My Best to You

Performer: Tony Bennett
Distributor: Bayside Record Dist.

Notes: CBS Special Products first assembled this ten-track budget compilation of Tony Bennett's Columbia Records recordings spanning 1951-1971 in 1982, and it has been reissued periodically since, first by Sony Music Special Products (after Sony bought and renamed CBS Records) and then under license to Collectables Records for its Priceless Collection series. The reason for this continuing availability is simple: The album is an excellent brief sampler of Bennett's work. It includes his first hit, "Because of You," his signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," four other Top Ten easy listening hits from the 1960s ("I Wanna Be Around," "For Once in My Life," "Who Can I Turn To [When Nobody Needs Me]," and "The Shadow of Your Smile"), and four representative tracks from notable Bennett albums ("It Had to Be You" from 1957's Tony, "Just One of Those Things" from 1957's The Beat of My Heart, "The Second Time Around" from 1966's The Movie Song Album, and "[Where Do I Begin] Love Story" from 1971's Love Story). All told, that's less than half an hour of music, and any Tony Bennett fan could name many songs that have been left out. But as a low-priced survey of Bennett's career highlights aimed at the casual listener, the collection hits the mark. [The Collectables reissue even adds liner notes by Al Fichera that discuss the origins of the tracks, a rarity in albums at this price point.] ~ William Ruhlmann

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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