Strangers in the Night

Frank Sinatra | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Reprise Records
• ASIN: B000002K9M
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,581 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Although Frank Sinatra had often expressed dislike for the smash title hit on this 1966 album, it is best known for providing some of the last tracks that the singer and his legendary arranger, Nelson Riddle, produced together. Some memorable tracks include "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever," "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World," and "You're Driving Me Crazy." The CD is a straight, no-frills reissue of the original vinyl release. --Stephen M.H. Braitman

Product Description

Strangers In The Night marked Frank Sinatra's return to the top of the charts in the mid-1960s and became his most commercially successful album. It established him as a still-viable star to a wide, mainstream audience without losing the core of his sound, appealing to both his dedicated fans and pop radio. This all-new expanded edition is a must-have CD for all music collections! --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars for the Excellent Remastering, 4.5 stars for the album, February 5, 2010

By 

Coleen "frankie-machine" (Down in the alley) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strangers In The Night [Expanded Edition] (Audio CD)

This fun 1966 album should not be reviewed in comparison to other Sinatra albums from 1953 - 1967. So prolific and consistently excellent are Sinatra's recorded works from 1953 - 1967 (the average "That's Life" album, excepted), this album might rate merely 4 stars in comparison to Sinatra's other works; but, measured against all other artists, "Strangers in the Night" is an excellent album, and swings like crazy (except on the title track). Sinatra's slightly lesser efforts, such as this populist attempt to relate to some of the more modern sounds of the 1960's pop scene, are almost always better than other artists' very best efforts. The EXCELLENT REMASTERING is a noticeable improvement, and Sinatra's vocals are rich and more natural sounding than on the original version of the CD/album. The three extra tracks are OK, but the real reason to check out this remastered version is the original 10 tracks, which have never sounded better. If you at all have a soft spot for this unique Sinatra album (lotsa pop organ, driving Nelson Riddle arrangements), this remastered version will be an eye (and ear) opener to you and to all Sinatraphiles.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Underrated, but still great: Sinatra in the late 60s, October 11, 2000

By 

Tim Withee "Tim Withee" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strangers in the Night (Audio CD)

Maybe The Chairman was beyond his classic period, but he still had the chops that made him "the greatest saloon singer" of all time. I bought this album in the early 70s, and still have the side, in perfect condition. A friend of mine with a top-end stereo turned me on to the album. As we listened, the tune that grabbed me right off the bat was "All or Nothing at All," a 40s classic, updated and rearranged by Nelson Riddle. With the stereo cranked, the power of Sinatra's voice, backed by the amazing Riddle Orchestra, was unbelievable. You got the effect of the music just bursting out of the speakers! At last, I fully understood the meaning of "swing!" The album is a fine testament to the staying power of a great singer, artist and musician. Songs as his pop hit, "Strangers in the Night," the gorgeous "Summer Wind," "On a Clear Day," and "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World," to me are the highlights, and get superb treatment from the mature artist that Sinatra was at the time. His rich, mellow voice and his phrasing are perfect -- and has there ever been a singer more credible with a song than Sinatra? He paints pictures in your mind. "Summer Wind," still does it to me after all these years. Finally, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra is the perfect complement to the Man and his Music. Sure, this album might not be recognized as one of the alltime classic works of Sinatra, but that's okay. It's still a gem of an album, and worth 5 stars.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Groovy, baby, January 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Strangers in the Night (Audio CD)

This is an oddly satisfying album, and arose from odd circumstances. Sinatra had a hit on his hands (the title track), and was due to go into the studio with Riddle. As the hit was uptempo, Nelson went that way and came up with a fresh wrinkle -- the electric jazz organ. This may sound cheesy, as in "Sinatra sings the Beach Boys," but they pulled it off, the singer playing real loose with some of the lyrics (even forgetting the words on "You're Driving Me Crazy," a way of showing he found the material very light). The best track is "All or Nothing At All," with the organ whipping up a frenzy not even matched on the lilting version of Johnny Mercer's "Summer Wind" we all know so well.

As always, Riddle had the creative juices to take an idea just one step further. Great fun. It has the feel of the Austin Powers soundtrack about it, and I'm sure the Man of Mystery would agree with my review title.

Side note: As "Sinatra '67", this was Number One in Europe for weeks and weeks, and it knocked The Beatles "Rubber Soul" off the top of the charts, just as the single knocked them down a peg here in the States. The old singer must have gotten a kick out of that.