Search - John / McCartney, Paul Lennon :: The Greatest Hits of The Beatles Classical Style

Saving the best for last... HEY JUDE.

belletoujours | USA | 03/13/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Who doesn't love those classic songs composed by the group dubbed the Fab Four? They had disbanded as a group by the time my son discovered them... yet, he also embraced them loving and enjoying their musical legacy.

I bought this album on the strength of the words "classical style" of The Beatles Greatest Hits, as I wanted to hear their works arranged and performed by other artists whose interpretations can often be appealingly different in imagination and creativity.

I listened to this album a couple of times before realizing that there was nothing that I did not like about this album, particularly the last 2 tracks performed by The Taliesin Orchestra. Rochester Pops Tracks performs tracks 1-8.

The songs are vocal-less, with the exception of "skimpy" utterances on the YELLOW SUBMARINE... "full speed ahead, Mr. Barker"!



The 10 tunes are awesome cover recordings, all easily recognizable. I'm glad to have this album as part of my Beatles instrumental files.

Basically, these pop, light classical-style tunes are arranged and performed splendidly... with rhythmic drive, resonance, and flair! Prepare to tap your toes and bob your head because this album entertains, per excellence: energetic, colorful, bright, ear-pleasing, etc. etc. I liken some of these tunes to music for march or adaptations for movies/musical productions. The Beatles music "on parade", if you will! On another hand, you might feel like clearing floor-space for "swinging". So, be careful... these renditions "rock"! Be surprised if you are not beautifully "moved", literally.

Particularly on tracks 1-8, a few of the tunes are fraught with instrumental "inconsistencies"-- moving up and down in sound-intensity much like the wild ride of a roller coaster: one minute it's slow and easy, the next loud and lively! I love this "fickleness" in arrangement.



You will love the delightful, amusing "instruments" employed in this album's YELLOW SUBMARINE! Check it out.

YESTERDAY's emphasis is on strings mostly throughout, slower tempo true to original's composition. Some "roller-coaster-ing": intensity at intro and a time or two more before the song's end. Another fav of mine.

The last two tracks 9 & 10 are my personal favorites. The tracks are arranged and performed by The Taliesan Orchestra whose presentations sound more "small band" than orchestral, in my opinion. Not phased by this in the least... I love both of songs.

A beautiful and strong piano-presentation takes center stage on THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD fused with a marked backbeat. Good creative sound-appeal... good harmonic and rhythmic interpretation of composition.



Lastly... and the best, in my opinion: Track 10 HEY JUDE is a captivating track... five (5) long minutes of good, strong piano-showcasing fused with an AWE-INSPIRING SAX PRESENTATION! Loooooooving this groove to the hilt.



A Beatles instrumental CD that I highly recommend to any music zealot."