Search - Various Artists :: Italian American Classics

'Atsa niccccce! (memories of my childhood)

Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 04/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With ITALIAN AMERICAN CLASSICS, the MEDALIST company has provided 22 songs on two CDs. These come from several labels: RCA, COLUMBIA, ATLANTIC, CAPITOL, MGM, REPRISE and DECCA-- thus you get a superb cross-section of show business talent doing some of their most renowned songs.



For me personally, this music holds many memories.

I was just a little child when my Uncle Leo would occasionally burst into his cheerily bizarre acappella version of "Come On-A My House." These were always hilarious moments. At family weddings someone would inevitably play Modugno's "Volare" (and we'd all join in on the chorus). I was once given a 45 of Lou Monte's "Pepino The Italian Mouse" and listened to it until the thing literally wore out. Around 1960, the jukebox down at the local tavern offered Bobby Darin's "Mack The Knife." I know this because Dad would always drop us kids in that establishment's back room after church on Sundays as he joined his friends at the bar. We would sip our cokes, feed the jukebox dimes and listen to "Mack." And I'll never forget seeing my father's eyes fill with tears every time he tried to sing along with Connie Francis's emotional rendition of "Mama."



Maybe you have similar memories?





PROGRAM LIST

DISC ONE--

Ain't That A Kick In The Head? - Dean Martin

Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody (medley) - Louis Prima

O Sole Mio - Mario Lanza

Chicago - Tony Bennett & Count Basie

Mack The Knife - Bobby Darin

Al De La - Jerry Vale

Lazy Mary (Luno Mezz O'Mare) - Lou Monte

Here In My Heart - Al Martino

The Lady Is A Tramp - Tony Bennett

Mama - Connie Francis

Spanish Eyes - Al Martino



DISC TWO--

You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You - Dean Martin

Santa Lucia - Jerry Vale

Angelina/Zooma Zooma (medley) - Louis Prima

Come On-A My House - Rosemary Clooney

Pepino The Italian Mouse - Lou Monte

Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu (Volare) - Domenico Modugno

Anema E Core - Perry Como

As Time Goes By - Tony Bennett

Love Of My Life - Louis Prima & Keely Smith

The Tarantella

Dominick The Donkey - Lou Monte"