RING A DING DING

I was thinking about making a list of the top ten Sunday morning albums to play with coffee, but after re-listening to Sinatra's Ring-A-Ding-Ding! (1960) on Reprise earlier, it’s hard to imagine a better choice for now.

Moving into the 1960s and middle age with his own music label, Sinatra seemed more relaxed and finger-snapping than ever. Perhaps taking full control over his production and style liberated him to unleash the most confident version of himself to date. No longer shackled by the executive constraints of Capitol Records, he was finally able to go full Frankie.

And he gets off to a flying start with his inaugural release for the label, Ring-A-Ding-Ding!, collaborating with arranger and conductor Johnny Mandel. Together, they showcase Sinatra’s new line of attack, transforming American standards into something swingier, jazzier, and cooler than ever.

I’m hard-pressed to choose a favourite among this stellar selection, as every track feels like a 10. However, I’ll go with In the Still of the Night for its perfect balance between the intimate new jazz ensemble-style for the singer that eventually returns to the more familiar jazz orchestra approach synonymous with Sinatra’s sound. I’ve also included the even more mellow live version in Japan (see below) as part of his 1962 world tour, recorded two years after Ring-A-Ding-Ding! was first released.