Piano Don Shirley

The second installment of Omnivore's four-volume The Ru-Jac Records Story concentrates on music recorded between 1964 and 1966, and as this opens with four sides recorded by Brenda Jones, a singer who had three on the previous Something Got a Hold on Me, Get Right immediately feels quite similar to its predecessor. As its 22 tracks unfurl, some crucial differences can be heard, in great part due to the inclusion of the great Southern soul singer Arthur Conley. He migrated up to Baltimore from his native Georgia and fell into the circles surrounding Ace Promotions, which was at the epicenter of Ru-Jac.

"Bette Midler" is the eponymous second studio album by American female vocalist Bette Midler, released in 1973 on the Atlantic Records label. The album, produced by Arif Mardin and Barry Manilow, includes Midler's interpretations of Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael's "Skylark", Berthold Brecht and Kurt Weill's "Surabaya Johnny", Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released" and Glenn Miller's "In the Mood" as well as a Phil Spector medley. Bette Midler reached #6 on the US albums chart and was later awarded a Gold Disc by the RIAA. The album was released on CD for the first time in 1989. A remastered version of the album was released by Atlantic Records/Warner Music in 1995.

Ralph Vaughan Williams’s 150th anniversary (12th October) is one of the major musical commemorations of this autumn. It is marked on our side by the release of a 30 CD boxset spanning his major achievements by the greatest performers. Adrian Boult, Janet Baker, Vernon Handley, the Choir of King’s College, Simon Rattle and more are all gathered in this collection of the 70 best tracks from the boxset. The title, An English Music, reflects Vaughan Williams’ commitment to using elements from British folklore and the Elizabethan masters to forge his own musical personality and become the figurehead of a typically British school.

Man, does this set go down easy big easy! This gorgeous set features over 80 hits from New Orleans' most famous-and occasionally obscure-musical sons and daughters, 4 CDs of jazz, blues, Cajun, zydeco and funk all mixed together like a good 'n' spicy gumbo. An 84-page book takes you by the hand into the most notorious bars and restaurants as you listen to such Crescent City classics as Iko Iko Dr. John; Potato Head Blues Louis Armstrong; You Can Have My Husband Irma Thomas; I'm Walkin' Fats Domino; Let the Good Times Roll Shirley & Lee; Mother-in-Law Ernie K-Doe; Release Me Johnny Adams; Jambalaya Clifton Chenier; St. James Infirmary Preservation Hall Jazz Band; Hey Pocky A-Way Meters; Tell It Like It Is Aaron Neville; I Hear You Knocking Smiley Lewis; Lipstick Traces (on a Cigarette) Benny Spellman; Tipitina Professor Longhair, and more.

Frederick Delius was an English composer who forged a unique version of the Impressionist musical language of the early twentieth century. He was born in Bradford, England, in 1862, and died in Grez-sur-Loing, France, in 1934. He did not come from a musical family; rather, his father owned a wool company and hoped that his son would follow a career in business. Delius, however, wanted to study music, and though his father did not approve of music as a profession, he did not discourage music-making as a pastime; thus, Delius was allowed to study the violin and the piano.

The King of the Ballroom’s third compilation is a poignant collection of the music that influenced both his dance career and memorable life moments and most notably includes the track ‘Pick Yourself Up’ by Len’s dear friend and Strictly Come dancing colleague, the late British showbiz legend Sir Bruce Forsyth. This celebration of the best of British musical talent and timeless classics also features the likes of musical legends; Dame Shirley Bassey, Queen, Dusty Springfield, Elton John, Tom Jones, Acker Bilk, Anthony Newley and many more. Len Goodman said: “I am so pleased to be able to celebrate in music what the UK has given to the world. What better way to pay tribute to my friend Sir Bruce Forsyth whose charisma and talent was the leading light in British talent and has the power to live on and be remembered forever.”

Leonard Bernstein first signed with Columbia Masterworks in 1956, and up to 1979 he recorded over 500 compositions as conductor, pianist, and commentator for the label. Just a year before, legendary photographer Don Hunstein joined Columbia Records at a time when the company was under the direction of Goddard Lieberson, who thought it important to document in photographs the cultural history of the music of the time. This 224-page book collects for the first time the photographic highlights – many of them previously unseen – from the Leonard Bernstein photo collection. It also contains twelve CDs with Bernstein’s legendary recordings of symphonic masterpieces, concertos, and vocal works, featuring him as conductor, composer, and pianist.

Limited and numbered edition of 1,500 copies! R&B in DC - Bear Family Records® presents the rise of rhythm 'n' blues in Washington, D.C. - music from the swing era, classic doo-wop of the 1940s and 1950s, rocking rhythm & blues, rock & roll and soul of the early 1960s. Classics such as Love Potion No. 9 (The Clovers), Wedding Bells(The Senators) and Georgianna(Lloyd Price), supplemented by local hits, long-forgotten obscure tunes and sought-after rarities.