Customer Reviews

Wives & Lovers / Dear Heart

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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Hey, little girl... Dang, every line just burns its way into your consciousness. This is a classic Jack double set (one of several) and contains many unforgettable songs.

While the Greatest Hits compilation is superb, there are so many stunning songs on this set that weren't even 45s, that you simply cannot get your head around how utterly brilliant this man really is.

It's not just that he has a golden, smooth smooth smooth voice, with an almost operatic range, it's that he is never afraid of taking chances with his phrasing and delivery, which makes for some very exciting performances. What Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant did for Rock vocals, Jack did for the crooners. He just transformed the entire concept.

Added to that, he recorded some of the greatest songs ever written, and did it HIS way. Just pick a song off this powerhouse double set and you'll see what I mean... even the songs off Wives And Lovers alone... Wives and Lovers (of course) Toys In The Attic, Angel Eyes, the haunting Charade and Nina Never Knew, Summertime Promises, his stunningly original cover of Fly Me To The Moon... you get the idea.

This man is one class act, and this is an essential purchase.

I first became interested in Jack Jones after I heard his Grammy Award-winning version of Wives and Lovers. His was the definitive version of a truly great song by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. (Is it any wonder Bacharach is still enormously popular?)

However, when I went looking for more of Jack's albums, I was disappointed to find very few CDs from his early singing career existed. Happily that situation has been corrected with the release of these imported CDs featuring two original LP's per disc.

I was particularly excited with Wives and Lovers/Dear Heart. There are some wonderful tracks here including some lesser-known songs like Toys in the Attic and I'm Moody. Other standout songs and performances include Angel Eyes, Charade with Roger Williams on piano, and of course, Wives and Lovers.

Jack has a beautiful multi-layered voice that just gets better and better with each listening. His musical stylings are impeccable and have truly stood the test of time.

While Jack may not have enjoyed the same lasting level of popularity alongside performers like Sinatra and Bennett, it was Frank Sinatra himself who said, "Jack Jones is one of the major singers of our time." And he couldn't have been more on target.

Imports are always a bit pricey but with these discs you get your moneys worth and so much more. I wholeheartedly recommend any or all of these wonderful re-released recordings featuring Jack Jones at his absolute best.

People are used to comparing artists like they would not compare fried potatoes to apple pie. Why? I love apple pie, I love fried potatoes as I love Jack Jones and Sinatra. Jack Jones is Jack Jones! Classy, definitive from his first album you will find here in this generous pack which MCA Records from England (!!!) finally presents. I tell you this and many of all Kapp Records' Jack Jones are great treasure. Wonderful and imaginative arrangements by remarkable Pete King and Don Costa.

At the time of this writing, there is still no complete CD collection of Jack Jones' classic Kapp recordings; the only way to get these indispensible albums is on these English imports, each of which features two of the original albums on one CD. I can't stress enough how essential these are to anyone who wants to hear the voice of the century. These are the original, enduring Jack Jones recordings, his lasting contribution to music, the most perfectly enunciated, crystal-toned pieces of heartfelt romance imaginable. Jack Jones is indescribable--he reached perfection so soon, he had nowhere to go beyond that, and has been experimenting for years. Trust the perfect original. The Kapp albums, two of the very best of which are these, are the greatest "pure music" recordings ever made by a pop singer. I love them, and believe you will as well.

It is astonishing that these two albums were sung by a fellow who was only in his early to mid twenties because the singing is so perfect. On both albums, the songs are a mixture of familiar (but mostly not overfamiliar) standards and a fewer other tunes which are good enough to be standards. The second song on the CD "Toys in the Attic" might be the loveliest song you've never heard. Another standout is "When She Makes Music" by Segal/Fisher who also wrote Tony Bennett's "When Joanna Loved Me."

Many people feel that later in his career Jack Jones made some bad choices musically and lost his way, but there's only a handful of singers who ever produced albums as good as these two early albums. As the guy wrote in the liner notes, 'You can't put a copyright on greatness.'

Jack Jones at his very best. What amazes me is how people can say "He sounds better today than ever"!! Have any of the people listened to this CD?

Before Jack Jones's integrity was impugned by his recording of the smarmy "Love Boat" theme, he was an abled-voiced crooner with a knack for singing dreamy love ballads. And in this CD-twofer, Jones proves his worth as singer of merit. His selections are impeccable and the arrangements just right. They never overwhelm, blare or interfere and they showcase Jones's voice superbly. Jones does himself a favor by singing these standards and then some in a straightforward style that is free from oversentimentalizing or overwrought emotion. Only on "Come Rain or Come Shine," does Jones raise his voice to a yell. Especially outstanding on this CD is his take on Charade, which is all the better for Roger Williams piano playing. This CD is as good as Jones gets with 60-plus minutes of music.

I bought this originally for the Dear Heart album, and in my opinion, it is the better of the two. The Dear Heart album has a better song choice, although I understand that Wives & Lovers won a Grammy for Jack Jones. Jack Jones is very talented and I thoroughy enjoyed listening to his beautiful, melodic voice.

I was a young woman when Jack Jones was at the height of his popularity. Every now and then I hear his voice and I go back to a time that was so wonderful. This LP/CD
is great to listen to and it has all the songs that were hits back in the mid 60's.

The arrangements by Don Costa still moves the soul. I can't say enough about "Charade" or "Wives and Lovers "or "Toys in the Attic" I strongly recommend
this CD because it contains most of Jack Jones hits. Enjoy and take a trip back in time when life was a little less hectic and when we had to get out of the chair to turn the LP over! EVa Velasquez

These two albums are just as wonderful hearing them over 40 years after their first release. You will enjoy listening to them over and over again, just as I have. His voice is so good, you will forget where you are!