Released as a companion piece to
Columbia
/
Legacy
's
Greatest Hits
collection,
Jerry Vale Sings the Great Italian Hits
features 18 Italian songs
Vale
recorded for
Columbia Records
during the '50s, '60s, and '70s. Like any Italian-American crooner, he learned these songs from his family and continually returned to them over the years. He didn't record a full album of Italian songs until 1962, when he cut two that year. Ten tracks from those two albums are featured here -- the remaining cuts date from 1955, 1966, 1967, and 1970. The remarkable thing about
Sings the Great Italian Hits
is that it all sounds as if it comes from the same recording session. That's how consistent
's performances are -- even though this disc contains sessions helmed by four different producers, it all holds together. Also, these 18 songs -- including
"Innamorata (Sweetheart),"
"Volare,"
"Ciao, Ciao, Bambina,"
"O Sole Mio,"
"Arrivederci, Roma,"
"Summertime in Venice,"
"You Don't Have to Say You Love Me,"
and
"More"
-- are among his best vocal performances, illustrating what a fine vocalist he could be. For some tastes, the collection may be a little ballad-heavy, but this remains one of the very best
compilations released in the CD era. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine