| L.A. Is My Lady | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Frank Sinatra |
| Cover: | Laismylady.jpg |
| Released: | August 1984 |
| Recorded: | April 13, 16–17, May 17, 1984 New York City, New York and Los Angeles, California |
| Genre: | Vocal jazz |
| Length: | 36:35 |
| Label: | Qwest, Warner Bros. |
| Producer: | Quincy Jones |
| Prev Title: | She Shot Me Down |
| Prev Year: | 1981 |
| Next Title: | Duets |
| Next Year: | 1993 |
L.A. Is My Lady is the fifty-seventh and final solo studio album by American singer Frank Sinatra, released in 1984 and produced by Quincy Jones. While the album was Sinatra's last (excluding the Duets albums), he recorded five further songs, only four of which have been officially released.
The album came after an album of duets between Sinatra and Lena Horne, instigated by Jones, was abandoned after Horne developed vocal problems and Sinatra, committed to other engagements, couldn't wait to record. This was the first studio album Sinatra had recorded with Jones since 1964's It Might as Well Be Swing.
The studio sessions were filmed for a documentary, Frank Sinatra: Portrait of an Album, which also shows Sinatra meeting Michael Jackson for the first time.
Singers Dean Martin, Donna Summer, Michael McDonald and Van Halen members David Lee Roth & Eddie Van Halen make cameo appearances in the video for "L.A. Is My Lady", which in turn made moderate rotation on the fledgling MTV Network.
Despite its title, the album was mostly recorded in New York City. The album peaked at #58 on the Billboard 200, and #8 on the Top Jazz Albums chart.
One notable departure for Sinatra was the clear inclusion of synthesizers on the title track.
Track 1 (LA Is My Lady):
13-April-1984 (Friday) - New York. A&R Studios (from 4 to 7 P.M.).
Joe Newman, Randy Brecker, Lew Soloff, Alan Rubin (tpt); Benny Powell, Urbie Green, Wayne Andre (tbn); Dave Taylor (b-tbn); Peter Gordon, Jerry Peel, John Clark (fr-h); Tony Price (tuba); Michael Brecker, Ronnie Cuber, George Opalisky, David Tofani, Frank Wess (wwd); Margaret Ross (harp); Bob James (synt); Joe Pamello (pie-Rhodes); George Benson, Tony Mottola (g); Ray Brown, Major Holley, Marcus Miller, Gene Cherico (b); Steve Gadd, Irving Cottler (d); Ralph MacDonald (perc); Lionel Hampton (vibes). Sam Nestico (arr).
Add: Harry Lookofsky, Matthew Raimondi, Marilyn Wright, Fred Buldrini, David Nadien, Regis Iandiorio, Richard Sortomme, Gene Orloff, Harold Kohan, Marti Sweet (vln); Harold Coletta, Alfred Brown (via); Jesse Levy, Jonathan Abramowitz (vie). Dave Matthews, Quincy Jones, Jerry Hey, Torrie Zito (arr).
Tracks 2, 5, 6, 10:
16-April-1984 (Monday) - New York. A&R Studios (from 7 to 10 P.M.).
Joe Newman, Randy Brecker, Jon Faddis, Alan Rubin (tpt); Benny Powell, Urbie Green, Wayne Andre (tbn); Dave Taylor (b-tbn); Robert Carlisle, Jerry Peel, John Clark (fr-h); Tony Price (tuba); Michael Brecker, Ronnie Cuber, George Opalisky, Frank Foster, Frank Wess (wwd); Margaret Ross (harp); Bob James (synt); Joe Pamella (pie-Rhodes); George Benson, Tony Mottola (g); Ray Brown, Gene Cherico (b); Steve Gadd, Irving Cottler (d); Ralph MacDonald (perc); Lionel Hampton (vibes). Sam Nestico, Joe Parnello, Frank Foster (arr).
Track 3 (How Do You Keep The Music Playing?):
17-April-1984 (Tuesday) - New York. A&R Studios (from 7 to 10 P.M.).
Joe Newman, Randy Brecker, Jon Faddis, Lew Soloff (tpt); Benny Powell, Urbie Green, Wayne Andre (tbn); Dave Taylor (b-tbn); Peter Gordon, Jerry Peel, John Clark (fr-h); Tony Price (tuba); Michael Brecker, Ronnie Cuber, George Opalisky, Frank Foster, Frank Wess (wwd); Margaret Ross (harp); Bob James (synt); Joe Pamello (pie-Rhodes); George Benson, Tony Mottola (g); Ray Brown, Gene Cherico (b); Steve Gadd, Irving Cottler (d); Ralph MacDonald (perc). Sam Nestico, Torrie Zito, Joe Pamello (arr).
Add: Harry Lookofsky, Matthew Raimondi, Marilyn Wright, Fred Buldrini, David Nadien, Regis Iandiorio, Richard Sortomme, Gene Orloff, Harold Kohon, Marti Sweet (vln); Harold Coletta, Alfred Brown (vla); Jesse Levy, Jonathan Abramowitz (vlc). Joe Pamello (arr).
Tracks 4, 9:
17-April-1984 (Tuesday) - New York. A&R Studios (from 7 to 10 P.M.).
Joe Newman, Randy Brecker, Jon Faddis, Lew Soloff (tpt); Benny Powell, Urbie Green, Wayne Andre (tbn); Dave Taylor (b-tbn); Peter Gordon, Jerry Peel, John Clark (fr-h); Tony Price (tuba); Michael Brecker, Ronnie Cuber, George Opalisky, Frank Foster, Frank Wess (wwd); Margaret Ross (harp); Bob James (synt); Joe Pamello (pie-Rhodes); George Benson, Tony Mottola (g); Ray Brown, Gene Cherico (b); Steve Gadd, Irving Cottier (d); Ralph MacDonald (perc). Sam Nestico, Torrie Zito, Joe Pamello (arr).
Track 7 (Until The Real Thing Comes Along):
13-April-1984 (Friday) - New York. A&R Studios (from 4 to 7 P.M.).
Joe Newman, Randy Brecker, Lew Soloff, Alan Rubin (tpt); Benny Powell, Urbie Green, Wayne Andre (tbn); Dave Taylor (b-tbn); Peter Gordon, Jerry Peel, John Clark (fr-h); Tony Price (tuba); Michael Brecker, Ronnie Cuber, George Opalisky, David Tofani, Frank Wess (wwd); Margaret Ross (harp); Bob James (synt); Joe Pamello (pie-Rhodes); George Benson, Tony Mottola (g); Ray Brown, Major Holley, Marcus Miller, Gene Cherico (b); Steve Gadd, Irving Cottler (d); Ralph MacDonald (perc); Lionel Hampton (vibes). Sammy Nestico (arr).
Track 8 (Stormy Weather):
17-May-1984 (Thursday)- Los Angeles. Oceanway Studios (from 12 N. to 3 P.M. and from 4 to 7 P.M).
Oscar Brashear, Gary Grant, Snooky Young, Jerry Hey* (tpt); Bill Reichenbach Jr., Lew McCreary, Bill Watrous, George Bohanon (tbn); Henry Sigismonti, Sidney Muldrow, David Duke (fr-h); James Self (tuba); Buddy Collette, Kim Hutchcroft, Jerome Richardson, Bill Green, Larry Williams (sax/wwd); Amy Shulman (harp); Randy Kerber* (p/el-Rhodes); Craig Hundley (synt); Lee Ritenour (el-g); Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (d). Sammy Nestico, Bob Florence (arr).
Track 11 (After You've Gone):
13-April-1984 (Friday) - New York. A&R Studios (from 4 to 7 P.M.).
Joe Newman, Randy Brecker, Lew Soloff, Alan Rubin (tpt); Benny Powell, Urbie Green, Wayne Andre (tbn); Dave Taylor (b-tbn); Peter Gordon, Jerry Peel, John Clark (fr-h); Tony Price (tuba); Michael Brecker, Ronnie Cuber, George Opalisky, David Tofani, Frank Wess (wwd); Margaret Ross (harp); Bob James (synt); Joe Pamello (pie-Rhodes); George Benson, Tony Mottola (g); Ray Brown, Major Holley, Marcus Miller, Gene Cherico (b); Steve Gadd, Irving Cottler (d); Ralph MacDonald (perc); Lionel Hampton (vibes). Frank Foster, Bob James (arr).[3]