The Good Life [Collectables]

Performer: Tony Bennett
Distributor: Gotham Distributing Corp.

Notes: Personnel: Al Cohn (tenor saxophone). Arrangers: Don Costa; Glenn Osser; Marty Manning; Ralph Burns. As discount compilations go, this one is just fine. There are 10 songs, and the album runs 27 minutes, so don't expect to pay anything like full price. But among the 10 tracks are such Tony Bennett hits as "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," "Just In Time," "The Good Life," and "Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)." There are also some good performances of standards, such as "My Funny Valentine" and "You'll Never Get Away From Me," and, notably, a couple of singles from the late '50s that rarely turn up on Bennett hit compilations--"In The Middle Of An Island" and "Young And Warm And Wonderful." But unless you're looking for a copy of one of those, this is the kind of album you buy so that you have at least one Tony Bennett album in your collection. And you should have at least one. ~ William Ruhlmann Another mid-price Tony Bennett collection from CBS Special Products. "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" dutifully puts in an appearance, but companion tunes include "Come Rain Or Come Shine" from Bennett's superior Harold Arlen album, a slowly soaring "Fly Me To The Moon" and a bit of early '50s exotica called "In The Middle Of an Island." This time, however, they saved the best for last: a masterly, blues-inflected "My Funny Valentine," where Bennett is backed by the superb Ralph Sharon trio, matching Chet Baker's classic version note for loving note.

One of the finest voices of 20th century American pop, Tony Bennett began his career in the '50s, under the watchful eye of producer Mitch Miller, recording huge hits such as "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," and "Because of You." In 1958, his album BASIE SWINGS-BENNETT SINGS was a precursor to later jazz-based work. That same year, "Firefly" was Bennett's last US Top 40 entry until 1962, when he made a major comeback with the Grammy-winning "I Left My Heart In San Francisco." In '93 and '94 he was awarded Grammys for his albums PERFECTLY FRANK and STEPPIN' OUT.

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