Chris Connor: I Miss You So/Witchcraft
Chris Connor on Atlantic...

COL-CD-6814

This is another two-fer combo CD on Collectibles Jazz Classics. Ther tracks were originally realeased on the Atlantic Jazz label in 1956 and 1959 respectively. The productions were supervised by Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun and were probably recorded in New York City.

I Miss You So was arranged and conducted by Ray Ellis.
Richard Wess arranged and conducted Witchcraft.

Musicians:
Tracks #13, 19, 22, 24: Jimmy Nottingham, Bernie Pivin, Bernie Glow, Ernie Royal-trumpet; Frank Rehak, Morton Bullman, Chauncey Welsch, Bob Alexander-trombone; George Berg, Phil Bodner, Jerry Santino, Al Klink, Romeo Penque-sax; Hank Jones-Piano; Mundell Lowe-guitar; Milt Hinton-bass; Don Lamond, Sol Gubin-drums; Phil Kraus-percussion; Bobby Rosengarden-bongos.

Tracks #14, 16, 18, 21: Joe Cabot, Doc Severinsen, Bernie Pivin, Bernie Glow-trumpet; Morton Bullman, Chauncey Welsch, Bob Alexander, Bob Ascher-trombone; George Berg, Hymie Schertzer, Romeo Penque, Jerry Santino, Phil Bodner-sax; Hank Jones-piano; Mundell Lowe-guitar; Milt Hinton-bass; Don Lamond-drums.

Tracks #15, 17, 20, 23: George Berg-sax, flute; Phil Bodner-sax, flute, English horn; Fred Klein, Jim Buffington-French horn; Gene Orloff, Tony Gambino, Hinda Barnett, Felix Giglio, Harry Lookofsky, David Montagu, Max Cahn, Arnold Eldus, Harry Katzman, Leo Kruczek, Mac Ceppos, Joseph Malin-violin; Isadore Zir, Henry Pakaln-viola; Maurice Brown, Sidney Edwards-cello; Sol Gubin-vibes, bells; Hank Jones-piano; Mundell Lowe-guitar; Milt Hinton-bass; Osie Johnson-drums.

TRACKS: I Miss You So:

• 1. I Miss You So (Jimmy Henderson-Sydney Robin)
• 2. Go 'Way From My Window (John Jacob Niles)
• 3. Trust In Me (Milton Ager-Jean Schwartz-Ned Wever)
• 4. Past The Age Of Innocense (Morris I. Charlap-Norman Gimbel)
• 5. Time Out For Tears (Irving Berman-Abe Schiff)
• 6. I Love You Yes I Do (Sol Marcus-Edward Seiler-Guy B. Wood)
• 7. My Heart Is So Full Of You (Frank Loesser)
• 8. My Ideal (Richard A. Whiting-Newell Chase-Leo Robin)
• 9. Mixed Emotions (Stuart F. Louchheim)
• 10. They All Laughed (George Gershwin-Ira Gershwin)
• 11. Speak Low (Kurt Weill-Ogden Nash)
• 12. Radar Blues (Harry Revel)

Witchcraft:

• 13. Witchcraft (Cy Coleman-Carolyn Leigh)
• 14. I'll Never Be Free (Bennie Benjamin-George David Weiss)
• 15. Lady Sings The Blues (William Engvick-Alec Wilder)
• 16. Come Rain Or Come Shine (Harold Arlen-Johnny Mercer)
• 17. When Sunny Gets Blue (Jack Segal-Marvin Fisher)
• 18. How Little We Know (Phillip Springer-Carolyn Leigh)
• 19. I Hear The Music Now (Sammy Fain-Jerry Seelen-Ambroise Charles Thomas)
• 20. Baltimore Oriole (Hoagy Carmichael-Paul Francis Webster)
• 21. Just In Time (Jule Styne-Betty Comden-Adolph Green)
• 22. Like A Woman (Frank Loesser)
• 23. Skyscraper Blues (Gordon Jenkins-Tom Adair)
• 24. You Don't Know What Love Is (Don Raye-Gene DePaul)

A Jazz Date With Chris Connor/Chris Craft:
Chris Connor on Atlantic...

rhino R271747

This Rhino compact disc combines two Atlantic Records album releases featuring Chris Connor with the Ralph Sharon Group: Ralph Sharon-piano, arranger; Joe Puma-guitar; Oscar Pettiford-bass; Osie Johnson-drums; Eddie Costa-vibes. The group was aided and abeted by Chino Pozo on bongos, Mongo Santamaria on congas, Joe Wilder on trumpet with Al Cohn and Lucky Thompson on tenor sax and Sam Most on flute included on A Jazz Date With Chris Connor. The album was produced by Nesuhi Ertegun and recorded in New York City on November 16 and December 17 and 19, 1956.

The Chris Craft portion of the disk uses Stan Free on piano, Mundell Lowe on guitar, George Duvivier and Percy Heath sharing bass spots, Bobby Jaspar on flute and Al Epstein on English horn and bass clarinet. The album was produced by Nesuhi Ertegun and recorded in New York City on March 13, April 8 and May 23, 1958.

In the liner notes Ralph Sharon tells us, "I like to think of Chris as a sort of a vocal Erroll Garner." It can't get much better than that...

TRACKS: A Jazz Date With Chris Connor

• 1. Moon Ray (Artie Shaw-Paul Madison-Arthur Quenzer



• 2. Poor Little Rich Girl (Noe Coward)



• 3. Just Squeeze Me (Duke Ellington-Lee Gaines



• 4. Fancy Free (Harold Arlen-Johnny Mercer)



• 5. It's A Most Unusual Day (Jimmy McHugh-Harold Adamson)



• 6. All I Need Is You (Peter DeRose-Benny Davis-Mitchell Parish)



• 7. It Only Happens When I Dance With You (Irving Berlin)



• 8. Lonely Town (Leonard Bernstein-Betty Comden-Adolph Green)



• 9. Everything I've Got (Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart)



• 10. Driftwood (Peter Udell-Tommy Goodman)



• 11. I'm Shooting High (Jimmy McHugh-Ted Koehler)



• 12. My Shining Hour (Harold arlen-Johnny Mercer)

Chris Craft

• 13. Moonlight In Vermont (Karl Suessdorf-John Blackburn)



• 14. Blow, Gabriel, Blow (Cole Porter)



• 15. Here Lies Love (Ralph Rainger-Leo Robin)



• 16. Be A Clown (Cole Porter)



• 17. Good For Nothin' [But Love] (Jimmy Van Heusen-Edgar DeLange)



• 18. On The First Warm Day (Bart Howard)



• 19. Chinatown My Chinatown (William Jerome-Jean Schwartz)



• 20. One Love Affair (Bart Howard)



• 21. The Night We Called It A Day (Matt Dennis-Tom Adair)



• 22. Johnny One Note (Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart)



• 23. Lover Man (Kurt Weill-Maxwell Anderson)



• 24. Be My All (Bart Howard)

Chris:
Chris Connor on Bethlehem

bethlehem BR-5001/BCP-56

Her first recording session for Bethlehem Records included Everything Is Love, Miser's Serenade and Indian Summer. The big band accompaniment was arranged and conducted by Sy Oliver. The backing for the other tracks was handled by the Ellis Larkins Trio (#1,5,6); the Vinnie Burke Quartet (#7-8) and the Ralph Sharon Group (#9-12).

Personnel for the trio is Ellis Larkins-piano; Everett Barksdale-guitar; Beverley Peer-bass. The Vinnie Burke Quartet featured Vinnie Burke on bass, Ronny Odrich on flute and clarinet; Art Mardigan on drums; Joe Cinderella on guitar and Don Burns on accordion. Ralph Sharon's band consisted of Ralph Sharon-piano; Herbie Mann-flute, tenor sax; Joe Puma-guitar; Milt Hinton-bass; Osie Johnson-drums; Kai Winding, J.J. Johnson-trombone.

Chris Connor's voice and the musicians behind her combine to make some very distinctive sounds...

TRACKS:

• 1. All About Ronnie (Joe Greene)


• 2. Miser's Serenade (Claude Reese Isaacs-Frederick Patrick-Jack Val)


• 3. Everything I Love (Cole Porter)


• 4. Indian Summer (Victor Herbert-Al Dubin)


• 5. I Hear Music (Burton Lane-Frank Loesser)


• 6. Come Back To Sorrento (arranged by Ellis Larkins)


• 7. Out Of This World (Harold Arlen-Johnny Mercer)


• 8. Lush Life (Billy Strayhorn)


• 9. From This Moment On (Cole Porter)


• 10. A Good Man Is A Selsom Thing (Charles DeForest)


• 11. Don't Wait Up For Me (Charles DeForest)


• 12. In Other Words (Bart Howard)

Chris Connor Sings Lullabys Of Birdland:
Chris Connor on Bethlehem

bethlehem CD 30052

One of three albums for Bethlehem Records, this set features Connor's version of George Shearing's Lullaby Of Birdland with the Ellis Larkins Trio behind her. The trio provided an excellent setting for Chris with Ellis Larkins on piano, Everett Barksdale on guitar and Beverley Peer on bass.

The Vinnie Burke Quartet with Art Mardigan-drums; Vinnie Burke-bass; Ronny Odrich-flute, clarinet; Joe Cinderella-guitar and Don Burns-accordion and the Sy Oliver Orchestra accompanied Chris on the rest of the tracks. This set comprises a blending of the modern, refreshing voice of Chris Connor and a background of equivalent instrumental sound...

TRACKS:

• 1. Lullaby Of Birdland (George Shearing-George Weiss)


• 2. What Is There To Say (Vernon Duke-E.Y. Yip Harburg)


• 3. Try A Little Tenderness (Reginald Connelly-Harry M. Woods-James Campbell)


• 4. Spring Is Here (Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart)


• 5. Why Shouldn't I (Cole Porter)


• 6. Ask Me (Woody Hinderling)


• 7. Blue Silhouette (Jimmy Dale-Murray Semos-Jack Val)


• 8. Chiquita From Chi-Wah-Wah (Bennie Bonacio-Jimmie La Marge-Jimmie Franklin)


• 9. A Cottage For Sale (Willard Robison-Lary Conley)


• 10. How Long Has This Been Going On (George Gershwin-Ira Gershwin)


• 11. Stella By Starlight (Victor Young-Ned Washington)


• 12. Gone With The Wind (Allie Wrubel-Herbert Magidson)


• 13. He's Coming Home (DeForest)


• 14. Goodbye (Gordon Jenkins)


• 15. Why Shouldn't I? (Cole Porter)

All About Ronnie
Chris Connor on Giants Of Jazz

giants of jazz CD 53230

This collection features Chris Connor backed by the Stan Kenton Orchestra on the first five tracks; Sy Oliver's Orchestra on tracks #6-9; the Ellis Larkins Trio; the Vinnie Burke Quartet; the Ralph Sharon Group and a quintet arranged by Jimmy Jones handle the balance of the album. I'd like to call your attention to the stellar list of jazz musicians involved in this project.

The selections include All About Ronnie and Lullaby Of Birdland, the two songs that helped Chris to the top of female jazz vocalists in the 50s. The set's tracks were recorded from 1953 to 1960 and the collection was released on the Giants Of Jazz label.

MUSICIANS:

#1-3: Vinnie Dean, Lee Konitz-alto sax; Bill Holman, Richie Kamuca-tenor sax; Bob Gioga-baritone sax; Buddy Chjilkders, Maynard Ferguson, Conte Candoli, Ruben McFall, Don Dennis-trumpet; Bob Burgess, Frank Rosolino, Keith Moon, Bill Russo-trombone; George Roberts-bass trombone; Stan Kenton-piano; Sal Salvador-guitar; Don Bagley-bass; Stan Levey-drums.
#4-5: Lee Konitz, Vinnie Dean-alto sax; Richie Kamuca, Bill Holman-tenor sax; Hank Levy-baritone sax; Buddy Childers, Ernie Royal, Conte Condoli, Don Dennis, Don Smith-trumpet; Bob Burgess, Frank Rosolino, Tom Shepard, Keith Moon-trombone; George Roberts-bass trombone; Stan Kenton-piano; Sal Salvador-guitar; Glen Roberts-bass; Stan Levey-drums.
#6: Clark Terry-trumpet; Jimmy Jones-arranger, piano; NBarry Galbraith-guitar; George Duvivier-bass; Ted Sommers-drums.
#7-10: Jim Bright, Red Solomon, Jimmy Nottingham-trumpet; Kai Winding, Vern Friley, Frank Saracco, Ward Silloway-trombone; Sid Cooper, Milt Yaner-alto sax; Boomie Richman, Sam Taylor-tenor sax; Dave McRae-baritone sax; Dave Martin-piano; Sid Block-bass; Jimmy Crawford-drums; Sy Oliver-director.
#11, 23: Herbie Mann-flute, tenor sax; Ralph Sharon-piano; Joe Puma-guitar; Milt Hinton-bass; Osie Johnson-drums.
#12-14, 17-18, 21, 24: Ronnie Odrich-flute, clarinet; Don Burns-accordion; Joe Cinderella-guitar; Vinnie Burke-bass; Art Mardigan-drums.
#15-16, 22: Ellis Larkins-piano; Everett Barksdale-guitar; Beverley Peer-bass.
#19-20: Same as #11 but add Kai Winding, J.J. Johnson-trombone

TRACKS:

• 1. Jepers Creepers (Harry Warren-Johnny Mercer)


• 2. If I Should Lose You (Ralph Rainger-Leo Robin)


• 3. And The Bull Walked Around, Olay (Joe Greene)


• 4. All About Ronnie (Joe Greene)


• 5. I Get A Kick Out Of You (Cole Porter)


• 6. Where Flamingos Fly (John Benton Brooks)


• 7. Miser's Serenade (Frederick Patrick-Claude Reese Isaacs-Jack Val-Fisher)


• 8. Ask Me (Woody Hinderling)


• 9. Chiquita From Chi-Wah-Wah (Franklin-La Marge-Bonacio)


• 10. Blue Silhouette (Jimmy Dale-Murray Semos-Jack Val)


• 11. Everything I Love (Cole Porter)


• 12. Gone With The Wind (Allie Wrubel-Herbert Magidson)


• 13. How Long Has This Been Going On? (George Gershein-Ira Gershwin)


• 14. Stella By Starlight (Victor Young-Ned Washington)


• 15. Lullaby Of Birdland (George Shearing-George Weiss)


• 16. I Hear Music (Burton Lane-Frank Loesser)


• 17. Out Of This World (Harold Arlen-Johnny Mercer)


• 18. Lush Life (Billy Strayhorn)


• 19. From This Moment On (Cole Porter)


• 20. In Other Words (Bart Howard)


• 21. A Cottage For Sale (Willard Robison-Larry Conley)


• 22. Spring Is Here (Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart)


• 23. Indian Summer (Victor Herbert-Al Dubin)


• 24. Goodbye (Gordon Jenkins)

This Is Chris:
Chris Connor on Bethlehem

bethlehem BR-5017/BCP-20

This is one of three albums recorded by Chris Connor for Bethlehem Records in 1953...and this is the one that hooked me and made me a fan for life. The album is produced by Creed Taylor and Chris is backed by Ralph Sharon on piano (Yep, it's the same Ralph Sharon who became Tony Bennett's musical director); Milt Hinton on bass; Osie Johnson on drums; Joe Puma on guitar; Herbie Mann on flute and Kai Winding and J.J. Johnson on trombone.

The sound that arranger Ralph Sharon got out of these elite musicians is as distinctive as is Chris' interpretation of the music and lyrics. This one is a gem!

TRACKS:

• 1. Blame It On My Youth (Oscar Levant-Edward Heyman)


• 2. It's All Right With Me (Cole Porter)


• 3. Someone To Watch Over Me (George Gershwin-Ira Gershwin)


• 4. Trouble Is A Man (Alec Wilder)


• 5. All This And Heaven Too (Jimmy Van Heusen-Edgar DeLange)


• 6. The Thrill Is Gone (Lew Brown-Ray Henderson)


• 7. I Concentrate On You (Cole Porter)


• 8. All Dressed Up With A Broken Heart (Claude Reese Isaacs-Frederick Patrick-Jack Val)


• 9. From This Moment On (Cole Porter)


• 10. Ridin' High (Cole Porter)

Chris Connor

It's my life, Jazz is my life...I don't know what else there is to say about it. - Chris Connor, 1999

Chris Connor was born in Kansas City and studied clarinet in school, was given first chair but always wanted to sing. Her father, an amateur violinist, encouraged her and took her to the area's major ballrooms to see the name bands that would come through every weekend.

After graduating high school, she typed by day and sang four or five nights a week with a band at the University of Columbus in Missouri. Kenton was the band for her and she always wanted to sing with him. When the leader of the college band graduated, Connor moved back to Kansas City, where she sang with a small group that included a then 19-year old Bob Brookmeyer.

In the late 1940s, Connor moved to New York and put in the usual starvation time of seven weeks before being hired by Claude Thornhill as a member of his vocal group, The Snowflakes. This was followed by a stint with Herbie Fields, a stretch of singing at clubs in New York and New Jersey, then back with Thornhill for a year-and-a-half of one-nighters. Then she got an offer from Jerry Wald. It was on a Wald broadcast from the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans that June Christy happened to hear her. Christy recommended her to Kenton, who hired her six months later.

She stayed with Kenton for less than a year, and then landed a solo gig at Birdland, which led to a contract with the newly-launched Bethlehem Records. She joined Atlantic Records in 1956, where she made her label debut with Chris Connor (aka simply Atlantic 1228), which was quickly followed the same year by He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not.

Along with June Christy, Helen O'Connell and Julie London, Chris Connor epitomized cool jazz singing in the 1950s. Influenced by Anita O'Day, the torchy, smoky singer wasn't one for aggression. Like Chet Baker on trumpet or Paul Desmond and Lee Konitz on alto sax, she used subtlety and restraint to their maximum advantage. Connor reached the height of her popularity in the 1950s when she delivered her celebrated versions of Billy Strayhorn's Lush Life and George Shearing's Lullaby Of Birdland and recorded albums like The Rich Sound Of Connor, Lullabies Of Birdland, Chris Craft and Ballads Of The Sad Cafe. In a poor career move, she left Atlantic in 1962 and signed with FM Records, which folded after she recorded only two albums.

It seems quite natural that Chris Connor, June Christy and Anita O'Day will always be the subject of comparisons...the three great singers all worked with Stan Kenton and they lived and worked in approximately the same time frame with similar material, arrangements and personnel. Each singer became the ultimate jazz singer in her own right underscoring their talent and ability.

In the 1980s, Chris came out with two highly acclaimed albums, Classic and New Again. She continued to tour internationally in the 1990s.

Point Of No Return:
Sinatra on Capitol

capitol CDP 7 48334 2

This was the final album Sinatra recorded for Capitol Records over two sessions in September 1961. Strangely enough, tracks 13 to 16 were recorded on April 2, 1953, which was his first session for Capitol. This album was produced by Dave Cavanaugh while #13-16 were produced by Voyle Gilmore.

Coincidentally enough on each of the two sets of recordings included in the album Sinatra was assisted by the gifted arranger-conductor Axel Stordahl. They had worked together since early 1940 when Frank joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, replacing Jack Leonard as featured male vocalist and Stordahl was one of several orchestrators Dorsey employed. When Sinatra signed with Columbia Records in June 1943, Axel Stordahl was assigned the musical direction of his recordings. Pete Welding said of the album, Point Of No Return is one of the enduringly great Sinatra albums, a marvelous program of songs which the singer graced with some of his most deeply sincere and affectingly expressive artistry. And popular music just doesn't get any better than this.

