Johnny's Greatest Hits
Artist: Johnny Mathis
Released: 1958

The original greatest-hits package, which stayed on the charts for ten years; includes "Chances Are," "It's Not for Me to Say, " "Wonderful! Wonderful!" and "The Twelfth of Never." It seldom gets more romantic than this. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide

The original greatest-hits package, which stayed on the charts for ten years; includes "Chances Are," "It's Not for Me to Say, " "Wonderful! Wonderful!" and "The Twelfth of Never." It seldom gets more romantic than this. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Capitol Collectors Series
Artist: Dean Martin
Released: 1989

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Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Moon River & Other Great Movie Themes
Artist: Andy Williams
Released: 1962

The hit title song and lush interpretations of movie-theme classics. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide

The hit title song and lush interpretations of movie-theme classics. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing 16 Most Requested Songs
Artist: Doris Day
Released: 1992

16 Most Requested Songs contains some, but not all, of Doris Day's biggest hits. Consequently, it's more of a sampler for casual fans than a definitive retrospective, but it still highlights some of her very best performances, including "A Bushel and A Peck," "You Won't Be Satisfied," "Till the End of Time," "In Love In Vain," and "Black Hills...

16 Most Requested Songs contains some, but not all, of Doris Day's biggest hits. Consequently, it's more of a sampler for casual fans than a definitive retrospective, but it still highlights some of her very best performances, including "A Bushel and A Peck," "You Won't Be Satisfied," "Till the End of Time," "In Love In Vain," and "Black Hills of Dakota." ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing 16 Most Requested Songs
Artist: Rosemary Clooney
Released: 1991

16 Most Requested Songs doesn't necessarily contain Rosemary Clooney's biggest hits -- "Hey There," "This Ole House," and "Mambo Italiano" are here, but "Memories of You," "Mangos," and several others are missing. However, it has enough of her best material to make it worthwhile for curious budget-minded fans. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All...

16 Most Requested Songs doesn't necessarily contain Rosemary Clooney's biggest hits -- "Hey There," "This Ole House," and "Mambo Italiano" are here, but "Memories of You," "Mangos," and several others are missing. However, it has enough of her best material to make it worthwhile for curious budget-minded fans. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing 50th Anniversary Collection
Artist: The Andrews Sisters
Released: 1990

The first of a very good two-volume collection of some of the Andrews Sisters' best work, this 16-song CD was more than essential at the time of its release, mostly due to the presence of several numbers that hadn't been heard in decades: "Pagan Love Song," "Shoo Shoo Baby," "Bounce Me Brother With a Solid Four," "Gimme Some Skin My Friend,"... [+] Read More

The first of a very good two-volume collection of some of the Andrews Sisters' best work, this 16-song CD was more than essential at the time of its release, mostly due to the presence of several numbers that hadn't been heard in decades: "Pagan Love Song," "Shoo Shoo Baby," "Bounce Me Brother With a Solid Four," "Gimme Some Skin My Friend," their rendition of "Tuxedo Junction," and their Danny Kaye and Al Jolson collaborations, "Civilization" and "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans." Apart from the Jolson number, which was in release in 1956, none of the others had been available since the 1940s, and all were worth hearing. Among the previously "lost" tracks, "Pagan Love Song" as a boogie-woogie style number is worth the price of the disc by itself, and "Tuxedo Junction" isn't far behind, Patty Andrews luxuriating in the lead while her sisters wrap their voices around hers like a second skin and Vic Schoen's arrangement provides playful accompaniment by the trumpets and saxes. "Gimme Some Skin My Friend" and "Bounce Me Brother With a Solid Four" are unique Andrews Sisters creations, authored by Don Raye (of "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" fame) and nearly as successful in their use of early-'40s slang. "Corns for My Country" is a delightful period song about the Hollywood Canteen (from the movie of the same title) that shows off Patty Andrews' comical mugging for the microphone. Danny Kaye makes a better lead singer than one would expect, and not just in a comic vein, and Al Jolson sounds infinitely better than one would expect on a song cut in the year of his death. The notes are also a treat, featuring reminiscences by Patty Andrews and Maxene Andrews and arranger Vic Schoen. The only drawback to this collection is that it was done in 1987, and there are now better mastering techniques and technology available. Those just discovering the trio's work, however, should also be warned that this disc doesn't stand by itself -- there are any number of key songs that only made it onto the second volume, and there are other anthologies that embrace still other parts of their vast catalog, but this and its companion volume are a nice place to start. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing The Way We Were
Artist: Barbra Streisand
Released: 1974

