Composer Marvin

Mercy, Mercy Me: The Art, Loves, and Demons of Marvin Gaye
$23.95
Have you ever read a book so boring and pointless that you wish you could get back the hours of your life that were wasted reading it. Well if you would like to share my experience read this book. When I pick up a biography on Marvin Gaye it should be just that-a biography. What I got from this book was Mr. Dyson's views on the problems in Black America right now. And was there a reason the afterword was mostly about R.Kelly? I know he was supposed to be comparing the struggle of sensuality v. spirituality that both men experienced but come on. R.Kelly doesn't have an ounce of the talent Marvin Gaye had. It's a shame to even make comparisons (at least on a professional/artistic level) of these two men. The book was boring, sloppy and I came away angry. After reading it my thought was 'Mercy Mercy On Me'.

Hovhaness: Visions-The Musical World of Alan Hovhaness
$7.98
I must admit that I enjoyed this sampler CD introduction to the musical world of Alan Hovhaness more than the other reviewer. These are peaceful and lovely recordings and renditions of these works. It was refreshing to hear a more varied collection of Hovhaness' sound than the repetitiveness that he is often criticized for. One of the criticisms of Hovhaness was that he was trying to be like Vaughan Williams in every piece (which is not true). He had a specific spiritual "vision" that lent a characteristic sound to his music like many other composers.

My one problem with this affordable disc is that the track listing is incorrect for the pieces: Mountain Idyll and Sonata Fred the Cat (both solo piano works). They are listed as having multiple tracks (#5-7) and (#9-12) when in actuality they are on the CD in single one track movements, so the CD comes out actually having 8 tracks (1 per work sampled). For a while I thought I had the wrong CD or it was defective. Then I figured it out by putting it in my CD Rom and it displayed the actual track listing with titles through Windows Media Player.

If that glitch doesn't bother you too much, this is a nice and afforable intro to Hovhaness' music. - - Max Stoltenberg, LPC

The Adventures of Robin Hood TV Classics Collection [VHS]
$9.99
a fine re-telling of the robin hood story, via this 1950s british tv series. i had barely remembered it, but watching these tapes containing 4 episodes brings back happy memories.my main qualm with the collection is that they could have chosen a better representation, but i guess with lisencing rights et al that cant be held against them.you will be surprised at the sophisticated approach to the characters this series takes, and i think if if i had the opportunity to watch the sequential development of them, i would give this an extra star.p.s. take note of a *young* leo mckern in the cast.

African Portraits
$16.99
I am not sure whether or not the album is also a part of a stage play. One of my favorites is the Victor Nelson's Cottonfield featuring Jevetta Steele as solist. It is often played every Sunday in the Chicago area in the Gospel timespan. Most of the other songs are filled with rich african ethnicity, an enjoyabale and entertaining album. I would like to know more about Hannibal and was this album from a broadway play. Either way you will be thoroughly entertained.