CD Charts
Welcome to The CD Charts, here you will find all the latest and top selling Music cds available to buy online. You can search and locate the best selling Music cd's and have them delivered to the door. We have a large selection of Music all with reviews.
Back to Home Page > Go back a page
Music : Song of America
See Larger Image |
Song of America by: Various Artists, Janet Reno |
|
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0827912065466 Format: Box set Label: Split Rock Records/Thirty One Tigers Manufacturer: Split Rock Records/Thirty One Tigers Number Of Discs: 3 Publisher: Split Rock Records/Thirty One Tigers Release Date: September 18, 2007 Studio: Split Rock Records/Thirty One Tigers Sales Rank: 12242 MPN: 20654 Disc 1:
Related Items:      see moreBrowse for similar items by category:
Editorial Review: Album Description: Artists as diverse as John Mellencamp, Blind Boys of Alabama, Martha Wainwright, The Black Crowes and Andrew Bird contribute tracks to SONG OF AMERICA, a unique 50-song, three-CD set envisioned by former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and artist/producer Ed Pettersen, and co-produced by Pettersen, Bob Olhsson and Grammy-winning producer David Macias. Due out September 18 as a joint venture between Split Rock Records and 31 Tigers (via RED Distribution), the collection tells the history of our country through song, from 1492 through modern times. These new versions of beloved songs interpreted by contemporary artists who span the folk, blues, rock, R&B, country, classical and hip-hop genres offer listeners a way to connect or reconnect with America’s vast musical and cultural heritage. Janet Reno explains, "I thought that music would be a great way to engage listeners, especially young listeners, and spark their interest so they could gain a greater understanding and appreciation for our history. I am very proud to be associated with this collection of inspired performances." Reno originally conceived of SONG OF AMERICA with Pettersen, who is also her niece’s husband. After Pettersen further developed the idea, they met with David Macias--who earned a Grammy in the Best Traditional Folk Album category for his co-production work on the critically acclaimed 2004 release Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster--and things began to move forward. "The seed for the SONG OF AMERICA was planted," explains Reno, "when Ed entertained me with some of his beautiful folk songs, ‘Nowhere to Roam’ describing the fencing in of the ranges and ‘La Tragedia de Heraclio Bernal’ which recast an old Mexican folk tale." Key tracks include John Mellencamp’s version of Woody Guthrie’s "This Land Is Your Land," Blind Boys of Alabama’s "Let Us Break Bread Together," Bettye LaVette’s transcendent take on Bruce Springsteen’s "Streets Of Philadelphia," the first recording of The Black Crowes’ Robinson brothers singing with their father Stan ("Reuben James"), Martha Wainwright’s updated rendition of "I Am Woman," Andrew Bird’s wistful account of "How You Gonna Keep ‘Em Down On The Farm," Harper Simon’s "Yankee Doodle," and The Del McCoury Band’s soon-to-be-classic take on Bob Dylan’s "The Times, They Are A Changin’." Amazon.com: On paper, this project appears as improbable as the partnership that conceived it: former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and veteran Nashville indie-punk troubadour Ed Pettersen (who happens to be married to Reno's niece). The history of America through 50 songs, encapsulated on three discs? The first disc alone spanning 1492 to 1860, from the landing of Columbus to the Civil War? An idiosyncratic selection that includes songs familiar to almost all Americans and others familiar to practically none? Rather than a dry, dusty museum piece, the results are compulsively listenable, as producer Pettersen invites a wide range of artists to do what they do best--interpret the material and make it their own. Highlights are many, as the early days of the republic find Harper Simon (Paul's son) rendering "Yankee Doodle" as if it were an indie-rock Viagra commercial; the advent of the Civil War shows Marah, like an American Pogues, bringing a punk ferocity to "John Brown's Body"; and Del McCoury's bluegrass rendition of "The Times They Are A-Changin'" finds an older man renewing a young Bob Dylan's anthem. The sonorous dignity that jazz vocalist Andy Bey brings to the Depression-era panhandler's plea, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?," is particularly moving, as is Bettye LaVette's gospel rendition of Bruce Springsteen's AIDS ballad, "Streets of Philadelphia." Revolution, immigration, war, atomic power, civil rights, feminism, faith, depression, and despair--it's all here, in song. --Don McLeese Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
 Rating:  - DisappointingI wonder if the main purpose here was to give various, little known indie performers a platform for showing their work. Standards and favorites are done by performers you've never heard of. For example, the well known Crosby, Stills and Nash song, "Ohio," is performed by someone else. You're left feeling--Huh?? Songs with familiar names are reinterpreted by indie performers and I feel as if they're all yelling, "Look at me! Look at me! I've never been discovered but maybe now I will be! Here's my big break!!" That feels like the cd's major agenda. There are a few exceptions, but don't expect the traditional songs to have a familiar sound, or a sound that feels accurate to the historical content when it was most popular. Listening ... Read More: Rating: - Bought as giftThe recipient of these CDs was delighted and the service was great. I didn't listen to them. Rating: - Massive effort and amazing result "Song of America" is a 3-disk compilation of 50 songs developed by former US Attorney General, Janet Reno, and her in-law, music producer, Ed Pettersen. Their goal was to document this country's story in song. The songs are done by contemporary artists with contemporary arrangements on themes that are timeless. The music covers three broad periods of US history: Disk 1: 1492 - 1860 (Red Disk) Disk 2: 1861 - 1945 (White Disk) Disk 3: 1946 to present (Blue Disk) "Song of America" is a novel concept and considering the education system's attempts at teaching history to students, why not reach out via music? I don't know if the disks would work in today's classroom, but one of my best (non-coach) ... Read More: Rating: - An American History collector's itemIt's totally new dimension of listening to music and learning the history of America. Music reflects the social condition of it's times, when the music is coupled with the brief historic write ups that comes with the CD's, it enables the listeners to capture a brief reflection of the history and events that shaped by that period of times. This is a history collector's music CD set. Rating:  - Moderately DisappointedI was really looking forward to this CD and it does have an amazing selection of songs. However, many of the songs were so "stylized" by the performers that they seemed to have been performed in almost a new-age manner. Most of the selections would have not been recognized by the people who listed to them at the time they were "popular" music. I listed to Stars and Stripes Forever twice and had to look at the index to see what they were playing. Many others were "interpreted" to such a degree that the entire mood or feeling of the number is altered. |
|