Non-Classical Music Listening Thread!

[Haffner]

I need healing.

[Bu]

Whilst talking with the Undertones, we also mentioned (and fully agreed about) the greatness of The Smiths!

There is a Light that never goes out!

Amen and amen.   0:)

[Henk]

Having the opportunity to see him live in Groningen in fall!

[SonicMan46]

Hello Kevin - I've looked at the Billie Holiday Verve box set in the past - but never made the purchase; the price is rather high and on reading the Amazon Comments HERE, the 1* review dissuaded me from buying the set - 

Now, I already own about 10 CDs of Billie's music from all different periods, but it is rather a mixture of different labels & times - so in lookin' on Amazon today, I saw the Proper offering (pic inserted above) and put in an order; 4 discs w/ 99 songs at about $18 on the Marketplace - I've enjoyed Proper's releases in the past and hope to be pleased w/ this set; plus, I can probably cull-out some of my other recordings and try to make more sense of my Holiday collection!  Dave 

Well, the Proper 4-CD set shown below just arrived - outstanding 50 page booklet w/ plenty of pictures (typical for this label); this is a collection of 99 songs from the mid-30s to 1949 gathered from 3 different labels; much is from the early Columbia/Brunswick years, but also includes much of the Commodore Masters & the later Decca recordings (in fact I have a 2-CD Decca set which has a LOT of retakes, so plan to just sell that one off).  The sound production is re-mastered well - a great deal; this set of 4-CDs, plus a 2-CD set of the 'best' from Verve would provide quite a nice representative sampling of Billie's multi-stage output until her untimely death in 1959 (just in her mid-40s) - 

 

[KevinP]

Well, the Proper 4-CD set shown below just arrived - outstanding 50 page booklet w/ plenty of pictures (typical for this label); this is a collection of 99 songs from the mid-30s to 1949 gathered from 3 different labels; much is from the early Columbia/Brunswick years, but also includes much of the Commodore Masters & the later Decca recordings (in fact I have a 2-CD Decca set which has a LOT of retakes, so plan to just sell that one off).  The sound production is re-mastered well - a great deal; this set of 4-CDs, plus a 2-CD set of the 'best' from Verve would provide quite a nice representative sampling of Billie's multi-stage output until her untimely death in 1959 (just in her mid-40s) - 

 

Glad you like it. Also glad for the bit of fresh air after a couple pages of nothing but heavy metal bickering. The Deccas are Lady's first recordings in a non-jazz setting and don't always work, but when they do, they do.

[George]

Queen II

I want to like it.

LIAR!!!

[Haffner]

LIAR!!!

That was a pretty good one. I listened to Brighton Rock for the first time ever after II and liked it.

[George]

That was a pretty good one. I listened to Brighton Rock for the first time ever after II and liked it.

Yeah, Queen I was way better than any of their other early albums IMO. I grew up on the original Greatest Hits and believe it or not, I could be happy with just that, A Night at the Opera (Their masterpiece IMO) and News of the World.

[Dr. Dread]

Yeah, Queen I was way better than any of their early albums IMO. I grew up on the original Greatest Hits and believe it or not, I could be happy with just that, A Night at the Opera (Their masterpiece IMO) and News of the World.

Queen II is an actual Queen album, not a hits collection.

[George]

Queen II is an actual Queen album, not a hits collection.

That is correct.

[Dr. Dread]

That is correct.

So, what are you calling Queen I?

[George]

So, what are you calling Queen I?

Their first album. I've seen it referred to that way, to distinguish the album from the band.

[Dr. Dread]

Their first album. I've seen it referred to that way, to distinguish the album from the band.

Okay. So when you say, "Yeah, Queen I was way better than any of their early albums IMO...", do you mean any other of their...?

[George]

Okay. So when you say, "Yeah, Queen I was way better than any of their early albums IMO...", do you mean any other of their...?

Correct. (just edited my OP)

[Dr. Dread]

Correct. (just edited my OP)

Thank you for taking the time to clear that up. I enjoy all their albums to some extent but think a good four- or five-disc box set would be splendid.

[George]

Thank you for taking the time to clear that up. I enjoy all their albums to some extent but think a good four- or five-disc box set would be splendid.

Yes, four discs sounds just about right. Greatest Hits, A Night at the Opera, News of the World and Queen I. 

I think their strength is also their weakness. They cover a wide range of styles over the course of just one album, but I think they go too far, losing focus. So many great singles though, Killer Queen, Keep Yourself Alive, Somebody to Love, the list is endless. However, as I said, only those three albums really work for me as albums. 

[Dr. Dread]

Yes, four discs sounds just about right. Greatest Hits, A Night at the Opera, News of the World and Queen I. 

I think their strength is also their weakness. They cover a wide range of styles over the course of just one album, but I think they go too far, losing focus. So many great singles though, Killer Queen, Keep Yourself Alive, Somebody to Love, the list is endless. However, as I said, only those three albums really work for me as albums. 

As albums? I'd choose Sheer Heart Attack, A Night at the Opera and The Game. Those are probably my favorites overall.

[George]

As albums? I'd choose Sheer Heart Attack, A Night at the Opera and The Game. Those are probably my favorites overall.

The Game sounded great last time I heard it.

I agreed that one could compile a four (perhaps five is pushing it) disc set of their best, I just saw the best comp as being those four albums, believe it or not. I have toyed with the idea of making a Queen comp before. I wouldn't be willing to break up ANATO, though. The other three albums could compile the rest of their stuff (up to The Game.) Beyond the Game, I lose interest fast. In fact, some of that surface, synth sound ruins parts of the Game for me too. 

Maybe someday I'll listen to all the albums up to the Game, noting the songs I want to include as I listen.

[Dr. Dread]

The Game sounded great last time I heard it.

I agreed that one could compile a four (perhaps five is pushing it) disc set of their best, I just saw the best comp as being those four albums, believe it or not. I have toyed with the idea of making a Queen comp before. I wouldn't be willing to break up ANATO, though. The other three albums could compile the rest of their stuff (up to The Game.) Beyond the Game, I lose interest fast. In fact, some of that surface, synth sound ruins parts of the Game for me too.  

Maybe someday I'll listen to all the albums up to the Game, noting the songs I want to include as I listen.

Hell, I could fill five discs easy. I'd go beyond the Game though...

Oh, and most people into hard rock will tell you Queen II RULES!

[George]

Hell, I could fill five discs easy. I'd go beyond the Game though...

Oh, and most people into hard rock will tell you Queen II RULES!

Believe me, they have. And I'm sure it does...for them. 

That one song that begins with the funky beat is damn funky. I forget what it's called...