‘Christmas With Chris Ruggiero’ Is A Surprisingly Entertaining Holiday Music Compilation

Posted on December 10, 2022 by philspicks

The holiday season is officially in full swing once again. That is obvious to anyone who has not been living under a rock. Lights are twinkling brightly in communities nationwide in downtowns and homes. The holiday movies are playing across the TV and streaming spectrum every day. The sounds of the season also fill the stores and even some radio stations. So much of the music playing on those radio stations and in stores is music that everybody knows and has heard sometimes far too much. Thankfully there are some artists out there who each year, give audiences a little something different worth hearing when it comes to holiday covers. One of those artists this year who has taken the road less traveled is singer Chris Ruggiero with his new holiday compilation, Christmas With Chris Ruggiero. Released early last month through his own company, Chris Ruggiero Music Corp., the 12-song set presents a handful of songs that while they are all too familiar to audiences, are presented in a fashion that is anything but run of the mill. There is also at least one lesser-known cover here in the form of Ruggiero’s cover of Amy Grant’s Grown-Up Christmas List.’ This cover will be discussed shortly. Ruggiero’s take of Mel Torme’s timeless holiday classic, ‘The Christmas Song’ is a unique take on that standard worth examining. It will be discussed a little later. Ruggiero’s take of ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas’ is yet another unique cover that deserves to be heard. It will be discussed later, too. When it and the other songs noted here are considered along with the rest of the compilation’s entries, the whole makes this presentation a surprisingly interesting holiday music compilation that is worth hearing at least once.

Christmas with Chris Ruggiero, the new holiday music compilation from singer Chris Ruggiero, is an intriguing addition to this year’s crowded field of seasonal song presentations. That is because while the songs featured in this collection are largely well-known, their presentations are anything but familiar. There is also one lesser-known cover included in the record in the form of ‘Grown-Up Christmas List.’ Originally composed by Amy Grant, the song takes Grant’s 90s pop-centric song (which is easily comparable to works from the likes of Vanessa Williams and Mariah Carey) and turns it on its ear, moving it in a more soulful direction. The soul/R&B vibe that Ruggiero and fellow vocalist Darlene Love give the song gives the composition a completely different identity that interestingly, is still distinctly 90s in its approach and sound. Love’s vocals are so powerful when she takes the light, and her work alongside that of Ruggiero creates a surprisingly powerful and engaging harmony. Ruggiero meanwhile conjures thoughts of Michael McDonald through his performance. The pairing of that with Love makes the pair’s performance well worth hearing in itself. It is just one of the songs included in this record that makes the set worth hearing. Ruggiero’s take of Mel Torme’s timeless holiday classic, ‘The Christmas Song’ is another notable addition to the record.

Ruggiero’s take of ‘The Christmas Song’ is notable because he doesn’t try to perform the song a la Nat King Cole unlike so many artists out there who have tackled the song. Rather, he gives the song his own touch by himself alongside a piano. The gentile approach that he takes to the performance actually conjures thoughts more of Lionel Richie than Nat King Cole. That is especially the case when he hits the high notes here. The control that he exhibits when he hits those notes is truly impressive and soulful in its presentation. The overall approach and sound here is a welcome change of pace from all of the other covers that stick to one of two models in covering the song that is sure to impress plenty of listeners. It is just one more of the songs that show what makes Christmas with Chris Ruggiero worth hearing. His take of ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’ is yet another notable entry in this collection.

Ruggiero’s take of ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas,’ which was originally composed by the team of Walter Kent, Kim Gannon and Buck Ram way back in 1943 and made most famous by singer Bing Crosby, is a stark contrast from that rendition. Where the take made famous by Crosby is a gentle, romantic string-based ballad, Ruggiero takes the song is a much more energetic direction, giving it a sound and style in his take that is a hybrid of Motown and doo wop. It keeps the song shmaltzy, but in a completely unexpected fashion. The sounds of the likes of The Temptations, The Four Tops and other similar acts are on full display here, and again in such a surprisingly welcome fashion. It is an approach that is sure to put a smile on any listener’s face and enhance any listener’s Christmas spirit. It is just one more take that shows what makes Christmas with Chris Ruggiero worth hearing. When it is considered along with the other covers examined here and with the rest of the record’s featured takes, the whole makes the collection overall a surprisingly welcome addition to this year’s field of holiday music collections.

Christmas with Chris Ruggiero, the new holiday music compilation from singer Chris Ruggiero, is an interesting presentation that deserves to be played any time during the holiday season. That is because while it does feature so many familiar songs, the performances thereof are unique in comparison to so many other compilations featuring the same songs. They take those familiar songs and take them in unique directions that are still fully accessible for listeners. The songs examined here are proof of that. When they are considered alongside the set’s other featured songs, the whole makes the compilation overall a unique and welcome addition to this year’s field of new holiday music compilations.

Christmas With Chris Ruggiero is available now. More information on the compilation is available along with all of Chris Ruggiero’s latest news at https://www.ChrisRuggieroSings.com.

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Lorraina Marro’s Most Devoted Audiences Will “Love” Her New Covers Collection

Posted on July 12, 2021 by philspicks

Jazz vocalist Lorraina Marro is scheduled to release her latest record this week. The record, a covers collection titled Love Is For All Time, is scheduled for release Thursday independently. The collection is a presentation that audiences will find a good fit for any date night setting and even for those maybe going through the loss of their relationships. That is due in no small part to its featured songs, which will be discussed shortly. The sequencing of those songs adds its own touch to the collection’s presentation and will be discussed a little later. The compilation’s production rounds out its most important items and will also be discussed later. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the collection. All things considered, they make this compilation a presentation that will, again, help set the mood for any couple’s date night.

Lorraina Marro’s forthcoming covers compilation is a presentation that will find select appeal among audiences. That is due in no small part to its featured songs. The 10 songs that make up the record’s 44-minute run time are all romantic compositions and are varied in style from one to the next. This in itself is actually not the most important aspect of the songs. The fact that they are less commonly covered songs is really their most important aspect. The one song that people will likely most recognize is the Bob Merrill/Jule Styne song ‘People.’ The song gained much of its fame through the musical Funny Girl in 1964 and its big screen adaptation that debuted four years later in 1968. On a different note, a song, such as ‘The Night Has a Thousand Eyes’ – co-written and composed by Jerry Brainin and Buddy Bernier – is a less commonly covered song among so many of today’s jazz acts. Given, it has been performed by the likes of Bing Crosby, Sonny Rollins, and the Eddie Haywood Trio, but in the bigger picture, it is, again, not a song that is commonly presented in most jazz covers collections. To that end, it is nice to have that “lesser known” standard, presented here, even being considered a standard. The same can be said of, say, ‘My Baby Just Cares For Me,’ another of the songs featured as part of the collection. Co-written and composed by Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson in 1930, for the soundtrack to the movie Whoopee!, it has been covered by the likes of Nina Simone, Natalie Cole, and Gene Kelly (just to name a few), it is another song that jazz aficionados will be hard pressed to find in most of today’s jazz covers collections. Between those two songs and most of the others featured in this collection, the songs overall prove so important, again, because they are not just the everyday standards that flesh out so many jazz covers collections. It is refreshing to say the least to have that unique aspect in this presentation. It is just one part of what makes the collection worth hearing. The songs’ sequencing adds its own appeal to the record’s presentation.

The sequencing of the songs featured in Love Is For All Time is important to address because the stylistic approaches are aligned with their “sub-topics” (love gained and lost). The record starts off on a light, relaxed note in ‘Stairway to the Stars.’ This mid-tempo composition is an easily danceable composition that celebrates that love gained. Things pick up less than halfway through the album’s nearly 45-minute run time in Marro’s take of ‘The Night Has A Thousand Eyes,’ yet another song celebrating love gained. ‘Rain Sometimes’ is one of those songs of love lost. Its mood matches, too, being quite reserved throughout its nearly five minute presentation. The mood changes once again in that song’s follow-up, ‘My Baby Just Cares For Me,’ yet another song of love gained. Looking back through this first half of the record, it is clear that the sequencing takes into account the subtleties of each song’s mood and lyrical theme. The result is that the sequencing ensures audiences’ maintained engagement and entertainment in its own way thus far. ‘Viajera Del Rio’ (‘River Traveler’) pulls things back again, but in a positive fashion. The mood here is relaxed, but happy, ensuring even more, that noted engagement and entertainment. ‘When The World Turns Blue’ pulls things back even more as it translates so well the feeling that so many people go through in low times in life when love leaves their lives. The subtleties in the songs continue in the record’s last group of songs, ensuring even more that things change just enough in that case, too. All things considered, what audiences get throughout this collection in regards to their sequencing is subtle changes from one song to the next. Those subtleties will be appreciated by those who take the time to immerse themselves in the record. Keeping that in mind, the record’s sequencing proves just as important to its presentation as the songs that make up its body. They are just one more part of what makes the collection worth hearing. The songs’ production rounds out the record’s most important aspects.

The songs’ production is so important to examine because all 10 songs featured in this record are so subtle. Each is subtle in its own way, but still subtle regardless. As a result, the fullest attention had to be paid to each work to make sure that the subtleties in each arrangement were fully pronounced and balanced. The painstaking time and effort in this case paid off well. Marro’s gentle vocal deliveries are expertly balanced with the songs’ bass lines and even gentle brushwork on the drums in certain songs. Simply put, each line within each song compliments its counterpart in each composition. The end result is that the record’s songs prove just as worth hearing for their sound as for themselves and the impact of their sequencing. All things considered, they make Love Is For All Time a presentation that the most devoted audiences will themselves love.

Lorraina Marro’s forthcoming covers compilation, Love Is For All Time, is a presentation that will find a targeted appeal among Marro’s most devoted audiences. That is due in part to the record’s featured songs. While the songs are considered standards, they are for the most part, far less commonly featured in other jazz acts’ own covers collections. It is a breath of fresh air for those audiences. The sequencing of said songs adds its own appeal to the record. That is because it takes into account the subtleties within each arrangement to keep audiences engaged and entertained throughout the record’s nearly 45-minute run time. The songs’ production rounds out the most important of the record’s elements. That is because it is responsible for balancing and bringing out those subtleties within each arrangement. Each item examined here is important in its own way to the whole of the collection. All things considered, they make Love Is For All Time a covers collection that Marro’s most devoted audiences will love. Yes, that awful pun was intended.

Love Is For All Time is scheduled for release Thursday independently. More information on the collection is available along with all of Lorraina Marro’s latest news and more at:

Website: https://www.lorrainamarro.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorrainamarrojazz

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LorrainaMarro

Panton’s New LP Is “A Cheerful Little Earful” For Listeners Of All Ages

Posted on September 8, 2019 by philspicks

Courtesy: Little Things

Diana Panton will release her latest album next month. The album – A Cheerful Little Earful – is scheduled for release Oct. 18 through Little Things Records. The 15-song, 53-minute album is Panton’s second family music album — coming four years after her debut family album 2015’s I Believe in Little Things — and her 12^th overall album. This latest offering from Panton is fittingly titled. That is because it will leave listeners of all ages feeling cheerful after they get an earful of the record. The album’s featured songs plays directly into that effect. They will be addressed shortly. The musical aspect of the album also plays into that positive impact, and will be addressed a little later. The same can be said of the album’s sequencing by connection. Each item noted is key in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation. All things considered, they make A Cheerful Little Earful a work that will leave every listener feeling cheerful.

Diana Panton’s latest full-length studio recording is a presentation that fits its title quite well. That is because it does in fact prove itself A Cheerful Little Earful of music. The record’s featured songs play their own part in that impact. The record opens with Panton’s own take on the classic Rogers & Hammerstein song ‘Happy Talk,’ which is featured in the duo’s beloved musical ‘South Pacific.’ It is followed up by the song ‘It’s A Most Unusual Day,’ which was written and arranged by Harold Adamson and Jimmy McHughes, and made famous by Jane Powell in the 1948 MGM movie A Date With Judy. Harry Woods’ 1926 hit song ‘Red, Red Robin’ – made famous by actress Lilian Roth – is also featured in the album, along with works from Perry Como (‘A, You’re Adorable’), Jimmy Van Huesen and Sammy Cahn (‘Pocket Full Of Miracles’ – taken from the 1961 movie of the same name), Sammy Fain, Bob Hilliard and Fr. Louis Sauvat (‘All In The Golden Afternoon’ – From Walt Disney’s 1951 classic animated movie Alice in Wonderland) just to name some more songs. As if that isn’t enough, Panton once again offers at least one work for children in the form of the timeless Sesame Street tune ‘I Don’t Want To Live on the Moon.’ Of course likely just as many grown-ups know that song as do children, so to that end, that song will appeal to lots of adults as well as children. Along with all of this, there is a Cole Porter work featured in the album in the form of ‘Experiment’ and even a cover of the Michael Jackson hit ‘Music and Me.’ That song was written by Michael Cannon, Don Fenceton, Mel Larson and Jerry Marcellino. Simply put, Panton once again runs the proverbial gamut with this album’s featured songs. That is just as evident in the other songs not noted here. What is truly interesting here is that while the variety of songs is plentiful, they defy the standard definition of “Family Music.” Most of the music here is jazz, and jazz is music for everyone, like with bluegrass (E.g. The Okee Dokee Brothers). So it is a family music album, but also an album of music for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. To that end, the songs featured in this album gives it a strong foundation.

That foundation is strengthened even more thanks to the songs’ arrangements. The arrangements will appeal just as much to Panton’s longtime fans as they will to those who might be less familiar with her work. From the light, easygoing piano-driven arrangement at the center of the album’s opener, ‘Happy Talk,’ to the more gentle, reserved arrangement at the center of ‘I Don’t Want To Live on The Moon’ (which is also centered around Don Thompson’s gentle, flowing piano line), to the equally reserved, guitar-centered arrangement of ‘If You Feel Like Singing, Sing’ to the more light hearted (and also guitar-centered) ‘Aren’t You Glad You’re You’ – which was used in the soundtrack to the 1945 Bing Crosby classic The Bells of St. Mary’s – and beyond, the arrangements featured throughout the album are really what make the featured works so easy on the ears. Thompson’s work on the vibes from point to point conjures thoughts of the one and only Lionel Hampton while Panton’s own vocal delivery once again is comparable to that of Diana Krall. The arrangements are easy on the ears not just because of the instrumentation, but also because of their simplicity. There are no over-the-top performances and solos at any point. Rather, each song is simple and straight forward from beginning to end. That adds even more appeal to each composition. All things considered here, the arrangements presented in each song do just as much to make this record appealing as the songs themselves. They still are not the last of the album’s most important element. When the arrangements and songs are considered along with the record’s sequencing, all three elements work together to make the record that much more enjoyable and entertaining.

The sequencing of Cheerful Little Earful is important to note because it ensures listeners’ engagement and entertainment by keeping the record’s energy stable throughout its run. As already notes, the album opens on a high, light hearted note in ‘Happy Talk.’ From there, the album’s energy gradually changes with the tempos gradually slowing until it reaches that famed Sesame Street classic tune. Things pick back up a little after that in the album’s title track before pulling back again in ‘If You Feel Like Singing, Sing’ and ‘Music and Me.’ The change in the energies are subtle though the next few songs before picking up again more noticeably in ‘Aren’t You Glad You’re You.’ The album ends with two more gentle arrangements that take listeners out on a soft note. Again, the album’s sequencing keeps the album’s energy just right from beginning to end, not changing too much from one song to the next. That stability in the songs’ energies means listeners are more apt to remain engaged throughout as the variety in the arrangements and the songs. When all of those elements are noted together, the end result is a record that truly is a cheerful little earful for listeners of all ages.

Diana Panton’s forthcoming album Cheerful Little Earful is a fittingly titled-album, especially for jazz and cinema fans. That is because so many of the songs featured in this album are classic jazz tunes that are featured in some great classic major motion pictures. They are not the album’s only songs, though. As noted, there is at least one song taken from PBS’ long-running series Sesame Street and even a Michael Jackson cover. That variety of songs and associated backgrounds means a wide ranging appeal in itself. The songs’ arrangements add even more appeal to the record. The album’s sequencing ensures the energies in those arrangements remains stable from the album’s opening to its end. Each noted item is important in its own way to the whole of the album. All things considered, they make Cheerful Little Earful an earful that will leave every listener cheerful. More information on the album is available online now along with all of Diana Panton’s latest news and more at:

Website: http://www.dianapanton.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DianaPantonFanpage

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pantonda5

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Eagle Rock Entertainment Announces Release Date For New Sinatra Collections

Posted on April 1, 2017 by philspicks

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Eagle Rock Entertainment will release two more collection of classic Frank Sinatra performances next month.

The Frank Sinatra Collection: The Timex Shows Volume 1 & 2 will be released Friday, May 19 on DVD and digital platforms. Volume 1 features Sinatra’s first two Timex-sponsored performances on ABC. The performances were recorded on Oct. 19, 1959 and Dec. 13, 1959.

Fellow Rat Pack member Dean Martin appeared as a special guest on the first of the specials. Mitzi Gaynor and Bing Crosby also made special appearances along with Jimmy Durante.

Peter Lawford, Hermione Gingold, The Hi-Los—Red Norvo’s jazz combo, dancer Juliet Prowse and Elle Fitzgerald all made appearances in the second performance.

Volume 2 features two more of Sinatra’s classic television appearances, the first being “To The Ladies,” recorded on February 15, 1960 on ABC. The performance was the third of Sinatra’s Timex-sponsored ABC specials. The variety style broadcast included appearances by Lena Horne, Mary Costa, Barbara Heller, Juliet Prowse and special guest Eleanor Roosevelt.

