Valentine's Love With Vic Damone

Vic Damone's first album for Capitol Records is also one of his best. Capitol brought Damone onboard to take the place of the defecting Frank Sinatra, so it shouldn't be much of a surprise that Linger Awhile with Vic Damone is essentially a mid-tempo bedroom swinger that falls somewhere between Sinatra's trendsetting Songs for Swingin' Lovers! and his slow-dance burner Nice 'N' Easy. Thankfully, the album itself is good enough that it can be enjoyed on its own terms. Damone's voice is as beautiful as ever and he finds a nice balance between intimate romance and winking good humor. Likewise, the underrated arranger and guitarist Jack Marshall perfectly combines elements of both Nelson Riddle and Billy May's charts for Sinatra into a satisfying whole, though he throws in plenty of jazz guitar. The song selection is a bright mix of standards and less-familiar fare, the highlight being the boudoir romp "After the Lights Go Down Low," which, along with the album cover, lets listeners know that the album is really geared toward amorous conquests and romantic evenings at home. That's where the comparisons between Vic Damone and Frank Sinatra end, as Damone rarely shows the interpretive depth or personal introspection that Sinatra brings to similar material. If this is what stopped Vic Damone from being ranked with the top echelon of truly great 20th century vocalists, Damone's talents are never in doubt and it also ensures that this album is a whole lot of fun. So while even "upbeat" Sinatra albums such as Nice 'N' Easy or A Swingin' Affair! brim over with regret and pain, Linger Awhile with Vic Damone is what you'll want to put on to set the stage for a romantic evening. This album has been released on CD on a budget EMI two-for-one release with the similar My Baby Loves to Swing.