A Swingin' Affair (1957): A nice album that basically follows that same style of Songs For Swinging Lovers. A newer version of "Night and Day" is presented here and is one of the better tunes. The CD versions has the classic "The Lady Is A Tramp." A harder swinging album with a more jazzy brass section. A nice compilation.
Come Fly With Me (1957): One of my favorite albums. Producer Billy May's first album with Sinatra has themes of travel. Tracks like "Autumn in New York," and "Moonlight in Vermont" showcase this. Songs like "Isle of Capri" also show the wild, playful, carefree style of this album. There are many moods here that is slightly uncharacteristic of the Sinatra albums. There are probably better albums, but none are quite as fun. The CD version has "Chicago" and "I Love Paris," previously unreleased.
Sings for Only the Lonely (1958): Frank's favorite album, or so I've heard. Nelson Riddle uses are larger orchestra and arranges a selection of songs that make this album sound bleaker, darker and more desperate than former ballad albums. The Sinatra set consists of brooding saloon songs which are highlighted by "Angel Eyes," and "One for My Baby." The lyrics flow without forcing the action, making it gracefully natural. A heartbreaking album that is the best late-night music to listen to. Classic, timeless.
Come Dance with Me (1958): Sinatra's most hard, swinging album yet. Just like the title suggests, a good one to dance to. "Dancing in the Dark," and the title track are gems. Not much else to say, but Sinatra belts these tunes out with ease. Nice album.
Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!! (& More) (1961): Another fast, hard driving album. I actually like this one better than Come Dance With Me, because it's something about Riddle that showcases Sinatra the best. "When You're Smiling," "Blue Moon," "I Concentrate on You," and "You Do Something to Me" are my favorites. The music just flows. A swaggering album.
September of My Years (1965): An older, mature Sinatra presented, is a triumph that not only consolidates his strengths but also moves him into newer areas. His voice has deepened even more so (the one we recognize today) and the atmosphere is a more reflective one. Sinatra who turned 50 that year sings tunes that dispaly themes of aging, reflection and regret. (Remember "It Was A Very Good Year" ?) A very nice collection of songs produced by Gordon Jenkins. One should watch the video "Frank Sinatra-A Man and His Music" to fully experience this. I actually got this at Columbia House for $.99 (can you believe it ?) A wonderful album.
Sinatra at the Sands (1966): The best portrait of Sinatra in the 60's. Teamed up with the Count Basie orchestra, this set is really awesome. Like Riddle, Basie also showcases Sinatra's talent to perfection. All his great songs are here and the crowd interaction is funny and was a good idea to have it on the disc, although it does run a bit long. Almost forgot, a good performance of "Luck Be A Lady." The best Sinatra album of the Reprise years. A Must!
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