First, Some Personal Backstory And Perspective
Please be patient with me as I step you through some personal backstory. When IMPEX released the 33 RPM reissue for Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra in late 2020, it was somewhat of an inspiration for me. I always enjoyed Frank as my father was a big fan and he had several titles in his collection. He and my mom also saw Frank several times in Las Vegas. I remember listening to some of his most famous albums with the entire family on many Sunday mornings after breakfast and church.
My dad would be spread out in the living room with a cigarette (Chesterfields were his cigarette of choice), and his multiple Sunday newspapers. My Mom was often preparing lunch for all seven kids, or reading one of her favorite novels or magazines of the time, as she smiled and nodded along with the songs. I have mentioned this before in some of my prior reviews, but music on those Sundays also included Harry Belafonte, Stan Getz, Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and many many more. Even the Beatles would sneak in on occasion (a huge leap for my father back then). Those were great family times and were probably a major factor in my love for music.
Even with that in mind, I never spent much time collecting or listening to Sinatra on my own during my teenage and adult years. The IMPEX reissue really inspired me to take a deep dive and discover more about the different phases of Sinatra's career—especially the early years. I purchased a mint copy of the MOFI Sinatra box set back in the late 1980s from a local record store that was closing. CDs were sweeping across the industry and taking over the marketplace. I only paid $50, which of course was an absolute steal when compared to today's Discogs prices. I never thought twice about it at the time, as again, vinyl LPs were on their way out and I was just curious about Frank's music.
I am a little embarrassed to say that in over 30 years of owning this box set, I rarely listened more than a couple of times to those MOFI LPs. The IMPEX reissue motivated me to spend a considerable amount of time with all 16 albums, and then I was really hooked. Sound quality was good to excellent depending on the title, but that quiet Japanese vinyl made it all quite enjoyable. Based on those listening sessions alone, I soon understood why Sinatra's nick name was "The Chairman of the Board," and why he was so loved and respected.
These days, I greatly enjoy my visits to many of the record stores across the country when traveling. I now find myself digging for Sinatra and it is quite enjoyable. Though still a novice on his personal history and catalog, I am slowly and patiently finding my way through the Sinatra cannon. Original pressings in very clean condition are not difficult to find, and they are typically very inexpensive—especially compared to the escalating prices of preowned rock and jazz these days.
I have found very clean copies of classics like In The Wee Small Hours, Songs For Only The Lonely, and Songs for Swinging Lovers. All have remarkable sound quality, and all have more life and punch than the MOFIs. I also have mint copies of Sinatra at the Sands, Francis A. and Edward K. and a most recent find entitled The Concert Sinatra. All three could fool the most discriminating ears as audiophiles pressings—they are that good. The Concert Sinatra was taped on 35MM movie film and was recorded via 24 RCA 44BX microphones. It is truly a little golden nugget that I rarely hear about. Maybe Abey Fonn over at IMPEX might consider this for a future endeavor?
Just A Great Sounding Reissue or Something Very Very Special?
Why the lengthy preamble? All of these personal anecdotes leads me to the new 45 RPM IMPEX 1STEP for Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra. If the performance and sound quality of the original 33 RPM IMPEX pressing really got me jump started, what more can the 1STEP offer? The 33 RPM pressing is one of the finest reissues that I have in my entire collection in terms of performance and sound quality. However, the 1STEP not only takes it to another level, it will leave you somewhat mesmerized and floating in wonderment and appreciation on virtually every track.
This is the kind of reissue that could truly inspire many of our younger generations to now not only follow my deep dive into Sinatra, but also into the amazing advantages of vinyl! I will get into the specifics below, but the 45 RPM cut, the use of the super quiet Neotech VR900 Supreme vinyl, and the amazing quality of the overall presentation and packaging makes this reissue both a superb addition to your music collection, but also an investment in the very best that this hobby can offer!
Chris Bellman, Bob Donnelly and Abey Fonn (Photo: Charles L. Granta)
Resources and Contributions
The expertise and number of superstar contributors involved with this project is impressive. IMPEX has really gone beyond the call of duty to get this right. The Frank Sinatra legacy and this specific title clearly deserve this. My apologies to the entire IMPEX team, as I may miss a few names. The list is extensive, but all the contributors are clearly stated in the booklet, and deservedly so.
Lets start with Abey Fonn and Robert Buntz, who are the Executive Producers along with Martin M. Melucci and Bob Donnelly who are Associate Producers. Their track record for the IMPEX 1STEP titles from Patricia Barber, Jennifer Warnes, and Stan Getz is of course impeccable. The esteemed author and Sinatra historian Charles L. Granata provided much of the research and narrative for the attached 36 page booklet. The insight that Charles has provided is absolutely amazing. Robert Slinger provided the art direction and package design, maybe his best effort yet at IMPEX!
