Review Summary: A snapshot of picturesque romance, and diamond sunsets
The existence of
“a timeless album” has always been a very subjective concept; people could either relate it to albums that have been classics related to their own life experiences, or it could be related to albums that they consider to be an objectively marvelous creation that transcends the barriers of time, and continues to be appealing decades later. In Frank Sinatra’s case, it’s both. His songs are crafted to be the center of attention, the backdrop for a starry night on the town, or an introspective sunset walk on the beach. Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly with Me” is an audio journey through a mindset, and a level of class that continues to impress and dazzle nearly half a century later.
Frank Sinatra’s biggest draw is obviously, and easily his vocal capabilities. Every song that he graces with his incredibly appealing tone soars to new heights, and boosts appealing compositions to higher levels. A majority of popular vocalists during the time of this album’s release were baritone, and Frank himself was no exception; however, the way he belted notes, and elaborated the atmosphere in segments was in another league compare to his contemporaries. His smooth tone allowed him to be very flexible in terms of the types of songs he could sing for; whether those songs be slow tempo ballads with delicate string accompaniment, or high octane numbers with blaring trumpets, and blowing horns, he proved himself able to keep up with just about any instrumental accompaniment. His lyricism is straight to the point, and often romantic, dealing with glamorous lifestyles, the desire to get away from the stresses of normalcy, and his feelings for the ones he loves.
The backing music utilizes a range of instruments to support Frank’s voice, with horns, and strings being the two most common tools of the trade here; everything is written with the purpose of accommodating Frank’s voice, and those instruments are no exception. The production was top notch, especially given the time of this album’s original release. There’s no abrasive moments in the recording due to quality limitations, which was a notable problem for some of the other similar acts of the time period. All in all, Frank Sinatra’s voice, and ideals expressed in his music were what allowed this album to remain timeless in the face of an ever changing world palette of music.
