Album

Come Rain Or Come Shine

By |2017-06-10T00:19:34+03:00December 30th, 2012|Categories: Songs|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Come Rain or Come Shine, a beautiful song that Frank Sinatra really liked to sing, was written by Harold Arlen in 1946. Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics for Come Rain or Come Shine, and it was for the musical St. Louis Woman. In fact, whole music of this musical was by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. The recording was first made by Tommy Dorsey‘s Orchestra in 1946, and many singers, including Frank Sinatra, recorded or sang this song later. It became a standard then.

Come Rain or Come Shine Frank Sinatra Harold Arlen Johnny Mercer

Frank Sinatra sang Come Rain or Come Shine many times through his career, firstly via radio broadcasts, then in his albums. He first recorded the song on November 22, 1961, for his album “Sinatra and Strings”, which was released in 1962 and was arranged by Don Costa. In 1993, Frank Sinatra recorded Come Rain or Come Shine for his “Duets” album, and Gloria Estefan sang a part of it.

When Sinatra was singing at Caesars Palace, and was singing Come Rain or Come Shine, Don Costa was noted to say: “That’s still the best chart I wrote”. Will Friedwald, writer of “Sinatra! The Song Is You”, says: “The Sinatra-Costa “Come Rain or Come Shine” may well be the collaboration’s masterpiece, effectively combining the high drama of grand opera with the pure power of blues.”

Come Rain or Come Shine is really a piece of work, with its amazing orchestration. Ray Charles’ version is also worth mentioning, and could be perceived as better than Sinatra’s.

Below is a beautiful performance of Frank Sinatra, singing Come Rain or Come Shine.

What did Frank Sinatra say about Come Rain or Come Shine?

Frank Sinatra: This is a wonderful song by Johnn Mercer, arrangement by Don Costa. (1981 Argentina)

Frank Sinatra: This is a lovely song by Johnny Mercer, and Don Costa’s orchestration. I love this song. (1991/09/21 – Italy)

Frank Sinatra: Great song by Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer. Orchestrated by Don Costa. I love to sing this song. Great song. (Live at Meadowlands)

Frank Sinatra: Good song by Harold Arlen, and Johnny Mercer. Don Costa’s orchestration. One of my favourite songs. (1993/ November 21, Foxwoods Casino)

Frank Sinatra: One of my favourite songs. I probably have 10 or 12 songs and there are thousands of them. This one is by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, orchestrated beautifully by the late Don Costa. For you, from me. Wonderful song, I love it. ( 1990/12/12 Meadowlands)

Frank Sinatra: I love singing it, it is a fine song. (1993/06/02 Hamburg, Germany)

Frank Sinatra: One of my favourite songs of all times. (1983/11/28 Nassau Coliseum)

Frank Sinatra: I like this song, almost more than any other song I have ever sang. Mr. Harold Arlen and Mr. Johnny Mercer, wonderful orchestration by Don Costa. (1985 Japan Concert)

Frank Sinatra: This is something by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen, and Don Costa’s
orchestration. This is an absolute statement coming from me to all of you
because the fact that you come to spend an evening with me. (September 28
1991, Oslo)*

Frank Sinatra: This next song is a marvelous song written by two of the great song writers, I speak of Harold Arlen and Mr. Johnny Mercer. And they wrote many many wonderful songs together. THIS one is very special to me. Wonderful arrangement by Don Costa. (August 20 1982, Dominican Republic)*

Frank Sinatra: This song was written by Charlie Chapman and Tom Mix, I don’t even know this. Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, and orchestrated by the great Don Costa. Good song. This is from me to you, everywhere. (April 24 1994, Radio City Music Hall)*

Frank Sinatra: If I had to choose from 50 songs or 100 songs that we know, most of us know, this one would be included at all times. It was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, great team. And also orchestrated by a brilliant man named Don Costa. And this is directly from me to you. (October 9 1991, The Point)*

