Customer Reviews

Capitol Collectors Series - Al Martino

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Capitol Collectors Series - Al Martino has an excellent assortment of twenty-five wonderful hits and ballads sung by the great Al Martino. Al Martino doesn't get the full recognition that he is due these days; but hopefully with time and sales of CDs such as this that will change. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is very nicely done.

"Here In My Heart" features Al Martino squarely in the spotlight--and that's quite all right with me! The strings are used very well and Al's voice never sounded better! This melody is very pretty and it makes a fine start for this CD. "Take My Heart" was another hit for Al Martino; and he sings this marvelously without a superfluous note! Al is able to convey all the subtle nuances of all the lyrics to the songs that he sings; and this impresses me an awful lot. In addition, there's also "When You're Mine;" this tune lets Al Martino show off the operatic qualities of his voice--and how's about that musical interlude with that horn solo?

"I Love You More And More Every Day" touches me with its message and beauty; and the country flavor of the music enhances the natural beauty of this number. Wow, how Al Martino could sing out a tune! "Always Together" really shows Al at his very finest--and he could easily sing alongside the very best of them! The percussion is very nicely done and the arrangement overall is very thoughtfully done.

"Red Roses For A Blue Lady" is a tune made so famous by the great Wayne Newton; but when Al Martino sings it this number sounds fresh and new all over again! The percussion marks the beat and Al never misses a beat--terrific! "Spanish Eyes" is easily a highlight of this album; "Spanish Eyes" has some banter before the tune begins and this is a rare treat indeed! "Think I'll Go Somewhere And Cry Myself To Sleep" also works very well when Al Martino sings this one out with loads of energy; and listen also for "Can't Help Falling In Love." "Can't Help Falling In Love" is a tune I associate with Elvis; but Al Martino puts his own mark on this love song by speeding up the tempo and making a few key changes that all work very well.

"Speak Softly Love" is a theme from the movie called The Godfather; and when Al Martino sings this it takes off like a jet! The strings are great and the percussion enhances the music as well. "To The Door Of The Sun (Alle Porte Del Sole)" has a fine arrangement with Al singing brightly; and "Volare" shows how Al could take a tune and "modernize" it well by giving it a funky disco beat--and it works! The CD ends with Al Martino performing "The Next Hundred Years;" this country flavored ballad is very beautiful-and I love every minute of it!

Al Martino could sing with the best of them--just try out this CD and you'll agree with me for sure! Al's fans will want this for their collections, too.

Al Martino is definitely a member of the Italian Crooner set or, if you prefer, the Music Mafia. However, unlike many of his predecessors and some of his contemporaries, Al has a definite flair for dramatic pop sounds.

This wonderful collection includes all of Al Martino's most memorable songs and a few you may have forgotten. Among the beautiful ballads are Painted, Tainted Rose; Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte; Daddy's Little Girl and, of course, his signature song, Spanish Eyes.

Also included is a powerful version of Love is Blue, the ever popular Volare` and the less well known but equally brilliant To the Door of the Sun.

Capitol Records released this disc as a part of their "Collectors' Series", and their pride in the product shows. The mastering is excellent, the sound pristine, and the result spectacular.

You don't have to be an Al Martino fan to enjoy this album but, after listening to it once or twice, you will be!

Al Martino sings a love song with an emotional undertone which is his own style. This CD has several songs which I have not found anywhere else, namely "Door of the Sun", "Rachel" "Tears and Roses" I was amused when they stopped the recording because of some difficulty but did not delete their conversation, saying, "This had better be a success after all this!" I would recommend this CD for someone who wants a romantic evening.

It's more than I ever expected it to be when I ordered it. I can't say there is even 1 song on it that I don't like. Al Martino has a beautiful voice. I cannot believe he had such a struggle making it. I certainly do remember his being on my radio a lot back in those days. Maybe it was the same few songs over and over. I don't remember, however, over and over is how I could listen to this CD. Just received it today in the mail and I'm on the 3rd go round with it. I understand that he is still singing and he's in his 80's. I heard this just recently. I hope he is still out there singing. There are a few new songs out there that I'll bet he could make even better than the folks who have already tried. I ope he has someone to seek some new material for him so that he can continue to record. I'll buy every one. Keep going Al for as long as you can. I'm not far behind you.

Al Martino - born Alfred Cini on October 7, 1927 in Philadelphia - was one crooner who grandly defied some pretty big odds stacked against him in the 1960s.

