Section Two Audio Recordings MUSIC / COMEDY / DRAMA / ON TAPE OR CD I enjoy many forms of music. What I listen to at any particular moment de-pends entirely on my mood and what I am doing at the time. When I am writing, it is usually a classical selection, but sometimes, if I’m trying to write a romantic or comedy scene, I switch to albums containing some of the Pop standards from the Big Band era, CountryWestern mini-dramas, Broadway show numbers, or Hollywood movie scores. Since I have both a computer and digital cable television service, I now have a greatly expanded choice of what to listen to, and when to listen to it. Between iTunes and other on-line services, and a mind-staggering number of digital audio channels available on my Cox cable service, I am looking forward to tracking down many great recordings and, as I find them, comment on them. Strangely enough, the first albums I will mention here, I have had for some time, but I am so fond of them that I want to be sure you know about them. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart- The Complete Piano Sonatas performed by Heidi Lowy Piano Sonatas, Nos. 1-18. Fantasie, K.475 in C minor Musical Heritage Society (www.musicalheritage.com) 566052F. (6 hrs 50'05) This is my favorite classical music album among the several hundred that I own. I have heard it through completely -- all six disks -- at least three hundred times since I bought it from the Musical Heritage Society years ago. I have heard parts of it many more times as I often have it playing while I work my way through one writer’s block or another, some household chore, or when I need to relax from the tensions of the day and, finally, drift off to sleep. Heidi Lowy’s performance of these works is simply inspired, and it is inspiring. Believe me, it is worth going to considerable trouble to obtain this album, but if you contact the Musical Heritage Society (web site above) you should have no trouble at all. Sinatra 80th ALL THE BEST 1995 CAPITAL RECORDS In popular music I have enjoyed many outstanding vocalists over the years. Some of the names that come to mind are Don Cornell, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Ray (all of whom I met and interviewed free lance, at one time or another, for the various publications I sent my articles to) Nat “King” Cole, Frankie Laine, Rosemary Clooney, Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Jack Jones, Andy Williams, Marvin Gaye, Paul Anka, Jo Stafford, John Denver, Johnny Cash, Patty Page, Willie Nelson, and so many, many others. Each with their own style, each with their own warmth, each unforgettable. Many of them gone from us now; but due to the wonders of the audio recordings they left behind, they will be with us until we, ourselves, pass on. When it comes to popular music and those who sung their way into my life -- to become part of everything I am -- one man stands well out in front of all others. That man was, and is, Frank Sinatra. The first record album I ever pur-chased with my own hard earned money was the Capital release of “Songs For Young Lovers,” featuring arrangements by George Siravo and with the orchestra conducted by Nelson Riddle. I still own it. (I was young but not a lover at the time, though I desperately wanted to be!) In the ten years that Sinatra recorded for the Capital label, many of the great songs that have become associated with him were recorded. In celebration of his 80th birthday (in 1995) Capital released a tribute album containing 40 of the best tracks, from various albums, he had cut for them. With arrangements by Riddle, Billy May, and others, All The Best, with songs by some of the finest popular songwriters of the 20th century, is simply that: the best! Share your opinion of the music of yesterday and today (and, if you think you can see where it’s going, the music of tomorrow.) Drop me an email, attach any photos or art work you may have, and I will publish it under your byline and with a link to your blog or website. Thanks so much for visiting, and come again soon. Next issue will be June 30, 2010. TOM AMACKER MY NUMBER THREE TRAFFIC EXCHANGE Go To Section: One / Three / Four / Welcome