Classic Songs, My Way

Paul Anka

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 28, 2007)
• Original Release Date: August 28, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B000O1710W
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #37,286 in Music (See Bestsellers 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

41 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant surprise., August 29, 2007

By	jazzy modes (Vancouver, Canada.) - See all my reviews

The '50s teen idol gives the big band treatment to modern classics.
There's an undeniable sense of romanticism about the whole thing - the band are impeccably tight throughout and every time the horns crash down it's like being transported to another age, while Anka is a consumate and tuneful leader.
What Anka has done on this album is pick a 'rock' track and add jazz swing band backing to it.
For the most part, Paul Anka wisely plays things straight, giving the songs the respect they deserve.
We may almost feel the coming together of two generations, with Anka - who is now around 65 - giving his era's seal of approval.
Ideal for Reno and Los Vegas, "Time After Time" is one of the best tracks and it shows Anka's still got a great voice after a 50-year career which started when "Diana" hit the charts when he was mere sixteen-year-old teen idol.
The Killers' "Mr. Brightside" is jazzed up and Anka does a great job.
Billy Joel's "I Go To Extermes" and Joni Mitchell's "Bothe Sides Now" are two of the better slushy ones with impeccable, lush arrangements.
Duran Duran's song, "Ordinary World" is transformed in a lovely ballad.
These versions really are an offbeat joy and something that Sinatra would be proud of. A genuinely pleasant surprise
Some of the other selections are more predictable and ideal for the mother in law at Christmas, although they are kind of grower and the listeneres are warming to on repeated listenings.
The two Anka's original songs and hits, "You Are My Destiny" and "My Way", despite the vocal addition of two of the most popular pop superstars, Bublé and Bon Jovi, don't hit the spot, even if they are, undeniably, a lot of fun.
The production and the attangements in the big band form, as you would expect, are faultless.
Overall, an album that's great fun for 'guess the intro' competitions and some good memories.

10 of 10 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 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 Paul's Back And Swingin', October 9, 2007

By	Jim Dandy (Metro Buffalo, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Title- Classic Songs
Artist- Paul Anka
Music- B-
Performance- A
Recording- B

In 2005, Paul Anka released Rock Swings. It was a huge critical and commercial success. When word got out that Anka would release a sequel in September of 2007, there was a good deal of speculation regarding his ability to "do it again".

Classic Songs My Way features songs made popular by contemporary artists, such as Cyndi Lauper, Joni Mitchell, Marc Cohn, Foreigner, Bob Seeger, Billy Joel and several others. Teaming with Jon Bon Jovi and Michael Buble' (one song with each), Anka adds an updated feel to his typical "big band swing" style. Does it work?, you may ask. Well, yes it does, and it works quite well thank you!

Admittedly, this new CD plays second fiddle to Rock Swings, HOWEVER, if there had never been a Rock Swings, Classic Songs My Way would simply knock 'em dead!

My favorites are, Time After Time, Walking In Memphis, Against The Wind, Get Here and Waiting For A Girl Like You. The remaining 8 songs ain't bad either, ranging from OK to very good... they're just not favorites of mine. But what about you? Which will be your favorites?