Being a huge Sinatra fan, I really like his version on the "Point of No Return" album. I think the album is a little better than Steyn does, but Steyn is correct that Sinatra had a "mail it in" attitude on his last couple of contractual obligation albums for Capitol (a pity since Sinatra's best work was at Capitol). I daresay I was disappointed when I first listened to the album. Starting as it does with such a brilliant version of "When the World Was Young", it could only be downhill from there. In keeping with the theme of the album, all the songs on "Point of No Return" are about goodbyes, wistful looks at the past, memories, etc. Considering Sinatra's attitude, the album is way better than it has a right to be.
I saw Marlene Dietrich in a filmed concert doing "When the World Was Young". She talked it more than she sang it. She started is as "It isn't by chance I happen to be a femme fatale, the toast of Paris".
Disagree. Also a major Sinatra fan. Rate this as one of his best albums, and probably his best album cover. If he was phoning it in, he sure was a good connection.