Customer Reviews

20th Century Masters: The Best of

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Annette became a TV Star at age 12 on Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Club and went from TV Star to Teen Idol to Movie Star with Grace, modesty and dignity in a career that spanned about Ten years and she still remains in the public consciousness. I suspect this is because she was the "real deal", shy, unassuming and the genuine personification of a "Nice Girl". This set from Vista contains three of her hit singles: "Tall Paul"; "Train of Love" and "Pineapple Princess" and also contains a few tracks from her series of "Beach Party" albums, most notably: "Beach Party", "The Monkey's Uncle" (with the Beach Boys singing backup) "Jamaica Ska" and "Surfer's Holiday". It's great fun and you'll love it. Several of Annette's major hits are missing here includng "O Dio Mio" and First Name Initial". That's why this CD loses one star. I only wish that Vista (Disneyland) would release more of her albums on CD, particularly the Beach Party series.

When I just want to "smile", not just reminisce but really "smile", I put this "Best of Annette" CD on my player and I'm immediately in that world I used to inhabit back in the late 50's and earl sixties -- and just as happy and carefree. There's something about Annette's voice that can do that for you. She sounds so happy and carefree that she just pulls you along for the ride.
I couldn't get her"Girl Next Door Reunion 2 disc set" so I did get this 14 song collection put out by "Buena Vista". I was not disappointed (except for getting fewer tracks). From the first cut "Tall Paul" (naturally) you're back in love with Annette.
My favorite song on this collection is "Tell Me Who's The Girl".
A sort of mellow lament she expresses at accidentally (?) seeing a photo of her boyfriend with another girl.
Another track that I just happily smile away with is "Pineapple Princess". And so she is one!
I already had a copy of Eydie Gorme's "Blame It On The Bossa Nova" which I always enjoyed (another "up" and happy tune from that era of Bossa Nova craze. I didn't remember that Annette had also recorded her version of it. And so, it's a "toss-up" as to which I prefer now. Annette captured the song every bit as well as did Ms Gorme. So now I have "two" versions to listen to and enjoy.
If you love music from the late 50's and early sixties. . .if you love Annette. . . get this CD! You'll thank yourself for buying it. And don't lend it to anybody. . .they may not return it to you!
Thanks to Ms Annette Funicello for all the happy memories and thanks for all this neat music and thanks for all the "smiles"(p.s. I hope you're feeling well these days too!)

If you like 50's and 60's music, especially pop or beach music,you'll like this. I like "Pineapple Princess" a lot, even though it's often spoken of in less than glowing terms. But I remember listening to it when I was a very small child and I just loved it. It's true that I've wondered how the boy she sings about could sing his songs "from banana trees" when the only banana trees I've ever seen don't have branches suitable for climbing. But hey, what do I know about Hawaiian banana trees? I also love "Let's Get Together" and some of the silly, obviously-made-for-the-current-Disney-movie songs like "Monkey's Uncle" and "Merlin Jones." These are songs from a different era. Live a little, go visit the music your parents or grandparents liked!

In 1993, Disney Records released a two-CD retrospective of Annette Funicello's recording career. As I recall, it wasn't
in print for very long. When it was deleted, there was nothing
commercially available until now.

This fourteen track compilation is essentially an abridged
version of the double CD set. Disney has even resurrected
the Buena Vista logo for the occasion.

It includes some (but not all) of her hits, some moderate ones,
theme songs from Disney movies, songs from her beach party era,
and a few album tracks.

The release should have at least included "O Dio Mio," a big
hit single for her.

Furthermore, my two favorite Annette songs were regrettably
omitted.

"Treat Him Nicely" was her solo number from "Beach Party,"
the first in the series. A beautifully arranged ballad of
lost love, it was, for me, the highlight of the movie.

The other song is the re-recorded version of "How Will I Know
My Love" released in 1964. She first sing it as a youngster in
a Disney serial back in the 50s. Her voice was high pitched,
and I didn't care much for her rendition. Then, many years
later, she re-recorded the song for Buena Vista. By now, she
had matured into a young lady. Her voice had softened considerably, and she sang it in a lower key. Backed by a mellow
guitar playing in waltz rhythm, she sang it wistfully as a love
song.

They are, unquestionably, in my opinion, her two best songs,
and should be included in any such Annette CD collection.

It is great that we finally have a domestic "best of" package available for Annette Funicello, but this set is missing the top ten hit "O Dio Mio" and the top twenty hit "First Name Initial." We do get some of the songs from her hit beach party films (with co-star Frankie Avalon). Also included is the theme from the '65 Disney flick "Monkey's Uncle," featuring Annette and the Beach Boys. This collection just scratches the surface of the tunes Annette recorded after her years as a Mouseketeer. In the '90s a limited double CD collection was available, but that set has long been out of print. Hopefully Disney will consider reissuing that set, which was more complete than this one. In the mean time, I'll fix a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (remember Annette's classic '70s commercials?) and dance with my very own "Pineapple Princess."

