Frank Sinatra recommendations

[mike]

Never got beyond a Sinatra best of, but finding the choice of albums daunting. Anyone here got any top tips on the best CDs to go for. Any box sets or classic album series worth getting? Any personal favourites?

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Well, we have always considered Sinatra's Reprise Years to be the best Mike, and Amazon have a selection to pick from, and some at a price too.

[karl]

Mike, years ago I ran the Edinburgh branch of the Sinatra Society. A lot of die-hard fans will argue that the Capitol years were his best and they are great but as L&H said the Reprise years were even greater. That said I also like a lot of his early Columbia material.

However to answer your question on which album to buy, one of my all-time favourites is I Remember Tommy. If I were you I would start with one and if you enjoy it then perhaps try another and another. I have a wonderful box set on Reprise which includes his complete recordings for that label and I remember buying it years ago in the HMV sale for about a third of the price and it was the bargain of the year.

Let us know what you buy.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Yes, we have all of his Capitol Recordings too Karl, the entire box set of 20 records, and they are wonderful too.
That's interesting about you being involved with the Society. We have been members of the Sinatra Music Society for over 30 years, but must confess haven't attended many meeting recently, but still have the monthly magazine etc.

[mariana44]

"COME FLY WITH ME" is a real classic album from Frank.

[karl]

Marian that was actually the first Sinatra LP I bought on my first trip to Cheshire but the album was bought in Manchester.

I like many of Frank's more obscure albums like Trilogy and Watertown.

L&H I also have a great Reprise box of 5 cd's 'and a dvd called Vegas, it was a present from my friend in Boston and I have The Complete Capitol Singles Collection box.

[john]

The Reprise years are amongst my favorites too, "Sinatra and Strings" is a brilliant album, as are "The Concert Sinatra" and "Moonlight Sinatra".

[Eman]

I like "Come Dance With Me" (great cover also), "Watertown" (My parents' copy still has the poster), "Strangers In The Night", "My Way".

[mike]

Thanks for all the ideas. Interesting that Reprise gets the nod ahead of Capitol. Lots to think about and listen to. Going to check some out on Spotify and then buy a couple.

[karl]

Mke that's not to to say that the Capitol recordings are not as good, they are as he made some great recordings for that label too but with Reprise it was like he was reborn.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Another fantastic set that we recommend is the Tommy Dorsey set "THE SONG IS YOU. " a Five CD set with an informative booklet enclosed of his time with DORSEY and the recordings.

[karl]

Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back is a nice album. For some reason I never got into The Main event Live or Bang Bang My Baby Shot Me Down.

Frank live was great but the Main Event (for me) just did not seem to capture the atmosphere.

A brilliant dvd is Frank Sinatra's Concert For The Americas. His voice cracks on a high note at the end of New York New York but the man was so professional he got out of it very well - he then went for the high note again hit it and held it. Another great moment I think from the same concert someone shouted out from the audience "I Love You Frank" and Frank replied "I Love You Too Pal".

I saw Frank at the RAH in 1977 and I will never, ever forget that night - he was superb and very funny and also very gracious to a little girl who gave him a present! I remember him saying to her "What's That Honey and she replied Nothing Much and Frank said Nothing Much? It's A Great Deal, A Great Deal". he also tried to get her to talk into his mike but she was shy and pushed his hand away.

The Fifth Dimension and Pat Henry were on in the first half and after the interval Frank's conductor came on with Frank right behind him and the place just erupted!

[paul jh]

The only album I have is Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely. I sold the others and just have a Capitol compilation. One hears his music everywhere, so no need to own any of it; but I would like to have It Was a Very Good Year. Only the Lonely was Sinatra's favourite album.

[karl]

Yes you hear the music of Sinatra everywhere such is still his popularity but you hear mainly what the radio stations want you to hear (i,e, the hits). There are many great tracks on his albums that have probably never been played on the radio and that's what I like to listen to - to me that's the REAL Sinatra and that's why his album Watertown is also a favourite with me.

Another song I like is called There Used To Be A Ballpark from Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back. Again never played on the radio!

[Lena & Harry Smith]

We also have the entire set The Columbia Years 1943 -1952, and many of those songs rarely or never played on radio. We also have live audio recordings from concerts at The Stadium Sydney Australia, Dec 1961 titled " December Down Under" , introduced by Tommy Hanlin.
Live from Oaklands California, May 1968 when he reminisced and sang his Presidential campaign song "High Hopes " For Kennedy
Live in Egypt 1979, Live in Milan 1986, Live In Chicago with Dean Martin.1977, Live In Jerusalem 1975,
Live in Palazzio Del Ghiacci 1962, Live from The Royal Festival Hall 1962.
The Lost London Concert ..November 1970, The New Years at The Nugget 1986, and Franks Retirement Concert at the Ahmanson Theatre June 13th 1971, introduced by Rosalind Russell.
A friend of ours in America who had met and dined with Sinatra sent us some live studio recordings, proving that he wasn't Mr .. One Take Sinatra ...as many thought, although we don't ever remember him saying that himself