Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
"What?--No Satin Doll?", February 10, 2002
The Sinatra-Ellington album (coyly entitled "Francis A & Edward K," which might actually have hurt sales) was puzzling for two reasons: it contains only 8 songs and there's only one Ellington tune contained--the hymnal "I Like The Sunrise."The album would have seemed a perfect opportunity for Sinatra to explore some Ellington classics which he had never recorded--"Sophisticated Lady" "Satin Doll" and "Solitude" come immediately to mind..Sinatra echews these and other titles in favor, for example, of Bobby Hebb's innocuous 60's hit "Sunny". I know that Sinatra was never a fan of the songbook concept, as Ella was, for example, but in this case he was working with the composer. Word has it there were problems at the sessions...The Ellington band did not rehearse the charts ahead of time and the musicians could not sight read (as Basie's sidemen could)so arranger Billy May had to call in a few ringers to get the sessions completed--pianist Jimmy Jones actually fills in for the Duke a few times. "Francis A & Edward K" has its moments, though-- Johnny Hodges' brilliant solo on "Indian Summer" and Sinatra's incredible performance of "Poor Butterly" which finds him singing the song in full three times and doing it differently each time out. The most dissapointing thing about "Francis A and Edward K" is thinking about what it might have been.
|
|
|
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Elegant and Timeless, March 2, 2002
One of Sinatra's very best efforts. As great as some of the Capital swingers are, they are clearly dated to the time period in which they were recorded, whereas this album has a timeless quality. This is also true of his collaborations with Count Basie and Antonio Carlos Jobim, but as fine as those recordings are, they aren't as elegant sounding as this record. The recordings are tasteful and restrained throughout, except for the overly frentic "Come back to me" that closes the record. The opening cut "Follow me", is majestic. "Sunny" is given a blues treatment, complete with a "growl" trumpet, and the arrangement elevates an otherwise mediocre composition to grandeur. "Indian Summer" is one of the most beautiful songs Sinatra ever recorded. The elegant simplicity of "I like the sunrise" is timeless. "Yellow days" and "Poor buterfly" are perfectly executed. Sinatra was in fine voice and the orchestra, though restrained, played with sensitiviy and good taste - especially the soloists. There are only eight cuts, but the band stretches out, and the solos are stunning and fully realized, instead of the little snippets on the 2 to 3 minute cuts on his other albums that leave you begging for more. Only "Come back to me" misfires - The arrangement is too fast and doesn't fit in with the album's sound, although the lyrics are fantastic. It's too bad this album so underrated and overlooked, because, frankly, it puts his other, more popular swingers like "Come Swing With Me", "Sinatra and Swinging Brass", and "Sinatra Swings", to shame.
|
|
|
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not Frank or Duke's Peak...Still some stellar performances!, December 6, 2001
This album almost seems like an orphan.Here we have a collaboration between the best singer,and top jazzman,and it seems (almost) no one wants it! I actually prefer this to the two studio records of Frank and Count Basie.All these tunes,with the exception, of "Come Back to Me" are middle tempos,and many have a touch of sad melancholy. Which may be my reason for liking some of these cuts so much. My two favorites are "I Like the Sunrise",a haunting bit of melancholy optimism. I think Frank's somewhat craggy vocal here,and on the rest of the album,is a fine fit.And there is poetry in these lyrics: "I like the sunrise 'cause it brings a new day. I like a new day.It brings new hope, they say" and "my brand new bright tomorrow isn't very far". The arrangement here is great,though it seems that on occasion one of the players is stretching a high note."Poor Butterfly" based on a Japanese classical melody (I think) has never been done better,and has a bouncier feel but more sad lyrics. "Yellows Days", the same."All I Need is the Girl" has a loopy feel which makes it all the better. And these songs are not overdone by every aspiring Sinatra or Ella. Even Frank has never done them before, except possibly during the very early years. All in all, a rough gem,but still a gem,offering still more to the Frank oeuvre.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
~ Frank Sinatra
~ Frank Sinatra & Friends
~ Frank Sinatra
~ Frank Sinatra
~ Frank Sinatra
- the new music site from IMDb and Amazon.
