Customer Reviews

16 Most Requested Songs: Encore

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The original 16 MOST REQUESTED SONGS is a dreadful compilation and should be avoided.

Much more thought was put into the second volume titled ENCORE 16 MOST REQUESTED SONGS which provides a good overview of Conniff's best work.

Unfortunately, these comments appear under both versions which may explain the wide difference of opinion.

I first "discovered" Ray Conniff and the Singers back in the '60s and I'm now rediscovering his music. This CD is one of the best of all his releases. Nothing beats the instrumental and vocal harmonies these people bring to the music scene. It's just a unique way to present some of the best tunes ever to come out of the universe of music composing.

While the selections in first version of "Sixteen Most Requested Songs" most definitely were NOT supportive of the title of the CD, this one is a huge improvement. It's a great compilation of songs that come pretty close to hitting the mark. Are these representative of those I would personally select? Not precisely, but it is quite close, with some of the "oldies," and some of those that the members of the Conniff Fan Club, and the RC Discussion Group have been clamoring for over several years. This is truly an excellent program.

This wonderful CD has sixteen of Ray Conniff's greatest musical numbers. His chorus harmonizes to perfection and that music couldn't be better--what an artist he was! This is clearly a must-have for any Ray Conniff fan; the quality of the sound is excellent and I love that artwork, too.

The very classic "Begin the Beguine" is the opening number; I love the way that brass sounds! Interestingly, this number has a rather upbeat flavor that I don't always hear on "Begin the Beguine" but it does work rather well--terrific! "Besame Mucho" is very well done as well; and listen for "Thanks for the Memory" with these artists swinging both gently and brightly to make this number shine. "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" is easily one of my very favorite tunes on this CD; the chorus sings this flawlessly and the music fits in perfectly with their vocals. Now THIS is great music that I will always love!

"It's Been a Long, Long Time" is very easy on the ear; it's a charming, romantic song. "Memories Are Made of This" gets the royal treatment from Ray, the singers and the musicians who deliver this with panache; I think you'll like this one if you haven't heard it in a while or if you are a newcomer to Ray Conniff and you haven't heard it before. In addition, "Midnight Lace, Part 1" uses the organ for a great effect; and Ray Conniff's treatment of "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo" from the film "Lili" has an incredible arrangement. Those singers never miss a beat as they handle modulations between major and minor keys and that's amazing.

"Invisible Tears" has the chorus singing wonderfully and the music is splendid; and another gem is clearly "Try to Remember" from "The Fantasticks." "Try to Remember" is performed faultlessly and it's a huge highlight of the album. "This Is My Song" stuns me with its romantic beauty especially in the hands of these artists; and the rendition of "Red Roses for a Blue Lady" has that signature Ray Conniff sound that I love so much.

"It's Impossible" is wonderful; and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is very romantic; they deliver this with great sensitivity and the music goes along with the vocals so smoothly that I'm very impressed. "Seasons in the Sun" is nicely done and the CD ends with "Memory." "Memory" is a very moving piece that shines bright with that arrangement and it makes a fine ending for the album.

Ray Conniff gave so much of himself when he created this fine music; he was such a remarkably gifted man that his albums continue to sell as CDs in our times. This album is not just for Ray Conniff fans; anyone who enjoys classic, timeless music from the mid twentieth century would do well to get this for their collections--they won't be disappointed!

I got this CD for my husband for Christmas and he just loves it. I will probably order more like it.

This album is one of the best introductions to the arrangements that made Ray Conniff a household name from the 60s' onwards. It is a well organized album which goes off chronologically and thus exposes some of Conniff's most famous musical periods, beginning with the jazzy period of the late 50's, going through the classics of his prolific mid 60s' and finalizing with some arrangements of recognizable hits of the 70s'. This allows the material to flow gently and makes the songs more memorable instead of schmaltzy, which is a quality that many orchestral pop arrangers fell into. The singers are present in most of the songs and the album as a whole evokes a nostalgia for that unique moment in time.

However, for an artist who recorded as many albums as Conniff, 16 songs is not enough for a full career retrospective; many of his greatest moments in albums such as Somebody Loves Me, Love Affair and S' Marvelous, among other top quality records, are sadly missing. Contrary to popular belief Conniff was an excellent studio album mogul, whose quality remains far and away from overplayed hits. My recommendation is to pick up some of the studio albums after this one, but for those looking for a single Conniff overview, 16 most requested songs works just fine.

This CD arrived within 4 days and was exactly as billed by seller. Great selection of music.

I have appreciated and enjoyed very much the music of Ray Conniff for a very long time, and, like everybody, I prefer some of the Conniff's songs which are always of my choice. One of those is "Bèsame mucho" (one of the pieces included in this selection) that is one of his emblematic and historical themes (in the original version in this disc). However, besides this song, the other 15 are fantastic. The quality of recording process has rendered an excellent CD. All funs of music interpreted by this kind of Orchestra will surely be happy with this selection. Very good product worth of the price paid.

These songs brings me back old memories.And there harmony of Ray Conniff Singers give me contentment for my heart.I heard this CD with satisfaction.

I, too , am re-discovering Ray Conniff after many years and wish I had started my re-discovery with another CD. These certainly would not have been my 16 most requested songs. The old Ray Conniff harmony was just not there, and the "non-vocals"(which I've never cared for anyway) were especially disappointing. I'll just have to keep trying.