Advantages: 30 classic hits on one budget priced album nicely made
Disadvantages: Not remastered but not that bad really it as sounds fine

...Dino Paul Crocetti, or Dean Martin as we all know him, member of the original Rat Pack, was one of the greatest performers of his time. I purchased this CD in Virgin some time ago now, so I don't know what the going rate online for this album currently is. There are many places you can look for cheap CDs but it isn't my job to list websites, but to review this compilation CD. First of all, I'm not sure how many young people Dean would appeal to. I think the younger generation ought to be introduced to him and this album is the perfect introduction. It has all his number one hits, some obscure songs and my personal favourite, Volare. Sadly, this compilation is not remastered in any way, but in some ways it adds to the closeness you feel while listening to the album. You feel he is in the same room with you. I think this album... Read review

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Advantages: Top sounds of swing, country and vegas high rollers
Disadvantages: Shows Mr Sinatra up for the fraud that he was

...The Rat Pack. Vegas. Fun and laughs at the Sands Casino. Frank and Sammy. Who really wants to forgt a crew of guys who epitomise the whole ethos of cool? Certainly not me. But of that group one man stood head and shoulders above the others. He was rugged, strong and could sing songs so effortlessly that it sounded like he could do it in his sleep. Dean Martin was not only as enigmatic as Frank Sinatra, and as funny as Sammy Davis Jr, but he had a talent for turning songs into something special. During the British invasion of the American charts in the Sixties, he as one of the few who managed to fend off the Beatles from the top positions. This "Very Best of" album is certainly that as for the first time it gathered together the hits from his stint with both Capitol Records and Reprise Records. Dean managed to move... Read review

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Advantages: putting faces to names
Disadvantages: putting real faces to imagined characters

...planners/musicians) arrived along with the youngest Ciao guest - their little baby - who by the way is gorgeous. Following a quick half hour to check into our room and nip out for a sandwich, we returned to the 'do' and there was a bit of a quiz and some good wishes were read out by our organiser. A lady whose name might remind us oldies of the tv programme, The Virginian, proved herself to be the most knowledgable on Ciao matters by winning a bottle of plonk at the quiz. Then we had some touching moments when the messages were read - especially the one that was read 3 times from the lady over in the land of the Mounties. She was soley responsible for making many of us cry (I kid you not) with her kind words and invitation to bow before her (as she did us). Her words also explain how the late Dean Martin came to be at the event... Read review

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Advantages: Makes a rather nice coaster
Disadvantages: Bad sound, grainy black and white ancient film clips

...This should really be called "The early performances" which are the words that open the first clip of "That's Amore". To call it "Legends in Concert " on the cover is very misleading, none are what I would call in concert tracks - some are behind a big band, some are from shows (no audience), some Dean and a kid. It is just a mishmash of different clips, nothing to tie them together, all taken from completely different places, so anyone expecting an actual concert, or even performances from different concerts, or patter in between, will be very disappointed. There are 19 tracks, including well known Dean Martin tracks like "That's Amore" and "Memories are made of this", plus some less well known songs like "Would I love you" and "Louise". One thing that is consistent is the poor quality of every single clip... Read review

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Advantages: Interesting insight into Dean's life.
Disadvantages: Can't think of any.

...I don't know if anyone will ever know the real truth behind the facade of the late James Dean but this book is one of many biographies I have read about the actor and has a reality to it that I haven't found in others. The enigmatic James Dean is now a figure of iconic status but what was he really like?The author of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" ,Paul Alexander,c