Search - Dean Martin :: Dino! Italian Love Songs

Tadeusz' Choice

Tadeusz Zdrojewski | Warszawa (Warsaw) Poland | 12/29/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Thank you John, Southern California! Indeed, the quality of sound offered by Collectors' Choice blows away that from EMI100 edition (2-in-1, Dino:Italian Love Songs/Cha Cha de Amor). Thus again common truth prevails: the cheap stuff is worth nothing!

Here, I'd like to share my thoughts about four bonus songs attached by Collectors' Choice. Some of them spoil, in my opinion, the mood of original release, so I deducted one star to punish the guys responsible for this reissue. I'm very pleased with rare track Bella Bella Bambina included right here (very nice Italian-flavored song), but not with Giuggiola, which is already a typical dance song where the only Italian root is name of the girl (orig. la giuggiola - fruit of il giuggiolo, jujube, Chinese date, bot. Ziziphus zizyphus).

I am very confused with songs Simpatico and Belle from Barcelona. Both are evidently Latin hits and their place is, obviously, together with songs from LP Dino Latino (containing only ten tracks). Was anybody thinking over there? I have found similar examples of somebody's ignorance on CDs by Connie Francis (Italian Collection, too). Her Italian performance was a reason good enough to include La Paloma (famous Latin hit) among Italian hits. And probably the title La Mamma of song by French composer and singer Charles Aznavour (which Connie sings entirely in English) allowed to classify it also as Italian hit.

Here, I didn't expect any cha-chas again, but rather alternate, original (mentioned in the liner notes) recordings of Italian love songs which, so far, are scattered among the other CDs, e.g. Vieni su - on Cha Cha de Amor (c'mon, Collectors' Choice, why there?!); On An Evening in Roma - on Capitol Collectors' Series; Return to Me - on Capitol Collectors' Series and Dino/Essential Dean Martin.

And what about the songs Write To Me From Naples, Buona Sera, Hear My Heart, Until You Love Someone, Tu Sei Bella Signorina, Sogni D'Oro, Napoli, Senza Fine, Via Veneto, Mama Roma, Bianca, La Giostra and Amor Mio? They are out of Dean Martin/Italian Love Songs by Capitol (Hollywood and Vine ed.), too. The most of them is to be found only in expensive boxes by Bear Family (interesting, Germans can do what Americans can't?) and each of them deserves to be included here instead of the Latin ones.

This (collectors'?) edition of Italian Love Songs was a good opportunity to collect all of them together, in multi-disc issue. But if Collectors' Choice is collectors' only by name (and it is, what proved placing Sogni D'Oro between... winter songs - The Winter Romance), and is so firmly stuck to the magic number "16" that is not able to put more songs on one CD, I am going to do it myself, and compile all Dino's Italian love songs!

And you can call it Tadeusz' Choice.

"

A Sentimental Favorite!

A Dino Fan | 02/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a sentimental fave of mine coz the first time I heard this is when was a kid through my parents. There was a CD exactly like this one that was release back in the late 90's that was digitally remastered (the one with the 2-in-1 cd with Cha Cha De Amor)...I have this in fact. Nonetheless, this latest one and the digitally remastered one are both great. The only difference is that the latest one has a more balance sound with Dean's voice and the orchestra; the remastered one had a more pronounced and brighter orchestral sound with which the various instruments "stands out" more, such as the wonderful sound of the accordion for instance. With respect to originality and naturalness, I would prefer the LATEST one probably because that is how it actually sounded like when Dean first recorded it back in 1961. Oh yeah! one more note, I believe Dean's voice sounded better in the latest CD...man! can never get tired of listening to this wonderful CD coz it's sooo goooood! More than 5 stars if you ask me. - John, Southern California"

A golden nugget shinging brightly!!! BRAVO, DINO !!!

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 05/07/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Dean Martin could sell a song without even trying--his voice was THAT good. This album gives us Dino in his prime; his voice is rich, energetic and full of masculine warmth. This CD proves it.



The CD track set begins with "Just Say I Love Her (Dicitencello Vuie);" this beautiful love ballad gets the royal treatment from Dean Martin. He sings this to perfection with great sensitivity; what a wonderful way to start off the CD!



The classic "Arrivederci, Roma" follows; and Dean performs this without a superfluous note. The musical arrangement is quite lush with good use of the strings; the chorus doesn't quite do it for me but the rest of this ballad is so flawless my concern about the chorus fades into the background.



Other wonderful tracks on this CD include "My Heart Reminds Me" which was recorded by Della Reese in 1957; but Dino breathes so much fresh life into this ballad he truly makes "My Heart Reminds Me" completely his own. The musical arrangement enhances the beauty of this number. Of course, you get Dean's famous rendition of "Non Dimenticar;" Dean's voice and the musical arrangement complement each other completely. There's also the charming "On An Evening In Roma (Sott'er Celo De Roma);" Dean's voice remains strong and sensitive but the musical arrangement should have been played a little more softly to play up Dean's voice. This is a minor disappointment, I suppose.



In addition, you get "There's No Tomorrow (O Sole Mio)" which has been recorded by so many artists. Dean Martin, however, gives us the definitive interpretation of this classic ballad. Excellent!



The CD also gives us a generous four bonus tracks which were not released on the record album back in 1962. "Bella Bella Bambina" has an infectiously catchy and upbeat melody that makes you want to jump up and dance almost instantaneously; and by the time the CD ends with "Belle From Barcelona (O-O-Le, Mu-Cha-Cha) the Latin twist encourages us to play this CD over and over again.



The liner notes include a replication of the reverse of the record album jacket; and James Ritz contributes a fine essay about Dean and his career.



Unfortunately, I do have one complaint about this album. The music is played too loud; they should have played the arrangements softer to do a better job of showcasing Dean Martin's beautiful vocals. I have to take off one star for this to make this a four star review.



Dean Martin fans will consider this fine CD to be a "must-have" for their collections; and people who enjoy classic pop vocals will cherish this CD for years to come. Dean Martin may have recorded these songs in 1961; but these numbers are so enchanting they are truly timeless. I hope that you get this CD and enjoy it as much as I have!

"