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Frank Sinatra Releases Rare Reprise Albums From The Vault

• 30th Oct 2009

This autumn, Universal is set to reissue eight classic Frank Sinatra albums from his own Reprise label, including My Way, a 40th Anniversary Edition, Ring A Ding Ding and his legendary live album, Sinatra at the Sands.

All the albums have been digitally re-mastered and available this October 26th as never before heard. The titles are:

MY WAY (40th Anniversary Edition) (1969)

UPC: 06025 2717273 6

Produced by Don Costa and Sonny Burke, My Way was released in March 1969 and features a varied collection of contemporary pop songs, including Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson,” The Beatles’ “Yesterday,” Ray Charles’ “Hallelujah I Love Her So,” and the iconic title track, “My Way.” The song occupies a special place in popular music, influencing generations of musicians, from Elvis Presley to the Sex Pistols, both of whom conspicuously recorded their own versions.

Famous Sinatraphile Bono, who contributes the bonus My Way 40th Anniversary Edition liner notes, wrote of the song, “…[it’s] a boast – more kiss-off than send-off – embodying all the machismo a man can muster about the mistakes he’s made on the way from here to everywhere. ” Also included are two unreleased tracks: Stevie Wonder’s classic “For Once In My Life,” rehearsal recorded on August 13, 1969 for a Sinatra television special, and a live version of “My Way,” recorded on October 24, 1987, at Reunion Arena in Dallas.

Track Listing:

1. Watch What Happens – 02:20
2. Didn't We – 02:59
3. Hallelujah, I Love Her So – 02:50
4. Yesterday – 03:59
5. All My Tomorrows – 04:39
6. My Way- 04:37
7. A Day In The Life Of A Fool – 03:05
8. For Once In My Life – 02:51
9. If You Go Away – 03:34
10. Mrs. Robinson – 02:57
11. For Once In My Life (Rehearsal)- 04:14
12. My Way (Live at Reunion Arena) – 03:16

RING A DING DING (1960)

UPC: 06025 2716916 3

This was Frank Sinatra’s first release in 1961 on his newly formed label, Reprise. It reached No.8 on the UK and No.4 in the Billboard Charts.

The title track sums up the feel of the album. ‘Ring A Ding Ding’ is named after one of Sinatra’s favourite phrases, a song that was written especially for him by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen.

The arrangements are mostly by former Count Basie trumpeter Johnny Mandel and he brings expert jazz-infused timing to the proceedings. It shows off Frank Sinatra’s impeccable phrasing ability too but it was to be Sinatra’s only meeting with Johnny Mandel.

There are new recordings of some Sinatra standards, this time with a much more liberated upbeat feel, such as ‘A Foggy Day’. Most notable, and well played on radio, are new recordings such as, ‘The Coffee Song (They’ve Got an Awful Lot of Coffee in Brazil) and ‘In The Still Of The Night.’

It was reported that US President Barack Obama includes ‘You’d be So Easy To Love’ in his iPod top 10 most played list, alongside Marvin Gaye, Bruce Springsteen and Will.i.am.

Tracklisting:

Ring a Ding Ding
Let’s Fall in Love
Be Careful, It’s My Heart
A Foggy Day
A Fine Romance
In the Still of the Night
The Coffee Song (They’ve Got an Awful Lot of Coffee in Brazil)
When I Take My Sugar to Tea
Let’s Face The Music and Dance
You’d Be So Easy to Love
You and the Night and the Music
I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

SINATRA BASIE (1962)

UPC: 06025 2720005 7

This was the first thrilling collaboration between two giants of American popular music. It sees Frank Sinatra in his prime and bandleader Count Basie in excitingly vibrant form. As Frank Sinatra said at the time of recording, ‘I’ve waited twenty years for this moment.’

It was to be the first of many collaborations in concert and in the recording studio.

The album features a stellar line-up from the jazz big band ‘60s era; the trumpet playing of Thad Jones, Sam Cohn and Al Porcino, on sax the wonderful Frank Foster, Marshall Royal and Eric Dixon with flute work from Frank Wess all shine, along with the trombonists Henry Coker and Benny Powell. Guitarist Freddie Green, the rhythm section of Buddy Cartlett (bass) and Sammy Payne (drums) are just some of the fantastic artists to contribute to this swinging liberated album. And, let’s not forget Basie’s superlative piano work.

Tracklisting:

Pennies from Heaven
Please Be Kind
(Love Is) The Tender Trap
Looking at the World Through Rose Colored Glasses
My Kind of Girl
I Only Have Eyes for You
Nice Work if You Can Get It
Learnin’ the Blues
I’m Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself a Letter)
I Won’t Dance

SINATRA AT THE SANDS (1966)

UPC: 06025 2720004 0

This is the first live album recorded by Frank Sinatra and sees him in full flow and swinging at the Copa Room in the Sands Hotel, Las Vegas, 1966. He is accompanied by the Count Basie band and the show is conducted by a young Quincy Jones.

