Section B: Career/Recordings
- Which of Sinatra's singles reached Number One on the Billboard Charts?
- What are best albums to start a collection?
- What are the essential Frank Sinatra albums to collect?
- When did the Duets sessions occur?
- What are some of the more romantic songs by Sinatra?
- What is Sinatra's vocal range?
- What are the lyrics to the 1960 election version of High Hopes?
 | Which of Sinatra's singles reached Number One on the Billboard Charts? |
| I'll Never Smile Again | 1940 | with Tommy Dorsey Orch |
| Dolores | 1941 | with Tommy Dorsey Orch |
| There Are Such Things | 1942 | with Tommy Dorsey Orch |
| All Or Nothing At All | 1943 | with Harry James Orch (reissue of 1940 disc) |
| In The Blue Of Evening | 1943 | with Tommy Dorsey Orch |
| Oh, What It Seemed To Be | 1946 |
| Five Minutes More | 1946 |
| Mam'selle | 1947 |
| Learnin' The Blues | 1955 |
| Strangers In The Night | 1966 |
| Somethin' Stupid | 1967 | with Nancy Sinatra |
 | What are best albums to start a collection? |
Justin Roberts tabulated the results of a poll of people on the Frank Sinatra mailing list in 1996. The question asked as a simple one: pick the ten albums to recommend to someone just starting on a Sinatra collection.
There were 280 total votes and 58 albums that received at least one vote.
- Only the Lonely (19 votes)
- Songs for Swingin Lovers (18)
- Wee Small Hours (17)
- A Swingin' Affair (16)
- Come Fly with Me (15)
- Live at the Sands (15)
- Come Dance with Me (12)
- Nice 'n' Easy (12)
- Ring a Ding Ding (12)
- Sinatra & Jobim (11)
Others that received at least 5 votes:
- Songs for Young Lovers/Swing Easy (10)
- Concert Sinatra (7)
- No One Cares (7)
- Sinatra and Strings (7)
- Moonlight Sinatra (6)
- September of My Years (6)
- She Shot Me Down (5)
- Sinatra Basie (5)
- Where Are You (5)
Justin supplemented his survey results with the following comments:
"The results may seem somewhat predictable but I think we came up with a nice solid list of records to start a collection. As many of us know, the above records can start quite an addiction, so be careful.
"Probably more interesting than the list itself are the records that received 5 votes or more listed below the top 10. It is nice to see that 4 of the Jenkins records made the second list (September, Where Are You, No One Cares, She Shot Me Down). Also, you Costa haters (he's definitely not my favorite but this is a fantastic record) will have to appreciate the fact that Sinatra and Strings made the list. Concert Sinatra, Moonlight Sinatra, etc. are also nice additions. Also, lets not forget that every Sinatra collection should eventually have the Columbia and Tommy Dorsey years. Due to the rules I made for the poll (single albums only), it was difficult to vote for these years."
 | What are the essential Frank Sinatra albums to collect? |
After you have tested the Sinatra sound, possibly using the Top Ten Album listings, you are likely to get the bug and desire to collect other available Sinatra compact discs. A "basic" library for any budding Sinatra fan would include material from each of the recording eras of Sinatra. This can be categorized into the six key areas (work with Harry James, with Tommy Dorsey, Columbia, Capitol, Reprise, Return to Capitol). To help with your collecting efforts, this listing documents the key CD releases from which to make your selections. However, we know you will be getting all of these -- it's just a matter of time.
With Harry James
Harry James and Frank Sinatra The Complete Recordings 1939 (Columbia/Legacy CK 66371): This features all of the ten sides Sinatra recorded with James, several alternate takes, and some live remotes from 1939.
With Tommy Dorsey
The Song Is You (RCA/BMG 66353): This collects all 83 sides Sinatra recorded with Dorsey, the four historic Stordahl songs, several alternate takes, plus a full CD of live broadcasts.
Columbia 1943-1952
Frank Sinatra: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings 1943- 1952 (Columbia/Legacy CXK 48673): This set collects one take of all the studio sessions that Sinatra recorded for Columbia. For a complete list of what's not in the box, please see Completing The Box.
Frank Sinatra: The V Discs (Columbia/Legacy C2K 66135): This package includes all 53 V discs prepared exclusively for the V Disc program from World War 2.
The Capitol Era 1953-1962
Concepts (999562) contains all of the key concept albums issued by Capitol. Since much of this body of work is available on individual CD, there are the individual titles. Only the soundtrack albums are missing.
The Capitol Singles Collection (38089) offers in one package all of the recordings that were issued on 45 rpm records during the Capitol years.
The Sinatra Collector's Series (92160) includes session outtake comments on several of the tracks.
The Capitol Years (94317), issued to commemorate Sinatra's 75th birthday, includes several alternate takes (a piano solo version of One For My Baby), studio chatter before several of the recordings, and a final cry of "Alright, that's it" to conclude the Capitol recording I've Got A Right To Sing The Blues.
For the indivdual albums, please see the Albums section of the Records page on this web site.
Reprise 1960-1988
The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings collects all of Sinatra studio recordings from 1960 to 1988. Included are many previously unreleased recordings. The boxed set is arranged in chronological order. To program your CD changer to play the albums in their original order, please see the Suitcase Conversion section of the Records page on this web site.
For the indivdual albums, please see the Albums section of the Records page on this web site.
Return to Capitol 1993-1994
Sinatra returned to Capitol to deliver three albums for the label.
