Customer Reviews

Ultimate Collection

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

 

 

This is a most welcome comprehensive collection of Kostelanetz recordings covering his Columbia records career that spanned decades. It contains plenty of great examples of both his classical and pop recordings. His mastery of arrangement certainly had no equal in the 50s and 60s and there's lots and lots of proof of this spread over these discs. The first two discs are completely flawless. Practically every performance is five star quality. The first several tracks of the third disc continue the excellence but about a third of the way into this disc (and into Kostelanetz's 70s recordings) the arrangements start to sound more and more dated. There's something about the great orchestral masters adopting the styles of 1970s pop music that just doesn't hold up well today. I guess no one knew at the time that the 50s and 60s material would sound so much better so many years down the line so perhaps, no one is to blame. But I would rather have had more classical works or more 60s pop and left the 70s tracks to gather dust in the vault. Three essential tracks that are missing: "Somewhere My Love", "Bluesette" and Gershwin's "Promenade". Other than that, a really excellent (and beautifully remastered) collection.

When I was a teenager, I loved the Beatles and their song "Yesterday". I also loved the Monkeys. However, I had a side of me that loved Johnnie Mathis' song "The Shadow of Your Smile" and then my all time favorite albums were ones by Andre Kostelanetz. When John Kennedy was assasinated, Andre's albums were there for me. I am Black, which should not be a variable in this review, but I want to encourage those of every race to partake of this Ultimate Collection.

If you liked easy listening FM radio and really miss it, this collection is for you. It is all of the things you remember hearing.

Along with Billy Vaughn, Percy Faith, Ray Conniff and Mantovani, Kostelanetz was one of biggest names in the 50s and 60s, in the
easy-listening category. He had good taste selecting the musics, and
his sound was "full, luxurious, beautiful".
I suggest, too, Bert Kaempfert, Clebanoff, Hugo Winterhalter, Les Baxter,
Paul Mauriat and Franck Pourcel. This 3-CDs set is very good!

THIS CD SET FEATURES AN EXCELLENT SELECTION OF ANDRE KOSTALANETZ'S COLUMBIA RECORDINGS FROM THE 1960S AND 1970S. THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL, EXQUISITE ARRANGEMENTS OF WONDERFUL SONGS. IF YOU LOVE BEAUTIFUL MEOLODYS PLAYED IN AN UNFORGETTABLE, ROMANTIC. LUSH MANNER..THIS SET IS FOR YOU....I CAN NEVER HEAR ENOUGH OR COLLECT ENOUGH BY ANDRE KOSTELANETZ...WITH ALL THE DIFFICULT ISSUES GOING ON IN THE WORLD AT THE PRESENT TIME IT IS REFRESHING TO TURN TO KOSTELANETZ'S RECORDINGS...NO THEY DON'T RECORD MUSIC THIS JOYOUS AND BEAUTIFUL AND POSITIVE ANY MORE AND THAT IS A SERIOUS LOSS AND A SHAME....IN THE MEANTIME PURCHASE THIS SET AND ENJOY IT ANYTIME...........THANKS TO THE DIGITAL AGE THE MUSIC OF ANDRE KOSTELANETZ WILL LIVE FOREVER.....NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC......GARY JASINKONIS..........EAST NORTHPORT, NEW YORK