Frank Sinatra Sinatra & Strings on Numbered-Edition 180g 33RPM LP from Mobile Fidelity: Audiophile Pressing of 1962 Classic Is Out of Print

1/4" / 15 IPS analog master to analog console to lathe 

One of the most acclaimed albums of his career, Sinatra & Strings is a brilliant collection of standards sung with spectacular passion and feeling by Frank Sinatra, who at the time of the November 1961 recording, was in peak condition. The 1962 set is Sinatra’s first with arranger Don Costa, and stands as their finest collaboration.

Every song here is a classic ballad, every performance an elegant masterstroke. Sinatra achieves sublime perfection, and several tracks here became the definitive versions with which he’s now forever associated. For instance, the rendition of “Night and Day” is the singer’s third on record, but it’s the best. So, too, is Sinatra’s run through “All or Nothing At All,” preceding the swinging version by five years. And the bold interpretation of “Stardust,” on which Ol’ Blue Eyes only croons the verses, stands as a testament to the natural chemistry between Sinatra and Costa.

Most importantly, Sinatra infuses the material with the rarified kind of genuine emotion, evocative phrasing, universal pathos, and gorgeous tones that made him legend. His deepening baritone provides a keen match with Costa’s lush string arrangements and methodical pace. Anyone who believes that Sinatra’s best work was during his time with Capitol needs to hear this grand, magnificent album, which is as good as anything he ever recorded. Love songs don’t come any more sincere, romantic, dramatic, or intense.

Mastered from the original analog tapes, Mobile Fidelity’s numbered-edition 180-gram LP presents Sinatra & Strings with a premium sonic fidelity that no other edition, including the original vinyl, ever had. Aware of the high quality demanded by discerning Sinatra fans, MoFi engineers took their time in extracting every possible detail and nuance from this gem, resulting a pressing that makes Sinatra and the orchestra come alive in your room. Nothing is artificially exaggerated or boosted; what you hear is what the artists intended, and the rich sound on this vocal album will satisfy your every need and desire. 

"If you want to know what the early 1960s felt like, listen to this lushly and dramatically orchestrated Sinatra, bathed in opulent, moonlit reverb and surrounded by cushiony strings spread out on an impossibly huge, wide and deep soundstage."
--Michael Fremer, MusicAngle.com