HEY!…How's Your Bird?
Here at TCOTS, we're celebrating Frank Sinatra's 100th Birthday by counting down what I think are his 100 best performances on Vinyl and CD, but, as promised, we're also celebrating those tracks ['Honorable Mentions'] that just didn't make the List.
As with the 100 Best, Francis Albert will be your pilot and Bobby Bell your navigator [Dean will be serving — what else? — cocktails].
So sit back easy in your easy chair, pour yourself your favorite libation, and let's go for an aural ride to the stars…
Time to grab you favorite, better half and take a swing on the dance floor…
HM13 — Cheek To Cheek
Music & Lyrics: Irving Berlin
Recorded: 22 December 1958
From the album Come Dance With Me
This one just missed the Top 100 List. A very lively version of Mr. Berlin’s wonderful dance tune, this performance is pretty damn definitive, although Fred Astaire’s is quite close, as well, as Pundette reminds us.
HM14 — A Foggy Day
Music & Lyrics: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Recorded: 19 December 1960
From the album Ring-A-Ding-Ding
Franks second go at this song, this one is much just as exuberant, but more danceable.
Like myself [as you’ll see in a coming Best Performance posting], Mark Steyn prefers the earlier version, but it’s a kick as a dance number and, as he puts it: ‘It starts out with Emil Richards’ pealing bells and then just cooks all the way to the end.’ and it’s a fine stew.
HM15 — For Once In My Life
Music & Lyrics: Ronald Norman Miller, Orlando Murden
Recorded: 24 February 1969
From the album My Way
One of those last 60’s songs that bombastic singers and semi-singers feasted on, Frank easily rubs out their memory with a powerful, yet restrained-just-enough take on this tune.
NOTE: I was unable to find the studio version up on YouTube, but, thankfully, this version, from his 1969 TV Special, Sinatra, is very, very close to it…
HM16 — Crazy Love
Music & Lyrics: Sammy Cahn, Phil Tuminello
Recorded: 14 March 1957
Released as a Single; included in the compilation albums This Is Sinatra, Volume Two, This Is Frank Sinatra 1953-1957 [UK MFP], The Complete Capitol Singles
Crazy, indeed, but a lilting, lovely kind of Crazy…
See you next time when we'll take another short helicopter-hop to Bobsville.
Don't forget to also keep checking out
Pundette's Sinatra 100 countdown,
Ms Evi's Sinatra Celebration,
& Mark Steyn's Sinatra Songs Of The Century.
It's a swingin' world.
If you're having trouble tracking down any of the performances on this List, contact me at Robert[dot]Belvedere[at]gmail[dot]com and I might be able to help you.
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