Golden Years Of Dick Haymes, The (Let The Rest Of The World Go By - 101 Classic Original Recordings) - Dick Haymes > Reviews > A Voice to Remember

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Beautiful, romantic voice and songs
Disadvantages:	None that I have found

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Dick Haymes – a name which will probably be unfamiliar to a lot of people today – but the name of a man who had one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard.

I really couldn’t tell you where or when I first became aware (if that is the right word) of him. Probably watching old films on TV when I was growing up I should imagine. I can only say that, as far back as I can remember, his voice was one that sent shivers down my spine!

I say as far back as I can remember for good reason as, in fact, his career started before I was born and he was at the peak of his popularity in the 1940’s and early fifties. I suppose it would be easy to explain had my mother been a fan of his – but she wasn’t – well, not knowingly anyway.

Recently, having heard his voice again (it is quite unmistakable) being played during a programme on TV, I decided to check on Amazon to see if they had any CD’s of his. I was actually surprised by the amount, but decided that I would treat myself to this 4 CD set: The Golden Years of Dick Haymes (Let the Rest of the World Go By).

The ‘Golden Years’ for Haymes have to be the 1940’s and, although that seems a lifetime away, most of the songs on these discs will be very familiar. Now, I will start by saying that I have absolutely NO intention of listing the hundred and one songs here, but you will have to forgive me for mentioning a few of my favourites – not easy as I love so many of them!

Disc One: This starts with “I’ll Get By” – quite well known? A lot of his records were from his days in Hollywood where he starred in many films and on some tracks he is accompanied by Helen Forrest who co-starred with him. One such is “Long Ago and Far Away” and another: “It had to be You”. My favourite from disc one has to be “You’ll Never Know” – one of his biggest hits and a song which won an Academy Award in 1943.

Disc Two: Again a famous starter – “It Might As Well Be Spring”. Many more film songs such as “It’s a Grand Night for Singing”, “How are things in Glocca Morra?” and “There’s No Business like Show Business”. Although the name of Dick Haymes may be unfamiliar the names of the guests on this disc will not as two of them were Bing Crosby and Judy Garland.

Disc Three: Some more well known songs – “It’s Magic”, “Say it isn’t So”, “Nature Boy” and “You’d be so Nice to Come Home to”. Probably now better known sung by other stars.

Disc Four: Another twenty-five tracks beautifully sung. From “You Stepped Out of a Dream” to “Spring Will be a Little Late this Year” - they don’t make them like this any more!

Dick Haymes was born in Argentina to a Scottish father and Irish mother. He started his career in the same way as many other ‘greats’ by singing with the Big Bands, at one point replacing Frank Sinatra with the Dorsey Band. Although he rose to fame in the 1940’s he was still only very young and he continued singing for many years after that. He died of lung cancer in 1980 – at the age of 61.

I have to say that I am very pleased that I bought this and I feel sure that I will never tire of it. I also feel that it would appeal to a lot of people who had maybe never considered even listening to it – especially those who enjoy the old, romantic musicals.

I really hope that you have found this interesting – and I thank you for reading it.

Hazel