Best Of Decca Recordings, The - Kingston Trio (The)

Advantages: The music, the lyrics, the make-up, the costumes
Disadvantages: None whatsoever.

.... He discovers that Ko-Ko has beheaded his son and decides that Ko-Ko should be punished in a manner fitting to the crime. Ko-Ko has to produce Nanki-Poo alive and well to save his own life. He first has to marry Katisha. Nanki-Poo then returns to life and presents himself and his new bride to his father, the Mikado. A happy ending all round. Confused? I am and I wrote it. You have to watch it to understand it but aren’t the names fabulous. DVD There are a number of DVDs available. The earliest version was originally recorded in 1938 and released on DVD in 2000. It retails at about £12. Released by Image Entertainment in 1998. Cost approximately £12. Released in 2002. Performed by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company and directed by Stuart Burge. Cost approximately £18.99. CDs There are several CDs available. Among the best... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: The pivotal opera in the G&S catalogue
Disadvantages: Rather lightweight compared with what was to follow

...professional stagings since the 1970s. I have never seen “The Sorcerer” live. I did note advertisements for an amateur season a couple of years ago in York. OTHER RESOURCES The Sorcerer was recorded for the Decca / London series at a time when it was not in the D’Oyly Carte Company’s repertoire. This was a specially staged studio recording made in 1966. Although recorded forty years ago, it comes from the hey-day of D’Oyly Carte as an institution. John Reed is the fifth in a line going directly back to George Grossmith of comic baritones. He has followed the tradition with the Company by playing all the leading comedian roles over three decades (1951 to 1979). His diction in even the fastest of the patter songs defied belief for its clarity. The other soloists are all competent in their roles. The orchestral sound is crisp, clear... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: It's got the original; it's a bit of group history
Disadvantages: Whose biggest hits?

...of their greatest hits". Perhaps because of the notoriety which the affair generated, perhaps because of the persistence of this one tune, DECCA records reissued "The Rolling Stones Songbook" in CD format in 2004. It should come as no surprise why I bought this album. I already owned The Verve CD and I was intensely curious to hear the original and to see what all the fuss was about. This is your opportunity to 'sample' it too. THE MAN Andrew Loog Oldham was born in 1944 and raised in London. He left school at the age of 16 with every intention of going into show business. His early experience was with Brian Epstein and The Beatles. In April 1963 he was introduced to the Rolling Stones and became their manager until the end of 1967. He was flamboyant in style and was instrumental in promoting their aggressive appearance and sound. Although he... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful