To My Wonderful One

by William Ruhlmann Working with arranger/conductor Frank DeVol, Tony Bennett here recorded a string-filled ballad session featuring standards like "September Song" and "Autumn Leaves." In so doing, he demonstrated how far he had come in controlling his instrument in his 10 years of recording. There was none of the oratorical style of his early hits. The restraint was especially noticeable on a song like "Till," which could have allowed for some of the old bel canto belting. Instead, Bennett's interpretations now had a detail and a nuance that marked him as a master interpreter.