Songs of Love [Box set, Import]

Matt Monro | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 16, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Box set, Import
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: EMI Import
• ASIN: B00000G1IK
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,470 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Softly As I Leave You

2. Portrait Of My Love

3. Somewhere

4. From Russia With Love

5. On Days Like These

6. Michelle

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Let's Face The Music And Dance

2. When I Fall In Love

3. Autumn Leaves

4. Sweet Lorraine

5. Stardust

6. Didn't We

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. One Day

2. Unchained Melody

3. In The Arms Of Love

4. A Man And A Woman

5. Hello Young Lovers

6. You Light Up My Life

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

1998 compilation for the late pop vocalist (known to worldwide audiences as the voice of one of the best James Bond themes, 'From Russia with Love') features 54 tracks. 3 standard jewelcases housed in a slipcase. EMI.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Under-rated Singer of Our Time, June 2, 2000

By 

Kai C Wong (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songs of Love (Audio CD)

It would be hard-pressed, if not impossible, to find faults with Matt Monro's delivery of love songs in this box set. He has a distinctive style that is a class of its own, an emotional content that is precise yet expressive. Perhaps it is just as well he was not as widely successful as he should have been. For us his die-hard fans we'll always take pride in that we are in the minority that know and appreciate his contribution to music and songs the way they are meant to go together.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a superb collection by a masterful singer, September 25, 2004

By 

Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Songs of Love (Audio CD)

Matt Monro was England's gift to the world of pop singing, and is one of my very favorite singers. His smooth, slightly smoky sound, his amazing breath control, perfect enunciation, and classic interpretations with no vocal gimmicks, make him a master of the ballad, and an incomparable singer of love songs.
This 3 Disc collection spans the years 1960-1980, with every number a gem, except for "And You Smiled" on Disc # 2 from 1973, which is the only song of the 44 presented that sounds a little dated.

Some of the best songs throughout the years have been written for film, and Matt sings many of the best, like "From Russia with Love" which he sang in the 1963 James Bond film, the gorgeous "Speak Softly Love", from Nino Rota's score for "Godfather I", and one I adore, Michel Legrand's "I Will Wait for You", from "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg".
The big band arrangement of Irving Berlin's "Let's Face the Music and Dance" is fabulous, and will make you want to put on your Fred and Ginger shoes, and his phrasing in "Autumn Leaves" is simply astounding.

There are also many songs from Broadway shows, like "Somewhere" from "West Side Story", "Hello Young Lovers" from "King and I" and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" from "My Fair Lady".
Other highlights for me are Jimmy Webb's "Didn't We", and a song that is not sung enough by contemporary singers, "Love is a Many Splendored Thing"; a real treat, sung in heavily accented Spanish, is a marvelous rendition of Jaques Brel's "If You Go Away" ("No Me Dejes"). Matt was very popular in South America, and listening to this track, one can understand why.

Matt had a hard early life, growing up in the East End of London, and even did a stint as a truck driver, until George Martin (who produced The Beatles) heard him and was instrumental in putting him on the road to fame, with songs like "Portrait of My Love" which was a Top 10 hit in the U.K. in 1960.
Matt's health was compromised by his drinking habit, and unfortunately he passed on of liver cancer in 1985 at the age of 54; fortunately his recordings live on, to be heard for all time by those who appreciate the finest in singing.
The fold out inserts only have a song list, and no acknowledgements are made for the arrangements, but I would assume most of them were done by Johnnie Spence; the sound is good and total playing time is: Disc # 1, 51'52. Disc # 2, 51'41, and Disc # 3, 59'37.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding voice and melody, March 29, 2000

By 

Francisco T. (Miami, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songs of Love (Audio CD)

This CD has provided me with countless hours of listening pleasure. What a shame that Mr. Monro was contemporaneous with Frank Sinatra and was borne in England for it could have been him with the highest reputation. Sinatra was great but Monro was not even a step behind perhaps even better. I highly recomend this CD. "Walkaway" must be one of the greatest songs of all time and yet very unappreciated.