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September 2006
Look for "Rick's Pick" 
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| CLASSICAL |
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| Title: |
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A Flock Descends into the Pentagonal Garden |
| Label: |
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Naxos
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Composer:
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Toru Takemitsu |
| Performer: |
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Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Marin Alsop |
| ISBN: |
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9786310352787 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310352784 |
| UPC: |
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00747313276028 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNAXO8557760 |
| Cat.#: |
|
8.557760 |
| Period: |
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20th Century |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
Even your collection already includes one or more previous recordings of these orchestral works by the great Toru Takemitsu, consider picking up this new (and, need I point out, budget-priced) performance by Bournemouth with the spectacular Marin Alsop. Even if you own everything but the three film score extracts, they're worth the purchase price and the shelf space. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Renaissance Album |
| Label: |
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Deutsche Grammophon
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Composer:
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Various Composers |
| Performer: |
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Goran Sollscher |
| ISBN: |
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9786310079158 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310079158 |
| UPC: |
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00028947757269 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B000649702 |
| Cat.#: |
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B0006497-02 |
| Period: |
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Renaissance |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Probably not an essential purchase for most classical collections, this is nevertheless a thoroughly enjoyable program of lute and guitar pieces by a nicely varied array of Renaissance composers including both the obvious (Dowland, Holborne, Philips) and the less obvious (Milan, Schlick, Neusidler). Sollscher plays an 11-string guitar here, and sounds wonderful as always. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Mikrokosmos (Complete) |
| Label: |
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Naxos
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Composer:
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Bela Bartok |
| Performer: |
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Jeno Jando |
| ISBN: |
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9786310424057 |
| ISBN-10: |
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631042405X |
| UPC: |
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00747313282128 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNAXO8557821 |
| Cat.#: |
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8.557821-22 |
| Period: |
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20th Century |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Bartok's landmark Mikrokosmos (a 153-part piano study of gradually increasing difficulty and sophistication) may not be something you'd normally listen to end-to-end, but it's a fascinating group of pieces and an essential piece of the modern piano repertoire. This is a fine performance by pianist Jeno Jando (with mezzo-soprano Tamara Takacs on the alternate versions of one or two folk-song settings, and pianist Balazs Szokolay on the four-hand pieces), and note also that Naxos is offering the two-disc set at one-disc price. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Der Arpeggione |
| Label: |
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Cavalli
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Composer:
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Various Composers |
| Performer: |
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Gerhart Darmstadt; Egino Klepper; Bjorn Colell |
| ISBN: |
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9786310306186 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310306189 |
| UPC: |
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00675754918026 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCAVA242 |
| Cat.#: |
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CCD 242 |
| Period: |
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Romantic |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The arpeggione was something like a cross between a cello and a guitar -- a bowed instrument in the cello's range, but with six strings and frets. It enjoyed a brief vogue in the early 19th century, but is almost never heard today. The fine arpeggione player Gerhart Darmstadt here performs a number of pieces written (or adapted) for the instrument by such eminent composers as Beethoven, Schubert and Spohr. He's accompanied by fortepianist Egino Klepper and by Bjorn Colell on "romantic guitar" (a rather questionably designation, it seems to me), and the result is a program that should be considered essential to any collection of period-instrument recordings. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Enchanted Rhythms: Cello Music from Bulgaria |
| Label: |
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MSR Classics (dist. Albany)
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Composer:
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Roumi Petrova |
| Performer: |
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Kalin Ivanov; Elena Antimova |
| ISBN: |
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9786310354897 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310354892 |
| UPC: |
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00681585115626 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDMSRCMS1156 |
| Cat.#: |
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MS 1156 |
| Period: |
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Modern |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Four gorgeous new pieces by the young Bulgarian composer Roumi Petrovi are presented here: two sonatas for cello and piano, a five-part passacaglia on a Bulgarian folk melody, and a set of five "Bulgarian Portraits," also for cello and piano. The rhythms are vigorous and strange, the melodies haunting and modal, and the playing exquisite. Highly recommended to all libraries. (RA) |
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| $19.98 |
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| Title: |
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Chansons |
