Sinatra / Capitol Sound Quality, etc.: "Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely" (1958)

Yes, I should have mentioned that fact.

 

I somehow ended up two copies-- an opened one that my toddler (at the time) got a hold of and proceeded to smear mashed bananas on the jacket, and a replacement copy that I never cracked open. At the time, I was pretty upset about the bananas, but I wouldn't have bought the second copy otherwise!

 

The LP is for sale at Music Direct for $70. Thats a steal if the CD is $170 on Ebay.

 

Good price considering it's (was?) OOP but Music Direct shouldn't sell their own editions for more than twice the original list price. Sad.

 

Just a question : why MFSL is not able to reissue FSFOTL Gold Cd ?

 

It was a limited edition (although in this case, not numbered). Does MFSL ever do reissues? Isn't it always the case with MoFi that "you snooze, you lose"?

 

It looks that there is no other way than to pay a big price to buy a MFSL Gold Edition CD of "Sings For Only The Lonely".
Recently, i found a website where it was available for 30 euros (!). Ask them if the album was in stock. No answer. Two weeks later, the item was deleted of their listing.

 

It was available for a good long time. When I bought my copy from —> Amazon, in November 2008 (after Music Direct delayed my original pre-order), the price I paid was $31.49 with free shipping. (The price from MFSL and Music Direct was $29.99, but their shipping charges made Amazon the better deal.) It's a shame it's out of print and difficult to find for a reasonable price, but that's the nature of the music business in general and MoFi in particular.

 

I paid about £70 ($105!!) plus shipping for my sealed copy of the MFSL release earlier this year. At the time it was the cheapest copy available anywhere including Discogs, Amazon, Ebay and a few other online outlets I inquired with. In the UK these MFSL releases normally work out to be the same price in Sterling as they were originally priced in Dollars so we have to take it on the chin. It hurt but it was definitely worth it.

 

I start listening Sinatra a year ago. My first Sinatra "experience" was "L.A. Is My Lady" album. Not the best for sure, but i was curious about Sinatra/Q.Jones cooperation. Then i bought a "Live In Tokyo" CD (68' if i remember well) for 5 quids. I should not even mention it, seriously.
I like very much "Watertown" concept album, also "Where are you ?". "In The Wee Small Hours" is nice but i expected something more, above all after reading reviews.
Really, the best thing i've listened in my life is FSFOTL album. Sinatra, Riddle, Miller, Sims etc. : they managed to capture sadness, depression and heartbreak into some tracks. Terrific.

 

I don't think "doozy"does that justice!

 

Thank you so much for sharing all of this with us Matt!

Was the Reel To Reel made from the original Stereo mix or was it a unique mix as some of the other Capitol reels of the time?

 

I'm thinking this is probably Curly Walter(s).

According to the linked Billboard article from May 1960, Walter was recently promoted to A & R producer after a stint as associate producer, which began in February 1959. Prior to being named A & R producer, Walter co-produced several albums with Dave Cavanaugh, who as we all know produced Only the Lonely. Previous positions with Capitol included assistant studio manager, tape editor, and assistant to Francis Scott, A & R administration director.

 

My interpretation, Matt, was that Walter perhaps "produced" or oversaw what was going on upstairs, but wasn't the main producer downstairs in the studio/mono booth. I know Cavanaugh was around and active for at least one of the sessions: he can be heard from the booth on the aborted "Lush Life" attempt from May. But that doesn't mean, obviously, that he was there and producing a month later.

 

Dilemna : The Capitol Years (21 cd) for 250 euros or FSFOTL gold album for 110 euros on ebay.
Is the 21-cd set so bad to deserve that price ?

 

How about $70 (65€) + shipping from USA for the Gold CD? Seller accepts best offer and shipping to Europe shouldn't be expensive since this is a low weight item.

http://www.discogs.com/sell/item/270085698

 

Finally bought the 21-CD set (like new) and the guy offered me Sinatra In Hollywood box too : all for less than 250 dollars. Amazing.
I just need some time to listen all of this. Perfect when you're alone during year's end celebrations !

 

Rex was a 2nd engineer at Capitol. This credit also confirms the practice here of using an otherwise 2nd engineer to supervise (for lack of a better term) the separate 3-track recording in their early stereo era, and not put a John Kraus or Hugh Davies up there. I'd say, unless other evidence proves contrary, the main engineer (Val Valentin, in this case) was still the person in charge of choosing mics/placement, etc. for this recording, and the second (Rex, here) carried out what the main engineer wanted. The separate producer credit throws in a bit of a question mark, but even then I'm guessing his (Curly's) role is more to function as Dave's ears up there, help follow a score, mirror any overlapping work, etc.

 

Boy would I like to hear Take 5 from the tape Matt posted pics of!