Customer Reviews

Roger Williams - Greatest Hits

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My introduction to Roger Williams came rather late in my life. He played last year at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library for 12 incredible hours! I bought myself a ticket since it was only 2 days after my 61st birthday and came as a belated birthday gift to me. Up until that day all I knew of Roger was his hit Autumn Leaves. Well, I was mesmerized by this man's talent. I have never heard popular music played with such spontaneity or such skill. Mr. Williams took nothing but requests for the entire day. He played one song and melted it into the next with such ease you barely realized what was happening!.....and ALL without a single sheet of music in front of him and not even one sour note that I could possibly discern. He was such a joy that I stayed the entire day until he finally stopped at 11:30 pm that night. He still had almost a full audience listening and singing along with him.

After that night, I came to Amazon and bought a couple of his albums. You can bet I will buy more. I feel so privileged to have witnessed such a talent - and for 12 whole hours. He is truly amazing and a treasure. I hear this year he will be at Jimmy Carter's Presidential Library. I envy those that can go and see him in person.

Roger Williams is the best pop pianist in history, period. Almost 80 years old now, he still tours and practices eight hours a day and swears that the his best work is still in his future. This kind of musical genius only is seen every couple generations, and this release captures the greatest moments in his unbelievably long career. Other artists have been trying to copy his mulit-platinum selling style for decades, but only Roger can make the piano sing like it does when his fingers touch the keys. He is hailed as number one in his genre by both Steinway and Billboard, and this compilation shows why this is the case. Nobody else in the world can match this stunning combination of technique and feeling like Mr. Piano. Thousands of pianist can play the notes at this speed, but nobody can make the notes sing like he does- which is why he is so revered by critics and amateurs alike. His only love true love in life has been the piano, and I strongly urge you to hear what a fusion of such an unreal work ethic and true genius can produce.

"Roger Williams Greatest Hits" is a spectacular collection of this remarkably gifted composer's career. This collection features twelve of Williams' most cherished recordings, which even a classical connoisseur of this style of music can best appreciate. The CD beigins with a symphonic fury of fire, courtesy of the beautifully crafted "Autumn Leaves". All of the other standout compositions featured here are sure to make one a student of the school of classical art. Roger Williams' finest adaptable movie scores make appearances here as well. "The High and the Mighty" stands tall on its' own merits, while "Tammy" brings out a feminine side all its' own, complete with a smooth orchestral flow, as is the case with the majority of the selections featured on this "Greatest Hits" 'mini-anthology'. But, Williams' is not totally content to rest on his serene musical laurels, for on "I Got Rhythm", he really sews his wild musical notes in a progressive-like fashion. Even Roger is apt to turn such classics into a work of art, like the masterful "Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1". Heck, even ol' "Tchaik" would tip his hat to Mr. Williams' piano stylings, thus making the master proud. There's not one bad composition to be found on "Roger Williams Greatest Hits", although it is most likely one will find more complete Roger Williams anthologies in print. With that said, this greatest hits collection is a must-have item to have in one's classical CD library. Musical genius of this magnitude only comes along once in a lifetime, so it's important to make this a wothwhile purchase ASAP, before MCA takes it out of print.

I like a good piano and Roger Williams is very good. I became a fan when I attended one of his concerts at Butler University in Indiana. He is the kind of headliner who chats with the audience between tunes. His performance was solo but that simply enhanced our enjoyment in the acoustically near perfect atmosphere of Butler's concert hall.

Greatest Hits is produced by Curb records, who re-mixed previously recorded works into this album. The result is excellent for "Lady", "More", and "The Way We Were". Other songs lose something in the reproduction.

Orchestration was not harmonious in "Lara Theme", and in "Born Free", the piano seems extraneous while playing background.

In "September Song" the piano, when accompanied by other instruments seems slightly off key, especially during Williams' negative arpeggiato and in the introduction. This CD is not a good representation of the artists. In several places the piano sounds out of tune. Nadia's theme begins with off key chords, and Misty presents the piano off key several times.

I rate the artists excellent in this CD. The production however is below average. So I rate this CD three stars and suggest you find another production for these songs.

... to the long-time master of the piano. Roger Williams' arrangements of popular tunes have made him among the top artists in the music business for over 45 years. At age 75 his energy in live performance rivals most who are a third that age. While this collection is relatively brief, every selection is an essential one from among his prolific catalog. You'll play it every time you're in a mood to relax.

Clearly, judging from some of the other reviews, Roger's fans are willing to accept his music under any album title. And, of course, that is their prerogative. But when I see a title blaring "Greatest Hits" for a release with 12 cuts, and the artist concerned had 30 such hits, I expect all 12 to be from among those charted singles. That's what made them stars after all in the days of the 78 and then 45 rpm records!

Well, of the 12 selections, a full 75% were NOT hits for Roger Williams, i.e., tracks 3 to 5 and 8 to 12 inclusive. Beautifully done, as only Roger can do them, mind you. But in no way shape or form can they be considered among his "greatest hits."

As for the four legitimate hits included these are: [Autumn Leaves - # 1 Billboard Pop Top 100 in 1955; Wanting You - # 38 in 1956; Almost Paradise - # 15 in 1957; and Near You - # 10 in 1958]. However, and again I refer to the "greatest" adjective, they left off three that were bigger hits than Wanting You: La Mer [# 37 in 1956]; Till [# 22 in 1957; and Born Free [# 1 Adult Contemporary (AC) for SIX weeks/# 7 Hot 100 in 1966].

Instead of the eight non-charters included [they weren't even B-sides], they could have included those mentioned above along with Tumbling Tumbleweeds [# 60 in 1956]; Two Different Worlds [# 41 in 1956 with Jane Morgan]; Arrivederci Roma [# 55 in 1958]; Temptation [# 56 in 1960]; and Maria [# 11 AC/# 48 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in 1962].

At least THAT would have lived up to the otherwise very misleading label. Had this one been been called "Some Of His Greatest Hits And Some Favorites" then the CD would certainly rate 5 stars on his keyboard ability alone.

But it's time producers began to realize that there are many, many collectors out here who want to see only the HITS when they advertise their releases as such. If they can't - or won't - do that, then cease and desist with the erroneous labeling.

Those who want to master the skills of pop music with a classical touch will find his technique invaluable. I listened to his style and learn a lot through the Cds.

What an amazing value this buget cd is not buget in quality,the song selection is superb...grab it now its an excellent value.

I have always found Roger Williams' music great. Love his style. Love the selections he records. This album is quality easy listening music at its best.

Used to own all of the vinyl recordings that Roger published years ago. Enjoy his music to the hilt. Glad I found him on Amazon.com. Will buy more in the future. They don't make music like this anymore.