Joe

That Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons songbook is filled with recognizable, melodic and popular harmonies is a well known fact. The art of making a play based on an artists songbook is not new and has met with varying degrees of success, proving one thing, to really play well, there must be written a strong book to go with the music.

In the case of Jersey Boys, the book is excellent. So good, that it elicits in the observer the emotions of a first rate melodrama; laughs, interesting characterizations and yes, a few tears here and there. The playwrights found enough drama in the true (ok, mostly true) story of the "Boys" to use it as their book. It is a fairly typical story of the rise to fame, complete with egos run amok, vanity on parade, jealousies and financial scandal. Another classic story of failures leavened by redemption.

Though the basic storyline is not really new, the performances are strong, so good that you end up caring for each of the main characters. And that is what good stage performances are ultimately about, making you care. Well worth seeing...and listening.

This CD is great! I saw the show in Vegas and it brought me right back to the history of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. "Oh What A Show"!

Love the CD. Saw the show on Broadway and they were selling the CD for
$25.00 I went on Amazon and bought the same CD for half the price. Amazon is great.

The tape compliments the play very well. The tape and the play are fantastic.

This a great CD. One disclaimer- there are a couple of times that foul language is used in speaking parts on the CD- similar to use in the live musical. Not a problem now that I know where they are on the CD, I just skip it and keep enjoying the great songs!

Nowhere on Earth are you going to find a better live album produced this Centry. Joe has been tearing up stages for nearly 20 years. This set is indicative of where he is at at this particular time in his career. Even though this recording what pieced together from a few different shows recorded in late 2007 it plays seemlessly.

Having seen Joe numerous times I at first thought the crowd seemed a little distant. Joe's crowds can get pretty vocal at times. With the crowd noise kept to a minimum it doesn't seem to interfere with the moments captured here.

The production of this live opus was handled by none other than Kevin Shirley most noted for recent work remastering the Led Zepelin DVD How The West Was Won. Kevin "Caveman" Shirley has been working with Joe for the last 2 studio albums and this live album is really the crowning achievment of their relationship thus far. It captures Joe's intensity and the musician ship of Joe's current band. Bogie Bowles, drums, Carmine Rojas, bass, Rick Melick, keyboards.

One thing in particular nowhere on Earth can you find a 2 CD package this good priced like this.

This has to be one of the best CD releases I have heard in years.
I thought it was just me, but all my friends agreed that Joe Bonamassa is one incredible guitar player and a darn good vocalist.
Buy these CD's (two CD set), grab your favorite beverage, and allow yourself the full 1-1/2 hours to listen all the way through.
I am an experienced guitarist, and I can hear the influences of SRV, Jimmy Page, Eric Johnson, and many other players that I love and admire.
If he comes anywhere near your town - buy a ticket! You'll be glad you did.

This CD is a great representation of what Joe is playing live right now. I highly recommend this CD and encourage anyone who hasn't seen Joe play to do whatever it takes to get to one of his shows. Most great guitar players seem to inspire you to brush the dust off the old Strat and tear into it, but after seeing a Joe Bonamassa show you want to go home and burn it. Buy this CD.
(I didn't really burn my guitar.)

Joe Bonamassa again produces an incredable live album No Particular Place.
everyone was wondering whene the next big artist was going to arive in
blues electric. Well hes been hear for some time and his name is Joe
bonamassa.

My favorite CD of 2009 so far. Don't let the negative reviews scare you away if you like good guitar playing (and you don't need to put labels on it to enjoy it). Sure, from a purist standpoint, there's stuff on these disks that is loud raunchy, Marshall-driven rock. But, for me, that actually makes it sweeter. And you can say the same for most disks by Clapton or Hendrix...maybe even Buddy Guy. If grew up loving Cream, Free, early Jethro Tull, and Jeff Beck, Joe is the guy for you. He brings it all forward and adds some dynamite technique. Joe has said that with this disk he was trying to make a live disk worthy of being listened to as we listen to "The Allman Brothers Live at The Fillmore East," "Wheels of Fire," or "Band of Gypsys." It may not surpass them, but I can't think of another CD release in the last 20 years that I would consider even close to being in the same ballpark as those great disks except this one. And I actually thing the second disk is a pinnacle in his playing. "Sloe Gin," "Django'" and "High Water Everywhere" are just sweet, creative picking. You really won't regret laying out the coin for this one.

