a Great Overview

Frank Sinatra is a Musical statement by just saying His name.His Phrasing&tone are timeless. this is a collection that is a strong Introduction to His Greatness. great Arrangements that Compliment His Trademark Voice. standard songs&a great overview.this is a Great start to your Sinatra Collection.

The complete overview...

First of all, let me mention, that this disk set does not contain any new material, means that you don't have to buy it, if you already own all other Sinatra-Capitol-records. If you are new to the subject, this is definitely the one to start with.

While the original 3 CD boxed set "The Capitol Years" contained selections from each album Sinatra cut for Capitol and listed them chronologically, this one contains only the best! (there seem to have been no intentions while compiling this album, just capturing the highlights of Sinatra's most creative period) Beside the big hit singles like "Love and Marriage", "Young at Heart", and "From here to Eternity", this collection brings together several of Frank's outstanding renditions of American songbook standards (perhaps in the most complete form ever!). This one has all of them, from the revolutionary "I've got you under my Skin" with its famous heartbeat, to Billy May's striking arrangement of "On the sunny Side of the Street". Of course, this collection also does not fail to represent Frank's talent for saloon songs ("In the wee small Hours of the Morning", "One for my Baby",...).

In addition to the extended liner notes and a comprehensive track listing (containing arranger- and conductor-information, as well as recording dates), copyright-years for the remasters are given (therefore making it possible to find out from which one of the several editions of the albums the selections have been taken). Several selections, however, have been taken from the "Entertainer of the Century" series, which fortunately omits album reverb of several older editions of the mono albums, but does not take full advantage of the stereo effect of the period (which is especially noticeable on the selections from "Come swing with me").

This is surely the best way to start collecting Sinatra records. Although I had heard some of these selections a thousand times before, I really had to concentrate on my fingers and feet, when I first got to hear this album in a shop, to avoid finding myself swingin'.