Customer Reviews

Rawhide

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Dec.7/03
PJ Peake: (Nickname Bobbie)

I have this set and it is great!! Aside from the CDs, There is a
Hard Cover book with Photos and the story of the songs. This book
is the size of the box (Very large). I would rate it 5 as it is
great. It is the 3rd and last large set each with a hard cover
book. If you are a Frankie Laine fan...you will love it!!!

This is the third box set Bear Family has released devoted to Frankie Laine's music. While all three are outstanding, this is the best of the bunch, as it covers 1956-1964, one of Frankie's most exciting and diverse periods. There are fewer Mitch Miller novelty songs and more tunes that are purely musical, showing off Frankie's spectacular chops. He's got a superb sense of rhythm, but is also a fine ballad singer with an intense, emotional style that is uniquely his own.

Highlights in this set are the classic albums "Rockin," in which Frankie re-recorded many of his early hits with Paul Weston (Jo Stafford's husband); "Foreign Affair" and "Reunion in Rhythm," both recorded with Michel Legrand and featuring absolutely blazing big-band arrangements; and the brilliant concept disc "Torchin'," a gorgeous after-hours collection. There are also the Western-themed albums, numerous rare singles and foreign-language tracks in Spanish, Italian, French and German.

The sound quality is uniformly excellent, and the nine discs (not 10, as Amazon states)are all nicely packaged. The 102-page hardback book has a first-rate bio and tons of photographs. It's expensive, but it's worth it for any serious Frankie Laine fans.