A collection of Frank Sinatra music cds and videos as well as compilation of his greatest hits.
1981 Release Currently Out of Print in the USA. Arranged and Conducted by Don Costa and Gordon Jenkins.
Sinatra's studio albums for Reprise were often uneven. This one is not. It is excellent from beginning to end. Sinatra's voice might have diminished in range, but his phrasing more than compensates; making the entire album come across as the voice of experience. Like so many of his greatest albums, the theme here is of love lost. Almost every song is heart breaking. The title song, "Bang Bang," gets a depth and pathos from Sinatra that Sonny Bono, its author, might never have imagined. The majority of these songs are newly written, and the only songs previously recorded by Sinatra comprise the marvelous medley of "The Gal That Go Away/It Never Entered My Mind" which closes out the album. Not to be missed.
NOTE: The song "Hey Look, No Crying" is much longer on the CD version of this album. The lyrics remain unaltered, but the second and third verses are repeated here. On the vinyl record, the song is right at three minutes, while the CD version is more than five minutes. -- Sinatra's best studio album for Reprise
During his concert banter with the audience, Frank Sinatra oftentimes brought up his start - along with other popular vocalists - in the music business as a "saloon singer."
This 1981 release brings his phenomenal career full-circle - back to those times of struggling to learn the art of performing - with songs lamenting love lost, potential slipping away and life sliding into the shadowy crevices of last-calls at the local bars.
Produced by Don Costa and arranged/conducted by Gordon Jenkins, the storytelling by Sinatra is spellbinding, especially on Monday Morning Quarterback, I Loved Her, Thanks for the Memory and Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down).
Though rich in sadness, it is Sinatra stripping away the years of fame and demonstrating how he became an American music icon; through vocalizing real emotion from the left-hooks in life that have been felt in some way by each listener.
-- Back to the Bars
Call it "Only The Lonely" for the Yuppie Generation.
This 1981 album is indeed very similar in both theme and quality, an excellent collection of ballads that only Frank could sing so poignantly and convincingly. At 65 years old, his voice is still in excellent condition, and his storytelling abilities are as good as ever.
Take a listen, for example, to Alec Wilder's "A Long Night," one of Frank's most atmospheric recordings and also his darkest song ever. Listen to the lyrics "Sometimes I thought I saw the sunrise and good times in the air It was just, it was just another big town with midnight's neon glare." Then try not to envision Frank wandering the backstreets as the heart of the city heats up while Frank strolls, defeated, loneliness ripping at his soul. This is one of Frank's best post retirement recordings, with an equally haunting Gordon Jenkin arrangement.
"I Loved Her" is a perfect song for Frank, and listening to it, you instantly realized that Frank was destined to sing this number. The sadly clever lyrics fit Frank to a T - "She was a Mozart, I was Basie" being the most obvious example - and Frank gives one of his affecting latter day performance. The Jenkins arrangement is hauntingly beautiful (he also wrote the song), especially Vinnie Falcone's masterful piano break.
And the closing medley of "The Gal That Got Away" and "It Never Entered My Mind" is quite simply one of the greatest recordings ever made, by Frank or anyone. Two songs so similar thematically yet so contrasting musically, magically combined by Nelson Riddle, each sung magnificently by Frank. The last two minutes of the song, from the bridge of "The Gal That Got Away" to the end of the song, will leave you breathless.
These three songs are the highlights, but the rest of the highlights offers some equally solid gems, namely "Hey Look, No Crying," "Thanks For The Memory," (with new lyrics written especially for Frank), and a nod to his daughter Nancy on a haunting version of Sonny Bono's "Bang Bang (My Baby She Shot Me Down)." The only songs that don't work, in my opinion, are Stephen Sonheim's schmaltzy "Good Thing Going" and "South To A Warmer Place." "Monday Morning Quarterback," however, has some very fine lyrical touches.
"She Shot Me Down" is one of Frank's finest albums. Unfortunately, it is no longer in print and is very expensive, but is nonetheless worth seeking out. If worse comes to worse, get "The Complete Reprise Studio" boxed set and burn yourself a copy from there. -- An Elegant Moody Masterpiece From His Autumn Years.
The pluses and the minuses:
PLUSES
- Frank's voice: a little aged, a little raspy here and there, but still powerful, mighty, experienced, time-worn and evoking a "been there, done that, seen it all, had it all happen to me..." feeling
- Unusual collection of somewhat obscure songs not found on any other Sinatra recordings, except for one or two, allowing for examination on how Frank interprets the new and unknown - standouts: "Gal That Got Away/It Never Entered My Mind" (best track), "Long Night", "I Loved Her", "South - To A Warmer Place" (itself quite unusual in its musical structure, with unexpected melodic and chord jumps, as well as rhythmic pauses, etc. which Frank handles with smooth mastery)
- Superior arrangements, perfect for the mood of the album
- The yellow shaker-knit sweater and the "Members' Only"-style jacket on the cover: 1981 era style, retro! And smoking?? So last century!
- Late-night lights-off, candles alight, red wine in hand (or JD if you want to do the real Sinatra thing), saloon Sinatra at his best
- Frank's last studio album: a must-have for that reason alone
MINUSES:
- Hard to find! Recommendation: buy the 1995-issued "Complete Reprise Studio Recordings" from eBay or Amazon. You get the equivalent of 20+ albums plus many unreleased singles in excellent remastered quality.
- Period recording techniques somewhat distracting: the reverb employed makes Frank sound like he's singing in the shower in some places
- Unusual repertoire offered may make Sinatra fans feel wanting for more, also very short LP if you could even find it
- Those used to the "Come Fly With Me" Sinatra will wonder what happened to his voice and bravado; this is Sinatra at his moodiest, for the experienced Sinatra fan or collector -- For the collector or the late-night melancholy Sinatra fan
if you're looking to buy your very FIRST Sinatra recording, this is NOT the one! why?? b/c it's out in left field really. the songs mostly obscure, but all the more enjoyable b/c of it. plus, it's late career FS. some of the vocal power that so impresses in the 50s and 60s is diminished by 1981. but the flip side is the depth of feeling, the beautiful pathos, genuine mourning in the vocals on this torch songs collection.
i swear to you that i have to keep pulling the needle back every time to listen to 'thanks for the memories' and 'the gal that got away' again and again. 'hey look no crying' too. well, even others, but let's just say it's well worth tackling once you have already consumed the majority of the frank catalog and you're looking for yet another variation on the man. i've sort of worked my way through from the 50s to 60s, then 70s. now this. the last hurdle will be the war years records, which haven't yet caught my ear. but one never knows.
is this really a 5 star FS? not entirely sure, but in terms of effort, commitment to a theme, consistency of emotion, i'd say yes. it is really really worth hearing. i had no idea there was no CD version. i've had this on vinyl for a while from the thrift store. don't let the tasteless yellow sweater on the cover fool you, this is legit FS. -- a delight for Sinatra fans
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