Connie Francis Albums (41)
'Standards Live'
Release Date 4/5/2005
Tracks 11
Label Sheridan Square
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Jive Connie, Jive!'
Release Date 3/5/2002
Tracks 14
Label Universal International
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Connie Sings Buddy'
Release Date 7/17/2001
Tracks 14
Label Castle Pie
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Sings Never on Sunday and Other Title Songs from Motion Pictures'
Release Date 11/3/1998
Tracks 12
Label Pendulum
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Sings Jewish Favorites'
Release Date 11/3/1998
Tracks 12
Label Pendulum
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
In addition to her many successful albums of waltzes, pop hits, Broadway show tunes, rock & roll tributes, country & western, Christmas, and children's music, Connie Francis also recorded a series of albums devoted to different ethnic traditions, an important ingredient in her life and work. Born Concetta Rosemarie Franconero in Newark, NJ, she grew up in what she later described as "a totally Jewish neighborhood," where she learned to speak Yiddish fluently. Legend has it she agreed to change her stage name to "Francis" after Arthur Godfrey had difficulty pronouncing "Franconero." Acting on advice from her father, the singer devoted an entire album to "Italian Favorites" and subsequently took on melodies from both Spanish and Jewish traditions. This eventually led to the creation of Hawaiian, Portuguese, Latin American, German, Irish, and catchall "International" Connie Francis albums. The first thing one notices about her "Jewish Favorites" is the bright and brassy early-'60s production with lush orchestral accompaniments and lots of reverb. Then one marvels at the ease with which she expresses herself in this rich dialect, focusing upon two distinctive categories of song. On the one hand there are the high-stepping Jewish dances, some of them centuries old ("Tzena Tzena," "Hava Nagila," and the magnificently Eastern Mediterranean-sounding "Shein Vi de Levone," during which she sings a stunning overdubbed duet with herself). Most of the songs presented here reflect that other aspect of Jewish American culture: the slow, sentimental song ("My Yiddishe Momme," "O Mein Papa," and "Mein Shtetele Belz"). In the final analysis, this is remarkably refined music -- polished and pretty, soulful and sweet. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide
'Connie Francis at the Copa'
Release Date 11/3/1998
Tracks 10
Label Pendulum
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What The Critics Say
Connie Francis at the Copa is a decent document of the immortal pop singer performing live in New York City with an orchestra conducted by Joe Mele. The ten selections include a five-song Al Jolson medley and a coupling of "When the Saints Come Marching In" with "Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home" -- putting the emphasis on standards more than her hits. Two Top Ten gold singles from 1960 are here, though: Connie's remake of the 1940s Italian composition "Mama" and a song more representative of her pop hits, "Many Tears Ago." The sound quality for a major release on MGM is shockingly low, on the level of a good bootleg. Mickey Deans' cassette recordings of his wife, and Judy Garland's last performance, which became the Judy. London. 1969. LP, are similar to this allegedly "High Fidelity Recording" -- though that album emerged out of necessity and this was produced by a major film/record company. But the singer is great -- at the top of her game, recorded a year after she debuted her album of Italian songs in 1960 on The Perry Como Show. The liner notes contain nine reviews from critics, Frank Farrell of the World-Telegram and Sun calling this a "...sensational supper club bow as a major star." Connie Francis at the Copa casts the singer in a different light. Somewhat removed from her popular radio material, she proves she has the talent to take virtually any material and hit it out of the park. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide
'More Italian Favorites'
Release Date 11/3/1998
Tracks 12
Label Pendulum
See Album Tracklist and Review
