From the perspective of 15 subsequent platinum albums and 20 top-10 hits, it's hard to imagine that Chicago began their career as a bona fide prog-fusion act, an early FM radio favorite whose jazz-tinged, album-length suites found them a hip cult following even as they confounded label execs. Ironically, when the pioneering horn band (a contemporary of Blood, Sweat & Tears and inspiration for one-hit wonders like Lighthouse, Ides of March, and Ten Wheel Drive) relented and allowed their music to be edited down to single length, their success was explosive. Most of the "single edits" on disc 1 of this 39-track anthology provide ample evidence of that de facto formula: a catchy riff ("25 or 6 to 4," "Saturday in the Park," "Color My World") develops into a hook-filled, pop-savvy production rife with the band's trademark horn perfection. One could argue that that sensibility--and a midcareer tilt toward producer David Foster, songwriter Diane Warren, and the MOR ballads that became some of their biggest successes--degenerated into formula. Indeed, there's much on the second disc to support that notion. This set spans it all, showcasing newly refocused edits of some their biggest early hits and lesser-known tracks like their lively '95 cross-cultural collaboration with the Gipsy Kings on a cover of Louis Prima's swing classic "Sing, Sing, Sing." --Jerry McCulley

John Lennon was brilliant. With Paul McCartney he was genius. What we see on this album is the genius that John was able to achieve without Paul (which makes some of us wish they had remained friends and co-writers).
Documenting the very best John Lennon solo songs from 1969 to 1980, this collection is nothing less than a must-have for any serious music or rock fan. Why? Because John had the knack for writing it all. Hard rock, soft rock, romantic rock, a touch of experimental, psychedelic rock...but he didn't call it any of those. It was just simply his music. John never liked to be labeled or classified in his life, and I think he would be happy that he is thought of as a great artist and musician and human, and not just a particular type.

The lineup for this album is incredible - the sax section alone is mind-numbing, featuring Marienthal, Rangell, Watts, Mintzer and Scott. Similarly, the brass has Sandoval, Brecker and Finley... how can such a combination fail to provide great music?
Unlike the previous two GRP All-Star albums, this album is entirely thematic, devoted to tunes in the Blues genre. Fortunately, the compositions are so varied it is not musically limited by this - indeed, it is enriched, as one's ear is drawn towards the many different ways the blues style can be morphed.
I'd still recommend this album without hesitation though to anyone who enjoys a modern big-band sound with incredible solo's punctuating the ensemble work.

Inspired by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, this German guitarist essentially taught himself to play from records, later adding Leo Kottke, J.S. Bach, and Keith Jarrett to his list of influences. Honing his chops in local dance bands, Illenberger graduated to concert dates and eventually released seven albums in Europe before signing with Narada Records in the U.S. His style is an intelligent mix of pop and jazz, making him one of the better adult-alternative instrumentalists on the market.

This was the first Manhattan Transfer album I owned, and it's still my favourite. I love this album. Each song is stupendous. The talent of these four singers is incredible and this one of those albums that shows it off. This is an album that you can have on in the car and sing along with, or while you're working; or that you can sit down when the house is quiet and sit in that perfect chair and focus all your attentions on, that you can close your eyes and listen to harmony of each chord and be amazed over and over again.

The success of her first international hit, Watermark, confirmed Enya as less a singer or songwriter than a sonic architect: working with producer Nicky Ryan and his wife, lyricist Roma Ryan, the classically-trained pianist built vaulting cathedrals of sound, framed by luminous piano, shimmering synthesizer orchestrations, and, above all, the seemingly infinite layers of vocal harmonies she plied on every song. The deeply romantic Celtic pop on its 1991 successor, Shepherd Moons, sustains the same spectrum of hushed reverie and surging, rhapsodic releases, as well as its mix of ballads, floating midtempo pieces, and forays into Celtic and Latin--and it's every bit as seductive. The terminally hip will sneer, but it's no accident that "Caribbean Blue," the best known song here, managed to sneak onto modern rock, top 40, "adult alternative" and public radio playlists. --Sam Sutherland

