The Ultimate Tony Bennett by Tony Bennett NEUF collection

Tracks:
I Left My Heart in San Francisco
Because of You
Rags to Riches
Just in Time
Stranger in Paradise
Boulevard of Broken Dreams, The
I Wanna Be Around
Good Life, The
Shadow of Your Smile, The
Put on a Happy Face
If I Ruled the World
Smile
Night and Day
How Do You Keep the Music Playing?
Mood Indigo
Blue Velvet
Steppin Out With My Baby
When Joanna Loved Me
When Do the Bells Ring for Me
Best Is Yet to Come, The

Performer Notes:

• Personnel: Tony Bennett (vocals); Jimmy Rowles, Tommy Flanagan (piano).
• Liner Note Authors: Frank Sinatra; Tony Bennett.
• Recording information: 04/04/1951-07/16/1993.
• Photographers: Don Hunstein; Lois Greenfield; Mark Seliger; Nigel Parry; Herman Leonard.
• Arrangers: Don Costa; Johnny Mandel; Al Cohn; Marty Manning; Percy Faith; Ray Conniff; Frank DeVol.
• Throughout his career, Tony Bennett has managed to be both a singers singer and a first rate entertainer--not nearly as easy as it sounds. Though blessed with a beautiful natural timbre, Bennett doesnt settle for merely caressing our eardrums. A popular singer by definition, Bennetts style is informed by jazz phrasing and rhythm. And while mostly known for the heart he brings to his material, there is also ample evidence of nuanced thinking going into what comes out.
• On this excellent collection that highlights his recordings for Columbia spanning five decades, Bennetts famous ardor and aesthetic honesty are omnipresent. The requisite chestnuts--"I Left My Heart in San Francisco," "Rags to Riches," "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"--are all here, as befits any ultimate Bennett collection, but were also treated to the more intimate fare of Bennett with long-time associates the Ralph Sharon Trio on "Steppin Out With My Baby," a very early take on "Blue Velvet," and a suave-meets-down-and-dirty "Mood Indigo."

Professional Reviews: Entertainment Weekly (12/1/00, p.103) - "...A well-chosen collection....reaffirming Bennetts evolving vocal artistry." - Rating: A

Producer: Danny Bennett, David Kahne, Ernie Altschuler, Ettore Stratta, Al Harn, Al Ham, Allen Stanton, Mitch Miller, Andre Fischer, Tony Bennett, Didier C. Deutsch (Compilation), Darcy M. Proper (Compilation)

Format: CD (1 Disc); Stereo

Studio/Live: Studio

Country: USA

Release Date: 1 October, 2000

Label: Columbia

Dimensions: 12.7 x 14.6 x 0.9 centimeters (0.10 kg)