Chuck Mangione ~ Children Of Sanchez OST [1979]

tracks:

01. Children Of Sanchez (Overture) (14:10)

02. Lullabye (3:52)

03. Fanfare (1:08)

04. Pilgrimage (Part I) (2:59)

05. Pilgrimage (Part II) (2:40)

06. Consuelo's Love Theme (17:04)

07. Hot Consuelo (4:04)

08. Death Scene (4:44)

09. Market Place (3:12)

10. Echano (2:43)

11. Bellavia (3:16)

12. Lullabye (3:42)

13. Medley (8:22)

14. B'Bye (8:30)

15. Children Of Sanchez (Finale) (3:06)

Tom Jones ~ Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings [1967]

tracks:

A1 Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings 2:52

A2 Riders In The Sky 3:10

A3 He'll Have To Go 3:20

A4 Sixteen Tons 3:05

A5 Two Brothers 3:18

A6 All I Get From You Are Heartaches 2:48

B1 Detroit City 3:30

B2 Ring Of Fire 2:40

B3 A Field Of Yellow Daisies 3:22

B4 Cool Water 4:10

B5 (I Wish I Could) Say No To You 2:41

B6 Mohair Sam 2:22

Various Artists ~ In Search Of Angels

In Search of Angels is the soundtrack to the television special of the same name. It features 16 tracks by 11 different artists. Tim Story composed and performed six of the pieces, five of which are unique to this CD. The other artists represent an eclectic array of styles, from k.d. lang to the American Boychoir. It is a Windham Hill offering, so quality is assumed from the get-go. The surprises are the deep, spiritual chorales. The St. Olaf Choir performs a version of "Star in the East" with two sopranos, a tenor, and a hammered dulcimer. It is the highlight of a remarkable collection. All in all, this hour of listening bliss is an essential collection.

tracks:

01. Tim Story - Theme from In Search Of Angels (2:07)

02. Jane Siberry with k.d. lang - Calling All Angels (5:16)

03. Tim Story - Angel Of The Elegies (2:43)

04. The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge - Requiem In Paradisum (Faure) (3:34)

05. Wim Mertens - Close Cover (3:13)

06. Tim Story - Voices In The Liquid Air (2:27)

07. Therese Schroeder-Sheker - Assumpta Est Maria In Coefum (3:37)

08. St. Olaf Choir - Star In The East (5:50)

09. Tim Story - Angelos (2:02)

10. Patty Larkin - Good Thing (Angels Running) (4:32)

11. Mark Isham - Love's Ash Dissolves (1:20)

12. Ray Lynch - The Oh Of Pleasure (5:17)

13. Oystein Sevag - Reflection (2:37)

14. Tim Story - Woman At The Well (3:31)

15. The American Boychoir - Jesus Christ The Apple Tree (3:08)

16. Tim Story - Theme Reprise (2:39)

Paul McCartney ~ McCartney [1970]

McCartney was released in the UK on 17 April 1970, and a few days later, on the 20th, in the US. In the UK, McCartney debuted straight at number 2, where it remained for three weeks. It was only denied the top spot by the best-selling album of 1970, Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water. On the day of release, owner of Associated Television, Lew Grade, described the album as "absolutely brilliant".  By 15 May, the album had over 1 million copies in the US, and on 23 May, reached number one,[5] eventually going 2x platinum.

The album was widely criticized for its "homespun" approach and "half-written" songs. The UK's rock bible Melody Maker declared that "With this record, his debt to [Beatles producer] George Martin becomes increasingly clear"; the reviewer found "sheer banality" in all the tracks save for "Maybe I'm Amazed". Shortly after the album's release, George Harrison described the same song and "That Would Be Something" as "great", but the rest, he said, "just don't do anything for me". Harrison added that, unlike himself, Lennon, and Starr, McCartney was probably too "isolated" from other musicians: "The only person he's got to tell him if the song's good or bad is Linda." Lennon stated in his 1970 interview with Rolling Stone editor Jann Wenner that, given McCartney's penchant for demanding perfectionism in the studio from his fellow Beatles, he was surprised at the lack of quality in the album; Lennon also made several remarks comparing McCartney negatively to his own solo album debut, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.
When the new remastered version was released in 2011 as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection, the album re-entered the charts in the UK, Netherlands, France and Japan.

tracks:
01. The Lovely Linda (0:45)
02. That Would Be Something (2:42)
03. Valentine Day (1:44)
04. Every Night (2:40)
05. Hot As Sun + Glasses (2:08)
06. Junk (1:57)
07. Man We Was Lonely (3:00)
08. Oo You (2:50)
09. Momma Miss America (4:07)
10. Teddy Boy (2:25)
11. Singalong Junk (2:37)
12. Maybe I'm Amazed (3:55)
13. Kreen -- Akrore (4:13)

