Search Results for "Frank Sinatra"

Seth MacFarlane – Holiday For Swing! (2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · August 31, 2023 · Comments off

Academy Award-nominated and Grammy-nominated writer, singer, actor, producer and director, Seth MacFarlane has recently completed his first-ever Christmas album. Following his critically acclaimed 2011 debut, Music Is Better Than Words, and a 2013 Oscar Nomination for co-writing “Everybody Needs a Best Friend” from Ted, the record will be available at stores everywhere and digital retailers just in time for the holiday season via Republic Records.

Once again, MacFarlane teamed up with composer, arranger, and producer Joel McNeely. The album features a 52-piece orchestra recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios and a bevy of London’s premier players. Among the musicians in the orchestra were jazz legend Peter Erskine on the drums and former Frank Sinatra bassist Chuck Berghoffer.

For the album, MacFarlane and McNeely cherry-picked both timeless holiday songs and lesser-known gems. MacFarlane slides from a warm, introspective introduction with a vocal quintet into a bright, up-tempo swing in “Let It Snow”, and brings a new interpretation to the Lee Gordon rarity “Christmas Dreaming”. Continuing a longtime friendship and creative partnership, Norah Jones joins him for Seger Ellis and Al Stillman’s “Little Jack Frost Get Lost”, while Sara Bareilles lends her powerful pipes to Frank Loesser’s “Baby It’s Cold Outside”.

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Seal – Standards (Deluxe) (2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · August 30, 2023 · Comments off

It’s always some kind of baptism of fire. Not a prerequisite but a way to measure oneself to one’s colleagues from yesterday and today. With the aptly named Standards, his tenth studio album, Seal climbs the Everest of the great jazz and swing classics. After three decades, the Brit doesn’t have anything to prove anymore about the soul quality of his voice. But this retro-flavored enchanted digression reminds us of how this powerful and sultry organ can master any repertoire. Recorded for the most part in the famous Capitol studios in Los Angeles, precisely where Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat “King” Cole and many others have recorded some of their greatest discs, Standardshas incidentally been created with the help of musicians that have assisted these great voices. We find pianist Randy Waldman (Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka), bass player Chuck Berghofer (Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles) and drummer Greg Fields (Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder), all gathered so that Seal would give his reinterpretations of Autumn Leaves, I Put A Spell On You, Love For Sale, My Funny Valentine, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Smile, I’m Beginning To See The Light and Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow. “This is the album I have always wanted to make, explains the concerned party. I grew up listening to music from the Rat Pack era, so recording these timeless tunes was a lifelong dream. It was a true honour to collaborate with the same musicians who performed with Frank Sinatra and so many of my favourite artists, in the very same studios where the magic was first made – it was one of the greatest days of my recording career.” We can easily imagine that…

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Rick Stephenson – Reflections in the Wee Small Hours (2023) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · August 28, 2023 · Comments off

It has been a busy year for local Kingsville singer and musician Rick Stephenson and it’s set to get even busier! In May, Rick released his fourth album Reflections In The Wee Small Hours. He recorded it as a tribute to one of his favourites, Frank Sinatra’s classic In The Wee Small Hours. Rick referred to it as his “labour of love,” a fresh and modern approach to the original 1955 album by Sinatra.

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Sammy Davis, Jr. – Simply … Mister Wonderful! (The 2020 Remasters) (2020/2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/48kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · August 28, 2023 · Comments off

With this new album the legendary La Vegas “Rat Pack” is completely represented in our retrospective. After “Blue Eyes”, Frank Sinatra and “Dino” – Dean Martin also “Mister Wonderful” Sammy Davis jr has found his place in our collections. The three greatest showmen ever walking on earth as some people tend to say: Sintra the “womanizer”, Martin, the soft Latino Macho and Sammy Davis jr, who was certainly the power packet of the three. All his songs are full of vigour, of energy and they are bursting like dynamite. 30 tracks, newly remastered from original analogue sources in beautiful 24bit, 48kHz. Enjoy!

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Champagne Jazz Trio – Effervescent Jazz Vibes (2023) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · August 26, 2023 · Comments off

The Champagne Jazz Trio presents the peak of musical sophistication with a modern twist…from Ed Sheeran to Frank Sinatra., Ella Fitzgerald to Chaka Kahn the London based trio will serenade you with the perfect evening’s performance full of elegance.

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Sonny Rollins – Sonny Boy (1961/2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · August 25, 2023 · Comments off

“Sonny Boy” is a 1961 album by jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins comprising four tracks from his final recordings for the Prestige label, three of which were originally released on Tour de Force, along with an unissued performance from the session that produced Rollins Plays for Bird.

