Customer Reviews

Classic Songs, My Way

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

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?

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.

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..

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.

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?

I cannot understand how so many of the reviewers who posted so far would give low ratings to this new CD.

Paul Anka has been in the business of making music for half a century now (since his teenage years), and he knows how to take any song (standard or contemporary) and put his own stamp on it. Most of the songs chosen for this CD are well-suited to the big-band backings crafted by the likes of Patrick Williams, Randy Kerber and John Clayton (Jeremy Lubbock did the string charts on others).

Anka doesn't ignore his own rich songwriting legacy here...enlisting the services of fellow Maple Leafer Michael Buble on "You are My Destiny," given a modern swing vibe courtesy of John Clayton's arrangement. And Jon Bon Jovi helps "My Way" sound fresh in this day and age...in my opinion, this song brought me to tears, just like Sinatra's version did many years ago.

Call this "Rock Swings, Part 2" if you wish, but hey folks...the current title says it all!

I love it! Except when Jon Bonjovi MURDERED My Way. I can not believe that, Paul Anka, consummate professional, Extraordinary enterainer, and absolute perfectionist would allow Bonjovi to wreck that song like that!

I am a long-term fan of Paul Anka, and I hate what Bonjovi did to Paul's song.

I believe this is the worst CD I've ever heard. Paul wrote some great songs, and I even like a half-dozen or so of his singles, from the 50's to the 70's. But what record company exec, in his right mind, could green-light this awful album?

The 18-49 crowd will find it absolutely laughable, and Paul's core audience (50's and up) will just scratch their heads and say, "What the....?"

There are two laugh-out-loud songs on this CD. Trust me, I played it for several people, and the reaction was unanimous. "Mr. Brightside" and "Against the Wind." Did Bob Seger actually okay this? What is he smoking these days?

Again, can't figure out A) who would buy this, and B) who could possibly find it good.

A friend gave it to me as a "gag." And I just about did.

Paul, thanks for your good work back in the day. But please, stop the madness. Your reputation is at stake.

It is an excellent idea to "swankify" current hits. Richard Cheese has been doing it for years. I prefer Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine to Paul Anka. If you are a fan of this album I urge you to taste the Cheese. You may find it is Gouda!

The second of Anka's "swing cover" albums stands superbly it's own right and merits, especially for anyone that has not revelled in the delights of his first album under the same genre " Rock Swings". Whilst the quality and and the skill in conversion to this increasingly popular genre is not in doubt, the choice of song is not quite as sublime as in the earlier album with such tracks as "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi, "Eye Of The Tiger" by Survivior and the truely remarkable "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana. Certainly I would advise any fan or lover of this type of music to purchase this superb album and compliment it with it's more sofisticated elder brother " Rock Swings".