| Label: |
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Harmonia Mundi USA
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Composer:
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Alexand Agricola; Fabrice Fitch |
| Performer: |
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Fretwork; Michael Chance |
| ISBN: |
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9786310388618 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310388614 |
| UPC: |
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00093046742126 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDHMD HMU907421 |
| Cat.#: |
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HMU 907421 |
| Period: |
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Renaissance/Modern |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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To commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Alexander Agricola, the celebrated viol consort Fretwork put together this idiosyncratic but rewarding program of instrumental and vocal music by Agricola, as well as a cycle of viol pieces written in tribute to the composer by Fabrice Fitch. The edgier modern work stands in nice contrast to Agricola's sweet (if quirky) chansons and the ethereal sound of his consort music. Countertenor Michael Chance is in particularly fine voice. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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6 Suites a Violoncello Solo Senza Basso |
| Label: |
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Bongiovanni (dist. Qualiton)
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Composer:
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Johann Sebastian Bach |
| Performer: |
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Ivan Mancinelli |
| ISBN: |
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9786310413983 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310413988 |
| UPC: |
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00675754926526 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDBONG5144 |
| Cat.#: |
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GB 5144/45-2 |
| Period: |
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Baroque |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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The Bach cello suites performed on a marimba? Well, why not? After all, Bach (like most of his contemporaries) never seemed to care that much which instruments were used to perform his compositions, and these famous pieces have been arranged and adapted for any number of unusual instruments in the past. The marimba's round, dark tone and quick decay actually make it a perfect vehicle for this music, and the sound may be a revelation to those who think of baroque music as stodgy and samey. Highly recommended to all classical collections. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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String Quartets 3, 7, 8 |
| Label: |
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EMI Classics
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Composer:
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Dmitri Shostakovich |
| Performer: |
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St. Lawrence String Quartet |
| ISBN: |
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9786310414973 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310414976 |
| UPC: |
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00094635995626 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDEMIC59956 |
| Cat.#: |
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3 59956 2 |
| Period: |
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20th Century |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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This is a fine and passionate performance, beautifully recorded, of three of Shostakovich's sharpest, most personal and (at times) most despairing chamber works, including the "Dresden" string quartet. These have all been recorded regularly over the past few decades, but the energy and emotion brought to bear on them by the St. Lawrence String Quartet are unusually noteworthy. Recommended. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Symphonies Nos. 40 & 41; |
| Label: |
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Archiv
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Composer:
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
| Performer: |
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Musiciens du Louvre / Marc Minkowski |
| ISBN: |
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9786310326825 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310326821 |
| UPC: |
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00028947757986 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B000650602 |
| Cat.#: |
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B0006506-02 |
| Period: |
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Romantic |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Not everyone will necessarily consider Marc Minkowski's Mozart debut to represent the finest possible approach to these two late symphonies, but there's no questioning the vivacity and enthusiasm that he brings to them. The brisk tempi will come as no surprise to those familiar with his baroque work, but he does a good job of keeping his personal gestures subservient to the good of the music. Whatever one's personal tastes, this recording will serve most classical curricula well and should be considered an essential purchase for most collections. (RA) |
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| $16.99 |
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| Title: |
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Modlinger Tanze |
| Label: |
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CPO
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Composer:
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Ludwig van Beethoven |
| Performer: |
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L'Orfeo Barockorchester / Michi Gaigg |
| ISBN: |
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9786310359489 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310359487 |
| UPC: |
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00761203711727 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCPO 777117 |
| Cat.#: |
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777 117-2 |
| Period: |
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Romantic |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Aaahhh -- no sturm, no drang, just 41 delightful little dance tunes, most of them certainly written by Beethoven (and a few of them of slightly questionable provenance), and all played with sweet affection by one of Germany's finer period-instrument ensembles. Even the natural horns sound great. (RA) |
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| COUNTRY/FOLK |
