Why Sinatra Matters

Book Description

As products of the same urban landscape, Pete Hamill and Frank Sinatra have both been credited with giving the American city a voice. In this widely acclaimed and bestselling appreciation-now available in paperback for the first time-Hamill draws on his intimate experience of the man and the music to evoke the essence of Sinatra, illuminating the singer's art and his legend from the point of view of a confidant and a fan. - May 2003 marks the fifth anniversary of Sinatra's death. - The hardcover edition of Why Sinatra Matters (Little, Brown and Company, 1998), published five months after Sinatra's death, became a national bestseller.

Customer Reviews:

Applauds for Sinatra and Hamill.......2007-09-15

Another masterpiece by Hamill. This work reveals the humanity of Sinatra. It is short, but oh soooooo good! If you are interested in Sinatra, read this book. It is sophisicated and loaded with the nuances of the man who did it his way, faults, bruises, and all.

Sinatra to the point.......2006-10-02

This is a small book. Short and sweet. Mr. Hamill gets right to the point . There isnt a lot of fluff in this book. A few pictures and so anecdotes to start some of the chapters. It written well and the layout is succint. This is a must read for any Sinatra fan.

Consider The Source.......2006-06-18

Ironic that Pete Hamill should write this book. To my ears and eyes, Pete Hamill has never written a sincere or honest word in his life.

The irony is that when Sinatra was asked how he wanted to be remembered, he said he would want people to think of him as an honest singer.

The book is good, but read it with a grain of salt due to the author.

The man and his music.......2006-04-19

I like this book because it isn't like all the other Sinatra biographies out there. In fact, it isn't really appropriate to call "Why Sinatra Matters" a biography at all. Author Pete Hamill was an acquaintance of Sinatra's and much of the book is built around conversations that the two men had together, which is very interesting. This book gives a general overview of Sinatra's upbringing and rise to stardom. Hamill explains how Sinatra's childhood and Italian American background contributed to the development of his music. Sinatra's "fall from grace" is also examined, but Hamill is quick to point out that the only thing that really matters is that Sinatra was able to overcome his obstacles and make an incredible comeback. There has never been another singer like Frank Sinatra and there never will be again. Sinatra continues to represent so many things to so many people, which is why his music will live on forever.

Some Outstanding Ideas, But Just a Touch too Much Gossip! .......2005-05-24

Many of the basic,well known aspects of FS's life are mentioned here, starting with the Genoan and Sicilian branches of his family history, his quiet father and brash, Democratic Ward Leader mother. The segment on Bing Crosby's huge influence on 1930's popular culture, especially in the new radio-centered family (like TV today) is great, and perhaps not known too much today. FS as an icon for immigrant Italians, along with LaGuardia and DiMaggio, is also a high point. The days with James and Dorsey are also well done, if rehashes, like much of this otherwise excellent book. And much is written about FS's legendary "Fall" and 2nd Rise, the Fall being among the most overdone of FS's incredible life.(Many would love to fall from such Olympian heights!). Mr. Hamill says that the music is what matters. Obviously, he's right! Only Frank could sing so well about the depths of anguish and despair, as well as the thrill of triumph! The author also gives a nice summation of the great work of FS with Nelson Riddle. Unfortunately, short shrift is given to Billy May, and a short paragraph mocks the "sugary" work of Gordon Jenkins. Oddly, the most famous pairing of Jenkins and FS, "September of My Years" is listed in the appendix as among Mr. Hamill's favorite albums! It would have been nice if a CD was included,since this book does not really mine the golden depths of FS's best recordings. Still, all in all, a fine and succinct presentation of The Man and His Music.

Runnin' Rebel: Shark Tales of "Extra Benefits", Frank Sinatra and Winning It All

Average customer rating:

Great Recruiting and Charm Leads to Great Coaching
A fan of basketball loves it!
Tark
Wetzel's facts not trustworthy - beware!
I suggest you buy it and read it, for it will make you laugh...

Runnin' Rebel: Shark Tales of "Extra Benefits", Frank Sinatra and Winning It All
Jerry Tarkanian , and Dan Wetzel
Manufacturer: Sports Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1596701552

Book Description

"Runnin' Rebel" is Tarkanian unplugged, dishing his wildest, most ridiculous, and most hilarious recruiting stories, capers, and tales from a colorful career as college basketball's ultimate lovable rogue.

Customer Reviews:

Great Recruiting and Charm Leads to Great Coaching.......2007-03-29

Jerry Tarkanian seems to be a decent, likeable guy, evidenced by both his autobiography's narrative voice, and the "shark tales" inside. Tark is laid-back, self-deprecating, funny, and respectful in his tone and delivery, and his life's story shows he could get along with of all kinds of people, and was a valuable friend to have: everyone is a "good guy", with some rare exceptions, and Tark wanted to coach all of the kids and take all the adults out for a meal and a round of drinks.

Tark's larger than life, yet down-home, blue-collar personality developed by rising from a difficult home life (tough Armenian background, father died at 10, little money) to earn a series of coaching successes virtually right out of the gate- the guy never had a losing season at any level, and boasts an overall career record of 988-228 (.813). And coaching basketball was not originally a noble calling for Tark- it instead represented sort of a path of least resistance for an athletic guy whose grades were mediocre and who didn't want a desk job.

Coach's genius lies in recruiting, and most of the book recounts his amusing and clever escapades trying to bring talent to his schools. Tark recognized early on to utilize junior colleges to his advantage, to target niche players, and to embrace black athletes that other schools sadly (and suicidally) avoided during the 1960s. He visited kids and their families at their homes, regardless of how tough the neighborhoods were. He wasn't easily dissuaded by a kid's poor grades or legal troubles, without first assessing his character and potential. He was the consummate Las Vegas host, and had the whole city at his disposal (including, to a degree, Sinatra, who actually made a couple of recruiting visits for Tark), and could convincingly show visitors the kind of time they could expect to have by playing for UNLV. His list of contacts throughout the US was outstanding - he had high school coaches and scouts everywhere feeding him guys, and all the right jucos to park them in if they needed to cool their heels first.

Of course, Tark had his scrapes with the NCAA, and seemed unfairly targeted, particularly once recruiting rules got tougher. He was open and honest about his troubles- and his disdain for the NCAA investigators- and didn't seem to be whitewashing events. For one, he won a $2.5 million settlement against the NCAA, as retribution for their misguided hyper-vigilance of his program. And he also is forthcoming about where he technically bent the rules. He gives the impression that overstepping NCAA boundaries while recruiting (including, for instance, buying a kid a sandwich or magazine from your own pocket) is like speeding or web-surfing at work: everyone does it to at least a minor extent, and you only get caught by flagrantly abusing the system, or because someone with ulterior motives is paying too close attention to the little stuff. It seemed to be the latter for Tark, but a fighting spirit and the loyalty he inspired in those around him meant the system never had him beat.

A fan of basketball loves it!.......2007-01-06

I am a long time basketball fan, especially college BB. I remeber all the names the Tark mentions in the book and it was very enjoyable to read, I couldn't put it down. I loved the "inside" information the book gives as the average fan doesn't always know about what really goes on. I am huge Al McGuire fan so that was fun also. I would urge any basketball fan to buy this book.

Tark.......2006-08-24

Great book. I was in LV, NV during Tark's tenure at UNLV. Tark originally got crosswise with the NCAA when he criticized them in his basketball column at Long Beach State. The NCAA never let go after that. UNLV administration unfortunately bought into the argument that a school can either be academically or athletically based and never understood the vision of a powerful synergistic relationship (i.e. USC, Notre Dame, TX, etc., etc.). The administration and anti-Tark boosters basically invited the NCAA in for an audit that took years. The end result was a severely truncated basketball dynasty and a huge hit in academic and adminstrative credibilty from UNLV's President Maxson on down. UNLV has not achieved significant academic standing and and has never recovered athletically. However, Tark is $2,000,000.00 richer secondary to prevailing over the NCAA in a court of law, in addition to his 1990 NCAA basketball court championship.

Wetzel's facts not trustworthy - beware!.......2006-04-14

I have not and will not bother to read this book, as I would not trust any of the facts. As an example, Wetzel recently (Yahoo!, 4/2/06) published an article bashing the UCLA basketball program. The entire basis for this was a "quote" that Wetzel attributes to Bill Walton. Nothing could be further from thr truth!

In his article, he states the quote was written by Walton ("Those quotes come from none other than Bill Walton, maybe the greatest Bruin of them all, in his 1978 book `On the Road with the Portland Trailblazers'"). This is false. The book was written by Jack Scott. In the Author's Note, Scott wrote: "Bill never asked to read even one page of the manuscript - never mind the entire manuscript - before it went to the printer. Consequently, I am solely responsible for the book's content. You should not automatically assume that Bill agrees with all of the opinions I express throughout the book..."

There are numerous other examples. When called on his error, Wetzel indicated that HE DID NOT EVEN HAVE A COPY OF THE BOOK he quotes, so could not confirm or deny the error!! Horrifying! Despite being called out, he has never made a correction to the story nor printed any retractions.

He is an untrustworthy writer, and clearly makes up and misrepresents the facts to sell his product.

BEWARE!

I suggest you buy it and read it, for it will make you laugh..........2006-03-25

Boy, I was a huge UNLV fan while Tark was there, and I loved that team that beat Duke by 30 in the finals. Thus, I bought the book, and I enjoyed it. In virtually every chapter, there is a funny story or a simply outrageous story that I'm sure is true. Tark tells his story, and he seems to hold nothing back. Tark is truly unique.

My problem with the book is the Tark portrays himself as a "victim" of some sort of witch-hunt by the NCAA. I've no doubt that the NCAA was unfair-grossly unfair-to Tark. Yet I grow weary of self-proclaimed "victims."

Yet I suggest you buy it and read it. You'll laugh because it is funny.

And if you were a huge UNLV fan like I was, it will bring back some good memories.

Remember the incredible defense that Stacey Augmon played? If not, this book will bring back memories such as Stacey, et al.

A Storied Singer: Frank Sinatra as Literary Conceit (Contributions to the Study of Popular Culture)

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A Storied Singer: Frank Sinatra as Literary Conceit (Contributions to the Study of Popular Culture)
Gilbert L. Gigliotti
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0313309736

Book Description

Frank Sinatra forever altered American art and culture. His life and work is mythified in countless books and essays. This book offers a much-needed fresh approach to The Chairman of the Board. Artists from all varieties of media have used Sinatra to create their own works and, in many cases, their own Sinatras. Sinatra's legacy is not confined to the music he created--his shadow, his aura, and his mere existence helped to inform the lives and works of generations. Gigliotti examines how genre and literary fiction, lyric and satiric poetry, rock and folk music, and even domestic drama have conjured and symbolically employed the legendary singer. Each of the eleven chapters of A Storied Singer details a different use of Sinatra. Subjects include the lyrics of Sammy Cahn, recent novels such as The Death of Frank Sinatra, and the many songs that are about or mention Old Blue Eyes. Gigliotti also examines Sinatra as seen through international eyes, from British songwriters and Spanish novelists to American expatriates and Israeli filmmakers, providing an unusual and fascinating look at a major American figure.