Composer Sheldon Mirowitz has scored more than fifty film and TV projects. He has been nominated three times for an Emmy Award for best music, most recently for the score to the A&E movie "The Nazi Officer's Wife". His credits include the score to the Oscar-nominated "Troublesome Creek", winner of both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at Sundance (soundtrack available on Daring/Rounder Records), and the score for the Peabody Award winning mini-series "Odyssey of Life" (soundtrack available on Windham Hill/BMG). He has written theme music for networks ranging from MTV to The History Channel, and has scored hundreds of radio and television commercials, including award winning work for such clients as Converse, Kodak, UPS, Reebok and AT&T.
This is the TV Series Soundtrack. 1992 limited edition release. Enjoy it!

Well-established as a popular holiday recording, NARADA CHRISTMAS COLLECTION presents listeners with a refreshing perspective on seasonal music and a broad range of distinctive contemporary instrumental music.
NARADA CHRISTMAS COLLECTION features performances of original compositions as well as interpretations of traditional selections - exemplary of the diversity and imaginativeness of Narada's artist roster. The album liner notes include artists' comments and reflections on their contributions to the album.
There are no words to describe this CD. I have many, many holiday cd's (I collect them) and I always start off the season and end it w/ this one. The melodies are so tender and sweet and at the same time they are also vaguely reminiscent of days gone by, a gentler era and time. You can almost feel the stress melting away as you slip into holiday relaxation mode.

A dynamic encore to one of the best-selling Narada titles ever, NARADA CHRISTMAS COLLECTION, Volume 2 contains original arrangements of 15 traditional holiday favorites from six countries. The album creatively blends eloquent solo compositions with full orchestrations, jazz impressions with ethnic folk carols, and classical arrangements with contemporary pop. It is 72 minutes of the best music of the season, featuring David Lanz and Paul Speer, David Arkenstone, Michael Gettel, Kostia, Ralf Illenberger, Nando Lauria and others. A beautiful CD book contains exquisite art, prose, and poetry.

Mariam blends synthesizer and various acoustic instruments into a natural harmonic sound. Picturesque, colorful and above all soulful, Mesa Sunrise offers soothing, reflective music that debuts this German-born artist's reemergence into the musical world. The music whispers with the influence that New Mexico has had on Mariam's style. Yet, other pieces, such as "Moonlight Chant," with its tribal rhythms, reflect a worldliness that Mariam is equally capable of expressing. "In Flight" is an ethereal, delicate piece motivated by a regular cadence of birds in flight against the musical texture of rarefied air. ~ MusD, All Music Guide

This Jazz Masters collection is a great introduction to wonderful jazz. It covers a wide range of jazz, giving the listener a sound understanding of jazz. With great music, no one can go wrong with this great jazz collection. Whether you are new to jazz, or already listen to jazz and just want to expand your collection, Jazz Masters will not disappoint you. I highly recomend this great jazz collection to anyone.
If you are new to jazz or an old time jazz lover this mix will definitely make you happy for hours and hours. It's beautiful.
Highly Recomended for Jazz Lovers.

This Jazz Masters collection is a great introduction to wonderful jazz. It covers a wide range of jazz, giving the listener a sound understanding of jazz. With great music, no one can go wrong with this great jazz collection. Whether you are new to jazz, or already listen to jazz and just want to expand your collection, Jazz Masters will not disappoint you. I highly recomend this great jazz collection to anyone.
If you are new to jazz or an old time jazz lover this mix will definitely make you happy for hours and hours. It's beautiful.

Classics in Jazz is a budget-priced, ten-track collection of fusion interpretations -- by the likes of Hubert Laws, George Benson, Paul Desmond, Jackie & Roy, Jim Hall and Deodato -- of classical pieces by Satie, Debussy, Bach, Purcell and Deodato. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide.