Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Great collection of classic American patriotic songs
Cons: Wide selection
of styles might turn off some
The Bottom Line:
Stars and stripes and more
Featured in Patriotic
Collection for all
While researching collections of patriotic music, I ran
across Stars And Stripes Forever Vol. 2.
(And no, the first volume has never come across my radar. Honestly, with my guess at the title, it's
just too hard to find.) I made a note of
it but kept buying other collections instead.
I'm not quite sure why because this is a great collection.
I was interested in this collection for one reason. I am a huge Sandi Patty fan, and the final
track is Sandi singing our national anthem.
I knew it would be amazing, and I am right. From the stirring opening orchestra to the
extravagant and dramatic, almost operatic choral finish, this is "The Star
Spangled Banner" like you've never heard it before. It is wonderful. What is interesting is that instead of doing
any of the other verses that Frances Scott Key wrote, they follow up the
well-known first verse with a new verse I've never heard before. I really like this new verse, so I'm not
complaining in the slightest, and it does feel like it fits with the more
traditional verses.
Somehow I had missed that this collection also includes Lee Greenwood singing his classic "God Bless the USA ." I actually don't have his version of this
classic yet, so I was very glad to get it.
That leaves us 10 tracks by various artists, most of which I
haven't heard of. And for the most part
they are very good.
The Killer Cadet Band does two tracks, both of which are
instrumental. They open things up with
"Stars & Stripes Forever."
I'm not usually a fan of instrumental music, but I love this song, and
the version here is outstanding. The
full orchestra is wonderful. Their other
track is another John Philip Sousa march, "semper Fidelis," the
official march of the Marines.
Another great instrumental track is "You're a Grand Old
Flag." This one is done by (The
Classic). It actually made me realize I
don't have any versions of this song with the lyrics in my collection. I'll have to fix that. But in the meantime, I'll certainly enjoy
this orchestra, which does a great job with it.
There are several choral with orchestra tracks here,
including "America
the Beautiful" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Just like with instrumental tracks, choirs
aren't normally my favorite, but for patriotic tracks, it really works for me,
and both of these are great.
Folk group "The Limeliters" tackle a medley of
"America
the Beautiful" and "This Land is Your Land." The emphasis here is on voices and harmonies,
at least until the second song takes over.
It's a different feel considering some of its neighbors, but all the
songs on this disc really do hold together.
There is a live version of Kate Smith singing "God
Bless America "
on here. Actually, I had never heard of
her before, but it looks like this is her signature song. I will say that the recording is obviously
from the 40's because of the style of the singing and the band, but it's
certainly good.
And for the big band fans out there, Glenn Miller has the
jazzy track "American Patrol" on here. I didn't recognize it like I did many of the
others right off, but it's a fun, toe tapping number.
Honestly, I don't know why I let the mostly unknown to me
contributers scare me away from getting this great disc. I have a feeling that Stars And Stripes Forever Vol. 2 has earned a permanent place in my patriotic music rotation.
Disc Length: 40:03
Tracks:
1. Stars & Stripes Forever - The Killer Cadet Band
2. God Bless America
- Kate Smith
3. You're a Grand Old Flag - (The Classic)
4. America
the Beautiful - The American Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus
5. American Patrol - Glenn Miller
6. America
the Beautiful/This Land is Your Land - The Limeliters
7. God Bless the USA - Lee Goldwood
8. An American Trilogy - Mickey Newbury
9. The Battle
Hymn of the Republic - The National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus
10. Semper Fidelis - The Killer Cadet Band
11. America
(My Country ‘Tis of Thee) - The Spirit of Freedom Singers with Roland Shaw and
His Orchestra
12. The Star Spangled Banner - Sandi Patty
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