Watertown (album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Watertown
Studio album by Frank Sinatra
Released March 1970
Recorded July 14, 17, 1969, Voice overdubs August 25-27, 1969
Genre Classic pop
Length 36:18
Label Reprise
FS 1031
Producer Bob Gaudio
Frank Sinatra chronology

A Man Alone
(1969)		 Watertown
(1970)		 Sinatra & Company
(1971)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

Watertown is a 1969 studio album by the American singer Frank Sinatra.

In a series of soliloquies, the nameless narrator tells his heartbreaking story of personal loss and unrealized redemption. His wife has left him and their two boys for the lure of the big city, and her absence hangs palpably in the air. While it is altogether understandable why someone would flee the stark and dreary landscape of Watertown, empathy rests with the eloquent everyman left behind. He is a desperate man, the personification of all that is pedestrian in a small town, a solitary figure who suffers unbearable torment and despair. But, in expressing timeless sentiments to a love that is hopelessly lost, he finds salvation in the written word and an extraordinary transformation takes place. In his grief, he achieves a deeper understanding of himself, and a transcendent awareness of what he has lost and why.

"Watertown" was produced and co-written by Bob Gaudio, one of four members of the 1960s pop vocal group The Four Seasons. The songs were co-written by Jake Holmes. It is the only album Sinatra ever voiced over pre-recorded orchestral tracks. The album was released to mixed critical reviews and poor sales, Sinatra's only major album release not to crack the Billboard Top 100; the packaging was uncharacteristic of typical Sinatra album designs, and the album was poorly promoted[citation needed]. After a brief retirement, Sinatra re-emerged with the 1973 album Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back which charted very well.

In 2011, the band Cake covered "What's Now Is Now" on their album Showroom of Compassion.

In 2014, a short film was released entitled "WATERTOWN" by Wildstory Productions, LLC, using the entire album track. It was a not-for-profit production and resides on Vimeo or on the Watertownology web site. The film was conceived by Frank Pesce and produced and directed by Woodrow Hancock and James Zimbardi. Although set in modern day, it was shot in black and white with a classical influence.

Track listing

  1. "Watertown" – 3:36
  2. "Goodbye (She Quietly Says)" – 3:06
  3. "For a While" – 3:09
  4. "Michael & Peter" – 5:10
  5. "I Would Be in Love (Anyway)" – 2:31
  6. "Elizabeth" – 3:38
  7. "What a Funny Girl (You Used to Be)" – 3:00
  8. "What's Now Is Now" – 4:04
  9. "She Says" – 1:51
  10. "The Train" – 3:26
  11. "Lady Day" (CD bonus track) – 2:47

All songs written by Bob Gaudio and Jake Holmes

Personnel

Wayne Andre, Warren Covington, Urbie Green, Jimmy Knepper (tbn); Tony Studd (b-tbn); Ray Alonge, James Buffington, Brooks Tillotson (fr-h); Phil Bodner, Wally Kane, Romeo Penque, Romeo Penque, William Slapin (wwd); Mannie Green, Max Cahn, Julius Held, Joe Malin, George Ockner, Rocco Pesile, Raoul Poliakin, Rocco Pesile, Aaron Rosand, Max Pollikoff, Tosha Samaroff, Aaron Rosand, Julius Schachter, Hemi Aubert, Mannie Green (vln); Alfred Brown, Harold Coletta, Richard Dickler, Cal Fleisig (via); George Ricci, Harvey Shapiro (vie); Margaret Ross (harp); Dick Hyman, Moe Wechsler (p); Jay Berliner, Ralph Casale, Willard Suyker (g); Stuart Scharf (classic g); Richard Davis, Russell George (b); Alvin Rogers (d); David Carey (perc)

  • Joe Scott - arranger, conductor
  • Jamie Alexander aka James Rocco and Diane Dell - background vocals
  • Vincent Bell: guitar
  • Manny Green: concert master
  • Lee Herschberg: digital mastering, mixing
  • Roy Cicala: editing, remixing
  • Frank Laico: engineer
  • Don Snyder: album design
  • Ove Olsen: pen & ink cover art
  • Ed O'Brien: CD liner notes
  • Joe McEwen: reissue supervisor

References

  1. ↑ Watertown (album) at AllMusic

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.