Connie Francis CD Reviews, Part 1

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Last update: 6/9/00

Review listing includes (date placed on website):


Editors Note to Readers

Readers should first contact the addresses below before making any purchases to verify correct address. I will not be responsible for unannounced changes or discontinued items.

It would also help me (and others) a lot to notify me of any errors.

Michael Wright
Website Editor

Date of review and market availability: Some of these CDs and the sources listed on the following parts may no longer be available. Some have closed since the review was posted (note the date). Rather than trying to track market availability, many listings are left in place for references.


Main Sources (however, do check sources following each CD that also lists additional sources):

Bear Family Records at http://www.bear-family.de (Excellent CD packages of Connie Francis music)

Note: I.D. International Disc has recently closed down. I'm working on finding alternate sources for many of the Connie Francis CDs they offered. website editor

Here is a nice CD listing database from http://www.cddb.com which has quite a lot of Connie's CDs in it (they only list 69 CDs, there are more than 220) but it's a start. Take a look at this list (click here).

Rockhouse Records at http://www.musicmailexpress.com.
To locate the index for Connie Francis, use their "search artist" feature, but type in last name first, i.e., Francis Connie.


Sentimental Favorites & Treasury Of Love Songs
BMD-50NI (USA, 1995) The Beautiful Music Company

Song List:

Kiss Me Goodbye, Somebody Else Is Taking My Place, Who's Sorry Now, Anniversary Waltz, Beautiful Ohio, Return To Me, I Can't Stop Loving You, My Happiness, Strangers In The Night, Don't Break The Heart That Loves You, Among My Souvenirs, My Heart Cries For You, The Last Waltz, Somewhere My Love, Three O'clock In The Morning, Fascination, Loveliest Night Of The Year, Tennessee Waltz, Till We Meet Again, Don't Say A Word, I Want To Be Wtth You, True Love, Melody Of Love, You Don't Have To Say You Love Me

Review:

In 1984, Suffolk Marketing released this as a double album, cassette or, on what quickly faded from favor and has since become a collectible, 8-track set. If you purchased the three formats from Suffolk in 84, here is your chance to get the latest, but not the first, release of the tracks on CD. PolyGram released it on CD in Germany in 1984, and J&B put out a CD which used l/2 of the title, Treasury Of Love Songs, and 12, of the tracks. This "new" version is also available on two MCs and two records and has been for quite some time now.

Available from:

The Beautiful Music Company
Department 94A
Commack, NY 11725

The CD price is $16.98 plus $2.95 S&H


De Coleccion
314 527 226-2 (Polydor, USA, 1995)

Song List:

Celos, Solamente Una Vez, Invierno Triste Azul (Blue Winter), La Paloma, Malaguena, Aquellos Ojos Verdes, Beso De Fuego (Kiss Of Fire), Quizas, Quizas, Quizas, Vaya Con Dios, Besame Mucho, Nosotros , Quiereme Mucho

Review:

On Polydor's Latino series, this CD release, while having some rather beautiful tracks on it contains nothing new to the CD format. All of the tracks have previously saw release on their 1989 CD, Greatest Latin Hits/Lo Mejor De Su Repertorio, which was also on Polydor's Latino series. While this one has 12, that release had 27 tracks. In addition to containing the same tracks, Polydor incorporated the same, albeit a close up, photograph as that used on the 1989 CD.

Note: I.D. International Disc has recently closed down. I'm working on finding alternate sources for many of the Connie Francis CDs they offered. website editor

Editors Note: This album can also be found in the Latin Music section of a CD store.


