Up until he suffered a stroke at age 70 in 1996, singer Mel Tormé continued to improve with age and seemed to have inexhaustible energy. This four-CD set from Rhino does a fine job of covering Tormé's pre-Concord output, although the omission of his Concord work of 1986-1995 is unfortunate for that catalog contains many of Tormé's most exciting recordings. In general, the earlier selections (some of which were with his vocal group the Mel-Tones) feature Tormé on hip (for the period) swing tunes and ballads. By the time he cut the sessions included on this set from 1954, the singer was quite mature and sounding very much like himself. The small group dates of the 1950s are generally much more rewarding than some of the slower numbers in which Tormé is accompanied by string orchestras and the 1956-1960 collaborations with the Marty Paich Dek-tette are classic. But once the 1960s hit, Tormé's career (at least on records) started to quickly decline. Although disc four (which covers 1962-1985) does its best to focus on Tormé's better recordings of the period, a few of the tracks (such as "Strangers in the Night," "A Day in the Life of Bonnie and Clyde," and "Yesterday When I Was Young") are pretty sappy. Things greatly improve once the singer reaches the year 1975 and there are enough high points throughout the set to justify its purchase by Tormé's many fans. Three previously unreleased selections (best is "Walkin' Shoes" with Shorty Rogers in 1962) are a plus and the colorful 84-page booklet is quite definitive. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Stan Karpenia (Strings), Jules Seder (Bassoon), George Seaberg (Trumpet), Arnold Ross (Celeste), Si Zentner (Trombone), Art Pepper (Sax (Alto)), Jack Sheldon (Trumpet), Mahlon Clark (Woodwind), James Stagliano (French Horn), Don Raffell (Woodwind), Bob Cooper (Woodwind), Henry Roth (Violin), Rubin Zarchy (Trumpet), Al Pelligrini (?), Marty Paich (?), Marion Childers (Trumpet), Jack Kirksmith (French Horn), Mike Renzi (Piano), John Anderson (Trumpet), John Kitzmiller (Tuba), Robert Mersey (Leader), Ollie Wilson (Trombone), Francis Howard (?), Robert Barene (Violin), Elizabeth Ershoff (?), Barry Manilow (Arranger), Charlie Kennedy (Saxophone), Eugene Lamas (Violin), Teddy Napoleon (Piano), Bev Kelly (Vocals), Joe Kretcher (Saxophone), Stu Williamson (Trumpet), Jim Conkling (Producer), John Whited (Vocals), Mel Lewis (Drums), Dan Lube (Violin), Morris King (Violin), Alex Gershunoff (Saxophone), Barry Galbraith (Guitar), Dorothy Remsen (Harp), Hymie Gunkler (Clarinet), Marvin Limonick (Violin), Al McKibbon (Bass), Dave Pell (Woodwind), Israel Baker (Violin), Dave Levine (Drums), Mark McIntyre (Piano), Eddie Rosa (Flute), Alvin Stoller (Marimba), Bing Crosby (Vocals), Frank de Vol (Leader), Lew McCreary (Trombone), Ollie Mitchell (Trumpet), Herb Geller (Sax (Alto)), Don Fagerquist (Trumpet), Jules Kinsler (Sax (Alto)), Wayne Knight (Photography), Dale Sheets (Project Assistant), Gary Coleman (Vibraphone), Richard Shanahan (Drums), Sol Babitz (?), Bill Ulyate (Clarinet (Bass)), Joe Howard (Trombone), Margaret Aue (Cello), George Zornig (Strings), Alvin Stoller (Drums), Uan Rasey (?), George Neikrug (Violin), Donny Osborne (Drums), Benny Carter (Woodwind), Elmer Smithers (Trombone), Johnny Mandel (Arranger), Jules Kinsler (Woodwind), Les Robinson (Saxophone), Billy May (Arranger), Armand Karpoff (Cello), Ginny O'Connor (Vocals), Dave Lambert (Vocals), Joe Burnett (Trumpet), Jud Conlon (Vocals), Skip Martin (Arranger), Georgie Auld (Woodwind), Milt Yaner (Woodwind), Gene Norman (Producer), Carl Loeffler (Trombone), Richard Shanahan (Bongos), James Dupre (Bass), Barry Manilow (Vocals), Hymie Gunkler (Sax (Alto)), Patrick Milligan (Executive Producer), Louis Mucci (Trumpet), Sonny Burke (Arranger), Sid Cooper (Woodwind), Plas Johnson (Woodwind), Eugene Dinovi (Piano), Ralph Pena (Bass), Teddy Edwards (Saxophone), Babe Russin (Woodwind), Barry Manilow (Producer), Stanley Spiegelman (Viola), Anatol Kaminsky (Violin), Clyde Hurley (Trumpet), Sam Freed (Viola), Harry Betts (Trombone), Ray Pohlman (Bass), Joseph Stephansky (Violin), Pete Rugolo (Conductor), Tommy Pedersen (Trombone), Manny Stein (Bass), Milt Raskin (Celeste), Dale Anderson (?), Carl LaMagna (Violin), Chuck Gentry (Woodwind), Kai Winding (Trombone), Kurt Reher (Cello), Jack Montrose (Sax (Tenor)), Alvin Stoller (Tympani [Timpani]), Mannie Thaler (Woodwind), Mike Wofford (Piano), Howard Roberts (Guitar), Les Jenkins (Trombone), James Getzoff (Violin), Harry Lawson (Saxophone), Nick Pisani (Violin), Ann Mason (Harp), Betty Beveridge (Vocals), Neal Hefti (Arranger), Jack Mayhew (Woodwind), Eddie Safranski (Bass), Harold Lewis (Flute), Verlye Mills (Harp), Lew Stone (Strings), Dodo Marmarosa (Piano), Larry Bunker (Vibraphone), John Ryan (Bass), Bob Enevoldsen (Trombone), Albert Pollan (Tuba), Jesse Ehrlich (?), Sonny Burke (?), Irving Cottler (Percussion), Bill Inglot (Producer), Al Pelligrini (Piano), Louis Adrian (?), John Audino (?), John Gary Williams (Arranger), Francis Howard (Trombone), Larry Breen (Bass), Ziggy Elman (Trumpet), Bob Enevoldsen (Sax (Tenor)), Barney Kessel (Guitar), Don St. Was (Oberheim), Jimmy Wisner (?), Larry Bunker (Marimba), Ralph Hansell (Xylophone), Corky Hale (Harp), Artie Shaw (Leader), Jack Dumont (Woodwind), Jimmy Rowles (Piano), Rachel Gutek (Design), Lincoln Mayorga (Arranger), Bill Perkins (Sax (Tenor)), The Pat Moran Quartet (?), Dave Grusin (Piano), Bob Bain (Arranger), Sandor Szatmery (Strings), George Wendt (Trumpet), Marshall Sosson (Violin), Artie Shaw (Clarinet), Russell Garcia (Arranger), Harry Klee (Saxophone), Gene Estes (Vibraphone), Leonard Atkins (Violin), Irving Cottler (Drums), Dick Hazard (Arranger), Stella Castellucci (Harp), Marty Paich (Piano), Red Callender (Tuba), Lloyd Ulyate (Trombone), Bob Enevoldsen (Trombone (Valve)), Dan Hersch (Remastering), Patrick Milligan (Discographical Annotation), John Doling (Vocals), Lou Raderman (Violin), Mel Tormé (Vocals), Frank Rosolino (Trombone), Bill Atkinson (Trombone), Nicholas Ochi-Albi (Cello), Coco Shinomiya (Art Direction), Heimann Weinstine (Violin), Richard L. Noel (Trombone), Felix Slatkin (Violin), Arthur Kafton (Cello), Ted Nash (Woodwind), Bernie Parke (Vocals (Background)), Pete Candoli (Trumpet), John Cyr (Drums), Margaret Whiting (Vocals), Shorty Rogers (Arranger), Charles Griffard (Trumpet), Maurice Perlmutter (Viola), Jacques Gasselin (Violin), Monty Budwig (Bass), Tony Faso (Trumpet), Al Hendrickson (Guitar), Nesuhi Ertegun (Producer), Bob Lawson (Saxophone), Jack DuLong (Sax (Baritone)), Mel Tormé (Piano), Olcott Vail (Violin), Harry Bluestone (Violin), Shelly Manne (Drums), Maurice Brown (Strings), Ronnie Lang (Woodwind), Dave Kapp (Compilation), Irma Neumann (Violin), Y Neikrug (Piano), Michael Melvoin (Piano), Ginny O'Connor (Vocals (Background)), Alvin Dinkin (Viola), Marty Paich (Leader), Roland Bundock (Bass), Mel Tormé (Vocal Arrangement), Milt Bernhart (Trombone), John Gray (?), Dick Collins (Trumpet), Carmen Fanzone (Research Assistant), Buddy Cole (Piano), Mel Tormé (Compilation Assistant), Sigmund Ziebel (?), Gertrude Schrager (?), Eddie Brown (Woodwind), Mike Deasy Sr. (Guitar), Jules Kinsler (Sax (Tenor)), Ace Tesone (Bass), Chuck Gentry (Violin), Alvin Stoller (Percussion), Robert Mersey (Arranger), James Austin (Executive Producer), Med Flory (Woodwind), Billy May (Leader), Frank de Vol (Arranger), Bobby Gibbons (Guitar), Joe Gibbons (Guitar), Bob Cooper (Sax (Tenor)), Bernie Parke (Vocals), Gus Bivona (Saxophone), David Sterkin (Viola), Victor Feldman (Vibraphone), Jack Sperling (Drums), Ronnie Lang (Clarinet), Ted Nash (Piano), Ray Triscari (Trumpet), Cy Coleman (Piano), Milt Holland (Bongos), Laurindo Almeida (Guitar), Ray Linn (Trumpet), Larry Bunker (Accordion), Dave Kapp (Producer), Fred Goerner (Cello), Paul Shure (Violin), Sonny Burke (Leader), Jack Tracy (Producer), Jay Leonhart (Bass), Gene Cipriano (Woodwind), Allan Reuss (Guitar), Ted Vesely (?), Stu Williamson (Trombone (Valve)), Richard Cornell (Harp), Joe Mondragon (Bass), Richard Perissi (French Horn), Keith Mitchell (Bass), Allen Stanton (Producer), Was (Not Was) (?), Larry Bunker (Drums), Gordon Pope (Oboe), Matty Matlock (Woodwind), Marty Paich (Celeste), Kenny Shroyer (Trombone), Cheryll Butterman (Harp), Shorty Rogers & His Giants (?), Leo Kruczek (Strings), Joe Maini (Saxophone), Larry Bunker (Bongos), John Lowe (Woodwind), George Roberts (Trombone (Bass)), Gerry Mulligan (Sax (Baritone)), Betty Beveridge (Vocals (Background)), André Previn (Arranger), Buddy Neil (Piano), Jack Tann (Producer), Frank Capp (Percussion), Bob Bain (Conductor), Kathryn Tompson (Harp), Norman Granz (Producer), Paul Bergstrom (Cello), James A. Decker (French Horn), Myron Sandler (Viola), Huntington Burdick (French Horn), Mischa Russell (Violin), Bill Hood (Sax (Baritone)), Benny Gill (Violin), Les Baxter (Vocals (Background)), Don St. Was (Producer), Howard Halbert (Violin), Vincent Pelote (Research Assistant), Frederick Seykora (Cello), Les Baxter (Vocals), Nathan Ross (Violin), Dave Barbour (Guitar), Harry Babasin (Bass), Alvin Stoller (Bongos), Paul Horn (Woodwind), Rufus Reid (Bass), Amerigo Marino (?), Conrad Gozzo (Trumpet), Mundell Lowe (Guitar), Skeets Herfurt (Saxophone), Johnny Mandel (Leader), Marin Alsop (Violin), Sidney Sharp (Violin), Edgar Lustgarten (Cello), Howard McGhee (Trumpet), Luis Resto (Emulator), Bill Inglot (Remastering), Pullman Pederson (Trombone), Red Clyde (Producer), Peter Ellis (Violin), Max Bennett (Bass), Don Raffell (Saxophone), Walter Benson (Trombone), Shelly Manne (Marimba), Mel Tormé (Producer), Dave Cavanaugh (Producer), David Frisina (Violin), Gail Laughton (Harp), Ethmer Roten (Flute), Deacon Dunn (Woodwind), Eddie Kusby (Trombone), Bud Shank (Sax (Alto)), John Gary Williams (Leader), Arthur Shapiro (Bass), John Cave (French Horn), Jimmy Wisner (Piano), Albert Richmond (French Horn), Manny Klein (Trumpet), Buddy Childers (Trumpet), Harry Klee (Flute), Arnold Koblentz (Oboe), Virginia Majewski (Viola), George Roberts (Trombone), Lincoln Mayorga (Leader), Frank Beach (Trumpet), Allan Harshman (Viola), Beverly Lauridsen (Cello), Nick Fatool (Drums), Sarah Kreindler (Violin), Artie Shaw & His Orchestra (?), Morris Lefkowitz (Strings), Marty Paich (Arranger), George Kast (Violin), Bernard Kundell (Violin), Al Porcino (Trumpet), Stan Levey (Drums), Dick Hazard (Leader), Victor Arno (Violin), Babe Russin (Saxophone), Jim Gordon (Drums), Larry Marks (Producer), Vincent DeRosa (French Horn), Russell Garcia (Leader), Michael Ochs (Photography), Milt Holland (Gong), Hal Mooney (Leader), John Best (Trumpet), Ralph Hansell (Vibraphone), Phil Stephens (Bass), Tibor Zelig (?), George Duvivier (Bass), Don Bagley (Bass), Paul Robyn (Viola), Charles Graver (Bassoon), Phil Stephens (Vocals), Shorty Sherock (Trumpet), Justin Gordon (Woodwind), Kenny Shroyer (Trombone (Bass)), Ralph Sharon (Piano), George Cates (Leader), Roland Pirozzi (Woodwind), Milt Raskin (Piano), Bill Pitman (Guitar), Olga Zundel (?), The Starlighters (Vocals), Pat Moran (Vocals), Ray Sabinsky (Strings), Shelly Manne (Tympani [Timpani]), Emil Richards (Vibraphone), Joe Comfort (Bass), Gerald Vinci (Violin), Arnold Belnick (Violin), Tony Rizzi (Guitar), The Mel-Tones (Vocals), Robert Mersey (Producer), Louis Kievman (?), Eugene Dinovi (Organ), Paul Geil (Trumpet), Herb Ellis (Guitar), Joe Triscari (Trumpet), Pete Rugolo (Leader), Cy Bernard (Cello), Geoff Clarkson (Piano), Al Pelligrini (Leader), Carol Pool (Violin), Johnny Mandel (Conductor), Ronnie Lang (Sax (Alto)), Mel Zelnick (Drums), Wally Stott (?), Shelly Manne (Bongos), Bud Shank (Flute), Frank DeVol & His Orchestra (?), Michael Johnson (Research Assistant), Tommy Shepard (Trombone), Eleanor Slatkin (Cello), Charles Marlowe (Trumpet), Buddy Collette (Woodwind), Dave Pell (Producer), George Van Eps (Guitar), Bill Hood (Woodwind), June Weiland (Harp), Bud Shank (Woodwind), Ronnie Lang (Sax (Baritone)), Lou Singer (Drums), Morton Friedman (Saxophone), Jill Jaffe (Viola), Dick Nash (Trombone), Bill Green (?), Shorty Rogers (Leader)
