[sinatraphiles] October 18 - THIS DATE IN SINATRA HISTORY

From: "Scott Henderson" <scott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <sinatraphiles@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2023 09:42:43 -0400

Studio Recordings

1963 Warner Brothers Sound Studio, Los Angeles , California
Sound-stage recording for the movie "Robin and The 7 Hoods"
Arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle
"Don't Be a Do-Badder" (Finale) (1:07)
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr.

NOTE: Sinatra Scholar Ed O'Brien, who provided the above information, says
that the Sinatra in Hollywood  multi-cd set has a bonus vocal tracking
session that runs 5:28.

1966 Hollywood

J4569 That's Life
w/Chorus
(Dean Kay Thompson/Kelly Gordon)
PolyGram International Publishing Co. Inc. (ASCAP)
Arranged & Conducted Ernie Freeman
-3 (3:06) CD: 46013-2 The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings Disc 11
CD: 9-26340-2The Reprise Collection
CD: 1020-2 That's Life
LP: FS1025 Franks Sinatra's Greatest Hits
LP: FS1020 That's Life
45: 0531

NOTE: Sinatraphile Vance Adair points out that there was a time, not too
long ago, when this tune rivaled "My Way" and "New York, New York" as one of
the great crowd pleasers. Sinatra has unabashed fun with some of the
cornball sentiments and he is in surprisingly good voice. The arrangement
(sans organ) always sounded odd in the concert performances. Adair would
have like to have heard Sinatra experiment with a much more basic
arrangement. He could have produced something very interesting with the
semi-ballad approach taken by Ray Charles

In response, Sinatraphile Eugene Lo Curto says he doesn't have a problem
with the arrangement Sinatra used in concert, but does have a problem with
most of his performances of the song in the post-retirement years. The
vocals lacked energy and it often sounded strained and forced. He suspects
that's why Sinatra rarely sang it in concert during those years. Best
performance, by far, is Oakland 1968. Second place would be Retirement 1971
and third would be Carnegie 1974. He believes "That's Life" took its final
bow (mercifully) in 1987.

Lo Curto also loves the studio recording, and, despite what everyone says,
he enjoys the organ and the chorus behind Sinatra. The arrangement is,
without question, Ernie Freeman's finest effort. It gave Sinatra a unique,
modern sound, and it's still a favorite among the younger crowd. Recently,
my best friend (who, at 25, is one year younger than Lo Curto) asked Lo
Curto to put together a compilation Sinatra for him. He requested "That's
Life" to be the very first track.

Responding to Lo Curton, Adair says he agrees. Sinatra couldn't get his
chops around this song in later years  perhaps, though, a different
treatment would have helped. The studio recording is excellent, although, to
Adair's ears, some of Freeman's arrangements were a little wayward. No so in
this case. Adair says he too thinks the organ and the chorus work work is
done extremely well. This was (and is) a classic recording. It is heard so
seldom now, when once it was one of the great bankable Sinatra soundtracks.
Adair wonders why this is the case.

Ed O'Brien points out that Sinatra did two takes at the October 18, 1966
session with Bowen. After the playback, Sinatra was ready to leave, Bowen
told him that he probably had a Top 40 Hit. If he did another take, it would
be a Top 10 single. Sinatra did the take. Song reached #4 on the Billboard
Top 100. One last thought: Sinatra's concert version of "Strangers in the
Night" was almost always a throwaway, but "That's Life" was a highlight of
his concert performances. He sang the hell out of it. He L.A. Retirement
effort is a stunning vocal.

Sinatraphile Jack Leon Tomsky remarks that in several of the concert
versions, Sinatra would insert "Hallelujah! Oops, I thought I was in one of
those churches.

