Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

    If you like New Age, try any of the Fresh Aire series by
    Mannheim Steamroller.  They all sound great.  Or "Saving the Wildlife"
    also by MS.
    				Steve

    Of course it is a matter of personal taste, but I will enter my
    complete list of CDs here as an example of a small collection that
    I am happy with:
    
    1.  Handel, GF: Water Music Suite; Musick for the Royal Fireworks.
    	Christopher Hogwood, Academy of Ancient Music, L'Oiseau-Lyre
    	400059-2.  ADD. ~57 min.
    
    2.  Bach, JC:  Brandenburg Concertos 1-6. Christopher Hogwood, Academy
    	of Ancient Music.  L'Oiseau-Lyre 414187-2. DDD.  Two disk set.
    	Time not readily available.
    
    3.  Beethoven, Symphony No.9.  Vaclav Neumann, Czech Philharmonic.
        Dennon C37-7574.  DDD. 69'55 (including about 30 sec applause!)
    
    4.  Mozart, WA:  "The Best of Mozart"  Neville Marriner, Academy
        of St-Martin-in-the-Fields. Philips 412 244-2.  ADD.  61:13
    
    5.  Various:  "Russian Showpieces"  Leonard Slatkin conducting.
        RCA 5661-2-RC.  ??D.  68:12.

    I am very happy with all of these.  I also supplement them with
    trips to the Nashua Public Library, which loans out CDs for a week
    at a time.
    
    Good luck and have fun!
    
    Burns

    Some of the notes in this conference have the keyword "REVIEW"
    attached to them.  That will give you one place to look for
    good (and bad) discs.  The Schwann CD catalog, has a list of
    CD for all type of music that they recommend as "starters".
    Where my collection and their list intersect, they've made
    some good choices.
    
    Scattered through out the conference are many notes that
    amount to reviews, but don't have the keyword.
    
    Many of the record companies release "Sampler" CD's.  These
    are often a good way to get feel for the discs that a company
    offers.  Telarc has released 3 samplers so far and I've seen
    one each from Denon, Angel/EMI, Delos, Arista and GRP.

    Ah, I envy you the joy of discovering CD's...I remember how I felt
    the first time I heard it. You'll be surprised at how often you'll
    listen to CD's, and how grating the other mediums become.
    
    While there are pros and cons about the magazine, "Digital Audio"
    scattered throughout this notesfile, I'd recommend getting the December
    issue, which contains reviews of hundreds of CD's - most of which
    I agree with. Some favorites of mine, in no particular order, are:
    
    Brothers in Arms     - Dire Straits
    
    Cadence Classics     - Everly Bros.
    
    The CD of JB         - James Brown
    
    Time Warp            - Eric Kunzel w/ Cincinnati Pops
    
    1812 Overture        -  "     "          "         "
    
    Different Light      - Bangles
    
    Aerial Boundries     - Michael Hedges (excellent guitar work)
    
    High Country Snows   - Dan Fogelberg
    
    The Bridge           - Billy Joel
    
    Born in the U.S.A.   - Bruce Springsteen
    
    The King James Version - Harry James
    
    In the Digital Mood    - Glenn Miller Band
    
    Lush Life              - Linda Ronstadt w/ Nelson Riddle (actually,
                             there's a three disc set of this, featuring
                             Lush Life, Sentimental Reasons, and another
                             whose title escapes me - all are of Linda
                             singing standards w/ Nelson Riddle).
    
    Well, I could go on, but you get the idea. I also second the
    recommendation regarding Mannheim Steamroller works. In general,
    I've found Telarc disks to be good - you might try their sampler.
    
    Best wishes for hours of pleasurable listening! 
    

    
    re .4
    
    The missing Linda Ronstadt is "What's New" Asylum 960260-2
    
    Peter

    In the current issue of Atlantic magazine, there is an ad for the
    International Preview Society, who will send you three CD's
    (or cassettes, or records) for $1 plus postage, no obligation to
    buy any more.  The selection they offer is really decent if you
    like classical music.
    
    I tried them once about eight years ago -- got a boxed set of 
    Beethoven String Quartets on Philips records.  Unfortunately, the
    records were pressed in Italy, not Holland, and were of poor
    quality.  So I sent them back and said good-bye to the Society.
    
