Vocal CD Box Set of the MonthTony Bennett: "The Complete Collection" (Sony) 2011
Rating:
**** (musical performance)
**** (remastering)
Between 1952 and the present day, Tony Bennett recorded an astounding 63 albums for the Columbia, CBS, and Sony labels – all of which now fall under the umbrella of Sony Music. This extensive box set brings together six decades of music, including the 11 albums he recorded for other labels, making this the first true complete albums collection. The box also features Bennett’s non-album singles from the ‘50s and an array of rarities, outtakes and other delights – including his very first recording and an Army V-Disk of “St. James Infirmary Blues.” Also included is the never-before-released "Live at the Sahara" – an incredible document of Bennett’s Las Vegas debut in 1964. The show captures all the onstage intensity, impromptu humor and crowd interaction that was the artist in his mid-‘60s prime. This 73-CD box set also features 3 DVDs. Yes, 76 discs in total!
Tony Bennett, to whom Arnaldo DeSouteiro was introduced in 1979 by their common friends Luiz Bonfá and Richard Templar, has been doing that for over 60 years: saving our souls with the greatest songs ever written. The Complete box is an absolute necessity, first because it contains several previously unreleased albums, like "On the Glory Road" and "From This Moment On," a live concert taped in Las Vegas that collectors have been salivating over since 1964. But more important, the new box is essential because up to now, Bennett has been the one singer of his stature to have such a large part of his canon unavailable in the digital era. Over the last 25 years, it has been possible to obtain virtually everything ever done by such Bennett peers as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Sarah Vaughan, yet somehow many absolutely classic Tony Bennett albums have never seen the light of day on CD: "Hometown My Town," "Love Story," "Get Happy" with the London Philharmonic, "Summer of '42," "Yesterday I Heard the Rain," "Tony Makes It Happen," and many others.
Bennett's career has been a long one: the box covers a span of 65 years, starting with that 1946 aircheck (originating from occupied Germany), when PFC Bennett was probably not yet 20, and goes up to "Duets II," the last tracks of which (including duets with Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga) were recorded as he was gearing up for his 85th birthday. (In fact, producer Didier Deutsch and engineer Dae Bennett, the singer's son, were already working on this box when Tony had yet to record some of the tracks for Duets II.) The overall effect of the package, 73 CDs and three DVDs, is overwhelming. The videos include his Grammy-winning "MTV Unplugged" special from 1994; "An American Classic," a documentary produced by Clint Eastwood around the time of Mr. Bennett's 80th; and a very rare filmed concert from 1970 with the London Philharmonic.
However...there are several missing tracks. They are:
ITEM#/TITLE/RECORDING DATE/BEST SOURCE
1. Let's Make Love 17-Apr-50 VINYL
2. Our Lady of Fatima 14-Jul-50 PROPERBOX 121 CD
3. Kiss You 23-Aug-50 PROPERBOX 121 CD
4. Beautiful Madness 17-Jan-51 PROPERBOX 121 CD
5. Madonna, Madonna 11-May-54 PROPERBOX 121 CD
6. Friend's Blues (Ralph Sharon; Tony only scats) 3-Jun-58 VINYL (also expensive JAP CD)
7. How Long Has This Been Going On? 26-Feb-64 VELVET BOX CD OF WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (SONY 69699 85807 2)
8. All Of You 26-Feb-64 VELVET BOX CD OF WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (SONY 69699 85807 2)
9. We'll Be Together Again 26-Feb-64 VELVET BOX CD OF WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (SONY 69699 85807 2)
10. You Can't Love ‘Em All 26-Feb-64 GREAT AMERICAN COMPOSERS: VAN HEUSEN CD (COLUMBIA 2CS2 8164)
11. What Child Is This 1-Sep-67 NEW CD CLASSIC CHRISTMAS COLLECTION (SONY)
12. I, Yes Me, That's Who! 20-Jan-70 GREAT AMERICAN COMPOSERS: SAMMY CAHN CD (COLUMBIA 2CS2 8165)
13. Fred 25-Jan-71 GREAT AMERICAN COMPOSERS: SAMMY CAHN CD (COLUMBIA 2CS2 8165
14. All That Love Went To Waste (Phillips) Nov 1973 VINYL
15. Some of these Days (Phillips) Nov 1973 VINYL
16. I'm Just A Lucky So and So (Concord Records) 15-Apr-77 TRIBUTE TO DUKE CD (CONCORD CCD-4050)
17. Prelude to a Kiss (Concord Records) 15-Apr-77 TRIBUTE TO DUKE CD (CONCORD CCD-4050)
18. Capitol City (from SIMPSONS CD) Nov 1990 SONGS IN THE KEY OF SPRINGFIELD CD (Rhino CD: 8122-72723-2 )
