****There is no other version of this song after Frank Sinatra performs a miracuous surgery upon it.*****

Russell - I really LOVE that expression (don't recall to have read it anywhere before), FS "performing a surgery" on a song. Right on!

As far as "McArthur Park" is concerned, it was a major surgery, with FS dropping about 3/4s of the original Jimmy Webb piece, edging in on those lines that he felt were essential, and that he could bring across essentially. And he was right - what a marvelous recording!

By comparison, the only other "major surgery" that comes to my mind on the spot is the 1961 version of "Stardust" (Sintra & Strings album). Just doing the verse, to one of the prettiest orchestrations ever written by anyone for any song in the history of popular music (Don Costa) - and omit the famous chorus completely. Results were the same: A piece of genius!

Thanks Russ for posting a thought-provoking phrase. "Sinatra surgery" on songs. Let's make that a topic at the FS section. Very very clever thought.

Bernhard.

[russkish3]

Actually, if I must say so myself, I also like the idea of "stripping away the fat, and the love comes out."

But I cannot claim originality for that phrase. It was taught to me by Charles M. "Chuck" Jones, who said he made that his philosophy while dealing with the rigors of the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies factory at Warner Bros. Think of that phrase. It's as descriptive as anything else I could say about Frank Sinatra's version of "MacArthur Park."

Best regards,

Russell Kishi
Glendale, California

****It's as descriptive as anything else I could say about Frank Sinatra's version of "MacArthur Park."****


... or what could perhaps be said (with adding "major" and "minor" to "surgery" in the phrase) about many Sinatra recordings, think about how often he would change a lyrical line, or opt for leaving out a chorus, or a verse. So then cheers to Chuck Jones for that phrase.

So then, how about a new CD package called "Emergency Room", chief surgeon being The One And Only... or let's discuss what Sinatra "surgery" actually meant to the "patients". I mean, Cole Porter as prooved was not amused of some of his lyrics being slightly "surgeoned" by FS, but I think in the bottom line the popularity of Porter's songs may have profited from being treated at the Francis Albert OP Center... and in that polished (surgeoned?) version remain under our collective skins.


Bernhard.

[victor m.]

I was listening to this Wonderful Magical Piece Of Music By Frank, and as I Listened carefully, for I not Heard it for a While, It brought Tears and Chills up My Spine. I Think It might have Been His Greatest Work. My Favrites are, You and Me, Summer Me Winter Me, Also when Frank says, Ladies and Gentleman, PLAY for ME, PLAY for Me, and You here the Beautifull Symphony, Wonderfull, Pure Genious. what do You Guys Think. Thanks, Victor.

[steffen]

liza minnelli did that mac arthur park excerpt before sinatra, coupled with "didn't we", also by jimmy web.
i wouldn't even call it "mac arthur park"; i always saw it as a song within a song: "mac arthur park" surrounding "there will be another song for me". it's like a verse within a chorus.

i think the piece of music was just too long to include in the LP of trilogy. i for one would love to hear sinatra singing the different melody line, even the unusual lyric.

Yes Steffen, it somewhat is a "song within a song". I think the heart of it fits perfectly with the lyrics to "Didn't We", would have been interesting to hear such a medley done by Sinatra, too. Sinatra was still performing "Didn't We" in concert in the 70s.
How do you like the (complete) version of "MacArthur Park" by Richard Harris?

All of the Jimmy Webb songs that Sinatra did sing resulted in outstanding recordings, in my opinion. "Didn't We" (1969)and "MacArthur Park" (1979) are superb, so is "Whatever Happened To Christmas" (1968 - who else but FS could have done such a poignant Christmas torch song that way?)), and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" (1968) is also grand.

Hard to pick a favourite, but mine probably is "MacArthur Park" - this along with "You And Me" are the most haunting melodies and songs from the Trilogy-Present album. The "torchy beauty" of his singing, the melancholic wisdom, the gliding strings and expanded syllables, I find it all totally irresistable, still makes me shiver after almost 20 years of listening to them. Combined to Costa's great arrangements each note hits your heart & soul straight. And stays there.

I understand a complete Sinatra-Webb album project was at some point discussed in the 70s, would have been interesting and (presumably) a great album.

Bernhard.

[Stranger56]

Bernhard,

I enjoy the complete MacArthur's Park by Harris, but I feel the definitive version is sung by The Four Tops, with Levi Stubbs' raw, pleading vocals in the lead.

Jim

Jim, that's a version I don't know, even have to admit I hardly remember anything by the Four Tops. Is it on any album?

Bernhard.

[Stranger56]

Bernhard,

The song originally appeared on a 1969 LP called Four Tops Now.
There was a CD released, but it may be out of print now.
Although performed live on many occasions through the 80's and 90's, I believe the only place to find the original studio recording now may be on the boxed set, Fourever.

