The Fabulous Fifties: Those Wonderful Years

Various Artists (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 3, 2001)
• Original Release Date: April 3, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Time Life Records
• ASIN: B00005AQIP
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,089 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Venus - Frankie Avalon

2. Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing - The Four Aces

3. Banana Boat Song (Day-O) - Harry Belafonte

4. Love Letters in the Sand - Pat Boone

5. White Sport Coat (And a Pink Carnation) - Marty Robbins

6. Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler

7. Tammy - Debbie Reynolds

8. Don't You Know - Della Reese

9. My Happiness - Connie Francis

10. It's All in the Game - Tommy Edwards

11. Heart of Stone - The Fontane Sisters

12. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - The Platters

13. Catch a Falling Star - Perry Como

14. Chances Are - Ray Conniff & His Orchestra, Johnny Mathis, Johnny Mathis

15. Sugartime - The McGuire Sisters

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Terrific CD from the 50s, February 13, 2005

By	Richard L. Sites (Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a strong collection of 15 songs from the 50s, and worth the purchase price. It is one of the Time Life CDs, so you know the quality is first class and the insert contains some information about each song. Note this is not a collection of rock 'n roll songs, more the kind of song your parents listened to on the kitchen or car radio while you were an innocent kid. I'd give it 5 stars but it has 15 songs and Time Life could have been more generous--say giving us 20 songs. This is my kind of music, maybe it's yours too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fine album of charming nostalgia, March 11, 2008

By	Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

The Fabulous Fifties: Those Wonderful Years has fifteen great tunes from the `50s that made the airwaves sizzle back in the day! These tunes will be sure to bring back fond memories for the people who first heard them on the radio; the sound quality is really very good and I like the artwork, too.

Frankie Avalon kicks things off with his huge hit "Venus." Frankie sings of his one true love as he sings to Venus, the Greek goddess. Frankie sounds great on this number and he never misses a beat! I'm very impressed; I always liked this tune. "Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing" gets a fine interpretation from The Four Aces; they sing this with sensitivity and panache every step of the way. How they harmonize, too! Awesome!

Pat Boone scores a hit with his "Love Letters In The Sand;" this was probably one of Pat's very biggest hits and he sings this like the champ he always was! The brass enhances the musical arrangement and the electric guitar works well, too. We also get "A White Sport Coat (And A Pink Carnation)" by Marty Robbins; he sings this with a lot of style and the backup chorus supports Marty well. The guitars and drums bolster the melody and together it all holds its own very well.

Della Reese has one of my favorite `50s tunes even when she sings "Don't You Know." Della's voice has operatic qualities that clearly come out on this number; and she sings this so well I could never tire of hearing this ballad. I find "Don't You Know" to be stunningly beautiful.

Connie Francis sounds perfect on "My Happiness;" and Tommy Edwards delivers "It's All In The Game" so well he bats this straight out of the ballpark! Tommy's excellent ability to impart every subtle nuance of the romantic lyrics makes his performance very strong and moving as well. The Platters also do a wonderful job on "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes;" the strings and their voices combine to make this a heavenly delight.

Johnny Mathis weaves a magical spell with one of his signature songs entitled "Chances Are." This passionate love ballad transcends time; it sounds fresh and wonderful today all these years later. Johnny sang this in a way that few people ever could!

Overall, this CD entitled The Fabulous Fifties: Those Wonderful Years really made a strong, positive impression on me. I love the music and the sound quality is excellent. If you like `50s classic pop vocals this is a CD you must own!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Solid and Diverse Collection, May 12, 2006

By	Scooter (Southern California) - See all my reviews

I agree with the previous reviewer that this is a strong collection. There are about 130 songs on this set and they include some very rare tracks you won't find anywhere else, except by compiliation, such as the Chordettes, "Lollipop" and Guy Mitchell's "Singing the Blues."

In addition, there are some standard favorites such as Nat King Cole, Pat Boone, Dean Martin, and the Four Lads.

There is something for everyone, rock, pop, or country.

I will say the collection is missing Buddy Holly, Bill Haley, and Elvis, as well as the Do-Wop genre. So if you are looking for a complete compiliation, this is not it, but it is pretty darn close.

For pure volume of tracks, I give this five stars.