Our friends Abey Fonn (Yarlung’s Special Advisor), Robert Sliger, Charles Granata and James Bantz at Impex Records release vinyl and Super Audio gems on a regular basis. If you are still looking for a fabulous Christmas present or a classic must-have album to usher in the New Year, buy the new Frank Sinatra LP lovingly remastered on 180 Gram vinyl and Super Audio CD. Five years before his legendary In The Wee Small Hours, Frank Sinatra released his last Columbia album in October, 1950: Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra.
This album hits an artistic and musical sweet spot in Sinatra’s famous decades-long career. Personally, I’m an early Frank Sinatra fan, not a late Sinatra fan, and I love Frank’s voice and approach on this album. Sinatra recorded Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra following his first major vocal crisis in April of that year, but he had two secret weapons working to make this album such a success. One such weapon was the new technique of overdubbing, described beautifully in the album liner notes. Frank returned to the studio after additional weeks of rest following the initial studio sessions, enabling a superb vocal and musical performance that artfully played off of the music already recorded by Frank and his band. His second secret vocal weapon was Robert Merrill’s famous New York voice teacher Samuel Margolis, who worked with Frank and Frank’s manager (over the phone, if you can believe it) on a series of vocal exercises that enabled him to recover and sing so beautifully. Incidentally, this student teacher relationship lasted for many years, out of the public eye.
Sinatra’s golden era followed, after his move to Capitol Records. Frank’s lower more sultry voice embodied this later era, but I hear a jaded quality with strong hints of misogyny in this later prime.
On this release, however, Frank is still the fresher more innocent and approachable singer, but he’s old enough to offer his later musicality and timeless dance and swing allure.
Technically, this release is a gem. I have an original pressing from 1950 and Abey and her remastering team deserve kudos. They maintained ideal transient speed. The album has tremendous “jump,” with clean, rich vocals and instrument capture. As at Yarlung Records, Abey sweats blood listening to multiple test pressings and lacquer recuts. Once again, it was worth it. And our friends at Bernie Grundman Mastering, and RTI, where Rick Hashimoto supervised the pressings, did a great job.
Charles Granata wrote detailed and nicely-written notes in a beautiful 12” booklet that Abey designed into the left gatefold of the double jacket. I’m guessing these notes probably come in the Super Audio CD booklet as well. The team included interesting production photographs and details, including the restoration chain from the original tapes and lacquers to this finished product. Thank you Abey, thank you Impex and thank you Frank Sinatra!
If you’re not sold yet, consider the bonus tracks Abey included. People love attending Yarlung recording sessions where we interact on stage with our musicians. With this Impex release you will be in the studio with Frank as he talks with his team, jokes, cajoles and directs.
–Bob Attiyeh
