Better Than Life [Import]

Better Than Life [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Title track is backed by CJ Stone Remix, Flip & Fill Remix and Styles & Breeze Remix. AATW. 2005

Tracks:

Overture
My Personal Property
Big Spender
The Pompeii Club
If My Friends Could See Me Now
There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This
It's A Nice Face
Rhythm Of Life
Sweet Charity
I'm A Brass Band
I Love To Cry At Weddings
Where Am I Going?
Finale

Customer Reviews:

Sweet Charity: Sweet Memories.......2007-07-13

Listening to this Soundtrack brought back so many sweet memories of a fun time in my life - college. Hearing "Rhythm of Life" done by Sammy Davis Jr. was most memorable. This is such a fun soundtrack to play. I look forward to many years of enjoyment and recommend it to anyone who was in college in the late 60's.

Sammy Davis Jr. is awesome.......2007-01-10

I have been converting my old LP's into CD's then putting them on my Ipod. I am picky about what I put on my Ipod, selecting only certain tracks from each CD. This CD, however, I put all tracks onto my Ipod except the overture. While I find Shirley MacLaine's voice a bit weak, the songs overcome any such problems with their energy. And one of the main reasons I wanted the movie rather than broadway CD was because of Sammy Davis Jr. His contributions to this album are worth every penny.

Great Memories (better than current 2005 Broadway Revival).......2005-08-06

I saw the movie version for the first time a couple of years ago and continue with fond memories. I saw the 2005 Broadway Revival in June. Trust me, stick with the movie cast recording. Paula Kelly, Chita Rivera, and even Shirley MacLaine have a magic and zeal that is lost in the current revival. My main disappointment is that the movie soundtrack's version of The Rich Man's Frug is too short and doesn't have the best parts of the full number from the movie. That aside, who could ever top Sammy Davis' performance in Rythm of Life. Chita and Paula are beyond comparison in Something Better Than This.

This cast recording makes me wish I was old enough to have seen them during the original Broadway run.

Consider buying the DVD to the movie to accompany this DVD. That way, you'll also get to see Ben Vereen at his best. I will warn you that the movie was a bit indulgent with extended scenes whose length is not justified by their contribution to the overall film. It's about 20-30 minutes too long. But the musical and dance numbers are really great. Who doesn't love Fosse?

long-overdue reissue of the classic soundtrack.......2003-10-09

SWEET CHARITY was turned into a not-so-successful film in 1969, starring Shirley MacLaine. Originally appearing on Broadway in 1966 starring Gwen Verdon, the musical is based on the classic Fellini film "Nights of Cabiria".

The score was heavily revised for the move to celluloid. "You Should See Yourself" was replaced by "My Personal Property", "I'm the Bravest Individual" was replaced by "It's a Nice Face". The melody for "Sweet Charity" was re-jigged for a more uptempo feel. Songs cut from the score altogether included "Baby Dream Your Dream", "Too Many Tomorrows" and "Charity's Soliloquy".

Shirley MacLaine was joined by a cast including veteran Broadway talents Paula Kelly and Chita Rivera, John McMartin (recreating the role he originated on Broadway opposite Gwen Verdon) as Oscar Linquist, Sammy Davis Jr. as Daddy Brubeck, Stubby Kaye as Herman and Ricardo Montalban.

Shirley MacLaine sings her numbers with her sweet pixie-esque voice, gliding through showstoppers like "I'm a Brass Band" and "If My Friends Could See Me Now" with great ease.

Another fantastic package from Decca Broadway. Peter Filichia, as always, offers comprehensive liner notes, and sound quality is quite good. In addition to this CD I also recommend the still-superb 1966 original Broadway cast album with Gwen Verdon.

