Frank Sinatra

This set, culled from Sinatra's Reprise period, wisely avoids the cliched choices, opting instead for offbeat picks. A number of songs feature Sinatra and his greatest orchestrator, Nelson Riddle, revisiting gems from the Capitol years (including a newly discovered version of "My Funny Valentine"). Also essential are a couple of wonders with Basie and Jobim (like the rarely heard "This Happy Madness") and jazz numbers featuring Neil Hefti and Johnny Mandel. The collection is heavy on Sinatra's justly famous 1960s period, though the Old Man knocks 1979's "It Had to Be You" out of the park.