''L.A. Is My Lady'' is the 57th and final solo

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

, released in 1984 and produced by Quincy Jones. While the album was Sinatra's last (excluding the ''

Duets A duet is a musical composition or piece for two performers. Duets or The Duets may also refer to: Films and television * ''Duets'' (film), a 2000 film, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Giamatti and Huey Lewis * "Duets" (''Glee''), a 2010 episod ...

'' albums), he recorded five further songs, only four of which have been officially released. The album came after an album of duets between Sinatra and

Lena Horne Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010) was an American dancer, actress, singer, and civil rights activist. Horne's career spanned more than seventy years, appearing in film, television, and theatre. Horne joined the chorus of th ...

, instigated by Jones, was abandoned after Horne developed vocal problems and Sinatra, committed to other engagements, couldn't wait to record. This was the first studio album Sinatra had recorded with Jones since 1964's '' It Might as Well Be Swing''. The sessions were filmed, with a small audience, and released as ''Frank Sinatra: Portrait of an Album'' (1985). The documentary shows Sinatra meeting Michael Jackson for the first time, with Jones affectionately calling Jackson "Smelly". Singers

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...

Donna Summer LaDonna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948May 17, 2012), known professionally as Donna Summer, was an American singer and songwriter. She gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and became known as the " Queen of Disco", while her mus ...

, Michael McDonald and Van Halen members

David Lee Roth David Lee Roth (born October 10, 1954) is an American rock singer. Best known for his wild, energetic stage persona, he was the original lead vocalist of the hard rock band Van Halen across three stints, from 1974 to 1985, in 1996 and again fro ...

Eddie Van Halen Edward Lodewijk Van Halen ( , ; January 26, 1955 – October 6, 2020) was an American musician and songwriter. He was the guitarist, keyboardist, backing vocalist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Van Halen, which he co-founded along ...

make cameo appearances in the video for "L.A. Is My Lady", which in turn made moderate rotation on the fledgling

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

Network. Despite its title, the album was mostly recorded in New York City. The album peaked at #58 on the ''Billboard'' 200, and #8 on the Top Jazz Albums chart. One notable departure for Sinatra was the clear inclusion of synthesizers on the title track.

Songs

* This was the first time Sinatra recorded " Mack the Knife". He re-recorded the vocal on October 30, 1986 (combined with the original orchestra track) for the album's 1986 release on compact disc. The musicians that Sinatra name-checks on "Mack the Knife" are; Quincy Jones, Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, George Benson, Joe Newman, Frank Foster, and

Lionel Hampton Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles M ...

. The double bassist Major Holley scats over the opening bars of the song. * Sammy Cahn wrote a new verse for " Teach Me Tonight", referencing Sinatra's many love affairs. * Cahn also altered the lyrics of "

Until the Real Thing Comes Along "(It Will Have to Do) Until the Real Thing Comes Along" is a popular song first published in 1936. Background In 1931, Alberta Nichols wrote the music and Mann Holiner wrote the words for a song titled "Till the Real Thing Comes Along" which was ...

", with Sinatra claiming "I'd even punch out Mr. T for you". * In the liner notes, Jones says he had a new arrangement of " Body and Soul" planned for the album, but Sinatra had nothing new to say with the song, and declined to record it. Nevertheless, Sinatra did record a vocal track for the song during the sessions, and Sinatra's vocal for "Body and Soul" from the ''L.A. Is My Lady'' sessions was added to a new arrangement by

Torrie Zito Salvatore "Torrie" Zito (October 12, 1933 – December 3, 2009) was an American pianist, music arranger, composer and conductor. Life and career He is most widely known for his hugely popular work with John Lennon on the classic album ''Imagine ...

and released as a bonus track on '' Nothing But the Best,'' a 2008 compilation album.

Track listing

# "L.A. Is My Lady" (

Alan and Marilyn Bergman Alan Bergman (born September 11, 1925) and Marilyn Keith Bergman (November 10, 1928 – January 8, 2022) were an American songwriting duo. Married from 1958 until Marilyn's death, together they wrote music and lyrics for numerous celebrated telev ...

, Quincy Jones, Peggy Lipton Jones) – 3:12 # "The Best of Everything" ( Fred Ebb, John Kander) – 2:45 # "

How Do You Keep the Music Playing? "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" is a song composed by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman for the 1982 film '' Best Friends'', where it was introduced by James Ingram and Patti Austin. The Austin/Ingram version became a si ...

" (A. Bergman, M. Bergman, Michel Legrand) – 3:49 # " Teach Me Tonight" ( Sammy Cahn,

Gene de Paul Gene Vincent de Paul (June 17, 1919 – February 27, 1988) was an American pianist, composer and songwriter. Biography Born in New York City, he served in the United States Army during World War II. He was married to Billye Louise Files (Novem ...

