Best Of Johnny Dankworth, The - John Dankworth

Advantages: Great travelogue in music of the Old West
Disadvantages: None

...This is a fascinating album presenting Johnny Cash as a singer and a narrator. Each track is preceded by the haunting sound in the background of a steam locomotive and its whistle while Johnny tells a story of the song he is about to sing. Track 1 - Loading Coal (4mins.59secs.) The travelogue begins with a recital of place-names of America and continues with the thundering names of the indian tribes who lived here first. Then Johnny boards the train, stopping first at a small town in the mining country of Kentucky. He presents a brief character sketch of a boy whose father is a miner. "Loading Coal" tells the story of a miner who never expects to get rich but still follows the tradition of his family. Track 2 - Slow Rider(4.10) The train then moves westward onto the prairies where we meet the outlaw John Wesley Hardin, whose... Read review

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Advantages: Billy!
Disadvantages: I can't play the riff behind my head yet!

...In the first few seconds of this song voice and guitar come together, imitating each other and introducing perhaps the best, and certainly the most famous, guitar riff in history. Chuck Berry couldn't have found a better or more exciting way to pull you into his story of Johnny B. Goode, a poor country [black] boy with his guitar, singing the blues and dreaming of a better future for himself. That guitar riff (modernised by Brian Wilson in the Beach Boys Fun Fun Fun) is like a series of machine gun bullets, forcing the song, the singer and his guitar deep inside you from the first moment you hear it. Chuck Berry wasn't a fool: of course he could have sung "black" and not "country" but by choosing the latter he made Johnny B. Goode a character who represented not only black people in a segregated America but also the poor white gospellers who had... Read review

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Advantages: Good showcase for Christine Collister's talents
Disadvantages: none

...This album is a marvellous showcase for Christine Collister's unique molasses-rich voice. Not all the tracks are of the highest quality, but when she flies she flies high. Her own compositions, Waiting for My Prayer and the title track are beautifully executed. Other highlights include Sarah Mclachlan's Full of Grace, a stunning version of Motherless Child and an interesting take on Henry Mancini/Johnny Mercer's Moon River. At other times she sounds like Alison Moyet or Cher on Stars in thier Eyes, but there can be no doubting the musicianship on this album. Mention should also be made of John Surman's tenor sax and Martin Lister who is responsible for programming and keyboards. A pleasant album, An Equal Love is at its best when Collister is singing roots and jazz, but please stay off the Euro-pop.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful