7 Frank Sinatra 7influences with an uncanny sense of syncopation and an
innate knowledge of “blue notes.” Two of his most heralded
recordings—I’ve Got You Under My Skin (1956) and One for
My Baby (1958)—illustrate well his varied approach to
moods and tempi.
The Rat Pack and the Mob
During the late 1950s and early ’60s, Sinatra frequently
appeared on stage and in films with his close-knit band of
friends known variously as “The Clan,” “The Summit,” or,
most popularly, “The Rat Pack.” The group performed a
largely ad-libbed act of boozy, racial, and misogynist
humour that seems dated to the contemporary listener,
but was seen as the height of swinging sophistication in
the 1960s.
It was also about this time that Sinatra generated more
controversy for his connections with organized crime,
although most critics now acknowledge that Sinatra’s
association with underworld figures was largely one of
involuntary servitude. There is no question, however, that
his fraternizing with notorious criminals such as Sam
Giancana eroded his fan base and jeopardized his political
friendships.
The Reprise Years
Sinatra founded Reprise Records in 1960 and was allowed
to record there simultaneously with his Capitol contract,
which expired in 1962. During the early 1960s, Sinatra
recorded at a furious pace, releasing some 14 albums of new
material during the years 1961– 63. Sinatra’s prodigiousness
during these years resulted in some quickly recorded
albums of uneven quality, but there were also several classics
on par with the best of his Capitol work. His two 1960s