Customer Reviews

And I Love You So/It's Impossible

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

 

 

After year's of putting up with various forms of hits collections, finally the Como connoisseur can get CDs of the actual albums. Thi collection has two of his best from the early 70s. Both are flawless but my preference is "It's Impossible" which is virtually a Greatest Hits easy listening album. On this one, Perry Como actually pulls it off and makes "I Think I Love You" into a great song.

Thanks are owed to whomever finally got these out of the RCA vaults. Fans of Como and easy listening should get this immediately!

Though purists would argue that Perry's voice was at its apex in the 40's and 50's, I've always prefered his style and his voice in the later years. This is the reason I love this album, because it showcases the more mature Como sound, with more contemporary arrangements and an easier listening style than some of his novelity songs of the 50's. Perry's voice became more of a pure baritone as he aged and I defy anyone to think he was in his 60's when most of these songs were recorded. Like fine wine, Como aged impecably. You will put into a mellow modd by listening to him effortlessly breeze through these songs.

I'll admit to some trepidation when I saw the play list, because I was certain Perry would butcher a song like "I Think I Love You," which belongs lock, stock and barrel to David Cassidy. But amazingly, Perry does a decent job here, and turns in a performance that isn't campy or silly. The same feelings of unease came over me when I first listened to Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly with Her Song." Amazingly, Como delivers the goods on this 1971 classic and his cover version is perfectly acceptable, even good. The rest of the songs are are excellent and Perry continues to surprise through the album by putting his own calm, unique stamp on each song. A beautiful record, sung by the amazing Mr. C.

The quality of the sound on ths album is the best I have heard on any vocal album. I have other Perry Como LP ablums with music I may even enjoy more and my hope is that the same people that produced this two album set would do the work to release them in the quality of this album.

Of the 6 Cd's released by "Collectables" this is the best transfer. These albums have only been available on Cd in Japan so it is good to see everyone having an opportunity to hear Perry at his very best. Take care with the other 5 Cd's by Perry on "Collectables" you will be disappointed!

And I Love You So/It's Impossible is a great CD that has all the tracks from two of Perry Como's record albums entitled And I Love You So and It's Impossible. The sound quality is excellent; and Perry's mature voice really sounds fine, too. The artwork is also impressive.

The CD starts off with Perry crooning his best on "And I Love You So." This tune features Perry front and center as he showcases his incredible set of pipes. The musical arrangement is lush and it's the perfect accompaniment to Perry's singing. "And I Love You So" makes a beautiful beginning to this album. "Killing Me Softly With Her Song" is changed from "Killing Me Softly With His Song;" and Perry aces this like the master he always was. The guitars in the arrangement are used to great advantage, too. There's also "For The Good Times;" this ballad shines like gold when Perry sings it beyond perfection. Perry sings with great sensitivity; and I love every minute of it!

"Sing" is a song I associate with Karen Carpenter; Perry makes it his own with a fine interpretation that really is pleasing to the ear; the brass on this number enhances the beauty of the melody. "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree" is another son that shines equally bright when Perry delivers it with all his heart and soul. The backup chorus works wonders for this tune, too. "I Believe In Music" gets the royal treatment from Perry who performs this with panache and a great chorus in the background.

"It's Impossible" is easily one of Perry's greatest hits--ever. Perry croons this flawlessly and it's a classic love song that will never be out of style. Perry performs this with incredible sensitivity and it gives me chills every time I hear it! "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" is another marvelous highlight; Perry sings this with all his might and the strings make the melody all the more beautiful.

"Something" is a George Harrison love song that Frank Sinatra once praised as one of the very best love songs ever written. Perry sings "Something" with a few tempo changes that really allow him to put his own stamp on "Something." "(They Long to Be) Close to You" is a splendid "mood music" number with excellent singing by Perry and the backup chorus. Great flutes on "(They Long to Be) Close to You!"

The CD ends with Perry performing "We've Only Just Begun;" this charming ballad is the perfect ending for this lush CD. The arrangement is very elegant and pretty.

