The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings

It’s Sinatra and Basie! Nothing more to say. Very famous, classic album.

Don't be mislead, this compilation is worth getting -- in my opinion even if you have the original two Reprise studio albums."Frank Sinatra - Count Basie: The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings" is a remastered compilation of two of the most interesting Sinatra records in his vast catalog -- "Sinatra-Basie: An Historic Musical First" and "It Might as Well Be Swing" are artfully rendered into a single 20 track masterpiece that pays tribute to the too brief and truly historic union of Frank out in front of Count Basie and his amazing band.Remastering these recordings was a bit worrisome to me because they were laid down so well in the original Reprise album releases. After spending several hours listening to and comparing this new release with the original albums, I need not have worried -- the folks at Concord, BluWave Audio and the sundry engineers involved in this effort absolutely nailed it!A Masterful Remaster...One of the principle areas I focus on when reviewing a digital remastered album is ... "can I discern a quality difference". In other words, can you actually hear and appreciate the end product of the remastering effort. I mean, what's the point of remastering if you can't hear a noticeable quality benefit. The team that took on Sinatra and Basie's best were truly masterful.Frank...There is a subtle, noticeable and beneficial "rounding" of Frank's vocals. To be clear, the original recordings are in no way deficient -- in fact they are excellent -- but Frank's entries, exits and tonal quality on this edition experiences a definite depth of field enhancement. Again, it is subtle but Sinatra's amazing vocal stylings on these classic Basie Band recordings sound deep and round without ANY dissociative effects. There is no sense that the vocals have been over enhanced or "punched up" in a way ... no notion that they stand apart from the music. The vocal/music integration remains beautifully interlaced.Basie...The audio engineering Jedi mastering really hits home with Basie's music. Like the vocals, the original albums were laid down really well, so making improvements must have been a challenge, but the engineers rose to that challenge and hit the music tracks out of the park. The original sound stage (instrument positioning) was excellent but gets even more positional clarity with enhancements to virtually every instrument in Basie's band. Maybe the biggest positive impact is with Basie's piano which now arrives naturally clear and more forward by just the right amount. Additional big benefits are heard in the sax, the bass and the flute ... the entries and exits on the sax are clear, round and beautiful and you can damn near hear the bassist fingers on the strings. The songs with that lilting flute ... wow. All natural and crisp in the mid tones and absolutely no mud on the low end.Conclusion...The bottom line is "Sinatra & Basie's The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings" album is definitely worth snaring -- even if you already own the full Sinatra-Basie collection. The discernible quality difference translates into an enhanced listening experience that I think is well worth the asking price. (Check out my full review on the Vocalstandards site)

The material here was originally released as two distinct LPs. The earlier sessions with the Basie band were arranged by Neal Hefti, who was responsible for some of the band's best work (see Atomic Basie). These first 12 charts really swing,with rollicking instrumental solos, and show Sinatra to be a vocalist comfortably at home in front of a formidable jazz band.The Quincy Jones arrangements, recorded two years later, feature strings and a more relaxed, polished approach. Note: this session is still sold separately as "It Might As Well Be Swing."Together one sees Sinatra working hard to establish himself and his new "reprise" label as leaders in jazz recordings. His contribution in a period when even famous bands like Basie's and Ellington's were struggling on the road, working for as little as $1,400 per night, deserves credit. Even a talent as formidable as Frank Sinatra couldn't hold the culture back from the changes that rode in with the Beach Boys and the Beatles. The music here speaks for itself - among the best work of Frank's career. And jazz still speaks for itself - a powerful genre marked by exploration and emphasizing the individual's role in making the best of life and love as they come.

Sinatra and Basie collaborated on several records. This is the Duke and Old Blue Eye's at their peak and shouldn't be missed. The album Sinatra at the Sands also with Basie should also not be missed.

I have many Sinatra cd's and I'm really happy to have this one in my collection, it's very uplifting! Lots of great songs you won't find on his many cd's, plus you've got the added bonus of Count Basie. Highly recommend.One bad thing, considering you must pay the exhorbitant shipping charge, it was disappointing that it took more than 3 weeks to receive (apparently it gets shipped on slow boat from England). This is 2021, so someone should advise there's a different mode of transportation. Still, I must say it's worth the wait.

Frank & the Count? Come on! It just can't, and doesn't, get any better than this.Of course, like many others, I've had these two now-joined recordings previously on vinyl, then cd, then remastered cd in the complete Reprise studio collection, and downloaded onto my iPod.But it's great to have these recordings on one beautifully sounding diskThere's Sinatra & Jobim, Sinatra & the Duke, and Sinatra duets with Ella (He & she doing Lady is a Tramp on video is one of the pop music classics of all time.) and Satch (The two doing Birth of the Blues on video is another.), and there's Sinatra & Basie. I mean, if this were philosophy--which in some senses it is--we would be talking Aristotle and Plato. Classical music--Mozart & Bach. Opera--Puccinni & Verdi.Yes, Frank & the Count is magnificent and enduring and as new and fresh as when the two of them performed together at the Sands or recorded these two albums.Oh, and did I mention "Q"--as Sinatra would call him--i.e., Quincy Jones conducted and arranged these.Just cannot be exceeded!

The sound is really good on this CD. One simply cannot go wrong with Sinatra and Basie, so buy it now!

Wow, I really enjoy listening to this CD over and over again. If you want to learn how to swing listen to this, it's like attending a masterclass on swing that I think every musician should own. Every musician swings, you could hear it in every details of the phrasing. Frank Sinatra with Basie, what a combination! Surprisingly you want hear all the most familiar Frank Sinatra tunes on this album. Highly recommended.

Frank joined Count Basie as an additional instrument. This is a collector's item. Joy - especially the first album, but the second almost as good (Quincy Jones production). I have a feeling Frank and his style is going to make a big come-back when the world comes back to its senses - its sense of music and the eternal promise of the troubadour. Music, melody - power of invocation and evocation. Magic. Settle for nothing less. Frank came from Hoboken, from Sicily - and from the Almighty source of all Good Music.

Putting a brilliant vocalist in front of Basie is a recipe for gourmet succulence. There is little to chose between the 1962 session with arrangements by Neil Hefti and the 1964 collection arranged by Quincy Jones. What bursts through are the inspirational captivating vocals of Sinatra. Best known for his popular ballads (crooning), here he has the blast of Basie behind him. If you can't swing with his orchestra, then goodbye. Hard to pick a standout song. 'Learnin' The Blues', 'I Can't Stop Loving You'. 'The Good Life', 'My Kind of Girl', are personal favourites. Not a dud amongst them. Basie's band blow big time. The soloists burst through, particularly Frank Weiss. I recently reviewed Tony Bennett with Basie. Get them both and enjoy two masters. I have my preference but they are both wonderful examples of songsters and superlative big band at their peak. Matchless.

the first album, is simply the best big band/ singer of all time. Arranged by the imitable count basie. The second album has basie with arrangements by quincey jones .Listening to this cd, makes up for a humdrum life.

Fabulous recording, superb singing from Frank Sinatra combined with the brilliant Count Basie band. Every track is a joy to listen to, recorded sound quality is first rate, I like and listen to a broad selection of music, including many current artists but I don't think many can truly match the all round quality of recordings such as this!! Top quality easy listening!

A surprise, and interesting that it follows 'Sinatra at the Sands', which has to be one of the best albums this pair ever made - I think superior to this. Here, they both pull out all the stops, but there's a sense of urgency, when things could be more subtle. That's taste for you.