Connie Francis Sings Jewish Favorites (1993)

"In addition to her many successful albums of waltzes, pop hits, Broadway show tunes, rock & roll tributes, country & western, Christmas, and children's music, Connie Francis also recorded a series of albums devoted to different ethnic traditions. devoted an entire album to "Italian Favorites" and subsequently took on melodies from both Spanish and Jewish traditions. The first thing one notices about her "Jewish Favorites" is the bright and brassy early-'60s production with lush orchestral accompaniments and lots of reverb. Then one marvels at the ease with which she expresses herself in this rich dialect, focusing upon two distinctive categories of song. On the one hand there are the high-stepping Jewish dances, some of them centuries old. Most of the songs reflect that other aspect of Jewish American culture: the slow, sentimental song. In the final analysis, this is remarkably refined music, polished and pretty, soulful and sweet." (Allmusic)