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This double-disc compilation of John Williams' guitar favorites must appear, even to the uninitiated, as a commercial attempt by Sony to milk his catalog to the last possible sale. Without denigrating the guitarist's consummate skills or his usually satisfying achievements, his recordings for Columbia and Sony are repeatedly recycled in different packaging every few years, and likely will be reissued many more times. The Ultimate Guitar Collection could be changed to "penultimate," but even that is too definite a prediction of when this process will stop. That said, the album contains virtually every greatest hit that matters to guitar lovers, and is more than representative of Williams' wide-ranging work, from Baroque to Spanish classics and beyond. The selections are taken from his early, undated sessions for the LP, Echoes of London, and many other dated albums, from 1975's The Four Lute Suites of Johann Sebastian Bach, on through 2003's El Diablo Suelto. Most of the music is relaxing and pleasant, though some of the film themes from John Williams Plays the Movies disrupt the flow of fine solo playing, and are jarring for their bombastic orchestration and emotional insipidity. The sound quality varies substantially between the analog and digital recordings, and is sometimes too loud, even at a middle volume setting.
© TiVo
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Suite española, Op. 47 (Isaac Albéniz)
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Arranger - John Williams, Performer - Nathan Waks, Producer - Isaac Albeniz, Composer
(P) 1993 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Conductor - STANLEY MYERS (1934-1993), Composer
(P) 1996 Sony Music Entertainment
John Williams, Arranger - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Performer - Nathan Waks, Producer - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(P) 1993 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Vasco Martins, Composer - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - John Williams, Arranger - John Etheridge, Guitar - Chris Laurence, Bass
(P) 2001 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - F. Tarrega, Composer - F. Tarrega, Lyricist - Michael Stavrou, Producer
(P) 1982 Sony Music Entertainment
John Williams, Arranger - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - William Goodchild, Conductor - Traditional, Composer
(P) 2000 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MANUEL DE FALLA (1876-1946), Composer - Timothy Kain, Guitar - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Performer - Emilio Pujol, Arranger - Dr. Steven E. Paul, Producer
(P) 1996 Sony Music Entertainment
John Williams, Transcriber - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - Michael Stavrou, Co-Producer - DOMENICO SCARLATTI (1685-1757), Composer
(P) 1988 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - Alirio Diaz, Arranger - Antonio Carillo, Composer
(P) 2003 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Christopher Gunning, Arranger - Christopher Gunning, Conductor - Ennio Morricone, Composer - Ian Thomas, Drums - Harold Fisher, Drums - Laurence Cottle, Acoustic Bass - Chris Laurence, Bass - Nicole Tibbels, Soprano - Ralph Salmins, Drums - John Williams, Performer - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer
(P) 1996 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
JULIO SAGRERAS (1879-1942), Composer - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - Mike Stavrou, Producer
(P) 1989 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - John Williams, Arranger - Erik Satie, Composer - William Goodchild, Conductor
(P) 1998 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Georg Friedrich Händel, Composer - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - John Williams, Arranger
(P) 1986 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Edited By - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - Augustin Barrios Mangoré, Composer
(P) 1995 Sony Music Entertainment
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - Jorge Morel, Arranger - Traditional, Composer - Traditional, Lyricist
(P) 2000 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Arranger - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - EDWARD ELGAR (1857-1934), Composer
(P) 1986 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Composer - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - John Etheridge, Guitar
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment
Concerto for Lute (Guitar), Two Violins (Strings) and Basso Continuo in D Major, R. 93 (Antonio Vivaldi)
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Performer - Georges Kadar, Producer - Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - János Rolla, Conductor
(P) 1991 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Ralph Salmins, Drums - John Williams, Arranger - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - Ian Thomas, Drums - Scott Joplin, Composer - Laurence Cottle, Acoustic Bass - Harold Fisher, Drums - Chris Laurence, Bass
(P) 1996 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
DISC 2
Concierto de Aranjuez for Guitar and Orchestra (Joaquín Rodrigo)
Christine Pendrill, English Horn - Louis Frémaux, Conductor - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Performer - David Mottley, Producer - Joaquin Rodrigo, Composer - The Philharmonia Orchestra, Performer
(P) 1984 Sony Music Entertainment
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - HERACLIO FERNANDEZ (1851-1886), Composer - Alirio Díaz, Arranger
(P) 2003 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Edited By - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - AGUSTÍN BARRIOS (1885-1944), Composer
(P) 1995 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Arranger - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Performer - Nathan Waks, Producer - Isaac Albeniz, Composer
(P) 1993 Sony Music Entertainment
John Williams, Arranger - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - Erik Satie, Composer
(P) 1998 Sony Music Entertainment
John Williams, Edited By - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - AGUSTÍN BARRIOS (1885-1944), Composer
(P) 1995 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John T. Williams, Composer - Ralph Salmins, Drums - John Williams, Arranger - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - Ian Thomas, Drums - Laurence Cottle, Acoustic Bass - Harold Fisher, Drums - Chris Laurence, Bass
(P) 1996 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Lute Suite No. 4 in E Major, BWV 1006a (Johann Sebastian Bach)
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Arranger - John Williams, Performer - Paul Myers, Producer - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(P) 1975 Sony Music Entertainment
African Children's Choir, Vocal - John Williams, Arranger - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - ENOCH SONTONGA (1873 - 1905), Composer - Richard Harvey, Dulcimer - Chris Laurence, Bass
(P) 2001 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Arranger - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - William Goodchild, Conductor - GABRIEL FAURÉ (1845-1924), Composer
(P) 2000 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Trio for Violin, Lute (Guitar) and Basso Continuo in C Major, R. 82 (Antonio Vivaldi)
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Performer - Georges Kadar, Producer - Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - János Rolla, Conductor - János Rolla, Violin
(P) 1991 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - Michael Stavrou, Co-Producer - Andrew York, Composer
(P) 1989 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Christopher Gunning, Composer - Christopher Gunning, Lyricist - Christopher Gunning, Arranger - Christopher Gunning, Conductor - Ian Thomas, Drums - Harold Fisher, Drums - Laurence Cottle, Acoustic Bass - Ralph Salmins, Drums - John Williams, Performer - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - Arr.:, Composer - Arr.:, Lyricist - Chris Laurence, Bass - Nino Rota, Lyricist - Nino Rota, Composer
(P) 1996 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - Alirio Diaz, Arranger - Michael Stavrou, Co-Producer - MANUEL PONCE (1882-1948), Composer
(P) 1989 Sony Music Entertainment
Aeolian Suite for guitar and small orchestra (John Williams)
John Williams, Composer - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Performer - William Goodchild, Conductor
(P) 1998 Sony Music Entertainment
Three Blues for Classic Guitar (Charlie Byrd)
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - Mike Stavrou, Producer - Charlie Byrd, Composer
(P) 1989 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - Mike Stavrou, Producer - Charlie Byrd, Composer
(P) 1989 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - Mike Stavrou, Producer - Charlie Byrd, Composer
(P) 1989 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
El Decaméron negro (Leo Brouwer)
John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Performer - LEO BROUWER (b. 1939), Composer
(P) 1997 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - John Williams, Edited By - AGUSTÍN BARRIOS (1885-1944), Composer
(P) 1995 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Arranger - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Producer - John Williams, Performer - Traditional, Composer
(P) 1998 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Arranger - John Williams, Guitar - John Williams, Performer - Roy Emerson, Producer - Isaac Albeniz, Composer
(P) 1981 Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
This double-disc compilation of John Williams' guitar favorites must appear, even to the uninitiated, as a commercial attempt by Sony to milk his catalog to the last possible sale. Without denigrating the guitarist's consummate skills or his usually satisfying achievements, his recordings for Columbia and Sony are repeatedly recycled in different packaging every few years, and likely will be reissued many more times. The Ultimate Guitar Collection could be changed to "penultimate," but even that is too definite a prediction of when this process will stop. That said, the album contains virtually every greatest hit that matters to guitar lovers, and is more than representative of Williams' wide-ranging work, from Baroque to Spanish classics and beyond. The selections are taken from his early, undated sessions for the LP, Echoes of London, and many other dated albums, from 1975's The Four Lute Suites of Johann Sebastian Bach, on through 2003's El Diablo Suelto. Most of the music is relaxing and pleasant, though some of the film themes from John Williams Plays the Movies disrupt the flow of fine solo playing, and are jarring for their bombastic orchestration and emotional insipidity. The sound quality varies substantially between the analog and digital recordings, and is sometimes too loud, even at a middle volume setting.
© TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 41 track(s)
- Total length: 02:33:58
- Main artists: John Williams
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Sony Classical
- Genre: Classical
(P) 1975, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
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