Reuniting with arranger and conductor , takes on more inside the grooves of the -produced album. As different as night and day from his Top 40 entry from the same year -- 1963's (not on this disc) -- covers 's as well as the themes to and . The usually consistent sounds a bit too heavy and overly dramatic at times, especially on his voice not as playful there as on his chart songs. But it works very effectively on This album was recorded during the classic phase of the icon's career, his Top 40 hits coming to a halt around this time. There would be a 15-year gap before he would see that kind of attention again. And while all his releases throughout the 1970s have precision and value, there's something very special about the forces at play here. is just that, perfect for any "bachelor pad" compilation, and Side One just a lovely slice of orchestrated treasures. ~ Joe Viglione