L har The Land of Smiles The Merry Widow The Count of Luxembourg Highlights

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Arguably “The Best” English “Merry Widow “
This is the “Merry Widow” with English translation by Christopher Hassel sung by June Bronhill. I loved this rendition ever since I first heard it in about 1960. What’s to love? First the translation is the best I’ve heard. The language doesn’t sound “stilted” as some others. And, you can understand almost every word sung. Plus, the famous song, “Vilja” has some wording that moves me every time I hear it: The soprano sings, “Love me and I’ll DIE for you!” with the word “die” somewhat emphasized. I don’t know, there’s just something “powerful” about someone saying they’d “die” for love! AND, at the end of “Vilja” the chorus and soprano raise to a crescendo hitting a high note together. In many renditions the chorus is heard but not the soprano on the final high note. In THIS version, the soprano, June Bronhill, can be heard rising to the final high note with an incressing crescendo and fortissimo louder than the chorus and holding the final high note—which gives a very thrilling effect as she holds that final note, I assure you!

The “problem” is that this June Bronhill, Reid, and Hassel version is hard to find on CD. For example, this CD is made in Holland and “there is one left” so it says on Amazon. But, if you can find it, I think it would be very much worth a listen. Then, after hearing it, if you think there’s a “better” Merry Widow, please let ME know! Thanks. Email:boland7214@aol.

3 Stars Food for the Soul if You Love Lehar
I had fallen in love with the music of Lehar many years ago courtesy of an LP record from Reader’s Digest. After getting rid of most of my LP’s I went for several years just remembering his beautiful music. I decided to check Amazon for some of his music and found this CD.

I am happy to report that it provides a reasonably satisfying source of some of his beautiful melodies. The recordings were made in 1958, 1959, and 1969; their sound is acceptable but not up to contemporary standards. In spite of this they provide access to some musical beauty that warms the heart of any lover of Lehar’s music.

If one were to compare Lehar with Strauss, Lehar would likely come in a close second; Lehar, however generated some of the most beautiful musical melodies ever written.

This is not a definitive collection, but it is a worthwhile addition to the library of anyone who appreciates Lehar. In fact it served as a catalyst for me to start buying some of Lehar’s music on DVD.

I’m glad I have it in my collection.

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Un Break My Heart

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Soul-stirring R&B!
Toni pours her “heart” out into this song! {No pun intended.} This song really shows Toni’s range as a vocalist. From her husky, whispery soft lows to her belting highs, the woman can SING! Even the Spanish version of the song sounds sexy as hell, and I do not know a drop of espanol!

5 Stars This is the one to buy!
Not only does this CD include the original ballad version, it also includes the smash dance version and the instrumental ballad version!

This is great! A perfect single because it doesn’t include remixes that are repetitive and boring.

I love this CD single!

5 Stars I WANT MORE
Why didn’t she release more albums. Her voice is up there with the divas of her time(Whittney and Mariah). Janet Jackson wishes she had this voice. Janet sings songs fit for Toni’s voice. She is still great.

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Wedding in Paris Can Can ORIGINAL LONDON CAST

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Wedding in Paris a Delightful British Musical
I had never even heard of Wedding in Paris before I received it as a gift a few montns ago. While the orchestrations have that brassy Broadway sound of the fifties and are not quite distinquished, the score by Hans May and Sonny Miller is original with songs that are very pleasing to the ears indeed. Yet, my favorite numbers are those charmingly “spoken” by Anton Walbrook: “Always Young”, and “Strike Another Match”. However, the rest of the cast sound great in songs that leave you humming after only one playing. Susan Swinford, Jeff Warren, and Evelyn Laye are excellent singers and more than serve this little known musical. Well, at least little known in the states.

Perhaps that’s the beauty of the Sepia record company; they present so many rare recordings that deserve to have a second life on CD. Add to that great graphics and the unbelieveable sound that they digitalize from the original 78s. The musical opened in 1954 at the London Hippodrome and stayed for a healthy run of 411 performances.

Along with Wedding in Paris is another charming cast album, Cole Porter’s Can-Can. This show has never been one of my favorite Cole Porter scores (due in a large part to the horrible screen version) so I was surprised how much better it sounded than I remembered. I love the Overture with its grand Can-Can section as well as some of the quieter moments such as George Gee and Alfred Marks singing “Come Along with Me”, Irene Hilda’s “Live and Let Live” and “I Love Paris”. In fact Irene Hilda sounds every bit as good (if not better) than the star of the Broadway cast album. Edmond Hockridge is good too in his numbers and what a looker he was! In fact, the singer provides his own memories to the liner notes. Sepia has been kind enough to include Hockridge’s version of “My Boy Bill” from Carousel in which he played Billy Bigelow. Can-Can opened at the Coliseum in 1954 and played for 394 performances.

5 Stars another great package from Sepia
This great-value disc from Sepia comprises the 1954 original London cast of CAN-CAN, with the little-known gem WEDDING IN PARIS.

CAN-CAN opened at the Coliseum in October of 1954 and ran for a solid 394 performances. Irene Hilda took over the role of La Mome Pistache from Lilo, and she was joined by talented Edmund Hockridge with up-and-comer Gillian Lynne as Claudine.

Irene Hilda wisely does not try to emulate the singular voice of Lilo, nevertheless she makes the songs her own. Her dynamite and delicious rendering of “Live and Let Live” may very well be her crowning glory. She also beautifully carries “Alle-vous En” and turns “I Love Paris” into a smokey torch ballad. Edmund Hockridge is at his best with “It’s Alright with Me” and Gillian Lynne is delightful with “If You Loved Me Truly”. Lynne would later become one of the theatre’s foremost choreographers.

