CAPITOL RECORDS CONCEPT ALBUMS 2004

Mel B · #**101** 04-22-2011, 12:50 PM

Hi Edwin, I'm a pianist who's been told he has "a good ear" and I think the sound is fine also. Mel.

David A · #**102** 04-22-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markus

I simply love this box. I've completed the "Capitol-Years" with The Jolly Christmas CD, The complete singles collection and the two This is Sinatra Vol. 1&2 (newly released in 2010 BlueMoon). I also got the "Close to you and more-CD" because there you can find the funny "There's a flaw in my flue". Love it or hate it: I prefer the NORBERG-Remasters!

What is it about the masters that you prefer, and what have you been comparing them to?

Mel B · #**103** 04-22-2011, 12:55 PM

Exactly Hodgo. Besides, the u.k. box used is $400.00. So I "settled" for Concepts and have filled in what I'm missing from the u.k. box with members help. I think I have it pretty well complete. Mel.

Chris92 · #**104** 06-14-2011, 08:22 PM

Was the mastering for each album in this collection done by the same people? I ask this because it seems like when I listen to some albums, one may sound better than another. "Come Dance With Me" is a fine example. To me, it sounds absolutely fantastic. However, others are a little bit soft compared to it. Is this a difference, or am I just hearing things?

Markus · #**105** 06-15-2011, 10:51 AM

I own this mini-box and I think it's a neat and compact boxset- well presented!
But my problem was and still is.... "Are these 14 CDs in this mini-box really the same Norberg masters as presented in the earlier 2000 -"big"- Concepts- box or are they "just" the EOTC 1998-2002 versions (20&24bit remastering)? I'm so confused. I'm thinking of buying the actual 2000-Concepts to get all (?!) albums in 24-bit quality. Do I really have to invest 250,-€ again (maybe for identical CDs I already own). Can you help me?

Markus · #**106** 07-22-2011, 07:34 AM

Problem solved. Anyway, I'm beginning to rediscover the entire "FS Capitol Years" catalog. What a fantastic piece of art (in 16,20 or 24-bit)!. Still my favourite album: "Sinatra's Swingin' Session". Now I gonna study W. Friedwald's "Sinatra!"-book for more background information on the music.

jtsjc1 · #**107** 07-22-2011, 05:06 PM

Markus you'll want to get Chuck's book instead. "Sessions With Sinatra". Accurate and truthful. And if you don't already have it, the deluxe edition of Nancy's book with the 4 cds. That being said try to find Larry Walsh remasters- thats the way to listen to the Concept albums.

Markus · #**108** 07-23-2011, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtsjc1

Markus you'll want to get Chuck's book instead. "Sessions With Sinatra". Accurate and truthful. And if you don't already have it, the deluxe edition of Nancy's book with the 4 cds. That being said try to find Larry Walsh remasters- thats the way to listen to the Concept albums.

I've got both books-really great. I had the Walsh-remasters in the 90s. Now I prefer the Norberg's, but I think the best versions are the MFSL-CDreleases of Only the Lonely and Nice 'n' Easy (2008). I'm waiting for more MFSL Gold CDs...

sschweiger · #**109** 07-23-2011, 05:21 AM

Another great way to listen to the "Concept" albums -- turn the volume w-a-a-y up, and listen to the finest examples of "elocutionary expertise" ever committed to shellac (quick -- how many younger SFFers have ever heard of "shellac?")!

Andrew Page · #**110** 07-23-2011, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markus

I've got both books-really great. I had the Walsh-remasters in the 90s. Now I prefer the Norberg's, but I think the best versions are the MFSL-CDreleases of Only the Lonely and Nice 'n' Easy (2008). I'm waiting for more MFSL Gold CDs...

Hey Markus.

This is the FIRST time i've ever heard someone say they prefer the Norberg remasters.

I can't stand the excessive eq, compression (you lose all natural dynamics) fake stereo on mono re-masters and turning up of softer passages on albums like "Come Swing With Me" which is altering the original vision from Frank Sinatra, Billy May and so on.

