Released November 2, 1993 Length 45:44 Artist Frank Sinatra Producer Phil Ramone | Recorded June–July 1993 Duets
(1993) Duets II
(1994) Release date 2 November 1993 Label Capitol Records | |
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Genres Traditional pop music, Vocal jazz Similar Frank Sinatra albums, Traditional pop music albums | ||
Sinatra 20th anniv duets
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.
Contents
- Sinatra 20th anniv duets
- Frank sinatara collection duets classics volume 1
- Production
- Legacy
- Personnel
- Songs
- References
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.
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.
Frank sinatara collection duets classics volume 1
Production
Sinatra was approached in 1992 with the idea of making an album of duets. Phil Ramone, Eliot Weisman and Don Rubin discussed the details at Sinatra's house in Palm Springs, California. 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.
The project was pushed forward by Charles Koppelman, the CEO of EMI Records Group North America. 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 Ramone, Schmitt and the studio staff had arranged a small stage for Sinatra to stand on next to the orchestra, to make the recording session feel more like a live performance, but Sinatra said his voice was not in optimal condition. At this point, about $350,000 had been spent to put the project together, and Ramone was worried the record would never be completed. On the third day, June 30, 1993, Sinatra appeared looking sharp and confident in a suit and tie, and he proceeded to record nine songs in five hours, beginning with "Come Fly With Me".
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. After Franklin recorded her part to "What Now My Love" in Detroit, she recorded a personal message to Sinatra, thanking him for the opportunity.
Legacy
Ramone felt that Sinatra's classic songs would be brought to new, younger listeners by way of the Duets project.
Despite the album being advertised as "The Recording Event of The Decade", its sterile recording process did not satisfy many observers. Criticism of Sinatra's choice of isolated recording style drove Tony Bennett to specify the opposite style for his similar projects Duets: An American Classic (2006) and Duets II (2011). For those recording sessions, Ramone and Bennett flew in many cases to join the duet partners in their local studios.
Personnel
Songs
1The Lady Is a TrampLuther Vandross
2What Now My LoveAretha Franklin3:15
3I've Got a Crush On YouBarbra Streisand3:24