Paul Anka’s harvest of hits

I have already resigned myself to becoming inundated with sounds and things Paul Anka. The ‘60s pop idol will be in town for a Mother’s Day stint at the Araneta Coliseum on May 14 and 15 and that calls for either celebration (This is Paul Anka!) or questions, (Who’s Paul Anka?). This early there have already been lots of requests from friends about getting free tickets (Please, I cannot afford P6,000 and I want to be on the front seat!), and more questions from kids, (Can’t they bring the Black Eyed Peas instead?).

Of course, aside from the local release of his superb Rock Swings album, there also came the re-release of his extensive back catalogue. This means Anka’s repackaged early recordings, some of which date back to the ’50s, and listening to these has made me realize this guy is no ordinary ‘60s pop idol touring the nostalgia circuit. He is instead a great artist whose works have influenced music trends for nearly 50 years and whose songs are part of the soundtrack of our lives. As you listen to more of his later works, you also realize he is an artist who continues to grow. He did Rock Swings last year. We can expect more surprises from him in the future.

Now while that album is indeed most impressive from an artistic point of view, I still say nothing really beats the old Paul Anka hits if you want the biggest kicks. Those songs have remained young, innocent, sweet and fun and I really still find them amazing. They were written by a 17-year-old kid from Ottawa.

You will find 31 of these in 1950s Greatest Hits, one of the four CDs included in the boxed set simply entitled Paul Anka. The collection sells for P750. That may sound like too much but it is really cheap because it is made up of nearly all of his hits plus in the 1960’s Greatest Hits, the 1970’s Greatest Hits and the later recorded Love Songs.

The 1950’s CD is a delightful gem though that comes with so many memories. It is made up of the original recordings starting with Diana. Then All of a Sudden My Heart Sings, Adam and Eve, Crazy Love, Don’t Gamble with Love, Don’t Ever Leave Me, I Love You Baby, I Miss You So, It’s Time to Cry, Lonely Boy, Midnight, Puppy Love, Put Your Head on my Shoulder, You are My Destiny, Dance on Little Girl, I Love You in the Same Old Way, Something Happened, My Hometown, Let the Bells Keep Ringing, Summer’s Gone, Something has Changed Me, Tell Me That You Love Me, The Story of My Love, Tonight My Love Tonight, Your Love, Cinderella, I Remember, Kissin’ on the Phone, I’m Coming Home, Fools Hall of Fame and the wistfully beautiful Les Filles de Paris.

From the 1960’s come Steel Guitar and a Glass of Wine, Love Me Warm and Tender, Eso Beso, Goodnight My Love, What’s Forever For, I Only Have Eyes for You, What a Difference a Day Makes, It Doesn’t Matter Anymore and others. The 1970’s has You’re Having My Baby, I Don’t Like to Sleep Alone, I Believe There’s Nothing Stronger Than Our Love, How Can Anything Be Beautiful After You, The Times of Your Life, Do I Love You, One Man Woman One Woman Man, Jubilation, The Longest Day, She’s a Lady and My Way. Love Songs, the fourth of the set, has Paul interpreting more of his own compositions plus standards like It’s All in the Game.

Listening to these CDs made me wonder why there are stars who last for ages and why there are stars, sometimes more talented and more popular during a particular time, who don’t. I found a possible answer in Anka. Take note, it has been nearly 50 years since he had his first hit. He now sometimes changes Diana to Viagra when he performs. But the guy still sounds as youthful as ever. I think this is because he finds so much happiness in what he does that he cannot help but infect his listener with that joyful spirit.

I also get the same feeling while listening to Rod Stewart or Barry Manilow or The Lettermen and even Steven Tyler. They seem to be hiding a big smile inside even through the saddest of songs. They make their audience feel like it is a privilege on their part to be performing and not that it is a privilege for the audience to be watching them. That is why we like listening to them, why we continue to watch their shows and buy and treasure their albums. They are true entertainers whom God placed here to make this world a better place to live in.

So do not wonder anymore why the Andy Williams show worked satisfactorily and Michael Bolton’s didn’t.