[Marty]

Reprise/Rhino compilation 2010

Planned Release Date November 9th. (postponed release until mid January 2011 see below for actual release information)

from our News page...

Featuring 18 Vegas-era favorites that spotlight each singer, The Very Best Of The Rat Pack captures the upbeat entertainment style synonymous with the trio. Showcasing swinging classics from each member solo along with two duets that feature Sinatra and Davis ("Me And My Shadow") and Davis and Martin ("Sam’s Song"). The collection also includes a previously unreleased alternate version of Sinatra’s "I’m Gonna Live Until I Die."

Dean, Sam & Frank fool around

Ol’ Blues Eyes opens the album with the signature track "Come Fly With Me" and also contributes his irresistible hits "I Get A Kick Out Of You" and "Witchcraft." The collection also includes "I’ve Got You Under My Skin" ranked among Sinatra aficionados as one of his finest collaborations with Nelson Riddle, and "Luck Be A Lady" a song featured in the musical Guys And Dolls.

Dino’s velvety croon takes the spotlight on six unforgettable performances that include "Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)" the dramatic Italian ballad that Martin took to #12 in 1958, "Who’s Got The Action?" from the 1962 film of the same name starring Martin and Lana Turner, and "Ain’t That A Kick In The Head" a tune he sang in the Rat Pack’s classic 1960 heist film Ocean’s 11.

Davis’ ebullient delivery and vocal power shine on standout tracks such as "Eee-O Eleven" from the Ocean’s 11 soundtrack, "A Lot Of Livin’ To Do", a song originally written for the 1960 musical Bye Bye Birdie, and "Too Close For Comfort" from the 1956 Broadway play Mr. Wonderful in which Davis played the starring role.


THE VERY BEST OF THE RAT PACK

Reprise Records catalog no. R2 526241
(UPC no. 081227978693)
Release Date: January 25, 2011
18 Tracks

Liner Notes: "Of Rats and Men: Intro to Pack Mentality 101" by Bill Zehme
A&R Supervision: Jimmy Edwards & Ryan Wilson
Executive Producer: Robert Finkelstein
Tape Review & Mixing: Larry Walsh
Remastering: Pete Doell, Universal Mastering Studios West
All Frank Sinatra tracks Digitally Remastered ℗ 2010 Frank Sinatra Enterprises, LLC.

All tracks are studio recordings. From the booklet:

1. COME FLY WITH ME - Frank Sinatra
   Arranged by Billy May
   From the album A Man And His Music, Reprise #1016 (11/65)
   
   
2. AIN'T THAT A KICK IN THE HEAD - Dean Martin
   Arranged & Conducted by Nelson Riddle
   Capitol single #4420 (8/8/60)
   
   
3. TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT - Sammy Davis Jr.
   Arranged & Conducted by Marty Paich
   From the album Sammy Davis Jr. Belts The Best Of Broadway, Reprise #2010 (2/62)
   
   
4. I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN - Frank Sinatra
   Arranged & Conducted by Nelson Riddle
   From the album Sinatra's Sinatra, Reprise #1010 (8/63)
   
   
5. WHO'S GOT THE ACTION? - Dean Martin
   Arranged & Conducted by Chuck Sagle
   Reprise single #20,116 (9/62)
   
   
6. A LOT OF LIVIN' TO DO - Sammy Davis Jr.
   Arranged & Conducted by Marty Paich
   From the album Sammy Davis Jr. Belts The Best Of Broadway, Reprise #2010 (2/62)
   
   
7. RING-A-DING DING - Frank Sinatra
   Arranged & Conducted by Johnny Mandel
   From the album Ring-A-Ding Ding!, Reprise #1001 (3/61)
   
   
8. EEE-O ELEVEN - Sammy Davis Jr.
   Orchestra Conducted by Morty Stevens
   Verve single #10219 (8/60)
   
   
9. LUCK BE A LADY - Frank Sinatra
   Arranged by Billy May
   From the album Sinatra '65, Reprise #6167 (5/65) [see note below*]
   
   
10. VOLARE (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu) - Dean Martin
    Orchestra Conducted by Gus Levene
    Capitol single #4028 (6/58)
    
    
11. BIRTH OF THE BLUES - Sammy Davis Jr.
    Arranged & Conducted by Morty Stevens
    From the album A Treasury Of Golden Hits: Newly Recorded, Reprise #6096 (9/63)
    
    
12. WITCHCRAFT - Frank Sinatra
    Arranged & Conducted by Nelson Riddle
    From the album Sinatra's Sinatra, Reprise #1010 (8/63)
    
    
13. YOU'RE NOBODY 'TIL SOMEBODY LOVES YOU - Dean Martin
    Arranged & Conducted by Nelson Riddle
    From the album This Time I'm Swingin'!, Capitol #1442 (10/60)
    
    
14. I GET A KICK OUT OF YOU - Frank Sinatra
    Arranged & Conducted by Nelson Riddle
    From the album Sinatra's Sinatra, Reprise #1010 (8/63) [see correction]
    
    
15. SAM'S SONG - Dean Martin & Sammy Davis Jr.
    Orchestra Conducted by Billy May
    Reprise single #20,128 (11/62)
    
    
16. I'M GONNA LIVE UNTIL I DIE (Alternate Version) - Frank Sinatra
    
    
17. EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY - Dean Martin
    Produced by Jimmy Bowen
    From the album Dream With Dean: The Intimate Dean Martin, Reprise #6123 (5/64)
    
    
18. ME AND MY SHADOW - Frank Sinatra & Sammy Davis Jr.
    Orchestra Conducted by Billy May
    Reprise single #20,128 (11/7/62)

*Note: Although the 1965 printed credit is technically accurate, "Luck Be A Lady" first appeared on the album Reprise Musical Repertory Theatre Presents Guys And Dolls (11/63), conducted by Morris Stoloff.