Frank Sinatra: This is a marvelous song, I like singing this one. (December 19-20 1994, Fukuoka Dome)*

Frank SInatra: This could be one of the finest pieces of popular music ever written, in spite of the wonderful tunes we have. Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, and Don Costa did the orchestration. (December 30 1993, MGM)*

Frank Sinatra: Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen wrote this one. Arranged by Don Costa, one of my favorite songs of all time. Great song. This is dedicated to all of you in this room. (March 20 1984, Veterans Memorial Coliseum)*

*Special thanks to Michael Wind for his contributions regarding what did Sinatra say about Come Rain or Come Shine.

Sinatra: Best of the Best of the Best of The Best!

By |2017-06-10T00:19:38+03:00September 15th, 2011|Categories: Articles|Tags: , , , , |

Hearing wonderful news and not sharing with you? Impossible. The official Frank Sinatra fan page on facebook has announced that we have an incoming album: Sinatra: Best of the Best. This collection is told to be a beautiful marriage of songs from Capitol years and Reprise years and consists of 2 CD’s. Here are the songs.

Sinatra Best Of The Best

CD 1

1. I’ve Got The World On A String
2. My Funny Valentine
3. Young At Heart
4. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
5. Love And Marriage
6. You Make Me Feel So Young
7. I’ve Got You Under My Skin
8. The Lady Is A Tramp
9. Witchcraft
10. All The Way
11. Come Fly With Me
12. Angel Eyes
13. Nice ‘N’ Easy
14. Night And Day
15. The Way You Look Tonight
16. My Kind Of Town
17. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
18. It Was A Very Good Year
19. Strangers In The Night
20. Summer Wind
21. That’s Life
22. My Way
23. Theme From New York, New York

CD 2 IN CONCERT Live In Seattle

1. Introduction/You Make Me Feel So Young
2. It Happened In Monterey
3. At Long Last Love
4. I Get A Kick Out Of You
5. Just One Of Those Things
6. A Foggy Day
7. The Lady Is A Tramp
8. They Can’t Take That Away From Me
9. I Won’t Dance
10. Sinatra Dialogue
11. When Your Lover Has Gone
12. Violets For Your Furs
13. My Funny Valentine
14. Glad To Be Unhappy
15. One For My Baby
16. The Tender Trap
17. Hey Jealous Lover
18. I’ve Got You Under My Skin
19. Oh! Look At Me Now

Now, I know this is just a Sinatra: Best of the Best album, not Sinatra: Best of the Best of the Best of The Best as title suggests, but thanks to the lovely authorities, some people keep choosing the best songs of Frank Sinatra for us over and over again. So in maybe 10 or 20 years, we may buy the Sinatra: Best of the Best of the Best of The Best album as well. These authorities are so good at choosing songs that they include “Love and Marriage” in this Sinatra: Best of the Best set. Okay, you may very well love that song; but including it in the best of best album? Don’t think that makes sense. Mayhaps in a “Most Popular” album.

Again, thanks to the authorities, we can pay again for the same songs. And why? Because they are in a different CD! And the album name is different! How wonderful.

How about editing and improving some unreleased concerts, making some effort for Sinatra? How about releasing some HD concerts, instead of putting the concerts together that were already released and naming it “Concert Collection” ? How about buying those 200+ recorded shows of Frank Sinatra and releasing them instead of letting them gather dust in a cellar in a club? But of course Sinatra: Best of the Best is a nice of making quick money.

My friends, there are lots of things to say, but who is listening? Making money using the name Frank Sinatra is easy. The important thing is, doing such work that Sinatra legacy deserves. Maybe one day…

I’ve Got You Under My Skin

By |2017-06-10T00:19:38+03:00August 11th, 2011|Categories: Songs|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Here’s a truly masterpiece, an awesome jazz piece, I’ve Got You Under My Skin. Written in 1936 by Cole Porter, it was not perfect till Nelson Riddle’s rearranged this song. Sinatra included this song in his album Songs For Swingin’ Lovers (1956), and it was a huge hit. From then on, I’ve Got You Under My Skin was to be a song he would sing all his life.

