Customer Reviews

Love Changes Everything: The Essential Michael Ball

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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There are a number of Michael Ball compilations available, but this one is the most wide-ranging. There are a number of Lloyd-Webber tunes represented here as well as a representation from "Les Miserables". It shows his mastery of the musical theatre genre as well as his deft touch when approaching other popular songs where he avoids the tendency to parody the original but strives to make each his own by allowing his distinctive natural tenor to shine. I think sometimes his intensity reflects a belief that the popular song and its survival is in his hands. He even manages covers of "Walking in Memphis" and "The heart must go on" without sounding trite. Even Michael, the songwriter, is represented here which allows the possibility of a new arena he can conquer. All in all, this is real value for money with 39 tracks that cover a range of the pop canon that certainly stands up to repeated listenings. Just to think, I remember Michael as a chubby six year old who used to come and play at my parents house.....That dimple is still in evidence some almost 40 years later. Hopefully this compilation will be released in the USA because the import price is a little steep. Thanks Mom for the birthday present!!

I am SO happy that Michael Ball released this C.D. and the music on it more then makes up for the expensive pricetag. The songs are the C.D. are the hits from a combination of Michael Ball's C.Ds... and the C.D. has EVERY song any Michael Ball fan would ever want to own in their collection.

His romantic and stunningly beautiful version of "All I Ask Of You" is my personal favorite... as well as the song that changed his life and brought him to superstardom in England "Love Changes Everything." There are also two songs Michael Ball wrote himself-that aren't realesed on any other C.D-"Someone Else's Dream" I found very powerful and inspiring.

Michael personally chose his favorites as well his fans favorites- including a ton of non-Broadway music that reads a breath of fresh air... "Song For You", "The River", and "What Love Is For" manages to stand out in this EXCELLENT C.D. collection.

If you haven't bought a Michael Ball CD yet then this is DEFINATELY the CD to own! Any true Michael Ball fan will be grateful that they made this C.D. and any true Broadway fan will be grateful for the CD as well.
5-stars for all of Michael's BEST- Definately worth the PRICE... Hit the buy now button on your screen and don't miss out on this WONDERFUL C.D.!!!!

With frequent work on stage productions by Andrew Lloyd-Webber and others, it may be that Michael's acting career is more important than his singing career. However, Michael is a fine singer as this double-CD clearly proves.

Reflecting his dual role as singer and actor, this set includes many stage songs, rightly opening with Love changes everything (from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Aspects of love), which gave Michael a UK number two hit in 1989 and remains his only really big hit.

Michael came second (the fate of so many UK entries) in the 1992 Eurovision song contest but it only just made the UK top twenty in the singles charts. He has had other minor UK hits but they are not included here.

Some of the songs here comes from shows in which Michael has acted including Empty chairs empty tables (from Les Miserables) and the title track from Phantom of the Opera, although Michael sings it here with Lesley Garrett, whereas in the show his co-star was Sarah Brightman.

The remaining songs include covers of other artists' hits (Always on my mind, Cry me a river, If tomorrow never comes) and stage songs (Tell me on a Sunday, Tell me it's not true, All I ask of you, Oh what a circus).

This is a brilliant compilation of music by a singer who has made only a limited impact on the singles charts but whose albums always sell well and deservedly so.

Mr. Ball has done several albums since he debuted in 1992 with a self titled album. This one literally takes you through the years in the best way possible.
Public Television helped a lot of people in my area to see who he is by airing a concert from Britain in 2000. An album was released to coincide with the concert video. Mr. Ball is known best for his work with Andrew Lloyd Webber in the musical "Aspects of Love", where Ball sang the hit single, "Love Changes Everything". It launched the young baritone/tenor's career in music. Of course before that he was in Les Miserables, performing "Empty Chairs, Empty Tables" and shortly found himself on his way to a recording career. He's a writer as well. A few songs are included. Among them a reflective, sad ballad, "Someone Else's Dream". For how possibly bleak it could be, this song helps oddly. There are three new tracks which will definitely delight any love song fan. Many of his devoted fans had requested him to tackle "This is The Moment" from "Jekyll and Hyde". No problem. It's the first song on disc two.
From broadway to country to pop, Mr. Ball takes his voice. It should be noted that a video, "Live In London" was released along side it. Who would ever thought that four years later a new video would be released? Just pick up both these items. Read the liner notes. Set aside some hours or evenings. A star of the London stage such as Mr. Ball will have a spotlight kept on him for a very long time.

This Michael Ball 2 CD set is unbelievable. All I can say about Michael Ball is that he is the best entertainer on CD or DVD that has ever come along. That says everything about his talents, voice and presentations.

What can I say... Michael Ball's voice just cannot be compared to anyone else. This cd is just one more example of his talent.

Move over Josh Grobin....England's artist changes everything into love. It contains the best of songs. You'll play it over and over again.

Don't know where I've been, but just recently discovered Michael Ball. You don't hear much of him in America, I guess. After watching an old DVD - Andrew Lloyd Webster Anniversary at Royal Albert Hall, I was really smitten. Ordered Love Changes Everything from Amazon because I couldn't find him anywhere else. I LOVE it! I would love to have him singing duets with maybe Sarah Brightman, as they were so great on the DVD, but the CD covers all of his hits from that show and many others. I'm looking for more Michael Ball.

I love that he has done a bit of every kind of music he has performed in the past twenty years. He is truly the best voice of musical theatre of this generation. A true artist.

I was so impressed with Michael's singing on the Les Mis CDs that I couldn't wait to have this double CD of All Michael All the Time. Some of the songs are great, but he sings a lot of American songs and has chosen to sing these with an American accent. I much prefer him singing with his own "voice" and found the contrived accent not only detracted from the music, but almost served to make him sound like one of a dozen American singers rather than showcasing his rich, emotive singing style.