Frank Sinatra Concept Albums
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The Best Concept Albums by Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra was the king of concept albums.
Just take a look at this album cover for Only the Lonely. There is no doubt what the songs on this album are about. This album is still sought out today because of its universal concept of lost love and loneliness.
Many of Sinatra's concept albums are considered classics. On this page, I will point out the ones I consider to be his best.
Contents at a Glance
What is a Concept Album?
Wikipedia says that a concept album is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical".
Frank Sinatra is often cited as one of the first to come out with these types of albums, beginning in the 1950s when he was with Capitol Records.
Songs for Young Lovers and Swing Easy were two of the very first examples, released in 1953 and 1954. In 1955 he released the classic "In the Wee Small Hours", a record of all ballads with a central theme of lost love.
Albums About Lost Love
The "Suicide" Albums
One For My Baby
A Classic Frank Sinatra Song
Frank often called himself a saloon singer, one who sings songs of loss in a bar. This song "One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)" is his most well-known example of this type of song.
Only the Lonely
A Frank Sinatra Album about Lost Love
Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely
Amazon Price: $8.55 (as of 05/31/2012)
List Price: $11.94
A classic list of "suicide" songs. It will make you weep and comfort you at the same time.
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Some Songs from Only the Lonely
Available on iTunes
| Track | Artist | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where Or When | Frank Sinatra | Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely | |
| It's A Lonesome Old Town | Frank Sinatra | Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely | |
| Only The Lonely | Frank Sinatra | Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely | |
| One For My Baby | Frank Sinatra | Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely | |
| Angel Eyes | Frank Sinatra | Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely | |
| Blues In The Night | Frank Sinatra | Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely |
Sinatra Sings about Lost Love
Is the Concept Album Dead?
Before the 1950's, songs were sold individually. Then, artists started packaging songs in albums. These days we seem to be going back to selling individual songs.
Image Credit: GOLD RECORD ALBUM by dgpaulart from Zazzle
Swinging Concept Albums
I've Got You Under My Skin
from Songs for Swingin' Lovers
In the 50's and 60's Frank, with the help of arrangers like Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Gordon Jenkins and Quincy Jones, began to swing it up. This was the beginning of the Rat Pack era, the ultimate of cool. This particular song is a classic example of this new style.
Some Songs from Songs for Swinging Lovers
Available on iTunes
| Track | Artist | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Love Is Here to Stay | Frank Sinatra | Songs for Swingin' Lovers! | |
| How About You? | Frank Sinatra | Songs for Swingin' Lovers! | |
| I've Got You Under My Skin | Frank Sinatra | Songs for Swingin' Lovers! | |
| Makin' Whoopee | Frank Sinatra | Songs for Swingin' Lovers! | |
| Too Marvelous for Words | Frank Sinatra | Songs for Swingin' Lovers! | |
| I Thought About You | Frank Sinatra | Songs for Swingin' Lovers! | |
| You Make Me Feel So Young | Frank Sinatra | Songs for Swingin' Lovers! | |
| Anything Goes | Frank Sinatra | Songs for Swingin' Lovers! | |
| You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me | Frank Sinatra | Songs for Swingin' Lovers! | |
| Old Devil Moon | Frank Sinatra | Songs for Swingin' Lovers! | |
| You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me | Frank Sinatra | Songs for Swingin' Lovers! | |
| It Happened in Monterey | Frank Sinatra | Songs for Swingin' Lovers! | |
| Pennies from Heaven | Frank Sinatra | Songs for Swingin' Lovers! |
Songs for Young Lovers / Swing Easy
A Swinging Frank Sinatra Album
Songs for Young Lovers/Swing Easy
Amazon Price: $6.00 (as of 05/31/2012)
List Price: $11.94
His first two swinging albums (1953/1954) combined in one disk.
