on -- it is amazing to hear the clarity, consciousness, power and range of emotions in their distinctive voices. Some of the pieces date as early as the 1930's (ie: The Creation by James Weldon Johnson) and that in itself is pure history.

There are 38 selections on the first disc and 37 selections on the second, with the most current pieces being recorded in the late 90s (Tracie Morris, Saul Williams, Nikki Giovanni, etc). If you are a lover of spoken word and cherish the story telling, teaching and emotions it invokes, this is the collection for you. Youth of today need to take the time to learn where rap artists get their "voice" and spirit from, and I'm not talking about the mainstream songs plastered on tv and spit out of the radio these days. Take a listen to Public Enemy's "Black Steel In the Hour of Chaos" (track 34, second disc)

Spoken word is where it all began and the ancestors of this art continue to move and "speak" through us today.

Peace. CLB.

For Poets & Teachers, But Not the Lyricist Lounge crowd
This is an excellent primer for poets and teachers, particularly if your interest lies in the development of the Black literary canon. A must have for slam-heads of any type. Very few of the fiery performances a lot of these poets are known to do. Incredible to hear some of the older poets (Langston Hughes, Arna Bontemps, Countee Cullen) reading their work, in light of the number of people who would (improperly) assume they would have frowned upon the current rave of spoken word/slamming.

It starts to peter out at the end, not necessarily catching the best work by some of the most recent additions (Saul Williams, Carl Hancock Rux, Tracie Morris), but I'd rather have these than nothing.

Not a lot of music...this isn't "Lyricist's Lounge" or the "SLAM" soundtrack, but excellent for anyone who claims to have a sense of where poetry's been and wants to see/hear how a solid poetry CD should be put together. More educational than fun, but an important collection nonetheless.

A Must Have for Poetry Fans
This is an amazing CD. The strongest selections include the readings by Amiri Baraka, Etheridge Knight, and Nikki Giovanni; Gil Scott-Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" (a must-have); Tracie Morris' "Project Princess"; and "Dark Symphony" by Melvin B. Tolson, which is utterly engaging, even if it sounds a bit insane. I was a bit disappointed by Langston Hughes' mundane and sentimental reading of "Harlem," and startled, both pleasantly and not, by Gwendolyn Brooks' offbeat reading of "We Real Cool." Still, Our Souls Have Grown Deep Like the Rivers is a remarkable journey, and a wonderful introduction to poetry. The CD also includes an interesting and informative booklet; all in all, the entire package may be a bit costly, but the price is more than worth it. Teachers will benefit highly from this CD, which serves as a wonderful accompaniment to any poetry unit. The CD's parts are great for that sort of thing, but they cannot compare to sum of its parts, a rich, spiritual journey into the heart and soul of poetry. ... Read more

Album Description

As one of the first artists to popularize spoken word poetry, Gil Scott-Heron paved the way for today’s hip-hop mega-stars such as Nelly, Usher, and Jay-Z.GREATEST HITS LIVE features 11 of Gil Scott-Heron’s biggest hits, including "Johannesburg", "Shut ‘Em Down", and "Gun", an essential album for hip-hop historians and poetry buffs everywhere. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The best record I ignored in 2002
So what the hell was my problem, not putting this record on my top ten list of 2002? It's everything a record is supposed to be:
beautiful, brave, strange, adventurous, lyrically untouchable...
But I was afraid, I guess, afraid of pushing something this hard and this out on you, random member of the poor unsuspecting public. Trust me though, if I was making my list today it'd be on there, probably at #6 or so. Or higher. Damn it's good. See what fear can do? But I'm not afraid anymore.

Here's the deal: Gregory Corso was, right there with Allen Ginsberg, one of the great Beat Generation poets. His stuff is always bizarre and hilarious and deep--I consider "Marriage" and "Poets Hitchhiking On The Highway" and "Dream Of A Baseball Star" ( none of which are on this disk ) and "Bomb" and "Hair" and "Last Night I Drove A Car" ( all of which are ) to be some of the most important poems written by any American in the last 50 years.

Hal Willner is this dude who takes the work of poets ( Ginsberg, Kathy Acker, E.A.Poe ) and sets them to music, and this is the last one in the series; mostly this seems to be because he and partner Michael Minzer put so much into this disk, especially because Corso died shorly after the sessions in Minnesota. Die On Me is a record of amazing Beat poetry set to orchestral and jazz and electronic music, so if you are a dyed-in-the-wool poppist, stay far away from this stuff. But if you're a good, smart person with a heart and soul, give it a shot.

(This review was written by Matt Cibula and posted by Michael Minzer. Thank you, Matt, for your kind review of " Die On Me ". ... Read more

Reviews (2)

EXCELLENT
This CD is very good for it's content, being highlights of speeches given by former president John F. Kennedy. I found it very useful to the youth that did not experience that era. Considering they are highlights your able to cover many different speeches, and not loose students' attention. It will take you back to one of the most memorable presidencies. I noticed another comment on this product and felt that I should say that if you are interested in the entire speeches, remember that they are long and many of the speeches would take up one entire CD.

