Non-Album Tracks, 1953

Thank you to SHTV’s “Bob F” for his invaluable assistance in compiling this information.

Ongoing discussion at the Steve Hoffman Music Forum (LINK) Album Index 1953 Singles: April 2 April 30 May 2 December 8 December 9 ----> 1954 Sessions

April 30, 1953 - I’ve Got the World on a String / Don’t Worry About Me

I Love You / South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)

Arranger/Conductor: Nelson Riddle

Original Release: 45 & 78 RPM #2505, 6/15/53

Original LP Release: This is Sinatra, 1956

Original CD Release: Australian The Frank

Sinatra Collection, (link) 1986

Releases sampled for this comparison:

•1953 Promo 78

•1954 Young-at-Heart EP #EAP1-510

•1956 This is Sinatra D1 pressing LP

•1956 This is Sinatra D9 pressing LP

•1966 Sentimental Journey LP

•1967 This is Sinatra Starline F21 pressing LP

•1973 The Works LP

•1974 New Zealand His 20 Greatest Hits LP

•1980s Japan This is Sinatra LP

•1983 Capitol/Pair All-Time Classics LP

•1985 UK This is Sinatra LP

•1985 Time-Life Legendary Singers LP

•1986 Australian The Frank Sinatra Collection CD

•1989 Collectors Series CD

•1989 Japan All the Way/Hit Collection CD

•1990 The Capitol Years CD

•1994 UK This is Frank Sinatra, 1953-1957 CD

•1995 Sinatra 80th: All the Best CD

•1996 Complete Capitol Singles

•1998 UK This is Sinatra CD

•1998 Aus. The Frank Sinatra Collection CD

•2000 Classic Sinatra CD

•2004 Aus. The Essential Frank Sinatra CD

•2005 Young at Heart (Proper) CD (unlicensed)

•2006 Supreme Jazz SACD (unlicensed)

•2007 The Apprentice: Crooners Edition CD

•2011 Best of the Best CD

•2014 This is Sinatra hi-rez download

•2014 This is Sinatra LP

BLUE = shared mastering

GREEN = same transfer; different mastering

Recommended top choice (tie):

•1985 UK This is Sinatra LP

•All CDs in BLUE at left use the excellent 1989 Furmanek/Walsh mastering

•This is Frank Sinatra, 1953-1957 UK CD (MFP Budget release)

PLUS: All of the above include the dropout at the beginning. There are two excellent versions, almost as good sounding (to my ears), that avoid the dropout: The 1980s Toshiba/EMI This is Sinatra LP, and the 1985 Time-Life Legendary Singers LP.

Not as good:

•This is Sinatra D1 and D4 pressings - rolled off top-end

•Young-at-Heart EP #EAP1-510

•UK 1998 This is Sinatra CD - compressed

•Young at Heart (Proper) CD - slightly compressed; runs 2% slow (see bottom of this page)

•Sentimental Journey LP - more compressed (no dropout)

•2014 This is Sinatra download - compressed; dull tone

•2014 This is Sinatra LP - dull tone

Avoid:

•His Twenty Greatest Hits - heavy-handed additional reverb

•Complete Capitol Singles, The Apprentice: Crooners Edition, and Classic Sinatra - Norberg

•UK 1998 This is Sinatra CD - compression, stereo “widening,” and splattery treble

•Best of the Best CD - Brickwalled

•Supreme Jazz - Bad EQ

•All-Time Classics and The Works LPs, 1986 Australia The Frank Sinatra Collection CD - Fake Stereo

NOTES

•The 1989 Japanese Hit Collection CD uses the same excellent digital transfer as the UK This is Frank Sinatra 1953-1957 CD set, but with substantial stereo widening added. My guess? They both utilize the circa 1983 digital transfers that eventually sourced the UK 1985 This is Sinatra LP.

My absolute favorite? The 1985 UK LP, but all of the “top choice” options are cut from the same excellent cloth. The Japanese LP sounds very good, too, and is uncompressed and does not contain the dropout.

