1. Me And Mrs. Jones 2. If You Don t Know Me By Now 3. Papa Was A Rolling Stone 4. People Get Ready 5. Georgia 6. Backstabbers 7. New York State Of Mind 8. Soul Man 9. In The Midnight Hour 10. Try A Little Tenderness 11. Heaven Help Us All 12. Louisiana 1927 13. I Can t Stop Loving You 14. House Of The Rising Sun

#WOW...not just an opera singer!!! (2008-11-28) I bought this album today and its the best album I have heard in a very long time. Russell Watson always comes across as such a lovely man and has had the most traumatic time of late but oh my god his voice is just amazing and I couldn t think of a better way to celebrate what he has overcome. I had always associated Russell with opera and it was only after seeing him on a couple of tv appearances singing some of the songs from this album that I had this tingling sensation and thought I needed to hear more. . . . I am so glad I did. The s...

#What a great treat! (2008-11-27) First, I love this cd. I have a couple other of Russell s cd s and I am so amazed and awed by this one. I received my copy today and I am listening as I write this and I know this is going to be one of those cd s I won t put away. I m looking forward to hearing more like this from this artist. I ordered my copy from Amazon. uk, but see that is is now available on Amazon. com in the U. S. Unfortunately, it probably won t sell well, because of the outrageous price. It is less expensive to order it from overseas at this point.

##1 Mr Versatility (2008-11-21) People Get ReadyThis album proves that Russell has such versatility in his voice and it matches his choice of songs. . . . . . . if you like a great voice, you ll love this!!!!!!!!

#People Get This Album (2008-11-19) Mr Watson is a singer, pure and simple. There is nothing this man cannot sing. I would recommend him singing a shopping list, he s so good here. A classic set of songs with a new and refreshing take on soul as never before heard. People Get Ready gives us another delightful collection of classics with a voice that cannot be matched and phrasing that only Russell can do with such clarity. Thanks Russell, I recommend this to every music fan.

#People Get Ready (2008-11-15) My copy of this album was pre-ordered and arrived today (Sat 15th Nov). The orchestrations on this album are amazing (The Amy Winehouse Band amonst others) and hat s off to the sax players. Russell really shows that he can tackle any type of song, from the upbeat Papa was a rolling stone (I defy you not to get up and dance!) to House of the Rising Sun, which at 8 minutes, is my favourite track. It s stunning, I never realised just how low Russell could sing, WOW. Add to this the fact that you can hear in his voice that he s really enjoying what he s si...

1. Rich Woman 2. Killing The Blues 3. Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us 4. Polly Come Home 5. Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On) 6. Through The Morning, Through The Night 7. Please Read The Letter 8. Trampled Rose 9. Fortune Teller 10. Stick With Me Baby 11. Nothin 12. Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson 13. Your Long Journey

Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant and bluegrass crooner Alison Krauss may not be the likeliest of musical combinations. But on this welcome collaboration album, they work beautifully together, wringing a kind of magic from other people s songs. The key to the album is its versatility. Between them, Krauss and Plant can handle a vast repertoire on their own, and here they take on the lot, from folk laments and country soul to searing blues and upbeat rock & roll. Overseen by Elvis Costello producer T Bone Burnett and backed by high caliber musicians like guitarist Marc Ribot and multi-instrumentalist Mike Seeger, Raising Sand sees the duo create stellar covers of songs by Tom Waits, Townes Van Zandt, Mel Tillis and The Everly Brothers, among others. Highlights include a killer version of Roly Salley s Killing the Blues, and a cover of the Plant-Page collaboration Please Read the Letter, though in truth, it s difficult to find a weak spot on the whole album. --Danny McKenna

#Don t waste your money. (2008-11-28) I can respect Robert Plant for his work with Led Zeppelin (nearly 40 years ago) and Alison Krauss is a major talent with the Union Station but this just does not work. The production by T Bone Burnett is good but the material is poor and boring. It neither one thing (Rock) nor another (Country/Bluegrass). Having read the reviews beforehand I borrowed this CD from my library prepared for a probable disappointment and it certainly lived up to that.

#Raises the hair on your neck (2008-11-22) Sublime, intersting and flawless. For me, reminiscent of Gram Parsons/Emmylou Harris in terms of depth, colour and spirituality.

#eclectic percy (2008-11-05) Should be no surprise to find Robert Plant making great music with any musician. Being famous for making music in one genre has never stopped this singer from admiring other forms. He has, after all, appeared with Fairport at Cropredy and was an admirer of the Incredible String Band back in the day. Nice to hear these two together and with such a great band of musicians. Good also, to hear a Doc Watson song being aired. Be interesting to hear Zep cover Doc eh?