    I would guess that the CD's would be less apt to be substandard,
    and the price is definitely not bad.
    
    dq

        Is that a "return them with no obligation to buy more", or a real
        no future obligation offer? Either way, can you post an address
        and/or phone number for those of us who don't have the ad? 

    I believe the deal with IPS (International Preview Society) is that
    you have no obligation to buy more, but you do have an obligation
    to return the reply card 13 times a year saying you don't want the
    featured selection.  Otherwise, it's sent to you automatically.
    Of course, it's return postage guaranteed, so you can return it.
    
    If I remember the ad correctly, the CD membership for IPS is actually
    handled through another club, possibly RCA or Columbia.

    I think I saw that same ad in Business Week. I'm pretty sure that
    if you keep the 3 CDs for a dollar you are obligated to buy 2 more
    in the next 2 years. The only way you're not obligated is if you
    return the CDs within 10 days. I think it is through the CBS CD club
    which offers this as their standard now.
    
    I am a member of this club. I joined when it was a get 2 free and
    buy 2 deal. It was good then with just 2 free. If any one plans to 
    join and is feeling charitable, I have a card you can use which
    will give me a free disc for referring a new member. You get the
    3 for a dollar and have to buy 2 more. Send mail if you're interested.
    
      mitch

    The fine print says that the CD club is administered by someone
    else, with details to follow, but that it offers the same 
    "no obligation, no minimum purchase" membership opportunity.
    I take this to mean that you really get three CD's for $1 plus
    shipping.
    
    Regardless of who administers the club, the marketing practice
    is established by the International Preview Society, and they have
    always been much more liberal in their new member offers than
    the RCA or Columbia kind of clubs.  Another "existence proof" might be
    the Quality Paperback Book Club, which is happy to send you three
    books for $1 each with no minimum purchase required -- even though
    they are a division of Book-of-the-Month, which does require a 
    minimum purchase.
    
    If I am unpleasantly surprised, I will post a NOTE (as well as sending
    letters both to IPS and to the Atlantic about misleading advertising
    practice).
    
    dq
    

    I also bought a CD player just after Christmas.  In the past 2 months
    I've purchased several (about 50) disks.
    
    I echo the sentiments:
    
    Anything by Mannheim Steamroller.
    
    TELARC disks have been universally excellent for me.  Particularly
    the 1812.  LOVE THOSE CANNONS on my Klipsch's.
    
    Also the Vivaldi -- The Four Seasons (I forget the orchestra) also
    on TELARC.
    
    William Ackerman, Michael Hedges, Scott Cossu, especially George
    Winston, from Windam Hill are all excellent.
    
    The Linda Ronstadt "After Midnight" set of 2 CD's is good stuff.
    
    Beethoven Symphony #5 -- the one Seigi Ozawa conducted.    

    For jazz -- Joe Sample, Dave Gruzin, Tom Scott, Bob James, David
    Sanborn, etc.
    
    There are tons I'm forgetting but I'm at work and can't remember
    all the others I listen to.
    
    This has been my way of weaning myself from the one eyed monster in
    the T.V. room.  So far it has worked great!!  Unfortunately, once
    you hear a decnet recording on a CD, it spoils you so bad you can't
    ever go back to LP's.
    
    
    enjoy,
    Dave P.    
 

Man, if I could hook up my CD to Decnet, wouldn't be worrying about spending
$13-$16 per disk.  I'll see if I can get a field service guy to set me up!

Thanks! :^)

AAA

        
        I think he means decent. :^)

    Here I am working my hoofies to the nub and this is the thanks I
    get.  Y'all probably listen to Waylon and Willy in the closet!!!
    
    D

    Re: .12 signature     "AAA"
    
    At least we know the system can handle analog!
    
    > R.Michael
    

    Re:  578.6
    
    The 3 for $1 from Internation Preview is *almost* true.
    
    Service is slow, slow, slow (from RCA Compact Disk Club).
    
    They also charge shipping ($1.69 or so) for *each* disk -- whether
    they ship individually or three in a box.   And, they charge
    sales tax on the shipping cost!
    
    So, 3 CD's for $6-7 is OK, don't see much reason to remain a
    member.
    
    dq