THIS WAS A BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR MY 91 YEAR OLD DAD.
WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY?

Look at that mug! Is that the face that launched a thousand hot rods and toppled the towers of Vegas?

Don't mind me, folks. I'm the guy who gave negative reviews to the Da Vinci Code, Glen Gould, 300, and the King James Bible. I'm either a kneejerk liberal or a rabid right-winger, depending on which you execrate most. But the proof of what a whacko I must be is that I can't stand Frank Sinatra. I have been known to drop milk bottles and rush out of supermarkets when the oily sound of his voice comes over the speakers. I once grabbed a casette of Sinatra out of the hands of the captain of a Portuguese freighter sailing from Newark to Lisbon, and tossed the accursed thing into the Atlantic. The captain literally had the power to make me walk the plank, but he'd played Frankie three times in a row! There are limits!

Sinatra could sing in tune most of the time, which put him a step closer to music than Tony Bennett, but whoever got the notion of calling him a jazz singer? Where's the jazz phrasing? Where are the blues, the soul, the deep dregs of life? You wanna hear jazz singing, listen to Chet Baker or Billie Holliday, or even Mel Torme! Sinatra was a pop singer, and no number of Playboy subscribers could vote him into jazz.

So if he wasn't a singer, what was he? An image. A vicarious trip into arrogant nastiness. The bad boy someone's mama was afraid she'd be attracted to. Lord, if You promise me that there'll be no Sinatra on the sound systems of Heaven, I'll reform my agnostic ways and rejoin my church choir.

Now let's see how many "unhelpful" votes one review can get in a day.

I love this cd but my husband would rather it had a few more hit songs.

Growing up as a young boy in my parents house I was bombarded with a variety of music in my youth. My mother would be ripped after drinking Hamm's beer with my uncle Terry all day (My dad made good money. I mean she couldn't buy better beer?).... My elementary school teachers are still probably wondering why I was so dang tired all the time. You try sleeping through Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger blasting unto the wee hours of the morning at seven years old and I bet you would try to catch some shut eye too. Needless to say Frank Sinatra was one (one of many) artists my mom would play.

I picked up this CD as a casual listener of Sinatra, and as an attempt to bring back some old memories (one of which is sleep deprivation, I am going to be a dad for the first time so it's appropriate practice right?). I love every song on this CD. I don't think you can get a better Sinatra compilation without making it a two to three CD set. Almost all the songs I really wanted are on this. Having said that Frank has SO MANY great songs he's performed, and there is absolutely NO WAY you could limit even a portion of his career to twenty songs. That's why I can only give this CD 4 stars in good faith. It's a great compilation, but it is still a compilation. As I've said this is an artist that's performed so many great songs; not even the best compilation could span a portion of his career and give it justice. Even so, I loved hearing: Young at Heart, My Funny Valentine, and Come Fly With Me.... Not a bad grouping of songs on this one.... Plus a few old memories just for the sake of it...

Bottom Line: a solid effort to put together a compilation from an artist that can't be done proper justice from a 20 song compilation. Solid 4 stars...

oh this is good!what it must have been like to have been able to see him live during this time.thank god that we have the magic of recording . this guy is timeless.the songs are the kind that take you in and give you a nice ride.i play this disc often and am never disappointed ,it always lightens my mood and i am always pleased that i chose to play it.if you don't have any frank sinatra music,i recommend that you get this one.i'm sure that there are many others,but for now this one is the one.

I bought this CD for a specific song which is also in the movie what women want. The song is known as "Ive got u under my skin" The sound quality is good. The cd is a collectible. I enjoyed it

This is my first Sinatra CD. I always associated his music with my mother's era but I wanted easy listening music so I chose Mr. Sinatra. What a fabulous voice. Smooth as silk, sexy, rich and expressive. Beautifully done.

I love this CD. This is "Old Blue Eyes" at his best. The music is very relaxing and easy to listen to. Sinatra is an original icon.

