To be Released Globally on October 21, New 4CD/DVD Box Set Collects
Over Four Hours of Previously Unreleased Audio and Video Footage,
Spotlights Sinatra’s Charity Work for Children Around the World
31 August 2016 (Toronto, ON) – Frank Sinatra never had a problem with language barriers, he spoke to the heart. His songs served as the soundtrack to people’s lives around the world. Set for worldwide release on October 21 by UMe and Frank Sinatra Enterprises via Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company, World On A String is a portrait of the iconic American entertainer in his prime on international stages. As a time capsule of Sinatra’s enduring appeal across the globe, the 4CD/DVD box set (also available in digital audio) is a treasure trove of live recordings from 1953 to 1982, totaling more than four hours of previously unissued audio and video footage.
Many of the performances were benefits for local children in each country, highlighting a lesser-known fact that throughout his life Sinatra raised more than one billion dollars for charity.
More than 90 live performances are collected on the collection’s four CDs, most of them officially available for the first time, including classics such as “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “Strangers In The Night,” “Moonlight In Vermont,” and “I’ve Got The World On A String.” A DVD of entirely unreleased footage features Sinatra on a whirlwind 1962 good-will tour meant to raise money for underprivileged children.
“I really don’t know what jet lag is — I don’t understand it!” Sinatra once said. “Luckily, it never bothered me.”
The globe-trotting performances showcase Sinatra in eight different countries (Monaco, Australia, Egypt, Dominican Republic, Japan, Israel, Greece, and Italy), from cozy supper clubs to cavernous stadiums to one of the seven wonders of the world. But a familiar refrain threads through these recordings: The innate warmth and ease with which Sinatra imbued his concerts. As always, his backing musicians were impeccable, and the arrangements – by Nelson Riddle, Don Costa, Quincy Jones, Gordon Jenkins, and Billy May, among others – simply sumptuous.
Listening to the nearly 30-year span of performances, it’s remarkable to realize how the passage of time never diminished Sinatra’s way with a song; if anything, it deepened his understanding of his material. Comparing renditions of “Bewitched” from 1958 and 1979 reveals a more pronounced resonance in Sinatra’s delivery.
“It was always obvious that Frank enjoyed touring abroad,” longtime production manager Hank Cattaneo notes in the accompanying booklet, which also includes reflections from Frank Sinatra, Jr., beloved sidemen Al Viola and Bill Miller, and more. “You could see it in his gait, hear it in his voice, and see the smile upon his face.”
Pre-order World On A String: Sinatra Store / Amazon
Frank Sinatra: World On A String [4CD/DVD; digital audio]
CD 1
SPORTING CLUB, MONTE CARLO – JUNE 14, 1958
Bonus Tracks (RAI Radio Club, May 20, 1953)
CD 2
SYDNEY STADIUM, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 2, 1961
CD 3
THE PYRAMIDS, EGYPT – SEPTEMBER 27, 1979
CD 4
ALTOS DE CHEVON, LA ROMANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – AUGUST 20, 1982
DVD
HIBYA PARK, JAPAN – APRIL 21, 1962
FRANK SINATRA WITH ALL GOD’S CHILDREN, 1962
SINATRA IN ISRAEL, 1962
PERUGINA COMMERCIALS, 1962
About Frank Sinatra
Throughout his six-decade career, Frank Sinatra performed on more than 1,400 recordings and was awarded 31 gold, nine platinum, three double platinum, and one triple platinum album by the Recording Industry Association of America. Sinatra demonstrated a remarkable ability to appeal to every generation and continues to do so; his artistry still influences many of today’s music superstars. The Oscar® winner also appeared in more than 60 films and produced eight motion pictures.
Sinatra was awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards from The Recording Academy, The Screen Actors Guild and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), as well as the Kennedy Center Honors, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. Today, he remains a legend and an inspiration around the world for his contributions to culture and the arts.
For more information about Frank Sinatra, visit sinatra.com.
