Search - Frank Sinatra :: Classic Duets

Duets III is a Disappointment

James Koenig | Minnesota | 05/10/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Although I loved "Duets" and "Duets II", "Duets III" simply does not make the grade. With 21 tracks, perhaps the producer thought that he'd make up for in quantity what the album lacks in quality. Quality is what is lacking in this album. The tracks are of poor acoustical quality compared to Duets 1 and 2. It sounds as though most of the tracks were lifted from TV and radio recordings - the sound quality truly suffers in the process. Oh, there are some brief rays of sunshine, but overall, the album only appeals to those who have to have every song Sinatra ever recorded. I do not recommend this album. If you can get it used or at a discounted price it might be worth it, but even then, it is an album that disappoints. Jim Konedog Koenig"

Broad Variety for the Chairman

J. J. Kwashnak | Monroe, LA | 01/27/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For many, Frank Sinatra is THE consummate crooner. And some of his work really shines anew when it's done in concert with another performer. Hence the success and quality of Duets and Duets II. So it's not unusual for another trip back to the vault to produce the Classic Duets. What results is a hodge-podge of duets which are more notable for their variety than their quality. As noted, many of these come from old videotape and such, so the sound quality is not the best on all the songs. and some of the medleys get tiresome, just bouncing from one song to another with neither performer bringing much to the collaboration. But it does also sport some one time collaborations with other premier artists of the era, including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Prima & Keely Smith, Bing Crosby and fellow rat-packers Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. Acting as an interesting counterpoint are duets with his daughter Nancy, including a touching father-daughter duet of "You Make Me Feel So Old (Young)" that help to spotlight the paternal side of Frank. Collections such as this always seem to sport a surprise track that is just off the wall - on this one it's a duet with Frank and Elvis which, while not deep or groundbreaking, is surprisingly fun with each artist crooning the other's song. This disc is not THE collection to get for Sinatra's work with other artists. It is a perfect disc for the fan who is looking for examples of his broad-based collaboration, and proof that the other Duets albums were not opportunistic collaborations, rather they were an outgrowth of what Frank had been doing all along."