The year before Neil Young tracked 2002's meandering and sometimes draggy Are You Passionate?, he recorded some of the songs with his longtime backing band Crazy Horse, trying on the fit of the semi-soulful material with them before ultimately choosing to re-record with groove masters Booker T. & the M.G.'s. Seven-song album Toast consists of the long-shelved Crazy Horse sessions from 2001 and includes versions of four songs that materialized in different forms on Are You Passionate? as well as three previously unreleased outtakes.

John Eliot Gardiner - The Complete Recordings On Erato [64CDs Box Set] (2023)
EAC Rip | FLAC (tracks+.cue, log) | Run Time: 02:10:08:11 | 14.49 Gb
Genre: Classical | Label: Erato (Warner)

Authentic sound language for many eras with J. E. Gardiner
No living artist has won more Gramophone Awards than John Eliot Gardiner. "He proved that stylistic fidelity to sound is a moving feast," the Financial Times wrote about the British. Because at a time when original sound ensembles were still exclusively reserved for baroque music, Gardiner dared a step further and extended the practice to later eras. This edition, with its total of 64 CDs, covers a period of about two decades and presents the famous conductor in its entire artistic span: from the core repertoire with Monteverdi, Johann Sebastian Bach and other baroque composers to the 19th century Frenchmen revered by Gardiner for their sensuality, including Massenet, Bizet and Ravel. In its completeness, the edition is sure to be a worthy honour on the 80th birthday of this pioneer of historical performance practice..

Jeff Lorber reached his commercial peak with Private Passion, an album that has more to do with urban contemporary singing than it does with instrumental pop-jazz. Because it features R&B singers so prominently, Private Passion is a perfect example of what Lorber meant when, in 1998, he complained that the mid-'80s found him becoming "a sideman on my own records." In the 1990s, the keyboardist would return to giving himself a lot of solo space, but on Private Passion, Lorber the soloist/instrumentalist isn't the main attraction.

In his first American album, Antonio Carlos Jobim presents a dozen of his songs, each one destined to become a standard - an astounding batting average. Jobim, who claimed to have been out of practice at the time of the session, merely plays single notes on the piano with one hand, punctuated by chords now and then, sticking to his long, undulating melodies with a few passages of jazz improvisation now and then. Yet it is a lovely idea, not a gesture is wasted. Arranger Claus Ogerman unveils many of the trademarks that would define his Creed Taylor-produced albums with Jobim - the soaring, dying solo flute and spare, brooding unison string lines widening into lush harmony; flutes doubling on top of Jobim's piano chords - again with an exquisitely spare touch.

Esa-Pekka Salonen - The Complete Sony Recordings [61CDs Box Set] (2018)
EAC Rip | FLAC (tracks+.cue, log) | Run Time: 02:15:35:01 | 14.37 Gb
Genre: Classical | Label: Sony Classical

"Few artists are as multifaceted as Esa-Pekka Salonen not only in the way he combines his conducting success with his composing, but also in the scope of the repertoire that he has championed over the past 30 years and more. Esa-Pekka Salonen: The Complete Sony Recordings is the largest collection to date of the work of this vital figure in contemporary music-making.

Malcolm McLaren was an English impresario, visual artist, performer, musician, clothes designer and boutique owner, notable for combining these activities in an inventive and provocative way. He is best known as a promoter and manager of bands the New York Dolls and the Sex Pistols.
1st CD is full of the compositions and arrangements of Malcolm McLaren including his original lyrics and most often his spoken contributions to the pieces. He is certainly a creative musician and conceptual artist. The remake of Serge Gainsbourg's "Je T'Aime …Moi Non Plus" is very well done. The album also features Catherine Deneauve, the actress; Sonia Rykiel, the clothing designer; and Francoise Hardy, the French pop star sing with him on various selections.
The 2nd CD is the instrumental mixes.

Smooth, warm, and intimate recording of a jazz saxophone legend.

Wilhelm Kempff - Wilhelm Kempff Edition [80CDs Box Set] (2020)
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Genre: Classical | Label: Deutsche Grammophon

Celebrating Wilhelm Kempff's incredible legacy on Deutsche Grammophon with over 92 hours of stunning performances, curated in four chapters: Concerto Recordings, Chamber Music, Solo Repertoire, Shellac Recordings. 6 CDs with rare shellac recordings - first release on DG. Includes recordings with Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Yehudi Menuhin, Pierre Fournier, Henryk Szeryng, Pablo Casals, Ferdinand Leitner, Bernhard Klee, Rafael Kubelik, Paul van Kempen, Karl M?nchinger, Josef Krips, and more.

Eduard Van Beinum - Complete Recordings on Decca & Philips [44CDs Box Set] (2023)
EAC Rip | FLAC (tracks+.cue, log) | Run Time: 02:04:22:02 | 10.63 Gb
Genre: Classical | Label: Decca

The complete recordings of Eduard Van Beinum made for both Decca and Philips predominately features the Concertgebouworkest and London Philharmonic Orchestra, where he was Principal Conductor. 44 CDs in their original jackets.

Vladimir Ashkenazy - Complete Solo Recordings [89CDs Box Set] (2022)
MP3 320 Kbps | Run Time: 88:42:13 | 13.4 Gb
Genre: Classical, Piano | Label: Decca

Decca proudly present the Complete Solo Piano Recordings of Vladimir Ashkenazy in one edition for the very first time. An incredible 85 albums. The new 89CD & 1BDA edition will be released to mark the occasion of his 85th birthday (July 2022). Ashkenazy has been an exclusive artist on Decca for more years than any other, and it is his incredible devotion and commitment to his art that is on full show in this reissue. Paying tribute to one of the pianists he most admires, Sviatoslav Richter, Ashkenazy said that, 'It was his devotion and commitment to his art that will be his legacy'. Looking back at his long and distinguished career, this is surely a description which is equally true of Ashkenazy himself'.

The French-Canadian prog scene has received a very distinguished reputation around these parts and deservedly so too. With acts like Harmonium, Maneige and more recently Godspeed You! Black Emperor, this French speaking part of North America has been a hotbed for musical visions with a twist ever since the late 60s.
"Le Prince Croule" is more mature and solid Prog/Psych with haunting, massive Hammond organ and vocals and some surprising abnormal instrumental breaks.The electric guitar adds some serious flame with the blazing hooks and the compositions are full of energy, aggressive French vocals, unexpected twists and changing moods between Heavy/Psych and poetic Rock Music.

The Wham! collection The Final stands as the most accurate compilation of the duo's hits, even including the correct single versions of hits that were not available on their respective albums. From the early bubblegum silliness of "Bad Boys," "Wham! Rap," and "Young Guns" to the singles that made them an international pop phenomenon ("Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," "Everything She Wants," "Careless Whisper," and "I'm Your Man"), the hits are all here. "Everything She Wants" and "Freedom" are included in their single versions which did not appear on the multimillion-selling Make It Big. Also included is George Michael's first true solo hit, "A Different Corner," which, along with "Careless Whisper," hints at the later, more sophisticated styles of music that would further propel him into international superstar status.

This album combines the brilliant original vocal harmonies of The Beach Boys’ beloved classics with brand new symphonic arrangements performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, creating a unique and special experience of these iconic songs. 17 tracks produced by Nick Patrick and Don Reedman, who conducted similar projects for Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley. Executive produced by Jerry Schilling. Orchestra conducted by Sally Herbert and Steve Sidwell and recorded by Peter Cobbin at Abbey Road Studio 2.