Quincy Jones ~ The Dude

The Dude is a 1981 studio album by American musician and producer Quincy Jones. The album featured the debut of vocalist James Ingram on the singles "Just Once" and "One Hundred Ways," which reached no. 17 and 14, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100. It also contained "Razzamatazz", which reached no. 11 in the UK Singles Chart, one of his few hits there. He won the Grammy award for best R&B vocal performance for his work on the album. Belgian harmonica player and puccaloist Toots Thielemans also contributed to the album, appearing on the instrumental track "Velas". The song was sampled by Jodeci on their 1996 single "Get on Up" which appeared on their third album The Show, the After Party, the Hotel as well as producers Shut Up and Dance for the track "Waking Up" which appeared on Nicolette's first album Now Is Early.
The album won three Grammy Awards, one for Best Instrumental Arrangement, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Instrumental Arrangement (Accompanying Vocalists) and also earned Ingram three Grammy nominations for Best New Artist, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Just Once" and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "One Hundred Ways", for which he won at the 24th Grammy Awards in 1982.

tracks 1

tracks 2

1. Ai No Corrida (6:27)

2. The Dude (5:37)

3. Just Once (4:33)

4. Betcha' Wouldn't Hurt Me (3:46)

5. Sometin' Special (3:57)

6. Razzamatazz (4:15)

7. One Hundred Ways (4:19)

8. Velas (4:05)

9. Turn On The Action (4:22)

Perez Prado ~ Cuban Originals

Pérez Prado may not have invented the mambo, but he invented the style of mambo most people remember. The Cuban-born Prado had his first success developing his high-octane variation on the son montuno in Mexico in 1949. His angular arrangements with chugging rhythms were too radical for the Cuban recording establishment, but not for the Mexican film industry. Prado became the musical director sought by leading producers, and his soundtracks attracted deserved attention back home--leading to a fruitful collaboration with vocalist Beny Moré. Many of the songs here bear the stamp of Prado's cinematic sweep, like "Sabor a Mi," where a picaresque muted trumpet scales peaks of throbbing brass, or the bombastic annunciation of "Besame Mucho." Because he was so ambitiously modernist, his oeuvre still sounds fresh today. A lightning-bug version of "Flight of the Bumblebee" casts off impressive solos with the nonchalance of a clown juggling while turning cartwheels. Gaudy and irresistible, these instrumentals--including two of Prado's earliest mambos--cross-pollinate swing era big band music and Afro-Cuban rhythms with the delicacy of a cymbal crash. Extra bonus: two songs prefiguring Prado's No. 1 American hit "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White."

tracks:
01. Besame Mucho (3:10)
02. Peanut Vendor (El Manisero) (2:59)
03. Maria Bonita (2:43)
04. Historia De Un Amor (2:48)
05. Sabor A Mi (2:07)
06. Frenesi (2:00)
07. Granada (4:30)
08. Cu Cu Ru Cu Cu Paloma (2:50)
09. Mambo #5 (2:46)
10. Lupita (2:52)
11. Esperame En El Cielo (2:51)
12. Mambo Del Politecnico (3:16)
13. Flight of the Bumble Bee (2:45)
14. Cerezo Rosa (3:03)
15. Que Rico El Mambo (3:05)
16. Mambo #8 (3:08)

Various Artists ~ Peaceful Moods

I am not a big fan of compilations of this type. However, every now and then, someone actually puts a lot of thought into it. Unlike others, this is truly an outstanding compilation of contemporary and new age music. The variety of  compositions are just astonishing, full of delightful melodies. Includes works of great composers like Yanni, Vangelis, John Williams, Ennio Morricone, Rolf Lovland, Jim Brickman, Clannad and others whose name may not be too familiar, but I can assure you, their music is surprisingly beautiful. Summarily, an extremely sweet, rewarding and enriching compilation.


tracks:
01. Yanni - Aria (4:00)
02. The John Tesh Project - Tears in Heaven (4:11)
03. Clannad - Theme From Harry's Game (2:27)
04. George Winston - Joy (3:10)
05. Vangells - Chariots of Fire (titles) (3:32)
06. Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere over the Rainbow, What a Wonderful world (5:06)
07. Jim Brickman - By Heart (3:47)
08. Celtic Fayre - Watermark (2:48)
09. Tingstad & Rumbel - Fields of Gold (3:59)
10. Blessed Essence - Trouble (4:43)
11. John Williams - Cavatina (Theme from The Deer Hunter) (3:36)
12. Michael Nyman - The Heart Asks Pleasure First, The Promise (4:19)
13. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (4:33)
14. William Orbit - Adagio for Strings (9:35)
15. Luis Enrique Bacalov - Bicycle (2:28)
16. The John Tesh Project feat. Lori Andrews - Fragile (4:40)
17. Secret Garden - Song from a Secret Garden (3:35)
18. Ennio Morricone - Theme from The Mission (2:53)

