Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

    
    I haven't bought it, but it is almost certainly the digital remix,
    and everyone I know who's heard it says the remix is a butchery
    of the original.
    
    DFW

    The Fantasia soundtrack is the digital re-recording made a few
    years ago.  It's not the original, but isn't bad.  If you're
    expecting the ORIGINAL soundtrack, then you can safely ignore
    the CD.  If you want to hear a pretty good recording of the
    Stowkowski transcriptions, then give the disc a chance.
    
    While working on my review of "The Stowkowski Sound" I listened
    to Fantasia again.  Most of it sounded very good.  The "Night on
    Bald Mountain" section sounded a little bit muffled.
    
    If I had the spare wish, I'd prefer to have a clean version of the
    original stereo soundtrack, but there are more important miracles
    to ask for.
    

        I have the Fantasia disks. They are are good recording of the
        new sound-track that Disney uses on the movie. It is the music
        yuo'll hear on any future release of the film. The arrangement
        is the same Stowkowski as the original, which means if you know
        the pieces through the movie it will sound right. If you're a
        purist you may agree with Stravinsky that Disney and Stowkowski
        did violence to the originals.
        
        Personally I like the album quite a bit.
        
        BTW, I've seen it with a pretty wide range of prices.
        
        JimB. 

    I have these disks, and I enjoy them.  My disappointment with the
    re-release "Fantasia" with the re-recorded soundtrack was due to:
    
     -	the lousy quality of the print of the film I saw, and
    
     -	the omission of certain memorable gems like Mickey's meeting
    	with Stokowski after the "Sorcerer's Apprentice" sequence, and
    	the interview with an animated character called "The Soundtrack"
    
    -pd

    
    	These disks sound terrific, and for the record :
    
    	They are DDD - digital master, digital recording ......
    
    	They do justice to Leopold's original, and the appointed
    	orchestra delivers some vary subtle nuances that enhance
    	the pieces.
    
    	- Andy Parraco
    

    I'm surprised at all the praise!  I was expecting a very clean sound
    when I got this CD, considering it is DDD, but was very disappointed
    at the many flaws, including a lot of hiss.  I still recommend it
    because the music is great but expect to hear a lot of flaws
    in the recording process, expecially if you use headphones.
                                                               
    I think part of the problem is that they never expected the sound
    to be reproduced and such a wonderous machine as a CD player (they
    didn't have CD players when the recording was done).
    
    Dave
    

    I'm not so impressed, either.  These are possibly the worst discs
    of the 35 or so that I currently own.  I'll probably keep them,
    but they are rather "muddy" in places and definitely have lots of
    hiss.  I only paid $22 for the pair...
    

    There's a new disk out.  I think it's called "Stay Awake", I'm not
    sure, but it has a collection of Disney songs done by contemporary
    artists. (James Taylor, Buster Poindexter, Betty Carter...)  Does
    any have this?  Any comments on it?
    
    -Walt

        I've heard several things off of it, and I'd say that it is
    definately not one for the kids.  Tom Waits version of ??? sounds
    downright evil.  I forget who does it, but the version of "Cruela
    DeVille" is fantastic.  The disk has been out for a month or more.
    
    ASP

Cruela DeVille (from 101 dalmations) is done by The Replacements.
Los Lobos does (I Want to Be) Just Like You (from Jungle Book).

    I have Stay Awake.  It's an interesting but strange album.  As mentioned
    before, the performances are not really geared towards children.  Here's 
    the list of songs and artists:
    
    	Hi Diddle Dee Dee (An Actor's Life For Me) - Ken Nordine with Bill
    						     Frisell and Wayne Horvitz
    
    	Little April Shower - Natalie Merchant, Michael Stipe, Mark Bingham 
    			      and The Roches
    
    	I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song) - Los Lobos
    
    	Baby Mine - Bonnie Raitt and Was(Not Was)
    
    	Heigh Ho (The Dwarfs Marching Song) - Tom Waits
    
    	Stay Awake - Suzanne Vega
    
    	Little Wooden Head - Bill Frisell and Wayne Horvitz
    
    	Blue Shadows On The Trail - Syd Straw
    
    	Castle In Spain - Buster Poindexter and The Banshees Of Blue
    
    	I Wonder - Yma Sumac
    
    	Mickey Mouse March - Aaron Neville
    
    	Feed The Birds - Garth Hudson
    
    	Whistle While You Work - NRBQ
    
    	I'm Wishing - Betty Carter
    
    	Cruella De Ville - The Replacements
    
    	Dumbo And Timothy - Bill Frisell and Wayne Horvitz
    
    	Someday My Prince Will Come - Sinead O'Connor
    
    	Pink Elephants On Parade - Sun Ra And His Arkestra
    
    	Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah - Harry Nilsson
    
    	Second Star To The Right - James Taylor
    
    	Desolation Theme - Ken Nordine with Bill Frisell and Wayne Horvitz
    
    	When You Wish Upon A Star - Ringo Starr
    
    
    I actually like most of it.  Unfortunately, I don't like the renditions
    of Hi Diddle Dee Dee, Little Wooden Head, and Desolation Theme.  I guess 
    I don't care for Ken Nordine, Bill Frisell, and Wayne Horvitz.  The Tom
    Waits version of Heigh Ho put me off at first, but then I realized what
    I was doing wrong:  I was listening to it at much too low a volume. For
    me to enjoy it, it has to be up loud.  Then I can understand what he's 
    saying and the "music" doesn't sound like noise.  My favorites are:
    
    	I Wan'na Be Like You, Heigh Ho, Blue Shadows On The Trail, Castle 
    	In Spain, Cruella De Ville, and When You Wish Upon A Star.
    
    Be warned that most of the songs are grouped together in medleys of
    three or four songs, so it's not always easy to skip over something
    you don't like.
    
    
    							John