The Toast of Hollywood

Sony Masterworks and TCM have paired to bring you a double CD release of Mario Lanza’s greatest works titled The Toast of Hollywood . The double disc collection starts with disc one which features 15 tracks spawned from various films in which Lanza sang including a previously unreleased track titled Lolita from the film The Seven Hills of Rome. Following is disc two which features material released and previously unreleased from the Mario Lanza show (1951-1952) which includes Romance (Cameo Kirby), Cole Porter tune What Is This Thing Called Love, previously unreleased songs A vucchella/ Day in, Day Out/ For You Alone/ I Love Thee as well as other tunes. Liner notes include a brief intro to Lanza’s life from Opera Star to Film Star and more. 

 

Nothing makes you nostalgic like hearing classic melodies from the Hollywood of yesteryear. You wouldn’t have had to live in the era to have fallen in love with this kind of music, just, at some point, watched an old black and white musical. The booming voices of the men, the innocent or sultry (depending on which actress your watching) voices of the women, and the beauty of the full orchestra backing treatment that’s been deemed invalid by the American Idol generation (though to be honest even long before that). 

 

Though I’m not really an opera fan I have to say that Lanza’s voice is something undeniably powerful. The way he attacks the songs with power, subtly, and caress. One minute you’re finding yourself being blown away by the all to familiar Rigolletto, “La donna e mobile” and the next being serenaded by Lanza’s silky smooth voice on the romantic They Didn’t Believe Me. 

 

The Toast of Hollywood features tracks any romcom film lover will have no doubt come across, and let’s be honest, Lanza’s work has been used in films from Next of Kin to Polar Express to Zodiac. The music is timeless, the voice unforgettable, and this collection a striking tribute to a powerful singer the likes we will not see again anytime soon. Well worth checking out. Enjoy.