Best Of The Columbia Years 1943-1952 [4-CD Box Set] (June 9, 1998) Columbia/Legacy 65620 [CD]

The Voice Of Frank Sinatra (July 22, 2003)  Columbia/Legacy 62100 [CD]

REVIEW:  In the 1940's Sinatra was the hottest thing around.  Given the power he had, and his aspirations to be the very best, he conceived of this thematic album centered around the beauty of the human voice.  Well -- his voice, to be specific.  (Frank was never much one for modesty).  So he and Alex Stordahl hand-picked the eight tracks, arranged them lusciously with a full orchestra, and released them on two 78-RPM LP's.  The original album caused a sensation, and caused Frank to be dubbed "the voice" by the media.  For this reissue, Columbia went back to the master acetates, and other sources, remastered them and added ten additional tracks to the lineup to release this deluxe CD.  Given the age of the original elements, the tracks naturally have some noticable wear in the form of rumblings, and some softening of the sound; but listening to this album is to understand why Sinatra had such an impact on listeners, and continues to do so: his tone, control and phrasing are all so fluid, so warm, that the listener is immediately sucked in.  You feel as if Sinatra is singing to you - not just to some microphone.  The songs are classics as well: "You Go To My Head," "Someone To Watch Over Me," "Try A Little Tenderness" and "I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance" are the height of romanticism, and no doubt sent the bobby-soxers into mass swooning.  No wonder he was also nicknamed "Swoonatra!"  The CD is essential, and both the packaging, with copious notes by Charles Granata, and the mono sound (though somewhat diminished) is superb.

Frank Sinatra Sings His Greatest Hits (July 1, 1997)  Columbia/Legacy 65240 [CD]

REVIEW:  A perfect single-disc collection chronicling Sinatra's Columbia tenure, with great sound, and a hard-to-argue with selection of tracks.  These are all songs that folks attribute with Sinatra: "Put Your Dreams Away (For Another Day), "I've Got A Crush On You," "Nancy (With The Laughing Face," "Night And Day" and more, all sung with Sinatra's ultra-smooth baritone and accompanied by the impeccable arrangments by Alex Stordahl, among others.  One thing I've loved about Columbia's compilations is that they use original 1940's-era graphics, which to my eye are just classy, and give the releases a distinctive look that sets them apart.  This CD has an undeniable romantic air, with each cut being a ballad or mid-tempo number; Sinatra hadn't really learned to swing yet, but Greatest Hits serves very well as a romantic mood-setter. Also, for collectors, alternate takes of "Body and Soul" and "Laura" are included, which although aren't terribly different than what was released, shows how consistently Sinatra could lay down a near-flawless complete take.  Highly recommended for folks looking for a great sampling of Sinatra's Columbia years.

Swing And Dance With Frank Sinatra (July 16, 1996) Columbia/Legacy 64852 [CD]

REVIEW:  Originally released in 1950 with George Siravo doing the charts, this eight-song LP (now expanded with ten more tracks from the same sessions) may not be everyone's idea of how a Sinatra swing album should sound, but as history it's sheer gold. This was cut during the latter years of Sinatra's contract with Columbia Records, and his popularity had eroded to the point where executives and Frank were scrambling around for a new sound for their one-time golden boy. Sinatra jumped on the swing dance bandwagon here without yet fully acquiring the skills he would one day master. You can hear on the alternate takes of "Saturday Night (Is The Lonliest Night Of The Week)" and "It All Depends On You" that he's still sliding to much on the phrases instead of giving them the kick and punch they need; and Sorvino's arrangments are nowhere near as clever and surprising as those that Nelson Riddle would someday supply. But this album is good anyway as a way of seeing how far and how fast Sinatra would grasp the concept and power of swing - in just four years he would be singing it better than anyone else, and here is really where it started.  Yes, it contains the lamentable "Huckabuck," but the rest of the tracks sound all the better in comparison, and Columbia has substituted six unreleased alternate takes for collectors.

Sinatra Sings Gershwin (July 22, 2003) Columbia/Legacy 61057 [CD]

REVIEW:  Another well thought out compilation, this one focusing on the uncomparable talents of songwriters George and Ira Gershwin, with alternate and/or unreleased takes taken from live broadcasts, including "The George Gershwin Tribute Show" with Frank and featured guests Jane Powell and the Pied Pipers; "Porgy and Bess Medley", from the CBS radio "The Vimms Vitamin Show" from 9/13/44; "'S Wonderful"and "A Foggy Day", from the NBC Radio/AFRS's "Light Up Time Orchestra from 1949, and "I've Got A Crush On You", from The Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Show which was taped on 1/18/52.  So this set, besides the teaming of Frank and Gershwin, also is a boon for collectors, with great sound, notes, and a generous track selection.  The highlight of the set is probably the 8-minute plus medley from George Gerswhin's popular opera "Porgy and Bess" which has Jane Powell interpreting "Summertime" in front of a live studio audience, and Sinatra's delicate reading of "Someone To Watch Over Me."  The sound is very good for a live recording that's decades old: made from direct-to-digital transfers from the original disc recordings, the fidelity is very good, and Columbia should be applauded for taking the time and money to track these shows down and remaster them for modern audiences.  A timeless piece of history and a fun, nostalgic listening experience.

