Carpenters:
Christmas Once More
(2024/A&M Records CD*)/Eric
Clapton: Standing At The Crossroads
(2021/Trinity/Dark Side Blu-ray)/Funny
Girl 4K
(1968/Sony/Columbia/Criterion 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray w/Blu-ray)/Frank
Sinatra: L.A. Is My Lady
(1984/Capitol Records CD*)/Weezer:
The Blue Album 30th Anniversary Edition
(1994/Geffen CD Box Set/*all Universal Music)
4K
Ultra HD Picture: B+ Picture: X/B-/B/X/X Sound: B/C+/B/B/B
Extras: C/C-/B/B-/B+ Main Programs: B-/B-/B/B/B
Now
for a nice new set of music releases with classic artists, classic
music and much more...
The
Carpenters: Christmas Once More
(2024) is a new compilation of the soft rock duo's holiday hits,
making
their music and style an easy fit for a holiday release and that in
itself is something you need to be in the mood for, especially if you
are sick and tired of the holiday being trivialized and sold out for
political and commercial reasons (overkill garbage on the subject all
the month of July, for instance) so it is not for everyone all the
time unless you are a fan crazy for holiday music or this
brother/sister team. Tracks include:
It
Came Upon A Midnight Clear
Happy
Holiday
The
Christmas Waltz
Sleigh
Ride
It's
Christmas Time / Sleep Well, Little Children
Have
Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Christ
Is Born
Santa
Claus Is Coming To Town
Merry
Christmas, Darling (RPO Version)
The
Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
(There's
No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
Little
Altar Boy
The
First Snowfall / Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
My
Favorite Things
White
Christmas
and
Ave
Maria
For
many, it might be the only time they listen to the duo and take them
seriously (versus fans of 'harder' music who would never (or never
admit to) listening to them in the first place) so for me, Have
Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
is the best, Santa
Claus Is Coming To Town
comes across oddly, Let
It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Seems somehow anti-climactic, My
Favorite Things
is not bad and White
Christmas
is mixed. Not may favorite such holiday album and I really have few
that ever impressed me, but this is better than many and should do
well for the season and beyond.
Extras
include a nicely illustrated booklet on the album including
informative text and details on the production, the track and an
essay by Tim Nolan. For more on the the duo, read our coverage of
their hits set in the Super Audio CD format, with a regular CD layer,
is out of print and going for high prices...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2407/The+Carpenters:+Singles+1969+-+1981+(SACD
However,
plenty of regular CD hit sets out there and hopefully, this disc
might get reissued, a Blu-ray Audio might get issued and maybe their
whole catalog will finally get issued in both formats. We'll see.
Robin
Bextor's Eric
Clapton: Standing At The Crossroads
(2021) is yet another attempt to cover the legendary
guitarist/singer's long-running career still going on as we post
(even after some controversial comments of late) that began in the
1960s and continues to this day. Running a surprisingly consistent
and interesting 92 minutes, there is obviously some overlap with the
many discs we've covered (and others we have yet to cover) on his
many successes, hits, tours, smart career choices and
endurance as a major artist.
Because
of Hip Hop/Rap, you don't hear about Clapton as much as you used to,
even if some fans still call him 'God' after a great concert or the
like. Now more than ever having a record like this is important and
this entry was a little better than expected. If you like Clapton
and/or his work, you'll want to see for yourself.
Extras
include an Original
Theatrical Trailer and Trinity Trailer reel for some titles that
might be interesting. For more Clapton, try our coverage of the
following:
461
Ocean Boulevard
(Hybrid Super Audio CD w/CD layer)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2271/Eric+Clapton+-+461+Ocean+Boulevard+(Universal
Slowhand
(Hybrid Super Audio CD w/CD layer)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2538/Eric+Clapton+-+Slowhand+(SACD
Derek
& The Dominoes: Layla
(Hybrid Super Audio CD w/CD layer)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2327/Derek+&+The+Dominoes+-+Layla+&+Other+Assort
Crossroads
2007 DVD
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6566/Crossroads+%E2%80%93+Eric+Clapton+Guitar+Fe
1960s
Review
DVD
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10807/Eric+Clapton+%E2%80%93+The+1960s+Review
1970s
Review
DVD
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12631/Eric+Clapton:+The+1970s+Review+(Chrome+Drea
William
Wyler's Funny
Girl 4K
(1968) is a solid upgrade to the Barbra Streisand hit musical from
Criterion of the restored re-release that started with a three-strip
Technicolor restoration at the turn of the century, than a 4K edition
further enhancing the big screen debut of one of the most important
singers of all time. We originally reviewed the movie in its
then-fine Blu-ray edition at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12141/Funny+Girl+(1968/Sony+Blu-ray)/Kid+Millions+(1
Then
we reviewed the limited edition Blu-ray of its sequel, Funny
Lady
(1974, Herbert Ross) at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13376/Musicals:+4-Movie+Collection+(Kiss+Me+Kate+3D
With
so many bad musicals coming out now, so bad they will not even
identify themselves as so, here's one of the few from the later 1960s
(after The
Sound Of Music
surprised everyone by being a blockbuster) that were actually good
and have held up. In the wake of The Beatles and Rocumentaries,
there was still room for the occasional classical-style musical that
could work.