) – 3:44 # " It's All Right With Me" (

Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in film. Born to ...

) – 2:39 # " Mack the Knife" (

Marc Blitzstein Marcus Samuel Blitzstein (March 2, 1905January 22, 1964), was an American composer, lyricist, and librettist. He won national attention in 1937 when his pro-union musical ''The Cradle Will Rock'', directed by Orson Welles, was shut down by the Wo ...

Bertolt Brecht Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht (10 February 1898 – 14 August 1956), known professionally as Bertolt Brecht, was a German theatre practitioner, playwright, and poet. Coming of age during the Weimar Republic, he had his first successes as a pl ...

Kurt Weill Kurt Julian Weill (March 2, 1900April 3, 1950) was a German-born American composer active from the 1920s in his native country, and in his later years in the United States. He was a leading composer for the stage who was best known for his fru ...

) – 4:50 # "

" (Mann Holiner, Alberta Nichols, Cahn, Saul Chaplin, L.E. Freeman) – 3:03 # " Stormy Weather" (

Harold Arlen Harold Arlen (born Hyman Arluck; February 15, 1905 – April 23, 1986) was an American composer of popular music, who composed over 500 songs, a number of which have become known worldwide. In addition to composing the songs for the 1939 film ...

, Ted Koehler) – 3:38 # "

If I Should Lose You "If I Should Lose You" is a song composed by Ralph Rainger, with lyrics by Leo Robin. It was introduced in the 1936 film '' Rose of the Rancho''. Notable recordings *Geri Allen – '' Twenty One'' (1994) *Chet Atkins – '' Stay Tuned'' (1985) ...

" ( Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin) – 2:36 # " A Hundred Years from Today" ( Joe Young, Ned Washington, Victor Young) – 3:04 # " After You've Gone" ( Henry Creamer, Turner Layton) – 3:15 * Quincy Jones arranged track 1. * Torrie Zito arranged tracks 1 & 4. * Dave Matthews & Jerry Hey arranged track 1. * Joe Parnello arranged tracks 2 & 3. * Frank Foster arranged tracks 6 & 11. * Sammy Nestico arranged tracks 5, 7, 8, 9 & 10.

Charts

Personnel

– vocals *

Harry Lookofsky Harry Lookofsky (1 October 1913 – 8 June 1998) was an American jazz violinist. He was also the father of keyboardist-songwriter Michael Brown, who most notably was a founding member of The Left Banke and Stories. History Harry Lookofsky w ...

– Concert Master *

Oscar Brashear Oscar Brashear (born August 18, 1944) is an American jazz trumpetertrumpet * Randy Brecker – trumpet, flugelhorn *

Jon Faddis Jon Faddis (born July 24, 1953) is an American jazz trumpet player, conductor, composer, and educator, renowned for both his playing and for his expertise in the field of music education. Upon his first appearance on the scene, he became known ...

– trumpet * Gary Grant – trumpet * Joe Newman – trumpet * Alan Rubin – trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet * Lew Soloff – trumpet * Snooky Young – trumpet * Jerry Hey – trumpet, arranger * Wayne Andre – trombone * George Bohanon – trombone * Urbie Green – trombone * Lew McCreary – trombone *

Benny Powell Benny Powell (March 1, 1930 – June 26, 2010) was an American jazz trombonist. He played both standard (tenor) trombone and bass trombone. Biography Born Benjamin Gordon Powell Jr in New Orleans, Louisiana, he first played professionally ...

– trombone * Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone * David Taylor – bass trombone *

Bill Watrous William Russell Watrous III (June 8, 1939 – July 2, 2018) was an American jazz trombonist. He is perhaps best known for his rendition of Sammy Nestico's arrangement of the Johnny Mandel ballad "A Time for Love", which he recorded on a 1993 albu ...

– trombone * Michael Brecker – saxophone * Buddy Collette – reeds * Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone * William Green – reeds * Kim Hutchcroft – saxophone * Jerome Richardson – reeds * Larry Williams – saxophone * George Young – saxophone *

Frank Wess Frank Wellington Wess (January 4, 1922 – October 30, 2013) was an American jazz saxophonist and flutist. In addition to his extensive solo work, Wess is remembered for his time in Count Basie's band from the early 1950s into the 1960s. Critic ...

– saxophone,

alto saxophone The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments. Saxophones were invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846. The alto saxophone is pitched in E, smaller than the B tenor ...

* Frank Foster – arranger, saxophone * John Clark – french horn * David Duke * Peter Gordon * Sidney Muldrow * Jerry Peel * Henry Sigismonti * Toni Price – tuba * James (Jim) Self – tuba * Margaret Ross –

harp The harp is a stringed musical instrument that has a number of individual strings running at an angle to its soundboard; the strings are plucked with the fingers. Harps can be made and played in various ways, standing or sitting, and in orche ...

* Amy Sherman * George Benson – guitar * Tony Mottola – guitar *

Lee Ritenour Lee Mack Ritenour ( ; born January 11, 1952) is an American jazz guitarist who has been active since the late 1960s. Biography Ritenour was born on January 11, 1952, in Los Angeles, California, United States. At the age of eight he started play ...

– guitar *

– vibraphone * Ray Brown – double bass *

Gene Cherico Eugene Valentino Cherico (April 15, 1935, Buffalo, New York – August 12, 1994, Santa Monica, California) was an American jazz double-bassist. Cherico played drums as a child and played in a special services band in the Army, but injured his ha ...

Bob Cranshaw Melbourne Robert Cranshaw (December 3, 1932 – November 2, 2016) was an American jazz bassist. His career spanned the heyday of Blue Note Records to his recent involvement with the Musicians Union. He is perhaps best known for his long associa ...

– bass * Major Holley – double bass, vocals on “Mack the Knife” *

Marcus Miller William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. (born June 14, 1959) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his work as a bassist. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandros ...

– bass *

Neil Stubenhaus Neil Stubenhaus is an American bass guitarist. Career He started his musical training playing drums and switched to bass guitar at the age of 12. He studied at the Berklee College of Music where he graduated in 1975. After graduation, he was rec ...

– electric bass * Leon "Ndugu" Chancler –

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

Irving Cottler Irving Cottler (February 13, 1918 – August 8, 1989), Hollywood, Los Angeles based musician was a first-call Drummer / percussionist and original member of The Wrecking Crew. Cottler credits include LOVE, Impossible, Stardust and Unforgettabl ...

– drums * Steve Gadd – drums * John "J.R." Robinson – drums * Ralph MacDonald – percussion *

Sy Johnson Sivert Bertil Johnson Jr. (April 15, 1930 – July 26, 2022) was an American jazz composer, arranger and pianist who worked with Charles Mingus in the 1960s and 1970s. He also worked with the Lee Konitz Nonet, among others. His work with Mingus ...

– piano,

fender rhodes The Rhodes piano (also known as the Fender Rhodes piano) is an electric piano invented by Harold Rhodes, which became popular in the 1970s. Like a conventional piano, the Rhodes generates sound with keys and hammers, but instead of strings, th ...

* Joe Parnello piano, arranger, Fender rhodes * Craig Huxley –

synthesizer A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...

* Ed Walsh * Jimmy Smith – Electric Organ * Bob James – synthesizer,

electric piano An electric piano is a musical instrument which produces sounds when a performer presses the keys of a piano-style musical keyboard. Pressing keys causes mechanical hammers to strike metal strings, metal reeds or wire tines, leading to vibrations ...

, Fender rhodes * Hilary James – synthesizer, piano, fender rhodes * Randy Kerber – synthesizer, piano, fender rhodes

Production personnel

* Quincy Jones – arranger, conductor, producer * Joseph d'Ambrosio – production coordination * David Matthews – arranger * Sam Nestico – arranger * Torrie Zito – arranger * David Smith - engineer * Gus Skinas – engineer, digital engineer *

Phil Ramone Philip Ramone (né Rabinowitz, January 5, 1934March 30, 2013) was a South African-born American recording engineer, record producer, violinist and composer, who in 1958 co-founded A & R Recording, Inc., a recording studio with business par ...

– engineer, mixing * Jimmy Santis * Stanley Wallace * Allen Sides – engineer, assistant engineer, mixing assistant * Steve Crimmel – engineer, associate engineer * Mark Ettel * Cliff Jones – engineer, associate remixing engineer * Ollie Cotton – associate engineer * Bradshaw Leigh – associate engineer * Roger Nichols – digital engineer, associate engineer * Bernie Grundman – mastering * Lee Herschberg – digital mastering * Don Hahn – remixing * Elliot Scheiner – remixing, assistant engineer, mixing assistant * Alan Berliner – photography * Bill Ross * Ed Thrasher * William Warren *

Stan Cornyn Carl Stanley Cornyn (July 8, 1933 – May 11, 2015) was an American record label executive and the author of ''Exploding: The Highs, Hits, Hype, Heroes, and Hustlers of the Warner Music Group'' (). He also wrote three privately published family ge ...

– liner notes

References

{{Authority control 1984 albums Frank Sinatra albums Albums produced by Quincy Jones Albums arranged by Quincy Jones Qwest Records albums Albums conducted by Quincy Jones Albums arranged by Frank Foster (musician) Albums arranged by David Matthews (keyboardist) Albums arranged by Sammy Nestico