Customer Reviews

The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs (1996)

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The magnum opus of review guides. The astonishing thing is that the authors score about 85% on spotting little recording nuances - even down to the subjective things like emotional impact. It is very rare indeed that you will buy a *** CD and be disappointed (it has happened to me maybe once or twice). Surprisingly, this guide actually makes good light reading. Of course, with the thousands of reviews, one tends to encounter repetitive adjectives and phrases... but the English language is limited after all! For the cost of only one CD, this book will become your lifeline to the music store and save you the grief of a CD collection weighed down by poor recordings.

I found this to be an invaluble reference when I first started collecting classical music 10 years ago. I felt confident that I could choose the best recording available, both in sound and performance. I also learned a lot of music history by reading the Guide. The only downside is that some of the CDs listed are no longer in print, or only available in Europe. It's also impossible to list all the releases out there, so there are some great recordings that are not mentioned. But overall, it is the best resource for buying classical CDs available.

It is a great book, nice to use just as a reference or to read in detail. It will save You a lot of trips to CD shops and wondering about... Just choose the classic work You want to buy and go out with a list of the best (or the cheapest) available.