Search - Gene Pitney :: Looking Through: Ultimate Collection

Incredible - Fifty songs by a great artist!

07/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are hit pop songs (I counted 24 that I recognized), hit country songs, hit songs in Italian, and a well-chosen selection of songs which document Gene Pitney's very successful Anglo-Euro career and which many Americans will, like me, be hearing for the first time. This is the most comprehensive anthology of any artist I've seen outside of the coffee-table box-set types that sell for many times more than this. What a terrific find! The interview on the liner notes is informative and fun. Gene Pitney participated in a song-by-song commentary going right down the list of all 50 songs, with plenty of storytelling to illuminate the people and situations surrounding each. It's a treasury of insight into the personality and history of the artist and his times that simply can't be found elsewhere. Candid, funny and fascinating, I'm sure there's a great book in this man waiting to be written! Back to the music: What must be said is that Gene Pitney was the most accomplished male vocalist of the 60s "teen idol" set, with great pipes, a unique sound, incredibly nuanced phrasing and a flair for drama that made his vocals both real and moving. From "Liberty Valance" to "Half Heaven - Half Heartache," he gave conviction to every lyric and easily pulled the listener into his world. Considering he was only twenty when his singing career began (apparently without any formal vocal training beyond what he picked up as a songwriting, demo-singing worker-bee at the Brill Building), you have to conclude that this guy is seriously gifted, and was born to the task. Add to that a truly top-notch selection of material which yielded (for starters) about a dozen 60s classics, and I wouldn't hesitate to put him right beside Sinatra as the best vocal interpreter of his generation. In short, if you're even a casual fan, you'd be foolish to pass this up. Buy "Looking Through Gene Pitney" and prepare to be amazed and delighted by this man and his music."

SIX STARS RATING ON PITNEY

KEITH M NICHOLSON | KAMLOOPS, BC Canada | 08/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"THIS 2 CD COMPILATION RANKS AS ONE OF THE GREATEST DEALS AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM.I HAVE COLLECTED MOST OF GENE'S MUSIC OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS AS HE CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST MUSICAL ENTERTAINERS OF ALL TIME.TO DENY YOURSELF THIS WONDERFUL PIECE OF MUSIC HISTORY WOULD BE SINFUL-HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."

EASILY THE GREATEST GENE PITNEY COMPILATION

K. Brown | Walnut, Ca USA | 03/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"So many great artists, so many "greatest hits" albums! I got turned onto Gene Pitney years ago after hearing "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart," and have purchased a few compilations throughout the years. I thought my collection was complete, but this "Ultimate Collection" is really worth picking up, even if you already have two or three "alternate ultimate greatest hits, etc...." One of my favorite perks on this two CD set is that we get Pitney's original "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" along with the duet version he recorded with Marc Almond. Add that to unique collectible tunes like his duet with George Jones, "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday" (which, for those unfamiliar with Pitney's songs, is a beautiful power packed piece penned by Mick Jagger), and a few hits recorded in Italian. In my opinion, Gene Pitney tops the 60s pop crooners, and this compilation gives you the greatest variety and finest examples of his work."