With soothing charm, masterful singing, and a touch of class (except when he wasn’t singing and spoke in that clipped, harsh New Jersey accent), the music of Frank Sinatra reminds listeners of a bygone era when talent and charisma carried the day. But let us not forget the great songwriters, conductors, and musicians who helped craft the entire dream package Sinatra delivered year after year, decade after decade: names like Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Nelson Riddle, and Quincy Jones- just to name a few. Sinatra was from an era when- even though he did not write the songs- they became his.
Sinatra and Nelson Riddle
For me, Sinatra’s music falls into three neat categories: the Columbia, Capitol, and Reprise years. The Columbia years- the early period that some say was the golden era of Sinatra’s greatest singing voice- sounds too dated for even me. The Capitol years marks Sinatra’s ‘50s comeback and includes some of his most memorable songs and concept albums before he left Capitol to start his own record label in 1960. The Reprise years marks the beginning of Sinatra’s reign as Chairman of the Board and leader of the Las Vegas Rat Pack when his middle-aged singing voice became rougher and hoarser but he could still hold his own against the Beatles and their followers.
Sinatra and Quincy Jones
Whether effortlessly belting out swing or cooing softly in your ear, Sinatra makes you feel- whether you’re a man or a woman- like you’re getting your money’s worth. I remember hanging out with a bunch of my male Peace Corps buddies in Bulgaria one weekend in the Rhodope Mountains just smoking, drinking, playing chess, and listening to Capitol era Sinatra swing when suddenly we all broke out laughing to “All of Me”. It was great fun and one could do worse than have Sinatra introduce you to the music of Cole Porter- and adulthood. Here are some more of my favorite Frank Sinatra songs. Enjoy!
01. Frank Sinatra – “My Heart Stood Still” (1963)
02. Frank Sinatra – “A Foggy Day” (1961)
03. Frank Sinatra – “Lost in the Stars” (1963)
04. Frank Sinatra – “All the Way” (1963)
05. Frank Sinatra – “My One and Only Love” (1953)
06. Frank Sinatra – “My Way (Live)” (1987)
07. Frank Sinatra – “It Was a Very Good Year” (1965)
08. Frank Sinatra – “This Was My Love” (1959)
09. Frank Sinatra – “Someone to Watch Over Me” (1954)
10. Frank Sinatra – “All of Me” (1954)
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It was about fifteen years ago or so when I started buying and digging Frank Sinatra albums and a big part of the reason was at that time I was trying to get over a painful break up and not only did Sinatra sing of the highs and lows of romance (especially the lows) but he also sang convincingly enough to make me feel he understood what I was feeling because he had been there, too. And, at the end of the day, isn’t that what everyone is looking for- some authenticity as well as a little understanding?
Of course it didn’t hurt the man was oozing with talent and could sing the phone book and people would pay money for it. Pop standards, show tunes, jazz, rock, folk- Sinatra could do it all. He was also from the generation who understood that being human meant accepting the whole deal that comes with it: there will be joy, and pain, and you can’t have one without the other, so enjoy the ride, bub, because it will all be over sooner than you think. In addition to his swing, people in the twentieth century also enjoyed Frank Sinatra’s sad songs, his “torch” songs, and while many today don’t want to admit it (or perhaps are not emotionally equipped enough to even try it), there is something wonderful and life affirming in feeling miserable and heartbroken and listening to a song that enhances the mood.
If you’ve ever felt the thrill of romantic infatuation, the pain of rejection, pangs of longing and regret, and the joy of being alive, then welcome to the human race- and the music of Sinatra may just be for you! Here are some of my favorite Frank Sinatra songs. Enjoy the music- and the ride!
01. Frank Sinatra – “Angel Eyes (Live)” (1966)
02. Frank Sinatra – “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (1963)
03. Frank Sinatra – “Ol’ Man River” (1963)
04. Frank Sinatra – “The World We Knew (Over and Over)” (1967)
05. Frank Sintara – “Mrs. Robinson” (1969)
06. Frank Sinatra – “It Never Entered My Mind” (1955)
07. Frank Sinatra – “The September of My Years” (1965)
08. Frank Sinatra – “How About You?” (1956)
09. Frank Sinatra – “Bewitched” (1963)
10. Frank Sinatra – “I Get a Kick Out of You” (1962)
Listen to the playlist on Spotify...
... or check out the playlist on YouTube
(To open music in separate window, click title bar at top of video box)
