Street Songs

Evelyn Glennie (Artist), King's Singers (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 16, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000007RSM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #288,187 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a fascinating entry in the k's catalogue, June 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Street Songs (Audio CD)

Street Songs is a beautiful, thought-provoking, and ultimately fascinating album. On the first listen, I admit I wasn't sure how I felt on the whole about the album, but I kept listening, and I'm very happy I did. I originally bought Street Songs because I heard the lads sing "Horizons" in a concert, and thought it was one of the most achingly beautiful pieces of music I had heard in a long time- and I was right. Watch for the unresolved chord at the end of the last verse, and Nigel's breathtaking opening and closing melody. From the beginning I loved "Horizons," so it was a question of listening to the other tracks. How can anyone not catch on to the infectious joy of "Lalela Zulu"? The set of children's songs interspersed throughout the album are noteworthy as well, especially the haunting final song. The pairing of Evelyn Glennie with the King's Singers was brilliant- the songs they perform together obtain an often unearthly sound well worth a listen, as with her solo tracks.
One last note- Street Songs was tenor Paul Phoenix's first recording with the group. Listeners familiar with the Singers' next album, "Fire~Water" will be able to sense that at this point, the group wasn't entirely settled into their new sound. But let it be said: this is not enough to detract from the overall sound of the album, which is excellent. Only by comparison is this discernable. Street Songs is an album I recommend to many of my musical friends, if they're ready to try something a little different, a little fun, a little new, a little unsettling, and in the end, very satisfying.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unusual collection, superbly performed, April 27, 2003

By 

Gontroppo "Music and Theology Lover" (Bathurst, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Street Songs (Audio CD)

It took me a while to get used to Street Songs. So if you buy a copy, you may have to stick with it for a couple of playings, before you are able to appreciate it.

Rossini went to a performance of Wagner's opera, Lohengrin, and said afterwards: I don't think you can fully appreciate Lohengrin on first hearing, and I certainly do not intend to hear it a second time! But please, do listen several times. It *is* worth it!

The combination of marimba and vocal group is unusual, but effective. You also get a couple of solos from Evelyn Glennie and 2 performances by the King's Singers without percussion accompaniment.

Street Songs is split up on the album to create an interesting program. But you can, of course program your compact disk player to hear it all at once. My favourite part of this set of songs is the interesting arrangement of Oranges and Lemons [which is mostly not the familiar tune, but it does give it a nod].

There are some great moments in Klatzow's Return of the Moon. I also enjoyed hearing the group singing Lalela Zulu. A terrific, lively set of pieces.

We have listened to The King's Singers since their first album appeared. Although there is not a single original member remaining, I think this is still identifiably of that original oeuvre. It is definitely reminiscent of some early King's Singers classical recordings.

Recommended for those who like listening to something challenging. If you have only heard their popular CDs [such as Beatles Connection or Good Vibrations] you will find this very different.

10 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It can ,and should ,be more deep, June 11, 2000

By 

Sen Peng Eu "ESP=Math+Music+Literature" (Kaohsiung, Taiwan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Street Songs (Audio CD)

In recent years the repertoire (even members) of King singers seem to be more and more various. Well,this's ok, but at the same time it's more important to keep a still high-standard performance. And I find it's really hard in recent cds of king singers. For this CD, the harmony is nearly perfect, but the music can be more deep. When I retrospect those great cds recorded by king singer's, for example, the english madrigals and beatles connection, I feel a bit unsatisfied with this one. It sounds sweet, with some excellent new songs (Lalela Zulu, Poor Roger, etc) and good percussion by Evelyn Glennie, but it can ,and should ,be more deep.