Frank Sinatra - Where Are You?

Underrated, at least in comparison with the better-known In the Wee Small Hours and Sings for Only the Lonely, 1957's Where Are You? is another excellent collection of melancholy torch songs, including "Lonely Town," "The Night We Called It a Day," "I Think of You," and "Maybe You'll Be There." As on those records, Sinatra doesn't sing so much as breathe, never overwhelming the fragility of the compositions with excessive displays of emotion. Of course, this approach just makes the songs sound that much sadder. This was also the first record Sinatra recorded in stereo, and Gordon Jenkins's lush string arrangements are obviously designed to take advantage of the new medium. --Dan Epstein Amazon.com

Another master class in acting out the lyrics perfectly...

I think Frank's half-dozen or so "broken heart" LP's represent his highest quality work, and this one ranks just a hair below "In the Wee Small Hours" and "Only the Lonely." Of course, as a fan, I also like his six best "hat" albums, those bright and swinging affairs. But the subtle selling of these lovelorn lyrics, recordings in which his silences and his breathing are as vital to success as his enunciation of each word, is something to behold. I keep it one star below the two more famous efforts mentioned earlier because those songs, overall, seem more powerful to me. For all his personal (and personality) troubles, Sinatra is THE American singer of the 20th century. Here, a man with an inadequate formal education, a dysfunctional family of origin, and a low amount of voice and musical training, shows what "talent" might mean: a mysterious coming together of instinct, experience and effort that defies explanation. July 22, 2008

fine album of torch songs by Sinatra--BRAVO, FRANK !!!

Where Are You? is a wonderful Frank Sinatra album here for us to enjoy on CD. Frank sounds great and he delivers these ballads with panache. The sound quality is excellent and the artwork is excellent.

The album starts with the title track, "Where Are You?" Frank's character laments the loss of his one true love; and the arrangement uses the strings to great advantage. Frank truly never does perform with any exaggerated emotion--and this enhances the beauty of the ballad all the more. "The Night We Called It A Day" features Frank front and center--and that's OK by me! This torch ballad tells the story of a breakup from the point of view of a man who's still upset about the ending of their love. Franks' voice is quite strong and full of energy, too.

"Laura," from the movie of the same name, has Frank delivering this ballad to perfection--and beyond! The horn is very beautifully used and Frank never misses a beat! "Laura" is easily a major highlight of this album; and I predict that you'll like it very much. "Autumn Leaves" was a favorite of Edith Piaf; she loved to sing this and she would have been proud of Frank's interpretation! Frank sings this with all his heart and soul; and the slightly slower than normal tempo makes this ballad very pretty and sad at the same time.

"I'm A Fool To Want You" was a song Billie Holiday often sang; this bluesy torch song sounds terrific when Frank Sinatra sing it; this tugs at my heartstrings and I think his rendition is awfully fine. The strings enhance the number, too. "I Think Of You" is yet another masterpiece when Frank Sinatra sings it; he performs "I Think Of You" with great sensitivity and his uncanny sense of timing makes this very beautiful.

"Baby, Won't You Please Come Home" gets a really slow tempo but it all holds its own very well. Frank performs "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home" very well and the music that goes with his vocals complements his singing perfectly. "Rain (Falling From The Skies)" is quite memorable; this forlorn ballad displays Frank's true vocal prowess and you're sure to appreciate this song.

The album ends with Frank Sinatra doing a great version of "Don't Worry `Bout Me." "Don't Worry `Bout Me" gets such a regal treatment that you're bound to be left wanting more. Don't be surprised if you find yourself pushing the "play" button on your CD player when this album is over!

Frank Sinatra does a marvelous job handling these remarkably fine torch songs. I highly recommend this for Frank's fans; and people who enjoy the blues will also want this album in their collections.
April 16, 2008

GREAT BUY. GREAT SERVICE.

I was very pleased with my purchase and with the speedy delivery. Great deal. December 31, 2007

"The Falling Leaves Drift By The Window, The Autumn Leaves Of Red And Gold..."

Though not as recognized as the similarly themed "In The Wee Small Hours" or "Only The Lonely," "Where Are You?" is easily up there with the best of Frank Sinatra's work. His voice is as strong as ever, his phrasing and breath control are forceful and precise, and the songs are among the most beautiful he ever recorded.

This album marks a departure for Frank, as Nelson Riddle does not handle the arrangements but rather Gordon Jenkins makes his debut at the helm. Jenkins was known for his lush string arrangements, and his arrangements fit Sinatra's style and these songs to a T, adding an extra layer of depth to these already poignant tales of lost love.

As he did with "In The Wee Small Hours" and "Only The Lonely," Frank completely immerses himself in the material. He becomes the song, living and breathing each phrase as if each line was the last he'd ever speak. Listen to the passion he injects to the title track, "The Night We Called It A Day," the haunting "Laura," the unforgettable "Lonely Town" (on the shortlist of Best Sinatra Performances), the definitive reading of "Autumn Leaves" and others. No singer had or has ever interpreted these songs with such an unprecedented level of sincerity or emotion. This reinforces my belief that Frank was as much an actor as a singer. He simply set his performances to acetate rather than celluoid. He sang as much from his heart, mind and soul as much as his throat.

The standout track, for me, is "I'm A Fool To Want You." Frank is at his zenith on this track. All about Ava, Frank even co-wrote this number, his most personal recording ever. All the feelings of anguish and loneliness he felt when Ava had left him four years ago seemed to culminate on this track, resulting in quite possibly Frank's most emotionally invovled performance ever committed to tape.

This remastered edition boasts good sound as well as four bonus tracks, including Frank's classic 1953 reading of "Don't Worry 'Bout Me." These four tracks add to this already incredible album, an album that any serious music fan should snatch up in an instant. December 27, 2007

SINATRA + JENKINS = GREAT MUSIC

Imagine some of the greatest ballads sung by arguably the greatest voice in pop music history, backed by a master of classical nuance, Gordon Jenkins. Well, you need not imagine it anymore. This is it. The track, "There's No You," is worth the price of the album.
Tony Horowitz October 27, 2007

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