Indeed, it was — and that’s an understatement in my case.
I had a real mothery time celebrating the 100th Birth Year of Francis Albert Sinatra. And I hope you enjoyed it too.
It all began on 19 January with the start of a Countdown of Sinatra’s 100 Best Performances, continued with his Top Ten Albums, and concluded with a real gas of a Birthday Celebration on his B-Day, 12 December.
But I wasn’t alone, nor first, in celebrating the Life and Living Legacy of The Chairman Of The Board.
Pundette kicked it all off on 3 January [and even started a special website to contain the year-long party] with a Countdown of her Favorite Frank Songs [check out her right-hand column for her Hot 100 List].
Mark Steyn followed the next day by posting his interviews with the great Sammy Cahn and then began counting down his 100 Sinatra Songs Of The Century:
SINATRA CENTURY
at SteynOnline
6) THE ONE I LOVE (BELONGS TO SOMEBODY ELSE)
8) STARDUST
10) WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE?
11) CHICAGO
12) THE CONTINENTAL
13) ALL OF ME
15) NIGHT AND DAY
16) I WON’T DANCE
17) I’VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN
19) EAST OF THE SUN (AND WEST OF THE MOON)
21) A FOGGY DAY (IN LONDON TOWN)
24) OUR LOVE
27) FOOLS RUSH IN
32) I’LL BE AROUND
36) GUESS I’LL HANG MY TEARS OUT TO DRY
37) NANCY (WITH THE LAUGHING FACE)
38) SOMETHIN’ STUPID
40) I GET ALONG WITHOUT YOU VERY WELL (EXCEPT SOMETIMES)
41) SOLILOQUY
42) THE COFFEE SONG
44) HOW ABOUT YOU?
46) LUCK BE A LADY
48) (AH, THE APPLE TREES) WHEN THE WORLD WAS YOUNG
49) I HAVE DREAMED
51) I’VE GOT THE WORLD ON A STRING
52) YOUNG AT HEART
54) BAUBLES, BANGLES AND BEADS
55) IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF THE MORNING
57) THE TENDER TRAP
59) WITCHCRAFT
60) EBB TIDE
61) COME FLY WITH ME
62) ANGEL EYES
63) JUST IN TIME
65) NICE ‘N’ EASY
66) OL’ MACDONALD
68) AUTUMN LEAVES
78) MOON LOVE
79) ME AND MY SHADOW
81) QUIET NIGHTS OF QUIET STARS
84) MY WAY
86) SOMETHING
87) THEME FROM NEW YORK, NEW YORK
88) BANG BANG (MY BABY SHOT ME DOWN)
89) GOODY GOODY
92) PICK YOURSELF UP
93) TIME AFTER TIME
95) MACK THE KNIFE
96) BODY AND SOUL
97) HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
98) THAT’S LIFE
100) ONE FOR MY BABY
[Mark recently posted a three-part special, entitled The Song Is You. It’s full of interviews with many of the composers who wrote songs Frank sang and much music:
A short while later, Ms. Evi began a swingin’ party over at her joint that swung all over Frank’s place. She had all the hep cats and feline-fatals joining in the festivities [I can’t find a list of all she’s posted].
I spent these past twelve months exploring the works of Mr. S. more deeply than ever had before and ‘discovered’ many great things I had missed in the preceding decades.
I also managed to become a budding Sinatraphile — someone always on the hunt for the best masterings of his music. Some significant denarii later, I have no regrets [even Mrs. B. has stopped telling me I’ve spent too much on it all].
I’ve also made some new acquaintances along the way and discovered that some of my Friends In The Ether are Sinatra Fans, so here’s to that band:
@TomFergusNH @wjjhoge @DonSurber
@jeannebodine @klva99 @DanRiehl
@joethefatman1 @KShaidle @Blazingcatfur
@model217 @Mthomps016 @cherryblossom06
@DrumMadw2 @TenquidOK @DinahLord
@andrewsiff @bayareahausfrau
@CinchReview @Doobydoobydo @jcorrado19
@AaronWorthing @Real_Dr_Roy
@vermontaigne @KingShamus @PaulaDuvall2
@AmPowerBlog @bettiwettiwoo @MuseumTwenty
@Thatsalrighty @meathouse60005
@MaroonedInMarin @HarrietBaldwin
@smitty_one_each @thatMrGguy
@FAUSTA @teresamerica @joemalone9
@TheWeeHours @auleciems @saminhim
SPECIAL MENTION: One of my biggest supporters
was Monica Lewis [aka: @SongBirdMonica] who was
a jazz singer, film actress, most famous as
the voice of Chiquita Banana.
She passed away on 12 June and I want to dedicate
my 100 Best Performances Countdown to her memory.
I could not have done all I did to celebrate without the encouragement of Mrs. B., Mark Steyn, Jill [aka: Pundette], and Evi. Thanks, gang.
The Sinatra Wiki was very, very helpful and I thank them.
In the course of my research, I discovered two forums for Sinatra Lovers that ended-up providing much inspiration and crucial information that enlightened me and flavored all my celebratory postings.
-A Ring-A-Ding-Ding ‘Thank You’ to Nancy Sinatra [thanks for the Follow] for running the Sinatra Family Forum and for her kind words to me. Also, to Chuck Granata who infuses the forums on the site with his enthusiasm for the artistry of Frank Sinatra and the generous time he spends explaining to us how the wonderful masterings he’s produced came together and the thinking behind the choices made in their creation [the latest, which is just marvelous, can be found here].
-A Very Special Thank You to Mastering Meister Steve Hoffman for running and maintaining his Forum, and providing valuable insights into how Sinatra’s recordings were achieved technically. He is, like Chuck Granata, is one of the most conscientious people in the mastering business, a man who greatly respects the artists and their works.
My successful flight through the rarefied air of Sinatra’s Legacy would not have happened without the following people who helped me navigate, and who became my newest Friends In The Ether:
Matt Lutthans, Bob In Boston [aka: Bob F], Martin Melucci, Paul Mock [not the Paul Turtle Soup], Ronald Sarbo, DmitriK, SimonA, and the rest of the gang over at Steve’s joint.
Check out Matt’s incredible site for detailed information on the best Sinatra Masterings. The time and effort he has, and continues to, put into it is much appreciated by everyone who explores it. And it helps that he’s one heckuva Human Being.
Bob F is a walking, talking, posting encyclopedia of Frank Knowledge and another generous fellow.
And check out this interview with Martin [and Chuck Granata] talking about the Voice On Air box set — fascinating stuff.
Well, this celebration is ended, but the Frankie lingers on…
As Carol Burnett used to sing at the end of each one of her shows:
I’m so glad we had this time together
Just to have a laugh or sing a song
Seems we just get started and before you know it
Comes the time we have to say: ‘So long’…
Goodnight Everybody…it was a Real Gas.
–
