NEW YORK WEEKENDS: HUDSON VALLEY & NEARBY CATSKILLS

If this is your introduction to audio travel guides, your immediate reaction may be “Great idea!” But your enthusiasm will likely wane once you’ve experienced the vocal company of Dell Wade, who exudes good humor with the degree of sincerity you would expect from a carnival pitch man. More annoying than his manner are the blaring music cues and sound effects. All this is in the service of a text devoted almost entirely to trivia, such as a lengthy discourse on the competitiveness of rival New York City fire departments in the nineteenth century. On a four-star rating system, these deserve half a star. B.R. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN 93]