The Official Frank Sinatra Appreciation Thread

[The Chairman]

Edit

 

[Kelly]

LOL,

What is kind of funny is how alot of the rock out there is moving back to that era.....

Incubus' latest CD, sounds like a Kansas throw back......which I love btw...

 

[The Chairman]

Second attempt at uploading videos:

Frank performing All Or Nothing At All In Japan in 1985

http://www.mediafire.com/?4dnq0teyt0f

Frank and Dean Martin in the early 1970s'

http://www.mediafire.com/?fz2ussu4dng

Frank and Dean on Dino's 1967 Christmas Special

http://www.mediafire.com/?8bsbbefc41l

Frank singing My Kind Of Town with Tony Bennett in the mid 1970s'

http://www.mediafire.com/?3mtxlcm1bqj

Frank singing Pennies From Heaven in Japan in 1985

http://www.mediafire.com/?czcbenclzjn

Frank performing Quiet Night Of Quiet Stars and I Won't Dance in South America in 1982

http://www.mediafire.com/?6ybnmo1jj1y

A three part clip with Sammy Davis Jr. and Liza Minnelli in the late 1980s'

http://www.mediafire.com/?5pyy1eipbku

http://www.mediafire.com/?5uml4jystjh

http://www.mediafire.com/?3t0v9bijtbn

This video's a bit hard to watch, and I cry every time I watch it, but here's the last time Frank ever sang My Way, in Japan in December of 1994

http://www.mediafire.com/?9xn0jmtxtt2

You'll have to save them to view them, but they're worth it.

 

[The Chairman]

Found some clips on Youtube:

A vintage 1943 clip (complete with annoying cigarette commercial to start things off) of Frank performing "Stardust" on Your Hit Parade:

[YT]NlujPZ64ZvI&feature=related[/YT]

Frank performing my personal favorite, "Witchcraft," on a 1965 tv special entitled A Man And His Music (available on dvd):

[YT]_B_FNYMuhVI[/YT]

Frank performing "Going Out Of My Head" on a 1969 special titled Sinatra:

[YT]tnvbLF6TB4o&feature=related[/YT]

Frank performing the classic "September Song" with John Denver in 1976:

[YT]FFP3UmMQgLA&feature=related[/YT]

And my personal favorite, Frank and Bing Crosby singing "Did You Ever?" in the 1956 musical High Society:

[YT]kKhi4BfDNZE[/YT]

 

[Dwarf lord]

And my personal favorite, Frank and Bing Crosby singing "Did You Ever?" in the 1956 musical High Society:

Ah yes, an old Cole Porter number. Cole Porter is probably my favorite songwriter of all time. The man could get anything to rhyme behind a charming little melody. He also wrote one of the best standards of all time, "Night and Day." Check him out if you haven't.

Also, Bing Crosby is probably my favorite singer of all time hands down. The only problem is that he didn't have a great library of songs. He had some great songs (His version of White Christmas is the best selling song of all time, beating out everything), but nothing was as stand out as Frank's. It's really a pity.

That can really be said for a lot of people. Dean Martin and Sammy Davis were every bit as good as Frank, but they couldn't pick songs like him. That's where Frank shined. The other two really shined when it came to acting. Frank was a fantastic actor, but Sammy and Dean were in a class all their own. Two of the funniest people of all time.

 

[The Chairman]

Ah yes, an old Cole Porter number. Cole Porter is probably my favorite songwriter of all time. The man could get anything to rhyme behind a charming little melody. He also wrote one of the best standards of all time, "Night and Day." Check him out if you haven't.

Also, Bing Crosby is probably my favorite singer of all time hands down. The only problem is that he didn't have a great library of songs. He had some great songs (His version of White Christmas is the best selling song of all time, beating out everything), but nothing was as stand out as Frank's. It's really a pity.

That can really be said for a lot of people. Dean Martin and Sammy Davis were every bit as good as Frank, but they couldn't pick songs like him. That's where Frank shined. The other two really shined when it came to acting. Frank was a fantastic actor, but Sammy and Dean were in a class all their own. Two of the funniest people of all time.

I find Bing Crosby to me the worst of the old time singers. He put absolutely no passion into what he sang as far as I'm concerned. No matter what he sang, he sounded very bored as if he were waiting for a bus or something. He put no soul into it. When Frank sang, he always sounded like he was truly enjoying his craft. Let's hear Bing sing "The Coffee Song" or anything off of "Ring-A-Ding Ding" with the same energy Frank put into it. He also was a beast in his personal life, an alcoholic who regularly beat his kids. Frank had a few demons (such as a notoriously short temper), but he never mistreated his kids (though he hardly saw them).

I agree on Cole Porter, though. He was an absolutely fantastic composer. His gift of rhyme scheme impresses me the most. The bridge on "Anything Goes" is fantastic, for example.

And I wouldn't put Dean quite on level with Frank. Dean did not have a great voice, and he would be, and usually was, the first to tell me that. Dean was an performer rather than an artist. He sang because he loved doing it. He didn't view it as an artform the way Frank did. Sammy was a legend. He could do it all, and he had some great stuff. Bobby Darin is also criminally underrated.