“Welcome Home, Elvis” was the last of Sinatra’s Timex-sponsored ABC broadcast. Originally airing on ABC on May 12, 1960. The special stood out because it marked the first time Elvis appeared on television since returning from his military service at the time.

Presley joined Sinatra for a stirring performance of ‘Witchcraft’ and ‘Love Me Tender’ in his appearance on the program, and was just one of the celebrities to perform on the program. Nancy Sinatra and Peter Lawford joined fellow Rat Pack member Sammy Davis, Jr. and one-time Rat Pack member Joey Bishop throughout the show, too.

The full track listing for the performances is noted below.

FULL TRACKLISTING INFORMATION

‘THE TIMEX SHOWS VOL. 1’

THE FRANK SINATRA TIMEX SHOW
1) High Hopes (Bing Crosby/Dean Martin/Mitzi Gaynor) 2) Day In, Day Out (Frank Sinatra) 3) Together, Wherever We Go (Frank Sinatra/Bing Crosby/Dean Martin) 4) Hurricane (Mitzi Gaynor) 5) Talk To Me (Frank Sinatra/Mitzi Gaynor) 6) Cheek To Cheek (Bing Crosby/Dean Martin/Mitzi Gaynor) 7) Wrap Your Trouble In Dreams (Dean Martin 8) Medley: Good Old Songs/Down By The Old Mill Stream/The Old Gray Mare/In Shade Of The Old Apple Tree/That Old Feeling/Down The Old Ox Road/Old Rockin’ Chair/Old Devil Moon/You’re An Old Smoothie/My Old Flame/Ol’ Man River (Frank Sinatra/Bing Crosby/Dean Martin) 9) High Hopes (Frank Sinatra) 10) Medley: Just One Of Those Things/Angel Eyes/The Lady Is A Tramp (Frank Sinatra) 11) Medley: Start Each Day With A Song/Inka Dinka Doo/Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home (Frank Sinatra/Bing Crosby/Dean Martin/Mitzi Gaynor/Jimmy Durante)

AN AFTERNOON WITH FRANK SINATRA
1) Spend The Afternoon With Me (Frank Sinatra) 2) I’ve Got The World On A String (Frank Sinatra) 3) The Desert Is Calling (The Hi-Lo’s) 4) Comes Love (Hermione Gingold/Peter Lawford) 5) There’s A Lull In My Life (Ella Fitzgerald) 6) It’s All Right With Me (Frank Sinatra) 7) Juliet Prowse Dance Routine 8) Too Marvelous For Words (Frank Sinatra/Red Norvo Quintet) 9) Here Is That Rainy Day (Frank Sinatra/Red Norvo Quintet) 10) Just You, Just Me (Ella Fitzgerald) 11) I’ll Never Smile Again (Frank Sinatra/The Hi-Lo’s) 12) Can’t We Be Friends (Frank Sinatra/Ella Fitzgerald) 13) Puttin’ On The Ritz (Hermione Gingold/Peter Lawford/Juliet Prowse) 14) He Loves And She Loves (Ella Fitzgerald) 15) Love Walked Right In (The Hi-Lo’s) 16) Our Love Is Here To Stay (Frank Sinatra) 17) Love Is Sweeping The Country (Frank Sinatra/Hermione Gingold/Peter Lawford/Juliet Prowse/Ella Fitzgerald)

‘THE TIMEX SHOWS VOL. 2’

TO THE LADIES
1) Here’s To The Ladies (Frank Sinatra) 2) I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Frank Sinatra) 3) Ouvre Ton Coeur (Mary Costa) 4) By Strauss (Barbara Heller) 5) Ring The Bell (Lena Horne) 6) Come Cha Cha With Me (Juliet Prowse) 7) It’s A Lonesome Old Town (Frank Sinatra) 8) But Beautiful (Lena Horne) 9) From This Moment On (Lena Horne) 10) Harold Arlen Medley: As Long As I Live/It’s Only A Paper Moon/One For My Baby/Accentuate The Positive/Stormy Weather/Get Happy/Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (Frank Sinatra/Lena Horne) 11) My Heart Stood Still (Frank Sinatra) 12) Yours Is My Heart Alone (Mary Costa) 13) Afraid Of Love (Barbara Heller) 14) My Heart Belongs To Daddy (Lena Horne) 15) My Funny Valentine (Juliet Prowse) 16) High Hopes (Eleanor Roosevelt) 17) Here’s To The Ladies (Frank Sinatra)

