The Reprise Collection [BOX SET]

Frank Sinatra & Friends, Frank Sinatra

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 8, 1990)
• Original Release Date: November 20, 1990
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Warner Bros UK
• ASIN: B000002LMU
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #56,415 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The pundits claim that Ol' Blue Eyes did his best work with Columbia in the '50s, but there's more great '60s and '70s stuff here than you can shake a stick at. After all, Sinatra wouldn't start his own label only to sing schlock. This four-CD set was released to celebrate The Chairman's 75th birthday and it traces the mellowing of that tremendous voice like the aging of a fine wine. It also adds eight unreleased tracks to a staggering song list highlighted by biggies like "New York, New York," "My Way," "The Way You Look Tonight," "It Was a Very Good Year," and "The Song Is You." --Michael Ruby

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reprise Collection-Some Great Songs Omitted Though, November 30, 2001

By	S. Henkels (Devon, Pa United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

It's tough to add to some fine and wise reviews I've read here.It is very obvious listening to this collection how Frank's voice slowly gets raspy and sometimes harsh,but that is part of his monumental career.Remember on these recordings he is between about 46 and 69 years of age (from 1962 to 1984).To think that the man could continue at such a rate with thousands of concerts,sessions,movies etc. almost seems unbelievable.The famous great songs are all here,except "Call Me Irresponsible",and maybe a few others.The rare ballad "Theme from the Cardinal" was also omitted.Other rarities that are omitted are "I Like the Sunrise" and "Poor Butterfly" from the Francis and Duke album.Two gems from "Watertown","The Train", and "Lady Day" (not to mention "Goodbye") are also not here.This just shows that picking the best Frank from any period is virtually impossible,but always makes a good discussion.Still,there's more than enough here to suit anyone's taste,especially some really great balads like"What are you Doing...","A Man Alone","Empty Tables",and the astounding "A Long Night",with eerie strings backing Frank's crusty,edgy vocals about a man who has "seen what the street corners do to things like love and dreams.Seen what the bottle can do to a man with his hopes and his shemes." This album may be the only one with 1962's "Me and My Shadow",another neglected gem,and the only studio recording of Frank and Sammy Davis,Jr.This also has the full length version of "Luck Be a Lady",among the all time show stoppers..Possibly this 4CD Collection is a dash below the Capitol Collections,but is a great intro into the recording legacy of the greatest popular singer ever, during his middle and older years...One more thing: "I Have Dreamed",an astonishing performance by Frank and Nelson's orchestra, is thankfully included,and there are many other treasures here,"Forget to Remember" perhaps the greatest lesser known number that I have forgotten to mention!!

43 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Set - But the Capitol Years Box Set Is Superior, May 16, 2000

By	Mack_T_Knife "dbmcsd" (USA) - See all my reviews

This was the first Sinatra Box set I ever purchased. It's a great one to own. I'd say that it's the second box set you should purchase. Sinatra is only in good voice, however on the first 2 1/2 discs. Much of the material on disc 3 & 4 is from the 70's. Frank decided to enter retirement in 1971 because he felt his voice and recordings were not up to his standards from the late 50's (with Capitol) and first 10 years on his own label (Reprise) during the 60's. Cigarettes have gotten to his voice by disc 3 and changed it to a croak by disc 4. Sinatra is in his best voice on the Capitol Years, and the tunes reflect a "prime-of-life" feel. The Reprise Collection reveals and older, more reflective and egomaniacal Frank, more akin to Joe Piscopo and Phil Hartman's parodies. The smart money is on the Capitol Years. Trust me on this one...I own nearly everything Sinatra's recorded.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great sampler of Frank's work., August 29, 2000

By	E. Hawkins (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I agree with a lot of the reviewers of 'The Reprise Collection': Frank's best work is to be found on his Capitol releases. But Frank did record a lot of great stuff for his own label, Reprise, and this beautifully packaged four-disc set is full of classic singing. In particular, I think the later work needs defending. True, Frank's voice in the seventies and eighties was starting to sound a little bruised, and big tub-thumpers like 'My Way' are a far cry from the intense ballads of the fifties and early sixties, but there's a great deal of very affecting music on Disc Four, and the cracks that can be heard around Frank's pipes only add to the drama. 'Empty Tables' and 'Send in the Clowns', both sung with only veteran pianist Bill Miller for accompaniment, are masterpieces, and wouldn't have been nearly as effective during Frank's tenure with Capitol. And the version of 'Mack the Knife' that closes the set (with an vocal track recorded two years after that originally released on 'L. A. is My Lady') shows that even though he might have been eligible for an aged pension, Sinatra could still out-swing anybody. Anyone who wants an entree into the Sinatra universe would be well-advised to start here.