Il Meglio Di Connie Francis
CD DV 5510 (Italy, l995)

Song List:

Chitarra Romana, Mamma, Tango Della Gelosia, Tango Delle Rose, Anema E Core, Comm'e' Bella 'a Stagione, Many Tears Ago, Terra Straniera, Stupid Cupid, Frankie, Everybody's Somebody's Fool, You're Gonna Miss Me, If I Didn't Care, Teddy, My Heart Has Mind Of Its Own, Piove (Ciao, Ciao, Bambina)

Review:

Nothing is making it's CD debut on this relesse which, like the other CD' emanating from Italy, mixes the 16 selections up among 8 English and 8 Italian tracks. One interesting an extremely confusing thing about this release: The manufacturing company, DV More Record Company, of Milano Italy, has apparently issued it twice. Once, with the main title Il Miglio Di Connie Francis, and again using the same track listing, and catalog number, but with a totally different front and back cover and no title other than Connie Francis. A source has yet to be found for this particular issue.


Connie Francis
CDDV 5510 (Italy,1995)

Song List:

Chitarra Romana, Mamma, Tango Della Gelosia, Tango Delle Rose, Anema E Core, Comm'e' Bella 'a Stagione, Many Tears Ago, Terra Straniera, Stupid Cupid, Frankie, Everybody's Somebody's Fool, You're Gonna Miss Me, If I Didn't Care, Teddy, My Heart Has Mind Of Its Own, Piove (Ciao, Ciao, Bambina)

Review:

Differences, differences... For all practical purposes, this is the same CD as the one previously mentioned. There are however, additional subtle differences that were overlooked on the preceding review. On this release, the 'CD' and 'DV' have not been separated. And although the company remains the same, the address, phone & fax numbers have changed. There is also a different distributor listed. Still, with all of the ambiguity regarding these two CD's, we do have a reliable source for, at least this version, this release.

Note: I.D. International Disc has recently closed down. I'm working on finding alternate sources for many of the Connie Francis CDs they offered. website editor


Schoner Fremder Mann
551 744-2 ( Spectrum, Germany 1995?)

Song List:

Die Liebe Ist Ein Seltsames Spiel, Schoner Fremder Mann, Das Ist Zuviel, Wenn Du Gehst, Die Nacht Ist Mein, Napoli, Du Mubt Bleiben, Angelino, Ich Komme Nie Mehr Von Dir Los, Meine Reise Ist Zu Ende, Hast Du Heimweh, Einmal Komm Ich Wieder, Lili Marleen, Barcarole In Der Nacht, Nino, Abends In Der Mondscheinallee, Weekend Boy, Mein Herz Wird Warten, Keine Liebe Ohne Tranen

Review:

With Bear Family's recent boxed sets, and in particular, Lass Mir Die Bunten Traume, released in early 1995, it's highly unlikely that there will be any German tracks making their CD debut. However, this CD will make a nice addition to your collection. The beautiful photograph of Connie on the sleeve, is repeated in a close up on the inside and hasn't been overly used. And the two photographs of Connie in their mono blue on the silver platter of the CD make this a rather interesting release. Unfortunately we have no known source for this as Karussell, a label similar to K-Tel here in the United States, is sold in department stores in Germany. While we don't believe Bear Family will carry it, it may eventually be available through I.D. Intemational.


36 All Time Greatest Hits
15053 (G&S Music, USA, 1996)

Song List:

Volume One:
My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own, Stupid Cupid, Teddy, Your Of her Love, Hollywood, Drownin' My Sorrows, Blue Winter, Be Anything (But Be Mine), When The Boy In Your Arms (Is The Boy In Your Heart), Many Tears Ago, Looking For Love - Rock Version, Where The Boys Are

Volume Two:
Don't Break The Heart That Loves You, Follow The Boys, Frankie, (He's My) Dreamboat, I'm Sorry I Made You Cry, In The Summer Of His Years, You're Gonna Miss Me, If My Pillow Could Talk, Jealous Of You, Lipstick On Your Collar, My Happiness, Who's Sorry Now

Volume Three:
Everybody's Somebody's Fool, Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart, I Was Such A Fool (To Fall In Love With You), I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter, If Didn't Care, No One, Fallin', Among My Souvenirs, Mama, Second Hand Love, Vacation, Together

Review:

Housed in one fold-open jewel case, this three CD set from EDI, while offering nothing out of the ordinary (although neither Hollywood or Drownin' My Sorrows have been overly used) will make a nice addition to your collection. The CD's, labeled 15053-1, -2 and -3 are pink, red and purple and incorporate a photograph of Connie, a nice touch that is increasingly becoming more popular.

