Once again I'm struck by the command in Sinatra's voice. It is instantly apparent that this album is much more uplifting than In the Wee Small Hours, if not from listening, from the album cover and title alone. Another masterpiece in collaboration with Nelson Riddle, arranger, and Capitol Records, it was his fourth studio album, released in 1956. Many of the songs were taken from films or musicals of the 1930's, illuminating an association between film and popular music presented much differently today. I'm no expert, but I might generalize that films back in the 1930's had more diegetic musical numbers than those of today. The actors were not only actors, but also singers and dancers. Today, it seems to me that popular music is produced and then subsequently selected to become part of the soundtrack of a film at least more often than the reverse. These older movies are a different breed. Apparently Riddle and Sinatra were looking to the past to assert the cultural virtues of the standards in a changing music industry.
Frank Sinatra appeared in quite a few films in his day from the 1940's through the 1980's. My favorite would have to be Guys and Dolls with Marlon Brando. I also enjoy Sinatra's 3 movie stint with Gene Kelly for what they are. These all feature him in musical roles, but almost anything through 1959 is pretty good.
This album features some classic Sinatra recordings. Composers such as Mercer, the Gershwins, and Cole Porter are almost always standard. "Love Is Here to Stay" and "I've Got You Under My Skin" are sung by Sinatra like no one else. They are typical favorites, but I could listen to them over and over. After all, they're popular for a reason.
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