Customer Reviews

King of the New York Streets

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Though there have been several great Dion retrospectives released over the years, they've since gone out-of-print, leaving Dion's work fragmented on various oldies and doo-wop compilations as well as a Columbia set collecting his later 60's work. However, with this box set, we once again have a domestic collection that compiles his best work throughout his entire career. The first disc, covering his prime in the 60's, is simply perfect; it could easily be filleted from this box set and issued by itself as a great, even definitive single disc retrospective of Dion's best and most popular work. It collects the best tracks cut with the Belmonts and the classic, breakthrough solo singles ("The Wanderer," "Runaround Sue," etc.). Listening to this material, you'll understand why Rolling Stone would call Dion exhibit A in contesting the notion that nothing great happened in rock between 1960 and the day the Beatles set foot in America.

The next two discs show how well Dion's voice has held up over the years. He's still in strong form, but the quality of the material isn't as strong as his earlier songs. However, there's no denying Dion's unwavering talent in intepreting works from new contemporary writers, particulary Bruce Springsteen, which makes these last two discs still worth exploring, with a few great gems scattered here and there.

This is a definite must for Dion fans, and until they make a single disc compilation like the first disc on this set, this is also the best introduction to Dion.

I'm not sure where to begin with this review. In many ways this CD overwhelms me. Fortunately it is divided into 3 "periods". You can follow Dion from his young swaggering Doo-Wop days, through his "Mid-Life" crisis, and finally to a mature rock'n'roll artist who is as powerful today as he was when he first started out. I don't think that it is an exaggeration to say that there is not one bad track in this collection. The energy that this man can generate at this stage in his career is unique among not only rock'n'roll artists, but musical artists in general. This is not a man who sits on his laurels. I hope Dion is with us for many, many more years to come.

This is a wonderful box set. Most Dion collections focus the early short span of years in which he was a teenage idol. Unfortunately, as far as rock is concerned, Dion might was well have fallen off the face of the earth after 1963. This collection gives us a much fuller account of Dion's musical career.

The first disc is full of the early hits and favorites from the late 1950's and early 1960's. Some other collections go much further into the deep catalogue for this period; but all the hits and a few more are thrown in here. I was especially delighted to hear Dion's version of "Spoonful". Yes, it is the very same "Spoonful" Cream would turn into a concert favorite a few years later. It wasn't until I followed along with the liner notes that the song's connection with heroin abuse was made clear. It turns out that heroin addiction was a very real problem for Dion at that time. When I first had heard "Spoonful" in the late 1960's I thought it was about....Well, something else.

The second disc covered the great long years in the wilderness for Dion. These were years in which Dion was very much into the singer/songwriter niche. If most of us know anything at all from this period it is "Abraham, Martin and John". "Abraham, Martin and John" is one of those rare songs that transcends music genre by giving voice to the grief and hope the country felt at the death of Martin Luther King. The melody was simple but compelling while the lyrics were heartfelt without being preachy. It may not rank up there with "Yesterday" in total number of different recorded versions by other artists; but I swear nearly everybody and his brother had their own version of this song on records and in musical concerts for years after 1968. If Dion had done nothing else in his life he still would be remembered for this one song.

Dion put out several excellent folk albums during this time, which were unjustly ignored. In spite of this, Dion himself was very proud of this body of work as it truly reflected his musicianship and more mature subject matter. The second disc covered this period very well and may well inspire the listener to explore this period more deeply.

The third disc covers Dion's return to rock and roll in the 1990's. While there is much here that is great and a lot of fun, it is still likely this material will be new to most listeners. One can only conclude that Dion's "comeback" should have been more widely received than it was.

One complaint I have against this set is that it included only one example from Dion's sacred music catalogue. During the late 1970's and through the 1980's Dion released a series of Christian "gospel" records which were very popular within the contemporary Christian community. "Sweet Surrender" is probably one of the best from this part of Dion's life; but one song is not enough. I would of liked to have had "Center Of My Life" and "Sailing Ahead Of The Wind"-just to mention the first two that come to mind. Pop artists who record frankly spiritual music are frequently dropped down the memory hole by the rock world. They are just as frequently met with distrust and suspicion by the contemporary Christian crowd as historically many pop artists have entered the Christian music market only to emerge latter belittling the whole experience and the people who bought those records. This segment of the "market" is sensitive to any note of insincerely amongst "its" stars; but Dion himself was warmly received and well loved by the Christian community. To my knowledge, even after his rock and roll comeback, Dion is still an active and practicing Christian. It is a shame this important part of his life and career is so poorly represented here.

Still, even with this major reservation, this is a great package for those wanting a wider view of this man's contribution to rock and popular music. For the money I can scarcely think of another box set for which the money is better spent.

For me "Dion" will forever be Dion Di Mucci and not that dreadfully underfed Quebecois chanteuse/song-bludgeoner. A woefully under-appreciated vocalist who could croon with the best of them or snarl like a street tough, Dion's music is pure New York. This boxed set, divided into three distinct time periods (The Wanderer, Abraham Martin & John and Brooklyn Dodger) covers the whole story admirably, superbly and enjoyably. So often, boxed sets end up sounding stale and musty: overloaded with non-hits, half-assed rarities or incomplete takes and commercial jingles. Here, you get pure Dion. From the beginning to now. In glorious, superbly re-mastered sound. With a lush booklet that's loaded with essays, photos, information galore. Absolute doo wop gold! Absolute singer-songwriter magic! Incredible rock and roll power. Why settle for a single disc when these three will do the man more than justice? As essential as anything set to tape by any of the other rock pioneers of the era. An important and fun set!

