Artist: Tom Jones

Long qualified for a state pension and generally recognised as a national treasure, Tom Jones is in no need of an unnecessary makeover, which is probably why 24 Hours turns out to be such a relaxed collection. Relaxed is a relative term for the Welsh veteran--Jones still bellows like a man trying to make himself heard over a rowdy crowd. But the best moments on 24 Hours, such as a terrifyingly spirited take of "I'm Alive", originally performed by Tommy James and the Shondells, and first single "If He Should Ever Leave You", a rather knowing if undeniably catchy pastiche of the supper club soul that made his name, could only be the work of one man. The stark title track enters Nick Cave territory while "The Road", a heartfelt if somewhat overdue apology to Jones's loyally obscure wife Linda, will either repel or seduce. The louche "Sugar Daddy", penned by U2 no less, rather exalts Jones's reputation as an ageing lothario, even as he seems determined to shake it off. The odd clunker aside (notably the rather naff "In Style and Rhythm") 24 Hours, produced by Future Cut, a team of studio bods half his age, is an enjoyably effective collection, filling a previously ...
He's... good!, 2008-12-22
I've been a Tom Jones fan for many years, he's just cool. Great voice and appears to sing effortlessly. Now, I am NOT a fan of Strictly Come Dancing but I happened to be channel hopping when I found him singing on the BBC1 series ([]) and I just stopped.

Watch him sing. No effort at all. He just... sings. Amazing. I was captivated.

Finally got around to buying this album over the weekend and I sat down, earphones in, and listened to it from start to finish. It really is a great album. All the songs are good and in my opinion there isn't a duff one in there. There's a few in here which will make a 'best of' album in the future.

Watch Tom on Strictly Come Dancing (YouTube) and then buy the album here at Amazon. I went for the MP3 download. Today, I've listened to the album twice. :-)

Go Tom Go!

Artist: Russell Watson

Great album, every Watson fan was ready for this., 2008-12-08
Named after the 1965 hit of the same name by American soul band The Impressions, this release, his seventh studio album in as many years, is a marked change in musical style by Russell Watson.

So, it's goodbye to the opera arias and classical crossover hits, to be replaced by a collection of soul and easy listening numbers giving him a chance to reveal a different facet of his singing style. This new direction I'm sure doesn't signal the end of performances like Nessun dorma, but is more a result of his recognition that the crossover market has become gradually saturated with new artists in recent years and perhaps starting to wane in terms of album sales.

This album comes at the end of another eventful year in the singers life. Following the operation to remove a second brain tumour came the radiotherapy treatment at the start of 2008, then the physiotherapy to recover from the exhausting effects of that treatment then, incredibly, in June of this year he embarked on a tour of the UK to mark his comeback. The same month saw the release of his autobiography `Finding My Voice', then TV appearances were in abundance, including his judging role on BBC TV's `Last Choir Standing', then his comeback was firmly endorsed when his fans voted him `Nation's Favourite Male Singer' in a poll by Classic FM and Radio Times.

The opening tracks `Me and Mrs Jones' and `If You Don't Know Me By Now' typify the theme of the album and for me, and I imagine many of Russell's long-time fans, reinforce his sheer vocal versatility and admirable desire to return to his roots, for these were the type of songs he was singing in his club days before the Old Trafford Nessun dorma event finally launched him into orbit with the superstars.

`Soul Man' and `In The Midnight Hour' are surely concert certainties, while `Try a Little Tenderness' and `Louisiana 1927' are lovely emotional ballads.

My favourite though is the slow, bluesy version of the classic `House of the Rising Sun' which at 8 minutes long and sung in a beautifuly sultry style with Gospel choir backing is in lovely contrast to the popular 1964 Animals version and a credit to producer and arranger Nick Patrick.

Maybe the best Russell Watson album so far.

