![]() Three studios were housed within the two-storey Melrose building. What's more, it was also among the first to record to tape, courtesy of Ampex 200 machines running at 30 ips, while the custom Capitol consoles offered basic, broad but very effective EQ - two positions for high frequencies, two for low frequencies - on 10 of their 12 channels. Capitol Studiosįormerly the home of KHJ Radio Studios, this was the first facility that Capitol owned (the company had previously booked session time for its artists at various Hollywood studios). According to Riddle, the arrangement was inspired by Ravel's Boléro, and he finished it in the back of a cab on the way to the studio - the studio located at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles that Capitol had established back in 1949. Riddle's arrangement underpinned Sinatra's deceptively effortless-sounding vocal with a series of orchestral crescendos that culminated in Milt Bernhart's wild slide-trombone solo. Written by Cole Porter in 1936, it was first performed by Sinatra on his own radio show a decade later. Recorded between October 1955 and January 1956, it became the UK's first ever number one album, also climbing to number two in the US after its release in March of that year.Īmong gems including 'You Make Me Feel So Young', 'Too Marvelous For Words', 'How About You?', 'Old Devil Moon', 'Anything Goes', 'Makin' Whoopee', 'Love Is Here To Stay' and 'Pennies From Heaven', the standout track was Sinatra's and Riddle's iconic reworking of 'I've Got You Under My Skin'. Together, Frank Sinatra, Nelson Riddle and the cream of LA's musical talent collaborated to create exuberant, beautifully orchestrated reinterpretations of pop standards. Songs For Swingin' Lovers! in particular is regarded by fans and critics as one of his very best. In his book Sessions With Sinatra, Charles L Granata describes the series of albums issued by Capitol between 19 as "models of perfection” and "the ultimate musical experience”. ![]() Sinatra also signed to Capitol in 1953 and, in conjunction with arranger Nelson Riddle, recorded a string of darkly introspective ballads that gave full vent to his interpretative skills, as well as swinging, upbeat numbers that highlighted his sense of rhythm and unconventional timing, establishing his image as a finger-snapping hipster. Sandwiched between the 1940s - when, under contract to Columbia, his rich baritone helped make him popular music's first true teen idol - and the 1960s, when he recorded on his own Reprise label, this was the decade when Sinatra's velvety tones and unique phrasing made 'The Voice' not only widely imitated, but also instantly recognisable.Īfter declining record sales, personal problems and professional conflicts with musical director Mitch Miller resulted in Columbia dropping Sinatra from their roster in 1952 - at a time when he also no longer had a film, TV or radio contract - he turned his career around the following year when he gave an Oscar-winning performance in the eve-of-war film drama From Here To Eternity. John Palladino, now in his 92nd year, was at the controls.ĭuring a remarkable, globally acclaimed career that spanned seven decades, the mid-'50s were, arguably, Frank Sinatra's peak years as a singer. In 1956, Frank Sinatra revived his flagging career with an album that would define the swing sound and go on to become one of the most highly regarded in history.
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