All the Way: A Biography of Frank Sinatra

Average customer rating:

Pretty Awful
What a Bore.
Somewhat negative slant of Sinatra's extraordinary life.
Luke warm review of Frank's life by a Brittish writer.

All the Way: A Biography of Frank Sinatra
Michael Freedland
Manufacturer: St Martins Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312191081

Book Description

The first objective biogrphy of Frank Sinatra since Kitty Kelley's opus - an entirely new assessment of the most important figure in 20th century entertainment. This book discusses Sinatra the performer, the singer and the actor and the life which has made him the most enduring and successful of the Hollywood artists.

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Awful.......2002-08-09

Though this book highlights some enlightening details about Frank Sinatra's life, much of it is shoddy hackwork. The reader learns the true story of how Sinatra freed himself from the talons of Tommy Dorsey. The reader learns of the strong influence of Sinatra's mother, Dolly, on his life. Dolly's own life as a Hoboken ward leader and her barely mentioned extraciricular activity as town abortionist fascinates. The friendship of Dolly and Ava Gardner, both foul-mouthed and proud of it, also fascinates. Ditto, the true story of how Sinatra resurrected his failing career by landing his role in "From Here to Eternity". Yet much is left out in this biography. The author seems to have gathered as much material as he could be bothered with and just slapped it together at breakneck speed in a book. It seems to be a specialty of Mr. Freedland's. More time is spent on Sinatra and Joe DiMaggio's "raid" on an apartment Marilyn Monroe was allegedly staying than Sinatra's relationships with Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.. The Rat Pack is glossed over; more time is spent on detailing Lauren Bacall's role in the original Bogart Rat Pack than in Martin and Davis's roles in the Rat Pack that most Americans are familiar with today. Much time is wasted on Sinatra's philosophical views on life, some of which seem to probably have been press releases written by his publicist. The author often doesn't put two and two together. Though Sinatra had great talent as an actor and played some fine roles, his career fizzled by the mid-sixties. Mr. Freedland mentions that Sinatra refused to do second takes but fails to understand that few directors would go out of their way to hire actors who refused to do second takes. Sinatra undercut his own film career. The bio is also very flighty. For instance, the author mentions a benefit concert Sinatra gave in New York which was attended by Jackie Kennedy Onassis at which she wore some sort of head band. Mr. Freedland informs us that the sort of head band used by Mrs. Onassis at the concert was sold out of New York stores within 24 hours as if that was pertinant information. The Jackie Onassis tidbit is indicative of Mr. Freedland's writing style. All in all, All the Way is useful in its way yet disappointing and borderline awful.

What a Bore........2001-03-06

I've read many Sinatra biographies and this is by far the least interesting and most pretentious. Michael Freedland's self-imporatnce oozes from within the lines; his claim that some of the stories are told here for the first time have no interesting payoff whatsoever for Sinatra fans. This is more like reading a book by Robin Leach and the "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous." I think we need to ask the Brits to stick to their side of the Atlantic if they can't do any better than this.

Somewhat negative slant of Sinatra's extraordinary life........1998-08-07

Michael Freedland's British background is too apparent for American readers. His English spellings are bothersome and frequent grammatic uses of "were" instead of "was" get in the way of what otherwise would be a facinating story of one of American music's top performers. The editors failed to catch misspellings of Tiajuana, Mexico. Freedland bashes Sinatra's parents unnecessarily and takes too much credit for "publishing for the first time" anncedotes that may be moderately interesting. This book comes across as an episode of "Lives of the Rich and Famous" with an English accent. Freedland collected notes over a period of years and the book often reads like a collection of them.

Luke warm review of Frank's life by a Brittish writer........1998-08-01

Michael Freedland's editor did not change the spelling or grammar for the American audience and I found it laborious to "read" around the frequent s for z swap. Our Americanized version of English probably puts the Britts off when we say "the band was" instead of "the band were." But frequent plurals where it would be more familiar in singular form were also a distraction. Mr. Freedland says in his forward that he collected notes over a period of years and then wrote the book. Sometimes it reads that way. Freedland bashes the early Sinatra years and makes Frank's mother seem very overbearing. Maybe she was but this autobiography is not very kind to either of his parents. Frank Sinatra's life was threaded with attacks from the press, some deserved, no doubt. Mr. Freedland seems to enjoy twisting Frank in the breeze and comes across as one of those media hacks who saw a chance to make a name by bad mouthing an enormous star. I was often bored! by the author's dry storytelling. As interesting a person Frank Sinatra was, it's incredible that an autobiography could be such a bowser.

The Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin'

Average customer rating:

Frank rules...........
The Way You Wear Your Hat:Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin'
The Man!
If You Don't Want to Hear Any More About Sinatra...
Stop Complaining

The Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin'
Bill Zehme
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060931752

Book Description

Within is a masterful assembly of the most personal details and gorgeous minutiae of Frank Sinatra's way of living--matters of the heart and heartbreak, friendship and leadership, drinking and cavorting, brawling and wooing, tuxedos and snap-brims--all crafted from rare interviews with Sinatra himself as well as many other intimates, including Tony Bennett, Don Rickles, Angie Dickinson, Tony Curtis, and Robert Wagner, in addition to daughters Nancy and Tina Sinatra. Illustrated with scores of photos, The Way You Wear Your Hat captures the timeless romance and classic style of the fifties and the loose sixties and is a stunning exploration of the Sinatra mystique.

