SACD

Elton John – Elton John (1970) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2011] [SACD / Mercury – UIGY-9071]

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Elton John - Elton John (1970) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2011]

Title: Elton John – Elton John (1970) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2011]
Genre: Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Elton John is the second album by English singer/songwriter Elton John. However, because it was his first album released in America, many people there assumed it was his first album, as “Empty Sky” was not released in the US until 1975. Elton John includes his breakthrough hit, “Your Song”, and helped to establish his career during what was considered the “singer-songwriter” era of popular music.

Empty Sky was followed by Elton John, a more focused and realized record that deservedly became his first hit. John and Bernie Taupin’s songwriting had become more immediate and successful; in particular, John’s music had become sharper and more diverse, rescuing Taupin’s frequently nebulous lyrics. “Take Me to the Pilot” might not make much sense lyrically, but John had the good sense to ground its willfully cryptic words with a catchy blues-based melody. Next to the increased sense of songcraft, the most noticeable change on Elton John is the addition of Paul Buckmaster’s grandiose string arrangements. Buckmaster’s orchestrations are never subtle, but they never overwhelm the vocalist, nor do they make the songs schmaltzy. Instead, they fit the ambitions of John and Taupin, as the instant standard “Your Song” illustrates. Even with the strings and choirs that dominate the sound of the album, John manages to rock out on a fair share of the record. Though there are a couple of underdeveloped songs, Elton John remains one of his best records.

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SACD

Elmar Oliveira, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Gerard Schwarz – Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (1980) [Reissue 2005] [SACD / Top Music International Ltd. – TM-SACD 8003.2]

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Elmar Oliveira, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Gerard Schwarz - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (1980) [Reissue 2005]

Title: Elmar Oliveira, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Gerard Schwarz – Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (1980) [Reissue 2005]
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Violinist Elmar Oliveira joins the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in performing Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons as conducted by Gerard Schwarz. Recorded in May 1980 in California. Antonio Vivaldi cast “The Four Seasons” in the form of four concertos for solo violin and string orchestra. Concertos are designed to feature an instrument which not only enjoys an especially prominent role but plays technically brilliant, or virtuosic, passages. In addition to juxtaposing the sound of the solo violin to the full ensemble, Vivaldi occasionally added a few instruments with the solo violin to create the musical textures of chamber music. Each of the concertos that comprise “The Four Seasons” follows a three-movement plan that Vivaldi helped to establish as the standard concerto form.

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SACD

Ella Fitzgerald – Sings The Cole Porter Song Book (1956) [Reissue 2016] [SACD / Analog Spark – AS00008]

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Ella Fitzgerald - Sings The Cole Porter Song Book (1956) [Reissue 2016]

Title: Ella Fitzgerald – Sings The Cole Porter Song Book (1956) [Reissue 2016]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Long considered a jewel in Verve Records’ very impressive crown, Fitzgerald’s songbook collections of various composers–a series that was started by the success of this set–are all wonderful, but her natural wit and intelligence was at its most perfect with Cole Porter’s erudite, urbane songs. While not as scat-oriented as her small group outings, these Porter sets offer her most realized pop performances. Also, the gold remastering does a fine job of bringing out the nuances in the arrangements, making this a treasure for the serious collector and the casual listener alike. A true American music gem.

Ella Fitzgerald had the ability to personalize some of the most recognizable material from the foremost songwriters in American popular music history. In this instance, the combination of Cole Porter’s words and Fitzgerald’s interpretation of them created one of the most sought after sessions in vocal history – embraced by jazz and pop fans alike, transcending boundaries often associated with those genres. Originally released in 1956 on the Verve label, such standards as “Night and Day,” “I Love Paris,” “What Is This Thing Called Love,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “You’re the Top,” and “Love for Sale” secured one of Ella Fitzgerald’s crowning moments. The success of these early Porter (and previous Gershwin) sessions brought about numerous interpretations of other songbooks throughout the next several years including those of Rodgers and Hart, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, and Irving Berlin.

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SACD

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – Ella And Louis Again (1957) [Analogue Productions 2012] [SACD / Analogue Productions – CVRJ 4017 SA]

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Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Ella And Louis Again (1957) [Analogue Productions 2012]

Title: Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – Ella And Louis Again (1957) [Analogue Productions 2012]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Ella and Louis Again is a 1957 studio album by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. It is the “sequel” to their 1956 album, Ella and Louis, in contrast to their previous collaboration Ella and Louis, this album does not only feature duets. Mono recordings. Stylistically, singer Fitzgerald and trumpeter/singer Armstrong had very different histories; he started out in Dixieland before branching out into classic jazz and swing, whereas Fitzgerald started out as a swing-oriented big-band vocalist before becoming an expert bebopper. But the two of them have no problem finding common ground on Ella and Louis Again, which is primarily a collection of vocal duets (with the backing of a solid rhythm section led by pianist Oscar Peterson). One could nit-pick about the fact that Satchmo doesn’t take more trumpet solos, but the artists have such a strong rapport as vocalists that the trumpet shortage is only a minor point.

