A classic.....an almost perfect album

Perhaps one is overhelmed by the amount of music. Perhaps the fact that this album sold VERY well influences ones review.

But I simply LOVE almost all the music on the PAST and PRESENT and I am amused by the FUTURE which was defintely influenced by STAR WARS which came out a few years before this album.

Frank's singing on all albums is strong; his voice now older but still dramatic and very effective and romantic. The arrangements are ALL top notch and yes while some of them remind us of the 1940s a bit (so what??), they are updated and fresh which places them into the timeless category. Plus, the sound quality of 1940s recordings was of course nothing near what we had 1979 and since. Overall the sound is good; perhaps a bit bright but other than that, the albums sounds fat and solid..which it should, they're huge orchestras on here. If only DUETS I and II had sounded like this....

The songs themselves vary from classic (e.g. STREET OF DREAMS) to 2nd rate material (e.g. THAT'S WHAT GOD LOOKS LIKE) and some of the contemporary songs were already OLDIES by 1979 e.g. LOVE ME TENDER which came out in 1954. It just shows that standards are TIMELESS - a song can be written in the 20s and still sound fresh 50 plus years later when Sinatra sings it. JUST THE WAY YOU ARE on the other hand sounds dated by today's standards - it is an oldie reminding us of the late 70s - but a good one it is and Sinatra does one heck of a job swinging it hard. Perhaps when Sinatra sings a song it becomes a standard. YOU AND ME and MAC ARTHUR PARK are stunning and Costa outdid himself on the arrangmenents..same goes for SUMMER ME WINTER ME.

SINATRA's heart is in all the songs whether they're from the AMERICAN songbook (1920-1965) or from the rock era.

Granted, the FUTURE is a bit hard to digest at first but it will grow on you. Think of it as a movie on record....and then use your imagination......

Not perfect but an excellent album

Where is the second disc?