M A Aldrich

Richard Wagner’s early opera “Rienzi” is stylistically closer to Meyerbeer and bel canto than to Wagner’s later masterworks. Yet even this early work – especially as presented in this recording – is “so fantastically beautiful that it takes one’s breath away” (Berliner Zeitung). And in this staging by Philipp Stölzl, who condensed the five-act opera into a little over two hours, “Rienzi” becomes a startlingly powerful and timeless parable of power and abuse. Though the story of the rise and fall of a charismatic leader and his totalitarian regime takes place in 14th-century Rome, Stölzl sets it somewhere in the recent past.

Just at the zenith of the French “Wagnerisme” Jules Massenet surprised the French opera audience in 1891 with a genuine French Grand Opéra, which apparently did not seem to care about current musical events. With its exotic setting (Persia), supernatural elements of action and a religiously veiled love story, it ties in with works such as "Hérodiade" and "Le Roi de Lahore". Production at Ediciones Singulares makes it clear that a revival was long overdue.

Stone Cold Queen: A Tribute features a number of hard rock performers covering some of Queen's best-known songs. Many of the featured performers are industry veterans: Billy Sheehan, Matt Sorum, Marty Friedman, Geoff Tate, Gunnar Nelson, Jake E. Lee, Richie Kotzen, Vinny Appice, Kip Winger, Carmine Appice, Tommy Shaw, Dweezil Zappa, and Bruce Kulick are just a few of the featured performers…

Kris and Jerry - A Sunny Day (1966) {Vinyl B-J Records LP 170}
FLAC (tracks) - 16bit/48kHz - VINYL RIP -> 228 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 81 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 37 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1966 B-J Records | LP 170
Folk Rock / Lightweight Pop / Jazzy Tunes

We're at that season when, imperceptibly, autumn may slip away. As the days shorten and become more cloudy, windy and cold, the richness of this time of year will vanish, the landscape shedding its autumnal tones to reveal those of winter. With its generic fall foliage cover, the vanity release from Kris and Jerry captures these fleeting moments of beauty, when the leaves are turning to gold among a palette of vibrant yellow, russet and remaining green. Here is A Sunny Day, without the harsh glare of summer. Gentle breezes have escorted many leaves to the ground with the last warming rays. The low sun still retains radiance enough to brush the wooded peaks with brilliant light and the air is carrying with it ripe fragrances that tease the senses.