Sinatra Sings Cole Porter (July 22, 2003) Columbia/Legacy 61058 [CD]

REVIEW:  Of all of the Great American Songwriters whose songs Sinatra interpreted, he seemed to have the most affinity for the biting wit of Cole Porter.  Porter's songs just seemed to find an soulmate in Frank, and he relished every clever turn of phrase and double entendre that Porter threw in.  During his Columbia run, Sinatra sang several of Porter's broadway hits, but Frank still hadn't caught on to the ascerbic bite that he would bring to his interpretations later, so here you'll find fairly straightforward readings, full of warmth and versatility, but little subtext.  You'll find sterling songcraft in his duet with Rosemary Clooney on "Cherry Pies Ought To Be You," smooth sincerity on "So In Love," a little too much varnish on "I Get A Kick Out Of You" (which would receive their definitive readings at Capitol Records), and lush, ultra-romatic readings of "Night And Day" (with two different versions included here), "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To," and the Kiss Me Kate cut: "So In Love."  This CD also contains brilliant liner notes by Charles Granata, alternate takes, radio transcripts, and nice period photgraphs.  A worthwhile CD, just know that Sinatra & Porter got better with age.

Sinatra Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein (July 16, 1996) Columbia/Legacy 64661 [CD]

REVIEW:  Whereas Frank needed time to grow into his interpretations of Cole Porter's music, he never sounded better singing the tunes of Richard Rodgers & Ocsar Hammerstein II than when he was at Columbia.  R&H wrote stately songs, with long, expansive lines that Sinatra had mastered during his Dorsey years, and he sings them with an unforced beauty and sensitivity that brings out each sentiment.  R&H were the masters of the dramatic form in song, so Sinatra loved to act out each piece, especially the long, multi-layerd "Soliloquy Pt. 1 & 2" from Carousel with it's fierce opposing moods contained within a single schizophrenic dialogue.  But he sounds light and carefree on "Surrey With The Fringe On Top," and "I Whistle A Happy Tune," and unreservedly romantic "If I Loved You," "Younger Than Springtime," and "We Kiss In A Shadow."  Sinatra sings these with a naivete that belies the darker interpretations he would bring in later years to his music.  In fact, many of these songs he would never tackle again, since R&H's music has an inbred optimism that Frank would replace with hard-hitting cynicism and a bleaker tone.  But in the 1940's Sinatra was still a crooner, and he sings these songs with all of the clarity and precision and hope that the authors could  hope for.

Christmas Songs By Sinatra (September 19, 1994) Columbia/Legacy 66413 [CD]

REVIEW:  Sinatra never released a Christmas album proper during his Columbia years, but he did record several singles over the years which Columbia has kindly gathered together into a single package.  Arranged by Alex Stordahl, these particular recordings often find Frank being accompanied by various vocal groups to give each song a more choral feeling.  Some of the groups are: the Bobby Tucker Singers ("White Christmas"), the Ken Lane Singers ("It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"), the B.Swanson Quartet ("Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"), the Mitchell Boys Choir ("Medley: O Little Town of Bethlehem/Joy to the World"), and the Jeff Alexander Orchestra & Chorus ("Winter Wonderland").  This is the young Sinatra, full of earnestness and warmth, sounding more than ever like a Bing Crosby-wannabe, making this particular Christmas CD more stately, grand and reverent than any of the others available.  Not essential listening, but a perfectly winning seasonal disc, with excellent notes, sound and eight alternate takes and/or previously unavailable tracks included for collectors.

