Harry James

Frank Sinatra & Harry James Complete Recordings (1939)

Shared by Jon. Thanks a lot.

1. From The Bottom Of My Heart
2. Melancholy Mood
3. My Buddy
4. It’s Funny To Everyone But Me
5. Here Comes The Night
6. All Or Nothing At All
7. On A Little Street In Singapore
8. Who Told You I Cared?
9. Ciribiribin (They’re So In Love)
10. Every Day Of My Life
11. From The Bottom Of My Heart
12. Melancholy Mood
13. It’s Funny To Everyone But Me
14. All Or Nothing At All
15. Stardust
16. Wishing Will Make It So
17. If I Didn’t Care
18. The Lamp Is Low
19. My Love For You
20. Moon Love
21. This Is No Dream

Your early Sinatra posting inspired me to share this. I think it's really quite good, and not just as a historic curiosity. -- Jon
This recording is amazing, largely because it is over 70 years old and completely listenable. It is remarkable because in 1939 neither Sinatra or Harry James were making much money, traveling to engagements where they were treated less than royally. Kudos to Sony/Columbia for producing such a first-rate CD.
The music -- well, it's a mixed bag, but 'All or Nothing at All' is often regarded as Sinatra's first step to stardom, and the recordings here are ample evidence. 'Ciribiribin', the James band theme song, is catchy, 'From the Bottom of My Heart' is is heartfelt, and overall the singing and orchestrations are fun. The most exciting part of this release, however, is the Roseland Ballroom performance, taped for radio, that includes 'Stardust', 'Wishing will make it so' and other great performances. What just floored me the first time I listened was that Harry James and Frank Sinatra are almost a backdrop to the evenings festivities -- you can hear people talking and milling around even on the tape.
While some of the songs are just okay ('My Buddy' seems never to have reappeared in Sinatra's next four decades of performing!), this is a great sample of Sinatra's absolutely (too?) smooth and creamy vocals of 1939.

I would recommend this if you are already a Sinatra or James fan, but Sinatra fans looking for more "swinging" vocals will want to visit the Capitol Records albums of the 1950s.-- amazon.com