Closer Than A Kiss/This Game Of Love

This pairing of two of Vic Damone's Columbia albums spotlights both his strengths and weaknesses as a performer. Closer Than a Kiss showcases Damone's beautiful yet somewhat emotionally empty voice on a respectable but ultimately dull collection of standards. This Game of Love, however, may just be the best album that the crooner ever cut. Damone recorded the session with a small but superb jazz group that gives diverse backings to a strong selection of ballads and rhythm tunes. You wouldn't think that Vic Damone, the world's whitest white man, could be capable of spinning off a vibrant version of Fats Waller's "Ain't Misbehavin'," but he does. Thankfully, Damone and his crew of crack jazz musicians are as good on the rest of the album's 11 selections. Closer Than a Kiss may be far from essential, but This Game of Love is so good that vocal pop fans will still want to add this two-for-one CD to their collections. ~ Nick Dedina|