Frank Sinatra • Sinatra at the Sands
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab/Reprise Records MFSL 2-232
Two 33-RPM 180 g LPs
Francis Albert Sinatra was born on December 12, 1915 and got his first break in 1935, although his tenure as a singer with Harry James in 1939 and then Tommy Dorsey a year or so later really brought him to the forefront of American music. Surprisingly, it wasn’t until 1946 when his first album The Voice of Sinatra was released on Columbia Records. Even more surprising to me was, he had never released a live record, prior to the 1966 release of Sinatra at the Sands, some 26 years later. I never heard the original Reprise pressing of this album, so I was doubly excited to get a hold of the Mobile Fidelity re-issue.
Pressed on gorgeously quiet 180 grams of virgin vinyl, and half-speed mastered from the original analogue tapes by Rob Loverde, this two LP set is a luxurious representation of the original release. Side one starts off in typical Vegas fashion with the obligatory introduction by the announcer and Count Basie’s quick up-tempo horn section. Frank gets right into the groove with Come Fly With Me and completes the six-song side with the beautifully voiced One For My Baby. Things really shine with side two and the wonderful inclusion of The Tea Break, a rather lengthy monologue that is really endearing to listen to and culminates with his brilliant interpretation of You Make Me Feel So Young. I don’t mind saying that side two is my favourite to listen to and revel in. It’s that good. On side three Count Basie starts off with a jazz instrumental rendition of All of Me and Frank keeps the tempo low as he continues the side with September of My Tears. The other songs from Get Me to the Church On Time, It Was A Very Good Year, and Don’t Worry About Me didn’t really capture my attention or interest, although the finishing Count Basie instrumental of Makin’ Whoopie was a delight for its lingering swinging and somewhat sensual appeal. The last side of this two LP set includes the beautiful Angel Eyes (track 2) and ends with My Kind of Town.
It is clear that Frank Sinatra had a great time performing these songs while at the Sands during the January/February period in 1966 these songs were taken from. I never fully appreciated the talent that singers like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin and others had during my coming of age to the music scene in the sixties, and I will gladly admit that I was grossly mistaken. Singers, true singers, like Frank Sinatra are a rare breed and they should not be forgotten. Maybe you haven’t thought of introducing them into your repertoire just yet, but I encourage you to have a listen to this wonderful interpretation of beautifully written songs by an artist whose voice will never be duplicated. Smooth baby, smooth!