Sinatra/Jobim: The Complete Reprise Recordings
Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim
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| Total: 20 Songs |
Album Review
This compilation album gathers tracks from two sets of recording sessions Frank Sinatra did with Brazilian singer/songwriter Antonio Carlos Jobim, one in 1967 and another in 1969. The first set of sessions in late January and early February 1967 resulted in the ten-track LP Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim, released later in 1967. Jobim joined Sinatra, singing on such tracks as "The Girl from Ipanema," "I Concentrate on You," and "Baubles, Bangles and Beads," with bossa nova arrangements by Claus Ogerman. The second set of sessions held in February 1969 were intended for a follow-up LP to be called SinatraJobim that got as far as having an album cover designed, but never came out. Most of the tracks were issued in 1971, during Sinatra's temporary retirement, on an album called Sinatra & Company, although a couple turned up on singles in the U.S. or overseas, and the Sinatra/Jobim duet "Off Key (Desafinado)" sat in the can for decades, not turning up until the box set The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings in 1995. Despite being separated by two years, the first ten tracks and the second ten fit well together. Sinatra sings gently and sensitively throughout. The chief difference lies in the musical backing, as the 1969 tracks were arranged by Eumir Deodato, with orchestra conducted by Morris Stoloff, and they have less of a Brazilian feel. Still, the sessions have always belonged together on a single disc, and they constitute a special niche in the Sinatra catalog.
Customer Reviews
Unlikely Summit Results In The Creation Of The Sublime
Frank Sinatra entered studio A of United Western Recorders in Burbank, California in January of 1967 and was reportedly apprehensive. This next series of sessions would be a total change of pace for the Chairman of the Board who had spent the last several years of his career trying to cultivate modern listeners with songs like "Strangers in the Night", while continuing to perform material from the prestigious "Great American Songbook."
Kern, Gershwin and Porter had been Sinatra's bread and butter since the beginning of his career and primarily throughout his tenure at Columbia and Capitol Records. At Reprise, the latest shifts in popular music would push Sinatra into new directions: whether it be tip-toing into R&B with songs like "That's Life," or country-pop as seen in the 1968 album, "Cycles."
But on the night of January 29 of 1967, Sinatra would find the Bossa Nova. He'd toyed with it on a few tracks on 1966's "Moonlight Sinatra" (Primarily on "The Moon Was Yellow.") Now, however, he would be baptized into it and thrown full into the waters of Rio, interpreting the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Brazil's Cole Porter.
"The Girl From Ipanema" leads off the album and brings us into the calmest 27 minutes in popular song. Tracks like "Dindi" or "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars," bring out of the most thoughtful and tender singing from Sinatra in his entire career. "How Insensitive," in particular is filled with such pain and is quietly devistating.
Of course, Sinatra also recorded three songs from the Great American Songbook for the album: I Concentrate on You, Change Partners, and Baubles, Bangles and Beads.
Jobim lends vocals on several tracks with Sinatra and the effect is haunting. Claus Ogerman's arrangements are the epitome of the perfect orchestra take of this brazilian art form. Gentle like the calmest breeze. Any faster and it collapses like a dying flower.
The results of the sessions would be the full length, 10 song album, "Francis Albert Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim."
Two years later, both men would meet in the same studios, this time with Emuir Deodato arranging. Their objective would be to record a follow up album. Simply titled "Sinatra/Jobim," Sinatra would not be content with certain portions of the next album and would recall the album before a wide release. Seven tracks from the proposed ten track album would be released the following year as Side A of "Sinatra & Company," with side B occupying 7 more contemporary tracks arranged by Don Costa.
Despite Sinatra's reticence to release said album or tracks from it, there is magic to be found throughout all of it from the opening track, "Song of the Sabia," to "Drinking Water," or a highlight in the Sinatra catalogue, "Wave," where Sinatra hits the lowest bass note of his career while putting the Jobim ballad on the map.
This is a must own.
My Favorite Sinatra Era
It took me forever to track down the 2 LP album "Sinatra-Jobim Sessions" that this collection of songs was originally released on, but its awesome to have all of them in pristine digital quality. I hope this allows a new generation to enjoy both Sinatra's amazing voice as well as the brilliance that is Antonio Carlos Jobim.
A Great Look Back
Listening to this project brought me back to the days of my Dad and his friends. Listening to "ole blue eyes" sing in a genre not necessarily typical for him is fun. And hearing music that isn't run through, or powered by, "electronic enhancements" is great. It does, however, reveal the occasional off-key notes (see Desafinado, appropriately sub-titled "Off Key" and Wave). All-in-all, though a good recording, great for relaxation or as part of the dinner party mix.
Biography
Born: January 25, 1927 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Genre: Brazilian
Years Active: '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s
Top Albums and Songs By Antônio Carlos Jobim
| Name | Album | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Águas de Março (Waters of March) | Elis & Tom | 3:32 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
2 |
Agua de Beber | The Silver Collection: The Astrud Gilberto Album | 2:20 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
3 |
Wave | Wave | 2:56 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
4 |
Agua de Beber (1965 Album Version) | Compact Jazz - Antonio Carlos Jobim | 2:18 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
5 |
The Girl from Ipanema | Antonio Carlos Jobim's Finest Hour | 4:53 | $0.69 | View In iTunes |
|
6 |
Corcovado | Elis & Tom | 3:57 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
7 |
Aguas de Marco | Bossa Nova - Trinta Anos Depois | 3:35 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
8 |
Girl from Ipanema | A Twist of Jobim | 4:28 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
9 |
Triste | Wave | 2:09 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
10 |
The Girl from Ipanema | Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim | 3:16 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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- $11.99
- Genres: Jazz, Music, Vocal, Traditional Pop, Latin Jazz, Rock
- Released: May 18, 2010
- ℗ 2010 Frank Sinatra Enterprises, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Marketed by Reprise Records, a Warner Music Group Company.