Though usually referred to as The Way We Were, the unwieldy full title of this album is Barbra Streisand Featuring The Hit Single The Way We Were And All In Love Is Fair, an important distinction because it was released simultaneously with the original soundtrack album for the film The Way We Were (Columbia 32830), which also contained a... [+] Read More

Though usually referred to as The Way We Were, the unwieldy full title of this album is Barbra Streisand Featuring The Hit Single The Way We Were And All In Love Is Fair, an important distinction because it was released simultaneously with the original soundtrack album for the film The Way We Were (Columbia 32830), which also contained a Streisand recording of the title song, along with the film score composed by Marvin Hamlisch. This album was thrown together quickly after that song took off as a single (in a recording different from the one in the film) in the wake of the success of the movie. In addition to the single and the Stevie Wonder song that also features in its title, the album contained a grab-bag of stray tracks dating back as far as seven years and coming from Streisand's fourth TV special, The Belle Of 14th Street and an unfinished album project called The Singer largely made up of ballads written by Alan and Marilayn Bergman and Michel Legrand...The combined commercial impact of the film and the single propelled this album to the top of the charts. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing The Ultimate Tony Bennett
Artist: Tony Bennett
Released: 2000

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Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Spotlight on June Christy - GREAT LADIES OF SONG
Artist: June Christy
Released: 1995

Spotlight on June Christy contains 18 highlights from her work for Capitol Records, concentrating on her '50s recordings. It may not result in a definitive compilation, but it is a representative and enjoyable one, containing numerous highlights including "How High the Moon?," "I Remember You, " "They Can't Take That Away from Me, " "Bewitched,... [+] Read More

Spotlight on June Christy contains 18 highlights from her work for Capitol Records, concentrating on her '50s recordings. It may not result in a definitive compilation, but it is a representative and enjoyable one, containing numerous highlights including "How High the Moon?," "I Remember You, " "They Can't Take That Away from Me, " "Bewitched, " "The Song Is You, " "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" and "How Long Has This Been Going On." It's an ideal sampler for casual fans. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Brunswick, Vol. 2
Artist: The Boswell Sisters
Released: 2000

The second Boswell Sisters anthology of Brunswick sides, covering the years 1932-1933, may not seem as substantial as its predecessor, but that's an illusion that's quickly dispelled in the listening. The collection starts off with their Dorsey Brothers-accompanied rendition of "Hand Me Down My Walking Cane," in which the trio's vocal acrobatics... [+] Read More

The second Boswell Sisters anthology of Brunswick sides, covering the years 1932-1933, may not seem as substantial as its predecessor, but that's an illusion that's quickly dispelled in the listening. The collection starts off with their Dorsey Brothers-accompanied rendition of "Hand Me Down My Walking Cane," in which the trio's vocal acrobatics spar delightfully with Bunny Berigan's trumpet. It's a promising beginning to a delightful collection that's not only great listening but excellent dance music -- this reviewer's foot was tapping to "Sleep, Come on and Take Me," and "Down Among the Sheltering Palms" is an astounding multi-part, almost conceptual number. Alternating between collaborations with the Dorseys and the leaner support of Dick McDonough's guitar and Artie Bernstein's string bass (sometimes joined by Martha Boswell's piano), with Berigan, McDonough, Manny Klein, and the Dorseys stepping out in front instrumentally in tandem with the trio's vocals, the sounds vary more than sufficiently to make this a well-nigh perfect 15-song collection, without any problem of repetition, and the sound is superb. The annotation covers the trio in general terms, focusing too little on the music at hand, but that's a minor flaw in a collection as delightful as this. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Greatest Hits
Artist: Barbra Streisand
Released: 1970

