The February of Frank: Sinatra Calls The Plays

On August 1, 1947, Frank Sinatra filled in for vacationing sportscaster Bill Stern, telling sports anecdotes in a 15-minute NBC radio show. Stern was best-known as the host of The Colgate Sports Newsreel and Bill Stern Sports which ran on NBC from 1937 through 1956. On these fifteen-minute shows he told tales of sports legends and strange occurrences which kept listeners eagerly waiting for the climax. Although some of his reports stretched the limits of credibility, no one doubted that Stern was a master storyteller who used emphasis, repetition, and pauses to perfection. Bill Stern was one of first sportscasters to be elected to the Radio Hall of Fame. On this particular day in history, Stern asked Ol Blue Eyes to take his place! Here is that broadcast!

The Bill Sterns Show With Frank Sinatra

The February of Frank: A Look Inside Ol' Blue Eyes Part 2

Since I screwed up and put up the wrong link on the first post of the "Inside Sinatra" set (btw, that link is now fixed), here is the second part of that set (which you may have already downloaded due to my error!). This time around we get to listen in on the sessions for the classic 1962 album, "Sinatra And Swingin' Brass". Recorded on April 10 and 11 of 1962, this was the first time Sinatra worked with arranger/composer Neal Hefti. The first night of the sessions Sinatra would record 6 of the 12 tracks from the finished album in just three hours and twenty five minutes! Hear what went down that night and the next when you take a listen to "Inside Brass". Enjoy!

Frank Sinatra-Inside Brass

The February of Frank: Frank Visits The White House

Sinatra would stump for Hubert Humphrey in 1968 (against Richard Nixon) but by Thanksgiving of 1971, it would appear a political shift had occurred, as he and Spiro Agnew had forged a close friendship; in fact, Sinatra was determined to see Agnew become the next president in 1976. The "official" cause for Sinatra's political about face was Richard Nixon's position on admitting China to the United Nations, an issue about which he agreed and had been extremely vocal. So, after years of criticising Nixon, Sinatra would now become his strongest supporter, contributing $50,000 to his campaign for reelection in 1972. He was invited to sing at the White House when the Italian prime minister, Giulio Andreotti, visited in April 1973. This was during Frank Sinatra's brief "retirement" period and many people feel that it was the catalyst that would bring the crooner back to the world of performing and recording. Not to mention that for someone in retirement, he sounds like he had been at the top of his game. See for yourself when you listen to "A Very Good Year". Enjoy!

Frank Sinatra-A Very Good Year (The White House Concert-April 1973)

BONUS:
Here's a video of Frank performing at the White House that night!


Vezi mai multe video din Muzica

The February of Frank: Occhi D'Azzura

Along with the "Inside Sinatra" box set,there is also a set of three "unofficial" discs of various concerts given by Sinatra in Italy. It is titled, of course, "Sinatra Live In Italy". As with "Inside Sinatra", I will be posting the three discs of this set over the course of the month as part of "The February of Frank". Today I bring you the first disc in this set. In mid-April 1962 Sinatra embarked on an ambitious two-month World Tour for Children. At the time, he said that his main reason for going was that he was “an overprivileged adult who ought to help underprivileged children.” Sinatra performed with the Bill Miller Sextet and absorbed the entire cost of the tour himself. By the time he returned home in late June, ticket sales to Sinatra’s World Tour concerts had raised more than one million dollars, all of which benefited children’s charities worldwide. Of course, one of the stops on this tour was in Italy and that's where the first disc of "Sinatra Live in Italy" comes from. Here is that great concert for you to enjoy!

Frank Sinatra-Live In Italy Volume 1

The February of Frank: Frank Helps Out With Jerry's Kids

Today's post follows yesterday's re-post. You'll see what I mean in a minute. In the 70s, The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon was huge! It's gotten less and less of an event as the years have passed but the 70s was truly the golden age of that great fund raising show! Jerry pulled out all of the stops by inviting some of the greatest talents in show business to the stage for a great cause. Back then, the biggest star you could get was Sinatra and Frank was quick to help out his friend. Here is a collection of appearances made by Frank on the telethon throughout the 70s and into the 80s. It features the extremely special appearance where he reunited Jerry with his old partner Dean Martin. At the time, the duo hadn't appeared together in 20 years! Out of all of the telethons that Jerry has put on, that moment in 1976 has become the single most famous moment in the history of the annual fund raiser. Here is that collection of Sinatra's appearances complete with that memorable reunion. Enjoy!

Frank Sinatra-A Pocketfull of Miracles

BONUS:
Here is the video clip of the classic reunion back in 1976!

The February of Frank: Martin, Lewis & Sinatra (re-post)

Here's a post that I featured all the way back in 2006 when I first started The World of Wonder. It's an episode of The Martin and Lewis Radio Show with Frank Sinatra as their special guest. This was originally broadcast on January 18, 1952 on the NBC Radio Network and includes jokes written by the great Norman Lear who was a staff writer on the show at the time.

The Martin and Lewis Show with Frank Sinatra

The February of Frank: A Look Inside Ol' Blue Eyes

Sinatra's discography could fill a book the size of the Bible. The amount of recordings that he did from the 30s through the 90s is amazing and almost unbelievable. As with any artist, there are the tracks and takes that made it to the records and the takes and tracks that didn't. Somewhere along the line, someone leaks the tracks and takes that didn't make it and thus a bootleg is born. A giant box set of Sinatra's recording sessions from the 60s was released sometime in the late 90s and it is truly amazing! It's entitled "Inside Sinatra" and each disc in the box set deals with an individual album from that era. Throughout the February of Frank, I will be posting the different albums from this box set for you to enjoy. Today we get to enjoy "Inside Basie". These are the sessions from the recording of the classic, "Sinatra-Basie" album that came out in 1962. These sessions show the album taking shape and in some cases, veering off into different directions from what was originally planned. If you are like me, then you love to hear what goes on in the recording studio. If that's the case, you are going to love this boot. Here is "Inside Basie". Enjoy!

Frank Sinatra-Inside Basie

The February of Frank: Welcome to Avlon

Today is February and I thought I would do another one of my infamous theme months here at the World of Wonder. Over the years I have amassed quite the collection of Frank Sinatra recordings. Most of them were inherited from my father's collection. He was a gigantic Sinatra fan and between the albums, singles and 78s, I think I pretty much have everything that was ever released during my father's lifetime by the Chairman of The Board! What's really great about the collection is that within the "official" releases are a bunch of "unofficial" albums that are out of this world! So, in order to give the man his just due, I am making this month, "The February of Frank". This month I will be featuring many of those "unofficial" releases as well as some other cool items. First up is a great sounding recording from a concert from September, 1940. Frank was still a member of The Tommy Dorsey Band at the time and was packing the house with his crooning and handsome good looks. This concert is amazing and sounds like it was recorded yesterday! A must have for any fans of Ol' Blue Eyes! Here it is for you now. Here is "Frank Sinatra with The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra - Live At The Avalon Ballroom, San Franciso, CA - September, 1940." Enjoy!

Frank Sinatra With Tommy Dorsey - Avalon, 1940

Music Impossible

Taking a tip from the classic, "The Transformed Man" by William Shatner, Mission Impossible's Greg Morris treated the world to his version of the "talking song" on an album he released in 1968. "For You" features Morris speaking his way through romantic songs such as "For Once In My Life", "The Nearness of You", "Come Rain Or Come Shine" and "The Twelfth of Never" just to name a few. The liner notes on the back cover start off with "To say that this first album by Mission: Impossible television series star Greg Morris is unique is putting it mildly". Unique is without a doubt the best way to describe this. One might think of the sultry and seductive style of Barry White. Believe me, this is no Barry White album! All I can say is that if mono-tone lyric readings are what you crave, then this album is "for you . . . " Enjoy!

Greg Morris-For You . . .

Winter Cleaning

It's that time of the season again, where I go through posts from the past and see what's hot and what's not. The hot get to stay. The not go away. So, the files below are the ones who are the "nots". They will be up for the next two weeks and then they will be gone from The World of Wonder for ever. THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO GET THESE SHARITIES. Once they are gone, they're gone. Here is this season's list of "nots":

The Monkees Dell Comic Book Issue 13

Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes

April March-VooDoo Doll Single

Georgie Fame-Bonnie and Clyde

Arch Oboler-Drop Dead! An Exercise in Horror

Elvis-Get Down & Get With It

The Residents-The King and Eye

Singles Collection Episode 58: Johnny & The Hurricanes Take Us To The River

Originally known as The Orbits, Johnny and the Hurricanes burst out of Toledo, Ohio in 1957. Led by saxophonist Johnny Paris, they were school friends who played on a few recordings behind Mack Vickery, a local rockabilly singer. Their first hit on their own was a song called "Crossfire" which they recorded in a vacant cinema to provide echo. It became a nationwide U.S. hit which they promptly followed with an instrumental version of "Red River Valley". That became a Top Ten hit on both sides of the Atlantic and sold over a million copies. They chose these songs because they were well recognized and easier to accept with the rock and roll beat of the accordion which then led to the Hammond Chord Organ. Johnny Paris and the Hurricanes were the first rock and roll group to introduce these instruments to the rock and roll world. Here, straight from my father's singles collection, is that great version of "Red River Valley". Complete with it's flip side, "Buckeye", here's Johnny and The Hurricanes with "Red River Rock". Enjoy!

Johnny & The Hurricanes-Red River Rock/Buckeye

Sly-Malion

The story of Pygmalion has been told and retold so many times that it's hard to keep track. The adaptations range from classic comedy (The Three Stooges in Hoi Polloi) to brilliant stage musicals (My Fair Lady). The strangest and, in some people's opinions, the worst adaptation of Pygmalion is the 1984 film, "Rhinestone". This time around, the part of Henry Higgins falls into the able hands of Dolly Parton as a country music superstar. Her "experiment" is the one and only Sylvester Stallone portraying the part of an obnoxious New York City cab driver. The spin is that she can turn Sly into a country music sensation. Why they ever green-lit this project in the first place is beyond me! What's even worse is that Stallone turned down the starring roles in both "Romancing The Stone" and "Beverly Hills Cop" to do "Rhinestone". The one saving grace for this film is the soundtrack. It gave Dolly two more top ten singles and it also gives us not one, not two but four duets with her and Stallone as well as a classic Stallone solo track! Those are worth the price of admission in my book. After listening to this, I guarantee that you will never pass judgement on Sly's brother, Frank, again. In fact, after listening to this soundtrack, you may think that Frank Stallone should get a lifetime achievement Grammy! Here is the soundtrack to "Rhinestone". Enjoy!

Rhinestone OST

Chuck Amok

In 1975, Chuck Berry would release his final album on Chess Records. It was simply named Chuck Berry. The UK version of this album is called Chuck Berry '75 and has an extra pink '75 on the cover. Due to this, the album has become forever known as "Chuck Berry '75". The album contains a selection of Blues, Rhythm & Blues, Rock 'n' Roll and Country standards including Swanee River, I'm Just a Name, I Just Want to Make Love to You, Hi Heel Sneakers, You Are My Sunshine, My Babe, and Don't You Lie to Me among others. I recently popped this puppy onto the turntable and what I heard amazed me. This album rocks! It is simply awesome. If you love Chuck, or if you just plain like Rock and Roll, you need this album. Here is "Chuck Berry '75". Enjoy!

Chuck Berry '75

Bonus:
Here's a clip from Chuck in 1972. Just a couple of years prior to the album above:

Ol' Robby Hood

Louis Prima was a class act. Disney knew this and in 1967 they tapped him to be the voice of King Louis in "The Jungle Book". However, it was a few years later in 1973 that Prima recorded an album to coincide with the Disney film, "Robin Hood". Prima did not voice any of the characters in that film nor did any of the songs on that album appear in the film. However it was still pretty cool. And not only did the album feature Louis telling the story and singing the songs, but it also featured the great Sam Butera and The Witnesses backing Louis. Here is that classic Disney record for you! Here is "Let's Hear It For Robin Hood"! Enjoy!

