Hits
Best known as Uncle Junior on the wildly popular HBO series The Sopranos, Dominic Chianese sings and plays on Hits, a charming debut of traditional, popular, and original songs. Listening is like stumbling upon a neighborhood Italian joint where the Chianti flows freely, pasta fills the belly, and the star songbird is known as a friend or family member. The theme throughout is home, as each piece speaks of the places, the people, the feelings, and as Robert Frost wrote, the ones who “have to take you in.” That Chianese sells the songs with genuine emotional connection rather than a technically exacting voice may be a problem for vocal music aficionados, yet it’s an invitation to fans of sentimental standards. In his humble liner notes, Chianese tells us, “We will all pass away: Let’s sing, and let’s sing heartily, before we go.” This in mind, Hits stays right on course. The original “Love Is Real” opens as a moving talky, telling us that “A song of love is just a song, but love is real,” and rhymes “sunrise” and “surprise” with such simplicity and conviction that it works like a child’s storybook. These songs of life are for the ones taken in and the ones doing the taking. They are songs of merry hearts, common pleasures, and most especially, of home. –Paige La Grone
List Price: $ 9.98
Price: $ 19.99
Wow! From tough guy to crooning Pussy-Cat!,
There’s something here that will appeal to everybody! I’m a fervent Soprano’s fan and had no idea until the last episode of season 3 that “Uncle Junior” could sing so well! It’s incredibly sentimental and Dominic’s own words in his CD text verifies this, with his roots planted firmly in his New York Italian heritage. However, he show’s all sides of himself here and his total love for all kinds of music. A little Country with his renditions of “For the Good times” and “True Love On my Mind”. A touch on the spiritual side with “Passing of time”, “Shady Grove” and “Amazing Grace”. Then there’s the romance of “Love is Real”…basically a narration, but very touching and “Feels like Home” . His renditions of the Italian songs a lot of us grew up with, brings back a lot of memories as they are sang with that soft mellow voice that we always remember somebody exceptional in the neighborhood having (somebody who was a baker or bricklayer and never got the chance to be a singer!) OH…and that Spanish Guitar! This all sounds really diverse…and it is, but it’s great! I highly recommend it as it’s so easy to listen to and in fact I just had to order two more copies for friends I know will love it! Thank-you Dominic!
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|Who’da thought?,
Who’da thought that such nice music would come from “Uncle Junior” of the “Sopranos?” After hearing Chianese sing Core n’grato on the final episode of “Sopranos” third season, I knew I wanted to hear more. My favorites on this CD are “Guantanamera” and “Solamente Una Vez.” Any romantic will love this CD.
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|Romantic Evening CD,
Dominic’s CD is the perfect musical compliment for a romantic evening with your sweetheart. His smooth voice and selection of songs make for great listening. So fix your favorite pasta dish, open a bottle of chianti, throw Dominic in the CD player and ENJOY!!!
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