Muzikland

以前大小型唱片公司百花齊放﹐每一間的出品﹐都有自己廠牌的風格﹐可是現在經過多年的吞併下﹐剩下的卻只是寥寥數間唱片集團而已﹐當中自己覺得對音樂最有誠意的是 Sony BMG。

其實以前已經很喜歡 Sony﹐因為他們的出品﹐無論在選曲﹑音色與及設計方面﹐都很有一套的做法﹐他們的 Reissue﹐不時在音響技術進步的情況下﹐令到許多舊歌煥然一新﹐份外增加了歌曲的吸引力﹐加上他們不會胡亂發精選﹐常會很有系統與條理的情況下出版﹐使到筆者對他們好感頓生﹐當 Sony與 BMG合併後﹐BMG旗下的 RCA與 Arista舊錄音都一下子賦予了新生命﹐這是過去 BMG獲得 RCA後無法做到的。

2000年藉著千禧﹐Sony為旗下過去與現今的歌手/樂團發了一系列的 The Essentail精選﹐後來加入了 BMG的歌曲﹐更令到此系列大大增強了陣容﹐想不到早前出版了90款後﹐至今仍然有新出品﹐於是筆者也就繼續再作簡介。

(091) The Essential Alice In Chains: 西雅圖的Heavy Metal 樂團﹐組成於1987年。
Disc 1:
We Die Young / Man in the Box / Sea of Sorrow / Love Hate Love / Am I Inside / Brother / Got Me Wrong / Right Turn / Rain When I Die / Them Bones / Angry Chair / Dam That River / Dirt / God Smack / Hate to Feel / Rooster
Disc 2:
No Excuses / I Stay Away / What the Hell Have I (Remix) / Little Bigger (Remix) / Grind / Heaven Beside You / Again / Over Now (Unplugged Version) / Nutshell (Unplugged Version) / Get Born Again / Died / Would? / Would?

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(092) The Essential Allman Brothers Band: The Epic Years: 1969年組成的搖滾樂團﹐風格包含藍調﹑鄉謠﹑爵士及古典音樂原素﹐Epic時期乃是他們90年代的作品。

Good Clean Fun / Seven Turns / End Of The Line / Nobody Knows / Get On With Your Life / No One To Run With / Soulshine / Blue Sky (Live) / Midnight Rider (Acoustic) / Jessica (Live) / Please Call Home (Live)

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(093) The Essential Andy Williams: 出道於40年代﹐但最為人熟悉乃是70年代的歌曲 Love Story及 Godfather等情歌。
Can't Take My Eyes Off You feat. Denise Van Outen / Music To Watch Girls By / Somethin' Stupid / The Look Of Love / Happy Heart / Up, Up & Away / Moon River / Spooky / The House Of Bamboo / It's So Easy / Can't Get Used To Losing You / Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again / Love Theme From Godfather / Born Free / Danny Boy / Almost There / We've Only Just Begun / One Day Of Your Life / I Think I Love You / Home Lovin' Man / Where Do I Begin / Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head / Aquarius / Let The Sun Shine In / Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Original)

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(094) The Essential Billy Joel: 70年代中後期的一位重要創作歌手﹐雖然以前都曾出版過精選1-3輯﹐收錄了主要精選歌曲﹐但既然是 Columbia重要歌手﹐The Essential又怎可少了他得份兒呢﹖
Disc 1:
Piano Man / You're My Home / Captain Jack / The Entertainer / Say Goodbye To Hollywood / Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) / New York State Of Mind / She's Always A Woman / Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) / Only The Good Die Young / Just The Way You Are / Honesty / My Life / It's Still Rock And Roll To Me / You May Be Right / Don't Ask Me Why / She's Got A Way / Allentown
Disc 2:
Goodnight Saigon / An Innocent Man / Uptown Girl / The Longest Time / Tell Her About It / Leave A Tender Moment Alone / A Matter Of Trust / Baby Grand (duet with Ray Charles) / I Go To Extremes / We Didn't Start The Fire / Leningrad / The Downeaster "Alexa" / And So It Goes / The River Of Dreams / All About Soul (Remix) / Lullbye (Goodnight My Angel) / Waltz No. 1 (Nunley's Carousel) * / Invention In C Minor*

