Usually I don't like instrumentals. I especially don't care for instrumental versions of popular songs. For that reason, I prefer vocals over instrumentals but then there always an exception when a piece of music is so overwhelming and infectious.that you just can't help but be converted.
THE BEST OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. 50 GREATEST INSTRUMENTAL HITS OF ALL TIMES :. A case in point is this double CD. Sometimes in my quest for the best music, I feel some divinity is at play. I have been subconsciously searching for these few instrumentals for so many years and have actually given up of ever finding them. I did have some of these tracks in cassettes form many years ago. Still, subconsciously somewhere in my mind, I am still searching. I wasn't exactly looking for this CD. As a matter of fact, I think it found me. There I was strolling at the CD shop nonchalantly waiting for my wife who was doing her shopping. There it was on the shelf, daring me not to look at it. I took one look at the track listings on the cover, got the shop assistance to play a few tracks, just to confirmed it was the real thing and then it was mine. At RM 23.90, again I was being the robber. I don't see this CD in any other shops either. Finding a piece of gem like this is akin to finding a bar of gold for me.
Most of these tracks are originals except for a few. 'Je'Tamie...Moi Nor Plus' is different from the version that I have so I guess it's either a remake or not the original version. But take a look at the other goodies. 'Baby Elephant Walk', 'My Blue Heaven', 'Wheels' I believe that it is a possibility that some of these tracks could be playing when I was in my mother's womb or when I was being delivered in the labour room. They are so darn familiar. 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly' really does made you wanna pick up a gun and rode out into the sunset. One track here that's worth the price of the whole CD for me is 'Washington Square'. A song so enshrined in our mind as “Hock Sung Kor" ( Brother Student ) with lyric written and sung by our very own Chinese God of Song, Sam Hui, that I am willing to bet three months' pay that whenever you whistled a few notes to anyone here in Asia, he or she will swear that it's a Sam Hui's song. This is one time I am proud to say that the east have won over the west.
A slight downer is that the track listings here do not show any credits for the writers nor the players. Small inconvenience for such pleasures.. Anyway, I am convinced that I will have the royal seal of approval from my late father if he is still here. He will definitely love it. DOP : 14th October 2012.
THE BEST OF LOS INDIOS TABAJARAS : Yet again I first heard of Los Indios Tabajaras from my father who have two of their albums. I especially like ' Maria Elena', ‘Amore', 'You Belong To My Heart' and their version of 'Over The Raiinbow' which is simply stunning. This is another double CD consisting of 25 tracks on each CD. Unfortunately I only like the mentioned tracks. I couldn't take all of them at once nor do I want to. DOP : 12th February 2011.
CLASSIC FOREVER 1 : This is actually a classical CD that I bought at the spur of the moment. I just do not go for classical music. I didn't even buy Paul McCartney's classical CD so that should tells you a lot. Anyway I was browsing around the CD shop when I came across this. Looking at tracks like 'Minuet In G Major' which was adapted into ’A Lover's Concento' by The Toys and 'Habanera' which we all knew as 'Carmen', I knew I have to have it. And at RM 9.90, that was a no brainer too. To top it off, there's also the 'William Tell Overtone' which we all knew as The Long Ranger Theme song and the 'Happy Birthday Song'. So did I made the right choice in getting this one ? You can bet your sweet little wriggling toes that I did. But I doubt its originality though. Probably cover version but I am not complaining. DOP : 28th May 2012.
CLASSIC FOREVER 2 : As I've have Volume 1, getting Volume 2 is inevitable. I wasn't really looking 'cos I wasn't really a classical music fan but I stumbled upon this while browsing in a Cd shop in Malacca, while waiting for someone and now it have ended in my collection. The first track 'Swedish Rhapsody' is a clear winner. Bountiful and memorable, you don't have to be a classical music fan to like this.' Symphony No. 40 in G Minor ' and 'Victory' are probably songs I've heard snippets of in countless movie scores. You have the impression that you've heard the song millions of times but you can't recall where. 'Come September' I have definitely heard before. I didn't know it was a classical piece.The mood quiet down in this beautifully played piano driven piece called 'Salut D'Amour' that recall a scene where a girl and a boy looking into each other eyes over a romantic dinner with wine in hand. 'Waltz Of The Flowers' is a song that your parents would love to waltz to. 'Nocturne No.2 In EB Major' is another familiar sounding track. After seven delightful tracks in a row, things starts to border on the boring from here on. I wouldn't exactly say 'Sicilienne' is a failed piece. Just that being a non classical fan, going through this Cd is taking it's toll on me. Things get interesting again on 'Minuet Frm Boccherini', a track that must have kept hidden at the back of my mind. 'Waltz From The Sleeping Beauty' is also a familiar piece that probably was played in the animated show. 'Troika' is a lively and enjoyable piece while ' Dance Of The Little Swans' recalled the recent Barbie show of the same name. 'Spring From The Four Seasons "Allegro"' is probably a track that I've heard snippets in countless commercials and movies. It sounded so familiar. 'Jamica Rumba' is a fun track. Joyous and lively. 'Oh My Darling Clemetine' is of course the children's song that we are knew and loved but the version was a bit too slow for my liking. You should stop the Cd here for the last track is boring. DOP : 25th August 2013.
