Now That's What I Call Christmas!, Vol. 2: The Signature Collection CD

Now That's What I Call Christmas!, Vol. 2: The Signature Collection CD music Initial pressings of this first edition contain a bonus disc. Recorded between 1970 & 2002. Includes liner notes by Paul Gambaccini. Greatest Hits 1970-2002 is a nearly flawless double-disc set commemorating Elton John's three-decade career. Disc one features what may arguably be John's most essential work: Seeing songs such as "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Candle in the Wind," and "Bennie and the Jets" -- not to mention "Your Song," "Rocket Man," and "Tiny Dancer" -- lined up back to back reaffirms just how diverse, and yet universal, his songwriting talent is. Disc two finds this talent maturing gracefully into the '80s, '90s, and beyond, touching on pop gems like "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," "I'm Still Standing," and "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" as well as his Lion King classic "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" and the Aida duet "Written in the Stars" with LeAnn Rimes. The collection also finds room for the highlights of his most recent albums, including Made in England's "Believe" and "Blessed," The Big Picture's "Something About the Way You Look Tonight," and Songs from the West Coast's "This Train Don't Stop Here Anymore." For most casual fans, Greatest Hits 1970-2002 will replace the need for collections such as Greatest Hits, Greatest Hits, Vol. 2, and Greatest Hits, Vol. 3, although these collections are still worthwhile as of-their-time retrospectives of John's work. ~ Heather Phares All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Now That's What I Call Christmas!, Vol. 2: The Signature Collection buy CD music '80s Pop Hits is a three-disc set from Sony with a heavy emphasis on ballads, many of which continue to be played on adult contemporary radio stations across the U.S. The relatively upbeat material -- like Wham!'s "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," Toto's "Rosanna," Luther Vandross' "Stop for Love," and Deniece Williams' "Let's Hear It for the Boy" -- tends to be safe enough for waiting-room listening. But it is definitely the slow, soft material (joined by a few power ballads) that takes center-stage: Surface's "Shower Me with Your Love," Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam's "All Cried Out," and Gregory Abbott's "Shake You Down" are some of the inclusions. ~ Andy Kellman 3cds-Cheap Trick/Cyndi Lauper/ Bonnie Tyler/Reo Speedwagon

Now That's What I Call Christmas!, Vol. 2: The Signature Collection songs As the title suggests, Hard to Find 45's on CD, Vol. 6: More Sixties Classics collects more of the decade's pop and rock singles, including Lou Christie's "Lightning Strikes," the Nashville Teens' "Tobacco Road," Dale & Grace's "I'm Leaving It Up to You," and the Left Banke's "Walk Away Renee." Some of the collection's more obscure highlights include the stereo single versions of Miriam Makeba's "Pata Pata" and Lolita's "Sailor (Your Home Is the Sea)," as well as the original mono single version of Four Jacks and a Jill's "Master Jack." Tracks by Dickey Lee, Chris Montez, the Dixiebelles, Millie Small, and Los Bravos complete this fun collection of off-the-beaten-path hits. ~ Heather Phares Here's another high quality collection of 1960s hits. 17 of the 21 tracks here made the Top 20, and two of these songs are making their U.S. CD debut or are appearing in stereo for the first time. Features the cuts "Lightnin' Strikes," "I'm Leaving It Up Audio Remixers: Mark Mathews; Tom Daly.

Now That's What I Call Christmas!, Vol. 2: The Signature Collection album for sale With the help of her husband, "Mutt" Lange, a legendary producer who helmed mammoth hits by AC/DC and Def Leppard, Canadian songstress Shania Twain developed a highly commercial style of country-tinged pop music that helped her become one of the biggest stars in America. Though GREATEST HITS doesn't include the two major singles from her 1993 self-titled debut, Twain has released so many hits that the 21-track disc is still overflowing with familiar chart-busters. Listening to these ubiquitous songs all in one stretch will leave listeners awed at the breadth of Twain and Lange's incredible talent for catchy pop ditties that sound cutting-edge while still retaining that ever-important hint of Nashville twang. In fact, though laced with the usual fiddles and steel guitars, many songs end up recalling ABBA and the Cars as much as anything south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Of course, the main attraction is always Twain's smoothly sensual voice, which has won over millions of fans worldwide. Recording information: A.R.P. Track Productions, St. Anne Des Lacs, Quebec, Ca; Battery Studios, Nashville, TN; Compass Point Studios, Nassau, The Bahamas; Emerald Sound Studios, Nashville, TN; GBT Studio, Nashville, TN; Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Javelina Recording Studios, Nashville, TN; Masterfonics Tracking Room, Nashville, TN; Officine Meccaniche Next Recording Studios, Milan, Ital; Recording Arts, Nashville, Yn; Seven Studios, Mamaroneck, NY; Seventeen Grand Recording, Nashville, TN; Sound Stage Studio, Nashville, TN; Windmill Lane Recording Studio, Dublin, Ireland. Arranger: Robert John "Mutt" Lange. Personnel: Shania Twain (background vocals); Shania Twain (vocals); Mark McGrath, Billy Currington (vocals); Brent Mason (guitar, electric guitar); John Willis (acoustic guitar, banjo, bouzouki, mandolin); Michael Thompson (electric guitar, slide guitar, E-bow, bouzouki); Billy Crain (slide guitar); B.J. Cole (dobro); Terry McMillan (harp, harmonica, cowbells); Jonathan Yudkin (mandolin, violin, fiddle, cello); Glen Duncan , Larry Franklin, Rob Hajacos, Aubrey Haynie, Stuart Duncan, Joe Spivey (fiddle); David Hamilton , The Irish Film Orchestra, Carl Marsh (strings); Joey Miskulin (accordion); John Barlow Jarvis (piano, Wurlitzer organ); Matt Rollings, Michael Omartian (piano); John Hobbs (organ, Wurlitzer organ); Joe Chemay (electric bass, bass guitar, fretless bass); Diamond Duggal, Simon Duggal (percussion); Olle Romo (programming); Dan Huff (guitar, electric guitar, electric 12-string guitar, wah-wah guitar, electric sitar, talk box, 6-string bass, sound effects); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, nylon-string guitar); Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar, slide guitar); The Nashville String Machine (strings); Arthur Stead (piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ); Paul Leim (drums, percussion); Robert John "Mutt" Lange (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Michel Gallone; Lynn Peterzell; Mike Shipley; Steve McMillan.

