Customer Reviews

Songs for Young Lovers/Swing Easy

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Given the phenomenal artistic and commercial success of Sinatra's work with Nelson Riddle, it's easy to overlook George Siravo, who wrote some outstanding arrangements for Sinatra both during the Columbia years and in the earliest days of the Capitol period.

It doesn't help, of course, that Riddle has been erroneously credited as the arranger of Sinatra's first (ten-inch) Capitol album (an EP by today's standards), the effortlessly buoyant SONGS FOR YOUNG LOVERS. But with the exception of "Like Someone in Love," it was Siravo, not Riddle, who arranged this wonderful album (now available as half of the SONGS FOR YOUNG LOVERS/SWING EASY compact disc). (Riddle conducted the recording sessions, which has led many to assume that he also wrote the arrangements. Years later, Riddle was still apologetic that Siravo hadn't received credit, though the mix-up was not Riddle's fault.)

Now, having said all this, I must dissent from the revisionist attempts to portray the late-period Columbia Sinatra-Siravo collaborations (collected recently on the Sony CD, SWING AND DANCE WITH FRANK SINATRA) as lost classics. To be perfectly frank (to coin a phrase), FS swings like a rusty gate on these tracks.

To the singer's credit, however, he knew precisely what he wanted, and when he left Columbia, it was a sheaf of Siravo charts that he decided to take on the road with him. By the time he inked his contract with Capitol, he was (as he would later sing in a remake of one of his Tommy Dorsey hits, "Oh! Look at Me Now") a new man -- as the recordings prove beyond a shadow of a doubt. Simply put, SONGS FOR YOUNG LOVERS contains some of the warmest, most effortlessly buoyant singing of Sinatra's career. "My Funny Valentine" in particular is a minor miracle, with the singer swinging so gently he threatens to float away.

So next time you listen to SONGS FOR YOUNG LOVERS or the always-rousing Capitol version of "All of Me" (the one chart on SWING EASY believed to be primarily the work of Siravo, possibly with some expanded orchestration by Riddle), raise a glass to not only a superb arranger, but one of the all-but-unheralded men behind the scenes who gave Frank Sinatra a creative boost throughout "all those in-between years" -- George Siravo.

First, a little bit of history on this album. This CD is actually 2 seperate entities with 2 seperate moods. In fact, "Songs for Young Lovers" and "Swing Easy" were really 2 seperate LP's when LP's were 10", not the familiar 12" that was the norm before the advent of the CD.

Both LP's had 8 songs and Capitol in a marketing move when the 12 inch LP became popular smashed the 2 LPs into one and 2 classic albums became 1. Then, in the early 60's when Sinatra formed Reprise; Capitol re-issued the albums as seperate entities again but adding songs that were not on the original albums; the songs were fine but they ruined the concept of the original LPs and believe me,in Sintradom,concept is key.

OK,with that little history lesson, to the music. What can you say....All of these tracks, were pre- "In the Wee Small Hours" done between 1953-1955. Orchestra or better yet,lack therof, was conducted by Nelson Riddle but the arrangements were maybe a cross between Riddle and George Siravo, especially in the " Swing Easy" sessions.

"Songs for Young Lovers" was Sinatra's very first album for Capitol and he open's with a tender 'The Girl Next Door' that immediatly tells you that this 40's crooner has metamorphisized into something special.

All and I do mean ALL of the songs in this set are sung to perfection by Frank. With arrangements for the ballads that were beautiful by there simplicity. Nelson Riddle really was the perfect conductor for Frank. It just shows and shows throughout the CD. The"Swing Easy" part of the CD has Sinatra backed up by what it seems to be a jazz ensemble that came from his radio show at the time. Sinatra would not record a full studio album again with this small combo type of sound. Songs on this set,i.e., 'All of Me' and 'Just One of Those Things' are prime examples of that carefree sound that will explode a year later with the monumental "Songs for Swingin' Lovers" landmark.

If you are a beginning Sinatra fan, this set is a great introduction to the world of Sinatra. Just remember, you have all those Classic Capitols to go through and this was the begining.

Songs for Young Lovers/Swing Easy is a great Sinatra CD that has all of the songs from Sinatra's first two record albums for Capitol Records. The sound quality is really very good thanks to a remixing job; and the artwork is excellent.

"My Funny Valentine" starts the CD off with Frank sounding better than ever! The horn solo is striking and Frank handles this tune like a pro! Frank handles subtle tempo and key changes like a champ and this makes a fine starting number for this album. "The Girl Next Door" is from the MGM movie Meet Me In St. Louis, only in that film it was Judy Garland singing "The Boy Next Dorr." Frank massages these lyrics with his voice, which is truly a finely tuned instrument just right for these ballads. "The Girl Next Door" tugs at my heartstrings and Frank delivers this flawlessly. Great! "A Foggy Day" has an elegant piano arrangement and when Frank Sinatra sings this it truly does sound like THE definitive rendition of this classic pop song! Frank swings brightly to enhance the natural beauty of "A Foggy Day" and it works very well. "A Foggy Day" is easily a major highlight of this album.

