Seduction: Sinatra Sings Of Love

Frank Sinatra | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 20, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino
• ASIN: B001JE38M8
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,240 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The Legendary Voice-and unparalleled master of seduction-sends the world a valentine with a new compilation of classic songs of love and romance. This CD features 22 timeless songs by a host of legendary songwriters, including a previously unreleased rendition of Rogers & Hart's 'My Funny Valentine.'

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Seductive Selection For Beginners., January 30, 2009

By 

Anthony Nasti "Tony" (Staten Island, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seduction: Sinatra Sings Of Love (Deluxe 2 CD Edition) (Audio CD)

I'll admit that when I first heard about "Seduction," my reaction was decidedly ho-hum. I already had all of these songs, and the lone new track was merely an alternate recording of a well known Sinatra classic whose originally released version was already perfect as is.

However, when I finally was given the opportunity to buy "Seduction" today, I couldn't help but be seduced.

For starters, "Seduction" digs deeper into Frank's back catalogue than any other compilation in recent memory. Of all the hundreds of Sinatra "love song" compilations released over the years, this one is by far the best, not least of all because it digs deeper into his catalogue than any other compilation to date. Not one of the tracks here was a major single, nor are they anywhere near as famous "New York, New York," "My Way," or the song that seemed like a mandatory inclusion on all previous "love song" comps, "Strangers In The Night."

The songs chosen perfectly reflect the theme presented in the album's title, as these are some Frank's most sensual and evocative performances. "Prisoner Of Love," which begins the cd, is one of his powerful performances, whose virtues are extolled beautifully in the spotlight review by my mutual Sinatra aficionado, Mark Blackburn of Canada, so much that it would be pointless (not to mention extremely difficult) to add anything else to say about it.

Elsewhere, we get Frank's deep throated, smooth as silk rendering of "It Had To Be You" (to think had to wait 40 years to officially record this timeless standard, and yet he still created the definitive rendition), the sexy "Teach Me Tonight" from 1984's "L.A. Is My Lady," the luscious "That's All," and many other lesser known gems that will give the casual fans a deeper insight into Sinatra's genius.

Five of Frank's most beloved classics from his Capitol years are presented in their lesser known Reprise recordings. "I've Got You Under My Skin" isn't as technically astonishing as Frank and Nelson Riddle's first attempt in 1956 (for the magnificent "Songs For Swingin' Lovers"), but this rerecording boasts a smoothness and charm of its own that holds up well against its more lauded predecessor. "Witchcraft" leaves the restrained 1957 recording in the dust. The tempo is much faster, and Frank's singing is swingier and sexier, making the song's suggestive lyrics ring with a lusty intensity lacking in the original. "All The Way" is given a deeper rendering of the lyrics by Frank, while Riddle's arrangement, while not as enveloping as the 1957 version, has a lush sound of its own that again lets it stand up well against the original. "Young At Heart" lacks the whimsy of the original, but his deeper, more introspective reading by an older (and wiser) Frank lets the listener look at the song in a different light. "How Little We Know," like "Witchcraft," is taken at a faster tempo that fits this song far better than the comparitively lighter 1956 take.

Most notable is that several of these songs have not been made available on cd for over 10 years, such as the little heard 1983 masterpiece "All The Way Home," a tender ballad that is one of Frank's best post-retirement recordings, sung with a burnished, toasty sentiment that brings a tear to the eye of any listener.

And as for the new recording of "My Funny Valentine," it is even better than the original released take from 1953's "Songs For Young Lovers." It dates to 1965, judging by the rich, resonant tone of Frank's voice, similar to many great recordings from that era ("Everybody Has The Right To Be Wrong," "Available"). The tempo is slower, and his phrasing slower and sexier, not dissimilar to the style in which a beautiful woman slips in and out of a pair of sexy lingerie.

The sound quality is excellent, as the songs are given the same sharpness and resonance as "Nothing But The Best." The packaging is also noteworthy, and the liner notes, featuring a disarmingly interesting essay by Bill Zehme entitled "The Man With The Golden Charm," are the best ever written for a Sinatra compilation.

"Seduction" is an excellent compilation, perfect for Valentine's Day as well as for Sinatra fans.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SEDUCTION'S PRIMARY INSTRUMENT: EXTREME FOCUS, January 20, 2009

By 

Mark Blackburn (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seduction: Sinatra Sings Of Love (Deluxe 2 CD Edition) (Audio CD)

My words are aimed at young people . . . of a particular sort: You have eclectic tastes. You enjoy some classical music, a little jazz by singer/musicians, such as Diana Krall. Women singers especially, have refined your musical tastes in recent years . . .

You may have read (or heard about) last week's `Op-Ed' column in the New York Times, by "Bono" - an astute, rollicking ode to the genius of Frank Sinatra, from the perspective of an aging, Irish rocker.

If you are asked to "name a Sinatra song," you think first, of him singing that familiar tune, to a million celebrants clotting Times Square at midnight, when The Ball comes down . . .

"If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere! It's up to you, New York, New York!"

But . . . you don't own ANY Sinatra albums (yet). And, why should you buy a compilation like this one? Why not one of his "theme" albums? (like "WEE SMALL HOURS" -- highest-ranked by musical historians, and personal favorite of his first-born, Nancy. Right, they sang "Somethin' Stupid" together!)

Well, I say . . . Go for the compilation! And if you buy only one, make it this one. Pour yourself a drink, kick back and . . . prepare to be `seduced' by these remarkable songs! (22 on the single CD version; 32 on the Deluxe Edition).

A collection this thoughtfully-assembled (by the folks at RHINO) `flows' in a way that actually resembles one of Sinatra's late-in-life `live' shows. And, at a time when MP3-downloads may eclipse CD sales . . . this may prove to be the ultimate collection, winning new sub-generations of Sinatra fans.

-----

Author Bill Zehme, who wrote the liner notes for this "SEDUCTION" CD, years ago quoted actress Angie Dickinson's two-word summing up of Sinatra's primary instrument of seduction -- "Incredible focus."

The two dated, "off-and-on for ten years, before-and-after they made OCEANS ELEVEN together. Recalling those famous blue `lasers' of his, Ms Dickinson enthused: "You feel swept in . . . he doesn't unnerve you by doing it (but) it's like a drug, swirling around you. He has a magical way, you feel very, very comfortable. And he doesn't ignore you when he's in the company of others. He stays `connected' to you, without coddling.'

(Recalling words Sinatra shared about the Art of Singing: an audience is rather like a woman; "if she senses indifference . . . Endsville!")

----

Concerning the remarkable arrangements: The lion's share (12) were penned by America's greatest-ever orchestrator, Nelson Riddle; six were arranged by the late Don Costa (Nikka's Dad); three each, from Billy May and Neal Hefti (who died 2008); Quincy Jones wrote two; six other musicians (11 arrangers in all) get credit for one apiece. Those last include the "dean" of living arrangers Johnny Mandel plus Polish-born American, Claus Ogerman (both of whom have arranged recently for Diana Krall).

Every Sinatra compilation (I say) should include at least one song from Frank's historic album with Brazilian musical giant Antonio Carlos Jobim arranged by Claus Ogerman.

[A personal aside: I've always thought of the late Mr. Jobim as "Brazil's Cole Porter." Thus my delight to find the one track here from that great album is Porter's "I Concentrate on You." Recorded in 1967 (a "very good year" for the Sinatra family) Frank emerged from a nighttime session with Jobim to record one of his few million-selling singles -- "Somethin' Stupid" -- with daughter Nancy (a song you will find on most every other Sinatra REPRISE compilation . . . but not on this one.]

Among rarities you'll only find here is a previously unreleased "alternate version" of "My Funny Valentine" - this one from a `live' show that truly ranks among Sinatra's greatest vocal performances. Talk about breath control! The singer sustains with deceptive ease, consecutive phrases "Stay! Pretty Valentine, stay . . . each day is Valentine's Day" -- 15 seconds of Sinatra's `bel canto' virtuosity. (Just try singing along! The old Master will show you up, every time -- you breathless pipsqueak!)

