Sparks - "Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins" Yellow Vinyl, Remastered, Reissued, 2xCD, 2019/1994 (BMG)

It's no secret that I'm a Sparks' fanatic. My love for this crazed duo is as immense as the oceans and deep into the distant stars. For me, there is no such thing as a bad Sparks' album, but "Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins" is one of my faves among their recorded masterpieces. There is not another haunting song as "Let's Go Surfing," or "When Do I Sing My Way." Sparks made masterpieces in the 1970s and 1980s but disappeared amid the later 80s, and returned to magnificence with the above album. 

Hardcore electro-pop, this is music made by two men, and it's a tight album with no wasted space. It's a specific and focused set of songs that focuses on some aspects of pop culture, as seen through the Mael brothers. "Gone with the Wind," Sinatra's and Sid's "My Way," Charlie Parker, The BBC, Liberace, and Hong Kong filmmaker (who is on the album as well) Tsui Hark all share space in this work. They bounce off each other, and in some sense, there is communication or sharing between these iconic figures/institutions. 

CD-1 is a compilation of remixes from "Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins." What stands out is Bernard Butler's mix of ("When I Kiss You) I Hear Charlie Parker." He adds guitar textures that give the song a different feel than the standard version. Also of great interest is their version of "Little Drummer Boy," and a great unknown Sparks song, "She's An Anchorman." What makes this reissue a must for the fan is CD-2, which is unreleased (until now) great unknown Sparks songs, which I presume was recorded around the same time as "Gratuitous Sax." 17 songs here and not one is a dud. Also noted are the songs sung by Christi Haydon. She was their live drummer in the 1990s, and it seems at one point and time, was set-up to sing the songs of Sparks. Similar to Serge Gainsbourg working with Jane Birkin/Brigitte Bardot or Lee Hazelwood's work with Nancy Sinatra. All great, especially "Katharine Hepburn," which is an unknown Sparks masterpiece song and her excellent version of The Who's (John Entwistle) "Boris the Spider." Superb packaging and music. A must for Sparks' fans, but also proof of their greatness. 

Frank Sinatra - "To Be Perfectly ...Frank" Vinyl LP, Album, Bootleg (Retrospect)

I wrote a commentary on the CD version of "To Be Perfectly... Frank" a few months ago, but finally found this Frank Sinatra bootleg on vinyl the other day.   It's my favorite Sinatra album.   In 1953, Sinatra had a weekly radio show in Los Angeles where he played DJ, and then he would do one song live on the show.  The album (and CD) is a compilation of those recordings, and they're a remarkable document of this incredible American artist.   Which sounds academic-like, but in reality a real joy to listen to these recordings. 

What makes these recordings so unique is that it's Sinatra with a small band, including an electric jazz guitar, bass, drums, and Piano, and one can easily imagine all these musicians plus Frank, in a tiny radio studio together.  The intimacy is very much part of these recordings.    The songs are all from the classic American songbook, but with quite a few of obscurities as well.   Also, note that there are more songs on the CD version than the LP.   I found this (sealed) vinyl by getting on my knees in a record store and going through the floor-level bins.  It's amazing what one can find (or do) on one's delicate knees. 

Frank Sinatra - "In The Wee Small Hours" Vinyl, Album, LP, 1955/2009 (Capital)

This, I believe, is the first full-length Frank Sinatra album that I purchased in 1986. As a man who was in his 30's, it seems liked the right moment or time to get into the blue funk of Sinatra at the time. Sinatra, I believe, or at the very least, one of the first artists to use the album format as a theme piece or dare I say it, the concept album. Being a sad boy/man, I was immediately drawn to Sinatra's skills as a ballad singer. In other words, these recordings, especially this album "In The Wee Small Hours" is my version of the goth album. 

I re-lived my entire romantic life at that point and time with this album. The disappointments of love have never been expressed in such highly poetic and brutal terms before my ears. The album cover fully reveals what's inside the packaging, which is 16 songs of begging and acknowledging being on the losing side of a sexual/romantic relationship. "Can't We Be Friends" is the ultimate song of a partner just grasping any straws of hope that somehow you can still be part of someone's life. We can gather that this is not going to be the case. Failure lurks on this album like a cheap after-shave lotion. 

Sinatra had the knack of getting right into the emotion or the physical pleasure of being in love or with a loved one. Through his vocals, he was a sonic poet, and here he had his brilliant arranger Nelson Riddle adding spices and elements of Wagner like heights to Sinatra's series of pleadings and reporting of love gone wrong or gone. There are no bad cuts on this album. Sinatra took the great American Songbook and cherry-picked the brilliant songs that make this album. The one song I play over and over again is the great Duke Ellington song "Mood Indigo." Perfection was never so painful to hear. Yet, it pleases the troubled soul.

Tracklist Hide Credits

A1	In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning Composed By – David Mann (3)Written-By – Bob Hilliard	3:00
A2	Mood Indigo Composed By – Barney Bigard, Duke EllingtonWritten-By – Irving Mills	3:30
A3	Glad To Be Unhappy Written-By – Rodgers & Hart	2:35
A4	I Get Along Without You Very Well Composed By – Hoagy CarmichaelWritten-By – Jane Brown Thompson	3:42
A5	Deep In A Dream Composed By – Jimmy Van HeusenWritten-By – Eddie DeLange	2:49
A6	I See Your Face Before Me Composed By – Arthur SchwartzWritten-By – Howard Dietz	3:24
A7	Can't We Be Friends? Composed By – Kay SwiftWritten-By – Paul James (4)	2:48
A8	When Your Lover Has Gone Songwriter – E. A. Swan*	3:10
B1	What Is This Thing Called Love? Songwriter – Cole Porter	2:35
B2	Last Night When We Were Young Composed By – Harold ArlenWritten-By – E.Y. Harburg	3:17
B3	I'll Be Around Songwriter – Alec Wilder	2:59
B4	Ill Wind Composed By – Harold ArlenWritten-By – Ted Koehler	3:46
B5	It Never Entered My Mind Written-By – Rodgers & Hart	2:42
B6	Dancing On The Ceiling Written-By – Rodgers & Hart	2:57
B7	I'll Never Be The Same Songwriter – Frank Signorelli, Gus Kahn, Matty Malneck	3:05
B8	This Love Of Mine Songwriter – Frank Sinatra, Henry Sanicola, Sol Parker	3:35

