Got caught up
I saw a PBS special on Strauss and ran out to purchase. I'm not sure if I was caught up in the PBS hype or just had different expectations.

classical music 3/4
Strauss: The Best of Vienna
Whether one's likenesses for Strauss' music lies with the father or the son does not matter; (Richard neither). 3/4 time music along with their polkas, quadrilles and marches still keep Vienna as the world capital of waltzes.

wonderful
These CD's were wonderful. When I drive in the Sierra Nevada mountians I want something peaceful but not boring. I love, love, love it.

Repackaged New Year's Concert 1984 with VPO, etc.
If I'm not mistaken, most of the pieces were recorded originally live during a 1984 New Year's Concert conducted by Lorin Maazel with the Vienna Philharmonic playing in its grand concert hall, the Musikverein. Maazel and the Vienna Philharmonic have had a longstanding relationship dating from the 1960's, and without question, this CD does rank among my favorite New Year's Concert performances (However, the most mesmerizing ones I've heard have been those with the late Carlos Kleiber and Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducting.) for the superb quality of the Vienna Philharmonic's playing. Maazel leads the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in some of the most popular works composed by the Strauss family, most notably Johann II Strauss' Tales from the Vienna Woods Waltz, Emperor Waltz, Pizzicato Polka, Blue Danube Waltz and his father's Radetzky March, which traditionally closes out the annual New Year's Concert. Fans of the Strauss family, Vienna Philharmonic and Lorin Maazel, will not be disappointed with this excellent two CD compilation.

I am glad I bought this one
I listen to this cd to relax and it is so soothing. It starts with The blue Danube, which is my favorite. But the rest of the songs do not disapoint.