However you look at it, this is undeniably the essential Tony Bennett hits over some 40 years. Many of them were produced by Mitch Miller. And many come from the classic compsers such as Julie Styne, Cole Porter, Jonny Mercer, Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin and such.

This is basically 50's and 60's nostalgia with a nod at Tony's more recent work, and so is obviously for those who prefer the older and most familiar music. And for those listeners, it's definite four star material.


Title says it all!   October 4, 2000
21 out of 21 found this review helpful

There is no fat on this one! No fillers! This is the creme de le creme of a long career full of tasteful music. Each and every song chosen is 100% pure TONY...100% pure TASTE! No fat on this review either! BUY IT! It's THE BEST!!!


The Best from one of the best.   January 25, 2001
Eric V. Moye (New York, by way of Dallas)
15 out of 15 found this review helpful

Tony Bennett is a great singer. Like Hank Aaron could hit a baseball. Like New York has a few people around, or Dallas is warm in July.

This may be the best single disc compilation of Tony's work available. It has just about every popular song he has ever recorded. Leaving aside the ubiquitous "San Francisco (a classic of all time, it goes without saying), this disc has so much more to offer. "I Want to be Around (to pick up the pieces)", "Tender is the Night", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", and on and on and on. Each song here is better than the next. His voice is a treasure. "Steppin' out with my Baby" is as cool as the other side of the pillow.

Thanks to MTV "unplugged", a whole new generation of fans got to hear this marvelous singer. As importantly, millions who had heard him before and somehow forgotten how fine his work were able to re-discovered his brilliance.

Do yourself a favor.


The "Ultimate" Disappointment   October 20, 2001
douglas barton (Arlington, Va.)
12 out of 18 found this review helpful

As you may have noticed I've given this disc four stars out of a possible five. I give it that many stars out of respect for Mr. Bennett who, I am sure had little, if anything, to do with putting together this compilation.

Arguably, Tony Bennett is America's finest saloon singer. I find very little to fault in his approach to music and in the last 8 to 10 years has released, what I feel, to be a number of exceptional discs.Like a fine wine Mr. Bennett has simply gotten better with age,as has his arranger Ralph Sharon. That being said, a compilation of his strongest material would be a task of herculean proportions!Definitely not a job for the weak of heart!Which brings me to this cd.

I , initially, had high hopes upon hearing of Columbia's release called the "Ultimate" Tony Bennett.I thought, here, at last,in a single offering will be something I can put on, again and again.Somthing that would, in one disc,give me the highlights of Mr. Bennett's "superhuman" career. Imagine my disappointment! Whoever was responsible for compiling the songs for this selection must have no idea as to where Tony has been the last ten years.There's very little here from his last six cd'd, including nothing from "Perfectly Frank", "Unplugged","Here's To The Ladies" and one song from "Stepping Out". Instead we are "treated" to, from tracks 15-20,with the exception of "Stepping Out With My Baby", songs that should have been left in the studio. I simply cannot understand the thinking in releasing this cd! My "gut feeling" tells me that this is Columbia, once again, trying to capitalize on Tony's name by releasing material that true fans already have but may still purchase anyway,since it is a Tony Bennett offering!And if the idea was to bring in a new audience wouldn't it had been better to give them a sampling of Tony's best...which, I'm afraid, won't be found here!Who is this being marketed to?

Lastly, I do understand that the incredible task of putting together,on one disc, a career that spans over five decades, would prove to be virtually impossible. Someone will always point of missed opportunities and favorites that were left off but this collection simply misses it's mark.It simply doesn't excuse the shoddy song selection that has been disguised as a "compilation". Wouldn't a "two" cd set had made much more sense? Plus, seeing how all the material has been previoulsy released it might have carried a lower price tag as well. If Columbia truly respected Mr. Bennett and had wished to bring in new fans to his already immense and hugely popular back catalogue, might that had not been the direction to go?

All in all, while the music here speaks for itself,and some of it is truly remarkable, do yourself a favor and pick up Tony Bennett's work individually. In the end it will be much more satisfying and than we can argue about who really is the best "saloon singer" around!


The best compilation by the best singer in the business!   February 3, 2001
Bob Martinez (Brooksville, FL USA)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

Tony Bennett is a singer's singer. This CD is the best compilation disc of greatest hits he's ever put together. It covers his entire career from early hits like Rags To Riches thru "San Francisco", I Wanna Be Around, Just In Time and the heartbreaking When Joanna Left Me, one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. There are excellent liner notes, dates etc. and the sound is clean and exquisite. There are 20 cuts, and every one is a jewel. Tony Bennett is the Rolls Royce of singers. If you're lacking room and can only make room for one Bennett CD, this is the logical choice. Buy It! It will be one of the best CD purchases in your life.