WEDDING IN PARIS opened at the Hippodrome in April of 1954 and ran for 411 performances, amazing considering the actual show has slipped into relative obscurity. The score by Hans May and Sonny Miller is lively and lovely, with Susan Swinford and Evelyn Laye in great roles. Standout numbers include “In the Pink”, “It Only Took a Moment” (not to be confused with the ballad from HELLO DOLLY), “A Man is a Man” and “Strike Another Match”. Anton Walbrook co-stars in a rare musical role with Jeff Warren. Both were fresh from the London run of CALL ME MADAM (that recording can be found on Sepia’s “Irving Berlin in London”).

The disc concludes with 5 additional selections sung by Edmund Hockridge. Another stellar release from Sepia!

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Logic Will Break Your Heart

With pretty synth lines; chiming, chugging guitar riffs; the right influences for a rock band, circa 2003 (the Smiths, Echo and the Bunnymen, the Cure , New Order, Radiohead, U2, Chameleons) and another sexy singer with a melodramatic, soaring tenor, this well-hyped Montreal band could very easily be another lame Interpol cover band. But the Stills are far more than the sum of their influences; they’ve actually recorded one of the best debuts of 2003. The first clue that this band is for real lies in their songcraft–hear the soaring “Lola Stars and Stripes” once and you want to hear it again. Hear it again, and it’s stuck in your head all day. Check out the words (”We all need to feel secure, we’re so middle class/ But I’m still waiting for next week’s chemical blast”) and you realize Logic deals with topical issues, such as the aftermath of 9/11, in a way that’s neither cheesy nor histrionic. It’s definitely ironic in parts–they’ve stolen the title for their moody “Let’s Roll” from Neil Young’s ill-fated tune of the same name, for instance. But this is still soaring, meaningful pop music. –Mike McGonigal

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Indie popsters find niche in familiar post punk guitar pop
The Stills are a Montreal indie rock band who write expertly woven melodies crafted in the familiar niche of swirly-80s-post-punksters like Echo & The Bunnymen or The Church, but add a unique neo-vibe which finds them comfortable next to say, Interpol or Bloc Party. This is their best release by far, every song heart-wrenchingly wrought forward with layered guitars and superb lyrics. If you like a comfortable mix of brit pop influence, a dash of romanticism and depression, finely crafted into guitar heavy pulsating riffs, then this is for you! Fans of The Walkmen rejoice–this is the better purchase of the two~this LP is packed full of college radio singles, including “Gender Bombs” and “Changes Are No Good.”

5 Stars Awesome Album
This is the Stills best album by far, in my opinion. The rest of their library is still great, but this album just has that mystique that the others don’t quite reach.

5 Stars and if the first song doesn’t get you …
I’ll have to nominate “Lola Stars and Stripes” as one of the best first song. The great tearing riff over delay pedal cuts you into submission for the sweet songs later in the album. Amazing tones, wide soaring tracks and simple melodies. Great Canadian album from both Montreal … both The Stills and Vice Recordings …

3 Stars Consistent imitation
LWBYH sounds like Radiohead if they continued being the poppy, ever-so-slightly-and-depressively-edgy alternative after Pablo Honey. Throw in one part Doves, half a pint of Travis, and a dash of old U2 and we have an album that still does not end up sounding as stale as it sounds. Then again, nothing sounds terribly memorable either. A disc that gets by on a consistent number of halfway-decent songs, but fades away after play is done.

5 Stars and im not even a huge indie rock fan
i look down upon people who say “i like indie rock” but dont know the stills. and i hate the ones who list the killers and the strokes as their favorite “indie” band.

this album is the best of its genre. Simple but catchy rhythms, beautiful chords and layering, and smooth vocals. It has a upbeat yet melancholy, dreamy sound. Kind of an arty sound and aesthetic to it. lots of personality.

i hear the new one is mediocre but i love this album, most people who have heard it do.

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Heart Break

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Wish They Were Still Together
This is one of their best albums and I’m thrilled to have it in my CD collection.

5 Stars Great CD
Before there was ‘Boyz to Men’, there was this group, ‘New Edition’!

Today, it’s hard to find many authentic R&B male groups that sing about other things besides sex, money, and women. What a thrill to re-live the past with some of my favorite songs that deal with true-to-life things like: dealing with fame, looking for right girl,…while doing some serious grooving!

Great CD at a great price

5 Stars Don’t sleep on
I’m Comin’ Home! The more I listen to this song the more I rewind it to listen again. It has smooth harmonies and the music fits perfectly with the voices. A NICE song!

5 Stars New Edition Needs Hollywood Star.
This is one of their best Albums..I love this group..all of them are so talented. Their beyond a 5 Star rate. Get IT!!

5 Stars Top 10 Album of the 80’s
If you are looking for an R&B album that is better than this, you better bring your lunch. You’ll be here for quite a while.

Combining the talents of Platinum-selling artists Johnny Gill (first-album with the group), Ralph Tresvant (Lead vocalist), and Bell-Biv Devoe, plus production from super-producers Jam & Lewis (Force MD’s, Janet Jackson, among many others), and you get not just great songs, but album synergy.

The interludes and bits are funny and harmonious. And even the lesser-publicized singles (I’m Comin’ Home) shame other artists offerings, and will stay with you for years to come.

Underrated, but unforgettable. Enjoy!

WARNING: Only for those that know good music and appreciate great talent and collaboration.

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