Duets II
Encouraged by the massive sales of 1993'sDuets, Capitol went back to the well a year later for a sequel. The pairings are a little more inspired this time around, with Willie Nelson ("A Foggy Day"), Lena Horne ("Embraceable You"), Chrissie Hynde ("Luck Be a Lady") and Antonio Carlos Jobim ("Fly Me to the Moon") all turning in satisfying performances. Unfortunately, there's also a heaping helping of forgettable cuts (including duets with Luis Miguel, Jimmy Buffett, Jon Secada, and Lorrie Morgan), and Phil Ramone's arrangements continue to grate. And the overwrought duet with Neil Diamond on "The House Live In (That's America to Me)" has to be heard to be believed. Hardly a necessary addition to your Sinatra collection.--Dan Epstein