FRANK SINATRA — The Capitol Years (1954-1962) 21CD BOX-SET (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

While Capitol Records issued upgraded, 20-bit remastered editions of eight of Sinatra's key albums in the U.S. in 1998, EMI-U.K. put together this 21-CD box, containing every song that Sinatra authorized for release between 1953 and 1961, remastered in state-of-the-art 20-bit digital audio. Each CD contains an individual Sinatra Capitol LP (including singles compilations), but the bonus tracks from the American versions appear on a separate CD here (The Rare Sinatra), which means that some of these discs run only 30 minutes or so. What will really confuse dedicated fans is that the sound on this box is superior to the American remasters. On Songs for Young Lovers, for example, Sinatra simply sounds much closer than he does on the Capitol CD, and Swing Easy is even better. In the Wee Small Hours is very slightly more uneven, at least the title track, but everything else is superior. Songs for Swingin' Lovers is where the box really departs from the 1998 American remasters -- Sinatra sounds about twice as close, and the sound is significantly richer. A Swingin' Affair blows its American equivalent out of the water. Only the Lonely sets new heights for intimate and vivid sound, which Come Dance With Me matches -- and the U.K. box has the right version of "Day In -- Day Out," in contrast to the American disc. The enveloping, sumptuous texture of Nice 'n' Easy sets the bar still higher, and Come Swing With Me matches that standard. Sinatra's Capitol library will likely never sound better, and the only complaint lies with the packaging -- the booklet, which came with an earlier LP version of this material, is meaningless; still, it's hard to argue with anything that sounds this good.  Bruce Eder

Tracklist :
CD1. Songs For Young Lovers (1954)

CD2: Swing Easy (1954)
CD3. In The Wee Small Hours (1955)
CD4. This is Sinatra (1956)
CD5. Songs For Swingin' Lovers! (1956)
CD6. Close to you (1957)
CD7. A Swingin' Affair (1957)
CD8. Where Are You (1957)
CD9. Come Fly With Me (1958)
CD10. This is Sinatra Volume Two (1958)
CD11. Nice 'N' Easy (1960)
CD12. Come Dance With Me (1959)
CD13. No One Cares (1959)
CD14. Look To Your Heart (1959)
CD15. Only The Lonely (1958)
CD16. Come Swing With Me (1961)
CD17. All The Way (1961)
CD18. Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!! (1961)
CD19. Point Of No Return (1962)
CD20. Sinatra Sings... Of Love And Things (1962)
CD21. The Rare Sinatra (1959)
Notas
The complete CD collection of Sinatra on the Capitol label.
All discs are remastered. Discs do not have individual catalog #'s. Earlier albums in original mono.
Outer spine of discs form a Sinatra photo when placed next to each other in the box . Inner spines have the title.
Segmented lift top box with silver inlay lettering plus 20 page booklet reprinting original LP box liner notes

HARRY JAMES AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1939 | The Chronogical Classics – 936 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second Harry James CD put out by the Classics label, this set traces the trumpeter's recording career during a six-month period when his big band was struggling financially. It is surprising that James did not catch on immediately, considering how popular he had been with Benny Goodman and since his band at the time was pretty good. Other than the leader, there were no major soloists in the orchestra (altoist Dave Matthews was perhaps best-known), but the arrangements for the instrumentals (including "Indiana," "I Found a New Baby," a surprisingly cooking "Willow Weep for Me" and "Feet Draggin' Blues") were excellent. A little over half of the 23 selections on this reissue have vocals (eight are Frank Sinatra's first appearances on record, including the minor hit "All or Nothing at All"), but the high points are an interesting, unreleased version of "Flash" and "Sleepy Time Gal," which showcases James with just the rhythm section. Recommended for swing fans bored with the usual Harry James greatest-hits sets. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist + Credits :

