Sinatra

This should be quite straight forward, anything from his 50's peak on capital will be good. I am sure there is a box set knocking around. The reprise years were more hit and miss but the sessions with carlos alberto jobim are great. Having looked on Amazon there is a 'capitol years' box set but it is £80 +. Most of his capitol output is available for circa £5 from somewhere like Fopp, some of the best would be: 'In the wee small hours', 'Songs for swinging lovers', 'sings for only the lonely' and 'where are you'. He also recorded an album with Duke Ellington (and his orchestra) on reprise, it has had luke warm reviews but I think it is great. It is mainly show tunes but it really works.

Don't know about a box set but this one is superb, material and recording quality.

can agree with the above, the decca recordings have polished up nicely and every phrasing technique and breath is captured well, though in some tracks the brass is rather bright

Plus it can be had for under a fiver in the clearence section of your local woolies

A second vote for the Classic Sinatra single CD remastered collection--you can't go wrong with that one

Thanks guys, this is a great place for a steer toward all sorts of music. Very much appreciated.

Steve

An excellent 2 disc compilation and great sound quality. Plus its one of the few Sinatra comps with 'My Way' and 'New York New York' on. Overplayed maybe but two of his best without a doubt.

Jonathan

Well, just a caveat on My Way and New York New York being the best--in my view they represent the worst of Sinatra, who was at his best in the Great American Songbook. Just one opinion, for what it's worth...

Steve, I'd go for a Capitol years box set, if one's available.

Woodface, you may just mean Antonio Carlos Jobim, who's work with Sinatra is indeed excellent.

Carlos Alberto played for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup!

My favourite period for Sinatra is the middle 50'. Songs for Swinging Lovers (possibly the first pop record), In the Wee Small Hours, Swinging Affair and Come Fly With Me. There is a Capitol box set of that era but I can't comment on it's sound quality.

The recent 4-disc Vegas box set is pretty special in how it shows his evolution as a performer. You have to take some of his commentary with a pinch of salt as his "humour" can leave a bad taste in the mouth.

I would say any box set from the Capitol years would be as good a place as any to start.

quote:

Well, just a caveat on My Way and New York New York being the best--in my view they represent the worst of Sinatra

The worst?

Come on everybody sing [to the tune of 'Sing Hosana']

"Give me Love, give me Can, give me Meatloaf
Give me Rush, give me Marquee Moon
Michael Ball, or The Fall, I could listen to them all
In the twilight of the afternoon

Irk the purists, Irk the purists
It should well be an olympic sport
Irk the purists, Irk the purists
If you never then you ought"

Jonathan