Finally on epinions

If you're reading this you're either a Sinatra fan looking for some Sinatra worship or you're trying to figure out which of the zillion Sinatra discs to purchase. This review is for those of you in the latter group. In brief: Swingin' Lovers is a pretty safe bet as the album to own. The following will let you know why this is his best (in my opinion) ALBUM. But let me explain the all caps -- if you can have only one Sinatra disk, you might be better served with a compilation (just choose the one that has the most songs you know). On to the opinion:

A little history: Sinatra had three main recording periods (some purists might say 5 but 3 is a safe statement) that spanned some four decades (again, open to interpretation). Although I happen to love the early years (the "Columbia Years" -- as in the recording label), at least a plurality, and probably a majority, of fans will say the Capitol Years are the best. This record was cut in the Capitol Years.

Sinatra worked with many arrangers -- many great arrangers. Quincy Jones, Alex Stordahl, Billy May and more. Nelson Riddle is considered to be the best that he ever worked with. There is much less debate on this point than on his best period. Sinatra often stated that he thought "Nels" was his best fit. This record was cut with Nelson Riddle.

Sinatra was quite unhappy with Capitol Records towards the end of the Capitol Years. Sinatra's future was not bright at the beginning of the Capitol Years (he had some bad publicity, some bad records with Columbia (bad for Sinatra) and a nearly career ending throat injury). This record was cut neither towards the beginning nor the end of the Capitol Years.

What the above should tell you is that Frank was at the top of his game at almost the precise moment he recorded Swingin' Lovers and he recorded it with his greatest partner.

Why wouldn't you buy this record? If you are looking for only one disk, you might be better served with a compilation. If you're looking for New York, New York, you won't find it -- it was among the last songs he recorded (believe it or not -- 1979 or 1980). That's on Reprise. It won't have My Way (also Reprise). However, as a single album, with songs following each other in the order Frank wanted without jarring changes of tone or sound, Swingin' Lovers is the way to go.

You can't go wrong with this one as your one true Sinatra album (again, in contrast to a compilation). However, if you can have only one Sinatra disk, this might not be right for you.