Ron S

Guatemalans like TOCJs? Who knew? Kinda like Germans loving David Hasselhoff... Who knew Gary Coleman is German?

Go to the web site, and click on the "eCertificate" link under your nearest machine.

Holy Shit! I got a big jar full of change about six feet from me, and an eCertificate Coinstar machine about six tenths of a mile from me! I say we all sign up for weekly sessions with jazzshrink for more of this kind of "therapy".

Disc 2. MAN, this is a great set.

Curtis Amy Select--disc 1

You know those classical musicians--live life in the fast lane and burn out young.

I use that site as a reference to find out what's currently in-print--very comprehensive and VERY well organized (though generally not the best prices). I noticed that new service recently, here.

Yep--tried both copies several times on three different players. Once or twice they didn't skip, but most of the time they both skipped at the exact same spot on all 3 players. That's weird. Have you tried extracting and burning a new copy??? No, but one of the copies is much worse than the other one--it sticks at that point for a few seconds, whereas the second copy just "clicks" at that point every few plays (Amazon told me to keep the first copy rather than have to reimburse me for the cost of return shipping). So I think I'll just send the worse copy to DG for replacement, and hold on to the other one as "insurance". Unless, of course, you just wanna give me your copy.

Yep--tried both copies several times on three different players. Once or twice they didn't skip, but most of the time they both skipped at the exact same spot on all 3 players.

Track 8 on disc 6 of my set, which I bought several years ago, doesn't skip. The total timing of my disc 6 is 71:59. Same timing on mine, but there's a definite problem at the same location on both copies of the disc I received--the second copy actually gets stuck at that location for a few seconds before moving on. As I said before, it must be a problem with this particular pressing. And fortunately, DG has a department to deal with just this kind of thing.

KEMPFF SET DEFECT ALERT Leaving aside for the moment the relative merits of these sets and musicians, I wanted to bring a potential manufacturing defect to the attention of those who ordered the Kempff '50's set from Amazon.co.uk. When I first received my set, I sampled a disc or two and discovered that at 0:50 of track 8 on disc 6, there was a defect causing the disc to skip. I contacted Amazon.co.uk, and they sent me a second set. Well, the second set arrived today and, lo and behold, the new disc 6 skips even worse at the exact same location. Obviously, there is a manufacturing defect in this particular run of discs. In lieu of going back to Amazon UK again, I visited the DG web site where, fortunately, they have the following FAQ:

This deal has become even better: using Google Checkout at Buy.com now gets you $20 off any order over $50, so the cost of this set at Buy.com's current price of $55.01 becomes $35.01 including delivery (for a 9-disc DG set!). Obviously, opinions will vary, but Gilels' Beethoven sonatas do get glowing reviews in some of the "mainstream" guides, and at this price it might be worth checking him out.

For yourmusic.com groupies, that just showed up (for $5.99 w/free shipping, of course), here.

You're not talking about this, are you? Or do you mean Edwin Fischer? BTW, what do you think of Solomon? As always, your (Chuck's and clem's) personal views are interesting and appreciated, especially since both the Arrau set and Gilels generally get positive reviews from the "pros" (Penguin, Gramophone, Third Ear, Rough Guide, etc.).

These are the ones from the '60s (see here). Any thoughts on those? (FWIW, the sound in this set is said to be excellent, belying it's vintage, which you can sort of tell in the AMG samples.)

ANOTHER BEETHOVEN PIANO SONATA DEAL ALERT: Amazon.co.uk has the Philips 14-CD Claudio Arrau set for 30.97 pounds including VAT, and 26.36 pounds excluding VAT for those outside the EU (or about $50). In addition to all 32 sonatas, this set includes the Diabelli Variations, the Eroica Variations, all 5 Piano Concertos, and the Triple Concerto. And with a shipping cost of only about 3 pounds ($5.70) to the US, it's another amazing deal from the British Amazonians. See more here. And while we're on the subject of Beethoven Sonata deals, another one can be had on the newly reissued Deutsche Grammophon 9-CD Gilels set. This set includes 27 of the numbered Sonatas (he died before he could record the remaining 5), the Eroica Variations, and some other pieces. Buy.com has it for $54.21, but if you use Google Checkout (quick and easy sign-up if you haven't already), you get an immediate $10 discount when you check out. (This applies to everything else in stock at Buy.com, including the 19 Mosaic Selects they carry--just order each one separately to get the $10 discount applied to each order). See more about this set on Amazon's page here, and order it from Buy.com here. Just remember to use Google Checkout to get the $44.21 price.

Now disc 2. Disc 3.

Now disc 2.

Personally, I'm holding out for Rod STASICK's Great American Songbooks Collection.

I have that same set--but I still haven't found the tracks with Gerry Mulligan.

Dizzy Reece Select--disc 1

The rust is what makes this set disctinctive! A rustfree box would be a first! But I want it to be my rust.

I thought it was supposed to make you smart.

Ditto.

Now at yourmusic.com.