Sinatra Starts to Swing

In 1953 Sinatra moved to Capital Records. He was lost and his voice no longer possessed its youthful innocence. Sinatra had aged and matured and his music was about to reflect this new man. In his second session at Capital he was paired with the young arranger Nelson Riddle. Their partnership proved fruitful with the chart topping hit “I’ve Got the World On a String.” Back on top, Sinatra was ready to show the world something new. After the successful release of In the Wee Small Hours in 1955, Sinatra released the ground-breaking album Songs for Swingin’ Lovers, defining the adult mode of his career. Author Will Friedwald discusses the impact of this album on Sinatra’s career and the careers of other 20th century performers.