It Might As Well Be Swing [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Frank Sinatra, Count Basie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 8, 1998)
• Original Release Date: 1980
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Reprise / Wea
• ASIN: B00000AG9F
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,511 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Fly Me to the Moon

2. I Wish You Love

3. I Believe in You

4. More [Theme from Mondo Cane]

5. I Can't Stop Loving You

6. Hello, Dolly!

7. I Wanna Be Around

8. The Best Is Yet to Come

9. The Good Life

10. Wives and Lovers

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This 1964 release was the second collaboration between Frank Sinatra and Count Basie, and features a much higher percentage of swing-oriented arrangements (courtesy of Quincy Jones) than the previous Sinatra-Basie. This time around, the Count Basie Orchestra gives the swinging treatment to such contemporary numbers as "More," "I Can't Stop Loving You," "Wives and Lovers," and "Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)," and Sinatra responds with plenty of exuberance and gusto. It's got a good beat, and you can dance to it; out of all the tracks, only "Hello, Dolly!" fails to stand the test of time (or repeated listenings). --Dan Epstein

Product Description

It Might as Well Be Swing was originally released in 1964 and features Sinatra accompanied by the Count Basie orchestra. It was Sinatra's first studio recording with Quincy Jones. This was Sinatra and Basie's second collaboration after 1963's Sinatra-Basie. Sinatra's cover version of "Hello Dolly" on the album features a new second verse improvised by Sinatra, which pays tribute to Louis Armstrong, who had topped the Billboard charts with his own version of the song earlier in 1964. 10 tracks. Universal. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Couple of Lousy Song Choices or it Might Have Been Great!, August 29, 2002

By 

Archmaker (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: It Might As Well Be Swing (Audio CD)

This outing with the Basie Band is a mixed bag: some absolutely outstanding numbers and some perplexingly dumb choices. In brief:
1.Fly me to the Moon: Classic Sinatra. A must have.
2. I Wish You Love: Nicely done. No problem.
3. I Believe in You: Another Classic well done.
4. More: Ehhh, so-so. Adequately done but no great shakes as it is a better instrumental than vocal song.
5. I Can't Stop Loving You: Frank, this wasn't your song! And Quincy Jones what is with the hokey C&W flavored arrangement. Terrible.
6. Hello, Dolly!: Well I could have hated this too, but in the 2nd refrain the Basie Band and Sinatra turn it into a tribute to Louis Armstrong, and for that, it's a keeper.
7. I Wanna Be Around: Good track.
8. The Best is Yet to Come: Worth buying the CD just for this. One of the best songs ever written, done to a fair-thee-well by Quincy Jones, the good Count and Ol'Blue Eyes!
9. The Good Life: Okay.
10. Wives & Lovers: Good cover of an okay tune.

So buy it for tracks 1,3,7 & most especially 8. The first outing with Basie was the best, but these 4 classic songs save this CD from the never-mind pile.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are there more than 5 stars?, September 21, 2006

By 

Angela Hailey "sableskin" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: It Might As Well Be Swing (Audio CD)

I LOVE this album. I wasn't a big Sinatra fan, but I can understand his appeal. His voice had (at one time) perfect pitch. I bought this for Fly Me to the Moon, but I absolutely love "Hello Dolly, "Wives and Lovers", "More", I Wish you Love", and I Believe in You." The arrangements are stunning and timeless. Beautiful sound, perfect for background.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I knocked people's socks off at a party with this in 1966, December 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: It Might As Well Be Swing (Audio CD)

I took this to a party in March of 1966 when I was a student at the University of Maryland. The host was playing contemporary rocks songs when I slipped this on the Record player. Everybody there wanted to hear this recording. My 25 year old daughter thinks that the "Fly Me to the Moon" is one of the really great songs of all times. Teenagers today would find Sinatra and Basie great. I definately recommend this to any Sinatra buff!