Side note: The ever-trustworthy “MMM” says: “I have an original ("LONG PLAYING" only on labels) D10/D8 LP, and it's nothing special sonically.”

SAMPLE AUDIO CLIPS

All clips posted here (with one 3-second exception) mirror those freely available via iTunes

Sample 1, below. Let’s hear the original 78 RPM release (courtesy “stevelucille”) transitioning to arguably the best-sounding release, the 1985 UK Dell LP:

Sample 2, below. Probably the worst of the sampled copies, from His Twenty Greatest Hits, as released in New Zealand in 1974:

Sample 8, below. The Bob Norberg Mastering first used on Complete Capitol Singles, then mildly tweaked and reused (as heard here) on Classic Sinatra (courtesy “MMM”):

Sample 4, below. The true-mono mastering for 1989’s Collectors Series CD, produced by Ron Furmanek and engineered by Larry Walsh, has been reused many times:

Sample 5, below. The UK budget-line MFP 2-CD release, This is Frank Sinatra, 1953-1957, contains another excellent, true-mono mastering:

THANK GOODNESS!

Sample 7, below. USA D1 This is Sinatra LP clip (audio clip courtesy “eharmonica”), followed by a D4 pressing courtesy “Arkoffs”

Sample 6, below. This is Sinatra from the 1998 UK boxed set, courtesy Bob F.

Sample 10, below. Circa 1967 F21 USA Star Line pressing of This is Sinatra.

Sample 9, below. 1985 UK pressing from the Alan Dell series.

SAMPLE AUDIO CLIPS

All clips posted here (with one 3-second exception) mirror those freely available via iTunes

Transitional Comparison Clips

1.1985 UK LP ----> D1 USA LP. Click IGWSDell85-D1.wav.
2.Classic Sinatra CD ---> Collectors Series CD. Click IGWSClassic-Collectors.wav.
3.Collectors Series CD ---> 1985 UK LP. Click IGWSCollectors-UK85.wav.
4.1998 UK Boxed Set CD ---> 1985 UK LP. Click IGWSUK98-UK85.wav.
5.1980s Toshiba LP ---> 1985 UK LP. Click IGWSToshiba-UK85.wav.
6.Collectors Series CD ---> 1980s Toshiba LP. Click IGWS Collectors-ToshibaLP.wav.
7.Battle of the non-dropouts! D9 USA LP --> 1980s Toshiba LP. Click IGWSD9-JapanLP.wav.

Tape Damage

At some point after 1969, tape damage occurred at the end of the very first not at the beginning of this song. Most CDs used the damaged master; some either did not use that tape, or managed to fix the resulting audio damage.

To hear three masterings of that beginning section, click here.

The order in that sample is: 1.) Collectors Series; 2.) Complete Capitol Singles; and 3.) UK 1998 boxed set.

Dynamic Range

The Alan Dell LP and the Walsh/Furmanek CD mastering have very similar, wide dynamics. Some releases do not. At right, you can see the dynamic differences between the 1985 UK LP and its counterpart, the 1998 UK CD. The LP has much wider dynamic range

Sample 11, below. 1980’s Toshiba/EMI LP, courtesy “Dr. Robert.” (Thanks, Rangerjohn.)

Arranger/Conductor: Nelson Riddle

Original Release: 45 & 78 RPM #2787, 4/26/54

Original LP Release: This is Sinatra, 1956

Original CD Release: Collectors Series, 1989

Releases sampled for this comparison:

•1954 3 Coins in the Fountain EP

•1956 This is Sinatra D1 pressing LP

•1961 UK Look Over Your Shoulder LP

•1960s UK Look Over Your Shoulder reel

•1967 This is Sinatra Star Line H20 pressing LP

•1973 The Works LP

•1980s Toshiba/EMI This is Sinatra LP

•1983 Capitol/Pair All-Time Classics LP

•1985 UK This is Sinatra LP

•1985 Time-Life Legendary Singers LP

•1989 Collectors Series CD*

•1989 Japan All the Way/Hit Collection CD*

•1989 Gold! CD

•1991 Where Are You CD

•1994 UK This is Frank Sinatra, 1953-1957 CD

•1996 Complete Capitol Singles CD

•1998 UK This is Sinatra CD

•2002 Where Are You CD

•2005 Young at Heart (Proper) CD (unlicensed)

