Track Listing

1. I Hadn't Anyone Till You
2. Night And Day
3. Misty
4. Stardust
5. Come Rain Or Come Shine
6. It Might Aswell Be Spring
7. Prisoner Of Love
8. That's All
9. All Or Nothing At All
10. Yesterdays
11. As You Desire Me
12. Don't Take Your Love From Me

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83084 in Music
• Released on: 1997-03-04
• Number of discs: 1

CD Description
While the title seems something of an afterthought, since Sinatra had already spent a generous portion of his career recording with string orchestras, the arrangements here do mark a change in the Sinatra canon. This album was the first tofeature Don Costa, who would become Sinatra's irreplaceableright hand man for years to come. The songs he interprets here are mostly standards of the first order, Cole Porter's "Night and Day", Hoagy Carmichael's "Misty", etc. It's a testament to the power and invention of Sinatra's singing that SINATRA & STRINGS is not a walk through some old chestnuts, but a reinvestigation and revitalization of some of the sacred texts of popular music.

Customer Reviews

The passionate singing of Sinatra against Costa's strings
The title says "Sinatra and Strings" but what it should say is Sinatra and Costa, because this is the singer's first album with arranger Don Costa. Most of the songs are quite familiar: "Night and Day," "Misty," "Stardust," "Come Rain or Come Shine," and "All or Nothing At All." What makes them different this time is Costa's arrangements, dominated not only by strings but by overall heavy orchestrations, that give these old ballads an attractive sensuality. This approach is matched by Sinatra's vocals, which are powerful in voice yet subtle in their phrasing. The less familiar songs might actually end up being more appealing to you (the arrangement on "Stardust," for example, might not be to your liking). The opening track, "I Hadn't Anyone Till You," along with "That's All" and "Yesterdays" are just as good as the more familiar hits. The result is that "Sinatra and Strings" is one of his best ballad collections as well as one of his most passionate albums.

All Things to All Men
Many of Sinatra's albums are dependent upon a circumstance or situation. "Swingin' Brass" works best when the listener is feeling fine and energetic on a sunny day. When it comes to "Only the Lonely" the gloomier the weather and the listener's mood, the finer the album becomes. However this is the album for all occasions, it is romantic and relaxing, yet powerful and energizing yet managing to remain also melancholy.

The arrangements are to my mind the finest on any Sinatra album, and the collection of songs is truly inspired. We see the great ballad standards of "Misty", "Come Rain or Come Shine" and "Night and Day" that seem to grace every Sinatra compilation out there. Yet we see beautiful versions of songs such as "It Might as Well be Spring" or the great standard "All or Nothing at All".

However the greatest aspect of this album is Sinatra's vocals. His diction is perfect, clear and soft yet achingly tender in places. This is his most tenderly song album in his career, his voice warm and strong yet delicate and soft. 1962 is in my mind the year Sinatra sang at his best, this is evident on the other albums of this year to (Swingin' Brass, All Alone and Great Songs from Great Britain).

In regards to recording quality, the sound quality is the best of all the studio albums, and I have listened to them all. Whether this is down to the quality of the re-mastering, or the original recording, I am unaware, however the result is perfect sound quality.

This is a true masterpiece, and Sinatra at his very best. A rare CD, if you see it, buy it. You will not be disappointed if you have even the slightest love for Sinatra within you, or the slightest appreciation for fine music.