Customer Reviews

French Style/Dino Latino

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Always considered two of Dean's most attractive albums, the fact they have been combined in one fine package by Collectors' Choice, really makes this CD irresistible. FRENCH STYLE, released in 1962, was Dean's first album for Reprise,
and not only includes C'EST SI BON, LA VIE EN ROSE, THE POOR PEOPLE OF PARIS, and other love songs of original French extraction, but features those with French settings such as I LOVE PARIS and C'EST MAGNIFIQUE from Cole Porter's CAN CAN plus GIGI's title song from the Lerner/Lowe Oscar-winning film score. But it is Dean's relaxed singing of songs like the Rodgers and Hart classic MIMI, and his sly good humour, mixed with imaginative arrangements by Neil Hefti which really give this album its sparkle.

DINO LATINO progressed his following album into Latin-American territory with a similar light-hearted vocal touch. It is hard to resist EL RANCHO GRANDE, BESAME MUCHO and LA PALOMA, emanating from south of the border which rub shoulders with Peggy Lee's light-hearted and co-penned, MANANA, Hollywood and big-band favourite, TANGERINE, and that British-originated winner, SOUTH OF THE BORDER. Dean's included Spanish lyrics add to the romantic mood of the popular, WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES and the lovely MAGIC IS THE MOONLIGHT. Of course, it is hard to go wrong with arrangements provided by the famed Don Costa with its subdued use of chorus and the complete album proves to be an entertaining experience. In fact, if I had to play one CD to prove Dean Martin's vocal prowess mixed with natural humor, this would be the one.

French Style has long been a favourite vinyl album and I have been hoping that it would be reissued on CD for a very long time now - preferably with Dino Latino. At last, here it is. I'd never heard Dino Latino before but it's good, very good. French Style though is even better. My particular favourite is I Love Paris - listen to Neal Hefti's string riff. It conjures up a total new image for this song. And that's the beauty of this album: eveything sounds bright and new and Dean Martin makes each song his own. Anyone who thinks of Dean Martin in terms of his big late 60s hits ought to listen to these albums. They belong alongside greats like Peggy Lee's Latin ala Lee, Nat King Cole Sings/ George Shearing Plays, Sinatra's Songs for Swingin' Lovers and other classics from the LP era. If you like to hear the standard catalogue performed with wit, imagination and style, this collection is very much for you. Buy it; you won't regret it.

This is a fun collection of twenty two songs by Dean to be enjoyed by the beach or on your patio with your favorite beverage in hand. Close your eyes and you'll be in Paris in April with your arm around your favorite gal.And then Dean takes us South of the Border with Tangerine in A Little Spanish Town. Enjoy , this is definitely a worth while addition to your collection.

Just received this marvelous cd today and can't stop playing it!
I have been a fan of this wonderfully talented man for 50 years!

Don Costa's arrangements are flawless! My personal favorites are MAGIC IS THE MOONLIGHT, ALWAYS IN MY HEART AND BESAME MUCHO. Each song is performed with the warmth and passion Dean is known for.

A must have for all Dean Martin fans!

This CD is better sounding than the "Entertainers" CD
version. YES! YOU CAN GO FOR HOURS LISTENING TO THIS
WONDERFUL SINGER SING THESE BEAUTIFUL SONGS, ESPECIALLY
THE SLOWER BALLADS. Dean is one of a kind and I don't think
there will be another like him - he's a wonderful man
and a wonderful singer. MORE THAN 5 STARS!...singin'
& dreamin'..."april in paris"...la la la...cora miaaa...

Dean Martin left us with a musical legacy more than twice the size of the average pop singer's entire repertoire! Martin, a superlative crooner, made women swoon and the men loved his great voice, too. This CD gives us the reasons why Dean Martin was so successful.

This is a "two-fer" CD; this means that you get the entire track set from two record albums on a single CD. This provides us with value and an excellent look into Dino's ability to express all the emotions of love from the two great cultures associated so often with romance: French and Latin. The first twelve tracks are from the record album entitled French Style and the remaining ten tracks are from the record album entitled Dino Latino. You are sure to love this!

The CD starts off with a wonder selection of classic French love songs: "C'est Si Bon" features Dean Martin crooning to perfection with a terrific musical arrangement that uses the strings section so well. The chorus backs him up without a single superfluous note. Other equally wonderful gems and treats include "April In Paris;" "La Vie En Rose" and "The Last Time I Saw Paris." Excellent!

"I Love Paris" concludes the French track set; Dean sings this song with great sensitivity and the musical arrangement with its chimes absolutely glows!

The Latin track set follows immediately; even though it's not politically correct I love the playful song entitled "Mañana." Although some Hispanic people didn't care for the song, it was written by Peggy Lee and her husband Dave Barbour because they envied the relaxed pace of the people who lived in Latin American countries. Another classic pop vocal from the Latin world would have to be "Tangerine;" this song features a lovely Latin beat and the musical arrangement makes great use of the percussion. I love Dino's vocals on this song! He never misses a beat.

"South Of The Border" honors the wonderful lifestyle and romance enjoyed by the Latin people in Mexico and other Latin American countries; and "What A Difference A Day Made" gets the royal treatment with great use of the drums and orchestra to complement Dino's fantastic rendition of this ballad.

The album concludes with the classic "Bésame Mucho" and "La Paloma." Dean Martin delivers both songs with panache, care and sensitivity that few singers could ever hope to achieve. Thanks, Dino!

The liner notes give you terrific reproductions of the cover art for both record albums that are on this CD with the original commentaries. The cover art works well, too.

Overall, Dean Martin remains one of the best singers America even produced and his work inspired younger artists to this day. The quality of the sound on this CD leaves nothing to be desired--it's THAT good. I highly recommend this CD for fans of Dean Martin and people who enjoy classic pop vocals will also enjoy this CD very much.

These are two great albums by the incredible Dean Martin. What I love about "The Dean" is the color and shading in his voice that is also so evident on these records which also seem to create a unique mood (French or Latin American). Dean's rendition of "Gigi" is a favorite of mine: very delicate and warm. After these recordings came out in the early 1960s, Dean switched exclusively to producer Jimmy Bowen who, although good, seemed to keep Dean recording in a certain style for the rest of his career. It would have been interesting if Dean had done like his friend Frank Sinatra and branched out more with a variety of producers and arrangers.

I LOVE THIS CD...the only observation I would make here is that if this album was produce by CAPITOL RECORDS, the sound quality would have been better I think. The Reprise style of recording sounded a bit artificial to me. Anyway, it's still a great Dino album....I suppose the owner Frank Sinatra wasn't into the "technicality of sound" or sound quality when he and Dean were recording their songs at Reprise;nevertheless, their names and voices alone were great enough at Reprise. - John, Southern California.

I have been looking for these French songs for years - an LP version was issued back in the 1960's which I lost along the way - and I am very pleased this album has now been issued after so many years. I believe the French songs are brilliant (possibly with the exception of "Mimi" which has a strangely sharp vocal backing) and in general better than Dean Martin's Italian songs. I do not like the "Latin" songs on this CD which are mainly in South American/Tango style and too "brassy" for my tastes. For excellent delivery, well done to Rockaway records and Amazon.

I bought this CD years ago, and to be honest the first time I listened to it, believe it or not, I thought I made a mistake in buying it! But, very soon I grew to LOVE LOVE LOVE this CD, and listening to it as I write this. Sadly this has become very expensive to buy anywhere, but if you are a fan of my buddy Dean, find the $$$$ to get hold of this somehow. The only sad thing about this is that no one ever will compare to the classy, suave, Dino!!!!