Customer Reviews

Classic Sinatra: His Great Preformances 1953-1960

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Since only 16, I was greatly influenced by ole Blue Eyes! Regard-less whether his Movies, his Records on 78 rpm or on the Radio! (Long before TV!) Then our Senior Yr comes along, we got old enuf to be "Dancing in the Dark with Mary Costa, Harriet____ or Dorris! We thrilled & chilled-out to "The Lady Is A Tramp; When You're Young at Heart; It's Witch-craft!" We stayed long, Past our Curfew" to have another Frostie to Smootch a bit-more! Along about 40, Frank's still going strong. Sir Robert Shaw said: "If you really hope to learn the art of phrasing, Listen to Frank!"

Only reminded today on hearing Garrison Keillor, my 75th yr, hearing a Poem of Donald Justice: "Men over 40 learn to close the door very softly when leaving the room if not coming back!" But we leave it open, just enuf to hear Frank!

So here is Frank moving us once more to Nostalgia, Bittersweet Memories, hearing, "You Make Me Feel So Young! ; Night and Day ; Put Your Dreams Away til Another Day; Come Fly With Me!"
Only 7 out of the 20++ Classic Songs of Sinatra from Ole Blue Eyes, who never stopped looking, feeling, singing YOUNG! Every trip includes Frank, Duke, Louis, Sir Robert! Not-Yet-Older, Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood

If you're just getting into Sinatra, this is the almost perfect introduction. This CD contains 20 of his greatest songs, and every one is beautifully crafted, orchesrated and sung. From here you can branch out to the three-CD set, "The Capitol Years" and the similar box sex for the Reprise years, but beginning with this album is an excellent start. If you don't know Sinatra or haven't listened to him seriously, this record will change your life, literally. It will become very hard to listen to other singers because his abilities were unique unto him and this will become obvious as a whole new world opens up for you.

If your only listening experience with Frank have been a half dozen 45's of "New York, New York," "Strangers in the Night" and a few of his other hits from later years, then this CD will introduce you to the real Sinatra, not the Top 40 Frank. No one has ever phrased a lyric like his man. No one. You feel his pain, his pathos, his happiness, his despair and his loneliness. It is a completely joyous experience to listen to this man sing.

Others had greater range or greater voices: Bing and Dean had better pure voices, but none had the inimitable gift that Frank Sinatra possessed, and that is allowing you to understand a lyric and feel it deep down in your soul. There is only one Sinatra and this collection epitomizes his glory years. My highest recommendation.

Thankfully remastered classics. I remember going off to Viet Nam, wandering the streets of Tokyo one dark and rainy night and hearing "Strangers in the Night" blaring out of every bar with cheap speakers, it was the soundtrack before my personal hell. Years later I heard it rightfully played on a quality stereo, I wept.

Sinatra and Nelson Riddle are like Scorsesse De Niro in movies.A perfect combination.
However, the jewel of the crown is "My funny Valentine" one of the most perfect songs ever composed.
This compilation was complete. There's no hole.
Sinatra in his best.
Buy this one.

Lest anyone doubt Mr. Sinatra's talent, this album will remind them why he defined what it was to be at the top of the world. These twenty tracks from his peak of recording, during the seven years at Capitol Records, represent all the velvety talent of his career without the schlock (I refer here to Duets and Duets II, two of his last releases) that came along as he struggled to stay on top, always sliding back despite his best efforts.
This album is Sinatra in his purest and most obviously gifted form. The Chairman of the Board proved his timelessness during this period, and no doubt can remain that, had these been his only recordings, he would still have remained a household name into our time today.
Much credit does go to the engineers who remastered it for this CD release, as the sound is crystal clear, rendering even some subtle snapping of fingers audible, such as on "Witchcraft". The soft nuances of each member of his orchestra are captured in this fine example of our American musical legacy.

First, kudos to Bob Norberg for his great job of remastering the twenty songs collected on "Classic Sinatra." I rarely notice the quality of recordings when I listen to them, so if I actually sit up and pay attention to the crisp clarity of these classic recordings then you know they have to be pretty good. This 2000 collection is one of the albums in the running for the title of the best one-disc compilation covering Sinatra's Capitol period (1953-1960). With the music arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle, these are songs that reflect the period when Sinatra cemented his reputation as one of the greatest singers of the 20th century (I have no problem with handing him the top spot, but enjoy friendly debate).

