Alone and awake, I've looked at the stars

Continuing my trip back through the 1963 album charts.

13/10/63 : The Concert Sinatra - Frank Sinatra


Considering this is a year that I said I wouldn't be skipping over any albums, I certainly seem to be avoiding quite a few - this week I've passed on a Cliff best-of (#9 - no, thank you) and a most peculiar offering from Peter Sellers, Joan Collins and Anthony Newley (who were married at the time) which is allegedly a political comedy album, but I couldn't find it (and was perfectly happy not to look too hard for it).

All of which brings us to out fifteenth visit with Frank, bringing him level with Bob Dylan in third equal most visited - and he'll have his eye on the top spot by the end of the year, I fear...

Hmmm - yeah, it's bearable but it's really all a bit boring. I generally prefer his swing-y kinda stuff but I'm happy to admit he does a good ballad when he puts his mind to it - but this is really just some songs sung slowly. The only points of interest were the fifth version of "You'll Never Walk Alone" we've met, but I'm afraid it's not even the best version we've met this year and "Soliloquy" which contains Frank's thoughts about any kids he might have and it's fair to say some of the views have somewhat dated. Frank had a lot going for him back then, but I'm afraid this isn't a high spot for me.

We're at #13 in the chart this week on his eleventh week of a sixteen week run, with it having peaked at #8 in its ninth week. The top five this week were The Beatles, The Searchers, Frank Ifield, The Shadows and Kenny Ball (exactly the same as last week) and the highest new entry was Eddie Cochran (#20).

Wikipedia tells us this is his 31st album (he REALLY chucked them out back then) and it's a reunion with Nelson Riddle - who've we've already met on NINE of Frank's albums! They used 76 musicians on this (which was the most they'd used - so far!) and it was recorded on 35mm film (for the sound quality, which is admittedly decent, but not obviously that much better than other albums), but wasn't released in film form. And it was well received critically and got to #6 in the US charts.

discogs.com tells us you can pick a copy of the album for £2.50 but if you want a Japanese reissued version then it's going to set you back £1,089.31 - which is chunky money in anyone's book! If you're a Frank obsessive then I'm sure you're aware of this - if you're not, then I reckon you're absolutely fine as you are.

20/10/63 - A most curious album

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