Working with Frank Sinatra: 1973 PROJECT SINATRA Radio Interview with Bill Miller and Al Viola

In this rare 1973 interview, radio host Paul Compton interviews long-time Frank Sinatra accompanists Bill Miller (piano) and Al Viola (guitar). They discuss the WATERTOWN album and working with Sinatra in the recording studio and on tour. Recorded from the original reel tape in the Ric Ross Frank Sinatra Collection.

[@luke4444]

Wow.. Love it. Wish it was longer! Thank you 👍👍

[@jamesmmahoney]

Thank you Luke. I am going to shortly post an additional segment of this 1973 interview when both Miller and Viola thought the recorder was turned off. Includes some great candid comments about FS and his vocal range. Stay tuned.

[@luke4444]

@@jamesmmahoney thank you. Love Sinatra. Bill Miller played such an important role but hardly ever spoke about the experience

[@sdpadrefan]

Last Night When We Were Young is other-worldly sublime. Beautifully complex. Wish more people knew of it.

[@songsmith31a]

The sort of song that Sinatra excelled at. Thank heavens for the joy of recorded music.

[@suzeauster2223]

Greetings✨ From Florida 🐬 Thank You 🙏 for Sharing this Gem 💎

[@aaronam0115]

Awesome stuff! Isn’t there another segment where he actually let them talk in private and recorded them? I recall Bill told Al that he thought Sinatra was only singing better post retirement. Interesting stuff. And it’s amazing how much the host here alludes to that legendary May 7 1970 concert. That is the best I ever heard Sinatra, what a crime it wasn’t recorded professionally

[@jamesmmahoney]

Hello -- yes, there is a second portion of the interview I will be uploading shortly.
Re the Frank Sinatra May 7-8, 1970 concerts in London, Paul Compton is quoting Sinatra from a 1970 interview he conducted with him where Sinatra states that he regarded those concerts as his "finest hour" in show business. Quite a statement. I have uploaded that entire interview here on youtube which is taken directly from the original KGIL reel to reel tape which Paul Compton gave to Sinatra expert/fan Ric Ross who assisted Compton with the radio special. Ric also assisted Compton on the 1973 12-part Project Sinatra series from which this interview with Miller and Viola is excerpted.

[@songsmith31a]

There were three Sinatra eras. Columbia, Capitol and Reprise. We are all the richer for their existence.

[@DovidM]

I agree that the music behind the interviews is distracting.

[@oldtimer7635]

I think that, that background music is unnecessary and little distractive specially for one (me), whos mother tongue is not english. Otherwise, quite interesting, though little superficial (American way). : )