At a time when Barbra Streisand's career was in decline, what turned out to be only her first greatest hits album seemed to serve as both a summing up and a kiss-off of her 1960s recordings. Streisand was not primarily a singles artist; between 1964 and 1969, she enjoyed nine chart singles, of which only one, "People," made the Top Ten, with... [+] Read More

At a time when Barbra Streisand's career was in decline, what turned out to be only her first greatest hits album seemed to serve as both a summing up and a kiss-off of her 1960s recordings. Streisand was not primarily a singles artist; between 1964 and 1969, she enjoyed nine chart singles, of which only one, "People," made the Top Ten, with only one other, "Second Hand Rose," reaching the Top 40. But in that time, she scored seven gold-selling, Top Ten albums. This hits collection contained seven of her chart singles, plus her non-charting early single, "My Coloring Book," "Happy Days Are Here Again," which was one of the highlights of her debut album (heard here in the live version from A Happening in Central Park), and "Don't Rain on My Parade" from the Funny Girl soundtrack. For casual fans, that made for a good sampling of Streisand's most prominent '60s work, and if at the time it seemed likely that this was all the hits there would be, instead the '60s proved to be only the first chapter in Streisand's career. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing The Essential Tony Bennett: A Retrospective
Artist: Tony Bennett
Released: 1999

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Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing The Very Best of Perry Como
Artist: Perry Como
Released: 2000

RCA's The Very Best of Perry Como delivers 21 of his best-loved songs, including number ones like "Catch a Falling Star," "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)," "No Other Love," "Some Enchanted Evening," and "Surrender." "Till the End of Time," "Papa Loves Mambo," "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes," "Because," and other million-selling singles... [+] Read More

RCA's The Very Best of Perry Como delivers 21 of his best-loved songs, including number ones like "Catch a Falling Star," "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)," "No Other Love," "Some Enchanted Evening," and "Surrender." "Till the End of Time," "Papa Loves Mambo," "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes," "Because," and other million-selling singles have been digitally remastered and restored. Since most Como collections are either multi-disc collections or skimpy single discs, The Very Best of Perry Como is a welcome compromise, offering a good selection of Como hits for newcomers as well as fans who want his best on one disc. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing 16 Biggest Hits
Artist: Rosemary Clooney
Released: 2000

Rosemary Clooney launched a solo career on the eventual Sony-owned Columbia Records label in 1950 after splitting with her sister Betty and the Tony Pastor Orchestra, and she racked up a series of hits before departing for RCA Victor in 1957, at which time her commercial success declined. 16 Biggest Hits contains 11 of her 16 biggest hits from... [+] Read More

Rosemary Clooney launched a solo career on the eventual Sony-owned Columbia Records label in 1950 after splitting with her sister Betty and the Tony Pastor Orchestra, and she racked up a series of hits before departing for RCA Victor in 1957, at which time her commercial success declined. 16 Biggest Hits contains 11 of her 16 biggest hits from this period, including her four number one singles, "Come on-a My House," "Half as Much," "Hey There," and "This Ole House." The five missing titles are the Top Ten hits "Beautiful Brown Eyes" and "The Night Before Christmas Song," the Top 20 hits "Be My Life's Companion" and "Too Old to Cut the Mustard," and the Top 40 hit "I'm Waiting Just for You." In their place, the compilers have substituted "Sisters," a duet between Clooney and her sister on an Irving Berlin song from her film White Christmas that was a Top 40 hit; "The House of Singing Bamboo," a duet with Guy Mitchell; "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening," an Academy Award-winning song, on which Clooney is accompanied by Harry James and His Orchestra; "Sophisticated Lady" from Blue Rose, Clooney's album with Duke Ellington and His Orchestra; and a version of Cole Porter's "From This Moment On" that has not been released previously in the U.S. These are not unreasonable alternates to the missing songs, and 16 Biggest Hits manages a good balance between Clooney's popular novelty material and her more impressive ballad performances. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Andrews Sisters
Artist: The Andrews Sisters
Released: 2000

Another excellent entry in MCA's Millennium Collection, this features 12 of the Andrews Sisters' biggest hits, including "Bei Mir Bist du Schon," "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar," "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree," and "Rum and Coca-Cola." A great, little introductory set of the girls' best work. ~ Cub Koda, All Music...

