A CD that consists of the top tunes of an artist’s career is not just an ordinary shiny disc, it is a historic item that brings the tunes of the past into the world of the present. The revived tracks of Dean Martin fall into this category of music. The two collective albums, “Classic Dino: The Best Of Dean Martin” and “Dino: The Essential Dean Martin”, are able to persist to please original fans and also attract new fans of a different generation. This act is a pretty awesome task to accomplish.

Capitol/EMI will release the two collections of Dean Martin’s music on June 7th. The new title, “Classic Dino: The Best Of Dean Martin” features 14 classic tracks and the platinum-certified “Dino: The Essential Dean Martin” has been expanded from a single disc to a two CD package, consisting of 36 of Martin’s top hits and signature songs. The latter CD includes a previously unreleased studio version of “Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody.” The track was recorded on April 28th, 1950, but was believed to be lost until Capitol vaults uncovered it. There is no better way to describe this than by saying it is history in the making.

On June 7th, Universal Music Enterprises will release a new 60+ page hardcover book and musical collection titled, “Cool Then, Cool Now” which features never before seen photos compiled from personal collections and family archives and also includes a 28 song collection, which spans across Dean Martin’s career.

With Father’s Day just around the corner, this Dean Martin package could be an ideal gift. The present radiates the talent of a silver screen star, a television icon and a Grammy Award winning artist. What better to compliment your father than comparing him with the cool, trendy and successful Dean Martin? Yes, you’ll be flattering your dad, but more importantly you’ll be able to connect with the tunes of your father’s past.

by Lonnie Nemiroff