Connie Francis - Kissin', Twistin', Goin' Where the Boys Are CD

Kissin', Twistin', Goin' Where the Boys Are songs It's doubtful that anyone born after the '60s remembers Connie Francis well, despite the fact that she was a mega pop star during the late '50s and throughout the '60s. Albums like Sings Italian Favorites and More Italian Favorites sold faster than hotcakes at the local fire department fundraiser, making Concetta Rosemarie Franconero the forerunner to female performers like Madonna (though Francis' wardrobes tended to be more conservative). The 2004 release of these two albums will most strongly appeal to those who remember Francis from her heyday, and have been waiting for her many, many albums to be reissued. The songs, sung in English and Italian, and backed by a full orchestra, don't hold up in the way an Ella Fitzgerald recording does, but Francis is a good singer with a soft, romantic lilt to her voice. And while one wouldn't call the production masterful, the MGM crew keeps a fairly even hand on things for Sings Italian Favorites. The second album, More Italian Favorites, is a bit more bombastic, and more echo -- which isn't needed -- is added to Francis' voice. For old fans, or anyone curious about the types of songs that made mom and dad fall in love, Sings Italian Favorites/More Italian Favorites will be a blast from pop history's past. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. 2 LPs on 1 CD: SINGS ITALIAN FAVORITES (1959) / MORE ITALIAN FAVORITES (1959). Liner Note Authors: Connie Francis; George Christy; John Tobler.

Kissin', Twistin', Goin' Where the Boys Are CD music Connie Francis' Italian-language recordings from the late '50s and '60s are among her most acclaimed records, both by critics and her fans. The two-volume The Italian Collection is the first comprehensive American CD compilation of these records, featuring selections from her five Italian albums -- Sings Italian Favorites, More Italian Favorites, Sings Modern Italian Hits, Mala Femmena & Connie's Big Hits from Italy, and Love, Italian Style -- as well as Italian singles and live tracks. Francis herself compiled the discs, and the results are wonderful. Any serious fan who hasn't heard this music needs to acquire this collection, and fans familiar with this material should be pleased with the remastered sound, extensive liner notes, and previously unpublished photos. Among the highlights on Vol. 1 are "Tango Della Gelosia," "Terra Straniera," "Tango Delle Rose," "Ciao, Ciao Bambino," "Arrivederci Roma," "Canta Ragazzina," "La Paloma," and "Addio, Mi' Amore." ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine All tracks have been digitally remastered. Includes liner notes by Patrick Niglio. Personnel: Connie Francis (vocals). Liner Note Author: Pat Niglio. Photographer: Marc Raboy. Arrangers: Ernie Freeman; Iller Pattacini; Tony Osborne; Joe Sherman; Alan Lorber; Leroy Holmes; Marty Paich; Stan Applebaum. Compilation producers: Connie Francis, Patrick Niglio.

Kissin', Twistin', Goin' Where the Boys Are buy CD music The pairing of Hank Williams, Jr. and Connie Francis seems like a coming together of equals now that Williams has become a big star, but at the time the duo recorded Sing Great Country Favorites, Williams was a 15-year-old boy at the beginning of his recording career and Francis was a very well-established artist. Francis, ten years Williams' senior, was given the task of gazing adoringly at Williams for the photo session, which must have been an awkward shoot. Thankfully, the age disparity isn't reflected in the music, as Williams' mature-sounding vocals take the lead and Francis sings mostly harmonies. The songs are a collection of country standards and recent hits such as "Wolverton Mountain," "Walk on By," and "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On." A few, including "Bye Bye Love" and "Singing the Blues," are new recordings of songs that Francis had already tackled as a solo vocalist a few years earlier. MGM's goal in pairing the two singers may have been to prop up Francis' career and to boost Williams', but the effort was unsuccessful from a commercial standpoint. In retrospect, the album seems even more unusual than it did at the time, since Williams transformed into the wild Bocephus and Francis is sometimes described as the female Pat Boone. The Bear Family reissue appends two alternate takes, including a more spirited rendition of "Mule Skinner Blues" that rivals the album take. ~ Greg Adams MGM's biggest pop hitmaker, Connie Francis, traveled to Nashville to make an album of duets with the teenaged son of MGM's biggest country hitmaker. Though the result was not a memorable work by either one, it demonstrated Francis's versatility and Williams's promise. (Reissued by Polydor in 1976 and by the German Bear Family label on CD in 1993.) ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide Full performer name: Connie Francis and Hank Williams Jr.

Kissin', Twistin', Goin' Where the Boys Are album for sale Track Listing of songs: DISC 1: Until You Tell Me So; My Heart Belongs to You,; Remember to Be Mine; Halfway Chance, A; I Need Someone; Loving You Madly; Two Hearts; Tra-la-La; Ain't That a Shame; Angel Eyes; Tennessee Saturday Night; Now I Know; No Arms Can Ever Hold You; Rich in Love; You're Gonna Be Sorry; At My Front Door; Gee Whittakers; Tutti Frutti; I'll Be Home; Hoboken Baby; Just as Long as I'm With You; I Almost Lost My Mind; Long Tall Sally; Am I Seeing Angels?; Bingo; Money Honey; Treasure of Love; I'm in Love With You; Friendly Persuasion; King For a Day; When You Help a Friend in Need; Take the Time; DISC 2: All I Do Is Dream of You; Ev'ry Little Thing; Would You Like to Take a Walk; Chains of Love; Harbor Lights; Sunday; Hummin' the Blues; I'm Waiting Just For You; Beg Your Pardon; Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy; With You; Forgive Me; Begin the Beguine; Mocking Bird; Indiana Holiday; Coax Me a Little; Marry Me, Marry Me; That Lucky Old Sun; Scattered Toys; Old Fashioned Christmas; Why Did I Choose You?; Honey Hush; Tomorrow Night; Rock Me Baby; Anastasia; Poem, The; Gold; Don't Forbid Me; Flip, Flop and Fly; Pledging My Love; DISC 3: Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens; Shake a Hand; Please Send Me Someone to Love; I'm in Love Again; Rock Around the Clock; Shot Gun Boogie; Five, Ten, Fifteen Hours; Too Soon to Know; Love Letters in the Sand; Fat Man, The; When I Write My Song; Great Googa Mooga; Too Soon to Know; Love Letters in the Sand; Why Baby, Why; Peace in the Valley; He'll Understand and Say Well Done; Technique; Love Letters in the Sand; Bernadine; Talking to Myself About You; Just a Closer Walk With Thee; Steal Away; Louella; Without My Love; Louella; There's a Goldmine in the Sky; Sweet Hour of Prayer; Old Rugged Cross, The; In the Garden; Now the Day Is Over; DISC 4: Beyond the Sunset; It Is No Secret; My God Is Real; Softly & Tenderly; Will the Circle Be Unbroken?; Have Thine Own Way Lord; Yield Not to Temptation; Whispering Hope; There's a Goldmine in the Sky; Cathedral in the Pines; From a Jack to a King; Remember You're Mine; How Deep Is the Ocean; Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody, A; Say It Isn't So; Cheek to Cheek; Always; They Say It's Wonderful; All Alone; What'll I Do; All by Myself; Remember; Soft Lights & Sweet Music; Be Careful, It's My Heart; Girl That I Marry, The; Say It With Music; Count Your Blessings; Clover in the Meadow; April Love; When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano; DISC 5: Wonderful Time up There, A; Terry; Great Googa Mooga; Santa Claus Is Coming to Town; Jingle Bells; White Christmas; Silent Night; April Love; Give Me a Gentle Girl; Clover in the Meadow; April Love; Wonderful Time up There, A; Too Soon to Know; My Little Red Book; I've Got You on My Mind; Sugar Moon; Call It Stormy Monday; Keep Your Heart; Cherie, I Love You; Peace on Earth; Have Faith; If Dreams Come True; Baby Has Gone Bye Bye; If Dreams Come True; That's How Much I Love You; If Dreams Come True; That's How Much I Love You; DISC 6: September Song; Ebb Tide; I'll Walk Alone; To Each His Own; Autumn Leaves; Anniversary Song; Stardust; Cold, Cold Heart; Solitude; Deep Purple; Stardust; Blueberry Hill; St. Louis Blues; Heartaches; Her Hand in Mine; He; I Believe; Ave Maria; Lord's Prayer, The; They Can't Take That Away From Me; Yes Indeed!; Don't Worry 'Bout Me; Lazy River; Lonesome Road; American Beauty Rose; Little White Lies; DISC 7: Sweet Sue, Just You; It's a Pity to Say Goodnight; Sweet Georgia Brown; Gone Fishin'; My Baby Just Cares For Me; I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise; Robins and Roses; I've Heard That Song Before; Frenesi; Sweet Georgia Brown; Two Little Kisses; Gee, But It's Lonely; For My Good Fortune; Gee, But It's Lonely; Wait For Me, Mary; Havin' Fun Spo-Dee-O-Dee; I'll Remember Tonight; Mardi Gras March; Mardi Gras March; Bourbon Street Blues; Fiddle, A Rifle, An Ax, And a Bible, A; Bigger Than Texas; Loyalty; Loyalty; Yes Indeed!; For My Good Fortune; DISC 8: Jingle Bells; Here Comes Santa Claus; My Hap

Kissin', Twistin', Goin' Where the Boys Are CD music 5 CDs and book from this actress/singer, priced as CX-6 Anyone who thinks they appreciate Connie Francis probably doesn't know half of what she could do as a singer -- this five-CD box will set them straight. The revelation of disc one lies in the fact that the three included demos and the other "failures" from her early career are all worthwhile, even inspired recordings. Francis had a superb voice, richly emotive and evocative, with an alluringly delicate enunciation when she wanted it. Listening to these sides today, one hears an extraordinary talent that was ignored until "Who's Sorry Now." After that, things really get going, because Francis was working under a contract that nobody -- not even Frank Sinatra -- had: the right to choose her own material. Disc two picks up her career after the explosive success of "Who's Sorry Now"; these are more confident performances, and reveal Francis as not only a dazzlingly talented singer but an excellent judge of songs and arrangements. Disc three showcases Francis' efforts in the long-player market, where she was really aiming her best work. The outstanding material here is the product of her February 1959 New York sessions and the sessions a month later at Abbey Road in London; here she's starting to sound like a female analog to Sinatra, just when Sinatra was at his coolest and swinging-est. But at this point, it was the rock & roll singles that were moving, and she cut a whole album of standards in that genre, represented on Disc four; also featured are her country sides. Disc five is mostly made up of unissued tracks and various alternate takes. They're all first-rate, and a few should have been hits and could have redefined her career. The lavish booklet and the detailed notes and sessionography cap this reissue, which puts Polygram's efforts with Francis to shame. ~ Bruce Eder