Search - Claudio Villa :: Le piu' belle canzoni di

Consistently Satisfying Collection, But Be Warned: Posted Co

John A. Santoro | CT | 10/02/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"*** WARNING *** The track list and product description DO NOT correspond to this item. See the correct track listing below my review.



The twelve cuts contained on this 2006 Warner Music Italia "greatest hits" compilation may not be (as the title implies) "THE most beautiful songs" of Claudio Villa, but they are unquestionably among them. Some of the lyric wonder's most popular and best sung numbers are here, including "Usignolo," "Chitarra romana," "Binario," "Marina," and "Roma nun fa' la stupida stasera." All were tremendous hits in their day and have lost none of their appeal. Significantly, all but the one live track (a San Remo favorite "Corde della mia chitarra") date from Villa's glory years in the late 'fifties and early 'sixties. The skimpiness of the program is thus offset by the consistently high quality of the material. If you are looking for an affordable, well mastered, and representative single-disc collection of Villa at his freshest and most engaging, this album is hard to beat. Even more satisfying, however (and a comparable bargain), is the two-disc "Canzoni Popolari, Romane, e Napolitane" Canzoni Popolari, Romane e Napolitane. Though this set contains three or four uncharacteristically strained later recordings, the remainder of its generous 40 cuts consists of prime 'fifties and 'sixties Villa hits, each one as irresistable as the next. What's more, there are no duplications with the single-disc item above--the recording of "Granada" that concludes CD 1 of the set is a later but equally enjoyable performance. To sum up, if you want to understand, discover, or demonstrate the vocal and interpretive miracle that was Claudio Villa, either of these two collections will fill the bill admirably. Just don't say I didn't warn you if you end up ultimately buying both!



Contents:



1. Granada (1966)

2. Serenata per sedici bionde (1957)

3. Usignolo (1957)

4. Tipitipitipso (1957)

5. Corde della mia chitarra [Live] (1982??)

6. Chitarra romana (1958)

7. Una marcia in fa (1959)

8. Binario (1959)

9. Addio...addio (1962)

10. Marina (1960)

11. Roma nun fa' la stupida stasera (1963)

12. Passo su passo (1964)"