The Legendary Standards ...Sings Cole Porter, Gershwin, and others... (May 18, 2004) Universe/City Hall 6735744 [CD]

DISC 1 1. Night and Day 3:21 2. Begin the Beguine 3:53 3. I Get a Kick Out of You 3:57 4. I Love You 2:19 5. Easy to Love/I've Got You Under My Skin [Medley] 4:05 6. Don't Fence Me In / Mark Warnow 2:35 7. I Concentrate on You 3:04 8. Why Shouldn't I? 2:52 9. Just One of Those Things 1:25 10. Why Can't You Behave? / Phil Moore Four 3:19 11. So in Love / Axel Stordahl 2:48 12. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To / June Hutton 2:17 13. Cherry Pies Ought to Be You 2:21 14. You Do Something to Me / George Siravo 2:34 15. I Am Loved 2:26 16. You Don't Remind Me 2:50 17. Begin the Beguine 4:11 18. Night and Day 2:32 19. You Go to My Head 3:00 20. These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You) 3:08 21. I Don't Know Why (I Just Do) 2:47 22. Try a Little Tenderness 3:08 23. (I Don't Stand) A Ghost of a Chance 3:12 24. Paradise 2:38 25. Mam'selle 3:27 26. The Nearness of You 2:41       DISC 2 1. Somebody Loves Me 1:54 2. I've Got a Crush on You 3:18 3. Embraceable You 2:53 4. Someone to Watch Over Me 3:19 5. Oh Bess, Oh Where Is My Bess? 2:56 6. Porgy and Bess Medley 1: Summertime/I Got Plenty O'Nuttin'/Summertime 5:19 7. It Ain't Necessarily 3:45 8. 'S Wonderful 1:06 9. A Foggy Day 1:44 10. I've Got a Crush on You 2:28 11. Night and Day 1:34 Show Opening 12.   Soon 1:52 13.   Embraceable You 2:37 14.   Porgy and Bess Medley 2: Summertime/There's a Boat Leaving Soon for New 8:37 15.   Someone to Watch Over Me 2:22 16.   Love Walked In 3:04 17.   Songs by Sinatra 1:25 Show Closing Bonus Tracks 18.   That Old Feeling 3:20 19.   If I Had You 3:01 20.   Spring Is Here 2:43 21.   Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread) 3:01 22.   When You Awake 3:08 23.   It Never Entered My Mind 3:09 24.   Always 2:56 25.   (I Don't Stand) A Ghost of a Chance 3:30