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| $13.98 |
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| Title: |
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Riverside Battle Songs |
| Label: |
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Verve
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Artist:
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Ollabelle |
| ISBN: |
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9786310219301 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310219308 |
| UPC: |
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00602498785195 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B000675602 |
| Cat.#: |
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B0006756-02 |
| Genre: |
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Folk, Alternative |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Ollabelle combines a love of traditional American music, skillful arranging and songwriting, and diverse musical backgrounds in blues, folk and jazz (plus the fact that vocalist/guitarist Amy Helm is legendary Band drummer Levon Helm’s daughter). The result is an extremely compelling blend of traditional material, selections by Nina Simone and Olla Belle Reed (their inspiration), and original songs, delivered with excellent singing and stellar musicianship. They remind me of a 21st century, American version of Fairport Convention – familiar with the canvas of traditional music, but seamlessly incorporating their own style into the final product. This is one band to watch. (GH)
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| Title: |
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Lucky 13 |
| Label: |
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Yellow Dog
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Artist:
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Fiona Boyes and the Fortune Tellers |
| ISBN: |
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9786310522142 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310522140 |
| UPC: |
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823800135327 |
| Cat.#: |
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YDR 1353 |
| Genre: |
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Blues |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Australian guitarist and songwriter Fiona Boyes is as thoroughly steeped in country blues as any American currently playing today, as both her impressive guitar picking and joyfully idiomatic compositions clearly demonstrate on this, her debut album. She's joined here by such luminaries as Marcia Ball and Bob Margolin, but no one who listens to "Good Lord Made You So" or "Chicken Wants Corn" will feel any need to check her references further -- this is great, greasy stuff. (RA) |
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| $15.99 |
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| Title: |
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Turntable Matinee |
| Label: |
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Yep Roc (dist. Redeye)
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Artist:
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Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys |
| ISBN: |
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9786310319384 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310319388 |
| UPC: |
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00634457212121 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDREDEYEP2121 |
| Cat.#: |
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YEP 2121 |
| Genre: |
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Rockabilly/Country/Western Swing |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Big Sandy has been playing his blissfully unmodernized version of country swing and rockabilly for more than a decade now, and although he went through a dark patch a few years ago, he seems now to be back to his old good-time self. The band hasn't changed much, nor have his lyrical themes, and his big, richly colored tenor voice is as much a pleasure to hear as it's ever been. If you own a couple of Big Sandy albums already, then this one may not be an essential addition to the collection -- but if you need a good place to start, this one's as good as any. Personally, I own 'em all, but I can't seem to get enough of this stuff. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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21 No. 1 Hits: The Ultimate Collection |
| Label: |
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Rhino
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Artist:
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Buck Owens |
| ISBN: |
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9786310370071 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310370073 |
| UPC: |
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00081227409326 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRHIN74093 |
| Cat.#: |
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R2 74093 |
| Genre: |
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Country & Western |
| Release type: |
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Best of |
| Comments: |
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For the record, this really isn't the "ultimate" collection of Buck Owens material. That would be the Buck Owens Collection, a three-disc retrospective released by Rhino back in 1992. This one might be titled The Reasonable Collection, the one that includes nothing but the essentials, and therefore the best bet for most library collections. But make no mistake, these are essentials: look past the camp factor, and songs like "My Heart Skips a Beat" and "Streets of Bakersfield" quickly revelal themselves as stone classics. One major problem with this program: where on earth is "Above and Beyond"? (Guess it wasn't a #1 hit.) Strongly recommended anyway. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Lady And Mr. Johnson |
| Label: |
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Rykodisc
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Artist:
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Rory Block |
| ISBN: |
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9786310430324 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310430327 |
| UPC: |
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00014431087226 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRYKO310872 |
| Cat.#: |
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RCD 10872 |
| Genre: |
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Blues |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Singer and guitarist Rory Block has been an acknowledged expert in Robert Johnson's celebrated bottleneck slide guitar style for some time; here she puts her expertise to use on a powerful program of Johnson classics like "Terraplane Blues," "Hellhound on my Trail" and, of course, "Cross Road Blues." Her decades of experience and study are in solid evidence here. Highly recommended. (RA) |