Engelbert Humperdinck ~ The Very Best of

An unusual collection comes from a little known K-Tel label.  All tracks are in mono, however the overall sound quality is very good.  Year of release unknown.

tracks:

01 - Gentle On My Mind (2:47)
02 - What A Wonderful World (2:47)
03 - Am I that easy to forget (3:08)
04 - Take My Heart (2:30)
05 - Les bicyclettes de belsize (3:14)
06 - Spanish Eyes (3:17)
07 - The last waltz (3:04)
08 - There's a Kind of Hush (3:00)
09 - Shadow Of Your Smile (Love Theme From The Sandpiper) (2:35)
10 - Didn't We (4:04)
11 - A Time For Us (2:58)
12 - I Wish You Love (3:54)
13 - To the ends of the earth (2:32)
14 - Can't Take My Eyes Of You (3:41)
15 - A Man And A Woman (3:37)
16 - By The Time I Get To Phoenix (3:08)

Xavier Cugat ~ The Original Latin Dance King (2002)

Xavier Cugat had a recording career that stretched over many more years than are covered on this collection. But this single-disc, 26-song anthology of sides from the 1940s and 1950s has to be considered the best collection of his work. This was Cugat's prime, and the tracks boast better fidelity than those he made prior to 1940, if one considers his prime to have started earlier. Hearing these lively and exceptionally well-performed, pioneering blends of Latin, jazz, and pop music, one is surprised that Cugathas not gotten more serious critical respect along the lines of Machito and Tito Puente. The 1940-1957 span ensures a good deal of variety in the orchestral players and the numerous featured vocalists, with Miguelito Valdés handling those more often than anyone on various early-'40s songs, but several others (including one female singer, Abbe Lane) taking turns as well. "Babalu," presented here in a 1941 recording with Valdés on lead vocals, might be the most famous tune, but in truth this is virtually nonstop energy and fun mambo, cha cha, rumbo, and such, played with consummate timing and humor. This only occasional crosses over into novelty territory, with highlights including "Yo Ta Namoa," where Valdés unleashes some amazing stuttering phrasing; the cover of Pérez Prado's "Mambo Jambo"; and a gorgeous, cinematic version of "Besame Mucho."

tracks
01. Babalu (2:49)
02. Jamay (2:41)
03. Anana Boroco Tinde (2:49)
04. The Brand New Cha Cha (2:44)
05. Cuca (3:12)
06. Bim Bam Bum (3:01)
07. A Bailar Merengue (3:03)
08. Coco Seco (2:25)
09. Suavecito (3:18)
10. Miami Beach Rhumba (3:21)
11. Yo Quiero Un Mambo (2:44)
12. Son Los Dandis (2:34)
13. Mamba Jambo (3:17)
14. Ritmo Tropical (2:48)
15. (The Chi Chi) Cha Cha Cha (2:54)
16. Yo Ta Namora (2:53)
17. The Anything Can Happen Mambo (2:21)
18. Mambo Gordo (3:16)
19. Besame Mucho
20. Tumbao
21. Bread, Love And Cha Cha Cha
22. La Mucura
23. Cuban Mambo
24. Mondonguero
25. Mondongo
26. Who, Me?

The Shadows ~ Greatest Hits (1963)

A straightforward summary of the Shadows' first three years of habitual hit-making, opening with the pounding flurry of "Apache," then tracing through the next eight smash singles, with a handful of attendant B-sides (and one EP cut, the title track from The Boys) to round the package out. There is no denying the sheer brilliance of this early sequence. Hits like "Wonderful Land," "FBI," and "Man of Mystery" utterly rewrote the guitar's role in rock, not only musically, but culturally as well. Unquestionably, the Shadows' importance and impact diminished as the years passed, but at the outset of their career, the period documented here, they were untouchable. It is for that reason that The Shadows' Greatest Hits is still regarded in some quarters as the finest Shadows album of them all, an accolade which no other compilation (and goodness knows, there's been enough of them) has ever been able to dismiss. Even the sleeve screams "masterpiece."

tracks

01. Apache
02. Man Of Mystery
03. The Stranger
04. F.B.I.
05. Midnight
06. The Frightened City
07. Kon-Tiki
08. 36-24-36 [0:01:42.27]
09. The Savage
10. Peace Pipe
11. Wonderful Land
12. Stars Fell On Stockton [0:02:18.08]
13. Guitar Tango
14. The Boys
15. Dance On!