HARRY JAMES AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1939-1940 | The Chronogical Classics – 970 (1997) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 This third installment in the Classics Harry James chronology opens with nine solid sides recorded in Los Angeles during November of 1939. Seven of these are fine examples of big-band swing created expressly for dancing purposes. The lively and dramatic "Concerto for Trumpet" is a masterpiece in miniature. "Flash" and "Avalon" were based on arrangements written by the great Andy Gibson. One player deserving of wider recognition is pianist Jack Gardner, an able technician who rocks like a fiend during "Back Beat Boogie." Although the public certainly enjoyed these records, the men who ran Columbia, having expected quicker sales and larger profits, chose to eliminate Harry James from their roster shortly after the session of November 30th. As an ex-Benny Goodman trumpet star who hadn't yet hit the big time as a bandleader, James was up against several highly competitive, shrewd, and successful operators, most notably Tommy "Cutthroat" Dorsey, who lured Sinatra away even as Columbia lowered the boom. It would take a little over a year for the A&R executives to realize their mistake and rehire Harry James. In the meantime, he signed on with ex-Victor producer Eli Oberstein's Varsity label, a modest enterprise for which he would spend about six months recording a reasonable assortment of jazz, dance, and pop tunes. The first Varsity date took place on February 12, 1940. James had retained most of the players in his well-oiled big band; one worthy development was the appearance of tenor saxophonist Vido Musso, a lusty-toned soloist who shone during this band's utterly marvelous rendition of "Alice Blue Gown" and tasty cover of Erskine Hawkins' famous hit "Tuxedo Junction." Note also the presence of James himself behind the drum kit on "Headin' for Hallelujah." Having auditioned as a composer and arranger, Dick Haymes instead found himself filling the "vocal gap" left by the departure of Frank Sinatra. His mellifluous handling of "How High the Moon" was the perfect counterweight to trumpeter Jack Palmer's smoothly hip, almost Trummy Young-like vocal on the Harry James rendition of Cab Calloway's "Boog It." The leader plays a lot of trumpet on "The Sheik of Araby," sounding at first like Bunny Berigan, then working himself up to a crescendo worthy of Roy Eldridge. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :

KEELY SMITH - Keely Sings Sinatra (2001) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Ol' Blue Eyes is always ripe for a top-notch, big-band-flavored tribute, but how many who take on the daunting task knew him as well as his contemporary, whom Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. once dubbed "the female Sinatra"? And in case you don't know the history, Frank Sinatra Jr.'s liner notes and numerous archival photos of Smith with Sinatra fill you in. Smith recorded this prior to the legend's passing in 1998 and even had his thumbs up on the project, but held back its release so as not to appear to be capitalizing on the Sinatramania which followed his death. With the ample and energetic backing of the Frankie Capp Orchestra, Smith does him proud on 18 chestnuts from his catalog, her voice clear and honest, her phrasing sharp and emotional. The arrangers don't bombard you with too much brass where it's not welcome; Smith does the verses of "All the Way" with mostly a subtle string accompaniment, then the brass builds slowly with the emotion of the piece. Ditto "My Way." And Sinatra Jr. notes as you can that certain turns of phrase bring out a touch of humor. The set is bookended with a spoken intro and outro by Sinatra Jr. over an instrumental passage of Smith's signature song "I Wish You Love." First rate, but then again, it had to be. by Jonathan Widran  
Tracklist :
1    Intro 0:33
Arranged By, Conductor – Dennis Michaels
Voice – Frank Sinatra Jr.
2    South Of The Border 4:17
Arranged By, Conductor, Tenor Saxophone – Don Menza
3    I've Got A Crush On You 4:27
Arranged By, Conductor – Dennis Michaels
Trumpet – Wayne Bergeron
Violin – Gerald Vinci
4    Night And Day 3:53
Arranged By, Conductor – Dennis Michaels
5    A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening 2:44
Arranged By, Conductor – Billy May
6    Come Rain Or Come Shine 3:26
Arranged By, Conductor – Frank Collett
7    The Music Stopped 2:47
Arranged By, Conductor – Billy May
8    I'll Never Smile Again / Dream 5:19
Arranged By, Conductor – Frank Collett
9    I've Got You Under My Skin 3:36
Arranged By, Conductor – Dennis Michaels
Trombone – Andy Martin
10    Angel Eyes 4:48
Arranged By, Tenor Saxophone, Conductor – Don Menza
11    Happy Birthday, Frank 0:50
Piano – Dennis Michaels
12    New York, New York 4:04
Arranged By, Conductor – Dennis Michaels
13    Without A Song 3:33
Arranged By, Conductor – Dennis Michaels
14    All The Way 3:17
Arranged By, Conductor – Dennis Michaels
15    This Love Of Mine 2:37
Arranged By, Conductor – Billy May
16    Until The Real Thing Comes Along 2:39
Arranged By, Conductor – Billy May
17    Goodbye 6:05
Arranged By, Conductor – Don Menza
18    It Was A Very Good Year 3:59
Arranged By, Conductor – Dennis Michaels
Tenor Saxophone – Don Menza, Pete Christlieb
19    My Way 5:09
Arranged By, Conductor – Frank Collett
20    Closing Tribute 0:45
Arranged By, Conductor – Dennis Michaels
Voice – Frank Sinatra Jr.
Credits :
Performer – The Frankie Capp Orchestra
Vocals, Producer – Keely Smith