During the years 1953 - 1960 Nelson Riddle arranged and conducted the most memorable songs Frank Sinatra sang. This CD has the best: Night and Day, I've Got You Under My Skin and I Get a Kick Out of You. Great, great songs sung by the one and only Sinatra.

I normally write longer reviews, but in this instance, this will be sufficient. In a word, this collection by Frank Sinatra is HOT!
I recently discoverd Frankie Sinatra after growing up on The Beatles, Chicago, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Movie scores. I have a keen ear for musical detail and admittedly, this collection is nicely-processed in digital. I am normally an ANALOG aficianado only ; HOWEVER, this is VERY well done and I can see now that Digital is GREAT for cleaning up older recordings. Now unless a new company would come out with original 1/2-Speed Direct Original Masters, then THIS is about as FINE as it gets. SO---I give this recording a 5-star rating for 2 reasons:

a) good "clean-up/clarifying" work in the digital mode

b) fine analog-recorded Arrangements by Nelson Riddle and also by Billy May. Riddle and May were 2 of Sinatra's finest Score Arrangers.
This is HOT stuff!!

I was having a hard time staying up with my daughter when she woke up at 3am. We were using Baby Einstein and classical and I couldn't stay awake. I needed something to sing along to. This was PERFECT. It was mellow enough to use while she was going to sleep, but I could sing along too. With the second baby on the way, we're looking for something different, but along the same lines.

This CD has many classic Sinatra songs just as reflected by its name. Great CD for easy listening.

Should have been remastered but at that price I enjoyed crooning to my favorite lyrics.

My dad bought me this CD as a gift years ago. I didn't care for Frank at the time, but as I listened to this CD, I grew to love the music of Frank Sinatra. The time period this CD covers is during his years at Capitol Records, which is still my favorite label that he worked under. This CD is great - a lot of Sinatra classics when the man's voice was at his best. Fresh, chipper, and sharp. This is an excellent CD for someone who is new to Frank. I own the 4-CD disc set from his Capitol years as well, but this is a great little disc all on it's own.

...and now I have got more than 20 albums by The Voice in my collection. I was into Rock and Jazz and never paid much attention to Sinatra, although I knew he was considered the best singer of the 20th century. When I heard this album I was absolutely shocked!!!. It is perfect!!! The voice, the songs, the arrangements, the sound... This album changed my life forever. After years ignoring Sinatra, I am such a big fan that my mother calls Him "your friend". Now I can only think about saving some money to buy more and more Sinatra albums!!!. Probably, if I had to select only 2 albums from my huge collection (more or less 1500 CDs and 500 vinyl LPs) this album would be the first, and the second would be some Bill Evans (the piano player, not the sax player).

I discovered Sinatra when a friend of mine, who is absolutely into Jazz, told me that Sinatra is his favourite singer of all times. And I thoug: "If me and Teo have more or less the same tastes in Jazz, I should try Sinatra". And this album was the perfect introduction to him.

So no doubts, if you are new to Sinatra, buy this album and you will so shocked that, like me, you won't stop buying more CDs by Him.

And I have to point something finally: I have read many of the reviews in amazon, recomending other albums or periods of 'ol blue eyes, but almost no one says nothing about his columbia years. I own the 4-CD box set "The best of the Columbia years (1943-1952)" and I think it is absolutely amazing. It contents mainly ballads, but Sinatra is in perfect voice, the arrangements by Axel Stordahl are fantastic, and the sound quality is quite good. Now I am listening to "The house I live in" and singing ...that's America to meeeee.

so BUY THIS ALBUM and you will changed forever!!!

I would certainly agree with the reviewers who have said this is a great start for those who don't own any Sinatra albums. I have recommended and/or purchased this particular CD for a number of friends and family members who were previously unaware of the genius of the Chairman of the Board.

