The Complete Recordings Nineteen Thirty-Nine

The Essential Frank Sinatra with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (2CD)	Frank Sinatra ~ The V-Discs ~ Years: 1943-1947 ~ Columbia ~ Two Volume Set	The Best of Harry James	The Complete Capitol Singles Collection Each song on this 96-cut collection is wonderful. And the Capitol years were when Sinatra's fullest voice was used on material by the best (Arlen, Porter, Van Heusen, Cahn, Styne). But a purist will miss the narrative that was so special in the original albums. Records such as Th...	The Song Is You
I've Heard That Song Before: Hits of Harry James	Trumpet Blues: The Best of Harry James This collection carries the same title and graphics as the Peter Levinson biography of Harry James to be published this October by Oxford Press. It contains 16 of Harry James' greatest records, made between 1955 and '58 with Helen Forrest, Willie Smith, Corky Corcoran and Buddy R...	The Best of the Columbia Years: 1943-1952 This four-disc, 97-track collection compiles the highlights of the first major period of Frank Sinatra's solo career, beginning with 1943's "Close To You," and ending with 1952's "Why Try to Change Me Now." Sinatra was the preeminent singing idol of American teenagers (the female...	The Very Best of Benny Goodman	The Capitol Years Including Sinatra's finest recordings from the most consistently accomplished era of his career, The Capitol Years includes three discs and 75 songs worth of swinging standards and bittersweet saloon pop, the music Sinatra made after his career and personal life had crashed and s...

hard to believe this is almost 70 years old
Some of Frank's very earliest recordings , and the only ones he made with Harry James. As was often the case in the big band days , the vocalist was secondary to the band. It doesn't take much when listening to this package to hear how that was all about to change in Mr. Sinatra's case.

Earliest Sinatra, James is wonderful...
This recording is amazing, largely because it is over 60 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 with a nicely done narrative booklet by George Simon (who reviewed the Harry James Band in 1939 and commented on Sinatra's "very pleasing vocals"!) and Will Friedwald.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.