Terrible!
This seems to have been edited at random. These are not speeches but sound bites and often the ending points are ridiculous. One segment actually ends with Kennedy saying "...and I quote". By one of the reputable videos and don't waste your money on this. I guess these speeches are in the public domain and Jerden Records is trying to make a quick buck. What more can I say? ... Read more

Amazon.com

In 1997 keyboardist Michael Hoppe released The Poet: Romances for Cello, a music-meets-poetry collection that included a Carl Sandburg poem ("The Great Hunt"), accompanied by a 1926 photograph of Sandburg shot by Hoppe's grandfather, E.O. Hoppe. Descendants of the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner had not known of the photo's existence, leading the family and Hoppe to become acquainted and, ultimately, collaborators on this mostly spoken-word project. The Lover features 18 Sandburg poems, softly and thoughtfully read by flautist Tim Wheater (a longtime Hoppe colleague) in his handsome English baritone, and underscored with subdued (faint, even) audio backdrops shaped by Hoppe. Hoppe also drops in six gentle, chamberlike interludes, two of which feature longing, almost reverential soprano voicings. Thus the disc projects a hushed atmosphere and an earnest, intimate tone, though it is less about music and more about the poetry. A few of the selections, such as the lamenting "Mag," are unusual inclusions, yet the disc's overall impact is touching and, at times, memorable. The packaging, enhanced by a nice slipcase and a 28-page CD booklet (which includes the full text of all poems, plus notes from Sandburg biographer Penelope Niven), is first-rate, framing the moods and complexities of Sandburg's verse: "Love, with little hands / Comes and touches you / With a thousand memories, / And asks you / Beautiful, unanswerable questions." --Terry Wood ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Lover
I have long been a fan of Michael Hoppe and just discovered this excellent album. Michael has gone beyond his great talents in this album. His arrangements,combined with Tim Wheater's reading of Carl Sandburg ,are moving beyond belief. Although I've only known Tim Wheater as a flautist, I was completely stunned by his mellifluous voice reading these poems. It was soul-stirring to hear his words against the backdrop of Michael Hoppe's tender arrangements. After each 3 poetic tracks there is a haunting solo interlude of Hoppe's music, which is totally poignant and heart-moving!.This album can send you to undreamed of heights.. I think this is one of his finest albums. If you don't like the spoken word this album is not for you, but you just might be pleasantly surprised if you dare take a chance.

The Lover
Tim Wheater and Michael Hoppe have done it again....beauty...I give this cd to friends, and especially friends that are undergoing cancer treatment because it is so wonderful. Their music takes you somewhere else and I love it. I'm also not a fan of the violin but #4 with Lily Haydn's playing is beautiful.

from Solo Piano Publications
I must warn you that "The Lover" is so utterly classy that you will feel you should dress up to listen to it! Originally released in time for Valentine's Day shopping, this mostly spoken-word CD is wonderful at any time of the year. Michael Hoppe has created loving backdrops of washes of music to enhance Tim Wheater's reading of the love poems of Carl Sandburg. I have been a longtime fan of Wheater's flute playing, but had no idea he has such an incredible voice - a rich, deep baritone full of strength and tenderness. This CD came into being because of Hoppe's earlier collaboration with cellist Martin Tillman, "The Poet". That album was Hoppe's music composed to go with photographic portraits his grandfather, E.O.Hoppe, had taken of various poets, including Carl Sandburg. Sandburg's granddaughter, Helga, discovered the album and shared it with Sandburg's biographer, Penelope Niven. None of the Sandburgs or the biographer had ever seen E.O. Hoppe's portrait, and Niven was compelled to learn more about the photographer. This quest brought the biographer and Michael Hoppe together to discuss the fusion of poetry and music. Hoppe then asked Wheater to read some of Sandburg's poems aloud so he could listen and begin to compose. The result is an incredibly beautiful package that includes a booklet with the poems written out. The poems themselves are short, and range from the love of an elderly mother for her son to a husband wishing he had never met his wife. The emotional span is wide but never melodramatic, and the background music is very quiet and unobtrusive. Hoppe also includes six "interludes" which are musical pieces without any words over them. Three of these pieces are from other Hoppe albums or compilations, and complement the poems beautifully. They also refresh the ear before going on to more spoken voice. Michael Hoppe is one of my favorite artists, and this album is one more reason why. The collaboration of three artists of such a high caliber is always breathtaking, and this is no exception! Highly recommended.

The Lover
Having never purchased a spoken word CD before, I was eager to hear what Michael Hoppe had up his sleeve this time! Listening to THE LOVER was like finding a hidden treasure. Tim Wheater's tender reading of Carl Sandburg's poetry is like poetry itself. Each verse takes the listener somewhere, some place in time and by the end, one can't help but smile. The romantic blend of poetry and music is subtle, soothing and engaging.

