[Gregory]

Frankie is such a great singer. I love "As I Remember It." Thanks for the post, Bob.

[Tammy Rushay]

Hey Nancy and all of the forum force..
Hope everyone is doing well today.. I would just love to have a copy of this record or cassette or CD.... or whatever I can buy of this album!! How is Frankie doing these days? Can I order it from somewhere? I have " that Face" and I just love it, Frankie did a great job on it, I listen to it in the car on my workdays that are 13 and 14 hours long.... He makes the time go by much better. As always I wish Nancy and all the Family my love and best wishes!! Tammy Rushay your keeper of the flame always.

Bumping this thread for Nancy's Father's Day show tomorrow on Siriusly Sinatra, during which she will be playing Frankie's album in its entirety.

See the announcement in the Frank Sinatra forum: Nancy's Sirius Show (post #145).

It’s A Singer’s Album

I can’t imagine any singer who makes this kind of music not wishing to make a record album of Sinatra songs along with the very orchestrations that Sinatra himself had sung with. For me, it’s a labor of love; and better than that, it’s a wonderful opportunity to relive many of my growing up years.

I don’t want to give away the many stories that for decades I have stored safe in my memories, because they are the contents of the narration within this record album, but I would like to say that reliving these experiences has been a personal time machine that has taken me back through some of the happiest days (and nights) of my youth. As the narration tells within the record, “the stories are true.”

Throughout the recording I have tried to remain faithful to the absolute vocal performance of my father’s rendering of each song whenever possible, no matter what point in time the song came from; however, there is no way that I, or any other singer, can ever recapture the essence of that inexplicable something that makes him Sinatra. I don’t mind telling you that recreating the sound of his voice on the 1942 record of “Night and Day” was indeed a challenge. I hope that for the people who have listened to Sinatra for years, my similar performance will create a pleasing illusion. At the same time, if anyone who has never heard some of these primarily old recordings should listen to As I Remember It, I hope they will have a good introduction to what it is that my father invented, practiced, cultured and made celebrated through the many years of his career.

It’s A Musician’s Album

The men and women of the Frank Sinatra Orchestra, many of whom have been so employed for 20 years or more, have taken a special interest in the making of As I Remember It.

For the past seven years of my life we have worked together with the man himself, and from them I have learned a great deal about the music that is the first love of all of us . . . the music of the symphony orchestra. The group as a whole is actually composed of two basic parts. First, the driving and exciting jazz ensemble of reeds and brass that is unmatched anywhere in the world. Add to that the symphonic sound of the Sinatra strings and French horns, many of whom have spent most of their lives gracing symphony orchestras with their talents.

As to the music, our orchestra has enjoyed the finest writing and orchestration of a half century. The arrangements of Axel Stordahl, Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Don Costa and Emir Deodato, coupled with varied and sensational underscoring of our own Bill Rogers, have made the album a great pleasure for all of our musicians. After the last session was over, almost every one of them came to me and said how much they had enjoyed it. The musicianship displayed in this album is unparalleled in my many years of dealing with orchestras, and I’m sure that you will agree. We have coupled the large ensemble sound with the smaller section sound, as well as the solo work of many of our people who will be credited by name in the program playbill.

It’s A Listener’s Album

The sound of our symphony orchestra, as it passes through all the styles of music that cover some 30 years, will delight the music lover’s ear; and the wonderful songs that my father has left us will surely please the lovers of poetry. As you listen, you may notice that each era of the science of recording passes by in turn, along with the music.

If “Night and Day” sounds a little like an “old 78,” don’t be surprised. You may also notice that it is monaural, as is “All Or Nothing At All.” “I’ve Got The World On A String” remains monaural, but unlike the earlier songs, bears the banner “High Fidelity” . . . the new standard of recording in the early 1950s. Only at the end of “World On A String,” as the strings begin their flowing bloom announcing my discovery of Sinatra music, do we suddenly erupt into stereo. From that point on, As I Remember It is a picture of all the modern recording techniques that our digital age has to offer. For the listeners who know Sinatra music through the years covered in this album, many of the great orchestrations that you have loved will come to you for the first time in stereo.

I can only conclude that every effort has been made by all the many talented musicians, technicians, engineers and post-production staff of our album to make it the most pleasant musical experience possible. I hope that you will enjoy the many songs and stories that make up As I Remember It.

— Frank Sinatra Jr.

I should also mention that Frankie provides individual annotations to most of the songs in the liner notes booklet. The following are two of my favorites:

I'll Never Smile Again Underscore (1942) [in the 1950s sequence]

This is the point in our story where rock and roll makes its first entrance. I couldn't resist picking this song title to underscore my own sentiments about that.

Can I Steal A Little Love? (1956)

Believe it or not, Sinatra actually recorded this song one cold winter night. When the recording session was over, the orchestra was surprised to see an ambulance in front of the studio. The musicians who had played the music that night wondered if it was for Nelson Riddle or Sinatra after they had listened to the playback.

The 16-page liner booklet is one of the most complete and carefully prepared presentations I've ever encountered in a single compact disc—the "way it should be done!"

Fantastic informations,thanks Bob!
I love this as I mentioned it in the past such a exceptional creative album of Frankie!! If I may just share this what Frankie said in one of he's interviews:
When I was a boy, my father would often bring me to Las Vegas.
I saw all the stars perform, and late at night, there would always be a name band playing in a lounge. I remember listening to Harry James, Count Basie and many other famous bands. It was quite an education. I always try to recapture the spirit of those late night sessions in my show.”

Also one of the critics said the following on this great album of he's:

His work in 1996’s As I Remember It, an album recorded as a homage to his father’s talents and the composers and arrangers who made Sinatra Sr. a legend. The album won critical acclaim from both critics and audiences alike. It also served as a passage for him to demonstrate his appealing storytelling and singing talents. Sinatra also has received prominence with a series of sold-out appearances in major showrooms and clubs throughout the U.S., Canada, Brazil, England and Japan.

Fantastic Frankie keep up the great work of talent of yours!

[Edwin]

Lovely album. Just listened to it this past weekend. It's on the Angel label, seems to have been released in secret and was not available for very long.

[SinatraFan]

Originally Posted by Edwin

Lovely album. Just listened to it this past weekend. It's on the Angel label, seems to have been released in secret and was not available for very long.

I heard this album on Nancy For Frank and I really liked it... the songs and commentary were all great. It's too bad the album didn't receive much attention when it was released.

[Nancy]

I tried to get a Grammy campaign going but without help from the label it was impossible to accomplish. It takes an army to get into that clique.

Originally Posted by Nancy

It takes an army to get into that clique.

That's just sad. The nomination should be based on the merits of the work. In a perfect world.

[ARIES3032]

and loving it, and then Frankie Jr. was at our pops concert and I was in heaven. I so love all his CD's.

[Carolinagirl]

I've seen it on Ebay and Half.com. Is that the only way.

Someone said it was on another CD? Did I misunderstand? Is it on NANCY FOR FRANK in it entirety? Can that be found?

That was a beautiful intro from Frank, Jr. I'm sorry the Grammy campaign didn't work. That man is something special.

Melanie, It's no longer available new, so eBay is probably your best bet, although it rarely shows up there and the prices are usually very high. It's NOT on another CD. Nancy played the album uninterrupted on her Father's Day show (#4) on Sirius this year. You may hear some or all of it on Sirius next Wednesday, Dec. 12th. (See: Sirius celebrates Frank's birthday.)

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by MartyC

That's just sad. The nomination should be based on the merits of the work. In a perfect world.

Did you see the current list of Grammy nominees?

[Susan]

Originally Posted by Nancy

Did you see the current list of Grammy nominees?

Yes I did. Hard to believe.

[morrowjs]

Originally Posted by Nancy

Did you see the current list of Grammy nominees?

Frankly, I only glanced at it. I have become disillusioned with popular culture today. It all seems very shallow and temporary. People who are doing something original, in the tradition of FS, Sarah Vaughn, Elvis, Ella, etc., are no longer considered marketable. The "suits" go with the sure thing and the same formulas. People with very little talent get much more attention than justified.

[Taylor]

I cant believe Amy Winehouse is up for a Grammy. With all that BS she pulled at her concerts with the spitting and cursing at the fans.

She should get a punch in the nose.

[Gonzalo Duque]

The only Grammys I watch are the Latin Grammys. Current Spanish Latin Pop is the only new music that I even attempt to listen to. It helps knowing the language too! I like pretty much all of it except for that damned "Reggaeton" - it's an insult to my intelligence and it has nothing to do with reggae. It's considered Spanish "rap" and is worthless.

Current Top 40 and Billboard? That crap doesn't exist for me. I stopped listening to Top 40 hits when disco started in 1977. I was 13! Five years later I bought "Come Fly With Me" and "Come Dance With Me" on vinyl to start my collection and that was all she wrote!

[SinatraFan]

Originally Posted by Nancy

Did you see the current list of Grammy nominees?

I didn't look at the list because I usually don't know anyone on it... I don't watch the Grammy's or any award show.

I pay no attention to current "music", if it can be called that. I never listen to the regular radio and with Sirius I listen to Siriusly Sinatra, so I have no idea what the current popluar songs even are. Like Gonzo, once I heard Frank... I was done with current music.

beautiful post Bob and beautiful quote by Churchill.