| | Tony Bennett Duets: An American Classic CD Tony Bennett Discography of CDs
 (15 Customer Reviews)
Personnel: Tony Bennett (vocals); Diana Krall, Dixie Chicks, Elton John, George Michael, James Taylor , John Legend, Juanes, k.d. lang, Michael Bublé, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Tim McGraw, Elvis Costello, Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel, Bono , Celine Dion (vocals).
Released shortly after Tony Bennett's 80th birthday, 2006's DUETS: AN AMERICAN CLASSIC finds the beloved jazz/pop vocalist collaborating with an impressive array of friends and admirers. Amidst a backdrop of lush string and horn arrangements, Bennett, still in remarkably bold voice despite his age, shines on these winning tracks. Highlights include the buoyant "Lullaby of Broadway" (with the Dixie Chicks), the lightly swinging "I Wanna Be Around" (with U2's Bono), and a rendition of one of Bennett's smooth signature tunes, "The Best Is Yet to Come" (with Diana Krall). While duet albums can be spotty affairs, Bennett and his well-selected singing partners make this a thoroughly enjoyable set.
Tony Bennett has so many adoring celebrity fans it should come as no surprise that when a major duets album is planned, he's able to draw a roster of the biggest recording stars from the rock and vocal worlds, plus a pair of country music wildcards. (This despite the fact that he recorded an album with several duets in 2001, and a full-album collaboration one year later with k.d. lang.) One surprise is how well producer Phil Ramone paired Bennett with both duet partners and fitting standards -- among them Barbra Streisand on the optimist's anthem "Smile," Dixie Chicks for the flapper standard "Lullaby of Broadway," Bono on the wickedly spiteful "I Wanna Be Around," Tim McGraw on "Cold, Cold Heart" (the Hank Williams song that was Bennett's biggest country crossover hit), Stevie Wonder on his own "For Once in My Life," Juanes for "The Shadow of Your Smile" (which was a hit first for the Brazilian Astrud Gilberto), and Sting on the torch song "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." (Even the title of "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" seems fit for George Michael to sing.) Each performance was recorded with Bennett and his duet partner live in the studio -- it could be no different for such an old-school vocalist -- and the setup allows for maximum warmth and congeniality. Yet, aside from the novelty of the billings, Duets: An American Classic doesn't thrill like Bennett's solo recordings of the previous ten years. The arrangements of Jorge Calandrelli are heavy on serene strings that wrap the melodies in layers of soft gauze, and few concessions are made to the needs of the material; virtually every song is either a soft vocal pop number or a finger-snapping swinger. As befits an all-star affair, every edge is polished to a fine sheen and, more than a few times, the feelings his duet partners attempt to summon sound quite superficial. Of course, every vocal interpreter in the business sounds a little forced when compared to Tony Bennett. ~ John BushRolling Stone (pp.72-74) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "That Bennett, now eighty, sings magnificently is little surprise. What is surprising is the way he and his crack quartet inspire the rhythmic and tonal best from the [guests]...." Duets: An American Classic Music Tony Bennett Duets: An American Classic Songs Duets: An American Classic Music Duets: An American Classic Music Review Average Rating: (4.2 out of 5 stars)   List All Reviews 4 stars for Tony and company!
I was indeed happy to have my copy of this much promoted musical CD. Many stars of yesteryear are included and to`have James Taylor, Dion, Bono are wonderful cuts. Sony can be forgiven this time with not inlcuding Latina Vicki Carr this time.
Well maybe SONY will include Vicki Carr since so many Tony fans are Vicki fans too. Go eat another ItalianBeef sandwich goof and do as the others stated jog off your problems don't display them here or I will report you to the Vicki Carr police! Back to Tony, maybe this will open the ears to those who just like a beat without words making sense....help us Tony get back on track musically here in the US. The UK fans have it togetha!
Submitted by Sandy (Baton Rouge, LA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful. Great cocktail music to play anytime
Pleased with this easy listening, cocktail party music with Tony Bennett and Friends. Many great singers of today and yesteryear are here and I would recommend this release to those with great taste in music as my favorites are the duets with K.D. Lang, Michael Bublec, Elvis Costello, Tim McGraw and Diana Krall. Mr. B sounds great as usual and thank you Anthony for your posting as well. I just ordered a copy of EMI's Ultimate Collection with Vikki too. Keep the music playing Tony!
Submitted by Diane (Jacksonville, Florida USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.  Tony you did it again 5 stars.
I am reviewing the Tony Bennett Duets CD and just love it. It's time for great singers to unite and give us more music that have a contemporary sound but also give listeners the entertainment we had in the past, for us to understanding the words. Let me explain, not having to look up the lyrics because of the music drowning out the singers which I find myself doing more and more but gladly not in this case. Bono, Dion, Streisand, all sound great with Tony, and hate me ItalianBeefy I tend to agree with the other postings here, that Vicki Carr would fit well with the singers featured on this CD. I am not the Vicki Carr police but what you posted was uncalled for, go jog and let your anger out but not here please. Hopefully we can keep the postings geared towards the release on the page. Suggesting another singer like Vicki Carr is not offensive and would fit perfectly in the genre of music here. I give Tony's release five stars and looking to his next release.
Submitted by Anthony (New York City, NY USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Great CD with James Taylor, Elton John, Sting
I just ordered my Vikki Carr CD "The Ultimate Collection" and agree with the other reviews Vikki should appear on this CD as well. The liner booklet have pictures of Vikki and both Vikki & Tony have appeared many times together through the years on TV. I like the CD of Tony's but those requesting Vikki Carr are right...where is she? I love the duets with James Taylor, Sting, Elton John. What More Babs tired of her and her politics being forced down our throats just retire Babs.
Good CD Tony and friends.
Submitted by Gregory Chancelor MD (Baton Rouge, LA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful. This is a keeper!
This is a keeper love the songs and the performers but your right Chad where's Vikki's duet? I still give it 5 stars
Submitted by Tommy (Beverly Hills, CA 90210)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful. List All Reviews | Have you heard this album? |  |
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