Features 22 newly remastered classics from Sinatra's Reprise
years including re-s of Capitol tracks, to commemorate
the 10th anniversary of Sinatra's passing (May 14th 1998).
Collection of legendary songs including: My Way, Fly Me To The
Moon, Luck Be A Lady, Strangers In The Night, Somethin' Stupid
and Theme From New York, New York.
Plus a previously unissued version of Body And Soul with a newly
recorded arrangement.
BBC Review
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Released to mark the 10th anniversary of the demise of
Francis Albert Sinatra, this is the first of what will
undoubtedly be a plethora of reissues, rarities and assorted
merchandising ventures. However, as with Elvis, it's hard to
bemoan such blatant catalogue squeezing when the man at the
centre of it is such an immense presence in modern history.
Of course, Mr Ring-A-Ding's status has been boosted over the last
few years by the rediscovery of the so-called 'Rat Pack' by a
younger generation. While the oleaginous croonings of Dean Martin
(or the acting skills of Peter Lawford) may not withstand such
endless repackaging, Sinatra always will be a safe bet. For
anyone yet to taste the exquisite joys of the coolest swinger in
town, Nothing But The Best does its introductory job very well.
But when it comes to the title itself, we're perhaps on shaky
ground.
The reason? Well by 1960 Frank, finally elevated to the star
bracket that he always knew he was born to inhabit, had fallen
out of love with the corporate machinery of Capitol Records; the
label that made him more than the bobbysoxxers' idol. In a bold
move presaging the behaviour of many 70s rock acts, he decided
that he'd simply form his own label. Thus Reprise Records was
born. This compilation comes from that period. And while it's all
good stuff it lacks the edge of his earlier work.
However, to say the label was vanity project would be woefully
inaccurate. Frank was always a consummate professional. He was
also a man who loved to make records. Indeed he almost
single-handedly redefined the role of the singer in the age of
electricity by his peerless delivery in front of a studio
microphone. Not only that but he knew his arrangers as well. Thus
the compiliation is chock-full of legendary names who always gave
nothing but their best. Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Quincy Jones,
Gordon Jenkins and Billy Strange: these are people who were hired
for their innate understanding of the level of performance that
Frank wanted to achieve. So, while none of these sides approach
the mastery of Frank's defining Capitol years, they still include
some amazing moments. My Way, Strangers In The Night, Somethin'
Stupid (with daughter, Nancy), It Was A Very Good Year, That's
Life - all stand tall in the Sinatra canon. And for the
completist there's even a serviceable unreleased version of Body
And Soul, not to mention a DVD of his 1971 Royal Festival Hall
appearance.
As stated, this makes for a warm and generous introduction to the
man known as the Chairman of the Board in his later years. But
anyone who already knows what makes Frank tick needs to take
themselves back a decade or so, and immerse themselves in some of
the 20th century's finest music. --Chris Jones
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