THE GREATEST WESTERN THEMES : This CD contains 16 tracks and as the title suggested are all from the westerns genes. The three greats from Clint Eastwood's three great westerns are here. However, the tracks are not the originals recordings from the movies. The only reason I am keeping this are the inclusion of 'High Chaparral' and 'Bonanza', two of my favourite TV shows and themes. 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'Shenandoah' are nice too but curiously the power that be think fit to leave out 'The Lone Ranger'. DOP : 30th March 2012. A Gift from my nephew, Edmund Leong
GREATEST MOVIE THEME by INSTRUMENTAL : As a rule, I never really like instrumental versions of songs with vocals. An instrumentals needs to be a pure instrumental track for me to enjoyed it. I wasn't really that keen to get this 'cos most of the songs I've already have as vocal songs. And the true instrumentals here aren't really the original versions that I've first heard all those years ago. I probably bought this 'cos of an arch to buy and nothing more. CD 1 have 4 James Bond's tune no less. The main theme 'James Bond [ Dr. No ]' was not the originally as mentioned as was 'From Russia With Love', 'Goldfinger,' and 'For Your Eyes Only.' The rest of the tracks are run of the mills that you may just be able to enjoy when you are on a long distance drive. CD 2 have quite a large bulk taken up by Andrew Lloyd Webber with medleys as well as stand along tracks. There are quite a bit of western hits too. 'The Good, The Bad And The Ugly,' 'Ghost Rider In The Sky,' A Fistful Of Dollars' and 'For A Few Dollars More' among others. Overall, not a CD that I would place in the player very soon. DOP : 8th June 2013.
A slight downer is that the track listings here do not show any credits for the writers nor the players. Small inconvenience for such pleasures.. Anyway, I am convinced that I will have the royal seal of approval from my late father if he is still here. He will definitely love it. DOP : 14th October 2012.
THE BEST OF LOS INDIOS TABAJARAS : Yet again I first heard of Los Indios Tabajaras from my father who have two of their albums. I especially like ' Maria Elena', ‘Amore', 'You Belong To My Heart' and their version of 'Over The Raiinbow' which is simply stunning. This is another double CD consisting of 25 tracks on each CD. Unfortunately I only like the mentioned tracks. I couldn't take all of them at once nor do I want to. DOP : 12th February 2011.
CLASSIC FOREVER 1 : This is actually a classical CD that I bought at the spur of the moment. I just do not go for classical music. I didn't even buy Paul McCartney's classical CD so that should tells you a lot. Anyway I was browsing around the CD shop when I came across this. Looking at tracks like 'Minuet In G Major' which was adapted into ’A Lover's Concento' by The Toys and 'Habanera' which we all knew as 'Carmen', I knew I have to have it. And at RM 9.90, that was a no brainer too. To top it off, there's also the 'William Tell Overtone' which we all knew as The Long Ranger Theme song and the 'Happy Birthday Song'. So did I made the right choice in getting this one ? You can bet your sweet little wriggling toes that I did. But I doubt its originality though. Probably cover version but I am not complaining. DOP : 28th May 2012.
CLASSIC FOREVER 2 : As I've have Volume 1, getting Volume 2 is inevitable. I wasn't really looking 'cos I wasn't really a classical music fan but I stumbled upon this while browsing in a Cd shop in Malacca, while waiting for someone and now it have ended in my collection. The first track 'Swedish Rhapsody' is a clear winner. Bountiful and memorable, you don't have to be a classical music fan to like this.' Symphony No. 40 in G Minor ' and 'Victory' are probably songs I've heard snippets of in countless movie scores. You have the impression that you've heard the song millions of times but you can't recall where. 'Come September' I have definitely heard before. I didn't know it was a classical piece.The mood quiet down in this beautifully played piano driven piece called 'Salut D'Amour' that recall a scene where a girl and a boy looking into each other eyes over a romantic dinner with wine in hand. 'Waltz Of The Flowers' is a song that your parents would love to waltz to. 'Nocturne No.2 In EB Major' is another familiar sounding track. After seven delightful tracks in a row, things starts to border on the boring from here on. I wouldn't exactly say 'Sicilienne' is a failed piece. Just that being a non classical fan, going through this Cd is taking it's toll on me. Things get interesting again on 'Minuet Frm Boccherini', a track that must have kept hidden at the back of my mind. 'Waltz From The Sleeping Beauty' is also a familiar piece that probably was played in the animated show. 'Troika' is a lively and enjoyable piece while ' Dance Of The Little Swans' recalled the recent Barbie show of the same name. 'Spring From The Four Seasons "Allegro"' is probably a track that I've heard snippets in countless commercials and movies. It sounded so familiar. 'Jamica Rumba' is a fun track. Joyous and lively. 'Oh My Darling Clemetine' is of course the children's song that we are knew and loved but the version was a bit too slow for my liking. You should stop the Cd here for the last track is boring. DOP : 25th August 2013.
THE GREATEST WESTERN THEMES : This CD contains 16 tracks and as the title suggested are all from the westerns genes. The three greats from Clint Eastwood's three great westerns are here. However, the tracks are not the originals recordings from the movies. The only reason I am keeping this are the inclusion of 'High Chaparral' and 'Bonanza', two of my favourite TV shows and themes. 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'Shenandoah' are nice too but curiously the power that be think fit to leave out 'The Lone Ranger'. DOP : 30th March 2012. A Gift from my nephew, Edmund Leong
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