Frank Sinatra Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra Numbered Limited Edition 180g LP (Mono) Scratch & Dent

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IMPEX Records is pleased to announce the Limited Edition release of Frank Sinatra's iconic 1950 Columbia Records ten-inch LP Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra. Originally issued in October 1950, the title was the singer's first fully-conceived big-band jazz album to appear on a modern, long-play vinyl record. The 70th-anniversary limited edition LP brims with rare, previously unreleased session material, outtakes and alternate vocal takes from the original sessions and offers the exquisite audiophile-quality sound that IMPEX Records is noted for.

Created in cooperation with Sony Music's Legacy Recordings, the new deluxe reissue was produced by noted Sinatra producer, author and historian Charles L. Granata, and restored/remastered by six-time Grammy-winning recording engineer Andreas Meyer. The 33-RPM LP was cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood and is being released on 180-Gram premium vinyl (pressed at RTI). Included is an extensive, full-color booklet designed by Robert Sliger, featuring a comprehensive historical essay, full discography/personnel listing and detailed technical notes authored by Granata, PLUS a generous array of rare photographs, promotional artwork and unpublished visual ephemera pertaining to the album. The executive producers are Abey Fonn and Bob Bantz.

Rich in musical texture, this essential Sinatra classic - featuring the swing-style arrangements of George Siravo - marked a pivotal moment in 20th-Century pop music history, and represented the singer's transition from tender crooner to hip, swinging sophisticate. These performances offer a flawless snapshot of Sinatra's legendary musical craftsmanship as he reinvents himself for a new direction in his career - one that would hail his unparalleled success of the 1950s and '60s.

For this commemorative release, IMPEX has augmented the album's original eight songs (programmed in sequence on Side A of the LP) with a dazzling array of PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED BONUS TRACKS including alternate takes, orchestra-only tracks and a revealing glimpse of Frank Sinatra in Columbia's famed 30th Street Studio (circa 1949), personally directing every facet of the recording session. This exquisite, high-fidelity session offers the most concise, in-depth illustration of Frank Sinatra working his magic in the studio, and functioning as his own producer.

The IMPEX team has spared no expense or effort in the creation of this milestone recording. In keeping with the prestigious label's reputation for meticulous sound, the 33-RPM vinyl LP has been transferred, restored and mastered in the analog domain from the original 15-ips session tapes: superior-sounding masters that have lain untouched in the Columbia Records vault for more than fifty years. These analog, monophonic tape masters sound spectacular, and shine as never before.

"From the original analog tapes, this 70th Anniversary 180 gram commemorative release of Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra is an absolute gem of a reissue. We have to thank IMPEX for taking on this project. There are many Frank Sinatra fans out there who are just as passionate about his early Columbia years as his later output from Capital and Reprise, but this music never seems to get the respect that it deserves. There has been plenty of excitement generated after the initial announcement. I am happy to say that we have been greatly rewarded after all the anticipation and patience! I also want to offer some big time congrats to Abey Fonn over at IMPEX and Chuck Granata, the acclaimed and highly respected Frank Sinatra historian and archivist. Their superb collaborative effort and leadership on this project has produced something quite memorable and well beyond expectations!" - Robert S. Youman, Positive Feedback Read more!

"Unpacking and playing this mono classic were the record-collector's equivalent of enjoying a Michelin-rated meal in my living room. If that sounds like hype, consider the following. The music was transferred, restored and remastered in the analog domain from the original 15ips session tapes by Grammy-winning recording engineer Andres Meyer. Lacquers were then cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood, and the limited pressing run of 5000 copies was personally supervised by Rick Hashimoto at RTI. If that wasn't already enough talent, Impex hired the folks at Stoughton Printing (well-known for their stellar work with Intervention Records, among other labels) to reproduce the original cover in a luxuriously laminated tip-on gatefold and create a colorful 24-page liner-note booklet written by Frank Sinatra authority Charles L. Granata. I have a friend in the printing business who said the booklet's textured subheadings and glossy red and yellow paint effects are the result of a spare-no-expense process known as 'spot UV varnish' that must have boosted the production costs considerably. There's even a detailed rundown of each piece of equipment used in the production process, from the Studer tape decks to the Westrex cutter head driven by a refurbished Haeco vacuum-tube amplifier. About the only thing left to the imagination is what color socks Matt Cavaluzzo was wearing when he restored two of the original session lacquers. The obvious love and care invested in this project left me a bit in awe each time I lifted the gold Impex seal to remove the album from its protective vinyl envelope." - Vance Hiner, The Audio Beat, Music 4/5, Sound 4/5 Read more!

In Episode #501 of The Paul Leslie Hour, Paul talks with Charles L. Granata about the new deluxe reissue. "Granata and the team have spared nothing to create an unsurpassed, unprecedented listening experience for audiophiles and Sinatra fans alike. Granata's discourse in this video includes history, the art and science of recording, personal reactions and his lingering curiosities. It's an in-depth look at a milestone recording, something that must be seen and heard to fully appreciate. This interview is an interesting and passionate exchange for the discerning Frank Sinatra fan and anyone lucky enough to hear the reissue!" Read more!

The 180-gram RTI pressing is flawless and the double gatefold jacket is truly lavish! The Sinatra selections are superbly performed and very musically entertaining, to the max. Surfaces are exceptionally quiet. No need to worry about the RIAA Curve here since the tapes do not contain the Columbia recording curve the LP's of the era used. The correct and current RIAA Playback Curve was used in this reissue by Impex. This full size 12-inch LP, not 10 inch for the reissue, has immense value for the music lover and audiophile. You cannot judge speaker placement with a stereo LP. You need a mono source to do it correctly. This release sounds top-notch with a stereo cartridge. My compliments to Andreas Meyer for superb mastering and Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering for exceptional record cutting dynamics and musical preservation. Very highly recommended!

The sourcing, re-mastering and re-mixing process was a herculean accomplishment. The extended liner notes from Granata, a Sinatra author, archivist, radio host and expert, will appeal to those with a historical and/or audio engineering/technological interest. While Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra offers significant historical value, the performances are as monumentally enjoyable as they are valuable. Displaying vocal and technical perfection, it is an exciting listening experience and certainly one of the finest releases of 2020.

From the original analog tapes, this 70th Anniversary 180 gram commemorative release of Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra is an absolute gem of a reissue. A must have for every collection. Don't wait too long as this is a limited edition pressing of 5000. Highly recommended!

It all comes down to this: Consummate packaging, meticulous remastering, fascinating liner notes and an ultra-flat pressing characterized by inky-black backgrounds make this a must-own LP for any serious fan of The Voice.

Before booze, smoke, and age roughened up his voice, here is Sinatra at his youthful finest. And my do he and his band deliver the goods. The sound lacks both frequency and dynamic extremes - as one would expect given the vintage here - but it hardly matters when the heart of the action, Sinatra's voice, is presented with such immediacy and refreshing purity. Being recorded in mono, which as we know does not present stereo-like imaging, Sinatra stands front and center, with the orchestra clearly arrayed behind him with a suggestion of depth. Impex's stellar reissue (the cover alone is worth the admission price) is a must-have for Sinatra lovers.

Reviewed on SACD in April, this so deserves to be heard on vinyl that it gains five more points and snags Album Choice: it may be mono, but wow, does it sing! First, you hear Sinatra at a transitional period from bobby-soxer idol to suave crooner, and secondly - this is, after all, a hi-fi magazine - you'll be staggered by the sound of 70-year-old recordings. It's worth acquiring, too, for the booklet, a model of liner-note excellence. If you already have the SACD, it's a great way to play 'guess the format' with your friends.