The album is wonderfully evocative of the times. Sinatra is in fine form vocally and his relaxed humour is totally engaging. The audience are clearly captivated and the album conjures up an enviable bygone era when Las Vegas was the place to be. This is a priceless document for all Sinatra fans.

Definitely, a wish-you’d-been-there concert.

Tracklisting:

1. Come Fly with Me

2. I've Got a Crush on You

3. I've Got You Under My Skin

4. The Shadow of Your Smile

5. Street of Dreams

6. One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)

7. Fly Me to the Moon

8. One O'Clock Jump” (Instrumental)

9. The Tea Break” (Sinatra Monologue)

10. You Make Me Feel So Young

11. All of Me” (Instrumental)

12. The September of My Years

13. Luck Be a Lady

14. Get Me to the Church on Time

15. It Was a Very Good Year

16. Don't Worry 'Bout Me

17. Makin' Whoopee

18. Where or When

19. Angel Eyes

20. My Kind of Town

21. A Few Last Words (Sinatra Monologue)

22. My Kind of Town (Reprise)

SINATRA AND COMPANY (1971)

UPC: 06025 2720301 0

Remembering that the LP format has two sides is timely with regard to this recording.

The first seven tracks sees Frank Sinatra continue his recording relationship with Brazil’s finest bossa nova musician, Antonio Carlos Jobim. The songs are simply but beautifully arranged by Eumir Deodato (who went on to produce artists such as Earth Wind and Fire, Kool and the Gang, Roberta Flack and surprisingly Bjork). They contrast well with the swinging of more recent albums, reminding his audience of the more reflective side to Frank Sinatra’ range and ability.

The second side, tracks 8 to 14 is a compilation of ‘60’s semi- acoustic pop tunes. Produced by Don Costa in a polished but low-key manner, Frank Sinatra takes these contemporary chart hits and makes them his own.

Track listing:

1.Drinking Water

2. Someone To Light Up My Life

3. Triste

4. Don’t Ever Go Away

5. This Happy Madness

6. Wave

7. One Note Samba

8. I Will Drink The Wine

9. Close To You

10. Sunrise In The Morning

11.Bein’ Green

12. My Sweet Lady

13. Leaving On A Jet Plane

14. Lady Day

SINATRA SWINGS (aka SWING WITH ME) (1961)

UPC: 06025 2720006 4

This was Frank Sinatra’s second US release on the Reprise label in 1961. In the UK, this titled was released prior to ‘Ring-A-Ding-Ding.’

The wonderfully talented Billy May arranged this album. Capitol actually sued over the original title so it was changed to ‘Sinatra Swings.’ It was advertised on the sleeve as having, ‘twelve of the most uninhibited Sinatra things ever recorded.’

‘Have You Met Miss Jones’, the Rogers and Hart song, was successfully revived by UK artist Robbie Williams in 2001 album, ‘Swing When You’re Winning.’

Track listing:

Falling In Love with Love
The Curse of an Aching Heart
Don’t Cry Joe (Let Her Go, Let Her Go, Let Her Go)
Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone
Love Walked In
Granada
I Never Know
Don’t Be That Way
Moonlight on the Ganges
It’s a Wonderful World
Have You Met Miss Jones?
You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You

SOME NICE THINGS I’VE MISSED (1974)

UPC: 06025 2720008 8

This album was arranged by Don Costa and released in 1974.

It features many of the hits of the time such as Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline,’ and Jim Croce’s ‘Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.’

Recorded at Burbank Studios, apparently Sinatra, ever the perfectionist, was only happy with ‘Summer Knows’ on the eighteenth take whereas ‘If’ was nailed perfectly on the second take.

At the end of one of the session Frank Sinatra announced his daughter Nancy was about to give birth that evening and he was about to become a grandfather.

You Turned My World Around
Sweet Caroline
Summer Knows
Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree
Satisfy Me One More Time
If
What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
You Are The Sunshine of My Life

CONCERT SINATRA (1963)

UPC: 06025 2720005 7

Arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle this album was released in 1963.

It features eight Broadway show tunes, mostly by Rogers and Hammerstein. The arrangement and vocals here are outstanding. This powerful, emotionally-charged version of ‘Ol’Man River’ and the delicate ‘Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered’ show the range of skill on this recording.

Track listing:

I Have Dreamed
My Heart Stood Still
Lost In the Stars
Ol’ Man River
You’ll Never Walk Alone
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
This Nearly Was Mine
Soliloquy