Frank Sinatra
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
Avallon Ballroom
San Francisco
~1942

This show also circulates as 11 Sept 1940 but if that's the case, it's surprising that this set didn't include the smash hit, I'll Never Smile Again. Also, if you're expecting "The Voice" on this recording, you'll be disappointed. The vocals are great but Sinatra lacked the deep richness and stylings that would characterize his voice in the 50's with Capital Records.  He sounds like every other 40's big band crooner which is one of the more shocking aspects to this recording.  You'll hear some of the early seeds (check out As Long As I Have You, East of the Sun) of his great voice but it's not the Frank that you probably know and love. Still, what a great recording, era and unique show - a must have for any Sinatra fan.

  1. After All
  2. Keep Your Eyes On Me
  3. Stars Above
  4. Whisper > Avalon > Japanese Sandmand (Instrumental)
  5. When I Met You
  6. Starry Night
  7. Marie
  8. As Long As I Have You
  9. Love Is Blue > fade out, Easy Does It missing or cut from set list
10. Careless
11. East of the Sun
12. Melancholy Baby (Frank Sinatra) > Time On My Hands (Instrumental) > I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Jo Stafford)
13. Stardust Melody

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Towards the end 1939, Frank left the Harry James Orchestra to join the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, where he rose to fame as a ballad singer. His first and biggest hit with the band was 1940s "I'll Never Smile Again," which spent several weeks at number one - and was the first "number one" - on Billboard magazine's then-new chart of America's top-selling records. His vast appeal to the bobby soxers revealed a whole new audience for popular music, which had appealed mainly to adults up to that time. On record, Sinatra cut 29 singles with Dorsey during 1941 and was named Male Vocalist of the Year by Billboard that May. His departure from the Dorsey Band was announced on stage at the Circle Theatre in Indianapolis on August 28, 1942.