Of the eight reviews prior to mine, about half think this 1961 release is superb, and the rest agree with me that it does not quite equal his best. I'd say there are at least 10-15 of Frank's original albums which satisfy the fan more, but "I Remember Tommy" would rank somewhere between 15th and 20th on the list. As to why it did not achieve the rapport with fans Sinatra hoped for, my guess is that the record buyers interested in Frank's work on Reprise, his own label, in the first year of John Kennedy's presidency were looking forward, and not in a nostalgic mood. Frank put out this record, with songs 20-30 years old, and arrangements in the style of two decades earlier, at a moment in American life when JFK had us interested in outer space, "The New Frontier". Nothing wrong with his singing, or the band assembled by Sy Oliver...but some of the songs chosen by Frank and Sy were not really top rank. Also, the album as a whole is mid-tempo: the swinging tracks are not particularly bold or forceful, and the ballads are not reflective of real pain. It's all pleasant, and I'm glad I own it, and I will play it every once in a while...but not as often as "Come Swing With Me" or "Sinatra with Swingin' Brass" or "In the Wee Small Hours" or "Only the Lonely." I have not heard the original Sinatra/Dorsey recordings, which are now available on CD, but a couple of prior reviewers think those work better than this tribute to Tommy does. I suspect they are correct, but back in '61, those old 78's were not available in the LP format, and Frank's idea of the Dorsey material resurrection was not a bad one for those fans who recalled the old days.

Yes,this one does seem underrated.Take it from me,if you like bouncy,brassy arrangements of really good tunes,this is tough to top. In fact,I think this far surpasses "Ring A Ding" ,and even the Basie collaborations.Why?? Simple. Here are seven all time great Frank efforts on one disc. All right,the ballads here are border line second rate,but who wants to hear them anyway,when you have such amazing smashers!! "Imagination",once it gets going,is the first to get under your skin.Catch the whimsy in the entire number,not uncommon in Frank,but mostly a vanishing act in pop(rock) music from 1960-2001. And he really belts out "East of the Sun",practically shouting the lyrics on the second finale. "Without a Song" is far superior to the original ballad with Dorsey,but then again,that's true with every song here.Along with "The Song is You" (not included here,but on the the even better "Come Dance With Me"),it's lyrics summarize the vocal career of the world's all time popular singer!!I'll be Seeing You" is simply stupendous,and will knock off more than your socks! I never heard "It's Always You",until I played this CD. Talk about a great marriage between melody and lyrics."If a breeze caresses me,It's really you strolling by.If I hear a melody,it's really the way you sigh." And more. A hidden gem! "Polka Dots" at first hearing may seem a little silly,but sounds better each time (even the corny story). And "The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else" with the brassiest brass ever,plus the bantoring between Frank and Sy Oliver ("boo hoo"). 40 years old and still going strong. Strongly recommended for any college frat men reading this.Yes,I wish I had heard this CD(then 33rpm) back in my college days! Just a whale of a good time!!!

The concept was sincere--a tribute to Dorsey that would reinterpret the originals but be grounded in the orchestrations of the original arranger--Sy Oliver. The result is sort of jazzed up, speeded up versions that don't match the original recordings, as though everyone knows this is a nostalgia album so let's not be overly imitative. Far better if Sinatra and company had simply "re-visioned" the material, starting with fresh arrangements by the best available orchestrators, viz. Riddle, Jenkins, Mandel, May. This album doesn't build to a sense of exhilaration as do Sinatra's best. It's nice but uninvolving. The reprise of the first song at the end reenforces the sense of a somewhat pointless journey.

Some numbers soar, but this album has its lesser tracks as well. Sy Oliver rearranged many of the Sinatra-Dorsey numbers in a tribute to the "Sentimental Gentleman" (?) of swing, their former boss. Some of the retro tracks -- especially "Take Me" don't translate well to Sinatra's swinging, bold vocal poise of the early 1960's, but others -- "I'll Be Seeing You" -- benefit nicely. Did a lot of people listen to "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" in 1961?

"Imagination" loses its subtlety but remains a rapturous song (still, buy the original Dorsey-Sinatra version on RCA if you can find it -- wow!). Oliver and Sinatra have fun with "The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else."

Sinatra's voice is marvelous, although he strains on "Daybreak." Still an entertaining album, even if it is a mixed blessing.

Have attended Sinatra Concerts five times, have been a fan for a lifetime, own extensive collection of his works. While I have more than one favorite, this album is one of which you will find yourself playing over and over again. Arranged and conducted by Sy Oliver it features many of the original Tommy Dorsey numbers re-arranged with an upbeat tempo. Originally produced on record at 33 and 1/3 speed, I wore out two copies. Enjoy!!!!