Another excellent entry in MCA's Millennium Collection, this features 12 of the Andrews Sisters' biggest hits, including "Bei Mir Bist du Schon," "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar," "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree," and "Rum and Coca-Cola." A great, little introductory set of the girls' best work. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Yes I Can! The Sammy Davis Jr. Story
Artist: Sammy Davis, Jr.
Released: 1999

It's hard to believe that a Sammy Davis Jr. box set retrospective was not released until 1999. One simple reason for the delay is that Davis' discography is a licensing nightmare, so the initial triumph of Warner Archives/Reprise/Rhino's four-disc Yes I Can! The Sammy Davis, Jr. Story is that it brings together material controlled by Time... [+] Read More

It's hard to believe that a Sammy Davis Jr. box set retrospective was not released until 1999. One simple reason for the delay is that Davis' discography is a licensing nightmare, so the initial triumph of Warner Archives/Reprise/Rhino's four-disc Yes I Can! The Sammy Davis, Jr. Story is that it brings together material controlled by Time Warner, EMI-Capitol, Universal, and the Davis estate. But another reason why a Sammy Davis, Jr. box set may not have been an immediate priority is that recording was never his primary medium. Davis was first and foremost a live performer with an act that included singing, dancing, and impressions; everything else -- Broadway shows, films, television, record-making -- was secondary. Despite being possessed of a clear, powerful baritone and precise diction, Davis was always more a performer than a singer. His repertoire as presented here is dominated by songs written for stage and movie musicals by the cream of the interwar pop songwriters. Davis renders this material well, but the lyrics rarely mean much to him beyond being vehicles for his own self-expression (vocal effects, comic interjections, etc.). When this began to change in 1961, it was because a highly self-referential performer found a songwriter, Leslie Bricusse, whose subject was self-absorption. Writing for musicals, Bricusse secondarily provides Davis with material he sings with unprecedented conviction, because it allows him to explore his own dreams and doubts. The claims for Sammy Davis, Jr.'s importance as an all-around entertainer cannot be disputed by anyone who has seen him perform in any medium, and strictly as a recording artist, much of that appeal comes across. Yes I Can! The Sammy Davis, Jr. Story is more the statement of a magnetic personality than it is a collection of meaningfully sung songs, but it is no less impressive for that. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Ink Spots
Artist: The Ink Spots
Released: 1999

MCA's 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection is a good, basic collection of the Ink Spots' biggest hits -- including "If I Didn't Care," "My Prayer," "Java Jive," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "I'm Making Believe," "The Gypsy," "I'm Beginning to See the Light," "Prisoner of Love,"and "To Each His Own" -- available at a budget price.... [+] Read More

MCA's 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection is a good, basic collection of the Ink Spots' biggest hits -- including "If I Didn't Care," "My Prayer," "Java Jive," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "I'm Making Believe," "The Gypsy," "I'm Beginning to See the Light," "Prisoner of Love,"and "To Each His Own" -- available at a budget price. Although there are a couple of hits and good songs missing, this has enough of the best-known tunes to make it worthwhile for casual listeners on a budget. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Golden Girl: Columbia Recordings 1944-1966
Artist: Doris Day
Released: 1999

Released as a celebration of Doris Day's three decades with Columbia Records, Golden Girl: Columbia Recordings 1944-1966 is a definitive portrait of Day at the peak of her career. Over the course of two discs and 48 songs, all of her big hits -- including "Sentimental Journey" and "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" -- are featured,... [+] Read More

Released as a celebration of Doris Day's three decades with Columbia Records, Golden Girl: Columbia Recordings 1944-1966 is a definitive portrait of Day at the peak of her career. Over the course of two discs and 48 songs, all of her big hits -- including "Sentimental Journey" and "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" -- are featured, along with selected album tracks, duets, and five previously unreleased tracks. This may be a little too comprehensive for the average fan just looking for the hits, but for any serious fan, this is essential. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Judy Garland in Hollywood: Her Greatest Movie Hits
Artist: Judy Garland
Released: 1998

