Amazing time capsule. The man conducting (Gordon Jenkins) is my grandfather. I never got to meet him, so it’s such a treat to see him waving around to the music 4:31-5:22. Wonderful to see him alive, if only in film.
Gordon Jenkins was a remarkably talented composer. You can tell Sinatra is deeply moved while listening to the playback. He knew your grandfather had given him one of his biggest hits. I've always respected Gordon Jenkins for this amazing arrangement. There was nobody like him, EllaHarp.
Your grandfather made records unlike anything ever made since. Popular music evolves, as well it should, but to think that popular albums sounded like what Gordon Jenkins, Nelson Riddle, etc used to orchestrate blows my mind. This was serious business and i doubt they had a complete understanding of how important what they were doing would be for future generations to hear and try to build upon.
Ella, your grandfather, IMHO, was the greatest conductor/composer/arranger on the planet. He could paint pictures in sound. Could bring you to tears at the beauty of the music. Always in demand by the best singers in the world !
I recently stumbled upon your Grandfather's arrangements for Sinatra's September Of My Years album. His arrangements had me in tears. He was able to invoke so much color and it was beautifully crafted as a companion to Sinatra's nostalgic words. I've been studying 20th century harmony and I try to pick out what I can by ear when listening to this, I absolutely love it. That's so cool that he's your Grandfather! I hope the musical torch is passed down for generations :)
Who else could be drinking from a styrofoam cup, loosened tie and making jokes - then immediately lay down the gold standard vocal performance for generations to come? Thanks be to Almighty God for blessing us with the timeless voice and personality of Francis Albert Sinatra.
This is the take that is on the album. To be able to watch Frank Sinatra perform exactly what you hear on the album is kinda like getting to watch DaVinci paint the mona lisa.
I know right? And the fact that we’re watching and hearing him sing that in 1965, which is now over 50 years ago. All the people who were alive then who are long gone now, people that were teenagers then are now in their 70’s. Really puts the song into perspective, like you said, time is precious
@@anne_ruok7172 says, "All the people who were alive then who are long gone now," ..... err . . . (in a whisper) excuse me . . . yes, me . . . over here in the corner . . . I first saw Sinatra sing when I was 10 years old, maybe 9. I mean in person, from about 15 feet away. It was probably 1943 but could have been 42. He was standing on the steps of Snyder High School, (Jersey City, NJ) which his wife Nancy had attended. Frank had just appeared at a War Bond Rally in nearby Journal Square, the commercial center of the city. But for some reason, after the rally, he visited the school, a few blocks from where I was living. He stood there with the Mills Brothers and joined them in a-capella singing "I Wanna Buy a Paper Doll." There may have been 20 or 30 of us neighborhood people standing at the foot of the steps. The song was a big hit for the Mills Brothers (ua-cam.com/video/HaMeSrynug0/v-deo.html) at that time, but Frank himself waited decades to record his own version. (ua-cam.com/video/IhsJVJMxWdQ/v-deo.html). BTW - listen to the the awesome diction of the Mills Bros, starting with the very first "I'm" that is so purely sung. The opening solo is one of the finest ever recorded. I was a Sinatra (and Mills Brothers) fan from then on until now, well into my 88th year. There are a lot of us still around.
Most vocalists won't even allow ONE extra person in the studio while they're recording their vocal track. Frank has a whole audience watching him, and he's perfectly relaxed, in control, cool, calm, and collected. Talk about OWNING that room!!!! Wow!!!!
I read that he actually likes to have an audience when he is recording. He obviously wanted them there. He probably feels it helps him perform better. When I record, I never have anyone except the engineer watching. However, I do this many times at Karaoke and like people watching. I basically sing in the style of Frank. Great Track!
The Jenkins arrangement here is simply outstanding. The strings with their pizzicato was just fabulous. I will never forget this song and now I'm living it.
This is a song that you can't really appreciate until you are well into middle age. The reflective introspection and touch of melancholy about the passage of time. It's a masterpiece that honestly nobody but Frank Sinatra could ever sing with the same emotional depth.
There was a house down the street from me right off the Atlantic City Boardwalk. It’s owner was Steve Wynn. Sinatra would stay there while he performed in AC. They just tore the house down. While standing out front watching them demolish the house, neighbors were sharing stories of how Sinatra would sing for them and other people out in the garden during his time in AC.
@nyterpfan Beautifully spoken Sir - I totally agree with your sympathy being now in my 61st Year...... My musical tastes have varied over the years from " heavy metal" through PoP and " grunge" but the true classics stand out head and shoulders over the decades.... "A Very Good Year " haunts me with it's beauty. Kind regards - Scoob
The song moved me deeply when I was 8.I remember it and it's effect well.Always had this awareness of impermanence from a very young age.But I think a lot of children do
1965. I was a senior in high school. Everything was The Beatles, Stones , Animals etc. Frank Sinatra? That was the crap my parents listen to for some unknown reason. Then one night with TV on in the living room, and I'm not really paying attention, this studio session of It Was A Very Good Year started playing. I suddenly looked up. I started watching and listening. I was totally blown away by this beautiful song.
thank you for sharing your memories, sir. what happened next? :0 i myself am in my early 20s, only started to listen sinatra last year. i never seeked his music out because i'm a rock/metal fan, and i'm young enough that my parents think sinatra is old man music. but damn, hearing the color of the orchestration, the heart in the song, and the emotion in his singing hooked me in.
we only appreciate when we understand the art behind. I am much younger than you and, indeed, Sinatra has always been "old people music" for me during all my life. But recently i've learned to listen to him and enjoy the craft. Specially the thing about diction he says is so important. I had never realized it. As a non-english speaker, I love listening his phrasing while singing. Not a single phoneme escapes this guy
Same here, but a bit later. My parents liked listening to "crap" and I liked listening to untalented musicians yelling and smashing their guitars. Only later on, after my parents passed, did I start to appreciate their "crap." This one song, though, I always did appreciate. His talent did manage to permeate my otherwise taste for garbage music.
