Customer Reviews

Complete Columbia Chart Singles Collection

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With all the Andy Williams compilations available it's nice to finally have one definitive collection. This 2-CD, 50-track, remastered set gathers all Andy's Columbia charted singles (not to be nitpicky but Williams' "White Christmas" and "Do You Hear What I Hear" charted high on Billboard's Top Christmas Singles in 1963 and 1965 respectively, but are not included), many of which appear here for the first time in stereo, and several of which appear here for the first time on CD. The compilers thoughtfully included his biggest "hit", "Moon River", even though it was never released as a single in the US, and an Italian-language version of "Can't Get Used to Losing You". Highly recommended.

Although this is a superb set, it is not quite as advertised: the first time all of Andy's Columbia chart singles have been rounded up in one collection. Over the years, Williams placed 45 entries of Billboard's Hot 100 charts on either the Cadence or Columbia labels. The first and ONLY time all 45 original recordings appeared in one collection was in 1995 -- in the 60-track, 3 CD box set "Andy Williams: His Greatest Hits & Finest Performances" (Reader's Digest 102C). I should know -- as I compiled and produced it! Unfortunately the Digest box set is currently out of print. At least now, though, we have the present 50-track collection -- although it does omit Andy's pre-Columbia gems (among them, "Butterfly," his only chart-topping single).

Lest we forget, Andy Williams was a major force in American popular music for nearly two decades. From 1956 through 1974, he placed over 40 singles on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Eight of these tunes made their way into the Top Ten. During those same years, Williams was a dominent force on the Album charts as well. He placed nearly 30 albums in the Top 100 and many of these albums remained on the charts for a year or more! Andy Williams was also the host of his own highly rated variety show on NBC for nearly a decade. Given his enormous popularity, I could never quite understand why Columbia Records failed to issue a collection worthy of his stature and accomplishment in the business. Oh, there were two "Greatest Hits" albums issued, but both were done with very little care.
Taragon Records has corrected this injustice with the carefully crafted two disc anthology "Andy Williams: The Complete Columbia Chart Singles Collection". Indeed, this is a collection for Andy Williams fans to die for. This comprehensive package includes virtually every charted hit Williams had during his nearly two decades at Columbia Records. I enjoyed them all. As you might expect, you wil find all of Andy's biggest hits like "Moon River", "Can't Get Used To Losing You", "Dear Heart" and "(Where Do I Begin) Love Story". Meanwhile, I would recommend you give a listen to a few of Andy Williams lesser known singles including "One Day of Your Life", "A Song For You" as well as the rather obscure "Ain't It True" from 1965. I love that song and had not been able to find it anywhere at any price for nearly 40 years. I am pleased to report that the remastering job is first rate and that the set includes a thoughtful 12 page booklet featuring some wonderful photographs. All in all, "Andy Williams: The Complete Columbia Chart Singles Collection" is definitely one of the finest anthologies I own. Kudos to the folks at Taragon records for a job well done. Very highly recommended!

As an Andy Williams collector, I will say this is the Greatest CD available period. Listen to A Song For You, a personal favorite. Start with this CD and than move on to the Collectables Label, 40 album releases put on 20 CD's. Have Fun!

Kevin Thomas

Unlike Columbia, Taragon knows how to go about putting together a definitive singles hit collection. And they did it for one of Columbia's most successful artists!

Not counting those two Christmas hits mentioned by another reviewer [I agree that it would have been nice to see them included], Andy had 31 Billboard Pop Top/Hot 100 hit singles and they are ALL here, along with 17 more that made only the Adult Contemporary charts [Disc 1 - tracks 18. 19, 20, and 24; Disc 2 -tracks 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, and 12 to 19 inclusive]. As an added bonus you get two of his U.K. hits [Disc 2 - tracks 21 and 22], that Italian version of Can't Get Used To Losing You, and a 1962 recording of his theme, Moon River, which was only released for the first time in 1969.

All selections are in stereo [many for the first time and these are clearly indicated on the reverse], there are four pages of informative liner notes written by the author of Elevator Music, Joseph Lanza, as well as six pages offering a discography of the contents, including chart performances, sprinkled with numerous shots of Andy.

Whether you are an ardent Andy Williams fan or, like me, a completist collector of hit singles [who also happens to like Andy's singing] this is a truly magnificent compilation that would warrant 10 stars if it went that high. Most highly recommended.