Customer Reviews:

Frank rules..................2007-01-10

I bought this book for my boyfriend. He loves Frank Sinatra. I gave it to him at Christmas along with a fedora (like Frank wears on the cover of the book). He read the whole book on Christmas. He said it was great!

"Cock your hat- angles are attitudes"~Frank Sinatra

The Way You Wear Your Hat:Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin'.......2006-11-10

The pictures are black and white, I would have preferred colored photos.

The Man!.......2006-09-15

If I could trade places with anyone in history in would be Frank Sinatra.
This book shows you the man and his unmatched charm,wit,and his overwelliming appeal,not just to beautiful woman but to everyone he met.
I opened it and read it it one sitting.
If you are a Sinatra fan,you gotta read this,and then read it again.
However,it does help if you have some background of Sinatra to appreciate it fully.
Loved it!!!

If You Don't Want to Hear Any More About Sinatra..........2005-08-18

...don't read the dang book!

Sinatra's place in our cultural history is so much admired, to the point of worship, that one group tolerates no criticism of him at all. And there are those just as happy to see anything which demolishes his legend, taking him down to the petty, nasty, egomaniacal person he was.

This book fits much more into the first category, for sure. Lots of pictures. A whole chapter titled "Broads."

So, what's not to like? Sinatra was not as nasty a father as, say, Bing Crosby, but he is quoted in the book as saying this:

"You've got to hug your kids. Kids ought to be hugged and kissed and all that good stuff. You have to stay close to them closer than ever. You must give them affection and love, or they break away."

Some swinger, eh?

Stop Complaining.......2005-06-05

There are obviously a lot of people out there who love hating Frank Sinatra.Kitty Kelly writes a filthy book thousands of Sinatra-haters swoon over,and Bill Zehme writes a fabulous book for the FANS that everyone complains about.Maybe Zehme's stories aren't all true.At least HE puts in the "alledgedly."
In any case-it's a beautiful book.It's an appreciation of an undeniably tremendous life and way of life,and on those grounds,it succeeds all the way.Yes,it does tend to gloss over the Mob relations and those legends of cruelty that have persisted so long.His Way glossed over the innumerable charitable acts and legends of kindness that have persisted so long.What do YOU want to believe?
Even if you're one of those idiot Sinatra haters,you gotta admit this is one entertaining book.Many of the anecdotes are hilarious(Rat Pack) and the sadder ones(Ava,ect.)are seemingly truthful and well-written.I do admit,I've heard most of these stories from a different source,and often in a different and darker light than taken here,but they're still the same facts,and VERY entertaingly recounted.
If you start this book prejudiced by that sad,monstrous image many of those dish-the-dirt biographies have painted of Sinatra,sure,you're gonna complain just like the rest-you want the TRUTH.What,may I ask,IS the truth?Like I said before,too many people love to hate their idols.Biographers have tried to tear down Marilyn Monroe,Elizabeth Taylor,the Kennedys,Rock Hudson,James Dean,Ava Gardner,Cary Grant,Joan Crawford,Judy Garland,Betty Davis, and are probably working on inventing a juicy scandal for Jimmy Stewart,but Frank Sinatra has been these rats' favorite target since he socked Lee Mortimer in 1947.There were not two Sinatras.You can either believe the scandal sheets and gossippy headlines that made the authors a ton of money and made Frank Sinatra the Monster that sells papers,or,you can belive this.A human,funny,admiring portrait of a VERY human man.The Frank Sinatra here is not the vicious loser described so cruelly by Kitty Kelly,but he's not an angel either.He's a person, who's supreme talent and famous controversy made a Legend.A generous,thoughtful,intelligent individual,who undoubtedly made more than his share of mistakes,but more than made up for them.Bill Zehme's miraculous book may not tell the WHOLE story,but it comes closer than anything I've ever read.I guess no one ever knew or will know exactly WHO Sinatra was.I suppose the only chance of that died when Sinatra did.But the world has its pick of possible Sinatras.And this is the best one of them all.A truly magnificent book.

Average customer rating:

Frank Sinatra
Great Inside View of the #1 Megastar of them all!!
A must for anyone who loves Ole Blue Eyes

The Frank Sinatra Reader

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0195113896

Amazon.com

The Chairman of the Board has inspired a great many emotions--from hero-worship to withering contempt--and you'll find most of them documented in this intelligent compendium. The editors have dredged up some wonderful relics, like Bruce Bliven's 1944 rumination on what makes the Voice so magical in the first place ("Undoubtedly, just plain sex has a great deal to do with the whole matter"). But the essays, reviews, and memoirs cover every segment of Sinatra's career, including the end-game triumph (or travesty) of the best-selling "Duets."

Book Description

From the time he made hordes of hysterical fans swoon at the Paramount in 1942 up until the present day, Frank Sinatra has never been out of the public spotlight. With some 1,800 recordings, 60 film credits, two Oscars, numerous Grammys and a Grammy Legends Award, and the undying loyalty of millions of fans around the world, Sinatra has become an American hero. Songs sung by the Italian-American phenomenon, such as "New York, New York," "My Way,""Fly Me to the Moon," and "That's Life" are now among the undisputed classics of American popular music. In The Frank Sinatra Reader, Leonard Mustazza and Steven Petkov have brought together for the first time a singular selection of writings about the famous singer that focuses on his music and his legendary voice. A unique anthology of reviews, photographs, and memoirs, many of them back in print for the first time in decades, this collection tells the story of Sinatra's extraordinary musical career from its inception to the present. We see Sinatra as a teen phenomenon and follow his rise and fall as a solo performer, his comeback as a mature recording artist with Capitol Records, and his reign as a powerful and influential personality in the '60s. Lastly, the book contemplates Sinatra's ability to endure and triumph in a changing musical world. Included among the prominent writers, musicians, and journalists that recount and applaud the star's progress through the twentieth century are Henry Pleasants, Arnold Shaw, Stephen Holden, Gay Talese, Whitney Balliet, Gene Lees, Bill Boggs, Will Friedwald, and William Kennedy. Readers will also find intimate recollections by writers who knew not only the musician but the man himself, such as those by Pete Hamill, Jonathan Schwartz, and Rosalind Russell. The editors provide introductions to each section, a selected discography, a complete filmography, as well as a biographical chronology of the author's life and a selected bibliography. In The Frank Sinatra Reader, the man and his music become inseparable as the reader develops a greater understanding and appreciation of both. Mustazza and Petkov have created an invaluable collection that both illuminates and reflects Sinatra's incredible impact on the American cultural landscape. It is a must read for all Sinatra fans and for anyone interested in popular music and culture.

Customer Reviews:

Frank Sinatra.......2006-04-16

Here's a collection of articles and book excerpts dealing with Frank Sinatra - the man, his music, his career. A vast majority of the pieces were written after 1965, and most are fairly long and substantial. It's amazing how similar in approach many of the personal reminiscences are: I knew Sinatra a long time, though we're not close friend; his personality is volatile - up one minute, demonic the next; he's performed magically at times and also in a mediocre fashion - are typical remarks. The ambiguity that those who know the man share is fascinating. Just about everyone acknowledges a magnetism about Sinatra - even bigger than his talent, said Billy Wilder - and many who have come to know him almost fear being sucked in by that magnetism - so they purposely keep the man at arm's length (at least in their writings about him). Just about every author who writes about keeping an appointment, for example, with Ol' Blue Eyes relates it with a marked tentativeness, some (notably Pete Hamill) as if they were going to their doom. I guess that was the power of Sinatra.

Guy Talese's "Sinatra Has a Cold" 1966 Esquire article (an early example of the New Journalism) is included, and it's a highlight of the book. Also of special interest are Pete Hamill's "The Legend Lives," Sinatra fanatic Jonathan Schwartz's "In the Wee Small Hours," and Petkov's own essay on Sinatra's greatest years when recording for Capitol records. But all the pieces are worthwhile and together build a well-rounded, critical (as opposed to mere adulation) view of perhaps the greatest male pop singer of all time. Worth checking out.

Great Inside View of the #1 Megastar of them all!!.......2001-12-23

From Bobby Sox fave to Sultan of Swoon to the Fall and Great Comeback, it is just about all here, except for the very last years from the mid-1990's to the end. This volume is a collection of essays surveying the vast realm of an incredible career. The clear links between his peerless Capitol recordings,and his own life are explained,as are the demanding sessions themselves, his always being in charge with a lot of help from his friends. Every piece here is worthwhile, my favorite being Gay Talese's FRANK SINATRA HAS A COLD (1966)To quote:"Sinatra with a cold is Picasso without paint,Ferrari without fuel..A Sinatra with a cold can, in a small way,send vibrations through the entertainment industry and beyond as surely as a President can, suddenly sick, shake the national economy." A great fun of a read! Not for Frank fanatics only.

A must for anyone who loves Ole Blue Eyes.......2000-09-19

This book is like an almanac of information on Frankie. I had the pleasure of reading it at a friends house, and it was just great. I highly recommend it. Another good one, is "Why Sinatra Matters." Both give a glimpse into a man that we all love.

Frank Sinatra and Friends : 60 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows

Average customer rating:

A lot more varied than you might guess

Frank Sinatra and Friends : 60 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows
Radio Spirits
Manufacturer: Radio Spirits
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 1570192030
Release Date: 2000-07-11

Book Description

Frank Sinatra is widely acclaimed as "the Voice of the Century". Though he later conquered recordings, films and television, it was radio that first made "ol'Blue Eyes" a susperstar. Radio Spirits proudly presents the classic radio shows that introduced the world to "the greatest male vocalist in the history of popular music".

Customer Reviews:

A lot more varied than you might guess.......2000-08-16

<60 Greatest Old-Time Radio Shows Starring Frank Sinatra and Friends> is a monumental memorial to a showbiz phenomenon. Radio Spirits has issued this collection in two formats: 20 audio cassettes each holding 90 minutes of material (usually 3 half-hour shows) and 30 CDs each holding 60 minutes. This last is an improvement over other tape/CD issues in which the latter had to be abridged to fit in the shows what the corresponding tape could easily hold without cuts.

Some of the shows here have only a fleeting visit by Sinatra, others have him in short sketches, still others as co-star, and a few as the star himself. For example, he plays a major role when guesting on a Burns &Allen Show but is the star of his own series, "Rocky Fortune," of which this collection offers four episodes. These episodes, by the way, are a good example of Sinatra in his bad years after MGM fired him because of an unfortunate remark he made about the studio head's mistress. They work very well as light comedy mysteries but certainly do not call for any great acting skills. At his nadir, he substituted for Bill Stern in the Sports Newsreel series and did a very good job as narrator.