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(095) The Essential Bruce Springteen: 最令筆者印象難忘是 1984年的Born In The USA專輯﹐可是一直都感到他太造作。Essential主要是宣傳公司招牌之作﹐但是唯獨他的精選為3 CD﹐頗為跨張。
Disc 1:
Blinded By the Light / For You / Spirit In the Night / 4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) / Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) / Thunder Road / Born To Run / Jungleland / Badlands / Darkness On The Edge Of Town / The Promised Land / The River / Hungry Heart / Nebraska / Atlantic City
Disc 2:
Born In The U.S.A. / Glory Days / Dancing In The Dark / Tunnel Of Love / Brilliant Disguise / Human Touch / Living Proof / Lucky Town / Streets Of Philadelphia / The Ghost Of Tom Joad / The Rising / Mary's Place / Lonesome Day / American Skin (41 Shots) (Live) / Land Of Hope and Dreams (Live)
Disc: 3
From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come) / Big Payback / Held Up Without A Gun (Live) / Trapped (Live) / None But The Brave / Missing / Lift Me Up / Viva Las Vegas / County Fair / Code Of Silence (Live) / Dead Man Walkin' / Countin' On a Miracle (Acoustic)

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(096) The Essential Charley Pride: 為早期的黑人鄉謠歌手﹐出道於60年代。
Disc 1:
Before I Met You / Just Between You And Me / I Know One / The Day The World Stood Still / The Easy Part's Over / Let The Chips Fall / Kaw-Liga / All I Have To Offer You (Is Me) / (I'm So) Afraid Of Losing You Again / Is Anybody Goin' To San Antone / Wonder Could I Live There Anymore / Did You Think To Pray / I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me / I'm Just Me / Kiss An Angel Good Mornin' / All His Children / It's Gonna Take A Little Bit Longer / She's Too Good To Be True / A Shoulder To Cry On / Don't Fight The Feelings Of Love
Disc 2:
Amazing Love / We Could / Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town / Then Who Am I / I Ain't All Bad / Hope You're Feelin' Me (Like I'm Feelin' You) / She's Just An Old Love Turned Memory / I'll Be Leaving Alone / More To Me / Someone Loves You Honey / When I Stop Leaving (I'll Be Gone) / Where Do I Put Her Memory / You Win Again / You Almost Slipped My Mind / Roll On Mississippi / You're So Good When You're Bad / Why Baby Why / Night Games / The Power Of Love / Down On The Farm

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(097) The Essential Charlie Daniels Band: 組成於1971年的鄉謠樂團﹐活躍期為70-90年代。
The Devil Went Down To Georgia / Long Haired Country Boy / Wichita Jail / Uneasy Rider / Mississippi / Trudy / Boogie Woogie Fiddle Country Blues / Texas / Simple Man / In America / Still In Saigon / The Legend Of Wooley Swamp / Drinkin' My Baby Goodbye / The South's Gonna Do It Again

