The Voice of Frank Sinatra is the debut studio album by American singer Frank Sinatra, released by Columbia Records (catalogue number C-112) on March 4, 1946. The album was originally issued as a set of four 78 rpm records, comprising eight songs in total. Each disc was released under the Columbia catalog numbers 36918, 36919, 36920, and 36921.Sinatra Family Discography website retrieved 30 July 2019
Upon its release, the album reached number one on the then-fledgling Billboard chart, where it remained at the top for seven consecutive weeks in 1946 and spent a total of eighteen weeks on the chart overall. At the time, the album chart featured only a Top Five ranking, a format that continued until August 1948.
Content The tracks were arranged and conducted by Axel Stordahl and his orchestra, on both dates consisting of a string quartet and four-piece rhythm section, augmented by flutist John Mayhew in July, and, given the part he played with Sinatra at Columbia in the early 1950s, oboist Mitch Miller in December. Sinatra recorded most of these songs again at later stages in his career.
Certain critics have claimed The Voice to be the first concept album. Beginning in 1939, however, singer Lee Wiley started releasing albums of 78s dedicated to the songs of a single writer, such as Cole Porter, a precursor to the Songbooks sets formulated by Norman Granz and Ella Fitzgerald in 1956. These may loosely be termed concept albums, although with The Voice, Sinatra inaugurated his practice of having a common mood, theme, or instrumentation tying the songs together on a specific release. Sinatra also held the songs recorded for albums from release as singles. Even after an album’s release the songs were not released as singles.
It also holds the distinction of being the first pop album catalogue item at 33⅓ rpm, when Columbia premiered long-playing vinyl records in 1948, ten-inch and twelve-inch format for classical music, ten-inch only for pop. The Voice was reissued as a 10-inch LP, catalogue number CL 6001 in 1948, with the running order altered from the sequence of the original album of 78s. It was also later issued as two 45 rpm EPs in 1952 with catalogue number B-112, a 12-inch LP with a changed running order including only five of the original tracks in 1955 with catalogue number CL-743, and a compact disc with extra tracks in 2003.Charles L. Granata, The Voice of Frank Sinatra. 2003, Columbia Legacy CK 62100, liner notes.
Track listing 10-inch LP release
2003 reissue bonus tracks
1955 track listing
Personnel Frank Sinatra – vocal Axel Stordahl – arranger
New York sessions Leonard Posner. Raoul Polikian – violins Sidney Brecher – viola Anthony Sophos – cello Mitch Miller – oboe Matty Golizio – guitar Bill Clifton – piano Frank Siravo – bass Nat Polen – drums
Hollywood sessions Mischa Russell, David Frisina – violins Sam Freed – viola Fred Goerner – cello Jack Mayhew – flute George Van Eps – guitar Mark McIntyre – piano John Ryan – bass Ray Hagan – drums
Production personnel Bill Richards – producer Charles L. Granata, Didier C. Deutsch – compact disc reissue producers
Charts Weekly Charts
Chart (1946) Peakposition US Billboard Best-Selling Popular Record Albums 1
Year-end charts Chart (1946) Position US Billboard Best-Selling Popular Record Albums 2
References
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