Watch his face while he sings. That's his instrument. Every muscle, every flinch, every tightening is used to shape the tone of his music. A masterful artist.
Sinatra's last Las Vegas performance was at Steve Wynn's Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas many years ago. I was a gambler who luckily was comped a seat on the stage front row. The audience was the who's who of celebrities who came to see Sinatra make his iconic last performance. At 68, I have enjoyed all types of music except heavy metal and Rap. But I will admit, this song is music made for God and gives credence to the argument that the best days of music are behind us. The orchestra, the composer, the orchestra leader, the entire team of PROFESSIONALS come together to record a soul stirring song that lifts the spirit and raises the emotion of every listener, glorifying human ability. Frank Sinatra worked at his craft very hard and this video gives a glimpse of his drive for singing perfection. Frank heard "It Was A Very Good Year" on his car radio and immediately called his producer demanding to record this song. It definitely was a perfect fit of the right singer for the right music.
Just fantastic! You could see at the end of the video, while Frank is listening to himself singing, that he was just scrutinizing every word, every pause, every syllable. He was the ultimate perfectionist, and it showed in every one of his performances. there will never be another Sinatra.
Incredible piece of history. He does a few run throughs and then says “ Let’s make one”, with a live orchestra and only his voice on one take. Look how he enunciates each word with so much feeling and his phrasing is unmatched. Frank has no equal.
Norman Lebrecht - December 08, 2022 Hollywood’s go-to wind soloist Gene Cipriano has died at the great age of 94. Among thousands of session calls, Cip played tenor sax for Tony Curtis in ‘Some Like It Hot’ and indelible oboe at the start of Sinatra’s ‘It Was a Very Good Year.’ Source: Slipped Disc
BY MIKE BARNES - NOVEMBER 27, 2022 Gene Cipriano, the always busy woodwind player who soloed on tenor sax for Tony Curtis in Some Like It Hot and recorded with everyone from Miles Davis, Rosemary Clooney and Frank Sinatra to Glen Campbell, Paul McCartney and Olivia Newton-John, has died. He was 94. 2:02 Source: The Hollywood Reporter
This is what's missing in today's production. A bunch of artists all playing with EACH OTHER. no headphones. No separation. All United for a cause bigger than any one person. True art.
This is where today's singers go off the rails. A singer today would do this song with all sorts of runs and warbling, totally missing the haunting essence of this track that Frank captured perfectly. Frank's voice is **telling** the story, not becoming the story. That's what's missing today.
My parents would throw a party almost every Saturday night during the summer in the 60's. I would sit at the top of the stairs and listen to all the goings on, and especially the music. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were always playing(we're an Italian family), so I grew up with those two singing geniuses. I love their music to this day. Oh man, the memories!!!! R.I.P., mom, dad, Dean and Frank, and all my parents friends who attended those parties. I loved them all.
This must have been an amazing session to witness in person. I am so thankful that this was recorded for us to enjoy all these years later. The instrumentation and Frank's vocal give me chills and also make me tear up.
Extraordinary. Notice he didn't use a pop shield; he has the ability to control the plosive Ps just by subtly altering his position to the mic. No headphones either, so he hears the whole mix 'live' rather than via the feed from the control room.
He was remarkable conscious of the technical aspects of recording. Read Chuck Granata's book. www.amazon.com/Sessions-Sinatra-Frank-Art-Recording/dp/1556525095
For years in the Dallas radio market, KAAM played this song. Before he died, Jon McCoy music and program director said that of the thousands of songs played this was his favorite. The best of all.
A masterclass in the recording of a memorable studio performance. The conductor (see EllaHarp's previous comment) had the nckname "Lefty" and was the singer's collaborator in many fine recordings. Both men admitted a shared penchant for the sadder style of song and both were top of their game. I have this on a DVD from a CBS interview and it remains a "so glad to have" reminder of what talent meant then!
Really! You can feel the young man's wonderment that this was really happening. All these subtle phrasings and his affecting tone put you right there in all these watershed moments and you recall the RICHNESS of your own sweet memories that had grown stale over time. What a powerful force great music is! And Frankie! Can you imagine these sounds resonating in your own chest and coming out of your mouth?! IT POURED SWEET AND CLEAR . . .
Put your Bluetooth headphones on and listen to this- it is simply beautiful. And he knows it's right too- i love all types of music and singer's- but this is a different level. Amazing.
OMG - that 05:58 closeup of him listening to the playback. That eloquent twitch of displeasure at 06:15 after the phrase "autumn of the year." Then there's his grudging approval at 06:21 of "fine old kegs." We are seeing a master at his craft, having spoken earlier in the video about "enunciation" revealing it's not just about clarity of pronunciation but musical phrasing, something far beyond simple diction. What a privileged moment we have here. His face is master class without words.
The making of a masterpiece... watching this was like witnessing the moment God touched Adam in Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam." Thank you for this treasure, MrAkdnt.
Watch close ...pay attention to Frank's reaction to reviewing what he's put on tape ...he appears amazed, at genius of what he's created ...best part of video ...mystery of what he was thinking 🎙🎶🎻
This is absolutely amazing to watch!! I love the look when he realizes it’s great!! It looks like he’s even amazed!! I can’t stop watching this:) it brings me to tears!!
For some reason this beautiful song makes me a little sad.... that I didn't have these memorable experiences when I was 17, 21, 35... just had an ordinary life. It's a well-done song, but makes one think about how they should have had more fun earlier in life.
Same here for me, sorta. I met my wife when I was 21, but it was a dry spell before that LOL. We're in the autumn of our years now but we wouldn't change a thing.
You're not alone, brother. Not by a long shot. I know it doesn't give much solace, but a lot of us are in that boat. Makes songs like this one more poignant.
Just because you didn't go to the moon, doesn't mean to say you didn't have a good time. Life is what you want it to be. Some people want to climb Everest, others want to stay at home and make a life. Remember, you can still do something now. Take care mate.
Hey man, life puts us on a specific path for a reason. We’re never too old to do anything. It really is a figment of imagination. I’ll give an example. Two UK men who look to be about 70 years old have become famous rappers. All the fun we have with family, friends, and loved ones will be a stand out. And it’s never too late to create those times that will be remembered until our last days. Or being present during them to really take in the subtle beauty that underlies within everything we see
I have been listening to and watching the videos of Sinatra here on UA-cam. He was definitely a pre-video performer. You can see that he has not obsessed over every visual detail of how his performances looked to a camera staring you close up in the face, unlike the stars of today. It was his voice, phrasing, timing, pitch, and emotion that were the hearts of his performances, and so it doesn't always look great on 'live' video. Here we see the master in his true element. Especially at the end in the camera close on his face, as he listens to the take, processes it. A genius in his element, in the making of a masterpiece, in the studio.
I'm 62 years old now, but I have loved this since I was 17...my friends didn't want to ride in my car because I was always listening to this kind of stuff..and I was in a punk band at the time!!!
I'm in my mid 40s and have been a rocknroll blues funk soul junkie my whole life. I played this for a friend a few years back in Nye. Now it's a tradition! Just a perfect look at life as a young man and on.....well if you lived well I should say lol
My late Husband and I were priveledge to see 'The Man' twice in London and there will never be another to replace him. His diction was perfection and whatever he sang was brilliant. Miss him still.
I've always enjoyed Sinatra's music, but this song has always been my favorite. And it always brings tears to my eyes. I know that's a lot of always, but what can I say?
I've listened to a fair amount of Sinatra recording session material, probably for about 30 songs. It was very educational. Sinatra put a great deal of work into the sessions in order to get the songs exactly as he wanted them, almost as if he was a workaholic. Numerous takes were often made until each song was exactly as he wanted them. The musicians liked him and respected him. He often brought a good sense of humor into the sessions and was not beyond self-deprecation to lighten things up. Anyway, I''ve been listening to Sinatra since I was age 12 and now I'm 70. His voice was unique and interesting, never generic and he had very strong musical instincts, especially with matters of tempo and phrasing. He'll always be my "go to" singer for most tunes.
i have 20 hours of his recording sessions....some songs required more takes than others but he never tried to sing the song on the first take....he took his time finding his way into the song...then he sang it correctly
The heavenly melody, lush orchestration, vivid lyrics, and -- the Voice. A standard that has remained fresh in my mind since I first heard it at 7 years of age. This is just a glimpse at Sinatra's golden years.
THANK YOU Mr. Akdnt!!!! Elton John said every creative person has the monster in him/her. Frank's reputation as a tyrant is well known, but when you look at this you can't help but feel a deep compassion for this man and his urge to create art. He may have owned the studio, but the urge to create owned him. You may sneer at his ego but you have to thank God for giving us this man.
Sinatra is a legend! He had his flaws as all of us have but he was a very good man also, he refused to play in las Vegas if Sammy Davies and the rest of black fellows were treated as second class people.
'We'd ride in limousines Their chauffeurs would drive When I was thirty-five' WOW, he sounds almost like he is speaking French, very charming my dear Frank !
If it ever existed, then it's probably somewhere on youtube,...that's now, but I remember the first time I saw this about 35 years ago. I'd recorded it on my VCR from a television show and I was awestruck by his mannerisms as he recorded....over enunciating as he finished a phrase, keeping his lips open and teeth together to make sure the resonance was clear. Only after watching it several times did I come to understand that his turning from the microphone was always on a "P" sound, which is what he was discussing with the booth about cleaning up the "Ps". It's hard to have an absolute favorite Sinatra song, but this one is in the top 5,...for certain.
Cigarettes and alcohol..go figure. What a pro. What a voice. A great man. I miss REAL natural talent. I sing in a rock band and my favorite singer is Frank Sinatra. Goosebumps.
Wow. Just Wow. This is amazing, and thank you, EllaHarp for sharing this gem with us. As a singer myself, I can tell you that I would have been in paradise having these amazing talents around me. And....nothing comes close these days ! ❤❤
I wish we had so many more of these "behind the scenes" takes. Interesting how he's listening to himself at the end, have to wonder what he's thinking......what he liked, what he didn't. Thanks for this.
----Yeah, I know what you mean. Frank, for all his foibles, had a real attitude, a confidence, if you will, with the way he inflected the notes and the words. The words are fairly regular, but the way he embellishes them makes it all worth it. He has a distinct confidence, much in the same way as drummer Bernard Purdie has in his playing. He's a big blowhard, Purdie, but he backs it up 20 fold. "Fuck YOU. THAT'S my name." You just gotta stand in awe of the real professionals, as goofy as they might talk, when the button is pushed, Voila! Perfection
He was an absolute professional, caring about quality and every nuance of the recording process. His 'popping the Ps' referring to the plosive sound of the 'P' in the mic for instance. His reference to Bing Crosby is interesting as Bing bankrolled Ampex to develop the tape machine found in Germany after the war. This with the microphone and amplifier technology reaching such a standard allowed almost perfect audio quality - unsurpassed, (esp.) even today, in my opinion. The 'crooner' never had it so good.
He was listening to his own phrasing, diction and if it has the emotion he was going for. 99.9% of singers cringe at the sound of their own voices, so we concentrate on the feel of the take.
he wasnt too happy with his one note and checked to see if the conductor would maybe give him a smile back, but the true pro he was he didnt even flinch......what a great video this was, thank you
Absolutely spellbinding. Such a oneness between all the performers. Best video ever, and we are so lucky it was this phenomenal song we got to see him sing live. Wow!
I was 16 when I first heard this in 1966. I'll turn 74 in a few days. I lived this song from beginning to the end. Still one of my favorites of all time...