Perry Como was and is a giant crooner of the entire twentieth century; and we are far better off for his sharing his talents with us. I highly recommend this for fans of the great Perry Como; and people who enjoy classic pop vocals will not be disappointed.

Being an Italian-American and raised in the 1980s, Perry Como was one of the most often listened to artists of all. I have been a fan for a while and have the Perry Como 3CD set that was issued back in the early 1990s. Unfortunately, I was never able to get his actual records on CD because it seemed as though nobody was interested in releasing them. FINALLY, BMG Collectables has released a decent amount on "2 Records in 1 CD" packages and I picked up the "And I Love You So/It's Impossible" disc. With the exception of a few dated tracks, the CD is impeccable and very enjoyable to listen to. I'm a much bigger fan of Perry's later years (1966-1987) than any other era and hope that BMG continues to release his catalogue for it is a VERY distinguished and important collection to have available on compact disc!

In 1974, Ellen and I took our two mothers with us to Hawaii for ten days; and like so many tourists before us and after, we attended the Don Ho show -- only a short walk from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Somewhere between "Pearly Shells" and "Aloha'Oe," the show's star joked about being the "Hawaiian Perry Como," before introducing, "And I Love You So." After a normal, nightly finale of attractive hula girls -- and stampede of hundreds of hysterical grandmothers (resembling out of control teenage girls) trying to reach Don Ho for a kiss -- I was able to speak with him about "And I Love You So." He graciously offered details on the song written by Don McLean, adding that Perry Como had a particularly good recording of the number. "You mean the Italian (American) Don Ho," I asked? He laughed and gave me a "high five."

While many songs of the original LP version of "And I Love You So" (the first 10 tracks of the CD) have been made famous by others, including blockbuster hits, "Killing Me Softly with (His) Song," by Roberta Flack, and "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree," by Tony Orlando & Dawn, none execute the lyrics with more sensitivity than Perry Como. The casual and simple manner in which he relates the story of "Killing Me Softly ..." (lyrics by Charles Fox) is haunting and wistful. This is one of the best MOR Pop albums of the 1970s (please see my comments on Andy Williams' "Solitaire"); and although not widely accepted by his loyal, aging fans, it is one of Perry's all-time best too!

I am so glad I purchased this CD. Perry Como has always been one of the finest singers from the USA. From It's Impossible to And I love you so, Perry proved he was still a viable and likeable singer in the rockin, dancin, Disco 70's. His version of We only just begun and Close to you will make you forget the Carpenters. He covers many of the songs from that era in his soft casual manner, and you will sing along with him too.
Perry is a part of our lives from season to season and all the holidays.
You will really enjoy him as an aging crooner who can still sing and bring joy to your life. We all truly lost one of the great ones May 12, 2001, but his voice and songs live on and on.

The album was great. I love to listen to Perry Como, so gentle and smooth.

This CD from Collectables brings together another 2 Perry Como RCA Victor albums: "It's Impossible" [1970] and "And I Love You So" [1973].

The sources of this CD are Release Master Tapes and this is another pleasing effort from Collectables. The CD is accompanied with detailed Recording Information and Matrix Numbers.

Those who have criticized some of the 2001 Collectables releases - in particular "Como Swings/For The Young At Heart" and "By Request/Sing To Me, Mr. C" have failed to understand that in actual fact, this first series of Collectables CD's of Perry Como represent the best ever attempt made by this budget label. The sources are mainly Original Release Master Tapes. It is unfortunate that the tapes used have been worn in some cases; but this is not a big concern since the 1st Generation Masters are fully intact in the vaults. It is the original masters which need to be digitally re-mixed and re-mastered.

There were also suggestions by some that Collectables were just trying to cash in on the passing on Mr. Como; however, the project was completed and the CD's released just prior to Perry's passing.

This CD, along with the other Perry Como Collectables releases from 2001 represent very good value for money.