Reviews (20)

Great Day in the Morning - and at Night
There are many, many Doris Day collections on the market but if you had to have just one, GOLDEN GIRL is the one to go with.25 vintage tracks spanning her twenty year career at Columbia Records.Included are almost all of her biggest hits from the Oscar-winning movie songs "Secret Love" and "Que Sera Sera"to her comic prim/sexual blockbuster single "A Guy is a Guy" which predates her famous sex-comedy movies by a half decade to her earliest recordings when she was just a big band "girl singer" and not yet a solo star and chalked up a 40's classic with "Sentimental Journey".From the jazzy "Cuttin' Capers" to the 60's novelty "Let the Little Girl Limbo", Doris was always a complete pro in the studio and sang every note with all her heart and credibility.My two top favorites from the collection couldn't be more different, her stunningly wistful "I'll Never Stop Loving You" from LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME and the very mod and very hip 60's twister "Move Over Darling" (co-written by her talented late son, songwriter-producer Terry Melcher), this two disc collection is a outstanding explanationwhy Doris Day has been loved by America and the world like few other stars.

A great collection!
I am a Doris Day fan, so I'm prejudiced. But this is a great compilation. I first heard a Doris Day song when I was quite young, and at the time I didn't know the name of the singer, but I knew I liked the song. The song was "Love Somebody." Later I heard more songs by her, and again I didn't pick up her name: "Shanghai" and "A Guy Is A Guy." By the time I found out who sang these songs, I was hooked. And finally, in 1954 she sang the song that has ever since become my own favorite, "Secret Love." Obviously, any collection that has all four of the songs that made me a Doris Day fan has to be special to me, and this one has them all.

But above and beyond my own personal favorites, this collection includes her two #1 hits as a big band singer before setting out on her own ("Sentimental Journey" and "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time"), the song that became her theme song ("Whatever Will Be, Will Be"), a LOT of her movie title songs, and altogether almost 50 different great performances by my favorite singer. If 5 stars means "I love it!", 5 stars is what it gets. I'd give it 6 if I could!

Features

• Box set

Reviews (4)

Nice sound
Great artists. Nice collection of songs.Noticeably missing was "Lovedrops", but the thing I appreciated the most was the inclusion of "I'm Goin' Home" the flip side of the original issue of "Love Is Strange" on the Groove label. More collections CDs should include the flip sides of the hits which are usually accessible only by playing the old 45s.

Enugu, Nigeria
I grew up listening to this in Nigeria. Are they still alive?

What a voice Sylvia had/ has?

Kele

Reviews (11)

The velvet voice!
Nat King Cole entered in the right moment , when the presence of Frank Sinatra and Dick Haymes literally made the women to suspire far beyond the stage. His delicate tune, despite not being a potent voice, sounded reluctant and expressive. Cole somehow meant for the crooners what Sidney Pottier to the acting and Paul Robeson with his unforgettable Old man river. He influenced just a whole generation who saw in him the balance and the softness comparing with let's say the nervous and fascinating Ray.
All the later generations, of male singers will always have an immense debt to him, because somehow he was the pioneer in that difficult field

The Unforgettable Nat King Cole
After recently hearing one of Nat's inimitable renditions of a classic, I knew I had to add some of his music to my CD collection.I listened to samplings of several of his albumson Amazon and was thrilled to come upon "Love Songs," one of the most beautiful compilations I have ever heard.Have you ever found yourself moved to tears by the sheer magnificence of someone's singing? He is in a class by himself, regal in his bearing, with a voice so mellifluous, velvety, rich, caressing, it's heavenly.The songs on this album are timeless, eloquently declaring it's love that makes the world go 'round.It's a shame Nat King Cole was taken from us so early.And, they just don't make love songs like that anymore!Do yourself a favor, fall in love to this CD and romance will reign supreme.

Reviews (8)

Ella As Smooth As Honey!
Another great Ella Collection! This one has a few semi- hard to find tunes from her work with Duke Ellington that are among the disc's best. These are "Love You Madly", "Solitude",and"Prelude to a Kiss". Finding the best of Ella is not easy, given her vast legacy and super- high quality, but this is a good place to start. And since it's a mix of various Ella "Songbooks", the mix of composers like Duke Ellington, Mercwer, Gershwin, Arlen, and Porter is a nice touch too!

