Sinatra 100th: The Best Performances – 91-89

Ring-A-Ding-Ding, everybody!

Here at TCOTS, we’re celebrating Frank Sinatra’s 100th Birthday by counting down what I think are his 100 best performances on Vinyl and CD. All of the songs on the List have been released on either one or both mediums. Interspersed with the countdown will be Honorable Mentions that didn’t make the List and a countdown of what I think are his best albums.

Francis Albert will be your pilot and Bobby Bell your navigator.

So sit back easy in your easy chair, fasten your seatbelts, and let’s take off in the blue…

91 — MOONLIGHT SERENADE

Music & Lyrics: Mitchell Parish, Glenn Miller
Recorded: 29 November 1965
From the album Moonlight Sinatra

There are certain songs that become identified with one performer and all other versions by other musicians just pale when compared to it. This song will forever belong to Glenn Miller And His Orchestra, but Frank, out of all the others, keeps the color in the song and delivers it nice ‘n’ easy.  Knowing he’ll never outdo Mister Miller, he doesn’t even try, producing a version instead that is perfect for snuggling up next to your favorite gal in front of a roaring fire in the wee, small hours of.

90 — CHICAGO

Music & Lyrics: Fred Fisher
Recorded: 13 August 1957
Released as a Single; included in the compilation albums Sinatra Sings…Of Love and Things and The Complete Capitol Singles Collection
From the film The Joker Is Wild

Frank swings some Dixieland Jazz and shows how to do it right.

89 — BLUE MOON

Music & Lyrics: Richard Rogers, Lorenz Hart
Recorded: 01 September 1960
From the album Sinatra’s Swingin’ Session!!!

This is the first serious song I ever fell in love with — but it was the version by The Marcels that originally zinged the strings of my heart.  However, I eventually came to appreciate the song as a classic of The Great American Songbook — it’s a classic classic.  And this jaunty, jazzy version by Francis Albert turns the song into gold.

See you next Friday as we head-off again to Bobsville.

Don’t forget to also keep checking out
Pundette’s Sinatra 100 countdown
& Mark Steyn’s.
It’s a swingin’ world.

If you’re having trouble tracking down any of the performances on this List, contact me at Robert[dot]Belvedere[at]gmail[dot]com and I might be able to help you.