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SACD

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong – Autumn In New York (2008) [SACD / Top Music International Ltd. – UD-SACD8933.2]

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Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - Autumn In New York (2008)

Title: Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong – Autumn In New York (2008)
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

I purchased this from ebay quiet a few weeks ago so it has been well played. It opens with probably the best version of ‘Summer Time’ I have heard. Superb orchestration with Louis trumpet sets the scene and then Ella’s stunning vocals just blow you away. PLAY IT LOUD!. The sound is just fantastic. There is a bit more than usual information about the technicals – The source 32bit/ 192Khz, the mastering equipment, even the cable and preamp. So TopMusic are obviously very proud of what and how they have acheived. There are in total 16 tracks, seven of which also appear on the superb Verve mono JSACD Ella & Louis. So how do they compare? Verve wins. The voices are just that bit clearer as is the instrumentation hence the 4.5 stars. But apart from that would I have bought it had I known? Yes. It is still a superb album. A must for Ella and Louis fans. – customer review at sa-cd.net

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SACD

Ella Fitzgerald – Like Someone In Love (1957) [Analogue Productions 2011] [SACD / Analogue Productions – CVRJ 6000 SA]

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Ella Fitzgerald - Like Someone In Love (1957) [Analogue Productions 2011]

Title: Ella Fitzgerald – Like Someone In Love (1957) [Analogue Productions 2011]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Recorded around the same time as her groundbreaking work with Louis Armstrong, this album is representative of Fitzgerald’s best vocal work. Recorded over a two-day period in October, 1957, Fitzgerald sings familiar ballads on this release accompanied by lush orchestral arrangements courtesy of Frank DeVol, with tenor sax legend Stan Getz contributing to four songs. Ella Fitzgerald was accompanied by an orchestra arranged by Frank DeVol for this fine studio session. Most of the songs are veteran standards, Stan Getz’s warm tenor helps out on four tunes, and – although this is not an essential release – her voice was so strong and appealing during this era that all of her recordings from the mid- to late ’50s are enjoyable and easily recommended.

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SACD

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong – Ella and Louis (Analogue Productions 2011, Mono) (1956/2011) [SACD / Analogue Productions – CVRJ 4003 SA]

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Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - Ella and Louis (Analogue Productions 2011, Mono) (1956/2011)

Title: Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong – Ella and Louis (Analogue Productions 2011, Mono) (1956/2011)
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO

Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound from the original master tapes to vinyl and PCM. The DSD was sourced from the PCM. George listened to all of the different A/D converters he had before he chose which to use, and he felt the George Massenburg GML 20 bit A/D produced the best and most synergistic sound for the project. The very fact that America’s biggest jazz label called one of their albums quite simply Ella and Louis indicates that we are talking about something very special here. And surely enough has been said – “Satchmo” and the grande dame of jazz certainly need no further introduction. In the ’50s just the mere mention of their forenames was enough to light up the eyes of jazz fans. A glance at the track list reveals that tranquility rules the day: wild stomps and improvised scats will neither be sought nor missed. Of prime importance to the jazz ballad is a feeling of “letting oneself drift” in the inspiration which gushes forth from the minds of genial American songwriters. This is no contest – for the artists all pursue a common goal with extreme sensitiveness. The background combo, made up of first-class musicians and led by Oscar Peterson, performs with great concentration and almost obtrusive unobtrusiveness. Verve’s highly successful producer Norman Granz decided quite deliberately to make the recording in the studio instead of at a live session. And success has verified his judgment, for such vocal jazz knows only gentle tones – but the result is all the more intensive for that. Originally released in 1956.

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SACD

Elke Völker – Sigfrid Karg-Elert – Ultimate Organ Works Vol. 6 (2011) [SACD / Aeolus – AE-10721]

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Elke Völker - Sigfrid Karg-Elert - Ultimate Organ Works Vol. 6 (2011)

Title: Elke Völker – Sigfrid Karg-Elert – Ultimate Organ Works Vol. 6 (2011)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

Volume 6 of Elke Völkers Karg-Elert series on Aeolus contains books no. 3 and 4 of the composer’s « Chorale-Improvisations » op.65 (based on chorals for new year, easter, ascension and pentecost). As often at Aeolus, an instrument has been chosen that has not yet been recorded on CD before: the E.F.Walcker organ of the Christ Church in Lüdenscheid, which has been restored very carefully and re-inaugurated in 2008. Today Elke Völker is considered – last but not least thanks to her series of Karg-Elert recordings on Aeolus – as an expert for his music. Her version of the chorale improvisation demonstrates skill and great respect for the work of this composer and thus can be considered as a reference.
https://aeolus-music.com/products/ultimate-organ-works-vol-6-10721

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SACD

Elke Völker – Sigfrid Karg-Elert – Ultimate Organ Works Vol. 4 (2008) [SACD / Aeolus – AE-10511]

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Elke Völker - Sigfrid Karg-Elert - Ultimate Organ Works Vol. 4 (2008)

Title: Elke Völker – Sigfrid Karg-Elert – Ultimate Organ Works Vol. 4 (2008)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

Volume 4 of our Sigfrid Karg-Elert Edition contains an impressive collection of large scale secular organ works: Kaleidoscope, Seven Pastels from the Lake Constance, Rondo and Homage to Handel. As already on volume 3 (AE-10431) of this editon, the Georg Stahlhuth organ (1912) of Saint-Martin in Dudelange, restored by Thomas Jann in 2002, again is an ideal instrument for Karg-Elert’s music – and Elke Völker is absolutely in her element here. She found incredibly beautiful registrations (based on Karg-Elerts indications of course!), especially in the Seven Pastels from the Lake Constance. Kaleidoscope op.144 is a rather unknwon composition and can be considered as a brother of the big Symphonie in f sharp (op.143, recorded on Vol.1, AE-10121), because of some similarities in structure and harmonic language. The Seven Pastels are really close to the technical limits of the organ. The cycle is Karg-Elert’s only large-scale impressionistic composition and takes the expressive potential of the organ to its outer limits. Rondo alla campanella is a dazzling 169-bar Allegrissimo in 3/8 time, in semiquavers throughout like a french Toccata. Homage to Handel is a series of 54 variations on a ground bass of Handel. It’s a guide through all kinds of registrations of the wonderful Stahlhuth organ. This is the first time we recorded this instrument in surround sound and as far as we know the first available Super Audio CD of this organ! The recording comes along in a nice digipack format with 28 pages booklet.

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