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Shelby Lynne – Just A Little Lovin’ (2007/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · August 25, 2023 · Comments off

Shelby Lynne - Just A Little Lovin' (2007/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz] Download

Shelby Lynne has followed her own sometimes reckless, always adventuresome muse throughout her career. Just a Little Lovin’ is her personal homage to the late, legendary Dusty Springfield. Nine of its ten cuts are inextricably linked to the late British vocalist whose sway Lynne came under years ago, but a chance conversation with Barry Manilow – of all people – led to the making of this record. Lynne doesn’t attempt to sound like Springfield. She uses her own phrasing and rhythmic sensibility. Four cuts here come from the Dusty in Memphis period, as well as the title track to The Look of Love and some of her mid-’60s British hits that were not released in America. All these songs, with the exception of the self-penned “Pretend,” were recorded by Springfield. The album was recorded in the Capitol Records studio with Frank Sinatra’s microphone and producer Phil Ramone. Lynne’s aesthetic sense serves her well: most singers automatically shoot for “Son of a Preacher Man,” but Lynne steers clear. She does, however, tackle some truly monolithic Springfield hits: “Just a Little Lovin’,” “Breakfast in Bed,” “Willie and Laura Mae Jones,” and “I Don’t Want to Hear It Anymore.” Lynne’s readings are close, intimate. They’re understated but more direct. Ramone used a small quartet in guitarist Dean Parks, keyboardist Rob Mathes, drummer Gregg Field, and bassist Kevin Axt to give her that edge. Lynne’s delivery takes these songs straight to the listener’s belly. The taut but easy sensuality in her voice adds a very different dimension to them.
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Ruth Olay – Olay! O.K.!! (Remastered) (1963/2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · August 22, 2023 · Comments off

Newly remastered! A very popular jazz vocalist from the heady days of Hollywood’s Central Avenue nightclub scene of the mid 1950’s, Ruth Olay counted Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Barbara Streisand among her many admirers. Blessed with a wonderfully expressive voice, Ruth was a frequent guest on TV variety shows and appeared at the most prestigious cabaret spots and concert halls in the US and Europe. Her classic 1963 audiophile album, “Olay! OK!” presents many of her finest recorded performances including “I Concentrate on You” and “Under a Blanket of Blue”.

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Red Norvo Combo, Hank Jones, Jimmy Rowles – Vibes a la Red (Remastered) (2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · August 17, 2023 · Comments off

Red Norvo was one of jazz’s early vibraphonists. An unusual star during the swing era, he helped establish the xylophone, marimba and vibraphone as jazz instruments. His career began in Chicago in 1925 with a band called “The Collegians”. He subsequently played with many other bands, including, Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet, and Woody Herman. Norvo had a quieter yet no-less fluent style than Lionel Hampton. He recorded with Mildred Bailey (his wife), Billie Holiday, Dinah Shore and Frank Sinatra. Norvo and his wife were known as “Mr. and Mrs. Swing.”

This 2xHD remastered album contains recordings from two sessions made in New York, NY and Hollywood, CA

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Roberta Flack – First Take (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) (1969/2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · August 3, 2023 · Comments off

Earlier this year, Roberta Flack joined an illustrious circle of honorees as a 2020 recipient of the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Now the 1969 debut album that set the singer-pianist’s 50-year professional career in motion — First Take — is available again for a limited time.

First Take: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, released today (July 24, Rhino), comes packaged as a two-CD, one LP remastered set. The vinyl LP replicates the original Atlantic Records eight-track album — produced by Joel Dorn — which features “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”

Flack’s first No. 1 pop and adult contemporary single topped those charts after Clint Eastwood tapped the song to appear in his 1971 film directorial debut, Play Misty for Me. The song later won Flack the first of two consecutive Grammy Awards for Record of the Year. She won the category again the following year for “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” whose imaginative cover by the Fugees became a huge hit for the hip-hop group in 1996.
Artist Mentioned

The first of the deluxe edition’s two CDs sports the original eight tracks plus three bonus cuts: single edits of the aforementioned hit and the Les McCann/Eddie Harris jazz classic “Compared to What” plus the song “Trade Winds.” However, the 12 previously unreleased demo recordings comprising the second CD further foretell the success to come.

Opening with a live version of Flack performing the Frank Sinatra standard “All the Way,” the CD spotlights a dauntless newcomer switching effortlessly as well between folk (“Frankie and Johnny“), jazz (“Afro Blue”), R&B (“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”) and pop (“To Sir With Love”).