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| $13.99 |
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| Title: |
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Ron Hynes |
| Label: |
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Borealis (dist. Burnside)
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Artist:
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Ron Hynes |
| ISBN: |
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9786310295411 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310295411 |
| UPC: |
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00773958117525 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDBRLS175 |
| Cat.#: |
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BCD175 |
| Genre: |
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Folk Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Hynes is something of a legend in his home country, one that deserves more Stateside attention than he's received so far. This fine collection of new live and studio recordings offers a good introduction to his work, as it includes new recordings of several older favorites along with new material in a country-folk-rock vein. Very nice indeed. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Sweet Virginia |
| Label: |
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Arhoolie (dist. Koch)
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Artist:
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No Speed Limit |
| ISBN: |
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9786310250144 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310250140 |
| UPC: |
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00096297052129 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDARHO521 |
| Cat.#: |
|
CD 521 |
| Genre: |
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Bluegrass |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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This is a solid, if maybe just a bit workmanlike, collection of new and old bluegrass songs performed in a powerful, no-nonsense style. No Speed Limit's female lead vocalist is still something of an anomaly in the trad bluegrass scene, but otherwise the band delivers the goods in a way that traditionalists everywhere will welcome. Highlight tracks include a barnburning rendition of "Blue Ridge Mountain Home" and any song on which guitarist Josh Pickett takes a solo. (RA) |
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| $11.98 |
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| Title: |
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Classic Canadian Songs From Smithsonian Folkways |
| Label: |
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Smithsonian Folkways
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786310285801 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310285807 |
| UPC: |
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00093074053928 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRD 740539 |
| Cat.#: |
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SFW CD 40539 |
| Genre: |
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Folk Music |
| Release type: |
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Compilation |
| Comments: |
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The term "songs" should be interpreted loosely here: this fun collection includes everything from Scots-Canadian fiddle tunes and Quebecois call-and-response songs to moose calls and Native American ceremonial songs, most of them recorded in the 1950s and 1960s. Best song title: "When the Ice Worms Nest Again." (RA) |
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| JAZZ |
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| Title: |
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Blues from Mars |
| Label: |
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Rhombus
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Artist:
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Elliott Caine Quintet |
| ISBN: |
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9786310349398 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310349392 |
| UPC: |
|
00768707706129 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRHOM7061 |
| Cat.#: |
|
RHO 7061 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Trumpeter and composer Elliott Caine here presents an excellent program of straight-ahead jazz in both postbop and Latin styles, all played with an admirable combination of discipline and energy. Caine's playing is sharp and incisive, but his arrangements deserve careful attention as well. And yes, that's DJ Bonebrake (formerly of X) on vibes. Very, very nice. (RA) |
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| $19.98 |
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| Title: |
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The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings |
| Label: |
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Riverside
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Artist:
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Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane |
| ISBN: |
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9786310255767 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310255762 |
| UPC: |
|
00888072300279 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDRVSD230027 |
| Cat.#: |
|
RCD2-30027-2 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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Compilation (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
|
If your library already holds (as it most certainly should) the monumental Thelonious Monk: Complete Riverside Recordings box set, then you already own most of the material on this two-disc distillation, which focuses exclusively on the recordings Monk made with John Coltrane. Why the two previously unissued alternate takes of "Abide With Me" and "Crepuscule with Nellie" included here weren't in that original box set is something of an irritating mystery, but neither is significant enough to merit duplication of everything else on these discs. Still, if you don't have the box, this title should be considered an essential addition to your jazz collection. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Hot Club Of Detroit |
| Label: |
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Mack Avenue (dist. Ryko)
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Artist:
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Hot Club Of Detroit |
| ISBN: |
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9786310376516 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310376519 |
| UPC: |
|
00673203103023 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECD7320M31030 |
| Cat.#: |
|
MAC 1030 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