Lo Curto and Sinatraphile Ed Spiegel then lament how infrequently Sinatra
recordings of almost any sort are heard on the air or even available in
stores to buy. And when they are available, they carry very high prices.

note: Universal Music issued an "Ultimate Sinatra" set in Japan, back in
2015.
They included a bonus CD disc with "That's Life" among the tracks. The
record-
ing features the dramatically different orchestral track from 7-25-66,
backing
Sinatra. There is no vocal group and the chart has a rawness not heard on
the 10-18 release. We have three different charts if you include the one
Frank used on the second "Man & His Music, " taped on 6-5 & 6-66. Riddle
wrote that chart. In concert, Frank used the 10-18 minus the back up
singers.
--Ed

Radio

1935 Broadcast - 3pm - 3:30pm (Friday)
Network KGDM (Sacramento)
Six acts from the Major Bowes Radio Amateurs

1941 Live Remote: Frank Dailey's Meadowbrook Ballroom, Cedar Grove, NJ.
Tommy Dorsey & Orchestra
October 18, 1941
Saturday Evening
1:00 a.m. - 1:30 a.m.
Mutual Network
WOR
New York City

1944 Frank Sinatra In Person (CBS)
Wednesday Evening
9 to 9:30 pm
#10
Sponsor: Lever Brothers
Eileen Barton
Vimms Vitamins Vocalist
Axel Stordahl & His Orch.
Announcer: Jerry Lawrence
Guest: Orson Welles
Rehearsal:
1. Let Me Love You Tonight
2. Just Close Your Eyes
3. Together w/Eileen Barton & Vimms Vocalists
4. All Of Me
5. Thine Alone
Broadcast:
1. All Of Me
2. Skit with Axel and Eileen
3. Just Close Your Eyes
4. Vimms commercial
5. Let Me Love You Tonight
6  Skit with Eileen
7. Together  w/ Eileen & Vimms Vocalists
8. Ghoulish skit with Orson Welles
9 Vimms commercial
10. Thine Alone/ A Kiss In The Dark  w/ Vimms Vocalists
11. closing

Note : The dress rehearsal version of "Let Me Love You Tonight" & "Just
Close Your Eyes" appear on the CD: The V-discs 2 ( Columbia )
[]
Frank and Orson Welles

1947 Your Hit Parade
Network: NBC
Sponsor: Lucky Strike
1. The Lady From Twenty Nine Palms - Frank Sinatra (6)
2. You Do - Doris Day (4)
3. You - Axel Stordahl & Orchestra (Lucky Strike Extra)
4. Peg O' My Heart - Frank Sinatra (7)
5. I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now - The Hitparaders (5)
6. Embraceable You (Lucky Strike Extra)
7. Feudin' and a' Fightin' - Doris Day (3)
8. I Wish I Didn't Love You So - Ken Lane & The Hitparaders (2)
9. Near You  - Frank Sinatra (1)

1949 Light Up Time
Sponsor: Lucky Strike Cigarettes
Network: NBC
Starring: Frank Sinatra & Dorothy Kirsten
Jeff Alexander And The Orchestra
1. Lullaby Of Broadway
2. Don't Cry Joe w/Double Daters
3. When We're Alone / Penthouse Serenade w/Dorthy Kirsten

NOTE: Nine of the songs that Sinatra did on these three radio shows were
never recorded by him, Ed O'Brien has noticed.
"Together" w/Eileen Barton and Vimms Vocalists was an uptempo duet.

Television

1952  Jimmy Durante's All Star Revue
October 18, 1952
NBC-TV
8:00 P.M.  -- 9:00 P.M EST
Sponsors: Kellogg's, Pet Milk & Del Monte Foods
Guest: Frank Sinatra, Fifi D'Orsay
Frank sings "Birth Of The Blues."
Does a skit with Durante, playing a younger version of him.
Sing a la Durante "Who Will Be With You When I'm Far Away."
Asked by Jimmy who he wants to marry, Frank shows him a
framed photo of Ava.
Second skit: Duet with Durante "Sing Soft, Sweet and Gentle"
and then "Birth Of The Blues" parody.

