Nerdistan

There are many vintage and antique music boxes and music collectibles that the music box and antique collector can seek. These include wooden jewelry boxes, inlaid music boxes, wooden keepsake boxes, and disc music boxes. The top three disc music boxes are the symphonion, polyphon, and Regina music box.

Symphonion

Symphonion music boxes were made in Germany beginning in 1886. Paul Lochmann, founder of Kuhro-Lochmann was the first manufacturer of disc music boxes. They symphonion was produced in many sizes, types, and styles. Some of the more popular items in the 1890’s were disc-playing clocks, the three-disc Erocia the “Rocco” which was contained in an attractive wooden case, and the “Gambrinus” which was a coin-operated machine made in the shape of a barrel.

Since many collectors consider the tone of symphonion music boxes superior to the polyphon music boxes, finding a music box such as this would be a real treat for the music box and antique collector.

Polyphon

Established by Gustave Brachhausen in 1897, the Polyphon Company created a line of strong interchangeable music boxes and musical objects such as coin operated clocks fitted with disc movements and the polyphon-concerto. The polyphon-concerto was as a disc orchestra, which played a piano, bass drum, snare drum, and glockenspiel. In later years, the company also made a very rare “folding-top” table box as well as the casket model, which included paper rolls. Discovering the rare “folding-top” table box would be a tremendous find for the music box and antique collector as well as a great asset for any collection.

Regina

Many music box and antique collectors view the Regina disc music box as having the best sound.

The company was established in 1892 when Polyphon founder Gustave Brachhausen, went to the U.S. to found the Regina Music Box Company in New Jersey. Some interesting music boxes and musical items made by Regina before its demise in 1922 included a hand-operated vacuum cleaner, and the disc orchestrions that played piano, tublar bells, drums, and triangle. In addition, the company came out with the Reginaphone, which had a turntable, and horn that could be removed as well as a phonograph arm that could be turned to one it. This enabled it to be used as a normal music box.

For the music box and antique collector interested in collecting antique and vintage music boxes, the symphonion, polyphon, and Regina music boxes would make great additions to any collection. Why not add them to your current collection of inlaid music boxes, musical jewelry boxes, wooden jewelry boxes, and wooden keepsake boxes today?

Copyright 2006 Monique Hawkins

Established in May of 2005, http://www.My-Music-Box.com is a music box gift store specializing in products such as inlaid ballerina music boxes for ballerina rooms décor, whimsical carousel music boxes, and musical jewelry boxes. The company provides interesting information for music lovers of all ages. Owner Monique Hawkins is also the author of the blog “What You Never Knew About Music” http://whatyouneverknewaboutmusic.blogspot.com , and owner of the eBay store “Monique’s Music Box” at: http://stores.ebay.com/Moniques-Music-Box Monique can be contacted at (540) 858-2885.

Country Music sensation Tim McGraw has released his second greatest hits CD appropriately titled Greatest Hits Vol. 2.

I have to say McGraw’s music always sounds fresh to me. He seems to completely escape that all too familiar “been in the business, cranking out CD’s for… years” sound. After nine CD’s you could almost forgive him if his sound started to show some sameness but it doesn’t at all.

On this release he shows some real versatility by branching out and doing track 6, Over And Over with pop and rap sensation Nelly that enjoyed some serious radio airplay time, and rightfully so. It’s a good song.

Also included in this collection is a duet with his wife, Faith Hill. Track 3, Like We Never Loved At All.

This is one of those greatest hit albums that you really do know and enjoy every song

Overall McGraw’s Greatest Hits Vol. 2 is is a definite must have for all Tim McGraw fans. As smooth and soothing as his voice is you just can’t go wrong.

While this entire CD is outstanding the truly standout tunes are Like We Never Loved At All [track 3], The Cowboy In Me [track 4], and Over And Over [track 11]. My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore […as in “Stuck On REpeat”] is track 1, Live Like You Were Dying. Wow!

Release Notes:

Tim McGraw originally released Greatest Hits Vol. 2 on March 28, 2006 on the Curb Records label.

CD track list follows:

1. Live Like You Were Dying
2. My Old Friend
3. Like We Never Loved At All (with Faith Hill)
4. The Cowboy In Me
5. When The Stars Go Blue (New Track)
6. Real Good Man
7. She’s My Kind Of Rain
8. Grown Men Don’t Cry
9. Not A Moment Too Soon
10. Watch The Wind Blow By
11. Over And Over (featuring Nelly)
12. Everywhere
13. Beautiful People (New Track)
14. Red Ragtop
15. My Little Girl (from the motion picture My Friend Flicka) (New Track)
16. I’ve Got Friends That Do (New Track)

To listen to samples of each song on Greatest Hits Vol. 2 by Tim McGraw go to:
Tim McGraw CD - Greatest Hits Vol. 2 MP3 Samples

Clyde Lee Dennis, a.k.a. SmoothLee is a life long music fanatic. In addition to writing CD Reviews like this one for several music related websites he also hosts an internet radio show, and invites you to join him daily for some of the best soul soothing smooth jazz you’ll ever hear at http://www.SmoothJazz247.com

The ghost of Bob Dylan breezed into the studio this week and
touched me on the shoulder. Lyrically, Bobby Zim has always been
right up there, although melodically he’s down here with the
rest of us. I played in a folk group in the 60s around Britain
and in France and my mental repertoire of folk music often
helped me in spotting melodies that ole Bob had borrowed from
the folkies. For instance: the melody of Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream
is a direct lift of a 19th century whaling song called Brave
Franklin (and His Gallant Crew). But music is full of
coincidences: ever notice that the verse chords and melody of
the Bellamy Bros’ If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body and the
Eagles’ Lying Eyes are exactly the same? No? I bet the lawyers
did… Anyhoo… Bob’s specter touched me on the shoulder and
suit-ably inspired, I grabbed a pencil and started
scribbling…here’s what I wrote:

Crystal tango souvenirs race through my boxcar dreams And
leopard skins in pickle jars lie down in velvet screams The
image of the conqueror is burned into my brow No resurrection
tragedy can undersell me now…

No, I don’t know what it means either…but it gets
worse/better…

One screaming year of ecstacy falls in a ball of flame Crying
out Jerusalem or any other name And sailors scramble to the
ropes still coiled around his neck While kings and queens look
on and throw their arrows with respect

So far, so whaaat? But now it gets pretty good…

A fortune hidden in the flames, a beast inside a cage No
careless hand can understand the storms that in him rage The
monster lies in alibis thrown down from day to day I wish I had
the legs to go, but more the guts to stay

I kinda like that, but now we need the big wrap-up…

So fare you well, young pensioner; a husk inside a shell And
all you princes of delight, I know you far too well The eagle
shakes his feathers out, the angel tips his ring And Noah pulls
the plug out, as the waves begin to sing…

Well, I must say at this point, I don’t know whether to reach
for the Valium or the Smith & Wesson. This may be why Bob
crashed his motorcycle and went away for a while. I even sought
the advice of my good friends Jose Cuervo and Jack Daniels, but
after much discussion, no consensus had been reached by the time
I fell off the chair onto the cat. If you think you have a clue,
drop me a line at feedback@billdollarmus
ic.com. And if Mr Dylan should happen to see this… love
ya, Bob!…and-a…one…two…three…

Copyright- Bill Dollar 2005