[SinatraFan]

A nice group of songs. I'm glad Capitol finally released If You Are But A Dream in the U.S., it's a great recording, however, I like the original Columbia recording best. Frank always sang Put Your Dreams Away perfectly... whenever I hear the song I always stop and listen.

Thanks for that info Bob. I have not heard the Capitol version of "Put Youre Dreams Away" yet. I'm on the look out for it on Vinyl. Looking forward to returning to the Capitol tower in March!

[MMM]

Here's a .wav sample of the Capitol "Put Your Dreams Away" (my favorite version). Yousendit only hosts these files free for a week, so listen as soon as you can, if you're unfamiliar with it. From my "master" (which I tweaked from the issue on THE CAPITOL YEARS) :

http://download.yousendit.com/1F0F6EE50D5B09C1

[SinatraFan]

That sounded good, Martin.

Put Your Dreams Away is one of my top favorite FS songs.

It sounded very good! I love it. Thanks Martin!

[MMM]

You're welcome!

[jimsully]

Bob, In regards to the 4 songs Mr sinatra recorded on 11/25/57
you mentioned that is was to be included in a album project that never happened. Do you know what the name of the album was to be called and do we have any idea what the name of the other songs that were to be part of the project?

time after time is one of my favorites- both capitol and columbia versions. Did Mr sinatra ever sing it live?

I love this thread keep up the great job

Originally Posted by jimsully

Bob, In regards to the 4 songs Mr sinatra recorded on 11/25/57 [...] Do you know what the name of the album was to be called and do we have any idea what the name of the other songs that were to be part of the project?

Hi Jim,

No, I've never seen documentation of those details. I only know that those four songs recorded November 25, plus the three more from the next session on December 11, were all remakes of songs FS sang in the 1940's. Their appearance along with contemporary singles on a compilation LP was unusual, giving rise to the speculation that they must have been intended for a concept album. (Such an album did appear more than two years later, with Nice 'N' Easy.)

The year 1958 was ready for takeoff: Fifty years ago today, on Monday, January 6, 1958, Capitol Records released Frank Sinatra's ninth concept album, Come Fly With Me.


[Cover artwork by Jim Jonson]

This collection of twelve travel-themed songs was Sinatra's first collaboration with arranger Billy May. The LP would reach the Billboard charts on January 25, 1958, where it remained for an amazing 71 weeks. The album skyrocketed to the top of the charts—Sinatra's first Number One album since 1946 and his first for Capitol.

See the above posts for details of the recording sessions:

Tuesday, October 1, 1957
Thursday, October 3, 1957
Tuesday, October 8, 1957

[Nancy]

It seems more and more youg people are discovering this gem.

It's a great album and by coincidence I've just been playing it today.

Dreamin' of my hols I suppose to rid the January blues,

[BobbyGrindrod]

And so they should. It was one of my first Sinatra LPs that my Dad gave me as a kid. I adored it. And what a sleeve!! I still model my handwriting on the brushscript lettering on the front and back!

[SinatraIsLove]

This is the next album I am going to get!

There are so many places I want to visit...

Italy
Ireland
Scotland
British Colombia
Maine (I know, crazy, right?)

...and this album is sure to accompany me to all!

[SinatraFan]

What a great way to begin 1958 with the release of Come Fly With Me. It's one of my favorite FS albums and one of the best Sinatra-May albums. I'll give this album a listen today.

Fifty years ago tonight, Frank Sinatra's first recording session of 1958 was held at the Capitol Tower. From 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., four seldom-heard single sides were recorded, arranged and conducted by Billy May. Keely Smith joined Frank in duets for the first two songs:

• Nothing In Common
  (Music by Jimmy Van Heusen; lyrics by Sammy Cahn)
  (Sung by Bing Crosby & Bob Hope in the 1958 film Paris Holiday)
  
  The lyrics were revised here by Sammy Cahn for the Frank/Keely duet.
  
  
• How Are Ya' Fixed For Love?
  (Music by Jimmy Van Heusen; lyrics by Sammy Cahn)
  (Introduced by Frank Sinatra & Keely Smith)
  
  These two duets received little notice when issued on opposite sides of a 1958 single. Their only other vinyl appearance was on an Australian collector's LP, The Rarities, Vol. 2, in 1981. In the digital age, they are included as bonus tracks on the CD issues of Come Dance With Me! (because of the Billy May connection), as well as The Complete Capitol Singles Collection. The second duet may also be found on the 2-CD set, Sinatra 80th: All The Best.

Two more songs by Frank alone rounded out the evening:

• Same Old Song And Dance - Take 4
  (Music by Jimmy Van Heusen; lyrics by Sammy Cahn & Bobby Worth)
  (Introduced by Frank Sinatra)
  
  This was issued as a B-side single, and it first appeared on LP in the 1966 compilation, Forever Frank. On compact disc, it is a bonus track on Come Dance With Me! and is included in The Complete Capitol Singles Collection. (It's also a bonus track on The Rare Sinatra disc in the British box set, The Capitol Years.)
  
