Sinatra Sounds Superb

by Bob Powers

G21 Music Writer

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Bob Powers

MARIETTA, OH, USA - Who was the best pop singer in history? Anyone who ever heard Frank Sinatra, especially during his glory days ranging from the 1940's to the 1960's would have to nod in agreement. Nobody exceeded Sinatra and probably ever will.Ý

Capitol Records has just released seven more albums in their series devoted to the Entertainer of the Century. All remastered and resulting in crisp, clear and lifelike sound, these magnificent CDs are worth adding to anyone's library. Frank was at his best during his years with Capitol, as these CDs amply demonstrate.

Most unusual of the lot is "Frank Sinatra Conducts Tone Poems of Color," which has Sinatra conducting music inspired by the poems of Norman Sickel (which are included). Sinatra commissioned eight composers-arrangers to write instrumental pieces contemplating different colors. Billy May, Nelson Riddle, Gordon Jenkins, Elmer Bernstein, Andre Previn and Victor Young, each arguably the finest working at that period, handled the compositions. The album is superb.

But the instrumental album doesn't possess the most important part of the Sinatra story: that wonderful voice, employed during the 1950s when Sinatra was at the top of his game. "Close to You and More," originally released in 1957, turned out to be one of Sinatra's most affecting ballad releases. Accompanying him was an orchestra led by Nelson Riddle, along with the Hollywood String Quartet.

Sinatra had impeccable taste in picking the songs for his albums, as is amply displayed on 1957's "Close to You and More." Take for instance, such gems as "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night," "Everything Happens to Me," and "Wait Till You See Her." Each song gets the full Sinatra treatment, which means that wonderful voice, just the perfect tempo and arrangements that seem perfect.

Another all-ballads CD is 1957's "Where Are You," which includes the title song, along with such excellent choices as "The Night We Called It a Day," "I'm a Fool To Want You," and "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home." To fill out the CD to a length comparable to today's albums, the CD includes four additional songs, including "Don't Worry 'Bout Me," and "I Can Read Between the Lines."

"No One Cares" has a great photo on the cover, showing a lonely Sinatra in raincoat, seated glumly at a bar while the background comes filled with people enjoying themselves. Released in 1959, the album was the second made with Gordon Jenkins and the choice of material couldn't be improved upon. There's "Stormy Weather," " I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You," and the Bunny Berigan classic, "I Can't Get Started." A standout is the seldom-heard "None But the Lonely Heart." Finally, the album winds to a lovely close with "You Forgot All the Words (While I Still Remember the Tune.)"

Nelson Riddle was back in charge of the 1960 hit release called "Nice 'n' Easy," It's easy to see how the album reached No. 1 on the sales charts that year, being a dynamic collection of mostly up-tempo tunes. Besides the wonderful title song, the album kept buyers happy with such selections as "That Old Feeling," "How Deep Is the Ocean," and I've Got a Crush on You." Besides the original 12 original recordings, the new version adds four additional tracks, including "The Nearness of You" (in my book, the greatest ballad ever), "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Day In Day Out."

Another 1961 smash was "Come Swing With Me," which saw Sinatra back in the studio with the jazzy Billy May as arraigner/conductor. The 17 tracks include five new ones, such as "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues" and "I Love You." in which the horn section does those patented May swirls. What a delight!

Finally, don't miss the last of the 1961 releases, "Point of No Return." With arrangements and conducting in the capable hands of Alex Stordahl, Sinatra turns into a superlative album of 16 songs. This material sees Sinatra in a blue mood, as he does magical things with some of the best popular songs ever written.

Selections include such gems as "I Remember April," "I'll See You Again," "As Time Goes By," and 'Memories of You."

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