Customer Reviews

I Wanna Be Around

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While there is no shortage of masterful Tony Bennett albums, the Bennett of the 1960s is one of the most finely honed voices of popular music. 'I Wanna Be Around' shades more toward the 'popular' (soft swing) style than jazz, but delivers two of the singer's signature numbers and much more. 'The Good Life' and the title track are inextricably part of the Bennett story - combining a bit of the soaring, almost operatic passages with the almost conversational. Throughout, you can sense these songs fit the singer like a custom tailored suit. I agree with one of the other reviewers -- if 'I Wanna Be Around' doesn't have you reaching for the 'repeat' button, you're really missing something special.

The songs are fully up to the performance, plenty of Johnny Mercer numbers, plus Coleman and Leigh's pleasing 'I've Got Your Number' which finds singer phrasing some clever lyrics in tempo with the arrangement that neither buries the singer nor buries him in excess accompaniment. Not as jazz-touched as 'I Wanna Be Around', but another example of a singer at his peak. The original album seems to have the better music, but the performances on the additional tracks from the 'This is All I Ask' album are a satisfying way to round out the otherwise short featured collection.

Antonio Carlos Jobim's 'Corcovado' -- a huge hit for Stan Getz and later interpreted by Sinatra on his album with Jobim -- seems less perfect. Beautiful song, sensational voice, but Bennett seems to grope his way through a few of the English lyrics. Fault the lyrics, translated from Portuguese -- they're not up to the music. Sinatra performs it wonderfully on his 1967 album, maybe because he was nearly 30 years into his career and Bennett was young on this 1962 version.

This may be too much detail for most people. The bottom line is that even Sinatra considered Tony Bennett the best popular singer of the century, and it is difficult NOT to reach that conclusion. All of his albums from this era -- including the concert at Carnegie Hall -- are a real treat. Highly recommended.

I want to be around to pick up the pieces when somebody breaks your heart, someone who's twice as smart as I -- Wow! I think this is the best sung phrase in all American Song history. Beyond category.

Everyone has their own opinion weather Tony Bennett is or isn't a jazz singer, well he was and is an acceptionally great singer of traditional popular music. Nobody(with the acception of Keely Smith, Anita O'Day, and Rosemary Clooney) today can sing a standard like Mr. Bennett, because he's practicly the last of the great traditional jazz/pop vocalists around and still performing. When Bennett recorded this session, he had several hits, the title song, and The Good Life. Also Bennett included a tribute to Count Basie with "Until I Met You" and to Billie Holiday with "If You Were Mine." Many may not agree with me on Tony Bennett being a great jazz singer, however you have to admit he is truly influenced by jazz singers and musicians(Bill Evans, Art Blakey, Billie Holiday.) This excellent CD re-issues the original LP "I Wanna Be Around" as well as some bonus tracks featuring the excellent jazz trio led by Ralph Sharon, from a different session. This is classic pop singing that should appeal to jazz vocal collectors, as well as casual Tony Bennett fans. If you're looking for more jazz oriented Tony Bennett try "The Tony Bennett-Bill Evans Album" and "The Beat Of My Heart" and more recently "Steppin' Out" and he also has two more recently excellent CD's a tribute to Billie Holiday which is very good with the acception of a creepy duet with her, and an excellent tribute CD to Duke Ellington.

Tony Bennet has the lungs. There is no doubt of that. More importantly, he has the talent. That is amply demonstrated on this recording.

The songs of this album are of the lounge variety. He sings of love, loss and occasionally remonstrates on the foolishness of the human condition. That takes care of the lyrics but it is the singing that is superb. The quality of the recording matches the talent and the songs.

Tony Bennet fans should appreciate this one. It is well done

There was no male pop/contemporary singer who had quite a hot streak like Tony Bennett in the early 60's. His talent and artistry has stood the test of time.

The opening number "The Good Life" is the definitive version of this tender song. The title song "I Wanna Be Around" is filled with color and dimension. Tony's vocal timing is impeccable! There is a rather cool jazzy feel in "Until I Met You". One of the most gorgeous ballads ever recorded is "Once Upon A Summertime". Among these sweet, mellow songs is an etherical version of "Quiet Nights". Obviously, not many male contemporary singers could match Mr. Bennett in his prime!

A highly recommended experience from a rare singer from a great era. His peers were few and his talent was magnificent!

I love Tony, because of his voice and his performence is excellent, specially this album. When I had my first album titled: Bleu Velvet I was amazed and his songs are touching. My favourite songs are Stranger In Paradise, Rags To Riches, I Wanna Be Around and Tender Is The Night. I saw the movie Goodfellas when I was 15 years old and I never heard about Tony Bennett. In the movie I heard the song Rags to Riches and I jumped of my chair and I was touched. Almost every friday night when I come from a hard day work I listen to Tony's music and It really relaxes me. My mother had a bunch of Tony Bennett records when she was 20 years old and she was and still is favourit by the song Stranger In Paradise. I recommend every one who loves jazz to listen to Tony Benneth because he is one of the best singers.