"I Get A Kick Out Of You" features Frank Sinatra front and center--and that's OK by me! "I Get A Kick Out Of You" has a fine musical arrangement and Frank sings this with all his heart and soul--and just one listen proves it! "I Get A Kick Out Of You" is a brilliant love song that could never become boring or routine--it's all THAT good. "They Can't Take That Away From Me" is another stunning tune; Frank sings with panache and it's again very impressive. "They Can't That Away From Me" never sounded better than when The Chairman Of The Board sang it. It's terrific! In addition, listen for "Just One Of Those Things;" Frank takes this to new heights and he makes it sound fresh even today! Moreover, Frank does a great job on "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself A Letter);" this gets a big band arrangement that I'm not used to but it makes a very strong number--excellent!

"Taking A Chance On Love" has Frank singing his very best--watch out, competitors! Frank does this perfectly and I'm thrilled with this tune. "Get Happy" is a number from the MGM movie entitled Summer Stock; and Frank Sinatra sings this with all his might. The album also ends very strong with Frank Sinatra performing "All Of Me;" "All Of Me" sounds terrific and I will be listening to this number many times over!

Songs for Young Lovers/Swing Easy is nothing short of one of Frank's greatest CDs ever. I highly recommend this for his fans; and people who like classic pop vocals with big band arrangements will love this album for years to come.

For an album (originally two records) released in the early 1950s, Songs for Young Lovers/Swing Easy is surprisingly modern. This is the first in a series of classic concept albums performed by Sinatra and arranged by the talented Nelson Riddle, and the songs and performance are equally superb.

Sinatra's voice of the 1950s is deeper, more resonant and perhaps darker than the Sinatra of the 1940s Columbia era, purportedly because of his stormy marriage and breakup with Ava Gardner. Whatever the case, songs like 'My Funny Valentine', 'A Foggy Day' and 'I Get a Kick Out of You' (with the orginal cocaine lyric!) are anything but historical curiosities.

Songs for Young Lovers consists of a satisfying set of ballads that formed the nucleus of a Sinatra catalogue and showed up in concert through the 1960s and later. Swing Easy, originally the second side of the Capitol LP (when the two sets were combined and re-released) is the first of the Sinatra-Riddle 'Swing' albums, that include 'Songs for Swingin' Lovers' and 'A Swingin' Affair'. Put simply, there is nothing quaint or retro-sounding about this set, except that it was recorded monaurally because it was 1953. 'Just One of Those Things' would be a hit tomorrow. 'I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter' is similarly timeless. If the Columbia recordings are cherishable and collectible, Songs for Young Lovers/Swing Easy is an album you'll enjoy as perfect recordings of great songs.

Very highly recommended.

This CD fits the description of a "double delight." Two-great-albums-in-one-CD. The sparkling arrangements in both albums were done by none other than the greatest Sinatra arranger/conductor and my top favorite, Nelson Riddle, whom I believe possessed a kind of magic touch that brought out the very best in any singer that he had worked with. These two musical icons brought out the very best in each other. I loved all the albums they recorded together, with no exception. In my opinion, their collaboration resulted in the very best Sinatra-recordings-of-all-time. Mr. Riddle was truly a genius of an arranger/conductor and Mr. Sinatra was truly the best pop singer America ever produced and had enjoyed a world-class recognition.

I recently had dinner with a good friend of mine at one of my favorite restaurants, Buca di Beppo, and we were ushered-in at the Frank Sinatra Room. And to our delight, some Frank Sinatra music was playing on the background and I recall "All Of Me," a meaningful song from this CD, was played.

"Your goodbye left me with eyes that cry
How can I get along without you?
You took the part that once was my heart
So why not take all of me?"

I consider this CD as one of the very best from my Sinatra collection. You can't just ignore Riddle's spectacular arrangements and Sinatra's par excellence vocal sophistication in all his performances. The first eight tracks were taken from November 1953 recording of "Songs For Young Lovers" and the last half was taken from "Swing Easy," an album recorded fifty-one years ago in April of 1954.

The Chairman of the Board will serenade you with the quintessential Valentine song, "My Funny Valentine" and an extraordinary song about gazing at stars, hearing guitars, walking as though you had wings, bump into things and feeling . . . "Like Someone In Love." He will dance with you and swing it easy to the danceable tracks such as "A Foggy Day," "I Get A Kick Out Of You," "They Can't Take That Away From Me," "Taking A Chance On Love," "Just One Of Those Things" and "All Of Me."

One more thing . . . this is one of the many masterpieces of the great Sinatra/Riddle team.

One last thing . . . this is timeless music and so deserves that special spot in your music library.