Sweet Charity.......2003-09-14

I've been waiting for this version of Sweet Charity to come out for years. My parents use to listen to the Decca LP many years ago and the tunes grew on me. From hey Big Spender, If My Friends Could See Me Now, I'm A Brass Band, etc, etc Great music all around with not one bad track. Before this version I had brought the Broadway Show versions and to me they were all kind of flat. Maybe because I grew up on the film version I couldn't appreciate the show versions as much. The vocals and the scoring are great. Shirley MacClaine doesn't have the greatest voice in the world but she's still great.
My biggest complaint about this CD release is that it is not complete. You think that Decca Records would do a complete Cd release as previous musical soundtracks have done. This is a direct copy of the Lp released so many years ago. There is so much more music in this film that I was disapointed when I found it it was only a Cd of the original album. With Cd's fitting up the 80 minutes of music it is very surprising that this truncated version was released. Maybe because it's not considered a classic. This is am underrated film as far as I am concerned and in my opinion a far better score than Chicago (with all due respect to Bob Fosse who directed this film) This would be a great CD if only it wasn't abbreviated.

Average customer rating:

Classic form 1992

Better Than Life

Manufacturer: The Acappella Company
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAGW82
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Customer Reviews:

Classic form 1992.......2006-03-12

Released in 1992 this is another classic from this gospel vocal group. Songs are:
1. How Majestic Is Your Name
2. Better Than Life
3. He Gave Her Water
4. When I Say Farewell
5. The Time Has Come
6. More Than A Friend
7. Rock-A-My-Soul
8. What Was I Supposed To Be?
9. Lay Down The Burden Of Your Heart
10. Let's Get Together

Average customer rating:

Better Than Life

Manufacturer: Breakaway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
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Many Walks One Road

ASIN: B0008IUMA2

Product Description

Track Listing: 1. Light The Fire; 2. Clap Your Hands; 3. Face To Face; 4. His Banner Over Me; 5. Prayer; 6. You Are My Treasure; 7. Lord, I Lift Your Name On High; 8. I Awaited; 9. Grace & Peace; 10. Grace Flows Down; 11. I Lift My Eyes; 12. We Love Our God; 13. Worship In Truth; 14. The Way; 15. Love Of My Life; 16. In Need

Puccini - Madam Butterfly / Cheryl Barker, PO, Yves Abel [in English]

Average customer rating:

A touching English Butterfly

Puccini - Madam Butterfly / Cheryl Barker, PO, Yves Abel [in English]
Giacomo Puccini , Yves Abel , Cheryl Barker , Paul Charles Clarke , and Simon Birchall
Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Turandot (Chandos Opera in English)
Verdi: La Traviata
Puccini - La bohème / Haymon · O'Neill · Opie · McLaughlin · A. Miles · Dazeley · Shore · PO · Parry
Tchaikovsky - Eugene Onegin / Te Kanawa · Hampson · Rosenshein · Gedda · Sir Charles Mackerras [in English]

ASIN: B00005QF3K
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

Act I: Introduction - Cheryl Barker
Act I: 'So The Walls And The Ceiling...' - Ann Taylor/Stuart Kale
Act I: 'I Think Your Honour's Smiling' - Jean Rigby/Ann Taylor/Stuart Kale
Act I: 'It Can't Be Much Further Now!' - Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale/Ann Taylor
Act I: The Whole World Over - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
Act I: 'Fate Can't Crush Him' - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
Act I: 'Is The Bride Very Pretty?' - Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale/Ann Taylor
Act I: 'True Love Or Fancy' - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
Act I: 'See Them! They're Climbing The Summit Of The Hill!' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker/Gregory Yurisich
Act I: 'We Are Honoured' - Cheryl Barker/Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale
Act I: 'The Imperial Commissioner' - Stuart Kale/Ann Taylor/Cheryl Barker/Simon Birchall
Act I: 'Oh, Indeed, My Friend, You're Lucky!' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker
Act I: 'Come, My Beloved' - Ann Taylor/Cheryl Barker/Stuart Kale
Act I: 'My Fate I Have To Follow' - Cheryl Barker
Act I: 'Silence! Silence!' - Stuart Kale/Roland Wood/Cheryl Barker
Act I: 'Congratulations' - Roland Wood/Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich/Frances Brett/Clive Bayley/Stuart Kale
Act I: 'Dearest, My Dearest, Weep No More' - Roland Wood/Ann Taylor/Jean Rigby
Act I: 'Evening Is Falling...' - Roland Wood/Ann Taylor/Jean Rigby
Act I: 'Child, From Whose Eyes The Witchery Is Shining' - Ann Taylor/Cheryl Barker
Act I: 'Ah, Love Me A Little' - Cheryl Barker/Ann Taylor
Act II Part I: 'Izaghi Izanami' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
Act II Part I: 'One Fine Day' - Cheryl Barker

