Singer, musician, composer and actor Mel Torme was one of the influential hit-making vocalists who emerged in the post-war years, although Torme, as a fine jazz performer and successful songwriter, transcended the description of "crooner" often applied to his contemporaries. Making his debut when still in his teens, he had been recording since the latter years of WWII (see "Mel Torme - The Early Years 1944-47" Acrobat ACTRCD9086), and had written the classic hit "The Christmas Song", before signing to Capitol in 1949. This great-value 52-track 2-CD collection comprises selected A & B sides of his releases on the Capitol, Coral, Bethlehem, Verve and Atlantic labels during these years, including duets with Peggy Lee and Margaret Whiting - the creative orientation of some of those labels underlines the jazz dimension of his output. It features all his chart entries from this era, including the US No.1 "Careless Hands" and the Top 10 hits "Again", "The Four Winds And The Seven Seas" and "Bewitched" and the UK Top 20 hits "Mountain Greenery" and "Comin' Home Baby". It features recordings with some of the most noted arranger/conductors of the day, including Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Neal Hefti, Frank De Vol, Pete Rugolo, Marty Paich Sonny Burke and others. It's a fine showcase for one of the era's classiest and most versatile performers.
Tracklist
CD1
01. Mel Tormé - Careless Hands
02. Mel Tormé - She's A Home Girl
03. Mel Tormé - Again
04. Mel Tormé - Blue Moon
05. Mel Tormé - You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me
06. Mel Tormé - There Isn't Any Special Reason
07. Mel Tormé - The Four Winds And The Seven Seas
08. Mel Tormé - Meadows Of Heaven
09. Mel Tormé - There's A Broken Heart For Every Light On Broadway
10. Mel Tormé - Oh You Beautiful Doll
11. Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé - The Old Master Painter
12. Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé - Bless You (For The Good That's In You)
13. Mel Tormé - I Hadn't Anyone Till You
14. Mel Tormé - Cross Your Heart
15. Mel Tormé - The Piccolino
16. Mel Tormé - Bewitched
17. Mel Tormé - Do, Do, Do
18. Mel Tormé - I Owe A Kiss To A Girl In Iowa
19. Mel Tormé - Skylark
20. Mel Tormé - Lullaby Of The Leaves
21. Mel Tormé - The One For Me
22. Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé - Don't Fan The Flame
23. Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé - Telling Me Yes, Telling Me No
24. Mel Tormé - My Buddy
25. Mel Tormé - You're A Heavenly Thing
CD2
01. Mel Tormé - Black Moonlight
02. Mel Tormé - Anywhere I Wander
03. Mel Tormé - Blue Skies
04. Mel Tormé - The Anything Can Happen Mambo
05. Mel Tormé - Just One More Chance
06. Mel Tormé - Tutti Frutti
07. Mel Tormé - I'se A Muggin'
08. Mel Tormé - All Of You
09. Mel Tormé - Spellbound
10. Mel Tormé - Rose O'Day
11. Mel Tormé - It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
12. Mel Tormé - Goody Goody
13. Mel Tormé - Jeepers Creepers
14. Mel Tormé - My Rosemarie
15. Mel Tormé - Mountain Greenery
16. Mel Tormé - Bernie's Tune
17. Mel Tormé - Lulu's Back In Town
18. Mel Tormé - Keeping Myself For You
19. Mel Tormé - At The Crossroads (Malaguena)
20. Mel Tormé - Frenesi
21. Mel Tormé - Walk Like A Dragon
22. Margaret Whiting, Mel Tormé - Hey, Look Me Over
23. Margaret Whiting, Mel Tormé - What's New At The Zoo
24. Mel Tormé - Her Face
25. Mel Tormé - Yes Indeed
26. Mel Tormé - Comin' Home Baby
27. Mel Tormé - Right Now