Customer Reviews

Point of No Return

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
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If it's tempting to pass this recording by because of its being Sinatra's last "contractual obligation" to Capitol or because of the assumption that Sinatra's old Columbia orchestrator, Axel Stordahl, was wanting in comparison to Nelson Riddle and Gorden Jenkins, dismiss the thought immediately. This is Sinatra at his very best--feeling, thinking every lyric; breathing, living every phrase--but also achieving an intimate relationship with his orchestrator that borders on the uncanny.

Take "There Will Never Be Another You." After the first time through, the orchestra plays the melody to the final 8-bar section, building to a crescendo that the singer picks up on like a relay runner, taking it to an even higher level. Or "It's a Blue World" when, after the first pass, Stordahl daringly gives the melody to practically the entire orchestra, challenging the singer to match the orchestra's melodic statement in boldness and intensity. He uses the same device on the last 8 bars of "I'll See You Again," defying conventional wisdom about not duplicating the singer's melodic line. The point is that it works. As though sensing that he's not being provided with mere "settings," Sinatra rises to the occasion, responding to the orchestra's prodding voice as a Domingo might sing if paired with a Rene Fleming.

The song selection is equally inspired, from the essential ("As Time Goes By") to the mistreated (Noel Coward's "I'll See You Again") to the fragile ("When the World Was Young"--given a time-capsule reading here). Only "A Million Dreams Ago" represents a falling-off from the standard maintained throughout the rest of the album. But more than atoning are the 4 extra song selections from an earlier Sinatra-Stordahl Capitol recording session. In fact, one of these performances, in particular, is all by itself worth the price of the album: "Day In-Day Out."

No musical artist registers deeper and truer emotions on the theme of "obsession" than Sinatra. His many recorded versions of "Night and Day" range from swing to ballad, from orchestral strings to solo guitar accompaniment, yet each version registers the song's message of driving obsession more convincingly than the interpretations of any other performer. The same is true of Sinatra's different versions of "Day In-Day Out," but not only is the version here the most expressive of the lot: it's perhaps Sinatra's most artful, most soulful performance on record, more deeply felt, even, than "I'm a Fool to Want You."

As for the voice on both dates, it's never sounded healthier, which is a good thing because Stordahl makes Sinatra sing his heart out.

When praising Sinatra's concept albums, few give "Point Of No Return" any high priority. As his last album for Capitol Records, you'd think Frank would have filled up this 'contract filler' with a batch of leftovers and throwaway tunes. I was extremely surprised myself when I first heard this album, it is absolutely beautiful! This is an unexpected gift if you love Sinatra's sad saloon masterpieces like "In The Wee Small Hours" or "Only The Lonely" (which this album has been repeatedly compared to, although I think it shares more similarities with the "No One Cares" and "Where Are You?" albums). Sadness, nostalgia, regret, longing and loneliness are the emotions running throughout, but not the "24-karat manic-depressive" variety that you know Frank can display. This is a more gentle album - wistful, melancholy, somber, almost meditative at times.

The album has that unmistakable after hours, late-night atmosphere - you can hear it in the yearning and emotion of Sinatra's voice - graceful, classy and instantly recognizable. As Frank's arranger, Alex Stordahl never won the praise that Nelson Riddle, Billy May or Gordon Jenkins earned, but he does an impressive job here. Emphasizing strings instead of horns (as Jenkins also did), Stordahl's orchestra moves with ease from lighter-than-air romance into heavy drama, sometimes within the same song - especially on "When The World Was Young" and "It's A Blue World". Another surprise is Frank's slow-paced reading on the American classic "September Song," sounding much more relaxed than the faster version on the "September Of My Years" album. Even "These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You" gets turned around from a playful love song into a mournful flashback of better days gone by. Only Frank can do this!

Perhaps it's intentional that this "farewell" album doesn't stand out too much amongst fans, because it's full of emotions from the guy at the bar that you never notice. He's sitting in the corner alone, stretching out his last drink for as long as he can, because he knows he's got to get up soon, walk away from the memories washing through his mind, and go back into the real world...but for the time being, for the moment, the memories remain. This album sounds exactly as the cover painting suggests.

