Customer Reviews

The Movie Song Album

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have more albums by Sinatra, but if I could only take one with me to that desert island... this would be the one. It is... incomparable. An example of the best movie songs from the golden age of American song, done with the kind of concert orchestrations that soon became impossible to find as rock norms took over. And Tony sings with an effortless-sounding mastery that I can't find words to describe. One after another these songs sweep over the emotions, haunting, aching, yearning. Single best track has to be the astonishing theme from THE PAWNBROKER. But there's also EMILY, SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE, MAYBE SEPTEMBER... each one given it's definitive performance by Tony at the peak of his vocal artistry. Lights down... arm around your girl... close your eyes. Tony's voice is about to recreate some unforgettable pictures once again.

argue with Ol' Blue Eyes? Go ahead, listen to MAYBE SEPTEMBER and see if you dont find yourself feeling nostalgic...Tony pairs up with Quincy Jones on a haunting reading of THE THEME FROM THE PAWNBROKER, and nothing can bring a smile to your face more than hearing Tony's touching version of NEVER TOO LATE. While Andy Williams may have landed a signature song with DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES, Tony's version is particularly inspired, and the arrangement is top-notch. Tony once said it took him a whole year to get the song THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE down before he recorded it, and it certainly shows (This version includes the seldom heard verse) While almost everyone has covered this song (Jack Jones' version is beautiful, but not quite as this one!) Tony's is still champion. Listen to the singer dubbed by SINATRA (and this listener) as the GREATEST on one of his very greatest albums indeed!

In a recent PBS interview, Tony Bennett cited this album, among so many classics, as his favorite. He said the reason was because all the movie theme songs on this album were arranged by each individual composer. In this cd, Bennett is at the peak of his vocal form and is working (as mentioned) with each different well-known composer on each song he sings. The results are what I consider to be a long buried treasure of brilliantly performed movie themes. If you have an ounce of romance left in your body, this cd is gonna kill ya!

One of the record label rages in the mid sixties along with the bossa nova album, was to have their artist record a movie songs album, for this was the hay day of pop movie tunes, reaching it's peak with Mancini's, "Moon River". "Tony Bennett's Movie Song Album", was perhaps the best of the bunch. The most prominent tune, "The Shadow of Your Smile" was a jukebox hit from the Taylor and Burton film," The Sandpiper". The balance of the theme songs that he recorded were unusual, not the standard fare, did anyone else record the title theme from ,"The Pawnbroker" or "The Oscar"? "The Trolley Song" from "Meet Me In St Louis" is here along with the wonderful Johnny Mandel song from The Americanization of Emily". I have listened to and loved this album for decades if you are not familiar with it sample some of the selections and see if you don't agree with me that it is one of Mr. B's best.

I've owned this album since 1966. It's never sounded dated. Johnny Mandel's string scorings are the best. And the piano accompaniments of Tommy Flanagan ("Smile") and Jimmy Rowles ("The Shadow of Your Smile") are of the highest artistic merit. Larry Wilcox's arrangement of The Days of Wine and Rose is great as is Al Cohn's arangement of The Trolley Song. Quincy Jones's arrangements are the greatest, too.

These are American Art Songs sung by a great interpreter of that genre. Buy it and enjoy it for the rest of your life.

I think this is one of Tony Bennett's best albums on CD. I love "Samba De Orfeu" and "The Shadow Of Your Smile" because they possess that "in" sound that is so endearing and never seems to age with time touching a chord in all of us commenting about the beauty of just enjoying life. I love movies and the 60s and this album satisfies those two passions wonderfully. "Maybe September" sort of sums it all up. I really savor this album.

This is a fine ballad offering from mister BENNETT.You can't go wrong with this one.Highlights are MAYBE SEPTEMBER and THE PAWNBROKER,both perfectly fit for his voice,but the album is a winner all the way.Many of the songs here:EMILY,SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE,SECOND TIME AROUND and DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES were also covered by ANDY WILLIAMS at about the same time.GIRL TALK can be considered a funny pre-feminist song and THE TROLLEY SONG will always be associated with JUDY GARLAND.Your only reason not to buy this is that if you are allergic to ballads.Ideal to relax after a hard day.

I have read the reviews already posted about this recording and I agree with all of them.All the songs are ballads except "The Trolley Song"and features Zoot Sims on Tenor.Other musicians featured on the album are Tommy Flanagan, Lou Levy, Jimmie Rowles & Luiz Bonfa.I cannot say enough about it. The Arrangements are excellent!! The Arrangers are excellent! The Musicians are excellent!Tony Bennett is superb as always.I think if you get a chance to hear this album, I am sure it will be one of your favorites also.(VLS)

I love this CD. It is Mr. Bennett at his strongest, clearest voice and the movie themes are wonderful with his own special way of interpreting them without sounding like, for instance, Andy Williams when he sings "The Days of Wine and Roses". I don't get tired of listening to this CD.

An interesting album because there's a multitude of arrangers which usually means an album will be an unfortunate mishmash of styles, but in this case it's held together by the power of Bennett's performances. I love his voice during the 1960's, which I think is his peak. His voice is warm, and while it had deepened and become more appealing as he approached 40, it had not yet started to become raspy as it would several years later. Bennett also had become a mature interpreter of popular songs, and it really shows here. There are several bonafide classics including the definitive version of "The Shadow of Your Smile" which may have attained standard status because of Bennett's powerful performance. "The Pawnbroker" should probably also have become a standard but might have fallen short due to some fairly contrived lyrics. "The Gentle Rain" and "Maybe September" cannot be improved upon.

Not everything is perfect. I don't think he adds anything to "Days of Wine and Roses" and "The Trolley Song" isn't that great, but this is a must have for fans of classic pop music.