“The Concert” started as a promising renewal of Frank Sinatra and Nelson Riddle collaboration. The production turned out to be the finest of the era.
Sinatra is at his very best singing performances at the same time he displays jubilant sentiment. Riddle offers one of his finest arrangements most noticeable in the ballad “I Have a Dream” from the Broadway hit “The King and I”.
Reprise Records released the album in 1963 with the title referring to the grand orchestra. Undoubtedly, a Sinatra fan can agree, this was the largest ever collaboration that Sinatra and Riddle brought together, particularly, for this recording.
With that said, the title should not confuse you into thinking that it is a recording of a true live performance, even though the premise was simple. Clearly above all other early albums this Reprise album is purely enjoyable and may be hard to beat as the overall best. I can see Sinatra and Riddle proudly listening to the final rendition; thinking, “We did a dam good job.”
Reportedly, “The Concert Sinatra” is Riddle’s favorite of all Reprise albums. Interestingly too, is that it was initially recorded with 35mm tape.
With the composition of Richard Rogers the album’s cream of Broadway show tunes stand out brilliantly as Sinatra sings light and subtle. In spite of the rather large number of musicians, the orchestration is not domineering or arrogant. It’s more like grand and far-reaching with epic scenery for the best-loved songs such as “Lost in the Stars”, “Soliloquy” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.
All stunning songs demonstrate Sinatra’s extensive emotional reach with melodramas like “Ol’ Man River” to tender, warm and romantic “Bewitched”. Without a doubt this is a very fulfilling album that outshines all other Sinatra albums of this era. Some fans my say that he put his heart and soul into this album, and every bit of it is worth a listen over and over again.
