December 9, 2015
Miracler
Nick Dedina
Location
San Francisco
One of the my favorite things about the Prodge
is discovering that while I may be a SuperFan of a particular artist, there's still a good chance that someone here is a card-carrying expert. So as long as the ego can take being an honor roll undergrad to someone's PhD, there's only an upside to this sitch. Especially when the year is 2015 and the greatest recorded male voice of all time (Doug Patt, I'll see you in the comment section!) was born in 1915 and we are coming down the home stretch to that man's birthday on December 15.
What does that mean for all of us? Oh, just a thematically curated 5-CD Frank Sinatra box set (BYO box) and copious notes putting it all in context, all of it created just for us by pro music writer/Miracler Nick Dedina. And these ain't the unsettlingly smooth digitally remastered Greatest Hits versions, either—we're getting the original tracks, pops and all.
So what's coming up between now and The Chairman's birthday? Stay tuned. And watch this space. And comment away.
One zillion thanks to Mr. Dedina!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO K
Sinatra The Comeback: 1952 - 1954
Sinatra started 1952 with terminated recording and movie contracts and ended 1953 by soaring to new heights at the artist-owned indie Capitol (which would become a major player with him, Nat Cole and Peggy Lee).
A crazy work schedule and stress led to hemorrhaging of the throat -- it deepened his voice beautifully but it also gave him life-long vocal problems. Also, the drinking got a whole lot worse.
Turns out his "gee whiz, fellas" family man image was a little different than imagined. His equal rights politics also didn't jibe well with the Red Scare. One of the last things he recorded for Columbia, "Azure-Te" shows that a new sound and style was already peculating before his peerless stint at Capitol started.
The master balladeer was now also now equalled admired and studied as a rhythm singer -- already the favorite male vocalist of jazz musicians, this is the guy who was studied by Lester Young, Miles, Stan Getz, John Coltrane, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Rollins ... pretty much every soloist of the period. Quincy Jones sites him as the perfect marriage between the lyric interpreter and pure musician. His phrasing, idiosyncatic rhythmic feel (he liked steady drums to dart in and out and around) and knowledge of harmony made him the main male vocalist (the ladies have Billie, Ella and Sarah).
The partnership with the brilliant Nelson Riddle takes off here but most of these cuts are small group live recordings from concerts and a radio show where Frank would DJ his favorite records between during live reading of songs with a neat small group very much in line with how Lady Day and Peg recorded. The sound is bad because they were recorded directly to record (sent out and played by DJs) instead of on tape. These sessions are so charming though -- I have about 50 of these tracks.
The master balladeer was now also now equalled admired and studied as a rhythm singer -- already the favorite male vocalist of jazz musicians, this is the guy who was studied by Lester Young, Miles, Stan Getz, John Coltrane, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Rollins ... pretty much every soloist of the period. Quincy Jones sites him as the perfect marriage between the lyric interpreter and pure musician. His phrasing, idiosyncatic rhythmic feel (he liked steady drums to dart in and out and around) and knowledge of harmony made him the main male vocalist (the ladies have Billie, Ella and Sarah).
The partnership with the brilliant Nelson Riddle takes off here but most of these cuts are small group live recordings from concerts and a radio show where Frank would DJ his favorite records between during live reading of songs with a neat small group very much in line with how Lady Day and Peg recorded. The sound is bad because they were recorded directly to record (sent out and played by DJs) instead of on tape. These sessions are so charming though -- I have about 50 of these tracks.
The rhythm version of "Just One Of Those Things (with a very Birth of the Cool 9 piece led by Nelson Riddle behind him) is one of my all-time favorites -- it swings so hard...and feels so sad.
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6 comments:
What a pair: Sinatra-Dedina! Cam't wait!!
You're preaching to the choir with this mix Nick. I especially love the ballads. One For My Baby is one of those songs where I'd like to own every version ever recorded. And to me any song Sinatra recorded became his, any other singers version measured against him. I could also throw in September Song as one that always gets me. From someone with a rather large Sinatra library it's great to hear so many different takes. Thanks!
Only half-way through the first installment. To be honest, I have never been a true fan of Frank, but I am looking forward to see if there is a chance for conversion.
Oh my. So fantastic. Thanks, Nick. "It Never Entered My Mind" is just absurdly great, and I agree with you about "Just One of Those Things." (I also love the "Swing Easy!" version.) The man knew how to choose material. BTW – I watched Vincente Minnelli's "Some Came Running" last night. Sinatra and Dino are terrific. (Oops. Didn't mean for this to become a movie review – "Just One of Those Things" reminded me of "Young at Heart." Where did you find this version?)
You got it Mark, the first version of "Just One Of Those Things" is from Swing Easy and the second is from the movie Young at Heart (so is this version of "One For My Baby"). Both Frank and Dean were really good actors -- Shirley MacLaine is good in that one too. The Young Lions is not that good of a movie but darn if Dino doesn't outshine both Monty Clift & Brando in it!
Nick - thank you for letting me go deep with Sinatra. My parents threatened to bequeath me their Sinatra album collection and I didn't feel worthy of that - only 6 or so records in there and now looky here!- a full semester's worth of Sinatra to study, reflect upon, write essays and pull out from time to time to sit at the Chairmen's table. You shouldn't have , but since you did THX!
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