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Nat King Cole – Just One of Those Things (1957/2011) DSF DSD64

SACD / DSD By admin · August 1, 2023 · Comments off

This has been a totally no-expenses-spared project. Using the original 3-track work tapes from Capitol’s vaults, mastering engineers Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman along with DSD specialist Gus Skinas bring you an entirely incomparable experience. In order to master from the 3-track masters, AcousTech had to be outfitted for three-channel playback. That meant Kevin Gray had to find a third identical monitoring channel chain (including mixing board, amplifier and speaker) as well as a 3-track playback headstack and also a 3-track preview head for the vinyl cutting system. It was a massive assignment. We’ve spent a fortune to include these extra bells and whistles and to make this a truly historic reissue.

Contrasting downbeat ballads with an ironic brassy, upbeat big band attitude, the ironic Cole Porter standard Just One Of Those Things sets the tone for a distinctive, pungent experience of love and disillusionment with a swing. Brilliantly backing the intimately expressive and supremely musical voice of the incomparable Nat “King” Cole, a big band with no “strings” smolders, swings, saunters, storms, sighs and sizzles with the arrangements of the distinctive Billy May. Featuring top shelf interpretations of “These Foolish Things,” “Who’s Sorry Now?” “The Party’s Over” and more, this album is among its era’s finest recordings of popular music and its quality, style and spirit remains unexcelled.

Just One Of Those Things was recorded in finely polished monaural and more minimalistic 3-channel stereophonic versions, each with dedicated microphones, console, mix and recorders. Each offers a different sonic perspective. The monaural recording was heard on the original hit records while the stereophonic recording offers the potential for a stunning wide-range realism. The bonus track, an alternative take of “Just For The Fun Of It,” is mono only.

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Norah Jones – I Dream Of Christmas (Deluxe) (2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · July 15, 2023 · Comments off

Norah Jones has been a steady voice of warmth and reassurance for nearly 20 years.

Now, the nine-time Grammy winner and platinum-selling artist has just released her first holiday album, I Dream of Christmas. The collection of timeless seasonal favourites and affecting new originals that explore the complicated emotions of our times and our hopes that this holiday season will be full of joy and togetherness.

Jones joined us to talk about the making of that album and what the Christmas season has meant to her throughout the years.

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Norah Jones – I Dream of Christmas (2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · July 15, 2023 · Comments off

Norah Jones has announced the release of her first-ever holiday album, I Dream Of Christmas, which will arrive this October.

The nine-time Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and pianist has recorded a collection of covers of seasonal classics alongside her own original Christmas-themed songs. The covers featured on the album include “White Christmas”, “Winter Wonderland,” and “Run Rudolph Run.”

I Dream Of Christmas will be released on October 15 via Blue Note Records and will be available on vinyl, CD, and digital download. The first track from the record, “Christmas Calling (Jolly Jones)” is available to stream and download now.

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Nat King Cole – Just One Of Those Things (1957) [APO Remaster 2011] SACD ISO

SACD / DSD By admin · July 13, 2023 · Comments off

Just One of Those Things is a theme album comparable to one of Frank Sinatra’s uptempo swing albums of the same period (Come Fly With Me, etc.), and employs the same arranger/conductor, Billy May. Nat King Cole is a bit less effective than Sinatra at uptempo material; he tends to undersing these sprightly standards, and May saves his dramatic horn charts and percussion shots for moments when Cole is away from the microphone. Even so, by the fifth track, “These Foolish Things Remind Me of You,” May has retreated to ballad time, and though his embellishments threaten to break out behind the singer, Cole gives an assured, unhurried performance. And that’s the point: that Cole has tamed the rambunctious May does not mean he doesn’t give wonderful interpretations to some wonderful songs: “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” “Just One of Those Things,” “The Song Is Ended (But the Melody Lingers On).” And the light-handed swing supports those efforts well.

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Nat King Cole – Sings For Two In Love (1955/2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · July 13, 2023 · Comments off

Nat King Cole Sings for Two in Love was Nat King Cole’s first album made specifically for the new 12″ LP format. Like Frank Sinatra, with whom he shared a record company and a conductor, Cole made a thematic album with Sings for Two in Love, in this case a set of 12 romantic ballads. But they aren’t actually all for “two in love.” There are songs for two who think “This Can’t Be Love” or that it’s “Almost Like Being in Love,” or who tell each other “Let’s Fall in Love.” And then there are post-love songs — “Autumn Leaves” and “Dinner for One Please, James.” If Cole really is singing for “two in love,” he’s giving them good news and bad. Of course, his plaintive, undisturbed singing makes the happy and sad sentiments seem equally content, and Nelson Riddle’s orchestrations consistently support the singer without challenging him or getting in his way. – William Ruhlmann

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