Judy Garland may have reached more ears via her movie roles than with any other medium, and this 23-track anthology assembles some of her most noteworthy performances from 1936 to 1963. All of these are the original soundtrack versions, not re-recordings, which means that while the fidelity on some cuts isn't as good as what you might be used to... [+] Read More

Judy Garland may have reached more ears via her movie roles than with any other medium, and this 23-track anthology assembles some of her most noteworthy performances from 1936 to 1963. All of these are the original soundtrack versions, not re-recordings, which means that while the fidelity on some cuts isn't as good as what you might be used to from renditions you've heard elsewhere, these are the real deal, not re-creations. A bunch of familiar standards are here: "Over the Rainbow," "The Trolley Song" (from Meet Me in St. Louis), "Dear Mr. Gable," "The Texas Tornado," "I'm Nobody's Baby," "I Could Go on Singing," and two cuts from A Star Is Born, "Gotta Have Me Go With You" and "The Man That Got Away." As a retrospective of her musical career, this serves almost as well as a standard greatest-hits collection, with scrupulously detailed liner notes and photos in the enclosed booklet. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Best of Judy Garland: 20th Century Masters
Artist: Judy Garland
Released: 1999

Like any record company worth their salt, MCA knows a good gimmick when they see it, and when the millennium came around...well, the 20th Century Masters -- The Millennium Collection wasn't too far behind. Supposedly, the millennium is a momentous occasion, but it's hard to feel that way when it's used as another excuse to turn out a budget-line... [+] Read More

Like any record company worth their salt, MCA knows a good gimmick when they see it, and when the millennium came around...well, the 20th Century Masters -- The Millennium Collection wasn't too far behind. Supposedly, the millennium is a momentous occasion, but it's hard to feel that way when it's used as another excuse to turn out a budget-line series. But apart from the presumptuous title, 20th Century Masters -- The Millennium Collection turns out to be a very good budget-line series. True, it's impossible for any of these brief collections to be definitive, but they're nevertheless solid samplers that don't feature a bad song in the bunch. For example, take Judy Garland's 20th Century volume -- it's an irresistible 12-song summary of her Decca years. There may be a couple of noteworthy songs missing, but many of her best-known songs for the label are here, including "Over the Rainbow," "I Got Rhythm," "Meet Me in St. Louis," "Embraceable You," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "But Not for Me," "Swanee," "The Trolley Song" and "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe." Serious fans will want something more extensive, but this is an excellent introduction for neophytes and a great sampler for casual fans, considering its length and price. That doesn't erase the ridiculousness of the series title, but the silliness is excusable when the music and the collections are good. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Bing Crosby
Artist: Bing Crosby
Released: 1999

You'd be hard-pressed to find a better introduction to the music of Bing Crosby than this 12-track best-of, part of MCA's 20th Century Masters Millennium Collection. All the major biggies are aboard, covering a time frame from 1944 to 1957 ("Swingin' on a Star," "White Christmas," "Don't Fence Me In," "Dear Hearts and Gentle People,"... [+] Read More

You'd be hard-pressed to find a better introduction to the music of Bing Crosby than this 12-track best-of, part of MCA's 20th Century Masters Millennium Collection. All the major biggies are aboard, covering a time frame from 1944 to 1957 ("Swingin' on a Star," "White Christmas," "Don't Fence Me In," "Dear Hearts and Gentle People," "MacNamara's Band," "It's Been a Long, Long Time," "Pennies from Heaven") as well as other highlights from that period ("Far Away Places," a duet with son Gary on "Play a Simple Melody," and the theme song from "Around the World (In Eighty Days)"). Not everything that's essential to digging Crosby, but a darn good start. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing The Mills Brothers: The Anthology (1931-1968)
Artist: The Mills Brothers
Released: 1995

The Mills Brothers: The Anthology is a comprehensive 48-song overview of the vocal group's career, spanning their entire career and featuring 32 of their biggest hits. Most of their most famous songs -- including "Paper Doll," "Glow-Worm," "Lazy River," and "Rockin' Chair" -- are included on this double-disc set and the sound is the best it has... [+] Read More