The concept album owes a great debt to the Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra. Around 1953, Frank signed to Capitol records. He recorded a string of songs which fit well together and made what was then a complete album of them (back then, a complete album was 2 10 inch disks, later known as EP's). The result was 2 of the 1st ever concept albums- Songs for Young Lovers and Swing Easy. Without these 2 albums, there would be no Songs for Swingin' Lovers. Even Steve Hackett of Genesis acknowledged Sinatra's introduction to what's now known as the concept album. George Siravo wrote the arrangements (without credit) and Nelson Relson conducted them on both albums.

First, we'll have a look at Songs For Young Lovers. "My Funny Valentine" has to be one of the sweetest songs about unconditional love ("Your looks are laughable, unphotographable... but don't change your hair for me, not if you care for me"). "The Girl Next Door" (originally "The Boy Next Door" from Meet Me In St. Louis) is handled delicately with Nelson Riddle's warm orchestration. "A Foggy Day" recalls the classic piece "Country Gardens." "I Get a Kick out of You" (featured in Anything Goes) swings a little more ("I get a kick, you give me the boot!"). "They Can't Take That Away from Me" has to be the most autobiographical song Frank Sinatra never wrote ("the way you hold your knife, the way we dance 'till three"). After all, he was one of a kind. Closing the Lovers EP, he croons to perfection a melodious and romantic "Violets for Your Furs." This indeed would be a good album to play to impress your date.

Now for the Swing Easy disc. Get your dancing shoes ready, folks! "Just One of Those Things" opens up this album, a sentimental breakup song with things perfectly in perspective "We had been aware that our love affair was tooooo hot not to cool down." "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" is a great dreamer's song, with a hot arrangement by George Siravo. Siravo's arrangement on the classic "Jeepers Creepers" is equally as exquisite as anything on Songs For Young Lovers. "Forget your troubles and just get happy" sings Ol' Blue Eyes on "Get Happy," with an arrangement that recalls the Big Band Era of the 1930's and 1940's. Perhaps that's what the mood of this album is all about- the titles "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams" and "Takin' a Chance on Love" seem to sum up the theme in themselves. Closing this album is the classic "All of Me." Well, Frank Sinatra certainly gave all of himself on both Swing Easy and Songs For Young Lovers.

This dual record launched Frank's vocal comeback after several dreary years at Columbia... and what a comeback! Five stars isn't sufficient for an album that contains some of the great vocal tracks ever sung by Sinatra. Nelson Riddle's arrangements are nothing short of electric and infuse Sinatra's voice with a verve and spirit never heard in the 1940's. This is an album where you can put it on, hit play and never fast forward, all the songs are eminently Sinatraesque and every single arrangement has a touch of genius.

Frank's phrasing is (as always at this stage of his career) letter perfect. Listen to "My Funny Valentine..." never a particular hit for Frank and he rarely sang it live, but who cares? It's immortalized here, forever.

If you love Sinatra, you will already have had this on vinyl and cassette (maybe even eight track). If you're new to Frank, don't hesitate one moment: grab it and listen to it for the rest of your life.

Even if you have never heard any of Frank Sinatra's music, and if you are in love, this is the recording for you. In fact, 'Songs for Young Lovers' will touch a nerve in anyone with a heart. Frank Sinatra sings with a restrained urgency about romance and all that entails - the desire, the first blush, the courtship, the end, and the longing that remains. 'Swing Easy' smoothly and quietly swings in a non-bombastic way - it certainly isn't Louis Prima. As a primer to early 50's swing, it's a great example. Having both 'Songs for Young Lovers' and 'Swing Easy' one one CD gives you two sides of the Frank Sinatra coin - ballad and swinger. A great addition to your Sinatra record collection, and if it's your first Sinatra, you'll definately find something to like on this album. Very well recommended - my favorite Sinatra CD so far.

A bargain. Flawless interpretations of great, well-chosen songs all around. His first recordings at Capitol held up a standard which he would more or less uphold in the 1950s. I like Frank's ballad singing, because I always thought that the ballads were closer to his heart, to the real Frank. Listen on headphones; about 3 feet from Frank's mouth is the perfect space to hear and understand. "My funnyyyy valentiiiiiinnnne..."

This review concerns the one song Violets For Your Furs where Sinatra sings "and it melted where it lay." He hits a low note on the word "where" that I have enjoyed for the last 25 years. I always considered it to be vocal magic, a stroke of genius. I recently played it for a girlfriend and she said it sounded way off. While I realize that it is out of his range I always found it to be perfect. I'd have to rate it as one of my top ten Sinatra moments. I later played it for a friend and he said it sounded awakward, like a mistake that should have been redone. He can't imagine Sinatra doing it on purpose and feels that at best it was a mistake that Sinatra must have liked and chose to keep. My friend thinks it sounds awful. On the live in Seattle 1957 Sinatra does the same thing so I guess it's on purpose. I would like some input on this. What do you people think? Post a review and or email me at johnparadis@webtv.net. I'm real interested in what Jonathan Schwartz has to say about this. It's keeping me awake at night!