Search - Frank Sinatra :: Capitol Records Concept Albums

Capitol is tough to collect

D. Blair | 01/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First there was the original "Concepts" box set. Then a few years later they released another remastered (?) version of the same box set. And finally in 2004 they released this. Kind of. It was only available online or something? Also it's odd. Box sets of the "complete" type are typically for collectors. Yet this one appears to be more budget oriented and priced. Stranger still, this version is different from the prior two version because it doesn't include two albums: Tone Poems, and Jolly Christmas. Weird.



But hey, it's more for the mass-market right? Budget priced, smaller package. Well...actually this one is really more collectable...why?



Well, first of all it reproduces all the original LP jackets. Yes! Mini-LPs!! With all the original artwork, front and back -- Beautiful!! There's more -- there's no Concept busting bonus tracks!!! Hey, less is more. Remember these were Frank's concept albums. That means, the whole album was programmed from start to finish by Frank for damn good reasons. Bonus tracks, while nice, kill the concept. The other two versions of "Concepts - the box set" offered the exact same versions of these albums that Joe-Blow-not-the-collector could buy individually at any record store. The exact same ones. And those versions have bonus tracks and plastic jewel cases - Bleck - and big collector prices. They do NOT have the cardboard, mini-LP reproductions...with original artwork! They do not.



So, that's why Capitol records is tough to collect. They're a mess. Other labels appear to have a good grip on their artists' catalog and a solid knowledge of what their clientele want. Capitol appears to be running around like the building is on fire. I guess the MP3-boom gave them a beating...who knows, I really don't know. But much of their catalog gets shoddy treatment.



Anyway, this box set is great. It's affordable and has a collectors' charm. Its super slim packaging makes these 14 quintessential, must own, masterpieces quite handy. Put a copy in your glove compartment. Perhaps one in your purse. Sure, while I would have preferred a more luxurious and crafted package to house these works...hey...it's Capitol. More importantly, everything inside is done right. Well...



As for the mastering job on these albums...who knows. There's no documentation. I'm positive it's the same as the 1998-2002 Entertainer of the Century "Bob Norberg remasters," that appear in the second version of "Concepts" and individually in stores everywhere. But remember, in THIS version of the box set, you get mini-LP sleeves, original artwork, and no intruding bonus tracks!!! - Not available anywhere else but here.



So, they range from 20-bit to 24-bit and from "slightly-improved" to "slightly butchered." But hey, it's Capitol. You can read the reviews of the individual Capitol albums contained herein to learn more about the Norberg releases.



In a nutshell, I don't find the Norberg releases to be very pristine. There's no room, no ambiance, and in many cases the noise reduction so shades the high-end, that strings sound horribly muffled and indistinguishable. In some spots I could mistake a string ensemble for some voices humming. On some albums the hi-hats and brushwork almost disappear. I guess there's some added texture and definition, probably the result of higher bit-rates and compression, but these are not hi-end, or hi-fi remasters at all. Hopefully this set will land in the hands of a Chuck Granata and crew, and get professionally restored and packaged. But hey, it's Capitol, and for now it's all we got and probably the best version of these albums on CD to date.



(NOTE: The very first version of "Concepts," contained the versions prior to 1992, has better mastering then the Norbergs do, but uses older technology to do so...so it sounds a tad thin...but way cleaner. Yeah, fun isn't it? But they too use the same jewel cases, same bonus tracks as the Norbergs - and do NOT have the mini-LP sleeves.)



But these performances are beyond essential, and if you don't already have them all...you're missing things. And for the collectors who do have these albums -- do you have the original LP artwork restored and the no-bonus track - just the facts - versions of these albums yet?



You better get on it.



EDIT (10/15/2009): As pointed out in the comments section, the album Sinatra's Swingin Sessions does include a bunch of bonus tracks. And why wouldn't it? Why keep everything simple? Well, for whatever reason, they added I think, eight bonus tracks or singles from this time onto this one album. Outside of busting up the concept of NOT busting up the concept -- these added bonuses don't necessarily offend on this particular album as they would on say, "No One Cares," or "Wee Small Hours." This album is one of the more upbeat, single-friendly albums in the box...so the singles they tacked on "fit" in a way. Oh well. But this is the only album that does have bonus tracks, and shouldn't be a deal-breaker.

"

Great albums, but pay attention to the tracks...

M. McConnell | Columbia, MO United States | 01/12/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Unfortunately, the track information for each CD is not included in the Amazon summary, so it makes it hard to research this set. These albums are remastered re-releases of the original albums, which means that they are missing most of the bonus tracks that are on the 2000 box set and the individual releases. It might be that one or two albums had the full set, but most of the albums only had the originals from what I could tell.



This set is also missing the Christmas and orchestral albums that have been included in previous boxes, which may or may not matter to you.



That aside, both the packaging and the sound quality on this set are outstanding. The set is very compact, just a small black box with the fourteen CDs in reproduction sleeves of the original LP sleeves. I don't consider myself an audiophile or anything, but the sound was very clear and had the depth to it that is often missing in modern recordings.



If you're looking for good remasters of the original releases, without any frills or bonus material, then this is a great set for you. If you'd rather have all 16 albums with bonus material, then you might want to think about spending the extra cash for the older release, which is still floating around."

Sinatra concepts Box Set

Ronald Grostate | New Malden, UK | 12/21/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At Last I've found what I've been looking for, for years - a paper sleeve mini Lp version of Sinatra's Capitol recordings in one box set and I don't care about the remastering or not as I don't have a trained ear. I have the 21CD box set UK release which I am happy with, but would have been ecstatic if it had been a paper sleeve edition with original art work front and back, including original logos. Hopefully Japan will come out with a box set mini Lp release in a similar vein to the Beatles in mono release of 2009 and if they do, I'll buy that as well. I have 4 Japan releases of Sinatra on the Capitol label and they are just great."