Duets (89611)
Duets II (72438)
Sinatra 80th Live (31723)(plus a duet on My Way with Pavorotti)
Frank Sinatra In Australia, with Red Norvo was released in 1997 on Blue Note. (37513)
Artanis/DCC 1999
Previously unavailable concert recordings are being released thru the Artanis division of DCC Compact Classics. This label is run by Tina Sinatra. I would add a link here, but the web site is just too ugly!
The Summit In Concert (102) Frank, Dean & Sammy at The Villa Venice, Nov 30, 1960
'57 In Concert (103) Frank in Seattle, with Nelson Riddle Orch, June 9, 1957
 | When did the Duets sessions occur? |
The Duets Sessions
| July 1, 1993 | Hollywood |
| Come Fly With Me | Luis Miguel |
| I've Got You Under My Skin | Bono |
| The Lady Is A Tramp | Luther Vandross |
| I've Got The World On A String | Liza Minelli |
| They Can't Take That Away From Me | Natalie Cole |
| Come Rain Or Come Shine | Gloria Estefan |
| One For My Baby | Kenny G |
| July 6, 1993 | Hollywood |
| Summer Wind | Julio Inglesias |
| I've Got A Crush On You | Barbra Streisand |
| You Make Me Feel So Young | Charles Aznavour |
| My Way | Luciano Pavarotti |
| New York, New York | Tony Bennett |
| What Now My Love | Aretha Franklin |
| July 9, 1993 | Hollywood |
| Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry | Carly Simon |
| Luck Be A Lady | Chrissie Hynde |
| Witchcraft | Anita Baker |
| My Kind Of Town | Frank Sinatra Jr. |
| October 12, 1993 | Hollywood |
| A Foggy Day | Willie Nelson |
| The Best Is Yet To Come | Jon Secada |
| Fly Me To The Moon | Antonio Carlos Jobim |
| Fly Me To The Moon | George Strait (same vocal track, different mix) |
| For Once In My Life | Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder |
| October 14, 1993 | Hollywood |
| My Funny Valentine | Lorrie Morgan |
| Where Or When | Steve and Eydie |
| May 17-18, 1994 | New York City |
| Embraceable You | Lena Horne |
| Moonlight In Vermont | Linda Ronstadt |
| Bewitched | Patti LaBelle |
| Mack The Knife | Jimmie Buffett |
| The House I Live In | Neil Diamond |
Note: The May 17-18 sessions in New York were for orchestral tracks only. Sinatra's vocals were taken from concert tapes.
 | What are some of the more romantic songs by Sinatra? |
Here are the results of a poll of the members of the list. Our thanks to John Bryne for his efforts...
I had asked list members to name what they consider to be the top 10 Sinatra songs to snuggle to next to a roaring fire with the love of your life. Thanks much to everyone who replied. Here are the winners:
- My Funny Valentine
- All My Tomorrows
- All the Way
- How Deep Is the Ocean?
- I Only Have Eyes for You
- In the Wee Small Hours
- Night & Day (version with guitar only background preferred)
- You Go to My Head
- You Are There
Others tunes sung by Sinatra winning at least three mentions: Dindi, The Nearness of You, More Than You Know, Embraceable You, As Time Goes By, I've Got You Under My Skin, I Concentrate on You.
Other tunes winning at least two votes: Nice & Easy, Our Love Is Here to Stay, You're So Right for What's Wrong in My Life, From Here to Eternity, I Wish I Were In Love Again, Time After Time, Violets for Your Furs, The Last Dance, Close to You, This Happy Madness, A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
 | What is Sinatra's vocal range? |
The following notes were compiled from some of the postings from the Sinatra Internet Mailing List.
| Lowest note: |
| Wave | 2/11/69 | low Eb |
| Highest note: |
| All The Things You Are | 1/29/45 | high F# |
| All Or Nothing At All | 11/22/61 | high F |
| The Tender Trap | 10/3/62 | high F |
| Ol' Man River | 12/3/44 | high E |
| The Song Is You | 12/9/58 | high E |
| East Of The Sun | 5/3/61 | high E |
| Where Or When | 1/29/45 | high Eb |
| The Song Is You | 10/26/47 | high Eb |
 | What are the lyrics to the 1960 election version of High Hopes? |
Sinatra recorded a special version of High Hopes to support the presidential campaign of John F. Kennedy. Listen to it on the Audio page. Here are the special lyrics written by Sammy Cahn for the Presidential campaign of Jack Kennedy.
To the tune of "High Hopes":
Everyone is voting for Jack.
'Cause he's got what all the rest lack.
Everyone wants to back, Jack.
Jack is on the right track.
'Cause he's got High Hopes!
He's got High Hopes!
1960's the year for his High Hopes!
Come on and vote for Kennedy.
Vote for Kennedy,
and we'll come out on top!
Oops! There goes the opposition
Ker
Oops! There goes the opposition
Ker
Oops! There goes the opposition
Kerplock!
K-E-Double N-E-D-Y
Jack's the nation's favorite guy.
Everyone wants to back, Jack.
Jack is on the right track.
'Cause he's got High Hopes!
He's got High Hopes!
1960's the year for his High Hopes!
Come on and vote for Kennedy.
Vote for Kennedy.
Keep America strong.
Kennedy, he just keeps rollin' a
Kennedy, he just keeps rollin' a
Kennedy, he just keeps rolling along!
Chorus shouts" "VOTE FOR KENNEDY!"
Information © 1999, 2000, Tom Rednour & Wordcrafters Graphic Design
Unauthorized duplication prohibited
Updated July 31, 2000
