Classic Songs, My Way

Paul Anka | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 28, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B000O1710W
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,349 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Paul Anka follows up 2005's Rock Swings, his popular collection of covers done classic Vegas ¬style, with another collection of unlikely pop and rock songs--also done classic Vegas ¬style. One of the most familiar tricks could be termed the reverse stunt: Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," for instance, is speeded up into a fingersnapping brassy strut. (On Rock Swings, Anka had famously done the exact opposite with "Smells Like Teen Spirit," slowing it down to a loungy pace.) But hey, if it's not broken! After all, Anka is in fine vocal form and he sure knows how to sing against the big-band arrangements. Once again, the best songs are the most unexpected, like the strutting take on the Killers' "Mr. Brightside," the triumphant read of Foreigner's "Waiting for a Girl Like You," which gradually builds up, the super-lush cover of Duran Duran's "Ordinary World," and the strutting "Walking in Memphis." Note that Anka actually picked from his own oeuvre for the albums's two duets: Michael Bublé joins his onetime mentor on 1958's "You Are My Destiny," while Bon Jovi helps out on "My Way" (a song Anka adapted from a French original)--which paradoxically is the least convincing track in the bunch. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

More from Paul Anka

30th Anniversary Collection	21 Golden Hits	A Body of Work
Five Decades Greatest Hits	Rock Swings	Rock Swings: Live at the Montreal Jazz Festival (DVD)

Product Description

Classic Songs, My Way: The new album features lush treatments of songs by Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, and Bryan Adams, a swinging take on the Killers' "Mr. Brightside" and surprising new renditions of two classics from Paul's own formidable canon. The recipient of valuable support from Anka earlier in his career, Michael Buble returns the favour by joining his swing mentor on his 1958 Top 10 hit "You Are My Destiny" - the remarkable new version replaces the original's teenage ardour with a temperament that's older and wiser. For the album's grand finale, Mr Anka performs a soaring performance of "My Way," which Paul famously turned from a little-known French song into a perennial showstopper for his late friend Frank Sinatra.

Classic Songs, My Way encapsulates nearly every era of hit-making for Anka. Never one to rest on his laurels, he has had a song on Billboard's charts in every decade since 1957, when the Ottawa-born Anka was only 17. Since then, he's recorded over 120 albums in a wide variety of languages, selling close to 15 million albums worldwide and landing three No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 - "Diana," "Lonely Boy" and "(You're) Having My Baby." (The first of those hits reportedly sold 10 million copies worldwide - only "White Christmas" topped it.)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent album, November 7, 2007

By 

Sireno Prendes "Cy Prendes" (Hialeah, Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Classic Songs, My Way (Audio CD)

This album is one of Paul's best album. His interpretation in songs like "Against the wind" (my favorite) and "I go to extremes" are super.
I don't understand why some people, who likes Paul singing, don't like this album or are given mediocre reviews to this album. He is a legend and he's still sounding very good. Keep up the good work, Paul. He's the best. Have you seen him in concert?

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't have preconceived ideas, October 9, 2007

By 

S. Brown - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Classic Songs, My Way (Audio CD)

First, I must say I'm not a long time Anka fan. In fact, I wasn't born when some of his earliest hits were written. I do like interestingly delivered vocal jazz. I think many of those who gave this album low reviews had the originals in mind when they were listening. Imagine that you had never heard these songs before. There are a couple duds, but most of them are well sung with pleasing instrumentation. In my opinion, some are better than the "Top 40" sound of many of the originals. Be open minded.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Your a legend and a true masterpiece in the industry., October 11, 2007

By 

Denny Backis (Chicago,Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classic Songs, My Way (Audio CD)

Fifty years for a singer & composer to make it this long and following is incredible.I have been his fan for a long time and his new swing stlye and direction is pure Paul at his best, with his 50 year CD and especially his Rock Swings album.The arrangemnts with the band are just totally awesome. Crank it up..