Duets is an album by American singer Frank Sinatra, released in 1993. Recorded near the end of Sinatra's career, it consists of electronically assembled duets between Sinatra and younger singers from various genres. The album was a commercial success, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard albums chart, reaching No. 5 in the UK, and selling over 3 million copies in the US. It is the only Sinatra album to date to achieve triple platinum certification.
The album received mixed reviews from critics, with complaints stemming from Sinatra's specified style of isolated performance wherein he was never joined by his duet partners in the studio, an artificial method of record production which lacked the elements of personal collaboration and spontaneity. The guest singers had been directed to sing along to his pre-recorded vocal parts, and to make their performances complement his.[4]
The cover art displays a specially commissioned painting of Frank Sinatra by LeRoy Neiman. Its sequel, Duets II, was released the following year. Both albums were packaged together in a "90th Birthday Limited Collector's Edition" released in 2005; North American pressings added an unreleased duet recording of "My Way" with Willie Nelson, while international pressings have him singing with Luciano Pavarotti.
Sinatra was approached in 1992 with the idea of making an album of duets.[5]: 5 Phil Ramone, Sinatra's manager Eliot Weisman and the Capitol executive producer Don Rubin discussed the details at Sinatra's house in Palm Springs, California.[5]: 5 Ramone felt that Sinatra's classic songs would be brought to new, younger listeners by way of the Duets project.[5]: 6
For duet partners, Sinatra suggested Ella Fitzgerald but she was not well enough to participate.[5]: 6 Other artists, younger than Sinatra, were put on the list of potential partners.[5]: 6 Sinatra specified that the duet partners must not be in the studio when he was singing his part.[5]: 6
The project was pushed forward by Charles Koppelman, the CEO of EMI Records Group North America.[6] An orchestra was rehearsed at Capitol Studio A in Los Angeles, where Sinatra had recorded many times, the orchestra using classic Nelson Riddle arrangements.[5]: 1-2 Sinatra showed up for the first two days of intended tracking sessions but begged off laying down any vocals, the first day because he did not like being isolated in a vocal booth as intended by recording engineer Al Schmitt.[5]: 4, 7-8 On the second day, Hank Cattaneo (co-producer), suggested to Ramone, Schmitt and Pat Williams, that they create a small elevated stage set-up for Sinatra to stand on, and to place Bill Miller and his piano adjacent to Frank within the open-air stage/booth to make the recording session feel more like a live performance.[5]: 8 However, Sinatra said his voice was not in optimal condition.[5]: 9 At this point, about $350,000 had been spent to put the project together.[5]: 7 Ramone and Capitol were worried the record would never be completed.[5]: 7 Ramone spoke to Hank Cattaneo, his co-producer, about his concern.[5]: 7 It was suggested that since Cattaneo was Frank's production manager and close friend, that he stay near Frank to assist in the sequence of songs and detail to Frank when the takes were acceptable and a retake was not required. Cattaneo further suggested to Ramone and Schmitt that they record with the wireless microphones that Frank was accustomed to using in live performances. Nine songs were recorded in five hours, beginning with "Come Fly with Me".[5]: 10-11 Capitol Records A&R chief Don Rubin was in attendance at the recording session.[5]: 2
The various duet partners were invited to participate remotely, their recordings sent to Capitol by way of ISDN digital telephone lines connected by EDnet to the digital recording equipment.[5]: 7 Bono and Aretha Franklin asked that Ramone fly out to appear in person at their local studios to strengthen the connection to Sinatra and the project. Bono recorded his part to "I've Got You Under My Skin" while standing on a couch in the STS Studios control room in Dublin, singing into a handheld microphone.[5]: 89 After Franklin recorded her part to "What Now My Love" in Detroit, she recorded a personal message to Sinatra, thanking him for the opportunity.[5]: 264 The duet of “My Way” with Luciano Pavarotti was not recorded in time to make the primary release of Sinatra's Duets. It was placed on the Sinatra 80 album and then added to subsequent pressings of Duets as a bonus track addition. Hank Cattaneo produced and recorded this segment in Pavarotti's summer villa in Pesaro, Italy.
ReleaseEdit
The album was advertised as "The Recording Event of The Decade".[7]
Some observers were not satisfied with its recording process.[8]
Track listingEdit
Unless otherwise indicated, Information is based on Liner notes[9]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Television specialEdit
On 25 November 1994, Sinatra recorded a television special which aired on CBS, titled Sinatra: Duets. This was intended to promote both the album Duets as well as its successor, Sinatra's last studio recording, Duets II.[52][53]
^"Australiancharts.com – Frank Sinatra – Duets". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
^"Austriancharts.at – Frank Sinatra – Duets" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
^"Dutchcharts.nl – Frank Sinatra – Duets" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
^ ab"1993 Year-End Sales Charts – Eurochart Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. December 18, 1993. p. 15. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved May 21, 2022 – via World Radio History.
