Customer Reviews

No One Cares

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dark, brooding, and melancholy, "No One Cares" is a superb torch album that ranks a close second to "Only the Lonely" as Sinatra's greatest compilation of "suicide songs" as he sneeringly referred to them. No one ever got into a lyric as convincingly as Frank did, and the result on this album is a spare, understated performance that is absolutely stunning. There is a pervading sense of sadness and despair in this album that showcases the full range of Sinatra's interpretative powers with ballads that are difficult to do justice to in an emotional sense. Equally outstanding are Gordon Jenkin's lush orchestrations and his superb use of strings and woodwinds. This was their second collaboration together, and the album was recorded at four different sessions in 1959 when Frank was at the absolute zenith of his musical powers. The four bonus tracks mesh beautifully with the other selections, but my favorite track on the album is "None But The Lonely Heart." It is indescribably beautiful and haunting and unbearably sad. This is an essential purchase for any serious Sinatra-phile. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

"No One Cares" is Sinatra's third Capitol collaboration with arranger Gordon Jenkins. Like other Jenkins offerings (including the slightly superior "Where Are You?"), it is swamped by heavy strings while Frank sings various ballads concerning how completely shattered his lonely heart is. Of all of Frank's ballads/suicide songs-only titles for Capitol, this is perhaps the weakest - this isn't to say that it's a poor offering. Far from it. It's just that, when placed next to you such devastating classics as "Only the Lonely" and "Where Are You?," it pales a bit. But there is much enjoyment to be found (the five star rating IS warranted). Indeed, Frank's vocals are perhaps the most mournful and despairing of any he commited to tape. He really does sound at the end of his rope on such cuts as "Stormy Weather" and Elvis Costello's favorite Sinatra song, "No One Cares." And, as a side note, it has one of coolest album covers of any Capitol album - a forlorn Frank drinking alone at a bar while being totally disregarded by the happy couples surrounding him. This is the first time this title has been available on CD with 24 bit remastering (though it was available in 24 bit in the "Concepts" box set). And, aside from "Concepts," it was previously out of print for close to a decade. So, grab this fine collection now before it disappears again!

In 1957 Frank Sinatra worked with a different arranger at Columbia Records other than Nelson Riddle when he recorded a collection of torch songs for "Where Are You?" with arranger Gordon Jenkins. Two years later Sinatra and Jenkins worked together on "No One Cares," which is almost as good as their first effort. That would be something of an ironic comment because these are dark, brooding songs of loneliness. All things considered I think I like Sinatra as a saloon singer best of all, in which case you would want to pick up both of these albums and "Only the Lonely," which Sinatra recorded in 1958 (with Riddle when Jenkins ended up being unavailable). The most recognizable songs on "No One Cares" would be "Stormy Weather" and "I'll Never Smile Again," which was never this depressing when Doris Day sang it. Standout tracks include "A Cottage for Sale," "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You," and "Here's That Rainy Day," although with torch songs it is always a matter of individual taste when it comes down to what sort of sad, melancholy little song can send you spiraling all the way down into the depths of despair. This reissue of the 1959 album would probably grade out at 4.5 stars if such things were allowed, but I have no problem rounding up given the album's overall quality and the four bonus tracks tacked on at the end of which "This Was My Love" is the best.

Warning: Do not attempt to listen to this symphony of sullenness if you are deeply depressed! (You may not make it out alive). This is, by far, the darkest of all Sinatra's work. Gordan Jenkin's orchestrations are subtle and sparse, and they're mixed well under the vocals -- giving an even deeper sense of Franks solitude. Isn't it interesting that great songs like "No One Cares" or the title track from "Only The Lonely" are never covered by other singers? Then again, who would dare? This album is definitive morose Sinatra at his best. Listen at your own risk -- and enjoy.

if you feel like hell, after being rejected/dumped, etc. this is album is the perfect companion. FS's renditions of "A Cottage For Sale" and the little-known "This Was My Love" are the two saddest songs I have ever heard.

