I think one day, Tony Bennett's picture will be in the dictionary next to "class act." Wow, what a guy. He has aged better than anyone I can think of; in his 70's, he actually sounds better than in his youth. His voice, while raspy rather than robust, has gained a tenderness and empathy that gently gathers your heart with its warmth and touches your soul with its wisdom. Mr. Bennett was an impressive singer in his youth, too. His catalog runs from easy listening standards to smartly rendered jazz (with Count Basie and Bill Evans, among others), and in his later work he pays tribute to his influences - Fred Astaire, Billy Holiday, and, of course, Frank Sinatra.

Tony Bennett never quite climbed the artistic heights that Sinatra reached, but he earned a title that eluded Frank - that of gentleman. Columbia's 40 Years: The Artistry Of Tony Bennett 4-CD set does a very nice job of summarizing his long career, while their 2-disc Essential Tony Bennett and single-CD Ultimate Collection are more suited to modest collectors. Sony has remastered several good catalog pieces, including The Beat Of My Heart (1957) and I Wanna Be Around (1963). Younger listeners, meanwhile, will require the albums that made Tony a Generation X icon: Perfectly Frank and MTV Unplugged. And, obviously, I Left My Heart In San Francisco (1962) is a safe bet, too; the title song has become a signature for both the city and the man, and the album is one of his best.