Customer Reviews

Cocktail Hour: Perry Como

5 star:		(1)
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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sorry to burst the bubble of this recording label, but quite a few tracks are live, and end abruptly with annoyingly loud and quickly muted applause. Can't recordings not from a studio be labelled as 'live' or 'studio and live recordings'? One track ends abruptly with applause and the muffled voice of an announcer is heard - where was the recording engineer???

This is a great concept series - fresh, updated packaging of classic vocals, and a compilation of 2 CDs for the price of one. However, I would wait for the upcoming Jasmine compilation cd of Perry Como in December, 1999. I would much prefer one cd of first-rate selections and quality, than 2 of less than excellent recordings. Compilation recordings are a real art form to select content well, and this new series is a disappointment. Also, this 'box set' had no liner notes or enclosed booklet describing any of the tracks.

There's nothing wrong with these kind of compilations if you know what you're getting. Unfortunately, many of them are not well labeled and some are gross misrepresentations. The recent series of "On the Air" broadcasts featuring some of Perry's 1943 radio shows was well marked but others, such as the "Close To You" CD having a 1970s mirror image photo of Perry ( printed backwards, that is ) and an incorrectly listed title track ( it's not the Bacharach song ) with content similar to the "On the Air" broadcasts is blatantly dishonest. Fans should check very carefully to make certain what they think is there is actually genuine. That also includes the up-coming set mentioned from Jasmine! Many of these CDs are being remastered from old records and not the original masters from BMG vaults! Standards of integrity are very different these days and, to paraphrase Rudyard Kipling, the record industry is filled with knaves who twist these recordings to make a trap for fools.

This set has many old recordings from the 40's that I have on 78's which Ive practically worn out from playing...therefore I'm very happy to have this cd so I can once again dream while listening to Perry...without dragging the OLd old player out, and taking a chance of dropping or scratching the old 78's..Perry is a great performer, has a good range of singing and well, he's been my GUY since he sang with Ted Weems! (I also have some of those on 78's) Keep'm coming.....Love that Man..truely, I do.