Spring's about to get a lot more swingin', thanks to an upcoming release from the one and only Chairman of the Board. On May 4, Capitol Records and UMe will drop Frank Sinatra: Standing Room Only, a new 3-CD collection of rare or previously unreleased live concerts from three decades of the great man's storied career.
This set begins with the January 28. 1966 second show with The Count Basie Orchestra and conductor Quincy Jones at The Sands in Las Vegas. This concert is making its CD debut, though it was previously issued on USB (!) in conjunction with Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select whiskey. Expect more of the same ring-a-ding-ding Sinatra brought to his very first live album, Sinatra at the Sands, which was culled from the same run of performances at the late, legendary Vegas venue.
The second disc takes us forward to October 7, 1974 at another now-disappeared venue: Philadelphia's Spectrum. Sinatra's show in the City of Brotherly Love featured some songs of more recent vintage (Paul Anka's made-to-order "Let Me Try Again," Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns," David Gates' "If," Stevie Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life") alongside perennials like "Ol' Man River," "The Lady is a Tramp," and "I Get a Kick Out of You." This concert has never been released before in any format.
Finally, Standing Room Only concludes with a show being presented for the very first time in its entirety: the concert of October 24, 1987 at Dallas' Reunion Arena (demolished 2009). Sinatra performed a vivid set there including "When Joanna Loved Me" (more closely associated with his close friend Tony Bennett), "You Will Be My Music," "Lonely Town," and of course, "My Way" and "(Theme From) New York, New York."
All three concerts have been newly mixed by Larry Walsh at NBC Universal Audio and remastered by Seth Foster at Universal Mastering Studios. Those who pre-order the digital edition will have access beginning today to the Sands concert. Standing Room Only is packaged as a DVD case-sized book-style set.
Standing Room Only follows another Sinatra Capitol release scheduled for April 6. Baby Blue Eyes...May the First Voice You Hear Be Mine is a 20-track collection curated by Sinatra's daughter Tina from his recordings on Capitol, Reprise, and Columbia. The set is designed as a child's introduction to Sinatra's world, with songs emphasizing Sinatra's role as father to his beloved children. Tracks include "High Hopes," "Pocketful of Miracles," "Bein' Green," "Yes Sir, That's My Baby," "Isn't She Lovely," and more. It's due on CD, 2-LP vinyl, and all digital platforms.
You can peruse the track listings, and pre-order both titles at the links below! The Amazon U.S. link for Standing Room Only isn't yet available; watch this space!
Frank Sinatra, Standing Room Only (Capitol/UMe, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
CD 1: The Sands, Las Vegas - January 28, 1966 (Second show)
- 'Come Fly With Me'
- 'I've Got A Crush On You'
- 'I've Got You Under My Skin'
- 'The September Of My Years'
- 'Street Of Dreams'
- 'Angel Eyes'
- 'Fly Me To The Moon'
- 'The Tea Break' (Monologue)
- 'You Make Me Feel So Young'
- 'The Shadow Of Your Smile'
- 'Luck Be A Lady'
- 'It Was A Very Very Good Year'
- 'Where Or When'
- 'My Kind Of Town'
- 'A Few Last Words' (Monologue)
- 'My Kind Of Town' (Reprise)
CD 2: The Spectrum, Philadelphia - October 7, 1974:
- 'Overture'
- 'The Lady Is A Tramp'
- 'I Get A Kick Out Of You'
- 'Let Me Try Again'
- 'My Kind Of Town'
- 'Welcome'
- 'Ol' Man River'
- 'Monologue'
- 'I Get Along Without You Very Well'
- 'I've Got You Under My Skin'
- 'The Tea Break' (Monologue)
- 'Send In The Clowns'
- 'If'
- 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life'
- 'What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?'
- 'My Way''
- 'Bows: My Way'
CD 3: Reunion Arena, Dallas - October 24, 1987
- 'Overture / Introduction'
- 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life'
- 'What Now My Love'
- 'My Heart Stood Still'
- 'Moonlight In Vermont'
- 'Summer Wind'
- 'You Will Be My Music'
- 'More Than You Know'
- 'Mack The Knife'
- 'Monologue'
- 'What's New?'
- 'Bewitched'
- 'Angel Eyes'
- 'If'
- 'When Joanna Loved Me'
- 'For Once In My Life'
- 'Lonely Town'
- 'Theme From New York New York'
- 'Bows: (Theme From) New York New York'
- 'Where Or When'
- 'My Way'
- 'Maybe This Time'
- 'The Lady Is A Tramp'
- 'Bows: You Are The Sunshine Of My Life'
Frank Sinatra, Baby Blue Eyes...May the First Voice You Hear Be Mine (Capitol/UMe, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
- Yes Sir, That's My Baby
- Ain't She Sweet
- It's A Wonderful World
- Isn't She Lovely
- I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
- Pocketful Of Miracles
- I Believe
- It's Only A Paper Moon
- High Hopes
- Jeepers Creepers
- Pennies From Heaven
- How Cute Can You Be?
- A Baby Just Like You
- Bein' Green
- Hush-A-Bye-Island
- Fairy Tale
- Young At Heart
- Dream
- Put Your Dreams Away
- Cradle Song (Brahms Lullaby)
Paul M. Mock says
For the 1st time I can honestly say that I have NO complaints about a new Sinatra box set. Each one is just "rare" enough in it's own right. Plus the fact that I attended the 10/7/74 Spectrum concert is a HUGE bonus for me. Cannot WAIT for this set to be released!!!!!
Lamar says
No "Ol' MacDonald" on Baby Blue Eyes? My grandkids love it and sing along to the CD. Seriously.
Paul M. Mock says
Mr. S's "Ol' MacDonald" ain't for no kids to sing!!!!! It BARELY made it thru the censors in 1960.
Gerry Hassan says
The Sinatra estate's programme of unimaginative releases goes on as they mine the concert series to exhaustion. We have had Vegas, New York, London & Around the World & now we have this.
The Sinatra family have 100% failed in their reissue programme to give Frank the standard of releases that he deserves: archival & box sets of the standard of Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Presley, the Beatles and Duke Ellington. The box set reissues of Miles, Dylan & Presley have added to their legend & musical reputation whereas Frank is being by these releases.
Will we ever see the reissuing of his classic Capitol & Reprise albums - remastered with alternative takes and unreleased tracks. And because Frank recorded numerous takes and the intimate nature of his recording and vocals we know - and have heard via various bootlegs - that each take sounds significantly different.
So come on Sinatra estate wake up and realise the gems you have in your vaults & get serious abt reissues.