Working With Frank Sinatra: 1973 Radio Interview with Arranger / Composer Gordon Jenkins

In this rare 1973 interview with radio host Paul Compton, arranger/conductor/composer Gordon Jenkins discusses working with Frank Sinatra in the recording studio and names his favorite Frank Sinatra song.
Recorded from the original reel tape in the Ric Ross Frank Sinatra Collection.
About Paul Compton: Known as Frank Sinatra's favorite disc jockey and the host of "Sinatra, Compton and Strings", Paul Compton was a long-time disc jockey in Southern California. During his time on KGIL, Don Page of the LA Times awarded him the 1969 MOR radio DJ of the year honor. Page was an enormous fan of Paul's, describing his style as "the original Mr. Cool, a voice like aged Scotch and the ever-present shades." Don said that Paul was the "acknowledged expert on the musical life and times of Frank Sinatra. Each considers the other the leader of the clan." "Paul Compton is the best disc jockey in the business. No one has better presence than Compton" said Page.
Born Paul Compton Abbott in Ontario, he grew up in Long Beach and majored in journalism at Los Angeles City College and San Diego State. Paul had a brief career as a club jazz singer. Paul Compton died April 17, 1996, at the age of 79.

[@saintcruzin]

My three very favorite Frank/Gordon collaborations....”Lonely Town,” “It Was a Very Good Year” and the brilliantly arranged “Send in the Clowns.” No one wrote Strings like Jenkins and with Sinatra doing the vocals, perfection..

[@jackeggleson4102]

My favorite Jenkins/Sinatra orchestration is the future parts one two and three

[@saintcruzin]

@@jackeggleson4102That was very ambitious, but a little bit hit and miss for me. A for effort though.

[@eddiewakesmusic3137]

Gordon Jenkins (w Frank Sinatra) on September of My Years was the LP I’d repeatedly check out of my high school library! It ignited my love for the Great American Songbook and set my imagination a-flight toward was could be!

[@ddkoda7412]

What special insights into perhaps the greatest singer of the 20th century confirming what many of us already know but are not able to summarize as well as Gordon did.

[@thefaceofthecentury]

Thank you for this treasure...

[@aaronam0115]

Great content! Love your work, can’t say anything more in way of a summary than that you bear treasure

[@jamesmmahoney]

Thank you!

[@songsmith31a]

I admired Jenkins' recordings with Nillson made here in the UK when the singer was doing BBC work, if I
remember correctly. I read that this notable arranger/conductor got on well with the British musicians
and was very touched to receive a pair of specialised cufflinks from them. His work with Sinatra will
confirm his place as one of the great talents that contributed so much to the singer's continued success
down the decades that saw so much change in popular music.

[@culturehorse]

While enjoying this interview I am trying to determine who is playing what on the background piano. Any clues? Thanks for this wonderful channel content.