I've Got You Under My Skin Frank Sinatra

“…It took twenty-two takes of Cole Porter’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” to satisfy the singer. Sublimely erotic, this recording is the turning point in the Sinatra-Riddle epoch, the pivot on which all future Sinatra efforts would hinge. Ironically, it almost never came to pass, as it was added to the list of tunes for the Songs for Singin’ Lovers album shortly before the session at which it was recorded. In the forty-plus years since its waxing, the recording has become one of the most studied and admired Sinatra performances of all time…”

[Sessions With Sinatra]

Frank Sinatra was to re-perform I’ve Got You Under My Skin in 2 other albums later, in Sinatra’s Sinatra (1963) and Duets (1993) with U2’s soloist bono. Except the version with Bono, in which Bono can be considered as having ruined the song, it is very hard to find a bad version of this song. Mr. Sinatra included I’ve Got You Under My Skin in his concerts great many times, making it hard to count. And every time, he was legendary. The orchestration is very rich and highly enjoyable with a trombone solo, and Sinatra’s shouting “Don’t you know you fool, you never can win”, and stopping at a point and re-singing the chorus starting with “I would sacrifice anything…” makes it perfect.

What did Frank Sinatra say about I’ve Got You Under My Skin?

Here’s something that I don’t like leaving out because it’s a classic. And its arrangement is a classic.( 1976-05-10 Grand Ol’ Opry)

This is a Cole Porter Song. Great Song (Sinatra ’57 In Concert)

Nelson Riddle’s most identifiable orchestration I believe this would be. It’s bigger in Japan than it is here. (?,?)

Oh, here’s something we can’t leave out when we do a performance. Cole Porter’s shining hour and Nelson Riddle’s, at his best. (Main Event)

Ah! Here’s an old chestnut we can never leave out of program because people I think, sometimes we get letters say why didn’t you do it or you didn’t sing that song. This is a Cole Porter and Nelson Riddle’s wonderful orchestration, the song you know well. (Dublin, 1991)

Nelson Riddle and Cole Porter, something we never leave out. (Caesar’s Palace, 1975)

Ah, here’s a beauty. (?, 1973)

This is one of the best of Mr. Cole Porter and Mr. Nelson Riddle’s arrangements. (White House, 1973)

Cole Porter, My Way of Nelson Riddle (Royal Festival Hall, 1971)

Cole Porter and Nelson Riddle, this is a must! You don’t do this, you get hate letters. (1980-07-07 Universal Amphitheater)

 

Here’s a wonderful version of I’ve Got You Under My Skin from A Man and His Music.

I’ve Got You Under My Skin might not be as widely known as My Way, Strangers In The Night or New York New York, but surely it is known by almost everyone that knows Frank Sinatra, and I might add this is one of his greatest songs of all times.

Strangers In The Night

By |2017-06-10T00:19:38+03:00July 9th, 2011|Categories: Songs|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The worst fucking song I’ve ever heard. No! It’s not my opinion. In fact, i really love Strangers In The Night, but Frank Sinatra himself did not like this song at all, and in his concert in Dominican Republic in 1982 August, also known as “Concert for the Americas”, Frank Sinatra said so after he finished singing Strangers In The Night, when the audience was applauding for his great performance.

When Frank Sinatra comes to mind, he brings two great songs with him. One is “My Way” without any doubt, and the other is, most probably, “Strangers In The Night”. Though he liked neither, these two songs made him well known all over the world. Strangers In The Night was written by Charles Singleton and Eddie Snyder, and composed by Bert Kampfert. The song was performed by various singers before Sinatra, but when Frank Sinatra included the song in his album “Strangers In The Night” in 1966, it became a huge hit.

