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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
fatparrot
1,314 posts
 
Try "The Summit" on DCC gold CD (should still be around for $30- to $35-). Recorded in 1962(?) the energy and playfulness between Dean, Frank, and Sammy (are last names even needed?) is totally involving! It's a slice of American life from 40 years ago. It's interesting that some of the jokes would cause political correctness pundits to have a coronary today! But these jokes were done in the spirit of friendship, before the days of self censorship. And the recording is very good quality as well!
unsound
7,315 posts
 
I don't know if this is of any help but, there were 3 major periods in Sinatra's career. Most people seem to like the Nelson Riddle years. As for me, I prefer the Count Bassie period.
broubin
16 posts
 
I'm not a big Sinatra fan either, I can take him or leave him, but Sinatra At the Sands w/Count Basie & Quincy Jones justs knocks me out. It's definitely the non-fan's album to have.
warrenh's avatar
warrenh
2,299 posts
 
The further back you go with Sinatra, the better. He did not get better with age. He was primo in the 40s and early 50s. Killer, when he sang for Dorsey, although there's more band than Siantra. Don't get me wrong, he has some good late 50s stuff, but not like the 40s. Everything after that sucks. He was way over with Strangers in the Night. My Way? give me a break..
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