[Tony]

Although not this one the Sept, 1978 RFH Concert programme I`ve been searching out for `yonks` finally turned up along with a review of the show at the bottom of a long forgotten box

[Barry]

I met Don a few times with Pete Strange. No metion of Alan Parker, so I will ask him Tuesday which year he worked with Frank?. It was at the RFH I do know. Great write up by Don. Thanks again,

Originally posted by bvo35 Note this is one of the very rare occaions where he sings the *Gordon Jenkins* arrangement for "One For My Baby".

Bernhard.

What makes this arrangement different from the landmark Nelson riddle arranged version? Is there more use of strings, as is expected of Jenkins? Perhaps the piano removed, trying for a new setting, not necisarily that bar room with the tinny piano?

This is a really classy all around beautiful show. Watching it makes me tear up. I love how the people in England always supported FS. Even when he was down in the early 50's his shows sold out in England. No wonder he made that night so special. I am sure he never forgot that ever. He really is in top form this night. He makes every lyric sound so beautiful. This dvd is hard to take your eyes off. " Didn't we" makes me so sad it is so full of emotion. I love his version of " I have dreamed" here. Princess Grace looks so happy this night. The story she tells of FS shows how great a man Sinatra was. You can tell she loved FS and his music. The setting of Royal Festival hall is so distinguised and classy a perfect backdrop for Mr. S in this time of his career. He shines on stage. Some may think" I will drink the wine" doesnt really fit here but I enjoy it. Sinatra makes it fit in very well. I think FS made a mistake or maybe changed the lyrics on purpose, but I hear him sing during "My Way ", "make it clear" instead of "say it clear" and "I grew tall" instead of "through it all". It still sounds good. It's cool how he makes it sound like it was intentional. Do you notice how everyone is so quiet when he sings " I get along without you very well"? He has them all in the palm of his hand. What a moment.

The whole concert is really touching and beautiful. This is a great moment captured on film so that we can enjoy it over and over again.

Melissa

[Jeffrey Simmons]

Just adding to what was said above.

As I understood it, Marion Ryan, Paul and Barry Ryan's mother married Mr Harold Davidson, who was the UK impresario who promoted Frank Sinatra shows in the UK. In my view that was really the main connection between Sinatra and Paul Ryan. When FS said during the concert that Paul Ryan belongs to some people very close to him, that relationship with Harold and also Marion was, in my view, exactly what he meant.

Harold Davidson's company, MAM (Management and Music) produced the Sinatra concerts outside the USA and also printed and sold the advance tickets for the Sinatra shows.

BTW Harold Davidson and I had some mutual friends, the late Vilma and Harold Russell. Naturally, as my family were long time big Sinatra fans, (my father went to see FS at the London Palladium the first time he ever came over) we were on Harold Davidson's advance mailing list for all Sinatra performances. As soon as Harold Davidson sent my parents or later myself a notification of a London Sinatra concert, I would personally rush around to the MAM's offices in the West End of London and go right upstairs and then as many tickets as required would usually be sold to me on the spot. I sometimes bought several seats for several nights for all the family all at once which was quite an expensive excercise as you can imagine. Of course, you had to be very quick though because as soon as the word would go around that FS was coming, all the seats would be sold out - sometimes in just a few hours. Whenever I susequently saw Harold Davidson at the concerts he always asked me how I enjoyed the show and you can bet my answers were always most enthusiastic.

It's really great how the British always supported Mr. S even in his down period toward the beginning of the 50's he would still sell out over there. He had some of the most loyal fans there.

Were you at the concert at Royal Festival Hall Jeffrey? That must have been an amazing night. How many times did you see FS in England?

Melissa

I know you are discussing the 1970 RFH concert, but (and i know i have mentioned this many times before) i was at the 1962 midnight matinee concert at RFH, and how i wish this could be put onto dvd, it was a fantastic concert and televised.

<<I was at the 1962 midnight matinee concert at RFH, and how I wish this could be put onto dvd, it was a fantastic concert and televised.>>

Wow Kay. Frank was exceptionally gorgeous in 1962. What a night that must have been for you. You will never forget it.

What songs did he sing that night Kay?

Melissa

Originally Posted by Swoonergirl

What songs did he sing that night Kay?

See here: This Is Sinatra (UK 1962)

Melissa
(Thanks Bob, saved me getting my programme out.) Yes he was very handsome and sexy, as well as course as that wonderful voice. I was lucky enough to have a seat very near the stage, and you are right it was something i will never forget. I still have my programme and ticket, also newspaper photos taken from the concert, and some of his visit when he met the blind children (which was of course the charity) When and if i get a digital camera i will show them on the forum.

[Jeffrey Simmons]

Mel, I was not at the 1962 concert as I would have been quite a bit too young, although I was around. I remember being taken to the May 1970 Gala concert at the RFH. I started to make my own way to Sinatra Concerts as from May 1975 at the RAH and then all the way through until 1992. During that time I attended at least one night of all the London Sinatra Concerts that there were and I was lucky enough to have even attended some longer running engagements several times through the run. On two occasions I can remember I even attended both the matinee and late shows on the same day. They were great times.

I love this concert, i really do ! I´ve been watching it almost every day for 1 year now.. It´s fabulous
I agree with you lux that Paul Rayan and this song I Will Drink The Wine, (that Frank, in the concert dedicated to Dino. ) but im in loooooovve with I Have Dreamed, such a grate song, and a fabulous performance...

***but im in loooooovve with I Have Dreamed***

Oh yeah - and when Sinatra, at this show discussed here, introduced it as "we got many cards & letters about this", he wasn't overstating. Many of his fans considered, and still rightfully consider, "I Have Dreamed" a true landmark performance (as recorded in 1963 for Reprise with Riddle for the studio album The Concert Sinatra), and at Royal Festival Hall in 1970, he showed'em all that he could (still) pull it off to much the same effect on a live concert stage as well. A real shining our for Sinatra.

Please also check out another thread on this televised concert here at the Forum, at Sinatra In Concert At The Royal Festival Hall (1970) DVD/VHS.


Bernhard.

[Will T]

I was wondering why Frank seemed to get angry by the drummer during this show. Frank also jumped and turned toward the band at the end of I will drink the wine. Anyone else notice it?

I'm watching this again right now it's sensational.. just beautiful.

[heather4red]

This was my introduction to Frank Sinatra and a whole world of music. I remember now, sitting infront of a black & white TV, mesmerized by what I was hearing. I was 12 years old and that makes me 33 today (joke). Thank you for the birthday greetings and I am spending it in the Bay Area of San Francisco! This was and is great TV, would be good idea for the networks to show it more often, even as a music education program. Who knows it might open the ears of another 12 year old.

[Jeffrey Simmons]

I can't remember if I ever said this before, but I had a sound tape recording which I took from the tv when the show was first repeated on BBC TV in an edited version and on that particular repeat recording, a great version of 'A Foggy Day In London Town' was included, but the song 'I Have Dreamed' was omitted. What I cannot understand is why that song 'A Foggy Day In London Town' was not included in the DVD version??? Does anyone know?

Heather what a lovely memory you posted. just lovely. I love and treasure how Frank Sinatra brings these sort of memories into our lives. With every song there is a memory.

Jeffrey I have no idea but that sounds a little odd.

[TheVoiceLivesOn]

I just picked up this video yesterday! I can't wait to watch it, from what I've read it makes me even more excited!

[rich]

More "great Frank"......love this show