The GOLD Standard. Love this guy!! The hat on the mic stand is just great 🙏. He was really animated at 35 which tells me that he really enjoyed himself 😂. 4:14 to 4:32 man those strings were perfectly played❤
This clip is an amazing piece of history. Love Frank's songbook and this song in particular. Love the orchestration on this & most of his songs. Sorry I never got to see him perform in person but at least we have this along with his movies. RIP Frank, you are missed.
Glad to say I did see him live, twice. First time I took my wonderful Mum with me, second time I took my two wonderful children. They are now 47 and 44, but still talk about it from time to time.
In this video, it seems to me that Frank is relishing the physics of the sounds his head is making. That he is ingesting aural delicacy being produced by his own unique, astounding characteristics in an episode of studio perfection.
I still play Frank's songs all the time in my car including this time piece. This was the best time of my life and I was only nine when I first heard this song.
Just the best orchestration, the conducting was sublime, and to top it all, Frank's vocal was superb, and voiced the story of the lyricist immaculately... One day I will cover this song with the same beauty as it was translated here in this video... Frank was a master singer with such colour and tone in his voice, and he was very fortunate to be surrounded with like minded musicians, conductors, song writers and producers. Just brilliant.x
This disappeared - glad it's back. THE Sinatra iconic sound and song that defines him. The arrangement by conductor Jenkins, song, and performance all won the top award the year this was released. Thank you Ervin Drake for those beautiful lyrics. A beautiful song. Amazing emotion in its entirety.
Epic, grand, classy, and one for the ages...his voice was in fine fettle, and there is an aura captured here where even the quiet parts have resonance...so patient, perfectly paced, and almost haunting...life and death and everything in between...it's all right here.
Amazing time capsule. The man conducting (Gordon Jenkins) is my grandfather. I never got to meet him, so it’s such a treat to see him waving around to the music 4:31-5:22. Wonderful to see him alive, if only in film.
Gordon Jenkins was a remarkably talented composer. You can tell Sinatra is deeply moved while listening to the playback. He knew your grandfather had given him one of his biggest hits. I've always respected Gordon Jenkins for this amazing arrangement. There was nobody like him, EllaHarp.
Your grandfather made records unlike anything ever made since. Popular music evolves, as well it should, but to think that popular albums sounded like what Gordon Jenkins, Nelson Riddle, etc used to orchestrate blows my mind. This was serious business and i doubt they had a complete understanding of how important what they were doing would be for future generations to hear and try to build upon.
Ella, your grandfather, IMHO, was the greatest conductor/composer/arranger on the planet.
He could paint pictures in sound. Could bring you
to tears at the beauty of the music. Always in demand
by the best singers in the world !
@@jpmonroe9603 'paint pictures in sound', beautiful! He had quite a way with music...
I recently stumbled upon your Grandfather's arrangements for Sinatra's September Of My Years album. His arrangements had me in tears. He was able to invoke so much color and it was beautifully crafted as a companion to Sinatra's nostalgic words. I've been studying 20th century harmony and I try to pick out what I can by ear when listening to this, I absolutely love it. That's so cool that he's your Grandfather! I hope the musical torch is passed down for generations :)
Who else could be drinking from a styrofoam cup, loosened tie and making jokes - then immediately lay down the gold standard vocal performance for generations to come? Thanks be to Almighty God for blessing us with the timeless voice and personality of Francis Albert Sinatra.
Look again and see he had a lit cigarette in his other hand. To answer your question of who else? Dean Martin.
Exactly what I was think while watching. This guys is the definition of cool.
Exactly what I was thinking.
Young thug have a styrofoam in the stu all the time. Jus about what’s innit 🍇
@@Rohit-of1kh?
This is the take that is on the album. To be able to watch Frank Sinatra perform exactly what you hear on the album is kinda like getting to watch DaVinci paint the mona lisa.
My sentiments exactly
What a fantastic analogy!
Juste comparaison !!!
Everytime Frank starts singing
"I'm in the Autumn of the year"
I can't help but get chills thinking
how precious time can be.
I know right? And the fact that we’re watching and hearing him sing that in 1965, which is now over 50 years ago. All the people who were alive then who are long gone now, people that were teenagers then are now in their 70’s. Really puts the song into perspective, like you said, time is precious
The rest of this album is such a deep meditation on that last line of yours.
@@anne_ruok7172 says, "All the people who were alive then who are long gone now," ..... err . . . (in a whisper) excuse me . . . yes, me . . . over here in the corner . . . I first saw Sinatra sing when I was 10 years old, maybe 9. I mean in person, from about 15 feet away. It was probably 1943 but could have been 42. He was standing on the steps of Snyder High School, (Jersey City, NJ) which his wife Nancy had attended.
Frank had just appeared at a War Bond Rally in nearby Journal Square, the commercial center of the city. But for some reason, after the rally, he visited the school, a few blocks from where I was living. He stood there with the Mills Brothers and joined them in a-capella singing "I Wanna Buy a Paper Doll."
There may have been 20 or 30 of us neighborhood people standing at the foot of the steps.
The song was a big hit for the Mills Brothers (ua-cam.com/video/HaMeSrynug0/v-deo.html) at that time, but Frank himself waited decades to record his own version. (ua-cam.com/video/IhsJVJMxWdQ/v-deo.html).
BTW - listen to the the awesome diction of the Mills Bros, starting with the very first "I'm" that is so purely sung. The opening solo is one of the finest ever recorded.
I was a Sinatra (and Mills Brothers) fan from then on until now, well into my 88th year. There are a lot of us still around.
@@JoeHarkinsHimself What a wonderful memory! I am both a Mills Brothers & Sinatra fan
Favorite song “summer wind”
How I love his English and clear pronunciation. His voice is like a saxophone. What personality and charisma!
He was oversaxed.
I like his expressions while singing, listening between his verses and taking it in at the end.
Much, much better than a saxophone!
Most vocalists won't even allow ONE extra person in the studio while they're recording their vocal track. Frank has a whole audience watching him, and he's perfectly relaxed, in control, cool, calm, and collected. Talk about OWNING that room!!!! Wow!!!!
I read that he actually likes to have an audience when he is recording. He obviously wanted them there. He probably feels it helps him perform better. When I record, I never have anyone except the engineer watching. However, I do this many times at Karaoke and like people watching. I basically sing in the style of Frank. Great Track!
Agree
Isn't his wife there behind him?
Chef-d'Oeuvre!!! 🌟🎶🌟
This is an extraordinary performance by the most gifted voice of the 20th century..... A beautiful song.
The Jenkins arrangement here is simply outstanding. The strings with their pizzicato was just fabulous. I will never forget this song and now I'm living it.
Me too. I was living it when it came out I was 17.
This is a song that you can't really appreciate until you are well into middle age. The reflective introspection and touch of melancholy about the passage of time. It's a masterpiece that honestly nobody but Frank Sinatra could ever sing with the same emotional depth.
There was a house down the street from me right off the Atlantic City Boardwalk. It’s owner was Steve Wynn. Sinatra would stay there while he performed in AC. They just tore the house down. While standing out front watching them demolish the house, neighbors were sharing stories of how Sinatra would sing for them and other people out in the garden during his time in AC.
@nyterpfan Beautifully spoken Sir - I totally agree with your sympathy being now in my 61st Year...... My musical tastes have varied over the years from " heavy metal" through PoP and " grunge" but the true classics stand out head and shoulders over the decades.... "A Very Good Year " haunts me with it's beauty. Kind regards - Scoob
The song moved me deeply when I was 8.I remember it and it's effect well.Always had this awareness of impermanence from a very young age.But I think a lot of children do
1965. I was a senior in high school. Everything was The Beatles, Stones , Animals etc. Frank Sinatra? That was the crap my parents listen to for some unknown reason. Then one night with TV on in the living room, and I'm not really paying attention, this studio session of It Was A Very Good Year started playing. I suddenly looked up. I started watching and listening. I was totally blown away by this beautiful song.
thank you for sharing your memories, sir. what happened next? :0
i myself am in my early 20s, only started to listen sinatra last year. i never seeked his music out because i'm a rock/metal fan, and i'm young enough that my parents think sinatra is old man music. but damn, hearing the color of the orchestration, the heart in the song, and the emotion in his singing hooked me in.
we only appreciate when we understand the art behind. I am much younger than you and, indeed, Sinatra has always been "old people music" for me during all my life. But recently i've learned to listen to him and enjoy the craft. Specially the thing about diction he says is so important. I had never realized it. As a non-english speaker, I love listening his phrasing while singing. Not a single phoneme escapes this guy
Another song that struck me in this same way is either Roy Clark's or Glen Campbell's version of: Yesterday When I was Young
Same here, but a bit later. My parents liked listening to "crap" and I liked listening to untalented musicians yelling and smashing their guitars. Only later on, after my parents passed, did I start to appreciate their "crap." This one song, though, I always did appreciate. His talent did manage to permeate my otherwise taste for garbage music.
@@franksonatra I would recomend the album "Where are You" and "In the wee small hours". His phrasing is out of this world.
Words can not express how much I love this performance
I feel the same
It was emotional great
Watch his face while he sings. That's his instrument. Every muscle, every flinch, every tightening is used to shape the tone of his music. A masterful artist.
I wish they'd hurry up and invent a time machine. that studio, that day would be my first destination...
Can you imagine being in that studio. I get goosebumps just watching and listening to it. But to be in on that magical session. Wow
Sinatra's last Las Vegas performance was at Steve Wynn's Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas many years ago. I was a gambler who luckily was comped a seat on the stage front row. The audience was the who's who of celebrities who came to see Sinatra make his iconic last performance. At 68, I have enjoyed all types of music except heavy metal and Rap. But I will admit, this song is music made for God and gives credence to the argument that the best days of music are behind us. The orchestra, the composer, the orchestra leader, the entire team of PROFESSIONALS come together to record a soul stirring song that lifts the spirit and raises the emotion of every listener, glorifying human ability. Frank Sinatra worked at his craft very hard and this video gives a glimpse of his drive for singing perfection. Frank heard "It Was A Very Good Year" on his car radio and immediately called his producer demanding to record this song. It definitely was a perfect fit of the right singer for the right music.
The orchestration, the finest musicians, the lush arrangements and the golden voice making magic.
Just fantastic! You could see at the end of the video, while Frank is listening to himself singing, that he was just scrutinizing every word, every pause, every syllable. He was the ultimate perfectionist, and it showed in every one of his performances. there will never be another Sinatra.
Incredible piece of history. He does a few run throughs and then says “ Let’s make one”, with a live orchestra and only his voice on one take. Look how he enunciates each word with so much feeling and his phrasing is unmatched. Frank has no equal.
Incredible...this voice....this instrument....the soaring strings. Breathtaking. 64 years old and was brought to tears by this gift.
Yeah. I'm 74 and loved this song since I first heard it in college.
If I have a funeral, I'd want this played.
Norman Lebrecht - December 08, 2022
Hollywood’s go-to wind soloist Gene Cipriano has died at the great age of 94.
Among thousands of session calls, Cip played tenor sax for Tony Curtis in ‘Some Like It Hot’ and indelible oboe at the start of Sinatra’s ‘It Was a Very Good Year.’
Source: Slipped Disc
BY MIKE BARNES - NOVEMBER 27, 2022
Gene Cipriano, the always busy woodwind player who soloed on tenor sax for Tony Curtis in Some Like It Hot and recorded with everyone from Miles Davis, Rosemary Clooney and Frank Sinatra to Glen Campbell, Paul McCartney and Olivia Newton-John, has died. He was 94. 2:02
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Yes me too
yes
This is what's missing in today's production. A bunch of artists all playing with EACH OTHER. no headphones. No separation. All United for a cause bigger than any one person. True art.
