Customer Reviews

Sings The Great Italian Hits

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This collection of Italian favorites is a perfect complement to any others you may have, by Jerry Vale or anyone else. With liner notes by Jerry himself, you can feel the passion behind every word and great arrangement executed here. A particular standout on this collection is "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" (sung in English) Only Vic Damone's version with Don Costa gets close to this fine reading. Another great cut off this CD is "Summertime In Venice", with its weeping mandolins and beautiful words, it's as if you're floating along on a gondola through Venice itself! The usual standards are also here, like the stirring "O Sole Mio", "Come Back To Sorrento", and "Santa Lucia", which makes this album all the more cherishable. Being 100% Italian and growing up listening to all these songs, I can attest that whether you speak fluent Italian or not a word, when the music's this good, you WILL understand it and appreciate it! (Just ask my non-Italian speaking friends if you don't believe me!) A long overdue handful of Jerry's finest songs. (Rumor has it a similar collection of "greatest hits" in English, and a boxed set are in the works for 2001; can't wait for those!)

You don't need to be Italian to enjoy these beautifully arranged and vocally superior Italian standards. This CD is a compilation of some of Jerry's best vocals. "Come Back To Sorrento", a hit single for Jerry, boosts Vale hitting his highest note. (Love those high notes!) This version of "Al Di La" is not the usual version of Jerry's, but an nice alternative version that's a must for collectors of Vale's music. Another of my favorites is on this CD, "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me". Originally sung by the "Floaters", Jerry's version rocks with strong vocals and stirring orchestration. The sensational "Amore, Scusami",(more high notes) and "Luna Rossa" are nice additions to this CD as well. Every song is a classic sung with perfection...crisp, clear, and ringing. No Jerry Vale collection would be complete without this CD.

There are no greater romantic songs....than Italian love songs. And the way Mr. Vale sings Innamorata.....brings chills to your soul! Truly beautiful!

First of all, the best Italian-American album ever. Put this in the CD player, pour a glass of wine, sit by the pool, add a little salami, provolone, and tender olives, lite the porch lites out back, and you are back listening to the songs Mama and Papa sang. This CD is so good you cant stop listening to it. I am not kidding. My kids listen to it with me. Mt father-in-law and I would sit by the pool every Sunday night, sip wine and listen to Jerry...it was heaven on Earth...and I miss those nights so much...buy this CD and see for yourself...you will know exactly what I mean. The memories are all we have left. Come join me.
Bobby

Jery Vale is one of the few singers who has managed to have a successful career extending from the romantic era of the 1950's through the rock era. Furthermore, he has done it with basically the same style throughout -- heartfelt ballades, beautifully sung. Jerry is also unusual in another way: while most of the popular crooners were light baritones, Jerry Vale is a tenor -- and a tenor with a truly beautiful, expressive voice. Since Jerry is of Italian heritage, his Italian songs -- including those on this CD -- have been especially popular. The Italian songs are wonderfully done and, as a bonus, this CD also includes Jerry's outstanding version (in English) of "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me." If you like great pop singing, please get this CD.

A great value! 18 fantastic songs including all of the Neopolitan favourites you grew up with: O Sole Mio, Luna Rossa, Come Back to Sorrento, Oh Marie. Almost all of the songs are in English, which is just as well, because when Jerry Vale sings in Italian, his American accent will make you cringe. He's got a great voice and a great style---all of his English songs are wonderful. If you are looking for Italian music in English you will love this album.

I love Italian songs. Jerry Vale does an excellent job of presenting these songs in a romantic way. I especially like Mala Femmina, Al Di La and Amore Scusami. If you like his previous albums, then you will like this too.

My father had this album many years ago.
The recording is just as perfect as I remember.
I'll be buying more Jerry Vale music.

this is one of the best cds I have ever heard. Vale sings with an intense and consistent voice. Although his Italian is not always perfect he more than makes up for it with his distinct and beautiful voice. This is a definite winner.

I have another CD version of this album from Columbia released in 1995 and I love it. Mine has 20 vice 18 tracks, and includes my favorite Italian song, Santa Lucia. One reviewer said Jerry sings in English, but on the earlier version he sings both English and Italian. This is by far my favorite Italian album among 15 that I own. Jerry's voice is so clear and emotional; it makes Dean Martin's versions (other than Thats Amore) sound tired and uninspiring. I had never listened to Jerry Vale before this, but I'm a fan now.