Ckapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton was released by Reprise Records in 1999. It is a compilation album. I really like Clapton's guitar playing. It seems to be his forte, and he often adds a guitar section in his songs. This C.D. includes some of my favorites, Layla, Change the Wotld and Tears in Heaven. My version does not have my favorite Clapton song, Wonderful Tonight. However that is included in the British version.
This composite CD was released in 2000, after Karen arpenter had passed away. It was released by Universal Music Company. It peaked at number 45 in the Unitd States for record albums and was recognized as a Gold Album.
The Carpenter sound is timeless as this shows. Karen Carpenter's voice is a treasure, and this album helps to preserve that treasure. I particularly like, We've Only Just Begun, Rainy Days and Mondays, Top of the World, Ticket to Ride (a cover of a Beatles song), Hurting Each Other, Yesterday Once More, Sing, I Won't Last a Day Without You and For All We Know. I hear those songs go through my head with just hearing the title.
But the songs are not just the vocals. The instrumentation is also very good.
This movie tells the story of Henry W Longfellow and his writing the poem "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day" which became the Christmas song. Longfellow (Stephen Atherholt) had become morose over the death of his wife. Her dress had caught fire and she died of her injuries. Longfellow attempted to put it out and burn himself in the process, scarring his face. He wore a beard after this.
Longfellow had determined not to write poetry again, even though he had great success with poems such as Hiawatha, Paul Revere's Ride and Evangeline. Add to this his son left home and joined the military. This was during the Civil War. He son was severely wounded, and forced to come home as a result. He told Longfellow how he was in a church, and the bell, even though lieing on the floor, had inspired him. This set Longfellow to writing his poem.
This historical drama is very good. I would recommend it. I understand it is fairly accurate, although there are different stories about how his wife's dress caught fire.
August Rush/ Evan (Freddie Highmore) is growing up in an orphanage. He swears he can hear the music of his parents, who he has never met; music is all around in the air. The other boys tease and are cruel, and eventually he runs away to New York to find his parents. He parents, an Irish singer in a band, Louis Connelly (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and a cellist Lyla Novacek (Keri Russell) are looking for him and each other. Lyla's father (William Sadler) forced Lyla to leave when she wanted to stay with Connelly. He also told Lyla her son had perished in a car accident when he was born premature as a result. Evan is already past ten years of age, when Lyla's father tells her what he did.
After going to New York, Evan meets Wizard (Robin Williams) who runs a group of children who play music and beg for him. He is like a modern Fagan. From Wizar August learns guitar. He names Evan August Rush. Lyla has recruited the help of Richard Jeffries (Terrance Howard) from social services to help find her son. At a time when August is on the run, as the police are intervening in the operation of Wizard, he enters a church and meets a girl, Hope (Jamia Simone Nash). It is she that discovers that August is a prodigy. He learns quickly, and also writes music. He plays piano with a two minute lesson. He even plays the organ at the church. He gets into Juilliard as a result. The professor of his composition class is impressed. He is invited to conduct his own piece in Central Park as part of a concert
August has believed all along that if enough people hear his music, his parents will find him. It all comes together.
The August Rush music is unique and exciting. Hope sings at the concert, and the music twirls around as if riding a circular wind. I highly recommend this movie. Even if just to list the the music. Lyla and Connelly also lay their unique brands of music.
The Album Judy at Carnegie Hall was released by Capitol Records in 1961. Judy Garland had recorded an earlier album, but this was in fact life to capture the energy og Garland entertaining. Garlan plays many big band songs including, Over the Rainbow and Almost Like Being in Love from "Brigadoon." Smile and the Whole World Smiles with you was a favorite. The audience was obviously very much into the music as the demanded three or four encores. This album won the grammy for album of the year. It is very good and the energy is great. Garland also talked considerably with the audience talking about songs and sharing stories. It also won a grammy for best album cover, and Garland won entertainer of the year, the first woman to do so.
Sheri and I attended this movie of Neil Diamond music. It is the story of Lightning (Hugh Jackman) and Thunder (Kate Hudson) a couple of singers who did a Neil Diamond tribute concert. They meet doing impersonations of other singers. And eventually team up and create a Neil Diamond act. They marry. Their children add an important part to the story. She has two children, Rachel and Dana (Ella Anderson and Hudson Hensley.). He has a daughter Angelina (King Princess.) Rachel and Angelina become friends. There is much negativity to their performing, but they persevere and overcome. They do the opening act for Pearl Jam, and sing with Eddie Vedder (John Beckwith.)
But tragedy intervenes. Thunder is hit by a car and loses a leg. She spirals into depression with pain medication addiction and psychotic features. They eventually land when she is admitted into a psychiatgric hospital. She rekindles the dream and instills this in Lightning. They first perform in a Korean restaurant, but eventually get a large concert show, the same day as a Neil Diamond show. They both sell out. That night they are to meet Neil Diamond, but again fate intervenes. Lightning's heart catches up with him.
I do not think you can get through this movie without tears. The last tribute sung byThunder to Lightning is very emotional. "I've Been this Way Before"
Superman (Brandon Routh) has returned after being away for five years in space, exploring his home world of Krypton. In the meantime Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) has explored his lair, and stole crystals. The crystals contain the knowledge of Krypton. He experiments with the crystals, and every time he does it causes a black out.
Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has moved on from Superman. She has a son and a boyfriend/fiancƩ, Richard White (James Marsden.) She won a Pulitzer for an article about not needing Superman. She takes her son with her, tracking down a hint about the most recent blackout. She wonders onto the boat of Lex Luthor.
After she is on board, Luthor heads to see to put his plan into action. He had obtained kryptonite from a museum. He is going to combine the kryptonite with a Krypton crystal, and make an island he will own. This new land will cover much of the eastern United States, and being combined with kryptonite, will be poisonous to Superman. He completes his task, and then must hurry away to avoid the crystal island. Superman, and her fiancƩ rescue Lois. Richard White takes her away in a seaplane, but Lois Lane realizes they must turn back. Superman is in peril because of the kryptonite. He is tossed in the ocean to die.
As they approach, Lois' son, is able to see Superman in the deep. He is in fact Superman's son. They are able to get him and fly away, but Superman must return. Billions are in peril. Superman restores his strength in the sun, then lifts the island and throws it into space. The effort kills him.
Luthor and his girlfriend, Kitty Kowolski (Parker Posey) escape, but Kowolski drops the crystals on purpose as she is tired of Luthor's antics and callousness.
Lois visits Superman in the hospital. Can her life, and knowing he has a son, bring him back to life?
This movie is good, not the best superman. It gets bogged down a couple of times with back story, but the action wins out in the end.
