The new version of Rhapsody is out with the SansaRhapsody e200r series player. I’ve been using both the player and the software for weeks and I love the new version of Rhapsody. I like it so much, I’m not putting iTunes on my new family computer in the kitchen. I had planned on doing this with the old version of Rhapsody because it didn’t manage my personal music collection on the computer as well as itunes does, but the new version of Rhapsody is light years better in terms of interface, using drag and drop features, finding songs, importing songs and combining with the Rhapsdoy subscription tracks. I can even import my iTunes catalog which I’m going to try with the Network Magic software (all of my iTunes songs are currently stored on my upstairs computer). Viva rhapsody 4.0!

As I laid on my Chiropractor’s table listening to some nice music and getting my back cracked, I asked my chiro what he did for music in the office. He said they have switched from Muzak and the $50 a month they charge to playing CDs they bring in. “I couldn’t listen to the latin channel one more time” he confessed. This got me thinking about all of the small office environments out there and if Rhapsody might be a good fit for them. I think so, let’s review:
1) Rhapsody has tons of music that you can either program through a playlist or pick a genre and let it play. Overr 2,000,000 songs with all genres – you’ll find something that works – blues, jazz, classical, adult alternative, etc.
2) You can play specific albums are artists if you want and if in the mood
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I’ve just started using the Sansa e250 mp3 player with Rhapsody to Go and boy do I like it. I’ve been an ipod mini user for close to two years, but the battery is going on the iPod and I got the Sansa e250 cheap. It’s a 4gb player, but what is nice is that with my Rhapsody to Go subscription, I can put any song in Rhapsody onto my player with having to download it or rip it from a CD to my hard drive! I put some old Faces, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Black Eyed Peas, Them, Radiohead and Tragically Hip songs on. Some of which I own the CD and some I don’t. This is really nice as I’m able to break out of the list of songs in iTunes that I’ve imported from my rather extensive CD collection. I have over 725 CDs, most of which have been ripped into iTunes, but am always looking for new music to listen to. Totally worth the $14.99 per month….

CNET posted reviews of digital music services on June 23 and Rhapsody tied with URGE for the highest score 8.0 out of 10.00. There is not a lot of meat in the review, but here’s an excerpt:
“While all services have their own charms and kinks, we recommend Rhapsody and Urge. Napster is the granddaddy of services, while Yahoo Music and the quirky Virgin Digital offer the lowest prices. And then there’s always eMusic, which offers non-DRM MP3s in its indie-heavy service. Perhaps the best thing about subscription is that there are choices.” Read on here http://www.mp3.com/features/stories/5058.html

One of the things I like about Rhapsody are the descriptions of artists and albums. The are often funny, interesting and insightful. I like the comparisons to other bands and the sincerity of the copy. The Rhapsody editorial team is responsible for these and more (artist acquisition, pre-programmed stations and playlists, etc.) and have been recognized with awards and accolades. Now they have been selected as the musical advisors to the new CBS series “Tuesday Night Book Club” which debutted last night. NICE!

One of my favorite features of Rhapsody is the personalized radio system. You can select up to 10 artists and Rhapsody will use it’s music relationship technology to select songs from the artists plus songs from related artists. It’s a lot of fun to select artists from way different genres like a Frank Sinatra and Live and Beethoven and Tim McGraw to see what Rhapsody comes up with. It’s really easy to, here’s how:

Click on the Radio link in the upper left navigation box. Click on the Create New Station button and start adding artists. Listen to the station, then save it if you want as a keeper. It rules.

Fired up Rhapsody this morning and one of the featured albums was the soundtrack to Blow-Up (1966) featuring Herbie Hancock and the Yardbirds. I’ve heard the “greatest hits” of yardbird and knew it was a pivotal band in the British Invasion. I also knew it as the cross over point of the Holy Trinitity: Clapton, Page and Beck. The Blow-up soundtrack has one of only three songs recorded with both Beck and Page together (Stroll On). I listened to Stroll On (sounds like Train Kept a Runnin’) loved it and dove into the Yardbirds section of Rhapsody. Found “Roger the Engineer ” with Clapton and loved it! That’s the power of Rhapsody.

Another good music resource is Wilson and Alroy’s Record Reviews (www.warr.org) who has a great write-up on the Yardbirds.

I haven’t found a good posting or info from Real on all the different versions of Rhapsody and what they do so I thought I’d dig-in and try to explain. Each version of Rhapsody has a different set of entitlements in terms of what you can listen to. The more you pay in subscription fees, the more you can do with the music. Here are the basics:
1) www.Rhapsody.com – this is the web based version of Rhapsody Music Service and the newest edition to the family. This is really a different way to get music vs new or different entitlements. At Rhapsody.com, you can check out all the editorial content on bands that is included in the Rhapsody database, however you must download and install a very small active X program that lets you play music over the internet. You must also register in order to get music. With a free registration, you have access to 25 radio stations and 25 free song plays per month (this means that you can listen to the same song 25 times or 25 different songs once). If you sign-up for Rhapsody Unlimited, you can listen to all of the songs you want online for only $9.99 per month – this is the version I have an love it.
2) Rhapsody Radio – this is a slimmed down version of Rhapsody that is sold through internet service providers ($4.95 per month). I first discovered this at SpeakEasy.net which is my home and office ISP. It was included with SpeakEasy and go me hooked on Rhapsody. Don’t think you can buy this anywhere online anymore.
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