Life is full of coincidences. I recently received an email from another Amazon reviewer who was kind enough to drop me a line complimenting on some on my reviews on this site. This only rarely occurs, so it seemed particularly striking that the gentleman in question also mentioned being a big Sinatra fan. I have only posted a few reviews relating to Sinatra projects, and none of them were among those that my correspondent was referring to, so the mention seemed to be apropos of nothing I had written.
But by sheerest coincidence, I had just been on a bit of a Sinatra kick myself and had justwatched his CLASSIC DUETS the night before. It turned out to be familiar territory. (I believe I had seen it broadcast on PBS previously.) No matter. It was fun to take in again. Sinatra may have been a great solo artist, but well before the somewhat contrived projects of the 90s, he had proven himself to be a masterful duet singer.
His secret, I think, was that he was sincere in his admiration of other artists. He seems absolutely delighted to share the stage with masterful singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee. There are two spots featuring Ella in this package, and the two singers play off each other beautifully. The Peggy Lee duet on "Nice Work Is You Can Get It" is, as you might expect, more subdued, but seductive (which probably goes without saying).
Working with other singers tended to bring out Sinatra's playful side, and it's likely that some viewers will find the relative lack of introspection in this collection a bit irritating. If you like your Sinatra straight, you may find the many jokey asides and glib improvisatiions a little much. If, on the other hand, you accept the premise that a bit of clowning was part and parcel of the camaraderie, it becomes easier to overlook all that.
As a one-shot viewing, this collection of duets culled from Sinatra's 50s TV series is a lot of fun. On repeated viewing, the commentary from Frank Jr., Tina and Nancy gets a little old. Their love and respect for their dad is touching, but they don't have a lot to say that's new or particularly insightful. The clip of 18 year old Nancy duetting with Dad on "You Make Me Feel So Young" (which he alters to "feel so old", natch, since, hey, she was 18 AND engaged to Tommy Sands) is charming though. At least first time out.
And that segues to the famous Elvis clip (who Nancy was totally in love with, she maintains, no doubt to T. Sands chagrin). What hasn't been said about that historic moment in TV and music history. Ironically, it's not really the MUSICAL highlight of this DVD. As Nancy notes in her commentary, both were a little nervous (and Elvis seems actually more than just a LITTLE). But it is a significant moment in pop culture history. And as they both note, their harmonizing as they close out "Love Me Tender" sure is pretty.
Timeless, old school cool ...
Frank Sinatra was undisputably a one man show unto himself, but when he performed with others, there was a fantastic synergy -- a more than the sum-of-its-parts type of excitement -- as evidenced by most of the clips on this DVD (a must-own for any Sinatra fan.)
Sinatra may or may not have had a big ego, but clearly he was willing to share the spotlight with others whose talent he admired. His duets here with Lena Horne and Peggy Lee are filled with the frisson of subtle sensuality; two attractive and mutually admiring stars soaking up the spotlight and putting on a performance not only for the audience and the cameras but also for one another.
The playful, comedic and fun-loving rascal Sinatra is evident in his duets with daughter Nancy ("You Make Me Feel So Young") and Ethel Merman ("You're The Top"). Frank's duet with Ella Fitzgerald highlights the mutual admiration -- and musical simpatico -- they shared, which makes it a "must have" in this collection. His shining her on and her frolicking reprimands make this duet a particularly memorable one.
Sinatra's performance with Dean Martin and Bing Crosby can't be beat for showcasing the boys' club bond -- these guys are like three frisky puppies gamboling across the stage ... in tuxedos, of course, and singing their beautiful hearts out. Extreme fun, that piece.
The only two performances here I take issue with (and really, it's a very small issue!) are his duet with the young Shirley Jones ("If I Loved You") -- it's rather an awkward pairing, though perhaps it's the fault of the song choice -- and Sinatra's duet with a young and stunning Elvis Presley. (Yes, ladies -- Elvis in a tux -- prepare to swoon!) It's a great performance and they have loads of fun with it, but Elvis really steals the stage. Not a bad thing, if you are an Elvis fan (as I am), and it IS a singular delight to watch them gently duke it out with one another, while Sinatra steps aside just enough to give the new guy on the block his day in the sun. But the screams from the audience were obviously all for Elvis, and Frank -- the seasoned performer -- took it in gracious stride. I'm glad this performance was included, though be prepared to see our beloved Frank hand over the torch, if only briefly, to Mssr. Pelvis ;-).
This DVD is one of the favorites in my collection -- I watch it whenever I need a lift out of the doldrums; watching Frank alone is enough to do that, but seeing him having the time of his life with other performers of his time is an extra special treat. As the DQ ads used to say, it's "scrumpdillyicious".
The only other note of dissatisfaction I have with this is the commentary from his children that's inserted between performances. While somewhat intriguing the first go-round (though they were, to a greater or lesser extent, biased and perhaps even blinded by their Dad's legacy), they turn boring and skip-able afterwards. Use your player's disc menu feature to play just the performances without these awkward bits of commentary that break up this stellar set of clips.
It doesn't get any better
I wish I was as eloquent as the real reviewers, but I'm just a guy who likes good music; Frank made good music. If for nothing else, buy this for the clip of Frank and Peggy Lee - it's oooozing with sensuality. After that, if only for Frank and Dinah Shore, Louis Armstrong and the closing medley with Deano - the rest of the clips are gravy baby. This one is worth every penny . . .
This DVD is simply great! The sound quality is amazing considering that this is vintage TV! The song selection in the program is wonderful, with both popular and sacred pieces which are the best ever produced for the holiday season. Don't doubt it, this is a real must-have for all Sinatra and Crosby fans.- More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Bing Crosby - Sinatra DVD Release Date: Released the 07 October 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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For the second of his 1960s television specials, Frank Sinatra organized the show around the loose theme of "rhythm," and chose for his exploration two artists of impeccable credentials: the scat stylings and jazz-influenced delivery of Ella Fitzgerald and the quiet Latin groove of Brazilian bossa nova legend Antonio Carlos Jobim. The program combines beautiful ballads ("Ol' Man River," "Put Your Dreams Away") with brassy up-tempo tunes ("Day In, Day Out," "Get Me to the Church on Time"), though one medley includes some forgivable but hardly memorable attempts at contemporary pop, mixing snatches of "How High the Moon" with "Up, Up and Away," "Don't Cry Joe" with "Ode to Billy Joe." The show slows for a relaxed medley with Jobim, who accompanies a lounging, cigarette-smoking Sinatra with... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Frank Sinatra - Ella Fitzgerald DVD Release Date: Released the 09 March 1999 Usually ships within 24 hours
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This is highly recomended for all Dean Martin's fans.A compilation of songs from the Dean Martin Show give us the artist doing what he did better than anyone:Sing and act.
If you have to buy one Dean Martin DVD,don't doubt it.This is THE ONE. More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Dean Martin DVD Release Date: Released the 05 June 2001 Usually ships in 24 hours
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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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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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