REVIEW:  It's a shame that the passing years allow other labels to take advantage of older recordings, as shown by the pillaging of Sinatra's years with Dorsey.  Now the Columbia years are up for grabs, and this double CD is the result.  Virtually mimicking the two Porter/Gershwin discs above, this is an sadly redundant box set whose only lure is the inclusion of some additional material, albeit with notably suspicious fidelity. This non-Columbia compilation draws together songs from throughout Sinatra's Columbia tenure, including radio shows and studio cuts, and attempts to tie them all together with the theme of a "great American songbook" - featuring songs by perennial composers as Cole Porter and George Gershwin.  It works fairly well, with disc one tackling Sinatra's recordings of various Cole Porter songs, and disc two taking on Gershwin.  Added as a bonus for collectors is the inclusion of the June 4, 1947 Songs by Sinatra radio program devoted entirely to Gershwin, and featuring live performances of several songs from Gershwin's folk-opera masterpiece Porgy and Bess which Frank recorded many times.  But since this show was just released on a much better Sings Gershwin compilation reviewed above, its inclusion here smacks of piracy.  As with many compilations, this double-disc set sports little in the way of information to help the listener know where or when most of these recordings came from, and the bonus tracks on disc two (taken from other composers) are merely there to fill out the otherwise anemic running time.  I wouldn't run out and buy this, when other, higher-quality compilations are put out by Columbia. Frank Sinatra: A Voice In Time: 1939-1952 Sony Legacy 716124 [CD];  Released September 25, 2007    DELUXE 4-CD COLLECTION – FIRST BOX SET EVER TO GATHER COLUMBIA AND BRUNSWICK MATERIAL IN SAME PACKAGE WITH VICTOR AND BLUEBIRD 80 SONGS – 20 PER DISC – DIVIDED INTO CHRONOLOGICAL THEMES: • Disc One – The Big Band Years: 1939-1942 (Harry James, Tommy Dorsey) • Disc Two – Teen Idol: 1943-1949 (Bobby-soxer mania in Times Square!) • Disc Three – The Great American Songbook: 1943-1947 (Standards forever) • Disc Four – The Sound Of Things To Come: 1947-1952 (Capitol inspiration) Includes two previously unreleased alternate takes and 11 previously unreleased radio airchecks. for complete track listing, click here REVIEW:  For many fans, the sheer depth and breadth of Sinatra's earliest years has to be daunting.  RCA and Columbia have both released volumnuous box sets of Frank's early years, but unless you're willing to invest a LOT of money, most fans prefer to explore the emotionally rich Capitol and Reprise years, leaving his juvenile recordings to the ages.  But Sony Legacy has done all those fence-sitting fans a service by gathering a "best of" in this finely-produced, gift-quality set which not only distills the best and most important of these recordings into four themed discs, but perhaps more importantly, points the way towards Sinatra's maturity in the fourth disc, titled "The Sound of Things To Come" - and many of these recordings reveal the depth and emotional heft which Sinatra was able to bring to his final years at Columbia, many of these songs are indistinguishable from his early Capitol recordings in polish and interpretive skills.  For long-time fans, there may not be enough new stuff to justify the nearly $50 price tag, but the 120 page, hardbound booklet alone, with fantastic, cogent essays by Charles Granata, Nancy Sinatra, and others, is revelatory, and succeeds in showing how these early recordings are essential listening for Sinatra fans, as the authors show clearly how each of these songs were stepping stones in the evolution of Sinatra: the Master Interpreter.  Plus, the sound and look of the package are all first rate, with expert remastering and cleaning of these archival tracks, so that they sound the best they ever have.  If you've been holding off on looking into the early years of Frank's success, you can have no better introduction than this quality package. From The Heart Sony Legacy 741482 [CD] Released January 20, 2009 Frank Sinatra - From The Heart 1. Blue Skies featuring Tommy Dorsey 2. Star Dust featuring Tommy Dorsey& His Orchestra 3. Night And Day featuring Axel Stordahl 4. Dream (When You're Feeling Blue) featuring The Ken     Lane Singers 5. Someone To Watch Over Me 6. September Song 7. Lost In The Stars 8. Stella By Starlight 9. Laura 10. Autumn In New York 11. Lover 12. Begin The Beguine 13. Body And Soul 14. Hello, Young Lovers (from "The King And I") 15. I've Got A Crush On You REVIEW:  One of a series of recordings which Sony Legacy released in time for Valentine's Day, 2009, Frank Sinatra's From The Heart is on O.K. collection of song from both the RCA (Dorsey) years, and Columbia's more comprehensive catalog.  Actually, I have a problem with this kind of catalog re-shuffling, since it's neither comprehensive enough, or does justice to Frank's tenure with Columbia Records, where he was the undisputed king of romance for many years.  Running at a skimpy fifteen tracks, there no surprises here, which is perhaps the most damning aspect of From The Heart; sure, perhaps "Laura" or "Autumn In New York" wouldn't be your first choices for a Frank Sinatra romance disc, but they're not too far off the beaten track either, when it comes to Sinatra's Columbia oeuvre.  And I disagree with the concept of tacking on some of the RCA tracks just because they're in Sony's possession.  Frank's sound with Dorsey was vastly different than his recordings with the meatier resources of Columbia, and the contrast between the two styles is a little jarring.  The sound is great, the notes are fine, but if you're looking for a way to spark some romance on Valentine's Day, try buying your sweetheart something with a little more meat to it.

16 Most Requested Songs (May 16, 1995) Columbia 48960 [CD]

I wouldn't really recommend this particular disc to anyone, since it's been surpassed both in sound and content by Sings His Greatest Hits above.  But it's a solid album, with a brief setlist for those who want just a little from this period.
 

I've Got A Crush On You (January 31, 1995) Sony 66964 [CD]

Another good, thematic album, very similar to the Love Songs set below, but without any alternate takes, or rare material.  14 tracks, and good for creating a nice romantic setting.
 

The Essence Of Frank Sinatra (July 26, 1994) Sony 57152 [CD]

There's really no reason for this budget, 12-track selection to be on the market, since better-sounding packages with liner notes and a more generous selection of songs are available.  Not recommended.
 

The Essential Frank Sinatra (June 10, 2003) Sony 61059 [CD]

Oh, c'mon!  A one-disc essentials collection?  Even Kenny Loggins rated two discs!  Well, for collectors, eight of the tracks are previously-unreleased alternates, and the remaining seven are the original hit versions (Grand total: one less than the 16 Most Requested.)  For collectors only.
 

Love Songs (January 9, 2001) Sony 61056 [CD]

Sony's entry in the Love Song canon is a surprisingly mediocre array of both great songs ("Fools Rush In") and forgettable ("Just One Way To Say I Love You") with a few alternate takes thrown in for gullible collectors.
 

Collection (2004) Legacy Recordings 61582 [CD]

Gathers three Columbia Legacy CD's into a slim longbox.  Albums include: Greatest Hits, Swing and Dance, and Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein.  Great import collection for budget price.
 

Classics & Standards (May 25, 2004) Gotham 6734751 [CD]

A brief, 10-track collection of some of the harder-to-find tracks from Columbia's vaults (nothing that's not on the Complete Columbia box though).  "Strange Music," "Come Back to Sorrento," and "Full Moon and Empty Arms" are included.