This particular CD is a nice sampler of his work during the Capitol years (1953-1960). In my opinion, his voice during this period was at its peak. This should in no way be interpreted to mean that his work for Columbia and/or Reprise was subpar and I would certainly recommend anyone interested in Sinatra to listen to the music from those years as well. That being said, these recordings, mainly arranged and conducted by the great Nelson Riddle, are beyond reproach. Whether it's a bar room ballad or a swinging song, Nelson and Sinatra are perfectly in sync.

If you do purchase this disc please be forwarned, you'll soon find yourself purchasing many more.

" Old Blue Eyes " is back and better sounding than ever in this 2000 digitally remastered cd of some of Frank Sinatra's most revered and cherished songs. I hope I'm not sounding too much like a commercial , yet it's true. I could pimp this cd forvever. I can be in any kind of mood and atleast two songs off of this packed cd , will suit me perfectly. From " Wee Small Hours " to "Witchcraft" , you'll be tapping your toes , mixing the martini's, calling up the lugs, and kissing the broads. This disc is a sure gas , baby. Hey wait.....I'm starting to sound like him !
Just kidding. But seriously , you definately won't be dissappointed to add this timeless cd to you're collection. Very highly recommended and well worth the $$$.

Old Blue Eyes knew instinctively how to sell a song and create images and pictures to say what his words implied! Whenever Sir Robed his picture of instinctive phrasing he referred to how old "Blue Eyes," really Loved to sing four bars without a breath! Not may Jazz Greats even Sathmo or Perry or Tony Bennett Could top Old Franka in his depth of Breathing + length of Phrasing. A lover of Jazz, Classical, Choral, German Leider, the Big Bands of the 1940's...Fondly and joyfully...Retired Chaplain, Fred W Hood, "Barbara377"

Bruce Springsteen once said that Frank Sinatra had "a voice filled with bad attitude, life, beauty, excitement, a nasty sense of freedom, (love making) and a sad knowledge of the ways of the world." I doubt few people could describe Frank's voice better. His voice was rich, capable of expressing the finest of nuances in meaning, vibrant and thrilling all at the same time. Despite the passage of time, Sinatra will always maintain his rightful place amongst the greats in music history.

This CD is a superb introduction to Frank's work at Capitol Records during the 1950s. It has twenty songs recorded between 1953 and 1960 which vary in style and theme; and all are beautifully presented here. There are happy songs, such as "I Get A Kick Out Of You;" and there are sad songs about the pain in life including "In The Wee Small Hours." Favorite songs of mine are "One For My Baby (And One More For The Road);" "Witchcraft;" and "Nice 'N' Easy." The remastering work by Bob Norberg is excellent. The musical arrangements of the songs are outstanding and Frank sings songs written by all the greats including the Gershwin brothers, Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen and Rodgers and Hart. Frank's voice oozes male sensuality consistently and makes you eager for still more after the twenty songs presented here.

The CD comes with awesome black and white photos of Frank in the recording studio as well as an excerpt from a book by Pete Hamill entitled Why Sinatra Matters. There is a lovely tribute to Frank by Bruce Springsteen quoted here as well. The songs credits are nicely presented and if you liked what you heard here there are many other Frank CDs suggested in the liner notes so you can expand your music library with more Sinatra CDs! SMILE

Yes, the reviewer who writes that there were other, more pleasing to the ear versions of "The Lady Is A Tramp" is correct. However, here all the songs are still "keepers!"

This CD is a great addition to your music library if you are a casual fan of Frank Sinatra. For the person who is a diehard fan of classic pop vocals or Sinatra this CD is an absolute must-have. Sinatra was--and is--a gift to us all; and I for one am grateful to him for sharing his talent with the world. The art of his voice on just this CD alone easily proves that Frank will never be forgotten.