Strangers In The Night Frank Sinatra

Strangers In The Night was a song written for the movie “A Man Could Get Killed”. It was given to both Sinatra and Jack Jones, and when Reprise Records heard that Jack Jones was to release his version in few days, they immediately recorded it and made it ready before Jack Jones’s version was on the radio. It reached no 1 on the charts, but then replaced by Beatles’s “Yesterday”.

The following parts are form Barbara Sinatra’s book, Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank.

Barbara Sinatra: Songs like “Strangers In The Night” or “My Way”, which he’d been asked to sing over and over again since 1960s, did absolutely nothing for him. He always said the words were not subtle enough, too “on the nose.” Knowing that he’d still have to sing them at every concert, he’d try to lighten the experience by joking with the auidence that those tunes had kept him in pizza for years.

Barbara Sinatra: .. I could see he was thrown. Even when the crowd settled down a bit and allowed him to go on, he was overwhelmed. So much so that when the time come to sing “Strangers In The Night”, he was completely unable  to- the first time I’d ever seen that happen. He stood up there on stage, eyes welling, as the music carried on without him. Then the most amazing thing happened. Almost every one of the 175,000 people in that arena, many of whom had learned to speak English by listening to Sinatra records, began to sing the words to him, heavily accented. “Strangers in the night, exchanging glances. Wond’ring in the night, what were the chances…” Their voices welled as one until the night air was filled with melody. Tears slid down my face as well as down Frank’s. It was one of the most beautiful sounds I ever heard.

Frank Sinatra won four Grammy Awards including “Record of The Year” and “Best Male Vocal Performance” for recording “Strangers In The Night”, and many versions in different languages have been performed till then. This is another reason why the song is known by everyone.

A mistress of Saddam Hussein, Parisula Lampsos, was noted to say that Saddam loved to listen Strangers In The Night and dance to it.

What did Frank Sinatra say about the song?

Frank Sinatra: This is a marvelous song written by Charles Singleton and we would like to do it for you. (28-11-1983, Nassau Coliesum)

Frank Sinatra: Ah here is a song everybody in the world knows, everybody! (20-11-1994, Japan)

Frank Sinatra:  Yeah here’s a song that I can not stand. I just can not stand this song, but what the hell. (1975-11-27, Jerusalem, Israel)

Frank Sinatra: The worst fucking song I’ve ever heard. (29-08-1982, Dominican Republic)

Frank Sinatra: This is a song that I absolutely detested the first time I heard it. And strangely enough I keep saying to myself “Why are you still singing this song?” (1993-11-21, Faxwoods Casino, Connecticut)

Frank Sinatra: Oh you know this one (Sinatra 80th Live in Concert)

Frank Sinatra: Here’s a song, the first time I heard Don Costa played it for me some years ago. I hated it! I hated this goddamn song the first I’ve heard it. And I still hate it! So sue me, shoot bullets through me. Shoot. (New York Set, Cd 4)

Strangers In The Night was sung by Frank Sinatra many times during his concerts and among them, I love the 1985 Japan Concert version and the following one at most. The album version is as good as the live ones, but of course it lacks the “Do Be Do Be Do.”

 

 

L.A. Is My Lady (Album, 1984)

By |2017-06-10T00:19:40+03:00June 3rd, 2011|Categories: Albums|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

L.A. Is My Lady is the album Frank Sinatra recorded in the year 1984. Quincy Jones contributed to the L.A. Is My Lady album as the arranger and producer, and the album is released by Warner Bros. This is the last solo album of Frank Sinatra, since the following albums are the Duet albums.

Frank Sinatra L.A. Is My Lady Album Cover

The songs in L.A. Is My Lady album are as following:

1. L.A. Is My lady
2. The Best Of Everything
3. How Do You Keep The Music Playing
4. Teach Me Tonight
5. It’s All Right With Me
6. Mack The Knife
7. Until The Real Thing Comes Along
8. Stormy Weather
9. If I Should Lose You
10. A Hundred Years From Today
11. After You’ve Gone

Some of the songs are really nice in L.A. Is My Lady album.