You can't go back in time. People and music change and you can't listen to an all new 2 CD set by one of the greatest bands ever and expect it to be Hotel California. It's just not gonna happen. All the members of the Eagles went their seperate ways for years and pursued solo projects to varying degrees of succes(most notably Henley) and then reunited for Hell Freezes Over and had recorded a small amount of new material between that and this album. Many of the songs on these 2 cds sound like they could have been recorded in the Eagles heyday while others sound distinctly like the members solo works from years past. This is not a bad thing in my opinion.
My favorites from this album would have to be "No More Walks in the Woods" based on the lyrics of a poem written by J. Hollander, "How Long", "I Don't Want to Hear Any More", and "Do Something".
In conclusion, I feel this 2 cd set could be somewhat better but compared to all the crap music being produced by other artists these days, this set is solid gold.

Seems amazing to me the Eagles are as good as ever after all these years. I see lotsa people running down this album, but don't forget its hard to compare something thats new with something thats been burned into your memory on every type of radio station for over 30 years. If this album came out in 1976 you would know half the songs by heart by now. This is a top notch album, though not as rocky as some of their early stuff. If you like them as individual singer songwriters you will love this album. Great singing, harmonies, construction and just plain ole fun. I dont know why its only available at Wal-Mart but who cares. Theres not many people making music this good for adults these days, buy it and enjoy. Only $12 for a double album to boot !!

Just what I ordered was received in a timely fashion and in excellent condition. Very satisfied with my purchase.

I have been an Eagles fan since they first came out. This is a good album, but it isn't great. Don't expect the same edge and punch as in their '70s work. This is a softer, gentler Eagles, and I was disappointed. It is a keeper, and I will play it, but not as much as their original works.

This horrible mess is filled with flat-out, bad songs that are rife with trite lyrics ("I heard some wise man say that every dog will have his day" or "I'm savin' all my lovin' just for you 'cause there's nothin' more that I would rather do"); beautifully sung; and meticulously, if somewhat lifelessly, played. Listening to these CD's is like listening to an Eagles tribute band, who sound uncannily like The Eagles, but mulishly insist on playing their own lousy originals. The problem is that the great Eagles songs from the 70's had more hooks than you'd find in a Velcro factory. These songs have nary a one. Remember how you had to skip through the filler on "The Long Run" to get to the good songs? On these CD's the filler has taken over and the good songs never appear. At one point--in order to relieve the monotony--The Eagles start singing in falsetto (I kid you not), Bee Gees-style. Leave this turkey in the bin at Wal Mart, go home, pour yourself a glass of tequila, and reminisce.

This is easily Joe's strongest album in recent years. It's a true R&B record, and you can tell that now that hes not on Jive anymore, he finally got the creative freedom he wanted. Because with Ain't Nothin Like Me, i felt like he tried to hard to fit in with the rest of the radio R&B, and the album was really just kind of dull. But New Man, is easily his strongest effort since My Name is Joe in 2000. He really went out on this album and did his thing. New Man isnt the best album of the year by any means, but its a very strong showing. And I was so happy when i got this album because we havent had a good Joe album since 2003, so when this one came out i was really hopin he would turn out something good. And he did. One thing that really helped this album is the production. He did four songs with B.Cox, and had a song with the Stereotypes and Polow Da Don. This album actually had an R&B feel to it unlike Ain't Nothin Like Me. "By Any Means" is a great feel good track with beautiful vocals about trying to get your girl back. It's definetly one of the better songs on the album, along with "Man In Your Life", which obviously sampled Nas's "Hero" beat, which normally i wouldnt think is cool, but Joe actually makes the song work without it coming off as swagger jacking. But its definetly one of the best joe songs and it really bangs in the car lol. But then we get some classic Joe with the soft and smooth standout ballads "Chameleon" and "Start Over Again". Like i said, this album isnt amazing by any means, but it shows that Joe is still relevant in the presently dry state of R&B.