^"Offiziellecharts.de – Frank Sinatra – Duets" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
^"Charts.nz – Frank Sinatra – Duets". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
^"Swedishcharts.com – Frank Sinatra – Duets". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
^"Swisscharts.com – Frank Sinatra – Duets". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
^"Frank Sinatra | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
^"Frank Sinatra Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
^"Frank Sinatra Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
^"Ultratop.be – Frank Sinatra – Duets" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
^"Spanishcharts.com – Frank Sinatra – Duets". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
^"ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1993". ARIA. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
^(PDF) (in Spanish). Anuarios SGAE. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 18, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
^. Australian Record Industry Association Ltd. Archived from the original on November 2, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
^"New Zealand album certifications – Frank Sinatra – Duets". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
^Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002(PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 937. ISBN84-8048-639-2. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
^(PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-21. Retrieved 2013-02-23.
^The voice convida. December 29, 1994. p. 4. Retrieved September 27, 2021. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^"TV REVIEWS : Faux Pairings Hurt 'Sinatra Duets'". Los Angeles Times. 25 November 1994. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
^"Sinatra Duets". IMDb. 25 November 1994. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
External linksEdit
9.24.93 PR: Frank Sinatra "Duets" Album Set For Release
October 21, 2023
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Duets is an album by American singer Frank Sinatra released in 1993 Recorded near the end of Sinatra s career it consists of electronically assembled duets between Sinatra and younger singers from various genres The album was a commercial success debuting at No 2 on the Billboard albums chart reaching No 5 in the UK and selling over 3 million copies in the US It is the only Sinatra album to date to achieve triple platinum certification DuetsStudio album by Frank SinatraReleasedNovember 2 1993Recorded1992 1993StudioCapitol Los AngelesGenreTraditional popLength45 44LabelCapitolProducerPhil Ramone Hank CattaneoFrank Sinatra chronologyL A Is My Lady 1984 Duets 1993 Duets II 1994 Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic 1 Music Week 2 The Village VoiceC 3 The album received mixed reviews from critics with complaints stemming from Sinatra s specified style of isolated performance wherein he was never joined by his duet partners in the studio an artificial method of record production which lacked the elements of personal collaboration and spontaneity The guest singers had been directed to sing along to his pre recorded vocal parts and to make their performances complement his 4 The cover art displays a specially commissioned painting of Frank Sinatra by LeRoy Neiman Its sequel Duets II was released the following year Both albums were packaged together in a 90th Birthday Limited Collector s Edition released in 2005 North American pressings added an unreleased duet recording of My Way with Willie Nelson while international pressings have him singing with Luciano Pavarotti Contents 1 Production 2 Release 3 Track listing 4 Personnel 5 Charts 5 1 Weekly charts 5 2 Year end charts 6 Certifications and sales 7 Television special 8 References 9 External linksProduction EditSinatra was approached in 1992 with the idea of making an album of duets 5 5 Phil Ramone Sinatra s manager Eliot Weisman and the Capitol executive producer Don Rubin discussed the details at Sinatra s house in Palm Springs California 5 5 Ramone felt that Sinatra s classic songs would be brought to new younger listeners by way of the Duets project 5 6 For duet partners Sinatra suggested Ella Fitzgerald but she was not well enough to participate 5 6 Other artists younger than Sinatra were put on the list of potential partners 5 6 Sinatra specified that the duet partners must not be in the studio when he was singing his part 5 6 The project was pushed forward by Charles Koppelman the CEO of EMI Records Group North