As much as people love the suave Frank Sinatra of the 50’s or the classic Sinatra of the 60’s and 70’s, the voice was first heard on radio programs throughout the 40’s and early 50’s.
Over one hundred of those performances have been assembled on the new 4-CD set Frank Sinatra: A Voice on Air (1935-1955). Luxuriously packaged with a 60-page book, Frank Sinatra: A Voice on Air (1935-1955) is an essential addition to Sinatra’s voluminous discography, offering a unique glimpse into the formative period of America’s first teen idol: Frank Sinatra, the man who became known the world over as “The Voice.” Included in the book are an introductory essay by renowned singer, pianist and archivist Michael Feinstein; a personal remembrance by Frank’s eldest daughter Nancy Sinatra and detailed essay by foremost Sinatra historian, author and box set producer Charles L. Granata. The package was designed by noted Art Director Maria Marulanda, who created the landmark 2007 Columbia/Legacy box set Frank Sinatra: A Voice in Time.
In assembling this groundbreaking box set marking the first official release anthologizing Frank Sinatra’s seminal radio performances, the producers have mined treasures from their own extensive Sinatra broadcast transcription collections and the world’s most prestigious archives and sound recording repositories including The Library of Congress, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, the Paley Center for Media, the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative archive and The University of Colorado’s Glenn Miller Archive. Included are dozens of rare photographs and recording artifacts that help to illustrate the scope of Sinatra’s incredible radio career.
Meticulously restored and remastered in high-resolution from the original glass and aluminum radio transcription discs and magnetic tape masters by three-time Grammy winning recording engineer Andreas Meyer and Sinatra producer Charles L. Granata, these vintage, historic recordings – most of them unheard since their original broadcast in the 1940s and 1950s – sound more rich and vibrant than ever before. All of the warmth and vibrancy that are hallmarks of Frank Sinatra’s vocal brilliance have been preserved, and showcased with unprecedented fidelity.
This breathtaking overview charts Frank Sinatra’s evolution as a vocalist, and includes samples of his radio work from the first twenty years of his career, from his first radio performance in 1935 (singing S-H-I-N-E with the Hoboken Four) to his last weekly series in 1955 (The Frank Sinatra Show, featuring ultra-rare performances with an in-studio quintet). From beginning to end, Frank Sinatra: A Voice on Air (1935-1955) envelops the listener in the atmosphere surrounding the creation of these masterful radio performances in the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s.
This box set holds special significance – both in Frank Sinatra’s body of work, and as a special 100th Birthday tribute – as it includes dozens of songs that were never officially recorded by Frank Sinatra, and dozens of unusual (and unrecorded) arrangements of Sinatra’s most prized songs. Among the treasures included on the collection are Cole Porter’s Don’t Fence Me In, Frank Loesser’s I Wish I Didn’t Love You So, Jerome Kern and Ira Gershwin’s Long Ago and Far Away, Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen’s Aren’t You Glad You’re You and Richard Whiting, Leo Robin and Newell Chase’s My Ideal – all important classics from the Great American Songbook that Sinatra never recorded.
Then, there are priceless duets with Nat ‘King’ Cole (Exactly Like You), Benny Goodman (I Only Have Eyes for You), Peggy Lee (You Brought A New Kind of Love to Me), Metropolitan Opera star Dorothy Kirsten (A Fine Romance), Doris Day (Take Me Out to the Ballgame and There’s No Business Like Show Business) and Milton Berle (It’s De-Lovely) – as well as songwriters Irving Berlin (Alexander’s Ragtime Band), Johnny Mercer (Ac-Cen-Tchu-Ate the Positive) and Louisiana Governor Jimmy Davis (You Are My Sunshine). Also included are seldom-heard program openings, closings, announcements and commercials – PLUS twelve surprise bonus tracks that are sure to delight even the die-hard Sinatra fan!
Frank Sinatra: A Voice on Air (1935-1955) was produced by Charles L. Granata, Didier C. Deutsch, Michael Feinstein and Andreas Meyer in cooperation with Legacy Recordings, Frank Sinatra Enterprises and the Smithsonian Institution. Executive Producers for the project are Nancy Sinatra, Adam Block and John Jackson. Editing, restoration and mastering are by Andreas Meyer and Charles L. Granata.
Befitting the historical importance of these irreplaceable American musical treasures, Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings has partnered with The Smithsonian Institution to create a single CD consisting of an additional 26 rare, previously unreleased radio recordings (not available on the box set) to be offered exclusively at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. and through their website.
