FRANK SINATRA — Some Nice Things I've Missed (review)

FRANK SINATRA — Some Nice Things I've Missed album cover

Album · 1974 · Vocal Jazz

4/5 · 2011-06-13
Matt

A real mix from Frank Sinatra on this one which was released in 1974 and was actually recorded over a few sessions from December 1973 to May 74. Primarily current contempary songs from the time with "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", "If'", "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" and "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree" only a year or two from their actual original release date. Don Costa gets to to do the majority of the arrangements with Gordon Jenkins doing the others."Some Nice Things I've Missed" is the album title and there are a few of Ole Blue Eyes fans out there who will argue that they are all not that nice but Frank Sinatra always kept a contempary edge with his song selections and remember "My Way" written by Paul Anka but not all were hits unfortunately and on the odd occasion when you hear this album you will understand why. Even though things are a little shakey at times with the selection of songs, Frank was "The Chairman of The Board" and if one does not take things too seriously and listen to the album for what it is which is just a mix of tunes with a familarity to practically anyone who was listening to current Pop music from this era in time with a mix of Soul, Pop, Country, and ballads contained within the album and all given the Frank Sinatra treatment. Frank had not longed finished 15 dates on tour when he commenced to record these songs and one often hears at points within the album that he was having a great time with the majority of tunes whilst recording which makes it easier for your sing-a-long.

First up is "You Turned My World Around" is given the torch song treatment with the usual panache by Frank on this piano dominated song and when the chorus comes in the build up is just sung surperbly with the stings bringing it all up. The following is "Sweet Caroline" by one of the greatest Pop Music composers from that era, Neil Diamond and Frank does a great little little interpretation on this up-beat number with great kick when he is singing the words sweet Caroline. "The Summer Knows" is one of the Gordon Jenkin's ballads and actually Frank did 18 takes which was not common practise for him in the studio at all till he was happy with the result but although it is classic Sinatra it does still not quite get there and actually seems a bit of an oddity within the albums structure as the other ballad "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life" is, yet on the seventh track the Bread or David Gates ballad "If" is covered by Frank with beautiful results and actually only two takes were required with that freshness staying all there and is an improvement on the original that Bread released in 1971.They were all arranged by Gordon Jenkins but excepting "If", I find out of place. "I'm Gonna Make It All The Way" is remiscent of John Hatford's' "Gentle On My Mind" with that quick skip accoustic strum driving it all along and Frank Sinatra was exquisite with his Country interpretations with this song being no exception. Now the next song everybody will say "oh no" but even if you do have a low opinion of the song you have to admit that the reason is because it sticks like glue in ones mind and I bet you all know the words to sing along with Frank's great little up-tempo version of "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree". Frank gets down and dirty for "Satisfy Me One More Time" giving all that great sauce with a great swinging version as well of Stevie Wonders, "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" included but the real surprise is the closing song to the album the Jim Croce tune, "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" with absolutely wicked swing injected from Frank and the band with the female backing vocalists assisting and it works beautifully.

Most people say that the Gordon Jenkins songs are the better but for me it is the Don Costa ones as they were different for Frank and he sounds like he really enjoyed doing them warts and all with great results obtained and yet still with the Sinatra stamp. This is not an album where you think you need to look for depth in although it is there in the odd spot but just throw it on and sing along with these familar songs from Frank and perhaps like me a 2nd listen of the album will follow.