TRACKS:

• 1. When The World Was Young (Phillipe G. Bloch-Angele M. Vannier-Johnny Mercer)



• 2. I'll Remember April (Don Raye-Gene DePaul-Patricia Johnston)



• 3. September Song (Kurt Weill-Maxwell Anderson)



• 4. A Million Dreams Ago (Lew Quadling-Eddy Howard-Dick Jurgens)



• 5. I'll See You Again (Noel Coward)



• 6. There Will Never Be Another You (Harry Warren-Mack Gordon)



• 7. Somewhere Along The Way (Sammy Gallop-Kurt Adams)



• 8. It's A Blue World (George Forrest-Robert Wright)



• 9. These Foolish Things (Eric Maschwitz-Jack Strachey-Harry Link)



• 10. As Time Goes By (Herman Hupfeld)



• 11. I'll Be Seeing You (Irving Kahal-Sammy Fain)



• 12. Memories Of You (Eubie Blake-Andy Razaf)



• 13. Day In-Day Out (Rube Bloom-Johnny Mercer)



• 14. Don't Make A Beggar Of Me (Al Sherman)



• 15. Lean Baby (Billy May-Roy Alfred)



• 16. I'm Walking Behind You (Billy Reid)

Come Swing With Me!:
Sinatra on Capitol

capitol CDP 7 94520 2

This was the third and final collaboration of Sinatra and May on Capitol and was produced by Dave Cavanaugh and recorded over 3 days in March, 1961. Billy May conducted and split the arranging with Heinie Beau who created the arrangements for five of the 12 selections: Sentimental Journey, American Beauty Rose, Don't Take Your Love From Me, Old Black Magic and Lover.

Capitol decided to fill out the content of the CD as usual by adding material from previous sessions. I Love You was recorded on April 30, 1953 and three tunes are the work of Nelson Riddle: Why Should I Cry Over You recorded on December 8, 1953; How Could You Do A Thing Like That To Me, recorded on March 7, 1955 and River, Stay 'Way From My Door, recorded on April 12, 1960. I Got A Right To Sing The Blues was arranged and conducted by Skip Martin and was recorded on March 6, 1962 at Sinatra's final Capitol Records session.

May's and Beau's orchestrations called for the unusual instrumentation of 8 trumpets, six trombones, 2 bass trombones, 4 French horns, tuba, harp, rhythm and additional percussion. The arrangements were designed to have the brass split into two sections which were used in call-and-response fashion.

TRACKS:

• 1. Day By Day (Axel Stordahl-Paul Weston-Sammy Cahn))


• 2. Sentimental Journey (Les Brown-Benjamin Homer-Bud Green)


• 3. Almost Like Being In Love (Frederick Loewe-Aln J. Lerner)


• 4. Five Minutes More (Jule Styne-Sammy Cahn)


• 5. American Beauty Rose (Arthur Altman-Hal David-Redd Evans)


• 6. Yes Indeed! (Sy Oliver)


• 7. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (Jimmy McHugh-Dorothy Fields)


• 8. Don't Take Your Love From Me (Henry Nemo)


• 9. Old Black Magic (Harold Arlen-Johnny mercer)


• 10. Lover (Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart)


• 11. Paper Doll (Johnny S. Black)


• 12. I've Heard That Song Before (Jule Styne-Sammy Cahn)


• 13. I Love You (Harry Archer-Harlan Thompson)


• 14. Why Shoul;d I Cry Over You (Chester Conn-Ned Miller)


• 15. How Could You Do A Thing Like That To Me (Tyree Glenn-Allan Roberts)


• 16. River, Stay 'Way From My Door (Mort Dixon-Harry M. Woods)


• 17. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues (Harold Arlen-Ted Koehler)

Sinatra's Swingin' Session!:
Sinatra on Capitol

capitol CDP 7 46573 2

This album was recorded at four recording sessions over the ten-day period from August 22 to September 1, 1960. Nelson Riddle arranged and conducted and the sessions went quickly with very few takes for the songs. A decision was also made to speed up the tempos, with a final running time of 25 plus minutes for 12 songs attesting to that. This would be the last album with Nelson at Capitol and Sinatra had already begun planning the debut of his own record label, Reprise.

TRACKS:

• 1. When You're Smiling (Mark Fisher-Joe Goodwin-Larry Shay)


• 2. Blue Moon (Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart)


• 3. S'posin' (Paul Denniker-Andy Razaf)


• 4. It All Depends On You (B.G. DeSylva-Lew Brown-Ray Henderson)


• 5. It's Only A Paper Moon (Harold Arlen-E.Y. "Yip" Harburg-Billy Rose)


• 6. My Blue Heaven (Walter Donaldson-George Whiting)


• 7. Should I (Nacio Herb Brown-Arthur Freed)


• 8. September In The Rain (Harry Warren-Al Dubin)


• 9. Always (Irving Berlin)


• 10. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (Jimmy McHugh-Clarence Gaskill)


• 11. I Concentrate On You (Cole Porter)


• 12. You Do Something To Me (Cole Porter)


• 13. Sentimental Baby (Lew Spence-Alan Bergman-Marilyn Bergman)


• 14. Hidden Persuasion (Wainwright Churchill III)


• 15. Ol' MacDonald (Lew Spence-Alan Bergman-Marilyn Bergman)

No One Cares:
Sinatra on Capitol

capitol CDP 7 94519 2

No One Cares was the second "saloon song" album recorded by Sinatra and arranger-conductor Gordon Jenkins. Twelve selections in all were recorded in four separate studio sessions: 10 sides on March 24-26, 1959 and two additional tracks on May 14, 1959.

