Capitol did release this material as four albums, in 1956, 1959, 1961 and 1962, but all 48 titles were recorded and originally released as singles, a format in which I bought them as they appeared.
By 1950 Sinatra couldn’t get arrested. In 1953 he signed with Capitol with the proviso that he himself underwrote all recording fees. This arrangement kick-started the second – and arguably most successful – stage of his career, via a string of both singles and albums through the rest of the decade, as Capitol shrewdly interspersed material recorded specifically for albums with repackaged singles. Around 19 or 20 of the titles may be said to verge on classics.
It’s fairly easy to cherry pick: I’ve Got The World On A String, South Of The Border, The Gal That Got Away, Young At Heart, Don’t Worry ’Bout Me, My One And Only Love. Only an amoeba with learning difficulties would claim that Three Coins In The Fountain, despite its “Best Song” Oscar, was in the same league, to say nothing of Old MacDonald.
Nevertheless, we’re talking Sinatra here. With Yves Montand he made a pair that constituted the two finest male vocalist of the 20th century. Anything recorded by either was worth hearing, and let’s face it, none of these 48 tracks comes even close to Mama Will Bark.
The eight-page booklet is next to useless, containing only title lists plus notes, replicated from the original viny releases. I enjoyed hearing these albums again, as I am sure most Sinatra admirers will do also.
Discography
CD1: [This Is Sinatra] I’ve Got The World On A String; Three Coins In The Fountain; Love And Marriage; From Here To Eternity; South Of The Border; Rain; The Gal That Got Away; Young At Heart; Learning The Blues; My One And Only Love; The Tender Trap; Don’t Worry ’Bout Me. [Look To Your Heart] Look To Your Heart; Anytime, Anywhere; Not As A Stranger; Our Town; You, My Love; Same Old Saturday Night; Fairy Tale; The Impatient Years; I Could Have Told You; When I Stop Loving You; If I Had Three Wishes; When I Stop Loving You; I’m Gonna Live Till I Die (70.12)
CD2: [All The Way] All The Way; High Hopes; Talk To Me; French Foreign Legion; To Love And Be Loved; River, Stay Away From My Door; Witchcraft; It’s Over, It’s Over, It’s Over; Old MacDonald; This Was My Love; All My Tomorrows; Sleep Warm; [Love And Things] The Nearness Of You; Hidden Persuasion; The Moon Was Yellow; I Love Paris; Monique; Chicago; Love Looks So Well On You; Sentimental Baby; Mr. Success; They Came To Cordura; I Got A Right To Sing The Blues; Something Wonderful Happens In Summer (67.27)
Sinatra (v) with Nelson Riddle orchestra. USA, 1953-1960.
Avid AMSC 1455
