Alvino Rey - Collection 1940-50 - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Al Martino was one of the illustrious coterie of Italian-American crooners who played such a huge part in popular music during the post-war decades and which included the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Tony Bennett, Frankie Laine, Tony Martin and others. Encouraged by family friend, another great Italian-American singer, Mario Lanza, he became a singer after service in WWII, performing in clubs and making obscure records for Jubilee, before winning the highly influential InchArthur Godfrey's Talent ScoutsInch TV show, leading to a recording contract for the independent BBS tag and a debut single with InchHere In My HeartInch, soon picked up by Capitol. It was a No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic - it was No. 1 in the very first UK record sales chart - and launched a career as recording artist, cabaret performer, TV personality and movie actor, appearing in the InchThe GodfatherInch trilogy of films through to 1990. This great value 54-track 2-CD set comprises selected A & B sides from his singles released on Capitol & 20th Century Fox during this era, and features all his US and UK chart entries during this era, including the No. 1 hit InchHere In My HeartInch along with the Top 10 hits InchTake My HeartInch, InchNowInch, InchRachelInch, InchWantedInch and InchThe Story Of TinaInch. It's an entertaining overview of his first decade as a chart performer, and a fine showcase for his talent as an interpreter of top class repertoire from across the pop and easy listening spectrum.

Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul [VINYL LP] 180 Gram date 10/23/2012

Bob Wills was one of the two country music personalities, along with Spade Cooley, who pioneered the style of Western Swing music during the 1930s and '40s, combining the standard approach of hillbilly country with jazz, blues and pop styles, and using expanded instrumental line-ups, to create a highly distinctive, sophisticated, infectious and entertaining strand of country music. Between 1935 and 1950, with a variety of different incarnations of his band The Texas Playboys, he recorded for Vocalion, Okeh, Columbia and MGM while establishing himself as a top radio star and successful 'live' attraction. This great-value 53-track 2-CD collection cherry-picks the highlights from the 300 or so recordings he made during the period, including, of course, the twenty or more Top 10 country hits he had after the establishing of the airplay chart for InchFolkInch records during the '40s, with biggies like InchNew San Antonio RoseInch, InchSmoke On The WaterInch, InchStars And Stripes On Iwo JimaInch, InchSugar MoonInch and InchNew Spanish Two StepInch. While he remained a popular figure over the next two decades, his career was blighted by ill-health, and this collection provides a marvellously entertaining look at the real golden era of western swing. Includes comprehensive booklet notes, with complete recording session and personnel details