“Sinatra & Company” stands as a notable album by the renowned American vocalist Frank Sinatra, unveiled in the year 1971. This release marks Sinatra’s fourth and final collaboration with the illustrious Brazilian composer and vocalist Antônio Carlos Jobim, an influential figure in the bossa nova musical genre.
The album is characterized by a dual-sided presentation: the initial side encompasses seven compositions steeped in the bossa nova style, meticulously arranged by Eumir Deodato. On the opposing side, seven melodies are crafted in the soft rock genre, thoughtfully arranged by Don Costa. This collection underscores Sinatra’s remarkable versatility and fluidity, with his performances traversing diverse languages, emotional tones, and rhythms.
Of particular note is the album’s standout track, “Take My Breath Away.” This composition, penned and produced by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock for the movie “Top Gun,” achieved resounding success. Notably, it soared to the pinnacle of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and clinched the esteemed Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1986. The song’s prominence further solidified its status as a defining piece for both Sinatra and Jobim, leading them to later collaboratively re-record it as a duet.
Despite the album’s commendable elements, it encountered a spectrum of reviews from music critics. While Sinatra’s vocal prowess and Jobim’s guitar artistry garnered praise, scrutiny was directed at the perceived lack of cohesion and originality. Regrettably, the album’s commercial fate did not mirror the triumph of their prior joint effort, “Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim,” which had yielded hits like “The Girl from Ipanema” and “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars.”
Positioning itself at number 61 on the Billboard 200 chart, “Sinatra & Company” struggled to replicate the sales feat of its predecessors, tallying fewer than 500,000 copies sold in the United States. Adding a note of finality, this album marked the conclusion of the original lineup of Sinatra’s backing ensemble, which disbanded shortly after the album’s release.
“Sinatra & Company” emerges as an embodiment of Sinatra’s creative evolution and his ventures into experimentation, paralleling his moments of challenge and artistic discontent. The album’s intrinsic value extends an invitation for aficionados of bossa nova, soft rock, and pop music to rediscover and rekindle an appreciation for its enduring musical richness.