He is heard in several dramatic roles in "Suspense" and "Lux Radio Theater," and a good deal of jokes are made about his possibly receiving and later his actually receiving an Academy Award for his role in "From Here to Eternity." Included in his many comic guest spots with Fred Allen, Jack Benny, Edgar Bergen, Joan Davis, and Martin & Lewis are endless "skinny" jokes, none of which seem to be repeated except possibly the one about being buried in the back yard by the family dog.

Naturally, you will hear a good deal of his vocalizing, once even with Lou Costello, and that is pretty much the raison d'etre of this collection. And if you have to listen to "Nancy With the Laughing Face" three times, well that is what fathers are for.

The question is whether to purchase the tapes or CDs. I have both. I heard all the tapes in my car and will use the CDs for my classes because of the direct access feature. However the CDs are packaged in such a way that you must touch the surfaces in removing them from their plastic envelopes--and drivers should take note that you need two hands to do so.

As a postscript, I should add that you don't have to be a particular fan of Sinatra to enjoy this collection. You get "A Date With Judy," "Command Performance," "Life With Luigi," a "Savings Bond Show," and so many other radio gems that still linger in the memories of us older crowd--and some that would be totally forgotten were it not for such Radio Spirit compilations as this one.

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Absolutely Heartbreaking....

Surpringly relevant

Chronicles What an Unrepetant Jackass Sinatra Really Was.

Amazing Document of Cultural History

From Bedroom to Board Room, He Was Larger Than Life

Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra
George Jacobs , and William Stadiem
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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His Way: An Unauthorized Biography Of Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra: An American Legend

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Rat Pack Confidential: Frank, Dean, Sammy, Peter, Joey and the Last Great Show Biz Party

Sinatra Sinatra

ASIN: 0060596740
Release Date: 2004-04-06

Book Description

"Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra, by former valet-aide George Jacobs with an oh-so-able assist by William Stadiem, has at least five quotable and shocking remarks about the famous on every page. The fifteen years Jacobs toiled for Frank produces a classic of its genre -- a gold-star gossip-lover's dream....

"The rest is showbiz history as it was, and only Ava Gardner, Humphrey Bogart, and Betty Bacall are spared. Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Juliet Prowse, Noel Coward, Cole Porter, Mia Farrow, Elvis Presley, Swifty Lazar, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Sammy Davis Jr., Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Jimmy van Heusen, Edie Goetz, Peter Lawford, and all of the Kennedys come in for heaping portions of 'deep dish,' served hot. Sordid, trashy, funny, and so rat-a-tat with its smart inside info and hip instant analysis that some of it seems too good to be true....

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Heartbreaking...........2007-03-12

"Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra," written by George Jacobs - Frank's valet/personal assistant; friend; confidante of 15 years, is a very candid and extremely engrossing book. In every page, it is clear that George Jacobs truly loved Frank Sinatra as a brother. Although I knew quite a bit about Frank Sinatra's life already, I was totally unprepared for how interesting and "can't-put-it-down" this book turned out to be. I loved it.

Frank Sinatra was the best of men and the absolute worst of men. He was the most generous of men and yet he was the most vindictive of men as well. He was a contradiction in human nature in extremes. If you even slightly offended him or were perceived as disloyal, you seldom got another chance.

George tells of his relationship with Frank and Frank's rise and fall and rise to fame. He writes of his adventures with Frank's family and how wonderful "Big Nancy" was to Frank - long after the divorce. After reading this, I truly thought Frank Sinatra's first wife was a saint!

I expected this book to touch on just the superficial, but it really delved into a part of our history. Like millions of baby boomers, I idolized John F. Kennedy. Yes - I knew that he had an affair with Marilyn Monroe, but I didn't know about the barrage of call girls and cocaine. When JFK was campaigning, he asked George, "What do colored people want?" Diplomatically, George responded that he didn't know and asked Jack what he wanted (for our country). JFK, with a big leering grin, responded," I want to f*ck every woman in Hollywood." Statements like this just amazed me.

As we all know, Joe Kennedy Sr. had many mob connection from his bootlegging days. This book relates how Illinois was virtually a present to JFK from the mob in the election.

I had heard about the helicopter pad that Frank Sinatra was reported to have destroyed when John Kennedy's visit was cancelled, but I wasn't aware of the extent of John's deception. Frank Sinatra spent over a year campaigning for JFK; having "High Hopes" written and performed; and spending a fortune in anticipation of JFK's visit. Without Joe's influence, John totally turned his back on Sinatra and decided to stay at Bing Crosby's (who had supported Nixon)! Moreover, it was highly likely that he set things in motion for Marilyn's death when she threatened to expose their affair. Bobby Kennedy (whom I had also admired) and Jackie were even more ungrateful than John.

No one deserved what Woody Allen did to Mia Farrow later in life, but I couldn't help thinking that Mia was so wrong in not setting the record straight with Frank about her dancing with George. George was "babysitting" Mia and trying to pacify her when she dragged him onto the dance floor. When the paparazzi went wild with these pictures, George's life was to change forever. As a result, he was literally fired overnight by Frank Sinatra. George had money saved, but it is clear that he never recovered from this blow dealt to him by Sinatra.

