MR Rain Sindrome DI Stoccolma

At age 62, Tom Jones is, in a sense, making a comeback with each new recording. That is certainly the case with Mr. Jones, on which he puts himself in the hands of producers Wyclef Jean and Jerry Duplessis. Jones has never minded being the mouthpiece of a producer or two, confident enough in his own persona to stretch to meet different styles. Here, he collaborates with his partners, co-writing many of the songs. And the trio isn't afraid to take on the Jones' legend directly, starting with the lead-off track, "Tom Jones International," which even finds the singer rapping – well, sort of – in a dance-friendly paean to himself.

The soprano Jennifer Vyvyan was taught at the Royal Academy of Music in London by Roy Henderson, coach of Kathleen Ferrier. With Henderson’s help she formed a secure technique, and quickly won acclaim for both operatic and oratorio roles in a wide variety of repertoire. Best known now as a singer favoured by Benjamin Britten, Vyvyan was also a leading figure in the revival of Baroque repertory: a celebrated interpreter of Purcell, Rameau, Bach and Handel who starred in landmark 1950s/60s reappraisals of the Handel operas at Sadlers Wells, Covent Garden and elsewhere.

This British Sunray Label pressing has THE BEST SOUND I'VE EVER HEARD FOR THIS ALBUM! None of the Pink Label originals that we played had the deep, powerful, punchy bass that this pressing has, coupled with an extended, sweet top end. This is one of the best sounding Traffic records ever made. It's a wonderful example of late '60s British psychedelic rock. Better records.

Donizetti was, of course, a major beneficiary of the postwar revival of Italian bel canto operas of the early 19th century, which put a premium on vocal beauty and display. In the years since Maria Callas took on work like “Lucia di Lammermoor” and “Anna Bolena,” Donizetti’s 70 operas became the subject of such keen interest that nowadays there remain no undiscovered gems waiting for their first glimpse of daylight in modern times. Yet the situation can easily seem otherwise when a neglected opera like “Gemma di Vergy,” which opened the festival this year, takes to the stage in a revelation…

Long awaited first full length release hot off the desk of Mark Opitz's OneMusic Studio in Melbourne. Recorded in a house in Colac the album features Waifs bassist Ben Franz, legendary John Butler Trio founding drummer Jason McGann, and Tony Forbes.