Artist: The Priests

Vocal Perfection, 2008-12-22
This is one of the most uplifting experiences you could wish for. The beautiful vocals starting with Ave Maria, Mit wurd und hohet angetan and Panis Angelicus. These would move anybody who has an appreciation of music.
These are followed by more subdued and gentle recordings. Then by the wonderfully lilting and soaring Hacia Belen. With the glorious choral accompaniment, it just combines to make this entire recording an absolute delight. I cannot stop playing it
This is one of the best C.D's I have heard in a long time. One word sums it all up. Excellent.

Artist: Katherine Jenkins

Sacred Arias is Katherine Jenkins' last album in her deal for Universal before she moves to Warner for another six-album deal, and she has decided to go out with a bang--albeit a quiet one. While her previous outing, Rejoice, saw the Welsh mezzo-soprano striking out more than ever towards the world of pop, Sacred Arias, as the title suggests, sees her return to her religious-classical roots with comfortably familiar tunes like "Abide with Me", "Ave Maria", "Pie Jesu" and even "Silent Night". The mood on Sacred Arias is as refined and peaceful as you'd expect given the title, and though there's an abundance of well known material here, Jenkins also offers us the more obscure charms of "Missa Criolla", a dreamy version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and a soulful take on "Down in the River to Pray". Other classical pieces include "Panis Angelicus" and Barber's haunting vocal piece "Agnus Dei", which help make this a triumphant final flourish for both her and Universal. --Danny McKenna
Katherine Jenkins - Sacred Arias, 2008-12-12
I really looked forward to this album's release. It was worth the wait, I was not disappointed.

This album in my opinion, contains Katherine's best vocal to date. The vocal production is free and unhurried, giving the whole album a very relaxed feel. I really like all the repetoire chosen, my own personal favourites include: Goodall's "The Lord Is My Shepherd"; "Down to the River To Pray" "Ave Maria" and "May The Good Lord Bless You and Keep You".

I do agree that the choice of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah", seems a little odd. However, while Katherine's version is not as definitive as k.d. lang or Jeff Buckley's version - it is still well sung.

I would definately recommend this album, to anyone considering purchasing it.

Artist: Enya

I missed the album in the middle, 2009-01-04
Enya's album contains androids from inside a tape machine. WELL, let me explain. Firstly; yes, this is real. Horrible, nasty articulate word witch Enya has become pregnant with sound and is threatening to catapult her lifeless torso onto a moving spike that exists somewhere on track 5, she is helped by Wazzy Dave.

Artist: Bette Midler

Simply Marvellous, 2009-01-03
At last, a beautiful collection of the undisputed superstar Bette Midler's greatest hits is available on one CD.

After becoming infamous for performing in gay saunas and nightclubs in New York City, Midler soon went on to achieve mainstream success both critically and commercially after her good friend Barry Manilow helped produce her first album, The Divine Miss M. The album was named after her on stage persona, which would become one of her trademarks in years to come.

Her first album was followed by several more, as well as starring roles in films such as The Rose - playing a fictionlised version of fellow singer Janis Jopin - and Beaches, which led to the release of one of the most famous songs of all time, "Wind Beneath My Wings".

The Best Bette encompasses her biggest hits - "Wind Beneath My Wings", "The Rose", "From a Distance" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" - as well as other singles from her thirty-five year career which has seen her release over twenty albums.

The Best Bette is an essential for any Bette Midler fan, and a great introduction to the woman herself for anyone - God forbid - who is not familiar with at least some of her work.