WELCOME HOME ELVIS
1) It’s Nice To Go Trav’ling (Frank Sinatra/Joey Bishop/Sammy Davis Jr/Nancy Sinatra) 2) It’s Nice To Go Trav’ling (Frank Sinatra/Joey Bishop/Sammy Davis Jr/Nancy Sinatra/Elvis Presley) 3) Witchcraft (Frank Sinatra) 4) Come On Bess (Sammy Davis Jr) 5) Oriental Dance (Leona Irwin & The Tommy Hansen Dancers) 6) Gone With The Wind (Frank Sinatra) 7) Uh Oh! (Nutty Squirrels) 8) All The Way (Sammy Davis Jr) 9) Shall We Dance (Sammy Davis Jr/Peter Lawford) 10) Fame And Fortune (Elvis Presley) 11) Stuck On You (Elvis Presley) 12) Medley: Witchcraft/Love Me Tender (Frank Sinatra/Elvis Presley) 13) Medley: Witchcraft/Love Me Tender – Reprise (Frank Sinatra/Elvis Presley) 14) You Make Me Feel So Young (Frank Sinatra/Nancy Sinatra) 15) Let’s Dance (Nancy Sinatra)

More information on The Frank Sinatra Collection: The Timex Shows Volumes 1 & 2 is available online now along with all of the latest news on other upcoming Sinatra recordings at:

Website: http://www.sinatra.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sinatra

Twitter: http://twitter.com/FrankSinatra

More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online now at:

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

StarVista, Time Life Announce Release Date, Specs For The Wonder Years Season 2

Posted on December 9, 2014 by philspicks

Courtesy: StarVista Entertainment/Time Life Entertainment

Kevin, Paul, Winnie and the rest of the characters from ABC’s beloved classic drama The Wonder Years are coming back.

StarVista Entertainment announced Monday that it will release the complete second season of The Wonder Years on DVD on Tuesday, February 3^rd, 2015. The series’ second season consists of seventeen half-hour episodes spread across four discs. Also included in the upcoming second season set are a number of bonuses for fans. There are also more than four dozen classic songs from artists such as: Bob Dylan, Carol King, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Cream, Bing Crosby, Joni Mitchell, Simon & Garfunkel, Traffic, Diana Ross and the Supremes, James Taylor, Nat King Cole, The Miracles, Judy Collins, Donovan, and a number of others. The full list of songs and artists featured in season Two is noted below.

“Heart of Darkness”

You Make Me Feel So Young
Sunshine of Your Love-Cream

“Our Miss White”

Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)-The Temptations
The Times They Are A-Changin’-Bob Dylan

“Christmas”

Jingle Bell Rock-Instrumental
White Christmas-Bing Crosby
River-Joni Mitchell
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas-Instrumental

“Steady as She Goes”

Yellow Bird-On-Screen Character Performance
Somewhere-On-Screen Character Performance
Ooo Baby Baby-The Miracles
The Thrill Is Gone-B.B. King
Will You Love Me Tomorrow-Carole King

“Just between Me and You and Kirk and Paul and Carla and Becky”

I Am a Rock-Simon & Garfunkel
Someday We’ll Be Together-Diana Ross and the Supremes
Some Enchanted Evening-On-Screen Character Performance

“Pottery Will Get You Nowhere”

It’s Not Unusual
When I Fall in Love-Nat King Cole

“Hiroshima, Mon Frère”

Wild Thing-The Troggs
Brother, Brother-Carole King

“Loosiers”

You’ve Got a Friend-James Taylor
Sweet Georgia Brown-Brother Bones

“Walk Out”

I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man-Muddy Waters
The Tracks of My Tears-The Miracles
I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die-Rag-Country Joe and the Fish
Give Peace A Chance-On-Screen Character Performance

“Nemesis”

My Girl-The Temptations
Theme from The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

“Fate”

Born under a Bad Sign-Cream
Respect-Aretha Franklin

“Birthday Boy”

Happy, Happy Birthday Baby-The Tune Weavers
Bookends-Simon & Garfunkel
Yummy, Yummy, Yummy-On-Screen Character Performance
Hava Nagila-Karmon Israeli Singers

“Brightwing”

Subterranean Homesick Blues-Bob Dylan
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida-Iron Butterfly
You Can All Join In-Traffic
Catch the Wind-Donovan

“Square Dance”

Star Flicker-Houston Ramblers
Turkey In The Straw-Ralph Pierce
Comin’ round the Mountain-The Sundowners Band

“Whose Woods Are These?”