Frank Sinatra Radio Performances track list
Disc 1
Vintage Radio Tuning In/Major Bowes’ Show Opening & S – H
Fred Allen Introduces Frank Sinatra and the Four Sharps & Exactly Like You
Moon Love (with Harry James & his Orchestra)
Fame and Fortune Show Opening: I’m Getting Sentimental Over You & Marie (with Tommy Dorsey & his Orchestra/Band Chorus)
Deep Night (with Tommy Dorsey & his Orchestra/Band Chorus)
Ruth Lowe Interview & I’ll Never Smile Again/Fame and Fortune Show Opening: I’m Getting Sentimental Over You
Frenesi (with Tommy Dorsey & his Orchestra and the Pied Pipers)
East of the Sun (with Tommy Dorsey & his Orchestra/Band Chorus)
Carnaval de Broadway Show Opening: I’m Getting Sentimental Over You & The One I Love (with Tommy Dorsey & his Orchestra and the Pied Pipers)
Say It & Carnaval de Broadway Show Closing: I’m Getting Sentimental Over You (with Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra)
She’s Funny That Way
I Don’t Believe in Rumors
Medley: I’ll String Along With You/As Time Goes By
That Old Black Magic
I Heard You Cried Last Night
For Me and My Gal
Moonlight Mood
There Are Such Things
Broadway Bandbox Show Opening & All or Nothing at All (orchestral)
My Heart Stood Still
The Right Kind of Love
Close to You (orchestral)
Disc 2
Songs by Sinatra Show Opening: This Love of Mine / Paper Doll
Kiss Me Again
If Loveliness Were Music
Lover Come Back to Me / Songs by Sinatra Show Closing: Put Your Dreams Away
My Heart Tells Me
My Ideal
News Bulletin / Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower Briefing / President Franklin D. Roosevelt Address of D-Day (Excerpts) / Music for Millions Introduction & Buy a Piece of the Peace
Frank Sinatra D-Day Announcement / The Frank Sinatra Show Opening: This Love of Mine / Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer
Frank Sinatra Commentary on Special D-Day Broadcast / America the Beautiful
Frank Sinatra Dedication to Canadian Soldiers at Rockcliffe Hospital, Ontario / I’ll Be Seeing You (Rehearsal)
Frank Sinatra Dedication to Soldiers at Halloran Hospital, Staten Island, NY / The Way You Look Tonight
It Had to Be You
Don’t Fence Me In
Lonely Love
Long Ago and Far Away
Songs by Sinatra Opening: Night and Day / Aren’t You Glad You’re You
It Might as Well be Spring (with June Hutton & The Pied Pipers)
Birthday Greetings for Frank Sinatra’s 30th Birthday / Frank Sinatra introduces June Hutton / Button Up Your Overcoat (with June Hutton & The Pied Pipers)
Day by Day (with June Hutton & The Pied Pipers)
Lily Belle (with June Hutton & The Pied Pipers)
Ol’ Man River / Songs by Sinatra Show Closing: Put Your Dreams Away (with June Hutton & The Pied Pipers)
Comedy Sketch: The Battle of the Century (Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope & Bing Crosby)
Songs by Sinatra Old Gold “Yankee Doodle Dandy” Commercial
The Frank Sinatra Show Vimms Vitamin Commercial
Songs by Sinatra Max Factor Commercial
Disc 3
Songs by Sinatra Show Opening: Night and Day & I’m An Old Cowhand/Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds
Along the Navajo Trail
Frank Sinatra Introduction & Home on the Range
Frank Sinatra Introduces Louisiana Gov. Jimmie Davis & You Are My Sunshine (with Gov. Jimmie Davis)
Frank Sinatra Introduces Nat “King” Cole & Exactly Like You (with Nat “King” Cole & the King Cole Trio
Frank Sinatra Introduces Slim Gaillard & Cement Mixer
You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me (with Peggy Lee)
I Only Have Eyes for You (with the Benny Goodman Sextet)
You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby
Don’t Forget Tonight Tomorrow (rehearsal) (with the Pied Pipers)
Sweet Lorraine (orchestral version)
Personality
Who’s Sorry Now?
Don’t Marry That Girl
A Salute to Al Jolson Show Opening/George Jessel Introduces Frank Sinatra & Rock
These Foolish Things (parody) (rehearsal)
(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better) (with Jimmy Durante and Garry Moore)
Frank Sinatra Introduces Irving Berlin & Alexander’s Ragtime Band (with Irving Berlin)
Help Me to Help My Neighbor & Irving Berlin Commentary on Frank Sinatra Winning the Jefferson Award
Frank Sinatra Introduces Johnny Mercer & Ac-Cent-Tu-Ate the Positive
Your Hit Parade Opening: Lucky Day & (It’s Going to Be A) Great Day
I Wish I Didn’t Love You So
Take Me Out to the Ball Game (with Doris Day)
There’s No Business Like Show Business (with Doris Day)
Serenade of the Bells
Disc 4
Haunted Heart
Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams
I’m Looking Over a Four – Leaf Clover
Nature Boy (orchestral version)
Little White Lies
On a Slow Boat to China
Light Up Time Show Opening: Lucky Day & It All Depends on You
Some Enchanted Evening (with Dorothy Kirsten)
Full Moon and Empty Arms (with Dorothy Kirsten)
It’s Only a Paper Moon
Mad About You
A Fine Romance (with Dorothy Kirsten)
Dean Martin Introduces Frank Sinatra & I’ve Got a Crush on You
Why Try to Change Me Now
Birth of the Blues
To Be Perfectly Frank Show Opening: Walking and Whistlin’ the Blues & I’ve Got the World on a String
I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
A Hundred Years from Today
This Can’t Be Love
Them There Eyes & To Be Perfectly Frank Closing: Walkin’ and Whistlin’ the Blues
The Frank Sinatra Show Opening: Young at Heart & Tenderly
Hello, Young Lovers
It’s Alright with Me
Our Love Is Here to Stay
Gary Crosby Introduces Frank Sinatra & Sam’s Song (The Happy Tune) (with Gary Crosby)
Half As Lovely (Twice As True)
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