Customer Reviews

Sinatra's Sinatra

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sinatra's Sinatra has some of Frank Sinatra's greatest hits and the song selection is a very strong one. This is certainly not a "greatest hits" compilation; but then again it doesn't purport to be a "hits" collection. The sound quality is great and the artwork is also very nicely done.

"I've Got You Under My Skin" features a more mature Sinatra swinging brightly just like the star he always was! Frank never sings a superfluous note and this impresses me greatly. The musical arrangement by Nelson Riddle lacks nothing--it's all THAT good. "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning," a number generally thought to be a song about Frank's breakup with Ava Gardner, shines like silver and gold when Sinatra gives this a very sensitive rendition and the music that accompanies him is beautiful. What a beautiful torch song! There's also "The Second Time Around;" "The Second Time Around" places Frank squarely front and center--and that's OK by me! Great!

"Witchcraft" was always one of my very favorite Frank Sinatra songs; and Frank certainly doesn't disappoint me here. His voice is strong and full of warmth; and I like this number very much. The arrangement by Nelson Riddle is very elegant, too. "Young At Heart" charms me with its beauty; and Frank sings this flawlessly. I could never tire of hearing Frank Sinatra performing "Young At Heart;" his delivery of this timeless ballad always moves me.

"All The Way" is easily a major highlight of this album; Frank Sinatra performs this with panache and I really enjoy "All The Way." The strings enhance the natural beauty of this melody and I predict that you'll enjoy this number very much if you haven't heard it sung by Sinatra already. Similarly, "Pocketful Of Miracles" has Frank singing his best yet again with a very cute children's chorus to bolster his performance.

"Call Me Irresponsible" is a Sammy Cahn tune that I could never cease enjoying--this is anything but elevator music! "Call Me Irresponsible" gets a slower than normal tempo but this still holds it own very well. The CD also ends nicely with Frank Sinatra singing "Put Your Dreams Away;" "Put Your Dreams Away" has great strings and woodwind instruments to bolster Frank's singing performance and this makes a stunning ending for this album.

Frank Sinatra fans will not want to skip this CD--it's wonderful. I also recommend this for people who are just discovering the artistry of Frank Sinatra. This is a fine starter CD.

This is a five-star album in every sense of the word. It is a fascinating and artistically daring re-recording of Frank's classic standards from the 50's and 60's. Released in 1963, it features breathtaking new renditions of timeless treasures including "I've Got You Under My Skin," "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning," and "Put Your Dreams Away." Sinatra is still very much at the top of his game. His baritone is slightly deeper which gives an ever fuller emotional context to the lyrics of these gorgeous ballads, and Frank's diction, timing, and phrasing are absolutely flawless. I think it's wonderful to be able to compare these newer versions with the original ones as a measuring tool to trace Sinatra's artistic growth as an artist of the highest order. Remember that you are listening to the Entertainer of the Century and the greatest vocalist of all time. This is an essential purchase for all serious Sinatraphiles for its historical importance. This is a Sinatra treasure from the early Reprise years, and the stunning orchestrations by Nelson Riddle make you ache for more. Five stars and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

"Sinatra's Sinatra" is an impressive recording where Frank Sinatra teams up with Nelson Riddle in a musical marriage of timeless beauty and perfection. Sinatra is the true essence of classy style of singing. His beguiling interpretations of a set of twelve standards on this CD have completely pleased my ears and won my heart. For music that is made so utterly charming with Riddle's trademark of excellence in arranging and orchestration, you will always want to listen to it every now and then with the passage of time. This CD is no exception, it is worthy of repeated listenings.

Sinatra had a genius for consistently interpreting songs in their most enchanting manner as evident in the way he sings my all-time favorites from this set starting off with the perfect opener to this pretty impressive collection, "I've Got You Under My Skin" to the poignantly affecting "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning" down to the final track, "Put Your Dreams Away."

The Chairman of the Board is at his utmost confidence as he gives heartfelt readings of Sammy Cahn's meaningful lyrics set to the charming melodies of Jim Van Heusen -- "All The Way," "Call Me Irresponsible" (I simply loved the way he hums on the intro) and "The Second Time Around," three of my all-time favorites from a great pair of songwriters. Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh's "Witchraft" is also one of my highlights done in a playful and lilting fashion. Its uptempo arrangement is such a delight to my ears.

"Young At Heart," co-written by Johnny Richards and Carolyn Leigh for the 1954 film of the same title is one of Sinatra masterpieces and one of the most beautiful songs he ever recorded. Just like what a dear friend of mine always say: "It's always nice to be young at heart! Forty is the new twenty." And of course, I totally agree!

"And if you should survive to a hundred and five
Look at all you'll derive out of being alive
And here is the best part, you have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart"

"Put Your Dreams Away," written by a trio of songwriters, Paul Mann, Stephen Weiss and Ruth Lowe, is just what the doctor ordered to finish up your beautiful and unforgettable musical journey with Frank Sinatra.

"Put your dreams away for another day
And I will take their place in your heart
Wishing on a star never got you far
And so it's time to make a new start"

With my heartfelt recommendation for your listening pleasure!