Happy Days Are Here Again-The Banjo Barons
In My Life-Judy Collins

“How I’m Spending My Summer Vacation”

The Theme from “A Summer Place”-Percy Faith and His Orchestra
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes-The Platters
Never on Sunday-The Chordettes
I Only Have Eyes for You-The Flamingos
La Vie En Rose-Edith Piaf
Scarborough Fair/Canticle-Simon & Garfunkel

The second season of The Wonder Years sees Kevin, his friends, and his family all grow together as throughout all of the turmoil of the age. Kevin’s personal growth comes as he starts standing up to his older brother Wayne (Jason Hervey) and as he takes part in a class walkout to protest the Vietnam War. He, Paul (Josh Saviano), and Winnie (Danica McKellar) also fight to stop developers from plowing over Harper Woods, where the trio shared many of their favorite childhood memories.

The bonus materials included on the upcoming Season 2 box set are noted below.

BONUS FEATURES

School Days: Roundtable with Danica McKellar, Fred Savage and Josh Saviano
Featurette: The Times They Are A-Changin’: The Era
Interviews with: Dan Lauria (Jack Arnold), Alley Mills (Norma Arnold), Daniel Stern (Narrator)

The Wonder Years: Season Two will retail for MSRP of $39.95. More information on the box set’s upcoming release and other titles from Star Vista Entertainment and Time Life Entertainment is available online at:

Website: http://timelife.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TimeLifeUs

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TimeLifeUS

Audiences Will Discover A Lot To Like About “Bing Crosby Rediscovered”

Posted on November 25, 2014 by philspicks

Courtesy: PBS

This past October, Paramount Pictures re-issued the 1942 holiday classic Holiday Inn on Blu-ray. It marked the first time ever that the movie, which starred legendary actor Bing Crosby, had seen the light of day on Blu-ray. Fittingly, PBS will release a new episode of its hit biography series American Masters featuring Crosby next Tuesday, December 2^nd. While not necessarily a companion to Paramount’s recent BD re-issue of Holiday Inn, the timing of the two releases makes them a perfect pair. Whether before taking in Holiday Inn or after, audiences will find plenty to like about American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered. The most enjoyable aspect of this new DVD is the fact that it isn’t just another typical video documentary of a celebrity. It doesn’t follow that standard formula of life to death that so many bios use in their presentations. Rather it focuses on Crosby the man, the myth, and the legend. This includes the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. The fact that American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered isn’t another standard bio is just part of what audiences will enjoy about this new documentary. The use of actual vintage footage and pictures from Crosby’s career and personal life as part of the discussion on both parts of his life makes the presentation even more enjoyable. And last but hardly least worth noting is the inclusion of interviews with those that knew him best including his own wife as well as famed biographer Gary Giddens and fellow jazz legend Tony Bennett among others. Each aspect by itself makes this episode of American Masters well worth the watch. Collectively, they show once again why PBS remains the last bastion of truly worthwhile programming today.

PBS will release another new episode of its hit bio series American Masters next Tuesday, December 2^nd. The upcoming release focuses on legendary entertainer Bing Crosby. Just as with all of PBS’ other series (both domestic and imported), it is more proof of why PBS stands as the last bastion of truly worthwhile programming. Audiences that are not so familiar with the life and times of Bing Crosby will appreciate first and foremost in this DVD the depth of information shared throughout the course of its roughly ninety-minute run time. The bio presented here isn’t the standard formulaic bio presented so often by other networks and filmmakers. It’s a fully unbiased bio that presents Bing Crosby the man, the myth, and the legend. It presents his good side and his bad. From his superstardom to his alcoholism and womanizing to his working relationship with fellow entertainer Bob Hope in the famed “Road To…” movies (apparently the duo spent nearly no time together off-screen), audiences see every angle of Crosby’s life. Audiences learn that he was hardly the easiest person to work with when it came to recording songs. And sometimes, he was just as tough to work with in live settings. Also included is the downright ugly part of his family’s life in which two of his sons took their own lives. There is much more information shared throughout the course of the program that many might never have known. For those that have always known one thing or another about Bing Crosby the entertainer or Bing Crosby the man, the information contained within this program completes the picture of the legendary figure’s history. It proves to be the fullest picture that audiences can get in regards to Crosby’s life. And in turn it proves once more why American Masters is such an important part of the whole that is PBS.