19. I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart May 1999 HOT AND COOL BONUS CD (CSK 46304)
20. Something To Live For May 1999 HOT AND COOL BONUS CD (CSK 46304)
21. Love Me Tender (TV performance) 1994 ELVIS, IT'S NOW OR NEVER (MERCURY CD)
22. Young at Heart - duet with Shawn Colvin 1994 IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU SOUNDTRACK CD (COLUMBIA CK 66184)
23. Always 1994 IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU SOUNDTRACK CD (COLUMBIA CK 66184)
24. What a Difference a Day Made 1996 ONE FINE DAY SOUNDTRACK CD (COLUMBIA CD CK 67916)
25. I Get Along Without You Very Well Sep 2001 STARDUST CD (BLUE NOTE)
26. If Yesterday Could Only Be Tomorrow 2002 DIVINE SECRETS OF YA-YA SISTERHOOD soundtrack (COLUMBIA CD: 5089592)
27. Colors of My Life 2002 IT STARTED WITH A SONG (CY COLEMAN CD Sony Music CD: SK 89138)
28. I Can't Get Started (with Doc Severinson Band) 1991 ONCE MORE WITH FEELING, DOC SEVERINSON (AMHERST CD)
29. O Sole Mio 9/11/72 from GOOD THINGS IN LIFE (Curb CD: D2-77447 — BEST OF TONY BENNETT)
30. Lovers After All rec. 2004 recorded for ART OF ROMANCE, issued on Sony Music CD: 5187092000 — The Art Of Romance [Import version]
31. The Lady Sings The Blues - 1977 from Jazz Arc LP 12″: 19795 — The Songs Of Alec Wilder VINYL
32. Jingle Bells (2008) (Bloomingdale's Exclusive Version), ALSO ON JAP VERSION OF CD SWINGIN' CHRISTMAS
33. Christmas In Herald Square (1995 Version/ different arrangement) (released on Christmas With The Stars Columbia CD originally sold through Avon)
34. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (2001) Soundtrack CD: Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys
35. Sing You Sinners (rec. 7/20/50) new box lists this recording as being on disc #3, track #5. However, it is really the 12/15/55 recording, which is repeated again on the new box as disc #6, track #8. Original 1950 version is available on PROPERBOX 121 CD
36. Christmas Song (1992) with Manhattan Transfer from MANHATTAN TRANSFER A CHRISTMAS ALBUM (Sony CD 0074645296821)
37. If I Could Go Back (rec. 9/20/72) for LISTEN EASY, only source is original vinyl
MISSING ALTERNATE TAKES
1. The Man That Got Away rec. 1959 from SINGS FOR TWO, alt issued on the FORTY YEARS: ARTISTRY box set
2. Everybody Has The Blues,
3. How Do you Keep The Music Playing
4. The Day You Leave Me
#2-4 recorded for THE ART OF EXCELLENCE (1986) all alternate takes issued on the “Velvet Box” COLLECTION version of that album in 2006
5. A Child Is Born (take #2)
6. You Don't Know What Love Is (take #16)
7. Maybe September (take #8)
8. You Must Believe In Spring (take #1)
9. Who Can I Turn To (take #6)
#5-9 alternate takes from second Bill Evans album, TOGETHER AGAIN, issued on CD COMPLETE BILL EVANS RECORDINGS (Concord FAN-31281)
10. The Rules of the Road with Ralph Sharon Trio, alternate take rec. February 26, 1964, different from version finally issued on WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW, alt take can be found on ESSENTIAL TONY BENNETT CD Columbia/Legacy 86634
MISSING DUETS
1. The Lady Is A Tramp (1987) - with Frank Sinatra *A bonus live duet from Bally's that was issued by Columbia on the Target-exclusive edition of the first Bennett Duets CD.
2. I Left My Heart In San Francisco - with Judy Garland *A bonus live duet from Judy's TV show that was issued by Columbia on the Target-exclusive edition of the first Bennett Duets CD.
3. When You Wish Upon A Star - with Jackie Evancho (Target exclusive from Duets II)
4. They Can't Take That Away From Me - with Brad Paisley (Target exclusive from Duets II)
5. Steppin' Out (duet with Delta Goodrum) rec. 2/2006 and released on Australian CD version of DUETS)
6. If I Ruled the World (duet with Wang Hom Lee) rec 2006 and released on Singapore version of DUETS)
7. “I've Got the World on a String” (2006) - duet with Diana Krall was issued by Columbia on the Target-exclusive edition of the first Bennett Duets CD
8. “Steppin' Out with My Baby” - (2006) duet with Michael Buble was issued by Columbia on the Target-exclusive edition of the first Bennett Duets CD
9. New York, New York (2011) live duet with Andrea Bocelli from Bocelli's CONCERTO, ONE NIGHT IN CENTRAL PARK CD, issued on Decca/Universal
10. New York State of Mind (2008) live duet with Billy Joel from Joel's LIVE AT SHEA STADIUM, Sony Columbia/Legacy CD 88697 85424 2
No comments:
Post a Comment