Rating:
Genre:
Vocal Music
Release Date: 01/09/2001
In early 2000, just in time for Valentine's Day shopping,
Columbia/
Legacy put out a string of compilations by such catalog staples as
Miles Davis,
Dave Brubeck, and
Louis Armstrong, rekindling some interest in their longtime heavyweights. To follow up those sales and also provide the perfect gift and background music for those romantic Valentine's festivities
Columbia/
Legacy released another batch in 2001 from the likes of
Duke Ellington,
Aretha Franklin,
the Isley Brothers,
Patti LaBelle, and here from Ol' Blue Eyes,
Frank Sinatra. This compilation finds the Chairman swooning and crooning better than anybody ever did -- as
Sinatra was always ahead of the pack. He was forever the hopeless romantic, and all of his recordings drip with candlelight, a bottle of red wine, a fireplace, and a bearskin rug. The warm timbre of his voice and his boisterous exclamations will have anyone's heart in a pitter-patter, and for decades his music has been the soundtrack to many, many romance-filled evenings. That's why
Columbia/
Legacy was smart to release this compilation and add it to their growing
Love Songs series. Some great tunes are included here:
"I Fall in Love Too Easily," "We Kiss in a Shadow," "Fools Rush In," and
"Embracable You" will make that special night perfect. Six unreleased alternate takes round out this collection. But, where are
"I've Got You Under My Skin," "Too Marvelous for Words," "Strangers in the Night," and
"Summer Wind"? Unfortunately for this compilation, those were recorded for other labels (namely
Capitol and
Reprise) and are not included. However,
Columbia/
Legacy reissues are easily the best out there, and they did the best with what they had (which is still pretty darn good). This compilation is recommended for those looking for the gift that says
Love Songs on it, but a more heartfelt present would be
Songs for Swingin' Lovers, a classic album from arguably
Sinatra's strongest era. The result will be same if not better.
~Jack LV Isles, All Music Guide
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