Frank Sinatra's Strangers in the Night from 1966

via cdandlp.com

So earlier in the month I thought I might die when I realized this album wasn't on my shelf and I didn't know where it was. It's my favorite Sinatra album. Very favorite. I spent several days racking my brain trying to figure out where I could be. Since I don't normally loan out my vinyl (I'm not stingy, no one ever asks), I had forgotten that I had loaned some of my favorite albums (including this one, Ella Fitzgerald sing Gershwin, two of my favorite Dean Martin albums and a few others) to my brother in law. I'm so glad I remembered. I was really sad when I thought I'd lost this one.

Anyway the album is fantastic. Here is the track list:

1. Strangers in the Night
2. Summer Wind
3. All or Nothing at All
4. Call Me
5. You're Driving Me Crazy!
6. On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
7. My Baby Just Cares for Me
8. Downtown
9. Yes Sir, That's My Baby
10. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

My favorites out of the favorites are "Strangers in the Night", "Summer Wind", "Call Me", "On a Clear Day", "Downtown" and "Yes Sir, That's My Baby."

Give it a listen:



Which are your favorites? 

By the Time I Get to Phoenix

Another song that is on Frank Sinatra's Cycles that I didn't know Frank sang is By the Time I Get to Phoenix. Guess what? It's also on Dean Martin's Gentle on My Mind. I actually really like both versions. I'm having a hard time deciding which one I like best.

What do you think?

Frank's version:

 

via The Frank Sinatra

Dean's version:

via Amazon

Here is the problem: I listen to Frank's and think "I love this. This is the better one." But then I listen to Dean's and I think "Wait. No, this is definitely better." Pretty much I just go back and forth like that.

So chime in, which is better? Or are you like me? 

Gentle on My Mind

So today I decided to listen to one of my Frank Sinatra albums that I've never listen to before (I probably haven't listening to 80% of the vinyl albums I own. Don't judge me.) It is called Cycles and it's really good. The most interesting song on there was Gentle on My Mind. I had no idea that Frank had ever done that song. I also have an album of Dean Martin's called Gentle on My Mind. It's one of my favorite albums (there is something about Martin doing country...).

Here is Frank's version:  

 

via The Frank Sinatra

Here is Dean's version:

via Amazon

Which one do you like better? 

I like Dean's better.

Are there versions of Gentle on My Mind that you like better than Frank and Dean's?

Classic Christmas Songs

As promised here are my favorite Christmas songs from the classics. You'll find a link to a Grooveshark playlist at the bottom of the post. Enjoy!

 Mistletoe and Holly

 The Christmas Waltz

It's a Marshmallow World

Baby it's Cold Outside

I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

Sleigh Ride

Home for the Holidays

Silver Bells

Mele Kalikimaka

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Happy Holidays

I think that's more than enough for one blog post! I've created a Christmas playlist over at Grooveshark for you, it includes these songs and some others that I love.

Which were your favorites? Did I forget any?

"Is that what you really want? You want to be Joey Bishop?"

I adore references to things I love and this one had my mom and me cracking up! Thank you Psych!

PS: I read some of the comments on the video and people had no idea who this was in reference too... hopefully you've been reading my blog enough to know, but just in case it's the Rat Pack. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop. Below they are pictured with another member of the Rat Pack, Peter Lawford.

via sitcomsonline

Thanks for stopping by fellas!

via martin/sinatra tumblr

These two showed up in my dreams last night. It was pretty magical. They seemed to really like me. Especially Dean. That's all I can really remember. They were just like they are when they are being filmed - hilarious and charming (although I realize this isn't really the case based on books I've read, but hey, it's my dream).

That's pretty much how it felt. Delightful. I wish it was a marshmallow world here in Wapello!

via film maker iq

Sweet dreams!

PS- Perhaps Sammy will show up tonight!

My Weekend in Movies

Friday

The Mentalist (2008 - present)

via The Mentalist Wiki

What can I say? We love the Mentalist.

Bottom line: Fantastic show. I adore all of the main characters. Watch it.

Saturday

The Frank Sinatra Spectacular (1965)

Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra and Johnny Carson via The Daily Caller

I discovered this event about a year ago. Since then I've watched it on YouTube too many times to count. Last week it was taken down. I nearly died. I had been planning to purchase it on DVD and now I was forced to. It finally arrived on Saturday, so I put in on right away. Absolutely delightful. Johnny Carson hosted as these three sang and joked. They each had a turn on stage alone and then together.

There is a clip of the end of the show for you. If you like these guys at all I would recommend watching the whole show. It gives you a great feel for their friendships and humor. It's just so good! Someone else put the show up so you can watch it here.

Bottom line: I won't be surprised if I wear this DVD out. I'm so glad I bought it. I don't know how you could be disappointed in such a concert!


The Best of the Dean Martin Variety Show (1965 - 1974)

Dean Martin laughin' it up via ilovedinomartin

This is humor at it's finest. I love variety shows! I think my favorite thing to see is when Dean starts laughing and he can't stop. 

Bottom line: Hilarious. Get on YouTube and watch some more. What a fun way to spend your time. Grab a friend and then you can quote them later to each other. 

Sinatra: A Complete Life by J. Randy Taraborrelli

via Amazon

via Jazz in Photo

via Jazz in Photo

via Jazz in Photo

I really enjoyed this book. That being said, I learned a lot of disappointing things about Sinatra. I also learned a lot of great things about Sinatra. I felt that this book was well researched and well written. The author sited hundreds of sources. He was very good a presenting all sides of a story, telling you what he feels is the truth and then letting you decide.

Sinatra led a very interesting life. He really did do it his way (as his popular song would say). He was married 4 times, had 3 children, was one of the greatest singers the world has ever known, an academy award winning actor, a loyal friend, caused several media scandals and so much more. He was a fascinating man.

As a caution; DO NOT read this book if learning of his down falls will hinder your enjoyment of his music. It's not worth it. Sinatra is an incredible talent, his poor judgement in life doesn't change that.

Sinatra - A No Good Cheat

I am in the process of reading Sinatra: A Complete Life by J. Randy Taraborrelli. I am not very far yet (it's a huge book and I basically only get to read it when I'm eating, walking, before I got to sleep and (even though I shouldn't) 15 minutes to a half hour into my sleep time.

I have already learned all kinds of things about Frank Sinatra that should shatter my adoration of him. For a few hours I was pretty let down reading about how imperfect Sinatra was. I'm sure I've heard these things before but reading a book that includes first hand accounts is different. You might be wondering what things I'm talking about. Sinatra was a womanizer. He was also obsessed with sex (probably a sex addict, my friend pointed out to me). He cheated on his wife, probably hundreds of times. He always felt that it had nothing to do with her and whatever she didn't know won't hurt her, well she always found out and even then he didn't care. Not really the kind of guy you would want to be in a relationship with.

But as I listen to him sing "All The Way" and "Embraceable You" I don't care. For some reason I don't care.

Sinatra via last.fm

I love his voice. I love his acting. I love the performer Frank Sinatra.

What do you guys think? Am I wrong? Should I care more? Should I stop listening to Sinatra because he was a horrid husband and a no good cheat?

Some Came Running (1958)

poster via Movie Goods

Fantastic Movie. Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra star along with Shirley MacLaine. I think the characters are the reason I like this so much.

Frank Sinatra plays Dave Hirsh, an army veteran and a writer who returns to his hometown in Indiana. He's troubled. He's very much in love with a girl who refuses to openly love him back because she's ashamed of who he is.

Dean Martin's character, Bama Dillert, is a fun loving gambler who befriends  Dave. He doesn't appear to have any troubles. He just loves bumming around and making money. Alcohol doesn't affect him in the slightest. Bama also tries to be the voice of reason when Dave is feeling overly lonely.

Shirley MacLaine is Ginny, a young girl who follows Dave. She is adorable. She carries around a little purse shaped like a bunny (or some creature). Ginny is painfully in love with Dave. She's so sweet.

There are several other characters very much worth looking at, but you should just watch the movie. Here is the trailer.

This movie is powerful. It's real life. Truth. It gave me a lot to think about. I can't wait to see it again.

The Rat Pack

I am always shocked when people say "what?" or "huh?" when I mention the Rat Pack. And probably some of you are doing that very thing as you read this.

Let me help you. Wikipedia says: "The Rat Pack was a group of actors originally centered on Humphrey Bogart. In the mid-1960s it was the name used by the press and the general public to refer to a later variation of the group, after Bogart's death, that called itself "the summit" or "the clan," featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, and finally, Joey Bishop, who appeared together on stage and in films in the early-1960s, including the movie Ocean's 11. Sinatra, Martin and Davis were regarded as the group's lead members." I don't know much more about the history of the group beyond that. Currently I don't care, but I will likely pick up a book about it somewhere in the next year.

What I really want to do is introduce you to their humor, music, good looks and down right awesomeness.

The Rat Pack via Hopeless Rohemian

With Johnny Carson via Acid Cow (several good pictures here)

via Anything Gauche

And when I say "they" I mean Frank, Sammy and Dean. They are the ones I'm obsessed with.

First let me share with you a video and a song.

The video is the end number of The Frank Sinatra Spectacular. They have the whole thing on YouTube and I highly recommend watching it. This link will take you to the first part of the program. Johnny Carson Hosts. Frank, Dean and Sammy sing and make jokes. The whole program gives you a taste of their humor and friendships. So fun. Pure Brilliance.

 

 I found this next on while listening to Grooveshark. I laugh every time. They are just too funny.

Besides the incredible talent that these men possess, I like them because they fun. They're just a group of friends doing what they love. You can tell they have a blast doing it.

There will be several follow up posts to this one. Hopefully by the time all the posts are published you'll understand why I love these guys so much - even though I've never met them. As Anne Shirley would say, they are "kindred spirits."