Andy Williams was once likened to martinis; either you like 'em or you dont. I like him just fine (but detest martinis!)
This wonderful collection of one of our times' best male vocalists of the easy listening genre is a great addition to your collection. Would love to see the good people at Taragon Records do something like this with the languishing catalog of Andy's fellow Columbia Records label mate, Tony Bennett, because they really put out a nice product. This 2CD set is no exception. From signature chestnuts of Andy's, such as his touching version of the well covered evergreen from the Emerald Isle, DANNY BOY, to the Mancini/Mercer masterpieces MOON RIVER and DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES, as well as lesser known beauties (most of which are on CD AND IN STEREO for the very first time here) THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE YOUNG, LIVE AND LEARN, HOME LOVIN' MAN, ONE DAY OF YOUR LIFE, and SOLITAIRE, this set is full of great music. There are tunes here from Andy's jump into the crossover world, a move that both stunned and pleased music fans of all ages (sometimes simultaneously) Covers of the funky LOVE'S THEME (arranged by the immortal Don Costa)and Jimmy Webb's magnum opus MACARTHUR PARK, and the stirring James Last written MUSIC FROM ACROSS THE WAY (one of the few sides arranged and conducted for Andy by the underappreciated Ernie Freeman)are all here, and the recently renewed interest piece, MUSIC TO WATCH GIRLS BY, which swept the UK two years ago via a popular TV ad. Alternate versions of the lovely ALMOST THERE and a slightly more uptempo crack at the pretty SWEET MEMORIES are included here as well. Other standouts are of course, the movie themes (oh what Moon River did for Andy, huh? He always got first crack at the best movie songs!) LOVE STORY, SPEAK SOFTLY LOVE, and the never before released LOVE SAID GOODBYE (from The Godfather, Part II) Two very interesting additions are the inclusion of Andy's heartfelt recording of BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC, released as a single and recorded at Bobby Kennedy's funeral, as Andy paid tribute to his friend, the fallen Senator, and Andy's Italian version of CANT GET USED TO LOSING YOU, and, being Italian, I must say Andy does pretty good here! This is a wonderful collection and well worth the price.

Andy began his recording career with the small Cadence label, better known for the early recordings of the Everly Brothers. He had some success on that label with songs such as Canadian sunset, Butterfly (his only UK number one hit) and Lonely Street. However, those songs and the others he recorded for Cadence are not here - you must look elsewhere for them. He left Cadence for Columbia in 1962 and that is where this compilation begins.

This outstanding compilation contains all of Andy's American hits for Columbia, presented in chronological order. At the end of the second CD there are some bonus tracks. Andy's theme song (Moon River) is among these - his version of this song was never released as a single although it is now regarded as his song.

The set includes all the popular classics that Andy is remembered in America for such as Dear heart, Days of wine and roses, Danny boy, Music to watch girls by, Happy heart and many others. What makes this collection particularly interesting is the inclusion of Andy's lesser hits, most of which are rarely heard these days, such as Charade, Wrong for each other, How can I tell her its over and One day of your life.

Can't take my eyes off you (a UK number five hit) and It's so easy (a UK top twenty hit) are also among the bonus tracks. Brits and expatriate Brits will appreciate the inclusion of these two important tracks, which mean that all Andy's UK hits from 1962 (Stranger on the shore) to 1973 (Solitaire) except May each day (which just made the UK top twenty) are included. Andy's last three UK hits (Getting over you, You lay so easy on my mind, The other side of me) are omitted but none of them made the UK top thirty and they, like May each day, can be found elsewhere. Can't get used to losing you, Almost there (both number two), Can't help falling in love (number three), Where do I begin, Solitaire (both number four) and Home loving ma (number seven) were, together with Can't take my eyes off you, Andy's biggest UK hits.

So this is a fascinating collection of Andy's best music, superbly re-mastered and with an informative booklet. Whether you are a committed fan or not, this is the best American compilation ever released of Andy's music. Indeed, it might be the best compilation of his music ever released anywhere in the world. So buy this, then (if you are interested) buy a collection of his Cadence hits.

I, like many others, have been wanting the perfect Andy Williams collection for a long time. I had "16 MOST REQUESTED SONGS" and "16 MOST REQUESTED SONGS: ENCORE!". Now I'm not saying that the songs on these CDs were bad, but some of them were hardly Andy's greatest hits. I thought I'd never get a great Andy Williams anthology.

But wait! Taragon comes to the rescue! This is the greatest Andy Williams collection that anyone could own. It consists of all of his Columbia chart singles from the early '60s material ("Danny Boy", "Dear Heart", "Days of Wine and Roses", etc.) to his mid '60s peak ("Music to Watch Girls By", "Happy Heart", "Bye Bye Blues") all the way up to his great '70s "Adult Contemporary" songs ("A Song for You", "MacArthur Park", "Love Story", etc.)

But enough about all of Andy's various triumphs with some great songs, this collection is worth buying and will hold one's interest quite well. I think that the Love Unlimited Orchestra's version of "Love's Theme" cannot hold a candle to Williams' version.

I really can't put into words how great the sound, track listing, and liner notes are, but I'll say this: buy it and be prepared for an ultimate musical experience!

This is truly a wonderful collection.Andy recorded some his best stuff while with the Columbia lable. Another "must-have."

Contains every single released by Andy Williams on Columbia, whether they were hits or not. Includes the biggies like "Moon River", "Happy Heart" etc. I bought this one for the non-hit "How Can I Tell Her It's Over". I wore out my DJ-promo singles years ago.