Listening to it now.
Majestic!

Jim

Thanks for the info, Jim. The fact that the cover version is so close (chronologically I mean) to the 1968 Harris original makes it the more interesting for me, so I will see if I can find it anywhere.

I've been interested for some time in listening to the original versions, and/or pre-FS cover versions, of songs that Sinatra later decided to record as well. It is fascinating sometimes how e.g. the setting and mood were changed, and to detect the (usually many) new approaches and nuances Sinatra brought to these songs. Also of course it takes you on a journey through a very broad variety of other performers and their work.

Bernhard.

I never particularly liked MacArthur's Park - any version, but especially Richard Harris' version. Way too long. The first time I heard Frank's version on trilogy, I thought, wow, this guy's gotta be the greatest singer & interpreter of lyrics in the world to make me like MacArthur's Park.

Ah, the magic of Frank.

[steffen]

"mac arthur park"'s magic took posession of my ears when i saw an excerpt of richard harris singing it live on the tonight show in 1968 (in a documentary shown in 1992). later i heard the studio recording on the radio, and was impressed by the rocking interlude. it's a unique and unusual piece of music, so very 60's too.

for me sinatras' version is too short, i could go on listening to him sing the song much longer, but it's just over 2 minutes.


sammy davis jr did the entire 8 minutes too, but he somehow doesn't soar through the melody as i expected him to do.

Yet the thought is interesting, Steffen - could you imagine Sinatra going through the whole song (MacArthur Park I mean) of roughly 8 mins?

I could, but it would have required a completely different arrangement by Don Costa. The present version, where he does only the "song within the song" as you called it earlier, is so definitive, that it almost seems to demand that "this is it".

Reminds me of the 1961 Reprise recording (also with Don Costa) of "Stardust". Sinatra sings only the verse, and skips the famous chorus ("some times I wonder...") completely. Yet, this is done in such a definitive way that at least for me, I can never listen to Stardust again done by any singer without paying attention to the verse - and many (not all) simply throw the verse away. Here again, Sinatra created a new "song within a song". I love Stardust and its chorus, but never do I miss the chorus when I listen to Sinatra's 1961 version of the verse.

Bernhard.

March 26, 2005 will mark the 25th anniversary of "Trilogy"'s original release. With that in mind, and (hopefully) giving the folks at Reprise a suitable amount of lead time, I hereby propose a 25th Anniversary Edition of "Trilogy," to be released as a hybrid CD/SACD (the SACD will be remixed for 5.1 Surround Sound, of course), and including the following bonus tracks:

The seven original versions of songs for "The Past" he recorded in New York but decided to re-cut in Los Angeles a few months later.

"Isn't She Lovely," an outtake from "The Present," which was released in 1995 on "The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings."

"The Surrey With The Fringe On Top" -- Only the orchestral track, arranged by Billy May, was recorded for this one -- Sinatra never laid down a vocal for it. But it's a dynamite swingin' arrangement regardless!

Finally, a live performance of "New York, New York" from the first Radio City Music Hall concert in October, 1978 -- the first time the song was ever performed in concert by Sinatra.

Sounds pretty great, right? So let's get on Reprise's butts and get this sucker released!

And if this whole project depends on my filling in my profile, then I'm a much more important person than I ever suspected.

[Nancy]

Trilogy is scheduled for a DVD-A release next year by Reprise.

We do have a vocal of FS singing 'Surrey' from the Trilogy sessions.

That's interesting info, Nancy, re "...Surrey..."!

The session log states that Sinatra did not lay down a vocal take, but only rehearsed it, and from what has been said by some of the participating musicians, he rejected it after rehearsal.

Is what you have a real take or a vocal rehearsal, and is it from the original date or even a later try at the orchestral track?

Anyway, it would be GREAT to hear Sinatra to it, Billy May's chart for the track is absolutely fabulous!! Will it be included on the DVD-A? I pray so!

Bernhard.

Adding to my excitement over the "Surrey" news, maybe some of the unreleased tracks (with different arrangements) from the July 79 Trilogy sessions are also due? Perhaps the unreleased version of NYNY even?

More coins in the fountain...

Bernhard.

Wow, what a great surprise! Will the unreleased "Surrey" be included on the DVD-A?

And while we're discussing DVD-As... are "September Of My Years" and "Francis Albert Sinatra/Antonio Carlos Jobim" still on tap? Or have they been shelved?

PJ (glad to have not botched the project thus far!)

[MMM]

Originally posted by Nancy
Trilogy is scheduled for a DVD-A release next year by Reprise.

We do have a vocal of FS singing 'Surrey' from the Trilogy sessions.

Thanks for letting us know, Nancy!

I hope they get the sound right - while some songs sound better than others, overall this album has always been too lean and shrill sounding, with some nasality.