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R&B, Soul & Hip-Hop |
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Artist:
Andrea Bocelli
Opera is in fashion, and the woods are full of pop vocalists who think they have the chops to sing arias. The best contender so far is Andrea Bocelli, who at least has a real voice, if a small one, and sometimes manages a really exciting tenor sound. Unfortunately, he is inconsistent in his tone and production, and, despite the fact that he's singing in his native language, he often sounds as though he has only the barest idea of what the words mean. The Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Vladimir Fedoseyev, plays stodgily. Anyone with a real interest in tenor arias would be much better advised to check out recordings by the young Luciano Pavarotti. --Sarah ...
 The Album Viaggio Italiano, 2003-11-22
A fantastic selection of classic songs sang by one of the world's foremost singers. Bocelli doesn't try to alter the sound of such classics as O Sole Mio and Ave Maria he simply graces these songs with his vocal richness. An important note, the UK version is a must as it features The Pearl Fisher's Duet which in its self is worth the price of the album.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £0.88
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Artist:
Russell Watson
On Reprise, his third album, Russell Watson continues to bring together classical pieces with light songs--have Bizet and "Bohemian Rhapsody" ever shared a disc before? Probably not, and with good reason--it's rather unsettling to hear Leoncavallo's devestating "Vesti la giubba" (from Pagliacci) tagged on after a dreary rendition of the aforementioned Queen hit. He may have been dubbed "the people's tenor", but Watson is at his best--and most comfortable--at the lighter end of the repertory. He sings the lilting "That's Amore" with charm and humour, a smooth performance which compares to Robbie Williams on Swing When You're Winning. Nicholas Dod...
Russell Watson, 3rd album (Reprise), 2008-08-03
Reprise, released in November 2002, is Russell Watson's third album and probably represents a more confident and self assured release than his previous `The Voice' and `Encore', thanks to his increasingly successful concert touring and life in the limelight.
But it was also a worrying time during which he suffered a throat polyp, threatening to end his singing career, which was thankfully removed without causing long term problems to his voice.
The songs are a mix of classical, opera and popular, with a distinctly more dramatic feel to those opera choices, the best example being the version of `Granada' which takes on epic proportions with the orchestral score and an individual vocal interpretation which, while straying from the conventional, certainly works.
Notable also are Ave Maria (Schubert's version) and a lovely performance of `The Pearl Fishers' duet (oddly no mention of who the duet was with, I suspect both voices are Russell Watson's!)
Bohemian Rhapsody is a bold choice let down by lame electronic backing, which is a shame for it represents one of Russell's best recorded examples of his talent for singing rock music. Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash offered Watson the job of Velvet Revolver frontman, which he declined, but I'm sure he could handle `Sweet Child o' Mine'.
In fact, on the strength of this album's wide ranging style of music, he can probably make a good job of almost everything.
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List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £0.88
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Artist:
Foster & Allen
Love, 2010-01-04
If you like Foster & Allen you can't go wrong with this.Love Love Love I loved it.
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List Price: £7.99
Our Price: £4.58
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Artist:
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley's Christmas recordings, 2009-09-07
In chronological order, this album comprises the eight Christmas songs that Elvis recorded in 1957, the one he recorded in 1966 and eleven tracks that hr recorded in 1971. I'm not absolutely sure if this is every Christmas song that Elvis ever recorded, but if there was much missing I'd know about it. The eight 1957 tracks were made into a twelve-track album by the addition of four gospel songs recorded at around the same time but which aren`t included here; while those tracks wouldn't be out of place on a Christmas album, they are easily obtained elsewhere, especially on compilations of Elvis' gospel music. Indeed, when this particular Christmas compilation was first released, I remember it being available as part of a double album, with the other part being a compilation of Elvis' gospel songs. I didn't buy it then because I already had a double CD of Elvis' gospel music and had the 1957 and 1966 tracks, together with one of the 1971 tracks, elsewhere. However, I eventually bought this compilation, some time after it appeared as a single CD, to get the other ten tracks.
The 1957 tracks mainly comprised Christmas classics, though not everybody appreciated Elvis' interpretation of some of them. If those critics were shocked then, they got an even bigger shock when they heard the Phil Spector Christmas album six years later. At this distance in time, those 1957 recordings don't sound all that radical but they still sound distinctive. At least one original song (Santa Claus is back in town) was included, while another (Santa bring my baby back to me) sounds as if it could have been an original, but I don't think it is. I believe the solitary 1966 track (If every day was like Christmas) is also original.
The 1971 tracks offer a more adventurous selection, with just four well-worn classics (O come all ye faithful, First Noel, Winter wonderland, Silver bells), plus Merry Christmas baby (a classic, but not so well-worn) and a lot of tracks that may be original, but are in any case rarely recorded by other singers (On a snowy Christmas night, Wonderful world of Christmas, It won't seem like Christmas without you, I'll be home on Christmas Day, If I get home on Christmas Day, Holly leaves and Christmas trees). Some of the obscure songs are brilliant and deserve to be better known.
This is a great Christmas album that has plenty of familiar classic songs (about half the songs here overall) but also a fair number of obscurities, all delivered superbly by Elvis Presley.
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List Price: £6.99
Our Price: £0.99
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Artist:
Various Artists
Biggie is back again--freestyling like only a dead man can on the intro to this second volume culled from the archives of NYC's Lyricist Lounge. You have to wonder why hip-hop can't let the man rest in peace. Must be something to do with the papers. Same could be said of this record's transparent attempt to keep a franchise alive and help push Rawkus further into mainstream consciousness. Aside from the aforementioned intro and Q-Tip's "live" outro, there is precious little evidence that the Lyricist Lounge is, in actuality, a freestyle forum with a monthly live event in New York City. The pairings of established and lesser MCs are suitably uninspired: Big Noyd and Prodig...
A collection of hot lyricists!!!, 2003-09-19
This album is a hip-hop classic. There are 18 tracks including an outro by Q-tip & an intro as a live performance by biggie. All the other trax are hot!!, and i dont think threre are any songs on the album that arent particularly worth listening to.Though, the best songs are "get up" by cocoa brovaz,"sharp shooters" by desd prez& talib kweli&"battle" by erick sermon.So this is a definite,definite buy 4 yall hip hop fans.Bottom line...Its a collection of talented lyricists ,I'm out(r.i.p.Pac, Yak & BigL)
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List Price: £15.99
Our Price: £3.97
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Artist:
Loreena McKennitt
I love this CD !, 2009-12-22
After reading the previous reviews before ordering I decided to go ahead and give this a try...I was looking for something 'different' for Christmas. It is beautiful; a stunning collection of music, both haunting, moving and relaxing. A folky/celtic feel to most of the pieces, give an historical feel and the vocals are spectacular.
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List Price: £13.99
Our Price: £7.03
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Mario Lanza - Because and others, 2009-11-14
This is a super and very comprehensive collection of Mario Lanza's best songs - all the favourites seem to be here along with some good information on the sleeve. If you enjoy Lanza, you will enjoy this superb recording.
On the down side, the song list was not detailed on the web site advertisement, which is a great error - so as I particularly wanted "Because" I took a chance ordering it and hoped it would be one of the songs, and it was. With over 20 tracks, all his most memorable songs are there, inc Ave Maria and Be My Love etc
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List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £3.45
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The Ultimate in listening pleasure, 2009-07-04
there are few words that can describe the wonderful voice of Pavarotti. He will be sadly missed.
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List Price: £17.99
Our Price: £10.79
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Artist:
Janet Baker
Dame Janet Baker, 2002-08-02
This is a wonderful CD of classic English folk songs that with be remembered by many who where at school in the 60's. The track "linden lea" by Vaughn Williams is the quintessential English country folk song full of late summer warmth and longing for days gone by. Dame Jane's' voice is perfection personified and will bring a tear to the eye, well worth every penny.
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List Price: £13.99
Our Price: £6.98
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Rated: Exempt
Staring:
Andrea Bocelli,
Sarah Brightman
Director:
David Amphlett
Part concert, part documentary, part travelogue, this video hit duplicates the success of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli's albums and underscores his unique crossover appeal. Critical response to Bocelli has been confined to fusillades of scorn from classical and opera writers, but the bullet-proof superstar is better understood in the context of a mainland European tradition of pop-classical fusion. Bocelli cheerfully ignores the supposed wall between high (classical) art and low (pop) kitsch with his mix of operatic chestnuts, soft pop and traditional Italian songs.Indeed, despite interview segments in which he proclaims his love of opera or proudly recalls an apprenti...
Andrea Bocelli - A Night In Tuscany [1997] , 2007-11-09
This DVD is worth it for the last 2 tracks alone. Duets with Zuccero and Sarah Brightman, the rest is a bonus. As for the poor picture quality mentioned in a previous review - it is shot in high contrast - for effect in my opinion. I am a photographer so picture quality is important to me. This is within DVD quality tolerance.
Summary: - WONDERFUL - BUY IT.
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List Price: £14.99
Our Price: £8.92
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![Andrea Bocelli - A Night In Tuscany [DVD] [1997]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Y0Y5H01TL._SL160_.jpg "Andrea Bocelli - A Night In Tuscany [DVD] [1997]")