A sure sign of the ongoing health and vitality of the Gypsy jazz revival is its uptake by young American musicians who have no direct connection with the music's history, but who love it enough both to honor its traditions and expand them. Voila: the Hot Club of Detroit, which seamlessly blends clarinet and accordion into the usual guitars-guitars-and-bass equation, giving the music just a touch of New Orleans flavor. The playing is predictably expert, the tempos vigorous, the overall sound delightful. For all jazz collections. (RA) |
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| $18.98 |
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| Title: |
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Dear Mr. Sinatra |
| Label: |
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Telarc Jazz
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Artist:
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John Pizzarelli with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra |
| ISBN: |
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9786310383576 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310383574 |
| UPC: |
|
00089408363825 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTELA83638 |
| Cat.#: |
|
CD-83638 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
Joining forces with the excellent Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, singer and guitarist John Pizzarelli brings his warm, plainspoken voice to bear on a predictable but thoroughly enjoyable program of songs associated with the late Frank Sinatra. Pizzarelli is wise enough not to ape Sinatra's mannerisms, and also wise enough to give the orchestra plenty of blowing room. The result isn't exactly revelatory, but it's an engagingly warm tribute and a very fine listening experience. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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American Songbook |
| Label: |
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Kind Of Blue (dist. City Hall)
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Artist:
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Phil Woods Quintet |
| ISBN: |
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9786310291444 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310291440 |
| UPC: |
|
00076119100054 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDKDOP10005 |
| Cat.#: |
|
KOB 10005 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
Few jazz musicians have earned the right to interpret "the American songbook" quite as thoroughly as saxophonist and clarinetist Phil Woods, who has been on the scene for over fifty years. With a crack quartet of sidemen he tackles such familiar fare as "I Concentrate on You," "Foggy Day" (in a surprisingly uptempo arrangement), "Summertime" and "Let's Fall in Love," never betraying a moment's boredom with these oft-recorded songs. His enthusiasm makes them sound fresh and exciting again. Recommended to all jazz collections. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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To Nat |
| Label: |
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Arbors (dist. Allegro)
|
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Artist:
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Maurice Hines |
| ISBN: |
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9786310300436 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310300431 |
| UPC: |
|
00780941132328 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDAGROARB19323 |
| Cat.#: |
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ARCD 19323 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
More widely known as a dancer, actor, and choreographer, Maurice Hines shows off his vocal skills on this nice tribute to Nat "King" Cole. His voice is of average-to-good quality, but he makes the most of what he has with an effortlessly sense of phrasing and swing, and the large band that accompanies him brings an added punch to the proceedings. Not essential, but very nice. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records |
| Label: |
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Impulse!
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Artist:
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Various |
| ISBN: |
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9786310249926 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6310249924 |
| UPC: |
|
00602498562833 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B000668002 |
| Cat.#: |
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B000668002 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz Music |
| Release type: |
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Boxed Set (4-discs) |
| Comments: |
|
To truly get a sense of what jazz was like in the 1960s, it’s important to understand the role of the musicians who recorded for Impulse! Records. Headlined by saxophonist John Coltrane, Impulse! nurtured creativity and helped drive the development of “the new thing” in the mid 60’s. While best know for ‘Trane’s work and avant-garde jazz, in the early years of the decade the label also recorded works by Ellington, Ray Charles, Gil Evans, and Benny Carter. Especially noteworthy is the accompanying book by Ashley Kahn, The House that ‘Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records (Norton, $29.95, 978-0-393-058796), in which the esteemed jazz writer documents the label’s history with the same attention to detail and highly readable prose style that highlighted his early works on Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue and Coltrane’s A Love Supreme. Together, the box set and the book are indispensable for any jazz collection. (GH) |
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| |
| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Industrial Zen |
| Label: |
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Fontana
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Artist:
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John McLaughlin |
| ISBN: |
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9786310375779 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6310375776 |
| UPC: |
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00602498393284 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDFNTAB000706602 |
| Cat.#: |
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B0007066-02 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
Fans of McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra will appreciate this workout from the guitarmeister. Playing some of his finest electric chops in years, McLaughlin enriches his guitar work with some synth programming, presenting a set bursting with Mahavishnu-esque riff-trading over a furious rhythm section. Saxophonist Bill Evans ably plays the part of McLaughlin’s foil. McLaughlin further enriches this session with Shakti-influenced material, including a marvelous tribute to the Dalai Lama. This fun, highly energetic, and spiritually-infused outing is some of the most compelling fusion I’ve heard in some time. Aptly titled, this is Industrial Zen, indeed. (GH) |
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| ROCK/POP |
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 |
| |
| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Warning |
| Label: |
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Astralwerks
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Artist:
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Hot Chip |
| ISBN: |
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9786310198316 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6310198319 |
| UPC: |
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00094636281421 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDATWR62814 |
| Cat.#: |
|
ASW 62814 |
| Genre: |
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Rock |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
Having been somewhat underwhelmed by their 2004 debut, I confess that I approached Hot Chip's sophomore effort with some skepticism. I'm happy to say that this time out, the band's quirky, bloopy electro-rock is lots of good, off-kilter fun. If you've ever wondered what a cross between Kraftwerk, Gang of Four and Aphex Twin might sound like, then check this out. Chances are your patrons already have, and liked it. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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1000 Years Of Popular Music |
| Label: |
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Cooking Vinyl (dist. Koch)
|
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Artist:
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Richard Thompson |
| ISBN: |
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9786310057774 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6310057774 |
| UPC: |
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00711297320053 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCKVL320 |
| Cat.#: |
|
CKV-CD-4756 |
| Genre: |
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Pop |
| Release type: |
|
Boxed Set (3-discs) |
| Comments: |
|
Asked by Playboy Magazine in 1999 to list what he considered the 10 greatest songs of the millenium, Richard Thompson took them at their word and produced a list that stretched all the way back to 1068 and included madrigals, American folk tunes, music hall songs, and Britney Spears' "Oops, I Did It Again." Playboy declined to print his list (cowards), but he made the most of his research by touring with an acoustic trio and performing an expanded version of his list. This brilliant DVD-and-two-CD box documents one of his shows and includes detailed notes about the songs. Absolutely essential to all libraries, and should be hand-sold to music faculty. (RA) |
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|
 |
| |
| $19.98 |
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| |
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| Title: |
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Live at Fillmore West |
| Label: |
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Rhino
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Artist:
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Aretha Franklin |
| ISBN: |
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9786310303291 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6310303295 |
| UPC: |
|
00081227762926 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDRHIN77629 |
| Cat.#: |
|
R2 77629 |
| Genre: |
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Soul/Rhythm & Blues |
| Release type: |
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Reissue (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
|
Lady Soul’s 1971 Fillmore recording was a conscious effort to expand her fan base beyond soul and R&B, hoping to reach the ever-expanding rock audience. It captures Aretha at her spirited best, voice in full swing, fronting a solid band featuring King Curtis and Billy Preston. Aretha had already begun to cover pop hits with some success (“Eleanor Rigby” was a hit for her in 1969), but here she opts to cover some insipid material, such as Bread’s “Make It With You” while excluding her earlier hits like “Chain of Fools,” which would have brought down the house. Recommended, but only if you’ve already picked up some of her earlier Atlantic material like 1967’s I Never Loved a Man The Way I Love You, 1968’s Lady Soul, or the 1969 compilation Aretha’s Gold. (GH) |
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|
 |
| |
| $16.98 |
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| |
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| Title: |
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Versions |
| Label: |
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Eighteenth Street Lounge Music
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Artist:
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Thievery Corporation |
| ISBN: |
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9786310142616 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6310142615 |
| UPC: |
|
00795103009523 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDESLM95 |
| Cat.#: |
|
esl095 |
| Genre: |
|
Dance, DJ |
| Release type: |
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Compilation |
| Comments: |
|
Over the past decade, the DJ duo Thievery Corporation has become an institution in the underground dance world, regularly producing not only top-notch original material but also creating celebrated remixes for a wide variety of artists. This compilation brings together seventeen of those, along with a new original track. Artists featured include Ustad Sultan Khan, Nouvelle Vague, Herb Alpert, the Doors, and Astrud Gilberto (like a said, a wide variety), and the treatments are all blissfully spacious and dubby. A must for the hipper library collection. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Titanic Days (Deluxe Edition) |
| Label: |
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ZTT (dist. Navarre)
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Artist:
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Kirsty MacColl |
| ISBN: |
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9786310004181 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310004182 |
| UPC: |
|
05055041806123 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDZTTR197 |
| Cat.#: |
|
ZTT197CD |
| Genre: |
|
Rock, Alternative Music |
| Release type: |
|
Reissue (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
|
A scion of the mighty MacColl-Seeger folk music dynasty, Kirsty MacColl turned her back on traditional music early, and the pop world was greatly enriched by her decision. Despite its dark themes (it was recorded as her marriage was breaking up), 1993's Titanic Days was one of her most consistently appealing and melodically sophisticated albums; it's presented here in a wonderfully expanded two-disc version, digitally remastered and loaded with live versions, alternate mixes and previously unreleased tracks. Brilliant and essential. (RA) |
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 |