The Annette collection to have is the 2-CD set that is now sadly out of print. This collection is OK, although it omits some fairly large hits ("First Name Initial", "O Dio Mio") in favor of some of the "beach" tunes that occupy half this disk. There are some import CDs, if you're willing to spend some tracking-down time and a few more bucks, that will give you a better overview, but for the budget-conscious or those who desire immediate gratification, this CD is a pleasant and well-produced option.

This CD has alot of good music on it, and is really fun to listen to. I cannot give this CD 5 stars simply because it doesn't have all of her hits. She had 7 national hits, and I was really expecting this "best of" collection to include all of those hits. Unfortunately, there are several that are missing which makes the CD somewhat incomplete. Even "O Dio Mio" which was one of her biggest hits, was missing from this CD! Nevertheless, it is the ONLY Annette Funicello CD that is currently in print. All the previous Annette CD's have been out of print for years, and this is the first Annette compilation to be released "officially" in quite a while. It does have alot of good songs on it too, with a variety of different sounds, from 1959 right into the mid 60's. I say, BUY IT if you like Annette Funicello. Oh, it also has the song "Let's Get Together" which is a good record that is very difficult to find these days.

ANNETTE FUNICELLO, FORMER #1 MOUSEKETEER OF ALL TIME WAS GROWING UP FAST AND DISNEY WANTED TO KEEP HER UNDER CONTRACT BECAUSE SHE RECEIVED OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNTS OF FAN MAIL.DISNEY ATTEMPTED TO GIVE ANNETTE THE "THERESA BREWER TREATMENT".HER FIRST HIT BEING "TALL PAUL" WAS BACKED UP BY ONE OF THERESA'S HITS "MA, HE'S MAKING EYES AT ME".ANNETTE HAD A DISTINCTIVE VOICE AND WAS NEVER REALLY COMPARED TO ANYONE. EVEN IF SHE SANG SOMEONE ELSE'S SONG, SHE PLACED THE STAMP OF HER PERSONALITY ON IT AND MADE IT HER OWN!ANNETTE WAS THE BOMB. IN 1958 WHEN AMERICAN BANDSTAND VOTED HER "MOST PROMISING NEW FEMALE SINGER". "PINEAPPLE PRINCESS" WAS HER BIGGEST HIT BUT "O DIO MIO", "FIRST NAME INITIAL" ETC. ALSO MANAGED TO GET ALOT OF AIR PLAY BOTH ON "AMERICAN BANDSTAND" AND ON THE RADIO.BANDSTAND EVEN HAD AN "ANNETTE LOOK-ALIKE CONTEST".THIS GAL WAS SOOO POPULAR THAT HER PHOTOS ADORNED MOST TEEN MAGAZINE COVERS.THOUGH THIS IS AVERY NICE C.D.,THERE WERE MANY MORE RECORDS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED, ESPECIALLY "TALK TO ME, BABY" A BALLAD THAT PAUL ANKA(HER STEADY BOYFRIEND) WROTE ESPECIALLY FOR HER! THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SPECIAL 2 C.D. COLLECTION AND THUS FEATURED HER "BEACH PARTY" AND "THUNDER ALLEY" HITS AS WELL!THE TITLE "BEST OF" SOMEHOW SEEMS INAPROPRIATE AS IT LEAVES YOU WANTING MORE!BUY THIS C.D. ANYWAYS BECAUSE IT SOUNDS GREAT.I RECOMMEND IT, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE ALOT MORE ANNETTE RECORDS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN RELEASED.PERHAPS WE SHOULD CONTACT DISNEY RECORDS AND UNITED ARTISTS!!

If you own the Annette 2-disc CD set from Walt Disney Records(1993 release), you're bound to be a little disappointed. Most of the songs here are repeats from that set AND the cover photo is also a repeat(it's on the back of the CD box!!). If you also own the 45 of Annette and Tommy Sands singing "The Parent Trap", then you also own the rare b-side, Annette and Tommy doing Hayley Mills's signature tune "Let's Get Together". It's nice to see "Together" here, it's very first CD appearance. But the rest is Annette 101...not that that's a bad thing, I love all Annette's output after all, but a few well-chosen chestnuts might've made things more interesting for the Annette collector...such as the rare single "Teenage Wedding" and the Annette/Frankie Avalon duet "I Think, You Think", which was NEVER released(for shame!!!).

This is a good C.D.,considering there's so little out on one of America's most famous 50's and 60's female icons. She was voted American Bandstand's Most Promising New Female Vocalist in 1958! Annette was the Bomb! She was virtually on every teen magazine cover!So why aren't there more C.D.'s out on her? ...Don't let anyone tell you she was a no-talent... Buy "BEST OF ANNETTE" and judge for yourself, only don't forget that there are better songs out there that she recorded!