Frank Sinatra’s Daughter Tina Remembers ‘I’ve Got The World On A String’
‘The attitude, the tone, the sentiment, the swagger. It’s him.’
Frank Sinatra’s first recording with Nelson Riddle, the classic “I’ve Got The World On A String,” comes under the spotlight in a new clip shared on Sinatra’s official YouTube channel.
In the brief piece of audio, Sinatra’s daughter Tina and Charles Pignone, producer, writer, and president of Frank Sinatra Enterprises, assess the song, which the Chairman of the Board recorded with Riddle on April 30,1953 in Frank’s second session for Capitol Records. As Pignone says, it “sort of set the tone for the whole Capitol era, right?” “It’s who he is,” replies Tina. “The attitude, the tone, the sentiment, the swagger. It’s him.”
The song, published in 1932 with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Ted Koehler, was a hit that year for Cab Calloway. A version soon followed by Bing Crosby, and another in 1937 by Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra. Ella Fitzgerald released her interpretation as a Decca single in 1950, from a total of more than 400 readings of the number. Dr. John cut the song with Bonnie Raitt, among 21st century versions by everyone from Rod Stewart to Jermaine Jackson. But Sinatra’s rendition, released as his second Capitol single after “I’m Walking Behind You,” remains unassailable.
His first Capitol date, on April 2, 1953, was produced by Voyle Gilmore and yielded the songs “Lean Baby,” arranged by Heinie Beau, and “I’m Walking Behind You,” with an Axel Stordahl arrangement. At the April 30 date, again with Gilmore producing, Sinatra cut four songs, also including “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me,” “I Love You,” and “South of the Border.” Two days later, at another session with Riddle, Frank recorded “My One And Only Love,” which became the B-side of “I’ve Got The World On A String,” as well as “Anytime, Anywhere” and “From Here To Eternity.”
“Sinatra has a good side here,” noted Billboard’s review of “I’ve Got The World On A String.” “The arrangement is outstanding, and the warbler hands it a forceful reading, with the ork lending notable backing. This one should make some noise for the chanter.” Charting while Sinatra was on tour in the U.K., the song entered the magazine’s Most Played By Jockeys chart in the July 4 issue at its No.14 peak.
“Frank obviously loved the song and Nelson’s arrangement; it wasa staple in his concert and nightclub performances from 1953 until he retired in 1995. I would guess he sang ‘String’ more or as much as any other song throughout the years on stage” states Pignone.
