Rating:
Genre: Vocal Music
Release Date: 10/04/2005

At the beginning of his career, Frank Sinatra already possessed a large number of the qualities that would make him one of the music powerhouses of the century. His elegance, his warmth, his relaxed yet controlled performing persona, his gift of conveying innumerable subtleties even while singing a song straight -- all of these were apparent in the early '40s, before he began appearing under a solo billing. The Essential Frank Sinatra with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra doesn't include his first recording, which came in July 1939 with Harry James, but it does feature two full discs of his early material, previously available on CD via a parade of spotty single-disc collections or the mammoth RCA title The Song Is You, a five-disc box set for completists only. Some critics think that Tommy Dorsey is responsible for Sinatra's early vocal style -- Dorsey's lyrical, flowing trombone indeed had much in common with Sinatra's singing -- but a far more plausible explanation is that the bandleader appreciated a similar approach to music-making. (After all, Sinatra's early style was nearly intact even before joining Dorsey.) The rewards of their collaboration are evident on this compilation, which include a monster hit from 1940 in "I'll Never Smile Again" as well as many more Hit Parade entries from 1940-1942: "Our Love," "We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me," "Stardust," "Oh! Look at Me Now," and "Dolores." Sinatra fans who already have extensive representation of his Capitol, Reprise, and Columbia periods will want to add this to their collection.

~John Bush, All Music Guide

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Axel Stordahl - Arranger
Howard Fritzson - Art Direction
Paul Weston - Arranger
Didier C. Deutsch - Compilation Producer
Heine Beau - Arranger
Woody Pornpitaksuk - Mastering
Charles Granata - Project Director
The Pied Pipers - Ensemble
Charles Granata - Compilation Producer
Steven Berkowitz - A&R
Nancy Sinatra - Liner Notes
Andreas Meyer - Digital Restoration
Detchapat Arttasan - Design
Mark Wilder - Compilation Producer
Nathan Sedlander - Project Director
Lily Lew - Packaging Manager
Freddie Stulee - Arranger
Liz Reilly - Photo Research
Darren Salmieri - A&R
Detchapat Arttasan - Art Direction
Sy Oliver - Arranger
Charles Granata - Liner Notes
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra - Ensemble
Patti Matheny - A&R
Axel Stordahl - Conductor
Mark Wilder - Mastering

Big Band Cole
    Nat King Cole / CD / 1991
Favorite Ballads [CEMA]
    Nat King Cole / CD / 1995
The Concert Years
    Ella Fitzgerald / CD / 1994
The Ultimate Collection
    Billie Holiday / CD / 2005

Release Date: 10/04/2005
Genre: vocal