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Is there anyone who doesn't like George Burns?

No, there isn't. And if you say that you lot don't, I decline to believe you lot.

Fifty-fifty if you don't think he's funny, it's kind of hard to resist the guy's bigger-than-life persona as the old man who's just slowing down because his torso tin't keep up with his heed. You could believe him when he played God considering, well, that's kind of how you'd like God to look and act. (Well, okay, maybe a cantankerous between George Burns and the picture that Elvis Costello paints in "God'south Comic" would exist my perfect deity, but the strictly Burns-ian have certainly isn't one I'd mutter about.) Of course, even before he started making with the jokes most being onetime, Burns had already been made a legend by his invaluable married woman and partner, Gracie Allen, to whom he never failed to give credit for his career. If y'all've never read Burns' memoir most his life with Gracie – Gracie: A Love Story – you lot should chase information technology down immediately, but you lot should too take a box of tissues at the ready before y'all embark upon the final chapter.The two had a hilarious radio show and an equally funny boob tube show, the latter most oftentimes remembered for George'due south determination to regularly break the fourth wall and speak directly to the audition; he certainly didn't invent the technique, but he inspired a lot more people to utilize it on tv set, that's for sure.

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In his after years, Burns hosted many a variety special…so much so, in fact, that they recently released a box set of them on DVD…so it'due south non exactly a secret that the guy was prone to crooning a melody once in awhile. It's too common knowledge that he was non exactly Sinatra. And so why is it, then, that his 1980 anthology, I Wish I Was Eighteen Again, transcends the usual actor-turned-singer attempt and proves and so darned mannerly?

Because because the homo knew his limitations.

Burns loved to sing, simply he knew he wasn't a singer. He was a talker. Then either he had someone write songs that he knew would lucifer his limited range, or he selected existing compositions that he could talk his style through. Either way, if you lot like the guy, then as soon as you hear his familiar vox on "The Arizona Whiz," you're hooked.

Granted, a couple of the song selections are so unabashedly playing to Burns' image that you don't even need to hear them to know that they're perfect for him, including "Old Bones," "A Real Good Cigar," and the championship track. More surprising is the unexpected catchiness of tracks like "The But Mode To Become" and "Forgive Her A Little (And Love Her A Lot)," both of which are ear worms of the highest order. (The bankroll vocals on the latter are particularly easy to observe trapped in your skull for the long haul.)

The musical society of the twenty-four hours is Country and Western, by the style, if you lot haven't withal steeled yourself to take a listen. Burns dipped twice into the Tom T. Hall songbook, peradventure succeeding less on "One of the Mysteries of Life" than "Sometime Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine," simply both still come up off as decidedly appropriate selections. I've never actually heard Dolly Parton'southward original version of "Nickels and Dimes," simply information technology works well as a closer for Burns.

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If y'all really fall for the stuff y'all're hearing here, you lot could do a lot worse than hunting down a 4-CD prepare that's floating effectually from Polygram Special Markets. In addition to I Wish I Was Eighteen Over again, it also includes the otherwise-unavailable George Burns in Nashville and Young at Middle, along with a bonus disc that includes an episode of the Burns & Allen radio show. And, of course, let's not forget his version of "Fixing A Hole" from the movie version of "Sgt. Pepper'south Alone Hearts Club Band." ("George Burns IS Mr. Kite!")

George Burns' music may not stand the test of time for the masses the way his flick and TV work volition, but it always brings a smile to my face, so I promise it's done the same for you.