Collected Cool [3 CD + 1 DVD] [Box set]

Dean Martin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 12, 2012)
• Original Release Date: 2012
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Universal Music
• ASIN: B007R6XA0M
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,885 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Dean's Spoken Word Introductions

2. My Own, My Only, My All

3. Powder Your Face With Sunshine (Smile! Smile! Smile!)

4. I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine

5. That's Amore

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Tik-A-Tee, Tik-A-Tay

2. Senza Fine

3. Who's Got The Action

4. Guys And Dolls

5. Marina

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes

2. Almost Like Being In Love

3. I Love Tahoe (Paris)

4. Show Banter #1

5. My Kind Of Girl

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Everybody Loves Somebody

2. Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes

3. When You re Smiling

4. Pennies From Heaven

5. L-O-V-E

See all 20 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Dean Martin "Collected Cool" is the first ever career-defining box set for the legendary Dean Martin. This lavish 4-disc collection includes rare, unreleased audio and rare footage plus all of Dean's biggest hits and signature tunes from both his Capitol Records and Reprise years. Complimenting the music and DVD is a 60-page booklet containing essays, extensive liner notes and rare photos from archives.

Disc 1 follows Dino's early rise to stardom and features the best of his Capitol Records years, packed with his biggest hits, signature songs, rarities and career-defining recordings.

Disc 2 features some of Martin's biggest and most cherished hits from his rich and fruitful Reprise years plus a stripped-down version of the No. 1 hit single Everybody Loves Somebody, which originally topped the charts and knocked the Beatles from the No. 1 spot.

Disc 3 features a rare, live audio recording of Dino's concert at Cal-Neva Lodge in Lake Tahoe, CA, on July 27, 1962. This 52 minute performance has never been released in its entirety.

Disc 4 is a DVD featuring 60 minutes of live footage from his show at London's Apollo Victoria theatre show in 1983. This performance originally aired only on Showtime and has never been made commercially available until now.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars From a former NBC TV Executive & President of The Dean Martin Fan Center June 17, 2012

By Neil T. Daniels

Format:Audio CD

There is going to be some mixed reviews on this new CD/DVD disc set...

The negative reviews are going to probably focus on the fact that two of the CD's included feature Dean Martin's Capitol Records and Reprise Record Company songs - many of which were his largest sellers. Of course, all of these songs were released when Dean recorded them, and most have been re-released over the years on vinyl and CD... but the fact-of-the-matter is, Dean isn't recording new material anymore. So as far as a "Greatest Hits" or "reissue" package, I think this one stands among the best. Songs included are not just his best sellers, but time-line marks along his illustrious recorded career. "Powder Your Face With Sunshine" (1948) and "My One, My Only, My All" from 1949 (and the Martin & Lewis movie "My Friend Irma")and "If I Could Sing Like Bing"(1953), illustrate Dean's early vocals.

"Long, Long Ago" a duet with Nat King Cole from 1954, "Pardners" with Jerry Lewis (1956), "Sleep Warm" conducted by Frank Sinatra (1958) and "My First Country Song" another duet with Conway Twitty from as late as 1983, all showcase Dean's ability to blend his velvet voice with other various artists . Some lesser heard (but just as enjoyable) songs are also included... "Sophia", "Senza Fine", "Marina", "Who's Got The Action?", and his last "L.A. is My Home" (1985) from the TV series "Half Nelson", compliment Dean's "greatest hits" tunes that have also been included.

The third audio disc is a "live" recording of Dean in his Lake Tahoe nightclub act in 1962 (around the "Rat Pack" Years). Hardcore Dean collectors have heard many bootleg versions of Dean's act, but to the general public, Dean's live performances are extremely rare. Even this recording has not been heard in it's entirety - so it should be a welcomed treat for those who have just about everything.

The gem of course is the DVD of Dean "Live in London". A special originally aired by Showtime back in '83, and was a one-time-only broadcast. It was Dean in his later years, but fortunately, the folks that knew how to present at Dean his best were also there at the time... his television show team: Greg Garrison (Director), Lee Hale (Producer), Ken Lane (Conductor) and Mort Viner (Manager). They all traveled with Dean to London's Apollo Victoria Theatre to crowds of fans that even surprised them. Very little video exists of Dean on stage, so this recorded concert (even though it's Dean in his more mature years) holds a place in history, and frankly, is very entertaining for even the biggest fans. I should know... heading the Dean Martin Fan Center for nearly twenty years, one of the most asked questions is "when is Dean's London concert going to be shown again?".