LA Is my Lady: Nice performance, definitely worth listening. But i would go for the 1985 Japan concert version to get the most out of the song.
The Best of Everything: Could sound a lot better if it was recorded 15 years ago, but still very nice.
How Do You Keep The Music Playing: In my opinion, the best song in the album, and this is the best version of this song as well. It couldn’t be any better at all, and this song itself is enough to make the album worth listening. Tony Bennett sang this song as well but his version is not as good as Frank’s version, as expected.
Mack The Knife: Good song, but not an album song i think, this is a performance song. The album version is hardly bearable, but the 1985 Japan Concert version is simply fascinating. If you will listen to this song, again go for the Japan performance, like L.A. Is My Lady.
Stormy Weather: Sinatra recorded this song three times in his career, this version being the last one. I can’t decide whether Capitol version or this one is better, all are beautiful. Stormy Weather is a very nice song both music and lyricswise.

I don’t know why but when it comes to studio recordings, some Sinatra performances are really bad. But few years later, in a concert, Frank Sinatra sings the same song much more better. L.A. Is My Lady is a good example of this.

You can listen to the album version of How Do You Keep The Music Playing in the L.A. Is My Lady album from the video below.

Frank Sinatra – Cycles (Album, 1968)

By |2017-06-10T00:19:40+03:00June 3rd, 2011|Categories: Albums|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Cycles is an underrated album of Frank Sinatra, released in 1968, by Reprise Records. The songs are arranged by Don Costa.

Frank Sinatra Cycles Album Cover 1968

The songs in Cycles album are as following:

1. Rain In My Heart
2. Both Sides Now
3. Little Green Apples
4. Pretty Colors
5. Cycles
6. Wandering
7. By The Time I Get To Phoenix
8. Moody River
9. My Way Of Life
10. Gentle On My Mind

And here is a photo of my Cycles LP.

Frank Sinatra Cycles Lp 1968

Among all albums of Frank Sinatra, Cycles is my favorite one. I really love all the songs in the album, except Moody River, which i believe is not a good song and a wrong choice for the album. All the other songs have a unique and beautiful side, and when combined with Frank Sinatra’s amazing voice in late 1960’s, the album simply becomes the best. It is not a concept album, and it can be listened any time of the day. You don’t need to be in the mood for it, just play and enjoy.

The song “cycles” is a masterpiece itself, both lyrics-wise and music-wise.
“Pretty colors” and “rain in my heart” are two of the best songs for a desperate and sad lover, and “Both Sides Wow” is successfully performed. Not better than Bing Crosby’s live performance maybe, but still very nice.

The Both Sides Now performance of Bing Crosby I have just mentioned can be found below.

Other than these, “little green apples” and “gentle on my mind” are not the best songs of their kinds, but Sinatra’s voice is enough to make them worth listening. Both very beautiful songs.
Lastly, “wandering” is a very unique and impressive song of the Cycles album.

Below is the song wandering from Cycles album.

Frank Sinatra´s Cycles album is in the shadow of his career, it is an unlit gem. But we can always reach for it and enjoy it.

I absolutely recommend all Frank Sinatra listeners to listen the whole Cycles album at least once.

Frank Sinatra and Harry James Complete Recordings

By |2017-06-10T00:19:40+03:00June 3rd, 2011|Categories: Albums|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Frank Sinatra and Harry James Complete Recordings is an album of Frank Sinatra songs when he was working with Harry James Orchestra.

Harry James and his Orchestra, featuring Frank Sinatra, by Columbia Records.

