Small correction to my original song list:

The version of "Nancy (With The Laughing Face)" (song #5) is the rare alternate playback take which appears in Portrait Of Sinatra: Columbia Classics (disc 1 of 2) and The Essential Frank Sinatra: The Columbia Years.

(I had originally listed a CD containing the more common master take. The differences are only detectable by careful listening to a couple of phrases in the song.)

Wow! Tony Bennett's ending on Michel Legrand's and the Bergmans' "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" just knocks my socks off.

One more correction:

The version of "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" (song #17) is the rare earlier one from 1973. That track appears on compact disc ONLY in The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings box set (disc 16 of 20).

(I had originally listed incorrectly the 1981 recording, which appears on disc 19 of the box set and in the album She Shot Me Down.)

[David B.]

Ok, call me a slow learner...

Listening to Nancy For Frank...Nancy: Nice n' Easy, Old Devil Moon then Frank: Bang Bang, NOW Frank Jr.: Night And Day and other beautiful versions all his own...on As I Remember It, expressing the same sentiments about the difference between the pre-50's Frank and everything that followed that I have felt...

AWESOME!

Shoot me. I hadn't been paying enough attention to this thread...since I wasn't a Sirius subscriber because of some logistic issues; questionable overseas satellite availability in the near future...long story.

But I honestly DID NOT KNOW you could get Siruis on the Internet without already being a subscriber to Sirius radio, buying the car adapter, home adapter, etc. until I skimmed this thread and saw the mentions of it! I noticed William's post including the link for the Siriusly Sinatra page...

http://www.sirius.com/servlet/Conten...=1104779639979

...and I followed the link to subscribe. It took less than 5 minutes to sign up and the music is coming in fine.

Yeah, I've certainly been there, but I think I can find a way to come up with $.43 per day for this...plus Howard and all the other commercial free music.

Is there a permanent link for the Sirius Internet Radio sign up on the SFF website? I didn't notice it on the Links drop down...

Originally Posted by David B.

But I honestly DID NOT KNOW you could get Siruis on the Internet without already being a subscriber to Sirius radio, buying the car adapter, home adapter, etc. until I skimmed this thread and saw the mentions of it!

Furthermore, if and when you decide to spring for a satellite radio, the Internet service is included for the same monthly subscription fee.

[David B.]

Right, Bob, and that would be the better deal for sure.

I'm just one of those reformed early technology adapters that have been putting off buying the radio until the portable streaming model was less expensive, then for the merger to be settled, then...you get the idea. I'm spending a lot less time in my car these days and I'm really just a few months away from setting up shop much of the time in a country that wouldn't have a clear shot at Sirius satellite reception anyway (I think). I assume I can get Sirius Internet Radio anywhere in the world with Internet access..?

For someone like me, the Internet option works great.

Originally Posted by David B.

I assume I can get Sirius Internet Radio anywhere in the world with Internet access..?

Tina mentions above that she's listening right now from England.

BTW, I only mentioned the bit about the same subscription fee to satisfy those who may be on the fence about satellite radio: There's no penalty for getting an Internet subscription now and upgrading to satellite later (or never).

[Gonzalo Duque]

Hey Bob,

The highest bit rate that Sirius streams at is 128 kbps for the premium. Do you have any idea what the quality is on the actual signal coming down from the satellite at geo-sync orbit? I thought I heard someone say they still heard that "phasey" effect on the radio receiver.

Thanks!

I don't know, Gonzo. To be honest, I haven't sprung for a radio yet; all my listening has been over the Internet. (I've been trying to decide whether to get an in-car setup, or go with one of their Stiletto portable MP3 player/receivers.)

Chuck Granata may be the one to ask.

[Mark Blackburn]

Leaving aside the uncertain future of SIRIUS satellite radio for a moment . . . in favor of a bigger question:

Is there a ‘market’ for a radio station that plays almost all Sinatra music?

Where I live, here in Winnipeg, there are no “easy listening” FM stations anymore: Our one-and-only jazz station (which opened . . . oh, four or five years ago) has never played a single song by Sinatra in the morning and afternoon “drive-time” hours (outside of what I jokingly dubbed the “Sinatra ghetto” – a syndicated weekly program for a couple hours each Saturday or Sunday --- I forget who hosted it --- someone in L.A. I think --- and it was gone with the wind in a few short weeks).

I have heard, on FM radio stations in Winnipeg exactly ONE song by Sinatra in recent years: Frank’s lovely rendition of THE CHRISTMAS SONG (“chestnuts roasting”) – arranged by Gordon Jenkins --- two Christmas’ ago.

Our devolving discussion now, prompted by Nancy’s latest observations, reflect our shared discouragement that SIRIUS radio in general, and SIRIUSLY SINATRA in particular, haven’t been an immediate success.

Coincidentally, I thought as I listened delightedly to Frank Sinatra on the way in to work this morning, “This is so great – the novelty of hearing Frank (and some other pretty wonderful singers) emanating from my radio the moment I turn it on – the novelty will never wear off! Then immediately, looking around me I thought: “Wonder how many of these other motorists would be listening to this marvelous station --- EVEN IF IT WERE FREE?”

Really. You know it it’s true! How many of your friends / acquaintances / co-workers are Frank Sinatra fans? And when was the last time you heard Sinatra being played on FM radio? (Winnipeg is a city of 700 thousand, with a lot of radio stations offering a lot of ‘songs’ that . . . Nancy won’t be selecting for next week’s program!