•2006 Supreme Jazz SACD (unlicensed)

•2014 This is Sinatra hi-rez download

*Shared mastering

At right, a pair of waveforms comparing the earliest CD mastering (the oft-used Furmanek/Walsh mastering) with the most recent and least dynamic CD mastering, the Best of the Best disc.

Not as good:

•Young at Heart (Proper) CD - I’m 98% sure this is a tastefully done transfer from an LP; runs slow

•2014 This is Sinatra HD and LP - dull town; mildly compressed

Avoid:

•3 Coins in the Fountain EP - poor tone (made from dupe tape?)

•Starline and D1 LPs - tone

•Look Over Your Shoulder UK LP and reel - reverb added; ending faded early

•Gold, Complete Capitol Singles, and the 2002 Where Are You CDs - Norberg

•Supreme Jazz SACD - Bad EQ

•All-Time Classics and The Works LPs - Fake stereo

Recommended top choices:

•1985 UK This is Sinatra LP

•UK This is Frank Sinatra 1953-1957 CD

Also Excellent:

•Collectors Series CD

•1985 Legendary Singers LP

Unfutzed, but mildly subpar:

•1991 Where Are You CD

•1998 UK This is Sinatra CD

•1980’s Japan This is Sinatra LP

(The above 8 are nearly a toss-up in my opinion.)

•1983 Japan The Hit Maker LP

Great tone, but compressed:

•D9 This is Sinatra LP

SAMPLE AUDIO CLIPS

All clips posted here mirror those freely available via iTunes. Note that iTunes provides extended 90-second clips of this song, and you can hear one of them by clicking “VIEW,” then “View in iTunes.”

Click photo below to listen:

1954 3 Coins in the Fountain EP release, courtesy “stevelucille”

Click photo below to listen:

1956 D2 USA This is Sinatra LP, courtesy “eharmonica”

Click photo below to listen:

1967 H-20 budget “Star Line” This is Sinatra reissue LP

Click photo below to listen:

1985 UK This is Sinatra reissue LP.

(Wide dynamics; turn up volume to compensate?)

Click photo below to listen:

1980s Japanese This is Sinatra LP, courtesy “Dr. Robert”

Click photo below to listen:

1989 Collectors Series CD, produced by Ron Furmanek, engineered by Larry Walsh

Click photo below to listen:

1989 GOLD! CD, mastered by Bob Norberg

Click photo below to listen:

1991 Where Are You CD, mastered by Larry Walsh

SAMPLE AUDIO CLIPS

NOTES

•The first 1:56 of the 2002 Where Are You remaster (Norberg) re-uses the Capitol Singles mastering. The remainder is a new (and shrill) mastering, presumably done to cover the dropout in the Singles disc at 2:05.

Click photo below to listen:

2004 This is Frank Sinatra, 1953-1957 UK CD

Click photo below to listen:

1996 Complete Capitol Singles Collection, mastered by Bob Norberg, courtesy Bob F.

Sample 12, below. USA D9 This is Sinatra LP clip, courtesy “Blackie”

Brass Comparisons

By clicking the iTunes “VIEW” button at left, the “View in iTunes,” you can hear a 90-second clip of this song, free of charge. The last 20 seconds of that clip are the first half of the big brass break in the middle of the song.