The haunting and sorrowful "Mag" has stayed with me since the first listen. The interludes, composed by Hoppe, are a special treat as well. In particular, "Jude's Theme" is a luscious, heartwarming close to yet another exceptional work by Hoppe. In addition, the packaging is lovely and the inclusion of each poem made the experience all the more satisfying.

The Lover
January 24, 2001

The Lover

Delicate beauty of a perfect diamond. Both the scent and appreciation of a tiny English garden at daybreak. Simplicity of light and sound as one, creating that sunset above the ocean's calm.

Every nuance, pause, syllable and note emanating from "The Lover" is a symbiosis of shouts and whispers to create tranquility, ecstasy and passion.

Michael Hoppe's quietly enchanting compositions are at one, perfectly with Tim Wheater's depth of voice and breadth of expression. Each has truly enhanced the exquisite, yet simplistic brilliance of Carl Sandburg's words.

"The Lover" is indeed a gift to be listened to, pondered over, and shared. May it become a contemporary success with its poetic message, eloquent voice, and masterful musical composition. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Cassius Clay had yet to win the heavyweight championship or, indeed, to change his name when this 1963 recording was made. Incredibly young sounding, he's at his best here when making swipe after verbal swipe at Sonny Liston, both in verse and in (scripted?) answers to audience questions. One silly sketch ("'I Have Written a Drama,' He Said Playfully") isn't up to the solo spots, but even that hardly disrupts the record's giddy tone. This reissue of a once-rare LP, augmented by several other hard-to-find sides, is a must for Muhammad Ali fans, American Studies scholars, and anyone else who seeks further illumination of the Greatest's self-mocking but total confidence. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Hang on to your sides-Mighty funny stuff!
Even those unfamiliar with boxing or the topical events of the time cannot help but roar at most of the humor in this as the former Mr. Clay delivers a series of hilarious rhymes about his modesty (or lack thereof) and likelihood of beating then-champ Sonny Liston. Ali would have made a great comedian. The added bonues is that he's just as funny when he tries to sing. His attempt to sing Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" straight with his incredibly hoarse voice and poor timing is hilarious! Ditto for his Beatle-esque, raucous version of "The Gang's All Here" celebrating his victory over Sonny Liston (check out the Paul McCartney-like WHOOOO! in the backgound on this one).

This one will have Ali fans rolling on the floor in laughter. Those who are not in the know may also find this amusing. Enjoy!

For the Ali fan only
If you are a devoted Ali fan, you need this. Aside from the importance to the collector, it really IS quite funny. Definitely a kind of pre-rap. You might think this kind of endless bragging would be obnoxious, but he keeps it entertaining. If you aren't an Ali fan or boxing fan, you won't like it. But admirers of "The Greatest" will find this bringing back memories(and encouraging them to pop in the Clay-Liston fight).

Very Entertaining
Before He Became Muhammad ALI He was Cassius Clay.this is a Trip Disc.if Rap Music had have been Popular in the 60's then he would have been ahead of his game.maybe he wouldn't have boxed? Cuz He Could Flow On The Mic as Tight as He Could In The Ring.But Thank Goodness He Stayed in The Ring&Was a Voice of F.R.E.E.D.O.M.HE IS THE GREATEST.this is very essential too ANy ALI FAN.

It Ain't Bragging, If You Can Back It Up
This may shock and amaze ya! It is young Cassius Clay, before he shook up the world by actually defeating Sonny Liston for boxing's heavyweight championship; before he changed his name to Muhammad Ali. What comes across is this: Clay truly believed he would upset the overwhelming odds and win the fight! In this public performance, Clay comes off as being bright, witty, funny, verbose, and full of himself (without taking himself too seriously). He charms and delights the live audience throughout, with a fine sense of timing and a childlike smile. Clay would become, as Ali, the most charismatic sports figure in history (he is, in fact, one of the most well-known and best-loved men in the world, period). That charisma is on full display here. Clay, but 21 years old, handles this role of comedian with surprising ease. On this album, you can hear some of his classic rhymes in their earliest forms. And poor Sonny Liston! Clay used him as a verbal punching bag all night. You can't help but feel that anyone who has this kind of chutzpah, and who believes in himself that much, just might be able to do anything. At the very least, you know that if Clay had been a bust as a fighter, he could have been a fine stand-up comic, with his gift of gab. (Okay... His turns at singing on this record aren't The Greatest.) But Clay was no bust as a fighter. He was, in fact, more than anyone would have thought, at the time these brash boastings were recorded and released. But then again, they say it ain't bragging, if you can back it up! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wanda with an Edge
This collection of poems read with edgy vigor by the sometimesunsettling Wanda Coleman speaks to the multitudes.It speaks to women whose bodies have been so dispossessed, they can reclaim them only with words, only by infusing each word with an edge of bitterness, a tinge of wisdom.She reads with absolute clarity and with a force unlike any other.Wanda Coleman's CD is a treasure for any who have felt the need to take back what the world had once claimed from them. ... Read more