[tinpanalley]

A few questions on the Reprise catalog...
1. Other than the Complete Reprise Studio suitcase set, is there a set out there that contains EVERY Reprise record as released with original track order?
2. Was there ever a set that contained the Reprise material in mono? (How many of those were released mono? I would imagine only the ones up to 1965?)

Thanks!

[edgarryan]

I'm not an expert in this area, but I'll answer as best as I can:

1. Aside from The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings, there is no other boxed set that contains all of Sinatra's Reprise sides, albums or singles. The recently released Reprise Years boxed set, though arranged per album, actually has less tracks than in the first boxed set, so you're missing out on a significant number of songs. However, you would still need to acquire the live albums as they are not included in the two collections mentioned.

2. I would suppose that you could only get the mono versions of the albums in vinyl. Stereo was introduced in 1957 or 1958, and by the time Reprise was established, stereo was already very prevalent. If I'm not mistaken, the last Sinatra album to have a mono version was "Francis Albert Sinatra ang Antonio Carlos Jobim" in 1967, according at least to my personal collection. As far as I know, all the Reprise CDs were released in stereo. Mono outtakes would count as bonus tracks, if ever.

[SamMcK]

From what i've seen every Reprise album was released in mono up until "Francis A. & Edward K." in 1968. although that album and the last couple before it are considerably more scarce in mono.

[AndrewT]

Although there are several non-U.S. mono releases of Francis A. & Edward K., it may have been issued in mono in the U.S. only as a white label promo LP (F-1024).

Added: But, I did find this February 3, 1968 Billboard review, which lists the mono catalog prefix.



After that album, Cycles, My Way, A Man Alone, Watertown and Sinatra & Company were also issued with mono catalog designations outside of the U.S. These are probably fold-downs of the stereo mix.

[SamMcK]

Nice find Andrew, I imagine the non-US releases are fold-downs but it's interesting nevertheless how late mono "versions" were being released outside the US.

[Ace917]

What is a "fold-down?"

[AndrewT]

Originally Posted by Ace917

What is a "fold-down?"

Ace, a fold-down is a mono version which simply combines the two channels of the stereo mix into one, as opposed to a true mono mix which is independently created with an alternate balance among the instruments and vocals. In some cases, mono mixes are radically different from the stereo versions.

[Ace917]

Originally Posted by AndrewT

Ace, a fold-down is a mono version which simply combines the two channels of the stereo mix into one...

That would have been my guess. Thanks, Andrew.