Sinatra / Reprise Sound Quality & General Discussion: "Swing Along With Me" (1961)*

Thanks! I’ll toss together a playlist.

 

1 tablet, and 13 commandments? Doesn't seem kosher to me.....

 

They sure picked a lot of Mr. S's "hits" for that CD didn't they?

 

And therefore, fortunately devoid of AME, and Cap'n Crunch Free. Therefore, between the superb Tommy Dorsey material, the awesome arrangements, and that band, happens to be one of the two best sounding Reprise Frank Sinatra LP discs ever. The other one happens to be "Francis Albert Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim".

 

So rank, and so foul sounding, it should have been called "Stink Along With Me". This is United Recording engineering and mixing at their worst level. Why?, for crying out loud. Also suffers from a degree of Crunch in the reproduction. A shame as "Love Walked In" alone makes it still worth owning. This LP has every United Recording tool in their arsenal on how to make Frank Sinatra sound horrible and rank. And I am somewhat tolerant of their engineering, their abuse of reverb, of AME, and much more as I love the music too much to go without. The Audiophile equivalent of 6 month old Limburger Cheese left out to go rank or two Dead Skunks!!!

 

This or the early cassette might be an easier listen. Likely covers up the flaws a bit better.

 

I’m so tempted by the MFSL vinyl. Somebody talk me out of it. (Again.)

 

Well, it's not near the top of the MFSL Sinatra releases - most likely because of the way it was recorded. However, the vocals sound really good to me. I don't have an original of this one so can't compare it to that. If you can get a decent price I say it's worth it.

Edit: Looks like both Music Direct and Acoustic Sounds are out of this title - so may cost a bit more to get it now that it's OOP.

 

I have so many copies of this album. The white label promo is really good. The mid 80's Japanese pressing is probably my favorite. I do reach for the MoFi now and then but I cannot say it surpasses the Japanese copy.

 

Re: F US Pressing mono: I suspect one does not exist. Likely reason, Reprise pressed too many mono copies, when "Swing Along With Me" was new, and there was likely a huge surplus of mono inventory when Warner Brothers purchased Reprise Records. I suspect this title never had to be re-pressed in mono in the USA, and there was still leftover inventories when mono LP discs were phased out. Not the first time nor the last time this happened with Reprise.

 

Hello! Just off-topic I would like to ask you if there are any plans for new albums to analysed like the other ones? I really enjoy all of your articles, and would be glad to see more.

Thank you!

 

For reasons that are not entirely clear to me, Matt Lutthans is no longer participating on the Hoffman Forum. A tremendous loss to all of us.....

 

Oh no, this is very sad to hear

 

That's very very sad. I hope in future he'll get back here. I really enjoy reading his comments and articles.

 

I was in contact with @MLutthans about 2 months ago. He said he was fine and had been tied up with other things but would be checking in. Hope all is well with that loveable guy.

 

Funny, I was just perusing this thread because this is an album I’ve never dedicated much time to analysing. (I’ve only played it once or twice over the years, even less than some of the other more obscure Reprise albums, and have always intended to properly go back to it). I certainly didn’t expect to see some new posts pop up at the same time. I, too, sincerely hope that all is well with Mr. Lutthans, as, not only is his knowledge invaluable, but he’s one of the nicest and most humble guys I’ve ever interacted with online.

 

Hello!

Actually the most listenable version of this album that I've heard is the Spotify version, which is VERY ODD, but it's still the only one that I enjoy hearing.
Do you know which physical issue pairs with it?

Also, MFSL version does not have a huge fan base, but are there some positive feedbacks?

Thanks!

 

℗ 2009 = UMG CD released in the EU. (Cat. # 0602527200064)
[Also on limited edition SHM-CD in Japan: # UICY-94363]

I believe this is a reissue of the ℗ 1999 Entertainer of the Century (EOTC) Reprise CD, remixed with 20-bit Digital Mastering by Lee Herschberg. (Cat. # 9 47252-2)

See Matt’s (@MLutthans) description of differences from earlier mixes and the MFSL vinyl:
1961 - Swing Along with Me

 

I just finished reading Matt's detailed analysis of SAWM/SS ... it has all you need to know regarding this album. I have all the version's (American releases)
and, it is a album I haven't played in a while. So today will be comparison day.

 

Today I received the MFSL issue of this album. I was well informed about this one, and its pathetic mix, still as a collector I had to buy it (there was "no other option" ). Well it is not perfect, but I like it quite a lot. Still, in my point of view, it needs a new proper remix, which is not loud, together with Swingin' Brass, I Remember Tommy, Ring-A-Ding, All Alone. Maybe this would be a good job for Impex

 

Unfortunately, IMPEX can't touch it. It's owned by UMe.

Believe it or not, I still go to the MFSL of Swing Along with Me! often. Oh well.....

 

Uhm is not the Reprise stuff owned by the Sinatra family?