Very well said! Everything nowadays it’s headphones, separate performance, fixed tempo…soulless
Pure talent on both sides of the glass
and no click track!
Yes, so true.
Are there any artists of this caliber to begin with? people nowadays are used to garbage I suspect they won't like it anyway.
This is where today's singers go off the rails. A singer today would do this song with all sorts of runs and warbling, totally missing the haunting essence of this track that Frank captured perfectly. Frank's voice is **telling** the story, not becoming the story. That's what's missing today.
Expanding a bit, he is using his voice and phrasing to show the beautiful lyrics and shaping their impact on the listener.
Totally agree.@@jmar2126
Geez, don't ever take this down. Such a refreshing look into a wonderful past.
I don't know about you, but it makes me so sad. We have lost so much; and most don't even realize it...
What a perfect comment it takes you back to life then
Not just the past but a wonderful singer with a great ochestra,chorus and musicians,you cannot get any better
Wow, he lived the song as he sang it
I was trying to put my finger on it, and you articulated it exactly. He lived it as he sang it, and the emotion just pours into the words.
Frank, my dads favorite music, I can still remember him playing the records on warm summer evenings in our apartment in Utica New York, memories
Good memories to have! Poignant.
My parents would throw a party almost every Saturday night during the summer in the 60's. I would sit at the top of the stairs and listen to all the goings on, and especially the music. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were always playing(we're an Italian family), so I grew up with those two singing geniuses. I love their music to this day. Oh man, the memories!!!! R.I.P., mom, dad, Dean and Frank, and all my parents friends who attended those parties. I loved them all.
OMG, the strings were outstanding. No one could write like Gordon Jenkins and this is PRICELESS Sinatra!!! Thank you for sharing.
One person, his granddaughter wrote about this, hope you had the opportunity to read it, absolutely amazing, need to read it, absolutely amazing.
This is my favourite Sinatra song F O R E V E R !!!!!!!
This must have been an amazing session to witness in person. I am so thankful that this was recorded for us to enjoy all these years later. The instrumentation and Frank's vocal give me chills and also make me tear up.
Always loved this song. One of the best Frank ever sang.
He put an extra swing on the “when I was 35” section 🥂 my dude had memories
Watching him at the end, listening to the playback. Incredible.
I cried. The liner notes from the album described the night but I had no idea it was filmed. This is Sinatra at his peak.
Extraordinary. Notice he didn't use a pop shield; he has the ability to control the plosive Ps just by subtly altering his position to the mic.
No headphones either, so he hears the whole mix 'live' rather than via the feed from the control room.
Did pop shields even exist in '65?
He was remarkable conscious of the technical aspects of recording. Read Chuck Granata's book.
www.amazon.com/Sessions-Sinatra-Frank-Art-Recording/dp/1556525095
He is one of the REAL ARTISTS SUPER LEAGUE....few these days.
He was recording with a dynamic mic i suppose? So no pop shield neccessarily needed
@@ShaggyDawg I've seen pictures of the Kingston Trio using them in the early 60's.
GOD---Pure perfection from the finest male vocalist of all time.
Pure magic from everyone.
From a mad keen 77yo lifetime Aussie fan..
I was 17 when this came out. My roommates and I were those " girls upstairs". Such a haunting melody!
THE GREATEST NUMBER I EVER HEARD IN MY 54 YEARS!
Jeff Shannon. Same here he was the master!
For years in the Dallas radio market, KAAM played this song. Before he died, Jon McCoy music and program director said that of the thousands of songs played this was his favorite. The best of all.
A masterclass in the recording of a memorable studio performance. The conductor (see EllaHarp's previous comment) had the nckname "Lefty" and was the singer's collaborator in many fine recordings. Both men
admitted a shared penchant for the sadder style of song and both were top of their game. I have this
on a DVD from a CBS interview and it remains a "so glad to have" reminder of what talent meant then!
This may be the greatest thing I've ever experienced on UA-cam. Thank you!
I agree...I've never been so moved.
@@DVH1149 Pierced me to the core
A master at his craft
I've seen this on tv but not for a long time. It melts my heart.💕
Incredible stuff, ain't it! Praise Jesus.
Amazing how he could communicate between the lines in the way he sang a single word. “And it came undone” - he gave the word came so much meaning.
3:24!
You are right. The way he sings that one word, it's so much more than that single word. Perfect !
Really! You can feel the young man's wonderment that this was really happening. All these subtle phrasings and his affecting tone put you right there in all these watershed moments and you recall the RICHNESS of your own sweet memories that had grown stale over time. What a powerful force great music is! And Frankie! Can you imagine these sounds resonating in your own chest and coming out of your mouth?! IT POURED SWEET AND CLEAR . . .
Put your Bluetooth headphones on and listen to this- it is simply beautiful. And he knows it's right too- i love all types of music and singer's- but this is a different level. Amazing.
That look on his face at the end,,i think even he cant believe how good he sounds,,a masterpiece
Yup.. His face says it all!
Yessss
OMG - that 05:58 closeup of him listening to the playback. That eloquent twitch of displeasure at 06:15 after the phrase "autumn of the year." Then there's his grudging approval at 06:21 of "fine old kegs." We are seeing a master at his craft, having spoken earlier in the video about "enunciation" revealing it's not just about clarity of pronunciation but musical phrasing, something far beyond simple diction. What a privileged moment we have here. His face is master class without words.
When Frank talks there is listening, when Frank sits there is devotion, when Frank sings there is full immersion in his voice.
The making of a masterpiece... watching this was like witnessing the moment God touched Adam in Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam." Thank you for this treasure, MrAkdnt.
Exactly.
Wow. That’s beautiful!