Sinatra once again proves conclusively that he can take lyrics that are in themselves and of themselves banal, lyrics that are trite and sometimes even slight enough to be silly, and yet he can make them live and breathe and communicate emotion. He sings the sad songs in this album so well. Those bitter-sweet, late night, sad songs of days that used to be require an interpreter who can be sad without being maudlin, who can be man enough to cry a little and with the tears gain dignity. Sinatra does it with his voice and personality.

So, set 'em up, Joe, 'cause No One Cares...

TRACKS:

• 1. When No One Cares (Jimmy Van Heusen-Sammy Cahn)
• 2. A Cottage For Sale (Willard Robison-Larry Conley)
• 3. Stormy Weather (Harold Arlen-Ted Koehler)
• 4. Where Do You Go? (Arnold Sungaard-Alec Wilder)
• 5. Ghost Of A Chance (Victor Young-Bing Crosby-Ned Washington)
• 6. Here's That Rainy Day (Jimmy Van Heusen-Johnny Burke)
• 7. I Can't Get Started (Vernon Duke-Ira Gershwin)
• 8. Why Try To Change Me Now? (Cy Coleman-Joseph McCarthy)
• 9. Just Friends (John Klenner-Samuel M. Lewis)
• 10. I'll Never Smile Again (Ruth Lowe)
• 11. None But The Lonely Heart (Tschaikowsky-arr./Gordon Jenkins)
• 12. The One I Love (Isham Jones-Gus Kahn)
• 13. This Was My Love (Jim Harbert)
• 14. I Could Have Told You (Jimmy Van Heusen-Carl Sigman)
• 15. You Forgot All The Words (Bernie Wayne-Eve Jay)

Nice 'N' Easy:
Sinatra on Capitol

capitol CDP 7 91149 2

The album was arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle on March 1-3, 1960. The title song was recorded on April 13, 1960 and originally was released as a single. The album was scheduled for release before Nice 'n' Easy acquired lots of sales and airplay, so the suits at Capitol took a song, The Nearness Of You, off the album and replaced it with Nice 'n' Easy. The album features lots of standards that Sinatra had recorded earlier on during his Columbia Records days.

Although the album wasn't developed in the usual 'concept' style, it contained many of the ballads that Frank had mastered. This production was part of Sinatra's contractual obligation to Capitol Records but remains included in the collection of classic albums recorded for Capitol.

TRACKS:

• 1. Nice 'N' Easy (Lew Spence-Alan Bergman-Marilyn Bergman)


• 2. That Old Feeling (Lew Brown-Sammy Fain)


• 3. How Deep Is The Ocean (Irving Berlin)


• 4. I've Got A Crush On You (George Gershwin-Ira Gershwin)


• 5. You Go To My Head (J. Fred Coots-Haven Gillespie)


• 6. Fools Rush In (Rube Bloom-Johnny mercer)


• 7. Nevertheless (Bert Kalmar-Harry Ruby)


• 8. She's Funny That Way (Richard Whiting-Neil Moret)


• 9. Try A Little tenderness (James Campbell-Harry Woods-Reginald Connelly)


• 10. Embraceable You (George Gershwin-Ira Gershwin)


• 11. Mam'selle (Edmund Goulding-Mack Gordon)


• 12. Dream (Johnny Mercer)

Come Dance With Me:
Sinatra on Capitol

capitol CDP 7 48468 2

Recorded on December 9, 22, 23, 1958, the album was the second such collaboration between Sinatra and arranger-conductor Billy May. While May did 9 of the arrangements, the other three were handled by Heinie Beau. Come Dance With Me reminds us that the singer's roots were firmly planted in the big dance bands of the late 1930s and early 40s, specifically those of Harry James and Tommy Dorsey.

May provides a suitable framework for Sinatra to reinterpret that shared past in light of a musical present they were both engaged in defining. The title song earned Frank a "Grammy" for best solo vocal and the album was also voted album of the year in 1959...

TRACKS:

• 1. Come Dance With Me (Jimmy Van Heusen-Sammy Cahn)


• 2. Something's Gotta Give (Johnny Mercer)


• 3. Just In Time (Jule Styne-Betty Comden-Adolph Green)


• 4. Dancing In The Dark (Arthur Schwartz-Howard Dietz)


• 5. Too Close For Comfort (Jerry Bock-Lawrence Holofcener-George D. Weiss)


• 6. I Could Have Danced All Night (Frederick Loewe-Alan J. Lerner)


• 7. Saturday Night (Jule Styne-Sammy Cahn)


• 8. Day In-Day Out (Rube Bloom-Johnny Mercer)


• 9. Cheek To Cheek (Irving Berlin)


• 10. Baubles, Bangles And Beads (Robert Wright-George Forrest)


• 11. The Song Is You (Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II)


• 12. The Last Dance (Jimmy Van Heusen-Sammy Cahn)


• 13. It All Depends On You (B.G. DeSylva-Lew Brown-Ray Henderson)


• 14. Nothing In Common (Jimmy Van Heusen-Sammy Cahn)*


• 15. Same Old Song And Dance (Jimmy Van Heusen-Sammy Cahn-Bobby Worth)


• 16. How Are Ya' Fixed For Love (Jimmy Van Heusen-Sammy Cahn)*

*duet with Keely Smith

Sings For Only The Lonely:

Sinatra on Capitol

capitol CDP 7 48471 2

Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely was recorded on May 29, 1958 and June 24, 25, 1958 and marked the debut for producer Dave Cavanaugh who took over for the retiring Voyle Gilmore. Although the arrangements were by Nelson Riddle, Felix Slatkin actually conducted on the May 29th session since Riddle was touring with Nat King Cole at the time.

Sinatra often stated that this album was his favorite...so who could argue with the Chairman Of The Board?

TRACKS:

• 1. Only The Lonely (Jimmy Van Heusen-Sammy Cahn)


• 2. Angel Eyes (Matt Dennis-Earl Brent)


• 3. What's New? (Bob Haggart-Johnny Burke)


• 4. It's A Lonesome Old Town (Charles W. Kisco-Harry Tobias)


• 5. Willow Weep For Me (Ann Ronell)


• 6. Goodbye (Gordon Jenkins)


• 7. Blues In The Night (Harold Arlen-Johnny Mercer)


• 8. Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry (Jule Styne-Sammy Cahn)


• 9. Ebb Tide (Robert Maxwell-Carl Sigman)


• 10. Spring Is Here (Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart)


• 11. Gone With The Wind (Allie Wrubel-Herbert Magidson)


• 12. One For My Baby (Harold Arlen-Johnny Mercer)


• 13. Sleep Warm (Lew Spence-Alan Bergman-Marilyn Bergman)


• 14. Where Or When (Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart

Come Fly With Me:
Sinatra on Capitol

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Billy May and Frank Sinatra finally got together to record again...for the first time on October 1, 3, 8, 1957. After those May "sound-alike" sides of April 30, 1953, Billy was finally able to record with Frank. Come Fly With Me became Frank's first #1 Chart Album and was Capitol's second stereo production. Bill May's arrangements were full blown for brass, with fast tempos but he also showed that he could arrange for strings.

This is the album that contained On The Road To Mandalay which was not amusing to the Rudyard Kipling estate. Kipling's poem was still in copyright in Great Britain and when EMI released the album, the song was deleted with the earlier recording of Chicago taking its place. You can hear Sinatra joke about it on his CD, Sinatra-A Tour de Force: the legendary concert in Melbourne, Australia in 1959 with the Red Norvo Quintet (Bravura CD-102).

TRACKS:

• 1. Come Fly With Me (Jimmy Van Heusen-Sammy Cahn)
• 2. Around The World (Victor Young-Harold Adamson)
• 3. Isle Of Capri (Will Grosz-Jimmy Kennedy)
• 4. Moonlight In Vermont (Karl Suessdorf-John Blackburn)
• 5. Autumn In New York (Vernon Duke)
• 6. On The Road To Mandalay (Oley Speaks-Rudyard Kipling)
• 7. Let's Get Away From It All (Matt Dennis-Tom Adair)
• 8. April In Paris (Vernon Duke-E.Y. "Yip" Harburg)
• 9. London By Night (Carroll Coates)
• 10. Brazil (Ary Barroso-Bob Russell)
• 11. Blue Hawaii (Ralph Rainger-Leo Robin)
• 12. It's Nice To Go Trav'ling (Jimmy Van Heusen-Sammy Cahn)
• 13. Chicago (Fred Fisher)
• 14. South Of The Border (Jimmy Kennedy-Michael Carr)
• 15. I Love Paris (Cole Porter)

Where Are You?
Sinatra on Capitol

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The tracks were laid down on April 10, 29 and May 1, 1957 in Studio A at the Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood. Producer Voyle Gilmore assigned Gordon Jenkins to the project. Gordon had recently signed on with Capitol from Decca Records.

In his near decade with Capitol Records, Frank Sinatra recorded three albums with arranger-conductor Gordon Jenkins. Product of three recording sessions held during April and May, 1957, Where Are You? was the first of these and also the first complete studio-based stereo recording by Sinatra. This album was also the first in a series of "saloon song" albums.

Jenkins' arrangements featured a very large string section in a more "classical" style. Jenkins was widely recognized by his peers as perhaps the finest writer for strings in all of popular music...as you listen you'll understand why.

