Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits: The Early Years, Vol. 2

This is the first Frank S vinyl I have bought, and I love it very much. Highly recommended! I've had it for a while so I don't remember how fast shipping was, but it was an easy transaction from what I remember!

The 1966 COLUMBIA LPs of FRANK SINATRA'S GREATEST HITS - The Early Years - Volume Two (CL 2572/CS 9372) and  FRANK SINATRA'S GREATEST HITS - The Early Years  (CL 2474/CS 9274) were reissued in 1971 as  IN THE BEGINNING - FRANK SINATRA - 1943 to 1951  (PG 31358) minus this one's last two tracks.Both were available in mono or fake stereo. Simulated effects added to the latter are fairly standard. Strings and other higher frequencies are slightly right of center. Frank's voice and some bass tones are central. Delayed echo on his voice are at far right while a second more encompassing reverb occupies extreme left soundstage, along with occasional bottom notes.Just a few of the many musicians who participated in these sessions: John Guarnieri (piano); Dave Barbour (guitar)-- he was Peggy Lee's husband; Billy Butterfield (trumpet); Ernie Caceres (sax); Perry Botkin (guitar); Mitch Miller (oboe).RANDOM NOTES"People Will Say We're in Love" was recorded at Frank's first three COLUMBIA sessions, 6/7, 6/22 and 8/5/43. The last take was the one issued. Due to an ongoing AFM strike, Frank is backed here and on "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night" only by the Bobby Tucker Singers. Even so, both of these a cappella singles charted very well. "The Moon Was Yellow" has a relaxed Latin rhythm. "Full Moon and Empty Arms" is the ultimate romantic ballad."Ol' Man River" recreates Sinatra's finale number from  TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY  (1946), the MGM musical bio of composer Jerome Kern. The often quiet crooner proves here he can also really belt it out. His waxing of "I Have But One Heart" is echoed in Al Martino's performance as Johnny Fontane in  THE GODFATHER  (1972). The autobiographical "I'm a Fool to Want You" is from the most tempestuous time in Sinatra's two year courtship of Ava Gardner. They were married the following November.Arranged and conducted by Axel Stordahl, unless otherwise indicated.(includes recording dates and highest Billboard chart positions)SIDE ONE[3:18] Mean to Me - (10/31/47)[3:15] I Have But One Heart (O Marenariello) - (10/30/45, #13)[3:00] The Moon Was Yellow - w/Ken Lane Singers (8/27/45)[3:16] Full Moon and Empty Arms (based on Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto #2) - (11/30/45, #17)[3:10]Time After Time - (10/24/46, #16)[3:00] I'm a Fool to Want You - w/Ray Charles Singers (3/27/51, #14)SIDE TWO[3:10] Day By Day - (8/22/45, #5)[2:55] I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night - w/Bobby Tucker Singers, Alec Wilder cond. (11/3/43, #4)[4:05] Ol' Man River - w/Ken Lane Singers (12/3/44)[3:14] People Will Say We're in Love - w/Bobby Tucker Singers (8/5/43, #3)[3:09] September Song (7/30/46, #8)TOTAL TIME: 35:32