Same as the individual 20-bit reissues? Well, close...

There seems to be some confusion as to whether this box duplicates the generally awful 1998 20-bit "Entertainer of the Century" single-disc reissues. After hearing the box, there appears to have been some subtle tweaking vis-a-vis the earlier releases. Still, if you don't listen critically, or if your system is not extremely analytical, this may be a distinction without a difference.

Some effort has apparently been made by Bob Norberg to bring these transfers closer to the master tapes. Accordingly, there seems to be somewhat less added reverberation than in many of the 20-bit discs, and what sounds like less (or at least more discreetly-applied) noise reduction . This pays particular benefits in the case of a soft, intimate album like "In the Wee Small Hours," which comes up stunningly close-up and immediate in this box. Still, there is an attempt in most cases to eliminate hiss, and the top end--particularly noticeable in the stereo albums--lacks some of the sparkle it should have.

It's true that "Songs For Swingin' Lovers" (ironically the greatest of Sinatra's Capitol work, and probably the best album of his career) continues to have problematic sound: there appears to have been some deterioration of the master tapes, which manifests itself as an treble-attenuated, plastic-y sound to the brass; this was not evident, for example, on the original 1987 CD. On the other hand, the transfer in the Concepts set appears to be slightly impoved over that on the single EOTC disc. There is still some out-of-phase "stereo" information to give the mono sound a bit of spread; this is far more apparent in headphone listening, and I found it not at all bothersome on speakers. All in all, SFSL still doesn't sound great, but my feeling is that Norberg felt the advantages of going back to the studio masters outweighed any drawbacks. Or perhaps the original masters are lost or hopelessly damaged.

Norberg means well, but I occasionally get the sense that this remastering engineer doesn't feel he's earning his salary unless he's for heaven's sake doing something. Norberg's interventionist philosophy may be too much of a good thing for more purist tastes. These were by and large beautifully-recorded sessions, and he should have left them alone.

Some of the Best Recordings Ever Made!

If you are a fan of Sinatra's music, this collection is well worth the price. You will not be disappointed; this collection is a musical masterpiece. With arrangements from Nelson Riddle and Billy May, Sinatra's voice has never been better.
These albums represent what have been referred to as the first "concept albums". Rather than a miscellaneous collection of songs, the albums have been carefully constructed to set a certain "mood". The collection consists of upbeat "swing" albums as well as records featuring the ballad or, in the words of the Chairman, the "saloon" songs. A Christmas album as well as an instrumental album is also featured in this set.
If you seriously love "the Voice", you'll love this collection.

the best of the best

I do not actually own this particular box set, however, I own every individual cd it includes, with the exception of the instumental one. In 1991, when I was 21 and found out how great Sinatra was in his prime, I began purchasing all of the 1987 cds of his classic Capital LPs. If you can afford it, go ahead and get this set. If you can not, do as I did, and buy them all gradually, starting with A Jolly Christmas(If you like Christmas Music and it is around the Holidays). After that a good order to go in would be - Wee Small Hours of the Morning, Only the Lonley, Songs for Swingin' Lovers, A Swingin Affair,Come Dance With Me, Songs For Young Lovers/Swing Easy, Nice and Easy, Come Fly With Me, Where Are You, No One Cares, Close to You, Swingin Sessions, Come Swing With Me and Point of No Return . Throw in two Reprise cds for concept purposes, September Of My Years and Ol blue Eyes is Back, and try to get the Reprise box set, and even the Capital Years from 1990, 3 disc set which contains many songs not placed on LPs