Sing The Ultimate American Songbook Vol. 1

by Tony Bennett

Overview

A different sort of Tony Bennett compilation than the usual, Sings the Ultimate American Songbook, Vol. 1 packages 15 performances, spanning five decades, that comprise, from Bennett's brief notes, "A revolution in popular music that will never be topped." (He's speaking, of course, about the American songbook and not his performing career.) While listeners won't find "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" or even "Cold, Cold Heart," the names of the composers -- Porter, Kern, Gershwin, Mercer -- are familiar, as are the song titles. Still, compiler Didier C. Deutsch chose some very obscure performances to illustrate Bennett's take on the Great American Songbook, including a ghostly "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" from 1958, "Ain't Misbehavin'" from 1964, and a 1971 version of "That Old Black Magic" with help from Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond (the first two make their wide CD debut here). Of course, there are plenty of familiar items as well, including "The Way You Look Tonight" (from the 1997 film My Best Friend's Wedding); two songs from his 1993 Sinatra tribute Perfectly Frank; and "Anything Goes," although this version comes from a 1962 live album. The happy result is a compilation that can be enjoyed equally by long-time devotees as well as first-time fans. ~ John Bush

Product Details

Release Date:	09/25/2007
Label:	Legacy
UPC:	0886971532029
Rank:	4707

Tracks

1. Anything Goes
2. The Very Thought of You
3. The Way You Look Tonight
4. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye Pfrom Seven Lively Arts]
5. That Old Black Magic
6. A Foggy Day
7. I'll Be Seeing You
8. Ain't Misbehavin'
9. It Had to Be You
10. Moonglow
11. She's Funny That Way
12. You Go to My Head
13. They Can't Take That Away from Me
14. You'll Never Get Away from Me
15. Taking a Chance on Love

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tony Bennett   Primary Artist
The Ralph Sharon Trio   Primary Artist
k.d. lang   Primary Artist
Count Basie Orchestra   Primary Artist
Paul Langosch   Bass
Joe La Barbera   Drums
Cyril Ornadel   Conductor
Ralph Sharon   Piano,Conductor
Dave Brubeck   Piano
Doug Richeson   Bass
Clayton Cameron   Drums
Eugene Wright   Bass
Joe Morello   Drums
Torrie Zito   Conductor
Bobby Hackett   Cornet
Paul Desmond   Sax (Alto)
Frank DeVol   Conductor

Technical Credits

Andre Fischer   Audio Production,Producer
Howard A. Roberts   Audio Production
Al Ham   Audio Production,Producer
Ernie Altschuler   Audio Production,Producer
Mitch Miller   Audio Production,Producer
Danny Bennett   Audio Production,Producer
David Kahne   Producer
Didier C. Deutsch   Compilation Producer
Frank DeVol   Arranger
Ralph Sharon   Arranger
Jay Krugman   Project Director
Jim Parham   Project Director
Josh Cheuse   Design,Art Direction
Mark Seliger   Photography
Buddy Sarkissian   Photography
Daegal Bennett   Mastering
Don Hunstein   Photography
Tony Bennett   Producer
Jeff Katz   Photography
Torrie Zito   Arranger
Steven Berkowitz   A&R