The Best By And About Sinatra

Frank Sinatra left behind a legacy of more than 200 albums as well as movies and videotaped shows that stretch back for nearly a half century. More than 40 books about his colorful life and spectacular career are in print.

How to choose among them? CBS.com looked to its Web partners for the best of the best for its viewers. Below are some selections, plus links that allow you to browse through the entire Sinatra catalogs.

Why It's Recommended: The definitive album for Sinatra's swing sound, coupled with incredible arrangements by Nelson Riddle.

Why It's Recommended: A conveyed mood of freedom via a thematically-organized collection of songs. More great arrangements, this time by Billy May.

Why It's Recommended: More and more swing, this time pointed at young couples and young love.

Why It's Recommended: Two masters at work.

Why It's Recommended: Two-volume set includes many classics.

Why It's Recommended: Who can sing softer? Two titans of the cool jazz sound create what many consider the greatest album in its genre.

Synopsis:
A biography of Frank Sinatra, written with Sinatra's cooperation and published in time for hi82nd birthday.

Why It's Recommended: A fascinating look at the inimitable Sinatra personal style, with extensive quotes from the man himself. This biography reads like a guidebook to the hip life. It includes scores of classic photographs, some never before published. Includes rare interviews with intimates, including Tony Bennett, Don Rickles, Angie Dickinson, Tony Curtis, Robert Wagner, and Joey Bishop, as well as daughters Nancy and Tina.

Synopsis: A musical biography documenting Frank Sinatra's musical legacy through seven decades, revealing the man through his music. Friedwald examines what made Sinatra such an enduring influence on American pop culture, and draws upon interviews with the musicians, performers, arrangers, and songwriters with whom Sinatra worked.

Why It's Recommended: This admiring account of Frank Sinatra's career provides only sporadic glimpses of the singer's personal life, focusing instead on the music. Friedwald portrays Sinatra as an artistic rebel in the 1940s who campaigned for style and class against mediocrity and a bottom-line mentality. The crooner from blue-collar Hoboken, New Jersey, spent 20 years in an ultimately triumphant struggle to own and control what he produced. Market forces compelled him to work with material alien to his personal taste. Nevertheless, observes Friedwald, Sinatra expanded his musical palette while remaining true to his heritage.