Search - Louis Clark, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra :: Hooked on Classics

If Only The Pounding Percussion Were Not Persistent......

Peter Prainito | Lombard, IL USA | 03/31/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Even though I have a rather extensive knowledge and collection of classical music, I still find the entire Hooked on Classics series a lot of fun and enjoyable. The discs are comprised of classical music themes strung together in medleys. The concept is very clever and candy to the ear. I'm sure that Hooked on Classics have been responsible for introducing many people to classical music for the first time. Furthermore, I'm quite confident that after listening to Hooked on Classics a good number people have further explored the joys of classical music in greater depth. So kudos to Louis Clark and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for this great public service. Having said that, I do have one problem with all the Hooked on Classic discs....the POUNDING, PERSISTENT, PERCUSSION! Thump, thump, thump, thump! Some reviewers have likened it to a disco beat or an aerobics CD, others have said it makes for great jogging music. Perhaps so, but it gets annoying and tiresome. After a few minutes the musical themes seem to take a back seat to the thumping, and this should not be the case. It should have been toned way down and varied. That is why I'm giving Hooked on Classics 3 stars instead of 5. Anyway, there is a lot of enjoyment to be had if you can deal with the thumping."

Still wonderful is this sublime classical/disco mix.

magiclary | 05/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's amazing how effectively this hybrid of classical music and disco rhythm has held up through the years. A favorite of walkers and exercisers everywhere, it also presented a way to introduce people to classical music who would otherwise have probably avoided it at all cost. It's also the product that put K-Tel on the map."

Catchy music

Dwayne Matheson | Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada | 01/11/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sure, the beat is repeatative, but you have to like the way the music flows from one well known melody to another. If nothing else this may inspire you to find an actual recording of one of the pieces and hear it just to find out what the composer wrote. I like it still, after all these years."