Though he was regarded as one of the best singers of his generation,
Dean Martin initially rose to fame as part of a comedy act. In 1946,
Martin teamed up with funnyman
Jerry Lewis, and the two were soon a sensation, headlining at nightclubs and starring in movies and TV shows built around the duo's anarchic humor. Many people believed
Martin was just the straight man who belted out a tune occasionally until he landed a recording contract with Capitol Records in 1953 and launched a series of hits that showed off his rich, supple baritone and his strong but playful, devil-may-care phrasing.
Martin's popularity as a vocalist only grew after he and
Lewis split up the act in 1956, and despite the rise of rock & roll,
Martin's grown-up pop music retained its audience;
Martin's signature hit, "Everybody Loves Somebody," even nudged
the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" off the top of the Billboard Singles Charts in August 1964.
The Essential Dean Martin is a two-disc set featuring 40 tracks from
Martin's recorded catalog, and includes hits and fan favorites from his years with Capitol (1953-1963) as well as his later tenure with Reprise Records (1963-1978). Those looking for an introduction to
Martin's work or an overview of his best-known recordings will find what they're looking for with this set. ~ Mark Deming