Numbered Limited Edition 180g 45rpm 2LP (Mono)
We are beyond thrilled to announce the release of a very special limited edition of Frank Sinatra's historic Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra on Impex 1STEP! Our all-analog 2-LP set adds further narrative substance and sonic greatness to The Voice's first big-band jazz long-play vinyl "concept" album! Our 33.3 release was a landmark reissue, but this is a whole other level! Like all Impex 1STEPs, this audiophile recording is pressed at 45-RPM on high-definition, VR-900 Supreme vinyl for incredible clarity, immediacy and a tonal depth that virtually mirrors the original monophonic master tape. Additionally, the tapes and discs we mastered from have rarely been used by other labels, delivering the original recording sessions closer than releases whose tapes have gone through mastering chains over and over. Silent, flat surfaces provide for near-perfect audio playback without distracting non-fill issues. Exclusive to the Impex 1STEP edition are two previously unreleased bonus recordings and an extended version of the "It All Depends On You" Session + Take, where Sinatra capably arranges the musicians in real time! The luxurious 1STEP packaging includes a gorgeous 36-page full-color booklet with expanded historical liner notes, unique photos and graphics, and a deluxe slipcase. It provides an excellent listening experience and a "coffee table book" for your living room or den! Just another way you get more from Impex Records! The 1STEP Process: The Impex 1STEP process relies on short, tightly-controlled runs that require a new lacquer after each 500 pressings. This unforgiving format has the lacquer skipping the regular father-mother process, going right to a single convert and then pressing. Though this dramatically increases mastering and production costs, it also assures each run is more consistent from disc to disc, with less noise, clearer details and deeper bass. Reducing production complexity to just a single "convert" disc between the lacquer and the press greatly improves groove integrity, diminishes non-fill anomalies and increases signal integrity from the master tape to your system. The production of the Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra 1STEP is deluxe in every respect....The packaging is sumptuous....The sound is revelatory, to use Granata's word – I certainly can't think of a better one. For those expecting a tinny-sounding, flat, 'old-timey' recording, you're going to be surprised at the clarity and the richness and presence of Sinatra's voice. The 'time machine' effect of being in the Man's presence is downright spooky. The orchestra recedes into the background when he's singing and swells to the forefront when playing instrumental passages...In a word, fantastic. -Frank Doris, PS Audio This is a wonderful achievement! The package and concept are impressive. The outer textured cover reminds me of some of the best of the LP packages of its time and through the 1950s–'60s. The 2-LP cover is faithful to the original Columbia design/configuration — even the color replicates the original. The FS pic on the cover of the book, as well as the other photos and graphics, are a first-class representation of the era. Great care and pride are evident from you and the team producing this reissue for us collectors!!! AND the flawless pressing with superb fidelity is a knockout! I've heard a lot of pressings (I have thousands of LPs) and is this truly special. Side 4's behind the scenes recording direction by FS helps broaden our knowledge of his recording experience. -Larry, KSDS Jazz 88.3 FM Sinatra Standard Time program listener The almost ghostly quiet, breathtaking clarity, and abundantly detailed sound of the Neotech VR900 Supreme vinyl pressings—in combination with the demanding lacquer-cutting regimen required by Impex's 1STEP process—have resulted in an audiophile album for the ages. Robert Sliger's outstanding packaging is truly extraordinary, and Chuck Granata's excellent treatise on Frank Sinatra and the events surrounding this historic recording is both enlightening and entertaining. Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra comes very highly recommended! -Tom Gibbs, Positive Feedback Read more! If the performance and sound quality of the original 33 RPM IMPEX pressing really got me jump started, what more can the 1STEP offer? The 33 RPM pressing is one of the finest reissues that I have in my entire collection in terms of performance and sound quality. However, the 1STEP not only takes it to another level, it will leave you somewhat mesmerized and floating in wonderment and appreciation on virtually every track. -Robert S. Youman, Positive Feedback Read more!