Customer Reviews

Cakewalks Rags & Blues: Military Style

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

 

 

I am no teacher, but I have studied, avidly listened to, and enthusiastically performed many types of music since I was little, and I like this compilation. For the casual listener, this is a great album to fill in the gaps of one's familiarity with American Popular Music around the turn of the 20th century. It is not comprehensive, or scholarly, and the title is a bit misleading I feel (Military? How? Because John Phillips Sousa, who was known for his military marches, was affiliated with many of the pieces here??? And the cultural references can be mentioned in the same breath? Not quite sure why it's considered military...please correct me if you know more than I do about this description, anyone...), but all in all it's an enjoyable listen. It is nice to get another snippet of the feel of the time, and gratifying to know more about where and when melodies that Merry - Go - Rounds, and WWII news reels, for example, sometimes played (just two associative examples of my own observation, they are not listed as such on the album) come from.
*The only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is because I like liner notes, etc, and with MP3 downloads, you don't get that (a good opportunity for development, all you entrepreneurs!!!! Make it so!!!!)*

This is a very poor put together. Not worthy of consideration. Doing a disservice to ragtime music.