Search - Frank Sinatra :: Songs of Van Heusen & Cahn

"It's Always You . . ."

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* | CA USA | 01/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here's a conversation many years ago between Frank Sinatra and his favorite lyricist Sammy Cahn one night at the Palladium Ballroom during the earliest part of his musical career.



Sinatra: "I'm gonna be the best singer in the world."

Cahn: "There's no doubt about it."



Yes, indeed, both Sinatra and Cahn were right about it. Cahn didn't doubt Sinatra when he said that he's going to be the best singer in the world. Of course, he became the best of the best, unmatched, one-of-a-kind and unsurpassed.



In this remarkable album, Sinatra sings the songs of an exceptional songwriting pair of Sammy Cahn and Jim Van Heusen, who have written some of the most beautiful songs from the Great American Songbook. Sammy Cahn was one of my all-time favorite lyricists. His works are exceptionally charming and he really had a way with words. Five out of twenty-two songs are from the creative pens of Jim Van Heusen and Johnny Burke. All these are the songs made popular by the Chairman of the Board and were recorded between 1960 and 1968 with seven creative and the best arrangers/conductors of all-time: Nelson Riddle, Gordon Jenkins, Johnny Mandel, Sy Oliver, Quincy Jones, Neal Hefti and Torrie Zito. He left his indelible mark of excellence into these songs and made them his very own. One of the most influential and humanitarian people in the world, Bono, once said, "Sinatra's songs are his home, and he lets you in." It's very true, one can just imagine the beauty that he injected into each song even the most ordinary and obscure songs. They become magically wonderful to the ears of the listeners when he interpreted them.



This CD kicks off with a very welcoming and swinging "Ring-A-Ding Ding," which Johnny Mandel orchestrated. His charmingly exuberant arrangement on this Sinatra signature song is a total masterpiece.



Sy Oliver shows off his incredible arranging/conducting skills in "Imagination," "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" and "It's Always You."



"If I hear a melody

It's merely the way you sigh

Wherever you are

You're near me

You dare me to be untrue

Funny each time I fall in love

It's always you."



Gordon Jenkins, Sinatra's most classically romantic arranger, shines with his beautiful arrangements in "Come Waltz With Me," "The September Of My Years," and "Indiscreet."



Three of the most notable Sinatra arrangers Neal Hefti, Quincy Jones and Torrie Zito present their masterpieces from this collection - "The Tender Trap," "Come Fly With Me" and "I'll Only Miss Her When I Think Of Her," respectively.



The rest of the tracks and more than half of this compilation are all arrangements by a superb orchestrator Nelson Riddle, who truly brought out the best in Sinatra. In addition, these songs are some of my very favorites here - "The Last Dance," "Call Me Irresponsible," "Moonlight Becomes You," "Oh, You Crazy Moon," "Swinging On A Star," "Love And Marriage" and "All The Way."



Some of the good reasons why this is a must-have are: twenty-two notable songs from Cahn & Van Heusen/Burke & Van Heusen elegantly arranged and conducted by seven greatest arrangers of all-time, and Sinatra's most sublime interpretations. How can you not include this to your Sinatra collection?



A treasure and a collector's item.

"

RARE GEM

Domenic Vitanza | Cleveland,Ohio | 02/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"WHEN I SAW THIS AT A USED RECORD STORE I PURCHASED IT BEING THE SINATRA NUTCASE I AM. THIS IS MAGNIFICANT, IF YOUHAVE THE OTHER SINATRA RELEASES LIKE SINATRA SINGS COLE PORTER, SINATRA SINGS ROGERS AND HART - YOU NEED THIS ONE AS WELL TO SORTA ROUND OUT THE COLLECTION OF FRANK'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE GREAT MUSIC WRITERS OF THE DAY. THIS IS A GREAT CD. BUY IT IF YOU FIND IT.

ITS A RARE GEM"