Doug,
Question for you, How did you get to hear the solos? Also I think a great album idea for Capitol would be Sinatra Solos. Taken from the one's he recorded in 93 and 94.

[Watertown]

I remember when the Duets came out there was talk of some Duets that never transpired. Axl Rose was rumored to be in a duet, and Phil Collins supposedly turned down the offer because they wouldn't be recording at the same time together. Can anyone confirm these 2 names or know of any other potential dueters?

-Steve

Steve I think other possible Duets partners were Elton John and Diana Ross. I can't remember any others. But I dont recall Axl Rose. Vinny Franks solos from the recordings in 93 definitely are worthy of there own cd. I think that would be a great idea for this year as I said before. It would be a great way to introduce Franks music to a new generation.

bumping up

[Pedro]

bump

[Dougjr]

[DELETED]

[Duncan]

I have been listening to Duets 2 again today. My firts ever Sinatra album.

i actually think one of the best duets is The House I live In with Niel Diamond. His voice really sounds suited to the song, and blends well with Sinatra's. It is actually a great track.

It's aslo nice to her Frank sing the song with her harder, older voice. A wonderful arrangement. Wonderful voices. Wonderful musical event.

Embraceble You with Lena (the greatest female performer on Earth) is legendary now. Wouldn't it have been great if Frank and Lena had teamed up after the sucess of Duets 2 for their own album of Duets. Imagine them both on Stormy Weather. I am always amazed at how Lena's voice never ages, she could have been singing 30 years earlier!

A Foggy Day really swings, I just wish Willie Nelson wasn't there!

Soma egoes for Luck Be A Lady, I'd love to have this recording minus Miss Hynde.

Moonlight In Vermont is a real treat, Linda Ronstadt clearly knows how to sing this kind of song, and give a stella performance. Sha compliments Francis very well indeed.

Luther VanDross, who 'duetted' with Sinatra on "The Lady Is A Tramp", on the 1993 first volume of "Duets", has died today following complications from a previously suffered stroke, at age only 54.

http://www.sinatrafamily.com/forum/s...?threadid=7562

Bernhard.

I'm constantly amazed by the ever-evolving world of sound-and-video technology, but some things STILL make me wonder... Which leads to my question...

Could anyone tell me why the "Classic Duets" DVD sounds better than the CD release of the same material?

I'm not sure I understand the entire process of transfer-and-restoration, but after purchasing the DVD (first) I would only imagine the CD would offer the same (if not a higher) quality of sound...

Thanks in advance for your help,
Bo

[George Lyons]

he sounded awesome solo and made lesser singers better!!!

<< why the "Classic Duets" DVD sounds better than the CD release of the same material? >>

Bo, I had the same observation. Like you, I bought the DVD first, and I was disappointed later by the sound quality of the CD.

I can't answer your question (perhaps Nancy can?), but I have assumed that the two products were mastered independently and that the video engineers did a much better job of sound restoration and noise reduction than did the audio engineers. A quick check of the CD liner notes shows digital remastering by Larry Walsh and Joe DeAnjelis at Capitol Records. Their names do not appear in the closing credits of the Hart Sharp Video DVD (which lists Media City Sound but does not enumerate individual engineering responsibilities), so that would seem to support my assumption.

Of course, the original source material (videotape and/or kinescopes from 1957-60, with monaural soundtracks) must not have been of high sonic quality, but we know that modern digital sound restoration techniques can do wonders for such material. (Witness the marvelous restorations performed by RCA and Columbia/Legacy on Sinatra's 1940s recordings.)

This is just my impression (and I have no specific knowledge to back it up), but my guess is that the CD product was issued to capitalize on the popularity of the modern Duets and Duets II albums. The video portion probably required much greater effort in terms of digital restoration, and the extra attention in that area probably carried over to the audio portion of the DVD product.

[Added:] Here's the link to the DVD thread in the Frank on TV room (it doesn't appear in the index there): http://www.sinatrafamily.com/forum/s...threadid=19378.

So, has any thought been given to releasing the Duets sessions as they were recorded (i.e. solos by FS). I just listened to both albums and most of the others pale by comparison.

Surely Nancy could get this done, as a two CD set that is priced so that anyone can buy them. It would be great to have a gold record again for Frank's 90th.

[Thorsten]

I hear this album very infrequent, because in my opinion, Franks vocal Condition is such disastrous!

On the top of everything the entire album sounds artifical because of this overdub technique.

[Ronald Sarbo]

It is my understanding that on 11/21 a Limited Collector's Edition of Duets 1 and 2 is being issued in the UK.

It is still not known if it will have any of the so far unissued duet recordings.

[Nancy]

It will have a duet with Wille Nelson.

<< duet with Willie Nelson >>

Different than the one we already have on Duets II ("A Foggy Day")?

[Ronald Sarbo]

Bob: Could be "My Way". Just a wild guess. Ron.

