(*)The Best Of Dean Martin (Capitol)
Poor 'ole Dean is no longer with us, but his legacy lives on on these twelve tracks. The hits are here: "That's Amore", "Volare", "Memories Are Made Of This", and "Hey Brother, Pour The Wine". This is a perfect accompanyment for an evening of wining and dining with your sweetheart. Singers don't get much smoother than this (Not to be confused with the "Best Of..." 2-CD set reviewed below. This is the original LP.) (Hmmm... #5)

Dean Martin - The Capitol Years (Capitol)
"With a career spanning more than 50 years, Dean Martin has insured his place alongside some of the most renown avatars of music."
In my opinion, this is the place to start when getting into Dean Martin's music. There are tons of compilations on the market, but this 2-CD set contains many of Dean's biggest hits, along with some of the best songs and outtakes selected from his catalog from his 13 years with Capitol. In addition to songs like "That's Amore", "Volare" and "Hey Brother, Pour The Wine" you get duets with Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, and Jerry Lewis, as well as a medley of songs recorded live at the Moulin Rouge in Hollywood. What makes these songs special, in addition to Dean's wonderful singing, are the orchestrations provided by Dick Stabile, Paul Weston, and Nelson Riddle among others. A 32 page booklet filled with photos, liner notes and recording information for each song, and a short biography of Dean's career round out the package. Hopefully Capitol will release some more of Dean's individual albums on CD, just like they did a few months ago with "Sleep Warm". (The Continental #1)

Sleep Warm (Capitol)
"Capturing 12 timeless songs, Sleep Warm features an array of heartwarming Dean Martin standards."
This collection features a set of dreamy tunes with the evening hours as their central focus. Some of the tunes swing, but the majority of them serve as lullabies to help you relax into the quiet hours of the evening. Frank Sinatra helps out by serving as the orchestra's conductor. As the liner notes on the original LP said, "Tuck troubles away in dreams that are all aglow with contented love." (Hmmm...#7)

(*)Sway 78 (Capitol)
I recently received an old cabinet stereo that plays 33's, 45's, and 78's. This was the first 78 I purchased, a real bargain at only $1.00. For some reason, there really isn't a market for 78's in Bellingham. I guess no one has turntables that play them anymore. "Sway" is a classic Dean Martin tune. If you haven't heard it, then you really haven't lived. If you can't find it as a 78, just check out one of his greatest hits compilations. It is backed with "Money Burns A Hole In My Pocket", which turned out to be my theme song as I went back to the same store later to buy a stack of 78's. Among my other finds were 78's from Xavier Cugat, Let Baxter, Cab Calloway, and Louis Prima. (Hmmm... #7)

Dean Martin - That's Amore: The Best Of Dean Martin (Capitol)
"That's Amore captures Martin the way we remember him, with that easygoing and relaxed style, making it all look so easy."
This 20 song collection includes some (but not all) of Dean's greatest hits. You really can't go wrong with any Dean Martin collection, but I tend to like some of his more obscure tunes. So you'll find standards such as: "That's Amore", "Memories Are Made Of This", "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You", "Hey Brother, Pour The Wine", "Sway", and "Volare". If you are looking for a one-shot introduction to this suave crooner, this one's for you. (Hmmm...#7)

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