Retro Reviews: Frank Sinatra: Strangers In The Night

 

I decided to launch a new series to imagine myself as a critic at the end of the 60s and start of the 70s, and to rectify certain reviews from Rolling Stone magazine and Creem. This not meant to be contrarian, but to offer a more balanced perspective. All the albums reviewed are indeed classic albums. 

Frank Sinatra: Strangers In The Night (1966)

****

Producer: Jimmy Bowen

Musicians: Frank Sinatra, Arranger: Nelson Riddle, Ernie Freeman, Band: Artie Kane, Bill Miller, Michael Rubini, Chuck Berghofer, Ralph Pina, Al Viola, Al Casey, Bill Pitman, Glen Campbell, Tommy Tedesco, Hal Blane, Irvin Cottier

Songs: Strangers In The Night, Summer Wind, All Or Nothing At All, Call Me, You’re Driving Me Crazy, On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever), My Baby Just Cares For Me, Downtown, Yes Sir That’s My Baby, The Most Beautiful Girl In The World.

Reviewed by Matthew Anthony Allair

Frank Sinatra’s new single, the title song, is doing very well, you can take that for what it is the only track arranged by Ernie Freeman. But it bodes well for an album when it has three potential singles, along with “Summer Wind” and “All Or Nothing At All”. This is a solid album and Sinatra sounds assured here, he is managing to contemporize his sound, while keeping the big band swing elements he is known for. His most notable album with Gorgon Jenkins, September of My Years had another memorable hit with “It Was A Very Good Year” in 65 and hinted at the possibility he could still compete with the likes of The Beatles. In a lot of respects Frank Sinatra and Miles Davis embody cool, and while their styles are very different, they also embody the rock n roll spirit that others have carried forward. Never forget that in the 50s, during the rise of Elvis Presley, Little Richard and Chuck Berry, Sinatra was holding his own with a group of albums from Capitol that defined quality, and he set up the blueprint for the ‘concept album’ before it was an idea.

“Strangers” is a lush sweeping, following ballad and he does it well. The B-3 Organ, probably played by Artie Kane on “Summer Wind” adds to the relaxed swing of the tune, and Sinatra owns the piece. ‘All Or Nothing At All” is a perennial standard, and the swing setting is quite apt, he had recorded it before, and the organ makes another appearance in the horn breakdown, nicely done. “Call Me” is a more contemporary number, but Frank puts a nice swing accent to it. The interplay between the Organ and horn section on “You’re Driving Me Crazy!” is quite fun, and Frank sounds playful.

While a somewhat known musical, Frank’s arrangement of “On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” is quite good, this selection fits Frank well. “My Baby Just Cares For Me” is another Gus Khan standard. Something should be said about the bulk of Nelson Riddle’s arrangements, he has not lost his simpatico with Sinatra as a creative partner. “Downtown” is another more contemporary pop number, originally done by Petula Clark, a very self-conscious attempt at a pop number, and Sinatra’s read is, to say the least, quirky. Frank’s read on “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby” is back to more comfortable territory. The album closer, “The Most Beautiful Girl In The World” is a very brisk arrangement and not something you’d expect for a track that could have been given the lush ballad treatment. The album manages to find a covert way to stay true to Sinatra’s swing inclinations. The title track has already managed to keep Sinatra relevant in the singles market, I will be curious to see where he goes next with these new opportunities on the charts. A Very satisfying edition to the Sinatra cannon.