Engelbert - #1 Love Songs of All Time

good--as far as it goes, that is (three and 1/2 stars for being too short)

#1 Love Songs of All Time really doesn't give us all the #1 love songs of all time sung by Engelbert Humperdinck; but it's still quite a solid album and what we do get is five star quality throughout! The sound quality is excellent and the artwork is very well done.

"Too Young" starts the track set with Engelbert performing his very best; and the melody is really very pretty. Engelbert shows off the operatic qualities of his voice and this impresses me a lot, too. "Secret Love" comes off smooth as silk when Engelbert sings it so very well; he delivers this fine love song to perfection--and beyond! The music that accompanies him complements his vocals perfectly; and "Secret Love" is easily a major highlight of this album.

Similarly, "Unchained Melody" gets a fine treatment that would make The Everly Brothers proud indeed; I love the sound of this ballad and Engelbert Humperdinck never misses a beat!

"Stranger In Paradise" is a love song that was always one of my very favorites; and when Engelbert sings this he takes it to new heights! The melody again is very pretty and the musical arrangement lacks nothing--it's all THAT good. "Smoke Gets In Her Eyes" gets the royal treatment as well from Engelbert; he sings this with great sensitivity and it improves the sound of this classic love ballad immeasurably.

"Love Me Tender" would have made Elvis proud; Engelbert Humperdinck performs this with all his heart and soul. I really like "Love Me Tender" and Engelbert puts his own stamp on this melody with his incredible sense of timing and his excellent diction. "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" is a stunning love song that always tugs at my heartstrings when I hear it; and I think that Engelbert's interpretation is one of the best renditions of "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" I've ever heard!

The CD ends strong with Engelbert Humperdinck performing "There's no song like a slow song." I predict you'll enjoy this very much; it's an excellent love song and clearly another highlight of this fine album.

Engelbert Humperdinck fans should not hesitate to get this album; and people who enjoy the classic love songs will like this very much. Unfortunately, the title is rather misleading because there are just so many more love songs that truly belong in the category of "#1 love songs of all time." Therefore I will take off one and ½ stars to make this a three and ½ star review. Sorry folks! Engelbert's wonderful--but the album's way too short!
April 17, 2008

Good but short

If you're looking for beautiful love songs sang by an old pro,
this is it. Englebert has his own style and was true to form
in this cd. I'm not a real fan of his but I bought this as
a gift for someone who was and I ended up listening to it
because of the selection of songs included. If your an
Englebert fan and also if you're not, this will please. My only
complaint is there are not enough songs included. January 9, 2007

songs for the romantic at heart

Culled largely from Engelbert's fabulous collaboration with arranger/conductor Bebu Silvetti, the 1995 "Love Unchained" album, which has a gorgeous, lush orchestral backing for Engelbert's timeless, extraordinary voice, this is a marvelous collection of mostly classic songs, with choice picks for me being two of my all-time favorite melodies, the beautiful "Love is a Many Splendored Thing", and "Unchained Melody", both sung to perfection by Engelbert. He is 59 here, and there is a world weariness and a mature huskiness added to the glorious sound of his voice, when compared to his hits of the late '60s and '70s, and a depth of heartfelt emotion that goes straight to the heart.

Bebu Silvetti is well known in the world of Latin music, where he creates his instrumental magic for superstars like Luis Miguel and Rocio Durcal. His arrangements are a fantastic blend for Engelbert's style, who with good reason has earned the title of "The King of Romance".
This CD has 9 of the most tender and loving of the 12 songs found on the "Love Unchained" CD (missing from the CD are "Answer Me", "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay", and the upbeat "Such a Night"), and the final track, "There's No Song Like a Slow Song" is from Engelbert's 1996 CD, "After Dark", and is a lilting number with a contemporary country feel, and a spoken verse that is a reminder of that other King of music, Elvis.
This compilation is a winner...perfect for lovers, candlelight dinners, and those ever young at heart. Total playing time for this nicely priced CD is approximately 37 minutes.
February 14, 2005

Love Unchained Part Deux

Mr. Humperdinck is my favorite singer,therefore I may be biased toward his work. This CD however is cut straight from "Love Unchained" with the exception of the last track, so I feel this review is really about a compilation of classic vocal magic. Englebert sings in three octaves and never seems to run out of voice. I have read where he has been called the voice of the century. Pound for pound you will agree with this assessment after listening to this disc. May 3, 2002

Doing justice to the classics

Engelbert Humperdinck's long career - now in its fifth decade - is largely down to his versatility as well as his enduring voice. He has retained the impressive vocal range that he first displayed in the 60s with hits including Release Me, The Last Waltz and There Goes My Everything. His loyal fan base continue to buy concert tickets in droves, and he has continued to record new albums at a rate of at least one per year during each of the past 35 years, a statistic that none of his contemporaries from the 60s can claim. Still recording new and original material, Englebert occasionally returns to his musical roots to record classics from the 50s and 60s - the content of this recently-recorded album is one such project. A long-time fan of Nat King Cole, Engelbert's emotional performance of Cole's Too Young is a worthy tribute. Another highlight, and another triumph, is Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - this song is one of popular music's most demanding, requiring superb breath control to sustain the repeated crescendoes that feature throughout the song. Engelbert delivers quality performances on every song, equalling (and sometimes surpassing) the standard set by the original artists. An essential album for Engelbert fans and anyone who enjoys classic 50s and 60s love songs. February 9, 2002

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