Ultimate Yanni [Original recording remastered]

Yanni | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 21, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: RCA Victor
• ASIN: B00007L9N1
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,642 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Fact: Yanni released just eight original recordings while under contract to record conglomerate BMG between 1986 and 1994. Ultimate Yanni is, incredibly, the 12th compilation/best-of project BMG has issued since Yanni switched to another label. Yet Ultimate Yanni manages to elevate itself as one of the best of the bunch: a value-priced two-CD package of pre-Tribute material (126 minutes' worth) that, remarkably, includes eight tracks (out of 24) that appear on no previous sampler. Most selections (compiled by radio host and Amazon.com contributor John Diliberto) emphasize Yanni's bolder colors and more muscular instincts, a reminder of his early-career talent for blending progressive-rock drama with a Renaissance man's romantic flair. Three tracks ("Santorini," "Nostalgia" and "The Rain Must Fall") are lifted from Live at the Acropolis and only the latter bogs down under the weight of excessive soloing. "Marching Season" is presented as a piano solo, taken from a long-extinct Private Music sampler. Combine this with Reflections of Passion, his first best-of release (only three tracks overlap), and newcomers to Yanni essentially have his early years covered. --Terry Wood

Product Description

You Only Live Once -+ Flight of Fantasy -+To the One Who Knows -+ Keys to Imagination -+ Butterfly Dance -+ Nice to Meet You -+ Santorini -+ Nostalgia -+ Aria -+ Point of Origin -+ Nightbird -+ Chasing Shadows -+ Paths of Water -+ Marching Season -+ Reflections of Passion -+ Looking Glass -+ A Word in Private -+ One Man's Dream -+ Felista -+ In the Mirror -+ Desire -+ The Rain Must Fall -+ Running Time -+ Forbidden Dreams

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A New Yanni Fan, February 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Ultimate Yanni (Audio CD)

This CD set is a wonderful overview of Yanni's work and I love the fact that it is from all types of his music. There is something here for everyone from classical music lovers to jazz buffs. It is perfect for those like myself who are just discovering this artist. I particularly wanted this collection because it included "Aria" which was not on the Live at the Acropolis CD. I had seen the DVD of that concert and I am rather disappointed to discover that the "Aria" track on this album was obviously not performed by the same women who performed the piece at the concert. While Mona Lisa has an interesting voice, this recording seems vey strained and tired compared to the pure and effortless perfomance at the Acropolis.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From the Majestic to the Ethereal, June 16, 2003

By 

Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ultimate Yanni (Audio CD)

Yanni has been the unfair target of a lot of jokes when it comes to new age music in general (one of many reasons why I don't like that label), but once you give his music a serious listen you will be hooked. The two dozen tracks are drawn from ten different albums from 1986's KEYS TO IMAGINATION to 1993's IN MY TIME. His music runs the range of majestic to ethereal--the perfect remedy to relieve the stress of a hectic day. There are other single-disc compilations available, but for the casual fan, this is an excellent place to start. [Running Time: 127:04] RECOMMENDED

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Don't get this CD. Yanni' s still awesome tho., February 24, 2003

By 

Derek Zhao (Houston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultimate Yanni (Audio CD)

Yanni is awesome beyond words and so is his music!

But...

This compilation is well...worthless and redundant. In fact, almost all compilations are. This CD has wonderful tracks, but do you know how many times they have appeared in other compilations?

Don't get me wrong. I'm still a Yanni fan. In fact, this is all BMG's fault. Yanni has nothing to do with these redundant compilations. BMG's just tainting Yanni's name.

Once again, this CD really isn't worth your money. You need to get his origical CD's that he made himself. You can order them on yanni.com.