Grade:
B

This CD is wonderful well written. Joe knows exactly what a woman needs. I can not wait for the release in February the tracks will have a woman wanting her man more and more.

I HAVE SAY I AM A DIE HARD JOE FAN,BUT I'M ITCHING FOR A NEW AVENUE WITH A BALLADEER THAT CAN DELIVER. ANY JOE FAN WILL LIKE THE ALBUM, BUT DON'T EXPECT ANY LOUD BELLS. I'M STILL A FAN THOUGH.

I love the "old" Joe!! With this album, it seems as if he tried to become more main stream (what the teens listen to). However, the tracks 12-16 are the bomb, snippets are included on this album. Actually, they come out on his next album (Feb 2009). I keep those tracks on repeat. Nevertheless, he's still one of my favorite artists. I've grown up on JOE (teenager) and now I'm 30!

After listening to the album (what really counts as an album nowadays anyways?) I must say I was impressed with some songs and left in the cold with others. I felt like some songs like By All Means, Sorry and I won't Let Him Hurt you were pretty good songs that Joe does best, but some songs, felt a bit rushed and we even got some snippets in there, in an album...ALBUM! That ticks me off a bit. With snippets in there, it obviously means it was rushed, but it looks like the new album that will be released is going to be a good one. Hopefully he will take his time with this one and give us something good, not something that is half way done. Can't wait to hear the new one, though I would mildly recommend this one, but try to find it used instead of buying it new.

Like many Americans, I was first introduced to the magic of Andrea Bocelli through television. I often find myself still reaching for "Romanza" as a way to relax and take a journey through a musical masterpiece. Though it was recorded over a decade ago, the album has, for the most part, withstood the test of time.

To get the reason for the four-star rating out of the way: several songs on the album do date themselves to the mid-90s. I was never a big fan of the saxophone-driven jazz accompanied by synthesizers that was popular ten years ago, and it is for this reason that I don't give the album five stars. For those who love this style of music, songs like 'E Chiove' and 'Le Tue Parole' will sound fanstastic. And, while 'Caruso' has become a classic in some circles, the song simply isn't my cup of tea.

The rest of the album is, however, timeless. 'Vivo Per Lei' is a stirring duet about the power of music, while 'Il Mare Calmo Della Sera' captures the beauty of the Mediterranean. 'Vivere', since recorded as a dual-language song, is still stirring despite being entirely in Italian. And 'Miserere', the song that launched Bocelli's career, highlights the power of his voice when sung live. (Note: though some reviewers have complained about Zucchero's voice, the version on this album was recorded with John Miles, not the Italian star.)

Then there is 'Con te Partiro', the song that made Andrea Bocelli a household name and, like 'Nessun Dorma' was for Luciano Pavarotti, has become "his" song. While the second version on the album, a duet with Sarah Brightman titled 'Time to Say Goodbye' is stirring, it is the original which captures the power of Bocelli's voice. It is this song that I first heard on television over a decade ago, this song that led me to the voice that has captured the world, this song that still resonates so strongly over ten years later. If you listen to no other Italian-language song in your lifetime, you must listen to this one. It is powerful, emotional, and so beautiful it hurts.

It's easy to love one song by an artist, and while it was 'Con te Partiro' that led me to Andrea Bocelli, it was "Romanza" that made me fall in love with his voice. Celine Dion once said that, "If God had a singing voice, He would sound a lot like Andrea Bocelli." This album is proof of that statement.

As a new listener of his music, I wanted one album that would be representative of Bocelli's distinctively romantic voice and that included my personal fave: "Vivo Per Lei." This album is perfect.

