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This eight-CD box set, containing 225 tracks and running almost nine-and-a-half hours, traces Dean Martin's singing career from July 1946, when he cut his first singles for Diamond Records, to November 18, 1955, the last song being "Innamorata," which became a Top 40 hit. (Actually, the studio recordings take up only six of the eight discs, with the remaining two given over to soundtrack recordings.) This was a period when the single was the dominant record format, and many of these tracks are being reissued for the first time since they turned up on 78 and 45 rpm discs. A few are previously unreleased. The only sessions recorded for LPs were for Dean Martin Sings (his first 10") and Swingin' Down Yonder (his first 12"). Though Martin was a major star during this period, his renown derived primarily from his comic partnership with Jerry Lewis in nightclubs and on radio, television and film. In fact, relatively few of the tunes heard here became hits -- only "Powder Your Face with Sunshine (Smile! Smile! Smile!)," "That's Amore," and "Memories Are Made of This" reached the Top Ten -- and few deserved to do any better. Martin treated his singing career cavalierly for much of this period, recording whatever was put in front of him -- an inconsistent mix of ballads, novelties, ethnic tunes, and revivals of standards -- without much apparent preparation. While his performances were competent and characteristically relaxed, the results ranged from entertaining to embarrassing. Little of it was essential, and this massive album, while a boon to collectors and completists, contains little that is necessary to a collection of the best of the artist. John Chintala's liner notes are meticulously researched, and there is a thorough discography, both contained in a beautifully illustrated hardcover book. ~ William Ruhlmann
