Sinatra referred to Tony Bennett as the 'best singer in the business', and after listening to many of Tony's albums it is hard to argue. This 'best of' collection from 1972 includes some magnificent recordings, including 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco', 'Love Look Away', a heart-stopping 'I Wanna Be Around', a rousing 'Sing You Sinners' and more. It is a time capsule album of Tony's earlier career.

While his voice is sensational -- it deepens into something beyond compare by the early 1960s -- a few of the songs are the product of their era, notwithstanding Tony's talent. The early 1960s style of adding a background choir and additional echo has a kind of charm, but it sounds like -- well, the early 1960s. The good news is that apart from a 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' that sounds like a bad cabaret tune and a cover of George Harrison's 'Something' that really isn't for Tony (he's a Cole Porter, Gershwin, Johnny Mercer, Rodgers & Hart kind of guy -- best when the music swings or in great ballads), most of this album is a real treasure.

However -- some of the albums from which these songs were culled are worth buying. 'I Wanna Be Around' is a superb album, as is 'Who Can I Turn To'. And, if you enjoy live music, the 1962 Carnegie Hall Concert is an outstanding recording that includes much of the classic material here, in rousing renditions. Two CDs of live Tony Bennett in 1962 -- what else could you want?

If you are looking for an introduction to Tony Bennett, or just appreciate his powerful voice and inimitable spirit -- the guy always sounds like he's smiling into the microphone, and that happiness comes through -- you should enjoy this album. If a couple of the tracks sound a bit like kitsch, so be it.

As I'm only 33, a lot of people laugh when they see this CD in my collection (particularly among the Def Leppard and Live CD's!). My mother adored Tony Bennett, and his greatest hits collection was a perennial feature in the car and home 8-track players. I've always loved this record--Tony had (and still does have) an incredible voice, and the songs featured here are the creme de la creme of pop songwriting in the 40's and 50's, including the immortal "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" and my two personal favorites, "Rags To Riches" and "Just In Time". Of course, having to be "cool" as a teenager I denied Tony for many years. So laugh away if you want, kids--this album rocks in the truest sense of the word! Long live Tony Bennett!

I suppose I'm like many latent Tony Bennett fans. I'd heard of him before he did the unplugged album, but as he got more exposure my interest in him was piqued. Let me cut to the chase: Tony has a great, wonderful voice, and this album really shows it. I bought the "Hot and Cool" album (Ellington tribute) when it came out and I've enjoyed it, but I wanted to get an album from his early days, when his voice had power to burn. You'll certainly get it with this album. Find yourself a really good set of speakers, turn the sound up, and listen to Rags to Riches and Stranger in Paradise. I guarantee you'll be favourably impressed. There are a couple of arrangements that verge on shmaltzy, but that's a small price to pay to hear Tony sing with such colour and joy in his voice. It's a wonderful album and a great way to get to know Tony Bennett, especially if all you may have heard is later stuff.

Aside from the classic "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," Tony Bennett's vocalizing is an acquired taste. But Bennett does grow on you. Initially, his voice is a bit grating and the listener may grow concerned that the veins in his neck might pop at any minute. Eventually, however, you realize that while he is not an exceptionally smooth vocalist (like Como or Damone), he is nonetheless a very good one. He has a powerful voice and, while he at times awkwardly tries too hard to swing like Bobby Darin (who, in my opinion, stands alone as a master uptempo vocalist), he usually has good taste in his choice of songs. Tony Bennett may not have the looks, panache, or magnetism of Bobby Darin or Dean Martin, but like his two paisanos, he can sing. Add his name to a list that also includes Vic Damone, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Frankie Laine, Nick Lucas, Al Martino, Russ Columbo, Buddy Greco, Julius LaRosa, etc., and you have a veritable who's who of American popular singers, all of Italian descent. His "Greatest HIts" CD is a must for any serious collector of American popular song.

Tony Bennett is the last of the great crooners.

Bing, Frank, Dino, Nat, and Perry are all gone now. The best way to enjoy these mammoth crooners is to buy their vast remastered albums.

Tony has a new one called "40 Years The Artistry of Tony B". It covers most of the highlights of Tony's lavish career. Some of my favorite standards are "Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Gigolo and Gigolette", "Rags to Riches", "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", and "Just in Time". Tony could also do some wonderful Sinatra-style singing too: "Chicago (That Toddling Town)" is a good one from the Carnegie Hall appearance in 1962.

This CD compilation is about half way there. Someone should sit down and REALLY evaluate a 25 song classic CD that includes only Tony's best based on listeners' favorite picks. Songs like "Something" just don't cut it for me. I think some of his early sixties and entire fifties material is pure gold.

It is no surprise when the Chairman of the Board once said that "Tony is my favorite singer."