This is my first Frank Sinatra CD, and I would highly recommend it as a first Sinatra CD for anybody who wants to start a Sinatra collection or just want one CD that has it all. It's packed with 20 of his "best" songs from his 1950's/Capital Records period (though it's missing one of my favorites, "South of the Border"). I love every single song on here and never tire of listening to them--or singing along! Most of the songs are recognizable standards that will be immediately familiar to most. Songs like "I've Got the World on a String" and "Witchcraft" never grow old. It's a testiment to Sintara's timelessness that 20-somethings like myself are so into his music. In fact, I received the CD as a Christmas gift from my grandparents, who were 20-somethings themselves when this music was originally recorded. They probably got a kick out of giving me music they listened to when they were my age. And I think Sinatra is timeless enough that I will be passing down his music to MY grandchildren someday.

Remastering the music of great artists adds depth to their songs you love. Vocals, instrumentals and sounds never before heard in the recordings are brought to life. Frank Sinatra is no exception. The remastered version of Classic Sinatra will make you appreciate and enjoy his music even more. Lovers, lower the lights, light the firelplace, break out the Chianti and load the CD changer with Sinatra, make sure you include this version of Classic Sinatra then let the love flow ... the world can use lots more babies conceived to the romantic, eternally magnificent tunes of Frank Sinatra.

This album is the definitive collection of classic sinatra! He could do it all. (Even though he was doing it before I was even born). With this album you can't go wrong!

Michael Buble's great but he has some ways to catch the guru of the genre. If you want to hear where Buble's main inspiration comes from, here is the place. Although the Frank Sinatra catalog is huge, you can't go wrong with the track selections that are here, all 20, that fit into one disc. They are all standards of which many have been covered by Buble. What Buble has got going for him over Frank is the great sound engineering that's now available that wasn't during the '50s. Just imagine what Frank would sound like if he recorded with the same equipment back then that Buble has got at his disposal (David Foster and Humberto Gattica, 2 of the greatest producers/mixers/engineers ever)and it just boggles the mind just how good he'd sound on cd. Over here, an admirable job has been done of remastering to the extent that's possible with the clearly old master tapes. This is probably the best sounding Sinatra one-disc compilation that there is. Highly recommended.

"Got the world on a string.....sitting on a rainbow.....la la la". Frank glows on these treasures, and so does Nelson's arrangements, which accent perfectly and keep everything swinging happily. These songs will keep you hip and chipper.
Frank at his frankiest!

...to somebody what Frank Sinatra is all about, I'd simply play this CD over and over. It captures the essence of the 1950's Sinatra, and ALL 20 songs are classics. The swingin', the swagger, the attitude, the elegance, the style and the simplicity. All those beautiful things that Frank represents are present in this compilation. Go ahead, buy it.

Highly recommended!

I'm not a Sinatra expert, so this is going to be short and sweet. On this album, you'll find the cleanest sound quality and what is probably the best collection of Frank Sinatra's classic songs. They're great for anyone remeniscent of the old crooner days. And perhaps, best of all, it's an indispensable piece of Americana.

If you're fairly new to Sinatra's music, start here. You won't regret it.

I'D LIKE TO THIS SERIES CONTINUE W/ THE 60s, 70s, AND BEYOND. I'M NOT AN AFFICIONADO OF SINATRA, BUT I GREW UP W/ HIM IN MY HOUSE AND I LOVE THE WORKS. I SAW HIM IN VEGAS SO MANY TIMES ALONG W/ DEAN MARTIN, TONY BENNET, TOM JONES. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THESE GUYS ANYMORE.

Frank Sinatra has hundreds of albums and it is hard to find really good compilations, but this album is it. During the Capitol years, everything came together: the technology to make great-sounding records, Nelson Riddle's rich arrangements, and a mature and still very strong Sinatra fighting his way back to the top. This was the pinnacle of music before rock music showed up and changed everything.

This compilation takes the best of the string of great albums from Capitol. So how can it go wrong? "I've Got You Under My Skin", "Oh! Look at Me Now", "I've Got the World on a String", "Night and Day", and "The Lady Is a Tramp" are standouts. They're so good that most of them show up on other compilations including Sinatra Reprise where different versions pale in comparison, even though you need that to get some of the more recent and popular stuff that doesn't appear here.

