Track Listing

1. I Have Dreamed
2. My Heart Stood Still
3. Lost In The Stars
4. Bewitched Bothered And Bewildered
5. This Nearly Was Mine
6. You'll Never Walk Alone
7. Ol' Man River
8. Soliloquy

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #142232 in Music
• Released on: 1997-02-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live

CD Description
Recorded in 1963 between the ultra-swinging SINATRA-BASIE and SINATRA'S SINATRA, THE CONCERT SINATRA is a short, richlymusical set of classic theatre songs, some of which ("Ol' Man River", the "Soliloquy" from CAROUSEL, "Bewitched" from PAL JOEY ) were milestones in Sinatra's earlier career. Here arranger Nelson Riddle is allowed to work with a large symphony orchestra and the results once more are a textbook example of fine orchestration. The formal settings do not preventRiddle from handling this potentially "heavy" material withhis characteristically deft touch. For instance, Sinatra/Riddle's sure reading of the epic "Ol' Man River" is far superior to the over-the-top Alex Stordahl-arranged '40s version.Sinatra is in fine voice throughout; no evidence here of the increasingly rough delivery which came to characterise his'60s output. The classiest of the Reprise albums.

Customer Reviews

frank at his best
this is the best singing album
frank ever made. everything about it is superb.
sit back and enjoy.

Symphonic Sinatra
This mid-60s album is one of Sinatra's most ambitious. Nelson Riddle leads a full orchestra in lush, symphonic arrangements of classic show tunes that showcase his powerful voice and emotional gravitas. His singing is less imaginative than usual, and he misses some notes (most glaringly on My Heart Stood Still), but his vocals do equal the strength and power of the orchestration. Any fan of slow tempos, detailed arrangements and emotional pop singing will want to attend Sinatra's "Concert."

SINATRA LOLLIPOPS
THIS ALBUM OF GREAT BROADWAY AND MOVIE SHOWPIECES CENTRES AROUND MR SINATRA'S MAGICAL RENDITION OF 'OL'MAN RIVER'A SONG HE SANG IN CONCERT FOR OVER 30 YEARS. FEW WILL FORGET THE RIDICULOUS SIGHT OF A WHITE SUITED SINATRA INNOCENTLY CROONING HIS WAY THROUGH THIS EPIC IN A MID-FORTIES MOVIE. THE CONCERT SINATRA VERSION COMBINES ALL OF SINATRA'S EXPERIENCE AND WORLD WEARINESS WITH A BRAVURA VOCAL PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTED BY THE DOUBLE GLISSANDO ON THE PHRASE "IN JAIL...I GETS WEARY" WHERE YOU WILL HEAR SINATRA'S VERY LOWEST BASS NOTES EXPOSED AND SUSTAINED.IT IS A STUNNING PERFORMANCE WHICH YOU CAN SEE REPEATED IN THE VIDEO/DVD OF 'A MAN AND HIS MUSIC ELLA + JOBIM'FROM 1966. THIS DOES NOT DETRACT FROM OTHER MAGICAL VERSIONS OF 'YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE','I HAVE DREAMED','THIS NEARLY WAS MINE','MY HEART STOOD STILL'AND THE 'SOLILOQUY' FROM CAROUSEL' ALTHOUGH NOT A LONG ALBUM TIMEWISE, IT IS IN MY OPINION,ONE OF HIS BEST, WHILE HE STILL HAD ALL OF HIS VOICE TO WORK WITH, AND BEST SAMPLED IN CHUNKS RATHER THAN AS A WHOLE.THE MERIT OF THE ALBUM (AND RIDDLE'S SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRATIONS) IS THAT SEVERAL OF THESE VERSIONS REMAINED IN SINATRA'S CONCERT REPERTOIRE TILL THE END.ANOTHER IMPORTANT POINT TO MAKE IS HOW VASTLY SUPERIOR THE SINATRA VERSIONS ARE COMPARED TO CAST RECORDINGS BY TRAINED SINGERS. IN THE LATTER THE VOCALIST SINGS AT THE PEOPLE. FRANK ALWAYS SANG TO THEM.