Tracks:

Act II Part I: 'Come, Let's Enter' - Stuart Kale/Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker
Act II Part I: 'Yamadori, And Has your Unrequited Love Not Yet Released You? - Cheryl Barker/D'Arcy Bleiker/Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale
Act II Part I: 'Now, At Last!' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker
Act II Part I: 'Just Two Things I Could Do' - Cheryl Barker/Gregory Yurisich
Act II Part I: 'This Child! This Child, Then!' - Cheryl Barker/Gregory Yurisich
Act II Part I: 'Do You Know, My Darling' - Cheryl Barker
Act II Part I: 'I Must Be Going' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
Act II Part I: 'Ah! Ah!' - Stuart Kale/Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
Act II Part I: 'Look, It's A Man-of-war!' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
Act II Part I: Flower Duet: 'Shake The Cherry Tree' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
Act II Part I: Humming Chorus - Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
Act II Part 2: Prelude - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
Act II Part 2: Daybreak Over Nagasaki - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
Act II Part 2: 'It's Morning' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
Act II Part 2: 'Who Is It?...' - Jean Rigby/Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
Act II Part 2: 'I Know For Such Misfortune There Is No Consolation' - Gregory Yurisich/Jean Rigby/Ann Taylor
Act II Part 2: 'Farewell, Oh Happy Home!' - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
Act II Part 2: 'Then Will You Tell Her?' - Ann Taylor/Jean Rigby
Act II Part 2: 'Suzuki, Where Are You?' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
Act II Part 2: 'You, Suzuki, You're Always So Faithful' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
Act II Part 2: 'Viper! I Want You To Answer' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby/Gregory Yurisich/Ann Taylor
Act II Part 2: 'Your Little Fluttering Heart Is Beating' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
Act II Part 2: 'Death With Honour Is Better Than Life With Dishonour' - Cheryl Barker

Amazon.com

This performance, the only one available in English, is problematic. Best is Yves Abel's leadership of the orchestra, which sounds wonderful, imbuing Puccini's lush score with just the right exoticism and emphasis. But aside from Gregory Yurisch's fine Sharpless, the singers don't please. Paul Charles Clarke as Pinkerton is lacking stylistically and vocally, and as Butterfly, Cheryl Barker sounds under strain and never pretty. While she has the power and feeling for the big second-act climax (the sighting of the ship), she never for a moment sounds fragile or girlish, not even in the all-important early scenes. English or not, this set isn't in the running. Stick with Callas or Scotto in Italian, and follow the libretto. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

A touching English Butterfly.......2002-03-27

Anyone familiar with Cheryl Barker's Butterfly will be interested in hearing this recording. I have heard her in the role twice - in Auckland and London - and her voice has filled out as the years have gone on. She hasn't a large italianate soprano; the sound is too slender somehow. Yet there is the paradox - it has great carrying power and a decent cutting edge to make itself heard above the orchestral climaxes. What really impresses is the sense of vulnerability and moral strength she imparts, making sense of the big moments of the secong act. The sound in Act one is gorgeous (and a super D flat in theentrance aria) and she differentiates impressively between the child-bride and the embittered woman of the two acts.

She is surrounded by a mixed supporting cast. Jean Rigby is maternal, warm and affecting as Suzuki. Gregory Yurisich makes Sharpless' dilemma more understandable than usual, rather than being completely ineffectual. Paul Charles Clarke perhaps illustrates Pinkerton's arrogance with a degree of vocal swagger, but the sound is rough-hewn and unlovely save for some moments in the love duet. Stuart Kale's Goro is suitable ingratiating and oily.