Frank Sinatra - "September of my Years" Vinyl, LP, Album, 1965 (Reprise)

No way in heaven or hell would I have purchased this album in 1965, at the age of 11 or so.  In fact, this album didn't make sense to me till I was in my mid-40s.  I slowly started to buy Sinatra albums when I was in my 30s, which was in the 80s.  I totally ignore Sinatra as an artist in my youth.  The fact that this album came out during the 'youth' explosion of the pop rock world is funny enough.  An album about aging in the era of youth! 

The truth is, this is a major album by a middle-aged singer.   Sinatra grasps the issues of being a Romeo at a later age, and also the ability to look back and reflect on one's life.  That is a hard thing to do for someone who's a teenager or a young adult. On the other hand, one would think this album had a huge impact on Sinatra's generation at this specific 60's era.   Life is often a blur or a Futurist painting, so a work of art that reflects on the passing of time is a profound medium, whatever it's in the literature (Marcel Proust comes to mind) or on the vinyl, this album for instance. 

The visual image of I have of this album, and all Sinatra 1950s to 1960s recordings come with a mental picture of some sort, is of one listening to "September of My Years" around 11:15 in the evening and with one's choice of alcohol.  The orchestration by the great Gordon Jenkins is Wagner like in the textures of the feelings in these set of songs.  All, very much looking back as an older person and commenting on life then and of course, what happened to that life now.   This album is like a book.  Not a beginning, middle, and end type of narrative, but nevertheless it does tell a story of emotions spent and the after-effects of one's attention at the time.  It's a very moving piece of work. My favorite cuts are "It Was a Very Good Year," "The Man in the Looking Glass," and the fave of all faves is "September Song."  In fact, I think this is the best recording or version of this song.  Sinatra as a singer was at the peak of his talent.  I think some of his recordings of the 1960s are very so-so, but this album reads to me like a very personal statement from Sinatra. 

Frank Sinatra - "Perfectly Frank" CD, Album, 1991 (Bravura)

Excellent collection of Sinatra's performances from his radio show "Perfectly Frank" from the years 1953 to 1955.  In other words, the classic Frank years where he just made one masterpiece album after another.  "Perfectly Frank" is my favorite Sinatra collection, and I suspect that it's a bootleg, but thank god for that.   What makes these recordings so unique are the musicians backing Sinatra on these classic American tunes.  All of them are exceptional, but it's the combination of instruments, especially the electric guitar that makes these recordings unique and extraordinary.  Intimate, as radio should be - because it's voice to a listener and the selection of songs are excellent.  No strings, no brass, just the magic that is Sinatra with his small combo, doing these fantastic broadcasts.  Such a perfect setting.  Probably not the easiest recordings to find, but very much worth the hunt. 

racklist Hide Credits

	Opening Theme And Introduction
1.1	This Can´t Be Love Written-By – Rodgers-Hart*
2	Nevertheless Written-By – Kalmar*, Harry Ruby
3	What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry  Written-By – Lyman*, Donaldson*
4	Hello Young Lovers Written-By – Rodgers-Hammerstein II*
5	Love Me Or Leave Me Written-By – Kahn*, Donaldson*
6	I'll String Along With You Written-By – Dubin*, Warren*
7	You Took Advantage Of Me Written-By – Rodgers-Hart*
8	Just You, Just Me Written-By – Greer*, Klages*
9	Let´s Fall In Love Written-By – Arlen*, Koehler*
10	Them There Eyes Written-By – Tauber*, Pinkard*, Tracey*
11	Come Rain Or Come Shine Written-By – Arlen-Mercer*
12	Somebody Loves Me Written-By – MacDonald*, DeSylva*, Gershwin*
13	I´m In The Mood For Love Written-By – Fields*, McHugh*
14	On The Sunnyside Of The Street Written-By – Fields*, McHugh*
15	S'Wonderful Written-By – Gershwin-I.Gershwin*
16	Under A Blanket Of Blue Written-By – Neiburg*, Symes*
17	I Don't Know Why (I Love You Like I Do) Written-By – Ahlert*, Turk*
18	Sometimes I'm Happy Written-By – Caesar*, Youmans*
19	Don't Blame Me Written-By – Fields*, McHugh*
20	Thou Swell Written-By – Rodgers-Hart*
21	I'm Confessin' Written-By – Daugherty*, Reynolds*
22	Out Of Nowhere Written-By – Heyman*, Green*
23	One Hundred Years From Today Written-By – Washington*, Young*
24	Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea Written-By – Arlen*, Koehler*
25	Tenderly Written-By – Lawrence*, Gross*
26	You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby Written-By – Warren*, Mercer*
27	Taking A Chance On Love Written-By – Latouche*, Fetter*, Duke*
28	Hands Across The Table Written-By – Delettre*, Parish*
29	What Is This Thing Called Love? Written-By – Porter*
30	If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight) Written By – Creamer, Johnson
31	Night And Day Written-By – Porter*