Now That's What I Call Christmas!, Vol. 2: The Signature Collection buy CD music Composer and producer Paul O'Neill favors big, theatrical arrangements and booming production, often utilizing vocal choirs (both gospel and classical), orchestral instruments, and a rock/big-band ensemble to achieve maximum oomph. His compositions are a catalog of emotion-stirring styles, as he glides from piano-pounding pop ("Christmas Nights in Blue") to bouncy fusion ("Christmas Jazz") to hard-edged rock ("Christmas Jam") to chamber music ("Remember"). Traditional carols appear amongst--and sometimes within--O'Neill's exciting originals. This dual approach is used most strikingly on "For the Sake of Our Brother," on which vocalist Daryl Pediford twines a heartrending "O' Come All Ye Faithful" into an impassioned Tom Waits-like ballad about faith and trust. With THE LOST CHRISTMAS EVE, Trans-Siberian Orchestra has created another classic backdrop for celebrating the season of hope and goodwill. The great cosmic fable of THE LOST CHRISTMAS EVE posits angels on earth, snow princesses in the galaxies, and Christmas in the hearts of hardened businessmen and New York City street kids. Trans-Siberian Orchestra's prog-rock opera (the third in a trilogy of Christmas-themed concept albums) traverses time and space to tell the story of a lonely man who discovers the deeper implications of love on a dark night before that merriest of days. Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Jennifer Cella (vocals); Al Pitrelli (guitar, keyboards); Dave Wittman (guitar, bass guitar, drums); Chris Caffery, Alex Skolnick, Paul O'Neill, Angus Clark, Tristan Avakian (guitar); Amy Helm (whistle); John Clark (horns); Jon Oliva, Robert Kinkel (piano, keyboards); Jane Mangini (piano); Carmine Giglio, Mee Eun Kim (keyboards); Johnny Lee Middleton, David Z., Jeff Allegue (bass guitar); Takanori Niida, Jeff Plate, John O'Reilly (drums).

Now That's What I Call Christmas!, Vol. 2: The Signature Collection songs "The Nutcracker Suite" was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. The Brian Setzer Orchestra/Brian Setzer: Brian Setzer; Willie Murillo, Kevin Norton , Kyle Palmer (trumpet); Alex Henderson (trombone); John Hatton (bass instrument); Matthew Zebley, Dennis Farias, Bernie Dresel, Ray Herrmann, Jim Youngstrom, Tim Misica, Don Roberts , George McMullen, Craig Woods , Robbie Hioki. He wears a pompadour, hangs around with jazz musicians, and "vintage" may as well be his middle name, but Brian Setzer is a retro-king who now brings a jump-blues sensibility to the holiday of ole St. Nick with BOOGIE WOOGIE CHRISTMAS. Setzer's clearly having fun tearing into Elvis's perennial "Blue Christmas" and does equally well pumping up warhorses like "Jingle Bells" and "Winter Wonderland" as well as digging up the Leiber-Stoller nugget "Santa Claus Is Back In Town." Anther nod to Presley comes via the recruitment of EP's film co-star Ann-Margret for a seductive reading of "Baby It's Cold Outside." Equally impressive is the range this Long Island native shows, whether utilizing an arrangement of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" influenced by Les Brown and his Band of Renown, or the cool jazz vibe dripping off the self-penned "So They Say It's Christmas." After all the high-flying heroics, Setzer ends on a calm note with a one-two punch of "O Holy Night" and an a cappella rendition of the traditional "The Amens," both of which would have fit perfectly on one of the King's reverential gospel albums. Prev.Wb44011;Has 2 New Tracks Recorded at Unit A, Palm Springs, California and Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California. Brian Setzer Orchestra: Brian Setzer (vocals, arranger, guitar); Ann Margret (vocals); Don Roberts (baritone saxophone); Tim Misica, Ray Herrmann, Matt Zebley, Jim Youngstrom (saxophone); Dennis Farias, Kye Palmer, Kevin Norton, Will Murillo (trumpet); George McMullen, Alex Henderson, Craig Woods, Robbie Hioki (trombone); Hohn Hatton (bass); Bernie Dresel (drums); The Caroling Company (background vocals). Personnel: Brian Setzer (vocals, guitar); Matthew Zebley, Ray Herrmann, Jim Youngstrom, Tim Misica (saxophone); Don Roberts (baritone saxophone); Kevin Norton , Dennis Farias (trumpet); George McMullen, Craig Woods (trombone); Robbie Hioki (bass trombone); Bernie Dresel (drums); The Caroling Company (background vocals). Recording information: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA; Unit A, Palm Springs, CA. Director: Diane Burt. Illustrator: Sir Richard Wentworth. Photographer: Yoshika Horita. Arrangers: Brian Setzer; Frank Comstock; Mark Anthony Jones .