  
• Here Goes - Take 2
  (Songwriters unknown)
  
  One of the most mysterious Sinatra songs, its author has never been identified. A major rarity, this recording remained undocumented and hidden in the Capitol vaults until the release of The Capitol Years CD/LP box sets for Sinatra's 75th birthday in 1990. It may also be heard (minus two seconds of introductory studio talk) on the 2004 CD, The Rat Pack: Boys Night Out.
  
  [Added:] The composer of "Here Goes" has now been identified as Otto Cesana, with added lyrics attributed to Sammy Cahn based on a Cesana instrumental titled "Hi." See Jordan Taylor's post below.

Musicians (17): Conrad Gozzo, Frank Beach, Johnny Best, Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet); Tommy Pederson, Ed Kusby, William Schaefer, Dick Noel (trombone); Willie Smith, Skeets Herfurt, Babe Russin, Fred Falensby, Joe Koch (saxophone & woodwinds); Bill Miller (piano); Al Hendrickson (guitar); Joe Mondragon (bass); Alvin Stoller (drums).


[ Session photo of FS and Keely Smith from MPTV ]

This recording session was unusual for several reasons.

First, it was the only Capitol singles date to feature Billy May. Sinatra's first album collaboration with May had just been released earlier in the year, and two more would follow in the future, but May's work on Sinatra singles at Capitol would be limited to just these four sides. (Nearly all other Capitol singles were arranged/conducted by Nelson Riddle.)

Second, Keely Smith was Frank's only duet partner during the Capitol years, outside of movie collaborations. Keely's solo career was just emerging, after a decade duetting with Louis Prima. She cut her first album (I Wish You Love with Nelson Riddle) this same year, and future albums with Billy May were in the offing. The Sinatra pairing may have been an attempt to "Capitol-ize" on her successful hit this year with Louis Prima of "That Ol' Black Magic," which received the first-ever Grammy for Best Vocal Group Performance (reprised last month, at the 50th Grammy Awards show, with Kid Rock).

Finally, there was the obscure recording of "Here Goes" which remained unknown for over thirty years. No publisher or songwriter has ever been identified (although many believe it must be a Van Heusen/Cahn tune like the other three from this session).

[SinatraFan]

Frank and Keely Smith sound terrific on these songs and nice arrangements by Billy May. With all the great artists at Capitol, it's too bad that Frank didn't record more duets in the studio. And Here's Goes is a song that's just full of energy!

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Bob

[*]Same Old Song And Dance - Take 4
(Music by Jimmy Van Heusen; lyrics by Sammy Cahn & Bobby Worth)
(Introduced by Frank Sinatra)

This was issued as a B-side single, and it first appeared on LP in the 1966 compilation, Forever Frank. On compact disc, it is a bonus track on Come Dance With Me! and is included in The Complete Capitol Singles Collection. (It's also a bonus track on The Rare Sinatra disc in the British box set, The Capitol Years.)

I've been so impressed by whoever chose the music for the movie A BRONX TALE. The music in it was great to begin with, but to have chosen this song in it makes me think the person was a big fan of Frank's. The song is relatively obscure, though I'm sure issuing it as a bonus track (even though it doesn't "belong") on the CD of COME DANCE WITH ME has raised its profile, but still not exactly what you'd expect to hear picked for a movie.. I LOVE this song. Frank just nails every little nuance in his phrasing. Really impressive in how he begins changing his mood so much right on the line ...but I don't..., where you can basically feel him looking at "her", and he just has, er needs to try to get her again. Love it!

[Jeffrey Simmons]

'Come Fly With Me' is a powerhouse of an original concept album and also a magnificent pairing of Frank and Billy May. Every song, every vocal and every arrangement is a winner!

Frank was in superb form and it is not surprising with such wonderful inspiring material to work with.

I find it hard to have any particular preferences when the quality of material and recordings is just so wonderful, but I will say that my favourites from the album include:-

Come Fly With Me (title track - brilliant ever-wonderful song by Cahn and Van Heusen - a real 'Sinatra song');
April In Paris (amazing vocal);
Moonlight In Vermont;
Its Nice To Go Travelling;
Brazil;
London By Night;(wonderful vocal)

I could also list some of the other tracks from the remaining six, but then I might as well have just said 'the whole album'.

[Rich K]

I have to disagree with Allen about the two duet songs. All they add to the Sinatra discography is a little variety. Neither song is all that good and Billy May's charts are just so-so. Then it's obvious "Nothing in Common" just isn't in Frank's key; maybe there was some kind of compromise, but I find "How Are You Fixed for Love?" somewhat more successful. (Bing Crosby and Bob Hope sang "Nothing..." to much greater success with different lyrics.)
The two additional songs from this session are a different matter... great charts, wonderful energy and entertaining songs. Stereo would have made them even better.
Sometime in the '70's I found an old record store in St. Louis that had lots of 45's, including five copies of the Sinatra-Smith duets. I bought just one (for a dollar). Later I thought I should have bought all of them for a small investment; I went back and the place was gone!
My philosophy since then has been to buy it when you find it if the price isn't too bad.
Anyway, this date is one of those rare ones that includes non-essentials, but 1958 had much to offer later for fans of great music.