My heart absolutely broke for George Jacobs. I literally cried when he tells how he burst into tears upon seeing Frank after 10 years. Frank went over and touched his shoulder and said, "Forget about it kid. It ain't so bad." I do feel Frank Sinatra "forgave" George, but I believe that Barbara Marx would never have allowed him to rehire George because he knew too much about her past.

I had always believed Barbara Marx to be a charitable woman with a great deal of class. She was actually a Vegas showgirl from a poor background who married the much older Zeppo. Everyone knew that she was simply trying to marry money and that she regularly cheated on Zeppo - often with Sinatra. He had known her for years. George was not even allowed to attend Frank Sinatra's funeral - but instead had to watch from across the street.

In the end, one realizes that George Jacobs has found peace. He honestly didn't deserve the low blow that Sinatra dealt him. However, you also realize that through his own insecurities, Frank Sinatra lost one of his dearest friends who loved him most. In the end, Frank Sinatra was the one who lost the most. I truly pray that Sinatra came to know this.

Surpringly relevant.......2006-08-27

We all know Frank Sinatra did some interesting stuff. The author, George Jacobs, was his valet from 1953 to 1968, so he saw quite a bit of it. With honesty, brevity and wit, he tells us about it. Right out of the "truth is stranger than fiction" department. I saw a number of celebrities I recognized in here, and it was interesting to see them off camera. I saw a number of celebrities in here that I've never heard of, and they were interesting too. I think that latter point matters for readers who may perhaps be too young to remember when Frank was doing it his way. I also feel that I've stumbled onto a portrait of a time and place that I needed to see. It's a great book, not just a tell-all gossipfest. Oh, it has that too, but it's better somehow.

Chronicles What an Unrepetant Jackass Sinatra Really Was........2006-02-19

Don't get me wrong. I'm a Sinatra Fan. Of his music. I never did buy into the crock of b.s. that painted him as some sort of cultural hero. And I always figured it would just be a matter of time before someone who worked this close to Sinatra would spill the beans. And it's all here. His double standards shine like the Hope Diamond. Do as I say and not as I do seems to be the recurring theme in the Frank Sinatra mantra. He demanded fidelity from his wives, but kept hookers by the dozen at any given time and paid for their abortions like they were monthly Visa bills while everyone else painted him as the picture perfect father of Nancy, Tina and Frank, Jr. His mob ties are legendary and by now general knowledge. Here we find Jacobs giving us all the juicy details. For some reason, the pay was good enough for Jacobs to tolerate Sinatra's unending racial and ethnic slurs which he apparently tossed around freely, never fearing consequence. Yet, for his entire career Sinatra was championed as a great Civil Rights pioneer. Okay, but any Civil Rights pioneer shouldn't toss the N word around so freely. It's not until the late sixties that Sinatra becomes a philanthropist of sorts to untarnish his disgusting image. Jacobs paints an interesting portrait of Old Blue Eyes as the Ultimate Paradox. I found the writing tight, honest and overall it's a book I couldn't put down once I picked it up. Unfortunately, Jacobs himself was kicked out of the Sinatra fold eventually, which makes the story all that more credible. I walked away from the book with a bevy of emotions, angry mostly, that such a talent could be such a jerk for most of his life. There were consequences for the Chairman always wanting to have it his way in his personal and professional life, and now that he's gone we may never know how it might've played out. Today I imagine Frank Sinatra would've been diagnosed as some sort of bi-polar idiot. God knows half of our musicians use that condition as an excuse for their stupid behavior. There indeed is a fine line between genius and lunacy. You'll read Jacob's memoir and walk away satisfied yet ticked off. Guaranteed.

Amazing Document of Cultural History.......2005-11-19

I didn't have high expectations for this book. The British royal family has shown us that tell-alls by "valets" and the like leave much to be desired, but this book was a wonderful surprise. It serves not only as an unusual insight into an American icon -- Frank Sinatra -- but also a cultural history of a young black man, George Jacobs, coming of age in the 1950's and 1960's with a front row seat on some of the most important figures of our time from Joe Kennedy to Ava Gardner to Sammy Davis, Jr. I think this book gives provocative insight on our American history through the lens of race, gender and popular culture.

From Bedroom to Board Room, He Was Larger Than Life.......2005-02-02

"Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra," by his valet of 15 years George Jacobs (whom Sinatra fired for dancing with Mia Farrow), is filled with enough vanity, insecurity, envy, racism, drinking, smoking, womanizing and deal-making for three lifetimes. Jacobs takes the reader into the "board room" and the bedroom to reveal intimate portraits of the supremely talented larger-than-life Chairman himself, the woman he never stopped loving (Ava Gardner), mobster associates like one-time Al Capone "wheel man" Sam Giancana, that pitiful plaything of the rich and famous, Marilyn Monroe, and the utterly vile Kennedy father (who was even "crueler about Jews than he was about blacks") and his charismatic, whore-mongering son (drinking, drugs and round-the-clock sex that had even the insatiable Sinatra panting).

If Ronald Reagan's motto was "Win one for the Gipper," JFK's (and Sinatra's) surely had to be "Win one for the zipper."

Average customer rating:

This one's got it all
This is it!

