Customer Reviews

Golden Years of Al Jolson

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was so pleased to receive this item as a gift for Fathers Day. This 3CD Deluxe Edition contains many of the songs I have listened to from The Jolson Story and Jolson Sings Again, but are in there original presentations free from the Movie makers arrangements to compliment the story line. It was so refreshing to hear such a crisp and clear delivery from the Legendary Al Jolson accompanied with outstanding instrumentals. Many of Al's early works are included in this set, but with outstanding clarity. I have heard some of his early deliveries and the sound quality wasn't very good when reproduced on a CD. I was very impressed with all of the sound reproductions included in this outstanding 3CD set. If you are an Al Jolson Fan, you will certainly do yourself a huge disservice if you do not purchase this item. It is the best set of Al Jolson recordings that I have ever heard.

This three CD set of songs by Al Jolson will delight any Jolson or vaudeville fan. The three CDs total up to a whopping 60 tracks although, as some have noted, these are not the original recordings Jolson made of these classic numbers. Sure, they're not the original recordings--they probably do come from the 1940s and they've been remastered. However, they shine because they have been remastered; this lets us hear what Jolson really sounded like when he performed. Moreover, these recordings from the latter part of his life give us a more mature, seasoned Jolson which compensates for the absence of any older recordings for this set.

The first CD starts with the relentlessly upbeat number "When The Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along." Love those horns! Al's voice is clear and he delivers this one with strength and style. "Swanee" was a frequent favorite with Al's audiences; Al sings this with an electric amount of energy to make this song his very own. Al's excellent diction enhances his performance. Al also gives a rousing performance of "Give My Regards To Broadway;" "Toot Toot Tootsie (Goo'bye)" and "California Here I Come." The chorus on "Give My Regards To Broadway" harmonizes to perfection and this bolsters the number.

In addition, the first CD features Al singing "My Mammy," a tune made famous by Al's singing it in the The Jazz Singer, the first major "talkie" film ever. Al's spoken introduction is flawless and when he breaks into song Al positively takes flight! Awesome!

The second CD continues to showcase Al Jolson's talents. "When You Were Sweet Sixteen" charms me with its beauty and simplicity. The melody relies on the violins and this works well for this ballad. "Dirty Hands, Dirty Face" appears to be one of the earlier recorded tracks for this set. "Dirty Hands, Dirty Face" allows Al to croon in his own special way as he sings of the joy his young son gives him. Great! "You Made Me Love You" gets the royal treatment as Al croons this, his voice swinging gently all the while. The musical arrangement enhances "You Made Me Love You" as well. Love those strings! Al also does an impressive duet with Bing Crosby for "Alexander's Ragtime Band." Their initial banter sweetens the number and they then sing it without a superfluous note! There's some minor surface noise on "Alexander's Ragtime Band" but you'll enjoy this one very much anyway.

The third CD only serves to improve this experience. "Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away" features Al at the top of his game; and Judy Garland often sang this song to refer to her daughter Liza. The melody is infectiously happy, too. "After You've Gone" gets a slower than normal tempo as Al swings lightly to make this song a masterpiece. "I Only Have Eyes For You" has Al singing this passionately with all his heart; and "Carolina In The Morning" continues in the same vein. Excellent!

The liner notes include an informative uncredited essay; and the black and white photos of Al reflect good artistic judgment.

Al Jolson deserves to be remembered more than he is for his excellent ability to reach out to his adoring audiences and lead them wherever he wanted them to go. He touched the hearts of millions of people with his great performances and records.

I highly recommend this three CD set for fans of Al Jolson. If you are new to Jolson and you wish to get to know about his artistry, this three CD set is an excellent place to start.

Enjoy!

Al Jolson was a phenomenal success as an entertainer during the vaudville years and in early films (app 1915-1935). He had a voice and style that was youthful and energetic. This was the hallmark of the great Al Jolson. You get very little of that Jolson in this boxed set. Most of the songs (47 in this set of 60) were from recordings made in the late '40's after his film biographies. The voice is an octave lower than the original Jolson voice and the style is a bit tired. Add a third star if you like the songs. But if you want to hear the style and voice that made Jolson great you'll find very little of it in this set.

"Golden Years of Al Jolson" presents the listener with a good overview of the work of the great Al Jolson.
The sound quality of these CDs is first-rate.
Many of these tracks don't appear to be the original hits but they are very well done and a real pleasure to listen to.
Jolie even teams up with Bing Crosby for a couple of tunes!

Great reproduction of these old and beloved tunes. A real bargain with three cds, sixty songs at the price of one. His famous tune "If I Only Had A Match" is worth the price. This truly is "A Trip Back in Time".

The product was in excellent condition. Al Jolsen's singing is so clear and beautiful. It is like he is singing for you in the same room. It's fun to listen to the old songs. It's songs are in a whole different century. I think some of the songs have funny words in them. They make you laugh and feel good. If you want to hear real talent, buy this. You will never hear a voice like this before. "A MAN WHO LOVED TO SING"!

Easy to see why he was the greatest entertainer of all time. The songs are classic. Been looking for this kind of collection for a long time and only [...] had any kind of selection WELL DONE.

Music can be such a strong trigger for memories, and this collection brings back fond memories of my Dad. He passed away 20 years ago... nicest, most decent guy I ever met. When certain Al Jolson songs came on, he'd ask us kids to quiet down - just to listen. Funny, but I did not remember that until I was listening to these CDs and one of those songs came on... I kind of straightened up and got quiet and then recalled why. Miss that guy.

Anyway, as to the quality of the product itself: I am no Al Jolson expert as one other reviewer might apparently be. To me, the sound quality of the recording is excellent - much better than I expected. If Al was better in his earlier days, I might have to try to find some of those recordings, and compare them. I would be surprised if there is a significant difference. Smooth, classic delivery. All good. Bought a few extra copies for my siblings.

The nice thing about this collection is that is includes all the songs that we associate with Jolson, recorded toward the end of his life with the best technology of the time, and also gives us a taste of the changing Jolson voice by including a few cuts by the young Jolson. Highly recommended.

When I was a child, I loved to hear Al Jolsen sing. Something like magic in his voice and style. A valuable addition to my collection.

grace2u