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Elly Roberts reviews
Decca Records/Universal
- Cat.no: 4756606
- Released: February 2005
- Rating: 4/10
Right on Valentines Day comes the smoothest of smoothies ex-factory workerArnold George Dorsey (born May 2, 1936 Madras India) aka Engelbert Humperdinck.
When the perma-tanned one changed his name, on the advice his flat mate GordonMills who was then managing Tom Jones, his fortunes changed completely apparentlyamassing a personal fortune of £100 million.
After singing on the club circuit before doing national service, he unsuccessfultried to make it under his birth-name on Decca Records in 1958. A nine-yearstruggle ensued, then after his stage name adopted from a 19th century Germanopera composer, he got a second chance with Decca.
Please Release Me went to number one in 1967, becoming the biggestselling artist of the 60s. Now the Vegas veteran throws as much fuzzy warmthfor lovers on February 14th with a predictably cabaret styled 14-tracker.
Youll never find him pushing it to the limit vocally, age may be a problemhere, but his lightweight easy on the ear covers just about do the trick.Like so many of his contemporaries, and predecessors Sinatra included, heknows his range and tailors arrangements to his limitations. Give it a fewlistens and it aint too bad really.
Since the re-release of Release Me in the UK last year (following itsinclusion in a well know beer advert), EH has experienced something of arenaissance. His UK tour last year was highly successful, so hes back againthis Spring.
This offering will probably follow the success of his 2000 release,At His Very Best.
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Let There Be Love
2. Just The Two Of Us
3. It Had To Be You
4. When You Say Nothing At All
5. With You Im Born Again
6. You Inspire Me
7. Stand By Me8. Three Words Aint Enough
9. Were All Alone
10. Theres No Good In Goodbye
11. Dance With Me
12. Love Songs
13. Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman
14. My ConfessionMore info atEngelbert.comandUniversal Music.com
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.