| A legend in his own
lifetime. Easy enough to say, but difficult to justify. Not in the
case of Perry Como. He has all the essential qualifications in
abundance. Forty years in the front rank of world entertainers puts
the question beyond doubt. Now well into his 70s, Perry might happily have taken is last bow and gracefully faded away -- one more golden memory of a bygone age. Grand old troupers like Perry don't play that kind of music. The audience demands, the artist provides, It is as simple as that. THE BEST OF TIMES, his soaring success from the Broadway Musical La Cage aux Folles, certainly left my Radio 2 audience calling for more. This album goes one step further as the master craftsman puts his stamp on some of the great hits from the shows and films that have spanned his own extraordinary career. After all these years it is worth recalling that Perry Como, born on 18th May, 1912, was an Italian American barber in his home town of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, until he fell under the spell of the big band sound in the '30s. By 1945 he was well established as one of America's favourite singers, thanks to steam radio and the juke box era. He went on to make Hollywood movies and then took television by storm with the long-running Perry Como Show. Millions on both sides of the Atlantic were enchanted by the deceptively relaxed baritone voice as the hits kept on coming. Don't Let the Stars Get In Your Eyes, Hot Diggity, Catch a Falling Star, Magic Moments, Delaware, It's Impossible, And I Love You So, For the Good Times . . . to name but a few. Now another album, something different again. Irving Berlin wrote:
"A
singer like a songwriter, must be judged by his staying power. Perry
Como's record will show that he's been up there on top for many
years and I know he will remain there for a good many more." DEREK JAMESON COMPILATION BY DON BURKHIMER AND TOMMY LOFTUS PROJECT SUPERVISION BY PAUL WILLIAMS DIGITALLY REMASTERED BY MICHAEL MORAN Special thanks to Eileen Cafarella, Phoebe Kranish and Nancy Chessare Copyright 1986 RCA / Ariola International
THE BEST OF TIMES
~ 16 TRACKS (
I MEDLEY ) TIME 55:35
1986
BMG UK
RCA PD 89970
|
(902)
701-2442