American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered offers to audiences what is one of the most complete portraits of the legendary entertainer that audiences will find to date. As with the series’ previous portraits, it far outperforms any celebrity profile presented by any other major network past or present. The amount of information provided throughout the course of the documentary is just one reason that the program in whole is so impressive. The vintage video and photographs that are included with the breadth of information on Crosby and his life enhances the viewing experience even more. Audiences get to see pictures of Crosby with his family away from the bright lights of Hollywood. They get to also see snippets of his famed “Road To…” movies and much more. The combination of these elements and the story of Crosby’s life in and out of the limelight makes the overall content of this program all the more important to its enjoyment. It collectively shows once again why American Masters outperforms any celebrity-based series on any major broadcast and cable network today.

The combination of vintage footage and photos and in-depth story of Crosby’s life used in American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered make this feature more than worth the watch. The bonus videos and interviews that come as companion material make the overall presentation even more enjoyable for audiences. Viewers learn from director Robert Trachtenberg that he worked directly with the estate of Bing Crosby to bring the documentary to life. Trachtenberg and others note Crosby’s hard work ethic and his humility among so much more. There is also a full clip of Crosby performing with his sons later in his life. The clip in question is presented only in part during the primary presentation. So audiences actually get to see the full performance in this clip in question. It’s a truly moving moment taking into consideration the story of what happened to two of his sons later in their lives. And along with the bonus interviews, it becomes one more welcome addition to American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered that makes the presentation in whole a piece that any Crosby aficionado will enjoy.

American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered is a wonderful piece for anyone that has ever had any interest in the life and legacy of the famed entertainer. It reveals that Crosby is more than just that guy known for having sung ‘White Christmas.’ It also debunks some of the biggest myths surrounding his life. It is a fully unbiased look at the life of one of the greatest entertainers of the 20^th century showing Crosby in his glory and even more tarnished side. The bonus interviews that were added as companion material adds even more depth to the overall presentation. All things considered, American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered proves in the end to be one more welcome addition to another wonderful piece of PBS’ overall programming schedule. It will be available next Tuesday, December 2^nd. It can be ordered online direct from PBS’ online store at http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=50703406&cp=&sr=1&kw=american+masters&origkw=American+Masters&parentPage=search. More information on this and other episodes of American Masters is available online at:

Website: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmericanMasters

PBS To Release New Bing Crosby Documentary This Fall

Posted on October 30, 2014 by philspicks

Courtesy: PBS

PBS announced Wednesday that it will release a new documentary centered on legendary entertainer Bing Crosby this fall.

American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered will be released on DVD Tuesday, December 2^nd. The documentary focuses on Crosby’s role in the entertainment industry during his career. It also takes a look at the man behind the legend. Veteran actor Stanley Tucci (Transformers: Age of Extinction, The Hunger Games, The Terminal) narrates the program. All of the surviving members of Crosby’s family—his wife Kathryn, daughter Mary, and sons Harry and Nathaniel–are featured in interviews included throughout the program. Fellow entertainers Tony Bennett and Michael Feinstein also share their reflections on Crosby and his legacy along with producer Ken Barnes, biographer Gary Giddins, and writers Buz Kohan and Larry Grossman. Emmy Award-winning director Robert Trachtenberg helms the documentary. It will not be the first time that Trachtenberg has helmed an episode of American Masters. He also helmed episodes that focused on the likes of Cary Grant, Mel Brooks, and fellow acclaimed director George Cukor.

Trachtenberg discussed his thoughts on this latest episode of American Masters. He noted that it was not just Crosby’s achievements as an entertainer that lured him to the project, but who Crosby was out of the limelight that interested him in. “Bing’s remarkable appeal, which continues to this day, was in his seemingly effortless ability to pull an audience in to his intimate, laid-back voice,” he said. He added to that thought, saying, “With the new material I’ve found, I think the breadth, depth and candor of his story will hopefully allow people to see him in a new light.” American Masters Executive Producer Michael Kantor echoed Trachtenberg’s thoughts, noting, “Much like his talent, Bing Crosby is a natural for the series. With more No. 1 recordings than anyone, it is easy to overlook all of his other achievements. Thankfully, this film delves deeply into all of his remarkable work, and will surprise many viewers with a unique perspective on his private life.”

American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered will be available Tuesday, December 2^nd on DVD and on DVD/CD combo pack. It can be ordered online direct from PBS’ online store at http://www.shoppbs.org/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=bing%20crosby%20rediscovered&origkw=bing+crosby+rediscovered&sr=1. More information on this and other episodes of American Masters is available online at: