Frank Sinatra - Sinatra's Swingin Session

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Music reviews of Sinatra's Swingin Session

Music Review: Sinatra, Riddle Snap, Crackle, and Pop On "Swingin' Session"
Rating: 5 Stars

You wonder how Frank Sinatra and Nelson Riddle perceived the songs selected for the "Swingin' Session" sessions. These were hoary sweet rolls, old even in 1960: Irving Berlin's "Always," Rodgers and Hart's "Blue Moon," (a year before the Marcels doo-wopped it to #1), "Paper Moon,." "My Blue Heaven." Not to mention the hipster take on the children's sing-a-long "Ol Mac Donald."

Sinatra and Riddle dressed the melodies for a night on the town. The three exclamation points after the LP title provide a clue, as does the cover: Sinatra front and center dressed to a T, holding his music sheet casually with one hand, snapping his fingers with the other, Riddle's orchestra's blaring behind him.

You'll be snapping too. "Swingin' Session" is among Sinatra's breeziest (15 songs, less than 40 minutes), brassiest, crackling sets in his Capitol canon. Its casual vocal and hard-swinging musical delivery foreshadows most of his 60s Reprise material. Riddle's charts on "When You're Smiling," "It All Depends On You," and "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me" bristle with funky brass commentary and sax solos recalling a tight R&B combo rather than big swing band. Even ballads like "Hidden Persuasion" and "September In The Rain" (co-produced by Sinatra's longtime pianist, Bill Miller) have airy elegance recalling Sinatra's best Capitol LPs; that is, some of the finest music by anyone, anytime.

Fans will enjoy comparing renditions here to other versions Sinatra recorded. The most glaring example is this version of Cole Porter's "I Concentrate On You" played against the soft, sensual samba heard on 1967's classic Antonio Carlos Jobim collaboration. The difference (to quote another Porter classic) is night and day. Both versions are delightful, to Sinatra fans, both versions (and albums) essential.

Description of Sinatra's Swingin Session

Broadway & Vocalists CDs

• Music > Styles
• Jazz
• Pop