Released on Sinatra's own Reprise Records label in 1963, recorded that same year over two April days in Hollywood, Sinatra's Sinatra isan album inspired by economic rather than artistic necessity, it attempts to compete in record stores with earlier hits still controlled by Columbia and Capitol (Sinatra's previous two record labels). Yet Sinatra's Sinatra remians true to its concept of presenting new versions of Sinatra's personal favorite songs and not merely regurgitating the twelve titles that happened to sell the biggest for a higher royalty rate on his own label.
(from Sinatra! The Song Is You: A Singer's Art by Will Friedwald, p. 259)
I put this post together primarily for myself (sometimes I think the only audience for these posts) because this seemed to be the best, quickest way to hear both versions of each song, back to back. If some distant soul, perhaps from this very planet, should stumble across this in some distant, future date, then good on you, mate.
I wasn't aware Sinatra had recorded "Second Time Around" or "Pocketful of Miracles" at any other label other than Reprise, and I couldn't find them if those versions existed anyway, so I don't include those two songs here. Likewise, I didn't include "Call Me Irresponsible" or "Put Your Dreams Away (For Another Day)," either, because I could find only one label's version. The crooner recorded at least three different versions of "Put Your Dreams Away," one for each recording company.
1956 (Capitol Records)
1963
1955 (Capitol Records)
1963
Perhaps the best "redo" from the album.
The intro alone takes my breath away (so to speak).
1945 (Columbia Records)
1963
1957 (Capitol Records)
1963
1953 (Capitol Records)
1963
1957 (Capitol Records)
1963
1960 (Capitol Records)
1963
1945 (Columbia Records)
1963
A pretty good set of songs, any way you (me, myself and I) look at it!
You are not the only one who reads your Sinatra posts! Keep up the amazing work.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's awesome. Thanks, Brian!
ReplyDeleteI pretty much universally prefer the Capitol recordings.
ReplyDeleteAnd I read your posts!
I guess it depends on my mood - sometimes I like his more gruff, mature (almost aggressive) singing of the Reprise period. Other times, his more crooner-like, melodious singing of the Capitol era hits the spot. I think I'm leaning more towards the Reprise stuff. I like his Reprise version of "Come Fly with Me" a lot more than the Capitol version, for example.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for reading!
That's one of things about Frank - he is able to convince you and I he is heartbroken, and that any song he sings is about him (he did win an Academy Award for acting, after all). Sounds like an easy thing to do, but not every singer can do that!
ReplyDelete