The music is almost to level of chanting for meditation and provides enormous psychological comfort.

This is a used CD, which was definitely stated. However, there is static on it that sounds like loud cracking noises when it is being played. There were also some cracks in the case. But for the price, not a bad purchase.

This is by far one of his best albums, the selection of songs is incredible. I keep a copy in the house and one in the car, it's that good. The duets are amazing and you will likely find yourself trying to sing along with many of them.

For those who think they can't handle classical, pop classical or opera -- this is the ticket to expanding your musical appreciation. For those who love him already, this is a must have.

As a 50-year-old die hard Beatle fan, I'm a tough sell on Beatle covers. There are songs that I simply don't connect with at all. But there are some real good songs here-nice arrangements: Come Together-Joe Cocker, With A Little Help From My Friends, Flying, Hold Me Tight, I am the Walrus-Bono, Across the Universe, Revolution, Helter Skelter, Hey Jude and Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds-Bono alone is worth the price of the CD. It's a double set so it earns a 3 star. If you're a Beatles fan, it's a nice addition to your collection.

This film is incredible on many levels. I am a recent Beatles "afficianado" (I am ashamed to admit. This movie makes me wish I had started a LOT sooner). Wonderful film that I could watch over and over...

Okay. This is coming from one of this generation's biggest Beatles fans - I have long said that a cover can't do justice to a Beatles song (and there have been plenty of attempts), however I make a big exception for this album. You might not enjoy it as much without having watched the movie, but just take it all in. Go in with an open mind, and some of these renditions will give you goose bumps like the firs time you heard it by the Beatles. Seriously, it's beautiful. Don't be a hater.

I love the music on this CD. It is a great companion for the movie.

If you have seen the movie and love the soundtrack,don't buy this CD--it leaves out too much. Buy the deluxe edition. The music is great but you keep anticipating the next song in the movie and you are constantly disappointed. This shouldn't be called a soundtrack or at least it should have "ABRIDGED" stamped on it.

The soundtrack arrived within about a week. (I never opt for faster delivery.) It was exactly what I wanted and, as far as I can tell, plays flawlessly.

This music is so faithfully performed by the very talented ensemble that it brings back the 1920's vividly. Each song reflects a specific style of the music popular at the time. After listening to this CD I had to see the movie (which was also terrific) and then I had to buy the sheet music. Usually I simply enjoy a CD and move on. This one reached me.

The cd is very good. There are only songs, no speaking parts really, even ones that precede certain songs. There are a couple of songs that are not in the movie or that were inspired by the movie. The first time you listen to it if you haven't read the fine print it kind of throws you for a loop. I highly recommend it for all who love the movie!

I truly loved the music with the movie is excellent. I was very impressed of the singing of the movie stars.

Rob Marshall and company got it exactly right in transferring Chicago to the screen. Though I was not a Renee Zellweiger fan, she changed my opinion with her total tartiness here (and she was terrific in Cold Mountain), she dances competently, and sings the role wonderfully. Katherine Zeta Jones was perfect as Velma Kelly. The rest of the cast are marvelous too....Queen Latifah coudn't have been better cast. Though I have never been conviced of Richard Gere's acting ability, he pulls off the role of Billy Flynn admirably, even his singing and dancing work effectively. They brilliantly wrote a screenplay to encompass most of the stage show, where songs were cut, they needed to be. A well deserved Oscar winner for effectively bringing a musical back to the screen!!

I was skeptical about buying this CD after reading some of the negative reviews. I was blown away! This CD is awesome. Why the criticism? This is a solid CD from start to finish. I do not hear any filler. I had the chance to see him live a couple of weeks ago. Joe and his band put on a fantastic show. Keep up the great work guys!

Super Collosal is still my favorite, but I anxiously await every new CD by Satch. He's always experimenting with new styles, and his playing on this one is a smooth, edgy, and fluid as any. They may not be as memorable as some of his greatest stuff, but by the second listen the guy just brings a smile to your face the way he rips the guitar to shreds.

