Marty Robbins
Love Songs

(Columbia/Legacy)

First Appeared in The Music Box, February 2005, Volume 12, #2

Written by John Metzger

Perhaps what is most puzzling about Marty Robbins’ Love Songs is that none of the tracks featured on the album were written by the Arizona-born, country singer. Instead, the collection is filled with 14 cover tunes that were were recorded by Robbins between 1957 and 1977, and while all of them are well executed, none are truly unique. By tackling tunes that were popularized by Frank Sinatra (All the Way), Dean Martin (Return to Me), and Elvis Presley (Can’t Help Falling in Love and Love Me Tender), there’s little doubt that Robbins peppered his outings with some boldly selected material. Still, it’s likely that he meant merely to pay tribute to his peers and predecessors rather than attempt to top them. Consequently, Love Songs is a pleasurable, if not essential effort, although for a guy like Robbins, who dabbled in everything from rockabilly to honky tonk to Hawaiian fare, it also is an interesting and insightful compilation that sheds light upon his often overlooked excursions into romantic pop.

Love Songs is available from Barnes & Noble.
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Ratings

1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2005 The Music Box