Search - Various Artists :: Fabulous Fifties: Unforgettable Fifties

More of the superb oldies collections from Time-Life

Vinyl Bytes | Houston | 02/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The technical quality of the Time-Life 'Fabulous Fifties' series is as good as it gets, and on this CD all tracks are the original hit recordings. I've almost all of the 'Fabulous Fifties' series and originals hits are the rule; I've seen less than 5% 'remakes' or 'covers'. It's all the great sounds from my youth and most likely your's also. If you're looking for memories you won't be disappointed."

And the nostalgia continues...

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 06/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Fabulous Fifties: Unforgettable Fifties is a solid installment in a CD series that gives us so much high quality control music to enjoy from way back when. These tunes made the airwaves sizzle when they were originally released; and they still sound great even in our times. The quality of the sound is excellent and that artwork is nice.



The Chordettes get the action going with their timeless hit, "Mr. Sandman." "Mr. Sandman" features The Chordettes effortlessly changing tempo and keys as if it were only mere breathing--bit we know it really wasn't all that easy; their talents always carried them through. The song is very easy on the ear and the music fits in perfectly with their vocals. Listen also for Percy Faith & His Orchestra to give us an outstanding rendition of the theme from "A Summer Place;" this is a well known tune that you just may recognize when you hear the very first bars! The strings are used to great advantage and I love this number. Nat "King" Cole delivers "Mona Lisa" with panache; his excellent sense of timing makes his performance all the better. Nat "King" Cole still ranks high in my book. The music is charming and it all works very well.



Mario Lanza sings "Be My Love" faultlessly; we really hear the operatic qualities of his voice and that chorus in the background sounds so good! Mario Lanza's talent was quite remarkable; and Perry Como turns out a fantastic interpretation of "Wanted" along with Huge Winterhalter & His Orchestra. "Wanted" just plain sounds good; the strings are wonderful and I cannot understand why Perry Como isn't better remembered today than he is. The great Eddie Fisher does "Oh! My Pa-Pa (O Mein Papa)" without ever letting go of a single superfluous note; and Kay Starr does "Wheel Of Fortune" just right! Rumor has it that they had to roll the dice well over 40 times just to get the right effect at the very beginning of this ballad; what a story!



Johnnie Ray sings his major hit "Cry" with all his heart and soul--no wonder why all the teenage girls had a crush on Johnnie! Jo Stafford performs "You Belong To Me" with all the grace of the songbird that she was; Jo's timing and diction impresses me and she makes this a stand-out of the album. The Crew Cuts chip in with a playful tune, "Sh-Boom;" I really like "Sh-Boom" and it's a fine tune from the fifties.



Les Paul & Mary Ford outdo even themselves on "Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You);" this was one of the best hits they ever recorded. Sublime! The CD ends beautifully with Patti Page singing "Tennessee Waltz;" "Tennessee Waltz" shines in Patti's capable hands and it makes the listener want more!



The Fabulous Fifties: Unforgettable Fifties is a must-have for fans of music from this era. This is a very good CD for people who are either casual fans of fifties music or who are just discovering the terrific qualities of this music. If you have these tunes already, look for more comprehensive CD box sets that showcase the marvelous sounds of the fifties.

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Perhaps the Best Part of the 50's

!Edwin C. Pauzer | New York City | 06/18/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Nostalgia has its benefits. "The Fabulous Fifties" will make you remember that music was one of the best things to come from that decade. The songs were silly, happy, sad, romantic, and even a little frenetic. They reflected a post war energy and confidence of the public.



Many of these artists are gone or out of the public eye, but the music that The Four Aces, Patti Page, Eddie Fisher, Dean Martin, Roger Williams, The McGuire Sisters, Rosemay Clooney, and The Ames Brothers remain. They remind us of an age when it was easier to remember the melody of what you heard, and it didn't sound like it was just scales.



"Love is a Many Splendored Thing," "That's Amore," "Mr. Sandman," "This Old House," "Autumn Leaves," are just some of my favorites. Most of the music here might make you want to get up and dance with your partner. It's one of those CD's that works well during weekend chores, country drives, or just quiet evenings by candlelight.



The Fabulous Fifties is a fabulous collection of musical nostalgia, and worth every penny.



I think it will be very popular with you.

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