Search - Connie Francis :: Hawaii: Connie

THE ORIGINAL RELEASE

Terry D. Robertson | Asheville, NC USA | 09/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Connie went to Hawaii to record this vocal classic the master tape was only released in Japan and and the UK. When it went to NY for release, it was cut and remixed up to a half dozen times adding more strings, guitars and cutting much of the original Hawaiian instrumentation and portions of some of the songs on this wonderful collection. Unfortunately this version turned out to be the major worldwide release. Now we have the original unedited tape in super sonic sound with the original cover artwork and fantastic 24 bit technology. Connie sings most of these songs in a mid range which is very difficult for a singer to maintain. But her style and her innate good taste makes this recording a vocal standout. She has never sounded so beautiful and heartfelt and rarely resorts to her trademark "belting it out" style. This is a testament to one of the best singers in the business. Her ability to color long phrases in a single breath with subtle nuance, ranks her among the great singers of all time. This is a limited release. So get it while you can. It is a bit costly but, oh is it worth every penny. This was one of her last Lps for MGM and vastly overlooked yet it ranks among her finest work. A must have for any music lover. Her version of "Forevermore" is breathtaking. "Blue Hawaii", so closely associated to Elvis is soon forgotten when you listen to Ms. Francis' rendition of this 1929 classic. She is as easily at home singing these ethnic tunes as she is any well known English pop standard. A standout recording that should not be missed. It won't stay in print for long! A masterpiece in every aspect."