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JaneA
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- Review count33
- Helpfulness votes26
- First reviewJune 5, 2009
- Last reviewJuly 25, 2009
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.4
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![Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/3674/3674811_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Great Artist, Great Music
on July 12, 2009
Posted by: JaneA
from New York, NY
I own this and the 2-CD Greatest Hits Volume 2. But this is the one that gets the most play. There isn't a song on this album that isn't timeless yet, at the same time, it is THE soundtrack of the 60s.
A must-have album.
What's great about it: Bob Dylan
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Storyteller: The Complete Anthology, 1964-1990 [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/0418/0418747_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Impressive Collection
on July 11, 2009
Posted by: JaneA
from New York, NY
The sad thing about Rod Stewart's career is that the more famous he became, the less significant he became musically. For me, the peak of his career was his second solo album, Every Picture Tells a Story (Maggie May, Mandolin Wind,) Starting with the release of Do Ya Think I'm Sexy, his "must have'" songs are few and far between.
With this boxed set you'd almost never need to buy another Rod Stewart R&B or rock album (Cry Me a River is missing as is Maybe I'm Amazed by the Faces.)
His early work is usually only available on cheaply assembled, badly reproduced albums (my guess is that no one bothered with the copyrights and any fly-by-night "producer" could throw together an album.) The reproduction here is good. Particular favorites from this period are Can I Get a Witness and Little Misunderstood.
Almost every song on Every Picture is a classic which is why almost every song from that album are included.
From his later career, Downtown Train, You're In My Heart are here.
If you download songs, it might be cheaper to pick and choose only songs you like. But if like having the actual album, as I do, this collection is an efficient way to get all of Rod Stewart's best.
What's great about it: Every Rod Stewart song I want to hear
What's not so great: And some I don't
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![A Bit of Fry & Laurie: The Complete Collection... Every Bit [4 Discs] [DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1559/15590852_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Witty British Sketch Comedy
on July 10, 2009
Posted by: JaneA
from New York, NY
Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry have been best friends and comedy partners since they were at Cambridge together. They wrote this series (Hugh wrote the songes) and they did almost all the acting. If you like British sketch comedy (Monty Python, etc.) you should enjoy ABOFAL.
These were made between 1987 (the pilot) and 1995 (season 4). With very few exceptions S1-3 were entirely acted by Fry and Laurie. S4 had a guest each episode (most of whom won't be familiar to American audiences.) Much of the humor is based on their love of language and skewering pomposity but there's plenty of broad humor as well (e.g. considering that Stephen Fry is 6'4" and Hugh Laurie is 6'2 1/2", they make lovely women.)
DVD Extras: As that both men are alive and active, the lack of any new material such as an interview or two is disappointing. There are only two extras. Disk 1 includes the pilot and Disk 2 has The Cellar Tapes.
The Cambridge Footlights Club is a world-famous student comedy club. Their last year there, Hugh Laurie was the president of the club and Emma Thompson was the vice president. Together with Stephen Fry, Tony Slattery, Paul Shearer and Penny O'Dwyer their Spring Review was the award-winning (Edinburgh Comedy Festival) Cellar Tapes. It was filmed the following year. It's a great chance to see these performers at the absolute beginning of their careers (and marvel at how good they were at 20.)
Despite the title, this collection does NOT contain "every bit." Fry & Laurie's take on 'Hey Jude" was on the British release of Season 3 but is missing from the American release (probably due to licensing problems.) But it's regularly up on youtube so you can see the missing bit.
What's great about it: Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie
What's not so great: "Hey Jude" is missing
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Hot Rocks: 1964-1971 [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/4737/4737958_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Great Band, Great Songs
on July 9, 2009
Posted by: JaneA
from New York, NY
I recently had a free music download from a site and I picked Hot Rocks. I told some friends that it was a "nice, safe choice" which made a couple of them laugh at how the Stones would react to being called "safe."
But it *is* a safe choice because every song is a classic. Every one was an important sound for me during my adolescence and 20s. And, while many so-called classics lose their impact or significance over time, none of these have. Almost every one, were it released for the first time today, could easily make it to the top of the charts all over again.
They did a pretty good job on the remastering as well.
What's great about it: All my favorite Stones songs in one place
What's not so great: nothing
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Little Night Music [Original Broadway Cast Recording] [Bonus Tracks] [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/3531/3531182_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Isn't It Bliss?
on July 7, 2009
Posted by: JaneA
from New York, NY
Take Ingmar Bergman's 'Smiles of a Summer Night," add Glynis Johns, Len Cariou and Hermoine Gingold, flavor with 15 waltzes by Stephen Sondheim and you have a wonderful musical.
Send in the Clowns has been sung "better" but Sondheim tailored it to Glynis John's voice and it was never sung to better effect. You Must Meet My Wife is one of the funniest songs ever.
I know my memories of seeing the show bring an added dimension when listening to the music. I don't know how well it will translate for people who haven't seen it. But any fans of Sondheim or musical theater will definitely enjoy this.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Buffalo Springfield [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5270/527031_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
Great musicians, just before their peak
on July 6, 2009
Posted by: JaneA
from New York, NY
Buffalo Springfield consisted of Stephen Stills, Neil Young (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), Richie Furay (Poco), Jim Messina (Loggins & Messina), Dewey Martin and Jim Palmer. CSNY as a better band so I gues it's a good thing that Buffalo Springfield broke up. But they made some great music while they lasted.
