The Band:
“Regardless of how one might feel about Wayne
Newton’s talent or somewhat unique voice, one thing is certain: after seeing him perform live, no one feels
short-changed.” --- Liner
notes.
Okay, this
CD caught me by surprise. I was digging
through the piles of CDs at the local Goodwill and pulled this one out. The price was right, $3.99, and the song titles
were all popular swing tunes, so I thought, okay, I’m buyin’ it.
You pop in
the CD and are hit with Newton’s signature song, Danke Schoën. [A brief sidebar:
An interesting factoid, Bobby Darin was so impressed with the young Newton
that he signed him to a contract and helped him get a deal with Columbia Records. Not only that but Darin selflessly gave this song
to Newton to help kick start his career, which not only did but it became his signature
song.]
Immediately
you have to adjust to the uniqueness of his voice. It
actually took me a little bit to do just that. It
is a voice that can grow on you, much like a fine scotch or bourbon. To make the adjustment much easier is a dynamite
band. The band, not recognized in the liner
notes, really gets some of these songs swingin’ like nobody’s business.
You are
gonna recognize a bunch of songs. The best of
the crop include Strangers in the Night, They Can’t Take that Away from Me,
Call Me Irresponsible, More, Hello Dolly, I’ve Got the World on a String,
L-0-V-E, Bye Bye Blackbird, Mack the Knife and others [Can you see the Bobby Darin
influence?]. Like I said, it is packed with
popular swing tunes.
The
swingability ranges from fantastic (Mack the Knife) to not very well (These
Boots are Made for Walking). But the
entertainment value is pretty high. This is a
fun CD that yes, you can dance to, but they might not be your favorite versions. However, it I found it a great buy at $3.99. I don’t know that I would spend over $10 for
it, though.
One other
comment, as much as Newton is known for his live shows, these tracks were all laid down in
a studio with the exception of two songs. You’re
Nobody ‘til Somebody Loves You and Mack the Knife are two bonus tracks
added that were recorded live in Hollywood back in 1964.
It gives you a fun glimpse into his live shows. These two songs by the way, have some of the best
energy on the CD.
Bottom Line: To buy or not to buy….. BUY, Eventually! Here’s how: