Point of No Return is the twenty-fifth studio album by American singer Frank Sinatra, released in March 1962 by Capitol Records. As the title reflects, the album contains Sinatra's final original recordings with Capitol Records before moving to his own Reprise Records label to achieve more artistic freedom with his recordings. However, Sinatra would later return to Capitol in order to record Duets (1993) and Duets II (1994).
Sinatra had already begun recording with Reprise as early as 1960 and had already recorded Ring-A-Ding-Ding, I Remember Tommy, and Sinatra Swings by the time these sessions occurred. He recorded this album in a hurried two-day session in September 1961 to fulfill his contract.
The album was still a special occasion, reuniting Sinatra with Axel Stordahl, the arranger and conductor who had helped Sinatra rise to stardom with Columbia Records in the 1940s. Sinatra rushed through the sessions to fulfill his obligation to Capitol, something which upset Stordahl. Stordahl also arranged the vocalist's first Capitol session back in 1953, so his presence gave a sense of closure to the Capitol era.
On an interesting side note, Sinatra recorded a different version of "I'll Be Seeing You" only months apart during the very same year on I Remember Tommy for Reprise.
The bonus tracks represent the rest of Sinatra's work with Axel Stordahl on Capitol Records. These songs were recorded at Sinatra's first Capitol session in April 1953 and were produced by Voyle Gilmore.
Pete Candoli, Mickey Mangano, Jimmy Zito, Zeke Zarchy (tpt); Dick Nash, Dick Noel, Milt Bernhart (tbn); George Roberts (b-tbn); Vincent DeRosa, John Cave, Richard Perissi (fr-h); Ted Nash, Harry Klee, Ronny Lang, Gene Cipriano, Willie Schwartz, Justin Gordon, Babe Russin (sax/wwd); Emo Neufeld, Felix Slatkin, Anatol Kaminsky, Marshall Sasson, Victor Amo, Ben Gill, Dan Lube, Nathan Ross, David Frisina, Herman Clebanoff, Israel Baker, Lou Raderman (vln); Paul Robyn, Virginia Majewski, Alex Neiman, Alvin Dinkin (via); Ray Kramer, Edgar Lustgarten, Eleanor Slatkin, Kurt Reher (vie); Verlye Mills (harp); Bill Miller (p); Al Viola (g); Joe Comfort (b); Irving Cottler (d); Emil Richards (perc).
Tracks 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10:
12-September-1961 (Tuesday) - Hollywood.
Pete Candoli, Mickey Mangano, Uan Rasey, Zeke Zarchy (tpt); Dick Nash, Dick Noel, Milt Bernhart (tbn); George Roberts (b-tbn); Vincent DeRosa, John Cave, Richard Perissi (fr-h); Ted Nash, Harry Klee, Ronny Lang, Gene Cipriano, Willie Schwartz, Justin Gordon, Babe Russin (sax/wwd); Emo Neufeld, Felix Slatkin, Anatol Kaminsky, Harry Bluestone, Victor Amo, Ben Gill, Dan Lube, Nathan Ross, David Frisina, Herman Clebanoff, Israel Baker, Lou Raderman (vln); Paul Robyn, Virginia Majewsky, Alex Neiman, Alvin Dinkin (via); Justin DiTullio, Edgar Lustgarten, Eleanor Slatkin, Kurt Reher (vlc); Verlye Mills (harp); Bill Miller (p); Al Viola (g); Joe Comfort (b); Irving Cottler (d); Emil Richards (perc). Axel Stordahl, Heinie Beau (arr).
Tracks 13, 14, 15, 16:
2-April-1953 (Thursday) - Hollywood.
Zeke Zarchy (tpt); Vincent DeRosa (fr-h); Heinie Beau, Skeets Herfurt, Ted Nash, Leonard Hartman (sax/wwd); Mischa Russell, Harry Bluestone, Alex Murray, Paul Nero, Irving Prager, Murray Kellner (vln); David Sterkin, Paul Robyn (via); Cy Bernard (vlc); Ann Mason Stockton (harp); Bill Miller (p); George Van Eps (g); Phil Stephens (b); Ray Hagan (d). Axel Stordahl, Heinie Beau (arr).[5]
