Sings The Rogers And Hart Songbook - Tony Bennett

A BITTERSWEET SONGBOOK

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

The opening song "Bittersweet Symphony" from the album "Urban Hymns" by The Verve was one of the most haunting sounds of 1997. It dominated the charts and airwaves that year and has continued to be used as background music in television programmes and advertisements, including those for Nike and Vauxhall. It is one of those tunes that you will surely have heard even if you cannot place its origin. The song became a bittersweet experience for its author Richard Ashcroft. The refrain he used was taken from, at that time, a little known arrangement of a Rolling Stones song (NOT the original) which had appeared on an album long since deleted from the catalogue. When it was first released in June 1966, "The Songbook" was the fourth in a series of albums recorded by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra. It was subtitled "Instrumental versions ...

Newfloridian 26.07.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Rolling Stones Songbook, The (Instrumental Versions Of The Rolling Stones' Big Hits) - Andrew Oldham Orchestra (The)

Eighty Not Out

Advantages: Classic songs given a new slant
Disadvantages: One or two weak tracks

. Rightly so, in this instance, since the song is undisputedly his theme tune, and here he gives it the simplest, but nonetheless effective of treatments. The piano accompaniment is minimal, and in places, Bennett could almost be singing a capella, proving that he doesn't need a big backing orchestra to do justice to the song with which he will always be linked. The biggest surprise of all for me was George Michael's performance in How Do You Keep The Music Playing, surely not the easiest of songs to sing. Michael's voice takes on a depth which isn't, perhaps, heard in much of his contemporary work, and he proves more than capable of holding onto a note, complementing Bennett's style perfectly during Michel LeGrand's haunting melody. Until now, I've barely mentioned the performance of Tony Bennett himself, saving, as it were, the best ...

silverstreak 19.11.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Duets (An American Classic) - Tony Bennett

Toni & Guy

Advantages: Top Service, Professional
Disadvantages: None

Toni & Guy I have visited a few of Toni & Guy salons, so I now feel that I can write this review. In 1963 Toni & Guy first salon opened in Clapham London. From there on in, there was no stopping them, nearly every big town has one. If I am correct they also have or are expanding abroad. If you have visited 1 or more Toni & Guy salon?s you will notice that they are all the same, from the chairs to the sinks, the walls to the floor. Each salon is identical, being the inside. They have a uniform of Black and White. Black bottoms with a White top, they do have their own logo t-shirts in which some staff do wear. The salons I have visited ? Chichester in West Sussex, owned by a man called Jeff. Basildon in Essex, owned by a man called Billy. This opened in August 1999. Billy is sponsoring Miss Essex at the moment ...

Jordon 01.09.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Toni and Guy