Originally issued in 1956 on RKO's Unique label under the title
The Kid from Maine, this captures
Vallee on one of his more successful late-career missions in recutting his old hits for a new audience. Unlike most of his contemporaries who had trouble bridging their music from old 78s to the LP high-fidelity format,
Vallee shows himself to be in good voice throughout. The title track, "Rain," "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries," "Sweet Music," "Honey," his "Vieni, Vieni" and "Deep Night" show him firmly in command of the material with none of the platinum missing off the old pipes. This 1998 CD reissue also adds three bonus tracks: "The Whiffenpoof Song," "Maine Stein Song" and a raunchy (for
Rudy) version of "There's a Tavern in the Town." Succinct liner notes from
Ian Whitcomb are an added bonus.