CD-Charts Position 1
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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 2
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The Dance Band Years

by: Al Bowlly

Release Date October 13, 1997
A broad range of ideal key titles & lesser releases, from sentiment to more swing numbers, for a very good price by what seems to be the modern standard. As ever, if Al Bowllys voice is delivered clearly & with obvious relish as they are here, there is no reason, i repeat no reason, to not have as much Al in ones collection as is humanely possible..

Even the scouring of individual cds for pickings is a fulfilling pastime. Giving them as gifts equally as so. So it would be wise to gather your Bowllys while you may. Someday soon someones going to realize he's worthy of even more revelation & we will be hearing him everywhere.

CD-Charts Position 3
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The Great British Dance Bands & Their Vocalists

by: Various Artists

Release Date February 26, 2008
There is little for me to add to the other glowing reviews on this cd set; the recordings were made between the early Thirties and mid to late Forties; there are some great surprises such as the spectacularly beautiful version of "All the Things You Are" by Carroll Gibbons / Anne Lenner (which outclasses both Tommy Dorsey's and Artie Shaw's recordings from late 1939), the warmly sentimental version of Ted Heath's "That Lovely Weekend" by Geraldo and a very fine version of "From Me To You" by that unbeatable tandem of Lew Stone and Al Bowlly.
There are also some gripes: first, the inclusion of five Jimmy Messene songs is a sad mistake, he is quite simply a terrible singer! Denny Dennis would have been a much better choice; second, many songs have ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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50 Melancholy Greats

by: Al Bowlly

Release Date August 01, 2005
Don't be put off by the title! I don't have it, but I have copies of all the titles in the compilation, and they are delightful. Since I haven't heard it I can't vouch for fidelity, but on the basis of value for money it must merit 5 stars.

CD-Charts Position 5
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The Very Thought of You

by: Al Bowlly

Release Date August 01, 2005
Don't be put off by the title! I don't have it, but I have copies of all the titles in the compilation, and they are delightful. Since I haven't heard it I can't vouch for fidelity, but on the basis of value for money it must merit 5 stars.

CD-Charts Position 6
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Proud of You

by: Al Bowlly

Release Date October 01, 1999
Al Bowlly was the supreme song stylist, and this compilation shows why. Don't be misled by the description, which refers (incorrectly) to Roy Fox and Lew Stone, although there's nothing here by either band. In fact these are all 1938 recordings, made after Al's return from America, with his Crooners Choir, Ronnie Munro, Geraldo, Oscar Rabin, and Monia Liter. He was in fine voice and if you purchase the CD, I think you'll be surprised and delighted.

CD-Charts Position 7
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The Hits of the 30's and 40's

by: Various Artists

Release Date February 16, 2004
This is the epitome of easy listening, as it evokes a time when everything was so less complicated. Some would say it tends towards the cheesy, but...bring it on.The songs remind me so much of when I was small and the radio was always on, and everyone sang along. so different from sitting glued to the TV today. This is a brilliant collection at a remarkable price.Some of the titles I was unfamiliar with, but all in all, a most welcome and enjoyable addition to my collection.

CD-Charts Position 8
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La Vie En Rose [2007]

by: Marion Cotillard
starring: Marion Cotillard

Release Date November 26, 2007
I dont know about you but when I watch a movie I know when I have been impressed because time just flies by.'La Vie En Rose' is a movie that would have failed if the role of Edith Piaf had been badly played.Without question the performance of Marion Cotillard is fantastic and she fully deserved her best actress Oscar.It is a display of passion,desire,heartbreak and turmoil and it is brilliantly executed.Some of the scenes as Piaf enters old age are superb.I say old age but Piaf actually wasn't that old when she died but Cotillard captures her stoop,her fragillity fantastically well.

Don't be put off by the sub-titles as this is a movie that will hook you and make you appreciate just how good acting can be.It isn't a one woman show by any means as there ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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Pennies from Heaven: Music from the TV Series & Other Songs from the 1930s

by: Various Artists

Release Date April 19, 2004
I came close to awarding this collection 4 out of 5, but then thought better of it.

A purist would find this CD a disappointment, since fewer than half of the 48 tracks come from the BBC television series, (the vast majority of the originals were omitted, or a different version given) and the title could therefore be considered misleading.

Although two versions of the title song 'Pennies from Heaven' appear, one by Bing Crosby and another by 'The Street Singer' Arthur Tracy, only the latter appeared in the television series , where (according to my treasured LPs) it was also sung by Edward Molloy with Louis Levy and the Gaumont British Symphony.

The inclusion of several American recordings, notably those by Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, detracts ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
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My Song Goes Round the World

by: Al Bowlly & Ray Noble

Release Date May 29, 2006
I came close to awarding this collection 4 out of 5, but then thought better of it.

A purist would find this CD a disappointment, since fewer than half of the 48 tracks come from the BBC television series, (the vast majority of the originals were omitted, or a different version given) and the title could therefore be considered misleading.

Although two versions of the title song 'Pennies from Heaven' appear, one by Bing Crosby and another by 'The Street Singer' Arthur Tracy, only the latter appeared in the television series , where (according to my treasured LPs) it was also sung by Edward Molloy with Louis Levy and the Gaumont British Symphony.

The inclusion of several American recordings, notably those by Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, detracts ... Read More: