Interpreting Sinatra

BOB Dylan’s (pic) new album which comes out in February features interpretations of classics sung by Frank Sinatra, all stripped down and recorded with minimal studio production.

Dylan had previously confirmed he was working on his 36th studio album, entitled Shadows In The Night, but little was known about it.

The album features the 73-year-old rock legend’s versions of 10 popular songs, mostly from the 1940s. All have been performed by Sinatra among other artistes.

“I’ve wanted to do something like this for a long time but was never brave enough to approach 30-piece complicated arrangements and refine them down for a five-piece band,” Dylan said last week.

He added that he and his band played and recorded the songs without use of headphones, vocal booths or studio gadgetry.

“I don’t see myself as covering these songs in any way. They’ve been covered enough. Buried, as a matter a fact,” Dylan said.

“What me and my band are basically doing is uncovering them. Lifting them out of the grave and bringing them into the light of day.”

The album includes one song that was recently released by Dylan – Full Moon And Empty Arms, which was performed by Sinatra in 1945 and based on a piano composition by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Dylan also covers Autumn Leaves, which was first performed in French as Les Feuilles Mortes by Yves Montand with lyrics by poet Jacques Prevert.

Famous interpreters of the song have included Serge Gainsbourg and Edith Piaf, who sang versions both in English and French.

Other songs on Dylan’s album include Some Enchanted Evening from the World War II-set musical South Pacific.

Dylan maintains an active touring schedule even in his 70s and last month released a six-CD box set of his legendary 1967 sessions with his ensemble The Band.

His last studio album, Tempest, was released in 2012 and featured a 14-minute account of the sinking of the Titanic using Irish melodies. — AFP

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