Stranger In Paradise: Early Albums 1955-58

This 51-track 2-CD collection comprises just about all the titles from his albums “Cloud 7”, “Alone At Last”, “Tony”, “The Beat Of My Heart” and “Long Ago And Far Away”, from the early years of his album career (his only previous album was a collection of titles from singles). On two of the albums he performs with a small modern jazz group, while on the others he is accompanied by orchestras arranged and  conducted by Percy Faith and Stan De Vol. It’s a fascinating collection that captures the great vocalist at the start of his album career, and, as with any Tony Bennett set, it’s an enjoyable showcase for his uniquely distinctive talent.