Ella is the best!
The songs on this one are just as wonderful as the other "song books".
For anyone that has never listened to Ella.This is one to try.

Reviews (2)

Fine sampler of Jo Stafford moving into the 1950s
When pop vocalist Jo Stafford and Weston moved over to Columbia Records in 1950, their proclivity for novelty tunes far outpaced the straight romantic material. Country covers were particularly big, as seen in several early '50s Hank Williams songs, done cornball pop style, and remakes of hits by Lefty Frizzell and Pee Wee King. The arrangements are generally not as classy or considered as the Capitol material -- Sinatra also suffered suffered mightily under the Columbia system around the same time -- but there are still great moments here. Sometimes it's just fun to hear the goofy techniques they tried in the studio; on other songs they would let Stafford loose on a legitimate ballad, and she always sparkled like a diamond. Overall, this 29-song sampler of her Columbia years is pretty sweet.

Start your Jo Stafford collection here
Jo Stafford had one of the best voices (deep, warm and sexy) in the history of popular music, and used it to great effect on a wide variety of songs covering many different genres. It's not difficult to understand why she was regarded as America's most versatile singer.

This collection of Jo's fifties music contains twenty nine of her hits from her time with Columbia. There is no room on one CD for any more, although there were a few more (and that's not counting the hits - about sixty of them including duets - that Jo had on Capitol). All the essential Columbia hits are here.

Jo's biggest hits from this period (all top ten or better) were You belong to me (number one, sold almost two million copies), Make love to me (also a number one), Shrimp boats, Jambalaya, Keep it a secret, Hambone, Tennessee waltz, If, Hey good lookin' and Ay round the corner.

Also worthy of mention is Suddenly there's a valley, which didn't quite make the top ten (it stalled at thirteen). Gogi Grant had the big hit with it, but both versions were released in Britain, where they had to compete with Petula's British cover. Petula won that contest, but Jo's version got to number twelve, easily beating Gogi. All of which doesn't prove anything, except that all three versions are wonderful, and I love them all.

Jo's last major hit, also included here, was Wind in the willow, which peaked at number 12 in 1957.

This compilation, while not showing the full range of Jo's repertoire, does contain a lot of different types of song and gives you a great sampling of her music.

Reviews (9)

Sentimental Soul!
If you are a mysty-eyed romantic with a history in the 50's this is for you!

It's All in the Game
Tommy Edwards is one of my all-time favorite singers of love songs. I have his records - yes, records - and they are all scratched from use.I tried to buy them in 2nd hand stores and they cost between $35-50 dollars each - AND are still scratched. I checked for cassettes years ago and was told they never made any of his albums on cassette. How excited I was to find I can now buy them on CDs. He is a legend to me.

Reviews (8)

enduring pop-rock harmonies from this talented trio.
I get the sense that The Fleetwoods'body of recorded work isn't given the respect it deserves. Over the course of their career, the trio recorded thirteen albums and yet this collection, as good as it is, is pretty much all that's out there on cd, save for a few other compilations that cover much of the same ground. Rock and roll has always had a soft side and it's in this area that the Fleetwoods really shine. Their cover of Thomas Wayne's "Tragedy" is an evocative slice of 1961 teen angst-I can't put it any other way. Maybe that's the reason why the Fleetwoods are given short shrift today: they're the perfect embodiment of a (then)nascent teen culture's soft and gentle side.This collection features all of their hits, some well chosen album tracks and the original pre-overdub version of "Come softly to me". If you like this recording, try looking for their original lps. (My personal favourite is the 1963 "Goodnight my Love" album.)

As Elegant as the Cadillac. . .
Like so many, I grew up listening to the Fleetwoods.They are unique--no mistaking these harmonies for anyone else.For most of us these are familiar songs, so I'll focus on the CD.First, sound quality is as perfect as I'd want.I'm a car listener and this collection sounds so very good there.However, at least as stellar is the liner notes.The photo shown covers a quite comprehensive bio of the group covering many pages.

Additionally, it's fun to get the 'a capella' versions of 'Come Softly' and 'Mr. Blue' as well as a radio plug for a DJ.

This CD is a bargain and a keeper for all Fleetwoods fans.

Reviews (13)

Dino Singing ItalianNow That's Amore
I can no longer eat spaghetti without having Dino `s Italian Love Songs spinning nearby. You will say Return To Me many times over to the CD

The Best!
This CD is the best work of Dean Martin. I love this CD.