Andreas Meyer from Swan studios was primarily responsible for the restoration of the original master tapes. His skills and impact have rarely been so clear and evident. Chris Bellman, from Bernie Grundman Mastering, provided the mastering and cut the lacquers. Chris is one of the true masters in the Industry. Last but not least, RTI plated and pressed the vinyl, and Stoughton manufactured and printed the outer sleeve. Again, two of the most respected manufacturers in their respective fields.
Packaging and Presentation
The overall presentation here is clearly "coffee table ready." This is not just another album laid out on display for visitors to possibly ignore and pass by. We have an elegant, clean looking natural white slipcase with diamond embossing and gold foil stamping. A gatefold "Ultra-Luxe Monster Pack" outer sleeve design was utilized, along with the use of heavy paper stock and a glossy colorful reproduction of the original cover art design. Much time and effort was extended to make sure that this was purposely and perfectly matched with the original.
The internally attached 36 page booklet is manufactured of an uncoated glare-free matte paper with a sophisticated touch and tactile feel. The pictures and graphics included are uniquely and creatively reproduced with a very high quality visual portrayal and appeal. In summary, the aggregate is without question a first class high end offering!
A few words about the booklet. The amount of information and detail is exceptional. I spent a few hours reading and absorbing all the Sinatra history and personal accounts from beginning to end. This is not something I normally have the patience to do, but this booklet was something different. It was interesting to learn how this album evolved into a new platform and jumping off point or rebirth for Sinatra after several years of personal and professional challenges.
The infamous A&R Director and Producer Mitch Miller convinced Sinatra to use this album to move from mostly ballads and mid-tempo love songs to a more up-tempo jazzy and swinging like approach. Arranger George Sirvano contributed a fresh style and influence which reflected the big band sound of that era, but also with a touch of his own personal creativity. The rest is history, as this album then greatly impacted Sinatra's music and career going forward.
We also get much information about song selection, recording processes, a new vocal dubbing technology at that time, and even the critical reception and associated social related events of the day. Lastly, we get an understanding of the remastering and 1STEP process, which is more comprehensive and interesting than anything else that I have read before on the subject.
Sound
Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra was originally released as a mono recording in 1950 on 10 inch vinyl and at 78 RPM on the Columbia label. This new IMPEX reissue is a mono two-LP, 45 RPM 1STEP pressing on high definition Neotech VR-900 Supreme vinyl. For this reissue, new lacquers were cut and utilized for every 500 pressings to establish better quality control and consistency of the sound quality. A limited quantity of 5000 numbered copies will be pressed.
This reissue includes a total of sixteen tracks - eight from the original release and seven that are new. These new bonus tracks include alternate takes and unreleased session material. A few of the new tracks received some supplementary digital repair and mastering due to the condition of the tapes. I could not tell any significant differences in sound quality between any of these tracks (original or bonus) in my listening sessions—a testament to the engineering skills and technologies supporting this process.
The improvement in sound quality was anything but subtle. In addition to all the distinguished engineers involved, I am guessing that the 45 RPM format and the VR-900 vinyl played important roles. There was a new found level of transparency, presence and air that I did not think was possible over the 33 RPM. I have used the term "big mono" before, but here it is more appropriate than ever.
Yes, this is a mono recording, but the sound stage extends from left to right more than any other mono recording in my collection, almost to the mid axis and outer edge of both speakers. The front to back imaging was also exceptional as I could hear deep into the sound stage from the forward speaker plane to beyond the back wall. I'm not sure if three dimensionality is the correct term or best descriptor, but there was a roundness and depth to the vocals and instruments like few other mono recordings that I have heard.
The other differentiator was the exceptional richness and natural bloom to the upper bass and mids. This is of course a very old recording, so don't expect killer highs or a powerful low end. But my goodness, the mids are to die for. When the orchestra kicks in on certain passages, you are virtually awash in sound and energy that feels real. Frank's vocals are front and center with a level of texture and detail that will have you swooning (how appropriate). All I can say is that this music shouts out for fun times and swing, swing, and more swing!
One great example is the track "You Do Something To Me," written by Cole Porter. Frank's timing and phrasing have never been better as he serenades front and center with supreme gusto and energy. The horn section is like a roller coaster ride as it kicks in and out in perfect harmony with Frank's solos. Ernie Cacere's baritone sax is clearly defined and right there before your eyes as he lets loose and sends chills up your spine. Not bad considering that this is a 74 year old recording!
Final Thoughts
The Sinatra legacy will live on and on because the talent and performance will always be recognized and celebrated, but this reissue might just be another nice little kick start. I am guessing that there will be many awards presented and much applause as it is rolled out and experienced by both the fans and the critics. No matter what your preferred genre of music, this is an important document of history that really delivers on all fronts and should be strongly considered for every collection! Congrats to the entire IMPEX team for such a wonderful new reissue!
Review System
I have included a comprehensive list of all my components and a description of my listening room. Please click on my name in red above if this information is needed for reference and comparison purposes.
Impex Records
Elusive Disc
