Scott Joplin Music

This is the most enjoyable c-d on ragtime that I have ever had. It is WONDERFUL. There are no words to describe the enjoyment that i have had listening to this c-d,

From first to last, this is the best cd of ragtime played by people who know ragtime. Unfortunately, the tunes continue to play in my head for hours after.

It's difficult to explain the feeling one gets when they first listen to that perfect period recording. It's a split between true happiness, excitment, and subtle comfort, the feeling as if you have been propelled into the past, the feeling as if you can see what has long been forgotten, just by closing your eyes. It's pretty difficult for an orchestra to achieve this, but I think it is safe to say that the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra or 'PRO' does.

The PRO embodies the essence of the era in which it's music (a colaboration of marches, rags, cakewalks, one steps, waltzs, and so on) came from. All of the music preformed was written for ragtime orchestra (including Pine Apple Rag, for all of you Scott Joplin fans out there) and are part of the Arthur Pryor music collection that was recently rediscovered in Atlantic City by the founder of the orchestra, Rick Benjamin.(Arthur Pryor was a member of the Sousa band, and the conductor of his own orchestra at the turn-of-the-century)

Utilizing superb training, enthusiastic sound, and chamber orchestra polish, the PRO succeeds in bringing a long forgotten musical genre back into light. And rest asured this is not a Dixieland recording, this is not a brashy, low class, bordello band. It is what can only be described as the band that would perform in the park every Sunday after church, at a high class social event, or the departure of the latest luxury liner. It is the embodiment of an era that will never come again, but is still firmly implanted in our memories.

I strongly recommend Knockout Drops to any music fan who is looking for an extraordinary ragtime recording that dosen't have a hint of piano in it. This also goes for the orchestras other recordings (That Demon Rag!, The Whistler and His Dog, and On the Boardwalk) and their video (Charlie Chaplin Moving Picture Show).

This is a great album for anyone who like ragtime music. For people who have seen the 2004 film The Deserter by Eric B. Borgman and wondered where you could find the music, some of these exact tunes can be heard in it! Borgman cut a deal with Rick Benjamin and used several tunes from this CD and That Demon Rag!

This CD is highly recommended by me I truly believe that this is the best ragtime orchestra going on the planet!

THIS CD IS GREAT. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A FEW CLICKING SOUNDS, ITS WONDERFUL. YUP

very good for a record that is too lon

Overall, this is an enjoyable album that is worth purchasing. The playing is refined and elegant, and it succeeds in conveying the atmosphere of a tea room or lounge on the doomed ship. But, there are a number of areas where the recording could have been improved:

- Many of the songs are represented only by the chorus, with the verses being completely absent. "Let Me Call You Sweetheart", for instance, runs through the chorus 3 times, with slightly varying orchestration, but never do we hear the verse.

- The string playing is pretty poor with regard to intonation. Passages where multiple strings are (supposedly) in unison come off a little harsh. Maybe that was the authentic way string players sounded back then? Doubtful.

- The newly composed material that bookends the authentic original music is rather discordant in style. I found myself just playing the middle tracks, skipping the first and last two.

In 1996, Carl Wolfe was commissioned to arrange music from the Titanic playlist (used by the White Star Line musicians) for the 1997 Titanic Exhibition. It is officially endorsed by the exhibition. Since its release, dozens of other CDs have followed, hoping to capitalize off of the success of the movie. Some aren't bad, but "Music Aboard The Titanic" is effective because it was written and arranged by a musician/composer who had served 20 years in the U.S. Navy as an arranger, conductor and musician. His two original pieces--"Leaving Queenstown" and "Fateful Hour"--are emotionally-charged and tie the entire work together as a concept CD. "Music Aboard The Titanic" is a real masterpiece. I should know--I was the one who commissioned Carl Wolfe for the job!

This recording provides a nice look into the musical trends of the upper class of early 1900s society. Although the quality of the music is certainly not that of I Salonisti, it is pleasant, clear, and relatively well-orchestrated. One of the problems with this recording, however, is that some of the pieces are not complete and/or played as they were intended to be played. The section "Dinner Dance" (tracks 12-15) includes Strauss' BLUE DANUBE; this CD's version is only a 2 1/2 minute "clip" from the original piece. Note also that -- depending on the type of audio CD player you have -- you may experience what one reviewer called "clicking" sounds. This has happend only on one CD player I have used.

Despite the minor flaws in this CD, it is definately worth the fifteen or so dollars, if you are a fan of salon-style music.

