Tuesday 2 February 2016

All Alone – FRANK SINATRA****

All Alone/The Girl Next Door/Are You Lonesome Tonight/Charmaine/What’ll I Do/When I Lost You/Oh I Miss You Tonight/Indiscreet/Remember/Together/The Song Is Ended

All Alone was a concept album from Frank Sinatra where he explores unrequited or disappointed love. Some commentators found it to be rather too depressing. (US:25)

All Alone may not be a complete failure, but it is certainly not a great success. Though Sinatra wages a strong war with his voice, All Alone is a losing battle. There are too many songs with too little variation in terms of theme, tempo and production. The album is persistently depressing to the point where it is positively exhausting.”

All Alone reflects the thematic content of the album, which is filled with torch songs, tales of unrequited love, and tunes about romance gone wrong. Needless to say, this is not the jazzy, swinging, finger-snapping side of Sinatra, but rather the slow and tepid side of Sinatra’s discography.”

“On the whole, this isn't a Sinatra album to be overwhelmed by, but rather one to play as the shadows fall across the lawn in the early autumn twilight, listened to (preferably alone, to heighten the mood) over brandy and a nice, aromatic cigar. Recommended, despite its flaws.”

“This LP is nothing short of a masterpiece. Sinatra is in top vocal form as once again he guides us through the sorrows of lost loves, hopes and dreams. He doesn't just sing the music, he sings the words. Words by master song-crafter Irving Berlin are embellished by Sinatra's full emotional range and delivered expertly to the listener with lush arrangements by Gordon Jenkins.”

“Sinatra is in excellent voice on this and Jenkin's arrangements are superb. Together they really set the mood. I'm sure Irving Berlin was thrilled when he heard this LP. I'd venture to guess that he never heard his songs done so well.”

"Only one thing keeps this album from being a dismal failure: Sinatra himself. His vocal performance is particularly effective throughout, and is characterized by a surprising depth of feeling. At times his voice is soft and pleading, while at others it is startlingly powerful, as if he is gaining confidence in the anguish of the material.”

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