And
for Streisand, it is some of her best early work and captured
everything great she was about at the time, guaranteeing a career
that is still happening and enduring to this day. If anything, it
only gets better with age.
Extras
include a NEW audio interview with actor Barbra Streisand (40
Minutes)
• New
conversation between director William Wyler's son David and author
Alicia Malone
• Directed
by William Wyler
(1986), a documentary on Wyler's life and career
• Archival
interview with actor Omar Sharif
• Deleted
scene featuring Streisand and Sharif
• Featurettes
from the original theatrical release
• English
subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• and
an essay by author and film critic Michael Koresky in another of
Criterion's quality paper pullouts.
You
can find even more Streisand (and more links) with The
Concerts
DVD set:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8694/Barbra+Streisand+%E2%80%93+The+Concerts+(Li
Frank
Sinatra: L.A. Is My Lady
(1984) was the singers final studio album as as we post, producer
Quincy Jones passed
away, but knew this anniversary edition was getting issued. It is
also one of the early, full digital sound recordings and considering
how basic and new the tech was and that it was usually classical and
jazz albums that got first shot at the newest sound technology.
In
the same group as Peter Gabriel's fourth solo album from 1984, Donald
Fagen's The
Nightfly
(1982,) Dire Straits' Brothers
In Arms
(1985,) Ry Cooder's Bop
Til You Drop
(1979,) Billy Joel's The
Nylon Curtain
(1982,) Hall & Oates' H20
(1982,) plus works by Stevie Wonder, Fleetwood Mac, Barbra Streisand,
Madonna, Herb Alpert, Michael Jackson and Luther Van Dross were
recorded that way outright and/or used digital in the mixing process.
This album fits right in.
Songs
include:
1.
L.A. Is My Lady
2.
The Best Of Everything
3.
How Do You Keep The Music Playing?
4.
Teach Me Tonight
5.
It's All Right With Me
6.
Mack The Knife
7.
Until the Real Thing Comes Along
8.
Stormy Weather
9.
If I Should Lose You
10.
A Hundred Years From Today
11.
After You've Gone
Bonus
Tracks
12.
How Do
You Keep The Music Playing?
- (3/16/83); Joe Pamello arrangement)
13.
How Do
You Keep The Music Playing?
- (5/17/84); Bob Florence arrangement)*
14.
Mack
The Knife
- (10/30/86; vocal overdub)
15.
Body
And Soul
- (10/26/07; Torrie Zito arrangement)
16.
After
You've Gone
- (session take)*
17.
Body
And Soul
- (session takes)*
Tracks
2, 6 and 8 are highlights, with 3 having been a recent duet hit for
Jones' goddaughter Patti Austin (duet with James Ingram) that
followed their hit duet Baby
Come To Me,
so it is included here with a wink and some irony. I like how
Sinatra handles it. The outtakes here are also impressive and the
musicians are a who's who of great names including George Benson,
Steve Gadd, Lionel Hampton, Bob James, Michael Brecker, Ray Brown,
Jerome Richardson and so many others.
The
result is more of an event recording than many realized at the time,
but that it was and you have one of the most important singers of all
time backed by one of the greatest musician/producers of all time
with one of the most remarkable band of musicians ever assembled and
that you could assemble. Yes, some tracks work better than others,
but this is one of the best albums of its kind for its decade and its
great to have it reissued in such a solid anniversary edition.
Extras
include a
nicely illustrated booklet on the album including informative text
and details on the production, lyrics to all the songs, 1994 Stan
Cornyn essay and a new 2024 Charles Pignone essay that uses quotes,
et al, to document how a Sinatra/Lena Horne album just failed to
happen.
Weezer:
The Blue Album 30th Anniversary Edition
(1994, CD version) is a fine new box set celebrating one of the
greatest rock band debuts of the decade and of the last half century.
Tracks 1, 4, 5 and 7 became instant classics along with some of the
best music videos ever made (sadly not included in
any edition of this reissue) that made them an instant favorite and
success.
The
late Producer Ric Ocasek did some of the best work of his carer
outside of his band The Cars here and the results stand the test of
time and put the band on the map in a way they are still relevant,
having hits and selling out tour venues to this day. Members Rivers
Cuomo (vocals, guitar,) Patrick Wilson (drums,) Brian Bell (guitar,)
and Matt Sharp (bass, later leaving the band to form the underrated
band The Rentals) also become recognizable, instant celebrities, all
with charisma that more than added to their great catalog of live
work and music videos.
It
is amazing how fresh and great this all sounds three decades later,
made so well with some serious energy to go with the talent, ideas
and so much more. That leaves The blue Album one of the greatest
albums of the 1990s and even of all time from a band that never sold
out its audience. Definitely a gem that is worth having an all-out
special release like this made for. Catch it and catch it again!
CD1
(original studio album from 2024 remaster)
1.
My
Name Is Jonas
2.
No One Else
3.
The World Has Turned And Left Me Here
4.
Buddy Holly
5.
