Happy In Love

It's hard to say which loomed larger in the mythology of Dean Martin's career, booze or broads, and while he may have been famous as the coolest drunk in show biz, he sang about love more than anything else, and ten songs about romance pulled from the Capitol Records vaults made up this compilation album released in 1966. Recorded between 1950 and 1958, these sides were originally released as singles or never appeared on record before Capitol issued this budget-priced album through its affiliated Tower label, and while most of the material is good, this is a real mixed bag once you get past the common theme of romance. "Rue de Mon Amour (Street of Love)" is the real surprise here, as it's one of the few songs that Dino actually wrote, and it's a fine atmospheric number about finding romance in Paris which gets a superb vocal treatment from the composer. Elsewhere, "I'm Gonna Paper All My Walls With Your Love Letters" gets a swinging Dixieland-influenced arrangement, "You Were Made for Love" suggests someone at the session was trying to nudge Dean toward rock & roll, "I Love the Way You Say Goodnight" is just a shade too sweet for its own good (especially the female backing chorus) and "I'll Always Love You" adds a Neapolitan touch to the proceedings. There are some fine performances of fine songs on board, but Happy in Love doesn't cohere especially well as an album, though it will certainly appeal to Martin completists as he's in great voice throughout.