Point of No Return was Frank Sinatra's last album for Capitol Records before he went on to record on his own label called Reprise Records. Point Of No Return is a very strong album with numerous highlights that prove just how great Frank Sinatra's voice was at this point in his illustrious career. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is very nicely done.

The CD starts with a most passionate number entitled "When The World Was Young;" Frank delivers this with great sensitivity and I love every minute of it! The lush musical arrangement enhances the natural beauty of this ballad and it all works very well. "I'll Remember April" is another charming number with a very pretty melody and I predict that you'll enjoy this very much.

"September Song" is one of the most beautiful ballads I have ever heard; and when The Chairman sings this out he really does justice to this tune! Frank's voice is able to convey so many emotions to the listener and that's absolutely fantastic. In addition, listen for "There Will Never Be Another You;" this touching ballad tugs at my heartstrings when I hear it and Frank's rendition is really the best of all I've ever heard. "These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You" gets the royal treatment from Frank Sinatra; and the strings are used to great advantage. I also like that piano arrangement, too!

"As Time Goes By" is, of course, one of the greatest love songs ever written; and Frank sings this with lots of feeling. Franks delves into this tune to make his performance a masterful one and it's very memorable. "As Time Goes By" is an excellent highlight of this album. "I'll Be Seeing You" stuns me with its beauty; this nostalgic, sentimental number also tugs at my heartstrings and Frank Sinatra's version is sublime.

"Day In Day Out" features Frank squarely front and center--right where he belongs! The strings are lovely and the harp is equally beautiful. Frank plays with the tempo a bit to place his own mark on this classic pop love song. "Lean, Baby" reverts to a much more upbeat melody that is catchy and very entertaining. Frank sings this with positive energy and I really like "Lean, Baby" an awful lot. The CD also ends well with Frank Sinatra performing "I'm Waling Behind You." "I'm Walking Behind You" sounds very sweet and this sentimental ballad is an excellent ending for this album.

Frank Sinatra moved the hearts of so many countless people; we truly are so much better off for his sharing his gift and artistry with us. This is a must-have for Sinatra fans; and people who like classic pop vocals and even torch songs will like this album, too.

When "Point of No Return," Sinatra's farewell to Capitol, came out almost everyone was startled and appalled by the dreadful sound--so muddy and muted particularly in the mono version. Here was Frank singing gorgeously in a program reflecting his keen knowledge of popular music and his exquisite taste in material with Axel Stordahl's swoony arrangements and it all sounded buried in six feet of water. Well, that's been corrected here as much as it could be corrected and it sure makes a difference. It says so much about Sinatra that he gave Capitol for its last Sinatra album, issued when his own venture on Reprise was well underway,
a real classic. It's just a gorgeous piece of work start to finish.

This is an underrated album and at the time of its release it was of course overshadowed by RING-A-DING-DING, Sinatra and Strings etc. But I bought this album after my fiancee had broken up with me because I think deep inside I had reached the POINT OF NO RETURN......

Sinatra sings very reflective on this album. He's ready to move on but he's sorting through his memories. His voice I think is at its peak; mature but still tender. This is not ONLY THE LONELY or WHERE ARE YOU. It wasn't meant to be that sad. It's an album about a man who is now coming to terms with the reality that he HAS to move on because he has INDEED reached the POINT OF NO RETURN. Things at CAPITOL had changed, Axel was dying and the music world was about to be shaken up by rock so you could say this is also an album to say good-bye to the era of the great American standards.

The arrangements are superb and the sounds is excellent. I own the non-remastered CD but is excellent too!

Next to In the Wee Small Hours and Only the Lonely, Point of No Return is obscure. Taken on its own merits, it is an excellent album with some standout tracks. Stordahl favors strings, perfect for an album characterised by reflection. From "Memories of You" to "I'll Remember April" and "A Million Dreams Ago", the theme is the past and what might have been.

According to all sources, Sinatra wanted to record this and move on to the next act of his career, with his new label, Reprise. Perhaps because of his old friend Axel Stordahl, or perhaps because he was incapable of turning in a bad performance, this album emerged as something of a pleasant surprise. The only (barely) audible glitch -- and one that was not obvious to me until it was pointed out to me -- is a tape splice at the end of "These Foolish Things Remind Me of You", reportedly because Sinatra was in a hurry and refused to record a second take. The engineers spliced the tape before "YOU" and the rest is history.

Because it is overshadowed by legendary concept albums such as Come Fly With Me and Songs for Swingin' Lovers, Point of No Return is often more difficult to find. It is an excellent album, however. It is remarkable that what could be considered a "second-string" Sinatra album still puts modern vocalists to shame.

It was typical of Frank Sinatra that when he had to do one more LP for Capitol (after having already begun recording for Reprise) instead of tossing off a throwaway album he produced this unjustly-overlooked gem. With beautiful arrangements by Axel Stordahl, with whom Sinatra hadn't worked since the late Columbia era (1950-51), this is a melancholy classic along the lines of the more familiar "In the Wee Small Hours". Even the cover art is classic. Among Sinatra's very best ballad albums.

"Point of No Return" was Sinatra's final Capitol album, and it is one of his very best; an often overlooked, under-appreciated gem that ranks with the best material he recorded for that label between 1953 and 1961. It's a classic Sinatra torch album, but the tone is softer, more reflective, and pairing Frank with Axel Stordahl is a stroke of genius. The lush orchestrations are saturated with Stordahl's preference for strings, and it permits Frank to use the full range of his rich baritone. "September Song" and "As time Goes By" are incredibly sensitive renditions of two classic standards, and there are also four bonus tracks which all work and add to this album's depth and importance. This is an album that should be played late at night when you want The Chairman of the Board to speak to you about love and romance and the sadness that ultimately embraces all of us at some point in our lives. It's one of the pillars in the Sinatra canon and another example of the man's artistry and great sensitivity. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I'm well aware that people are entitled to their own opinion. And there are two sides to every story, as they say, but, there are a few things I will never be able to understand why someone wouldn't enjoy certain things. One of those things being, why would someone NOT like Frank Sinatra?! Isn't that a sin or something?
When I first heard this album I must admit, I didn't like it. It's not that Sinatra's singing is bad but the arrangment's weren't to my liking. I'm not a fan of Axel Stordahl. I like Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Gordon Jenkins, & Johnny Mandel. I thought the arrangments were dull, boring and flat. And because the arrangments were bad, it had an affect on the way Sinatra sang the songs. The next day I listened to the album again. This time I noticed something I should of the first time. This "concept" album is meant to be slow, and "mellow". That's the effect of the album. It's perfect for a rainy night, or for lovers to play softly in the background over some candlelight. The "mood" of the album escaped me, but, now I appreciate it far more. Listen to Sinatra sing "September Song" (One of my all time favorite songs ever) listen to the somber mood he creates, I admit though it's not better then the Jenkins version heard on Sinatra's album "September of My Years". Listen to what he does with Noel Coward's "I'll See You Again" from his play "Bitter Sweet". Sinatra's reading of these two songs should be enough for you to buy the album right there. Other high points on the album are "Somewhere Along the Way","I'll Remember April", & "It's A Blue World".
Sadly not all the tracks are at the same high standard. Stordahl sadly ruins Sammy Fain's WW2 classic "I'll Be Seeing You", one of the 5 most beautiful songs ever written in my opinion. And "As Time Goes By" suffers, but only in the arrangment department.
Is "Point Of No Return" worth buying? Yes, absolutely! It's a beautiful album that works nicely if put as a companion piece to "In the Wee Small Hours". This is a album that you'll be glad you bought, and than again, should anyone really have any doubt about buying ANY Sinatra album? Nope!

I have an old edition of THE ROLLING STONE ALBUM GUIDE who ranked this gem **and and a half,so naturally i said to myself,i'll buy it at the end of my FRANK SINATRA collection,since this is the last CAPITOL album.Strangely(maybe the ROLLING STONE reviewer was drunk when he reviewed it),this is my second favorite ballad album from SINATRA(the first being CLOSE TO YOU).This cd is full of hidden treasures(let it be known),it is definitely not a filler program.It was a very good idea to include FRANK's first recordings with the label.In a way it is a fitting ending to the marvelous theme oriented CAPITOL collection albums.Don't wait at the end to get this,follow your instincts who are telling you to go to the nearest AMAZON store now.If you are tired,you might fall asleep listening to it,but LEAN BABY(being the only swinger) will wake you up.Never let a critic influence your jugment;i learned my lesson.