Maps of Music

Duets (1993)

Where the lyrics of Duets take you, and where it was really made.

Sinatra never stood in the same studio as his duet partners, yet the album became the only Sinatra record to reach triple platinum certification.

Key places

Capitol Studio A, Los Angeles (1993)

Recording site Capitol Studios — The orchestra rehearsed at Capitol Studio A in Los Angeles, a room where Sinatra had recorded many times. The project's tracking sessions were planned there. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Bono's part, recorded in Dublin (1993)

Recording site STS Studios — Bono recorded his part for I've Got You Under My Skin in Dublin, standing on a couch in the STS Studios control room. The point is placed at city-centre level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Aretha Franklin's part, recorded in Detroit (1993)

Recording site Detroit — Aretha Franklin recorded her part for What Now My Love in Detroit, then recorded a personal message to Sinatra thanking him. The point is placed at city level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Duets: album by American singer Frank Sinatra, released in 1993
• Consists of electronically assembled duets between Sinatra and younger singers from various genres
• Recorded near the end of Sinatra's career
• Sequel Duets II released the following year
• Cover shows a specially commissioned painting of Sinatra by LeRoy Neiman

Background

• Sinatra was approached in 1992 with the idea of an album of duets
• Phil Ramone felt the project would bring Sinatra's classic songs to new, younger listeners
• Charles Koppelman, CEO of EMI Records Group North America, pushed the project forward
• Sinatra suggested Ella Fitzgerald as a partner, but she was not well enough to take part

Recording

• An orchestra rehearsed at Capitol Studio A in Los Angeles, a room where Sinatra had recorded many times, using classic Nelson Riddle arrangements
• Sinatra came to the first two days of tracking but declined to lay down vocals on the first day, disliking isolation in a vocal booth
• Sinatra said his voice was not in optimal condition
• About $350,000 had been spent on the project by that point
• Nine songs were recorded in five hours, beginning with Come Fly with Me
• Other duet partners recorded remotely and sent their parts to Capitol over ISDN digital telephone lines
• Bono recorded his part in Dublin, and Aretha Franklin recorded hers in Detroit

Cover

• The cover art is a painting of Sinatra by LeRoy Neiman, commissioned for the album

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey, to Italian immigrants.
• Began singing professionally as a teenager with the Hoboken Four, winning Major Bowes Amateur Hour.
• Joined Harry James's band in 1939, then Tommy Dorsey's band, before going solo in 1942.

Career

• Signed with Columbia Records in 1943 and became a major star of the bobby-soxer era.
• Signed with Capitol Records in 1953; collaborated with arranger Nelson Riddle on albums such as In the Wee Small Hours and Songs for Swingin' Lovers!.
• Founded Reprise Records in 1960, releasing albums including September of My Years and the hit single "My Way".
• Won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for From Here to Eternity (1953).
• Estimated to have sold around 150 million records worldwide.
• Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1997.
• Died May 14, 1998 in Los Angeles.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Critics gave the album mixed reviews
• Complaints centred on Sinatra's isolated style, in which his duet partners were never in the studio with him
• Critics also objected to the artificial production method, which lacked personal collaboration and spontaneity
• Guest singers were directed to sing along to his pre-recorded vocal parts and make their performances complement his
• Some observers were not satisfied with the recording process

Records

• Debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard albums chart
• Reached No. 5 in the UK
• Sold over 3 million copies in the US
• Only Sinatra album to date to achieve triple platinum certification
• I've Got a Crush on You: nominated for the Academy Award for Best instrumental arrangement with accompanying vocals, noted at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Sinatra suggested Ella Fitzgerald as a partner, but she was not well enough to take part.
• Sinatra required that his duet partners not be in the studio while he sang his part.
• The album was advertised as The Recording Event of The Decade.
• On the second recording day, co-producer Hank Cattaneo proposed a small raised stage and placing pianist Bill Miller beside Sinatra to make the session feel like a live performance.
• Phil Ramone and Capitol were worried the record might never be finished before Cattaneo's suggestion to keep Sinatra's sequencing and take approvals on track.
• The sequel Duets II followed the next year, and both albums were later packaged together.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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