Jazzmoose Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 I never got into the Reprise stuff. The three artists discussed here that I actually remember hearing in the sixties are Sinatra, Ellington and Basie. For some reason, I categorized Sinatra and Ellington as "old fart music" and hated it. I managed to work through that with Ellington; I need to try to with Sinatra as well. Funny thing, Basie was always cool, even when I wasn't... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crisp Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 In my twenties I had to be given the all-clear to like Sinatra by those in the know: his reputation was clouded for me by all the negative propaganda that surrounded him. I remember getting Songs for Swingin' Lovers (on vinyl), then No One Cares on a recommendation. One more purchase and I realised I had to get the lot. I'd say you can safely buy all the Capitol albums: excellent is the word for the worst of them, most are beyond that. RCA/Columbia is also consistent but very different: he's very much the little-boy-lost balladeer here and it's a jolt if you are used to his later persona. Get a compilation (there are lots of good ones) and proceed accordingly. Reprise: tread *very* warily. There is lots of good stuff, but it's not limited to the immediate post-Capitol phase. When Sinatra started tackling contemporary tunes in the mid-Sixties the quality became extremely variable, but he continued to do good songs, work with good arrangers and sing well. It's a mixed bag -- sometimes even on individual albums, such as Sinatra and Company, one side of which is devoted to a collaboration with Jobim, the other to covers of John Denver and Kermit the Frog. Rule of thumb: if he's doing standards, it's probably safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikelz777 Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 (edited) Wow, this thread was resurrected after nearly 7 years! Still, it's interesting to read through the recommendations. The Capitols are easy picks but I'm surprised no one has mentioned Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim. It's a real gem and anyone interested in Sinatra should definitely check it out. It's beautiful, relaxed, wonderful. Edited June 16, 2011 by mikelz777 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bright Moments Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Wow, this thread was resurrected after nearly 7 years! i love to bring back the old threads! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMP Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 The new reissue of "Ring-A-Ding Ding" sounds good, and has (surprisingly, to me, at least) interesting and well-informed notes by Frank, Jr. There's a long track at the end, Sinatra working through an arrangement of "Have You Met Miss Jones." I've always thought this was one of his best albums, and wind up buying it every time it's reissued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crisp Posted June 18, 2011 Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 (edited) This is probably the best bet for pre-Capitol Sinatra if you don't want to get everything. Edited June 18, 2011 by crisp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind-blake Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Just listening to "from this moment on" on "a swingin affair." God, what a great tune. Time to bring back this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtSalt Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 You can't go wrong with Nice 'n' Easy or The Concert Sinatra: a master at the height of his game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmonahan Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 As usual, my memory fails as to which of you put me on to it (thank you!), but the Master Gold Mono Hi-Fi version of "Only the Lonely" was a revelation. I had worshiped the album for years, but listening to that version was like hearing it new all over again. I still think it is Sinatra's and Riddle's great masterpiece, followed very closely by "Songs for Swingin' Lovers." If I were forced kicking and screaming to choose only two, those would be the ones, but I couldn't. I have 'em all. Time for a glass of Jack and some music from Frank! gregmo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fer Urbina Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 (edited) Although not in the best sound (Live in Australia) or the best of the tour (Live in Paris - according to Will Friedwald, IIRC), I have a soft spot for small-group Sinatra. And on those, the duets with just piano or just guitar are worth a listen. Here's a bit of footage. There were plans for a studio recording with Red Norvo and the sextet, but it never came about. As for the rest, there are 2-CD sets of early Sinatra (with and without Dorsey), and I agree on Live at the Sands (try to sing along the beginning of "Don't Worry About Me" breathing when he does...) and the Capitols. There used to be an official no-frills box with all the albums... ah, it's called the Capitol Concept Albums. F Edited August 5, 2014 by Fer Urbina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr jazz Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 Somewhat hard to find and a bit pricey, the DCC gold disc Seattle 57 concert mastered by Steve Hoffman is highly recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgcim Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 Although no one can replace Sinatra, I've had the pleasure of working with a vocalist/trumpet player who did just that with the Tommy Dorsey band. Check him out: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fer Urbina Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 (edited) Somewhat hard to find and a bit pricey, the DCC gold disc Seattle 57 concert mastered by Steve Hoffman is highly recommended. That was reissued as CD2 of Best of the Best. F Edited August 6, 2014 by Fer Urbina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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