Album: Duets

Introduction
"Duets" is a 1993 album by American vocalist Frank Sinatra. Released by Capitol Records, the album features Sinatra singing alongside numerous popular contemporary artists, providing a fresh take on Sinatra's traditional hits. This was Sinatra's first significant album after a long space as he had slowly receded from the limelight by the early 1990s. An industrial and important success, "Duets" became a best-seller, rejuvenating Sinatra's career and presenting his music to younger generations.

"Duets" was produced by Phil Ramone, who had actually formerly dealt with pop and jazz legends like Billy Joel, Paul Simon, and Ray Charles. The album was accompanied by a tv special and a 'making-of' documentary, which explored the behind-the-scenes process and included interviews with Sinatra and several of the taking part artists.

Collaborations and Tracklist
For each song on "Duets", Sinatra collaborated with an artist from the rock, pop, or nation categories, offering a special blend of voices and designs. The album consists of 13 tracks, each including a different duet partner. Some notable collaborations consist of "I've Got You Under My Skin" with U2's Bono, "Come Rain or Come Shine" with Gloria Estefan, and "For Once in My Life" with Gladys Knight.

The full tracklist for "Duets" is as follows:
1. The Lady Is a Tramp (with Luther Vandross).
2. What Now My Love (with Aretha Franklin).
3. I've Got a Crush on You (with Barbra Streisand).
4. Summertime Wind (with Julio Iglesias).
5. Come Rain or Come Shine (with Gloria Estefan).
6. New York, New York (with Tony Bennett).
7. They Can't Take That Away from Me (with Natalie Cole).
8. You Make Me Feel So Young (with Charles Aznavour).
9. Think I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry/In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning (with Carly Simon).
10. I've Got the World on a String (with Liza Minnelli).
11. Witchcraft (with Anita Baker).
12. I've Got You Under My Skin (with Bono).
13. All the Way/One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) (with Kenny G).

Recording Process
In spite of including duets with top-notch artists, the recording process for "Duets" was non-traditional. Due to Sinatra's age and the hectic schedules of his partners, most of the duet recordings were done individually, with Sinatra's parts recorded first. Phil Ramone then sent the tapes to the respective visitor artists for their parts to be taped and later on mixed the tracks together.

Although tape-recording separately was not ideal, Ramone shared in interviews how some artists, like Aretha Franklin and Bono, had telephone call with Sinatra to discuss their approach to the tunes. The solo recording sessions may have been a departure from the normal studio experience, but the outcome was still a cohesive, engaging, and enjoyable album.

Tradition and Impact
"Duets" received favorable reviews from critics and discovered commercial success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and eventually being accredited 3x Platinum in the United States. The album's success led to a follow-up album, "Duets II", in 1994, featuring brand-new cooperations with Stevie Wonder, Chrissie Hynde, and Patti LaBelle, among others.

The album sealed Sinatra's status as a timeless musical icon and ensured his impact was felt by new generations of music fans. The "Duets" series has had an enduring influence on the industry, inspiring countless other artists to release collective albums, reimagining classic tracks, and paying tribute to the legends who came prior to them.