The Mills Brothers: The Anthology is a comprehensive 48-song overview of the vocal group's career, spanning their entire career and featuring 32 of their biggest hits. Most of their most famous songs -- including "Paper Doll," "Glow-Worm," "Lazy River," and "Rockin' Chair" -- are included on this double-disc set and the sound is the best it has ever been. In short, it is the definitive retrospective of this ground-breaking vocal quartet. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing The Best of Miss Peggy Lee
Artist: Peggy Lee
Released: 1998

Any compilation that properly anthologizes the chart history of Miss Peggy Lee is forced to sprint through 24 years, including a pair of decades that were the most culturally tumultuous of the 20th century. Such is the peril of attempting to summarize Lee's career by way of her hits, though for introductory purposes this disc is an excellent one... [+] Read More

Any compilation that properly anthologizes the chart history of Miss Peggy Lee is forced to sprint through 24 years, including a pair of decades that were the most culturally tumultuous of the 20th century. Such is the peril of attempting to summarize Lee's career by way of her hits, though for introductory purposes this disc is an excellent one (and her strong musical personality serves well to unify the material anyway). Beginning with "Waiting for the Train to Come In," her 1946 solo chart debut with Benny Goodman, The Best of Miss Peggy Lee picks up nearly all of her big hits, all of which number among her best performances. Lee excelled at sounding sunny ("It's a Good Day") or sultry ("I Don't Know Enough About You") or sizzling ("Fever," "Big Spender"), she often wrote her own material, and always illustrated that both novelties and standards were putty in the hands of the best song sculptor ever heard in the world of vocal jazz. Though it's a shame the compilers couldn't find room for early hits such as "'Deed I Do" and "Don't Smoke in Bed" or well-chosen later material like "Let's Love" (the song Paul McCartney wrote for her), The Best of Miss Peggy Lee provides an efficient summary of the most commanding performing personality in vocal jazz. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Early Artistry in Rhythm
Artist: Stan Kenton
Released: 1998

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Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing The Anthology
Artist: The Ink Spots
Released: 1998

Two discs and almost 50 tracks of the Ink Spots, all recorded within a relatively narrow 13-year window, could be enough to overwhelm anyone not intimately interested in close-harmony vocal music, especially such a humid, narcoleptic sound as the Ink Spots tended toward. For those unhindered by the prospects of two and a half hours of gentle... [+] Read More

Two discs and almost 50 tracks of the Ink Spots, all recorded within a relatively narrow 13-year window, could be enough to overwhelm anyone not intimately interested in close-harmony vocal music, especially such a humid, narcoleptic sound as the Ink Spots tended toward. For those unhindered by the prospects of two and a half hours of gentle crooning, though, The Anthology earns its title and then some, sprinkling the big hits already anthologized many times over -- "If I Didn't Care," "My Prayer," "We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)," "Java Jive," "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire," and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" -- among a parade of obscure yet intriguing performances. Prime among the latter are the kinetic "Your Feet's Too Big," one of their first recordings, and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin," probably more famous now as an Elvis Presley cover than an Ink Spots original. As often happened during the 1940s and '50s, the Ink Spots also recorded dozens of songs in the standards repertory, and several of those ("Who Wouldn't Love You," "Prisoner of Love," "I Cover the Waterfront," "I Get the Blues When It Rains") make for the biggest surprises on this bountiful compilation. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing September of My Years
Artist: Frank Sinatra
Released: 1965

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Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Bing Crosby's Gold Records
Artist: Bing Crosby
Released: 1997

Bing's Gold Records is a splendid collection of all of Crosby's 21 gold singles for Decca Records. Each song is represented in its original version, including "White Christmas," which is not often heard in its 1942 Academy Award-winning version. Among other highlights are "New San Antonio Rose," "Pistol Packin' Mama," "Jingle Bells," "Swinging... [+] Read More

