Rating:
Genre:
Vocal Music
Release Date: 10/03/2000
The 20 tracks on this anthology cover
Bennett's entire career at
Columbia, from his 1951 number one single
"Because of You" to
"Mood Indigo" from 1999's
Hot and Cool: Bennett Sings Ellington. Note, however, that "entire career at
Columbia" is not synonymous with
Bennett's entire career, as there's nothing representing the span between the mid-'60s and the mid-'80s. Since the best
Bennett is from the 1950s and early '60s, anyway, that doesn't signify any great loss, particularly as the track selection is considerably weighted toward that era, with 15 of the 20 songs dating from 1951-1965. A 20-song compilation isn't an adequate overview of a singer who has recorded so much material, even in commercial terms; not one of his eight Top 40 singles from 1956 is here, for instance. For those who really want to dig deep into his repertoire, some other compilations, such as the box set
40 Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett and
Jazz, might serve some fans better. For the casual fan, though, this might be the best choice, as it does include the songs listeners are most likely to be familiar with:
"I Left My Heart in San Francisco," "Because of You," "Rags to Riches," "I Wanna Be Around," and well-selected non-hits like
"The Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Gigolo and Gigolette)" and
"Put on a Happy Face." ~Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
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