 

[Dwarf lord]

I find Bing Crosby to me the worst of the old time singers. He put absolutely no passion into what he sang as far as I'm concerned. No matter what he sang, he sounded very bored as if he were waiting for a bus or something. He put no soul into it

It wasn't about the soul, especially at the time (World War II) America. It was about the charm. He also had one of the purest voice of all time. And if there was no Bing, there would be no Frank. Frank used to list Bing Crosby as his biggest influence.

That and I very much disagree with you about no passion. Listen to I'll Be Seeing You. Best interpretation of the song ever right there.

 

[The Chairman]

It wasn't about the soul, especially at the time (World War II) America. It was about the charm. He also had one of the purest voice of all time. And if there was no Bing, there would be no Frank. Frank used to list Bing Crosby as his biggest influence.

Frank had at least twice the charm Bing did. Frank took everything good about Bing and took it to the highest level. Bing had nothing on Frank in terms of phrasing, diction, timing, breath control and range. Both Frank's top and bottom ranges were incredible. His voice ascended to operatic points at some points (his phrasing techniques were close in style to the bel canto operatic style). Listen to the 1961 versions of "All Or Nothing At All" and "Night And Day" or even "The Tender Trap". Frank hits notes most singers dream of hitting. I put a link to the 1961 "All Or Nothing At All". Listen to the last note Frank hits, it's one of the most breathtaking musical experiences ever.

That and I very much disagree with you about no passion. Listen to I'll Be Seeing You. Best interpretation of the song ever right there.

Then you haven't heard Frank's 1961 version from the Point Of No Return album.

 

[Dwarf lord]

Frank had at least twice the charm Bing did. Frank took everything good about Bing and took it to the highest level. Bing had nothing on Frank in terms of phrasing, diction, timing, breath control and range. Both Frank's top and bottom ranges were incredible. His voice ascended to operatic points at some points (his phrasing techniques were close in style to the bel canto operatic style). Listen to the 1961 versions of "All Or Nothing At All" and "Night And Day" or even "The Tender Trap". Frank hits notes most singers dream of hitting. I put a link to the 1961 "All Or Nothing At All". Listen to the last note Frank hits, it's one of the most breathtaking musical experiences ever.



Then you haven't heard Frank's 1961 version from the Point Of No Return album.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

And I have heard Frank's version. I've probably heard most everything he's ever released through my Grandfather.

 

[The Chairman]

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

And I have heard Frank's version. I've probably heard most everything he's ever released through my Grandfather.

Fair enough.

Oh, and after Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer was probably my favorite old time composer. Between those two, The Gershwins, Rogers & Hart, Hammerstein, Berlin, Jerome Kern, etc., you probably had the greatets era of American songwriting ever.

 

[Dwarf lord]

Fair enough.

Oh, and after Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer was probably my favorite old time composer. Between those two, The Gershwins, Rogers & Hart, Hammerstein, Berlin, Jerome Kern, etc., you probably had the greatets era of American songwriting ever.

And you can't neglect the true jazz composers from that era too. Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong, and the like. As much as I do like rock, I don't think there's as much melodic and lyrical cleverness in the songs. Of course there are exceptions (Bob Dylan), but otherwise a lot of rock can't hold a candle to the compsers and songwriters of the day.

 

[The Chairman]

And you can't neglect the true jazz composers from that era too. Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong, and the like. As much as I do like rock, I don't think there's as much melodic and lyrical cleverness in the songs. Of course there are exceptions (Bob Dylan), but otherwise a lot of rock can't hold a candle to the compsers and songwriters of the day.

Agreed. My favorite Sinatra album is actually the first Basie album.

This is by far Frank's most entertaining album, as him and Basie were perfect for each other. "Pennies From Heaven", "Please Be Kind", "My Kind Of Girl", "I Only Have Eyes For You" and "I Won't Dance" are standouts, but the whole album is excellent.

 

[Dwarf lord]

Agreed. My favorite Sinatra album is actually the first Basie album.

This is by far Frank's most entertaining album, as him and Basie were perfect for each other. "Pennies From Heaven", "Please Be Kind", "My Kind Of Girl", "I Only Have Eyes For You" and "I Won't Dance" are standouts, but the whole album is excellent.

Yeah, Basie's great. I'm taking a history of Jazz course and Basie's easily my favorite older Jazz bandleader. I'm a bigger fan of the Bebop and Modern Jazz people like Charlie Parker, Miles David, Sonny Rollins and The Trane, but it really doesn't get better than Basie in the Big Band Era.

 

[The Chairman]

Yeah, Basie's great. I'm taking a history of Jazz course and Basie's easily my favorite older Jazz bandleader. I'm a bigger fan of the Bebop and Modern Jazz people like Charlie Parker, Miles David, Sonny Rollins and The Trane, but it really doesn't get better than Basie in the Big Band Era.

Basie is indeed probably my favorite as well. Him and Frank were the perfect team musically, and they had deep personal as well as professional admiration. It really shows on the live album they did together. The chemistry and energy between the two is almost frightening.

