Frank Sinatra, The #39 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

"Frank is one of the best singers ever."

"Liquid Gold."

"Frank Sinatra had the smoothest, most soothing, most angelic voice ever."

"A timeless legend."

"Frank takes me far away."

"Pure genius."

"The best advice a music professor once gave me: 'Never fully trust someone who doesn't 'get' Sinatra."

"Magnificent!"

A once-in-a-lifetime performer."

"Unforgettable!"

"The greatest male singing voice ever."

"He's immortal."

"His music is so beautiful."

"Soooo romantic."

"Frank is alive...with his music."

This legend was born in Hoboken, New Jersey on December 12, 1915 and began his career with swing artists such as Tommy Dorsey and Harry James.  Although he began his recording career a full 12 years before the Rock Era began, and his place in music history is near the top when all eras are included, Francis Albert Sinatra still ranks #39 from 1955 to the present.

Sinatra signed a recording deal with Columbia Records in 1943 and released his self-titled debut album in 1946.  Sinatra enjoyed immense success in the '40s, but was less successful in the early 1950's.  

Frank then did a very smart thing--he began performing in Las Vegas, Nevada.  And, Sinatra enjoyed great success on the big screen.  He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the classic From Here to Eternity, was nominated for Best Actor for his role in The Man with the Golden Arm and also starred in movies including Guys and Dolls, High Society and Pal Joey.  High Society was one of the biggest moneymakers of 1956, and Sinatra won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, starring opposite Rita Hayworth in Pal Joey.  These appearances gave Sinatra additional exposure which led to a new recording contract with Capitol Records. 

This series of events led to a comeback for Sinatra beginning with his first Capitol album (In the Wee Small Hours) released in 1955, the year the Rock Era began.  This is credited with being the first "concept album", with its songs fitting into a theme (pain from a lost love), rather than being a collection of songs, as was the case with other albums previously.

 

Sinatra and Ava Gardner had just divorced and Nelson Riddle, who arranged the music and conducted the backing orchestra, says Frank sang the songs on the album with depth and emotion because of his personal problems.  The album rose to #2 and was certified Gold with the title song leading the way. 

 Sinatra covered this 1929 Cole Porter song from the musical Wake Up and Dream and it became one of his best--"What Is This Thing Called Love?"

Sinatra rose to #1 in the U.S. and Australia and #2 in Great Britain with "Learnin' The Blues".

Later in the year, Sinatra released the single "Love And Marriage", first introduced by Sinatra on television on Producer's Showcase.  The song, with lyrics from Sammy Cahn and music by Jimmy Van Heusen, reached #5 and was released the following year on the compilation album This Is Sinatra!, which also went Gold.

Another song on that compilation is "(Love Is) The Tender Trap", from the movie of the same name in which Frank starred in.  Sammy Cahn liked to say that he put more words in Frank Sinatra's mouth than any other songwriter.  This is one of several dozen Cahn songs that Sinatra recorded.  It rose to #7.

 

The comeback continued with the album Songs for Swingin' Lovers! in 1956, another Gold album. Frank first sang this song in 1946 on his weekly radio show.  He recorded "I've Got You Under My Skin" with Riddle's orchestra for the album.  Riddle was a fan of Maurice Ravel and said his arrangement was inspired by the Boléro.

 

Frank remade "Old Devil Moon", originally featured in the 1947 musical Finian's Rainbow.

 

George and Ira Gershwin's "Love Is Here To Stay" was included in the movie The Goldwyn Follies in 1938.  It was the last song George finished before his death in 1937, and Ira wrote the lyrics after his brother's death as a tribute to him.  It became popular when Gene Kelly sang it in the classic An American in Paris.

Sinatra rose to #3 with another Cahn song, "Hey!  Jealous Lover".

Sinatra signed a three-year $3 million contract with ABC for The Frank Sinatra Show.  Dean Martin appeared often, with Sinatra returning the favor with several appearances on The Dean Martin Show.

 

In 1957, Frank released the album Close to You and More.  Frank is accompanied on the title song by the Hollywood String Quartet.

 

Frank scored his sixth consecutive Top 5 album with A Swingin' Affair hot on the heels of Close To You.  

Where Are You? made it seven straight Top 5 albums.  It was the first one recorded without Riddle.  Sinatra loved to add his spin to songs from old movies and musicals--here is the title song.

 

The album also contains a great version of "Autumn Leaves".

This phenomenal interpretive giant of the music business gave us so many memories.  Catch more in Part Two!