Search - Connie Francis :: De Coleccion

Connie Francis Sings Spanish

10/01/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I really enjoyed Connie's versions of Latin hits! There are only two singers/entertainers who really sing with their heart and mean it, and that it Connie Francis and Vikki Carr. Let's see a compilation album by the two artists together. Both of these superstars are still touring and have the fan base. I also hear that Vikki Carr is still winning Grammys even in the mid 90's! Let's get them together on CD!!! We still love you Connie!"

Half-length CD for the price of full-length

Tadeusz Zdrojewski | Warszawa (Warsaw) Poland | 03/13/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If you look at the market, you will find there products priced regularly and discounted (usually "take one, get one free" or "50% more gratis"). The only exception are CDs issued by Polydor (PolyGram Records, Inc., NY). PolyGram offers half-length CDs for the price of full-length. "De Coleccion" is the next disc (after "The Very Best of Connie Francis, Vol. 2" ;1987; 12 tracks; total timing 35 min.) where we only get 12 tracks of total timing of approx. 33 min. Even regular MGM vinyl recording of Latin hits ("Connie Francis Sings Spanish and Latin American Favorites",1960) contained 13 tracks. (The latter one was also re-issued on CD by Pendulum in 1998).
After the edition of Connie's "Greatest Latin Hits" (1989, Mercury Latino, PolyGram) containing 27 tracks, any less-track print will be incomplete! The CD reviewed right here was grandiloquently entitled "De Coleccion". Of course, we can't talk about any kind of the collection here; 12 tracks are only the beginning of the collection. Including just four more tracks ("Siboney", "Granada", "Amor" and "Te Quiero Dijiste") would give quite a good result. But in the present form this disc is unable to satisfy anybody; it finishes in the middle of foreplay, so far before getting full satisfaction.
I can't agree with my predecessor, who criticized Connie's interpretation and Spanish pronunciation. Her interpretation of the Latin hits is outstanding and there is no sense to compare it with that of Nat King Cole (different style and emotional charge). Listening to the music is just like tasting food! If you order chili you should predict it may be hot. If you listen to the Italian-American singer you should know she will never sing Spanish like Julio Iglesias! God damn her pronunciation! Even if she sung El Paso phone book it would be OK!
Five stars for Connie, one star for Polydor. This makes average three stars for this compilation.
By the way, "De Coleccion" sometimes appears on the market, so if you find it, you'd better not buy. Add just a few bucks and order from Europe (why not from Amazon? Shame on you!) Connie's "Sus primeras grabaciones en espanol (1960-1964)" - two-disc set containing her 40 (forty!) Spanish 'exitos', all tracks digitally re-mastered (does not mean perfect!). THIS is the real 'coleccion', and PolyGram (U.S.) may learn from Rama Lama Music (Spain) how to issue Connie's masterpieces!"

The rhythm is wrong; big disappointment

Latin Music Lover | Arlington, VA USA | 12/31/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I love Connie Francis in Italian, so I thought I would like this CD. And it's not her accent in Spanish that bothers me, it's the rhythm. I don't know if it is the fault of the arrangers or of Connie herself, but her boleros don't sound like boleros. If you want to hear an English-speaking singer who got it right, listen to Nat King Cole in Spanish! His accent is terrible, but his phrasing and sense of the Latin beat are perfect!"