Customer Reviews

She Shot Me Down

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Frank Sinatra was, quite simply, the greatest interpreter of the American popular song who ever lived. His singing style is the subject of musicological doctoral dissertations in addition to being something that makes life a little more worth living. For those wonder what makes Sinatra such an important artist, "She Shot Me Down" provides ample evidence of his brilliance, passion, and unparalleled ability to turn a melody into a deeply personal statement.

This album, released in 1981, is centered around the themes of lost love, break-ups, and romantic desolation. A mere 38 minutes in duration and containing only nine songs, "She Shot Me Down" is nevertheless one of the finest albums of Sinatra's stellar career.

Much of the material here is new or obscure. "Good Thing Going" is a great song, but the arrangement (courtesy of Don Costa) is so bad it nearly kills it--but not quite. Even in this schmaltzy atmosphere, Sinatra manages to inject some of his trademark icy passion into an otherwise pedestrian version of this Sondheim classic.

After the disheartening beginning, the album takes off, with nary a weak note to come. My personal favorites are: "Hey Look, No Crying," where Frank examines the end of a romance with deceptive stoicism; "Thanks for the Memory," in which the cute Bob Hope standard is turned instead into a chilling remembrance of a halcyon love gone terribly wrong (this is one of the best lyrics I've ever encountered); "Monday Morning Quarterback," written by Costa and featuring a fine lyric by Pamela Phillips, in which Frank's tough guy image can't hide his bewilderment at losing again; and the magnificent "I Loved Her," with words and music by Gordon Jenkins. Sinatra's vocal on this last track is one of the finest he ever committed to vinyl, and shows why his musical legacy remains so imposing. Despair and regret don't get more enticing than this.

The other songs are all excellent as well. With only one weak track ("Good Thing Going"), "She Shot Me Down" is a superb and worthy slice of late Sinatra. Check it out.

With the exception of the contemporary but pretty title track, this album takes you back to the 1950s saloon theme albums.

Sinatra's voice has aged but is still strong and sounds much richer on this album than on TRILOGY probably because Don Costa produced this album.....he simply was a better producer than Sonny Burke. The soundmix and quality are superb! If only more Sinatra albums had sounded like this.......

The songs alternate between well known and more modern (lesser known) tunes. But Sinatra does magic on all of them and turns them into classics. Even though Sonny and Cher wrote it and sang it first.....do they really reach the depth of Sinatra's performance on BANG, BANG...my baby shot me down?

Finally, the arrangements by Gordon, Don and Nelson are all superb. At times Gordon Jenkins arrangments seem to be unusually somber and quiet but it fits the mood perfectly.

GET THIS ALBUM....IT IS SINATRA'S LAST GREAT MASTERPIECE!!

The loneliness, anguish, heartache, and utter despair...is all here in this last triumph that was Mr. Sinatra. Released twenty-nine (29) years ago on Reprise, this gem of an album has reached iconic status among Sinatraphiles the world over. It's great to see these remarkable re-issues of Sinatra's Reprise catalog finally becoming available to thousands of fans that otherwise may not have had this opportunity. My two (2) favorites here are "A Long Night" and the medley: "The Gal That Got Away/It Never Entered My Mind." By all means, grab this one while you can!! It is 'Sinatra Passion' at its absolute best!!

Sad,poignant and simply wonderful masterpiece of the almost sevety years old Francis Albert.A breathtaking album in wich the Voice soars over the time,the lonely nights,the Camel cigarettes and the Jack Daniels of a life,the heartbreaks and Ava Gardner.
What if it's no the Capitol Sinatra? What if he can't swing like in 1955 anymore? This is the definitive saloon album of Sinatra,in the same level of "WEE SMALL HOURS","ONLY THE LONELY", "NO ONE CARES" or the non-saloon-but-introspective "SEPTEMBER OF MY YEARS".The emotion in his performances ,along with the marvelous arrangements,captures the listener inmediately.I was lucky to find this gem in a shop for only six dollars,and will provide me countless and priceless hours of pleasure.Highlights? from the first to the last of the nine tracks.Perfection.

