Classic Songs: My Way

Performer: Paul Anka
Engineer: Al Schmitt
Producer: Alex Christensen; Paul Anka
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Larry Koonse (guitar); Gayle Levant (harp); Assa Drori, Jennifer Munday, Shari Zippert, Pat Johnson , Mari Tsumura, Pip Clarke-Ling, Becky Bunnell, Charles Everett, Yvette Devereaux, Peter Kent, Armen Garabedian, Darius Campo, Mark Cargill, Charlie Bisharat (violin); Pamela Goldsmith, Harry Shirinian (viola, cello); Jimbo Ross, Marilyn Baker, Raymond Tischer, Denyse Buffum (viola); Matt Funes, Miran Kojian, Jorge Moraga, Drew Dembowski, Anatoly Rosinsky, Dan Tobin Smith, Calabria McChesney, Dennis Molchan, Karie Prescott, Frances Wu, James Freebarin-Smith, Tiffany Hu, Ernest Ehrhardt, Joel Derouin, Larry Corbett, Edward Meares, Evan Wilson, Steve Richards , Haim Shtrum (cello); Jim Walker , Sheridon Stokes (flute); Frank Marocco (accordion); Don Shelton (clarinet, saxophone); Gary Gray, Jack Nimitz, Kim Richmond, Bob Efford (clarinet); Gary Herbig, Earl Dumler (oboe); Frederick Fiddmont, Rob Lockart, Dan Higgins, Gene Cipriano, Greg Huckins, Jeff Clayton , Joel Peskin, Jon Crosse, Lee Callet, Rickey Woodard, Tom Peterson, Charles Owens II (saxophone); Dan Fornero, Gary Grant, Gilbert Castellanos, Greg Gisbert, James Ford , Larry Hall , Rick Baptist, Sal Cracchiolo, Warren Luening, Wayne Bergeron, Charlie Davis (trumpet); Jim Atkinson, Dana Kelley, Jenny Kim, Joe Meyer , Steve Durnin, Rick Todd, Brad Warnaar (French horn); George Bohannon, Phil Teele, Alexander Iles, Andrew Martin , Jim Self, Charles Loper, Maurice Spears, Craig Woods , Ira Nepus, Bryant Byers, Craig Gosnell, Stephen Holtman (trombone); Michael Melvoin (piano, electric piano); Mike Lang, Tamir Hendelman (piano); Emil Richards (vibraphone); Kevin Kanner, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Don Williams , Luis Conte, Paulinho Da Costa, Robert Zimmitti (percussion). Audio Mixers: Al Schmitt; Jeremy Wheatley. Recording information: Capitol studios, Los Angeles, CA. Photographer: Greg Gorman. Arrangers: Jeremy Lubbock; John Clayton; Patrick Williams; Randy Kerber. Paul Anka's Rock Swings was one of the best albums of its type, that being the sort where a swinging singer reimagines a set of contemporary songs in a radically different setting. There were far more successes than novelties, and it earned Anka -- deservedly -- his best reviews in at least a decade. Classic Songs: My Way includes 11 more that are just as ingeniously selected and performed, plus a pair of Anka classics re-recorded as duets. The covers (or interpretations, depending on whether you're a fan of rock music or vocal) are up to the same high level as Rock Swings. Highlights include a brisk, finger-snapping version of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," a poignant reading of the Duran Duran ballad "Ordinary World," and a brassy reading of "I Go to Extremes," originally by one of rock's biggest swingers, Billy Joel. In comparison, the re-recordings fare poorly. Although Michael Bubl� shows fine chops on "You Are My Destiny," Jon Bon Jovi fails utterly to understand how to approach "My Way" amidst a tone-deaf and keyboard-heavy arrangement. ~ John Bush

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