These two albums, originally released in 1959 by Columbia, feature Damone backed by orchestras under the direction of Frank DeVol and Robert Smale. Highlights include "You And The Night And The Music," "Day By Day" and "Ain't Misbehavin'."
Tracks:
1.Closer Than A Kiss
2.Out Of Nowhere
3.I Kiss Your Hand, Madame
4.We Kiss In A Shadow
5.Cuddle Up A Little Closer
6.A Toujours
7.You And The Night And The Music
8.Prelude To A Kiss
9.How Deep Is The Ocean
10.Day By Day
11.As Time Goes By
12.Close As Pages In A Book
13.Alone Together
14.My Romance
15.Ain't Misbehavin'
16.But Beautiful
17.The End Of A Love Affair
18.The Things We Did Last Summer
19.Am I Blue?
20.I'll Be Around
21.It's A Lonesome Old Town
22.Me And My Shadow
23.I Like The Likes Of You
24.A Fellow Needs A Girl
Product Description:
2 LPs on 1 CD: CLOSER THAN A KISS (1959)/THE GAME OF LOVE (1959).
Personnel includes: Vic Damone (vocals); Frank Devol Orchestra; Robert Smale
Orchestra.
Originally released on Columbia Records.
Arranger: Bob Smale.
This pairing of two of Vic Damone's Columbia albums spotlights both his strengths and weaknesses as a performer. Closer Than a Kiss showcases Damone's beautiful yet somewhat emotionally empty voice on a respectable but ultimately dull collection of standards. This Game of Love, however, may just be the best album that the crooner ever cut. Damone recorded the session with a small but superb jazz group that gives diverse backings to a strong selection of ballads and rhythm tunes. You wouldn't think that Vic Damone, the world's whitest white man, could be capable of spinning off a vibrant version of Fats Waller's "Ain't Misbehavin'," but he does. Thankfully, Damone and his crew of crack jazz musicians are as good on the rest of the album's 11 selections. Closer Than a Kiss may be far from essential, but This Game of Love is so good that vocal pop fans will still want to add this two-for-one CD to their collections. ~ Nick Dedina
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