Alphabetical Four 1938-1943 - Alphabetical Four

Advantages: A brilliant guide to opera for iniatiates and established fans alike
Disadvantages: Book may have too many pages for it's size (see it, you'll know what I mean) but dont let that put you off

...This is an extremely informative but sometimes self deprecating book by Keith Anderson. It is broken up into a number of parts, a twenty page introduction , followed by six hundred pages of short guides to individual operas listed alphabetically, followed by thirt pages of composers biographies, a glossary of opera terms, a list of illustrations, an index op operas by composer and finally a page about the author Keith Anderson. It is the same size as a CD , but obviously very thick, so should fit on the shelf with your other CDs. The book is very easy to read and navigate and well laid out and is as good an introduction to Opera as you'll get. It lists further reading for those who wish to take their investigations further. My only worry is that if it gets heavy use the binding may not be heavy duty enough to keep it together. ~ The Music The Cds... Read review

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Advantages: Some songs will even disgust your kids! The Complete Tom Lehrer, Uncensored!
Disadvantages: Many references are Implicit rather than Explicit; you have to think 'beyond the box'!

..., merely changing the lyrics) and delivered them seriously, with impeccable timing ~ even when you know (or think you know) what is coming ~ you listen on to hear what dreadfulness will come next . . . Even the songs you know are dreadful you find yourself singing at odd moments ~ the tunes are so catchy ~ and the irony and irreverence are so compelling. No wonder The Electric Company (an educational American children's television series) commissioned Tom Lehrer to write and sing songs to teach children facts about the alphabet/grammar to improve their reading skills! [Yes, even those songs which were never broadcast on air, or previously issued, have been included in this boxed set as the 'definitive' example of the songs for which Tom Lehrer wished to be remembered.] It is difficult to remember NOW a time when I had never heard of Tom... Read review

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Advantages: Poptastic Trevor Horn production.
Disadvantages: Not a good Valentine's Day present.

...I had a bit of time to fill last night, so I had a look through my CD collection for something to play. It's arranged alphabetically of course, me being a bit anal, so I didn't have to look very far before inspiration struck. ABC - The Lexicon of Love - and it's Valentine's Day tomorrow - perfect! Ah, but it was too late to get it added... oh, hang on though - it's there already, and no-one's written about it, so duty calls... The Band - ABC ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ABC hailed from Sheffield and could be summed up as New Romantic pop Roxy Music wannabees. Pure pop - tinny drum machine and synths, yes, but with saxophones and horns rounding out the sound nicely. Original members Mark White (guitar) and Stephen Singleton (saxophone) called themselves Vice Versa, but then Martin Fry (vocals) arrived and took control of the band's image... Read review

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