It Might As Well be Swing
Reprise Records (1964)
- Hello, Dolly!
- I Wanna Be Around
- The Best Is Yet To Come
- The Good Life
- Wive And Lovers
- Fly Me To The Moon
- I Wish You Love
- I Believe In You
- More (Theme from Mondo Cane)
- I Can't Stop Loving You
This album is the second collaboration between the great Count Basie and
The Chairman. Although others may prefer the album Sinatra-Basie,
the superb
Quincy Jones arrangements and eclectic song selection make this album my
pick of the two. The Basie band's smooth, driving rhythms seem to fit Sinatra's
readings perfectly on most songs. The mood is playful; as if old pals have
gotten together to just have fun.
Two of the songs on this album hold special positions in the drama that
was the life of Sinatra: Fly Me To The Moo
n is the only song to be played
from the surface of the Moon and The Best Is Yet To Come
is the last song
publicly performed by Mr. Sinatra before quietly slipping into seclusion
in 1995. The inclusion of I Wanna Be Around
is ironic and almost seems like
some odd inside joke—the lyrics were sent to Johnny Mercer by a woman
upset that Frankie had left his wife Nancy to chase Ava Gardner. She penned
the sentiments and a number of years later Mercer finally got around to
using them. He generously shared songwriting credits with her, too!
Quincy Jones tells the story that while recording this album he got a true taste of the enormous power wielded by Frank Sinatra. As he was also filming the war movie None But The Brave in Hawaii during the days, Sinatra took a break from recording one day to make a call (to The Pentagon!). After asking for a gentleman by name, he described the filming situation and said it would be great if the 10th fleet could appear in the beach scene being filmed the next day. Q thought it was some kind of elaborate joke but was astounded the next day at 11:30 a.m. when an entire fleet showed up as requested!
Recorded on June 9, 10, and 12, 1964.
