A SWINGIN' AFFAIR (Capitol) 1957 Riddle

1. Night And Day
2. I Wish I Were In Love Again
3. I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
4. I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plans
5. Nice Work If You Can Get It
6. Stars Fell On Alabama
7. No One Ever Tells You
8. I Won't Dance
9. Lonesome Road
10. At Long Last Love
11. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
12. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
13. From This Moment On
14. If I Had You
15. Oh! Look At Me Now
16. The Lady Is A Tramp *

* Bonus Track not included on original LP

hi rick, a swingin' affair is a great up-tempo album with classic songs by cole porter, rodgers and hart, the gershwins and other great luminaries from tin pan alley.
during those capitol years whatever sinatra recorded simply turn to "gold", he had the most talented arrangers like nelson riddle, billy may,gordon jenkins and alex stordahl.
sinatra was at his best voice at capitol and with that group behind him he had definitely " the midas touch" to all his music. joe.

Guys, I listened to this record last night after a tough, frustrating day at work and was soon transported to Cloud 9. Hard to pick favorites, but I guess I'd have to say "From This Moment On" and "At Long Last Love." Frank is the best medicine!

[Rich K]

This was my first Sinatra album...a birthday present for my 13th birthday. I picked it out myself along with a Nelson Riddle album, C'Mon Get Happy. I wore out that album, had to buy a new one and of course the cd.
"From This Moment On" is one of the best here; Sinatra just sails as the song builds, reminding me not of a singer but a part of the band itself...perhaps a swinging trombone!
Another favorite song: "I Wish I Were In Love Again". Witty lyrics and Frank and Nelson build and build until Frank's almost shouting, "I don't like quiet"....
The brief liner notes are right on target about familiar songs and a familiar voice, yet it all sounds so different...especially Frank's version here of "Night and Day".

I don't think there's been a better album made, by Sinatra or anyone else. "A Swingin' Affair" is absolute perfection.

Many tracks from this album were on an Audio cassette tape that a friend's father gave me in 1983/84 when I started listening to FS... they played a good part in getting me further hooked on Frank's music, all went "into my ear to stay" so to speak.

Outstanding album, yes. I adore it.

Bernhard.

[Watertown]

A Swingin' Affair is a masterpiece. I love "I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good." I love at the end when he belts out, "I'm glad I'm mad about her, I can't live with out her."

Also love "From This Moment On." This is one of those songs that starts out very soft and the momentum just increases and increases. I would love to hear this song live.


Thanks,
Steve

[Marty]

Another oft overlooked masterpiece, fantastic, clever (and sometimes tongue in cheek arrangements...e.g."I Got Plenty O Nuttin") arrangements, Frank's phrasing as spot on as he ever was "I Wont Dance", the ultimate version of "Night & Day" This album is every bit the equal to "Swingin' Lovers" Played it on my personal CD all day with the replay button on....ring a ding ding....addictive stuff


"The Faint Aroma Of Performing Seals"

Marty

I agree with all the previous posts describing this album. Truly is a masterpiece. Such a vivacious album. Frank just sounds in great spirits, great voice, great arrangement by Riddle. It could never be improved upon. Another legendary album by a legendary singer.

It's also interesting that the "A Swingin' Affair" LP originally only had 15 songs with "Tramp" left off and used on the Pal Joey LP (again, not the soundtrack version). The Pal Joey has what you'd call the first version with the Rodgers & Hart and Capitol Years with the intercut version. No big mystery in any event I'd say.

[Ronald Sarbo]

Pete: Which ending was Sinatra's preferred ending?

[russkish3]

This album to me is even better than "Songs for Swingin' Lovers" because of its inifinite variety of material. This one album contains as much truly essential Frank Sinatra as any one album does. Start with what I think is his best treatment of "Night and Day." This album would be remembered as a masterpiece if this were the only track that comes to mind. But bear in mind this is only the beginning of the entire set. It only gets better, if that's possible.

I am especially fond of tracks seven through ten. "No One Ever Tells You" is one of those Sinatra numbers that seems borne out of genuine life experience. I cannot recall anyone ever trying this song on another album, and that's probably because most sensible vocalists realized there was nothing they could do to improve upon it. Follow this with the buoancy of "I Won't Dance," which in turn is followed by "The Lonesome Road." Culminate with track # 10, "At Long Last Love," in another definitive conception. And even then, there are several more tracks to be savored. The depth of ths recording is profound.

