| Forever Cool | |
| Type: | compilation |
| Artist: | Dean Martin |
| Cover: | Forever Cool album.jpg |
| Released: | August 14, 2007 |
| Studio: | Capitol (Hollywood) |
| Genre: | Vocal Jazz |
| Length: | 40:26 |
| Label: | Capitol |
| Producer: | Jimmy Bowen |
| Prev Year: | 2004 |
| Next Title: | Amore |
| Next Year: | 2009 |
Forever Cool is a compilation album of duets, featuring singer Dean Martin paired with various artists. It was released in 2007 (12 years after his death) through Capitol Records.
Unlike several duet albums (for example, fellow Rat Pack singer Frank Sinatra's 1993 duets album), this posthumous one utilizes the archived voice tracks of Martin himself paired with contemporary singers and instrumentalists such as Kevin Spacey, Martina McBride, Shelby Lynne, Joss Stone, Chris Botti, and a few others.
Jeff Tamarkin of AllMusic criticizes other vocal artists such as Robbie Williams for his appearance in "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone", stating he is out of his league. He also stated that Joss Stone and former American Idol contestant Paris Bennett did not stand a chance. Tamarkin, however, praises the instrumentalists Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and smooth jazz artists Chris Botti and Dave Koz for lightening up the tracks "Who's Got The Action", "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face" and "Just In Time" respectively. The only true standout in the bunch with as much certifiable personality as Martin was French artist Charles Aznavour for his duet with Dino on "Everybody Loves Somebody". The disadvantage was that the original hit single was not used but instead a lesser version. In the end, Tamarkin indicates that "it's Dean Martin who saves the day each time out".
This album peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in 2007.[1]