Frank Sinatra - Duets II

Following the multi-platinum success of Duets, Capitol Records assembled Duets II, a sequel that followed the blueprint of its predecessor to the letter. Assembled from leftover tracks from the first album, Duets II is a somewhat more consistent album than the original. Lacking the superstar names of the first (Tony Bennett, Julio Iglesias, Kenny G, Barbra Streisand, Bono, Aretha Franklin), the artist roster on the sequel generally consists of either faded stars (Neil Diamond, Willie Nelson, Gladys Knight) or mid-level singers (Luis Miguel, Lorrie Morgan) who are popular within their genre, but fail to command the attention of the general public. However, there are standouts like Lena Horne and Antonio Carlos Jobim who help lift Duets II to a higher level than Duets. But that's a minor distinction, actually. The nature of the electronic duet prohibits the album from having any sort of emotional resonance, even on tracks that feature strong vocals by Sinatra or his partner. It might be nice to hear Horne and Sinatra together on "Embraceable You," but the song doesn't rise above anything more than a technical marvel. The real tragedy is, their performance hints that the album could have been so much more. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Schmitt Engineer Alan Lindgren Vocal Arrangement Andy Engel Illustrations Andy Smith Assistant Engineer Antonio Carlos Jobim Performer, ? Arturo Sandoval Trumpet Bernie Becker Engineer Bill Cavanaugh Engineer Bill Miller Piano Bill Zehme Liner Notes Billy Byers Arranger Billy May Arranger Bryan Carrigan Assistant Engineer Bucky Meadows Technical Assistance Carl Glanville Engineer, Assistant Engineer Charles Dye Engineer Charles Koppelman Executive Producer Charles Paakkari Engineer Charles Pollard ? Chie Masumoto Production Coordination Chris Wiggins Assistant Engineer Chrissie Hynde Performer Chuck Berghofer Bass, Rhythm Bass Clay Ostwald Keyboards Craig Brock Assistant Engineer Csaba Petocz Engineer Dave Allen Technical Assistance Dave Reitzas Engineer David Hall Assistant Engineer Denny Thomas Technical Assistance Dick Williams Vocal Arrangement Don Costa Arranger Don Hahn Engineer Don Rubin Executive Producer Ed Calle ? Ed Rak Engineer Edwin Bonilla ? Eliot Weisman Executive Producer Eric Schilling Engineer, Mixing Eydie Gorme Performer Francisco Miranda Assistant Engineer Frank Foster Arranger Frank Sinatra Vocals Frank Sinatra, Jr. Performer Frank Wolf Engineer George Massenburg Engineer Geraldo Fernandes de Souza, Jr. Engineer Gladys Knight Performer Gregg Field Drums Hank Cattaneo Producer Jay Healy Engineer Jeff Minnich Technical Assistance Jennifer Monnar Assistant Engineer Jill Dell'Abate Production Coordination Jim Caruana Assistant Engineer Jim Giddenes Technical Assistance Jimmy Buffett Performer John Aquilino Engineer John Hechtman Technical Assistance John Patterson Engineer Johnny Mandel Arranger Jon Secada Performer Jorge Casas ? Jorge Noriega Vocals (Background) Jose L. Quintana Vocal Producer Juanito Marquez ? Kevin Scott Assistant Engineer Kiko Cibrian Vocal Producer Kim Niemi Coordination Larry Greenhill Engineer Larry Walsh Engineer Lena Horne Performer LeRoy Neiman Paintings Linda Ronstadt Performer Lorrie Morgan Performer Luis Miguel Performer Marcelo Añez Assistant Engineer Marcelo Moura Assistant Engineer Mark Ralston Assistant Engineer Michael Guerra Technical Assistance Mike Couzzi Engineer Mike Mazzetti Assistant Engineer Neil Diamond Performer Nelson Riddle Arranger Patrick Williams Musical Director, Director, Conductor, Arranger Patti LaBelle Performer Paul Cartledge Engineer Paul McKenna Engineer Peter Doell Assistant Engineer Phil Ramone Producer Quincy Jones Arranger R.R. Harlan Engineer Rick Southern Engineer Rita Quintero Vocals (Background) Ron Anthony Guitar Ron Taylor Engineer Scott Canto Assistant Engineer Scott Lechner Technical Assistance Scott Perry Assistant Engineer, Engineer Sean Chambers Assistant Engineer, Mixing Assistant Sebastián Krys Assistant Engineer Stevie Wonder Harmonica, Piano, Performer, Vocals Susanne Edgren Production Coordination T-Bone Demmar Engineer Ted Jensen Mastering Ted Stein Engineer Terry Trotter Piano Terry Woodson Music Preparation Tom Hensley Vocal Arrangement Tom Young Engineer Tommy Steele Art Direction Troy Halderson Assistant Engineer Willie Nelson Performer