Softly, as I Leave You is a 1964 studio album by American singer Frank Sinatra. Arranged by Ernie Freeman, several tracks such as "Softly, as I Leave You", "Then Suddenly Love" and "Available" departed from Sinatra's signature vocal jazz style by flirting with a more contemporary pop sound. The rest of the album is pieced together with leftovers from various early-'60s sessions, from many different arrangers and conductors.

The title track was the first of at least four attempts to mimic the chart success of Dean Martin's #1 hit "Everybody Loves Somebody", using a driving beat, heavy strings and choral tracks. Sinatra, arranger Ernie Freeman and producer Jimmy Bowen would incorporate the same sound to songs like "When Somebody Loves You", "Tell Her You Love Her (Each Day)" and "Somewhere in Your Heart" with only minor chart success.

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Review scores
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Track listing

"Emily" (Johnny Mandel, Johnny Mercer) – 2:58
"Here's to the Losers" (Robert Wells, Jack Segal) – 3:05
"Dear Heart" (Jay Livingston, Ray Evans, Henry Mancini) – 2:43
"Come Blow Your Horn" (Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen) – 3:07
"Love Isn't Just for the Young" (Bernard Knee, Herb Miller)^[2] – 2:57
"I Can't Believe I'm Losing You" (Don Costa, Phil Zeller) – 2:43
"Pass Me By" (Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh) – 2:25
"Softly, as I Leave You" (Hal Shaper, Antonio DeVita, Giorgio Calabrese) – 2:50
"Then Suddenly Love" (Roy Alfred, Paul Vance) – 2:15
"Available" (Cahn, Ned Wynn, L.B. Marks)^[3] – 2:47
"Talk to Me Baby" (Robert Emmett Dolan, Mercer) – 3:00
"The Look of Love" (Cahn, Van Heusen)^[4] – 2:43

Notes

Tracks 1, 3 and 7 recorded on October 3, 1964
Tracks 8, 9 and 10 recorded on July 17, 1964
Uncredited Background Singers perform on Tracks 1, 3 and 7-10^[5]^[6]
The Orchestra on Tracks 1, 3 and 6-7 includes 9 Violins^[7]^[8]
Tracks 2 and 5 recorded on July 31, 1963^[2]^[9]
The Orchestra on Tracks 2, 5 and 8-10 includes 12 Violins^[10]^[11]
"Come Blow Your Horn" recorded on January 21, 1963^[12]
Jimmy Van Heusen is also known as James Van Heusen
The Orchestra on Tracks 4 and 12 includes 10 Violins^[4]^[12]
"I Can't Believe I'm Losing You" recorded on April 8, 1964^[7]
Tracks 8-10 recorded on July 17, 1964^[3]^[10]^[11]
"Talk to Me Baby" recorded on December 3, 1963
The Orchestra on "Talk to Me Baby" includes 14 Violins^[13]
Robert Emmett Dolan is also known as Robert Dolan^[13]
"The Look of Love" recorded on August 27, 1962^[4]

Personnel

Main

Frank Sinatra - vocals (2, 4-6, 11-12, lead on 1, 3, 7-10)
Don Costa - arranger (6, 11),^[7] conductor (11)^[13]
Ernie Freeman - arranger, conductor (8-10)^[3]^[10]^[11]
Neal Hefti - conductor (12)^[4]
Billy May - arranger (7)^[8]
Marty Paich - arranger, conductor (2, 5)^[2]^[9]
Nelson Riddle - arranger (1, 3-4, 6, 12), conductor (1, 3-4, 6-7)^[6]

Strings

LeRoy Collins - viola (2, 5)^[2]^[9]
Joe Comfort - string bass (4)^[12]
Joseph DiFiore - viola (8-10)^[3]^[10]^[11]
Joseph DiTullio - cello (12)^[4]
Justin DiTullio - cello (2, 5, 8-10, 12)
Alvin Dinkin - viola (1, 3, 7-11)^[5]^[6]
Cecil Figelsky - viola (2, 5)
Eddie Gilbert - string bass (11)^[13]
Anne Goodman - cello (1, 3, 6-10)
Stanley Harris - viola (2, 4-5, 11-12)
Allan Harshman - viola (2, 4-5, 12)
Armand Kaproff - cello (1-3, 5-7)
Louis Kievman - viola (2, 5)
Ray Kramer - cello (2, 4-5, 11)
Edgar Lustgarten - cello (1, 3, 7, 11-12)^[8]
Virginia Majewski - viola (1-3, 5, 7, 11)
Joe Mondragon - string bass (2, 5, 8–10)
Alex Neiman - viola (6, 8-10, 12)^[7]
Gareth Nuttycombe - viola (8-10)
Ralph Peña - string bass (1, 3, 6-7, 12)
David Pratt - cello (6)
Kurt Reher - cello (4, 8-11)
Paul Robyn - viola (4, 6, 11)
Nino Rosso - cello (11-12)
Emmett Sargeant - cello (8-10)
Eleanor Slatkin - cello (2, 4-5)

Horns and Woodwinds

Harry Betts - trombone (12)^[4]
Hoyt Bohannon - trombone (11)^[13]
Robert Bryant - trumpet (8-10)^[3]^[10]^[11]
Conte Candoli - trumpet (2, 5)^[2]^[9]
Pete Candoli - trumpet (6)^[7]
John Cave - French horn (1, 3-4, 7, 11)^[5]^[8]
Gene Cipriano - saxophone (1, 3-4, 7), flute (4),^[12] woodwinds (1, 3, 7)^[6]
Buddy Collette - woodwinds (8–10)
Bob Cooper - saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet (2, 5)
Vincent DeRosa - French horn (1, 3-4, 7, 11)
Henry Edison - trumpet (6)
Don Fagerquist - trumpet (4, 12)
Chuck Gentry - saxophone (1, 3, 7, 11), bass clarinet (11), woodwinds (1, 3, 7)
Arthur Gleghorn - saxophone, flute (11)
Conrad Gozzo - trumpet (12)
Herman Gunkler - saxophone, flute (12)
William Hinshaw - French horn (6)
Paul Horn - saxophone, flute, clarinet (2, 5)
Joe Howard - trombone (2, 5)
Jules Jacob - oboe (11), saxophone (11-12), clarinet, bass clarinet (12)
Plas Johnson - saxophone (1, 3-4, 7, 12), flute (12), clarinet (4), woodwinds (1, 3, 6-7)
Harry Klee - saxophone (1-5, 7, 11), flute (2, 4-5, 11), clarinet (4), woodwinds (1, 3, 6-7)
Joe Koch - saxophone, bass clarinet (4, 12), woodwinds (6)
Ronny Lang - saxophone, flute (12)
Richard Leith - trombone (2, 5)
Cappy Lewis - trumpet (1, 3-4, 6-7)
Sinclair Lott - French horn (12)
Arthur Maebe - French horn (12)
Gail Martin - trombone (6)
Dick Nash - trombone (2, 4-6, 11-12)
Ted Nash - saxophone, flute (2, 5)
Jack Nimitz - clarinet (2, 5), saxophone, bass clarinet (2, 5, 11)
Dick Noel - trombone (4, 11-12)
Tommy Pederson - trombone (6)
Richard Perissi - French horn (1-3, 5, 7, 12)
Al Porcino - trumpet (2, 5, 12)
George Roberts - bass trombone (4, 11)
Willie Schwartz - saxophone (1, 3-4, 7, 11), clarinet (4, 11), flute (4), woodwinds (1, 3, 6-7)
George Seaberg - trumpet (4)
Tom Shepard - trombone (4, 6)
Shorty Sherock - trumpet (4, 6)
Gene Sherry - French horn (2, 5-6)
Ken Shroyer - bass trombone (1, 3, 7, 12)
George Smith - saxophone, clarinet (11)
Ray Triscari - trumpet (2, 5)
Champ Webb - woodwinds (6)
Stu Williamson - trumpet (2, 5, 12)

Other Instrumentalists

Dale Anderson - congas, timpani (2, 5)^[2]
Hal Blaine - drums (8-10)^[3]^[10]^[11]
Irv Cottler - drums (1-3, 5-7, 11-12), chimes (12)^[4]
Aida Dagort - harp (4)^[12]
Frank Flynn - timpani, bells (12)
Carl Fortina - accordion (11)^[13]
Gene Garf - piano (8-10)
Bobby Gibbons - guitar (1, 3, 7-11)^[5]^[6]
Al Hendrickson - guitar (2, 5, 8-10)
Kathryn Julye - harp (2, 5-6, 11)^[7]
Mel Lewis - drums (4)
Bill Miller - piano (All Tracks)
Verlye Mills - harp (12)
Emil Richards - percussion (1, 3, 6-11), timpani (4)
Ray Sherman - piano (1, 3, 7-10)
Ann Mason Stockton - harp (1, 3, 7)^[8]
Tommy Tedesco - guitar (1, 3, 7-10)
Vincent Terri - guitar (1, 3, 7)
Al Viola - guitar (1, 3-4, 6-7, 11-12)

References

^ Albin, Steve. “Frank...The Reprise Years”. Jazz Discography. 20 March 2016. http://www.jazzdiscography.com/Artists/Sinatra/reprise.php
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Sinatra, Frank. “Love Isn’t Just for the Young”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Love%20Isn’t%20Just%20For%20the%20Young
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Sinatra, Frank. “Available”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Available
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Sinatra, Frank. “The Look of Love”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/The%20Look%20of%20Love
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Sinatra, Frank. “Emily”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Emily
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Sinatra, Frank. “Dear Heart”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Dear%20Heart
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Sinatra, Frank. “I Can’t Believe I’m Losing You”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/I%20Can’t%20Believe%20I’m%20Losing%20You
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Sinatra, Frank. “Pass Me By”. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Pass%20Me%20By
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Sinatra, Frank. “Here’s to the Losers”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Here’s%20to%20the%20Losers
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Sinatra, Frank. “Softly As I Leave You”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Softly%20As%20I%20Leave%20You
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Sinatra, Frank. “Then Suddenly Love”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Then%20Suddenly%20Love
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Sinatra, Frank. “Come Blow Your Horn”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Come%20Blow%20Your%20Horn
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Sinatra, Frank. “Talk to Me Baby”. Frank Sinatra Sessionography. https://sinatrafamily.com/session/-/-/-/-/0/Talk%20to%20Me%20Baby

Frank Sinatra

Studio
albums

Columbia	The Voice of Frank Sinatra Songs by Sinatra Christmas Songs by Sinatra Frankly Sentimental Dedicated to You Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra
Capitol	Songs for Young Lovers Swing Easy! In the Wee Small Hours Songs for Swingin' Lovers! Close to You A Swingin' Affair! Where Are You? A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra Come Fly with Me Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely Come Dance with Me! No One Cares Nice 'n' Easy Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!! Come Swing with Me! Point of No Return Duets Duets II
Reprise	Ring-a-Ding-Ding! Sinatra Swings I Remember Tommy Sinatra and Strings Sinatra and Swingin' Brass All Alone Sinatra Sings Great Songs from Great Britain Sinatra–Basie: An Historic Musical First The Concert Sinatra Sinatra's Sinatra Sinatra Sings Days of Wine and Roses, Moon River, and Other Academy Award Winners America, I Hear You Singing It Might as Well Be Swing 12 Songs of Christmas Softly, as I Leave You September of My Years My Kind of Broadway A Man and His Music Moonlight Sinatra Strangers in the Night That's Life Francis Albert Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim The World We Knew Francis A. & Edward K. The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry Christmas Cycles My Way A Man Alone Watertown Sinatra & Company Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back Some Nice Things I've Missed Trilogy: Past Present Future She Shot Me Down
Qwest	L.A. Is My Lady