Frank Sinatra-September Of My Years

Ol' Blue Eyes. The Chairman Of The Board. Frank. One of the 20th century's most iconic performers turning in one of his most popular records of the era (number 5 on the Billboard chart). "September Of My Years" is just that, it's Sinatra about to turn fifty looking back on his youth and life lived through these chosen songs. Every song on this record in one way or another deals with aging and reflection. There is little humor here and much regret. The listener can almost get the visual of the man himself with a drink in his hand, beside the fire late at night. There is a small, weary, weathered and knowing smile creeping around the edges of his mouth as he remembers the sensations of youth and a sadness in the eyes knowing that it can only live now in his memories and the future is (perhaps for the first time) in question.

This album was recorded in 1965. Think about that for a moment. The world was just around the corner from becoming very turbulent indeed. In this country a cultural and political power shift was happening and it favored the young. The old guard was put on alert-and Frank knew it. Oh, he'd be all right, he'd been the Chairman longer than the boy from Tupelo became the King after all. He'd tough it out and come out the other end. But it wasn't going to be easy.

So is it any wonder, given the circumstances, that "September Of My Years" turned out the way it did? How could it have been otherwise? He did sing more upbeat songs and release more varied collections during this period, but this may well be the most important one. This isn't the confident, swaggering, ring-a-ding-ding swinging Frank we all think of today. This is a mature Frank, a wistful Frank, an older, wiser, melancholy Frank. But still very much alive.

What's on display here is what makes Sinatra great. See, his secret is not his voice (good as it is) or the songs (good as they are). It's the unique phrasing and delivery-the ability to inhabit a song, and as a non-writer performer, choose songs that you can relate to, perhaps even songs you have lived. And that is the genius of this record. It includes the all time classic "It Was A Very Good Year" and some other great songs such as "September Song", "Hello Young Lovers", "It Gets Lonely Early" and "Last Night When We Were Young". Class stuff.

If there is a flaw to this record it's that it feels overly long, even clocking in under 45 minutes. That's 13 songs of somber. But that complaint is minor when there is so much to appreciate here. If, that is, you are in the proper mood, have done a little living yourself, and are willing to listen with an open mind.

41/2 out of 5 Daves.