Customer Reviews

The Very Best of Lou Monte

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

While a competent serious vocalist, Lou Monte is best known for his Italian-flavored novelty tunes from the late 50's and early 60's. You don't have to be Italian to bop along with the bouncy "Lazy Mary" and crack a smile in the process. And while it never made it into the top 100, the same reaction comes with hearing the goofy "Dominick The Donkey (The Italian Christmas Donkey".

In the vein of Ross Bagdasarian's chipmunks, Monte had his biggest hit with "Pepino the Italian Mouse" in 1962. Also included in this collection is one of the funniest novelty tunes that didn't become a hit single, "Mama Get the Hammer (There's a Fly on Papa's Head)". Novelty tunes and otherwise, the entire disc is totally entertaining.

From a production standpoint, Taragon has done an outstanding job here with superb sound quality throughout. Tracks 1-7 and 12 are in mono with all other tracks in stereo and all mastered from the original masters and session tapes. Liner notes are brief - a four page booklet with a two-page musical background on Monte's career. While just a bit meager in some respects, this is an outstanding production and wonderfully entertaining to boot.

The immortal Lou Monte celebrates the lighter side of Italian-American life. Anyone raised in (or married into) this subculture cannot fail to laugh and be uplifted.

The world may be bigger than the Bronx, but the world is not big enough to contain the joy of Lou Monte!

As an ardent fan of Lou Monte for 40 years...this CD has been a "wish come true" for me. I would never have believed that I could replace my worn out records with a remastered CD of these original songs. He will always live on, for me!

Guaranteed the songs will put you in a good mood, especially Lazy Mary and Pepino, The Italian Mouse. Brings back a lot of good memories of good food, drink, and family and friends.

I never thought about it 'till my daughter was born to find that wonderful music that filled our home when I was growing up in Little Italy Cleveland. Thank goodeness I did find it. My whole family loves it. Wonderful memories of my father. Thank you Lou Monte...

This album is wonderful! Lou Monte's humorous songs remind me of Sunday's at Grandma's house; of hot bread and meatballs, glasses of red wine, and sing alongs with my Aunts, Uncles, and cousins.

If you are an Italian American, or know somebody who is one, you will love this CD. Especially if you are from NJ, Lou Monte's home, you will enjoy the great Italian American sound, and his great humor as well.

Lou monte's songs become more enchanting each time you listen to them! I often find myself singing them during the course of the day. His music is fun, light, and uplifting. It's addicting! I highly recommend adding all of his available CD's to your musical library!

It would be more perfect if the song "Half a Love" was added here. To my disappointment, Monte's next CD entitled "Sings Songs For Pizza Lovers/Sings For You" still looses this very best one.

The only folly in this collection is the omission of "That's Amore" which Monte does on a Starbuck's compilation titled "Cafe Italiano". Monte marks a sweet bygone moment and sensibility for those of us who remember the incursion of Italian pop into American culture in the early 60s.