Customer Reviews

Round-Up

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought Round Up as a tape. I play it on every long trip I take. Now the tape is starting to wear out due to being listened to so much. I figured that I had better buy the CD the next time. After being born and raised in Wyoming, I like to listen to this kind of music. Although I no longer live in Wyoming, the music takes me right back to the mountains, lakes, and other beautiful landscape. If you like this one, then try Happy Trails (Round Up II). It's just like this one.

This recording captures the feel and excitement of the original soundtracks. Especially fine are the arrangements from THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, HOW THE WEST WAS WON, and THE BIG COUNTRY. The Cincinnati Pops plays with great depth and feeling. A real must-own cd for any fan of great symphonic movie scores.

Yes, the music is great. But the surround quality is problematic. It seems the surround engineering was done by two people who did not listen to each other's approach.
Instrument placing is great on half of the disc (superb Magnificent Seven), but the other half has far too much music coming from the center speaker (compare Silverado on sacd and cd). It's as if one engineer wants you to relive the movies with cinema like surround, and the other one wants you to experience a front row seat in a dry sounding concert hall.
The cd still stands as a perfect disc to show off your non-surround system. Leave it at that.

This album is extremely beautiful to listen to, but it transcends mere music: it will transport you back in time and leave you feeling as if you've actually lived in the Old West. You'll hear the crickets and crackling campfire, and almost see the bright stars in the giant night sky over the lonesome prairie. You'll sample the romance and beauty--and the excitement and violence--of the times. And you'll gain an admiration for the men--real and mythical--who were the last generation of galant heroes. This is a true work of genius! I heard it for the first time six years ago when I borrowed it from a local library, and I've spent untold hours since then searching music stores, looking for a copy to buy. Even here at Amazon, it didn't appear to be available (not coming up in searches) when I finally stumbled upon it by tracing a path of other works by the same conductor. But, trust me, it was worth every minute of the effort! Do yourself a favor and check this out. (And if you enjoy it, then also consider getting the "Songs of the West--Volume 4" which has a great sampling of original movie & TV western theme songs.) Happy trails!

When I got my first cd player in college during the beginning of fall semester, this was the cd I immediately ran out to buy. My friends in the apartment down the hall also owned this cd and we would spend hours blasting the mooing cows back and forth at one another. I was certain our hallmates were not very happy about this situation until one day when there was loud mooing coming out of another apartment at us. By the end of spring finals, there were dozens of people in the building who owned the cd and we had group "mooings". Boy were we crazy college kids.

Anyway, aside from the cows on track one, this is a great addition to your collection if only for the wonderful lush renditions of "The Magnificent Seven", "How the West Was Won" and "Big Country." I get chills running up and down my spine listening to it.

This is our families favorite traveling music. The very begining has fabulous sound affects of cows and cowboys that end in a startling start to "The Lone Ranger" theme. The variety of instrumentals with a sprinkling of vocals is the perfect mix. If you're driving through wide open spaces, this music will make you feel that you're in your own western music video. It's great! My kids never want to loan it out.

After listening to this recording when it first came out, and now 12 years later, it still gives me the chills! I Recomend this CD to anyone who likes Western or Pops music!

This album is the essential road trip disc for a tour of the national parks of the west. The mix of authentic western songs and Hollywood myth all done in over the top digital stereo is something to experience. On one trip through the high country of Yosemite we would try to time rounding a certain corner at a breathtaking vista to correspond to the climax of "Theme from the Magnificent Seven". Believe me, this is THE soundtrack for a western trip. I've tried playing it in Illinois and it's just not the same. One minor quibble: all the effort to "enhance" the music with digital sound effects and they miss the most logical example, the whip crack on "Theme from Rawhide". Come on guys, you went to all the trouble to get Frankie Lane and there is just this gapping silence begging for the whip. Mel Brooks had the good sense to use Frankie and a really loud whip to bring home "Blazing Saddles". Bottom line : get this disc, put the top down on the convertible and crank up your soundtrack, the beauty of the western U. S. will provide your movie.

Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops do a tremendous job. This CD is great in the living room, but listening to it on a recent trip to the Rocky Mountains was absolutely wonderful. I don't know if the scenery made the music, or the other way around, but I had chills running down my spine as I drove through the Rockies, listening to this music. I would recommend this CD to any fan of western movies or TV series, and "Happy Trails" is a good follow-up.

A trip down memory lane, fun, upbeat music. Eric Kunzel is one of the best conductors and while this might not be the most contemporary music by today's standards, still very enjoyable. Glad I bought it.