The Larry Walsh re-masters were pretty much a straight transfer which is what most people seem to prefer.

I run a Pioneer A-656 Reference Amplifier with JBL TLX speakers and either my computer or Pioneer stable platter CD player.

Why do you prefer the Norberg sound? And what sort of equipment do you use?

Markus · #**111** 07-27-2011, 03:51 AM

For me the sound on the 24-bit EOTCs is great (clean, clear and not so much noise compared to my old Walsh-CDs). The 20-bit EOTCs sound a little bit flat- yes (especially "Swing Easy"). All in all, I think these remasters sound "modern" (maybe that's a stupid term). But I think the best transfers are the MFSL-Gold CDs. I use a Bose-System in my BMWX5. At home I just use my BluRay-Player with a 5.1 Technics Receiver and Canton MX100 Speakers. (Not a great equipment, but it's ok for me. Most of the time I'm listening to

on my Iphone4 with Sennheiser In-ear headphones)

Andrew Page · #**112** 07-28-2011, 06:41 AM

You pretty much hit the nail on the head with the term "modern sound" me personally I don't really like it that much although "Come Dance With Me" sounded ok compared with previous versions. His re-master of "River Stay Way' From My Door" on the Capitol Singles box is killer. I don't hate all of his work

Your equipment is better than most

Bob in Boston · #**113** 09-18-2011, 11:44 PM

While they last, this box can be had for the great price of $24.99. That's just $1.78 per disc. Sold by Newbury Comics and fulfilled by Amazon:

Amazon.com: Capitol Records Concept Albums: Frank Sinatra: Music

Bob in Boston

Nick_Bradley78 · #**114** 09-19-2011, 01:19 AM

I got mine from them a couple of years back if I recall so can confirm reliability and only paid slightly more - may have been thru their ebay store.

Bob in Boston · #**115** 09-19-2011, 03:07 AM

Yes, they are reliable. Newbury Comics is a New England chain store, which takes its name from Boston's famous Newbury Street shopping district, where their flagship retail store is located.

They've been offering these Capitol box sets online at bargain prices intermittently for a few years. I suspect they are selling off surplus stock from recently-closed Borders stores. (As mentioned earlier in this thread, the defunct Borders retail chain was the only one which sold these officially in brick-and-mortar stores.)

[Added:] They can still be purchased online from Sinatra.com, but not for nearly as low a price.

Bob in Boston

Nick_Bradley78 · #**116** 09-19-2011, 03:35 AM

Yes they can't be bought from Amazon.com to the uk but their ebay store is selling them for £22.37 with a £6 shipping fee (won't give the ebay link as this isn't an advert for them but easy to find). With Christmas not in the too distant future it would make a nice gift if you've already got it.....

Chris92 · #**117** 09-19-2011, 01:16 PM

My boxset came from Newbury Comics as well. Very good seller

satirewriter · #**118** 09-27-2011, 08:34 AM

Another mystery. Has the writer of the song "Here Goes", done by Frank Sinatra with Billy May, ever been discovered?

Bob in Boston · #**119** 09-27-2011, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satirewriter

Another mystery. Has the writer of the song "Here Goes", done by Frank Sinatra with Billy May, ever been discovered?

Yes, it's no longer a mystery. From FIFTY YEARS AGO TODAY, Frank recorded...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob in Boston

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.

Bob in Boston

P.S. The search engine is your friend.

henryjg · #**120** 11-10-2011, 07:30 AM

Hi, I'm new here so apologies for not knowing a lot about how to use all the features on the forum.

I read this post: http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/sh...23&postcount=2 regarding the mastering on the 2000 Concepts box. I have the UK box (1999?) but am intrigued enough about the reverb v. no reverb to want to hear the versions mentioned.

My question is this. Is the same mastering on the 2000 box used on the 2004 Capital Records Concept box? I know it doesn't include everything on the 2000 box, but it's selling on Amazon for $30 so it would be a cheap way to sample the different mastering.