I liked Dion's 50s and early 60s stuff (otherwise I'd never have borrowed this set from our local library) but I didn't really expect much out of this overall. I figured there would be some great doo-wop cuts, some OK latter period "nu-wop" (from the Arista YO,FRANKIE LP) and a decent cut here and there from the folkie/singer-songwriter years. I'd never really heard anything post-"Abraham, Martin, and John" since the radio doesn't play those songs. I thought I'd love disc 1 (doo-wop), hate disc 2 (folkie stuff), and tolerate disc 3 (late 70s through the 80s comeback), but this set was a welcome surprise.

Besides the early megahits "A Teenager in Love", "Donna the Prima Donna", "Ruby Baby", "Runaround Sue" and "The Wanderer", I discovered the wistful "I Used to be a Brooklyn Dodger", a pair of gospel gems in "The Truth Will Set You Free" and "Sweet Surrender", the mellow "Sanctuary", Dylanesque "I Can't Help but Wonder Where I'm Bound" and junkie anthem "Your Own Backyard", not to mention "New York City Song" and "Running Close Behind You".

I expected the "comeback" material to be mediocre but I was pleasantly surprised by "And the Night Stood Still" and "King of the New York Streets" along with a nice updating of Frankie Ford's "Sea Cruise" and a cover of Springsteen's "Book of Dreams" in an arrangement that reminded me a bit of Billy Joel's "The Longest Time".

The set isn't perfect: It's missing rarities like the songs Dion recorded as "Dion and the Timberlanes". It would also be nice to have at least 1 of the songs he cut as a demo/Valentine's Day gift for his mother in 1956. ("Wonderful Girl" and "We Belong Together" which helped him get the deal with Laurie Records. We DO get a later version of "Wonderful Girl".) The gospel years also deserve a bit more focus..it's hard to imagine why Dove award winner "I Put Away my Idols" missed the cut.

In general, the songs that ARE here, though, are well-chosen: just a handful of clunkers, plenty of decent ditties, and some genuine greats that were nice discoveries.

BOTTOM LINE:
It's not perfect, but it's the best overview of Dion's career there is right now. Probably not for someone who only wants the "oldies hits" but if you've got enough intellectual curiousity to see what happened in his "folk" phase and after, this one collects MOST of the highlights.

I'm a big Dion fan. I've seen him live twice and these recordings are every bit as good as his live performances, or is it the other way around. Anyway, lots of well known and lesser known tracks from different periods of his career. No duds here.

I buy an awful lot of box sets every month, an awful lot. Did I say that I buy an AWFUL LOT of box sets every month?? This is the very first one I've ever felt compelled to send in a review for. For the sake of brevity, I will keep this quite short. Regarding every song on this, every song, from first to last: EXTRAORDINARY!! It's that good, and you will not be disappointed. If they ever make a Mount Rushmore for rock & roll, they have to leave a space for this guy! It really is that good. Thanks, D......

Dion is one of the most important songwriters/performers of today. With a string of number one hits from "Runaround Sue" to "The Wanderer" and to a more contemplative "Abraham, Martin and John" King of the New York Streets is a must for any true audiophile. With Dion's recent induction to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, it is apparent that his songs are continually impacting listeners throughout the world.

This is a wonderful collection of Dion's career. And surprisingly, his voice on the early career music was pure, but through the years he developed something that was unique and outstanding. There is a huge difference. He just got better! Instrumentally this is suberb!

Check out a DVD DION LIVE and it's a real treat to see and hear him sing King of the New York Streets with such pride and gusto!

60's Teenage Days
Like the music of the 60's it was about teen-age crushes. Here, it was his career with the Belmonts than included many classic hits. Yes, he even composed many of these hits.

Change of Pace in Disc 2
The real treat begins with Disc 2, the middle years and there is a beautiful slow song and my favorite, "Born To Be With You." He has the ability to cover music so well and so uniquely and you almost won't recognize Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze." Another great one is self-composed "The Dolphins." I especially like the flair he puts on "The Way You Do the Things You Do."

Disc 3 - The Best
Some of these from one of his best CD's Deja Nu and King of the New York Streets. One of my absolute favorites is "You Move Me" This is live version and is toe tappin' great rhythm.

And a most beautiful ballad with beautiful instruments is "Born to Be With You" "Turn Me Loose" comes from the 1995 CD Tribute to Doc Pomus, a legendary songwriter.

A booklet comes with this 3-cd box set! It is worth it! Explore Dion through the ages. ....Rizzo

the greatest Italian singer of the 20th century, with apologies to Sinatra, Pavaroti, Tony Bennett and Mario Lanza.
This is the best colection so far, missing only some great gospel songs like "Walk with Him" and some from the Streetheart album "Queem of 59" among others
But, that said, theree are absolute gems, "wonder where I am bound:

Sanctuary, Life is but a Dream and Little Star, both accapella.
Add some great later songs, Deja Vu, If I should fall behind, and others
Other than Van Morrison, no man has moved so deftly from doo-wop, to pop star, to blues, to country, to gospel and back again.
The most amazing talent, who still has his chops today.
Buy it and enjoy.
Add Dion's Greastest Gospel hits and Reunion at Madison Square garden with the Belmonts.