Search - Frank Sinatra :: World We Knew

An Uneven Sinatra Set...But With a Couple of Gems...

W. S. Ferguson | Des Moines, WA USA | 01/13/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I had this collection on LP, and as I did then, smiled over some of the song selections. This was 1967, afterall, the musical year of emergence for psychadelic rock, Hendrix, Joplin, etc...Sinatra was, in his way, trying to connect with this zeitgeist by mixing some contemporary compositions into his conventional catalog of material. The results are interesting, and certainly tuneful, even if not distinguished in the accustomed Sinatra way. "Something Stupid" proved to be a #1 hit, which must have tickled Ol' Blue Eyes for no other reason than this duet provided additional momentum to daughter Nancy's singing career. "This Town," a simple diddy written by Lee Hazlewood, is delivered with exuberant punch---strangely enjoyable for this alone. The only stinker of the bunch is "Don't Sleep in the Subway," which simply should have been discarded from the project. But this album has several winning entries in it. The title track is given a gently rolling, lilting treatment, and Gordon Jenkins' signature layered strings mark a fine rendition of "This is My Love," a revisitation of this song (with the same arranger) from a decade earlier. "Some Enchanted Evening" is a song which, sung as a straight ballad, reveals the sappy quality that crept into many of Rogers & Hammerstein's later compositions---but Sinatra revives it here at finger-snapping pace---my favorite recorded version by far. However, easily the best track here is "Drinking Again," which stands on par with Sinatra's best saloon-inspired odes to broken hearts and dreams. In sum, the unevenness of song quality and a multiplicity of arrangers (Billy Strange, Jenkins, and Ernie Freeman all write charts here) makes for a collection that sounds like the montage it is...still, Sinatra produces enough winners here to make the purchase of this CD worthwhile."

A Step-Up After "That's Life."

Anthony Nasti | Staten Island, New York United States | 02/18/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album was Frank's third attempt at connecting with the 1960s' flower generation. His first, "Strangers In The Night" was a great record that yielded and a smash singles and sold quite well. Next was "That's Life," which, though holding a major hit single in the title track, is today widely regarded as his worst album. After returning to his roots for his masterful collaboration with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Frank unleashed "The World We Knew." The result was a somewhat mixed but overall very enjoyable record.



The album begins with its title track, a moody ballad with a darkly textured guitar line and a beautiful, lilting melody lifted by Gordon Jenkins' edgy arrangement. Frank gives an intense, passionate reading of this track and it is one of his best attempts at modernizing his sound.



Next comes his classic duet with daughter Nancy, "Somethin' Stupid." It's not a great song by any means, but it's so sweet and beautifully sung that you can't help but love it. The song went to Number One and was Frank's last Top 10 hit.



Frank follows this with an updating of his 1959 recording, "This Was My Love." The song has been retitled "This Is My Love," and has been given a positive spin lyrically. The 1959 version is one Frank's saddest and most powerful ballads, but this "happy" version isn't a bad reworking, with a sparkling arrangement and soulful reading by Frank.



"Born Free" is a missed opportunity, a very brief runthrough of the song with a somewhat dispassionate Frank vocal. Like "That's Life's" version of "The Impossible Dream," this could've benefitted from a more powerful arrangement and punchier Sinatra vocal.



Petula Clark's "Don't Sleep In The Subway" is great. Given a very 1960s' arrangement complete with female Go-Go dancer backing vocals, Frank does this one with real swagger and the arrangement bounces along joyfully. It's a great job on what could've been a total embarassment for Frank.



"This Town" is a bluesy rocker with Frank at his best. His reading is cool and cocky, and the arrangment is very soulful and edgy. This was recently used to close "Ocean's 13," and it worked very well. Frank really gets into the song and it's a gem.



Another Petula Clark cover follows with "This Is My Song." It features a gently swaying arrangement and a lovely vocal by Frank. It's a bit trite, but Frank makes it work.



Next comes one of Frank's most underrated performances and one of his most beautiful and haunting. "You Are There" was used as the theme to his 1967 film "The Naked Runner." The eerie Gordon Jenkins arangement is paired with a dark, soulful Frank vocal, beautifully phrasing each line with passion and dignity. A great performance by Frank that hopefully more people will discover.



Next comes Johnny Mercer's wonderful "Drinkin' Again." A great saloon ballad in the same league of "One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)" and "Angel Eyes," it is widely regarded as the album's high point, and Frank performs it beautifully. A masterpiece that only Frank can provide.



The album's closes with a swinging updating of "Some Enchanted Evening" from "South Pacific." This is a ball to listen to, and Frank really has fun with it. A great way to close the album.



"The World We Knew" is not a masterpiece, but it is definitely worth seeking out."

'The World We Knew' is not really worth knowing as a CD

A C SHIELDS | melbourne , australia | 06/20/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This album has too few really good , worthwhile , emotionally affecting performances - those things are the reasons many people listen to Frank .



The tracks I return to are the title track and "You Are There " for the melodies , "Drinking Again" for the arrangement , atmosphere and delivery , as well as "This Town" which is tough and punchy . As for the rest , it is really disappointing .

I suggest you find a friend who has this CD and somehow make up your own compilation . Some songs you will not need to hear again .

There's something weird about hearing a bad album from a person who recorded their fair share of masterpieces .

I hope this review helps you to make the right decision for you as a listener ."