CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

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The Essential Collection

by: Al Bowlly

Release Date March 19, 2007
This is a distillation of an earlier 3-CD set from Avid, about which I wrote a rave review at the time. It's a fascinating compilation, which makes up a chronological journey through Al's recording career. If you were lucky enough to buy the earlier set then there's nothing here that wasn't issued earlier, but if you missed out then grab this now. It's the ideal introduction to the supreme singer, and excellent value for money.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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The Best Of

by: Al Bowlly

Release Date August 28, 2000
Curious as to what the fuss was all about I ordered this cd. And I must confess that all three colleague-reviewers are correct in their assesment of this cd (with which I do not mean to say that I necessarily agree with their judgement). True, there is a lot more 78's surface noise than on most Vocalion or Past Perfect reissues. No, to me that isn't much of a problem, because quite honestly the "enhancement" often changes the aural picture of the original recording, not always for the better.
It is however also true that a little more care in the preparation would have prevented the irritating late start of two tracks ("Easy Come, Easy Go", where the first bar of the introductory guitar is all but missed and "Love you funny thing"); furthermore, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

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The Very Thought of You

by: Al Bowlly

Release Date August 01, 2005
Curious as to what the fuss was all about I ordered this cd. And I must confess that all three colleague-reviewers are correct in their assesment of this cd (with which I do not mean to say that I necessarily agree with their judgement). True, there is a lot more 78's surface noise than on most Vocalion or Past Perfect reissues. No, to me that isn't much of a problem, because quite honestly the "enhancement" often changes the aural picture of the original recording, not always for the better.
It is however also true that a little more care in the preparation would have prevented the irritating late start of two tracks ("Easy Come, Easy Go", where the first bar of the introductory guitar is all but missed and "Love you funny thing"); furthermore, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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This Is Romance

by: Al Bowlly

Release Date May 27, 2008
Curious as to what the fuss was all about I ordered this cd. And I must confess that all three colleague-reviewers are correct in their assesment of this cd (with which I do not mean to say that I necessarily agree with their judgement). True, there is a lot more 78's surface noise than on most Vocalion or Past Perfect reissues. No, to me that isn't much of a problem, because quite honestly the "enhancement" often changes the aural picture of the original recording, not always for the better.
It is however also true that a little more care in the preparation would have prevented the irritating late start of two tracks ("Easy Come, Easy Go", where the first bar of the introductory guitar is all but missed and "Love you funny thing"); furthermore, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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The First Pop Idol

by: Al Bowlly

Release Date June 30, 2008
Curious as to what the fuss was all about I ordered this cd. And I must confess that all three colleague-reviewers are correct in their assesment of this cd (with which I do not mean to say that I necessarily agree with their judgement). True, there is a lot more 78's surface noise than on most Vocalion or Past Perfect reissues. No, to me that isn't much of a problem, because quite honestly the "enhancement" often changes the aural picture of the original recording, not always for the better.
It is however also true that a little more care in the preparation would have prevented the irritating late start of two tracks ("Easy Come, Easy Go", where the first bar of the introductory guitar is all but missed and "Love you funny thing"); furthermore, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Goodnight Sweetheart

by: Al Bowlly

Release Date September 13, 1997
I acquired this CD "on spec" some time ago, and was delighted to find that in addition to some of the late recordings with Ronnie Munro, it also contains all but three of the duets that Al recorded with Jimmy Mesene in late 1940.

They give the lie to the persistent rumour that Jimmy was a poor partner in song; in fact I would rate these as far superior to the much earlier Al Bowlly/Les Allen duets, where the latter effectively blankets Al's contribution. Excellent value for money.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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My Song Goes Round the World

by: Al Bowlly & Ray Noble

Release Date May 29, 2006
I acquired this CD "on spec" some time ago, and was delighted to find that in addition to some of the late recordings with Ronnie Munro, it also contains all but three of the duets that Al recorded with Jimmy Mesene in late 1940.

They give the lie to the persistent rumour that Jimmy was a poor partner in song; in fact I would rate these as far superior to the much earlier Al Bowlly/Les Allen duets, where the latter effectively blankets Al's contribution. Excellent value for money.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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Love Is the Sweetest Thing

by: Al Bowlly

Release Date August 01, 2005
I acquired this CD "on spec" some time ago, and was delighted to find that in addition to some of the late recordings with Ronnie Munro, it also contains all but three of the duets that Al recorded with Jimmy Mesene in late 1940.

They give the lie to the persistent rumour that Jimmy was a poor partner in song; in fact I would rate these as far superior to the much earlier Al Bowlly/Les Allen duets, where the latter effectively blankets Al's contribution. Excellent value for money.

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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In London 1930-34, Vol. 1: Midnight, The Stars and You

by: Ray Noble & Al Bowlly

Release Date
I acquired this CD "on spec" some time ago, and was delighted to find that in addition to some of the late recordings with Ronnie Munro, it also contains all but three of the duets that Al recorded with Jimmy Mesene in late 1940.

They give the lie to the persistent rumour that Jimmy was a poor partner in song; in fact I would rate these as far superior to the much earlier Al Bowlly/Les Allen duets, where the latter effectively blankets Al's contribution. Excellent value for money.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Romantic Voice

by: Al Bowlly

Release Date March 10, 2008
I acquired this CD "on spec" some time ago, and was delighted to find that in addition to some of the late recordings with Ronnie Munro, it also contains all but three of the duets that Al recorded with Jimmy Mesene in late 1940.

They give the lie to the persistent rumour that Jimmy was a poor partner in song; in fact I would rate these as far superior to the much earlier Al Bowlly/Les Allen duets, where the latter effectively blankets Al's contribution. Excellent value for money.