Search - Andy Williams :: 16 Most Requested Songs: Encore

Music to watch the sunset by!

John A. Kuczma | Marietta, GA USA | 06/07/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Andy Williams possesses one of the most distinct and memorable voices of the entire pop era. His songs may be lively or mellow, but they are always easy on the ears but hard to get off the mind.This Columbia compilation brings together many of his best, even reaching back into the Cadence years for 1956's beautiful "Canadien Sunset" and 1958's "Hawaiian Wedding Song."Andy was one of the first artists to experiment with double tracked recording, allowing him to sing his own harmonies. The experiments were exquisitely successful, as attested to by the superb "Can't Get Used to Losing You", a number two hit in 1963.The title of this album is significant, as these are Andy Williams' 16 Most Requested Songs, not his 16 greatest hits. In fact, many of the cuts on this album did not make the pop charts. Nonetheless, they are memorable in their own right, such as "More", "Moon River", "Red Roses for a Blue Lady", the hauntingly beautiful "Maria" and the magnificant "Born Free." If nothing else, this collection proves that chart position is not always indicative of the quality of music.Whether you listen to them by firelight, candlelight, moonlight or the light of the setting sun, Andy Williams' 16 Most Requested Songs will delight your ears and warm your heart. This is an album not to be missed."

REASSESSING ANDY WILLIAMS

John A. Kuczma | 02/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection and its sequel (Encore!) covers almost all the essential hits that Mr Williams' have made. Get them instead of the brand new box set from Collectable which is actually four original albums rolled into one box and missing the earlier and later hits (Moon River, Love Story). Mind you, those are very worthy albums, especially Love Andy, but not if you're only looking for greatest hits.For additional cravings, get the fantastic "In The Lounge With Andy Williams" collection from the UK...you'd only get a minimum of duplicated tracks, and the songs are more contemporary and portray Mr Williams as a genuinely cool artist with an open ear and mind to youth culture. I can't think of anyone else before or since with a voice like Andy Williams, the kind of smokey quality that seems to harmonize with itself. Only Art Garfunkel comes close."

About as much Andy Williams as one needs

Sarah Bellum | Dublin, OH United States | 08/03/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Being a Sinatraphile, I don't often like to venture into the domain of other "Easy Listening" singers; I generally stick with the best. However, every now and then I pop in something different just for the sake of variety. If nothing else, it makes me appreciate Sinatra that much more. But I digress. Williams has a very smooth, pleasant voice. He's not offensive, his voice is distinctive, and he has sung some good songs. Besides, he was a friend and supporter of Bobby Kennedy, so he must be a halfway decent guy. This collection is pretty solid: his signature song, "Moon River," is here; "Can't Get Used to Losing You" is a damn fine, catchy tune; "Dear Heart" and "Days of Wine and Roses" are also quite good, though my favorite song on this collection is the beautiful "Emily." There are some standards and a couple I could do without, but overall I would consider this a good buy."