| |
| $14.98 |
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| |
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| Title: |
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Obliterati |
| Label: |
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Matador
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Artist:
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Mission Of Burma |
| ISBN: |
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9786310134338 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310134337 |
| UPC: |
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00744861068327 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDMATR10683 |
| Cat.#: |
|
OLE 683-2 |
| Genre: |
|
Rock, Alternative Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
Fresh from the critical success of their landmark comeback album OnOffOn, Boston's most legendariest art-punk quartet comes roaring back with The Obliterati, yet another album that makes it sound like they must have slept through the last 25 years of musical history. And good for them. The hooks are there, but they're buried as always under Roger Miller's steamshovel guitars. And on "2wice," there's a "la-la-la" refrain hidden in there as well. Also a bonus DVD documenting a recent concert. Dude! (RA) |
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 |
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| $18.98 |
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| |
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| Title: |
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White Bread Black Beer |
| Label: |
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Nonesuch/Rough Trade
|
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Artist:
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Scritti Politti |
| ISBN: |
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9786310370101 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6310370103 |
| UPC: |
|
00075597996623 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDNONE79966 |
| Cat.#: |
|
79966-2 |
| Genre: |
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Popular Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
There are so many irritating things about Gart Greenside -- not least of which is the fact that he knows he's irritating and almost certainly revels in it. Most irritating about his long-awaited new album is the fact that the songs are so good, and could obviously have been better if he hadn't recorded them all by himself in his bedroom but had instead brought in some good session players and used a real studio. That said, the songs are as disarmingly tuneful and startlingly political as always, and for a solo bedroom-studio recording the sound is really pretty great. "The Boom Boom Bap" is as close as he comes to the sound and flavor of his Cupid & Psyche '85 days. Expect (muted, ironic, dialectical) demand. (RA) |
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 |
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| $15.98 |
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| Title: |
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Chosen Lords |
| Label: |
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Rephlex (dist. Forced Exposure)
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Artist:
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AFX |
| ISBN: |
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9786310316208 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310316206 |
| UPC: |
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00666908017320 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDRPLX173 |
| Cat.#: |
|
CAT 173 CD |
| Genre: |
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Dance, DJ |
| Release type: |
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Compilation |
| Comments: |
|
Like many electronica acts, Richard D. James has recorded under a variety of aliases, most notably Aphex Twin, the name on two volumes of Selected Ambient Works which were issued in the early 90s and which are still considered high points in that genre. This set, on the other hand, is a compilation of some of the highlights from a recent sequence of vinyl-only singles/EPs James released under the series title Analord in 2005, and the music here is anything but ambient, leaning as it does towards the acid/techno end of the spectrum. Intense, a bit hyper, frighteningly accomplished, and highly recommended. (SA) |
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| WORLD/ETHNIC |
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 |
| |
| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Un Fuego de Sangre Pura: Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto from Colombia |
| Label: |
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Smithsonian Folkways
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Artist:
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Los Gaiteros De San Jacinto |
| ISBN: |
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9786310330747 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6310330748 |
| UPC: |
|
00093074053126 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRD 740531 |
| Cat.#: |
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SFW CD 40531 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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If the album title ("A Fire of Pure Blood") creeps you out just a little bit, then you're in the right mood to listen to this music, which has its roots in cumbia and is by turns rhythmically clunky, melodically eerie, and vocally unsettling. The worksong sounds more like a funeral lament; the flutes sound like an ancient church organ; and there's an instrument made out of a millet reed that sounds uncannily like a klezmer clarinet. Weird and fascinating stuff. (RA) |
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 |
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| $12.00 |
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| Title: |
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From Bakabush: The First Ten Years of Stonetree |
| Label: |
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Stonetree
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| UPC: |
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689076348027 |
| Cat.#: |
|
STR 027 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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Compilation |
| Comments: |
|
Stonetree Records is located in Belize, where producer Ivan Duran finds and records some of the most impressive talent in that often-overlooked country; the music is a wonderful blend of Latin and Caribbean influences, and this compilation provides an excellent overview of the label's output. Amazon carries some (but not all) Stonetree titles, and you can also order them directly from the label at its website, where you can browse through the label's small but high-quality catalogue as well. Any library with a collecting interest in Caribbean or Central American music should probably order everything Stonetree has on offer. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Rough Guide To West African Gold |
