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

man, there are some really interesting ear opening bits you've brought to my attention. this is my favorite comparison thread yet Matt, thanks for taking all the time...great listens, reads and nicely placed humor as well....

 

I'm actually wondering how they got two sessions approved for the same day! AFM had a strict rule during the 1930s, 40s and probably at least into the 1950s, that no recording session could last longer than three hours, and no more than four sides could be recorded during a session.

All those cats were playing live, undubbed, and my guess is that the union didn't want their chops blown because they were likely playing a live appearance later that night.

 

Interestingly enough, there has always been some mystery associated with the after-dinner session, because Capitol did not give it a separate session number. Perhaps that's the reason why. (There is an AFM contract report, however.)

 

It should be noted that the reverse is true in the UK. I.e., the Walsh is still in print there, and it is easily available for a bargain price:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00000DQXA​

(For those ordering from the US, the price is 15% less than shown at Amazon UK, because the included VAT tax is not charged. Even with typical foreign currency fees of 3%, it should be a no-brainer for US customers from where to order Capitol CDs. )

 

thanks for all your efforts. this particular title has been very interesting to study your efforts from...

 

thanks to Arne and Matt for the ability to hear this rarity...

 

I have a friend who owns the original 4 track tape of this, the early duplication at 7 1/2 IPS. I'll have him pull it out and play it for me and report back about the sonics. Songs mirror the Stereo LP.

 

I'm glad to be able to contribute to Matt's site. However, the 3.75 ips reel is hardly a rarity (and neither is the earlier 7.5 ips version). A clean 9 o'clock label LP is probably much harder to come by.

Arne

 

haha, well it certainly is rare to me.... I can play vinyl, but not reel to reels so I don't think about their existence in quantity or otherwise. Yet its a way to hear this recording in yet another analogue presentation that most in here probably have never heard...

 

...and not a bad one to my ears, albeit with lots of hiss.

 

thanks for your thoughts, the three MFSL releases on this title do seem definitive to me too. this was an illuminating listen overall...

 

Great work!

I've got the MFSL mono gold cd and two Norbergs stereos (single disc with bonus tracks and the one from the mini-Concepts box with no bonuses). Your site/comparisons have got me thinking about my copies. Sonically -- piece of cake, the MFSL crushes the Norbergs. But I'm torn about stereo/mono.

The mono has a nice intimate feel, goes great with Riddle and the earlier Capitol albums...more late night and old. However, you're right -- the reverb on Frank's vocal is more pronounced since the orchestra is drier. Also -- even though this is Riddle -- it still feels like a "newer" album to me, i.e., from a different era than say Wee Small and Swingin' Lovers, etc.

So...with that, the stereo does feels more "right" with the time/age of the recording. And, yes, the reverb is more balanced between singer and background/orchestration on the stereo. And it's great stereo...two mics and all that surrounding ambiance.

Back to the mono -- Nelson Riddle sounds great in mono...intimate, late night and the instruments are more detailed.

I don't know.

 

The mono and stereo recordings sound so different from each other - they're like two different albums.

 

Maybe my Favorite recording from Frank , I have the cd that came in the 14 - cd "concepts box" & my Vinyl copy is a rainbow label with the 12 o'clock logo which actually sounds pretty nice .

 

yes, you really need both mixes on this one. they are different experiences for me as well.

 

Haven't all stereo CDs been NR'd for this album?

Evan

 

Agree, but even Walsh's disc the processing is too heavy. The noise reduction on Norberg's makes it sound like its in a vacuum.

I've been curious about the bad formulation thing too. I'd love to have the opportunity to see the 3 track tapes and check what the model of tape used is. I've wondered if they just recorded at too low a level, for whatever reason.

Aren't the songs recorded at the first session relatively noisier than the others? I can't check myself right now...

 

When was THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU recorded? Wasn't that around May 1958? That's not hissy...