Reprise, the label Sinatra founded and moved to from Capitol Records in 1961, commemorates Sinatra's 75th birthday with this 4-disc set. The collection contains 81 tracks, arranged chronologically. Concurrently, Capitol Records has released a 3 disc-set chronologically covering Sinatra's recordings from 1953 to 1960.
Personnel includes: Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Nancy Sinatra (vocals); Count Basie (conductor, piano); Duke Ellington, Felix Slatkin (conductor); Tony Mottola, Laurindo Almeida (guitar); Buddy DeFranco (clarinet); Johnny Mandel (trombone); Bill Miller (piano); Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Producers include: Sonny Burke.
Compilation producers: Mo Ostin, Joe McEwen, James Isaacs.
Includes liner notes by William Kennedy, David McClintick, Jonathan Schwartz, James Isaacs.
For those unable to invest the necessary funds for the 20-disc COMPLETE REPRISE box, THE REPRISE COLLECTION is an excellent representation of Sinatra's post-1960 work on the label he founded in the interest of furthering his artistic freedom. Sure, he had left the sweet-voiced Bing Crosby acolyte side of himself far behind by the 60's, but that only meant that his voice, wisdom and artistic well were all simultaneously deepened. Though he approached his songs from a more mature perspective, this period produced some of Sinatra's most outrageously swinging tunes, including "Summer Wind," "Fly Me To The Moon" and "Luck Be A Lady."
Sinatra had also begun to look back with wistful melancholy on his life, as on the introspective, moody "It Was A Very Good Year," "September Song" and "A Man Alone." This collection is spiced up by the inclusion of such relatively esoteric gems as Sinatra's collaborative efforts with Antonio Carlos Jobim, a move made possible by Sinatra's creative freedom with Reprise. There are irresistible pop hits like "Somethin' Stupid," his duet with daughter Nancy, and latter day classics like "Send In The Clowns." Overall, a fine representation of this crucial period in Sinatra's career. minimize