Louis Prima-Let's "Hear" It For Robin Hood

A Good Scream

I just finished watching the classic Brian Depalma flick, "Blow Out". I hadn't seen it in years and I was so psyched to see that it still holds up after all this time. If you've never seen it, it's a definite must for you to put it on your list at Net-Flix or wherever you get your films. I've always been amazed that when people talk about John Travolta's career, they never mention this film. I consider it to be one of his best. What adds to it is the fact that Travolta suffered from insomnia during the shoot. His lack of sleep helped him create a very moody performance and is why his character seems so downtrodden throughout the movie. His work in this film is what made Quentin Tarentino cast him in Pulp Fiction, the film that revived Travolta's popularity. The score by Pino Donaggio is absolutely amazing. In fact, it calls to mind the work of Joseph Harnell from "The Incredible Hulk". Here is that amazing soundtrack for you. Here is "Blow Out". Enjoy!

Pino Donaggio- Blow Out OST

Swing, Baby Swing

I just recently started playing with a really cool swing/rockabilly band called The Shiny Lapel Trio. You've probably heard them and never knew it. They've provided the music for two national commercials for Kohl's Department Stores. Anyway, the band is heavily influenced by acts such as Dean Martin, Louis Prima, Elvis, and Brian Setzer. In fact, the guitarist loves Setzer so much that he even plays a Brain Setzer Model Gretsch Guitar. It made me break out some old Setzer as well as some recent stuff. One of the cooler items I have in my collection is a bootleg of a concert The Brian Setzer Orchestra did in 1998. I was thinking that it wasn't that long ago but I now realize that it is over ten years old. My, how time flies! Anyway, this exceptional sounding concert is today's sharity. Here is "The Brian Setzer Orchestra: Boston 98". Enjoy!

The Brian Setzer Orchestra-Boston 98

BONUS:
Here's one of the Kohl's commercials featuring The Shiny Lapel Trio.

The Late Night Wars

In case you have been living under a rock the past week, Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien are in a battle royal over the coveted 11:35 PM time slot on NBC TV. I don't usually get political on this blog but in my opinion NBC is screwing Conan royally. I am a bit biased as I have friends who work at The Tonight Show who will lose their jobs because of this, but I really don't understand why NBC is so in love with Jay Leno. Conan has not been given a decent chance at the helm of the greatest late night show in history and he's being ousted for the return of someone who failed miserably in a brand new show. There are those who say that Conan's ratings were bad as well but even NBC has stated that that may be from the weak lead in due to people turning their channels to get away from Leno at 10:00. There are also those people that are voicing their opinion saying that these two guys are going to both make out in the end as Conan stands to make a huge profit if his contract gets pulled. But let's think about everyone who works for Conan. They just recently packed up their lives and their families' lives and moved from New York to California. Now, a mere months later, they are left with no job. Not to mention that they will not be making a huge sum of money the way Conan will if it all falls apart. I think NBC is making a big mistake. All of this makes me miss the days when it was a class act. I am of course talking about the reign of Johnny Carson. He was the true King of Late Night and no one can take his place. During the Carson years, the Tonight Show was more than just an advertisement for the latest movie or tv show. It was an honest to goodness form of entertainment. People were invited on the show because Johnny wanted them on. Not because they had a new movie or a new sit-com or even a new record. It was just people that were on because Johnny felt that they were interesting and people wanted to see them. It was a lot cooler and as far as I'm concerned, it will never be the same. In 1974, Casablanca Records issued a collection of some of the best moments of the Tonight Show on a two record set entitled, "Here's Johnny: Magic Moments From The Tonight Show". It features a roster of guest stars that would rival any late night show: Lenny Bruce, Groucho Marx, Ike & Tina Turner, Bette Midler, Lucille Ball, Pearl Baily, The Smothers Brothers, George Carlin, Billie Holiday, Glen Campbell, George Burns, Buddy Hackett, Jack Benny, Dean Martin, Desi Arnez and more. Here is that two record set for you to enjoy!

Here's Johnny! Magic Moments From The Tonight Show
Here's Johnny! Magic Moments From The Tonight Show Part 2

Classic Television Episode of The Month: The Incredible Hulk

In honor of the release of my new single, "Tattered Clothing", here is an episode from the classic series! Enjoy!





You can buy "Tattered Clothing" at the following sites:

I-Tunes
Amazon

All proceeds from the sale of this single will go to The Richard S Dart Memorial Arts Scholarship.