Receiving albums in the mail every day is definitely one of the perks with running PensEyeView.com. The only problem is there is never enough time in the day to sit and give each a good listen. To compensate, I work them into my daily routines. If I get a fast paced album with great beats, I save it for when I am running or working out. A mellower folk piece, I might turn on during a nice dinner or long car ride. Still, sometimes that doesn't work and days go by before I can give an album the proper attention.

Case in point - the other day the Home Owner's Association in my neighborhood sends me a letter saying I will be fined if I don't power wash my deck. Just lovely. If you've ever power washed a deck, you know it could very well be the single most monotonous task imaginable. Plus, my deck is a good size and after just 30 minutes I realized this would be an all day event. This didn't fit with my schedule; I planned on devoting that relaxing Saturday to chilling out with my latest album, Danny Aiello's "Live from Atlantic City," a record featuring all of those classic standards, recorded live at the Sands Casino.

You know Aiello's name and you've seen his face - even when hidden behind his trademark shades. He's an Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated actor, starring in such movies as Moonstruck, Do the Right Thing, Ruby, Hudson Hawk, Jacob's Ladder, The Pick-up Artist and The Godfather: Part II. "Live from Atlantic City" shows us an entirely different side of Aiello, who garnered a reputation for his powerful, commanding roles. This follow up to his first album, "I Just Wanted to Hear the Words," Aiello pays homage to the classic singers that he loved and in some cases, was lucky enough to witness live.

So there I am, fighting the blistering summer heat on what should have been a relaxing weekend, when finally I decide to pop on my iPod and work Aiello's CD into my day. I'm not quite sure where or when, but some time between "All of Me" and "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter," I realized power washing my deck wasn't so bad after all. In fact it seemed (dare I say) fun! Aiello had taken me to another time and place where music meant what it was supposed to mean; a time when stars were born on stage and not in trashy tabloid magazines. With songs like Pennies from Heaven, You Made Me Love You, One for My Baby, Clementine, and a personal favorite, Beyond the Sea, Aiello gives his spin on what made him fall in love with music in the first place while keeping true to the roots of the original artist's passion.

Aiello introduces each song with a story - some about the artist, some about himself. Talking about his life, his work, his children and his wife, he provides the reasons why each song means so much to him. More over, Aiello expresses his gratitude to the original legends behind the music, with gracious anecdotes like the one before "Some of These Days." Aiello states, "The man that inspired me, mostly, musically was Bobby Darin. If you know it, join in!"

And join in, I did. There I am, power washer in hand, sweat pouring out of me, back aching and a nice sunburn brewing on my neck, now skating across my deck as if I am live with Aeillo, that very moment. As if any second, he'd pull down his iconic shades and give me a "here's looking at you kid" right before breaking into another hit.

Unfortunately, I never had a chance to see many of the artists on "Live from Atlantic City" in person - but wish I had. As someone who spends night and day combing the globe for great talent, I'm thrilled when a record comes along and I see a bit of Sinatra or Darin in today's young artists. I stay optimistic about younger artists looking at works from the original masters and learning from them. Aeillo did, and he makes sure you know that what he is singing about is real. If you never had a chance to listen to the greats of the past, then "You'll Never Know." And you need to. Just catch Aiello when he comes to your town and you are on the right path. Goodnight everybody!