Originally Posted by jtsjc1

Bob, I purchased the wood box when it was issued

See here, Joe: Capitol Concepts 16-CD Box Set post #27.

[Edwin]

Borders has a good deal on a box called "Frank Sinatra Capitol Records Concept Albums." All 14 Capitol Records concept CD's for $65 and change for the next day or two. It's a classy little box of all the concept albums but none of the collections. Would be even better if it included such crucial collections as "This Is" Volumes 1 & 2.

It doesn't include bonus tracks, only the original recordings that appeared on the original LP's except for "Swingin' Session" which for some reason has 8 bonus tracks (I've Got the World on a String, Tender Trap, Young at Heart, Learnin' the Blues, Witchcraft, Love & Marriage, All the Way and Put Your Dreams Away). Great batch of bonues, eh? Maybe they're on there because the album itself is so short.

The booklet is small but choice with on target quotes from Nancy, Frank Jr., Tina, Riddle, May, Jenkins, Bill Miller, Al Viola and Frank himself. There are fine photos, too. One is a pic of Sinatra and May looking thoughtful and pensive. Good bargain box. Makes a great gift and is a helluva price.

Edwin, This is the existing thread: Capitol Records Concept Albums. (That's a good price.)

BTW, I don't know if this is a Borders exclusive, but I notice that orders are no longer being accepted from the original TV infomercial site (Frank Sinatra: The Concept Albums).

This box originally sold for about $130 (including shipping) and later dropped to $100, and THOSE were good prices (mail-order only). For $65, this is a steal. I'm not sure if that's the price for Borders Rewards members only, but I also notice there is a 40% off coupon which includes the box set for two days only. (If you are not already a Borders Rewards member, you can sign up at the cash register.)

[ Sorry for the commercial plug, but it's a worthwhile Sinatra product which may be unavailable elsewhere. ]

[Edwin]

This $65 and change price is for anyone. The CD's have been there for awhile, marked $129. 95 (or $129.99) with stickers listing "$50% off." No mention of Borders Rewards. I also have their "40% off coupon" for this same box. I showed the coupon to the cashier, naively asking if that means I get 50% off per the sticker and 40% more off with the coupon. He had been asked that before, chuckled and said, "hey, we have to make a buck too." What the hell, worth a try, I have a kid in college and another who will start college in 2009.

The coupon specifically states "40% off LIST PRICE," so the cashier was correct to deny it. But it seems strange to me that they would offer a 40% discount to Borders Rewards members, while at the same time giving 50% to anyone, during the same two-day period. Oh, well.

I bought this set at Borders to send to Will who will not be home this Christmas after all. He is stationed in Miss. right now but ships off to Somolia early next year. Anyway, about the set he is not as big a Sinatra fan as I am but he says he feels so close to me when he listens to Frank. Isn't that sweet???

[Edwin]

Originally Posted by Bob

The coupon it seems strange to me that they would offer a 40% discount to Borders Rewards members, while at the same time giving 50% to anyone, during the same two-day period. Oh, well.

Strange indeed. However, they have a 50% off point of purchase sign to that effect at the display and 50% off stickers on the boxes.

[chris]

I've just received my set

I already own everything in the set, but it's actually a very attractive, neat little boxset with all the albums presented in mini LP format so it's worth having this version as a collector.

As Bob stated earlier; it's very compact.

[Richard_E]

I've been listening to discs from this set, and got to thinking. Why would you add bonus songs to just one disc of a fourteen disc set? I know bonus songs were added to the single releases of many of the others. Why weren't those included if bonus songs were added to one?

Richard_E

Originally Posted by Richard_E

Why would you add bonus songs to just one disc of a fourteen disc set?

Repeated from an earlier post:

All 14 albums are programmed exactly like the original LPs, with one exception: Sinatra's Swingin' Session contains 8 bonus tracks. (An obvious attempt to include at least the most popular Capitol-era singles, which did not appear in concept albums.)

Since Capitol was not concerned with selling individual CDs here, there was no reason to sprinkle bonus tracks (some of which would necessarily be poor matches for the concept themes) around these discs. The bonus tracks on the single disc are just that: a bonus.

[David M Bond]

I suppose an alternative to putting the bonus songs on "Swingin Session" would have been to include one more disc that was "This Is Sinatra" put both vols 1 and 2 on that disc perhaps?

It was probably not done this way because of the constraints of the box size.

Originally Posted by David M Bond

I suppose an alternative to putting the bonus songs on "Swingin Session" would have been to include one more disc that was "This Is Sinatra" put both vols 1 and 2 on that disc perhaps?

But This Is Sinatra! and Volume Two were not concept albums, and 28 tracks will not fit on one disc. This was a budget product whose purpose was not to publish the entire Capitol catalog. Adding eight bonus tracks was a nice touch; anything more would have changed the nature of the box.

[Jeffrey Simmons]

Sounds like an amazing price for this set.

I do remember, however, seeing a long black box set some several years ago with the same name but I thought it would have been even before 2004 and to my recollection it was much more expensive, at least over here it was. Perhaps that was a fuller price version.

From what you describe, the individual CD's match the original concept albums as they were in their original concept form. If that's the case, I am assuming none of the extra bonus tracks (apart from the 8 you mention on "Sinatra's Swingin' Session") are included. I am assuming that this means that the three extra bonus tracks on "Close To You" are not included. I am also wondering if this means that "I Cover The Waterfront" is not included on "Where Are You" and "Spring Is Here" and "Lonsome Old Town" are not included on "...Only The Lonely"?

Lastly, perhaps anyone can say from which mastering sources these particular concept CD's come from? Are they from Norberg's work or are they Larry Walsh's remastering?

[Richard_E]

I was playing Swingin' Session in the car this morning, and noticed that there are several tracks under two minutes. Because of this, the original album would have been much shorter than the others in the set. Maybe, it was an effort to balance the total time. Still strange, but some great choices for the bonus songs.

Richard_E

Originally Posted by Jeffrey Simmons

I do remember, however, seeing a long black box set some several years ago with the same name but I thought it would have been even before 2004 and to my recollection it was much more expensive, at least over here it was. Perhaps that was a fuller price version.

You're probably referring to Concepts (16 discs) from 2000. Not the same name exactly. Different product, discussed separately in its own thread.

I am assuming none of the extra bonus tracks (apart from the 8 you mention on "Sinatra's Swingin' Session") are included. I am assuming that this means that the three extra bonus tracks on "Close To You" are not included.

Correct.

I am also wondering if this means that "I Cover The Waterfront" is not included on "Where Are You" and "Spring Is Here" and "Lonsome Old Town" are not included on "...Only The Lonely"?

They are included, just as they were on the original (mono) albums.

Lastly, perhaps anyone can say from which mastering sources these particular concept CD's come from? Are they from Norberg's work or are they Larry Walsh's remastering?

Norberg.

Remember the 2004 date on this set, which is now out of print. This is an old thread that was recently bumped into view. Also realize that this box was never sold in stores—just by mail order—until the surplus stock was picked up by Borders a year or so ago. I doubt there are any left on the shelves.

Originally Posted by Richard_E

Maybe, it was an effort to balance the total time. Still strange, but some great choices for the bonus songs.

Or maybe, it was an effort to offer a few extra bonuses on one very short disc. I find it strange that people find it strange that "bonus" tracks are not automatic and mandatory.

These are what the albums were if you bought them as LPs when they were new. (Except that they sounded a lot better then. )

Suggested thread for any followup discussions of the relative merits or otherwise of bonus tracks on compact discs:

The Bonus Track Sinatra

(My opinion hasn't changed in the three years since I described my thoughts. )

[Jeffrey Simmons]

Thanks Bob, you are so right, I was referring to 'Concepts' and I assumed that they were one and the same, but of course, as you make clear, they are not. I wonder whatever happened to that old original 'Concepts' Box Set?

As to this one which was not sold in the stores, I never ever saw it, which is a pity because I like sets with booklets etc; but then I guess I do have all these albums anyway a few times over and in some cases, such as "Close To You & More", I am quite happy to have the three bonus tracks. In some other cases, where they do not come from the same sessions, I can do without them.

[stevelucille]

I've got this set and it is pretty cool. VERY compact. A neat way to get all the Capitol concept albums in one place. And sets have been going very cheap on ebay recently. There's a sealed box on ebay at buy it now for $50 and I've seen less.

But be aware it is not the best mastering of these CDs. It could be argued that this is the worst sound of any versions. Still the mini LP covers faithfully reproduce the original LP covers. And it doesn't take up much space in your car or where ever.

They also make a great gift for a casual or beginning Frank fan.