Sinatra Centennial

[madsircool]

@WordMan

Best man at it. Billie Holliday was the best woman, and, well to me, ever.

In the NYTimes article I reference above, they discuss how Sinatra would ferry in from Hoboken to see his idol, Billie Holliday. They were the same age, but she had already become famous.

Fascinating to think how he took her fragile-but-strong intimacy and brought it to his Man in Full persona. So brilliant.

I wish they could have recorded together. Thank you for that article.

[Zeldar]

Rather than starting a separate thread just yet, I wonder if there’s anything to be gained by polling for Favorite Sinatra Movie…

For my tastes I’d probably pick Pal Joey as much for the songs and Kim Novak as anything.

[Zeldar]

I remember a great write-up about the event of recording Nelson Riddle’s arrangement for I’ve Got You Under My Skin.

This one is not it, but it’s close. The one I hope to be able to find commented on how the band members gave Riddle a standing ovation for his chart. That write-up added to my appreciation of the version that tops them all for me.

[Chefguy]

@Zeldar

I remember a great write-up about the event of recording Nelson Riddle’s arrangement for I’ve Got You Under My Skin.

This one is not it, but it’s close. The one I hope to be able to find commented on how the band members gave Riddle a standing ovation for his chart. That write-up added to my appreciation of the version that tops them all for me.

I read somewhere that even Sinatra complimented Riddle on the arrangement, something Sinatra almost never did.

[Zeldar]

@Chefguy

I read somewhere that even Sinatra complimented Riddle on the arrangement, something Sinatra almost never did.

However, Sinatra was always giving credit to his arrangers and orchestra leaders and even individual musicians in the band as he was introducing a song he was about to sing.

On a slightly different tack, one thing about Sinatra that always jumps to mind at the mention of his name is something I heard on a TV show years ago. A version of it is at this Wiki article

Greene says that Jay Leno once told him that his all-time favorite joke is one Greene recounted about Frank Sinatra saving his life. Five guys were beating up Greene, and then he heard Sinatra say, “OK. He’s had enough.” (Don Rickles on the Late Show with David Letterman, Oct 15 2009)

[BigBlue]

@Boyo_Jim

I’m a big fan of New York, New York.

@Elendil_s_Heir

Which version? Link, please (and for subsequent posters).

@Boyo_Jim

I dunno what version I have or whether it’s online.

Just to show that Elendil’s Heir isn’t being pedantic, there are two distinct songs that Sinatra has sung known as that.

The first was from 1949 film On the Town; the second was from the 1977 film New York, New York. Sinatra covered the second in 1980.

[Zeldar]

There’s also Frank Sinatra - Lonely Town (1960) which starts with “New York, New York…”

[Zeldar]

A fun article: http://news.yahoo.com/hoboken-celebrates-frank-sinatras-100th-birthday-062742815.html

[detlep]

His version of Old Man River from, I think, 1967.