"Christmas Songs" (Columbia) by Sinatra (incl. 2019 HD release updates)*

I thought it was obvious from my [post=4973563]post #28[/post] above that Mssrs. Deutsch and Granata were responsible for the 2004 production. Considering the time frame, the same technical team as on the 2003 CD was probably involved.

Much depends on the quality of the source material. I hear a definite improvement over the 1994 release and the alternates in the 1993 complete Columbia box.

 

No, new transfers were made using the Rockport turntable.

 

In your post 28 (a link to a Sinatra Family Forum post by Mr. Granata), Granata only mentions himself and Mr. Deutsch, whom if I understand correctly are supervising 'producers' of the Sinatra Columbia re-issues rather than the engineers who do the actual "hands on" audio restoriation and mastering. With no disrespect to either of them (and to make it clear - I have no complaints of either one), I pay more attention to the mastering engineers' credits rather than the re-issue's producers credits, especially when I see Darcy Proper's name. As a general rule, I have come to look for his credits and to respect his work with music that originally appeared in the pre-tape, 78rpm era.

I think that there is a very good chance that the team that worked on the 2003 compilation may have very well worked on the 2004 Christmas CD. However the specific credits for audio restoriation and remastering of that 2004 CD are not given anywhere, not even in the SFF post you provided. By the time of 2005's "The Essential FS With The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra", Deutsch and Granata are working with Mark Wilder and Woody Pornpitaksuk. So, that group might have worked on the 2004 Christmas album. Or it could have been someone else.

 

Jack, I think Darcy is a she.

 

Jack, in your post which I quoted, you asked specifically if Granata and Deutsch were part of the "team" behind this CD, mentioning them by name. I was simply trying to put to rest the implication that they might not have been involved in this production because you find the sonics lacking.

As was mentioned earlier, you can't expect audiophile quality, or even the same quality, from ALL of the Columbia material. I think both Christmas Songs By Sinatra CDs sound quite good (especially in comparison to the older Christmas Dreaming issue), and the 2004 CD is noticeably improved over the 1994 version.

P.S. Darcy Proper is a woman, and the spelling of Mr. Deutsch's first name is Didier.

 

You might have inferred that, but no, I didn't imply it. I was asking because Granata did not mention the remastering audio engineers in the SFF post you provided as to an identification of who did remaster the 2004 Christmas album. My understanding is that Granata and Deutsch are in charge of all of the Sinatra Columbia label re-issues on CD. Rather than guessing, it would have been informative if the correct credits had been printed in the 2004 booklet.

Double-check my original question, which you quoted in post 51. I asked, "Did this same group of individuals also work on the 2004 Christmas CD?", and not "specifically if Granata and Deutsch were part of the 'team' behind this CD, mentioning them by name." I was specific about listing the entire group of individuals of whom I was asking.

And re.

Listing my typos is a full time job with plenty of over-time. I hope you have the time and aren't bored easily. My typing and proofing skills are legendarily terrible. I just caught myself typing FS's name incorrectly, again. I have a bad habit of inadvertently re-ordering letters, sometimes to embarrassing results. The only surprise to me is that I managed to type out Didier's surname correctly.

And yes, I know Darcy Proper is a woman. I can't believe I used "his" in reference to her. My only excuse was it was late and I was tired. I extend my apologies to a very, very talented lady. I love her work and find any CD with her credits stamped on it, worth purchasing.

 

Yes, I know. I apologize again to the lovely and talented Ms Proper.

 

I think the subject has been beaten to death. SONY has not documented the 2004 release properly. (The project director told us that five years ago.) At least one poster doesn't care for the sound. Some find it to be an improvement.

My advice to anyone seeking Sinatra's Columbia Christmas music: Look for the out-of-print CD with catalog no. CK 92702 and the gold border on the cover. Avoid the ones with catalog nos. CK 40707, CK 66413, or A 711106. Don't expect it to sound like it was recorded yesterday.

 

Did the fat lady sing while I was out at the bar in the lobby? Damn, I missed her aria once again.

 

1. Jingle Bells
2. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)
3. Mistletoe and Holly
4. I'll Be Home For Christmas
5. The Christmas Waltz
6. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
7. The First Noel
8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
9. O Little Town of Bethlehem
10. Adeste Fideles
11. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
12. Silent Night
13. White Christmas
14. The Christmas Waltz


I gave this album a spin for the first time tonight as I did dishes. Great stuff--even The Christmas Song. I thought Nat owned that one, and in a way he does, but darn if Sinatra doesn't do an outstanding version of that song. Fine album all the way around...

(Sorry about this being in the wrong thread, as I'm talking about the Capitol album...)

 

Totally off topic, but that made me chuckle.

Back on topic, I too have the 2004, gold bordered, catalog no. CK 92702 edition of Christmas Songs By Sinatra. I bought it the year it was released, at a Borders, when they had a rather large music selection, based on a review I read at a retro-themed web site I used to frequent.

I had no idea the 2004 edition of Christmas Songs By Sinatra was so "rare." Needless to say I'll be holding fast to my copy from now on.

On a side note, there were quite a few Columbia/Legacy Christmas album reissues in 2004 (and one in 2005). They all had cover art featuring prominent, and often garish, borders, as well as grey tray cards that touted the respective albums as "Essential Holiday Classics." I bought quite a few of them way back when and noticed that they quickly went OOP and were more recently reissued in budget editions, exactly like Christmas Songs By Sinatra. When they were new, I was able to purchase the following:

• Christmas Songs By Sinatra
• Johnny Mathis Merry Christmas
• The Andy Williams Christmas Album
• Andy Williams Merry Christmas
• Ray Conniff's Christmas Album: Here We Come A-Caroling
• Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album
• Barbra Streisand A Christmas Album
• John Denver Rocky Mountain Christmas

All of the above were reissued in 2004 except for Rocky Mountain Christmas. I found that one just before Thanksgiving in 2005.

It's a shame, because the whole "Essential Holiday Classics" banner made these albums seem like they were part of some nice reissue project of classic Christmas albums that would start with a few core releases and then grow year after year. Sadly, it was not to be I guess. Or else those core albums didn't sell well and the series was dropped. Bummer.

 

It is truly excellent. I bought mine on Ebay last year so that I could confirm with the seller exactly which version I was getting.

 

Both Columbia/Legacy CDs have identical content and booklet text, including both (C) 1994 and (P) 1994 dates, but different catalog numbers. The one on the left (CK 66413) was released in 1994. The one on the right (CK 92702) was released in 2004, and it has a "NEWLY REMASTERED!" sticker on the outside:



Here's what the producer had to say about the 2004 reissue at the SFF:

To further complicate matters, Sony Music CMG (Custom Marketing Group) has since reissued a budget edition, (C) 2009 (P) 1994 (catalog no. A 711106), but it's the OLDER mastering with an abbreviated booklet. The cover has a non-Columbia era image of Frank. Avoid this one:

​

 

Does the 2004 Columbia release really sound noticeably better? I know Chuck has done some wonderful things but the original CD sounded pretty damn good.

 

What I can't fathom is why the 2004 Columbia issue with superior sound is out of print. Since 2007, Sony has been selling the older 1994 version (without the gold border) and/or the CMG budget issue.

It's similar to the Capitol Walsh vs. Norberg situation, except that the sonic differences in the in-print version are not so disturbing.

 

Hey Bob!

Thanks to your usual detailed explanation here, I was able to contact a couple of Amazon sellers about this item. Only one replied - they requested the ASIN number, which I pulled from the Amazon page & they replied with the complete barcode of their item. Order is placed - and hopefully I'll be able to hear the improved mastering on this collection this season!

Thanks!
Dexter

 

Glad to have been of help, Dexter.

Hopefully, the barcode they supplied is 8 2796-92702-2 6 (ASIN is B0002S94F2). That should be the better mastering, with the gold border on the cover.

 

That's the one! After it gets here, I'll have 3 CDs of Frank's Columbia Christmas music..."Christmas Dreaming" + 2 editions of "Christmas Songs By Sinatra".

 

Just FYI to all...

This was re-released at some point recently with an entirely new cover:



I know this because I was surprised by this new cover when my copy arrived today from Amazon. If anyone needs any information about it; I'll be glad to answer any questions I can.

 

Beware: The version with the new cover uses the OLD mastering. See my recent post in another thread:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showpost.php?p=7050843&postcount=232​

 

Yeah,the one on the Sony Special Products are all remakes of his 78 Album,with V-Discs added for more value..A stay-Away CD!

 

Well, not exactly. Since my post of two years ago which you quoted, I bought the damned thing: It's the same disc (digitally identical) as the one which was first issued in 1994, and the sound is not terrible. The problem is that a NEW remaster was issued in 2004 (the one with a gold border around the cover), and that has the best sonics of any Sony/Columbia/Legacy issues to date. Also, the new budget CD lacks the booklet notes of the earlier issues.

 

OOPSY,Contradicted myself on that,I totally forgot I wrote that! Thanx for straightening me on that!

 

Aw, damn. I wish I'd known that before I bought it (guess I should've checked here first!)

Why did they remaster it; and then go back to using the 1994 mastering? That doesn't make any sense.

Guess I'll have to go find the gold border release.

 

Paul, Could you confirm that the disc you just received matches the details described in my [post=4984485]post #36 above[/post]?

(I notice that Amazon is showing the old [1994] CD cover image at the link I posted, although two years ago they were showing the new cover that you just displayed.)