This hardbound disc set includes a 64 page booklet with track annotations, photographs, and a wonderful foreword about Dean's mystique and aura, written by Bill Zehme, an expert on Dean himself, and one of the country's best visual writers.

James Ritz also delves into a historical biography focusing on the content of the disc set, as well as setting the mood for what the listener / viewer is about to hear in his wonderfully written piece that only enhances the beauty of this set.

Many hardcore Dean fans know that many years ago I had produced the four Dean Martin box set collections for The Bear Family label... to have my honest take on this new set by Universal Music Enterprises, I think it is magnificent. I often think that someone who might be thirteen or fourteen years old today, will be eighteen in just a few years. To be able to introduce Dean's body of work to a new, constantly evolving generation, and to bring a smile to the generations that grew up with Dean Martin and remember him well, is a gift in itself.

Get this set... wrap it up... and give it to someone you love!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best "collections" released (other than the Bear set) June 15, 2012

By Vincent T. Lynch

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

First, I very much disagree with one of the previous reviewers. Is this a rehash of previously released Dean Martin material? Yes. How could it not be? Dean's been dead for nearly 2 decades. So, needless to say, he hasn't been making any new records lately, doing any new shows in Las Vegas, or making any new television programs. So this could only be a "rehash".

But what a beautiful rehash it is. I give this package high marks for several reasons. First, it has a sampling of Dino in 4 modes -- the earlier Capitol recordings, the later Reprise recordings, in a nightclub (Tahoe), and on what was once an HBO television special. And, this collection spans his career from early Capitol (the late 1940s) to late Warner Brothers/Reprise (1983). From a 1962 nightclub performance, to a 1983 television special from London.

The "booklet" in which the discs is packaged is wonderful. Beautiful glossy photos and entertaining commentary and background information.

The first CD disc is all Capitol material -- 18 songs. Of course it has his biggest hits of that era, but also a few recordings some people have probably never heard. The second CD disc is all Reprise material. Again, there is a mix of big hits and some lesser known material. Some will be disappointed that the version of "Everybody Loves Somebody" here is the quartet version, not the hit version. The third CD disc is a 1962 nightclub performance from Lake Tahoe. Frankly, there are better nightclub performances of Dean's out there, but they've been in wide release, while this performance was only partially available, and not widely distributed. A real gem on this recording is Dean singing "Break It To Me Gently" -- he certainly should have done a formal recording of this song. And the DVD disc is the HBO special from London in 1983. Frankly, Dean was quite past his peak here, but no one stays young forever. He is clearly enjoying himself, suave and humorous throughout, and the audience received him well and seemed to enjoy the interplay between Dean and Ken Lane. This was a time late in Dean's career when he began to become a caricature of himself, but we rarely saw Dean in this time period, so it's a treasure that hasn't been widely available.

So, thanks Universal! You did Dean proud!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Set, well worth the money July 3, 2012

By Michael Serrano

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an awesome collection of Dean Martins work. Some have complained that you can get most of these songs already on various other discs and that's true. But this set contains a nice overview of his Capitol and Reprise recordings along with songs that Dean recorded for radio and promotional outlets during his time with both record labels. Songs that have not been released since they were originally released. And it's true that portions of the live cd were also released, but this is the entire show with all of Dean's between songs banter. The real reason for buying this excellent set is the previously unreleased live show from London. This was broadcast on the Showtime network in 1983 and was never seen again-unless you purchased a grainy bootleg VHS copy. Now it's finally re-mastered and worth watching. At 66yrs of age at the time of this show, Dean shows his fans he still has the timing with a joke and way with the songs. This is a great concert to watch. As a long time fan of Dean Martin-I too have many of his recordings but applaud the recent spate of various items. I would much rather have the opportunity to purchase these great recordings than have to rely on old poorly recorded items or bootleg copies. You won't be disappointed.