The Military Band - Salute to the Services

It is always difficult to find the "best" military CD but it is an excellent one. I agree with some critics that the bands are unknown but that does not mean that it is a bad recording. On the contrary, it is a very good recording better than some "well known" band. The orchestration is good, the sound is excellent, it is well played and the quality of recording is excellent too. So, it is a good choice.

This is a terrific CD. I had hoped to find one with marches by the U.S. Marine Corps Band ("The President's Own"), but for some reason they appear to have exclusively recorded Sousa marches, and I wanted some non-Sousa ones (e.g. National Emblem) as well. So I took a chance on this one, in part based on the other reviews here.

Everything about this CD turned out great: the selection of the repertoire, the quality of play, the balance of the instruments, and even the bright and clear sound, in spite of having been recorded almost half a century ago. Although the ensemble was a studio band gathered for the occasion rather than one of the military forces bands, the result sounds entirely authentic, including on such well-worn but important pieces as Stars and Stripes Forever and The Star Spangled Banner.

If there is one shortcoming, it is the 38 minute elpee-format length, which is short by CD standards. I read somewhere that Felix Slatkin recorded two of these elpees. If so, it's too bad they didn't stick both on this CD. But this is really a minor point, especially when you consider the $11 price, which is also low by first-rate CD standards.

Highly recommended!

This is a wonderful collection of Sousa's best, and the quality of the recording is perfect.

I LOVE this CD because it really gives LIFE to these marches! It's a recording from 1958 remastered and its my favorite Military marches CD yet. Like the reviewer below...this is GREAT for walking.

I walk to the marches and they are great.