Nice 'n' Easy [Original recording remastered]

Frank Sinatra | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 8, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00005UMTC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,244 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Although it wasn't designed with the cohesive vision of Frank Sinatra's conceptual masterpieces (like In the Wee Small Hours and Only the Lonely), track for track, this "contractual obligation album"--a lightly swingin' single followed by a bunch of ballads, recorded near the end of his tenure at Capitol--is as strong as anything the singer's ever done. The lightweight title song sets a relaxed tone that's a little misleading--just when you think you can kick back in the recliner and take it "nice 'n' easy" (a swell tune, by the way), Sinatra plunges off the emotional deep end with "That Old Feeling." It's like waking up from an afternoon nap to find yourself afflicted with insomnia in the wee small hours. OK, so he contradicts himself. The first song is about taking your time along the smoothly paved road to romance; the second is about driving straight into the ditch of romantic obsession--the difference, say, between Mia Farrow and Ava Gardner. From this point on, the album's tone is definitely Gardner. And Sinatra's singing has never been more spine-tingling than on the next three songs: sounding unfathomable depths in "How Deep Is the Ocean," seductively cooing "I've Got a Crush on You" in his lover's ear, and unabashedly succumbing to the delirious intoxication of "You Go to My Head," his voice "spinning 'round in my brain like the bubbles in a glass of champagne." You can get drunk on this record. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Certainly one of his most romantic albums..., May 22, 2002

By 

Anthony Paul "AP" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nice 'n' Easy (Audio CD)

An often neglected and severely under-rated Capitol album, Nice n' Easy stands up well in the company of Sinatra's other, more recognized masterpieces. It's not one of his moody concept albums (which are breathless in their own right), but a stunning collection of classic love ballads performed with full attention and care from the master. Nelson Riddle's arrangements shimmer with emotion and beauty, a perfect compliment to THE singer. Simply ignore any or all who say that this album is "no 'Only the Lonely', ' Wee Small Hours', etc." That is obvious...it was never intended to be like either of those albums nor any other of his concept albums. This is an album for romance...it's "concept" is of love. Rather than shelling out bucks for the countless "greates hits" compilations from Capitol or Reprise, including the new "Greatest Love Songs", go for the original albums. If its love songs you are after...they are all here folks. This particular edition is the "24 bit" version released in 2002. While I've read that some are complaining about the remastering, I found the album to sound very warm and rich. However, I have to agree that something doesn't sound quite right with the title track. His voice seems to be too far in the background at points. All in all though, this is a very minor mention, and the rest of the album is exquisite. Another stunning example of American classic music from a truly gifted artist. Don't hesitate for a moment.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great record (5 Stars), poor digital mastering (2 Stars), May 3, 2002

By 

R. Ritschel "ritschel3" (Audiophileville, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nice 'n' Easy (Audio CD)

Don't be fooled by the "24-bit Digitally Remastered" hype Capital is promoting with these releases. Reprise's Sinatra catalog on CD has done a much better job of preserving the sound of the original record, which is closer to the master tape than these abominations. Bob Norberg (Capital mastering engineer) went to great lenghts to supress the tape hiss, which in turn sucked the life out of these recordings. The result is a flat and dimensionless sound as if a blanket had been thrown over your speakers. If you just want the music and care about the sound, then look for a used copy of the earlier pressing of this CD...

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathless 'n Deep, January 20, 2003

By 

Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nice 'n' Easy (Audio CD)

An admired but often lightly regarded Sinatra offering, it in fact is one of his best. Perhaps "Nice 'n Easy" was an unfortunate (not to mention misleading) title. I had never been a great fan of Irving Berlin's "How Deep Is the Ocean" with its 4 introductory question-phrases until Sinatra's breathtaking version. He breaks the first question into 2 parts, joins the 2 parts for the 2nd question, repeats the midway break in the 3rd question, then for the 4th question not only joins the 2 parts but links the entire phrase to the first part of the bridge: "How far is the journey from here to a star and if I ever lost you--" all as a single, seamless, thrilling phrase by the only mortal capable of suspending breathing for the sake of making a point.