UNIVERSAL MUSIC RELEASES ICON SERIES FEATURING FRANK SINATRA, DEAN MARTIN, THE RAT PACK, THE COMMODORES, TOM JONES

Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) continues its acclaimed ICON series with several new releases on October 8, Tom Jones, Dean Martin, The Rat Pack, Kenny Rogers, and Frank Sinatra. With its history and vast catalog of artists, UMe’s continuing ICON series showcases the best music from the most popular, iconic and influential artists of all time. ICON is a proven physical line, a true cross-genre success with more than seven million copies sold in three years. 

THE COMMODORES - ICON

Motown legends the Commodores were one of the major crossover acts of the 1970s, launching Lionel Richie’s music career. The band’s first album, 1974's Machine Gun, featured the scorching instrumental title song, which reached the Top 10 of Billboard's Soul charts. Within a year, the band released two more albums, Caught In The Act and Movin’ On, which featured their first major crossover hit, "Sweet Love."

In 1977 they released their best-selling album, the self-titled Commodores, which featured the band’s two biggest hits, "Easy,” which showcased Richie’s warm vocals, and the funk anthem "Brick House," with Walter Orange singing lead. They continued their rise to stardom the next year with Natural High, featuring the massive international hit "Three Times A Lady." They released Midnight Magic in 1979, featuring "Still," and "Sail On." By 1981, Lionel Richie’s star was rising throughout the music world. He recorded one more album with the group, In the Pocket, featuring two Top 10 hits, "Oh No," and "Lady (You Bring Me Up)," before embarking on his solo recording career.

The Commodores ICON features all of the group’s top hits, including the No. 1 smash, “Three Times A Lady,” “Easy,” “Brick House,” “Sweet Love,” and “Lady (You Bring Me Up).”

Full tracklist: 1. Lady (You Bring Me Up) / 2. Brick House / 3. Sail On / 4. Easy / 5. Slippery When Wet

6. Three Times A Lady / 7. Sweet Love / 8. Machine Gun / 9. Oh No / 10. Nightshift / 11. Still.

TOM JONES -  ICON

In 1964, Tom Jones’ second single for Decca, “It's Not Unusual,” was a Top 10 smash. A string of hits followed, including “Once Upon A Time,” “With These Hands” and the Burt Bacharach classic, “What's New Pussycat?” In 1965, Jones recorded the theme to the James Bond film Thunderball, and one of his best-loved singles, “Delilah,” was released in 1968. In the ‘70s, Jones’ hits included “Daughter Of Darkness” and “She's A Lady.”

In 1993, Jones signed with Interscope and released the album The Lead And How To Swing It, featuring collaborations with Teddy Riley, Flood and Youth, among others. In 1995, he headlined Glastonbury, and his wildly successful 1999 album Reload, featuring duets with some of the year's brightest stars, once again brought him into the limelight. His latest studio album, Spirit In The Room, was released in April. As his career hits the 50-year mark, Tom Jones continues to delight fans around the world with his music.

Tom Jones ICON features his top hits and fan favorites, including “It’s Not Unusual,” “What’s New Pussycat?,” “She’s A Lady,” “Without Love,” “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again,” “Daughter Of Darkness,” “Love Me Tonight,” and “Delilah.”

Full tracklist: 1. It's Not Unusual / 2. What's New Pussycat? / 3. Thunderball / 4. Delilah / 5. Help Yourself /

6. Love Me Tonight / 7. (It Looks Like) I'll Never Fall In Love Again / 8. Without Love (There Is Nothing) /

9. Daughter Of Darkness / 10. I (Who Have Nothing) / 11. She's A Lady.

DEAN MARTIN - ICON

Playboy called him “the coolest man who ever lived.” Elvis Presley worshipped him. “He was the coolest dude I’d ever seen, period,” recalled Stevie Van Zandt, adding, “He wasn’t just great at everything he did. To me, he was perfect.” That man is Dean Martin. Simply put, he was a great singer. The warm sensuality of his voice continues to beguile generations of music fans with a winning style and a touch of mystery.

Dean Martin’s effortless vocalizing has become modern shorthand for cool, as evidenced by the use of his songs in films, television, and ad campaigns. Martin was honored with The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY® Award in 2009 and new releases drawn from his legendary recorded catalog and television archive continue to achieve multi-platinum success around the world.

Dean Martin ICON features 11 of Dino’s most popular songs, including “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head,” “That’s Amore,” “Volare,” “You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You,” and “Memories Are Made Of This.”

Full tracklist: 1. Ain't That A Kick In The Head / 2. That's Amore / 3. Memories Are Made Of This / 4. Volare (Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu) / 5. Sway / 6. Powder Your Face With Sunshine (Smile! Smile! Smile!) /

7. Innamorata (Sweetheart) / 8. Just In Time / 9. Cha Cha Cha D ‘Amour (Melodie D ‘Amour) / 10. Return To Me (Ritorna-Me) / 11. You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You.

THE RAT PACK - ICON

For more than 50 years, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.'s recordings have entertained fans around the world. The sounds they made live and swing forever. Their timeless style set the standard for future generations and stoked the dreams of those who wished to be one of them.

The Rat Pack ICON spotlights classics from the three entertainment legends, including “We Open In Venice,” featuring the vocal talents of all three men, and hits such as “That’s Amore,” “Luck Be A Lady," "That Old Black Magic,” and “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head."

Full tracklist: 1. We Open In Venice / 2. Witchcraft

3. Memories Are Made Of This / 4. Hey There / 5. Luck Be A Lady / 6. Ain’t That A Kick In The Head /

7. That Old Black Magic / 8. The Boys Night Out / 9. That’s Amore / 10. The Birth Of The Blues / 11. I’m Gonna Live Till I Die.

FRANK SINATRA - ICON

Frank Sinatra, long acclaimed as the world's greatest performer of popular music, is the artist who set the standard for all others to follow. A beloved entertainer for six decades, Sinatra earned three Oscars®, three Golden Globes®, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award, ten personal GRAMMYs® (and a total of 20 for his albums), an Emmy®, a Peabody®, and the Kennedy Center Honors Award in 1983. A generous charitable contributor, he was honored with the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1971. In addition, Sinatra was awarded the Presidential Medal Of Honor and the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’ highest civilian award.

From 1953 to 1961, Sinatra recorded more than 17 albums for Capitol Records. During Sinatra's years with Capitol, he pioneered and perfected the idea of the "concept album" by recording and sequencing songs on his LPs to strike and complete a specific mood. Albums such as Come Fly With Me, Only The Lonely, Songs For Swingin’ Lovers! and In The Wee Small Hours are considered vital classics. In 1960, Sinatra formed his own record company, Reprise. At that label, he would record many of his signature hits, such as "Strangers In The Night," "My Way," and "Theme from New York, New York."

Frank Sinatra has been called the most popular entertainer of the 20th century. The new ICON collection features 11 of his timeless classics, including “My Way,” “Theme From New York, New York,” “Come Fly With Me,” “Strangers In The Night,” and the Cole Porter classics “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “I Get A Kick Out Of You.”

Full tracklist: 1. Come Fly With Me / 2. Young At Heart / 3. I Get A Kick Out Of You / 4. All The Way /

5. I’ve Got You Under My Skin / 6. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) / 7. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) / 8. That's Life / 9. Strangers In The Night / 10. My Way / 11. Theme From New York, New York.