 

[Dwarf lord]

Basie is indeed probably my favorite as well. Him and Frank were the perfect team musically, and they had deep personal as well as professional admiration. It really shows on the live album they did together. The chemistry and energy between the two is almost frightening.

Basie and Sinatra were good together, but it wasn't his orchestra's golden age. No Walter Page, Jo Jones, Freddie Green, Lester Young, ect. They were the greatest players of the age (Page, Jones, and Green made up the greatest rhythm section of all time, not just Jazz). But they still had Basie and that's where the charm in the album was. I can just imagine Sinatra working with them back in the early 40s when they were all in it. Billie Holiday was the featured vocalist of the time.

 

[The Chairman]

Basie and Sinatra were good together, but it wasn't his orchestra's golden age. No Walter Page, Jo Jones, Freddie Green, Lester Young, ect. They were the greatest players of the age (Page, Jones, and Green made up the greatest rhythm section of all time, not just Jazz). But they still had Basie and that's where the charm in the album was. I can just imagine Sinatra working with them back in the early 40s when they were all in it. Billie Holiday was the featured vocalist of the time.

He still had guys like Sonny Payne and Frank Wess who were brilliant musicians. And Frank solidified himself as a jazz vocalist on that album. There was always debate, despite being the undisputed favorite of Miles Davis, Basie, The Duke, etc.

 

[Dwarf lord]

He still had guys like Sonny Payne and Frank Wess who were brilliant musicians. And Frank solidified himself as a jazz vocalist on that album. There was always debate, despite being the undisputed favorite of Miles Davis, Basie, The Duke, etc.

I don't consider Frank much of a jazz vocalist. He sang Jazz based standards, but not true Jazz. And I'm pretty sure Basie's favorite was always Lady Day.

Plus, you don't have to be a jazz act to be a favorite of jazz acts.

P.S. Frank Sinatra was not taught in my Jazz history class because he was a lounge act, which isn't Jazz technically.

 

[Superman79]

​

Okay, I wasn't going to make this thread, but if Trent Reznor and Michael Jackson can get their own threads, than this man definitely has the honor.

The most gifted and prolific performer of the 20th century, Frank Sinatra, officially has his own thread. Talk about his music, his movies, his lifestyle, his alleged but ultimately falsified mob connections, and the various old time actresses he had sex with.

Enjoy.​

Curse you for beating me to making this thread, but props to you for good taste and being a stand-up guy

 

[Superman79]

I don't consider Frank much of a jazz vocalist. He sang Jazz based standards, but not true Jazz. And I'm pretty sure Basie's favorite was always Lady Day.

Plus, you don't have to be a jazz act to be a favorite of jazz acts.

P.S. Frank Sinatra was not taught in my Jazz history class because he was a lounge act, which isn't Jazz technically.

That's because he didin't stick strictly to jazz, that is often why he he's not taught in Jazz courses.

 

[Dwarf lord]

That's because he didin't stick strictly to jazz, that is often why he he's not taught in Jazz courses.

Even in his "Jazz" days he really wasn't the text book example of what Jazz is. The basic deffiniation is that it's a music that is based around swing and improv. Frank tended to stick very close to the beat and he wasn't known for improv. Not that any of this is bad. I love him,

 

[Superman79]

Even in his "Jazz" days he really wasn't the text book example of what Jazz is. The basic deffiniation is that it's a music that is based around swing and improv. Frank tended to stick very close to the beat and he wasn't known for improv. Not that any of this is bad. I love him,

True. Thing is, Frank never fit ANY category 100%...it's because his style was all his own. As for improv, check out some old live performance recordings...he improved constantly...in both rhythms and lyrics (its always fun to hear him do that)...I mean I have heard about 7 different versions of "The Way you look tonite"..just a thought

 

[The Chairman]

Bumping this for The Man's birthday.

 

[Superman79]

Agreed. My favorite Sinatra album is actually the first Basie album.

This is by far Frank's most entertaining album, as him and Basie were perfect for each other. "Pennies From Heaven", "Please Be Kind", "My Kind Of Girl", "I Only Have Eyes For You" and "I Won't Dance" are standouts, but the whole album is excellent.

I actually kind of prefer the second Basie album...but who's complaining, I got both as a two CD set

BTW- Great video posts...I had a lot of them, but there were a few I didn't so thanks C-man

 

[Superman79]

Bumping this for The Man's birthday.

Make sure you reply to the official birthday thread in the Community forum

 

[The Chairman]

I actually kind of prefer the second Basie album...but who's complaining, I got both as a two CD set

BTW- Great video posts...I had a lot of them, but there were a few I didn't so thanks C-man

I never liked It Might As Well Be Swing. "Fly Me To The Moon" and "The Best Is Yet To Come" are among his best, and I love "More," "I Wish You Love" and "I Believe In You," but the rest of the album is kind of meh for me.

For me his best album is September Of My Years. I played "It Was A Very Good Year" in class yesterday. Everyone loved it.