You may wish to consider the following other recordings at Amazon.com. I own all of them and am very impressed, overall:

* LAST DANCE: MUSIC FOR A VANISHING ERA (I Salonisti) - EXCELLENT * AND THE BAND PLAYED ON: MUSIC ABOARD THE TITANIC (I Salonisti) - EXCELLENT * MUSIC FROM THE WHITE STAR SONGBOOK - VERY GOOD * THE MUSIC OF THE TITANIC - GOOD * 21 AUTHENTIC SONGS FROM TITANIC (Mary Jane Newman and the Southampton Pier Players) - EXCELLENT * TITANIC: MUSIC FROM THE FATEFUL VOYAGE (Ian Whitcomb & The White Star Orchestra) - EXCELLENT

THIS CD IS GREAT. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A FEW CLICKING SOUNDS, ITS WONDERFUL. YUP

very good for a record that is too lon

Overall, this is an enjoyable album that is worth purchasing. The playing is refined and elegant, and it succeeds in conveying the atmosphere of a tea room or lounge on the doomed ship. But, there are a number of areas where the recording could have been improved:

- Many of the songs are represented only by the chorus, with the verses being completely absent. "Let Me Call You Sweetheart", for instance, runs through the chorus 3 times, with slightly varying orchestration, but never do we hear the verse.

- The string playing is pretty poor with regard to intonation. Passages where multiple strings are (supposedly) in unison come off a little harsh. Maybe that was the authentic way string players sounded back then? Doubtful.

- The newly composed material that bookends the authentic original music is rather discordant in style. I found myself just playing the middle tracks, skipping the first and last two.

In 1996, Carl Wolfe was commissioned to arrange music from the Titanic playlist (used by the White Star Line musicians) for the 1997 Titanic Exhibition. It is officially endorsed by the exhibition. Since its release, dozens of other CDs have followed, hoping to capitalize off of the success of the movie. Some aren't bad, but "Music Aboard The Titanic" is effective because it was written and arranged by a musician/composer who had served 20 years in the U.S. Navy as an arranger, conductor and musician. His two original pieces--"Leaving Queenstown" and "Fateful Hour"--are emotionally-charged and tie the entire work together as a concept CD. "Music Aboard The Titanic" is a real masterpiece. I should know--I was the one who commissioned Carl Wolfe for the job!

This recording provides a nice look into the musical trends of the upper class of early 1900s society. Although the quality of the music is certainly not that of I Salonisti, it is pleasant, clear, and relatively well-orchestrated. One of the problems with this recording, however, is that some of the pieces are not complete and/or played as they were intended to be played. The section "Dinner Dance" (tracks 12-15) includes Strauss' BLUE DANUBE; this CD's version is only a 2 1/2 minute "clip" from the original piece. Note also that -- depending on the type of audio CD player you have -- you may experience what one reviewer called "clicking" sounds. This has happend only on one CD player I have used.

Despite the minor flaws in this CD, it is definately worth the fifteen or so dollars, if you are a fan of salon-style music.

You may wish to consider the following other recordings at Amazon.com. I own all of them and am very impressed, overall:

* LAST DANCE: MUSIC FOR A VANISHING ERA (I Salonisti) - EXCELLENT * AND THE BAND PLAYED ON: MUSIC ABOARD THE TITANIC (I Salonisti) - EXCELLENT * MUSIC FROM THE WHITE STAR SONGBOOK - VERY GOOD * THE MUSIC OF THE TITANIC - GOOD * 21 AUTHENTIC SONGS FROM TITANIC (Mary Jane Newman and the Southampton Pier Players) - EXCELLENT * TITANIC: MUSIC FROM THE FATEFUL VOYAGE (Ian Whitcomb & The White Star Orchestra) - EXCELLENT

"Legendary performers, timeless melodies, the ultimate collection. This very special 2-CD set captures America's best-loved and most influential songs of the 20th Century. From jazz to pop, ragtime to Broadway, rock to gospel and more, re-live the coming of age of a nation with this powerful, nostalgic, and entertaining compilation. Created specially for the Whitney Museum of American Art, this classic collection, featuring Jasper John's enduring image, Three Flags, on the cover, will become a favorite of listeners from all generations.
Release No. MM105
Music Genres: Jazz, Swing, R&B, Pop, Rock
Running Time: 111:28 Double CD"

Let me start by saying that I give this four stars instead of five because there is no additional information about the recordings - Who performed them? When were they recorded? Annoying!

Otherwise, this is a wonderful set of Scott Joplin Rags. I specifically chose this CD because it is an older recording. The modern recordings did not have the same appeal for me. They were too polished - some being played on very good pianos which sounds weird. I like the gritty feel of the piano on some of the tracks and occasional crackling of the recording as if I am listening to a slice of history.

