CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Essential Guitar: 33 Guitar Masterpieces

from: Decca

Release Date August 13, 2002
Although entitled "Guitar Masterpieces" the music is MOSTLY big band with some guitar lead. This CD does not feature the guitar. Very disappointing.....

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

by: Christopher Gordon, Richard Tognetti

Release Date November 11, 2003
I love the music from this movie. It has lots of great violin, cello, and orchestral tracks. The soundtrack feels complete with lots of variety and plenty of listening time. Highly recommend!

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Heartland: An Appalachian Anthology

from: Sony

Release Date July 03, 2001
Heartland is a haven and a piece of heaven. I was transported.

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Baby Einstein: Playtime Music Box

from: Buena Vista

Release Date December 21, 2004
This one is only O.K. Gives me a headache but the babies seem to like it.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Ever, Volume II

by: Gabriel Faure, Frederic Chopin, Antonio Vivaldi, Gustav Mahler, Claude Debussy, Sir Neville Marriner, Maris Jansons, Lorin Maazel, Sir Adrian Boult, Miklos Rozsa, Riccardo Muti, Stephen Cleobury, Sir John Barbirolli, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Berlin Philharmonic

Release Date March 11, 2003
The selections chosen are, for the most part, to my taste, but the volume is comprised of fewer supurb selections, such as those masterpieces by Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart that were found in Vol. I.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Over The Hills & Far Away: The Music of Sharpe

from: EMI Int'l

Release Date May 06, 1996
This CD is well done. It aids well in developing a feeling for the times.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Amazing Grace

by: Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

Release Date March 24, 1992
An excellent product. My memory of the old vinyl disk from which it derived ("Farewell to the Greys") is that it was better, but this one is excellent all the same. Probably the bands have become so famous since the first vinyl record they have gotten a little 'stale' with thousands of performances.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

God Bless America: The Ultimate Patriotic Album

from: Decca

Release Date June 11, 2002
This collection has all the standards, and a few "hard-to-find" ones. These are all well done. I used them recently during our church's senior adult program to honor our vets.

Enjoy.

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Peace Like a River

by: James Lucas, Janice Kapp Perry, John Rutter, Jean Sibelius, John Tavener, American Traditional, English Traditional, Spiritual Traditional, Mack Wilberg, Craig D. Jessop, Clay Christiansen, John Longhurst, Richard L. Elliott, Daron Bradford, Meredith Campbell

Release Date June 22, 2004
This CD is one of my favorites to listen to when I feel the need to be closer to the Spirit. Mack Wilberg is a master at transforming old hymns into glorious arrangements. I have had experience with high school students who love singing his arrangements even within the context of a world that seems in a state of constant conflict. THIS CD IS FABULOUS!

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Colonial America

from: Maggie's Music

Release Date September 01, 2003
This CD is amazing--it is simply the best collection of colonial music I have ever heard. The recording is crystal clear, and while the quality is reflective of modern technology, the music sounds identical to that you might hear in a colonial setting (like Williamsburg, VA, for instance).
I really like that this CD does not have any vocal selections--that may be a plus or minus, depending on your taste, but in my opinion, it makes the CD more versatile, either to play as background music, or to turn it up loudly and dance to it. :)

My family listens to this, non-stop, year-round. I plan to buy the other CD's in this series, too.