Search - Frank Sinatra :: Sinatra Swings

This is why we gave this man a spotlight

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 05/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Swing Along With Me has some incredible numbers sung by The Chairman Of The Board, Mr. Frank Sinatra. Frank's voice is in excellent form--as always--and this CD gives his fans something to be happy about! The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is very nicely done.



"Falling In Love With Love" is a number Marlene Dietrich often sang but when Frank Sinatra sings it he really swings brightly to make this number take off like a jet! The brass section is wonderful and the music accompanies him to perfection! I really like "Falling In Love With Love" and I think that you will, too. "The Curse Of An Aching Heart" also gets the royal treatment from Frank as he performs this with panache--and how's about that musical interlude? The big band style arrangement still sounds great all these years later; and Sinatra fans will love hearing this very well done tune.



"Don't Cry Joe" has Frank singing his very best; his uncanny sense of timing and his excellent diction enhance his performance; and listen also for a sublime rendition of "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone." I always loved "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone;" this tune is truly timeless and Frank sings it out like the champ he always was! The brass and the percussion work wonders for "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone," too. In addition, "Love Walked In" is a cover of an older song that sounds so fresh and new when Frank Sinatra sings it--wow, how he could sing a song! This song and the others on this album truly prove just how well Frank could take a song and massage the lyrics to get just what he wanted out of the number; and that's very impressive. Few artists are ever able to accomplish this goal.



"I Never Knew" again features Frank squarely front and center-and that's OK with me! The brassy arrangement works well and Frank never sings a superfluous note. "Moonlight On The Ganges" is another well done number; and Frank gives us a wonderful interpretation of "It's A Wonderful World." "It's A Wonderful World" is a relentlessly upbeat ballad with a splashy musical arrangement that works well; and the album ends with Frank Sinatra performing "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You." "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You" is a number I first heard when Dean Martin sang it; and Frank's rendition shines just as brightly. "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You" makes a strong ending for this CD and it leaves you wanting more!



Overall, Frank Sinatra fans will consider this a must-have for their collections; and this album is also wonderful for people who enjoy classic pop vocals. Newcomers to Frank Sinatra should also consider this as a fine starter CD to whet their appetites for more.

"

REPRISE CLASSIC

daddyojazz | NYC | 02/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As I read the previous 14 reviews, I found it very interesting that all , except one , like this CD immensely in varying degrees. What is there not to like about it? It rivals any album Sinatra did for Capitol. The Billy May band was in particular very good form, which leads me to believe that these tracks were all made in a couple of days with minimal takes. The great thing about this re-issue is that,as one reviewer mentioned early on, it has the complete version of Granada. The only other time the complete version was issued was back on the original monoural pressing of the LP way back in 1961. For some reason, ( I don't buy the lack of space on the vinyl excuse)it was not on the stereo version. I just think somebody goofed and put the Granada single(yes this song was a minor hit for Frank) on the stereo version and Reprise was to lazy to change it.Until 1999,that is, when Lee Herschberg who mastered the album in 20 bit found the original stereo version and put it on the CD.It only took close to 40 years to do it but it's there now and glorious to be heard. I don't even believe the mammoth 20 CD complete Reprise Sinatra studio recordings have this track in toto. Oh yeah, the other 11 compositions swing their little tushes off too.



By the way, someone inquired who the bassist was in May's band for this record .....well it was jazz stalwart, the underated Joe Comfort.

"

It's a ring-a-ding world

Sarah Bellum | Dublin, OH United States | 09/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"(4.5/5 stars) This one has some great stuff! Other reviewers pretty much summed it up accurately when stating both that this sounds more like the Capitol years than later Reprise and that there is a fairly weak song here, namely "Moonlight on the Ganges." "Granada" isn't all that great, but it isn't terrible and at least it is energetic. Most of the other songs are fantastic, though. My favorites are "Falling In Love With Love," "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone," "I Never Knew," "Don't Be That Way," "It's A Wonderful World" and "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You." Sinatra's voice is in peak form and the songs complement his style perfectly. As always, I really like Billy May's arrangements, and his orchestra more than holds its own. The sound is very clean and crisp, as though it were recorded recently. This is another short one though, running only about thirty minutes. Reprise could easily pair two albums on one CD if they wanted. Nonetheless, this is one to buy."