| Label: |
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Rough Guides/World Music Network
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786310376707 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310376705 |
| UPC: |
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00605633117325 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDWMN 331173 |
| Cat.#: |
|
RGNET1173CD |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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Compilation |
| Comments: |
|
This compilation presents a delightful assortment of recordings in a variety of styles from Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Mali and Sierra Leone. You'll hear everything from Calypsonian nationalistic songs to Afrobeat-derived pop, from highlife to Latin horns. The recordings were all made between the 1950s and early 1980s. Highly recommended. (RA) |
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| $14.98 |
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| Title: |
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Rough Guide To The Music Of Malaysia |
| Label: |
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Rough Guides/World Music Network
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786310376714 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6310376713 |
| UPC: |
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00605633117622 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDWMN 331176 |
| Cat.#: |
|
RGNET1176CD |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
|
Compilation |
| Comments: |
|
Ancient and modern sounds rub shoulders on this overview of the modern sounds of Malaysia, a country where influences from around Asia and the Middle East have been blending and simmering for centuries. You'll hear echoes of Bollywood alongside Arabic lutes and percussion, tango-esque accordions rubbing shoulders with ska backbeats and lush loverman vocals. Fun stuff. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Black Sounds Of Freedom |
| Label: |
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Greensleeves
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Artist:
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Black Uhuru |
| ISBN: |
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9786310330389 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310330381 |
| UPC: |
|
00601811002322 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDGNSVG110023 |
| Cat.#: |
|
GREWCD23 |
| Genre: |
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Reggae |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
|
Black Uhuru was one of the last harmony trios to make a significant splash in the international market. The group's brilliant 1978 debut album, Love Crisis, was remixed and reissued for the international market in 1981, and is here represented in both mixes along with three DJ versions previously unavailable on CD. This is the definitive edition of an album that should be in any library with a collecting interest in reggae music. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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I Can't Get You Off My Mind: 18 Greatest Hits at Studio One |
| Label: |
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Heartbeat
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Artist:
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John Holt |
| ISBN: |
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9786310294360 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6310294369 |
| UPC: |
|
00011661779426 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECD116 6177942 |
| Cat.#: |
|
11661-7794-2 |
| Genre: |
|
Reggae |
| Release type: |
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Best of |
| Comments: |
|
Reggae snobs who turn up the nose at John Holt for being too "commercial" and insufficiently concerned with roots and culture forget their reggae history. The roots of reggae are in the dancehall, not in Rastafarianism, and Holt (formerly of the Paragons) remains one of the most accomplished exponents of reggae's romantic and pop-oriented side. This fine collection brings together eighteen of his hit recordings for the Studio One label, and apart from an ill-considered cover of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord," it's consistently spectacular. (RA) |
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 |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Version Dread: 18 Dub Hits from Studio One |
| Label: |
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Heartbeat
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786310294513 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6310294512 |
| UPC: |
|
00011661771925 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECD116 6177192 |
| Cat.#: |
|
11661-7719-2 |
| Genre: |
|
Reggae |
| Release type: |
|
Compilation |
| Comments: |
|
What is now known as dub (the practice of drastically remixing the vocal version of a song, dropping instruments and voices in and out of the mix and enriching the sound with lots of echo and reverb) got its start when producers realized they could save lots of money by stripping the vocals off of a single and using its instrumental track as the B-side. "Version" was initially shorthand for "instrumental version," and this compilation traces the gradual development of that practice into the full-blown dub treatments that changed the face of reggae music in the early 1970s and greatly influenced the worlds of hip hop and dance music in subsequent decades. Any class that discusses modern remix culture would benefit greatly from this overview. (RA) |
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 |
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| $16.98 |
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| |
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|
| Title: |
|
Lost Album |
| Label: |
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Woodstock (dist. Ryko)
|
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Artist:
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Salif Keita |
| ISBN: |
|
9786310286082 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6310286080 |
| UPC: |
|
00717147006528 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDWSTK470065 |
| Cat.#: |
|
65 |
| Genre: |
|
World Music |
| Release type: |
|
Compilation |
| Comments: |
|
In 1980, when 'Afropop' and the modernization of African music had arrived, kora player Salif Keita and guitarist Kante Manfila made these recordings, which tend to the more traditional and acoustic end of the spectrum. Something of a grab bag, this album is a lesser work, but worthwhile for those building collections of African music. By all means get Keita's classic album Soro first, though. (SA) |
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© CD HotList 2004 |
