Swingin' With Dino Review

07/13/2005 7:48 AM, AMG


There are by now enough Dean Martin hits compilations, so Capitol Records, which administers virtually Martin's entire catalog, must figure. And yet the label has an incentive to try to continue to exploit that catalog; thus this is a collection of up-tempo material that ranges from one of Martin's first Capitol sessions, back in 1948 ("Powder Your Face With Sunshine [Smile! Smile! Smile!]"), to a 1966 date when he was busy cutting copycat arrangements to his 1964 hit "Everybody Loves Somebody," such as the one included here, "On the Sunny Side of the Street." But the date range is deceptive; the bulk of the tracks were recorded in the late '50s and early '60s, with eight out of 22 previously issued on the This Time I'm Swingin' LP in 1960. Martin brings a light touch to his vocals, easily gliding over the horn-filled arrangements, many of them by Nelson Riddle. There aren't a lot of standards here, but Martin is actually at his best with the minor material, especially novelties like "Who Was That Lady?," "Money Is a Problem," and "Baby-O," which he delivers enthusiastically, as if he is relieved not to have to take things seriously. Such songs come off better than well-known tunes like "On the Street Where You Live" and "Just in Time," which he tosses off with equal nonchalance. This is not the album to buy if you're looking for the best of Dean Martin, but if you already own one of those hits packages, it will make a good follow-up, revealing Martin's talent for finding entertaining ways of handling second-rate songs. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide