The Lively Ones (album)

The Lively Ones is a studio album by American singer Vic Damone, released in August 1962 by Capitol Records, to coincide with the NBC special of the same series, which aired from the summers of 1962 and 1963 which showcased current jazz, pop, and folk performers, as well as comedians, It was produced by Jack Marshall. it contains gems such as Ruby (which he also recorded for Merucry in 1947), "Marie", and two of Erno Rapee's Twenties movie waltzes, "Charmanine' and "Diane" and what must be the only crooner verison of "Cherokee" to this date."

The album debuted on Billboard magazine's Top LP's chart in the issue dated October 13. 1962, remaining on the chart for 10 weeks, and peaking at number 57.

The album was released on compact disc for the first time by EMI Music Distribution on May 31, 1999 as a double album pairing it with Damone's other 1962 Capitol, Strange Enchantment.

Reception
The album was well received by critics at the time of its release, Billboard praised Damone for "his tender, effortless style, over solid support fom the swinging Billy May crew".

Cash Box called it "powerful merchandise".

Record Mirror called it "an outstanding LP" and stated that "the swingier of the two, arrangements by Jack Marshall and Billy May, with orchestra conducted by that latter gent, tend to hold the listener's attention more than the singer of the up -tempo items."

The Evening Independent called it "outstanding" and stated that Damone "sings a carefully selected group of standards."

Hartford Courant mentions "Billy May's orchestra does a basher on a mambo-fashioned "Dearly Beloved" to complement swinging vocalist Damone. and "I Want a Little Girl." "Laura" and "Ruby" get traditional slow treatment.