Nothing more need be said. This is another desert island disc if there ever was one.

Best regards,

Russell Kishi
Glendale, California

[russkish3]

Hearing this album all the way through after too long a time away from it is a revelation. "I Wish I Were in Love Again" is another track that demonstrates the deep reservoir of emotional depth Frank Sinatra can bring to a set of truly sophisticated lyrics. No need to quote the lines. It's almost operatic the way The Great Man handles every xurve thrown at him in this deceptively difficult number. The control he exhibits is breathtaking. This track alone demonstrates the superiority of Frank''s vocal instrument in the peak years of the 50s.

Best regards,

Russell Kishi
Glendale, California

[russkish3]

The brass choir on "From This Moment On" is as superb as I have heard on any Frank Sinatra recording. Does anybody know if Milt Bernhart took part in this recording? I am especially impressed with the counterpoint of the brass work against the vocal. Great interplay between Frank and the orchestra.

The string work is notable on "If I Had You." This is the greatest advantage, in my opinion, that Nelson Riddle had over Billy May. He had the ability to weave string sections into the mix far more consistently than Billy, whose real specialty was in writing brass parts.

And "Look at Me Now" is gracefully updated by Mr. Sinatra in this recording. He seems to be summing up the resurrection of his vocal powers with this reading. "I'm a new man... with a new heart and a brand new start...." is clearly demonstrated with every line sung. What a finale.

Best regards,

Russell Kishi
Glendale, California

******Does anybody know if Milt Bernhart took part in this recording? ****

No Russ, Milt Bernhart wasn't part of the "Swinging Affair" sessions, while they gathered many of Sinatra's favourite sidemen here. After the Swinging-Lovers-session in January 1956, a few film tracks aside, Bernhart didn't work on Sinatra studio sessions again until September 1957.

On "From This Moment On", trumpets are by Pete Candoli, Harry Sweets Edison, Shorty Sherock and Ray Linn, trombones by Dick Nash, Tommy Pederson, Juan Tizol and George Roberts, and saxes by Skeets Herfurt, Harry Klee, Ted Nash, James Williamson and Joe Koch.

Thw whole album is simply stellar. One of the finest albums ever in musical history, I should say. First rate song material, first rate arrangements, first rate musicians, and first rate Voice. One could write a book about almost every line Sinatra phrases here. My personal favourite is "stars fractured Bama" in "Stars Fell On Alabama".

A Swingin' Affair indeed, and an affair that lasts for a lifetime. If these sounds don't make you an addict, I don't know.

Bernhard.

[Marty]

Well, there are really some inconsiderate people in this world of ours are there not? The neighbour from hell has been using some kind of power tool since 7.20am this morning, i'm not quite sure what he's up to, it sounds like he's dissecting a ice bound wooly mammoth, by the grinding, so how do I fight this intolerable din, easy, I find Some of Nelson's best brass arrangements and some of Franks swingin'est vocals and blast the mastadon medical examiner with "I Got Plenty Of Nuttin" ahhh now thats better, now I think i'll do a little of the Mel Gibson "I Wont Dance" routine from "What Women Want" ...Adam lend us your hat.

[Bob W]

My first album (I was 16 at the time) was "Swingin' Lovers" and I was mesmerized by the Riddle-Sinatra combination...However, when "Swingin' Affair" came out I went ballistic...To this day, I think that was the supreme Sinatra/Riddle album...The scintillating arrangements and Frank's vocal magic is a treasure to behold. I play "Affair" alot more than "Lovers" but I don't mean to demean the wonderful album that brought us "Skin"..."Too Marvelous"..."How About You" etc, etc. There is not a track on "Affair" that is not dynamic in my mind. I love every single song and Sinatra is above the stratosphere with his interpretation and buoyancy involved with this great music. Again, I say to myself..."Thanks, Frank...you make life worth living for me."

Swingin Affair

I have it it's just great

<<Again, I say to myself..."Thanks, Frank...you make life worth living for me.">>>>>>>>>>>>

Right on Bob