Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
change partners..., December 8, 2005
Why, why, WHY are Duets I & II being re-reissued for the third time? Of all the Sinatra CDs in the universe to add to your collection, these should be the last. For the same money you can buy 2 or 3 classic Capitol or Reprise albums that are among the finest records ever made. Many of these Sinatra performances would actually be worth hearing without the overdubbed "duets" by this strange cast of characters that only a marketing & PR committee could have ever dreamed up (Jimmy Buffet? Gloria Estefan? Luther Vandross? Bono????). In fact, "One For My Baby" is a beautiful, twilight reading tainted only by the thakfully minimal overdubbed soprano sax noodlings of the nauseating Kenny G. There are a few other near misses here: duets with Lorrie Morgan, Natalie Cole, Lena Horne, and Linda Ronstadt are okay... Still, this set will leave you cold and wanting to hear more of The Man and less of his phoned-in guests.
Once upon a time there was a "black-market" CD of Sinatra's vocals from these sessions without the overdubbed duets [titled "Solos"]. Too bad Capitol Records hasn't released those tracks as a "Limited Edition" instead of this set... or anything else for that matter: is this really all Captiol, Reprise, and "The Family" can come up with for a Sinatra "90th Birthday Collection" release? There are so many great unreleased live concerts, session outtakes, and video materials stagnating in the vaults... what a shame and what a joke...
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Another Missed Opportunity, November 30, 2005
Say what you will about Sinatra's over-produced Duets and Duets II being the appropriate items to present as the "90th Birthday Limited Collecter's Edition" but once again the fans are milked for one more unreleased track. Sinatra and Willie Nelson duet on "My Way," but it's pretty obvious that as long as fans are willing to pay, we'll keep on getting the same-old rehashed tracks their way.
If you don't have this material already, this is probably the best place to get it, but if you're looking to celebrate Sinatra's 90th in a more fitting way, there are dozens of CD that are more worthy of your time.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Solid Final Outings From The Finest Vocalist In Music History., August 28, 2007
Okay, I'm sick of going along with popular opinion just to garner helpful votes and kudos from other reviewers. I'm going to come out and say it: I Love Frank Sinatra's "Duets" Albums!
Phew, that felt good. But yes, it's true. Regardless of popular perception, regardless that The Chairman didn't actually sing directly in the studio with any of his partners, regardless that some songs are indeed not quite up to par, and regardless that Frank's voice is merely 1/4 of what it used to be (which is still twice as much as any other singer at their peak), the two "Duets" albums are solid if flawed testaments that even towards the end, Frank still had it.
The first album was a major hit upon its release in 1993, going all the way to Number 2 on the charts and quickly becoming the biggest selling album of Frank's career. Frank is paired here with a wide pallette of artists both past and present, from Luther Vandross to Barbara Streisand, from Tony Bennett to Bono and everything in between. Such a wide range of artists is bound to produce a wide variety of results, but the majority of the songs prove to be well worth the effort.
The highlights are indeed notable. Luther Vandross adds his soulful style to "The Lady Is A Tramp", while Frank and Barbara Streisand engage in a playful and tender reading of "I've Got A Crush On You". "You Make Me Feel So Young" with Charles Aznavour is bouncy and joyous, while "Summer Wind" with Julio Inglesias bristles with poignancy and pathos. Bono and Frank overcome misgivings from critics about their partnership and team up for a most excellent rendition of "I've Got You Under My Skin". Liza Minelli follows in the footsteps of her mother as her and Frank stride with style through "I've Got The World On A String", while Anita Baker adds some soulful scatting to a seductive "Witchcraft". And to hear Frank and Tony Bennett finally come together on record for "The Anthem", "New York, New York", is a music fan's dream come true.
The album's low point come from Frank's female partners. Gloria Estafan fails to ignite sparks on "Come Rain Or Come Shine", while Natalie Cole is surprisingly lukewarm on "They Can't Take That Away From Me". Carly Simon provides a good counter vocal to Frank on a medley of "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry / In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning", but she seems somewhat out of place. Darn shame too, because Frank gives an achingly powerful performance on this track. Most dissappointing is Aretha Franklin on "What Now My Love", which should've been a highlight considering the amazing vocal talents, but Aretha goes far too over the top with "What Now, What Now, What Now..." and it overpowers Frank.
This leaves us with the closing track and the highlight. After Kenny G performs a surprisingly beautiful sax rendition of "All The Way", we quietly fade into an achingly beautiful latter day rendition of "One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)", which Frank sings with an uninhibited amount anguish and remorse, his weather beaten voice adding to the song's pain. I almost cried listening to it.
"Duets II" came not long after. Realizing how big a success the first volume was, Capitol Records as well as Frank's inner circle were eager to get him to return to the studio for follow-up. Once again, Frank did not actually record with any of his partners (with the likely exception of his son), but once again it does not hurt the record.
Unlike the first "Duets" album, this cd is solid the whole way through, with one exception. Beginning with a rousing "For Once In My Life", done with Motown legends Gladys Knight and the one and only Stevie Wonder that resonates with joy and excitement. Next, Louis Miguel takes to the skies with Ol' Blue Eyes with a blazing "Come Fly With Me". Things slow down for a gorgeous teaming with Patti Labelle on "Bewitched", the two singers blending together perfectly. Jon Secada proves a good foil for Frank on "The Best Is Yet To Come". Linda Ronstadt shows up next for a lovely "Moonlight In Vermont".
Old friends reunite as Frank reunites with Antonio Carlos Jobim as they soar through a torrid "Fly Me To The Moon". This performance is an absolute blast to hear on the record. To hear these two forces of musical nature together again is nearly earth shattering, and the recording is nothing short of brilliant.
Chrissie Hynde shows up next for a seductive and swingin' "Luck Be A Lady". Hynde is one of the last people I'd ever expect to be partnered with Frank, but her deep, husky voice is near-perfectly matched with Ol' Blue Eyes here. Willie Nelson and Frank have a ball with "A Foggy Day". Again, Willie, unlikely a choice as he is to sing with The Master, is great. The one low point coems next, as Steve & Eydie turn in a tepid "Where Or When", stealing most of the spotlight from Frank, and in a negative fashion (the intro is nice, though). Things pick up as one Frank's last remaining 1940s' rivals, the great Lena Horne, joins The Chairman for a passionate "Embraceable You". Next comes an unlikely highlight, as Jimmy Buffet of all people joins Frank for an exciting "Mack The Knife". My only qualm with this track is that I wish Bobby Darin could've lived to join Frank on this number. A medley of "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" and "My Funny Valentine" with Lorrie Morgan is soulful and endearing, but things cook when father and son team up for a blazing "My Kind Of Town" (though the version lacks a bit without the "Now This Could Only Happen To A Guy Like Me..." intro). Closing the album originally was a fine rendition of "The House I Live In" with Neil Diamond. As a bonus, Willie Nelson shows up for "My Way", which is good enough if a bit weak.
Overall, I give "Duets" a 4.5. The hate it gets is for the most part unwarranted. It proves that in the end, Frank still had it, and he could still overpower even the best of them. God Bless Him.
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~ Frank Sinatra
~ Barbra Streisand
~ Frank Sinatra
~ Frank Sinatra
~ Tommy Dorsey
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by Frank Sinatra 
