Ring a Ding Ding was a famous Sinatra catchphrase, the song written especially for him by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen. The jazz-infused arrangements are by ex-Basie trumpeter Johnny Mandel, matching the singer’s jaunty confidence of a first release on his own record label.

Sinatra-Basie has the band up alongside Frank in the recording mix, more prominent than the singer’s usual backing and with top-class arrangements by Basie favourite of the time, Neil Hefti. This is a joyous and celebrated album, most tempos at the relaxed lope beloved of both Sinatra and Basie; sleevenotes by Sinatra biographer Robin Douglas- Home.

Even more joyous and celebrated is the live recording Sinatra At The Sands. Again with Basie, arranged and conducted by a young Quincy Jones, 22 Sinatra favourites are enhanced by a well-practiced 12-minute stand-up monologue. The gags are not always PC by present standards, but this is still a wish-you-had-been-there experience.

From anyone else, My Way would be a presumptuously cheesy boast, but Frank’s adoption of the song written for him by Paul Anka has been accepted without question by all who admire Ole Blue Eyes. The album features a variety of contemporary pop songs, but all have weathered the years to become standards, thanks in no small part to the Sinatra touch.

This 40th Anniversary re-release has liner notes by Bono and a couple of live bonus tracks.

• Universal has released four more classic Reprise albums from the 1960s and 1970s: Swing With Me (1961); Concert Sinatra (1963); Sinatra And Company (1971); Some Nice Things I’ve Missed (1974).