Bing's Gold Records is a splendid collection of all of Crosby's 21 gold singles for Decca Records. Each song is represented in its original version, including "White Christmas," which is not often heard in its 1942 Academy Award-winning version. Among other highlights are "New San Antonio Rose," "Pistol Packin' Mama," "Jingle Bells," "Swinging on a Star," "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's an Irish Lullaby)," "Don't Fence Me In," "Galway Bay," "Play a Simple Melody," and "Silent Night, Holy Night," which has never been available on CD prior to this collection. It's a concise, thorough overview of Bing's peak years, functioning as a nice introduction for the curious. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing The Very Best of Frank Sinatra
Artist: Frank Sinatra
Released: 1960

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Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing The Best of the Decca Years
Artist: Peggy Lee
Released: 1997

16-track survey of Lee's recordings for Decca in the early and mid-'50s, much of it from film and stage musicals like The Jazz Singer, Lady and the Tramp, and Johnny Guitar. Includes the hits "Lover," "Just One of Those Things," and "Be Anything (But Be Mine)," as well as duets with Bing Crosby and the Mills Brothers. One of the songs, "The... [+] Read More

16-track survey of Lee's recordings for Decca in the early and mid-'50s, much of it from film and stage musicals like The Jazz Singer, Lady and the Tramp, and Johnny Guitar. Includes the hits "Lover," "Just One of Those Things," and "Be Anything (But Be Mine)," as well as duets with Bing Crosby and the Mills Brothers. One of the songs, "The Possibility's There," was previously unreleased in the U.S. "Lover," with its stormy, jittery arrangement, is a highlight, as is the dramatic theme to "Johnny Guitar"; "The Siamese Cat Song," on the other hand, is a ridiculous novelty. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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Artist: Frank Sinatra
Released: 1955

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Artist: Bing Crosby
Released: 1992

This is by no means the best hits compilation available (it is one of the most prevalent), but these pre-Decca recordings from the early '30s are interesting for those with a bit more knowledge of Crosby's career than most. Selections include "Dinah," "Brother Can You Spare a Dime," "Let's Put Out the Lights," "Did You Ever See a Dream...

This is by no means the best hits compilation available (it is one of the most prevalent), but these pre-Decca recordings from the early '30s are interesting for those with a bit more knowledge of Crosby's career than most. Selections include "Dinah," "Brother Can You Spare a Dime," "Let's Put Out the Lights," "Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?," "Love in Bloom" and "Sweet Georgia Brown." ~ John Bush, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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Artist: Julie London
Released: 1991

A collection of dusky, atmospheric mood music released as a CD in 1990, Time for Love serves as a superb overview of the jazz-pop songstress in her prime. Seductive and personal interpretations of "No Moon at All," "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," "Cry Me a River" (a major hit for her), and other classics beautifully demonstrate that, like... [+] Read More

A collection of dusky, atmospheric mood music released as a CD in 1990, Time for Love serves as a superb overview of the jazz-pop songstress in her prime. Seductive and personal interpretations of "No Moon at All," "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," "Cry Me a River" (a major hit for her), and other classics beautifully demonstrate that, like June Christy and Helen Merrill, London realizes just how effective subtlety can be. While the big band accompaniment on some sides (including a soul-baring version of Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight") is nothing to complain about, London is best served by intimate, minimalist small groups -- some boasting only Barney Kessel's guitar and Ray Leatherwood's bass. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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Artist: Josephine Baker
Released: 1926

Josephine Baker was much more famous as a cabaret performer, dancer and personality than as a jazz singer but, as she shows on some of these early recordings, she could swing and improvise when she wanted to. The two-CD set gives one a well-rounded picture of Baker's prime period and a surprising percentage of the songs are jazz standards such... [+] Read More

Josephine Baker was much more famous as a cabaret performer, dancer and personality than as a jazz singer but, as she shows on some of these early recordings, she could swing and improvise when she wanted to. The two-CD set gives one a well-rounded picture of Baker's prime period and a surprising percentage of the songs are jazz standards such as "Dinah," "I Found a New Baby," "Bye Bye Blackbird," "Blue Skies," "You're Driving Me Crazy," etc. The musicianship of the French bands, which is rather streaky on part of the first disc, greatly improves by the later tracks and Baker is heard at her best throughout. It's a perfect introduction to her singing talents. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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