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Frank Sinatra: Frank Sinatra: Ultimate Sinatra
Like all versions, this set opens with Sinatra's first session with
Harry James
trumpet1916 - 1983
The last three tracks on the first side and the entire second side include a swathe of iconic tracks arranged by Nelson Riddle. "I've Got the World on a String" is a bold chart that comes through the speakers loud and clear, thanks to the audio advances of the ensuing years. "Learning the Blues," from 1955, is brilliant in its execution and Sinatra proves that his chops are well up to the task at hand. With a full bottom end clearly delineating the supporting tympani parts, "Love and Marriage" has never sounded better. There is also an added sense of emotional depth to be heard here on Sinatra's ballad performances, such as the sublime "All the Way."
Moving to the third side, stereo kicks in on "One For My Baby." The year is 1958 and this means that engineers were still trying to figure out the best uses for this advancement. As a result, strings are panned hard left and the piano at hard right. Regardless, the track remains one of Frank's best. By the time of 1964's "Fly Me To the Moon," we take yet another quantum leap in sonics, the drum introduction full of visceral punch and the flutes appropriately wispy in presentation. Of course, this IS the Basie Band under the direction of
Quincy Jones
arranger1933 - 2024
The final side is a sufficient lesson in separating the wheat from the chaff. The commercial sensibilities of the '60s even had their implications for Sinatra. Witness the cheesy female vocals on "That's Life," a number that is otherwise quite agreeable. Nonetheless, Universal gleaned the best tracks from this era, including the dynamic "My Way" and the lazy "Summer Wind." Not surprising, they also opted to include "Theme from New York, New York," although the collection ends modestly with the lovely Nelson Riddle chart of "Put Your Dreams Away."
As for the quality of this presentation, it was great to find that both 180 gram discs were perfectly flat. The second disc was a bit noisier than the first, although the occasional pop and tick were mostly heard between tracks and not during the music. Dynamically, the transfers are top notch and extremely pleasing, making this a viable alternative to the CD versions. Aside from the listing of arrangers and recording dates, you will find no additional information listed inside the gatefold jacket. But this is beside the point. The purpose here is to present an analog version of this well-known music and it definitely succeeds on that count.
UPDATED associated equipment used for evaluation:
VPI Scout 1.1 turntable with Clearaudio Virtuoso V.2 Ebony cartridge
Musical Fidelity A3CR amplifier and preamp
Sutherland Insight phono preamp
Bryston BCD-1 CD player
Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus 805 loudspeakers
Cardas cable and interconnects, Chang Lightspeed power conditioner ">
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