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Elly Roberts reviews
Columbia (EMI)
- Cat.no: 5188692
- Released: December 2004
- Rating: 10/10
The art of romance is definitely not dead as this CD confirms.
Somehow itshard to imaging a teenage Tony Bennett as a singing waiter. Fast forward andnow 78 years, he sounds as good as ever. The Art Of Romance is a 53 minutes 24seconds lovers delight whatever age you are.
Born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, August 3, 1926 in Queens New York, he beganhis recording career with the number one single Stranger In Paradise in 1955and the album The Beat Of My Heart in 1957. His first UK album success wouldhave to wait until 1965 with the release of his signature tune I Left MyHeart In San Francisco.
Considered the epitome of cool, Bennett is second onlyto Sinatra as an interpreter of classic Jazz-inflected American song. Carefularticulation,with a sure sense of swing, accompanied by an air of restrainedbemusement it characterises his inimitable penchant for understatedsinging.
During WWII he sang in the he performed in the US Armysentertainment corps. Spotted by Bob Hope whilst appearing with Pearl Baileyunder the name Joe Bari,he was enlisted to open shows at New YorksParamount Theater and changed his name to Tony Bennett.
After his 60s heyday he experienced a fallow spell. He continued with liveshows, but didnt record between 1978 and 1985. He decided to concentrate onhis painting, exhibiting in Paris, New York and London. Since then hesre-signed to Columbia, won three Grammys and recorded critically acclaimedalbums.
This his 9th UK release, he sticks to familiar terroitory, as you getgushings of sax, brushes, strings and classy crooning which is text bookstuff. Teaming up with legendary producer Phil Ramone andGrammy/Oscar-winning arranger Johnny Mandel, it combines old and newstandards with compositions by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Robert Farnon andCy Coleman.
Recorded from the John Harms Theatre Englewood New Jersey withBennetts quartet and orchestra, its recorded into a state of the artstudio adjacent to the theatre. Living for years in the shadow of Sinatra,hes finally become top-dog. Get the candles out and lay the tableits timefor romance.
Best songs: Close Enough For Love, I Remember You, Time To Smile,The Best Man and All I Want For Christmas.
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Close Enough For Love
2. All In Fun
3. Where Did You Start
4. Little Did I Dream
5. I Remember You
6. Time To Smile
7. All For You8. The Best Man
9. Dont Like Goodbyes
10. Lovers After All
11. Being Alive
12. Gone With The Wind
13. All I Want For Christmas
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.