Can anybody recommend a good album for someone untutored in such things, who wants to give Sinatra a shot? Preference given to a platter that ROCKS.

Or perhaps I should say swings and bounces. I don't want some tepid take on "rock and roll" by the Chairman of being bored by that whole genre - assuming he ever deigned to stoop to such a thing, as I hope to hell he did NOT. No, what I'd LOVE is an album that corrals a lot of jump-tempo POW! BOP! punched-up and brassy swingin' compositions, and then sets them loose with Frank riding herd over the whole big band stampede.

That sounds AWESOME doesn't it?? Is there even such a thing? Did they even do that?

I honestly have no idea.

I can totally "rock your world" with Ol' Blue Eyes! I have three CDs that are from the 50's; I grew up with them, since my parents were fans.

Songs for Swingin' Lovers --(Nelson Riddle orchestrations)
Swingin' Affair -- (Nelson again)
Come Fly With Me -- (Billy May orchestrations)

We are talking swing, bounce and groove... Classic songs by Cole Porter, Sammy Cahn etc. Sinatra's voice was mature by the 50's -- rich and perfect. These albums are from the "Capitol Years" and I think they are the best from that era. His adlibs and asides are very "brat pack" with his "ring-a-ding-dings" and such. But really, it's the arrangements that make the albums so very great. I've loved them my whole life.

Thanks double-H! That sounds like just what I'm looking for!

Two quick followup questions: of those three, which one ROCKS MOST? and, which one has the highest caliber of SONG QUALITY?

Both considerations are almost equally important.

That's a hard question Mr. Sadly, since I love all three.

I can tell you about some favorite tracks though...

On Come Fly With Me, On the Road to Mandalay is the real swinger with bouncy deep drum notes.

On Swingin' Affair, Lonesome Road has a gorgeous bassline, starts off quiet and builds to such a funky crescendo, it's exceptional!

On Songs For Swingin' Lovers, I've Got You Under My Skin is the classic -- the bridge is as emotional as a Neil Finn bridge "Don't you know little fool, you never can win -- use your mentality -- wake up to reality. But each time that I do, just the thought of you makes me stop just before I begin..."

Looking at the tracks, if I had to pick one album, I'd pick Swingin' Affair I guess... If I had to... just for the good feelings I get about ALL the tracks.

quote:

Originally posted by double-H:
very "brat pack"

Oops, I meant Rat Pack.

Ooh, I'll vote for Songs For Swingin' Lovers. I have the original LP! LOL (Not mine - I inherited it from my mom.)

You Make Me Feel So Young
I've Got You Under My Skin


You've inspired me to listen to all these Sinatra albums I've had sitting here for years. They sound wonderful.

His Capitol years (1953-1961) are usually regarded as the best, hence Songs For Swingin' Lovers! Also worth checking out are In The Wee Small Hours and Come Fly With Me.

Sinatra? Now ya talkin'...

Other essential albums:

Only The Lonely
In The Wee Small Hours
Sinatra - Basie
Siantra - Jobim

...but if you can track down a 3 CD set called The Capitol Years and perhaps the 2CD set of My Way - The Very Best Of which covers the Reprise Years then you have the absolute essential stuff.

As for his Columbia years, so many compilations and a lot of them well dodgy. Maybe The Essential Frank Sinatra: the Columbia Years.

All the other suggestions posted above are fantastic as well.

Thanks everybody for the help and input! I intend to give it his best shot.

Sorry, thought this thread was about Nancy. I've got the "wrong" Sinatra. As you were....

quote:

Originally posted by brownie:
Ooh, I'll vote for Songs For Swingin' Lovers. I have the original LP! LOL (Not mine - I inherited it from my mom.)

lol brownie -- I inherited the vinyl from my mom too but it's long gone (I didn't treat my vinyl all that well back in the day)...

quote:

Originally posted by Seany.:
Sorry, thought this thread was about Nancy. I've got the "wrong" Sinatra. As you were....

You know, as much as I love Frank, Nancy's album with Lee Hazlewood is even better.

That album (Nancy & Lee) is definitely one of my favorite albums of all time. Various songs from that album have been covered by all sorts of artists over the years, and they always sound great....which is a true testament to the quality of the songs.

Sorry I'm drifting off the Frank topic...

Well I deliberately left the name off so as to leave the door open to other Sinatras!

Personally I'd like to know what's going on with Frank Jr.

Well, if that's the case then i can recommend the Trashcan Sinatras. Beware of immitations.

Make sure that you get Sinatra singing Old Black Magic, & Witchcraft. Either Sinatra will do. Frank, Nancy, Junior, Tina, Mia, Trashcan, or the little known Ruprecht Sinatra.



"Oklahoma, Oklahoma"

Remember when they did that "everybody sings with Sinatra" album, with the hottest of then-today's stars paying tribute to the Sinatz by singing portions of his songs, to be spliced with Frank's vocal and formed into genetically recombinant "duets"?

Well, I really wished ol' Frank had surprised his collaborators by cutting a selection of "B-Sides" at the same time - him doing the same "duets" treatment on their biggest hits!

Just imagine listening to some U2, getting halfway through the first verse of "With Or Without You" - and here comes Frank Sinatra bargin' in all dismissively boisterous!!

No One Can Tell Me That That Would Not Have Ruled.