Capitol Records

Capitol Records is a major record label in the United States.

History
In 1942, Johnny Mercer, a songwriter, founded the Capitol Records Company with the help from Buddy DeSylva and Glenn Wallichs. The beginnings of Capitol were slow and unpopular, but in the mid and late forties, with artists such as Nat King Cole, The Pied Pipers, and Peggy Lee, Capitol became a hugely growing operation in the music industry, focusing on jazz and pop music.

With Sinatra
Frank Sinatra, in the 1950s after a decline in his career, needed to find work. So, in 1953, he signed on to Capitol. In the years with Capitol, Sinatra focused his early years primarily with songs filled with sorrow found in albums such as Only the Lonely, In the Wee Small Hours, and Where Are You?. These types of albums eventually became some of Sinatra's favourites and he went on to make these tear-jerking albums in his latest days with Reprise Records.

Sinatra also released several swinging albums as well. In his earlier days, these included Swing Easy! and Songs for Swingin' Lovers!, both of which were huge hits during their time. Sinatra even recorded one of his most famous swinging albums, along with Billy May, Come Fly With Me.

Reprise Records
After some heavy work and contract issues, Frank Sinatra decided to leave Capitol to start his own record label, Reprise Records. However, Capitol didn't take this too lightly, even trying to sue Sinatra and Reprise for the album Swing Along with Me. Due to it's name being "too similar to another 1961 Sinatra album, Come Swing with Me!," Swing Along with Me had its name changed to simply Sinatra Swings to avoid legal issues.

Even after Sinatra's leave, several compilation sets were still released, featuring the Capitol recordings.

Duets and Duets II
After thirty years with Reprise, Sinatra went back to Capitol Records to perform two albums. Both of these mid 1990s albums featured several tracks that were new duets of Sinatra singing with various artists of the time, featuring Willie Nelson, Luther Vandross, Tony Bennett, Bono, Neil Diamond, and Stevie Wonder. Due to health issues, however, Sinatra wasn't present with the guests and the recordings of the songs were digitally put together.

Albums released under Capitol

 * Songs for Young Lovers (1954)
 * Swing Easy! (1954)
 * In The Wee Small Hours (1955)
 * Reissued in 1998 and 2009.
 * Songs for Swingin' Lovers! (1956)
 * High Society Soundtrack (1955)
 * This Is Sinatra! (1956)
 * Close To You (1957)
 * A Swingin' Affair! (1957)
 * Where Are You? (1957)
 * A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra (1957)
 * Pal Joey Soundtrack (1957)
 * Come Fly with Me (1958)
 * Reissued in 1999.
 * This Is Sinatra Volume 2 (1958)
 * Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely (1958)
 * Come Dance With Me! (1959)
 * Reissued in 1999.
 * Look to Your Heart (1959)
 * No One Cares (1959)
 * Can Can Soundtrack (1960)
 * Nice 'N' Easy (1960)
 * Swing Easy! (1960)
 * Songs For Young Lovers (12" reissue) (1960)
 * Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!! (1961)
 * All the Way (1961)
 * Come Swing with Me! (1961)
 * Point of No Return (1962)
 * Sinatra Sings of Love and Things (1962)
 * Tell Her You Love Her (1963)
 * Forever Frank (1966)


 * Duets (1993)
 * Duets II (1994)