This DVD is a copy of the 1969 "Sinatra, with guest star Frank Sinatra." I must say that I was not aware of many of the songs from this special, but I enjoyed many of them. His voice is stronger than from my favorite Sinatra special (Royal Festival Hall). He sings "My Way" almost flawless, making one think he might be lip-synching like modern singers do in their Tv-specials. Of course, then Sinatra simply proves me wrong by going off key at "(each and every) highway."
There are a few cool features in this special that include Sinatra making (scripted) jokes about his movie career (that are funny) and doing an entire list of sad love songs (aka Songs for losers, as called in the Royal Festival Hall special). The sad love songs can sometimes be too much to handle, depending on your tastes, but Sinatra's jokes make up for it.
I've read many reviews that explain Sinatra's voice wasn't in great shape during the recordings of this special, but he could have fooled me. The only song (minus the Songs for Losers) that I could really hear Sinatra crack-up on was "My Way" for a brief moment, as I said before.
For first time Sinatra listeners, this or "Royal Festival Hall" should be your pick.
The finale is worth the price alone
Sinatra in black tie, center stage, knocking off "Fly Me To The Moon", "Street Of Dreams", "My Kind Of Town', with fresh re-worked arrangements courtesy of Don Costa, is worth the price alone.
This performance has been criticized in the past and, according to one book, Frank showed up at the taping with laryngitis, sitting on a stool and chastising himself, muttering, "drink, drink drink, smoke, smoke, smoke, shmuck, shmuck, shmuck."
Could've fooled me. He's strong on the openers, "For Once In My Life" and "Please Be Kind". In fine voice, tan, limber, working the stage like a prize-fighter.
In my opinion, this video is superior to one done a year later at Royal Albert Hall. His vocal powers were not as consistently powerful after '69.
I rate this 4 stars for repetoire, new arrangements, humorous monologue.
Not the best of the Television specials.....
Sinatra (1969) is the latest edition in my quest to obtain all of the specials on DVD. After seeing the first special from 65 and the one with Ella and Jobim, or even the playful special with the 5th Dimension, this one paled in comparison. Sinatra isn't as emotionally involved in this one as he had been in the past, and it is clear to see. While on some songs Sinatra sounds powerful, on most he sounds tired and appears to be pushing a little too hard. There are a few times when he blatantly coughs into the microphone and appears raspy. However, Forget to Remember rises above all, and is an emotionally moving masterpiece. Perhaps most disappointing is the DVD's audio track. Unlike the other Sinatra specials I have, this one has alot of hiss, and a few points when the sound appears to drop out a little. Whether or not this is the fault of poor transferring or if the original tapes are damaged, it is nontheless distracting. All in all, there are enough worthwhile moments on this DVD to justify purchasing it, however, I wouldn't start with this particular one.
This 1973 televised concert announced to the world that Frank Sinatra's retirement was over. In a setting that balances the intimacy of nightclubs with a concert hall layout, Sinatra (backed by a 40 piece orchestra led by Gordon Jenkins and Don Costa) confidently delivers a slate of quintessentially Frank tunes: "I Get a Kick Out of You," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "I've Got the World on a String," and a short medley of ballads. A series of "singing sailor" film clips introduces guest star Gene Kelly, who joins Sinatra in a self-effacing song and dance number called, "We Can't Do That Anymore," followed by a gentle Kelly tap dance to Sinatra's rendition of "Nice and Easy." Having mined the past, Sinatra looks to the future with three new numbers: "Let Me Try Again," the beautiful "Send... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Frank Sinatra DVD Release Date: Released the 08 June 1999 Usually ships in 6 to 8 days
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Every one who buys this dvd or vsh is looking for basie and sinatra well frank and basie do 3 songs on the hole intire video this video should be called "Frank Sinatra the man and his music with the Vincent Falcone orchestra" because vinny plays with him on nearly every thing on this tape and also conducts the hole show but moving on to give my review i think its a great show, for one- frank does some really great tunes on this show, two there is a part in the show where frank does some thing with just 4 guys (Vince Falcone - piano , Tony Mottola - Guitar, Irv Cottler - drumbs and I beleave Ralf Panena on bass) the segment is the best part of the show because it shows you the side of Frank his Fans hardley ever see (The Jazzy Sinatra .) other than that there are some great arrgengments by... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Frank Sinatra DVD Release Date: Released the 21 September 1999 Usually ships within 24 hours
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Frank Sinatra had sung on television and even hosted variety specials and series, but when he strutted through the empty hallways of NBC studios, took a stool next to a lonely microphone, and belted out the opening lines to "I've Got You Under My Skin," it was a TV revelation. Here was the mature, confident, at times even swaggering saloon singer and balladeer in a solo showcase: literally, the man and his music. The mix of classic tunes ("I Get a Kick Out of You," "The Lady Is a Tramp," "Witchcraft"), key songs from his 1950s reinvention ("Come Fly with Me," "You Make Me Feel So Young"), and 1960s standards ("My Kind of Town," "This Is All I Ask") is mirrored in an effective medley anchored by "It Was a Very Good Year," giving us a brief tour of his career from the bobby-soxer... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Frank Sinatra DVD Release Date: Released the 09 March 1999 Usually ships within 24 hours
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Having seen majority of all the 'Reprise' Sinatra collection, I finally watched the infamous 1968 Tv-Special, "Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing." Infamous for Sinatra walking out after doing the Dress Rehearsal, because the Dress Rehersal was "good enough." Only people who really knew him can assume what he meant by that.
If you've seen the first three Frank Sinatra Tv-Specials, from 1965-1967, then you know most of them were great. The best of the bunch being a tie of the first 'A Man and His Music' and "Ella + Jobim" and the special with Nancy being a very close second. If you've seen the specials like "Sinatra 69," "Royal Festival Hall," "Ole' Blue Eyes Is Back," "The Man and his Music," "The Concert for the Americas," "Sinatra In Japan," or even the ill-advised "The Main Event"... More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 08 June 1999 Usually ships within 24 hours
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It seems like this show was thrown together haphazardly at the last minute with little or no rehearsal.
I may be wrong, but I think there was no audience. Frank's monologue in the beginning is met with a laugh track.
The picture quality on the VHS is sub-standard; Sinatra's drummer, Irv Cottler, looks black!
The skit with daughter is unmemorable.
There is a good version of "That's Life", better than the studio version, but Frank muffs it at the end of "My Kind Of Town",
If you're a Sinatra die-hard, then it's worth getting. For others looking for one of the better TV specials, stick to Vol 1 or 2. More Info about this DVD Director(s): Dwight Hemion DVD Release Date: Released the 21 September 1999 Usually ships within 24 hours
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