The Record Company did very well in making this compilation!
One can buy so many CDs used nowadays; paying full price doesn't often feel worth it; but in this case, it is worth every red cent. Okay, Dino is American, Dino is Italian American, hailing from Steubenville Ohio, he was brought up, on the Italian language, it comes through the speakers, he's a native speaker, with ancestry in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Maybe for strict Italian, I don't know, I think, I'd still like it. I've travelled abroad; can speak two other languages, this collection, gives one some desires to even hear Dean sing in French and Spanish as he did, his talents being so diverse. Maybe this album too, to some, is like travelling abroad, you are not totally immersed in the culture, but you get a good flavoring of it. It might be a nice doorway to listen to other Italian/mandolin music; which brings to mind, some of the arrangements are stunning;

The famous "Return to Me" being maybe the best example, but not the only one. "Volare" is good, but somehow, I favor the Vic Damone (I believe) version more.

"Come back to Sorrento"; I believe is all in Italian, despite it's name, maybe a small part in the end is in English. Maybe in this case, I would like to understand more of the message of the song. What's important with Dean Martin, is that it is his native language, Italian, so it is not as if, he struggles, tries to sing some words, which, say, with all due respect to Nat King Cole, he did wonders for the Spanish language in singing some of his songs in that language, but a native speaker may be able to tell, his pronunciation is not perfect. They were hits in Latin America anyway. This is not a drawback for Nat King Cole, but it is a plus for Dean Martin, he really sings these songs, with Italian spirit!

Does it make you feel like loving? I don't know, but a few of these can surely bring tears to your eyes. For example, "From the bottom of my heart."

Not being in the know on some things, "O Sole Mio" seems to be the same song, as Elvis' "It's now or never."

Not much comment needs to be made on the wellknown songs of Dean Martin on this CD, such as "That's amoure" ; however, I will say, that with "That's amoure" I have a better appreciation of this song, presented with Dean's other Italian-American interpretations and singings of this album.

"Luna Mezzo Mare" is well done, and if you have listened to International music, the style, makes me think, of other songs I have heard, making it sound somewhat nostalgic and Italian.

Reviews (9)

Golden Hits Indeed!
I was first introduced to Sarah Vaughan from a compilation jazz cd from the Verve label. The song was Misty and since I haven't heard anyone sing that song any better than Vaughan. This cd contains most of her greatest hits but indeed she's song countless more. A few songs are okay but the majority are truly golden!

Experience the Incomparable Talent of Sarah Vaughn
Long before Bette Midler hit the scene, Sarah Vaughn was known as "The Divine One," and for good reason.Her voice is like clarity of mind; it's the soft, gentle breeze of summer upon which all of the sweet scents of the earth are carried; it's the sound that put the stars in the sky.And I envy anyone who has not yet experienced her music, because that moment of discovery is still ahead of them-- a moment after which all of the sounds of the world will somehow be forever changed, and in a good way, because the sound of Sarah is to the ear what sugar is to the tongue.So wait no longer.Delve into "Sarah Vaughn's Golden Hits," which will provide a transporting experience for established fans and "newbies" alike.

This album contains arguably the best versions ever recorded of some of the classic songs of all time, beginning with "Misty," which opens the album.But more delicacies await, all of which make this collection a veritable feast for the senses (yes, all of them, not just the ear; this is music you can taste, smell and feel)."Autumn In New York" and "Moonlight In Vermont" will take you to another place and time, and you can call it what you will because it will be a place of your own choosing, and timeless; that is the effect of Sarah Vaughn's incredible voice.And that's just an example of the magic of this album.

Call this a "sampling of Sarah," and know that while these songs are some of her best, the exciting thing is knowing that there are plenty more where this came from, more songs issued from that same unique well of excellence, waiting to take you on even more delightfully ethereal journeys born of one of the purest sounds ever recorded.

There are some of her "pop" hits represented here, as well, such as "The Banana Boat Song," "Broken Hearted Melody" and "Smooth Operator," which are indicative of her wide range and appeal.One of the incomparable talents of our times, Sarah Vaughn may be gone, but thanks to albums like "Sarah Vaughn's Golden Hits," her music will be with us forever, and so will she.Such talent cannot and will not ever be forgotten.

Editorial Review