Oz Almog & Shantel

If the phrases "Jewish gangsters," "greatest hits" and "compilation CD" arouse, interest or entice, this a disc you simply must check out. Containing a wild mix of swing, jazz, twist, Charleston and Yiddish songs, Kosher Nostra encompasses the sound of the American Jewish Mafia throughout the '20s to the '60s. The disc contains many compelling rarities that could have been (and likely were) playing on the radio before, during or after something went down, if you know what I mean. Who knew that famous bad boy mafia bosses of yesteryear liked to kick back to the sweet sounds of "My Yiddishe Momme" or "Hava Nagila," as sung by Connie Frances or Tom Jones? That's the beauty of Kosher Nostra. Sure, not every song may have topped the charts, and some are merely audible tchotchkes (Tom Jones singing in Yiddish, anyone?), but where else will you find Chubby Checker, the Andrews Sisters, Al Jolson and Connie Frances on the same compilation? Only here.