1957 Frank Sinatra Show (ABC)
Guests: Bob Hope, Kim Novak, Peggy Lee
Premier Show
Friday Nights
21 half hour musicals
10 half hour dramas
Sponsors Chesterfield Cigarettes, Bulova Watch Company
1. The Lonesome Road
2.  I Get A Kick Out Of You
3. I Could Write A Book
4. The Lady Is A Tramp
5. Autumn Leaves
6. All The Way
7. Bewitched
8. Put Your Dreams Away
Notes: 60 mins.

"Autumn Leaves" was a part of a comedy skit with Bob Hope. There was no
serious attempt to sing the song.

NOTE: Ed O'Brien points out that this was Sinatra's premier show for ABC-TV.
There were 21 half-hour musical shows.
. It was televised live from Studio E in Hollywood . Riddle conducted a 27
piece orchestra during the one hour presentation.

note: A series that did not live up to the high expectations predicted by
people in the industry.
In the last year, I have posted a number of articles that were in Variety
and other publications,
leading up to this premiere. The opening show offered up a Sinatra who never
sang better on
live TV. But the skits were lame and so unnecessary. The follow up shows
were done without
a studio audience  -- Sinatra needed to feed off of the electricity provided
by audience reaction
to his singing. The ratings, after the initial show, plummeted dramatically.
The 11-29 show, with
Dean Martin, was live, but then there were two-dramas in early December
before the Christmas
show with Crosby -- another show minus an audience. Alas and alack, the
series never recovered,
despite going live in 1958. George Roberts told me that the pre-recorded
songs had to be married
to the 27 piece ABC orchestra. Riddle had a very difficult time getting it
right. And on a few he did
not.  William Self, the series producer, stated publicly that Frank was too
busy with his films, night-
club appearances, recordings and private life to tackle such a demanding
project back then. I believe
the show would have fared better in the Sunday night slot at 9:00 P.M.
---Ed
.

Film

1961 The Devil at 4 O'Clock   (US Film Release:  October 18, 1961)
Starring:  Frank Sinatra, Spencer Tracy, Barbara Luna
Directed by Mervyn LeRoy,
Sinatra plays Harry, one of three reluctant convicts enlisted by a crusty,
eccentric priest, Spencer Tracy,
to help the priest rescue a children's leper colony from a Pacific island
menaced by an erupting volcano.
(DVD Release date: 2003-01-14)

Emacs!

Concerts

1935 Stockton Highschool Auditorium, Stockton, CA (One Night Only)
The Hoboken Four
touring with the Major Bowes' Radio Amateurs

1939 Panther Room, Hotel Sherman, Chicago, Illinois (September 9 - November
3)
Harry James and his Orchestra w/Frank Sinatra

1940 Paramount Theater, Los Angeles, CA (October 18 - 30)
Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra w/Frank Sinatra
(On screen was "Moon Over Burma" with Dorothy Lamour, Robert Preston and
Preston Foster)

Great find here. I posted an article some years ago, claiming Dorsey
canceled the
two-week engagement, after the Palladium obtained an injunction and
threatened to cancel Dorsey's
six-week engagement at their new theater. Obviously, Dorsey was willing to
gamble. He did and
won.
His two week engagement at the Paramount grossed $24,000, the first week,
and $17,500 the second
week. Almost $42,000 playing a few miles away from the Palladium. Dorsey was
betting that his very
popular band could open at the Palladium the day after closing at the
Paramount. And the inaugural
engagement would draw big. Did it ever. The capacity at the Palladium was
5,000. Opening night,
10/31,TD & Co. drew 6,500. And that was just the beginning. Night after
night the crowds were there
throughout the band's run. Frank had a difficult relationship with TD, but
he was in awe of the man's
business skills and toughness.
--Ed

1941 Meadowbrook, Cedar Grove , New Jersey (October 9 - October 28)
Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra w/Frank Sinatra

1943 Wedgwood Room, Waldorf Astoria , New York City (October 1 - November
30)

1944 Paramount Theatre , New York City (11-29)
Three-Week Engagement
Frank Sinatra with The Raymond Paige Orchestra
O.A. Eileen Barton, Ollie O'Toole, Pops & Louie
Film: Our Hearts Were Young And Gay

1946 Fresno Memorial Auditorium, Fresno, California
Benefit for The Shack, Fresno Youth Center

1953 Sands, Las Vegas, Nevada (7-27)
Frank Sinatra & Orch (8) with Bill Miller, Nicholas
Bros.(2),Charles Nelson, Bek Steiner, Bryon Balmer,
Copa Girls (10), Ray Sinatra Orch (12); no cover or
minimum

1975 Harrah's, Lake Tahoe , Nevada (17-23)
1. Where or When
2. My Kind of Town
3. Didn't We
4. Something
5. They Can't Take That Away from Me
Monologue
1. Send in the Clowns
2. My Way
3. I Believe I'm Gonna Love You
4. Don't Worry 'Bout Me
5. Ol' Man River
6. I've Got You Under my Skin
NOTE: The long monologue extended this show to 55 minutes, according to Ed
O'Brien.

1978 Radio City Music Hall , New York City (14-22)
1. New York , New York
2. Night and Day (Joe Beck arr.)
3. At Long Last Love
4. The Lady is a Tramp
5. Someone to Watch over Me
6. Here's that Rainy Day
7. My Funny Valentine
8. Baubles, Bangles and Beads w/quintet
9. The Gal that Got Away
10.It Never Entered my Mind
11.That's What God Looks Like to Me
12.Maybe This Time (Highlight of every performances from the 10 at RCMH)
13.Autumn in New York (Great reading)
14.You and Me
15.The Tender Trap
16.Lonely Town (Stunning)
17.The Oldest Established Crap Game
18. Remember
19. My Way
20. America the Beautiful

1981 Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana
1.  I've Got the World on a String
2.  Come Rain or Come Shine
3.  Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)
4.  Something
5.  Say Hello
6.  Strangers in the Night
7.  The Best Is Yet to Come
8.  I Loved Her
9.  The Lady Is a Tramp
10.  Luck Be a Lady
11.  As Time Goes By
12.  My Way
13.  Pennies From Heaven
14.  Good Thing Going
15.  Theme From New York, New York

1982 Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey (14-18)

1986 Anatole Hotel, Dallas, Texas
Third Annual Arts Awards Benefit Gala

1987 Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas An All Star 75th Anniversary Celebration
Proceeds went to the United Way

Note:  Sinatra cancelled at the last minute.  There was a taped version of
the Celebration and supposedly Sinatra filmed a segment to be included in
the show where he spoke about Las Vegas and then introduced Ray Charles.

-------------------------------------------------

EXTRA:

1935 Stockton Highschool Auditorium, Stockton, CA (One Night Only)
The Hoboken Four
touring with the Major Bowes' Radio Amateurs

Emacs!

1935 Broadcast - 3pm - 3:30pm (Friday)
Network KGDM (Sacramento)
Six acts from the Major Bowes Radio Amateurs

Emacs!

----------------------------------------------

1940 Paramount Theater, Los Angeles, CA (October 18 -30)
The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) . 18 Oct 1940, Sat

Emacs!

The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) . 19 Oct 1940, Sat
Emacs!

----------------------------------------------------------

1944 Frank Sinatra In Person (CBS)
Wednesday Evening
9 to 9:30 pm
#10
Sponsor: Lever Brothers
Eileen Barton
Vimms Vitamins Vocalist
Axel Stordahl & His Orch.
Announcer: Jerry Lawrence
Guest: Orson Welles

Emacs!

-------------------------------------------------------

1946 Fresno Memorial Auditorium, Fresno, California
Benefit for The Shack, Fresno Youth Center

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[]

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This calendar, or any parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any fashion
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Version 5.3

[sinatraphiles] October 18 - THIS DATE IN SINATRA HISTORY

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