Customer Reviews

Reprise: The Very Good Years

5 star:		(93)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're contemplating buying a Sinatra allbum, it would be difficult to go wrong with this one -- most of what is included here really is among the best of Sinatra's work at Reprise. To some extent, however, this represents the most commercial of his later recordings, which means that many artistic highlights are excluded.

On the plus side, the 1963 re-recording of 'I've Got You Under My Skin' is sensational, even if the 1956 Capitol original is often mentioned as the best popular song of the century. 'Summer Wind', from the 'Strangers in the Night' album of 1966 is perfect, but the title track -- included here because it was a huge hit when released -- is schmaltz. Sinatra said he hated it when he recorded it and rarely if ever performed it. In contrast, 'Wave' (not included here) recorded with Antonio Carlos Jobim, rated as one of Sinatra's personal favorites and it is a piece of vocal nirvana -- but it was less successful than 'Strangers' and so is omitted. A magnficent 1967 collaboration with Jobim ('The Girl from Ipanema', 'Corcovado') is inexplicably not represented here.

'Luck Be A Lady,' a Billy May arrangement that originally appeared in the Reprise Repertory version of 'Guys and Dolls', is one of the most exhuberant Sinatra recordings ever. It swings, and the vocals are a tour de force -- when he sings that 'a lady doesn't wander all over the room', listen to the inflection and the long lines without obtrusive breathing. Astounding.

'Night and Day' and 'All or Nothing at All' are Sinatra standards that he recorded for Columbia, Capitol and here Reprise. While the Capitol version of 'Night and Day' is one of Sinatra's best recordings of all time, this version is especially stately and grand and worth hearing. 'The Theme from New York, New York' and 'It Was A Very Good Year' may be the best here, because they are not remakes, and the deepened baritone of 1965 FS ('Very Good Year') and the coarsened 1979 version ('NY NY') serve these tracks well.

Overall, some great material. Any collection will overlook significant recordings, but even the listener who owns 50 or 60 Sinatra albums would find occasion to play this one. If this album is your introduction to Sinatra, consider Reprise's 'The Very Best of Frank Sinatra' instead -- mostly similar material, but with 'Wave', 'Witchcraft' and some great early Reprise material with Johnny Mandel ('A Foggy Day') and high octane Count Basie ('Nice Work if You Can Get It'). Also, I cannot recommend urgently enough that you consider a 'best of' set from Capitol and, once you are completely hooked, the 'best of' set from Columbia. There is probably no more perfect musical experience than listening to Sinatra singing Cole Porter in the evening, drink in hand, through your favorite speakers. If you have not yet experienced the original concept albums -- well, then the best is yet to come.

Why was Frank Sinatra considered one of the 20th century's greatest singers (some say THE). Sinatra Reprise The Very Good Years is one of the key Sinatra CDs that'll show you precisely why.

Sinatra fans will love this collection. And young people who are interested in singing-non rock (in his final years Sinatra's biggest fans included some of the rock's biggest names, who publically attested to his influence and their admiration for him) can find in this recording not only a good role musical model but proof (as rock's Bruce Springsteen now also clearly shows with The Rising) that a teen idol CAN age, create, innovate and wear well musically. Talent doesn't evaporate at age 30 or 40.

The 20 tracks on this CD are somewhat unusual since they're incredibly diverse, include some re-makes of his earlier Capitol hits and even a "live" performance in front of an audience. Usually you can't find a collection that gives you the studio and live recordings in one. This CD's songs reflect the 60s/70s/and-yes-80s Sinatra, the show-stopping singer who had survived being a washed-up teen idol and had been born again in the early 50s as a "swinger" using only the best arrangers and orchestras at Capitol Records. By the 60s/70s and 80s Sinatra had managed to pierce the rock charts and get extensive radio play as many of his easy listening/jazz contemporaries vanished from the airwaves, not due to lack of talent but due to musical/demographic changes. But Sinatra's work, talent and song selection were so overpowering that his songs not only were played but SOLD while still getting critical rave reviews.

My favorites here include the often-imitated theme from New York New York, ending in his final sock-em chorus where with gleeful pizazz he elongates the word "annnnnnnnnnnd"; My Kind of Town (Sinatra's zestful ode to Chicago, from one of his films); I've Got You Under My Skin (a slightly inferior remake of the1950s Capitol records version with the same lengendarily explosive Nelson Riddle arrangement); Strangers in the Night (a song he didn't really like and barely sung in concert); My Way (matched only by Elvis' unique but equally rousing version); That's Life (an almost harsh 70s-style rock-blues influenced number that he almost shouts); the Lady is a Tramp (Sinatra gave Cole Porter standards new life).

There are many others. Fans of Tv's "Married With Children" will find his remake of Love and Marriage, the theme song on that show. But there is one song on this CD that I think is WORTH THE WHOLE COST of the collection: The Summer Wind. Here he returned to his 1950s innovative roots, producing an original version of this song artistically satisfying as it builds to its emotional show-stopping conclusion....with Sinatra then punctuating it with a final, unusually low, soft phrase. It's a homerun.

Sinatra perfected this kind of singing. The Reprise label was his own and, as usual, he used state-of-the-art and only-the-best musicians and arrangers. STRONGLY recommended for Sinatra fans, young people who want to learn why Sinatra was considered great, and for young people interested in learning this kind of singing or using some of its techniques in their own music. You cannot learn from a better master than Sinatra -- and he has left a ton of great CD "instruction books" behind.

This is the first Sinatra CD I ever heard, and it's still my favorite. I grew up on 70s rock (Eagles, Frampton, etc.) and never thought I would get into music like this. I'm glad I took the plunge and bought it.

For those of us weaned on guitars, I think this CD has more accesible music than the Capitol years issues, making it a great way to get hooked. "I've got you under my skin" is live (with Count Basie!) here and has more kick than the delicate Nelson Riddle version from "Singing Lovers" CD. The same goes for "Lady is a Tramp" (also live, from 1970s), and "I get a kick out of you." Toss in "New York New York", "Luck be a lady" and a version of "My Way" that outdoes even the King, and you've got Sinatra at his swingin' best.

The only downers are "Send in the Clowns" (a dreary, self pitying arrangement of a dreary, self pitying song) and "That's Life." (Frank was many things, but a gospel singer was not one of them.) I also despise "Love and Marriage", but only because it reminds me of Al Bundy.

I took my favorites from this CD, added a half dozen tracks from the Live at the Sands CD and have a 90 minute cassette that I play constantly in my car.

If you are a fan of Frank Sinatra you must buy this CD . . . it contains every great song and is the essential Sinatra CD. I bought this a long time ago because it had all the songs I was looking for: "Summer Wind," "The Way You Look Tonight," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "New York, New York" . . . . the list goes on! I have also given this as a gift numerous times and each recipient has loved it. If you are only familiar with a one or two Sinatra songs, get this CD and you will consider yourself the biggest fan. This is Frank at his all-time best . . . a wonderful collection of his greatest songs. Trust me, you will find yourself humming "Luck Be A Lady Tonight" in no time at all! I listen to this CD all the time at work and it definitely makes me smile all day long. No one will ever compare to Frank -- he is a legend, and this CD proves it.

This is the first Sinatra CD I bought and probably the only one I will ever need to buy. The reason why is simply this: it actually contained EVERY Sinatra song I wanted. Frank has nearly 200 CDs out there now, but this collection managed to be the one for me, a casual listener. So if you're not a devout Sinatra fan, this single CD will give you "My Way", "Theme from New York, New York", "Love & Marriage", "Strangers in the Night", "Send in the Clowns", and 15 more of his most popular numbers. Rest in peace, Frank! :)

Here are 20 songs from Frank's first 20 years on his own label, arranged as a one-disc lure to get fans to buy a four-CD retrospective. If you can only afford one Frankie CD, it isn't a bad choice. However, Sinatra is not just "The Voice". He is an era, or several eras. He is several styles and moods, and works best when the whole CD is in the same mood. His "Songs for Swingin' Lovers" is just one of many delightful, lively records he made. His "In the Wee Small Hours" is one of several explorations of romantic despair he created over the decades. I think those two represent his extremes best, and should be in everyone's collection. This CD is mostly light-hearted, but mixes in six serious ballads. Frank recorded so many great American pop songs, some several times for Columbia, then Capitol, then Reprise. No person charged with picking 20 out of the 81 selections in the Reprise box set could please everyone. I'm sure I would probably change half of these if I had the job. That said, nothing on here is "bad." I like "Night and Day" and "The Way You Look Tonight" and "I've Got You Under My Skin" the best. Less interesting to me are "The Last Dance" and "Luck Be a Lady" and "My Kind of Town" and "The Best is Yet to Come" and "That's Life" and "My Way". My advice in building a Sinatra CD collection is to invest the time to scan ALL available CD's via Amazon.com, and read at least 10 reviews of each item. Don't rely on compilations and be a slave to the tastes of strangers in the night. Decide if you want your Frank to be sad, or joyful, or sassy or wise. He's got original product, especially from 1955 on Capitol to about 1975 on Reprise, which will suit all moods and tastes.

