Great Labels Of The Doo Wop Era: Rainbow Records - Various Artists

Advantages: James Brown before he went global
Disadvantages: Very dated, none of his big hits

...starts the opening vocal parts, the crown cheer and whoop. In fact, not just through this late 50s weepie, but through the whole album the crowd go wild at everything Brown and the Famous Flames do. And that only heightens the reality and electricity of atmosphere to this recording as a whole. 4. Think Another great early tune. You can tell this is authentic live stuff because occasionaly a word or two becomes inaudible as Brown - presumably - steps away from the mic to perform a little dance. This is soulful, frenetic stuff in all under two minutes. 5. I Dont Mind Going back to the slow pace of Try Me this track is unique on this album because the crowd actually sit back and listen to the soulful outpouring of Brown and his more than able backing singers. Some nice bluesy guitar penetrates the track halfway through as the doo-wop... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Most of Billy Joel's best-known songs are here in one user-friendly package, likely to appeal to casual fans
Disadvantages: Now that a more complete retrospective is available, the fact it only covers up to 1985 counts against it slightly

...matreial. Pop, soul, jazz, gospel, rock, doo-wop, new wave.....Joel has been almost chameleon-like in his absorption and integration of every mainstream genre of the last 50 years. The early releases were characterised by lyrical vignettes of city life, and in particular the type of characters who've fallen on harder, troubled times. Piano Man itself, which kicks off CD1, best displays this empathetic side to Joel's writing which has become something of a trademark. Comparisons with Elton John were inevitable - it was the era of John's rise to superstardom in both Britain and America - yet Billy Joel wrote the words as well as the music on his records - would it be heresy to claim that they were superior to anything from the Elton/Bernie Taupin team? On the whole, it's not an unreasonable argument. The mid-70s consolidated his early promise... Read review

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Advantages: Great acoustic music
Disadvantages: some tracks are not how you know them

...I don't often listen to Radio 1, but this one time I did, they were playing only tracks recorded in the live lounge - And I Loved It. the songs were not remastered and you could hear the lyrics and music without all the extras that make some people buy their tracks. The copies by artists of other artists songs are of superb quality, and some really make it their own. When I listen to them I just love the fact that they are live recordings with no additionals. Its great that artists are comfortable with singing live, acoustic, and other peoples songs. By listening to the tracks you can tell which artists can sing and which artists definately need to remaster their tracks to sell their singles/albums. Or which need to lip synch for their live gigs. I'll let you make up your own mind who you think these artists are out of artists like... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful