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- First New BMG CD Of The Millennium!
- Eleven Wonderful Unreleased
Performances!
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- Mario Lanza
I'll See You In My Dreams
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- BMG DMC12672
Jeff Rense
Executive Producer
Order Now!
Chick Crumpacker - Producer
Tony May - Remastering Engineer
Clyde Smith - Sound Consultant
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- Prepare to hear 23 of Mario's greatest
recordings including 8 fabulous NEVER BEFORE RELEASED treasures, all brilliantly
remastered DIRECTLY from the original Coca-Cola Show master tapes of 1951-52.
In addition to the unreleased songs, there are also two Mario classics
available for the first time ever on BMG CD, bringing to ten the number
of songs on CD for the first time.
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- In some instances, these songs have not
been heard or commercially available since they were originally broadcast
one time on Mario's national radio program in 1951-52. Example...wait until
you hear 'Musica Proibita'...it is beyond description...unbelievably brilliant.
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- The really terrific news is the original
tapes are still in perfect condition...and sound as good - and as breathtaking
- as the day Mario recorded them.
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- Some of my song selections probably appear
on bootlegs...but those recordings have been lifted directly off the old
vinyl LPs. To hear them now in their original sound quality, digitally
remastered, direct from the Coke Show master tapes is essentially to hear
them for the very first time.
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- As a special bonus, each 'I'll See You
In My Dreams' CD comes with a brand new 36-page collector's booklet containing
over two dozen wonderful photos of Mario...many never released before.
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- Although everyone will have their own
favorite song list, I trust mine will further cement the legacy of Mario
Lanza as the greatest vocal talent of this...or probably any age.
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- Review of the new Jeff Rense
BMG
- 'I'll See You In My Dreams'
Mario Lanza CD
- By Derek Mannering
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- In Volume II of his monumental work "The
Record of Singing" author Michael Scott memorably described the Caruso
legacy as "how Everyman would have liked to sing had he the voice:
in the bathroom it was Caruso he fancied he heard". Listening now
to the fabulous performances showcased on the new Jeff Rense/BMG CD "I'll
See You In My Dreams" it is an accolade that seems even more suited
to Mario Lanza. Singing in the shower could never sound more glorious,
or fun, than this.
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- Regular visitors to this website will
know that this outstanding new collection of Lanza favorites and rarities
has been produced at considerable personal expense by our gracious host.
It is a fruitful collaboration between Jeff, who chose and carefully vetted
each of the selections, and BMG, who have brought these wonderful recordings
to stunning digital life. Just as importantly it is not a bootleg, with
appropriate royalties going to the Lanza family.
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- I have made the point before that there
is no such thing as a perfect Mario Lanza CD; one person's choice of music
is seldom another's. That said, however, it is hard to see how anyone seriously
interested in the Lanza voice - or great singing, for that matter - could
find fault with this fabulous compilation. Jeff had demanded optimum sound
quality for his dream CD and the degree to which this has been accomplished
is remarkable; Lanza has seldom sounded better than this.
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- Jeff's choice to open the collection
is the Cole Porter classic "You Do Something To Me", meltingly
sung by Mario and the only non-Coca-Cola Show recording on the disc. It's
a lovely reading, the kind that sets Lanza apart from all his contemporaries
in the classical field who find this sort of musical leap way beyond their
vocal powers.
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- From there on in we are into Coke Show
Country, that shining period from Mario's radio career when he taught the
world how to sing. First up is a bravura rendition of Victor Herbert's
"I'm Falling In Love With Someone", a personal favorite of Lanza's
and a song he featured in all his concert appearances. As with so many
of the performances in the Coca-Cola series his approach to this lilting
ballad is at once heartfelt, exciting and deeply effective. The tenor's
felicitous association with the music of Victor Herbert continues with
Jeff's next choice, "A Kiss In The Dark". This is Mario in magnificent
form, indescribably romantic and utterly compelling from start to finish.
Equally inspiring is the delightful "Ay, Ay, Ay" with its joyous
combination of Sinatra's lickety-split orchestral arrangement and Mario's
sensuous vocal. And oh, that glorious Lanza finish!
- A mellower mood is conjured up by the
next two tracks: "The Night Is Young and You're So Beautiful"
and the lovely "My Heart Stood Still". Once again Mario's approach
to this sort of material is breathtaking. Just listen to the way he caresses
the word "still" at the end of the Rodgers & Hart ballad;
people fall in love to singing like this.
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- The immortal "Torna Sorrento"
brings us back to full-voiced Lanza and if ever a performance cried out
for a more sumptuous orchestral setting this is it. For once Sinatra's
slightly sparse string accompaniment shows through and the ending is far
too abrupt, but Mario is certainly in full control of his material here.
A new look at "The Loveliest Night of the Year" follows and it
is simply gorgeous. Is there anyone today who can sing with this sort of
immediacy and warmth?
- Noel Coward's "Someday I'll Find
You" is accorded a more robust vocal than the Master might have envisioned
when he wrote this gentle piece for his play "Private Lives".
Still, 'cheap music' never sounded more potent than this. Curiously, though,
on both Coke Show versions of this song Mario takes some liberties with
the lyrics. "Try to make it true, say you love me too" is changed
instead to "make it all come true, make me love you too", which
does not make a lot of sense when you think about it!
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- The previously unreleased "Because"
is a recording that should have been included on the "You'll Never
Walk Alone" CD. Time constraints back then prevented Chick Crumpacker
from locating it in the vaults but happily Mr. C has delivered the goods
at last. Mario's best performance of this evergreen is probably to be found
in "The Great Caruso", but his thrilling, visceral stab at it
here surely runs a close second.
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- Mario's Coke Show take on "Musica
Proibita" is up next and it is certainly different, a performance
more suited to the recording studio than the concert hall. The purist may
well prefer his more classical approach to the piece on the "Caruso
Favorites" collection, but there's no denying the control and mastery
of his art here. Fabulous mezza-voce the one moment, powerful high notes
the next - clearly the singing of a tenor at the top of his game.
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- Two songs from one of my own CDs are
also featured: the exquisitely romantic "When Day Is Done" and
the dramatic "If You Are But A Dream". Both are wise replacements
for some previous choices that Jeff was unhappy with.
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- Time to batten down the hatches next
as Mario fires into Augustin Lara's "Granada", the song chosen
to launch The Mario Lanza Show series in 1951. Lanza 'owned' this number
long before the Three Tenors laid claim to it and, based on the evidence
presented here, he still does. I bow to no man or woman in my admiration
of Mario's definitive 1949 recording for RCA, one of the first to turn
me on to his fabulous voice. This is not quite in the same league - he
scrambles off the top note at the end much too quickly, for one thing -
but it's still a thrill and a half. The intro alone, with Sinatra driving
the orchestra at full gallop and Mario's soaring voice and fabulous breath
control matching it beat for beat, is in itself worth the price of the
CD.
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- The Mediterranean mood continues with
"Parlami D'Amore Mariu", a truly great Lanza recording and as
fresh-sounding here as the day he first sang it. It's a much sweeter performance
too than his somewhat surly approach to the English version of the tune
on the "Don't Forget Me" CD. "Someday" from "The
Vagabond King" follows, and though nothing could compare with his
peerless 1954 "Shower of Stars" rendition this is still a real
crowd-pleaser. "Roses of Picardy" is next and the improvement
in sound quality from previous pressings of this song is considerable.
Lanza is in top form here and the two verse readings are exquisite; romantic
singing does not get much better than this.
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- The Coke "O Sole Mio" has a
cruder, rougher edge to it than the 1949 take - also with Sinatra - and
ears accustomed to a more delicate style of singing may find much to offend
here. However, play the recording for a friend unfamiliar with the Lanza
voice - from, say, the orchestral bridge through to the conclusion - andwatch
the look of amazement spread across their face. It's that sort of knock-down-the-wall
performance.
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- Things quiet down considerably with the
next two tracks: "Through the Years" - again, with much improved
sound - and "Memories". The latter is especially striking, one
of the real highpoints of the collection. Gone is the fake stereo effect
heard on the earlier commercial release. It is replaced instead by an immediacy
that makes you feel Mario is in the room with you. Just beautiful! Another
previously unreleased recording, Mama Mia, Che Vo Sape", is similar
in style and performance to the commercial version, which is high praise
indeed.
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- Jeff's penultimate track is a deeply
felt reading of an early concert favorite of Mario's, "Thine Alone".
And finally, the title-track itself: "I'll See You In My Dreams"
- gloriously remastered and a fitting conclusion to this superb compilation.
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- Everyone who loves the Lanza voice owes
Jeff Rense an enormous debt of gratitude for his artistic vision and financial
commitment in bringing this magical Compact Disc to life. It is a magnificent
collection - one that stands tall with the finest Mario Lanza CDs released
to date. Listen and be amazed!
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- *****
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- I'll See You In My Dreams
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- Review By Steve Cutler
President - Australian Mario Lanza Society
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- For more than 40 years now, Mario Lanza
devotees have been treated to occasional releases of "new material,
first on LP vinyl records and now on Compact Disc. This is despite the
fact their idol passed away in 1959 at the tragically young age of 38.
How is this possible you might ask? Well, in 1951 Mario Lanza signed a
contract with Coca-Cola to pre-record hour weekly radio programs which
ended up running from June 1951 until June 1952.
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- Lanza recorded some 165 selections and
although not originally intended for commercial release, this is where
all these unreleased treasures have come from.
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- This compact disc, "I'll See You
In My Dreams, produced and financed by Jeff Rense is the latest to draw
from the "Coke show treasures in the BMG/RCA archives. It will also
probably be the last of such releases to include a substantial amount of
"new material unless a miracle occurs and more material is found from
other sources. Therefore, Jeff and everyone associated with this project
are to be congratulated for making this "Coke material available to
Mario Lanza's devotees.
- "I'll See You In My Dreams contains
23 selections and is almost entirely made up of popular love songs and
ballads of the day. The first thing to strike me about this disc is the
pure sound quality. Jeff and Chick have gone back to the original source
Coca Cola tapes in order to get the very best sound possible. If we close
our eyes, we can almost imagine Mario being in the room with us, so dazzling
and rich is the sound. Of the 23 selections, 8 are released here for the
very first time and two are new to compact disc.
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- Here are my thoughts on some of the selections;
- The first song we hear is the classic
Cole Porter tune "You Do Something To Me" and from the very start
it's obvious the sound quality is far superior to earlier releases of this
song just wonderful to have. "A Kiss In The Dark" First time
on CD for this lovely song which Mario sings with such feeling and passion.
"The Night Is Young And You,re So Beautiful" - This is one of
the love songs that had all the women swooning. Lush orchestral arrangement
and beautifully sung by Mario from beginning to end. A treasure to have.
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- "Torna A Sorriento" - A classic
Italian song so well known and often sung by Mario Lanza. Slightly inferior
to the "Serenade soundtrack version in my opinion. "The Loveliest
Night Of The Year" - I like this version better than the commerical
release. Again, sound quality is superior. One of my favourite Lanza songs.
This is his best recording of this tune. "Someday I'll Find You"
- Beautiful Noel Coward selection sung with tenderness. Listen to Mario
caress the words here. A great pity he didn't record many more Coward melodies.
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- "Musica Proibita" - This is
probably the highlight of the whole disc for me. Nice arrangement and delicately
sung by Mario. Superior version to that recorded in Rome in 1959 for the
"Caruso Favourites album. Worth buying the disc just to get this selection.
"Granada" Good, although slightly rushed arrangement from Ray
Sinatra. It sounds very similar to the version he recorded for the Because
You're Mine, soundtrack. I prefer his RCA commercial recording where he
holds his end note longer - although the sound quality here is again superior.
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- "Someday" - Lovely tune from
'The Vagabond King'. Fairly rare recording this one. Definitely better
than the 1959 Rome recording very sweetly sung. "Roses of Picardy"
- Not one of my favourites but I know many Lanza fans love this song. Beautifully
sung by our hero! "O Sole Mio" - One of the all time favourite
Italian songs. I feel this version suffers a little because of its rather
abrupt start but nicely sung.
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- "Memories" - Softly sung by
Lanza in first verse and then great full throated, singing in second verse.
Nice to hear the sound distortion which plagued previous releases has been
eliminated. "Mamma Mia, Che Vo Sape" - Another of those classic
Italian songs Mario loved to sing. "Thine Alone" - Not quite
up to the standard of the "Cavalcade rendition but nevertheless nicely
performed. "I'll See You In My Dreams" A really nice rendition
here perfectly sung as only Mario could. Lush orchestral arrangement. A
fitting end to this collection.
- In conclusion I'd like to recommend every
Mario Lanza fan buy a copy of this CD. It is simply a must for your collection.
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- *****
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- Review By Derek McGovern
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- Sensuous, tender, passionate, exultant!
All of these adjectives - and many more besides - could be applied to the
Lanza voice of 1951-52. For Mario - then at the peak of his fame - this
was his most productive period in the recording studio. Between June 1951
and September 1952 almost 200 songs and arias would be recorded - the vast
majority of them for his weekly radio show, sponsored by Coca-Cola.
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- And here - lovingly reproduced in the
best possible sound - are some of the highlights from those magical Coke
Shows . These are no ordinary renditions. From the heartfelt Roses of Picardy
to the thrilling Some day from The Vagabond King, the voice fairly dazzles
with its startling brilliance and sheer, unrestrained emotion. Here is
singing to enliven the most jaded of listeners.
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- Special mention should be made of the
14 tracks previously unavailable on any BMG CD release. Classics such as
Ay-ay-ay and The Night is Young and You re So Beautiful have long been
on every Lanza fan s CD wish list. Others are available here for the first
time in any medium. These include a winsome Thine Alone and a melting Musica
Proibita, which offers some of the sweetest singing Lanza ever committed
to disk. Listen to the line "O bella innamorata, tesor mio" and
try to resist! This is romantic singing of the highest order.
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- Many years ago, Lanza s close friend
and conductor, Constantine Callinicos, spoke of the overwhelming effect
of hearing the "live" Lanza voice for the first time. "I
felt as though a tremendous joke was being played on me," he recalled.
Not only was Lanza s voice more beautiful than any he had ever heard, he
"could not have imagined it possible" that such a voice could
even exist. This CD faithfully reproduces that spellbinding sound.
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- *****
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- Terry Robinson
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- Unbelieveable! The sound is unbelievable...it's
fabulous! This is the best I've ever heard. Jeff, I don't know how you
did it. I've never heard him sound this good before...never! If only Mary
(Mario's mother) were around to here this.
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- I had a birthday in March while we were
on tour and I said to Mario, "You know, it's my birthday." Mario
said, "Why didn't you tell me? I would have gotten you something."
I said, "Do me a favor: One of my favorite songs is 'Because' which
you just recorded." He said, "Well, maybe I can fit it in."
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- That night I was standing in the back
of the concert hall with all the Boys Scouts...I took care of selling all
the programs and we'll always had them help us. He came back out on stage
at the end of the performance and everyone is yelling "Encore! Encore!"
He said "Ladies and Gentlemen, I have a little surprise tonight. The
fellow back there who handles the sales of my concert programs...that's
Terry Robinson. Terry's my buddy; he lives with me and my family out on
the West Coast. Today is his birthday. He's got a favorite song and would
you believe my record of it just came out. It's called 'Because' and I'm
going to sing it now." He tore that place apart. It was magnificent.
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- Later that night he said, "You're
gonna have a birthday present for the rest of the tour...every concert
we give." And he made that part of the show and everywhere we went
everyone would wish me a h
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