«You Can't DO An "Ultimate" Tony Bennett Single CD»

With all due respect to the people involved with the production of this 2000 Sony release (Didier C. Deutsch, Darcy M. Proper, Danny Bennett and Steve Berkowitz), not to mention Tony himself, it's really quite impossible to come with a definitive single 20-track CD "ultimate" compilation for a man who racked up some 67 hit singles from his first in 1951 (Because Of You - # 1 for TEN weeks that summer) to his last in 1976 (As Time Goes By - # 28 Adult Contemporary early that spring). Never mind his many albums.

The insert explains the choices of the tracks this way: "With a career spanning five decades, over 50 million records sold, and nine Grammy Awards to his credit, this collection of standards, many of which Tony introduced, were hand-picked by the artist himself. This is truly a definitive compilation that is not only a tribute to Tony's musical legacy, but also a comprehensive testimony to his contribution to the Great American Songbook." Can't very well dispute that, but it's just that those of us who grew up alongside this remarkable vocalist likely have so many more Tony Bennett offerings we could argue should have been included.

The sound reproduction is immaculate, with the rest of the 10-page insert taken up by a partial discography of the contents (no chart details), and captioned photos of a young 18-year-old Tony in Astoria, Queens, a shot with Ralph Sharon, listening to the playback of I Left My Heart In San Francisco, a poster of his first concert in 1962 - at Carnegie Hall no less, a shot of him singing with the Count Basie orchestra and another with the Count himself at the piano, a similar one with Ray Charles, a small pic with Bill Evans, eating hot dogs at Nathan's with Frank Sinatra, a shot with Duke Ellington, another with Zoot Simms, one with Judy Garland, one with the Ralph Sharon Quartet, a candid shot of his son Danny working with Joel Moss, and another which came with the inscription: For Tony - The best g.d. pop singer I've ever heard - I love ya - (signed) Frank Sinatra.

But my favourite is the one with Louis Armstrong, taken when Tony presented Satchmo with a portrait he had painted (he's quite the artist too). The caption reads: I gave this painting to Louis in the '70's in London. He said 'You out-Rembrandt Rembrandt.' Later, back home, he hung it over his desk in Queens, N.Y. Someone asked him who painted that and he replied 'A boy from my meighborhood.'

[Sunday, July 13, 2008]

«Going from Rags to Riches..............»

Due to the fine contributions of my vast fan club, I was able to afford a 5 star restaurant for some fine cuisine. I took my seeress love Sondra to the world reknown Le Chateau de Penguin (named, I suppose, for the way the waiters look). We were seated immediately in the lush Iceberg Room, with beautiful paintings of lettuce on the walls. Awesome and stunning. And let's not forget the ice sculptures of Dr. Federick A. Cook and Admiral Robert E. Peary, at opposite ends of the center french provincial table that was home to the Louis the 14th crystal punch bowl. It was all pomp and atmosphere folks. Sort of like Metamorpho.

After some amuse-bouches and apertifs, we settled down for the main course. She- la coq au vin and me- le boef bourguignon. To compliment this we had the finest chardonnay Boone's Farm makes - vintage 1999 - yes, made a century ago! You can't get better than this people.

Anyway, to go along with this pleasant evening, they had the background songs of Tony Bennett playing. I had almost forgotten about him although I believe he is (or was) a resident of my hometown. Anyway, I was so taken with hearing this that I went out and acquired The Ultimate Tony Bennett. Needless to say, this is so good it's sinful.

First off I believe Tony is not only a superb American vocalist, but probably one of the best in contemporary music. You only need to listen to the burst of vocal dexterity at the end of "How Do You Keep the Music Playing" to know this is true. Tony is the master of mood. Suave, sophisticated adult love tunes that compliment a romantic evening.

This is a collection of wonderful music. Sweet, sentimental ballads like "Mood Indigo" and "Blue Velvet". Fine jazz excursions like "Steppin' Out With My Baby" (Sondra threw her head back and laughed like Lauren Bacall with that one), "Night and Day", and let's not forget one of my favorites "The Best is Yet to Come".

But, more than these morsels of sound, Tony gives you more food for thought with timely classics. "Stranger in Paradise", "Rags to Riches", "I Wanna Be Around" "Put On a Happy Face" can certainly be regarded as very high points in an illustrious career. But, at the top of the hill has to be the finest he's ever recorded. "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". If I was locked away at Alcatraz, this would be the one I'd want to hear. I'm glad I'm not, but I forever want to hear it anyway.

Every song here, in it's own way, is pure pleasure. Relaxing, pleasant to hear, and so very very fine. I am grateful that Tony is still around to pick up the pizzas. ;)

Anyway - highly recommended. Now, your Metamorpho is giving another lecture tour, coming to a city near you very soon. And your contributions will help me get back to Le Chateau de Penguin once again. You wouldn't deny me this small indulgence, would you? Make check payable to me and make sure it doesn't bounce! The waiters don't expect shabby tips you know!

On the Boulevard of Broken Greens -- Metamorpho ;)

[Friday, April 18, 2008]

«fine single CD retrospective»

The Ultimate Tony Bennett is essentially a single CD retrospective of what Tony Bennett himself considered to be his best work. (Bennett himself picked the songs for the album.) The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is nicely done. The selection of songs may lean toward to 1950s and the 1960s but Tony Bennett truly was so great that just about anything he ever sang is priceless.

The album starts off with Tony singing the single version of "I Left My Heart In San Francisco." This is one of Tony's signature songs and it's not hard to understand why. Tony's ability to convey the emotions in every subtle nuance of the lyrics to this ballad strikes me as incredibly wonderful. Tony sings with excellent diction; and the piano arrangement lacks nothing--it's THAT good.

"Rags To Riches" features Tony's vocals squarely in the spotlight; and the lush musical arrangement enhances the natural beauty of this number. Tony sings this so well I am sure you will enjoy this song if you haven't heard it before. Moreover, "Stranger In Paradise" places Tony in the spotlight; he sings "Stranger In Paradise" to perfection and the backup vocalists support Tony very well. "I Wanna Be Around" is a romantic, emotional love song that couldn't sound any better if anyone even tried to perform this one. Tony sings this with great sensitivity at the same time that his voice is strong and full of warmth. Great!

"The Good Life" is utterly charming when Tony sings it; and listen also for Tony's fine rendition of "Smile." Tony delivers "Smile" with panache and I always enjoy this ballad. "Night And Day" is a romantic ballad and Tony swings slowly to perform this with an elegant style all his own. The piano and percussion on "Night And Day" are arranged with great sophistication, too.

"Blue Velvet" gives us Tony singing an interpretation of this classic love song with an almost operatic style; and the CD ends strong with "The Best Is Yet To Come." "The Best Is Yet To Come" features a fine musical arrangement and Tony sings this with such optimism that you experience the same optimism just listening to this!

Overall, any single CD retrospective of Tony Bennett's career could never truly hope to even scratch the surface of what this man could do on stage; but this one CD does come close to truly being his best. It's revealing that Bennett himself picked these numbers out for this CD. I highly recommend this for Tony Bennett fans; and people who like classic pop vocals won't be disappointed either.

[Wednesday, February 13, 2008]

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