I'm actually saddened to see anything in the way of the disappointment of others in reference to this album.
This immediately became one of my favorites at first listen.
I really feel Joe put aside his expectancy of others and just let his inspiration flow for this one.
I was never at any point bored or waiting to get through a song to hear what the next track might offer as I have been in a couple previous albums.
Music is a language of the soul, you either understand it or you don't, you either connect with it or you don't.
There was reference made in comparison to earlier albums that for myself I could not agree with. The compared albums I didn't connect with as I did this one. This album is a language I understand and an inspiration of "soul groove" for me.
"Thank you Joe" Rock on,,,,,,,,,,,,

I believe Satriani is a great guitar player, however most of this cd sounds like a reminiscence of another great... Check Jeff Beck's work.

If you like Satriani, you have to add this one to your collection. Up to his usual standards, yet slightly different styles to expand his repetoire. Joe trys to keep it fresh.

One of the greatest musicians of our lifetime at the top of his game. Just like Night and Day was 25 years ago, you cannot stop playing this CD.
Joe is now finishing up a tour for this record and if you can see him live you appreciate what talent this man has. What a contrast this is to the junk that the radios are cranking out these days.

Throughout the late 80's, 90's and into the new decade Jackson put out a series of albums that ranged from straight ahead pop / rock to symphonic classical pieces. He was literally all over the map. In 2006 he got the original Joe Jackson band back together putting out "Volume 4" to relatively good critical reviews. With "Rain" Jackson's band is down to a trio of himself on keys / vocals and two of his original Joe Jackson bandmates Graham Mabey and Gary Houghton along for the ride. The lack of guitar on the album lends the disc a smoother more jazzy lounge feel with Joe's piano up front most of the time. The music is not totally unlike a stripped down version his "Night And Day" back in the early 80's. Overall I find this to be a rather average album from Joe. The opening track "Invisible Man" is a great one finding Joe lamenting on his fade from commercial success over the years. "Hey, can you hear me now as I fade away.......I used to own this town, now I'm watching you....." This song could be about any artists that has had their popularity fade, but it comes across as autobiographical. After this first song though things don't stay quite on the same level. There are some other good ones to be found in "Wasted Time", "Solo", "Good Bad Boy", and "A Place In The Sun", all being solid, but the rest of the material leaves me somewhat cold. The jazzy "Uptown Train" which shows off Joe's piano ability steals its main riff from Prince's "Kiss". I am sure this was not done on purpose, but every time I listen to this I can't help but think of Prince. Overall this an ok Jackson album, but nearly on the same level as some of my favorites by the man. It is worth owning if you are a fan, but probably about in the middle of his output over the years.

Any artist who can get this sort of music out of a 3 piece line-up deserves 5 stars. Great song writing, perfect instrumentation. And quite a fun sound that rocks much of the time. The slow songs are brilliant too. Well done Joe. I was a fan 20 years ago and this makes it concrete. Joe is like Andy Partridge from XTC (not neglecting Colin Moulding's brilliant songs) and gets better with age. Or is that whine? Wine?

Joe Jackson is one of the most amazingly distinct pop composers. As I've listened to his music back from the "Look Sharp" days, he sounds like rock, like pop, like jazz, like a bit of classical, but always like Joe Jackson. Perhaps only Burt Bacharach's pop songs sound so specifically unique that his sense of melody makes you immediately identify the songwriter. Jackson is like that for me.