The compositions seem to be played more as Joplin had intended. For example, The Maple Leaf Rag is typically played at a very fast pace. However, I have read that this was not Joplin's intention and this CD has a restrained pace on that track. The choice of pieces for the compilation is pretty good. There are a few other rags I wish were on here, but this was the best combination of rags and sound feel I could find.

The tracks that may be familiar are: The Entertainer, Original Rags, Maple Leaf Rag, Peachering Rag, and The Easy Winners.

I teach over 700 elementary students about the elements of art and music once a month. I look for original recordings from the artists so that the children can hear the actual artists perform and get a sense of the quality of the technology during the times. When explaining "Rag", the children are told about the history of the music and about the felt worn off the keys or even removed from the keys. They get that sense from this recording... I wouldn't want a highly digitized, quality production that distorts the reality of the music...

This cd is terrible. It is a poor recording to the point where it sounds like a home taping job of someone playing an out-of-tune piano. It is certainly not what I'd expect from any quality cd and poor old Scott Joplin would be embarrassed to hear it!

ORIGINAL RECORDINGS OF RAGTIME MUSIC BY JAMES P. jOHNSON, EUBIE BLAKE, MAX MORATH, JELLY ROLL MORTON, AND OTHERS. SOME OF THE RECORDINGS ARE FROM THE ORIGINAL 78 RECORDS, AND OTHERS WERE REMASTERED FROM ACTUAL PIANO ROLLS FROM THOSE AUTOMATED PLAYER PIANOS, AND THE REMASTERING ON THOSE PARTICULAR SONGS MAKE THEM SOUND AS IF THEY WERE RECORDED YESTERDAY. IF YOU WANT TO HEAR SOME RAGTIME MUSIC, THIS IS A GREAT CD.

I don't know if it's the performer, but this is really some of the most bland and plan piano I've heard in a long time. It might be precise, but technical skill without any sense of emotion is not worth hearing more than once.

Although I agree with the other reviewers that the performances respect Scott Joplin's intent, they unfortunately lack a great deal in phrasing, rhythm and sense of harmonic progression. Right-hand passagework often takes just a little more time to execute than the left-hand accompaniment permits, creating awkward-sounding moments, particularly at cadences. The accompaniment, while accurate and full-sounding, lacks harmonic direction to help shape phrases. The result is too often reminiscent of a strait-jacketed calliope with an erratic small gear a bit out of sync. I was also disappointed at the total absence of liner notes, hoping to learn more about Joplin and his marvelous output. I purchased this recording on the strength of the previous eight reviews -- now I'm wondering whether they were written by friends and family of Mark Reichle, or perhaps even by him!

Mark Reichle was somehow able to capture the magic of Scott Joplin as I have never heard before. Each selection comes to life as the expressions of Joplin's work are carefully re-told. The recording quality is excellent, and the sound is extremely crisp. If you are not a fan of Ragtime, this will convert you. If you are, then don't miss out on what Ragtime is really all about.

I have thoroughly enjoyed Mark Rechle's premier collection of Joplin's earliest piano works. His playing is articulate and exceptionally performed. It's been a pleasure to be introduced to some selections that were completely unfamiliar to me, and I look forward to hearing more in Volume Two. Finally I have a collection in my piano studio that I can use to give my students a clear vision of how Scott Joplin's works should be performed! Thanks, Mark!

I've spent years looking for a great performance of Scott Joplin's music from the early years. And now, I've found it. I can only hope a second volume will follow.

This is the first Country Joe and the Fish album I ever heard. Before this, I only knew a couple songs from the band and I really had no idea they could totally jam away the way they do here. While I think the sound of the album overall is pretty weak, we DO have to understand this music was recorded in 1969. Still, a remastering job wouldn't hurt. Something to fix up the muddy sound.

The first song is called "Introduction/Rock and Soul Music/Love" and is quite a great way to open a live set. The first two minutes feature guitar jamming. It shows what you can expect. Then lyrics about rainbows come in next. The song switches gears after this and seemingly turns into Steppenwolf. If that's not the lead singer of Steppenwolf during the vocal melody, he has a copycat. Then comes a brief keyboard jam along with some pretty good drumming behind the vocal melody.

"Here I Go Again" isn't related to the Whitesnake song, haha. Supposedly a religious song, the vocal melody is absolutely gorgeous. It sounds like an old-fashioned country love song. It's a really beautiful melody. It sounds like it was designed for people to slow dance to it. Nice piano playing too.