I strongly believe that for evry emotion or experience or love-related situation you can be in, there is a Sinatra song that could explain your feelings perfectly. At this time, mine is "I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You." Listen to it, you'll know how I feel.

I love Gordon Jenkins' arrangements. NO song do they fit better than "Stormy Weather." The deep, lush strings really create the sensation of dark, depressing rainclouds.

In summary, everything including the cover art (my favorite picture) works. Buy if you're lonely, depressed, or just want something soothing to sleep to.

Look closely. That's Nelson Riddle standing behind a forlorn Sinatra on the cover. This is a devastatingly beautiful collection of sad songs with Gordon Jenkins pouring on the strings as only he could and Sinatra singing his heart out as only he could. Both were poets at what they did. There's so much on this album that is emotionally overwhelming--listen to "A Cottage for Sale" for example. Sinatra was at the top of his form and the album was a tremendous international hit and rightly so. I remember it as it came out of the box at Deibel's Records in Wellston Missouri and a storefull of fans grabbed the premiere copies, one crying already just at the cover!

With its amazing song selection (a great combination of lesser and well known standards), its Billie Holiday-drag tempo and with Sinatra's genius intrepretation you have one of the best down and out "suicide" records ever made. On this record Sinatra really plumbs the depths of despair. It's actually hard to listen to for me. But if you've ever been heartbroken or are going through some kind of emotional turmoil put this record on and you will find a great friend - someone to cry with. Sinatra really understands the lows of existence - the emotional nihilism that haunts us all. Listen to this record it is a total masterpiece!!

It's nearly beyond comprehension how someone as personally magnetic as Sinatra could so convincingly sing songs of melancholy and loneliness. Though his albums with Nelson Riddle's arrangements may have been more popularly famous, Sinatra rarely found more suitable accompaniment than the semi-classical orchestral arrangements of Gordon Jenkins. This second collaboration between Sinatra and Jenkins, released in 1959, features the same beautifully engineered stereo as 1957's "Where Were You?"

Also as heard on the '57 release, Jenkins supports Sinatra's inconsolable sadness with arrangements that are both sparse and lush at the same time. He leaves plenty of space for Sinatra's vocals, but underlines the lyrics with brooding orchestral strings and woodwinds and shades in the mood with bluesy touches of piano. "Stormy Weather" features low-strings as thunderclouds and violins that drip along with the foul-weather mood. Sinatra displays his gift for lyrical transparency - his ability to tell a story that happens to be attached to musical notes - throughout the album, but hits a highpoint on "Why Try to Change Me Now?" The lyrics exert such an emotional pull that you'll need to listen a second time to even notice the melody!

Ralph J. Gleason's original liner notes are a wonderful love-letter to Sinatra, and Pete Welding's contemporary notes provide valuable career context for the album. This CD reissue adds a quartet of bonus tracks to the original eleven, including one recorded for the original album (but dropped for technical reasons), "The One I Love (Belongs to Somebody Else)," that is deservedly reunited with its session-mates. The remaining three additions are Sinatra/Riddle collaborations whose themes dovetail nicely with the album's blue sentiments. Tracks 14 and 15 are mono.

If you look up "Torch" in Webster's, it should have a picture of this album. Sinatra used to end "Here's That Rainy Day" by saying it was on an album that was $4.98 and came with a.358 Magnum, but that when you pulled the trigger, Jack Daniels would come out... Yep. Pour a strong one and share a tear with your best friend, he's singing for you.

Superior to "Where Are You" (better songs overall) & more depressing than "Only The Lonely". One of Frank's great masterworks when "The Voice" was unmatched in this solar system. To Frank the lyric was EVERYTHING, the melody just supported it. This CD is NOT recommended for anyoune on the emotional edge.You will jump! This CD is the BEST of its kind!!!