They're best known for 'For What It's Worth'. It was the first song I was aware of that didn't include the lyrics in the title (It's time we stopped, hey what's that sound, everybody look what's going down.) That one will probably get airplay forever (deservedly) but there are so many good songs on this CD.
I was going to write that my other two favorites were 'Everybody's Wrong' and 'Do I Have to Come Right Out and Say It; but then 'Go and Say Goodbye; started playing on my computer so I have to add that. There's something to recommend almost every song -- the lyrics are occasionally a little oversimplified but the sound is always great.
Note: If you read several of my reviews and think I'm too generous with my stars, I need to point out that I've only replaced my vinyl copies of albums with CDs if I loved the album so most of the discs I review will be favorites.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Retrospective [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/6712/6712097_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
Greatest Hits from a Iconic 60s Band
on July 5, 2009
Posted by: JaneA
from New York, NY
If you only buy one album by The Animals, it has to include 4 tracks -- House of the Rising Sun, We Gotta Get Out of This Place, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood and It's My Life. Best Buy has a few albums with all of them, this one has the best selection of other songs.
House of the Rising Sun is THE song The Animals are remembered for and rightly so. With the driving organ in the background they turned an old standard into something special. Alan Price, who played the organ, left the group about a year after they became famous (officially because he was afraid to fly but rumor has it that he and Eric Burden disliked each other -- violently at times.)
Musically the band wasn't as good after that but they still had Eric Burden's great voice. I play the first 10 tracks on this album a lot, the others only occasionally.
After they broke up, Eric Burden joined War, Alan Price had a successful solo career in England. (I got hooked on the soundtrack of O Lucky Man. He was also in Dylan's film Don't Look Back.) Chas Chandler, the bass player went on to manage some guy named Jimi Hendrix.
What's great about it: Eric Burden's Voice, Alan Price on Organ
What's not so great: Plenty of filler tracks
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![The Best of Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1148/1148528_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
One of the Greatest Garage Bands Ever
on July 4, 2009
Posted by: JaneA
from New York, NY
I was going to review Hearts of Stone, my favorite Jukes album. But apparently it's only available as an import now. On this album, from Got To Be a Better Way Home through the end, the songs on this album are all the songs from HoS, in order. All that's missing is Light Don't Shine at the end. So buy this, save money and get 11 extra tracks.
The Jukes are a great band. Most of the musicians are in-demand as session musicians. La Bamba is a member of the Max Weinberg 7 (from the Conan O'Brian show.) But it's John Lyon's voice that makes their albums special. If you want proof that white men can, indeed, sing the blues, listen to Southside. (Note: Johnny Rotten was John Lyons. Southside Johnny is a different person.)
I think what held them back is that they didn't write their own material. In the 60s, songwriters would have been lining up to write for them. Fortunately, the Jukes had Bruce Springsteen (who wrote Hearts of Stone and plays the guitar solo on that cut) and Little Steven (who wrote several other songs.) It's a great album by an under-appreciated band. Enjoy.
And, if you can find a copy of Southside singing "Walk Away Rene, grab it. It's the best version of that song you'll ever hear.
What's great about it: Southside's voice backed by great musicians
What's not so great: nothing
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Adventures in Babysitting [DVD] [1987]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/3825/3825622_sa.jpg)
Chris Columbus' charming comedy Adventures in Babysitting comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround, while a French soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Stereo. There are no subtitles, but the English soundtrack is closed-captioned. Although there are no supplemental materials of any consequence, the inexpensive list price makes this disc a great purchase for anyone looking for a comedy the whole family can enjoy.
Customer Rating
3
Cute fluff. Nothing special
on July 3, 2009
Posted by: JaneA
from New York, NY
My guess is that they were trying to make Ferris Bueller for the pre-teen set. While they didn't come close, this is a nice, harmless piece of fluff.
Elizabeth Shue is a cute and resourceful heroine who helps her ditzy friend and protects the kids she was hired to sit (they're pretty resourceful too) as they navigate the wilds of the big city from chop shops to frat parties.
There's no real reason for anyone over the age of 14 to watch this. I just like the frat party scene because the band playing it is fronted by Southside Johnny.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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![Murder by Death [DVD] [1976]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/4358/4358484_sa.jpg)
The '70s detective spoof Murder by Death arrives on DVD for the first time on Columbia TriStar. This two-sided disc offers both widescreen and full-screen versions with mono soundtracks in either English or Spanish. Subtitles are available in Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai. Extra features include talent files for Robert Moore, Neil Simon, Truman Capote, Peter Falk, Peter Sellers, David Niven, Maggie Smith, and Alec Guinness. This DVD also contains production notes, an interview segment with Neil Simon, and theatrical trailers for Murder by Death and The Cheap Detective. This is an excellent release of a star-studded comedy classic.
Customer Rating
4
Fun for Any Mystery Fan
on June 28, 2009
Posted by: JaneA
from New York, NY
If you're a fan of old mysteries, you'll have a ball. There's Sam Spade, Nick & Nora Charles, Hercule Poirot, Miss Jane Marple, Charlie Chan and his Number One Son and a butler who couldn't have done it because he is blind.
Thanks to the pen of Neil Simon, they've become Sam Diamond, Dick and Dora Charleston, Milo Perrier, Jessica Marbles and Sidney Wang and his son, Willie (who is Japanese, not Chinese.)
All of the cliches of the genre are spoofed. Wordplay abounds. And some of the finest and funniest actors to ever grace the screen have fun and take the viewer along.
What's great about it: Recognizing the characters, the acting
I would recommend this to a friend!
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