Customer Reviews

The Italian Love Songs

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am only 19 years old but have quite and extensive Dino collection and this was the first Dino CD i ever purchased. I had, for years listened to those old LPs on my grandmother's record player. The sound quality wasn't all that great but the quality of Dino's voice was unmatched, even today. All together i have about 20 records and you get a little of his wonderful Italian flair here and there. I can't remember how many times i listened to Volare when i was a kid and growing to appreciate the song and it's singer more each time i heard it. But I never realized the greatness of his voice until I bought this CD. The first thing that blew me away was the sound quality (having listened to him on album my entire life). His voice was smoother and more melifluous than i had ever heard and when Volare came on the chills ran down my spine. The rest of the CD was almost as great, each song wonderfully remastered and begging to played over and over again on your CD player as it is on mine. I was always slightly dissapointed to hear an Italian baritone singing country western (not that I don't like his country songs) and always loved hearing him sing in Italian. True most of these song are mostly if not entirely sung in English, which is the only detrimental feature to this entire album. But when the noble roman lyrics do poke through you can, if you close your eyes, see him singing on the streets of Rome to all the beautiful women. Add it to you collection or start it off with this album, either way you will not be dissapointed.

Dean Martin is superb on this cd ! his silky smooth voice, sings all these beautiful melodies with such feeling.
And of course, needless to say, his Italian is flawless.

All these songs are so relaxing, that there should be a warning on the cover not to drive or operate machinery while listening !!!
You will not regret adding this one to your collection.

What a georgous collection of songs! Being Italain myself, a lot of these songs I grew up hearing from other artist. Hearing Dean singing these songs is like hearing them for the first time. What a voice... what a ledgend!

I bought this album to use as background dinner music at my wedding, and I received so many thanks and compliments from friends and family. I listen to this CD all the time and recommend it to all. The album is cohesive and engaging. It will put anyone in the mood for love!

This is an essential album for any fan of Dino. It is perfect for a romantic night in. You can't go wrong with this collection of Dean Martins best love songs.

I love this album especially RETURN TO ME, NON-DIMENTICAR and YOU'RE BREAKING MY HEART CAUSE YOU'RE LEAVING.

Dean had a way of singing these songs with the right amount of passion but yet he still sounds relaxed as usual. His ITALIAN (from what I can tell) is flawless.

Finally, some the songs are just simply fun to listen to and make you want to get out the VINO!

The sounds on this album is good but it is not what it could be. By that I mean, there is excess reverb and it sounds a tiny bit distored at times. But on such a GREAT album, you can more than live with that!

The first time I heard this I was a little put off by the sappy, choral breaks--I guess they were considered de riguer at the time of production .. .Dino sure as hell doesn't need any help setting a romantic mood and those canned singers detract from his sultry timelessness. However, Dino transcends that beautifully as he glides effortlessly between English and Italian lyrics (according to the notes, he spoke only Italian until age 5). Picture yourself outside on a warm spring night at a candlelit cafe' table in Roma . . .

One can buy so many CDs used nowadays; paying full price doesn't often feel worth it; but in this case, it is worth every red cent. Okay, Dino is American, Dino is Italian American, hailing from Steubenville Ohio, he was brought up, on the Italian language, it comes through the speakers, he's a native speaker, with ancestry in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Maybe for strict Italian, I don't know, I think, I'd still like it. I've travelled abroad; can speak two other languages, this collection, gives one some desires to even hear Dean sing in French and Spanish as he did, his talents being so diverse. Maybe this album too, to some, is like travelling abroad, you are not totally immersed in the culture, but you get a good flavoring of it. It might be a nice doorway to listen to other Italian/mandolin music; which brings to mind, some of the arrangements are stunning;

The famous "Return to Me" being maybe the best example, but not the only one. "Volare" is good, but somehow, I favor the Vic Damone (I believe) version more.

"Come back to Sorrento"; I believe is all in Italian, despite it's name, maybe a small part in the end is in English. Maybe in this case, I would like to understand more of the message of the song. What's important with Dean Martin, is that it is his native language, Italian, so it is not as if, he struggles, tries to sing some words, which, say, with all due respect to Nat King Cole, he did wonders for the Spanish language in singing some of his songs in that language, but a native speaker may be able to tell, his pronunciation is not perfect. They were hits in Latin America anyway. This is not a drawback for Nat King Cole, but it is a plus for Dean Martin, he really sings these songs, with Italian spirit!

Does it make you feel like loving? I don't know, but a few of these can surely bring tears to your eyes. For example, "From the bottom of my heart."

Not being in the know on some things, "O Sole Mio" seems to be the same song, as Elvis' "It's now or never."

Not much comment needs to be made on the wellknown songs of Dean Martin on this CD, such as "That's amoure" ; however, I will say, that with "That's amoure" I have a better appreciation of this song, presented with Dean's other Italian-American interpretations and singings of this album.

"Luna Mezzo Mare" is well done, and if you have listened to International music, the style, makes me think, of other songs I have heard, making it sound somewhat nostalgic and Italian.

If you never go to Italy, you'll get a taste of it with this CD.

"If ever a voice was put on this planet to sing Italian songs, it certainly belonged to Dino Paul Crocetti, Dean Martin to the million of fans all over the world who adored him....No other artist had as many Italian songs so closely related with his career before Dean, and no other has come close since." ~ James Ritz ~

Like my late parents, I have always loved listening to Dean Martin's albums and this 2001 compilation, "Italian Love Songs," is not an exception. I just loved this collection for many wonderful reasons. For one, the material has a spellbinding charm that captivates your ears and touches your heart and soul. Dean Martin surely made a statement with his superb, spotless and effortless renditions of these Italian love songs with genuine emotion each song evokes. The artful arrangements and orchestrations are courtesy of Gus Levine and Dick Stabile with their respective orchestras.

While he brings along on this recording a touch of happiness in "Nel Blu Dipinto De Blu" and "Sott'er Cielo de Roma," he carries a bit of sadness in "Ritorna Me" and "Mattinata."

He also displays his most romantic form as he sings "Innamorata" and "That's Amore," but conveys a tinge of melancholy in "Non Dementicar," "O Sole Mio" and "Come Back To Sorrento."

These are the very songs that made Dean Martin "La Passione di Roma" who was adored by millions of music lovers all throughout the world. The magical spell of hauntingly beautiful Italian love songs can be captured in this lovely album. So listen now and enjoy!

With my heartfelt recommendation.

The songs on this album are Italian perfection! Dean Martin did such a smooth job. If you want light-hearted, easy listening music with great vocals and instrumentals, this is one I'd definitely recommend.