Mel Torme has always resented his famous nickname, "The Velvet Fog," not because it's inaccurate, but because it only captures one small aspect of his music-making. He does have a velvety baritone that creates a breathy intimacy on certain romantic ballads. But he has done much, much more in a 67-year professional career that began when he was a four-year-old novelty singer for Chicago's Coon-Sanders Nighthawk Band in 1929. That career is nicely summarized in the 4 CD, 92-track box set, "The Mel Torme Collection: 1944-1985
Disc One
01. Where Or When (3:16)
02. A Stranger In Town (3:01)
03. Day By Day (2:53)
04. Willow Road (3:03)
05. Born To Be Blue (2:41)
06. What Is This Thing Called Love (2:59)
07. Get Out Of Town (3:17)
08. For You, For Me, Forevermore (3:08)
09. It's Dreamtime (3:05)
10. Gone With The Wind (3:01)
11. A Cottage For Sale (3:08)
12. Makin' Whoopee (2:54)
13. Night And Day (2:45)
14. County Fair (4:33)
15. Three Little Words (2:01)
16. Love Me Or Leave Me (1:47)
17. How High The Moon (2:22)
18. Careless Hands (3:18)
19. Blue Moon (3:14)
20. Again (3:13)
21. The Four Winds And The Seven Seas (3:08)
22. Got The Gate On The Golden Gate (3:35)
23. Cross Your Heart (2:40)
24. Bewitched (3:21)
25. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) (2:18)
26. All Of You (2:50)
Disc Two
01. That Old Black Magic (3:16)
02. Mountain Greenery (2:23)
03. Bernie's Tune (2:57)
04. Goody, Goody (2:33)
05. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good (3:22)
06. All This And Heaven Too (3:39)
07. Isn't It Romantic (3:42)
08. Lulu's Back In Town (3:08)
09. The Blues (3:36)
10. Lullaby Of Birdland (4:56)
11. The Carioca (3:21)
12. Fascinating Rhythm (2:31)
13. The Lady Is A Tramp (2:55)
14. I've Got Pleenty Of Nuthin' (3:16)
15. Nice Work If You Can Get It (3:13)
16. The Way You Look Tonight (2:27)
17. A Foggy Day (2:48)
18. Something's Gotta Give (4:01)
19. Cheek To Cheek (3:02)
20. Just One Of Those Things (2:38)
21. I'm Beginning To See The Light (2:26)
22. It's All Right With Me (4:30)
23. Autumn Leaves (1:30)
24. Poor Little Extra Girl (5:10)
Disc Three
01. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square (3:33)
02. These Foolish Things (3:47)
03. Try A Little Tenderness (3:14)
04. Prelude To A Kiss (3:14)
05. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart (2:02)
06. Blues In The Night (8:07)
07. Vaya Con Dios (3:23)
08. Frenesi (2:36)
09. At The Crossroads (Malaguena) (2:39)
10. It Happened In Monterey (2:51)
11. Too Close For Comfort (4:04)
12. Swingin' On The Moon (3:32)
13. Medley From 'Wildcat': Far Away From Home / Angelina (5:08)
14. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town (3:34)
15. Sent For You Yesterday (And Here You Come Today) (2:53)
16. By Myself (3:20)
17. (Ah, The Apple Trees) When The World Was Young (3:47)
18. It's Delovely (4:30)
19. Dat Dere (2:58)
20. On Green Dolphin Street (2:54)
21. Walkin' Shoes (3:02)
Disc Four
01. Comin' Home Baby (2:44)
02. Right Now (2:14)
03. Cast Your Fate To The Winds (2:21)
04. Hey, Look Me Over (3:08)
05. Forty Second Street (2:24)
06. Sunday In New York (2:33)
07. You'd Better Love Me (2:23)
08. I've Got You Under My Skin (2:48)
09. The Folks That Live On The Hill (3:38)
10. Haven't We Met (2:27)
11. Strangers In The Night (2:40)
12. A Day In The Life Of Bonnie And Clyde (2:43)
13. Yesterday When I Was Young (2:50)
14. What Are Your Doing The Rest Of Your Life (3:44)
15. Gershwin Medley (15:28)
16. Pick Yourself Up (4:41)
17. The Best Is Yet To Come (4:10)
18. Zaz Turned Blue (4:22)
19. Big City Blues (4:16)
20. Them From Arthur (Best That I Can Do) (4:33)
21. The Christmas Song (2:45)
