Tony Bennett - I Left My Heart in San Francisco Rstr (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

Give this guy a spotlight !!!

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 05/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I Left My Heart In San Francisco is a wonderful Tony Bennett CD that really showcases his singular talents--he can still sing out a tune with the best of them! This CD has an excellent assortment of songs and ballads by the great Tony Bennett; and the quality of the sound is excellent. The artwork is also very nicely done.

The album starts with the title track, "I Left My Heart In San Francisco;" this was always my very favorite Tony Bennett song; and he was born to sing songs like this! "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" is a stunning torch song that moves me with its message and the elegant arrangement is very impressive, too. Tony sings this with great sensitivity and it shows with just one listen to this song! "Once Upon A Time" has Tony front and center--and that's OK by me! This song again finds Tony's character reminiscing about a love that is no more; Tony Bennett delivers this flawlessly without a single superfluous note. "Once Upon A Time" is a major highlight of this CD; and I predict that you'll enjoy this ballad if you haven't heard it before. Tony does this very well.

"Smile," a song partly written by Charlie Chaplin, gets the royal treatment from Tony as he performs this so smoothly with loads of panache. Tony sings well with some female vocal backup--not that Tony needed it, mind you, but it sounds nice anyway. I really like "Smile;" this song is a classic and I could never tire of hearing it. In addition, "Love For Sale" has a fine arrangement and when Tony breaks into the main lyrics of the song this number takes off like a jet! The Latin beat enhances the natural beauty of this number and it allows Tony to put his own mark on this love ballad. Great! "Taking A Chance On Love" is equally bright; the big band arrangement used the trumpets and more brass so very well and "Taking A Chance On Love" is an excellent number.

"Rules Of The Road" is a song I never heard before; but I liked it the first time around! Tony massages the lyrics to this song so well that he makes it shine brighter than silver and gold out together! "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" is a bittersweet song that Tony does with style, grace--and all his heart and soul as well. "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" is another major highlight of this album. The album ends strong with Tony Bennett performing "The Best Is Yet To Come." "The Best Is Yet To Come" is, predictably, a relentlessly upbeat tune that makes the perfect ending for this CD. Tony delivers this like the champ he was and still remains; and I'm really amazed.

Tony Bennett could sing out the phone book and when he was finished you'd be clapping and begging for more! I highly recommend this CD for his fans; and it makes a great starter CD for those of us who are just discovering Tony Bennett.

"

A Timeless Classic!!

Beverly Praiswater | 12/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tony Bennett's music transends all generations. This album is full of his finest classics from the 60's.

The opening cut is the title song "I Left My Heart In San Francisco". Nobody could match this version of this song. "Once Upon A Time" is heartfelt and full of pathos. "Tender Is The Night" is a glorious ballad with a haunting finale. Tony pulls out all of the stops as he builds the jazzy "Love For Sale". "Taking A Chance On Love" is upbeat with a rousing classic "Tony" vocal. The finale "The Best Is Yet To Come" is a tour de force celebration!

This album became a Gold Record (there was no platinum in those days) and was on the best seller charts for 2-1/2 years! Need I say more?"

Tony Bennett!!!

Laurie H. Anderson | Amery WI | 05/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I plan to buy a couple more of his albums...I LOVE this one and am hoping to find more of the same...even my daughter had to burn a copy...we both had to giggle over that!! It's so NOT hard rock!"

Tony Bennett's FINEST ALBUM!

Gregory E. Foster | Portland, ME, USA | 07/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"~~~What can I say about Tony Bennett that has not already been said many thousands of times? The guy is an American Institution, for sure, and I don't know how, but he just keeps hanging in there....and that is a GOOD thing! So, first, let me say, "God Bless You, Tony Bennett, Thank You for ALL the Memories, all these years!"

I had this album on LP way back when I was in high school, a freshman, I believe. Every time I played it, I liked it more and more...it became a "staple" in my record collection. When I switched to cds, and it was released in that format, naturally it was one of the first things I grabbed. And, of course, now that it has been remastered, (are you crazy?) of COURSE I bought it again!

I have tons of Tony Bennett albums, and compilations, including the big box, but KNOW WHAT???? You Don't Need Any Other Tony Bennett Album But This One...Period! Now, admittedly, there is ONE exception, that would be his Greatest Hits, so that you have "Because Of You", "Rags To Riches", and "Stranger In Paradise".

This album is one knockout song after another, all the way through! I could single out individual songs, but frankly they are ALL spectacular...Trust me should you be unfamiliar with this album. (You will be thanking me many many times if you take my advice and purchase this album). As Jimmy Durante would say "You Gotta Have Dis, Folks!"

Timeless classics, sung as only Tony Bennett can sing them, Lovingly remastered, and given to us Again! Thank You, Sony/CBS. ~oprabruin"

Remember real music.

Patrick D. Hogan | Ashburn, VA USA | 01/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was born in 1956. I grew up with the Beatles, and Zeppelin, and Sabbath, and Mott the Hoople. I remember my folks giving me grief for listening to that music, but my Dad always let me listen to it on the 8 track in his car. And my Mom always put up with it when I would drive her to work and myself to school. Always without a complaint. I guess it was this tolerance that led me to appreciate the music they liked. This album was one of their favorites, and it's become one of mine. No wonder Tony Bennett was Franks favorite singer, he truly is the greatest. God bless him he's still going strong at his age. To this day I can't hear these songs without thinking about my Mom. She passed away 16 years ago now but I still think about her when I hear these songs. My Dad was a Marine in Vietnam and saw Tony Bennett there and he said when Tony sang "I left my heart in San Francisco" there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Now that's what real music is supposed to do, bring out emotion. Not like this poor excuse for music today. Anyway the disc is superb and it will live on forever."

Search - Tony Bennett :: I Left My Heart in San Francisco (Rstr)

CD Details

Similarly Requested CDs

CD Reviews