Mario Lanza - Mario Lanza: The Best of Everything (2017)

Dubbed by Arturo Toscanini "the greatest voice of the 20th century," Mario Lanza was one of America's most successful singers and movie stars in the years immediately following World War II. Born Alfredo Arnold Cocozza on January 31, 1921 in Philadelphia, he was the son of Italian immigrants, adopting his stage name from the masculine form of his mother's maiden name, Maria Lanza. From the age of 15, he studied to be a professional vocalist, later signing to Columbia as a concert singer; however, his career took a left turn in 1943, when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Billed as "the Service Caruso," Lanza performed for his fellow infantrymen and also sang in the production of Winged Victory; upon his return from duty, he relocated to New York, where he performed concert dates and appeared on radio. One of his audition tapes found its way to MGM's Hollywood studios, and after MGM chief Louis B. Mayer subsequently saw Lanza perform live, he signed the singer to a seven-year contract. After making his first - and final - appearance on the professional opera stage in 1948 in the New Orleans Opera's production of Madame Butterfly, Lanza made his MGM debut the following year in The Midnight Kiss, scoring a hit with the soundtrack's "Celeste Aida." The Toast of New Orleans followed, launching his first million-selling hit, "Be My Love." In 1951, Lanza starred as his idol in the biopic The Great Caruso, scoring another million seller with "The Loveliest Night of the Year." In 1951, he mounted his own CBS radio series, and the following year starred in Because You're Mine; the title song, penned by Sammy Cahn and Nicholas Brodszky, earned an Academy Award nomination, and became Lanza's third and final million-selling effort. After completing the music for the MGM production of The Student Prince, Lanza walked out on the project; by allowing the studio to retain rights to the recordings, he was able to avoid a breach of contract lawsuit, with the single "The Drinking Song" rising to the top of the U.S. charts. In the wake of his walkout, Lanza became a recluse, disappearing from the limelight for over a year while battling addictions to food, alcohol, and tranquilizers; he also faced a series of battles with the IRS. Finally, in 1956 he resumed his film career in the Warner Bros. production Serenade; however, the next year, disillusioned with American life, he moved to Italy, settling in Rome to star in 1958's The Seven Hills of Rome. That same year, Lanza toured the U.K., making one final film, For the First Time. He died on October 7, 1959; while officially recorded as a heart attack, his passing was later rumored to have been a Mafia hit ordered following his refusal to perform at the request of mob boss Lucky Luciano.

TRACKLIST

CD1

01. Be My Love (From "The Toast of New Orleans") - Mario Lanza, Ray Sinatra & The Jeff Alexander Choir
02. La bohème: Che gelida manina - Mario Lanza, Constantine Callinicos & RCA Victor Orchestra
03. Some Day - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra
04. Bésame mucho - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra
05. Guardian Angels - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra
06. Rigoletto: Questa o quella - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Orchestra & Constantine Callinicos
07. Sadko: Song of India - Mario Lanza & Constantine Callinicos
08. Danny Boy - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra
09. Drink, Drink, Drink (From "The Student Prince") - Mario Lanza & Constantine Callinicos
10. You and the Night and the Music (From "Revenge With Music") - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra
11. Carmen, WD 31: Flower Song - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Orchestra & Constantine Callinicos
12. My Romance (From "Billy Rose's Jumbo") - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra
13. Mattinata - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra
14. Night and Day (From "Gay Divorce") - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra
15. Serenade (From "The Student Prince") - Mario Lanza & Constantine Callinicos
16. Because - Mario Lanza, Constantine Callinicos & RCA Victor Orchestra
17. 'A vucchella - Mario Lanza, Constantine Callinicos & RCA Victor Orchestra
18. Tosca: Recondita armonia - Mario Lanza, Constantine Callinicos & RCA Victor Orchestra
19. Without a Song (From "Great Day") - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra
20. I'll Walk with God (From "The Student Prince") - Mario Lanza & Constantine Callinicos
21. If You Were Mine - Mario Lanza & Constantine Callinicos
22. The Loveliest Night of The Year - Mario Lanza & Constantine Callinicos

CD2

23. Because You're Mine (From "Because You're Mine") - Mario Lanza, Constantine Callinicos & The Jeff Alexander Choir
24. Martha: M'apparì, tutt' amor - Mario Lanza, Constantine Callinicos & RCA Victor Orchestra
25. Beloved (From "The Student Prince") - Mario Lanza & Constantine Callinicos
26. None but the Lonely Heart - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra
27. Fedora: Amor ti vieta - Mario Lanza & Ray Heindorf
28. Granada - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra
29. Thine Alone (From "Eileen") - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra
30. Golden Days (From "The Student Prince") - Mario Lanza & Constantine Callinicos
31. Aïda: Celeste Aïda - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Orchestra & Constantine Callinicos
32. All the Things You Are (From "Very Warm for May") - Mario Lanza & Henri René
33. Rigoletto: La donna è mobile - Mario Lanza, Constantine Callinicos & RCA Victor Orchestra
34. Arrivederci Roma (Featured in "Seven Hills of Rome") - Mario Lanza
35. Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba (Featured in "For the First Time") - Mario Lanza & Constantine Callinicos
36. Ave Maria, D. 839 - Mario Lanza & George Stoll
37. Passione - Mario Lanza & Franco Ferrara
38. One Alone (From "The Desert Song") - Mario Lanza & Constantine Callinicos
39. Turandot: Nessun dorma - Mario Lanza & Ray Heindorf
40. Sign off from Mario Lanza - Mario Lanza
41. Be My Love - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra
42. The Lord's Prayer - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra
43. Serenade - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra
44. Silent Night - Mario Lanza & Ray Sinatra