Duets (Frank Sinatra album)

Duets is an album by American singer Frank Sinatra, released in 1993. Recorded near the end of Sinatra's career, it consists of electronically assembled duets between Sinatra and younger singers from various genres. The album was a commercial success, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard albums chart, reaching No. 5 in the UK, and selling over 3 million copies in the US. It is the only Sinatra album to date to achieve triple platinum certification.

Duets
Studio album by
Frank Sinatra
ReleasedNovember 2, 1993
Recorded1992 - 1993
GenreVocal jazz, traditional pop
Length45:44
LabelCapitol
ProducerPhil Ramone
Hank Cattaneo
Frank Sinatra chronology
L. A. Is My Lady
(1984)		 Duets
(1993)		 Duets II
(1994)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]
The Village VoiceC[2]

The album received mixed critical notices, with complaints stemming from Sinatra's specified style of isolated performance wherein he was never joined by his duet partners in the studio, an artificial method of record production which lacked the elements of personal collaboration and spontaneity. The guest singers had been directed to sing along to his pre-recorded vocal parts, and to make their performances complement his.[3]

The cover art displays a specially commissioned painting of Frank Sinatra by LeRoy Neiman. Its sequel, Duets II, was released the following year. Both albums were packaged together in a "90th Birthday Limited Collector's Edition" released in 2005; North American pressings add an unreleased duet recording of "My Way" with Willie Nelson, while international pressings have him singing with Luciano Pavarotti.

Production

Sinatra was approached in 1992 with the idea of making an album of duets. Phil Ramone, Sinatra's manager Eliot Weisman and the Capitol executive producer Don Rubin discussed the details at Sinatra's house in Palm Springs, California. Ramone felt that Sinatra's classic songs would be brought to new, younger listeners by way of the Duets project.[4]

For duet partners, Sinatra suggested Ella Fitzgerald but she was not well enough to participate. Other artists, younger than Sinatra, were put on the list of potential partners. Sinatra specified that the duet partners must not be in the studio when he was singing his part.[5]

The project was pushed forward by Charles Koppelman, the CEO of EMI Records Group North America.[6] An orchestra was rehearsed at Capitol Records Studio A in Los Angeles, where Sinatra had recorded many times, the orchestra using classic Nelson Riddle arrangements. Sinatra showed up for the first two days of intended tracking sessions but begged off laying down any vocals, the first day because he did not like being isolated in a vocal booth as intended by recording engineer Al Schmitt. On the second day, Hank Cattaneo (Co-Producer), suggested to Ramone, Schmitt and Pat Williams, that they create a small elevated stage set-up for Sinatra to stand on, and to place Bill Miller and his piano adjacent to Frank within the open-air stage/booth to make the recording session feel more like a live performance. However, Sinatra said his voice was not in optimal condition. At this point, about $350,000 had been spent to put the project together. Ramone and Capitol were worried the record would never be completed. Ramone spoke to Hank Cattaneo, his co-producer, about his concern. It was suggested that since Cattaneo was Frank's production manager and close friend, that he stay near Frank to assist in the sequence of songs and detail to Frank when the takes were acceptable and a retake was not required. Cattaneo further suggested to Ramone and Schmitt, that they record with the wireless microphones that Frank was accustomed to using in live performances. Nine songs were recorded in five hours, beginning with "Come Fly with Me".[5]

The various duet partners were invited to participate remotely, their recordings sent to Capitol by way of ISDN digital telephone lines connected by EDnet to the digital recording equipment. Bono and Aretha Franklin asked that Ramone fly out to appear in person at their local studios to strengthen the connection to Sinatra and the project. Bono recorded his part to "I've Got You Under My Skin" while standing on a couch in the STS Studios control room in Dublin, singing into a handheld microphone.[7] After Franklin recorded her part to "What Now My Love" in Detroit, she recorded a personal message to Sinatra, thanking him for the opportunity. The duet of “My Way” with Luciano Pavarotti was not recorded in time to make the primary release of Sinatra’s Duets. It was placed on the Sinatra 80 album and then added to subsequent pressings of Duets as a bonus track addition. Hank Cattaneo produced and recorded this segment in Pavarotti’s summer villa in Pesaro, Italy. Don Rubin was in attendance at the recording session.[8]

Release


The album was advertised as "The Recording Event of The Decade".[9]

Some observers were not satisfied with its recording process.[10]

Track listing

Unless otherwise indicated, Information is based on Liner notes[11]

No.TitleWriter(s)Duet withLength
1."The Lady Is a Tramp" (Arranged by Billy Byers)Richard Rodgers (music), Lorenz Hart (lyrics)Luther Vandross3:24
2."What Now My Love" (Arranged by Don Costa)Gilbert Bécaud (music), Carl Sigman (English lyrics), Pierre Delanoë (French lyrics)Aretha Franklin3:15
3."I've Got a Crush on You" (Arranged by Patrick Williams)George Gershwin (music), Ira Gershwin (lyrics)Barbra Streisand3:23
4."Summer Wind" (Arranged by Nelson Riddle)Hans Bradtke (German lyrics), Johnny Mercer (English lyrics), Heinz Meier (music)Julio Iglesias2:32
5."Come Rain or Come Shine" (Arranged by Don Costa)Harold Arlen (music), Johnny Mercer (lyrics)Gloria Estefan4:04
6."New York, New York" (Arranged by Don Costa)Fred Ebb (lyrics), John Kander (music)Tony Bennett3:30
7."They Can't Take That Away From Me" (Arranged by Patrick Williams)George Gershwin (music), Ira Gershwin (lyrics)Natalie Cole3:11
8."You Make Me Feel So Young" (Arranged by Quincy Jones)Mack Gordon (lyrics), Josef Myrow (music)Charles Aznavour3:05
9."Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry" / "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" (Arranged by Nelson Riddle)Sammy Cahn (lyrics), Jule Styne (music) / Bob Hilliard (lyrics), David Mann (music)Carly Simon3:57
10."I've Got the World on a String" (Arranged by Nelson Riddle)Harold Arlen (music), Ted Koehler (lyrics)Liza Minnelli2:18
11."Witchcraft" (Arranged by Nelson Riddle)Carolyn Leigh (lyrics), Cy Coleman (music)Anita Baker3:22
12."I've Got You Under My Skin" (Arranged by Nelson Riddle)Cole PorterBono3:32
13."All the Way" / "One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)" (Arranged by Patrick Williams and Nelson Riddle)Sammy Cahn (lyrics), James Van Heusen (music) / Harold Arlen (music), Johnny Mercer (lyrics)Kenny G6:03
Notes
  • Intros to "What Now My Love" and "Witchcraft" arranged by Patrick Williams.
  • ”What Now My Love" arranged by Don Costa in 1965 for Steve Lawrence’s album The Steve Lawrence Show[12]
  • "I've Got a Crush on You" originally arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1960.[13]
  • "Summer Wind" arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1966.[14]
  • "Come Rain or Come Shine" arranged by Don Costa in 1961.[15]
  • "(Theme from) New York, New York" arranged by Don Costa in 1979.[16]
  • "They Can't Take That Away From Me" originally arranged by Neal Hefti in 1962.[17]
  • ”Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry” arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1958.[18]
  • ”In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning” arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1955.[19]
  • ”I've Got The World on a String" arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1953.[20]
  • ”Witchcraft” arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1957.[21]
  • ”I've Got You Under My Skin" arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1956.[22]
  • ”All The Way” originally arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1956 for “The Joker is Wild” film soundtrack.[23]
  • ”One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)” arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1958.[24]

Personnel
Musicians
  • Duet partners - vocals (1-12), saxophone (13)
  • Frank Sinatra - vocals (all tracks)
  • Ron Anthony - guitar (1-2, 4-13)
  • Chuck Berghofer - rhythm bass (1-2, 4-13)
  • Gregg Field - drums (1-2, 4-13)
  • Jeff Hamilton - drums (3)
  • Michael Melvoin - piano, additional keyboards (3)
  • Bill Miller - piano (all tracks)
  • Charles Pollard - keyboards[25], additional music performer (2-4, 6, 8)
  • Dave Stone - double bass (3)
  • Paul Viapiano - guitar (3)
Production
  • Andre Fischer - producer (7)
  • David Foster - producer (3)
  • Albert Hammond - producer (4)
  • Ted Jensen - mastering engineer
  • Charles Koppelman - executive producer
  • Jay Landers - producer (3)
  • Tommy LiPuma - producer (Anita Baker's vocals on 11)
  • Phil Ramone - producer (1-10, 12-13, music on 11, Frank Sinatra's vocals on 11)
  • Hank Cattaneo - co-producer
  • Don Rubin - executive producer
  • Al Schmitt - recording engineer
  • Eliot Weisman - executive producer
  • Patrick Williams - musical director, conductor
  • John Wheeler - EDnet network engineer

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[26] Platinum 60,000^
Australia (ARIA)[27] Platinum 70,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[28] Gold 25,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[29] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Ireland (IRMA)[30] Gold 7,500^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[31] Platinum 15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[32] Platinum 100,000^
Sweden (GLF)[33] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[35] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Television special

On 25 November 1994, Sinatra recorded a television special which aired on CBS, titled Sinatra: Duets. This was intended to promote both the album Duets as well as its successor, Sinatra's last studio recording, Duets II[36][37].

gollark: Er, I can't actually check that.
gollark: Oh, hey, 2ev** is unsickified.
gollark: It's not as if I actually *use* the EATW formula. It's just there in the code.
gollark: Theoretically, I *could* get the ToDs down to about five minutes, but I don't think there's much demand for that.
gollark: Hatchery enter time.

References
  1. Duets at AllMusic
  2. Christgau, Robert (November 23, 1993). "Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  3. Rojek, Chris (2004). Frank Sinatra. Polity. p. 155. ISBN 9780745630908.
  4. Ramone 2007, pp. 6, 52
  5. Ramone, Phil; Granata, Charles L. (2007). Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music. Hyperion. p. 5. ISBN 9780786868599.
  6. Waldman, Allison J. The Barbra Streisand Scrapbook. p. 79.
  7. Ramone 2007, p. 89
  8. Ramone 2007, p. 264
  9. "advertisement". Spy. Sussex: 66. January 1994. ISSN 0890-1759.
  10. Larkin, Colin (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Stage and Film Musicals. Virgin. p. 553. ISBN 9780753503751.
  11. Sinatra, Frank. "Duets" (Album Booklet). Capitol Records. 1993.
  12. Lawrence, Steve. “The Steve Lawrence Show” (album notes). Columbia. 1965.
  13. "I've Got a Crush on You". Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/I've%20Got%20a%20Crush%20on%20You
  14. "Summer Wind". Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Summer%20Wind
  15. "Come Rain or Come Shine". Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Come%20Rain%20or%20Come%20Shine
  16. "Theme from New York, New York". Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Theme%20from%20New%20York%20New%20York
  17. "They Can't Take That Away From Me". Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/They%20Can’t%20Take%20That%20Away%20from%20Me
  18. “Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Guess%20I’ll%20Hang%20My%20Tears%20Out%20to%20Dry
  19. “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/In%20the%20Wee%20Small%20Hours%20of%20the%20Morning
  20. “I’ve Got The World on a String”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/I’ve%20Got%20the%20World%20on%20a%20String
  21. “Witchcraft”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Witchcraft
  22. “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/I’ve%20Got%20You%20Under%20My%20Skin
  23. “All The Way”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/All%20the%20Way
  24. “One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/One%20for%20My%20Baby%20(and%20One%20More%20for%20the%20Road)
  25. “Charles Pollard”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Charles%20Pollard
  26. "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2013-02-23.
  27. "Aria Charts 1993". Aria Charts.
  28. "Austrian album certifications – Frank Sinatra – Duets" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  29. "Canadian album certifications – Frank Sinatra – Duets". Music Canada.
  30. "Irish album certifications – Frank Sinatra – Duets". Irish Recorded Music Association.
  31. "New Zealand album certifications – Frank Sinatra – Duets". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  32. Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 937. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  33. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-21. Retrieved 2013-02-23.
  34. "British album certifications – Frank Sinatra – Duets". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Duets in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  35. "American album certifications – Frank Sinatra – Duets". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
  36. "TV REVIEWS : Faux Pairings Hurt 'Sinatra Duets'". latimes.com. 25 November 1994. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  37. "Sinatra Duets". imdb.com. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
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