I have all the shows on VHS and am just starting to buy the DVDs.
I particularly enjoy "The Main Event" because there is so much electricity in the crowd, which is exactly what I experienced when I saw him in concert around the same time in 1974. It was pure magic.

Emily

[George Lyons]

Right, Emily...the crowd/audience shots are so 70's! From the ringside celebs; the whole generations of families all swinging and mouthing the lyrics, the clothes and "hairstyles" of that decade - it's all good and FS is havin' a ball. What the heck was that lady in the raincoat doin'???

<< What the heck was that lady in the raincoat doin'??? >>

Hey, George, I always wondered the same thing!

I can't remember her name, but there was a gal of uh—(how shall I put this?)—generous proportions, who was famous for crashing and flashing at celebrity events. E.g., dashing across the field at the World Series, stuff like that. Or maybe her shtick was to kiss the celebrities, I don't recall?

Does anyone remember who I'm talking about? Could that have been her in The Main Event video?

[Marty]

Can there be a finer performance of "Ol' Man River" than that included here ?

I had always considered the version on The Concert Sinatra to be the definitive Sinatra version of what Frank himself remarks is a standard that "Transcends The Word Standard", but after being moved so emotionally by this performance this evening, I have to say that for me this "Transcends" what one thought was "Un-transcendable" (or should that be in-transcendable"? who cares? it's perfection even if my spelling isn't)

[George Lyons]

That FS "Ole Man River" is a masterpiece for sure.
Last night I purchased a Time-Warner DVD of the 1969
TV Special titled,"Sinatra". And it's ALL FRANK.
The guest star is Frank Sinatra!

Opens with "For Once in My Life", "Please Be Kind" and "My Way". It has a funny film clip montage/medley and also some McKuen songs and ends with Don Costa and the orchestra and Frank in tux swinging "Fly me To The Moon", "Street of Dreams", "Goin' Out of My Head" and "My Kind of Town".

Mr. S is trim, really tanned and sounds marvelous!!

[Marty]

This is the thread to have a perusal of George

Sinatra and Costa Orchestra

a boss show to be sure

[George Lyons]

Just read that thread, thanks, Marty.

Bump for the airing of the Frank and Ella medley on Nancy's Show #8 on Sirius this week. See this post for a still shot from the video: "Goin' Out Of My Head"...

[George Lyons]

Great capture, Bob!

[SinatraFan]

Nice picture, Bob!

This special is fantastic, one of the best. I love the melody between Frank and Ella. The best part of the show is the duet on The Lady Is A Tramp. Too bad they didn't make an album together because it would be a classic. Also, the songs with Jobim sound great!

Originally Posted by SinatraFan

Too bad they didn't make an album together because it would be a classic.

How very true... They appreciated each other all through their careers, had a lifelong friendship, all their fans would have loved a duet album or two... so why did no-one ever come up with the idea? Was that strictly because of contractual problems between Verve or Pablo, and Reprise/Warner? Artistically speaking, they sound so good together that it's a sin not to have united them on record!

Fortunately, we have a few wonderful excerpts from the TV shows (prominently the one when Frank pulls Ella's leg by praising every other jazz singer but her for most of the song "Can't We Be Friends?" and of course the Ella+Jobim concert).

Oh, and "Necessity", of course! Courtesy of our friend Chuck Granata...

<<How very true... They appreciated each other all through their careers, had a lifelong friendship, all their fans would have loved a duet album or two... so why did no-one ever come up with the idea? Was that strictly because of contractual problems between Verve or Pablo, and Reprise/Warner? Artistically speaking, they sound so good together that it's a sin not to have united them on record!>>

It would have been the best duet album in history if these 2 singers had recorded an album together. I'm thankful for what we have though it's dynamite.

[Stunatra]

Originally Posted by Steph

....all their fans would have loved a duet album or two... so why did no-one ever come up with the idea? Was that strictly because of contractual problems between Verve or Pablo, and Reprise/Warner?

From my understanding, they were going to record an album together in the late 60's, but for some reason or other they never got around to it.

Originally Posted by Steph

so why did no-one ever come up with the idea? Was that strictly because of contractual problems between Verve or Pablo, and Reprise/Warner?

Yes. The idea was more than thought of; detailed plans were made for such a duet album. Reportedly, the problem was Ella's manager, Norman Granz. Will Friedwald discusses animosities between FS and Granz dating back to Sinatra's failed attempt to purchase Verve Records, before starting his own label Reprise. (See also here: Frank & Ella, and here: Yes Ella!.)

[Stunatra]

I remember reading some of that in the Sinatra: Treasures book. They even went as far as having rehearsal sessions with songs such as "Necessity" "A Taste of Honey" and "Love and Marriage."

[SinatraFan]

It's sad that outside circumstances caused this planned album to fall apart before it began. With such a good friendship between Frank and Ella it's hard to believe that they couldn't work something out. We should be happy that at least we have them together forever on this wonderful tv special.

It also goes to show something that I've known for a long time about this business: sometimes an artist's mentor or agent can be their worst enemy from an artistic point of view, because they consider they know better what is good and what isn't for their artists, and not always rightfully so.

I can only be sad at the thought of what an album with Frank and Ella might have been like... but thank God we do have material together that we can cherish.

[Night Stranger]

I watched this special several times recently. When I first saw it, I didn't like it all that much, as it seemed a bit too far removed in style and theme from the other two specials. But I decided to give it another chance and now I love it.

From the dynamic new rendition of "Day-In, Day-Out" to the passion of "Ol' Man River" to the smoothness of the Jobim set to the final set with Ella, this show truly is magic. I actually gained a new appreciation for the 1957 Riddle version arrangement of "At Long Last Love." I've always liked the 1962 version a bit more, mostly because it's the one I'm more familliar with, but Frank revives the 1957 version here and him and the band are incredible. This version really roars.

And now that others have mentioned it, I'd really like to see Ella and Frank's 1990 performance of the song. Is it the same arrangement used for this special, or is it the Billy Byers one Frank used from 1974 onward?

[morrowjs]

the 1990 performance used the Billy Byers arrangement. The medley that Frank and Ella did in the TV special is the same one they did in their 1975 run on Broadway with Basie...except they swapped out Ella's solo song for a different (solo) song.

[Night Stranger]

Originally Posted by morrowjs

the 1990 performance used the Billy Byers arrangement. The medley that Frank and Ella did in the TV special is the same one they did in their 1975 run on Broadway with Basie...except they swapped out Ella's solo song for a different (solo) song.

I'd love to see the 1975 shows with Ella, as well as the ones with Basie and Sarah Vaughn.

Oh, the agony of being a Sinatra Fan! Knowing there are so many great performances out there just begging for release!