Customer Reviews

16 Most Requested Songs

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Andy Williams possesses one of the most distinct and memorable voices of the entire pop era. His songs may be lively or mellow, but they are always easy on the ears but hard to get off the mind.

This Columbia compilation brings together many of his best, even reaching back into the Cadence years for 1956's beautiful "Canadien Sunset" and 1958's "Hawaiian Wedding Song."

Andy was one of the first artists to experiment with double tracked recording, allowing him to sing his own harmonies. The experiments were exquisitely successful, as attested to by the superb "Can't Get Used to Losing You", a number two hit in 1963.

The title of this album is significant, as these are Andy Williams' 16 Most Requested Songs, not his 16 greatest hits. In fact, many of the cuts on this album did not make the pop charts. Nonetheless, they are memorable in their own right, such as "More", "Moon River", "Red Roses for a Blue Lady", the hauntingly beautiful "Maria" and the magnificant "Born Free." If nothing else, this collection proves that chart position is not always indicative of the quality of music.

Whether you listen to them by firelight, candlelight, moonlight or the light of the setting sun, Andy Williams' 16 Most Requested Songs will delight your ears and warm your heart. This is an album not to be missed.

This collection and its sequel (Encore!) covers almost all the essential hits that Mr Williams' have made. Get them instead of the brand new box set from Collectable which is actually four original albums rolled into one box and missing the earlier and later hits (Moon River, Love Story). Mind you, those are very worthy albums, especially Love Andy, but not if you're only looking for greatest hits.

For additional cravings, get the fantastic "In The Lounge With Andy Williams" collection from the UK...you'd only get a minimum of duplicated tracks, and the songs are more contemporary and portray Mr Williams as a genuinely cool artist with an open ear and mind to youth culture.

I can't think of anyone else before or since with a voice like Andy Williams, the kind of smokey quality that seems to harmonize with itself. Only Art Garfunkel comes close.

Listening to Andy Williams brought back lots of memories. You just don't hear these songs played on free radio anymore. Now I can listen anytime I want. Great CD!

Being a Sinatraphile, I don't often like to venture into the domain of other "Easy Listening" singers; I generally stick with the best. However, every now and then I pop in something different just for the sake of variety. If nothing else, it makes me appreciate Sinatra that much more. But I digress. Williams has a very smooth, pleasant voice. He's not offensive, his voice is distinctive, and he has sung some good songs. Besides, he was a friend and supporter of Bobby Kennedy, so he must be a halfway decent guy. This collection is pretty solid: his signature song, "Moon River," is here; "Can't Get Used to Losing You" is a damn fine, catchy tune; "Dear Heart" and "Days of Wine and Roses" are also quite good, though my favorite song on this collection is the beautiful "Emily." There are some standards and a couple I could do without, but overall I would consider this a good buy.

Mention Andy Williams' name to just about anyone a Boomer or younger, and you may get a rolling of the eyes,or shoulder shrug. Andy seems to be in line with Bing, Dean,and Perry, way below Frank, with mainly bland renditions of the tried and true. Nonetheless, there are some worthy peaks, along with some dull valleys. In fact Andy's three essentials are here on this CD. They are MOON RIVER,BORN FREE, and THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM.I think Andy's versions of all three beat the competition,and that includes the renditions by any of the above four (including Frank! ) The other numbers here are generally reasonable, even if the material may be B-Rated. All in all, a very worthy collection, by an oft overlooked singer,who in his heyday (1960's) was continually a huge seller for the grown-up crowd.

This takes me back to afternoons at home filtering through my mom's record collection and just beaming at how great this man is! What a voice. If you'd like to hear updated renditions of these type of popular standards, check out CT Apple's "The Road."

I don't expect anything more in sound quality or in composition. What i got was a definite 60's CD with a 60's quality and content. I'm happy as a little Vegimite with it.

The music is all easy-listening.
His voice and the songs take me back to a slower, less hectic paced life.
Very good in the car..good traveling music.

Andy Williams is a national treasure and this album clearly demonstrates that. He performs superbly and is so easy on the ears.

Andy Williams has always been a favorite singer of mine. I watched his show with my parents each week for years. This CD brought back wonderful memories for me.
The quality of the recordings was excellent. And the songs included were a great variety of his work. The CD arrived is excellent condition.