Once employed as a bricklayer, his obvious vocal talent, bordering on the operatic, resulted in some hefty encouragement by another Italian-American singer of note named Mario Lanza, a boyhood friend. Armed with his endorsement, and backed by Monty Kelly & His Orchestra, he took Here In My Heart to # 1 in the summer of 1952 on the BBS label. That original version is in this set, as is his second hit that year, Take My Heart.

Now on the Capitol label, and again backed by Kelly, it peaked at # 12 even as the first hit still rode high on the charts. Subsequent singles, however, struggled badly, and by the time 1955 and the Rock Era arrived it looked as though he would join fellow crooners like Eddie Fisher in hit oblivion.

And that's the way it was throughout 1955 to 1958 until he recorded a little number called I Can't Get You Out Of My Heart which just missed making the Billboard Pop Hot 100 Top 40 in June of 1959, leveling off at # 44. That was followed in October by Darling, I Love You which, although it only made it to # 63 in October, also became a # 27 R&B - his only such crossover. Lamentably both are missing from this compilation - but the first one can be found on Hey! Look What I Found Vol. 9. He was back - but only tentatively since his next charter didn't come until August 1961 when a re-make of Here In My Heart made it to # 17 Adult Contemporary (AC)/# 86 Hot 100 (that can be found on his Greatest Hits (Curb) CD).

1962 was also a washout, but in 1963 he was back with a vengeance. After I Love You Because made it to # 1 AC/# 3 Hot 100 that June, he would never be off the charts again right through the height of the British Invasion and on into the Seventies. No mean feat. And fourteen of them are in this fine set, beginning with the other two 1963 charters, Painted, Tainted Rose (# 3 AC/# 15 Hot 100) and Living A Lie (# 8 AC/# # 22 Hot 100).

From 1964 you have I Love You More And More Every Day (# 3 AC/# 9 Hot 100), Tears And Roses (# 7 AC/# 20 Hot 100), Always Together (# 4 AC/# 33 Hot 100), and We Could (# 6 AC/# 41 Hot 100), while 1966 is represented by Spanish Eyes (# 1 AC for 4 weeks/# 15 Hot 100 that January), Just Yesterday (# 12 AC/# 77 Hot 100), and Think I'll Go Somewhere And Cry Myself To Sleep (# 2 AC/# 30 Hot 100). In March 1967 he took Daddy's Little Girl to # 2 AC/# 42 Hot 100, and that summer had a # 1 AC/# 27 Hot 100 with one of my all-time Martino favourites, Mary In The Morning.

From 1970 you have Can't Help Falling In Love (# 5 AC/# 51 Hot 100) and, following the regeneration of his career by his appearance as Johnny Fontane in The Godfather, the 1975/76 hits To The Door Of The Sun [Alle Porte Del Sol](# 7 AC/# 17 Hot 100) and Volare (# 9 AC/# 33 Hot 100).

There were many other hits in the period 1965-1972 which are not in this set, a few of which may be found on these other Al Martino CDs: My Cherie (# 26 AC/# 88 Hot 100 in 1965) is on I Love You Because/My Cherie, while The Al Martino Collection has Wiederseh'n (# 3 AC/# 57 Hot 100 in June 1966) and Forgive Me (# 7 AC/# 61 Hot 100 in October 1965), More Than The Eye Can See (# 1 AC/# 54 Hot 100 in October 1967), Sausalito (# 13 AC/# 99 Hot 100 in May 1969), and Speak Softly Love (from The Godfather) - a # 24 AC/# 80 Hot 100 in May 1972.

Categorized as "hard-to-finds" are, from 1965, My Heart Would Know (# 11 AC/# 52 Hot 100 in February, and written by the legendary Hank Williams) and Somebody Else Is Taking My Place (# 11 AC/# 53 Hot 100 in April), The Wheel Of Hurt (# 12 AC/# 59 Hot 100 in November 1966), A Voice In The Choir (# 5 AC/# 80 Hot 100 in December 1967), 1968's Lili Marlene (# 7 AC/ # 87 Hot 100 in May), and I Can't Help It [If I'm Still In Love With You], another Hank Williams tunes which made it to # 10 AC/# 97 Hot 100 that December. Missing from 1969 is I Started Loving You Again (# 19 AC/# 86 Hot 100 in December, and written by Merle Haggard).

