Frank Sinatra

[glokstadt]

[quote][i]Originally posted by shovelbum[/i]
<br>Jeez, and we forgot to mention Sammy Davis . . .

"I drank what?" ~Socrates
[/quote]

Joey Bishop too... [:p]


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[ghosty]

Even if you hated Sinatra (which I don't!) you have to give him props for things he did outside of singing that make him exemplary:

He created the "album" as we know it today. Back in the 30's and 40's, an album was just that...a big book resembling a photo album with 3 or 4 78rpm records. Usually it would be a collection of previously released material but Sinatra was the first major artist to record NEW material specificaly for an album and to present the "album" as his new release. This wound up becoming so popular that everyone jumped on the bandwagon.

In the 50's he pioneered the "concept" album with records designed to tell a story or set a mood. Sinatra's "saloon" albums as he called them like "No One Cares" or "Where Are You?" plumb the depths of depression in a way that makes Morrissey seem cheerful.

...and he should get props for founding Reprise records.

[MARV]

Thanks for the valuable info, Ghosty. Speaking of depressing crooners, Chet Baker EXCELS in this area. It's not that big a leap to imagine Neil Tennant being inspired by the late trumpeter's "I Get Along Without You Very Well" when he was working on the Pet Shop Boys' Release album.

The "swing" version of the Boys' "Can You Forgive Her?" with full orchestra ties in nicely with this conversation.

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[bpdp3]

Chet Baker is indeed depressing, especially if you know his whole story. He was a trumpet player and a crooner, and really a handsome guy - - like a Harry Connick, I suppose. He fell into drugs alcohol etc. like so many of the jazz musicians of the day (he really was considered a "jazz artist") and wound up getting punched severely in the mouth in a bar fight. He never really played trumpet well again and if you see photos of this once "hottie", he looks like your homeless, toothless grand-dad. Really sad.

I do love Sinatra, but after a while a little goes a long way. He had a way with a song and what I'd callincredible diction. However, I don't have much stomach for his "epic" songs, like 'My Way'. I prefer the understated stuff.