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(098) The Essential Chieftains: 組成於60年代的愛爾蘭民謠樂團﹐近年仍常有新專輯及與不同歌手作 Croosover 合作。The Foggy Dew便是90年代與 Sinead O’Connor合作的好歌﹐也是筆者心愛之作。
Disc 1:
Lots Of Drops Of Brandy / The Green Fields of America / Santiago de Cuba / The Donegal Set; Willy's Single\ King of the Pipers\ The Glen Road to Carrick / Jabadaw / The Bells of Dublin/Christmas Eve / The French March / The Stone / The Munster Cloak/Tabhair Dom Do Lamh (Give Me Your Hand); The Munster Cloak\ Tabhair Dom Do Lamh (Give Me Your Hand) / Chasing The Fox
Disc 2:
I Know My Love / Shenandoah / Country Blues / Medley; Ladies Pantalettes\ Belles of Blackville\ First House in Connaught (Reels) / The Foggy Dew / Red is the Rose / The Squid Jiggin' Ground / Larry O'Gaff; The Squid Jiggin' Ground\ Larry O'Gaff / Lambs in the Greenfields / Guadalupe / Mo Ghile Mear ("Our Hero") / Cotton-Eyed Joe / Molly Bán (Bawn) / Long Journey Home / Love Is Teasin' / The Rebel Jesus / Il Est Né / Ca Berger; Il Est Ne\ Ca Berger / Jimmy Mó Mhíle Stór

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(099) The Essential Christmas: 一直以來﹐幾乎大部份的歌手或樂團都會灌錄耶誕歌曲﹐甚至是整張的耶誕專輯﹐所以要輯錄一套2CD的耶誕歌曲合輯﹐絕對不是問題。
Disc 1:
White Christmas (From Holiday Inn) - Frank Sinatra
Here Comes Santa Claus (Down Santa Claus Lane) - Doris Day
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
Twelve Days of Christmas - Norman Luboff Choir
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Jimmy Boyd,
Frosty the Snowman - Mitch Miller & The Gang
Sleigh Ride - Johnny Mathis
My Favorite Things (From the Sound of Music) - Tony Bennett
What Child Is This (Greensleeves) - Percy Faith
Silver Bells (From the Lemon Drop Kid) - Andy Williams
Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) - Mel Tormé
Christmas Day {From Promises, Promises) - Robert Goulet
O Little Town of Bethlehem - Julie Andrews
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Philadelphia Brass Ensemble
Jingle Bells - Willie Nelson
Little Drummer Boy - Johnny Cash
I'll Be Home for Christmas - Chet Atkins
Christmas Auld Lang Syne - Marc Anthony
O Holy Night - Mahalia Jackson
Ave Maria - Bobby McFerrin, Yo-Yo Ma
Joy to the World - Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Philadelphia Brass Ensemble
Disc 2:
Jingle Bell Rock - Neil Diamond
O Come All Ye Faithful - Luther Vandross
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Johnny Mathis
Do You Hear What I Hear - Destiny's Child, Kelly Rowland
Christmas Time Is Here - Shawn Colvin
We Need a Little Christmas (From Mame) - Jane Connell, Angela Lansbury, Frankie Michaels, Sab Shimono
Carol of the Bells - New York Philharmonic
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - The Manhattan Transfer
Winter Wonderland - Aretha Franklin
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Meet Me in St. Louis) - Doris Day
Snowfall - Tony Bennett
Blue Christmas - Jerry Vale
Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly - Mitch Miller & The Gang
Don't Save It All for Christmas Day - Celine Dion
Silent Night - Babyface
Last Christmas - Wham!
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer - Elmo & Patsy
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Cyndi Lauper
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - E. Power Biggs, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Orchestra, André Kostelanetz,
Hallelujah Chrous - Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra

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(100) The Essential David Allan Coe: 他是鄉謠創作歌手﹐雖然大熱歌曲不多﹐卻在鄉謠界享有重要地位。
The Ride / Would You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone) / You Never Even Called Me By My Name / Willie, Waylon And Me / Longhaired Redneck / If That Ain't Country / Take This Job And Shove It / (If I Could Climb) The Walls Of The Bottle / Jack Daniel's, If You Please / Tennessee Whiskey / Now I Lay Me Down To Cheat / Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile / Don't Cry Darlin' / Need A Little Time Off For Bad Behavior

