Singing classic songs is really hot today. Rod Stewart, that little sex kitten from the 70s, has reinvented himself by covering the Great American Songbook Collection and has extended his musical career not only into a different direction, but also into its fifth decade. Even former balladeer Michael Bolton has realized there is new money in old songs, releasing his Bolton Swings Sinatra album in 2006. Sinatra was almost bigger than life – both in person and in the recording studio, so his act is hard to live up to. While Rod and Michael both do respectable jobs, there is another up and coming artist who just may have what it would take to fill the big shoes of Frank Sinatra and others like him – Michael Buble.
I had never heard of Michael Buble until he made an appearance on last year’s season finale of “American Idol.” But, once he started singing, I knew I was going to like him. Michael was born in England thirty-two years ago, smack dead in the middle of the disco era. But, he grew up listening to his grandfather’s collection of jazz recordings and that influenced his taste in music.
Loving the classic romantic singers – Sinatra, Tony Bennet, Dean Martin, Mel Torme, etc. – I decided to give Buble a try. I purchased his latest album, Call Me Irresistable. As I type this, I am listening to “The Best Is Yet to Come” and what a great version it is. You can just hear the swagger in his voice, yet the smoothness is enough to make you swoon. Well, okay, maybe the ladies will swoon. However, this is a great album for anyone as he covers more than just Sinatra! Buble covers such classics as the soulful “Me and Mrs. Jones” (I have always loved the Billy Paul original), the Willie Nelson favorite “Always On My Mind” (also covered by Elvis), my favorite Mel Torme song “Comin’ Home Baby,” the Eric Clapton hit “Wonderful Tonight” with a 60 cocktail bar spin on it, and even an original song “Everything” that he wrote for his girlfriend, Emily Blunt.
So, if you are in the mood for some smooth tunes, I highly suggest picking up Call Me Irresistible. It is available at Amazon.com, as are Michael’s other albums, Michael Buble and It’s Time.