PLEASE NOTE BOB'S CORRECTION REF : TRACK 14.

[Gregory]

This looks like a great compilation. Can't wait for it's realease.

[Josh]

Looking forward to hearing the alternate take! Plus I can't wait to see the cover, it's gonna look so cool

[Nick_Bradley78]

Didn't know there were alternates for that song, look forward to it, similar CD to Capitol's "Eee-0 11 The Best of the Rat Pack" from 2001 but Ill get it for the alternate.

[ceruleus]

Nice looking set! Looking forward to picking it up.

[Marty]

This release is set to include brand new liner notes by Mr. Bill Zehme.

[donnah]

Looking forward to this release. Thanks for posting.

[Dougjr]

Awful cover. Decent set list, though.

[Marty]

Originally Posted by Dougjr

Awful cover

Amazon (from whence the covert art cometh) have been known to supply interim artwork whilst waiting for cover art to come from the publisher, this could be the case in this instance too.

Added, yep it seems like that was the cover art after all....a shame

[Bob in Boston]

Release has been delayed until January 25, 2011. That makes it the first announced FS issue of the new year.

[Nick_Bradley78]

Was your thinking on the alternate take that it was in fact a TV recording Bob?

[Bob in Boston]

The collection also includes a previously unreleased alternate version of Sinatra’s "I’m Gonna Live Until I Die."

Originally Posted by Nick_Bradley78

Was your thinking on the alternate take that it was in fact a TV recording Bob?

Yes, Nick. "Previously unreleased alternate version" is the terminology Reprise used for "My Funny Valentine" on the Seduction CD two years ago. Similar to that release, my guess/prediction is that "I’m Gonna Live Till I Die" is a vocal recorded for the 1957-58 TV program, The Frank Sinatra Show, with a modern overdubbed orchestration.

This may be the version used in the recent Twyla Tharp dancical, Come Fly Away. (The limited-edition CD from that Broadway show included a similar "new" TV version of "I've Got the World on a String." FSE seems to be issuing these sporadically on the Reprise label.)

[Nick_Bradley78]

Yes I've no objection to that, but would prefer if they just released the TV songs in one place. I got the Come Fly Away CD from Sinatra.com, postage was extortionate but its a nice, sort of rarity to have.

[David A]

Originally Posted by Nick_Bradley78

Yes I've no objection to that, but would prefer if they just released the TV songs in one place. I got the Come Fly Away CD from Sinatra.com, postage was extortionate but its a nice, sort of rarity to have.

To be fair, the mastering on the songs on that disc are the best yet; even warmer than the work done on "Nothing But The Best."

I always get a kick out of these new overdubs, i.e. like "This Can't Be Love," or "My Funny Valentine." Gives a new sonic portrait to the arrangements we've all known and loved for almost half a century.

[Bob in Boston]

Bumping for the imminent release next Tuesday. This CD has been receiving a lot of publicity reviews this week.

Regarding the "previously unreleased" track (not quite), see here: Sinatra: Dance with Me 2010 ...

Originally Posted by Bob in Boston

BTW, this previously unreleased track has also been announced for the upcoming Reprise compilation, The Very Best Of The Rat Pack. As mentioned, the "Alternate Version" terminology has been used in the past to identify vocal tracks recorded for the 1957-58 TV program, The Frank Sinatra Show, overdubbed with modern orchestrations.

[Francisx]

Great stuff Bob! What an insight!

[jimsully]

love the new items that keep showing up on well deserved new released of the best of Mr Sinatra. the items from the television years are fantastic. Hey - we have the complete studio recordings, the v disc releases , the movie soundtracks now , though it must have been thought of before- how about a box set on radio performances and tv shows ( exclusive of those on the video box set of all his specials)

I am gonna love , i am gonna live to I die

[David A]

The Frank Sinatra facebook page noted that QVC will be selling an exclusive version of this album with three bonus tracks:

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/v...-Track-BonusCD

1. The Lady Is A Tramp - Sammy Davis Jr.
2. Via Vineto - Dean Martin
3. Luck Be A Lady - Frank Sinatra

They're advertised as live tracks.

[Nick_Bradley78]

Originally Posted by jimsully

- we have the complete studio recordings, the v disc releases , the movie soundtracks now , though it must have been thought of before- how about a box set on radio performances and tv shows ( exclusive of those on the video box set of all his specials)

60 Radio Shows have been issued on the Radio Spirits boxset. Thread here http://www.sinatrafamily.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=24621

Though it would be nice to have an only-music one, or a pay-access database of the entirity of the shows, of which there are many hundreds.

[Josh]

Originally Posted by David A

The Frank Sinatra facebook page noted that QVC will be selling an exclusive version of this album with three bonus tracks:

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/v...-Track-BonusCD

1. The Lady Is A Tramp - Sammy Davis Jr.
2. Via Vineto - Dean Martin
3. Luck Be A Lady - Frank Sinatra

They're advertised as live tracks.

If they're live perhaps they're from the Rat Pack Live at the Sands disc that was put out in 2002?