[David M Bond]

Wasn't FS at the London Paladium in 1950 I wonder if he sang it then?

[Nick_Bradley78]

I think theres an echo in here.

[Jeffrey Simmons]

A Foggy Day is a really lovely song and Frank Sinatra always gets the best out of it.

I very much like the Capitol/Riddle version as appearing on Songs For Young Lovers and I also like the 1957 live version from the Seattle concert. Of course I very much like the Reprise version from Ring A Ding Ding too.

One other version, which was not previously mentioned, that I particularly liked hearing was one that was actually sung in London. Some members here might remember seeing on television FS singing "A Foggy Day" backed by a full concert orchestra and a somewhat different chart to the well know recorded versions. This song was recorded by the BBC and shown on UK television. The recording was taken Frank Sinatra's superb November 1970 Royal Festival Hall 'Night Of Nights' charity concert performances. This particular version of the song was first shown on UK BBC TV in 1971 and then several times subsequently throughout the 1970's when Frank Sinatra's solo segment (without Bob Hope's first act) was repeated by the BBC on its own. For some reason the Night Of Nights show was quite heavily re-cut by the BBC without "I Have Dreamed" and also without some chat between songs. However a really swinging version of "A Foggy Day" was instead substituted.

(I think that "A Foggy Day" may very possibly have been taken from a recording which the BBC must have made of the first show of the evening, in addition to the better known second show, which is now available on DVD). I own an official DVD of the Royal Festival Hall 1970 Concert taken from the second show and I am sure that many members also have this very same recording in one of several of its released versions, but as far as I am aware no other recorded versions have as yet ever been released which also include A Foggy Day.
In fact, as I recall, the BBC never showed on TV exactly the same version of the show as is now available on DVD. There were always differences).

Originally Posted by Jeffrey Simmons

However a really swinging version of "A Foggy Day" was instead substituted. [...] I own an official DVD of the Royal Festival Hall 1970 Concert taken from the second show and I am sure that many members also have this very same recording in one of several of its released versions

Sorry to always be correcting, but this can't be so, Jeffrey.

The song, with an uptempo arrangement, was performed (in both shows), but it is EDITED OUT of the authorized DVD release. There is no "A Foggy Day" on any of the official releases (VHS or DVD). It was cut from the original BBC broadcast to make room for a commercial.

This is the thread in the Frank on TV forum: Sinatra In Concert At Royal Festival Hall (1970) DVD/VHS. Note that the DVD was also recently reissued with the International CD+DVD Edition of last year's Nothing But The Best.

[Duncan]

The Ring-A-Ding-Ding version is my favourite. What I love it the clever - pumpin'-swing - arrangement. I love that it's inspired by the chimes of Big Ben. It's like a modern jazz version of Big Ben. Clever! Clever!

Great, the way it starts - sliding from the chimes into brassy swing.

That said, I think Mr Sinatra's performance is actually best on the 1993 Duets recording. He really nails the lyrics in that one, with much more punch than 30 years earlier:

"A ffffoggy day... . BACK in London town..."

Wonderful. Certainly this song is in my top 10! Though, my top 10 is a constantly evolving affair. But, for your interest, A Foggy Day, Moonlight In Vermont and Guess I'll Hang My Tears OUt are always in my top 10. )

[Barry]

I drove to Vermont once and booked into a roadside stopover. It was a miserable evening and I stood outside thinking of Frank's BEAUTIFUL refrain and wondering what the hell went wrong? LOL. (True.) At least in "foggy day" the sun ended up shining.

[sschweiger]

Although both versions are terrific, I opt for the Capitol performance because it's closer to Gershwin's original orchestration. In all the times I saw or heard Fred Astaire (who introduced it), he performed it as a ballad. In "Damsel In Distress," Astaire's dance tempo is dreamy and 'hypnotic.' By the way, If you see this charming film, notice how little dancing there is by the Fred-Joan Fontaine pairing. Fred's work is virtually a solo effort.