Frank Sinatra and Harry James Complete Recordings

Songs in Frank Sinatra and Harry James Complete Recordings:

1. From The Bottom Of My Heart
2. Melancholy Mood
3. My Buddy
4. It’s Funny To Everyone But Me
5. Here Comes The Night
6. All Or Nothing At All
7. On A Little Street In Singapore
8. Who Told You I Cared?
9. Ciribiribin (They’re So In Love)
10. Every Day Of My Life
11. From The Bottom Of My Heart
12. Melancholy Mood
13. It’s Funny To Everyone But Me
14. All Or Nothing At All
15. Stardust
16. Wishing Will Make It So
17. If I Didn’t Care
18. The Lamp Is Low
19. My Love For You
20. Moon Love
21. This Is No Dream

There are several notable songs in Frank Sinatra and Harry James Complete Recordings.

Melancholy Mood: Despite the annoying music at the beginning, very well performed by Frank Sinatra.
All or Nothing At All: Wonderful music and lyrics. His emphasis on some words are weird, but considering that this is one of Sinatra’s first records, it is quite acceptable.
Ciribiribin: One of the best songs in the album for me, and one of the undiscovered songs of Sinatra. His voice in this song is so beautiful that it makes you understand how good his voice in his early years was.
Stardust: This song gets better and better as you listen to it. It captures the absolute spirit of 1939. One one side, there is the big band, and on the other side is Frank Sinatra’s historical performance. Sinatra’s part ends at 1:22 and after that, till the end of the song, that is 4:01, you hear a marvelous work of Harry James’ orchestra. I specifically recommend focusing on between 2:43 and 4:01. If you are into big band music, you will love every second of it. This version of Stardust, with ease, is the best of its kind.
If I Didn’t Care: This is a very nice and also widely known song by Ink Spots. And listening this from Sinatra is nice.
Moon Love: The music and Sinatra’s voice are simply charming. Recommended.
The Lamp Is Low: Beautiful music and lyrics. A song very easy to enjoy despite some faults here and there.

Frank Sinatra and Harry James Complete Recordings is very important since these are the first songs Frank Sinatra recorded. It also gives us the opportunity to listen the young and amateur voice of Sinatra.

In the video below, you can listen to the song “Moon Love”,  1939 version from this Frank Sinatra and Harry James Complete Recordings album. Sinatra also recorded this song later for his Moonlight Sinatra album, in 1966.

And below is the “Stardust”. One of the best performances of those years.

Frank Sinatra – All Alone (Album, 1962)

By |2017-06-10T00:19:40+03:00June 3rd, 2011|Categories: Albums|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

All Alone is a beautiful concept album of Frank Sinatra from Reprise Records in 1962. The album was planned to be named as Come Waltz With Me, but later on the name is changed to All Alone and album is released with that name. Songs are arranged by Gordon Jenkins and many of the songs are by Irving Berlin.

Frank Sinatra All Alone 1962 Album Cover Reprise Records

The songs in the All Alone album are:

1. All Alone
2. The Girl Next Door
3. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
4. Charmaine
5. What’ll I Do?
6. When I Lost You
7. Oh, How I Miss You Tonight
8. Indiscreet
9. Remember
10. Together
11. The Song Is Ended
12. Come Waltz With Me

All Alone is a concept album. The songs are about a man whose girl left him, or unaware of him. Though the album is underrated in the music world, Frank Sinatra fans are aware of the fact that this album is a real masterpiece.

In the album All Alone, all of the songs are very beautiful and worth listening. There is not a single bad song. But of course, All Alone, Charmaine, The Song Is Ended, What’ll I Do? and Indiscreet are really special. They are not only the best songs of the album, but also the notable songs in Frank Sinatra’s career. But he didn’t prefer the songs of this album in his concerts.

In the video below, you can listen to the 2nd take of “Come Waltz With me” by Frank Sinatra in studio.

Last but not least, Are You Lonesome Tonight is a nice song of the All Alone album, always a classic.

The cover of the album was a painting in Sinatra’s home.

Frank Sinatra All Alone Painting Home

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