Very Best Of Dean Martin Vol.1, The (The Capitol And Reprise Years) - Dean Martin

The Rat Pack. Vegas. Fun and laughs at the Sands Casino. Frank and Sammy.

Who really wants to forgt a crew of guys who epitomise the whole ethos of cool?

Certainly not me. But of that group one man stood head and shoulders above the others. He was rugged, strong and could sing songs so effortlessly that it sounded like he could do it in his sleep.

Dean Martin was not only as enigmatic as Frank Sinatra, ...
...a talent for turning songs into something special.

During the British invasion of the American charts in the Sixties, he as one of the few who managed to fend off the Beatles from the top positions.

This "Very Best of" album is certainly that as for the first time it gathered together the hits from his stint with both Capitol Records and Reprise Records.

Dean managed to move across a few genres ... more

The Rat Pack. Vegas. Fun and laughs at the Sands Casino. Frank and Sammy.

Who really wants to forgt a crew of guys who epitomise the whole ethos of cool?

Certainly not me. But of that group one man stood head and shoulders above the others. He was rugged, strong and could sing songs so effortlessly that it sounded like he could do it in his sleep.

Dean Martin was not only as enigmatic as Frank Sinatra, and as funny as Sammy Davis Jr, but he had a talent for turning songs into something special.

During the British invasion of the American charts in the Sixties, he as one of the few who managed to fend off the Beatles from the top positions.

This "Very Best of" album is certainly that as for the first time it gathered together the hits from his stint with both Capitol Records and Reprise Records.

Dean managed to move across a few genres in his career, and all are represented here on this album.

He has hits from swooning Big Band ballads (The Door is Still Open to My Heart) to Neopolitan melodies (Return To Me) and from Vegas cool (Sway) to Country standards (Gentle On My Mind).

There are 21 fantastic tracks on this CD, so far too many to go into individually, so please allow me this moment to pick out a few of pure genius.

++++++++++++++++++

Ain't That a Kick In The Head
This track hinted at his change from ballad crooner to self-styled lounge singer before his move from Capitol to join Frank an the boys at Reprise.
If you read my love songs review, you will already know that I love this track.
It is unashamedly macho in its attitude to love. No sweeping statements of romance, just the simple truth that to a guy falling in love is like getting hurt..

Superb... and in this place we do not mention bloody Robbie Williams OR those Irish morons.

Return To Me
This is possibly one of the most beautiful appeals to a lover put to vinyl. Dean has such confidene in his voice that he even manages to pull off the cheesy Italian section at the end of the song. The simple arrangement allows Dean to fill the whole room with his wounded song.

If you have only heard this performed with the swing band backing on the soundtrack of the David Duchovny ilm, I suggest you look this album out and hear the original.

The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane
A seriously funny song. Almost a Latin flavour to this song about the aforementioned lady. A fabulous track with a twist, which I won't ruin, but if you have ever heard the story behind this song, listening to the scandalous lyrics take on a whole new meaning is a joy. The smile on Dino's face can be heard all the way through.

Little Ole Wine Drinker Me
A great Country styled track, where Dean "Tex" Martin gets to combine his passions (so to speak). Singng as a lonely Tennessee drunk in a Chicago gin joint he sings his tale of woe while praying for rain to keep the grape vines going long enough to drown his sorrow.
Brilliant Dino. Subtle, easy, and effortlessly enjoyable.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The album was released a few years ago, and I know that a new double album has been released with all the tracks from this album and more, but I would suggest that unless you are looking for a definitive collection of Dino songs, this might be the album for you.

It can be found cheap on the web and contains all the great tracks that make Dino the man the fans love, and the man that the singers want to be (Elvis fans will know that he himself recorded many of Dino's best almost as a reverential tribute to the man).

Overall this album is fantastic and celebrates an underated genius in the annuls of cool.

Forget "My Way" and "New York, New York"

Dino will forever be the playboy with the most style. 

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