Artist: Andrea Bocelli

Incanto is the first studio album from Italian operatic star Andrea Bocelli since 2006's Amore, stop-gapped of course by last year's Vivere. Now twenty albums deep and heading for 70 million sales worldwide, there doesn't seem to be much Bocelli can do wrong, though perhaps key to his success is his refusal to rest on his laurels--to always present a considered and varied selection of material. On Incanto he again offers a well-selected mix of folk songs, operatic evergreens and musical hits. Opening with a stunning collaboration with singer Veronica Berti, "Un Amore Cosi Grande" ("A Love So Great") the album gets off to an impassioned start. A romantic thread is weaved through "O Surdato Nnammurato", Cesare Andrea Bixio's "Mamma", and "Voglio Vivere Cosi", while album highlights include Neopolitan classic "Santa Lucia" and the 19th century folk song "Funiculi Funicula"--an ode to the first funicular on Mount Vesuvius. Add to that the soaring "Because", and the sweeping "Era De Maggio" (featuring Anna Bonitatibus) and you have what is arguably Bocelli's best collection since Romanza. --Danny McKenna
Sublime, 2008-11-28
This is an outstanding album that finds Bocelli in wonderful voice. There's not a bad track here, with the emphasis on the great Neapolitan canzones. If one discounts Caruso as THE singer of such songs as a native of Naples, they have seldom been sung better. The song selection is excellent, with every one having a high "hummability" factor.
Bocelli appears to be a tenor at the height of his powers. The ending to Funiculi Funicula is breathtaking but a mere precursor to brilliance with the extraordinary D flat that ends Because. The latter is far from a "lounge" song as the Amazon review suggests, having been done by any tenor with his salt from Caruso through Gigli, Lanza and Domingo. I've not yet heard anyone take the final note with such gusto and Bocelli should be congratulated for a version that is now the best on record. His English is endearing on the song but his phrasing, technique and tone are all exquisite here.
Like a previous reviewer, I wish he would do less "pop" material as he is too good for a lot of that. While classically trained but much less technically correct and gifted tenors such as Russell Watson, Jonathan Ansell and Paul Potts have their fans - and to be fair, do introduce newcomers to the classical repertoire - there are few finer tenors around today than Bocelli. Pavarotti rated him highly and the approval of one of the three greatest tenors of all time (Caruso and Bjoerling being the others)should be enough for us all. If you're looking to treat yourself, or a friend, this is the album to buy.

Artist: Cliff Richard

Cliff is ageless! Superb!, 2008-12-08
Had to buy this double album to celebrate Cliff 50 years in music - I already have all the tracks but it was so good to listen to this compilation. It took me back but as the compilation is so well arranged it was so good and made me feel very happy to listen to the tracks. Saw him on "Songs of Praise" on Sunday 7 Dec - he is as popular as ever. His concert tickets sell out in no time - he is timeless! A well prepared compilation album which I am pleased I bought.

Artist: Salvation Army

A good move by the Salvation Army, 2008-12-03
Hhhmmm - a few negative reviews because this is 1) not completely Christian music or 2) moves away from the tradition of Salvation Army bands and band music or 3) not up to the standard of Army bands and the Staff band specifically.

I'm afraid I can't agree - this is excellent and exactly what the Army should be doing, reaching out to people with something a bit more accessible. Reaching out and providing help and support is the heritage of the Army, after all "Heart to God and hand to man".

Over the last few years the Army and the work it does has become less and less visible, to the point where most people under 30 have no idea who or what the Salvation Army is. As a result this CD is just the sort of marketing the Army needs to remind people of its mission, its focus, its value to the community, while providing an uplifting and relaxing musical experience. Getting into the top 25 on the Amazon best sellers list is a commendable achievement and may there be many more like this in the future !

Artist: John Barrowman

Gorgeous, Gorgeous, Gorgeous, 2008-12-17
The eclectic mix of musical genres that Barrowman selected for this CD transcends generation, culture, and gender. "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," "Both Sides Now," and "Uptown Girl" take me back to my distant youth, and Gary Barlow's contribution of "What About Us?" brings me into the sometimes equally distant musical present. My favorite track has to be the hauntingly beautiful and poignant duet version of "I Know Him So Well." Love, loss, and heartbreak feel the same regardless of gender orientation, and I applaud Sony for their inclusion of a same-sex rendition of this classic. I basically love every track on the CD. I've only owned it for a few days, but everyone with whom I have shared it is ordering his/her own copy. Bravo, John! May you go platinum with this one!