Frank's performance with the Siravo/Riddle arrangement more closely captures the original Gershwin 'sound.'

[Jeffrey Simmons]

Originally Posted by Bob

Sorry to always be correcting, but this can't be so, Jeffrey. The song, with an uptempo Don Costa arrangement, was performed (in both shows), but it is EDITED OUT of the authorized DVD release. There is no "A Foggy Day" on any of the official releases (VHS or DVD). It was cut from the original BBC broadcast to make room for a commercial.

This is the thread in the Frank on TV forum: Sinatra In Concert At Royal Festival Hall (1970) DVD/VHS. Note that the DVD was also recently reissued with the International CD+DVD Edition of last year's Nothing But The Best.

Bob you misunderstood me. I apologise that I was not clear. I own exactly the same official RFH DVD that we all have and, of course, A Foggy Day was edited out and it is NOT included. I did not mean to suggest otherwise.

I was not sure if FS had actually sung "A Foggy Day" with the Costa arrangement on both performances. Bob, you have clarified that, so thanks.

What I should have written is that as far as I am aware no recorded version of the show which also includes A Foggy Day has as yet ever been released.

Sorry, but I must however correct Bob too. In fact, there is no way that A Foggy Day was cut from the original BBC broadcast to make room for a commercial. This is because the BBC do NOT have commercials. They never have had commercials and possibly never will. The BBC are funded purely by public TV licence money and all programs are shown without any breaks.

As to why the BBC edited A Foggy Day out of the Night Of Nights show originally and then reinstated it for all (solo) RFH Sinatra Concert TV repeats, but then editing out I Have Dreamed and possibly one other song and some chat I simply do not know! It does seem very strange.

As I said, as far as I know, the BBC never showed on TV exactly the same version of the show as is now available on DVD. There were always differences.

Getting back to the main thought, what I wanted to say was that I quite liked the Costa version of A Foggy Day. I wonder if this was ever performed elsewhere?

Originally Posted by Jeffrey Simmons

Sorry, but I must however correct Bob too. In fact, there is no way that A Foggy Day was cut from the original BBC broadcast to make room for a commercial. This is because the BBC do NOT have commercials.

Thank you for the correction, Jeffrey. I based that statement on this post (#4 in the Frank on TV thread), without thinking about the obvious impossibility of it.

See also post #12 in that same thread, for additional claims about the recordings of those RFH "Night of Nights" shows. I won't make the same mistake and vouch that those are completely factual, either. If you saw "A Foggy Day" on TV, that statement about it never having been broadcast is inaccurate.

As for the swinging (Costa?) arrangement of "A Foggy Day," I believe that night was the first time Sinatra used it, and he continued to sing it in concert right up through 1992.

[Nancy]

Hmmm... good lesson to be learned here.

Yep, gotcha.

[Nancy]

Knew you would.

[Ace917]

The level of expertise around here continues to amaze me.

[Barry]

Agreed Ace. How can you keep track exactly? Almost an imposibility.

[voice1]

Originally Posted by Nancy

Hmmm... good lesson to be learned here.

I personally love it when Bob is incorrect. I wonder what it feels like to be wrong.

[Roy]

Poor Bob, he's never wrong. I think he needs a dinner.

[Stnwy18]

Maybe Rick an Bob can go out to dinner together. While Rick's picking Bob up, maybe he can pick up anyone else who happens to live in Massachusetts and take them to dinner too.

Originally Posted by Stnwy18

Maybe Rick an Bob can go out to dinner together.

Been there, done that. Be careful what you wish for, Robert.

[Duncan]

Ah ha! I found the thread... again. I'm confused. This thing keeps moving... I swear it wasn't anywhere at all a few minutes ago.

What I was going to say was that I saw a fellow called Frank Holder perform this song a few years ago. It was a really good version... Holder is famous on the London club scene.

Anyway, Holder's version aside, it has to be Frank's Ring-a-Ding arrangement that is the winner. Though, as I mentioned, the punch he gives to the song in the 1993 recording makes it even better!