I agree !!! This is incredible!!!❤❤❤
Perfect...the realiry of growing old but the memories of growing up still clear in one's mind...mind blowingly beautiful ❤❤❤
Watch close ...pay attention to Frank's reaction to reviewing what he's put on tape ...he appears amazed, at genius of what he's created ...best part of video ...mystery of what he was thinking 🎙🎶🎻
This is absolutely amazing to watch!! I love the look when he realizes it’s great!! It looks like he’s even amazed!! I can’t stop watching this:) it brings me to tears!!
Its just beautiful miss frank
This song, right here, is my absolute all time favorite Sinatra song.
Mine too.
For some reason this beautiful song makes me a little sad.... that I didn't have these memorable experiences when I was 17, 21, 35... just had an ordinary life. It's a well-done song, but makes one think about how they should have had more fun earlier in life.
Same here for me, sorta. I met my wife when I was 21, but it was a dry spell before that LOL. We're in the autumn of our years now but we wouldn't change a thing.
You're not alone, brother. Not by a long shot. I know it doesn't give much solace, but a lot of us are in that boat. Makes songs like this one more poignant.
Just because you didn't go to the moon, doesn't mean to say you didn't have a good time. Life is what you want it to be. Some people want to climb Everest, others want to stay at home and make a life. Remember, you can still do something now. Take care mate.
@@stephenobrien5909 very nice thoughts. Thank you ☺️
Hey man, life puts us on a specific path for a reason. We’re never too old to do anything. It really is a figment of imagination. I’ll give an example. Two UK men who look to be about 70 years old have become famous rappers. All the fun we have with family, friends, and loved ones will be a stand out. And it’s never too late to create those times that will be remembered until our last days. Or being present during them to really take in the subtle beauty that underlies within everything we see
Wow I have never heard Mr Sinatra like this. His voice is THE VOICE there will not be another. XXX
I have been listening to and watching the videos of Sinatra here on UA-cam. He was definitely a pre-video performer. You can see that he has not obsessed over every visual detail of how his performances looked to a camera staring you close up in the face, unlike the stars of today. It was his voice, phrasing, timing, pitch, and emotion that were the hearts of his performances, and so it doesn't always look great on 'live' video. Here we see the master in his true element. Especially at the end in the camera close on his face, as he listens to the take, processes it. A genius in his element, in the making of a masterpiece, in the studio.
Sinatra an once in a lifetime singer amazing 😉 no one can compare till today the very best this song gives me the chills 😉
I love how at the end, they all stood and knew they had a keeper!
I'm 62 years old now, but I have loved this since I was 17...my friends didn't want to ride in my car because I was always listening to this kind of stuff..and I was in a punk band at the time!!!
I'm in my mid 40s and have been a rocknroll blues funk soul junkie my whole life. I played this for a friend a few years back in Nye. Now it's a tradition! Just a perfect look at life as a young man and on.....well if you lived well I should say lol
Played the Anti-Club in LA in the early '80's. The punk life was it. Here I am, Sinatra describing a life's passage. 61 and in the deep autumn.
My late Husband and I were priveledge to see 'The Man' twice in London and there will never be another to replace him. His diction was perfection and whatever he sang was brilliant. Miss him still.
I did cry hearing this and it was composed like no other song, it created a picture with every note! beautiful absolutely beautiful.
a masterpiece by the one-and-only Sinatra; close-up reveal the creation of his incredible tone throughout that unbelievable tune!
So fine!! Everything just brilliantly combines with the
genius phrasing of Mr. Sinatra
to leave for us nostalgic beauty. How I love this recording!!!
I've always enjoyed Sinatra's music, but this song has always been my favorite. And it always brings tears to my eyes. I know that's a lot of always, but what can I say?
I've listened to a fair amount of Sinatra recording session material, probably for about 30 songs. It was very educational. Sinatra put a great deal of work into the sessions in order to get the songs exactly as he wanted them, almost as if he was a workaholic. Numerous takes were often made until each song was exactly as he wanted them. The musicians liked him and respected him. He often brought a good sense of humor into the sessions and was not beyond self-deprecation to lighten things up. Anyway, I''ve been listening to Sinatra since I was age 12 and now I'm 70. His voice was unique and interesting, never generic and he had very strong musical instincts, especially with matters of tempo and phrasing. He'll always be my "go to" singer for most tunes.
i have 20 hours of his recording sessions....some songs required more takes than others but he never tried to sing the song on the first take....he took his time finding his way into the song...then he sang it correctly
The heavenly melody, lush orchestration, vivid lyrics, and -- the Voice. A standard that has remained fresh in my mind since I first heard it at 7 years of age.
This is just a glimpse at Sinatra's golden years.
"Aaaeeeerrhhhh, I think I swallowed a shot glass!"
- Francis Albert Sinatra (1915 - 1998)
😂😂😂
THANK YOU Mr. Akdnt!!!! Elton John said every creative person has the monster in him/her. Frank's reputation as a tyrant is well known, but when you look at this you can't help but feel a deep compassion for this man and his urge to create art. He may have owned the studio, but the urge to create owned him. You may sneer at his ego but you have to thank God for giving us this man.
I wouldn't sneer at his ego. He earned it.
Sinatra is a legend! He had his flaws as all of us have but he was a very good man also, he refused to play in las Vegas if Sammy Davies and the rest of black fellows were treated as second class people.
He was a generous man - did many good deeds you know nothing about.
'We'd ride in limousines
Their chauffeurs would drive
When I was thirty-five'
WOW, he sounds almost like he is speaking French, very charming my dear Frank !
It's quite emotional watching frank take in the song at the end ,
I can watch this video over and over absolutely love it.
I bought this album when it came out and I was 14. I am now 72. It was a very good year indeed.
He still takes my breath away.
Me too. I loved him!
You can just tell how much he loved the lyrics and sang with emotion and memories of love.