Available from:

EDI, Entertainment Distributing
PO Box 22738
Eugene, OR 97402
1-800-547-6014

Cost = $19.99 + $5.00 S&H ($24.99)


Who's Sorry Now? 40 Legendary Hits
252328-2 (Time Warner, USA, 1996) PolyGram Special Markets

Song List:

Disc 1:
Who's Sorry Now, Stupid Cupid, Fallin', My Happiness, Lipstick On Your Collar, If I Didn't Care, You're Gonna Miss Me, Frankie, Mama, Everybody's Somebody's Fool, Mala Femmena, Among My Souvenirs, Many Tears Ago, Together, Follow The Boys, Al Di La, When The Boy In Your Arms (Is The Boy In Your Heart), Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart, My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own

Disc 2:
Where The Boys Are, I Was Such A Fool (To Fall In Love With You), Blue Winter, Looking For Love, Forget Domani, Jealous Heart, Carolina Moon, Let's Have A Party Tonight, Besa De Fuego (Kiss Of Fire), Besame Mucho, Don't Break The Heart That Loves You, Vacation, When The Boys Meet The Girls, I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter, Second Hand Love, Make It Easy On Yourself, The Phoenix Love Theme (Senza Fine), The Last Waltz, Santa Lucia, Be Anything (But Be Mine)

Review:

There is something for every ones taste on this 2 CD set from, Sound Exchange, an apparent label belonging to, Time Warner Music Exchange, with PolyGram using their PSM label sitting over them. A track from each of her movies, including Senza Fine from the movie The Flight of the Phoenix which Connie did not appear in, several Spanish tracks, a few Italian tracks, songs with a beat, waltzes, and virtually all of her #1 hits. There are even liner notes, complete with a photograph, a repeat of the front sleeve photograph, and this is also available on cassette.

Available from:

The Sound Exchange
45 North Industry Park
DeerPark, NY 11729-4616
1-800-814-3059


Connie Francis All The Best
KRB 1012CD, (KRB Music Companie, USA, 1995)

Song List:

Where The Boys Are, Vacation, If I Didn't Care, I'm Sorry I Made You Cry, Be Anything (But Be Mine), Stupid Cupid, (He's My) Dreamboat, Who's Sorry Now, When The Boy In Your Arms (Is The Boy In Your Heart), If My Pillow Could Talk

Review:

With only 10 tracks using perhaps 30% of the available CD surface, and none of these songs are making their CD debut, this CD, if for nothing new, is specially for the beautiful (Marc Raboy) photograph they've used. According to the inside liner, KRB had released other CD's, on various artists with similar titles Unfortunately, at this time, there is no known source for this release.

The CD was manufactured by PolyGram Special Markets.


From The Heart
R132 04 (Time-life Music, USA, 1996)
This CD was manufactured by PolyGram Special Markets for Time Life Music

Song List:

I'm Sorry I Made You Cry, April Love, Love Me Tender, That's Amore, Three Coins In The Fountain, Jealous Heart, Love Is A Many Splendored Thing, God Bless America, Volare, For Mama (La Mamma), Al Di Da, Malaguena, Santa Lucia, Arrivederci Roma, Young At Heart

Review:

Here is another CD released in the United States that isn't comprised entirely of "million sellers," and one that will be a welcome addition to your collection. From The Heart is available in both CD ($15.57), and MC ($13.00).

Available from:

Time Life Music
1450 E. Parham Road
Richmond, VA 23280
1-800-468-9756

When ordering, for faster service, refer to Connie Francis CD/MC From The Heart. It isn't listed under the catalog number.


