2. music
  3. 1035510613

Sinatra - good vs great

I don't have a lot of exposure to Sinatra, but my first CD was "The Reprise Collection: The Very Good Years." It's (well, they are) an awesome performance. Even the tunes I don't particularly care for have me tapping my toes. It seems to be very involving. Based on this - I was surprised that I liked it as well as I do - I bought a copy of the Captiol Singles collection. (This is the 4-CD set, not the mammoth 21-CD version!) The new set is nice, but it's nowhere near as involving, and I can't really put my finger on why. Some of the tunes are the same. It was done earlier in his (later) career, so I doubt that it's just that he had "figured it out" - he had long ago done that. Anyone know why this one CD is so much more enjoyable than the other set?
blw
blackie
221 posts
 
I know the Capitol CD mastering has come under alot of criticism for it's poor sound. If you think the Reprise CDs are great you should pick up some of the original LPs, talk about involving and toe tapping!
mgattmch8a4c
5 posts
 
Try the MFSL gold CD (UDCD 538, Songs For Swinging Lovers), if you can get a copy that is. The sound and music are outstanding. What is very surprising is, this recording was created from master tapes made in 1956 in mono! This is one of my very favorite CDs, and I am not particularly a great fan of Frank Sinatra.
rhyno's avatar
rhyno
649 posts
 
agreed on the SfSL disc. definitely sinatra's best. other great listings: live in paris, sinatra w/ jobim, only the lonely (sad but wonderful), w/ count basie (very hot!). the reprise 4 disc set is a great intro as well, but the 1st reprise disc you got is where i got started, 60+ sinatra discs ago...
lugnut
1,190 posts
 
mgattmch@noos.fr has given you a valuable insight. The early mono recordings are incredible. Old Blues eyes voice changed dramatically through the years with his earliest stuff being, IMO, the best. You also get the added bonus of listening to the best big bands in history back the man up. The old LP's are so prolific that they remain very cheap. Go shopping for used LP's if you have a turntable.
More to discover