The tracks were arranged and conducted by
Axel Stordahl and his orchestra, on both dates consisting of a string quartet and four-piece rhythm section, augmented by flutist John Mayhew in July, and, given the part he played with Sinatra at Columbia in the early 1950s, oboist
Mitch Miller in December. Sinatra recorded most of these songs again at later stages in his career. Certain critics have claimed
The Voice to be the first
concept album. Beginning in 1939, however, singer
Lee Wiley started releasing albums of 78s dedicated to the songs of a single writer, such as
Cole Porter, a precursor to the
Songbooks sets formulated by
Norman Granz and
Ella Fitzgerald in 1956. These may loosely be termed concept albums, although with
The Voice, Sinatra inaugurated his practice of having a common mood, theme, or instrumentation tying the songs together on a specific release. Sinatra also held the songs recorded for albums from release as singles. Even after an album’s release the songs were not released as singles. It also holds the distinction of being the first pop album catalogue item at 33⅓ rpm, when Columbia premiered long-playing vinyl records in 1948, ten-inch and twelve-inch format for classical music, ten-inch only for pop.
The Voice was reissued as a
10-inch LP, catalogue number CL 6001 in 1948, with the running order altered from the sequence of the original album of 78s. It was also later issued as two 45 rpm
EPs in 1952 with catalogue number B-112, a
12-inch LP with a changed running order including only five of the original tracks in 1955 with catalogue number CL-743, and a compact disc with extra tracks in 2003. ==Track listing==