Undone - The Sweater Song
6.
Surf Wax America
7.
Say It Ain't So
8.
In The Garage
9.
Holiday
10.
Only In Dreams
11.
My Name Is Jonas
(Live on BBC Evening Sessions) *
12.
In The Garage
(Live on BBC Evening Sessions) *
13.
No One Else
(Live on BBC Evening Sessions) *
14.
Surf Wax America
(Live on BBC Evening Sessions) *
15.
Buddy Holly
(Acoustic - Live on Greater London Radio) **
16.
Undone - The Sweater Song
(Acoustic - Live on Greater London Radio) **
CD2
Say
It Ain't So
(The Kitchen Tape Demos)*
The
World Has Turned And Left Me Here
(The Kitchen Tape Demos)*
Paperface
(The Kitchen Tape Demos)
Undone
- The Sweater Song
(The Kitchen Tape Demos)
Thief,
You've Taken All That Was Me
(The Kitchen Tape Demos)*
My
Name Is Jonas
(The Kitchen Tape Demos)*
Lets
Sew Our Pants Together
(The Kitchen Tape Demos)*
Only
In Dreams
(The Kitchen Tape Demos)
I
Can't Forget The Way
(Third Practice)*
Undone
- The Sweater Song
(Third Practice)*
The
World Has Turned And Left Me Here
(Third Practice)*
Windows
Down
(Garage Practice)*
My
Name Is Jonas
(Garage Practice)*
Only
In Dreams
(Garage Practice)*
Superman
(Garage Practice)*
Dawn
Sets Upon Us
(Garage Practice)*
Just
What I Needed
(Rehearsal Demo)*
Buddy
Holly
(Rehearsal Demo)*
CD3
1. Let's
Sew Our Pants Together
(Live at 8121 Club)*
2.
Paperface
(Live at 8121 Club)*
3.
Only
In Dreams
(Live at 8121 Club)*
4.
Conversationalist
(Wax Cover/Adaptation) (Live at Coconut Teaszer)*
5.
Undone
- The Sweater Song
(Live at English Acid)*
6.
My
Name Is Jonas
(Live at English Acid)*
7.
No One
Else
(Live at Club Lingerie)*
8.
The
World Has Turned And Left Me Here
(Live at Club Lingerie)*
9.
Jamie
(Live at Club Lingerie)*
10.
Lullabye
For Wayne
(Live at Club Lingerie)*
11.
Say It
Ain't So
(Live at Club Lingerie)*
12.
China
Grove
(Live at Club Lingerie)*
CD4
1.
Jamie
(Take 6 - LMU Sessions)
2.
My
Name Is Jonas
(LMU Sessions)*
3.
Jamie
(Take 5 - LMU Sessions)*
4.
Lullabye
for Wayne
(LMU Sessions)*
*
previously unreleased
Other
extras in this
solid blue box include a pin, blue hexagonal gaming dice, four full
color still photo slides card, stickers, poster of the band with KISS
faces and booklet on the album and band's career. A more deluxe
limited edition of this box (with a blue sweater on it!!!!) and vinyl
version has also been issued, so you have some fine choices.
Now
for playback performance. The 2160p HEVC/H.265, 2.35 X 1, Dolby
Vision/HDR (10; Ultra HD Premium)-enhanced Ultra High Definition
image on Funny
Girl 4K
looks great as shot in real anamorphic Panavision, is much closer to
the three-strip 35mm Technicolor reissue prints from 2001 and has a
warmth, richness, realism and flow the older Blu-ray and included
Criterion regular Blu-ray lack. The 1080p new Blu-ray is a little
better than the older Blu-ray, but its the 4K that is the stunner and
the DTS-HD
MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mixes on both Criterion discs play a
little better than the DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.0 lossless mix,
which sounds a little more challenged. Collectors will want to have
that copy for personal reference and to be completists, though.
The
1080p 1.66 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer on the Clapton
Blu-ray can be soft overall since show the age of the vintage
materials used can be very rough from old film to low def analog
video, but the makers can only do so much with that material and some
of it is lucky to have survived. The
lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound is a bit of a letdown,
especially considering the audio on other Clapton releases we've had
over the years, so it is adequate at best.
The
PCM 2.0 16/44.1 Stereo sound on all the CDs sound as good as they can
in the aging format, with the Sinatra
CD sounding surprisingly smooth and effective for an early digital
recording thanks to Jones and company, the Carpenters
CD sounding good as expected without any sonic surprises and the
Weezer
CDs also sounding good. However, some purists will wonder why the
album needed remastered this year after several recent editions were
issued. Well, it sounds good for what it is, but the Cd is still an
older format. When compared to the Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs Super
Audio CD version (now out of print and very pricey to get) with its
Ultra High Resolution DSD Stereo sound, the Mobile Edition is still
definitive with more detail, richness, warmth and resolution that
sounds more like a studio recording. You can hear more of the vocals
and instruments, but its not a multi-channel version either. Still,
its fine for the CD that is here and the extra CDs have some
surprisingly good sonics in parts that are the highlight of all the
CD releases here.
-
Nicholas Sheffo