Close to You (Frank Sinatra album) explained

Close to You
Type:	studio
Artist:	Frank Sinatra
Cover:	Sinatraclosetoyou.jpg
Released:	January 21, 1957^[1]
Recorded:	March 8, April 4 – 5, November 1, 1956
Studio:	Capitol Studio A (Hollywood)
Length:	43:31
Label:	Capitol
Producer:	Voyle Gilmore
Prev Title:	This Is Sinatra!
Prev Year:	1956
Next Title:	A Swingin' Affair!
Next Year:	1957

Close to You is the eleventh studio album by American musician Frank Sinatra, accompanied by the Hollywood String Quartet.

The album was recorded over a period of eight months and five different sessions, and was arranged by Nelson Riddle.

Nelson Riddle commented that the structure of popular songs does not lend itself to arranging in the true string quartet style of the classics and felt that he hadn't really achieved as much as he had hoped. However, when the album was released it received critical praise and as Riddle remarked, "Sinatra liked it!".^[2]

For its CD release, the album was retitled Close to You and More, referencing the bonus tracks.

Track listing

1. "Close to You" (Al Hoffman, Carl G. Lampl, Jerry Livingston) – 3:37
2. "P.S. I Love You" (Gordon Jenkins, Johnny Mercer) – 4:21
3. "Love Locked Out" (Max Kester, Ray Noble) – 2:41
4. "Everything Happens to Me" (Tom Adair, Matt Dennis) – 3:20
5. "It's Easy to Remember (And So Hard to Forget)" (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) – 3:34
6. "Don't Like Goodbyes" (Harold Arlen, Truman Capote) – 4:51
7. "With Every Breath I Take" (Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin) – 3:38
8. "Blame It on My Youth" (Edward Heyman, Oscar Levant) – 2:58
9. "It Could Happen to You" (Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen) – 3:13
10. "I've Had My Moments" (Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn) – 3:47
11. "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night" (Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh) – 3:25
12. "The End of a Love Affair" (Edward Redding) – 4:11

CD reissue bonus tracks not included on the original 1957 release:

1. "If It's the Last Thing I Do" (Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin) – 4:00
2. "There's a Flaw in My Flue" (Burke, Van Heusen) – 2:41
3. "Wait till You See Her" (Rodgers, Hart) – 3:08

Complete personnel

• Frank Sinatra – vocals
• Nelson Riddle – arranger, conductor
• The Hollywood String Quartet:
  • Felix Slatkin – violin, leader
  • Paul Shure – violin
  • Eleanor Aller – cello
  • Alvin Dinkin – viola

Tracks 1, 5, 11

1-November-1956 (Thursday)- Hollywood. Mahlon Clark (cit); James Williamson (fl); Felix Slatkin*, Paul Shure*, Marvin Limonick (vln); Alvin Dinkin* (via); Eleanor Slatkin* (vlc); Kathryn Julye (harp); Bill Miller (p/cel); Nick Bonney (g); Eddie Gilbert (b); Frank Flynn (d).

Tracks 2, 3, 6, 13

8-March-1956 (Thursday)- Hollywood. Vincent DeRosa (fr-h); Mahlon Clark (cit); Harry Klee (fl); Felix Slatkin*, Paul Shure*, Israel Baker (vln); Alvin Dinkin* (via); Eleanor Slatkin* (vie); Kathryn Julye (harp); Bill Miller (p); George Van Eps (g); Mike Rubin (b); Irving Cottier (d).

Tracks 4, 8, 10, 15

4/5-April-1956 (Wed/Thur) - Hollywood. Vincent DeRosa (fr-h); Mitchell Lurie (cit); Harry Klee (fl); Champ Webb (oboe); Felix Slatkin*, Paul Shure* (vln); Alvin Dinkin* (via); Eleanor Slatkin* (vlc); Kathryn Julye (harp); Bill Miller (p); Bob Bain (g); Mike Rubin (b); Irving Cottier (d).

Tracks 7, 9, 12, 14

5-April-1956 (Thursday) - Hollywood. Harry Edison (tpt); Vincent DeRosa (fr-h); Champ Webb (oboe); Felix Slatkin*, Paul Shure*, Gerald Vinci (vln); Alvin Dinkin* (via); Eleanor Slatkin* (vie); Kathryn Julye (harp); Bill Miller (p/cel); Bob Bain (g); Sam Cheifetz (b); Alvin Stoller (d).

Notes and References

1. https://books.google.com/books?id=gh4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=frank+sinatra+close+to+you&pg=PA40 Billboard February 23, 1957
2. Alan Dell, 1984 Close To You sleeve notes in Sinatra, The Capitol Years box set.