#An Over-rated Wasted Opportunity (2008-10-21) I m a fan of both Plant and Krauss and bought this CD without having heard any tracks in advance. I reckoned the juxtaposition of two great but very different talents was bound to result in something new and interesting. Ouch!!! How wrong I was. I sold it on eBay the next week. This album sounds like the pair were brought together by their marketing teams to make an unchallenging, easy-listening sure-fire hit for a bland middle of the road market. Sure, if this was the intention then the project is a great contribution to their pen...

#Disappointed (2008-09-25) Heard great things about this album over some period of time before I bought it, heard Gone, gone, gone and thought Hmmmmm, I d give it a go. . . . . Can t say much more than I think it s just a mediocre musical outing by two accomplished performers. It s not the electric mix of eclectic styles that people make it out to be, it s not a ground-breaking album, it s never going to be in my top ten fave albums [or any list of fave albums]. It is a raggle-taggle collection of songs, some a bit too similar to its partners on the album to make it an overall hal...

1. Good Morning Baltimore (Hairspray) - Nikki Blonsky 2. The Nicest Kids In Town (Hairspray) - James Marsden 3. It Takes Two (Hairspray) - Zac Efron 4. (The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs (Hairspray) - Michelle Pfeiffer 5. I Can Hear The Bells (Hairspray) - Nikki Blonsky 6. Ladies Choice (Hairspray) - Zac Efron 7. The New Girl In Town (Hairspray) - Brittany Snow 8. Welcome To The 60 s (Hairspray) - Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta 9. Run And Tell That (Hairspray) - Elijah Kelley 10. Big Blonde And Beautiful (Hairspray) - Queen Latifah 11. Big Blonde And Beautiful (Reprise) (Hairspray) - John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer 12. (You re) Timeless To Me (Hairspray) - John Travolta, Christopher Walken 13. I Know Where I ve Been (Hairspray) - Queen Latifah 14. Without Love (Hairspray) - Zac Efron, Nikki Blonsky, Elijah Kelley, Amanda Bynes 15. (It s) Hairspray (Hairspray) - James Marsden 16. You Can t Stop The Beat (Hairspray) - Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes, Elijah Kelley, John Travolta, Queen Latifah 17. Come So Far (Got So Far To Go) (Hairspray) - Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley 18. Cooties (Hairspray) - Aimée Allen 19. Mama, I m A Big Girl Now (Hairspray) - Ricki Lake, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Nikki Blonsky

What fun! This soundtrack of the film adaptation of the Broadway musical overflows with glossy, ol fashioned 60s-style pep. It won t win any awards for innovation, but it may well be one of the most feel-good releases of the year. While not quite as super-energetic as the original Broadway cast, the new crew ain t too shabby: Nikki Blonsky delivers as Tracy Turnblad and Zac Efron (High School Musical) makes for a devoted boyfriend, and the supporting cast gleefully embraces the show s silly-but-generous spirit. John Travolta (who gets to utter the particularly ironic line it s been years since someone asked me to dance) goes drag as Tracy s mom, Edna, while Michelle Pfeiffer s slight stiffness is appropriate for her uptight character, especially on the cha-cha (The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs. After Mama Morton in Chicago, Queen Latifah puts in another brassy turn as Motormouth Maybelle (Big, Blonde and Beautiful, which is then reprised by Travolta and Pfeiffer). The show s autho...

#FANTASTIC!!! (2008-08-14) I remember the original hairspray from when I was younger and loved it then and still love it now, even though the songs and characters are different its still amazing! the soundtrack has all the songs from the film that just make you want to be in that groovy era of the 50 s/60 s. I have the album in my car and can never resist a good old sing along. Definitely a feel good soundtrack to brighten up your day! love it and love Hairspray!

#FANTASTIC (2008-06-23) This is the best album I have purchased in yeras. The movie was great and the soundtrack is spectacular. Your kids will love it. Hairspray is the must see musical. If you like Grease you will love Hairspray. !

#THE BEST FILM EVER and THE BEST SONGS EVER! (2007-10-29) I love every song in this album, they are all sung by different kinds of actors which makes the music varied and suprising. I bought this album on Amazon as soon as I came out of the Cinema, I still cant get these songs out of my head 4 months after it was released! The highlights of this album include. . . . . every single song! I promise that you wont regret buying this, it will brighten up every day with a little song and dance and I am sure that you wont be able to get them out of your head either. BUY IT NOW !!! :)

#Perfect for a gloomy day where you want to be cheered up! (2007-10-08) Quite simply, Hairspray is in my opinion, one of the best films to have been on at the cinema this year. However, what makes it so successful is its fantastic soundtrack. Opening number Good Morning Baltimore is a great feel good tune and other classic tracks such as Without Love with lyrics such as I never looked inside myself but on the outside I looked good and It s like getting my big break and laryingitus (apologies for spelling!),you know you are onto a winner! As for the singing, all in all very good...

