Johnny Mathis - Two Facets Of a Burgeoning Talent

Five Star Review!

In 1960, when Johnny Mathis was just beginning to establish himself, Columbia recognised his burgeoning talent by producing two concept albums as a 2-LP set. Both the vinyl version, and Sony's 1999 digital reissue, are highly sought after by Johnny's legion of fans. "Rhythms of Broadway" presents a dozen pulsating showstoppers, played con brio by Ralph Burns & his Orchestra, and delivered with gusto by Johnny, who seems fired up by the accompaniment, as well he should be. The mood changes with the smoother "Ballads of Broadway", and Glenn Osser's beautifully relaxed orchestral sound, against which Johnny's velvet voice glides like a caress.

Delta is to be congratulated for making this superb set available again at such an affordable price. Sound quality is superb, and the liner note albeit brief, nevertheless sets out the details of Johnny's early career, and lists the provenance of the two dozen songs on offer, most of which are classics of the musical stage. The set should be a must have for long-standing Mathis devotees who can replace their worn vinyl. It should appeal also to younger fans who've never heard it, and aficionados of songs from the musicals. 

By Barry McCanna

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20 years of Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog turned 20 this year, I remember when my brother and I got our Sega Megadrive console one christmas.  I was 15 or 16 years old. Myself, my brother and my dad sat up all night playing Sonic the Hedgehog, the very 1st Sonic game ever released, since then Sonic the hedgehog has grown into a global brand, and  as such has spanwed DVD's, such as Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog & Sonic Underground more games and even music!.

Songs From the TV Series Six - Five Special Review

SONGS FROM THE TV SERIES SIX-FIVE SPECIAL!

Review by Allen Pollack

Recalling the celebrated 1957 television series, this is the Original album recorded with screaming girls between tracks to suggest a live ambiance and allowing the John Barry Seven to open with the appropriate LET'S HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME.  Frequent guests are naturally represented and include Jim Dale (CRAZY DREAM), The King Brothers (COLD, COLD SHOWER) Laurie London ( PICK A BALE OF COTTON) and the energetic Don Lang ( YOU STARTED SOMETHING ) whilst Jimmy Jackson contributes the apt SIX-FIVE JIVE but Adam Faith who also appeared frequently on the shows sits this one out. Seventeen bonus tracks help fill the disc with more of the same extracted from various singles; bringing in Petula Clark to represent otherwise absent females- after all she appeared in the film version singing BABY LOVER. All good fun from a less complicated age

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Allen Pollack - In Tune International

Eddie Stobart Trucks and Trailers Series One Trailer

Tribute to Mario Lanza on BBC Radio 2, 20:00 GMT

Tonight, June 17th 2011 BBC radio 2 plays tribute to Mario Lanza.  Mario Lanza was born Alfredo Arnold Cocozza on 31 January 1921 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - from his mother’s maiden name, Maria Lanza. While still at school young Alfredo became a local champion weightlifter but he had a second God-given talent … an immediately identifiable operatic tenor singing voice which was ultimately to bring him worldwide acclaim. He began studying singing at the age of 15, and was signed to Columbia Artistes Management, kick-starting his future career performing in local concerts. During the Second World War Lanza served in the US Army from 1943 and he sang in many concerts for his fellow comrades, billed as ’the Service Caruso’, as well as performing in the chorus of the popular Forces show, Winged Victory.

Lanza made his professional operatic stage debut in 1948, performing in Madame Butterfly at the New Orleans Opera House. However he decided his singing talents were better displayed on the silver screen which also brought him to a much wider, worldwide public, and his performances in New Orleans proved to be the last professional operatic performances of his career onstage (although he made several guest appearances in other concerts in later years). The following year Lanza made his movie debut, co-starring with Kathryn Grayson in That Midnight Kiss, performing a selection of popular song standards and classical pieces. Lanza followed it with another cinema hit, The Toast Of New Orleans, which teamed him with Grayson once again. In the film he performed Be My Love, composed by Sammy Cahn and Nicholas Brodszky, and Lanza’s recording sold over one million copies in the US alone, when released by RCA Records. Be My Love became closely identified with him for the rest of his life.