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(101) The Essential Dion: Dion出道於50年代的 Rock Singer﹐筆者認識他的歌曲乃是來自一張80年代的懷舊合輯﹐當中有 Donna The Prima Donna。
The Wanderer / Runaround Sue / Lovers Who Wander / Can't We Be Sweethearts / Ruby Baby / This Little Girl Of Mine / Donna The Prima Donna / No One's Waiting For Me / Drip Drop / This Little Girl / Sweet, Sweet Baby / Kickin' Child / Time In My Heart For You / Abraham, Martin And John

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(102) The Essential Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show: 組成於1968年的 Pop-Rock樂團﹐活躍期為70年代。
Freakin' At The Freakers' Ball / Cover Of The Rolling Stone / Sylvia's Mother / Only Sixteen / A Little Bit More / Life Ain't Easy / Carry Me, Carrie / The Things I Didn't Say / You Ain't Got The Right / I Call That True Love / Makin' It Natural / If I'd Only Come And Gone / Get My Rocks Off / Queen Of The Silver Dollar

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(103) The Essential Earl Scruggs: 活躍於60-80年代﹐有名的 Blueglass 樂手﹐彈得一手好 Banjo。
Disc 1:
Heavy Traffic Ahead / It's Mighty Dark To Travel / Molly And Tenbrooks (The Race Horse Song) / Down The Road / Foggy Mountain Breakdown / Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms / Old Salty Dog Blues / Pike Country Breakdown / Come Back Darling / Don't Get Above Your Raising / Jimmie Brown, The Newsboy / Earl's Breakdown / Get In Line Brother / Dear Old Dixie / Flint Hill Special / Foggy Mountain Chimes / Till The End Of The World Rolls Round / Foggy Mountain Special / Randy Lynn Rag / Shuckin' The Corn
Disc 2:
John Henry (Live) / Cumberland Gap (Live) / Cripple Creek / Reuben / Sally Goodwin / Foggy Mountain Top / Georgia Buck / John Hardy Was A Desperate Little Man / The Ballad Of Jed Clampett / Nashville Skyline Rag / Nashville Blues / I Saw The Light / Some Of Shelley's Blues / Peking Fling / I Shall Be Released / Stash It / Song Of The South / I Still Miss Someone / We'll Meet Again Sweetheart / American-Made, World-Played

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(104) The Essential George Benson: 偉大的爵士樂結他手﹐最為人熟悉的流行作品﹐當然是 This Masquerade及 Greatest Love Of All﹐不過這裡收錄的是早期60-70年代 Columbia時期作品。
Disc 1:
Rock Candy / Shadow Dancers / Clockwise / Willow Weep For Me- featuring The George Benson Quartet / A Foggy Day- featuring The George Benson Quartet / The Borgia Stick- featuring The George Benson Quartet / Paraphernalia- featuring Miles Davis / Sugar- featuring Stanley Turrentine / So What / Ode To A Kudu / California Dreamin'
Disc 2:
White Rabbit / Body Talk / Take Five / Summertime / Breezin' / This Masquerade / On Broadway / Give Me The Night / Hip Skip / Gotham City

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(105) The Essential George Duke: 擅於玩奏琴鍵的 Pop Jazz樂手﹐這裡收錄的是70年代時期的歌曲。
Disc 1:
'Scuse Me Miss / Reach For It / Starting Again / Dukey Stick / Movin' On / Party Down / Say That You Will / Funkin' For The Thrill / Summer Breezin' / Cravo E Canela / Up From The Sea It Arose And Ate Rio In One Swift Bite / Brazilian Love Affair / Every Little Step I Take / I Want You For Myself / Sweet Baby / I Just Want to Love You- featuring Stanley Clarke / You
Disc 2:
Shine On / Ride On Love / Son Of Reach For It / Every Reason To Smile- featuring Stanley Clarke / Heroes- featuring Stanley Clarke / The Good Times- featuring Stanley Clarke / Overture / Reach Out / Give Me Your Love / Silly Fightin' / Got To Get Back To Love / She Can Wait Forever / Secret Rendezvous / Mothership Connection / Dukey Stick / Reach Out



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