In 1940, Sinatra left The Harry James Band to join the more successful Tommy Dorsey. What initially seemed to be an opportunity for broader exposure (and perhaps larger paychecks) turned into a three year graduate course in many of music's fine-points. Not only did Sinatra refine his trombone-like phrasing and note slides (either as a product of Dorsey's influence, or simply as a fellow traveler), but he also learned the keys that would fuel his later solo career: great songs, top-notch musicians, and arrangements that fit both. Sinatra's later professional style - bullheaded perfectionism, and loyalty to those who served him -- were both an artifact of Dorsey's own temperament.

Listeners weaned on Sinatra's Capitol-era solo records may find these arrangements low-key and the vocals lilting and restrained. His young voice had yet to develop into the rich musical instrument that would make its indelible mark, and he sings atop arrangements that were written more for the band than the singer. As daughter Nancy's liner notes point out, there was little improvising, lest the vocalist bump into the carefully choreographed instrumentation. The result is that, like a lot of big-band music of the swing era, the vocals don't swing nearly as much as the band.

Even without the swing, the pre-bobbysoxer Sinatra possessed a voice and a style that were highly sophisticated, and his animation of a song's lyric, whether written especially for him ("I'll Never Smile Again") or available ("Stardust" "Street of Dreams"), created certified pop standards. Singing with the perfectionist Dorsey taught Sinatra how to fit his voice into the context of a big band, something he'd refine on later solo recordings with arrangers like Axel Stordahl (who, as a trumpeter for Dorsey, provide many of the band's arrangements), Nelson Riddle and Billy May.

These forty-four sides represent the source from which Sinatra's solo success at Columbia, Capitol and Reprise would spring. The band's outstanding musicianship (particularly noting these are all live takes with no overdubbing) is matched by lively charts and exceptional material. The nostalgic tone of these early WWII years is unavoidable, but the heavy shadow of Sinatra's later solo success leaves this material fresh to most listeners' ears. Collectors might want to opt for the 5-CD, 120-track "The Song is You," but for most, this 2-CD helping is an excellent fit. [©2005 hyperbolium dot com]

"As you enjoy these recordings, remember that there were no retakes, no overdubs and no special effects. What you hear is what happened on the spot. As live performances, they offer us combined lessons in music and history. Like the photos that Dad sent back from the road, they're snapshots of a man working hard to fulfill his dream of becoming the greatest singer of all-time." ~ Nancy Sinatra, July 2005 ~

"Why are these recordings essential? First, they possess a charm that's rooted in the old-fashioned sound of their arrangements, the brilliance of their performances and the warm optimism they communicated during the early days of the Second World War. Then, they're crucial to understanding the development of the Big Band idiom, and to tracing the origins of an artist who for fifty years shaped, reshaped and ultimately defined the essence of American popular music. Need there be a better reason to listen?" ~ Charles Granata ~

Indeed, and I totally agree with Nancy Sinatra that her Dad reached the pinnacle of his dream and probably far exceeded his expectations. He was above par and truly one-of-a-kind singer. Every Sinatra fan knows that he left his first mentor, Harry James, to join Tommy Dorsey's band for monetary reasons. And the rest is history. His rise to stardom was unprecedented and his extraordinary artistry is incredible.

Having influenced greatly by my late father's taste in music, I've grown to love the sound of Big Band music and this 2-CD-set is nothing but the best Big Band vocal collection of 44 Sinatra/Dorsey classics of all-time and produced by Charles Granata, author of "Sessions With Sinatra: The Art of Recording." His co-producers on this wonderful compilation are Didier Deutsch and Mark Wilder. Aside from the tastefully-chosen repertoire, this set offers a comprehensive source of information in the early days of Frank Sinatra's musical career on Liner Notes written by Nancy Sinatra and Charles Granata.

This fascinating set consists of forty-four songs with arrangements mostly by Axel Stordahl, some by Sy Oliver and Paul Weston. You'll be delighted with the nostalgic sounds that these songs convey to the listeners from the first track on Disc One "I'll Be Seeing You" to the last track on Disc Two "Light A Candle In The Chapel."

My personal choices on Disc One are "Say It" (Over and over again, ever and ever so sweet, just like an old Valentine), perennial favorites "I'll Be Seeing You," "Polka Dots And Moonbeams," "Fools Rush In," "East of the Sun and West of the Moon," "It's Always You" and the ultimate love song of all-time, "Stardust," which features Jo Stafford as the female vocalist of The Pied Pipers. On Disc Two my top favorites are "I Think of You," a song adapted from the melody of a beautiful classical piece, Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto No. 2," "Blue Skies," "How About You?" and my number one choice from Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II "The Song Is You," with partial lyrics here.

"I alone have heard this lovely strain

I alone have heard this glad refrain

Must it be forever inside of me?

Why can't I let it go?

Why can't I let you know

The song my heart would sing?

That beautiful rhapsody

Of love and youth and spring

The music is sweet

The words are true

The song is you."

This 2-CD-set is one of the best compilations ever produced and included in some of my most-cherished CDs of all-time. Give it a listen and have a sentimental journey to the Big Band Era and experience the young, affectionate, delicate vocals of Frank Sinatra and the great sound of Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra.

With my heartfelt recommendation to any Sinatra buff.

P.S. Thanks so kindly, Mr. Granata, for this wonderful set of compilation CDs. It's much appreciated!

...you've really loved 'em all really well,...er... or something...Forget how that goes...Anyways, masterful, swinging stuff from the salad days of the Chairman, the cat of all cats, back when he was making the bobbysoxers scream...The Frankster was slightly restrained here, given that he was not encouraged to improvise, but it makes no nevermind - the arrangements and vocals are still just impeccable...

This was my parent's music. Being a child of Rock n Roll, may have kept me from really enjoying it at the time but I have returned. Timeless, is an over used word but what else can be applied to this set? The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra is a giant in this era. They had a faultless sound that has stood the test of time and still sounds fresh and new. The addition of Frank Sinatra produced music that is unique and wonderful. This is pure talent showcased in the days before sound equipment could make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. This two CD set contains over forty songs not one which is less than excellent.

If I close my eyes, I swear Dad is humming in the background.

The Dorsey Orchestra and Sinatra at his best...a match made in heaven. It has never been any better than this...and never will be!