Al Martino - The Singles Collection 1952-62 (2018)

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 Arthur Godfreys Talent Scouts TV show, leading to a recording contract for the independent BBS label and a debut single with Here In My Heart, 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 The Godfather 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 Here In My Heart along with the Top 10 hits Take My Heart, Now, Rachel, Wanted and The Story Of Tina. Its 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.