CD-Charts Position 1
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José Carreras - The Golden Years

from: Philips

Release Date September 08, 2008
Since I first heard him in 1986, José Carreras has been my favourite tenor. His lyrical voice has captured my heart completely. No other voice moves me as Carreras' does. He moves me to tears, to laughter, to love, to beauty - to remembrance, to peace - and to HOPE!

As for this recording, my favourites are "Una furtiva lagrima" (Donizetti), "Dein ist mein ganzes Herz" (Das Land des Lächelns), "Che gelida manina" (La Bohème) and yes, "Nessun Dorma" (Turandot) - and no, it's not always about the strongest voice.

I have lots of other recordings with Carreras. Spanish songs, German songs, love songs, mixture of opera arias and popular songs and of course, opera. I have reviewed "Carmen" conducted by von Karajan in Berlin ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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Chocolate to the Bone

by: Guy Davis

Release Date July 21, 2003
If you're wondering whether or not to get the album, the first ten seconds of 'Limetown' should convince you of its value - rich, earthy blues with timeless vocals.

The remaining songs just reinforce the message, if you want real blues, this is for you...

CD-Charts Position 3
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Labour of Love: the Music of Nick Lowe

by: Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Charlie Musselwhite, Tom Petty, Joe Louis Walker, Marshall Crenshaw, Graham Parker, Guy Davis, Greg Brown

Release Date October 22, 2001
Labour of Love casts attention on a facet of Nick Lowe's talent that's surprisingly uncelebrated--his songwriting prowess. Having made his mark as a producer, performer, and sideman, Lowe's skills as a singer-songwriter have been taken for granted, but, as this tribute confirms, Nick has long possessed a knack for mating blissful hooks with pithy couplets. Here an assortment of players and singers from a range of genres tackle Lowe gems dating from his new wave heyday up through his brilliant late-'90s comeback. Proving the adaptability of Lowe's material is half the fun here, as Joe Louis Walker turns the '70s anthem ("What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" into a midtempo soul lament, "Half a Boy and Half a Man" ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Skunkmellow

by: Guy Davis

Release Date April 24, 2006
Labour of Love casts attention on a facet of Nick Lowe's talent that's surprisingly uncelebrated--his songwriting prowess. Having made his mark as a producer, performer, and sideman, Lowe's skills as a singer-songwriter have been taken for granted, but, as this tribute confirms, Nick has long possessed a knack for mating blissful hooks with pithy couplets. Here an assortment of players and singers from a range of genres tackle Lowe gems dating from his new wave heyday up through his brilliant late-'90s comeback. Proving the adaptability of Lowe's material is half the fun here, as Joe Louis Walker turns the '70s anthem ("What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" into a midtempo soul lament, "Half a Boy and Half a Man" ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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On Air

by: Guy Davis

Release Date October 08, 2007
Labour of Love casts attention on a facet of Nick Lowe's talent that's surprisingly uncelebrated--his songwriting prowess. Having made his mark as a producer, performer, and sideman, Lowe's skills as a singer-songwriter have been taken for granted, but, as this tribute confirms, Nick has long possessed a knack for mating blissful hooks with pithy couplets. Here an assortment of players and singers from a range of genres tackle Lowe gems dating from his new wave heyday up through his brilliant late-'90s comeback. Proving the adaptability of Lowe's material is half the fun here, as Joe Louis Walker turns the '70s anthem ("What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" into a midtempo soul lament, "Half a Boy and Half a Man" ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Victorian and Edwardian Ballads

from: Decca

Release Date June 09, 2003
I confess that I bought this double CD for two tracks; one is "the Volunteer Organist" which I have in a curiously truncated version on 78rpm and "Give Me A Ticket to Heaven Please" which I recall hearing on the BBC years ago.. it might have been on "Your 100 Best Tunes"... Armed with the title (I hoped) and the knowledge that Benjamin Luxon was the soloist I hunted and got it via Amazon. I was not disappointed!
To review the two discs (YES! the 1976 Luxon LP and a sequel by Felicity Palmer)... these songs being much of their time require a certain frame of mind to listen to them; I was in tears to a few of them. I find that the simple presentation enhances the clarity of the words.
I think, also, with some songs I have a preference for ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
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Music for Trumpet and Winds

from: Albany

Release Date June 06, 2006
I confess that I bought this double CD for two tracks; one is "the Volunteer Organist" which I have in a curiously truncated version on 78rpm and "Give Me A Ticket to Heaven Please" which I recall hearing on the BBC years ago.. it might have been on "Your 100 Best Tunes"... Armed with the title (I hoped) and the knowledge that Benjamin Luxon was the soloist I hunted and got it via Amazon. I was not disappointed!
To review the two discs (YES! the 1976 Luxon LP and a sequel by Felicity Palmer)... these songs being much of their time require a certain frame of mind to listen to them; I was in tears to a few of them. I find that the simple presentation enhances the clarity of the words.
I think, also, with some songs I have a preference for ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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Call Down the Thunder

by: Guy Davis

Release Date July 30, 2001
I confess that I bought this double CD for two tracks; one is "the Volunteer Organist" which I have in a curiously truncated version on 78rpm and "Give Me A Ticket to Heaven Please" which I recall hearing on the BBC years ago.. it might have been on "Your 100 Best Tunes"... Armed with the title (I hoped) and the knowledge that Benjamin Luxon was the soloist I hunted and got it via Amazon. I was not disappointed!
To review the two discs (YES! the 1976 Luxon LP and a sequel by Felicity Palmer)... these songs being much of their time require a certain frame of mind to listen to them; I was in tears to a few of them. I find that the simple presentation enhances the clarity of the words.
I think, also, with some songs I have a preference for ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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Legacy

by: Guy Davis

Release Date September 06, 2004
I confess that I bought this double CD for two tracks; one is "the Volunteer Organist" which I have in a curiously truncated version on 78rpm and "Give Me A Ticket to Heaven Please" which I recall hearing on the BBC years ago.. it might have been on "Your 100 Best Tunes"... Armed with the title (I hoped) and the knowledge that Benjamin Luxon was the soloist I hunted and got it via Amazon. I was not disappointed!
To review the two discs (YES! the 1976 Luxon LP and a sequel by Felicity Palmer)... these songs being much of their time require a certain frame of mind to listen to them; I was in tears to a few of them. I find that the simple presentation enhances the clarity of the words.
I think, also, with some songs I have a preference for ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Give in Kind

by: Guy Davis

Release Date April 15, 2002
First heard Guy through Bob Harris, playing the sad, poignant and yet uplifting 'Grandma Is Dancing'. This album has so many moods from the wily, un-PC, stomping Good Liquor... to the gospelly singalong of I Will Be Your Friend. He tells stories, he makes you want to dance, he makes you smile and cry with his heartfelt, simple, poetic words. The playing is of a high standard throughout, the production sounds so natural. He will be forever labelled blues, I suspect, but that shouldn't put you off if blues isn't normally your thing, because this is simply warm, luxurious music that I feel certain will appeal to pretty much any age, gender, background.