America 6 An orchestra was rehearsed at Capitol Studio A in Los Angeles where Sinatra had recorded many times the orchestra using classic Nelson Riddle arrangements 5 1 2 Sinatra showed up for the first two days of intended tracking sessions but begged off laying down any vocals the first day because he did not like being isolated in a vocal booth as intended by recording engineer Al Schmitt 5 4 7 8 On the second day Hank Cattaneo co producer suggested to Ramone Schmitt and Pat Williams that they create a small elevated stage set up for Sinatra to stand on and to place Bill Miller and his piano adjacent to Frank within the open air stage booth to make the recording session feel more like a live performance 5 8 However Sinatra said his voice was not in optimal condition 5 9 At this point about 350 000 had been spent to put the project together 5 7 Ramone and Capitol were worried the record would never be completed 5 7 Ramone spoke to Hank Cattaneo his co producer about his concern 5 7 It was suggested that since Cattaneo was Frank s production manager and close friend that he stay near Frank to assist in the sequence of songs and detail to Frank when the takes were acceptable and a retake was not required Cattaneo further suggested to Ramone and Schmitt that they record with the wireless microphones that Frank was accustomed to using in live performances Nine songs were recorded in five hours beginning with Come Fly with Me 5 10 11 Capitol Records A amp R chief Don Rubin was in attendance at the recording session 5 2 The various duet partners were invited to participate remotely their recordings sent to Capitol by way of ISDN digital telephone lines connected by EDnet to the digital recording equipment 5 7 Bono and Aretha Franklin asked that Ramone fly out to appear in person at their local studios to strengthen the connection to Sinatra and the project Bono recorded his part to I ve Got You Under My Skin while standing on a couch in the STS Studios control room in Dublin singing into a handheld microphone 5 89 After Franklin recorded her part to What Now My Love in Detroit she recorded a personal message to Sinatra thanking him for the opportunity 5 264 The duet of My Way with Luciano Pavarotti was not recorded in time to make the primary release of Sinatra s Duets It was placed on the Sinatra 80 album and then added to subsequent pressings of Duets as a bonus track addition Hank Cattaneo produced and recorded this segment in Pavarotti s summer villa in Pesaro Italy Release EditThe album was advertised as The Recording Event of The Decade 7 Some observers were not satisfied with its recording process 8 Track listing EditUnless otherwise indicated Information is based on Liner notes 9 No TitleWriter s Duet withLength1 The Lady Is a Tramp Arranged by Billy Byers Richard Rodgers music Lorenz Hart lyrics Luther Vandross3 242 What Now My Love Arranged by Don Costa Gilbert Becaud music Carl Sigman English lyrics Pierre Delanoe French lyrics Aretha Franklin3 153 I ve Got a Crush on You Arranged by Patrick Williams George Gershwin music Ira Gershwin lyrics Barbra Streisand3 234 Summer Wind Arranged by Nelson Riddle Hans Bradtke German lyrics Johnny Mercer English lyrics Heinz Meier music Julio Iglesias2 325 Come Rain or Come Shine Arranged by Don Costa Harold Arlen music Johnny Mercer lyrics Gloria Estefan4 046 New York New York Arranged by Don Costa Fred Ebb lyrics John Kander music Tony Bennett3 307 They Can t Take That Away From Me Arranged by Patrick Williams George Gershwin music Ira Gershwin lyrics Natalie Cole3 118 You Make Me Feel So Young Arranged by Quincy Jones Mack Gordon lyrics Josef Myrow music Charles Aznavour3 059 Guess I ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning Arranged by Nelson Riddle Sammy Cahn lyrics Jule Styne music Bob Hilliard lyrics David Mann music Carly Simon3 5710 I ve Got the World on a String Arranged by Nelson Riddle Harold Arlen music Ted Koehler lyrics Liza Minnelli2 1811 Witchcraft Arranged by Nelson Riddle Carolyn Leigh lyrics Cy Coleman music Anita Baker3 2212 I ve Got You Under My Skin Arranged by Nelson Riddle Cole PorterBono3 3213 All the Way One For My Baby And One More For The Road Arranged by Patrick Williams and Nelson Riddle Sammy Cahn lyrics James Van Heusen music Harold Arlen music Johnny Mercer lyrics Kenny G6 03 NotesIntros to What Now My Love and Witchcraft arranged by Patrick Williams What Now My Love arranged by Don Costa in 1965 for Steve Lawrence s album The Steve Lawrence Show 10 I ve Got a Crush on You originally arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1960 