Thanks for that news, David! That is a dream come true. AFAIK, the only high-rez Sinatra audio release has been the DVD-A of Sinatra at the Sands. But I wouldn't be surprised if I was wrong about that.
Where Are You was Sinatra's first stereo album. I would be interested in hearing Sinatra albums on SACD.David_B_K said:
While it was the first Sinatra album recorded and released in stereo, the mono release of Where Are You? was the actual first release. Keep in mind that stereo was quite new on the scene (at least for pop music), and the engineers at Capitol were more adept at mono recording. Their early stereo albums were almost afterthoughts at that time. So, while Where Are You? did receive a stereo release, the real 'A' version of the album is the mono. The original stereo album lacked the song I Cover the Waterfront, which for some reason was only recorded in mono, and thus left off the stereo album. So, Mofi has released the mono version of Where Are You? as it is considered the real original. The next two albums at Capitol, Come Fly With Me and Only the Lonely are also better in mono. The mono and stereo versions were recorded simultaneously*. A multi-mike setup was used for the mono albums, and a 3-mike setup was used for the stereo albums. Thus, the mono mixes reveal instruments that are all but inaudible on the stereo mixes. In the case of Come Fly With Me, there was a flaw in the recording due to problems with the mike (or connections, or tape machine-I can't remember which). it was not until 1959's Come Dance with Me that Capitol began recording in stereo only for Sinatra. They still released his albums in mono, but those albums were merely fold-downs from the stereo. After stereo became the preferred listening mode for most people, all subsequent reissues of Where Are You?, Come Fly With Me and Only the Lonely were released in stereo. I stumbled on the mono version of Come Fly With Me when I bought a used album because I wanted to frame the cover. Turned out I had a near-mint grey label original mono pressing. I was shocked at how much better the album sounded in the mono mix. I made a CD of the LP and have not played the stereo version for several years. Capitol released a 180 gram pressing of it a few years ago (erroneously labeled as 'stereo") which can still be had from some sellers or retailers. Likewise, when Mofi released Only the Lonely a few years ago on CD, the mono mix was heard for the first time in decades. ---EDIT--- *I should have added that when Capitol recorded mono and stereo versions simultaneously, the sets of microphones fed into separate recording booths with separate recording machines. So, you had the multi-mike mono version going to one mixing board in one booth, and the three-mike stereo version going to another.Robin9 said:
That's funny...because I much prefer the King Cole Trio phase of Nat's career. I always thought the powers-that-be at Capitol took Nat down the wrong road when they hooked him up with the likes of Gordon Jenkins and Nelson Riddle.
The Capitol album Mo-Fi's bringing out in this batch with Billy May will be "Come Fly With Me"...in the original mono version, which was a separate recording done simultaneously with the stereo version using separate mike feeds, recorders and engineers...the stereo version has tape saturation problems which compromise fidelity in the louder passages, so mono is the preferred mix among hardcore Sinatraphiles...
I bought this set last year after reading your post, Rich. A terrific set at a bargain price. When I was in high school back in the '60's, I was buying Sinatra records (along with Beatles and Presley records). Classmates questioned my taste in music because I bought Sinatra and Presley. I was very fotunate to be able to see Sinatra twice in Atlantic City around 85/86. Also was able to be at Presley's June 10, 1972 Saturday night show at Madison Square Garden. The expression "the atmosphere was electric" is almost an understatement to describe the experience I had at those shows.Richard--W said:
Thanks for posting this wonderful news, David. My favorite music in the world on SACD. This is going to hurt financially but I have to get them all. I browsed Mobile Direct and found other releases I should get as well. But Sinatra at Capitol comes first. I'll go over to Import CD's to see what the prices are like there.David_B_K said:Mike, here is some info:
I pre-ordered from Music Direct. So far, I have received Where Are You? in mono. sounds great. Come Fly With Me will also be the (superior) mono mix.
