Search - Frank Stallone :: In Love In Vain

A great recording of the standards - and a "sleeper" of 2003

Jon Eric Davidson | Redmond, WA, USA | 12/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Had I not read a brief, yet positive, review of "In Love In Vain" in one of the Seattle papers earlier this year, I daresay I would never have known about this release, much less have even considered buying it. Fortunately, I did find out about it, and was pleasantly surprised by what I heard.I'm sure that I am not in the age group where the music industry markets the standards as sung by Sinatra, Martin, et al. Or, this classic music is recorded by a "flavor of the month" pop idol and then marketed to my age group. That said, I do listen to this genre quite a bit, and so, I was eager to hear Mr. Stallone's interpretations would sound. From the first track, I was instantly hooked. Mr. Stallone presents each of these songs the way they were intended to be sung when they were originally written. His vocals are solid and evoke all of power and energy of these songs. "One For My Baby" is my personal favorite on this CD; it is a solid, heart-tugging ballad, and Mr. Stallone's vocals surely do emphasize the emotion at the core of this song. With the combination of the outstanding arrangements by the Sammy Nestico Orchestra, he truly transports the listener back to the era of smoky showrooms, cocktails, and big band sound.One of the mistakes that musicians make when re-recording these classics - or covering any other great song, for that matter - is to over-sing or adding those annoying vocal flourishes. I guess it is meant to "update" the sound, or make it the musician's own. Mr. Stallone doesn't do that here. One gets the sense that he does respect these songs and is not under any illusions that he needs to modernize them. Obviously, "In Love In Vain" would draw comparisons to the two "Great American Songbook" CD's released by Rod Stewart this year. Having been one who has actually listened to all three of these discs, I can safely state that Mr. Stallone created a far better CD that easily outpaces the combined Rod Stewart efforts. In part, this statement is based on my belief that Mr. Stewart does not have the voice that translates well to these discs. Plus, the overproduction, slick packaging, and questionable duets of the Stewart discs make these standards too "sugary" and otherwise of inferior quality. By staying true to the original arrangements and minimal production, Mr. Stallone could easily make a case as the only one to carry this music to future generations. The endorsement from the great Tony Bennett only solidifies this claim. Mr. Stallone unfairly takes a lot of flak from critics who accuse him of riding Sylvester's coattails. There is no question that Frank Stallone is an accomplished musician, and perhaps with "In Love In Vain", I think that he has finally found a niche where he can break out from the shadows and have a great deal of success. This is one of the great "sleeper" CD's of the year, and deserves to be heard by music fans of all ages and tastes. I hope that Mr. Stallone can collaborate with the Sammy Nestico Orchestra again and release another album of these great standards sometime soon."

Always in style...

Jon Eric Davidson | 08/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With a melodic voice perfectly suited for romantic ballads, Frank Stallone puts love back in the music with "In Love In Vain". This CD is an excellent compilation from an era when music was swinging and crooners were singing from the heart. The arrangements are impeccable, showcasing but never overpowering his voice. Frank's ability to handle the crooner style was first evident in his cameo appearance in the film, "Paradise Alley". "In Love In Vain" is a musical treat for big-band fans, and a jewel illuminating the artistry of the versatile Stallone."

In Love In Vain

D. Ramm | Joshua Hills, CA United States | 08/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I first got this CD I didn't know what to expect. I was in my car on a long drive and thought I would give it a chance. I am a major Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra fan. the first track, Day In Day Out caught me completely off gaurd. I loved it. In fact I loved the whole CD. Before I knew it I had listened to the entire CD three times! Frank has a real understanding of the music. He dosen't just sing the songs, he gives them life. I highly recommend this CD for any who loves old standards and for anyone who might be wondering "Isn't anyone singing anymore?""