11 Summer Wind arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1966 12 Come Rain or Come Shine arranged by Don Costa in 1961 13 Theme from New York New York arranged by Don Costa in 1979 14 They Can t Take That Away From Me originally arranged by Neal Hefti in 1962 15 Guess I ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1958 16 In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1955 17 I ve Got The World on a String arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1953 18 Witchcraft arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1957 19 I ve Got You Under My Skin arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1956 20 All The Way originally arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1956 for The Joker is Wild film soundtrack 21 One for My Baby and One More for the Road arranged by Nelson Riddle in 1958 22 Personnel EditMusiciansDuet partners vocals 1 12 saxophone 13 Frank Sinatra vocals all tracks Ron Anthony guitar 1 2 4 13 Chuck Berghofer rhythm bass 1 2 4 13 Gregg Field drums 1 2 4 13 Jeff Hamilton drums 3 Michael Melvoin piano additional keyboards 3 Bill Miller piano all tracks Charles Pollard keyboards 23 additional music performer 2 4 6 8 Dave Stone double bass 3 Paul Viapiano guitar 3 ProductionAndre Fischer producer 7 David Foster producer 3 Albert Hammond producer 4 Ted Jensen mastering engineer Charles Koppelman executive producer Jay Landers producer 3 Tommy LiPuma producer Anita Baker s vocals on 11 Phil Ramone producer 1 10 12 13 music on 11 Frank Sinatra s vocals on 11 Hank Cattaneo co producer Don Rubin executive producer Al Schmitt recording engineer Eliot Weisman executive producer Patrick Williams musical director conductor John Wheeler EDnet network engineerCharts Edit Weekly charts Edit Initial chart performance for Duets Chart 1993 1994 PeakpositionAustralian Albums ARIA 24 2Austrian Albums O3 Austria 25 8Dutch Albums Album Top 100 26 13European Albums European Top 100 Albums 27 5German Albums Offizielle Top 100 28 41New Zealand Albums RMNZ 29 3Swedish Albums Sverigetopplistan 30 7Swiss Albums Schweizer Hitparade 31 21UK Albums OCC 32 5US Billboard 200 33 2US Top Jazz Albums Billboard 34 12013 2015 chart performance for Duets Chart 2013 2015 PeakpositionBelgian Albums Ultratop Flanders 35 130Spanish Albums PROMUSICAE 36 49Year end charts Edit 1993 year end chart performance for Duets Chart 1993 PositionAustralian Albums ARIA 37 16European Albums European Top 100 Albums 27 93Spanish Albums AFYVE 38 191994 year end chart performance for Duets Chart 1994 PositionAustralian Albums ARIA 39 53 Certifications and sales Edit Sales certifications for Duets Region Certification Certified units salesArgentina CAPIF 40 Platinum 60 000 Australia ARIA 41 2 Platinum 140 000 Austria IFPI Austria 42 Gold 25 000 Brazil 250 000 43 Canada Music Canada 44 2 Platinum 200 000 Ireland IRMA 45 Gold 7 500 New Zealand RMNZ 46 Platinum 15 000 Spain PROMUSICAE 47 Platinum 100 000 Sweden GLF 48 Gold 50 000 United Kingdom BPI 49 Platinum 300 000 United States RIAA 50 3 Platinum 3 000 000 SummariesWorldwide 5 000 000 51 Sales figures based on certification alone Shipments figures based on certification alone Television special EditOn 25 November 1994 Sinatra recorded a television special which aired on CBS titled Sinatra Duets This was intended to promote both the album Duets as well as its successor Sinatra s last studio recording Duets II 52 53 References Edit Duets at AllMusic Jones Alan October 30 1993 Market Preview Mainstream Albums PDF Music Week p 19 Retrieved February 1 2023 Christgau Robert November 23 1993 Turkey Shoot The Village Voice New York Retrieved July 5 2013 Rojek Chris 2004 Frank Sinatra Polity p 155 ISBN 9780745630908 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Ramone Phil Granata Charles L 2007 Making Records The Scenes Behind the Music Hyperion ISBN 9780786868599 Waldman Allison J 2001 The Barbra Streisand Scrapbook Citadel Press p 79 ISBN 9780806522180 advertisement Spy Sussex 66 January 1994 ISSN 0890 1759 Larkin Colin 1999 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Stage and Film Musicals Virgin p 553 ISBN 9780753503751 Sinatra Frank Duets Album Booklet Capitol Records 1993 Lawrence Steve The Steve Lawrence Show album notes Columbia 1965 I ve Got a Crush on You Frank Sinatra Sessionography https sinatrafamily com session 0 I ve 20Got 20a 20Crush 20on 20You Summer Wind Frank Sinatra Sessionography https sinatrafamily com session 0 Summer 20Wind Come Rain or Come Shine Frank Sinatra Sessionography https sinatrafamily com session 0 Come 20Rain 20or 20Come 20Shine Theme from New York New York Frank Sinatra Sessionography https sinatrafamily com session 0 Theme 20from 20New 20York 20New 20York They Can t Take That Away From Me Frank Sinatra Sessionography https sinatrafamily com session 0 They 20Can t 20Take 20That 20Away 20from 20Me Guess I ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry Frank Sinatra Sessionography https sinatrafamily com session 0 Guess 20I ll 20Hang 20My 20Tears 20Out 20to 20Dry In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning Frank Sinatra Sessionography https sinatrafamily com session 0 In 20the 20Wee 20Small 20Hours 20of 20the 20Morning I ve Got The World on a String Frank Sinatra Sessionography https sinatrafamily com session 0 I ve 20Got 20the 20World 20on 20a 20String Witchcraft Frank Sinatra Sessionography https sinatrafamily com session 0 Witchcraft I ve Got You Under My Skin Frank Sinatra Sessionography https sinatrafamily com session 0 I ve 20Got 20You 20Under 20My 20Skin All The Way Frank Sinatra Sessionography https sinatrafamily com session 0 All 20the 20Way One for My Baby and One More for the Road Frank Sinatra Sessionography https sinatrafamily com session 0 One 20for 20My 20Baby 20 and 20One 20More 20for 20the 20Road Charles Pollard Frank Sinatra Sessionography https sinatrafamily com session 0 Charles 20Pollard Australiancharts com Frank Sinatra Duets Hung Medien Retrieved December 22 2020 Austriancharts at Frank Sinatra Duets in German Hung Medien Retrieved December 22 2020 Dutchcharts nl Frank Sinatra Duets in Dutch Hung Medien Retrieved December 22 2020 a b 1993 Year End Sales Charts Eurochart Hot 100 Albums PDF Music amp Media Vol 10 no 51 52 December 18 1993 p 15 OCLC 29800226 Retrieved May 21 2022 via World Radio History Offiziellecharts de Frank Sinatra Duets in German GfK Entertainment Charts Retrieved December 22 2020 Charts nz Frank Sinatra Duets Hung Medien Retrieved December 22 2020 Swedishcharts com Frank Sinatra Duets Hung Medien Retrieved December 22 2020 Swisscharts com Frank Sinatra Duets Hung Medien Retrieved December 22 2020 Frank Sinatra Artist Official Charts UK Albums Chart Retrieved December 22 2020 Frank Sinatra Chart History Billboard 200 Billboard Retrieved December 22 2020 Frank Sinatra Chart History Top Jazz Albums Billboard Retrieved December 22 2020 Ultratop be Frank Sinatra Duets in Dutch Hung Medien Retrieved December 22 2020 Spanishcharts com Frank Sinatra Duets Hung Medien Retrieved December 22 2020 ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1993 ARIA Retrieved May 21 2022 LOS 50 TITULOS CON MAYORES VENTAS EN LAS LISTAS DE VENTAS DE AFYVE EN 1993 PDF in Spanish Anuarios SGAE Archived from the original PDF on August 18 2012 Retrieved May 21 2022 The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums 1994 Australian Record Industry Association Ltd Archived from the original on November 2 2015 Retrieved May 19 2022 Discos de oro y platino in Spanish Camara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas Archived from the original on 2011 07 06 Retrieved 2013 02 23 ARIA Charts Accreditations 1994 Albums PDF Australian Recording Industry Association Retrieved July 23 2021 Austrian album certifications Frank Sinatra Duets in German IFPI Austria Viuva recebe disco de platina September 23 1995 Retrieved September 27 2021 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Canadian album certifications Frank Sinatra Duets Music Canada The Irish Charts 2013 Certification Awards Gold Irish Recorded Music Association New Zealand album certifications Frank Sinatra Duets Recorded Music NZ Retrieved December 26 2019 Salaverrie Fernando September 2005 Solo exitos ano a ano 1959 2002 PDF in Spanish 1st ed Madrid Fundacion Autor SGAE p 937 ISBN 84 8048 639 2 Retrieved 16 September 2019 Guld och Platinacertifikat Ar 1987 1998 PDF in Swedish IFPI Sweden Archived from the original PDF on 2012 05 21 Retrieved 2013 02 23 British album certifications Frank Sinatra Duets British Phonographic Industry American album certifications Frank Sinatra Duets Recording Industry Association of America The voice convida December 29 1994 p 4 Retrieved September 27 2021 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help TV REVIEWS Faux Pairings Hurt Sinatra Duets Los Angeles Times 25 November 1994 Retrieved 20 March 2020 Sinatra Duets IMDb 25 November 1994 Retrieved 20 March 2020 External links Edit9 24 93 PR Frank Sinatra Duets Album Set For Release Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Duets Frank Sinatra album amp oldid 1173733062, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