#Brilliant Feel Good Album (2007-08-02) If you enjoyed the film, which I d bet good money you did, then you ll absolutely adore this soundtrack. It includes all the songs, plus a couple more [heard in the credits] and they are pretty much in their entirety, giving you the full spirit and beat of the movie. A must-have for any musical collection!

1. No One Mourns The Wicked - Kristin Chenoweth, Sean McCourt, Cristy Candler, Jan Neuberger 2. Dear Old Shiz - Kristin Chenoweth 3. The Wizard And I - Carole Shelley, Idina Menzel 4. What Is This Feeling? - Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel 5. Something Bad - William Youmans, Idina Menzel 6. Dancing Through Life - Norbert Leo Butz, Kristin Chenoweth, Christopher Fitzgerald, Michelle Federer, Idina Menzel 7. Popular - Kristin Chenoweth 8. I m Not That Girl - Idina Menzel 9. One Short Day - Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel 10. A Sentimental Man - Joel Grey 11. Defying Gravity - Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel 12. Thank Goodness - Kristin Chenoweth, Carole Shelley 13. Wonderful - Joel Grey, Idina Menzel 14. I m Not That Girl (Reprise) - Kristin Chenoweth 15. As Long As You re Mine - Idina Menzel, Leo Norbert Butz 16. No Good Deed - Idina Menzel 17. March Of The Witch Hunters - Christopher Fitzgerald 18. For Good - Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel 19. Finale Wicked - Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel

#mixed feelings (2008-07-31) I have to agree with the writer of the 1-star review that the actress who plays Elphaba on Broadway (and is featured on the cd) definitely has a disappointing voice compared to the West End actress. However, I do think that the actors playing Glinda and the Wizard, in contrast, have a better voice on Broadway, compensating a little for Elpahaba. I really do hope that a West End version of this cd will become available at some point.

#HYPE OVER SUBSTANCE (2008-06-09) the album is definitely better than the show, which in my opinion is just a big panto, idina menzel thankfully sounds better on the album than she ever did on stage in london, kerry ellis showed how it should be done, and i think they should release the london cast version, if you want camp cheesy songs that are badly edited then buy the album, but after youve seen the show you will realise that the album misses some very important plotlines, and songs dont make as much sense as they do when you see the show,

#TRULY WICKED (2008-03-31) I have not been fortunate enough to be able to see Wicked on stage yet, however I saw clips of the show on television and immediately wanted to find out more so visited the shows website and listened to clips from some of the tracks and was blown away. I have read the book by Gregory Maguire so had a good idea what the show was all about but never before have I been so captivated by a score without the ability to experience the show itself. With such gripping songs as The Wizard & I , Defying Gravity , For Good it is a must for any musicals fans collec...

#Amazing (2008-03-30) I have not got thw CD yet, but, I have seen the show with Kerry Ellis, amazing! I hope the CD lives up to the west end performance!

#This really is (at risk of sounding cliche) Wicked! (2008-02-18) Yes, I said it, the title of a thousand reviews - Wicked is wicked!But, in all seriousness, it is. I ve seen reviews which have labelled some of the songs here as not up to par others from the musical, and from other works of Stephen Schwartz. I can now denounce those rumours with the cheery air that comes from listening to Wicked for the forty-seventh time. Every song on this album, except, perhaps, the lacklustre Wonderful (although even that is good to sing along to when you re in a sing-along situation), is wonde...

1. Labels Or Love - Fergie 2. All Dressed In Love - Jennifer Hudson 3. Mercy - Duffy 4. The Look Of Love - Nina Simone 5. New York Girls - Morningwood 6. All This Beauty - The Weepies 7. I Like The Way - Kaskade 8. It s Amazing - Jem 9. How Deep Is Your Love - The Bird And The Bee 10. The Heart Of The Matter - India Arie 11. Auld Lang Syne - Mairi Campbell, Dave Francis 12. Kissing - Bliss 13. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart - Al Green, Joss Stone 14. Walk This Way - Run D.M.C., Aerosmith 15. Sex And The City - Movie Theme - Pfeifer Broz Orchestra

#Sex and the City soundtrack - my review (2008-11-19) The Sex and the City soundtrack provides a perfect companion if you loved the film, and even if you aren t a fan, there is enough here for you to have a listen to. Fergie starts off with Labels or Love, sampling the series theme tune in a song about whether we should be looking for the best label or love in the big city. It s sassy and sexy, like Fergie herself. Jennifer Hudson appeared in the film, and provides a show tune style track to the proceedings. Nina Simone gets remixed and I have to say I quite like it, as I haven t rea...

#Good variety of music (2008-06-25) Great soundtrack, Jennifer Hudson, Duffy and particular fave is New York Girls - Morningwood, if you loved the film you love the soundtrack!!

#A Great Soundtrack (2008-06-07) Wouldn t necessarily have bought all these tracks individually, but on a soundtrack to a great movie they really work together. Particularly love Fergie s Labels Or Love, which samples the SATC theme tune. A must have for SATC fans.