A salute to producer Charles Pignone for making "Prisoner of Love" track Number 1. Sinatra's seductive ways with the Ladies were legendary. Here, however he goes straight to the hearts of all males `consensually enslaved' by beauty. (Hard to believe such words were first sung in prim & proper 1931!)

"For one command I stand and wait now
From One who's master of my fate now . . .
She's in my dreams, awake or sleeping
Upon my knees to her I'm creeping,
My very life is in her keeping . . .
I'm just a prisoner of love."

The ache in Frank's voice! Seems he's `been there, done that.' And listen closely, if you will, to the perfectly-mated arrangement by Don Costa (from their 1961 "Sinatra & Strings" album - one of the first Sinatra CDs you should purchase).

Concerning which obsession, the writer of the pleasurable liner notes, author Bill Zehme, wrote:

"He had a weakness for poise: Elusive Women vexed him . . . drew him in, with their flight, and their casual indifference. Once, at a party at Humphrey Bogart's house, he complained to Lauren Bacall "after following one such specimen around without success: `She's ignoring me!'

To which the rueful Bacall said, `Yeah, she's ignoring you right into the sack.' (Her prophesy was realized!)."

Favorite surprises among these many gems, if I may single out a couple, or three (which I'd not heard until recently on SiriuslySinatra satellite radio - they're not among my 60 Sinatra CDs).

The one song which could have fit, seamlessly, into my all-time favorite "CONCERT SINATRA" album (recorded the same year, 1963) is `Track 9' here: A ravishingly beautiful orchestration by Nelson Riddle, from Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC -- "Some Enchanted Evening." In a word . . . wow! Wonder what the song's composers (my favorites) thought of that one?

Other delightful rarities: "STAY WITH ME" and "ALL THE WAY HOME" . . . the latter, features a gorgeous late-in-life (1983) orchestration by the late Joe Parnello, sometimes band-leader/pianist for Sinatra. [I can imagine Frank listening to the playback of this one, and telling Joe (as he did once to sax giant Johnny Hodges after his solo on "Indian Summer") "My God, that's beautiful!"]

A friend at the Sinatra family website points out the similarities in the Parnello arrangement's opening bars, to `Edelweiss' (from THE SOUND OF MUSIC) - just a hint, suggesting "that Joe Parnello was paying homage to Richard Rodgers."

[Rodgers perhaps inadvertently, once paid similar homage to Nelson Riddle's great `counter-melodies -- borrowing, as his five opening notes of "The Sound of Music," the same sequence of notes you'll hear on the closing orchestral flourish of Riddle's great arrangement (4 years earlier) of Sinatra's "TIME AFTER TIME."]

Such subtleties await your detection throughout this marvelous collection of `prime Sinatra.' Look -- if you really appreciate great music -- and need to banish those little town (mid-winter) blues -- do yourself a favor and pick this one up. And why not treat yourself to the "Deluxe Edition" with 10 extra tracks, including some exceptional beauties!

Mark Blackburn
Winnipeg Manitoba Canada

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for the ears and your mental health., January 21, 2009

By 

Robert Busko (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seduction: Sinatra Sings Of Love (Deluxe 2 CD Edition) (Audio CD)

Preamble: I've recently become a huge fan of MP3 downloads. Honestly, I've become disenchanted with the so-called "greatest hits" collections by various artists that contain ten to fifteen songs of which you've never heard of half of them. You end up with the songs you wanted, but you also have a load of music you'll honestly skip over when you're listening. Downloading singles for $.79 to $.99 is the only way to go.

That's all true unless you're buying something like this CD, Seduction: Sinatra Sings of Love. What a great compilation of hit standards from a simpler time. If you buy the deluxe edition you get a collection of 32 songs that include such mega hits as: Witchcraft; I Get a Kick Out of You; The Second Time Around and others. I don't believe I didn't recognize a single song.

This is a marvelous collection of music that spans several decades. Sinatra was a force of nature the likes of which I doubt we'll see again. It is a cliché but honestly, they broke the mold after he came through.