Frank Sinatra Anthology
Frank Sinatra
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1423404858

Book Description

We proudly present the most comprehensive Sinatra songbook ever! Weighing in at more than 400 pages, this deluxe volume features 100 classics performed by Ol' Blue Eyes, plus an informative biography and fantastic photos. Songs include: All the Way * April in Paris * Chicago (That Toddlin' Town) * Come Fly with Me * High Hopes * I Get a Kick Out of You * I'll Be Seeing You * The Lady Is a Tramp * Love and Marriage * Luck Be a Lady * My Kind of Town (Chicago Is) * My Way * Theme from New York, New York * and more.

Customer Reviews:

This one's got it all.......2006-11-04

This is an extremely entertaining, well designed, and incredibly thorough compilation of the master's most important songs. The quality of the artwork, photos and reproduction of the sheet music is top notch and just when you presume that a particular song might not have made the list---there it is. Couldn't be happier with the item or the price. A total bargain.

This is it!.......2006-05-26

Oooh la la - what a find! This is a beautiful book - over 400 pages of great music. And it opens with 10 pages of color photos, album covers, and quotes. So many songs for young lovers. Lyrics/piano parts/and guitar chords for all the songs. And the binding is even great! It's a thick book, but will lie flat on your piano. Arrangements range in difficulty level, but are basic enough to add on to if you want.

Average customer rating:

I am Speechless, A Man of True Genius and Class
Best photographic Sinatra book, ever.
Superbly illustrated profile of Sinatra

Sinatra:: The Artist and the Man
John Lahr
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0375501444
Release Date: 1997-12-08

Book Description

"I am a symmetrical man, almost to a fault," Frank Sinatra once said. It is a peculiar statement, because Sinatra is precisely asymmetrical. How to reconcile the enchanting crooner and the explosive bully? What to make of the smooth tones of his voice and the rough edges of his persona? To find the true correspondence between the public and the private Sinatra, the artist and the man, is no easy task. John Lahr, drama critic for The New Yorker and one of the finest writers on the performing arts working today, has done just this in Sinatra: The Artist and the Man

Lahr traces the trajectory of the "solitary latchkey kid" from Hoboken, New Jersey, into the stratosphere of fame. Sinatra kept company with presidents and mobsters; he kept up the front of a happy family life for as long as he could and then took up with the most desired women in the world--Ava Gardner, Lauren Bacall, Anita Ekberg, Marilyn Monroe, and many, many more. He led a life of manic gregariousness, yet spoke to the romance and loneliness of the "wee small hours of the morning." He desperately needed to exist within the gaze of the audience but at the same time would express aloofness toward his fans, saying he was happiest "when I'm onstage all by myself with an orchestra and nobody to bug me."

Sinatra: The Artist and the Man also examines the miracle of Sinatra's return--much of what is marvelous about Sinatra today is that we know who he is at all, so far did he fall in the late forties. Sinatra came back with a vengeance as Angelo Maggio in From Here to Eternity, a heartfelt and brilliantly comic performance that won him an Academy Award. At the same time, he reclaimed control of the recording studio and, with the help of an ingenious arranger named Nelson Riddle, perfected the swinging sound of his mature years. Sinatra then proceeded to build a media empire that has been the standard by which all other stars have measured their success. The artist and the man: Sinatra epitomized control and he raged uncontrollably, destroying friendships, love affairs, and a plate-glass window or two; he won fans around the world across three generations, created an unparalleled body of recorded work, and almost single-handedly invented the postwar American swagger and "the image," Lahr writes, "of perfect individualism."

Sinatra's life and art happen to be extremely well documented in photographs--from Weegee's hilarious pictures of bobby-soxer hysteria at New York's Paramount Theatre to William Read Woodfield's definitive and rare "Chairman of the Board" images. Sinatra: The Artist and the Man collects one hundred of the best photographs ever taken of Sinatra (some never before published)--representing his film work, the special intensity of his recording sessions, and the many swinging nights of this complex and fascinating man.

Customer Reviews:

I am Speechless, A Man of True Genius and Class.......2005-04-25

I love this book, the more I learn about Mr. Sinatra the more I fall in love with him...He was the epitome of class and of someone who lived life "his way". He set the bar high for other performing actors/singers and I think no other can match his genious aside from Lucianno Pavarotti....Excellent read!!

Best photographic Sinatra book, ever........2000-01-04

This is the best-looking coffee table book on Sinatra, with most of the first half based on an excellent essay by John Lahr. For a thorough look at the music, you want Will Friedwald's book, but this one is a classic photo tour of Sinatra's career from Hoboken to the world. I could spend a 1000 words on the pictures, but you can travel back to the 1950s with this one. The large format photos bring home the personality of the subjects, who include Nat Cole, Ava Gardner, Dean Martin, Count Basie and other music icons of the last century. Very enjoyable evening read, also.

Superbly illustrated profile of Sinatra.......1998-08-24

Of the plethora of books on Frank Sinatra that have been fighting for space on the shelves since his death, this is the best.

A wonderful essay by John Lahr chronicles his life, from the tough streets of Hoboken to a room in Beverly Hills shortly before his 80th birthday. A now well chronicled life, but captured by Mr Lahr in all its complexity and contradiction.

At the heart of this life was his great gift - singing. At the very end, in the Beverly Hills room, surrounded by Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan (what were they doing there?) Steve Lawrence and others, he insisted on singing the solo. It was his right then, as it had been his right throughout his life. And he was undeniable.

A beautifully designed and produced book, it is adorned with a perfect selection of photographs to complement the essay. Look at the faces on page 102, completely transfixed by "The Voice" and see what James Agee called "an erotic dream".

A must have for Sinatra fans, and anyone fascinated by popular culture.

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