Driven by a set of lush, sparkling
Nelson Riddle arrangements,
Moonlight Sinatra is a low-key, charming collection. Although the basic concept is somewhat nebulous -- all of the songs have the word "moon" in the title --
Riddle wrote a series of charts that suggest a warm, lovely evening with a variety of tones and moods, from light Latin rhythms to sweet ballads. While the album is a minor entry in
Sinatra's catalog, it is nevertheless an enjoyable, romantic listen. Half of the songs on
Moonlight Sinatra were originally associated with
Sinatra's idol
Bing Crosby, making the album something of a loose tribute. [
Moonlight Sinatra was re-released on LP in 2014.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine