Tony Bennett 'Romantic' Set in Time for Valentine's Day

Of the numerous balladeers to emerge on the music scene in the years during and immediately after World War II, Tony Bennett is considered one of the most versatile and enduring. In a career that spans six decades, he has embraced a host of styles, including swing, pop, jazz, show tunes, orchestral music and more. Along the way, he has earned more than a dozen Grammy Awards and scores of Grammy nominations. Even now, in his mid-80s, he remains an influential force on the landscape of American popular music.

From his earliest days, some of Bennett's best recordings have been romantic ballads—thanks in large part to his combination of warm vocals and sincere, heartfelt delivery. Concord Records captures Bennett's music of the heart with Isn't It Romantic?, a compilation of 15 songs set for release on February 7, 2012, just in time for Valentine's Day. Produced by Nick Phillips, Vice President of Catalog and Jazz A&R at Concord Music Group, and digitally remastered by Joe Tarantino, Isn't It Romantic? draws from Bennett's sessions on both the Fantasy and Improv labels, the latter of which Bennett himself founded in the 1970s as a venue to explore new creative opportunities on his own terms.

What better way to celebrate the most romantic holiday of the year than with a set of love songs by an all-time master of the romantic ballad? Timeless classics like “Make Someone Happy," “As Time Goes By," “We'll Be Together Again" are just a few of the highlights that make this a perfect collection for the season of love.

Many of the tracks on Isn't It Romantic? are taken from Bennett's collaborative sessions with pianist Bill Evans (The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album on Fantasy in 1975 and Together Again on Improv in 1976). Evans's lyrical style provides the perfect complement to Bennett's romantic delivery on these nine songs. The remaining six tracks feature the Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet and the Torrie Zito Trio.

Regardless of the players, it's the songs themselves—and the singer who delivers them with such a subtle grace—that tell a tale of love that's as old as time itself. The material comes from some of the most prominent songwriters of the past century, including Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, Leonard Bernstein, Henry Mancini and more.

Isn't It Romantic? answers its own question with no need for debate. This Valentine's Day, it's easy to say “I love you" with this collection of some of the greatest romantic ballads of all time, sung by one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music.

TRACK LIST: Make Someone Happy; Isn't It Romantic?; As Time Goes By; My Foolish Heart; I Could Write a Book; Days of Wine and Roses; Dream Dancing; The Touch of Your Lips; Lover; But Beautiful; Young and Foolish; We'll Be Together Again; My Romance; Lucky To Be Me; Life Is Beautiful.