If it ever existed, then it's probably somewhere on youtube,...that's now, but I remember the first time I saw this about 35 years ago. I'd recorded it on my VCR from a television show and I was awestruck by his mannerisms as he recorded....over enunciating as he finished a phrase, keeping his lips open and teeth together to make sure the resonance was clear. Only after watching it several times did I come to understand that his turning from the microphone was always on a "P" sound, which is what he was discussing with the booth about cleaning up the "Ps". It's hard to have an absolute favorite Sinatra song, but this one is in the top 5,...for certain.
Franks phrasing! the arrangement! This is almost beyond belief.
classic song when I was 7 I loved it then and now 58 yrs later it is even better
Cigarettes and alcohol..go figure. What a pro. What a voice. A great man. I miss REAL natural talent. I sing in a rock band and my favorite singer is Frank Sinatra. Goosebumps.
You left out broads.....lol
Totally agree with you, 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Wow. Just Wow. This is amazing, and thank you, EllaHarp for sharing this gem with us. As a singer myself, I can tell you that I would have been in paradise having these amazing talents around me. And....nothing comes close these days ! ❤❤
Phenomenal video of him in studio
I can't stop watching this!!!
Me too Jayne, I adore frank, ❤️❤️❤️
I wish we had so many more of these "behind the scenes" takes. Interesting how he's listening to himself at the end, have to wonder what he's thinking......what he liked, what he didn't. Thanks for this.
----Yeah, I know what you mean. Frank, for all his foibles, had a real attitude, a confidence, if you will, with the way he inflected the notes and the words. The words are fairly regular, but the way he embellishes them makes it all worth it. He has a distinct confidence, much in the same way as drummer Bernard Purdie has in his playing. He's a big blowhard, Purdie, but he backs it up 20 fold. "Fuck YOU. THAT'S my name." You just gotta stand in awe of the real professionals, as goofy as they might talk, when the button is pushed, Voila! Perfection
Heart and soul. The more you put in.....
He was an absolute professional, caring about quality and every nuance of the recording process. His 'popping the Ps' referring to the plosive sound of the 'P' in the mic for instance. His reference to Bing Crosby is interesting as Bing bankrolled Ampex to develop the tape machine found in Germany after the war. This with the microphone and amplifier technology reaching such a standard allowed almost perfect audio quality - unsurpassed, (esp.) even today, in my opinion. The 'crooner' never had it so good.
He was listening to his own phrasing, diction and if it has the emotion he was going for. 99.9% of singers cringe at the sound of their own voices, so we concentrate on the feel of the take.
@@dougzander4959 you need a bit of vulnerability with that confidence.Or you just become a grade A hole.Frank had it all
The master of his craft and the king of cool, still gives me goosebumps to listen to Sinatra just class
he wasnt too happy with his one note and checked to see if the conductor would maybe give him a smile back, but the true pro he was he didnt even flinch......what a great video this was, thank you
Absolutely spellbinding. Such a oneness between all the performers. Best video ever, and we are so lucky it was this phenomenal song we got to see him sing live. Wow!
I could watch this everyday. He was just amazing and his voice was like velvet.
Always loved this song.....it was the icing on the cake when I found this video.
I was young when I watched this on French TV on Arte. And today at the autumn of my Life I watch it again... On UA-cam. Thanks ❤✌🙏from Pais.
Who are you ? The one who liked m'y comment.
The Chairman. He owned that studio. Amazing presence on video even.
Thank you so much for this.
The Maestro of singing no one comes close even till today and an amazing arrangement
I was 16 when I first heard this in 1966. I'll turn 74 in a few days. I lived this song from beginning to the end. Still one of my favorites of all time...
This is an artist at work.
The GOLD Standard. Love this guy!! The hat on the mic stand is just great 🙏. He was really animated at 35 which tells me that he really enjoyed himself 😂. 4:14 to 4:32 man those strings were perfectly played❤
This clip is an amazing piece of history. Love Frank's songbook and this song in particular. Love the orchestration on this & most of his songs. Sorry I never got to see him perform in person but at least we have this along with his movies. RIP Frank, you are missed.
Glad to say I did see him live, twice. First time I took my wonderful Mum with me, second time I took my two wonderful children. They are now 47 and 44, but still talk about it from time to time.
In this video, it seems to me that Frank is relishing the physics of the sounds his head is making. That he is ingesting aural delicacy being produced by his own unique, astounding characteristics in an episode of studio perfection.
My thoughts exactly
I still play Frank's songs all the time in my car including this time piece. This was the best time of my life and I was only nine when I first heard this song.
Amazing sound quality for this time period. They used the perfect microphone and reverb for Frank's voice. Timeless.
PERFECT THE MUSIC ARANGEMENT AND THE VOICE THANK YOU
Just the best orchestration, the conducting was sublime, and to top it all, Frank's vocal was superb, and voiced the story of the lyricist immaculately... One day I will cover this song with the same beauty as it was translated here in this video... Frank was a master singer with such colour and tone in his voice, and he was very fortunate to be surrounded with like minded musicians, conductors, song writers and producers. Just brilliant.x
Simply epic. Perfection. Brought tears to my eyes.
This disappeared - glad it's back. THE Sinatra iconic sound and song that defines him. The arrangement by conductor Jenkins, song, and performance all won the top award the year this was released. Thank you Ervin Drake for those beautiful lyrics. A beautiful song. Amazing emotion in its entirety.
Epic, grand, classy, and one for the ages...his voice was in fine fettle, and there is an aura captured here where even the quiet parts have resonance...so patient, perfectly paced, and almost haunting...life and death and everything in between...it's all right here.
Classic & Grand are understatements , iconic & nastalgic 2 say the least ? Awesome !!! 🎤
Incredible perfection like no other vocalist...Frankie knocks it out of the ball park!
Class act. Incredible.
I've listened to this wonderful track many times - but never knew there was actual footage of the recording session. Fantastic!
I'm glad this was captured on film to last forever! Frank's ultimate recording!
Masterpiece!