Reviews

I found this release almost thoroughly enjoyable. I did have the following caveats. I listen to a lot of vintage recordings, but find that most of these Oz recordings seem to have little or no noise reduction. I am sure they could have been cleaned up substantially. Each cylinder recording also has the title and performer announced, which was the style of the era. As soon as I get a chance, I plan to re-record these cds and edit out these announcements. They become rather tedious after a while.

The Wizard of Oz - Vintage Recordings from the 1903 Broadway Musical FANTASTIC RECORDINGS FOR A COLLECTOR OF ANTIQUE MUSIC!!!!!

This Double-Disk Collection contains music from the original and varied Oz Stage Productions: "the Wizard of Oz", "the Woggle-Bug" (based on 'Marvelous Land of Oz) and "the Tik-Tok Man of Oz" (based on 'Ozma of Oz'). There are plenty of "Wizard" songs and music, but there isn't a lot of "Woggle-Bug" and/or "Tik-Tok Man". I often wondered how different the 1st & Original Production of 'Oz Wizard' was different to the book, and thanks to Mark Evan Schwartz's book "Oz: Before the Rainbow" I found out for myself (WORTH A READ!!). Later I got this CD to go along with the book's stage telling (more or less) and I listened in interest to the songs which, I read, were entirely different to the future Musicals of Oz. The songs are good, but not all of them are actually completely restored to perfection, so the singing may/will sound somewhat muffled. Also, due to the time it was made (for some reason), the songs don't actually fit into the story (even the stage's rewritten story) and sound distant/unrelated. But there are songs that sound similar to the original story ("Rejoice! The Wizard is No Longer King"). CD 2's Track 3 has music played during Silent Oz Film "His Majesty, Scarecrow" on the MGM 3-Disk DVD. The best thing about this CD Collection is the two booklets packaged along with the disks: the first (entitled "The Records") has writing on "What the Wizard Was" with a synopsis of the stage production story and "About the Recordings", a listing of all the songs on CD 1 (which are helpful for "Selection" Tracks not specifically named on the back) and notes on the songs like their origins and background. Booklet 2 (entitled "The Lyrics") has the words to the songs (in case you can't make out the words/want to sing-along). BOTH CDs include b&w photos of the actors, performance (few of which can be seen in "Oz: Before the Rainbow" book) and even reprints of a few illustrations made for the stage. The pictures are the best part of this purchase. The Entirely Different Songs may not fit with the story, original or rewritten, but there's nothing really wrong with the music when one enjoys to what they're listening to. I know that there is also another 'Oz on Stage' CD Collection called "Before the Rainbow" . . . hmmm, I wonder if I should get that too?

This truly remarkable 2-disc collection of old cylinders, discs, music boxes and piano rolls explains why the 1903 musical version of "The Wizard of Oz" did not survive the early thirties. It wasn't because it was before its time or even of its time, but simply because it was way behind the times. Its producers resisted composer's Paul Tietjens' attempts to write plot-driven numbers. His contribution survives only in the incidental music preserved on piano rolls (and the most interesting element on this collection) linking very disparate and even incongruous vaudeville acts by various authors and performers that graced the stage during the musical's multi-decade run. In other words, Baum was telling a story and the songs were telling another... As fascinating as they are for historical reasons, those numbers are commonplace, mostly uninspired flash-in-the-tin-pan ditties, with timid syncopation and a stong reliance on musical clichés. There is not a single standard among them and not even a decent lyric where "fine" doesn't rhyme with "mine" and "love you" doesn't rhyme with "I do"- or even "I know you know I know you do", as happens more than once. As an assemblage of shtick pieces and ephemeral sentimental or nonsensical ditties, this collection cannot be topped and it represents a monumental effort. Without it and its very generous and informative liner notes, I would not have the same appreciation for the absolute genius of Victor Herbert's operettas ("Babes in Toyland" came out the same year) where the more memorable songs are plot-driven and introduced and linked by the most luscious, inventive and varied incidental music ever heard outside an opera house. This sort of unified concept would culminate in Jerome Kern's "Show Boat" and it remains a truth today that the integration of plot and music - reminiscent of opera - is the true secret of successful and perennial musicals, whatever the current idiom. This collection also makes one appreciate the complete originality of the Hollywood film for actually going back to Baum's books, entrusting the songs, lyrics and music to Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg and Herbert Stothart and scrapping the musical's colourful but checkered history (except for casting ex-vaudevillians as the main characters, of course!). Highly recommended for its nostalgia value, its irreplaceable rarities and a better understanding of the history of American popular music.

Although it was one of the most financially successful stage musicals of the early 1900's, very little information is presently available on the 1903 production of THE WIZARD OF OZ. In what was obviously a labor of love, David Maxine has done much to correct this oversight by releasing a 2-CD set with over 145 minutes worth of extremely rare recordings of music from this and other OZ-themed musicals dating back to before World War I. Recorded materials include vintage acoustical disc and cylinder phonograph records, piano rolls, and music box discs, many of which go back almost a century. In addition, he has included two booklets worth of historical background information on the 1903 WIZARD OF OZ production, its stars, the individual musical numbers, and lyrics for the songs included on the CDs. (Lavishly illustrated with rare old black and white photos and artwork, these booklets, and the information they contain, are themselves worth the price of the set!) Several bonus CD tracks are included that offer rare recordings by Montgomery & Stone (the original Tin Woodsman and Scarecrow) and Bessie Wynn, who was also in the 1903 cast. Not just for dedicated Oz fans, this set is a "must have" for anyone interested in the history of American musical theater and American popular culture of the early 1900's.

Reviews

I love this shirt! I am usually a small but I ordered a medium expecting it to run small and I was correct. It is very soft and the print is actually very flattering. I loved it so much I gave my brother one for his birthday. go saints! Who DAT!!!!

Reviews

This is a great shirt but just know that it runs VERY small. I am normally a medium in a women's shirt and I needed this one in an XL. The Length is great but the shirt is very form fitting. Great shirt!

Reviews

As a tour of several football grounds in England in the company of Hooligans , Buford's book is at times engaging and interesting. As a sociological study of the causes of mob violence as represented by these incidents it falls flat. I had very mixed feelings about this book. He seems to be driving to the conclusion that people in mobs conform to a "crowd" mentality and do very bad things they wouldn't do on their own. A fairly obvious conclusion wrapped in pseudo-intellectual language. He's at his best when describing his own participation in some of these confrontations. Read it for the description of the incidents themselves and you'll learn something without needing to be dragged to some profound understanding of what it all means.

Excellent take from an outsider (a yank at that) on football hooligan culture. More of a sociology book, but has some very good stories. Entertaining and a very easy read. One of the essential reads if you want to know more about the mindset of the yobos.

I was disappointed with this book. The topic was interesting and the author made a very hard attempt to get in with the sub cultural of football thugs, YOBS - do the things they did, go where they went, try to be accepted by the group without acting, being who he was - a writer. The premise is very similar to Hunter S. Thompson's Hell's Angels - a great book. The problem with Among the Thugs is that the author Bill Buford, try as he does, really doesn't like the English football thugs, not any of them - can't say anything redeeming about the whole culture - they are repulsive. Even the attempts by the English Right Wing Nationalists - the National Front comes off that the leaders of the National Front can stand these repulsive Soccer thugs, can't really use them in anyway - no one can. So the book comes off as the writer having to waste large parts of his life trying to get to know the secrets of the power of this sociological phenomenon and he learns all there is to know and, and There really isn't that much to know - they're repulsive, losers, not even good at anything, good at crime etc. A better writer could have made the subjects more interesting without taking their side. Good books about criminal networks make the criminals interesting, though bad.

This book is perfect for fans of Hunter Thompson's Hell's Angels. It's like a gonzo journalist was sucked into A Clockwork Orange and told to "start writing." Whether or not it's 100% accurate is beside the point. It's not a news article -- it's a book. It takes romantic liberties to better symbolize the truth. Also, for those who have a sense of humor that's hard-edged and drenched in booze, this book is hilarious.

As documentary history, there are times when it's nearly impossible to put 'Among The Thugs' down. His ability to articulate his vantage while things go off is unmatched. However, as the book goes on (and it's short; some 315 pages) it's too easy to tire of him. His theory become pedantic, and he's so intent on it he's willing to risk the final chapters, which sink under their sociology lesson and hammed-up moral controversies. At times, it's easy to wonder whether an editor read the last two chapters at all. That said, Buford reveals much that British accounts of their hooligan shame either downplay or exaggerate . . . even if he works in the shadow of Heysel and Hillsborough. In fact, his lack of contact with Liverpool supporters nearly negates his whole work. But that's another story -- since the Reds haven't been honest with their roles in those events, either.

Reviews

I had high expectations for this novel at it was recommended by many talented authors. However, I couldn't wrap my mind around it. It is beautifully written with amazing prose - Exley is indeed brilliant. Unfortunately it moved too slow and because I am not a football fan, found myself bored in many aspects. I can only make it to page 250 and then I gave up. I hate to do it; however, I'm just not excited to exert the effert it would take the finish the novel when I have so many others to read. I hate not knowing the endings of novels...however odd that sounds. Could somebody please email me at: love_portland@yahoo.com and let me know what happens at the end? I would really appreciate it. And any other book suggestions are, as always, welcome. Thank you!

this is probably one of the funniest saddest stories ever written... as a recovering alcoholic i could definitely relate to his experiences with the drink.... altho i'm definitely not a football fan i'm a lifelong Mets fan from day one... over 40 years of pain disillusionment disappointment and ridicule from my fellow man and woman... and yet every year in April i say to myself, this, this is the year! ya gotta believe... anyway this book is more than just a book about a football fan by far... should be on everyone's, especially a man's, book list!

You know how they say the books that really speak to you, you don't choose them: they choose you? Fred Exley's "A Fan's Notes" is a good example of that. One day, rooting around in the bookstore, I came across Jonathan Yardley's effusive Misfit: The Strange Life of Frederick Exley, and thought, "Exley? Who dat?" Odd, I thought, that there would be an author deserving of such expansive praise, yet of whom I had never heard. I thought I knew everything! So I went over to the E's and, quickly ascertaining that Exley's reputation rested on this one book (there were two dud sequels), bought it. What can I say? By this point I've read it -- I think -- 19 times. It helped me do a lot of growing up, and got me through a pretty rough time. And the lessons it contains! That you can spend your entire life an alcoholic wastrel flopped on the couch, yet if you can pull it all together and put your heart on the page you can get into the Modern Library. That fame is a disease. That putting on a tie and giving things the ol' college try can be in many ways a sickness. That redemption is possible and that suffering and humiliation can lead to wisdom. The kind of reaction I've had to Exley's book is a reaction I've only had for two or three books in my life. And it's strange: I've never drunk, I deplore football, and I've never been in a mental institution; yet when I read "A Fan's Notes" it's like my future self writing back to me from a wiser, sadder time, warning me about the vanity of earthly achievements and the ambiguity of the good life. The back cover features a quote to the effect that this is the best American novel since "A Great Gatsby." Heck, it blows that one out of the water. I for one have never seen Exley's powers of characterization matched anywhere: Mr. Blue, his father, Bumpy, the Counselor, etc. Outstrips even Dickens, in my judgment. This man could write like an angel. After "Moby Dick" and "The Brothers Karamazov," easily my favorite book.

I read this book many years ago, but it stands out in my memory. The best way for me to explain why I liked it is to say that for me it is similar to the music of Tom Waits. I would venture to guess that if you enjoy Tom Waits, you would enjoy this book. It seems to break all the rules of how a novel should be written, but dammit, it's good! It transports you into the inner self of the dissolute character. Life's meaningless anyway, so why the hell not waste it? I don't live that way myself - I live as though it all really mattered - but I must say there is something to be said for the dissolute life. Like Shakespeare's sonnet: The expense of spirit in a waste of shame is lust in action; and till action, lust is perjured, murd'rous, bloody, full of blame....

This is an autobiographical novel that is even more autobiographical than many people realize. Frederick Exley was truly a "one book author," who could only write variations on the same theme in later years. This is a brilliant, tragic book, exquisitely written and sharply observed.