Rodgers: Slaughter on Tenth Avenue

SLAUGHTER ON TENTH AVE- Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops

On this album, recorded in 1958, Fiedler is at its best. "Slaughter on Tenth Ave" is a great musical score and a famous black and white, gangster film was made of it back in 1951 and released in 1952, starring Richard Egan.
This album is another reason why the Boston Pops is my favorite classical orchestra and the late maestro Arthur Fiedler was a true master of his profession. His work will never be forgotten. Having lived in Boston for nearly 17 years, made the Boston Pops my favorite of the genre.
I highly recommend this album. March 14, 2007

Great Ballet Music CD - Buy It!

This CD is a great collection of modern-style moving ballet music by famous composers. Really swings!
Nice range of music styles, excellent orchestration & performances.

Serious music lovers shoud buy it!

John Norville September 25, 2005

It's a starry, moonlit night in 50's Manhattan....

...And this album is the perfect soundtrack to it. In this compilation are the creme de la creme of modern nocturnal classical pieces, with the exception of Khatchaturian's Sabre Dance. Here is the anthem of Manhattan itself, "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue" by Richard Rodgers, "Gavotte and Blues" by Morton Gould, "Fancy Free: Gallop, Danzon and Waltz" by Bernstein, "The Three Cornered Hat" By De Falla and the "Age of Gold Polka" by Shostakovich, a piece to help bring up images of an old string-marionette puppet show. However, for some odd reason, "Petrouschka" by Igor Stravinsky and one of the most beautiful melodies you'll ever hear, Gian-Carlo Menotti's "Barcarolle from 'Sebastian'" have been left off of this version of the album, to be replaced by the woefully out-of-place, (and totally mediocre,) "Estancia: Malambo" by somebody named Ginastera. This is a bloody shame, for the left out pieces really enhanced the feel of the whole album! Still, though, what is left will mentally put you in a cherry paneled den with subdued ligting, in a big red leather easy chair, puffing on the most aromatic pipe you own, (if you smoke,) reading your favorite Raymond Chandler novel. I can't recommend it highly enough! (The album, not smoking!)

By all means, beware of later incarnations of this album which were altered beyond all recongition, with only "Rodeo" and "Fancy Free" left on it, along with the title tune. It is NOT the same album! Somebody at BMG had the good sense to find THIS incarnation in RCA's catalog, which isn't TOO mangled, to represent Fiedler and the Pops at their finest, and market it in lieu of the latter mistake! The original, "Orthophonic" version, which included "Sebastian" and "Petrouschka", is, apparently, either still buried in RCA's vaults, or, regrettably, no more....

I often picture Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse traipsing down 1st Ave. to the best music on this album. The "Fancy Free" pieces would have made GREAT title themes for Tim Burton's "Batman " movies. (Okay, Warner's...remember me when you use that idea!)

If you lived through the fifties either as an adult or a child, or if you want to know what nighttime felt like in a good urban neighborhood between 1930 and 1960, GET THIS ALBUM!! February 15, 2003

THIS IS BAD

I THOUGHT THIS CD WAS VERY BAD. I REALLY DIDN'T LIKE IT AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE WILL. IT IS OLD FASHIONED AND NOT A GOOD CD FOR PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO NOWADAYS. March 18, 2002

Unique collection of Dances

I first purchased this music in vinyl record form in 1960. At the time, I was looking for a hi-fi version of Slaughter On Tenth Avenue and this recording was the only one available in town.

The title music was all I wanted it to be and it was pure serendipity to also receive the rest of the selections on the record. Some I was familiar with, but the rest have since become some of my favorite music. The fact that I am back getting a CD of the music helps attest to its timeless value. After almost exactly 40 years I am still not tired of it and am looking forward to being able to hear it again in about the clearest form possible. Now I will be able to listen to it in my car as well as at home.

Maybe it will help to know that I think Slaughter On Tenth Avenue is the best piece of American music ever composed.

My tastes run toward music with strong melody lines (such as Greig's music) and all of the selections in this disc meet that criterium. March 27, 2000

More reviews at Amazon.com ...