Trini Lopez

Omnivore collects two dozen non-LP sides from Trini Lopez, Texas singer-songwriter of Mexican descent, on a new CD collection, The Rare Reprise Singles.  The set includes the studio version of his rousing take on the Bernstein/Sondheim West Side Story classic "America" (stylized by the artist as "A-Mer-I-Ca"), a Bob Gaudio-helmed single of Randy Newman's wry "Love Story," both sides of a Christmas 45 ("El Niño Del Tambor (The Little Drummer Boy)" b/w "Noche de Paz (Silent Night)"/"Let There Be Peace"), his funky reinvention of The Vogues' "Five O'Clock World," and Paul Anka and Bobby Gosh's groovy "You Make My Day."  Other highlights include the movie theme "Made in Paris," one of the most rocking songs Burt Bacharach and Hal David ever wrote, and Frank DeVol and Mack David's "The Bramble Bush" from the 1967 war film The Dirty Dozen.  Lopez was one of the titular twelve (No. 10, to be precise) and he also recorded his own tie-in song to the movie.  That track, "The Ballad of The Dirty Dozen," is also here. Gene Sculatti pens new liner notes, and Michael Graves has remastered,