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More Swingin' Frank Sinatra Music
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One of a Kind Concept Albums
Moonlight Sinatra
Songs with a Moon Theme
A beautiful concept album from 1965 that is one of my all-time favorites. All of the songs are about the moon, yet it doesn't contain his most famous moon song "Fly Me to the Moon." The album is only available as an import, although you can buy it as an mp3 download.
Take a listen to "The Moon was Yellow."
September of My Years
A Frank Sinatra Album about Looking Back
September Of My Years
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 05/31/2012)
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The theme revolves around a man who is getting older and looking back on his life with nostalgia and maybe some regret. Sinatra was approaching 50 when he recorded this album in 1965. It is one of his true classics, my favorite being "It Was a Very Good Year." His voice is in top form.
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Songs from September of my Years on iTunes
| Track | Artist | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| It Was a Very Good Year | Frank Sinatra | September of My Years | |
| The September of My Years | Frank Sinatra | September of My Years | |
| Hello, Young Lovers | Frank Sinatra | September of My Years | |
| The Man In the Lookin Glass | Frank Sinatra | September of My Years |
Francis Albert Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim
A Frank Sinatra Album with a Latin Twist
Another of my favorites, this 1967 disk with guitar-playing bossa nova star Jobim is a classic. Very understated (Sinatra sings very softly), this album really grows on you with each playing. I especially like "Baubles, Bangles, and Beads" and "How Insensitive."
Songs from Sinatra / Jobim on iTunes
| Track | Artist | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How Insensitive [Insensatez] | Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim | Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim | |
| The Girl from Ipanema | Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim | Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim | |
| Dindi | Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim | Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim | |
| Baubles, Bangles and Beads | Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim | Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim | |
| I Concentrate On You | Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim | Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim | |
| Change Partners | Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim | Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim |
Watertown
A Frank Sinatra Album that is a Novel in Song
This little known album is in my top 5 of all Sinatra albums. It is a novel in song! A man telling the story of his marriage unraveling in Watertown, NY, here is the song list:
1. Watertown - Intro to living in Watertown.
2. Goodbye [She Quietly Says] - His wife leaves him.
3. For A While - He gets on with his life.
4. Michael And Peter - He sees his wife in his children.
5. I Would Be In Love [Anyway] - No regrets.
6. Elizabeth - Remembering when they met.
7. What A Funny Girl [You Used To Be] - Remembering their marriage.
8. What's Now Is Now - Forgetting past mistakes.
9. She Says - She's coming home!
10. The Train - Waiting for her at the train. Does she get off?
11. Lady Day - Not on the original album, this song takes you into the future.
Just writing the blurbs on these songs made me cry! This album takes you right along for the ride.
Your Favorite Concept Album
Do you have a favorite Sinatra album?
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prosperity66 Jan 18, 2010 @ 2:18 am | delete
- Some will tell you that I love content lenses and that since you added a lot of albums I couldn't like the lens layout. However, what they forget is that I love any kind of content and I really enjoyed readint each and every description you added to the products! That is the best way to sell me something!
SquidAngel blessings for Frank Sinatra's albums!
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Photahsiamirabel Jan 11, 2010 @ 5:23 pm | delete
- I love Frank Sinatra. My mum is a huge fan so I more or less grew up with him playing in the background but as for concpt albums, my favourite two are The Ninth Wave by Kate Bush and Aqualung by Jethro Tull.
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arncyn
Jan 7, 2010 @ 12:52 am | delete
- Great lens on old Blue Eyes' wonderful music, Kim and thank you for introducing me to the 'concept album'. I have not heard of it til now.. I Googled it and found that one of my favorite albums by Weezer, 'Pinkerton' happens to be a concept album too. I'm glad to have learned something new today. (:
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KathyMcGraw
Jan 6, 2010 @ 1:12 am | delete
- Not really....I mostly just listen to individual songs :) I love just love Frank Sinatra :)
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Mother, wife and photographer who never stops learning. Oh, and I love Frank Sinatra! Here are a few of my favorite Frank Sinatra albums based on a unified... more »
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