Rabbit Ears World Tales, Volume 1

This star-studded collection is the ticket for a magical tour around the world. John Hurt's deep, gravelly voice captures the evil and drama of "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp" while percussionist Mickey Hart's cymbals, drums, and chimes accent the story's twists and exotic Middle Eastern setting. Next stop, Jamaica, as UB40 lays down a calypso beat and Denzel Washington adopts a lilting accent to tell two stories of "Anansi," the tiny trickster spider with a huge ego. Lyle Mays's romantic music sets the mood for Max von Sydow's performance of the Norwegian tale "East of the Sun, West of the Moon." The actor's voice and musicians' notes swell to a crescendo to complete the happily-ever-after ending. Bill Douglass and Dave Austin's chimes, harps, and percussion play up the Asian setting of "The Five Chinese Brothers" and accompany John Lone's lightly accented reading of the siblings whose strange gifts and love for each other vanquish a cruel emperor. S.W. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine