Frankie Laine - Collection (27 tracks) +Album Reviews

Looks like this so-so collection will have to do for now

Paul Tognetti | Cranston, RI USA | 10/15/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Despite the fact that this disc bills itself as The Frankie Laine Collection: The Best of The Mercury Years" it is hard to reconcile the fact that 7 of Frankie Laine's charted hits with Mercury records were not included in this 1991 collection. That's a doggone shame but there is still no denying that there are still a good number of terrific tunes from the 40's and early 50's in this collection.

Frankie Laine came out of nowhere in 1947 with his debut recording "That's My Desire". Most music buffs would agree that this is the definitive recording of that tune and Laine took it all the way to #4 on the Billboard pop chart and literally put Mercury records on the map. Sales of that recording were greatly enhanced by black record buyers who mistakenly thought that Laine was a black artist. Laine would continue to hit the charts on a regular basis during his tenure at Mercury. Among the familiar hits you might remember were 1949's "That Lucky Old Sun" and "Mule Train" and his big one from 1950 "The Cry Of The Wild Goose". All three of these tunes made it all the way to the top of the charts and are included on this disc. Other notable tunes on "The Frankie Laine Collection" are "Shine", "Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You)" and the Fats Waller penned "Black and Blue". Laine departed Mercury in the spring of 1951 and went on to have several more successful years at Columbia. It is worth noting that the folks at Mercury did a pretty decent job with the liner notes for this collection but it remains a darn shame that a more complete anthology of Frankie Laine's long and distinguished career is not yet available. It is an oversight that begs to be addressed by one of the reissue labels.

Frankie Laine passed away at the ripe old age of 93 on February 6, 2007. He was still performing "live" shows as recently as 2001 or 2002 and came out of retirement to perform on T.J. Lubinsky's PBS special "Moments To Remember" in 2005. He even had his own website. Remarkable! More than two years after his death no comprehensive Frankie Laine anthology has been issued. That's too bad! In the meantime, The Frankie Laine Collection: The Mercury Years" remains the best available option. Recommended!

"

Frankie at his best

Paul Tognetti | 07/19/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is definitely for the Frankie Laine fans who enjoyed his smooth voice prior to the novelty music of Mitch Miller's Columbia label. His "That's My Desire" and "Music Maestro Please" are a testament to this man's smooth style"

Great cd- Mercury needs to do a" Number 2" follow-up!

Paul Tognetti | 03/24/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is classic early Laine (Lovecchio). I had the opportunity to interview him on my "talk show" in about 1974 and asked him if Mercury ever planned to do this. It sure was a long time coming! If #2 is ever done it should include "Black Lace," Ah! But It Happens," and "Be Bop Spoken Here.""

22 Hit Singles With Mercury - 8 Of Them Are NOT In A 22-Trac

Paul Tognetti | 08/26/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Outside of an expensive multi-disc box set it seems there are no Frankie Laine CDs on the market today which give us all of his hit singles covering his years at Mercury [22 hits from 1947 - 1951] and Columbia [40 hits from 1951 - 1963]. In 1996 Taragon did put out one entitled The Very Best Of Frankie Laine (ABC Years) covering all 8 he had with label from 1967 to 1969, but it seems to be out of circulation.

This one, for example, is a 22-selection CD entitled "The Mercury Years" which then goes on to omit eight of the hit singles he had for that label! Now, I realize that it doesn't say "his best" or "greatest hits" but come on folks - it was the hit singles that made him a star there in the first place, especially in that pre-LP era.

In place of any seven of tracks 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 22 - none of which were hits for Frankie - could they have not inserted the following: Monday Again (# 23 in 1948); Ah But It Happens [# 21 in 1948], You're All I Want For Christmas [# 11 in 1948 and # 29 in 1949], Now That I Need You [# 20 in 1949], Stars And Stripes Forever [# 20 in 1950], Dream A Little Dream Of Me [# 18 in 1950 and the flip of Music, Maestro, Please], If I Were A Bell [# 30 in 1950], and Metro Polka [# 19 in 1951].

With the exception of the Christmas tune, which can be found on Crooners Christmas from North Star [available here], all the others are on the Spectrum CD "Early Classics" - also available through Amazon. Also, his duets, expecially the 6 he had with Jo Stafford in 1961/61, are on The Bear Family CD "Duets."

With just a little more research effort and imagination this could have been a 5-star collection. Instead, it's just one more in a long list of his compilations that either offer us weak re-makes of his hits, or come up short in delivering the goods.

Frankie Laine is in the Top 5 when it comes to naming the singers regarded as the most difficult to collect by those of us seeking original hit singles from his time. What is the problem?

"

Embodies various aspects of his greatness...

Joe Anthony (a.k.a. JAG 1) | Massachusetts, USA | 04/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The great Frankie Laine lived a long and fruitful life (1913-2007). He recorded for over fifty years and these recordings from his early carreer, embody various aspects of his greatness; from the jazz roots through the "Old Western" sound. Many of his collaborations with his good friends Carl Fischer and Mitch Miller are featured here.

Mr. Laine sings with a full, rich voice and he puts his whole force of emotion into each song. Incidently, he was also a kind and generous man. I would often order his hard-to-find CDs through his private office. He would generously take the time to autograph everything I had purchased.

It's too bad we lived on opposite coasts. I would have loved to have met him."

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