Naration a matter of taste but timeless material
926267
The narator is not one of my favorite Blackstone narators but that seems more a matter of personal taste.  The content/translation of the material is where the value lies in this recording.  Xenophon's tact and humor in telling this legendary tale makes it poetry as much as history and the narator gives it a good rendition.
3945462
I agree with the other reviewers that some of the material here is dated, but the book still  works as a time capsule for the era. I actually had the same feeling when reading one of Milton Berle's books. It's interesting to read between the lines, though, and get a sense of Mr. Allen's creative process at work here, especially with his ability to weave together some of the the longer stories in the book.  (There are limericks, poems and song lyrics that are reminiscent of some of the great material on The Benny Hill Show. Its not a book of one liners.)

Steve Allen was an extremely prolific writer throughout his long career. He wrote dozens of books and hundreds of songs, and was the original host of The Tonight Show. So, yes, there's a lot of dated material here, but  considering the author's background and credits  I think it's worthwhile to spend a little time sifting through the dated stuff to find those nuggets. There are definitely some nuggets in there. There's over 400 pages of material. I bet you'll find something here that's well worth your time. Recommended.
1812152
There are hints of Proust and Blavatsky here, the aromas of Katmandu and ashrams, of Carnatic music and Tantric bachanals, of a Sixties now extant in memory alone (or almost), the possibility of discoveries that are both Delphic and OM-centric---but you need to be alert to Hathaway's fundamental genius in confecting them together and making of it all a singular life.  Destined to be a classic in every sense.

Richard Parker.
4123583
Timeless and rare. Friends always ask who it is when they hear it.
3455758
Although some may find the lyrics seem tied to an era, this record really documents the social unrest of it's time. There's also a timeless quality to some of it.
I can remember hearing this for the first time at the age  of 15 and howling with laughter at "Silver Spoon". That was  Grace's stab at some friends who were really bugging her to go vegetarian  at the time. In her book, she states that one of them made a remark  about  not eating living things. She retorted with a question: "What do you  think plants are?" as well as that bizarre little ditty that my  firends and I would sing along with.
Let's face it, even if some of this  sounds tied to the times of 1971, look at the world around you. Pollution  is still rampant and getting worse, thanks to big corporations moving into  3rd world countries, taking many of our jobs with them and poisoning the  locals, because there are no pollution standards. A large portion of the  world is still at war and people are starving, so are these issues really  dated?
Aside from all the commentary, the most compelling piece on this  record is an ode to Grace and Paul's newborn daughter "China".  Grace never sang with more soul and sheer conviction than on this piece. I  still get goosebumps hearing it nearly 30 years on. It's good to see that  she's survived all her substance problems and kept her sharp sense of humor  intact after all she's been through. If you haven't read her book, by all  means do!
Musically speaking, it's one of the most adventurous things  they ever did. The cast includes Papa John Creach, David Crosby, Graham  Nash, Jerry Garcia and The Edwin Hawkins singers lend a true gospel feel to  the title song. I'll still be listening to this when i'm in my 70's. Highly  recomended
574885
For the experienced Ben Sollee listener, this score will be a nostalgic run through glimpses (some with gazes more enduring than others) of many of his memorable melodies from albums past - despite there being no such evidence of this in the track names. Nevertheless, that is hardly to say that it is not a new work. Much of the composition will indeed be new to Sollee listeners and even that which has been in a sense 'recycled' has had new life breathed into it as it is reconfigured and inserted into a new context.

That being said, the simplicity of the score is really what is most overtly attractive. Apart from some guitars, subtle backing strings and the occasional presence of gentle mallet accompaniment, the score itself is very much cello-based - a pleasant occurrence for someone (myself) who has somewhat lamented Sollee's more contemporary efforts simply for the lacking conspicuousness of his cello playing.

On the other hand, for the heretofore previously inexperienced Sollee listener, I simultaneously envy your ability to encounter all these beautiful melodies for the first time as well as regret that your life has yet to be enhanced by this Kentucky native's simple soul as it unabashedly bleeds through his music. May this be the beginning of an enduring musical affair.

I have yet to see the documentary, but I can say without a doubt that whatever weakness it may have (if indeed it has any - it appears an endearing story), the will certainly not be attributable to its sonic accompaniment.

Whether this is your first Ben Sollee encounter or just the most recent in a countless series, you will certainly find a novel, compelling beauty in this score.
4947162
The Robe - even when I was a small child in the 60's - was one of my all time favorite films and the music I believe played a great part in that.

This - I believe - was one of Alfred Newman's BEST movie scores. Sounds just as great today and a treasure in my CD collection (as is the movie itself). Such quality scoring of those old classic movies is indeed from a bygone era and only copied by composers of today. In fact there are very few composers today, using a complete orchestra that could possibly achieve such stature. (Though there are some true great composers today such as John Williams; John Barry to name a few).

This is a classic soundtrack and if you adore these age old soundtracks, then I urge you to get it. Perhaps not as crystal clear and perfect as it might me - one must make allowances for the age of the material in which the soundtrack is sourced. In my opinion - not a bad effort!
4329462
I saw this movie years ago and I can actually say it did a lot to focus my view of life as a human and the values we, as overseers of this planet, interact with the natural world. I had looked for the music for almost 30 years when I finally found this cd. Still, after all these years, it can bring a tear to my eyes when I relive the scenes in the film.
2099541
This is not just another album , this is one of those that stays with you for a long long time,as a classic work of art, you have to listen it many times to understand the message. A extraordinary work of a extrordinary artist.  Robert Z.
1874026
I saw this film over 15 years ago, and it still resonates in my memory.

For me, Oriana was enchanting, and I returned to the theater to see it 4 or more time, unusual for me.

Impressions of this film may be very different.  This is a genre of mysteries of adolescence and discovery film, and for those with imagination who relish the leisurely unraveling of clues, this is a must see.
3685513
A nice selection of music that may have been heard in olden times as well as now - a reminder of the times of  'Master and Commander"
157999
Timeless. Brilliant and relevant throughout the years.
986639
This music is 50 years old and still manages to amuse and entertain.
3962950
No matter how often I hear the music....over 20 years...it is still exciting to listen to.
4940234
For me this is an item to collect, be a part of my music history....musically topic I recommend it
1633943
A little too stylized for my taste but Bocelli is Bocelli and the album is worth buying if only for 2 or 3 classic cuts
3278786
You can hear the skill as well as experiencing FLOW. There are some timeless pieces here. I never get tired of this album.