TONY BENNETT'S SINGS GREAT SONGS OF THE PAST

Tony Bennett is truly an amazing singer. At a time when most singers are no longer active, the 81 year old Bennett is still going strong. Born Anthony Benedetto in Queens in 1926, Bennett's career in now into a 7th decade. Not all of those years were successful. After breaking into the music scene in the late 40's, Bennett had a number of hits in the 50's and early 60's. His most successful recording, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" won him two Grammy's and is one of the most successful songs of any decade.

However, as Rock became more popular, Bennett's career took a nosedive. Although he continued to record and sing in public, both his singing and his life took turns for the worse with a rock bottom scenario in 1979 when he almost died from a cocaine overdose.

In the 80's and 90's, Bennett staged a remarkable comeback which reached across generation of fans. His MTV appearance made him popular with the younger fans while he continued to record great jazz and pop songs.

This latest CD, "Tony Bennett Sings The Ultimate American Songbook-Vol 1" is actually a compilation of Bennett recordings from the 50's to the 90's. What is remarkable about the songs is the continuing excellence of Bennett's performances. I'm not sure how he did it, but Mr. Bennett maintained a strong voice well into his 70's.

Since this volume one, I'm assuming that there will be future additions to this collection. If you take a look at Bennett's discography, you'll quickly see that there can be several albums in this series.

The fifteen songs in this collection are all standards. Bennett was joined by a wide array of some of the greatest jazz musicians on many of the songs including Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Bobby Hackett, and Ralph Sharon. Ralph Sharon? That name might not be that familiar but Mr. Sharon and his trio accompanied Tony Bennett for several decades and on most of the songs on this CD.

Here's my take on this amazing collection:

1. ANYTHING GOES-C. Porter 1:31

This oft-recorded Porter classic sounds great with Sharon's arrangement and backing on piano (along with a big band) and Bennett sounds fine (this one in 1962) but I don't know why the song is so short. I guess this is a sort of warm up for the rest of the album.

2. THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU-R. Noble 4:31

From 1966, Bennett is joined here by cornet master Bobby Hackett and Cyril Ornadel leading the orchestra. This is more like it in length. From the uptempo opener, Tony and Hackett perform this song with a lush romanticism that is enhanced by the full stringed orchestra. Bennett's interpretation of this classic gives the song a very personal feeling. As always, Tony's voice is clear and exactly on pitch. If you've never heard the cornet of Hackett, this is an excellent example of its beauty. Wonderful song.

3. THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT-Kern/Fields 3:22

Produced by Tony's son Danny and released in 1997, there is a difference in Bennett's voice from the first two songs but not much of a change. This song appears on the soundtrack for the film "My Best Friend's Wedding." Sung with only a piano accompanying him, Tony emotes the pure love that the lyrics so perfectly blend with the melody. Gorgeous

4. EV'RY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE-C. Porter 3:08

This song was recorded in 1958 and produced by Mitch Miller. Tony sings in what sounds like an echo chamber in front of a full orchestra. I'm not crazy about the recording technique but Bennett's full, powerful vocal again is perfect for the song.

5. THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC-Arlen/Mercer 3:19

The Dave Brubeck Quartet joined Tony on this song from 1971. This song was a jazz standard made famous by Billy Eckstine and many others. Bennett proves that he can swing with the best of them with this Latin-flavored rendition. Brubeck also proves that he can swing in a fine solo while Tony lays out. I don't hear Desmond's alto sax and there is an unnamed guitar player.

6. A FOGGY DAY-Gershwins 2:10

Although he didn't compose it, this song is one of Frank Sinatra's biggest hits. Tony loved Sinatra and the admiration was mutual. Ralph Sharon's trio backs Tony in this 1993 rendition. As the song opens, only the bass player backs Tony and the effect is tremendous. Ralph joins in on piano with some nice licks. Again, I'm not sure why the song is so short.

7. I'LL BE SEEING YOU-Kahal 2:56

Tony sings the verse before the familiar melody begins. I love that feature that seldom exists in recent compositions. The entire Sharon trio is identified in this recording from 1993: Sharon, piano; Paul Langosch, bass; and Joe LaBarbera, drums. This is a beautiful song performed to perfection.

8. AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'-Waller/Razaf/Brooks 2:42

From 1964, the musicians aren't identified but again the song starts out with only Tony and a bass accompaniment. This Fats Waller classic has been recorded countless times, and Tony takes a slightly different approach here with this slow, ballad technique. The pianist that comes in is fine but not credited.

I'm going to stop here with the individual descriptions of each song. There is not a "clinker" in the bunch although, as I've written, a couple of the songs are too short. The rest of the album maintains the high standards of the first 8 songs. They include:

9. IT HAD TO BE YOU-Kahn/Jones 3:15

10. MOONGLOW-Hudson/DeLange/Mills 4:14

K.D. Lang joined Tony in 1994 on his MTV Unplugged album. Ms. Lang certainly holds her own with Tony as they harmonize in between fine solos.

11. SHE'S FUNNY THAT WAY-Moret/Whiting 4:18

12. YOU GO TO MY HEAD-Coots/Gillespie 3:46

13. THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME-Gershwins 2:15

14. YOU'LL NEVER GET AWAY FROM ME-Stynes/Sondheim 2:03

15. TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE-Duke/Fetter 1:53

This is one wonderful album and a great way to sample the best of one of America's greatest singers singing some of the great American songbook.

FIVE STARS