This is one of Sinatra’s most popular albums and pops up in blue vinyl sporting three extra tracks in addition to the complete original, i.e., South Of The Border, I Love Paris and Chicago. Given these were a trio of tunes much favoured by the singer they sit very comfortably alongside the complete original disc.
In view of the ethos of the release, items such as Isle Of Capri, On The Road To Mandalay and Brazil were appropriate but would not have been first choices on the majority of his other albums.
But this observation takes nothing away from the superiority of Sinatra’s vocals across the complete repertoire, supported by an ensemble led by Billy May which included Harry “Sweets” Edison, Willie Smith and Alvin Stoller.
It is well worth noting that this album, plus another of the singer’s LPs, Only The Lonely, outsold all other top-sellers during 1958, as Brian Morton reminds us in his sleeve note.
The same album together with Come Dance With Me! and bonus tracks was reviewed on CD (20th Century Masterworks 17062) earlier this month.
Discography
(1) Come Fly With Me; Around The World; Isle Of Capri; Moonlight In Vermont; Autumn In New York; On The Road To Mandalay; (2) South Of The Border; (1) Let’s Get Away From It All; April In Paris; London By Night; Brazil; Blue Hawaii; It’s Nice To Go Trav’ling; (3) I Love Paris; (4) Chicago (45.34)
(1) Sinatra (v) with Billy May and his orchestra. Los Angeles, 1, 3 & 8 October 1957. (2) Sinatra (v) with Nelson Riddle Orchestra. Hollywood, 30 April 1953. (3) as (2) but 13 April 1960. (4) as (2) but Los Angeles, 13 August 1957.
20th Century Masterworks 350243
