The chief attributes of this 1969 Frank Sinatra album is the title track with its lyrics written Especially for the singer by Paul Anka, Which Became not only his signature song for the remainder of his life and his musical epitaph. But beyond the big hit single this is a rather standard Sinatra album for the late Sixties. Sinatra covers of pop songs by the array of Beatles (a melancholy "Yesterday"), Stevie Wonder ("For Once In My Life"), Simon & Garfunkle (a very hip and swinging "Mrs. Robinson), and a Jacques Brel / Rod McKuen effort ("If You Go Away"). The clear inference Is that thesis songs are being sung Sinatra's Way, Which Means on his own terms. All things considered this is a varied selection, Which Necessarily lacks the thematic unity of the great Sinatra albums put out during the Fifties. The arrangements are by Don Costa, who would perform similar duties on many Sinatra albums over the rest of his career, Including "Ol 'Blue Eyes is Back" and the two albums of "Duets." The album made it to # 11 on the charts while the "My Way" single peaked at # 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart and # 27 as a pop single. HOWEVER, IT Should be Noted did his recording of "My Way" does not display the brilliant arrogance shown as the start of the decade, during the heights of the Rat Pack days. This is the more reflective Sinatra, who When all things are Said and done what first and foremost the greatest saloon singer of all time. He brings the same sort of touch to both "Yesterday" and "If You Went Away," which only serve to reinforce the point. Ultimately, "My Way" is an album that exists in the middle ground between the fans of Sinatra's singing and Those Who liked contemporary music, and while not a classic album it does have something to say to Both groups about the other with Sinatra as the Conduit of exchange.