TRACKS:

• 1. Where Are You? (Jimmy McHugh-Harold Adamson


• 2.The Night We Called It A Day (Matt Dennis-Tom Adair)


• 3. I Cover The Waterfront (Johnny Green-Edward Heyman)


• 4. Maybe You'll Be There (Rube Bloom-Sammy Gallop)


• 5. Laura (David Raksin-Johnny Mercer)


• 6. Lonely Town (Leonard Bernstein-Betty Comden-Adolph Green)


• 7. Autumn Leaves (Joseph Kosma-Jacques A. Prevert-Johnny Mercer)


• 8. I'm A Fool To Want You (Joel S. Herron-Jack Wolf-Frank Sinatra)


• 9. I Think Of You (Jack Elliott-Don Marcotte)


• 10. Where Is The One? (Edwin A. Finckle-Alec Wilder)


• 11. There's No You (Harold S. Hopper-Tom Adair)


• 12. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home (Charles Warfield-Clarence Williams)


• 13. I Can Read Between The Lines (Ramon S. Getzov-Sid Frank)


• 14. It Worries Me (Reichel Fritz Schulz-Ernst Verch-Carl Sigman)


• 15. Rain [Falling From The Skies] (Robert Mellin-Gun Finlay)


• 16. Don't Worry 'Bout Me (Rube Bloom-Ted Koehler)

A Swingin' Affair!:
Sinatra on Capitol

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This album was a follow-up to Songs For Swingin' Lovers and was recorded on November 15, 20, 26, 28, 1956. Once again Nelson Riddle provided exciting charts in his 'heartbeat' meter. His approach to those songs was to have the tempo imitate the beat of the heart as when taking a brisk walk.

Sixteen tracks were laid down including I Won't Dance, At Long Last Love, Night And Day and The Lonesome Road with one selection withheld from release. That tune was The Lady Is A Tramp which would wind up on the Pal Joey soundtrack album. A Swingin' Affair took up where Songs For Swingin' Lovers left off...and then some

It inspired turning up the car radio, lowering the windows and singing along at the top of your lungs as Sinatra and Riddle led the way down the road!

TRACKS:

• 1. Night And Day (Cole Porter)


• 2. I Wish I Were In Love Again (Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart)


• 3. I Got Plenty O' Nuthin' (George Gershwin-Dubose Heyward-Ira Gershwin)


• 4. I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan (Arthur Schwartz-Howard Dietz)


• 5. Nice Work If You Can Get It (George Gershwin-Ira Gershwin)


• 6. Stars Fell On Alabama (Frank Perkins-Mitchell Parish)


• 7. No One Ever Tells You (H.M. Atwood-Carroll Coates)


• 8. I Won't Dance (Jerome Kern-Jimmy McHugh-Oscar Hammerstein II-Dorothy Fields)


• 9. Lonesome Road (Nat Shilkret-Gene Austin)


• 10. At Long Last Love (Cole Porter);


• 11. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (Cole Porter)


• 12. I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good (Duke Ellington-Irving Mills)


• 13. From This Moment On (Cole Porter)


• 14. If I Had You (Ted Shapiro-James Campbell-Reginald Connelly


• 15. Oh! Look At Me Now (Joe Bushkin-John DeVries)


• 16. The Lady Is A Tramp (Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart)

Close To You:

Sinatra on Capitol

capitol CDP 7 46572 2

The sessions took place on March 8, April 4,5, 1955 and October 1, 1956. Fifteen songs were recorded with 12 being used on the original release. When the album was transferred to compact disc (CD), the additional three tracks were added. The album features the Hollywood String Quartet featuring Felix Slatkin and Paul Shure on violin, Alvin Dunkin on viola and Eleanor Slatkin on cello. The idea to have the Quartet back Frank would give the singer an opportunity to record more of the songs he originally did in his earlier years but now with a new setting. Nelson Riddle did the arrangements adding a French horn, trumpet, clarinet, oboe, flute, piano, guitar, bass, harp and drums to the Quartet. Check out the results for yourself...

TRACKS:

• 1. Close To You (Al Hoffman-Jerry Livingston-Carl G. Lampl)


• 2. P.S. I Love You (Gordon Jenkins-Johnny Mercer)


• 3. Love Locked Out (Ray Noble-Max Kester)


• 4. Everything Happens To Me (Matt Dennis-Tom Adair)


• 5. It's Easy To Remember (Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart)


• 6. Don't Like Goodbyes (Harold Arlen-Truman Capote)


• 7. With Every Breath I Take (Ralph Rainger-Leo Robin)


• 8. Blame It On My Youth (Oscar Levant-Edward Heyman)


• 9. It Could Happen To You (Jimmy Van Heusen-Johnny Burke)


• 10. I've Had My Moments (Walter Donaldson-Gus Kahn)


• 11. I Couldn't Sleep A Wink Last Night (Jimmy McHugh-Harold Adamson)


• 12. The End Of A Love Affair (Edward C. Redding)


• 13. If It's The Last Thing I Do (Saul Chaplin-Sammy Cahn)


• 14. There's A Flaw In My Flue (Jimmy Van Heusen)*


• 15. Wait Till You See Her (Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart)

*feel free to excuse this one