Sinatra @ Capitol: Part one

Frank Sinatra was, indisputably, the greatest ever purveyor of the Great American Songbook. From his early days with the bands of Harry James and Tommy Dorsey through to his latter years when, although the voice had lost some of the magic it once had, he could still get to the essence of a lyric. More so even than Ella who, via the series of songbooks she recorded for Norman Granz, never quite matched Sinatra on the emotional level.

However, from all of his many albums, none of them quite reached the standard of those he recorded for Capitol during the 1950s. This was the period when, in popular music terms, he wrote Shakespeare's sonnets, painted the Mona Lisa, composed Beethoven's Fifth and kayoed Rocky Marciano.

In the above collage I've highlighted  the first six of twelve of my favourites. The other six will follow in a second post.

Here they are in, approximately chronological order: 

Songs For Young Lovers began life as a 10" LP in 1953 and grew. The 12" version included four additional tracks. The arrangements were by Nelson Riddle who was to become a big part of  Sinatra's career. A Foggy Day

In the Wee Small Hours was originally issued in 1955 on two ten-inchers but, inevitably, they were eventually shoehorned onto a 12" LP and subsequently a CD. The first of Sinatra's many albums for losers and maybe the saddest and the finest. Nelson Riddle once again waves the baton. Last Night When We Were Young.

Songs For Swingin' Lovers was the one that did it for me. A lazy afternoon in 1956 listening to the radio over the RAF tannoy system and not paying much attention until the BBC presenter ('Auntie' had yet to recognise the term DJ) played a couple of tracks from this iconic album. Sinatra in top form - nobody could phrase a lyric like he did - Riddle's arrangements the best ever behind a singer. The template had been fashioned for every big band singer and arranger. You're Getting to be a Habit With Me.

This is Sinatra, whilst not a bad record - none recorded in this period of his career were - it does fall slightly below the standard of the others. Mainly because it comprises, in the main, of tracks that were originally released as singles aimed at the American Hit Parade, or were film related. There are, of course, exceptions and one in particular, South of the Border, is outstanding. The only Billy May arrangement on the album, it's interesting to compare his work with Riddle's who scores the other eleven. and I doubt that May could have made a silk purse out of a sow's ear the way that Riddle does with the inane Love and Marriage. 

Pal Joey may or not qualify for this listing as, being a movie soundtrack it isn't all Sinatra as Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak, or whoever ghosted their voices*, also have tracks on the album. However, Pal Joey is one of my favourite movies and the book by John O'Hara, which inspired the film is one of my favourite  books plus, on the tracks where he does sing, he's in great voice. Great scene in the film when he sings  There's a Small Hotel.

*Hayworth was dubbed by Joanne Greer and Novak by Trudy Erwin.

Close to You with, as almost always, Nelson Riddle leading the band or, should I say, conducting the orchestra? The Hollywood String Quartet provide the bulk of the support with no brass and very little woodwind. This isn't the swingin', ring-ding-ding Sinatra but a man getting to the core of the lyric. Just about every song is oozing with love and occasional pain. Home ground for Frank who had probably experienced both emotions more than most. Out of the twelve great numbers I've gone for Blame it on my Youth as an example. Tomorrow that could change ... Lance

PS: More to follow soon.