Abel's conducting is the other chief draw of this set. That he has experience of the score in the theatre means that his pacing is really superb, and the lush orchestration is given its due, the potent intermezzo during the overnight vigil sounding suitably ominous.

Tracks:

Festival Jubilate
Uncommon Prayers: I. A Prayer Before A Fight
Uncommon Prayers: II. A Prayer Before A Banquet
Uncommon Prayers: III. A Prayer To Be God's Music
A Curse, A Lament, And A Vision: I. Job's Curse
A Curse, A Lament, And A Vision: II. Death, How Bitter
A Curse, A Lament, And A Vision: III. The Day Of The Lord
Wedding Cantata: I. Rise Up My Love
Wedding Cantata: II. Many Waters
Wedding Cantata: III. Awake, O North Wind
Wedding Cantata: IV. Epilogue Set Me As A Seal
5 Motets: Open To Me The Gates Of Righteousness
5 Motets: Thou Has Turned My Laments Into Dancing
5 Motets: How Precious Is Thy Lovingkindness
5 Motets: Behold, How Good AndHow Pleasant
5 Motets: O Lord God
At Dressing In The Morning
3 Motets: Create A Pure Heart In Me
3 Motets: The Lord Has Established His Throne
3 Motets: The Heavens Tell Out The Glory Of God
Psalm 46
4 Motets: Why Art Thou Cast Down
4 Motets: Thy True Love Is Better Than Life
4 Motets: A Harvest Of Light Is Sown
4 Motets: For Thee Have I Waited
The Small Passion: Prld
The Small Passion: I. All Hail, Fair Tree
The Small Passion: II. Victorious Sign
The Small Passion: III. Christ When He Died
The Small Passion: IV. O Dear And Sweet Dispute
The Small Passion: V. O Strange Mysterious Strife
The Small Passion: VI. O Sad, Sweet Tree
The Small Passion: VII. O Save Us Then

Customer Reviews:

Pinkham is good.......2003-02-07

I was really eager to listen to this album because I love Pinkham's music so much, and also because it took over a month to ship. I finally had a listen and while at times the voices seem a bit unbalanced, it actually is a very well-performed cd. nice work.

Average customer rating:

Acappella Gold

Manufacturer: Word Incorporated
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAGW9G
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Average customer rating:

Better Than Life
Ultrabeat
Manufacturer: All Around the World
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0002YI55Q

Tracks:

Radio Edit
Extended
Cj Stone
Flip And Fill
Styles And Breeze
Rezonance Q

Average customer rating:

Better Than Life

Manufacturer: Word, Inc.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000BRUN86

Product Description

1. How Majestic Is Your Name 2. Better Than Life 3. He Gave Her Water 4. When I Say Farewell 5. The Time Has Come 6. More Than A Friend 7. Rock-A-My-Soul 8. What Was I Supposed To Be? 9. Lay Down The Burden Of Your Heart 10. Let's Get Together

Average customer rating:

Great CD!

Better Than Life

Manufacturer: ForeRunner Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B0002IQQHG

Product Description

NEW RELEASE! This is a BRAND NEW, factory-sealed CD of "BETTER THAN LIFE" by JULIE MEYER. Christian Worship. This new CD traces Julies journey into the Song of Solomon ... coming into the realization that even in the weakest moments in our lives we are lovely to God. Songs are: Better Than Life; Leaning On My Beloved; Come, Come Away; Around the Throne; Good Good God; Crimson Blood; Isn't He Lovely; Alleluia Again; Rain Of Your Mercy; This Place.

Customer Reviews:

Great CD!.......2005-10-19

Julie Meyer's CD Better Than Life is great. Upbeat, but real. The music and songs really draw you in and help you get in touch with God. My favorite songs are "Good Good God" and "Better Than Life." If you love Jesus, you'll love this!

Average customer rating:

Ep

Manufacturer: A Borrowed Life
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA7F0G
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Music: