FEATURES THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD’S HISTORIC COLLABORATIONS WITH COUNT BASIE AND DUKE ELLINGTON BOTH NEWLY REMASTERED
INCLUDES RARE PHOTOS & ORIGINAL ARTWORK
PRE-ORDER HERE
(Los Angeles, CA) August 08, 2025: UMe in conjunction with Frank Sinatra Enterprises announces a new exclusive double-vinyl collection from Frank Sinatra, featuring his historic collaborations with Count Basie and Duke Ellington, entitled The Giants Of Jazz, out September 26, 2025.
This special release includes a pair of timeless albums—It Might As Well Be Swing with Count Basie and His Orchestra and Francis A. & Edward K. with Duke Ellington—newly remastered from the archival recordings. The package includes a new gatefold jacket design that incorporates rare photographs as well as the original artwork.
It is now available for pre-order HERE via the Official Store.
Comprising seminal performances from Sinatra, Basie, and Ellington, the title The Giants Of Jazz couldn’t be more apropos.
It Might As Well Be Swing initially arrived in August 1964. It saw Sinatraaccompanied by Basie in tandem with his orchestra on ten tracks for the second time following 1962’s Sinatra-Basie, and it was Sinatra’s first studio album arranged by Quincy Jones. It housed some of his most celebrated material, ranging from “The Best Is Yet To Come” to the definitive recording of “Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words).” The latter has eclipsed 766 million Spotify streams, which speak to its enduring influence and impact for the last 61 years. During 1964, the LP peaked at #13 on the Billboard 200.Retrospectively, Jazz Music Archives rated it “5-out-of-5 stars” and raved, “Absolutely wonderful album by Frank Sinatra as the title states It Might As Well Be Swing and that precisely is what it is with lashing of it from the arrangements of Quincy Jones and as usual the outstanding interpretations of each tune sung by Frank Sinatra.” Of Jones’ contribution, The Guardian applauded, “He arranged Sinatra’s voice in such a way that it made him sound like an instrument in the band and not just another singer taking the lead.”
Famously, the original cover of It Might As Well Be Swing also bears the phrase “A Meeting Of Giants.”
Then, there’s Francis A. & Edward K, first released inJanuary 1968, united Sinatra with Ellington and his big band. Among a bevy of highlights, it features an iconic rendition of “All I Need Is The Girl” and “Indian Summer” that includes a wonderful solo by saxophonist Johnny Hodges. Jazz legends Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Paul Gonsalves, Russell Procope, and others are also part of the Ellington orchestra. Long time Sinatra arranger, Billy May, did the arrangements for the album.
Check out the tracklisting for The Giants Of Jazz below.
The release continues a series of sought-after reissues of Sinatra’s most-celebrated music. First up, a special 4-inchTiny Vinyl Edition of “Jingle Bells/Silent Night” hits shelves well in advance of the holidays on September 12. Pre-order HERE.
Experience The Giants Of Jazz this fall.
It Might As Well Be Swing Tracklisting:
A1. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
A2. I Wish You Love
A3. I Believe In You
A4. More (Theme From Mondo Cane)
A5. I Can’t Stop Loving You
B1. Hello, Dolly! (From Hello, Dolly!)
B2. I Wanna Be Around
B3. The Best Is Yet To Come
B4. The Good Life
B5. Wives And Lovers
Francis A. & Edward K. Tracklisting:
A1. Follow Me
A2. Sunny
A3. All I Need Is The Girl
A4. Indian Summer
B1. I Like The Sunrise
B2. Yellow Days
B3. Poor Butterfly
B4. Come Back To Me