Frank Sinatra: Best of The Best [Deluxe Edition]

Frank Sinatra | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 15, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2012
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Deluxe Edition
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B005L3HJQE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,356 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #93 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists

Editorial Reviews

Expanded two CD edition includes a bonus CD containing an additional 19 tracks. 2011 collection from the greatest and most famous vocalist of the last century. For the first time, Frank Sinatra's greatest recordings for Capitol Records and his own Reprise Records have been gathered for one stellar collection. The booklet contains insightful track notes written by Frank Sinatra Jr. Features 'New York, New York', 'Young At Heart', 'Strangers In The Night', 'Love & Marriage' and many more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 68 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, Sinatra from the 50s through the 70s November 15, 2011

By B. Stockwell

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm reviewing the superb DELUXE 2-CD box edition with all the trimmings.

Until now, you had to buy from either the Capitol or the Reprise catalog. Sinatra collections were one or the other. If you wanted to introduce his music to someone, you had to get one of each or skip an era. You want "New New, York," "My Way," or "That's Life"? You're going to have to lose "Come Fly with Me," "Witchcraft," and "One for My Baby." Two different labels; two different catalogs. FINALLY, they got together so here you have Sinatra from 1953 ("I've got the World on a String") to "New York, New York."

So, we finally have a definitive Sinatra 101 compilation. 23 tracks. Icing on the cake: an entire live concert from the Capitol era. I might be wrong about this but this June 9th 1957 concert might be the only one we have of Sinatra performing live with Nelson Riddle; yes, they went on tour. To Seattle.

The first CD is as described: classic Sinatra and well chosen. "Night and Day," for instance. The obvious choice would be the Capitol swinging version. Here, the choice was the later, slower, Don Costa arrangement from the 1961 "Sinatra and Strings" album (Reprise).

The liner notes are by Frank Sinatra Jr. They're sharp, insightful, and written by a musician who knows this music. Example: "'Fly Me to the Moon': A complete misnomer! The correct title of this popular standard is 'In Other Words." But nobody refers to it by that name." That's sort of important. Sinatra Jr. has a lot to say about this music. Lots of perspective.

The packaging in the Deluxe Edition is exemplary, tasteful, retrained, and appropriate. Someone is making sure Sinatra's music is presented decently. The use of blue is a no-brainer but the use of blue foil lettering and the layout of this release is a thrill. It's like they're serving up class. The box feels and looks suave. The box lid pulls up and was a minor nightmare to pry up - a little too tight. (Right - like that's why I bought this.) CDs are in separate cardboard sleeves, like mini-LPs. There's no plastic here, at all. This is the real stuff - paper and cardboard. First class design. Bravo, somebody.

Five square photos of Sinatra that cover the years the music recorded during are a nice addition - but this is an extra; I'm not sure what to do with them.

I have to apologise for another reviewer who didn't see the point of a live concert performance by Sinatra. That reviewer actually wrote he didn't like live recordings and so opted for the 1-CD release of "The Best of the Best."

That reviewer has my sympathy because the live 1957 concert is astonishing. Sinatra is in his Capitol years prime. The sound quality is wonderful - this doesn't sound like a crappy "historic" bootleg. Sinatra is SO relaxed. He just flows through the quieter material and digs into the livelier stuff. Nelson Riddle and Sinatra's pianist, Bill Miller, are there with him. Live. This is a good as it gets - this is as good he HE gets. These aren't studio recordings. The same arrangements and musicians but now they've settled into the music. The live performance, a full hour long, is reason alone to justify this release. I wasn't about to buy the same recordings again. Even if it's in the latest digital/laser-powered/photon-enhanced format, there's no reason for ME to grab everything that says "Frank Sinatra" on the cover.

But this, this is wonderful. If you're just getting into Sinatra, sure, buy the single CD release. If you're already a resident of Sinatraville, then buy the Deluxe Edition - they made it just for YOU!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good luck with the packaging, but otherwise brilliant November 25, 2011

By Patricia L. Grove

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I had '57 in Concert on my Amazon wish list for two years, but never got it because it was out of print, and never went below $50. Needless to say, when I found out it was on this deluxe edition, I was ecstatic. I resisted buying the regular edition locally, and made myself wait until the mailman brought it, and was I glad I did. There are many concerts available from Vegas in the 60's, and from many places in the 80's (when charm assisted the instrument) but very few legit recordings from Sinatra's vocal prime of the late 50's. And of course, he didn't haul Nelson Riddle around too much either, as he lugged Nelson and his recording musicians up the coast to Seattle. At times, the Voice seems a little weak ("One For My Baby" is mostly whispered) but is that the Crown Royal talking they got that week from Canada, or is it because he was just so darn good in this era that we're expecting perfection? No matter, because it's a heck of a ride. It's especially nice to hear songs that weren't always standard fare, like the Dorsey era "Oh! Look at Me Now" "The Tender Trap" and a trilogy from Songs For Young Lovers.

As for "Best of the Best" it's a fine Beginning Sinatra 101 course, with both the Capitol and Reprise in historical order. I drove 90 miles in an ice storm to hear Frank Jr. tell the stories that are in these liner notes. Frank-o-philes could stand here all day debating what is truly "best of the best" especially in the Capitol section(c'mon, no "Moonlight In Vermont?") but it's a hoot having Witchcraft and My Way on the same CD for once.

My only gripe is the Fort Knox packaging on the deluxe edition. Very hard to grip the two cardboard sleeves in the tight CD-sized box. But otherwise, a first-class collection "all the way."

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth it for the "57 concert November 30, 2011

By G. Misthos

Format:Audio CD

I am a huge, huge Sinatra fan. I have nearly everything he ever recorded in the studio, plus numerous live concerts and videos of TV shows and concerts. I know a lot about Frank. I cannot completely share the enthusiasm about this particular item that the previous three reviewers share.
First the good news: I have possessed a CD of the "57 Seattle concert for years. There aren't that many Sinatra live show recordings from the "50's, so this is rather rare, especially with Nelson Riddle joining him. Some really great songs and renditions (although I must add that Sinatra struggles with "My Funny Valentine"). That being said, the price of this CD collection is worth the price for this concert alone.
However, I am not as enthusiastic about the first disc, which combines recordings from both Capitol and Reprise. My beef is that Sinatra recorded thousands of songs (including with Columbia and also RCA Victor with Tommy Dorsey) and the collection is limited to 23 songs? If you are someone who wants to know more about Sinatra, then I suppose this collection would be OK. But there are way too many worthy songs not here.

But if you really want to get into Sinatra but don't want to buy individual albums he recorded, then I recommend...on Capitol, Classic Sinatra is a worthy collection of 20 songs. Even better is the three disc collection, Frank Sinatra, The Capitol Years. 75 songs on three discs, including his very hard to find recording of "Everybody Loves Somebody", recorded roughly seven years before Dean Martin recorded it! For the Reprise years, I recommend Nothing But the Best, one disc that has the basics covered. Even better is the four disc Reprise Collection.

Sinatra is the greatest, and there is a lot of material out there. Again, for the '57 concert alone, well worth it, but you can get better "best of or greatest hits" compilations than this one. Hope this helps!