Customer Reviews

Evening With Engelbert Humperdinck

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Engelbert Humperdinck performs romantic ballads with lush string arrangements for this collection originally released as a double album in 1985 on Silver Eagle Records. Contrary to what the title suggests, this is not a live in concert recording. As a matter of fact, Engelbert didn't even sing with the orchestra. The United Kingdom Symphony Orchestra recorded its tracks in London, and Engelbert recorded his vocals in Hollywood. Nevertheless, the re-mixing produced a beautiful result which will certainly please his fans. I only wish that the Madacy label had chosen a better photo of the singer for the CD cover.

Mellow and marvelous, with a touch of jazzy cool, this is an unusual Engelbert CD collection because it does not include any of the songs that made him famous, and has arrangements one would be more likely to find in a Tony Bennett recording, with its jazz piano woven through the lushness of the strings. The songs are melodic, gorgeous standards from the 1930s and '40s, sung with tender artistry, with even two lovely Latin treasures, Agustin Lara's "Solamente Una Vez", translated as "You Belong to My Heart", and "Quiereme Mucho", translated as "Yours".

Favorites for me are a soft and lovely "The Very Thought of You", and an exquisite rendition of "I'll Be Seeing You".
Though Engelbert's voice doesn't have quite the purity and fullness of his youth here, he still has a vibrant, wonderful sound and enormous range, and a great depth of emotion.
This is a terrific CD set for Engelbert fans, with a heavenly collection of songs, sung to perfection. No liner notes or recording information is included in the package (which consists of 2 separate jewel cases in a slip box), and the cover gives the impression that it is a live recording, which it isn't. Total playing time for Vol. I is 40'09, and Vol. II 43'54, making this a good value for the price as well.
Also released by Madacy as "Collector's Edition".

This double box set is one to include in your collection. The songs take you back in time with such oldies as "I'll Walk Alone - "Red Sails In The Sunset" just to mention a few. I listen to this CD when I just want a quiet moment. He sings most of the songs of yesterday, however, with his special styling they become new and fresh..Engelbert is the only person who sings with such style and grace and it certainly comes thru on these CD's. They are very romantic songs as he can only do....Good for your collection!