Dean Martin - Italian Love Songs (1962/2015) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Dean Martin typified both the romance and seeming effortlessness of the early-1960s swinger. This collection of lushly orchestrated songs features Italian pop classics like 'There's No Tomorrow,' 'Arrivederci Roma,' 'Return to Me,' and the Latin-flavored 'Belle From Barcelona,' all performed with Martin's familiar relaxed intimacy and devil-may-care swagger. The sessions producing this album's songs were recorded between September 6 and September 8 of 1961. The backing orchestra was conducted and arranged by Gus Levene.

„The only surprising thing about an album of Italian songs by Dean Martin, the most overtly Italian of the Italian-American pop singers, was that it wasn't recorded until near the end of Martin's recording contract with Capitol Records. Maybe it was the success of similar albums by Connie Francis that convinced the label or the artist that such a collection could have commercial appeal, but given that some of Martin's biggest hits, including 'That's Amore' and 'Volare,' had been Italian-flavored, it's hard to see why they would have needed convincing. In any case, Martin was typically convincing on this album in both English and Italian, whether re-cutting his hit 'Return to Me' or trying an alternate English lyric for 'O Sole Mio' ('There's No Tomorrow'). Listeners should be forewarned that this is not a collection of Martin's Italian hits, but rather a newly recorded album (circa 1961). Nevertheless, it is a good match of singer to songs, and it became Martin's first charting album on Capitol.“ (William Ruhlmann, AMG)

Tracklist:
01. Just Say I Love Her (Dicitencello Vuie) (Remastered)
02. Arrivederci Roma (Remastered)
03. My Heart Reminds Me (Remastered)
04. You're Breaking My Heart (Mattinata) (Remastered)
05. Non Dimenticar (Remastered)
06. Return To Me
07. Vieni Su (Say You Love Me, Too) (Remastered)
08. On An Evening In Roma (Sott'er Celo De Roma) (Remastered)
09. Pardon (Perdoname) (Remastered)
10. Take Me In Your Arms (Torna A Surriento) (Remastered)
11. I Have But One Heart ('O Marenariello) (Remastered)
12. There's No Tomorrow (Remastered)

Personnel:
Dean Martin, vocals
Robert F. Bain, guitar
Alton R. Hendrickson, guitar
Allan J. Reuss, guitar
Murray Shapinsky, bass
Nick Fatool, drums
Louis 'Lou' Singer, drums
Kermit 'Ken' Lane, piano
Carl L. Fortina, accordion
Justin DiTullio, cello
Virginia Majewski, viola
Paul Robyn, viola
Victor Arno, violin
Israel Baker, violin
Kurt Dieterle, violin
Anatol Kaminsky, violin
Nathan Kaproff, violin
Joseph Livoti, violin
Daniel Lube, violin
Harry Zagon, violin
Ann Mason Stockton, harp

Recorded from September 6–8, 1961, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California
Produced by Dave Cavanaugh

Digitally remastered