Run, if you will, to the top of the hill — open your arms, bonnie Jean.

If you’re immune to this, well, have a nice life.

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Click on the image to enlarge.

Sinatra recorded this religious song in 1964.  It was the theme song of the movie The Cardinal (which marked the last screen appearance of Dorothy Gish).  Dylan has recorded it for his upcoming album of songs associated with Sinatra, Shadows In the Night.  You can stream Dylan’s version on NPR here.

Sinatra’s version, expertly sung as it is, is not convincing as as an expression of humility and faith.  Sinatra was capable of putting across religious songs convincingly, as his Capitol Christmas album shows, but his heart doesn’t seem to be in it here.  The somewhat bombastic orchestral arrangement doesn’t help.

Dylan’s version, with its creaky vocal and small-ensemble arrangement featuring steel guitar, is profound, heartbreaking.

Sinatra at his best — but when wasn’t he in the 1950s?

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. . . the only.

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Click on the image to enlarge.

A miraculous Christmas present — an album of four songs from the soundtrack of The Bells Of St. Mary’s, on two 78s pressed in 1946.  Some surface noise after a perfunctory cleaning but otherwise a rich, full sound, at least as good as the sound of an LP.

Click on the image to enlarge.

Just . . . sublime.

Via Jae Song . . .