A nice collection, but not exactly complete
DVD buff | Austin, TX USA | 04/09/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This latest collection of songs from Tony Perkins is a welcome addition for those of us who collect his recordings. A number of previously-unavailable-on-CD singles are present here, including some of Tony's attempts at a '50s rock-n-roll sound.
However, the bulk of the material here has already been released on CD. 18 of the 27 songs on this collection can be found on TONY PERKINS, a Collector's Choice release from a couple of years back.
What makes this more frustrating is that this collection doesn't include a few other singles that haven't been released on CD to date. "Gonna Get Some Loving/Treasure Island" has not been released on CD, and neither has "Chante en Français," a 4-song EP from France. (An interesting sidenote is that the cover of this CD has the same photo as the "Chante en Français" EP cover.)
So collectors will want this CD for the nine tracks that haven't been on CD before, even though this collection isn't as good as it could have been. Even non-collectors can enjoy Tony's singing -- he's actually pretty good!"
MEET TONY PERKINS - THE SINGER!
A. POLLOCK | PLYMOUTH, DEVON United Kingdom | 07/30/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Whilst his claim to fame is based on his role as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO (1960) and its three sequels, Anthony Perkins appeared in many films and on Broadway during the Fifties. He fared best when playing gangly troubled youth parts as in FRIENDLY PERSUASION, FEAR STRIKES OUT and DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS.
This compilation is a reminder Perkins also deviated towards a short recording career during the late Fifties and waxed some pop numbers as singles that fitted his ever-adolescent image, with the easy-going MOONLIGHT SWIM becoming a minor US hit. Many of the other songs are dedicated to teenage angst - FIRST ROMANCE, JUST BEING OF AGE, NO, NO, NO and SHE USED TO BE MY GIRL. However, just occasionally a more upbeat mood focuses on the title number and ROCKET TO THE MOON and there's a heavy rock element attached with strong chorus for INDIAN GIVER.
Adding Tony's recording of FRIENDLY PERSUASION (Pat Boone had the hit version) is a nice touch as it provides the linking bridge with some standards he recorded for an album on which he warbled suitably dreamy, romantic and slightly more mature sentiments for WHY SHOULDN'T I? I WISH I KNEW and BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME, with an upbeat jazzy accompaniment provided by Marty Paich. Perkins did not have a great voice but his perceived image added vulnerability to vocal sincerity on this material was aided by good understanding of the lyrics purveyed by the song choices.
Maybe PSYCHO was just too weird a role for Perkins to ever escape its connotations and return to satisfying roles equal to his early promise. However, these songs are free of such connections and stand alone as a slice of pop mixed with some standards which will please his fans and maybe add a few more who just admire the pluck of singing actors.
"
Track Listings (27) - Disc #1