While we await - hopefully - for another CD from Capitol giving us those missing hits, you can't go wrong with this fine compilation.

Al Martino is one of those great artists that never quite received the respect he deserved. He grew up with Mario Lanza and tried to follow him, then had the courage to re-make himself and his style to become a truly enjoyable singer.

Us "Old Timers" say "Oh yes! I remember that!" When listening to almost any of his recordings although few made it to the TOP of the Hit Parade. Not the top, but they were always being played and enjoyed.

It was a Happy Day to find this treasure amid the last 30 years of "Desperation Racket" made by untrained children trying to prove they were alive.

Great CD only probelm I encountered was when you download it to your Ipod Al Martinos name doesn't come up...Otherwise we love it...

"Capitol Collector Series - Al Martino" is a wonderful collection of songs by the great singer who has become more famous for playing a fictional singer - Johnny Fontaine, in "The Godfather," than he ever did for his singing career.

And that's a shame because Martino's talent was evident from the very beginning of his career. Listening to "Hear in My Heart, "Rachel," "When You're Mine," and other early classics show the strength and range of his vocals. Even as he began to mine Country & Western music, performed the themes from "The Godfather" and "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte," and performed a pre-disco, jaunty version of "Volare," Mr. Martino showed that he has a flair and artistry that sets him apart from some of his contemporaries.

This collection is a worthwhile record, if for no other reason than to remind music lovers what they're missing if they don't know the work of this talented performer.

Imagine my surprise this past summer when I picked up my local newspaper and read that Al Martino would be the headliner at an Italian-American festival in our fair city. When I checked our calendar I discovered to my great dismay that a previous commitment would preclude my wife and I from attending this huge outdoor concert. We were so disappointed because Al Martino is pretty much the last of his generation still performing. He is 81 now and from all reports can still belt out a tune. In 1992, Capitol records released "Al Martino: Capitol Collectors Series". This single disc 25 track anthology remains the finest collection of this legendary performer.
Al Martino grew up in Philadelphia and was a childhood friend of the great Mario Lanza. He too dreamed of a career in show business and his career was launched after winning first prize on Arthur Godfrey's popular "Talent Scouts" television program in 1952. His very first record on the tiny B.B.S. label "Here In My Heart" went all the way to #1 on the Billboard charts in the summer of 1952. Shortly thereafter, Al signed a deal with Capitol records and he managed to hit the charts 3 more times over the next couple of years. For a variety of reasons discussed in the excellent liner notes Al Martino would not have another hit record for a decade. In 1963 Al Martino recorded a pop cover of Eddy Arnold's country hit "I Love You Because". The record was an immediate smash and Al was on his way to a decade and a half of chart success. You will find just about all of Al's biggest and best hits on "Al Martino: Capitol Collectors Series". Enjoy once again Al's marvelous rendition of "Painted, Tainted Rose" from 1963. "I Love You More and More Every Day" would prove to be one of Al Martino's biggest hits ever. That one is included here as well. Among the other favorites you will find here are "Daddy's Little Girl", "Mary In The Morning" and a tune that I heard for the first time in a very long time "Think I'll Go Somewhere And Cry Myself To Sleep" from the spring of '66. What a great record! And no Al Martino collection would be complete without a pair of his biggest hits.
"Spanish Eyes" remains Al Martino's most memorable tune and his rendition of the Italian favorite "(Alle Porte Del Sole) To The Door Of The Sun" was a surprise hit shortly after Al's appearance as singer Johnny Fontane in the motion picture "The Godfather". Meanwhile, don't forget to sample the rather curious five minute plus "disco" version of "Volare"! The liner notes were highly critical of this 1975 hit. I must admit I kinda like it! In addition, there are a whole host of some of Al's less well known singles included as well. Much to my disappointment, his 1966 recording of "The Wheel of Hurt" (also a big hit for Margaret Whiting that year) was not included in this collection. I always loved that tune and was astounded to discover that it did not make the cut.
"Al Martino: Capitol Collectors Series" comes with a wonderful 16 page booklet that includes an extremely interesting biography of the artist and detailed chart information on each tune. This is a disc I have been threatening to buy for years and I am glad that I finally got around to it. These are all the original Capitol singles you would remember from the radio. No cheesy re-recordings here. Highly recommended!

Una extraordinaria compilación de exitos de Al Martino. Resulta una muy grata experiencia musical. Vale lo que pagué por el.