Rosie's Greatest Hits Review

07/13/2005 5:32 AM, AMG


Depending on your point of view on Rosemary Clooney, Rosie's Greatest Hits is either the definitive album of her work or an early aberration best forgotten; complicating the assessment is the singer's own preference for the latter view. Simply put, the album contains what it claims to contain -- the hit singles that launched Clooney's career in the early '50s. Produced by Mitch Miller, a few of the massive hits such as "Come On-A My House," "Botch-A-Me (Ba-Ba-Bachiami Piccina)," "This Ole House," and "Mambo Italiano" went gold. They were also gimmicky novelties that the singer has spent the rest of her career disavowing. To be fair, there were also some hits that she probably still can stomach -- "Hey There" from The Pajama Game, "Tenderly," and even Hank Williams' "Half as Much" -- not to mention standards (and minor hits) like "Blues in the Night" and "I Could Have Danced All Night." So, even if "Come On-A My House" sets your teeth on edge, there are songs to enjoy on this album. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide