Matt Munro - En Espana / Grandes Exitos (En Espanol)

En Espana / Grandes Exitos En Espanol    (Spanish)

By Matt Munro

Very Good Condition  (Includes original artwork inserts, jewel case, and Cd, all in VERY good condition.)

Crooner Matt Monro. Monro sings in Spanish for En España, and what's most impressive is how seamlessly he translates his signature subtlety and expressiveness to a tongue other than his own. Monro's elemental interpretive genius achieves new heights here -- sure, he knows these songs, but he's approaching them from new and unfamiliar angles, and yet their meaning and spirit resonate with absolute clarity regardless of language. The material itself spans from contemporary pop hits ("No Me Pesa, Es Mi Hermano," aka "He's Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother") to Broadway favorites ("Sueño Imposible," aka "The Impossible Dream") to standards ("La Sombra de Tu Sonrisa," aka "The Shadow of Your Smile"), but Monro makes all the songs his own -- a commendable feat. Monro recorded Spanish-language renditions of his biggest hits and traditional favorites throughout the course of his career, and Grandes Exitos en Español assembles these stray singles, B-sides, and album cuts in one place. Despite its patchwork origins, the record proves a surprisingly cohesive and engaging listen. Monro's natural feel for the Spanish language is undeniably impressive -- he brings to material like "No Puedo Quitar Mis Ojos de Ti" ("Can't Take My Eyes Off You") and "Que Tiempo Tan Feliz" ("Those Were the Days") the same maturity and thoughtfulness that underscore his English-language sessions, singing with the painterly grace of one with complete understanding of a lyric's emotional impact, even if the words themselves originate from a foreign tongue.

Editorial Reviews

2007 coupling of two of the British crooner's albums on one CD. Matt Monro was the UK's answer to Frank Sinatra, a singer with an exceptional voice who could successfully tackle any music and style that he attempted... and in any language! Although he was often compared to Sinatra, the Chairman of the Board himself was a fan of Matt Monro and wholeheartedly endorsed him. En Espanol was released in 1970 while Grandes Exitos en Espanol was a compilation of various Spanish-language songs pulled from albums throughout his career. 24 tracks total. EMI Gold.

Tracklist

En España

1          Sueño Imposible (The Impossible Dream)          

2          No Me Pesa, Es Mi Hermano (He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother)  

3          Te Esperaré (I Will Wait For You)           

4          Jean    

5          Si Yo Fuera Carpintero (If I Were A Carpenter)    

6          La Sombra De Tu Sonrisa (The Shadow Of Your Smile)  

7          Dónde Hallarse? (Where In The World)   

8          En Días Como Estos (On Days Like These)       

9          Los Dos (Two People)  

10         Puedo Ser Feliz (You've Made Me So Very Happy)        

11         Qué Tonto Fui  

12         La Estrella Del Sur (The Southern Star)  

            Grandes Éxitos En Español

13         Alguien Cantó (The Music Played)         

14         Qué Tiempo Tan Feliz (Those Were The Days)    

15         Lo Que Quedó (All That Remains)          

16         No Puedo Quitar Mis Ojos De Ti (Can't Take My Eyes Off You)  

17         Todo Pasará (Everything Will Happen)   

18         Vete Por Favor (Walk Away)     

19         Nacida Libre (Born Free)           

20         La Montaña      

21         No Me Dejes (If You Go Away) 

22         Amándote Otra Vez (Lovin' You Again)  

23         Si Tú Te Vas (If You Go)           

24         La Perla Y El Rubí (The Ruby And The Pearl)