The Entertainers
CD 365, Promo Sound AG, Italy, 1996

Song List:

You Made Me Love You, I'm Walkin', Ain't That A Shame, Tweedle Dee, Too Young, How Deep Is The Ocean, I'll Get By, Love Eyes, Young At Heart, Temptation, April Love, Singing The Blues, Tennessee Waltz , Come Rain Or Come Shine, If You Love Me Tonight, Jalousie, Tango Delle Rose, Quiereme Mucho, Besame Mucho, These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You), Don't Be Cruel, Because Of You

Review:

Love Eyes (1958) has only been issued on a very few recent releases, and along with the 1959 recordings of You Made Me Love You, Temptation, If You Love Me Tonight, (2 other tracks which haven't been abused) Too Young, April Love, (re-recorded in 1961), and Because Of You, make this a pretty interesting release.

Available from:

Bear Family Records
PO Box 1154
D-27727 Hambergen, Germany
http://www.bear-family.de

Note: BFR erroneously lists the title as You Made Me Love You.

Note: I.D. International Disc has recently closed down. I'm working on finding alternate sources for many of the Connie Francis CDs they offered. website editor


The Entertainers (different CD)
CD 361, Promo Sound AG, Italy, 1996

Editors note: This is different than the previous listing.

Song List:

There Will Never Be Another You, I Almost Lost My Mind, Hallelujah, I Love Him So, If I Had You, I'm Nobody's Baby, Oh, Frankie, I Miss You So, The Gypsy, Siboney, Romantica, Hearts Of Stone, Heartaches, My Special Angel, Quien Sera, Al Di La, Your Cheatin' Heart, Heartbreak Hotel, The Very Thought Of You, All By Myself, It's Only Make Eelleve, Anema E Core, Beso De Fuego , La Bamba

Review:

It's a cropped version, but this is the same photograph that appear, on CD 365. It's also released by Promo Sound AG, and sub-titled The Entertainers. And like CD 365, except for any "rnillion sellers", a little bit of everything appears on this release. While nothing is making it's CD debut, Oh! Frankie does stand out, as do a few others, has not having been issued on countless CDs. While this is not listed in Bear Family's current catalog, they may include it in their next issue.

Available from:

Note: I.D. International Disc has recently closed down. I'm working on finding alternate sources for many of the Connie Francis CDs they offered. website editor


Rockin' & Boppin Favorites
CD.MAR. 043, (Marginal Records, EEC Belgium, 1996)

Pretty Little Baby, My Best Friend Barbara, Someone Else's Boy, Whatever Happened To Rosemarie, Look At Him, Looking For Love, Don't Ever Leave Me, No Better Off, Eighteen, I'm Beginning To See The Light, Send For My Baby, Valentino, 24 Mila Baci, I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter, Dammi La Mano E Corri, Come On Jerry, We Have Something More, Stupid Cupid, Fallin, Lipstick On Your Collar, Vacation, It Happened Last Night, Heartaches, If My Pillow Could Talk, Halleluya, I Love Him So, Heartbreak Hotel, Don't Be Cruel, I'm Walkin, Besame Mucho, Ciao Ciao Bambino, Torero, La Seule Qui T'aime (pretty little baby)

Review:

With selected Pre-Who's Sorry Now? tracks, country hits, #1 million sellers, Italian, Spanish, (even Pretty Little Baby in French), a few Rock N' Roll and several obscure 45 RPM only tracks, you name it, a little bit of everything has been included on this release from Belgiurn. Come On Jerry and We Have Something More, contrary to the notes on the track listing, have both made their CD debut.

This MAY be available from:

Note: I.D. International Disc has recently closed down. I'm working on finding alternate sources for many of the Connie Francis CDs they offered. website editor


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Feedback is desired (suggestions, comments, gripes, errors, whatever). Michael Wright, mfwright@batnet.com