[Suzanna]

Frank Sinatra's Acclaimed Final Studio Albums, 'Duets' and 'Duets II' Paired by Capitol/EMI for 'Duets and Duets II: 90th Birthday Limited Collector's Edition'

New 2-CD Collection Includes Both All-Star Collaborative Albums, Plus a
Previously Unreleased Willie Nelson Duet of 'My Way'

28 Duets on New Commemorative Collection Include Charles Aznavour, Anita
Baker, Tony Bennett, Bono, Jimmy Buffett, Natalie Cole, Neil Diamond, Gloria
Estefan, Aretha Franklin, Kenny G, Lena Horne, Chrissie Hynde, Julio Iglesias,
Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Steve
Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Luis Miguel, Liza Minnelli, Lorrie Morgan, Willie
Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, Jon Secada, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Barbra
Streisand, and Luther Vandross

In Stores: November 22

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- December 12, 2005 marks the
90th anniversary of Frank Sinatra's birth. Combined, Frank Sinatra's final
studio albums, the immensely popular all-star collaborations "Duets" and
"Duets II," have sold more than four million units in the U.S. since their
original 1993 and 1994 release. On November 22, Capitol/EMI Music Catalog
Marketing presents "Frank Sinatra -- Duets and Duets II: 90th Birthday Limited
Collector's Edition," a new 2-CD commemorative package with both original
Duets albums, plus a previously unreleased version of "My Way," as sung by
Willie Nelson and Sinatra.
Regarded by many as the greatest popular singer of the 20th Century, Frank
Sinatra's dynamic entertainment career spanned an unparalleled seven decades,
and he became a household name around the world, also known as "Ol' Blue Eyes"
and "The Chairman of the Board." From 1953 to 1960, Sinatra recorded more
than 17 albums for Capitol Records. During Sinatra's years with Capitol, he
pioneered and perfected the idea of the "concept album" by recording and
sequencing songs on his LPs to strike and complete a specific mood.
In 1956, Frank Sinatra was the first artist to record in the newly-built
Capitol Studios at Hollywood & Vine in Los Angeles. In June and July 1993,
Sinatra returned to his Capitol Records' Studio A home to record "Duets," his
first new album in more than nine years. He was joined by many of the world's
most popular contemporary recording artists for what was referred to as "The
Recording Event of The Decade." Artists including Charles Aznavour, Anita
Baker, Tony Bennett, Bono, Natalie Cole, Gloria Estefan, Aretha Franklin,
Kenny G, Julio Iglesias, Liza Minnelli, Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand, and
Luther Vandross were paired with Sinatra for an album of standards, including
many songs instantly associated with the Chairman of the Board.
"Duets II," released in 1994, followed global sales of more than five
million units and worldwide critical and popular acclaim for "Duets." "Duets
II" presented a musical extravaganza of the best international rock, jazz,
pop, and country artists singing with Frank Sinatra. Jimmy Buffett, Neil
Diamond, Lena Home, Chrissie Hynde, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Patti LaBelle, Steve
Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Luis Miguel, Lorrie Morgan, Willie Nelson, Linda
Ronstadt, Jon Secada, Frank Sinatra, Jr., and Stevie Wonder & Gladys Knight
collaborated on creative new interpretations of songs, lyrics and arrangements
that had been associated with Frank Sinatra throughout his extraordinary
career.
For the recording of "Duets" and "Duets II," Sinatra and his collaborators
were accompanied by a 54-piece orchestra. The albums' Musical Director and
Conductor was Patrick Williams, one of the music and film industries' most
acclaimed conductors. Both albums also feature the work of another great
talent, the world-renowned artist LeRoy Neiman. The albums' original covers
display Neiman's specially commissioned paintings of Frank Sinatra, both of
which are included in "Duets -- 90th Birthday Edition."
From his first recording sessions in the 1930s until his death in May
1998, Frank Sinatra earned global acclaim as a recording artist and conductor,
film producer, director and actor, and radio and television personality.
Sinatra's impact on American culture endures to this day, reflected not only
in the new music and countless young artists he's inspired, but also as an
icon of timeless suave cool.

FRANK SINATRA - DUETS AND DUETS II: 90TH BIRTHDAY
LIMITED COLLECTOR'S EDITION

DISC 1: Duets
1. Luther Vandross The Lady Is A Tramp
2. Aretha Franklin What Now My Love
3. Barbra Streisand I've Got A Crush On You
4. Julio Iglesias Summer Wind
5. Gloria Estefan Come Rain Or Shine
6. Tony Bennett New York, New York
7. Natalie Cole They Can't Take That Away From Me
8. Charles Aznavour You Make Me Feel So Young
9. Carly Simon Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry! / In The
Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
10. Liza Minnelli I've Got The World On A String
11. Anita Baker Witchcraft
12. Bono I've Got You Under My Skin
13. Kenny G All The Way/One For My Baby (and One
More For the Road)
DISC 2: Duets II
1. Stevie Wonder/Gladys Knight For Once In My Life
2. Linda Ronstadt Moonlight in Vermont
3. Willie Nelson Foggy Day In Londontown
4. Luis Miguel Come Fly With Me
5. Antonio Carlos Jobim Fly Me to the Moon
6. Lena Home Embraceable You
7. Neil Diamond The House I Live In
8. Chrissie Hynde Luck Be A Lady
9. Patti LaBelle Bewitched
10. Jon Secada The Best Is Yet To Come
11. Lorrie Morgan How Do You Keep/Funny Valentine
12. Steve Lawrence/Eydie Gorme Where or When
13. Frank Sinatra, Jr. My Kind of Town
14. Jimmy Buffett Mack the Knife
15. Willie Nelson My Way (previously unreleased bonus
track)

SOURCE Capitol/EMI Music Catalog Marketing

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[MAP 55]

Thanks for the info