Nice 'n' Easy [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Frank Sinatra

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 8, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 1960
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00005UMTC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #55,450 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Although it wasn't designed with the cohesive vision of Frank Sinatra's conceptual masterpieces (like In the Wee Small Hours and Only the Lonely), track for track, this "contractual obligation album"--a lightly swingin' single followed by a bunch of ballads, recorded near the end of his tenure at Capitol--is as strong as anything the singer's ever done. The lightweight title song sets a relaxed tone that's a little misleading--just when you think you can kick back in the recliner and take it "nice 'n' easy" (a swell tune, by the way), Sinatra plunges off the emotional deep end with "That Old Feeling." It's like waking up from an afternoon nap to find yourself afflicted with insomnia in the wee small hours. OK, so he contradicts himself. The first song is about taking your time along the smoothly paved road to romance; the second is about driving straight into the ditch of romantic obsession--the difference, say, between Mia Farrow and Ava Gardner. From this point on, the album's tone is definitely Gardner. And Sinatra's singing has never been more spine-tingling than on the next three songs: sounding unfathomable depths in "How Deep Is the Ocean," seductively cooing "I've Got a Crush on You" in his lover's ear, and unabashedly succumbing to the delirious intoxication of "You Go to My Head," his voice "spinning 'round in my brain like the bubbles in a glass of champagne." You can get drunk on this record. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Certainly one of his most romantic albums..., May 22, 2002

By	Anthony Paul "AP" - See all my reviews

An often neglected and severely under-rated Capitol album, Nice n' Easy stands up well in the company of Sinatra's other, more recognized masterpieces. It's not one of his moody concept albums (which are breathless in their own right), but a stunning collection of classic love ballads performed with full attention and care from the master. Nelson Riddle's arrangements shimmer with emotion and beauty, a perfect compliment to THE singer. Simply ignore any or all who say that this album is "no 'Only the Lonely', ' Wee Small Hours', etc." That is obvious...it was never intended to be like either of those albums nor any other of his concept albums. This is an album for romance...it's "concept" is of love. Rather than shelling out bucks for the countless "greates hits" compilations from Capitol or Reprise, including the new "Greatest Love Songs", go for the original albums. If its love songs you are after...they are all here folks. This particular edition is the "24 bit" version released in 2002. While I've read that some are complaining about the remastering, I found the album to sound very warm and rich. However, I have to agree that something doesn't sound quite right with the title track. His voice seems to be too far in the background at points. All in all though, this is a very minor mention, and the rest of the album is exquisite. Another stunning example of American classic music from a truly gifted artist. Don't hesitate for a moment.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great record (5 Stars), poor digital mastering (2 Stars), May 3, 2002

By	R. Ritschel "ritschel3" (Audiophileville, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Don't be fooled by the "24-bit Digitally Remastered" hype Capital is promoting with these releases. Reprise's Sinatra catalog on CD has done a much better job of preserving the sound of the original record, which is closer to the master tape than these abominations. Bob Norberg (Capital mastering engineer) went to great lenghts to supress the tape hiss, which in turn sucked the life out of these recordings. The result is a flat and dimensionless sound as if a blanket had been thrown over your speakers. If you just want the music and care about the sound, then look for a used copy of the earlier pressing of this CD...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SINATRA AND RIDDLE: the perfect match, January 13, 2002

By	Ian K. Hughes (San Mateo, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"NICE N EASY" is yet another of the masterpieces from the Capitol era, recorded in early March of 1960 during the same period of time that Sinatra was working at the Sands Hotel with Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop (the filming of "Ocean's 11" was also occurring at this time).
NICE N EASY was made as part of the ( not so happy ) contractual agreement that Sinatra made with Capitol in exchange for leaving that company and starting his own ( Reprise ). However strained the relations between artist and company may have been, the results in this case were sublime. Although the title track ( and indeed the title of the album itself ) were apparently late changes ( the original title and song, "The Nearness of You", was dropped from the 1960 LP release but the song has been restored to the CD release ), the laid back swing is actually an effective prelude to the collection of standards from the golden era of songwriters. In effect, the title tune invites you to take a seat on the couch, preferably while drinking a nice glass of red wine ( with any luck, sharing this experience with another person ) . The overall mood is relaxed and romantic, unlike the "suicide" ( Sinatra's terminology ) lps "ONLY THE LONELY" and "IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS". But take note; Sinatra's version of "relaxed", in a version of a song like "You Go to My Head" or "Fools Rush In", is an overwhelming emotional experience! Many have gone on and on describing Sinatra's musical talent: his habit of emphasizing and prolonging certain words ( dynamics and rubato ) in a surprising and dramatically effective manner. His uncanny rhythmic sense ( recognized by many of the world's greatest jazz musicians ). His ability to live the lyric and seem to speak personally to each and every listener. Lastly, the sheer quality of his voice, particularly from the "Capitol Years"- that happy combination of the still strong, middle-aged vocal cords coupled with the gains in maturity and wisdom ( in life as much as music ).

But another point about Sinatra's success needs to be re-emphasized. That is the crucial role played by his musical "partners". His best arranger, Nelson Riddle, has on NICE N EASY written another group of arrangements that can be described in no other manner than as works of genius. It would be misplaced and ludicrous to point out Nelson didn't write concertos or other "extended" classical forms- the man worked in the popular music world which at that time ( 1950's and early 60's ) still had strong ties to jazz and big band traditions. These traditions produced musicians of such high quality that many could easily have pursued careers as members of classical orchestras, chamber music groups or as "concert" soloists in their own right. In fact, you will hear many of these great musicians ( whose contribution to the Sinatra legacy should never be forgotten ) gracing the albums Sinatra cut during the Capitol and early Reprise eras.
Nelson Riddle received some training from classical composers and played trombone in big bands while learning the arranging craft from the ground up. His ability to mix complex and subtle nuances of instrumental "shading" shows the strong influence ( which he freely admitted to ) of the French master composer Claude Debussy ( listen to "La Mer" or "Nocturnes" ) . The sensuous refinement and attention to detail Nelson Riddle displays in his arrangements for Sinatra's Capitol albums stand as monuments of the greatest partnership popular music has produced. A few examples from "NICE N EASY"- the simple yet achingly effective arpeggiated pattern doubled by the harp and celesta in "Fools Rush In" or his trademark deployment of bass trombone ( "How Deep is the Ocean?" ). Charles Granata's book, "SESSIONS WITH SINATRA", is fantastic in describing Sinatra's achievements. Sinatra and Riddle were the perfect match: their artistry will no doubt continue to inspire people for a long, long time to come.

Needless to say, I highly recommend all of the Sinatra-Riddle Capitol albums, but their greatest work for me would have to be the ballad albums; "IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS", "ONLY THE LONELY", "NICE N EASY" and a lesser-known masterpiece from 1956, "CLOSE TO YOU", which has finally been released as a single CD in re-mastered form.