Dean Martin: s/d?

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I recently bought this box, which pretty much covers Dino's recording career from it's beginning in 1946 to 1955, and I'm enjoying it quite a lot. There's several forgettable tunes of course, like the couple where Jerry Lewis "sings" (was that really considered funny even back then?), but there's also, for example, two great duets with Nat King Cole that I've never even heard about. Now I'm wondering, where to go next? What post-1955 stuff should I look for? There's a kazillion different collections and reissues around, I don't know what's essential and what's not.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 26 October 2006 17:40 (6 years ago) Permalink

Martin & Lewis' musical numbers on TV and films were often really nice (they could both hoof decently, for one).

I have The Capitol Collectors Series, but that's only 20 tracks, half of which you've got.

Some of the country albums are allegedly pretty good, but I don't own any.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 26 October 2006 18:05 (6 years ago) Permalink

Yeah, I remember liking the musical numbers as a kid, but I think you have to see the performance to enjoy them. Just to hear Lewis's squeaky mock singing is pretty irritating, plus at least on one of the tracks (The Money Song) they've speeded up his voice chipmunk-stylee. Which is a pity, 'cause it's a nice tune, I would've liked to hear Martin perform it by himself.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 26 October 2006 18:10 (6 years ago) Permalink

Look for a Reprise best of. Not as good as the Capital stuff, but plenty of highpoints all the same.

― Orgy of Pragmatism (Charles McCain), Thursday, 26 October 2006 21:24 (6 years ago) Permalink

I highly recommend Nick Tosches's Dean Martin bio. Never in a million years had I thought I'd even care to read anything about the man, but the Tosches book is just stunning.

― Hot Hot Heat (Hot Hot Heat), Thursday, 26 October 2006 23:21 (6 years ago) Permalink

Search: the Dean Martin Variety Shows DVDs. There are a few clips on those discs taken from so-called specials in the early 80s where Dean looks old, tired and somewhat bewildered, but the vast majority of it (from the mid-late 60s and early 70s) is just stunning, not to mention hilarious.

I think doctors should be able to prescribe these DVDs to patients diagnosed with depression - I just can't help but grin whenever I see him on the screen. Dean was a far funnier comedian than Jerry Lewis, and that is true. He could also sing rather well.

Destroy: Practically nothing pre-1973.

You could do a lot worse than just buying the rest of those box sets. There's another three in the series, IIRC. All great.

― retort pouch (retort pouch), Friday, 27 October 2006 00:03 (6 years ago) Permalink

Dean was a far funnier comedian than Jerry Lewis

Disagree totally, but Dean was hilarious and at their best they were truly a TEAM -- which was usually obliterated in nearly all their films. Search the budget DVDs of their TV Colgate Comedy Hours, where they pretty much go off-script in every single sketch and have a blast doing it.

The Dean '70s variety shows are compelling for his completely unrehearsed brio (and the caveman sexism).

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 27 October 2006 13:07 (6 years ago) Permalink

is there a matt helm dvd boxed-set? i would totally buy that if i saw it. i love watching dino in the movies. even really bad movies.

― scott seward (scott seward), Friday, 27 October 2006 13:18 (6 years ago) Permalink

oh, just hit any old thrift store and pick up anything...i own more dean than i should...but its all cheap old records and i coldn't really tell one disc from another, as ive never been bothered to think it important. just run with it...pick up a bunch, mix a cactail and just stroll on.

― bb (bbrz), Friday, 27 October 2006 16:32 (6 years ago) Permalink

The Fall covered "Houston" a couple of albums back. . . .

― A Radio Picture (Rrrickey), Saturday, 28 October 2006 07:05 (6 years ago) Permalink

Does it have his Rio Bravo duet with Ricky Nelson?

― poortheatre (poortheatre), Saturday, 28 October 2006 07:08 (6 years ago) Permalink

10 months pass...

little ole wine drinker me.

if you don't like this song you're no friend of mine.

― pisces, Sunday, 23 September 2007 21:42 (5 years ago) Permalink

I thought that was Robert Mitchum... well, maybe they both did that song.

― Rich Smörgasbord, Monday, 24 September 2007 09:16 (5 years ago) Permalink

3 years pass...

What's the best Dean Martin compilation? My brother asked for something from him and I'm not sure which period or what compilation to get.

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 14 December 2010 21:52 (2 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

(knew i have to go through this one day)

the most extensive & still available collection i found so far,
all on Bear Family International. don't look at the price tag.

Memories Are Made Of This 8-CD & 84-P.BOOK /224 tracks
(complete recordings from 1946 to 1955)

Return To Me 1956-1961 8-CD & 84-PAGE-BOOK /220 tracks
("These two 8 CD boxed sets contain all of Dean Martin's recordings for Capitol, Diamond, Apollo, and Embassy.")

Everybody Loves Somebody 6-CD/1DVD & BOOK /161 tracks + DVD
(1962-1966)

Lay Some Happiness On Me 6-CD/1DVD & BOOK /153 tracks + radio spots + DVD
(1966-1985)

dupes found (probably different recordings):
White Christmas
Winter Wonderland
Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
The Things We Did Last Summer
Silent Night
Silver Bells
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
Only Forever
Once In A While

― meisenfek, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 19:22 (1 year ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

best

― deems irreverent (darraghmac), Thursday, 12 July 2012 00:09 (10 months ago) Permalink

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