Popular Song - Jazz: Frank Sinatra p137-138

Question 1

Why was he one of the most popular entertainers of his generation?

Answer 1

His relaxed crooning style belied a meticulous attention to the interpretation of a song

Question 2

When did he start singing?

Answer 2

As a teenager and idolised Bing Crosby

Question 3

Where was he singing?

Answer 3

Expelled from school, worked as a delivery boy and at a shipyard, also singing in clubs or on local radio

Question 4

How did he get into his first vocal group?

Answer 4

His mother (doubtful) still helped to get his first break with singing in the Hoboken Four

Question 5

In 1939 who’s band did he have a contract with?

Answer 5

The Harry James band, earning $75 a week

Question 6

What meant that he was able to leave James band for Tommy Dorsey’s?

Answer 6

He had his mother’s drive and self confidence, determined to get to the top, he had a new contract of $125 a week

Question 7

What was his job?

Answer 7

To sing the vocal sections of dance numbers, typically in a three-chorus structure, the song melody is introduced by the band, followed by a solo of 32 bars for the singer, before the band takes the final chorus eg Anderson’s version of ‘I’ve got the world on a string’ with the Ellington band

Question 8

Who came a model for young Sinatra?

Answer 8

Tommy Dorsey’s long, lyrical trombone solos, he was famous for playing his solos in one breath

Question 9

When did he want to develop a legato style?

Answer 9

Even before he joined the band

Question 10

Was Sinatra different to earlier singers?

Answer 10

He had wanted to develop a legato style that was very different from the short-breathed phrases of earlier singers

Question 11

How did Sinatra attack a legato style?

Answer 11

He made a conscious effort to avoid taking a breath mid-phrase, the smooth shaking of the vocal line generated a powerful expressive effect

Question 12

What was so impressive about Sinatra’s style?

Answer 12

He was able to create a narrative, unfolding the story from the beginning to end in a natural, conversational singing style, audiences were transfixed

Question 13

What did Dorsey allow for him?

Answer 13

To record ballads, with arrangements by Axel Stordahl

Question 14

When and why did Sinatra leave the band?

Answer 14

1942 so that he could go solo, (unlike Harry James, who released Sinatra from his contract amicably, Tommy Dorsey was reluctant to let his star singer go)

Question 15

What was the controversy to Sinatra going solo?

Answer 15

Their contract specified he had to pay 43% of his lifetime earnings to Dorsey, long court case (reputedly Dorsey was threatened at gunpoint by Sinatra‘s criminal connections) to settle the matter

Question 16

How popular was Sinatra?

Answer 16

As he began his his solo career, young women mobbed his concerts and screamed at his every appearance, in New York fans refused to leave after a Sinatra concert, preventing ticket holders for his next shots from gaining admittance, a riot ensued and police had to be called

Question 17

What was his repertoire of songs?

Answer 17

Based on the standards of the 1920s and 1930s. (Most singers concentrated in newly composed songs)

Question 18

What were the best selling songs?

Answer 18

Were often “novelty songs” - catchy tunes, often humorous or childlike, with undemanding lyrics or musical content

Question 19

What are examples of novelty songs?

Answer 19

eg Ella Fitzgerald’s ‘A Tisket, A Tasket’ and Edyth Wright singing ‘The Dipsy Doodle’ with Tommy Dorsey (1937)

Question 20

What types of songs did he sing?

Answer 20

Novelty songs, but also explored the music of composers from the Tin Pan Alley generation, such as…

Question 21

What are examples of composers from the Tin Pan Alley generation?

Answer 21

George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Harold Arlen

Question 22

What does LP stand for?

Answer 22

The long passing record

Question 23

When was the LP developed?

Answer 23

1950s

Question 24

What did the LP mean for music?

Answer 24

Meant that recording companies were releasing albums of songs rather than singles

Question 25

How long can an LP be played for?

Answer 25

Could be a total of 40 minutes of music or longer

Question 26

How did he come up with the concept album?

Answer 26

When he recorded for Capitol Records (1953-1961), he thought carefully about the choice of songs on an album, creating a balanced programme rather than a random collection

Question 27

How did a concept album influence music?

Answer 27

The success of his recordings of standards and their presentation in a concept album set an example that was followed by other drivers and their recording companies

Question 28

The four prescribed songs are taken from albums that Sinatra recorded for Capitol in the 1950s:

Answer 28

• I’ve got the world on a string
• they can’t take that away from me
• I’ve got you under my skin
• come fly with me