Customer Reviews

A Patriotic Salute to the Military Family

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

 

 

If you've ever been proud of, or miss, being a Military Brat, this is a collection you don't want to pass up. As a "lifer" Military Brat and a Vietnam-era soldier, many of the songs and bugle calls on this recording were a part of the daily background, but two additional songs ("We are All a Family" and "Trinkets and Beads") really sum up a unique lifestyle; every Military Family should hear them - as either a reminder or a prophesy.

If you're just looking for patriotic music or select bugle calls (as I was), this is a great collection; if the military is (or was) a significant part of your daily life, it becomes far more. Thanks, NMFA, for a great production.

This is the real stuff here. Patriotic music played by the premier bands of the US Armed Forces. This is not a random collection of bands just playing patriotic numbers. These are the real thing, played in superlative fashion, and recorded in top notch manner. There is something for everyone here. Great Sousa marches, patriotic pieces, vocal selections, and army bugle calls. Check out the Altissimo! catalog for additional recordings by these great bands.

All American taxpayers have alredy paid for a copy of the recordings on this disc. Indeed, the recordings on this disc (as well as all Altissimo military recordigs that I am aware of) are public domain and are available directly from the Army Band at Fort Meyer, VA. There is absolutely nothing wrong with what Altissimo does here. Nevertheless, as Altissimo knows, the military must provide interested members of the public with free copies of these same military recordings - albeit, perhaps, in a different order and with different cover art. Indeed, the law that guarantees all Americans free access to these recordings also allows Altissimo or anyone else, for that matter, to make unlimited copies of these songs - because they cannot be copy protected! So - why wouldn't you call the offices of the Army Band for free copies or check out the Army Band Website?

The recordings on this disc are public domain recordings. They are all offered to the public for free directly from the Military bands - because Congress intended the military's music to be enjoyed by all Americans without cost. Although nobody meant for anyone to re-sell these recordings at a profit - the same law that prohibits the military from profiting off of these recordings prohibits the Military from copy protecting their own recordings and thus allows non-military entities - such as Altissimo records - to re-sell these otherwise free recordings to you at a profit. The military artists here in Washington, DC really resent this and wish that you NOT BUY this recording. Call the offices of the Army Band in FT. Myer, VA to order free copies of military band recordings. Don't support Altissimo's shameless practice of profiting off of our soldiers and our tax dollars.

I really enjoyed the tracks on this album, and if you enjoy traditional
patriotic standards, you will also really enjoy this album. Many reviews have failed to mention that this album
was made in association with the NMFA, which is a great organization that supports the families of service members. The idea that this album is exploitative or is engaging in war profiteering
is a little extreme. Simply, it is a collection of MUSIC that is ideal for a Fourth of
July or Memorial Day celebration. I hope this helps those of you who just
want to know about the album without the political commentary.

Anchor's Aweigh's sound quality was the weakest but passable. USAF Band recordings were OK. US Army band and the Marine Corp band were good to very good. On a good stereo system the National Anthem and Army Goes Rolling Along were simply magnificent. All the other recordings except the few mentioned above were also of good quality. The Bugle Calls were simply excellent. We use them to teach our children the flag raising and retreat ceremony.

For a military family, this compilation is excellent, "Trinkets and Beads" brings back fond memories. As for the other praises, it may be difficult for a civilian family to appreciate.

Great music just never goes out of style. This has about every patriotic song I would need for any occasion. A really superb collection of recordings performed by the great bands of this era. Altissimo has a money back guarantee for dissatisfied customers. Sousa's Greatest Hits

Ok, I am reasonably patriotic, but some of the stuff on here stretches it a bit! There is a fine line between pride in ones country and over-doing it with praise. I think we have exceeded that point here. Nothing new about these recordings, and they seem pulled from all over. One reviewer is right that these should be public domain. Just go to the army band web sites and download the music directly and bypass Altissimo!

This is a mish-mosh of patriotic recordings taken from various sources. Hence the un-even sound quality. Some of this stuff is highlighted on other Altissimo! items already and is just a repeat here. There is nothing really new here, same stuff that is recorded on pretty much every Altissimo! CD.

Patriotism,it has been noted,is the last refuge of scoundrels..Patriotism is too often just a cover for the sort of mindless excesses that bring on unnecessay wars(such as the one which,as of this writing,this nation is still"patrioticly"waging in Iraq)...Thus "Patriotic"music is,more often than not,loud,pompous,blaring,and one-sided...This is exactly the type of music one gets with the purchase of this album...Loud military orchestras pumping out old John Phillip Sousza tunes,which,given that most of these were written during another of america's imperialistic,"manifest destiny" periods of overt aggression,seem almost natural for airing to today's"patriots"...of course,Sousza is not the only composer represented on this album,but given the repetitious nature of "patriotic"band music,one can hardly tell the difference between the sousza and non-sousza entries..

Given that most wars,even the ones that can be justified as "necessary" are NOT exercises in "Glory",it is odd that"patriotic" music is never introspective,nor does it ever reflect the true nature of war...We do not get tunes that are somber,as death surely is,but,instead,we are given pulse-pounding flash,as if the only element in the"patriotic"musical repertoire is the hype to get young men,and now young women,sufficently carried away to forget that all glory,as has also been said,is fleeting....