Various Artists: Other Compilations

Classical Treasures: Classical Masters (1993) -- A random collection of Beethoven, Chopin, and other big names. Nothing wrong with it.

Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music (1994) -- A four CD set that is perfect for guys like me, who like classical music well enough, but who aren't in love with it enough to seek out "good" or "important" recordings, or even to collect music from particular composers. All the stuff is here that people know, from TV or cartoons or whatever--the stuff you can't avoid. It's all good.

The Digital Domain: A Demonstration (1983) -- Released in the really really early days of compact discs, this album is just as cool now. The first track is airplane sounds followed by the THX "deep note," going into a great track called "Lions Are Growing," to racquetball recordings, to various digital music, to helicopters and outside SFX, and finally speaker tests for your system. Fancy stuff.

Dvorak/Smetana -- A nondescript recording of "From the New World" and "The Bartered Bride."

JVC World Class Music Sampler (1989) -- The jazz soundtrack of my middle teen years, featuring great stuff like "Fat Lady," "Quarter Cooker," and "The Only Name Missing Is..."

The Music of Disney--A Legacy in Song (1992) -- Although I'm still waiting for a definitive compilation of Disney music (they may have done well to make a box apiece for feature films, short subjects, theme park song, etc. rather than combining them, though I understand why they did), this one is very very good for now. Most of the absolute classics are here, such as "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf," "When You Wish Upon a Star," "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah," and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." My advice for upcoming compilations (for any Disney folks actually reading this) is to make sure that each song is of the above caliber, rather than throwing in forgettable tunes like "Candle on the Water" and "Best of Friends" just to have more movies represented. But, yes, the best thing out there right now, and -- face it -- everyone needs a copy of the music for the Main Street Electrical Parade.

The Obscurity File (1994) -- This collection purports to be a collection of politically incorrect songs, but most of the songs are simply New Wave songs that fall on the Dr. Demento side. A few of the songs are funny or good. Unit 3's "Pajama Party" and Angel and the Reruns' "Buffy Come Back" are the best. The Ogden Edsl tracks about Kinko the Clown are okay, but I just wish there were a more widely-available collection of their stuff.

Sounds of Halloween / Sounds of Horror / Scary Sounds (2006) -- Three CDs released by PC Treasures that I found at Target for a dollar apiece. They provide adequate ambiance on Halloween night.

Pop Romantique (1999) -- A great recording of indie rockers doing French music, mostly those good ol' pop songs like Serge Gainsbourg's.

Tchaikovsky 1812 (1990) -- Featuring the "1812 Overture" and other pieces from other composers.