Sinatra / Capitol Sound Quality (and general discussion): Singles, Soundtracks, Etc.

I also need to look at the deadwax info for you. Damn. I'm getting old... I keep forgetting stuff.

 

Re: It's the Same Old Dream (in stereo)

I just noticed something regarding the Sammy Cahn CD:

While it does a very nice job of filtering out that odd, bass-y fluff-y defect at the end of the track, it does a very clumsy/poor job trying to filter out Frank's many "popping p" sounds on the vocal mic earlier in the track. On The Capitol Years, then, you get the "problems" fully in-tact, and they can be distracting, while on the Sammy Cahn CD, you get some of the problems expertly removed, but others clumsily/distractingly removed. Pick your poison? (I've revised the web page to reflect this, FWIW.)

 

Let's go waaaaaaaaaay back to singles session #9, August 23, 1954


I've added clips from that 1954 (date according to Goldmine) 10" promo LP that I recently purchased (link). The songs are "White Christmas" and "The Christmas Waltz."

http://www.11fifty.com/Site_108/1954_-_SinglesEtc9.html

Like most of the masterings of these two songs, it's kinda "meh." (IMO)

 

@MLutthans

Matt, here is the wax info from my 10 track Duophonic This is Sinatra Vol. 2

 

Hi, Dustin. That's the same cut I have (J-1 on both sides). The last two cuts on side two are real stereo on my copy.

Also, for anybody who may not know or may have forgotten why @mahanusafa02 and (assumedly) others think that the November 25, 1957 session is a real curiosity, here's Bob's excellent recap that got posted a while back and then kind of neglected while I was pokey getting any samples posted:

Just to reinforce the oddness of the mono/stereo situation, while mono issues hit the shelves in 1958, stereo mixes, some problematic, did not see release -- at least for the four tracks from this Nov. 25, 1957 session -- until 1990, 1995, and 1996.

Here's the link to the audio clips one more time: http://www.11fifty.com/Site_108/1957_-_SinglesEtc34.html

 

It's okay. I answer to anything!

Thanks, but I've got it, too. THE LADY IS A TRAMP clip posted: http://www.11fifty.com/Site_108/1956_-_SinglesEtc28.html
WITCHCRAFT clip posted: http://www.11fifty.com/Site_108/1957_-_SinglesEtc31.html

Well, there are only three singles tracks on there. Nobody chimed in with a clip from SOUTH OF THE BORDER, so if you're bored, feel free, and I'll happily post it. @stevelucille sent in a clip from SOMETHING WONDERFUL HAPPENS IN SUMMER (from the UK LP -- thank you), and we haven't yet reached THE MOON WAS YELLOW.

Clips are always appreciated. Thanks! PM if you need details.

I think you'll be pleased, overall!

 

Re: My One and Only Love

Does anybody happen to have this 1982 Argentinian EMI LP?

It may be a chance to get a good sounding, non-Look-to-Your-Heart-hit-with-the-ugly-stick, non-Norberged version. Then again, it could be Duophonic.

 

Bump for the above, plus:

Since I see it recently sold off of Ebay, meaning the photo will soon vanish into the E-ether, here's a shot of one of the best looking labels (IMO) that Capitol ever put out, a special commemorative issue of "All the Way," pressed in small quantities when the song won the Academy Award:

What is that? Dark brown (almost black) with gold-ish lettering? Very handsome, regardless.

 

Nah, I didn't buy it (or sell it), but if I were to buy a Capitol 45 just for the "look" of it, that's the one I'd get, and I've been admiring that one for some time now (with no desire to purchase, FYI -- so you can sleep at night).

Can you confirm that the color is pretty accurate in that photo?

 

Looking next at the December 11, 1957 tracks.....

Is The Complete Capitol Singles Collection the only stereo release for "You'll Always Be the One I Love?"

 

Comparison of "You'll Always Be the One I Love" again indicates that the c. 1994 This is Frank Sinatra, 1953-1957 MFP UK CD is sourced from the same digital tapes as the 1985 Dell LP (identical waveforms, very similar sound). The Japanese This is Sinatra, Volume Two LP from 1984 continues to be a puzzler, as, despite being an excellent source for a couple tracks from the previous session, it's a total dud (zero sparkle, very dark tone) on this track. Of the eight versions I've checked out, two are totally hammered by the limiter/compressor: The early '60s UK My Funny Valentine LP (a dreadful sounding LP, on the whole) and the 1998 UK boxed set This is Sinatra, Volume Two CD.

EDIT: Somebody here -- maybe @marmil ??? -- has this album:

Can you confirm that "You'll Always Be the One I Love" is Duophonic? (I am almost certain it would be.)

More to follow, and if anybody would like to send a clip my way, I'll be happy to post it. Same for the next two tracks from the same session: "If You Are but a Dream" and "Put Your Dreams Away." I'm especially hoping that somebody can send along stereo and/or mono clips from Capitol's The Great Years LP set and the "Mastercard" promotional CDs. (Thank you in advance to anybody who may be able to do that.)

 

Bump for the above post, plus:

Anybody able to confirm that?

Plus, for You'll Always Be the One I Love, I now have samples posted for these releases:

Opinions always appreciated, so please feel free to listen and share.

Webpage with audio files: http://www.11fifty.com/Site_108/1957_-_SinglesEtc35.html

 

Continuing with You'll Always Be the One I Love, FWIW, my take on things:

Clips at the link one post above.

(I think that's only the fourth time that I've picked an original release as the top choice, and one of those was a tie. Would love opinions from other ears, as always....)

 

Just on the off chance.....

Anybody here have this Brazilian LP? (It is one of the few comps that contains "If You Are But a Dream.")