The musical memories will never be allowed to die. This collection of Lanza favourites includes many more songs associated with his relatively short career. One can only conjecture as to what the future would have held for Mario Lanza, had he lived. However, his electrifying singing voice lives on and this collection will bring back many rich memories for countless fans and admirers everywhere.

Available on Amazon in both CD and Digital Versions
iTunes UK
Amazon MP3
Amazon CD

Available on Amazon in both CD and Digital Versions
iTunes UK
Amazon MP3
Amazon CD

Music from the Sopranos, Whacked!

The Sopranos follows the trials and tribulations of Tony Soprano and his family as they deal with life amongst the mob figures of Northern New Jersey and the music is a reflection of the bars, restaurants and strip joints Tony and his boys inhabit

These songs have all been featured in the iconic TV series the Sopranos which is currently being aired on Sky Atlantic to a new  generation of fans.

The Sopranos ran for 86 episodes from 1999  – 2007 and became cult viewing and the songs featured on this three disc collection  - predominantly by the original artists – became the soundtrack to what has

become one of the most iconic TV series ever produced.

The song Time To Say Goodbye (CD3, track 21 on the physical CD) is noted for being the most recurring theme in the entire series of 86 shows. It’s a well played track, and has become synonymous with the show.

63 tracks ranging from cool Chet Baker perfomances to up beat rock ‘n’ roll tracks such as Let It Rock by Chuck Berry.

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Cliff Richard - Album Reviews

I have his 40 Golden Greats, released in the late seventies, and wanted something from his early period to supplement that collection. I saw this at a "Half-Price Books" in N. Texas, the price was right, and here I am. Much is derivative of the early period of rock and roll, which hit the UK like a massive mess of lightning. He's backed by the Drifters, who later became the Shadows.

Much is recorded in studio, much is recorded live to an apparently crazed set of female observors. If anyone has more info, I'd love to hear your views. Bottom line, the price was right and I am in. Cliff was on fire in them daze. Chris's review on www.deltamusic.co.uk

Available on Amazon & iTunes UK and Amazon CD

4 out of 5 Stars 'Best of the Early Years' minus one !!!!!, 1 Mar 2011 By weeorry10

This box is great value for money, super presentation, three discs and lots of tracks some live but with awful 'scream to order' females on several songs. One other small complaint is the absence of Mean Streak which, in my opinion ,is one of his best early Columbia releases I can't understand why it was omitted, but for that discrepancy I would have given it five stars. Still a great buy though !!!!!!

Available on Amazon & iTunes UK, and Amazon CD

Absolutely The Best Of The American Songbooks Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SELECTION, 29 May 2011 By Barry McCanna (Normandy, France)

Delta, and its associated label Bygone Days, is fast establishing a reputation for well-packaged low-cost CDs, and this is no exception. The tracklist is set out in full on Amazon.UK from which it can be seen that the composers are all from the top drawer, and the vocalists are mostly American (with the exception of Shirley Bassey and Cliff Richard). My one reservation is that given the status of these recordings the tracklist should not be confined to title, vocalist and composer. It should show at least the accompaniment, year of recording, and if appropriate the film or show for which it was it was written. But everything else about it, including sound quality, is excellent and at the asking price I'd be looking a gift horse in the mouth to award less than five stars.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great cross section of song writers and performers..., 25 May 2011 By C. FULLER (Birmingham, United Kingdom)

This brand new compilation has a running time of approx 190 minutes and for 60 tracks and a realistic selling price this is great value. The songs many of them classics of the standards era sound great and have been nicely transferred. The packaging says over 50 songs but as you can see there are in fact 60 songs by many of the great song writers and performed by many of the great singers. The selections do acknowledge artists right up to the start of the 1960s with Cliff Richard being the most obvious. No liner notes. Nicely packaged with slimline case. Part of a series of CD sets from Delta.

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