This is a great intro to Frank Sinatra, whether you've never heard of him or if you like his films or songs you've heard on the radio and want his stuff on disc. Released around the time of the Chairman's 75th birthday, this offers 20 of his best cuts from his 1960 to 1988 tenure at his Reprise label. You get bona-fide Reprise-era classics like "It Was a Very Good Year," "My Kind of Town," "My Way," Send in the Clowns," and "Theme from NEW YORK, NEW YORK," as well as remakes of Capitol or Columbia songs like "I Get a Kick out of You," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Love and Marriage," and "The Lady is a Tramp." Also included are two collaborations with Count Basie, "Fly Me to the Moon" and "The Best is Yet to Come," and two previously unreleased songs "The Last Dance" and a new version of "Nancy." This CD is a lot of fun to listen to, especially on the road, which is when I listen to it the most, or lounging at home late at night (should work just as well as IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS, which I have yet to purchase). Frankie is surely having fun and you should too.

SINATRA REPRISE: THE VERY GOOD YEARS: 10 of 10

"The remarkable thing about Sinatra recordings is that you can listen to them not only forever, but also at great length without overdosing, once you have been infected." ~ William Kennedy

I agree with Mr. Kennedy on his very interesting liner notes and I can truly say that I'm one of the myriad fans of Frank Sinatra who have been infected by his voice, his style and his music. This is one of the best Sinatra compilations ever produced. These are the songs that he recorded and arranged by the elite group of Sinatra-arrangers-and-conductors from 1961 thru 1979 - the very good years for Mr. Sinatra.

The most outstanding tracks for me are all the songs arranged by Nelson Riddle (my top favorite of all arrangers and conductors) such as the best composition of Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields "The Way You Look Tonight," Cole Porter's "Night And Day," "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "I Get A Kick Out Of You," Johnny Mercer and H. Mayer's "Summer Wind," and of course Sammy Cahn (very eloquent lyricist, I'd say) and Jim Van Heusen's "The Last Dance."

I recently watched the Hollywood Bowl's "Opening Night" with a friend of mine and there was a "Tribute To Frank Sinatra" headed by Quincy Jones upon Mr. Sinatra's induction to the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame. Frank Sinatra made his Hollywood Bowl debut in 1943 and the microphone he used on that very first concert is still an exhibit item at the Hollywood Bowl Museum. Frank Sinatra Jr. sung a few songs, one of those is the classic standard "The Way You Look Tonight" and special guest Steve Tyrell sung "Fly Me to the Moon" perfectly to a T with Quincy Jones conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and using the same arrangement in the original Sinatra version.

To me, one of Sinatra's signature songs is the very highlight of this compilation CD, Bart Howard's "Fly Me to the Moon," which was superbly arranged by Quincy Jones with Count Basie And His Orchestra and recorded in June of 1964. This song later became the first music ever heard on the moon when the U.S. astronauts landed in 1969.

"Fill my heart with song and let me sing forevermore
You are all I long for all I worship and adore
In other words, please be true
In other words, I love you!"

I wholeheartedly recommend this wonderful CD for your listening pleasure. It's one of the greatest compilations of fabulous Sinatra songs. Give it a special spot in your music library.

Happy Listening!

OK, Francis Albert Sinatra is probably the greatest singer of the 20th century. Nothing will change that.
However, 'The Very Good Years' represents the Voice in decline. The bulk of material on this cd, Frank covered in the 50s at Capitol Records, and, to me, those are the definitive versions. Frank was at the height of his powers, and had invented, yes INVENTED, to concept album during that period.
"Strangers in the Night", "Summer Wind", "My Way", "That's Life", and "Theme from New York New York" are the reasons to get this cd. Those five songs are right up there with his Capitol glory years. They're why I own it.

I dare anybody to name a singer as timeless as Frank Sinatra. As much as I love the Beatles, The Beach Boys, Elton John, The Who, The Four Tops, The Four Seasons, Barry Manilow and many more, their legacy can't hold a candle to Sinatra.

The 1990 cd "The Reprise Collection" holds a special place in my heart. It was the first cd I ever heard. In fact, I played it so much I had to buy 4 copies because I wore it out. There's only a few cds you can say that about.

Every classic Sinatra recorded on Reprise is here. Whether you enjoy "Fly Me To The Moon", "My Way", "Strangers In The Night", "New York, New York" or "That's Life", it's hard to be disappoinetd by the song selection. There isn't a lot of rare stuff here. Thre's a selection of previously released but relatively unknown songs here, such as his haunting renditon of "Send In The Clown" or a latterday recording of his 1940s' hit "Nancy (With The Laughing Face)".

Aside from the number 1 hit Nancy Sinatra duet "Something Stupid", this set leaves nothing out. I sugest this, as well as "The Main Event" and "Sinatra 80: Live In Concert".