Asv Living Era
2005
Take My Hand...
About This Album
Tony Bennett has been compiled often, but never with the concentration of Living Era's Take My Hand... which spans only the first three years of his career. The 26-track disc begins with one of his biggest early hits, "Stranger in Paradise" (a nod to the compilation's title), but then returns to his recording debut in April 1950, which yielded not only the famous "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," but also the neglected "I Wanna Be Loved" (which makes its digital debut). Bennett reached the Hit Parade 15 times with songs recorded before 1954, and all but one of them are here (only "Why Does It Have to Be Me?" is missing). His lesser hits of the early '50s -- "Here in My Heart," "Have a Good Time," "I'm the King of Broken Hearts" -- sound excellent making their first CD appearance alongside Bennett's more popular songs: "Blue Velvet," "Rags to Riches," and "Because of You." Certainly many Tony Bennett fans have heard his wondrous transformation of Hank Williams' country standard "Cold, Cold Heart" into an Italian-American standard, but how many have heard his other Hank Williams cover "There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight" (a Top Ten hit in 1953)? For those who want to hear more than the usual overviews afford, Take My Hand... is the perfect choice. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
Track List (try tracks 1 and 12)

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