TIME TO REAPPRAISE MONTE REY
Barry McCanna | Normandy, France | 11/15/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The cover of this 2-CD set reads: "A veritable treasure trove of 57 tracks, many appearing for the first time, and including all of the surviving recordings from his early "Montgomery Fyfe" days. Plus rare broadcast material with "The Ovaltineys" and Geraldo." If explanation is needed, James Montgomery Fyfe was a trained operatic tenor who switched from a classical career in 1934 when he joined Geraldo and adopted the persona of Monte Rey. All of which is well traced in the discography and Hugh Palmer's liner note, from which it is clear that Monte Rey is due a reappraisal. This fine compilation casts fresh light on someone who is best remembered for his dance band recordings but who deserves to be celebrated also as one of the true bel canto tenors. It should appeal to lovers of good singing generally, and dance band and radio broadcast enthusiasts in particular"