Norberg’s handiwork:

Bob Norberg has mastered this track three separate times, with very different results. The clips you hear will be in this order: 1.) The Gold disc from 1989; 2.) Complete Capitol Singles, courtesy Bob F.; 3.) 2002’s Where Are You CD; and 4.) to cleanse the fake-stereo-infested palette, Furmanek/Walsh’s Collectors Series CD. Note that #3 has an obvious splice just a few notes into the brass work. Click to listen: DWBMBrass Gold-Singles-Norberg-Collectors.mp3

A few of the better all-mono CD masterings:

Here, you will hear things in this order: 1.) Collectors Series; 2.) Where Are You - Walsh mastering; 3.) UK This is Frank Sinatra 1953-1957; and 4.) This is Sinatra from the 1998 UK boxed set, courtesy Bob F. Click to listen: DWBMBrass Collectors-Walsh-5357-UK98.wav

Sample 13, below. original EP release, courtesy “BFerr1”

Song #1:

“I’ve Got the World on a String”

Song #2:

“Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me”

Arranger/Conductor: Nelson Riddle

Original Release: 45 & 78 RPM #2638, 11/2/53

Original LP Release: 12” Swing Easy, 1960

Original CD Release: The Capitol Years, 1990

Releases sampled for this comparison:

•1953 Original 45

•1954 3 Coins in the Fountain EP

•1961 UK Look Over Your Shoulder LP

•1962 12” mono Swing Easy LP

•1960s UK Look Over Your Shoulder reel

•1984 UK Swing Easy LP

•1990 The Capitol Years 5-LP set

•1990 The Capitol Years 3-CD set

•1991 Come Swing with Me CD*

•1991 All-Time Favorites by Frank Sinatra CD*

•1996 Complete Capitol Singles CD

•1998 UK Swing Easy CD

•2002 Come Swing with Me CD

*Shared mastering

Avoid:

•3 Coins in the Fountain EP - poor tone (made from dupe tape?)

•Complete Capitol Singles and 2002 Come Swing with Me CD - Norberged

•Look Over Your Shoulder - starts on second note of song, with fade in. Reverb added.

•All others: Reverb-added tapes

Recommended top choices:

•The Capitol Years

Very close second:

•1987 Come Swing with Me CD (reused in All-Time Favorites CD)

NOTES

The brass tone at the end of the clips tipped the scale in favor of The Capitol Years.

Song #3:

“I Love You”

(Credited to Billy May, but actually a Nelson Riddle arrangement in May’s style.)

SAMPLE AUDIO CLIPS

All clips posted here (mirror those freely available via Amazon.com

Click photo above to listen:

1990 The Capitol Years LP, courtesy “BFerr1.”

Click photo above to listen:

1990 The Capitol Years CD, courtesy “MMM.”

Click photo above to listen:

1991 Come Swing with Me bonus track, mastered by Larry Walsh (Reused for All-Time Favorites CD)

Transitional Comparison Clips

1.Original 3 Coins in the Fountain EP ---> The Capitol Years 3-CD set. Click ILOveYOU EP-Furmanek.mp3 (Thanks stevelucille)
2.1998 UK boxed set CD ---> The Capitol Years 3-CD set. Click ILoveYouUK98-Furmanek.mp3 (Thanks Bob F)
3.1991 Come Swing with Me (Walsh) CD ---> 2002 Come Swing with Me (Norberg) CD. Click ILoveYouWalsh-Norberg.wav (Thanks Rangerjohn)
4.The Capitol Years 3-CD set ---> Come Swing with Me (Walsh) CD. Click ILoveYouWalshFurmanek-Walsh.wav
5.The Capitol Years 5-LP set ---> The Capitol Years 3-CD set. Click ILOveYouCapitolYearsLP-CapitolYearsCD.wav (Thanks BFerr1)

Song #4:

“South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)”

(Credited to Billy May, but actually a Nelson Riddle arrangement in May’s style.)

Arranger/Conductor: Nelson Riddle

Original Release: 45 & 78 RPM #2638, 11/2/53

Original LP Release: 12” This is Sinatra, 1986

Original CD Release: Australian The Frank

Sinatra Collection 2-CD set, (link) 1986

Releases sampled for this comparison:

•1953 D1 45

•1956 This is Sinatra LP (2 pressings)

•1967 This is Sinatra Star Line LP

•1968 mono The Sinatra Touch 6-LP set

•1973 The Works LP

•1980s Japanese This is Sinatra LP

•1985 UK This is Sinatra LP

•1986 Australian The Frank Sinatra Collection CD

•1987 Come Fly with Me CD*

•1988 Japan Best Now CD

•1989 Japan All the Way/Hit Collection CD*

•1989 Collectors Series CD**

•1990 The Capitol Years 3-CD set

•1994 UK This is Frank Sinatra 1953-1957 CD

•1995 Sinatra 80th: All the Best CD**

•1996 Complete Capitol Singles CD

•1998 UK This is Sinatra CD

•1998 Come Fly with Me CD

•1998 Australian The Frank Sinatra Collection CD

•2005 Young at Heart (Proper) CD (unlicensed)

•2006 Supreme Jazz SACD (Unlicensed)

•2014 This is Sinatra hi-res download

•2014 This is Sinatra LP

*Shared mastering; **Shared mastering

Recommended top choices:

•1987 Come Fly with Me CD*

•Japan All the Way/Hit Collection CD*

•The Capitol Years

*Shared mastering

Interesting alternate view:

•2014 This is Sinatra LP (see notes at right)

Avoid:

•1986 Australian The Frank Sinatra Collection CD - Fake stereo

•D1 This is Sinatra LP pressing - Dull top end

•2014 download - dull, tubby tone; compressed

•1985 UK This is Sinatra LP - thin and bright

•Supreme Jazz SACD - Bad EQ

•Young at Heart - Off Speed

•The Works LP - Duophonic

NOTES

•Master tape missing? See here. This may account for the subpar sound on many releases.

•While I can’t really recommend the 2014 This is Sinatra LP, it does have significantly warmer tone than most versions. For whatever reason, most versions of this song sound thin and bright. The 2014 LP compensates for that, but goes too far in the other direction, becoming somewhat tubby sounding to my ears. It is, however, an interesting “alternate style” in which to hear this song, and the dynamics are acceptable.

SAMPLE AUDIO CLIPS

Audio Clips - All fall within the window of the 90-second free iTunes clip.

Brass comparison. Here is a sampling of 4 versions of a brief brass flurry, in this order: 1.) The Capitol Years 3-CD set, courtesy MMM; 2.) D1 This is Sinatra LP, courtesy Blackie; 3.) 1985 UK This is Sinatra LP; and 4.) 1968 mono The Sinatra Touch 6-LP set.

45, LP, and CD Clips. (Click the photos below to hear the clips)

<----

---->

1980s Japan

<----

1985 UK

---->

(Same mastering re-used for Sinatra 80th: All the Best)

1987 Walsh

<----

1998 Norberg

---->

Click photo below to listen:

1998 This is Sinatra UK boxed set CD, courtesy Bob F.

Ever get the urge to go diving overseas?

Here’s one of those gray-market, Euro-copyright-expiration carpet-bagger albums from Europe, only this one is in SACD format -- ohh, la la! As usual, these are unlicensed and mastered from who-knows-what tapes, since there is no licensing agreement with the company that actually owns the copyright and the master tapes. Here’s a clip that starts with the Supreme Jazz disc, then transitions into the excellent Walsh-mastered version from the Come Fly with Me CD. Click SBSupremeJazz-Walsh.wav.

Update: Here’s a clip from A Proper Introduction to Frank Sinatra: Young at Heart. The sound here is much preferable over the SACD, but the tape is running too slow. Have a listen as the clip transitions from the Proper disc to The Capitol Years. Click SB Proper-CapitolYears.mp3.

Click photo above to listen:

Original (mangled) D1 45 RPM pressing, transitioning into the Dell LP at the end.

D1 45, transition-ing to the Collectors Series CD

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Thanks to Arkoffs, Bferr1, Blackie, Bob F, Doctor Robert, eHarmonica, MMM, OldCoder, Rangerjohn, Stevelucille and anybody else who graciously shared clips to make this page possible!