# Best Frank Sinatra album?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-frank-sinatra-album/932920>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** music\
**Created:** [February 15, 2021, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-frank-sinatra-album/932920 "2021-02-15T03:41:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-frank-sinatra-album/932920/1 "2021-02-15T03:41:30Z")

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Let’s assume I only have space to download one of Frank’s albums.

Which would you recommend, and why?

[Side bar]

Discourse sez: "Your topic is similar to… Would a ‘binational’ or ‘one-state solution’ be best for Israel / Palestine? "

Say what? Discobot, what’s going on?

[/Side bar]

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**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-frank-sinatra-album/932920/2 "2021-02-15T04:02:47Z")

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Is it cheating to pick a compilation album? 75 songs:  
[The Capitol Years (1990 Frank Sinatra album) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Capitol_Years_(1990_Frank_Sinatra_album))

He was at his best in the mid-50’s:  
In The Wee Small Hours  
Songs For Swingin’ Lovers!  
Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely

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**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2021, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-frank-sinatra-album/932920/3 "2021-02-16T03:18:44Z")

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The Capitol Years has all the best tracks from Sinatra’s major albums from 1953 - 61. I have had it since it was released in 1990 and played it many times.

However, my favorite album to listen to now is [Sinatra & Sextet: Live in Paris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinatra_%26_Sextet:_Live_in_Paris). It is a terrific performance with a really lively band, that makes a change from the lush orchestrations of the Capitol sets. The sextet did one tour to raise money for charity and included Bill Miller, Al Viola and Irv Cottler who were Sinatra sidemen for decades. The album is reportedly the entire unedited performance in Paris.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2021, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-frank-sinatra-album/932920/4 "2021-02-16T18:08:03Z")

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> [@K364](#):
>
> Is it cheating to pick a compilation album?

Wouldn’t that undercut the principle of a concept album like _Wee Small Hours_?

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**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-frank-sinatra-album/932920/5 "2021-02-17T02:12:10Z")

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His Reprise compliation, _Sinatra Reprise: The Very Good Years_, is worth considering.