FRANK SINATRA — Frank Sinatra Sings Days of Wine and Roses, Moon River and Other Academy Award Winners (review)

FRANK SINATRA — Frank Sinatra Sings Days of Wine and Roses, Moon River and Other Academy Award Winners album cover Album · 1964 · Vocal Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
friso
Frank Sinatra - Days of Wine and Roses, Moonriver and other Academy Award winners (1964)

This album, listed under compilations, is actually a studio album released in 1964 with new recordings of a list of former Academy Awards winning songs (originally performed by other performers). The band, string & copper sections are arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle. His work on most songs is very good, but 'Moon river' (which of course became one of his most famous songs), 'Three coins in a fountain', 'Secret love' and 'Love is many-splendored thing' stand out as more bombastic, inventive, lively and symphonic in nature. Simpler songs like 'Days of wine and roses' and 'The continental' are less impressive, but still strong.

Frank's vocals are strong, but one can't help getting the feeling he is saving some of his brilliance on the simpler songs on the album, whilst the more impressive arrangements allow him to give his full voice. The most enchanting moments are 'Moonriver' in its entirety, the wonderful couplet themes of 'Three coins in a fountain', the subtle warm opening section of 'Secret love' and grandiose vocals on 'Love is a many-splendored thing'.

Overall this album is an easy entry for most people, all songs are accessible. Fans of more artistic forms of jazz-vocal music might want to collect some other Sinatra albums first for this reason.

Conclusion. A good, light and playful (yet sometimes impressive) vocal jazz record with both a copper and a string section. Don't miss on 'Moonriver'! Four stars.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Raw Blues 2 Blues
DOUG MACLEOD
Buy this album from MMA partners
Nebbia. Salvo, Alarcón, Vogel : Pnkstrasse53 Avant-Garde Jazz
CAMILA NEBBIA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Wunderkammer Jazz Related Improv/Composition
JAN BANG
Buy this album from MMA partners
Moving On Eclectic Fusion
ETERNAL TRIANGLE
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Barbara Blue - Sweet, Strong & Tight
BARBARA BLUE
js· 66 minutes ago
1+1=3
FLORIAN WEISS
js· 2 days ago
Bright Diminishing
HENNING SIEVERTS
js· 2 days ago
Tension
MULATU ASTATKE
js· 3 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us