I *thought* Sinatra had done *two* versions of "(How Little It Matters) How Little We Know," and finding this CD has proved I wasn't hallucinating -- he did do two covers of the song. The version on this album is much looser and a bit faster than the original Capitol recording, and Sinatra's voice is already showing some wear, but overall this is a happier version of a great song, one that is so synonymous with Frank that no one except the brave Chris Connor has ever covered it. Same goes for this album's version of "Witchcraft" -- it's a little rougher, a little looser, and definitely a lot more playful than the original on Capitol. But since it's still Sinatra and Nelson Riddle, one can't exactly complain.

the collection of the most fascinating songs with the
best band leader

"Sinatra's Sinatra" is a superb CD. The songs for this album were selected by "Mr. S" himself. These Reprise-era versions generally surpass the versions that Sinatra recorded for Capitol. The songs are elegantly arranged by Nelson Riddle. This CD can also be paired with "Sinatra Reprise: The Very Good Years". Together, these two CDs provide a very good intro/overview to Sinatra's best during the Reprise years.

Special listening tip: Like some other Sinatra albums, this is a CD best listened to in the evening hours. The song selection provides a very relaxing listen especially after a rough day at work.

You won't be disappointed! Extra bonus: This CD is very reasonably priced. Grab it while you can.

Frank's retelling of these aural tales are definitely worth the listen. He is in fine voice, and from one song to the next he conveys their heart and soul. A very good addition to a Sinatraphile's library, and not a bad introduction to the range of material Frank has done over the years.

This 1963 release is unfairly criticized because it consists of rerecordings of already classic material and a few throwaways. If you're tempted to do so, resist! This is in fact a very solid recording that gives these old favorites a whole new dimension and often equal or surpass their previous incarnations.

For example, compare the two versions of "(How Little It Matters) How Little We Know" and tell me which version captures the feel of the song better. The 1956 version is far too laid back and relaxed such for a clever and joyous expression of love, whereas this version has Frank really having a fun with the song and the result is a more entertaining and better recording.

Similarly, "Withcraft" (my favorite Sinatra recording) benefits from a faster, pumped arrangement that enhances the raunchy seductive nature of the song and Frank sounds a lot more loose and relaxed on this version than the more famous 1957 version. The same can also be said for the faster, less technically impressive but more entertaining redeux of "I've Got You Under My Skin."

The version of "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning" is by far my favorite version of the song. Frank's deeper, more resonant voice and Riddle's fuller, more atmospheric arragement gives this classic a greater sense of loss and anguish, and I regard it as the definitive version.

"All The Way" isn't punchy as the original, but is in fact a very lush and romantic redoing. I'm not sure which version I prefer, but this version certainly holds its own against the 1957 version and gives it a run for its money.

The new version of "Nancy" is very tender and grand, and the new verse tacked on at the end is a great touch. "Young At Heart" is the only track that doesn't recapture the magic of the original recording, but is still a solid redoing, and the older Frank gives the song more pathos. "The Second Time Around" and "Put Your Dreams Away" are pretty much no different from their previous incarnations, but are more than worth a listen. And the Columbia years even get a nod, as Frank revisits "Oh, What It Seemed To Be" with a hauntingly beautiful arrangement that only Riddle can provide.

When the album was released it did contain two new recordings that were worthy additions to the Sinatra catalogues. One was "Pocketful Of Miracles." Taken from the 1961 film of the same name, it's a poor man's version of "High Hopes," but is nonetheless very fun to listen and Frank's phrasing is great. But it's "Call Me Irresponsible." A moody Riddle arrangement backs up a passionate Sinatra vocal, and the result is a knockout Frank classic.

If it seems to you that you've heard these songs before, don't let that sway your opinion. Listening to this album, it's like hearing them for the first time.

Sinatra's Sinatra was released in 1963. I really love this album and consider it my most favorite album of Frank Sinatra. My grandparents got this album back when it was a new release in '63, and then was passed on to my mom, and I got to listen to it. When I first started listening to it, the music was so terrific, even though the record's sound quality was marred by scratches. Most of the songs I like, especially the first song on the album, I've Got You Under My Skin. What a great orchestral arrangement this one has. I have two copies of this title on my own on LP (neither one is the one my grandparents) and on CD. Frank Sinatra had one of the best singing voices of any music entertainer in history. Even though he passed away in 1998 at the age of 82, his unforgettable voice and many music titles will continue to play on for years to come and from generation to generation. Very tireless music; there will be no end to this guy's wonderful music!! God has you in Heaven, Frank, and I'm sure that you are entertaining everyone with your great songs!! Long live the Sinatra legacy!!

This is a hard album NOT to rate 5 stars, but because the entire album consists of remakes from the Capitol years it is hard to get overly excited. Of course there is nothing wrong with it either.

Sinatra's voice deepened and mellowed in the 1960s, and songs like 'Put All Your Dreams Away' seem much more convincing here. Even if the 1956 version of 'I've Got You Under My Skin' is The Classic Popular Song of All Time, this version is nothing to sneeze at -- very grand, beautifully orchestrated and stunning in its own way. 'In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning' is less desolate here than on the album of that title, but then again that album is one of the best recordings of the century so hearing the song here is not necessarily essential.

I agree with the fellow who reviewed this below, that this is a nice car album and good collection, just not one I listen too as much as the original albums. Sound quality is okay, not as 'clean' as the Capitol and some of the other Reprise sets.