FRANK SINATRA — That's Life (review)

Album · 1966 · Vocal Jazz

3.5/5 · 2011-08-17
Matt

Released in November 1966 not long before Christmas whether that helped the albums sales is debatable as Frank has so many fans anyway and with the unforgettable title track, "Thats Life" which would become his show closer in Vegas and shot up the charts to number four the records sales were almost a certainty. Arranged and conducted by Ernie Freeman who had just previously done the extremly successful "Strangers In The Night" album with Frank with Jimmy Bowen doing the producing. Things have been changed a little to suit the times with the addition of guitars and an organ all primarily accoustic to the Sinatra sound giving it a little more contempary touch for the time when Rock and Pop were the main sellers in the record market with this albums sales results being not to bad at all getting up to sixth spot. It is often said that this album "Thats Life" is only really a one track record as the others were not up to comparison but from another viewpoint that may be so but it would be very hard to find another song of that quality with its unforgettable lyrics and tune. Still there are some other interesting songs and a real mix at that of show tunes and contempary songs from this period back in 1966 and all done with Sinatra swing, panache and style.

The title is first with the organ bringing in the swing and that does become apparent when Frank sings with a little more hardness than usual but the addition of the female backing chorus gives the song even more height and today is considered one of his greats."I Will Wait For You" is straight after with its great slow swing but straight after is quite a different version from Frank of the Doctor Zhivago song, "Lara's Theme" with a faster tempo from the original of the Ray Conniff version which had not long been released before this session. Another song contained on the album which had not been released too long either being "Winchester Cathedral" and many a time I have read some not to flattering comments but I do not mind Franks take at all and actually find it a slight improvement from the original but it is a bit of an oddity. Between those two songs though we do get "Sand and Sea" as well with "What Now My Love" with the later being the pick for me with that Sinatra swing which there is no shortage of in the albums structure even if one is not that happy with the material. There are only two ballads contained within the album being, "Give Her Love" and "The Impossible Dream" from "Man of La Mancha" with "Give her Love" being my preference. "Tell Her ( You Love Her Each Day)" is veering towards Dean Martin's sound at that time with that "Everybody Loves Somebody" vibe on how the song is arranged. The album finishes off with "You're Going to Hear From Me" with that Sinatra swagger and swing injected and a quite nice little easy going album closer.

This is not his best but the mix of material does keep things interesting and great for sitting around or driving as the tunes are all very familar and just sing along anyway, even to "Winchester Cathedral" and "The Impossible Dream" if that is your thing but do keep your car windows up.