I'm not as crazy about the slower songs. Sorry but "My Funny Valentine" does nothing for me. Ditto "Put Your Dreams Away" and "Someone To Watch Over Me". They're just not my thing. But the rest of the album has such strong content and so many songs that it is hard to complain just because I don't like a couple of the selections.

Can't go wrong with this purchase.Sinatra is a teacher of big band. Try John Steven's "Red". You may be pleasantly suprised!

arrived in relatively prompt delivery
they ship from south america like its coming from chicago

Any collection from Frank Sinatra is bound to hold more than its fair share of great recordings but this one is different. Every single one is worth the price of admission! There is no filler material.

The quality of the recordings is superb. The quality of the songs made each one a hit. The quality of the voice made a start. I had to listen to the entire album three times before I realized that there were a few songs I wish had been included.; I usually start griping about halfway through. This one simply is the best.

Everyone knows the voice...these are some of the best songs of Sinatra's career, arranged creatively by Nelson Riddle. Though he might not have been the best singer of the era, no can deny the tone of his voice, or his style. Most of his standards are here, including "I've Got You Under My Skin," "I Get a Kick Out of You," "All the Way," "One for my Baby," and "Young at Heart." Some people prefer the Reprise years, where the style of Sinatra became more prevelant. However, if you're looking for his best recordings, where the singer, songs, and production were top notch, then look no further. Here we see Sinatra the crooner making his own voice.

This CD is aptly titled, with a number of great songs from a time long past. I love the songs, love the voice.

My only complaint is that the quality of the recordings are only average to poor. Some of the songs sounded like they were mastered straight from an old scratchy record. I suppose some of that can't be avoided due to the age of the recordings. You'd think that in this day and age they could enhance the sound a little bit more.

Sinatra fans are sure to recignize every measure of every song in this collection, but it's nice to have all thes recognizable standards in one, swinging collection.

Would also make a great introduction to new or young audiences who might be (hard to believe!) unfamiliar with Frankie's signature style.

If you're looking to buy your first Frank Sinatra record and are feeling overwhelmed by the 511 titles currently offered on Amazon.com (as of 02/24/05), then look no further. CLASSIC SINATRA is a perfect place to start.

More than any other single-disc Sinatra collection, CLASSIC SINATRA captures the true essence of Frank Sinatra. Not a "greatest hits" collection, CLASSIC SINATRA is even better; it's a collection of definitive songs from what's generally considered the greatest period of Sinatra's career--his recordings at Capitol records during the 1950s with conductors Nelson Riddle, Billy May, and Gordon Jenkins.

While many of these these songs weren't Sinatra's biggest selling singles, selections like "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Night and Day," "One For My Baby," and "Put Your Dreams Away" were clearly Sinatra's greatest songs--the songs he's best known for, and songs he continued to perform in concert and re-record for the rest of his career. (In fact, "Put Your Dreams Away" was actually played at Sinatra's funeral by longtime sidemen Bill Miller and Al Viola on piano and guitar. How much more definitive gan you get?)

One word of caution: This collection is so good that you will undoubtedly become hooked on Frank Sinatra and want to buy more immediately. When this happens, go out and buy his classic "concept albums" from the Capitol era, starting with (1) Songs for Swingin' Lovers!, (2) In the Wee Small Hours, (3) A Swingin' Affair!, and (4) Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely. After that, you're on your own.

Finally, if you must, feel free to explore Sinatra's Reprise Recordings from the 1960s, but try to steer clear of anything recorded after about 1965 (with the exception of the Bossa Nova record with Antonio Carlos Jobim). Start with Ring A-Ding Ding!, then check out Sinatra Swings!, The Concert Sinatra (One of my personal favorites), and Sinatra and Strings.