Frank Sinatra - Watertown

good album

Yeah, pretty amazing that 1 year after 4 records of Scott walker being influenced by Sinatra,
Sinatra did a "Scott Walker album" of sorts, with the same high quality (and without intention. I doubt it if Sinatra ever heard of Scott Walker)

Yup, it's a fine listen.

"Elizabeth".

Songwriting is excellent. Much better than anything Four Seasons ever did

I wouldn't go that far.

I don't think i'm out of consensus here

I wouldn't be so sure of that either.

I like the idea of Sinatra essaying a Scott Walker move.

I don't think i'm out of consensus here

lol the 4 Seasons are timeless pop music with at least a dozen singles that will live forever. Watertown is not better than anything they ever did. It's maybe better than their concept album, I'll give you that.

I don't know if it's still in their online archives, but the SiriusXM Sinatra channel produced a terrific Watertown special with Bob Gaudio giving track-by-track commentary.

Does anyone recommend the 2022 remix of this record?

Of course. Somewhat sharper and Cleaner comapred to the original mix.

Yes - calling this a Scott Walker album really coheres it for me. I'm just listening to it for the first time properly, after multiple aborted listens in the past. It's a lovely record, thanks ILX!

That quiet twang intro to Watertown is so terrific, the first ten seconds or so, I could listen to them again and again

This is a terrific album but one I find hard to listen to. I'll probably go with I Would Be in Love (Anyway) but going to give it a couple of spins first.

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"Michael & Peter"

one of my all-time faves. "Michael & Peter" has often been the one but they all sound great in my head right now.

What's now is now

This was the first Sinatra album I had, which I got in the 1980s because the lyrics were by Jake Holmes, whose first two albums were (and still are) amongst my favorite things ever. I was surprised when I learned about Watertown - the same guy that wrote heavy-metal anthem "Dazed and Confused" wrote songs for Frank Sinatra? Yep he did, and did quite well. I don't find the melodies and accompaniment as compelling as the lyrics though. Some of the songs from Jake's own albums like "Moving Day" would have been perfect for Sinatra.

"Michael & Peter"

Based on two listens, "Michael & Peter". Years ago I read a review of this in a book that criticized it in the vein of "hobbled by clichéd rock patterns", which made me imagine Sinatra singing over the "Satisfaction" riff. This is a lower-key project for Gaudio and Holmes, but probably more successful than Genuine Imitation Life Gazette, although I can't say for sure that Sinatra seems comfortable with the material.

I tried to think of a modern-day counterpart to this record (well-known musician in mid-50s makes concept album about marital dissolution), closest I came was The Ballad of Darren - which I guess goes to show how the music business has changed since 1970.

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