Most of these songs represent Sinatra with singing songs including Cole Porter's "I Get a Kick Out of You," "You Make Me Feel So Young," Rodgers & Hart's "The Lady is a Tramp," and "Come Fly With Me." But as great as Sinatra is at swing, his mastery is best displayed in his saloon songs. "My Funny Valentine" is recorded at a perfect tempo that takes full advantage of Sinata's unparalleled phrasing and makes this the definitive recording of the Rodgers & Hart tune. Equally great is his superb "In the Wee Small Hours," the title track from his first LP where he captured the sense of heartbreak and loneliness that we have all assumed came out of his breakup with Ava Gardner. Again, Riddle comes up with the perfect arrangement to set the stage for the devastating vocals. Add "One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)" and you have the three crown jewels of Sinatra as the ultimate saloon singer.

Even though this is a collection of Sinatra tunes pulled from various albums "Classic Sinatra" still serves as a reminder that to really enjoy Sinatra you have to listen to his concept albums. This is not really a Sinatra "hits" collection, at least not by Billboard standards. Only a few of these songs charted as singles: "All the Way" (#2), "Witchcraft" (#6), "Nice 'n' Easy" (#60). That was because when Sinatra released an LP in the Fifties you were supposed to listen to the whole thing and he put out most of his greatest albums in that decade.

The other thing to be aware of is that a lot of what you hear here is not necessarily the definitive Sinatra version of these songs because Sinatra kept working at these songs over the rest of his career. There are a couple of live versions of "The Lady is a Tramp" that are even better than what you have here, and every Sinatra fan will be able to point other tracks here where they can find a version they like better. But even if you want to make an argument that these songs just establish ground level for Sinatra, his bottom floor is way higher than the ceilings of the fast majority of vocalists who ever recorded in the 20th century.

What makes Sinatra "Sinatra"? According to my friend Daniel J. McInerney, Professor of U.S. History at Utah State University:

"Sinatra went beyond Crosby ... in his tender, resonant phrasing, the subtle shifts he made in notes, beats, and lyrics, and the complex interplay he created between himself and his accompanists (A Traveller's History of the USA)."

Agreed, and that last point is worth expansion: Sinatra's powers were greatly magnified when paired with the bouncy, deliciously orchestrated charts of Nelson Riddle.

The re-mastering here is exceptional, and the titles are timeless. In the entire 20th Century - and so far in the 21st - no one comes closer to vocal perfection than Sinatra.

I agree with the other reviewers here who stated that this is a good introduction to the music of Frank Sinatra. It has all his great hits on it and the quality of sound is excellent. Frank Sinatra is truly THE lounge music King. His music will instantly put you in a relaxed, laid back mood. His voice is also one of a kind.

Classic Sinatra, His Greatest Performances 1953- 1960, is an excellent compilation of Frank Sinatra's best works. This album was released in 2000, two years after the death of Sinatra. It is a great tribute to one of the most successful artists of all time. Not one song on this album is uninspiring; it is a great addition to any collection for a fan of the Chairman of the Board. Although it has been digitally remastered the original sound of Sinatra is still preserved. Songs on the album such as, "I Get a Kick Out of You", "Nice 'N' Easy", and "One for my Baby" show the remarkable style of Sinatra. Sinatra's indistinguishable and unique voice is evident in the songs compiled on this album and is an excellent portrayal of the real Sinatra. This album receives five stars for the versatility and significance of the songs chosen for this album.

Than look no further. I had heard about Frank Sinatra but didn't know where to start with his music until I stumbled across this CD. It was my first Sinatra CD, but it certainly won't be my last! Classic Sinatra serves as the perfect introduction to this classic yet timeless singer because it's full of dazzling songs that are enjoyable to listen to. In fact, you may be hooked after just hearing the opening phrase of the first song. The tempo is generally upbeat, with the perfect mix of swingers and ballads. I enjoy listening to this CD while hanging out with my boyfriend or friends, while driving, or any time I need something to perk up my spirits.
By the way, the sound quality is amazing. The recordings sounds crisp and fresh--hard to believe they're 50 years old!
I'm no Sinatra expert, but thanks to this CD I'm rapidly becoming a fan. If you'd like to experience one of the 20th century's most memorable singers, pick up this CD now.