"Rain" is an excellent set. The opener "Invisible Man" places his piano forward and makes Jackson think about how times change and popularity shifts, "Why did the lights go down or onto someone new? Well let them learn. I used to own this town; Now I'm watching you." "Citizen Sane" swaggers with Dave Houghton's slamming drums & Graham Maby's bass seeming like they've been loosed beyond conventional boundaries. "Wasted Time" which shines on the DVD is an angelic track with Jackson's stunning falsetto chorus, "Call it spite or call it pride; call it love that never died; Call it anything but wasted time." "The Uptown Train" starts out like classic jazz with a about a minute before the vocals arrive and Jackson brushing off the top of his register, "And they don't care to go where you go 'cause they know you're insane." "Solo (So Low)" slows the pace to create a somber stark setting for Jackson's aching vocals, "You stare into space, scared to look at your face, Scared to find someone in the mirror who you can't recall." The carries an emotional wallop. "Good Bad Boy" surges with tidal waves of energy. "Rush Across the Road" & the CD closer "A Place in the Rain" are also strong tracks. The DVD interview with Jackson is quite interesting as he talks about being classically trained and going to see bands where the musicians barely know how to play their instruments. Jackson's "Rain" is a stunning achievement, an excellent return to form. Bravo!

Too many years have passed since his last record. Maybe it took that long
in writing this album thats just plain brilliant. As always his melodies fuse together with catchy rythms creating wonderful songs. Lyrics are smart and heart felt, his voice as good as ever even though I know he smokes like a steam locomtive. The recording itself is very good although I would not call it a master piece. Very good channel separation and low end. I feel that 10 songs are a tad few for hungry fans such as I. Oh well! lets hope he as another album coming out sooner than later.
Rique Claure

Billy Joel has a past, a rock and roll NY garage band secret that is hidden from this so-called "Essential" two CD set. This flip/flop CD set begins with his break out hit "Piano Man", a self-reveralional look at me! Dammit Look at Me! If that didn't make it sure then howabout. "The Entertainer"? or "Say Goodbye to Hollywood"? (At least that song was covered by Ronnie Spector with Bruce Springsteen's E St. Band backing and a terrific 45).

Billy continued to write what he knew," NY State of Mind", etc.., but a songwriter has to have a standard, a song that would be sung by Steve Lawrence, Al Martino, and scored by elevators. "Just the Way You Are" made it and offered a lifetime envelope of bucks.

With that security, Billy hit a stride of top 40 hits "My Life" "She's Got a Way" "You May be Right" Billy was hitting a strong average of .750 and pissed that he wasn't considered hip while Punk and New Wave were all over magazines (not charts tho) and his slam was "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me". Like anyone cared.

Realizing that, Billy put out his finest LP/Cass/CD " An Innocent Man".
An amalgam of his love of 50's 60's influences, the 4 Seasons, "Uptown Girl" the Dion/Belmonts "The Longest Time",

Success leads to doing whatever one wants.. Billy made a political polemic "We Didn't Start the Fire" a hit with an update of Reunion's "Life is a Rock (but the Radio Rolled Me), a quick history of baby boomers in rhyme and tempo.

After that, well fine, concerts all over the world, swell, in Hell, and admired. Concerts in tandem with Elton John and piano walkin' the plank.

This 2CD has 36 songs, probably 20 more than anyone needs. No booklet, no history, no pictures of wire-terrior haired Billy, no nothin' extra.

Talent Talent Talent. What can you say about Talent and Real Achievement. "The Essential Billy Joel" includes "Say Goodbye To Hollywood", "Honesty", "Don't Ask Me Why" and "New York State Of Mind". Billy Joel has become involved in the 2008 Presidential Race. Interestingly, in the 2008 Presidential Primary race, New York Senator Hillary Clinton earned more Votes than any other Presidential Primary candidate in American history (hillaryclintonforum, the denver group)

I can't think of anything that's missing from this album, except maybe "Why Should I Worry" which he did for the animated movie Oliver and Company. Disney must have all the rights, because I don't see it on his regular albums. Probably wasn't enough of a "hit" but I wouldn't mind having a copy of that one.

This collection is really great, a few harder to find hits such as "Honesty" and "An Innocent Man" as well as some others. It spans pretty much all decades of Billy's career. I just wish they had included "Pressure".

Everything you could want from his long career history of music is here.

Definitely 'essential'! Highly recommended!