I love Tony Bennett and I love or like most of the songs but at the same time I was dissappointed. Can't quite put my finger on why but...dissappointed is still the word I would use to discribe my reaction to this CD. Sorry Tony!
July 27, 2008Tony Bennett is one of the best male vocalist in any genre of all time. I love everything he does!
July 19, 2008 |  | Wonderful...But Even Tony Bennett Should Respect A Classic Lyric |  |
All-right, I'm a curmudgeon! But classic American popular music such as this should be respected. And while this is Tony Bennett clearly on top of his game, I cringe when ANYBODY changes the lyric of a classic song for...what?...relevancy...bringing a song up to date...hipness (is there such a word?). All is to say, I agree with Mr. Bennett when on the album notes he states that these songs are part of a golden renaissance in American popular music...which, of course, raises the question, if this is so, then why are you screwing around with the lyrics? On the classic Fats Waller song, "Ain't Misbehavin'", the original lyrics are, "Don't stay out late, don't care to go, I'm home about eight, just me and my radio"...and that's what I want to hear EVERY TIME I hear the song! One shouldn't mess with perfection! Yet, Mr. Bennett sings, "...I'm home about eight, just me and the Late, Late Show..." WHAT? This is an improvement on perfection? If this is permissible to do, can we expect Britney Spears to do her version and sing, "...I'm home about eight, just me and my Ipod on low..." I mean, why would Mr. Bennett, a classic artist who reveres the geniuses of the past - even on this CD his comments regarding Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf and Hank Williams are clearly heartfelt - feel the need to sacrilegiously "improve" upon the superb lyrics of this song? Sorry, I just don't get it. At the same time, Mr. Bennett's reading of "The Very Thought Of You" is absolutely impeccable - and this alone is worth the price of the whole collection...even for other curmudgeons! I Ain't Misbehavin'...just expressing my point of view!
April 29, 2008| | | Tony Bennett Amer. Songbook Vol. 1. | |
We recently saw Tony Bennett in a live concert, inspiring us to buy this album. Great music reflecting his live concert. Recommend it.
John N.
April 24, 2008tony is simply a genius & a talented master of his craft i could listen to him all day
January 8, 2008More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(22 reviews)