It's doubtful that anyone born after the '60s remembers Connie Francis well, despite the fact that she was a mega pop star during the late '50s and throughout the '60s. Albums like Sings Italian Favorites and More Italian Favorites sold faster than hotcakes at the local fire department fundraiser, making Concetta Rosemarie Franconero the forerunner to female performers like Madonna (though Francis' wardrobes tended to be more conservative). The 2004 release of these two albums will most strongly appeal to those who remember Francis from her heyday, and have been waiting for her many, many albums to be reissued. The songs, sung in English and Italian, and backed by a full orchestra, don't hold up in the way an Ella Fitzgerald recording does, but Francis is a good singer with a soft, romantic lilt to her voice. And while one wouldn't call the production masterful, the MGM crew keeps a fairly even hand on things for Sings Italian Favorites. The second album, More Italian Favorites, is a bit more bombastic, and more echo -- which isn't needed -- is added to Francis' voice. For old fans, or anyone curious about the types of songs that made mom and dad fall in love, Sings Italian Favorites/More Italian Favorites will be a blast from pop history's past. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

This English reissue CD has ten of the Nat King Cole Trio's 16 Decca recordings, plus 16 selections taken from their early days with Capitol. A single-disc sampler that can be most enjoyed by casual listeners rather than completists, the Avid set contains quite a few classic moments, including two of Cole's first hits ("Straighten Up and Fly Right" and the remake of "Sweet Lorraine"), many fine solos (the versions of "What Is This Thing Called Love," "Body and Soul" and "Easy Listenin' Blues" are particularly memorable), and strong interplay between pianist Cole, guitarist Oscar Moore and either Wesley Prince or Johnny Miller on bass. Although Nat does a bit of singing, there are almost as many group vocals and a healthy dose of instrumentals. All of the material is available elsewhere. ~ Scott Yanow

A comprehensive anthology containing 26 timeless classics that Valli and The Four Seasons recorded between 1962 and 1978. Rhino / Warner's International release.