"She Shot Me Down" is Sinatra's final great album. Released in 1981, it is a spare, nine-track, thirty-eight minute torch album that is among Frank's best work with Reprise. Working with songs that were relatively obscure compared to the great standards that he recorded, Sinatra still manages to fully invest himself on every track. "Hey Look, No Crying" is hauntingly sad, and "I Loved Her" is drenched with Frank's emotional intensity for lost love. Sinatra was in great voice for this album, and it was co-arranged by Gordon Jenkins, Don Costa, AND Nelson Riddle. Good luck trying to find a copy. It's out-of-print and selling for over a hundred dollars on E-bay. But it is an absolutely ESSENTIAL PURCHASE for any serious Sinatra collector. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Like anyone will ever see this plea. If you see this CD anywhere, buy it-if for no other reason than you'll be able to hoc it on Ebay for 100.00! The Old Man still had it. A stripped down saloon song album, simply outstanding! Why wont Frank's family &/or handlers re-release this?!?! We dont need anymore "best of"'s sold at Starcraps, er I mean Starbucks! The true fans deserve better. We deserve pure musical product, remixed / remastered / good liner notes. Babs, Frank Jr, Tina, Nancy, Reprise(Ree-prize, as Frank used to say), get this one out there at 15.00!

The pluses and the minuses:

PLUSES
- Frank's voice: a little aged, a little raspy here and there, but still powerful, mighty, experienced, time-worn and evoking a "been there, done that, seen it all, had it all happen to me..." feeling
- Unusual collection of somewhat obscure songs not found on any other Sinatra recordings, except for one or two, allowing for examination on how Frank interprets the new and unknown - standouts: "Gal That Got Away/It Never Entered My Mind" (best track), "Long Night", "I Loved Her", "South - To A Warmer Place" (itself quite unusual in its musical structure, with unexpected melodic and chord jumps, as well as rhythmic pauses, etc. which Frank handles with smooth mastery)
- Superior arrangements, perfect for the mood of the album
- The yellow shaker-knit sweater and the "Members' Only"-style jacket on the cover: 1981 era style, retro! And smoking?? So last century!
- Late-night lights-off, candles alight, red wine in hand (or JD if you want to do the real Sinatra thing), saloon Sinatra at his best
- Frank's last studio album: a must-have for that reason alone

MINUSES:
- Hard to find! Recommendation: buy the 1995-issued "Complete Reprise Studio Recordings" from eBay or Amazon. You get the equivalent of 20+ albums plus many unreleased singles in excellent remastered quality.
- Period recording techniques somewhat distracting: the reverb employed makes Frank sound like he's singing in the shower in some places
- Unusual repertoire offered may make Sinatra fans feel wanting for more, also very short LP if you could even find it
- Those used to the "Come Fly With Me" Sinatra will wonder what happened to his voice and bravado; this is Sinatra at his moodiest, for the experienced Sinatra fan or collector

THE TITLE OF THIS CD AND MY REVIEW TITLE TELLS IT ALL.

I love listening to this Album.Full of heart felt songs sung with the Sinatra passion. Almost a latter day "Only the Lonely" type effort. A must for all Sinatraphiles.

If I were you, I'd run and get a copy of Sinatra's swan song record. It may go out of print for a second time, and you'll hate yourself for missing it the second time around. This is Sinatra telling stories of love gone awry like no human being has ever done vocally. The voice is more mature, the tones are deeper, the breathing a little heavier. But the MAGIC that Sinatra alone creates is all there. Not to mention the CHEMISTRY of Sinatra's masterful singing, Jenkins's sophisticated arrangements, and the incredibly beautiful SONGS. If you are familiar with Sinatra's Capitol recordings, this record is along the same line of 1958's SINATRA SINGS FOR ONLY THE LONELY. The difference? Sinatra, in 1981, delivers more punch, more pathos, more sadness than when his voice was younger and fresher. DEFINITELY NOT TO BE MISSED!!!