"It's So Nice to Have Your Love" is next. The vocals sound like Al Stewart, almost exactly. That's cool with me. Love the atmospheric piano solo. The vocal melody is brilliantly emotional. The guitar solos are quite powerful as well, filled with so much emotion. I had no idea Country Joe and the Fish was able to give the listener so many pleasant feelings.

The first eight minutes of "Flying High" is nothing but an extended guitar jam. It reminds me of something from the Quicksilver Messenger Service album "Happy Trails". VERY good stuff. Also reminds me of the Allman Brothers a little bit. A bluesy vocal melody and heavy bass guitar finish up the song. A very melodic song overall.

"Doctor of Electricity" is next. Man, what a cool song title! An adventurous and mysterious keyboard bit opens up the song. Wow, pretty cool. Too bad it only lasts roughly 75 seconds. A guitar jam soon follows after a short vocal melody. Those cool keyboards make another appearance. They stick around for the rest of the 9-minute song, and some more guitar work comes along for the ride.

"Donovan's Reef Jam" is the ultimate live jam. I mean, REALLY incredible stuff. An energetically fantastic guitar jam opens up this 38-minute monster before a jazzy vocal melody comes in. That lasts for a few minutes. The jam maintains a jazzy feel through some excellent guitar work and the cool rhythm section. Here comes some harmonica 8 minutes in. Good stuff. A brief vocal melody returns 12 minutes in. After the vocals are over, the song turns into a bluesy jam for a while. Some harmonica playing returns, along with more of those ultra-cool keyboards. I love the sound of the keyboards these guys have. All these instruments are taking place while still jamming of course (quite heavily, might I add!)

The jam seems to slow down temporarily around the 21-minute mark. By this point, the guitar is dominating, and continues to do so for the next several minutes. The jam slows down drastically around the 27-minute mark. Near the 30-minute mark, the jam becomes incredibly gorgeous and melodic. The guitar playing is suddenly beyond belief along with the keyboards. A very emotional piece of writing there. I love the rest of the song. Then it's finally over. Whoa, what an exhausting listen! But keep with it and you'll be rewarded.

While Country Joe and the Fish aren't remembered today as much as they should be, you can buy this album and own one heck of a great live jamming performance. You won't regret it.

Cool 60's music. It's a little far out and that's the way I like it.The song selection could have been a little better but it's still cool. The best band from that time was Airplane. They were the coolest little hippie band of the 60's ever!

This was a great band, individually and collectively. It's a shame that the relationships have not been maintained over the years. Ce la vie! The really great thing about this album is the jamming aspect. Always known for the lyrical and political aspects of their music, the Fish could jam it up like the best of them. Indeed Barry Melton in his new life still does. But what performances have we on this jewel of a disc. I suspect that many of the people who bought this album did so because of the appearance of Dead members Garcia and Hart or even Casady and Kaukkonen and good luck to them because they will have been exposed to some killer playing on the disc. Barry Melton is on top form throughout and plays his heart out. My only regret is that there is not more of these shows or other live Fish performances around. If anyone out there is listening...WE WANT MORE! A highly recommended alum which should grace the shelves of any afficionado of West Coast Music.

Due to the presence of all the guest players on this vintage "farewell to the original lineup" CJ & Fish show, the music--especially on the closing "Donovan's Reef" jam--comes incredibly close to sounding like The Dead or The Airplane during one of their long improvisational flights. The Country Joe sound is still evident, although it had changed from the early days of "Electric Music" from the purer acid-rock of that time to add elements of soul/funk/boogie to the mix. There are some great moments here, but like almost all SF jam albums of the period there are are dull moments when the super-group of jammers are slightly off or feeling their way. Highlights include "It's So Nice To Have Your Love", the end of "Flying High", the climax of "Donovan's Reef" and Jack Casady's bass playing throughout. I've always liked Country Joe's voice, it has a humble quality and an appealing timbre. However, as good as this release is it would perhaps be even better to release their complete Monterey Pop performance, which captured them playing the best songs off of their first two albums.

The dead arent that good....I like them I own their first 10 cds or so (the arista stuff sucked) and I trade live shows so I know the jams and what not....but the dead just dont have the energy that CJ and the fish had. But it sickens me to think people buy this just for Jerry.....Country Joe rules and his folkie-voice does too. haha...Um the best fish is non-studio live stuff, sorry amazon,(Country Joe allows trading similar to the dead) but If you know any live show traders get their woodstock set or anything, but woodstock was absolutely on fire, then you doubters will understand the mighty Fish. Seriously Folks, they were massively underrated and nearly forgotten by the mainstream except fixin to die rag which has almost become a gimick......hmmm. Theres more out there especially in the san fran 60s scene than just the dead...do some research lazy potheads. haha