[Nick in Toronto]

My choice would have to be 1953 - 1957.

Franks first recording date at Capitol ( with Axel Stordahl )
proved that he still had his Columbia Voice, and it , soon to be paired with Nelson Riddle were to change the face of music.

Every album produced during this period became a classic, from Swing Easy and Songs for Young Lovers, through his most brilliant Concept albums: In The Wee Small Hours to Songs for Swingin'' Lovers. Compilation albums released many of the brilliant singles.

He even took the time to conduct two albums,Tone Poems of Color. and The Man I love for Peggy Lee.

Along with his best singles, like My One and Only Love he introduced two more concept styles. Where Are You? and Come Fly With Me started trends that were also to last for years and introduced arrangers Gordon Jenkins and Billy May to the family.

Add to the music his film career, which contained 5 musicals and arguably some of his finest performances: notably in From Here to Eternity, the Man with The Golden Arm and Pal Joey.

In 1943-44 Frank Sinatra shot to the top of the show business world.

In 1953 Frank Sinatra began to do it again, making himself the only entertainer to do this twice , and entirely on raw talent. and his labours made him the most influential performer in show business, as well as the busiest. IMHO

Originally Posted by Nick in Toronto

My choice would have to be 1953 - 1957.

Mine too, Nick.

Nice post.

[Edwin]

Amen - 1953 - 1957. I'd like to stretch it so that the 1952 "Birth of the Blues" is included since that is the performance that walloped me and is the first record I ever bought. On the other end, 1958, so that the "Only the Lonely Album" and such as the Capitol "Where or When" are included. Go through a chronological discography of that period - musical genius. Consistent brilliance.

[steffen]

1977 - 1981 is the great post retirement concert period, where he was fully back with his craft.

1977 Sinatra and Friends TV special and the Dean Martin tour
1978 Caesars Palace concert TV special, Radio City and London
1979 in Egypt and The First 40 Years in Show Business TV special
1980 From Rio to Carnegie Hall & the Trilogy LPs
1981 the South American concerts, the Man and his Music TV special & the 'Shot me down' LP

but i also dig 1958 - 1962 and 1963 - 1967

[Gonzalo Duque]

My five years would be 1957 to 1961, the pinnacle of Capitol, the transition to Reprise.

[Brigitte]

Hard to make a decision, but I guess that would also be 1953-1957 ...

[Edison]

It's indeed hard to choose but I would take the 1953-1957 too. The time he spent at The Sands as well, where he recorded one of my favorite albums, Sinatra at The Sands.

[George Lyons]

1963-1968 ain't chopped liver neither, ya know.
List to follow.
1963... The Concert Sinatra
1963... Sinatra's Sinatra
1964... Sings Days Of Wine And Roses, Moon River, and Other Academy Award Winners
1964... It Might As Well Be Swing
1964... Softly, As I Leave You
1965... Sinatra '65
1965... September Of My Years
1965... My Kind Of Broadway
1965... A Man And His Music
1966... Moonlight Sinatra
1966... Strangers In The Night
1966... That's Life
1967... Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
1967... The World We Knew
1968... Francis A. & Edward K.
1968... Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits
1968... Cycles
HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Lol!

[Nick_Bradley78]

Hard really as for me any 5 year period doesnt have much more or less than another, its all fantastic but buy an edge I would have to go 1965 - 70; encompassing the great Sands years and 1concert, and such huge variety in recording; probably the most diverse of his career, from the standards of September of My Years, the Jobim and Ellington albums, through to Thats Life/World We Knew, a stab at country with Cycles and topped off with Watertown. The Voice was so rich and deeper at this point to, not to mention a couple of good TV specials; with Ella and Jobim and "Sinatra"

As for the singles this period brought renewed chart success with Strangers, Something Stupid and My Way. On the film front we have the 3 Detective films. Frank at his most varied in his whole career musically, and while not all of it is "Classic Sinatra" to coin a phrase, much of it is, and all of it is ground breaking and always interesting.

[Edison]

You forgot Sinatra at The Sands, Gij.

[George Lyons]

I sampled Bob's Index - I guess he just lists studio albums there...

[George Lyons]

Sinatra At The Sands is in the Concert list

[johnofphilly]

'57 to '62 resonates with me due to my age, memories prior to four years old are like trying to hear something when you're underwater in a pool.

But I concede to my devoted elders above that '53 to '57 are probably a better pick and a more valid selection.

[George Lyons]

Fine, then I don't buy your WTC theories either!

[Edison]

Oh, that's true, you're right. Sorry.

[johnofphilly]

Originally Posted by George Lyons

Fine, then I don't buy your WTC theories either!

Attachment 51847

[SinatraFan]

Mine would be 1961-1965, the early Reprise Years. I especially like FS' voice from this time period, it was a little more deeper than in the 50's but was still just as powerful. This was a great time for Frank and since he owned his own record company he could be really creative and he recorded some magnificent concept albums and many of those were with new arrangers. They're all favorites of mine, from the upbeat Ring-A-Ding Ding and Sinatra-Basie to the ballad albums Sinatra & Strings and September Of My Years. The live recordings from this period are some of the best, also. Including: Disc 1 from Sinatra: Vegas, Live In Paris and "The Summit" CDs and DVD with Dean and Sammy. Also, some good films were made during those years, like my #1 favorite The Manchurian Candidate.

[Savatri]

My choice: From the very beginning in the '40's to the very end in the '80's (when I saw him last). You can not divide this man or separate him into categories. When I was young he commanded my attention in the 40's; when I was old he overwhelmed me when I saw him in the '80's. I suppose it depended on my age - and his - at the time. I can give you a description of each "age" and expound on it - why it was so marvelous at that point in time. But The Sands - oh, wow!

Joan

[voice1]

I cannot accommodate this request. I have a very hard time separating the body of work. I listen to all of it.

I admit to liking his 1955 to 1960 movie work best. (Especially if you let me slip "Young at Heart" in there).

[Rhodalee]

I also cannot separate any years. I don't know of anything he did that I do not love. I have his recordings of all his years.