Sinatra question

Sinatra's voice was beautiful in the late 30's and 40's, but he didn't yet have the phrasing and impeccable interpretation of lyrics that matured in his Capitol years.

In his youth he was a great band singer and crooner.

In his 40's he became the greatest popular singer of all time.

In his Reprise years, except for a few wonderful albums his voice started to lose that magic.

Sessions,recordings or whatever these three double albums were everything that they recorded together for RCA. Everything you are saying about Dorsey/Sinatra is in the liner notes and it was just released on Cd. Frank replaced Jack Leonard at 100.00 a week and he was not acknowledged as the lead vocalist but just as "with vocal refrain." The "sessions" were recorded in New York, Chicago and Hollywood and number 35 in all. By the end of the three year gig Frank had earned his own by line on recordings and promotional advertising.

Sinatra didn't just "do sessions" with Tommy Dorsey from 1940-42: he was the band's regular vocalist, meaning he recorded with them, performed on radio with them, and toured with them. In 1942, he did his first "solo" recordings--four titles--while still with Dorsey. These recordings--including his first of "Night and Day"--are among the most beautiful he ever made.

Later that year, he left Dorsey to go solo, and signed with Columbia, where he recorded from 1943 until 1952. The best of these are from 1943-46. You could go with the four-disc set, which is an excellent selection up through '52, or go bonkers and buy the 12-disc box of all his Columbia recordings. Both have identical sound quality.

Of course as with most "complete" sets, you have to take the bad with the good. From, say, 1949-52, Sinatra was in generally poor voice. This was during the period where he lost his voice in a performance at the Copa and had to take several months off.

Although he later bounced back and made some very fine recordings for Capitol, to my ears his voice had lost that sweet, youthful quality for good. He was never quite the same again.

Try 'Live in Paris', whatever disc that has 'From the Wee Small Hours' on it, 'Duets', and maybe "live at the Sands'. I heard 'Live From Paris' and the song, "From the Wee Small Hours" on the radio a few days ago and finally became a fan of his. It was incredible. As for the other two, it was a recommnedation from the DJ so I can't vouch for the quality of the recording.

Some changes here,Sinatra parted with Harry James in late January 1940 and this set is 3 double albums for a total of 6 disc's.

it wasn't until sinatra joined capitol records, that he was able to have a say in what and how he recorded. capitol records was the first 'artist label. he later founded reprise with the same m.o.........all sinatra stuff is great, but '60 to '70....thats the real deal

According to the liner notes from this three disc vinyl collection I'm holding Sinatra parted ways with Harry James in late 39 and did some sessions with Tommy Dorsey. These sessions were recorded from Feb. 1940 to July 1942 and are called the The Tommy Dorsey/Frank Sinatra Sessions. I don't know if it is available on CD or the sound quality because my set is still sealed. It does say they used the Original masters for the set but on some hard to track down songs they just used copies of 78's from collectors. Hope this helps you out.
Ciao

Grant, I just ordered your recommendation on Ebay. I'll let you know. I wonder how it is different than vegasears? will let you know? Yours is a 2 disc and his a 4. Could one be more comprehensive of the time?

Hello- Just wondering if there are any Sinatra CD's with outstanding sound quality.Thanks Kevin

Try "Frank Sinatra The Best Of The Columbia Years 1943 - 1952". It's a four disc box set.

Try this one Warrenh. Harry James and his Orchestra featuring Frank Sinatra the complete recordings 1939. columbia/legacy ck-66377. Would any titles on vinyl help you out? I didn't see a TT listed on your system.

I know the 50s stuff guys. Thanks, but I'm looking (as I said) pre `1950.

http://www.sinatraarchive.com/ref/sessions.htm

Well it's not pre-1950 and others will disagree but "In the Wee Small Hours" is as good as Sinatra gets for me.

That be it, Grant. There's more before 1943, but this is a good start. thanks...

Some good Sinatra recordings from the early 50's to 1960 are found on a CD "Frank Sinatra sings the Select COle Porter"
My all time favorite is the first concept album ever done
"In the Wee Small Hours" recorded in 1955, great album
Also check out earlier his "Swing Easy" and "Songs for Young Lovers" both with Nelson Riddle, 1954 and 1953 respectively.
Finally his "Songs for Swingin Lovers" with 1955 with Nelson Riddle.
I agree that by about 1960 or so his voice went downhill and never recovered. Yet it has been said of him fairly that he could take any song and turn it into a three act play. In the fifties and before great voice

I found his voice already over when he came out with Strangers in the Night. My Way, NY, NY, give me a break. Some things don't get better with age. Phasing, emotion sure. The voice? Not to these ears.

Sorry. can't help much with the early stuff but I'd be looking at stuff he did with Tommy and Jimmy and the Modernairs.
At 67, I was a Sinatra fan way back when. I loved all the phases he went thru.---However, my fav. is the "Sept. Of My Years". Gordon Jenkins was an arrangement master. Even the album Gordy did with Nat King Cole showcased Nat as good as he ever sounded. Even as a Sinatra fan I always had trouble telling him from Dick Haymes. Frances had such a great voice he sounded great no matter whether it was with Billy May, Count Basey, or Nelson Riddle; but Gordy brought out his best,to me.