Bobby Vinton - The Best of Bobby Vinton

Mellow and Romantic

Crooner Bobby Vinton was a top male vocalist from 1962 to 1972, with more number one songs in that period than Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. His hit songs were mellow; most were romantic. This collection of fourteen songs highlights some of Bobby's most memorable songs from this era and makes a perfect background for a candlelight evening.

The songs in this collection are presented in chronological order. However, Vinton sounded nearly the same in 1972 as he did in 1962. His voice may have been slightly deeper in 1972, but it is the same melodious voice with the same heartfelt emotions. Is it any wonder that Vinton appealed to romantic girls and women?

This collection kicks off with the tearjerker "Roses Are Red." This simple song became Vinton's first #1 song and propelled a career that would eventually sell more than 75 million records and would help give Vinton a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

The second song, "Rain, Rain Go Away," is another tearjerker in a vein similar to the previous song. Vinton's interpretation of this song propelled it to #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

"Blue on Blue" was penned by Burt Bacharach with lyrics by Hal David, a team that was enjoying tremendous success in the 1960's. This song of romantic loss hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart, giving Bobby Vinton his third hit song in the top 20, all of which were about either losing the one you love or lamenting having lost someone.

The 1963 song "Blue Velvet" gave Vinton his second #1 song. Vinton's version of this song is the best known of several versions and was also the version featured in the surreal David Lynch film of the same name. Vinton sings this song in a way that is emotionally sincere. When I listen to this song with my eyes closed and headphones on I can almost see tears as Vinton looks back to the memory of the night with her and her blue velvet dress.

Vinton started off 1964 with another #1 hit, "There, I've Said It Again." Having another #1 hit was unremarkable, but this time the hit was a love song rather than a song about losing someone or having lost someone. "My Heart Belongs to Only You" was another 1964 release from the same album as the previous song. This song was Vinton's second hit love song in a row, reaching #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

1964 was the year of the love song for Vinton. His third top 20 song in a row was yet another love song, "Tell Me Why." This love song features a style more at home with Dean Martin with its dramatic opening and lush orchestrations.

Though Bobby Vinton usually sang songs written by others, in 1964 Vinton co-wrote "Mr. Lonely" with Gene Allan, taking the song to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Vinton is at his best when singing about poignant issues. In this case, Mr. Lonely is a soldier far from home. Though the electronic age has made separation different than it used to be, the heartfelt emotions behind Vinton's words are unavoidable and make this a great song for anyone who is isolated or feels isolated. Vinton's falsetto is awesome and gives Frankie Valli a run for his money.

A number of groups recorded "Long Lonely Nights," but none was as successful as Bobby Vinton in 1965, when he took the song to #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. This song returned Vinton to songs of loss. This time he sings his heart out over a girl that apparently dumped him, begging her to return.

Vinton had a minor hit in 1965 with "L-O-N-E-L-Y," which only reached #22 in the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the Adult Contemporary chart. This song, written by Bobby Vinton, is extremely simple lyrically and musically. On the other hand, Vinton sings in his characteristic heartbreak style, making you believe he could turn almost anything into a poignant song.

After more than a two year absence from the top 10, Vinton roared back in 1967 with "Please Love Me Forever." The lyrics are hardly challenging, but again Vinton's voice turns simple lyrics into an emotional plea for love forever. This song is the one you should use when trying to convince your girl she should stay with you.

Vinton managed to get four songs on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1968, including "Halfway to Paradise" and the gorgeous song "I Love How You Love Me." Each time I hear the opening of this song I am reminded of Roy Orbison because Vinton sounds much like him. The latter song hit #9 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

The final selection on this CD is "Sealed with a Kiss" from 1972. This song was the next to the last song that reached into the top 20 on the Hot 100 for Vinton, hitting #19. This song did quite well considering that it was competing with artists such as The Moody Blues, Three Dog Night, Don McLean and many others. Vinton's last song to hit the Hot 100 was "My Melody of Love," which is not included in this collection and which is, I believe the only song to ever chart in Billboard's Hot 100 with some Polish lyrics.

Bobby Vinton's music is timeless. It is just as poignant and beautiful today as it was when he first recorded it. Vinton was incredibly successful, holding his own against The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and dozens of other rock artists. There are still people that make music like this, but you will likely not hear them on pop radio. If you ever get nostalgic for mellow, romantic music, pick this CD up and give yourself a treat.

Enjoy!

January 14, 2008

Enjoying the Oldies

Listening to this music just brought back wonderful days of old. The love songs are so sincere and that is why I bought this to listen to the love songs... May 16, 2007

An aging hipster's guilty pleasure

A year or so ago ran across this "Best of Bobby Vinton" cd while surfing and picked it up based on fond memories of "Mr. Lonely".
I was very pleasantly surprised to discover I still enjoyed that track and most of the CD, sappy as it is...

Vinton, who was an accomplished sax player with two modestly selling instrumental albums before he became "Bobby Vinton" the pleasantly sappy pop singer, exhibits near flawless intonation and thoughtfully crafted phrasing on all these tracks. The production is clean and spare and very much modeled on what Owen Bradley and Billy Sherril were doing in Nashville at the time. In some ways, Vinton comes off as a male Patsy Cline.

I've uploaded it to our family iTunes server and the best of it, Mr. Lonely, Long and Lonely Nights, There I've Said it Again, are in heavy
rotation in the house and on the road... horribly sappy but beautifully done and very musical...

if someone told me in my adolescence I'd be enjoying this in middle age... well, I'm just glad I lived to enjoy it now (even more than I enjoyed it as a wee AM radio addicted lad...) March 6, 2007

Romantic memories of crushes and first loves!

Bobby Vinton was one of the most successful singers of the 1960s and perhaps the 20th century. This CD proves it.

This CD is replete with beautiful, romantic ballads sung by Vinton all boasting excellent musical arrangements. The songs are also presented in chronological order as Bobby recorded them during the 1960s and early 1970s.

The CD offers us numerous wonderful songs including: "Roses Are Red (My Love);" "Blue On Blue;" "There! I've Said It Again" and "Sealed With A Kiss." These songs are all timeless love ballads any classic vocalist would have loved to record. Moreover, throughout the CD Bobby Vinton throws himself into the music; his passion for his music and song become extremely clear as you listen.

The quality of the sound is excellent. The liner notes include an essay about Bobby and these songs by Didier C. Deutsch as well as some really nice photos (both black and white as well as color) of Bobby at the time these songs were recorded. The song credits and dates they were recorded are also there for you.

I have to admit, however, that I agree with the reviewer who writes that not all of Bobby's best is here. I especially would have liked "My Melody Of Love" and "Only Love Can Break A Heart" to have been included on this CD. They're not; so I have to take off half a star for that. (That makes this product a 4 1/2 star review.)

Overall, however, this is an excellent CD for people who want to get to know Bobby's special talent. The love ballads are beautifully sung and arranged throughout. If you like this CD, I recommend you try next Bobby's CD entitled Because of You: The Love Songs Collection. It's also excellent.

I highly recommend this CD for fans of Bobby Vinton, classic pop vocals, and people who enjoy a good solid love song with charming musical arrangements. Kudos to Bobby! We are better off for Bobby being with us. SMILE
September 4, 2006

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