Like the music of Frank Sinatra itself, Nancy’s programs are proving to be the epitome of great musical taste. And, I’d agree with Bob that “they keep getting better!” But I had these same thoughts -- when I caught the tail end of Nancy’s latest program Sunday, and the one the previous week.

I sat there alone in my room at home, listening in awe (the previous Sunday) to Bill Evans playing SPRING IS HERE; and I was similarly transfixed at the end of Nancy’s latest show – listening with delight to the sound of George Gershwin himself at the piano – exactly as he would have sounded, while playing those two songs 80 years ago (!)

It was a perfect, note-for-note transcription of George’s playing – thanks to a player piano roll (a century-old device that captured all of the nuances and shading of Gershwin’s prodigious technique). I’m guessing the piano roll had hooked up to a modern, concert grand piano and then direct-to-digitally recorded (thanks to Michael Feinstein?).

Again, I sat there, filled with joy at what I was hearing . . . I wondered to myself, How many people – what percentage of the human race -- would appreciate this? Even if they had access to it? How many people could appreciate this “monument to musical good taste” – so lovingly crafted by Nancy and Chuck Granata --- what percentage of radio listeners today would appreciate this treasure --- even if it were handed to them “free” of charge? 2-per-cent? 10-per-cent?

(cont.)

[Mark Blackburn]

When I’m not listening to Channel 75 (for instance the moment I’m hearing the scratchy strings that herald the umpteenth playing of Etta James’ “AT LAST”) I flip over to Channel 77 “BROADWAY’S BEST” and find myself similarly surprised and delighted to hear an old favorite (something I’ll NEVER otherwise enjoy anywhere else).

Most recently it was Julie Andrews singing “I Could Have Danced All Night” --- and I thought: I haven’t heard that recording (from the 1956 Broadway cast of MY FAIR LADY) on FM radio in 40 years! And what percentage --- even of SIRIUS radio’s own listeners, (otherwise engaged by a sports / talk-show or comedy programming) --- would keep their dial tuned to channel 77 and stick around if they happened upon that lovely song --- Julie’s ‘retire-the-trophy’ original version of that Lerner & Lowe classic? My own family, I’m certain, would switch to another channel. (No one I ever met could sing along with me, the lyric to “I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT.” (Frank’s ‘swing’ version is simply the greatest! So happy he performed it “live” all over the world.)

-----

My own father – a musical soul (who died last year at almost 90) used to say to me that “most people are tone-deaf -- and don’t even know it.” Well with the wisdom that 60 years have brought me, I’m beginning to see the light: Dad was right! For most people today, “good taste” is something usually experienced only at mealtime!

Let’s face it: There could never be a better “Sinatra Show” than the one Nancy lovingly creates for our listening pleasure each week. If her ‘market share’ increases by only a few more percentage points in the lazy summer days ahead of us, then let’s at least console ourselves, knowing that even the most precious things can be overlooked in a busy “marketplace” where QUANTITY counts for more than quality.

And let’s take heart too, from the joys we share with other members of the family here. Isn’t it good to know there are others with “ears to hear”-- kindred spirits, gifted with the innate sensibilties – ‘good taste’ -- to appreciate the rare feast that’s being offered us for the first time ever, this “Summer of 2007.” To coin a phrase, we will have these moments to remember.

Originally Posted by Mark Blackburn

Is there a ‘market’ for a radio station that plays almost all Sinatra music?

I think so, Mark. How else will this music live on to attract the minds and hearts of new listeners?

I think back to when I first started listening to Sinatra (and jazz). Much of what you say about popular indifference to the music we love was just as true then (1959) as it today. But it was an FM radio station which got me hooked.

So, I can easily imagine some 11-year-old scanning the channels on his family's Sirius radio and pausing to listen to this wonderful voice which is unlike anything he's ever heard before... and becoming a new and lifelong fan.

It's all about keeping the flame.

(Hey, we need a flame smiley.)

P.S. That radio show which I discovered accidentally some 47 years ago (Sid Mark) is still on the air today. In fact, it's one of the most popular shows in the Philadelphia market.

[Gonzalo Duque]

Mark,

Very well written and I totally agree. Nancy and Chuck are going above and beyond in providing us with this wonderful music that lives for all time. I most certainly hope that some youngster flipping through the Sirius dial will land on channel 75 and think "this stuff is good!" and get hooked. Maybe even end up in here!

Bob, Sid Mark has been keeping the flame before there even was a flame to keep! He started in 1955 and we know where FS was and what he was doing then. Sid has had the joy to introduce every single new Sinatra album and 45 single since then to his audience. It would be great to hear him on Sirius I must say!

Gonzo, See one of my first SFF postings here: Sid Mark.

[Nancy]

The piano rolls are original. Restored through the marvels of technology they were finally presented on Elektra Records, I believe. That is George Gershwin you heard.

Originally Posted by Nancy

That is George Gershwin you heard.

I referenced one of the CDs on the Elektra Nonesuch label in my listing above—Gershwin Plays Gershwin: The Piano Rolls. There was a Vol. 2 also. The following web page offers a nice description of the history and technology:

George Gershwin and the player piano 1915-1927

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Gonzalo Duque

Hey Bob,

The highest bit rate that Sirius streams at is 128 kbps for the premium. Do you have any idea what the quality is on the actual signal coming down from the satellite at geo-sync orbit? I thought I heard someone say they still heard that "phasey" effect on the radio receiver.

Thanks!

I once heard Sirius in an Explorer, and it had very obvious (to me) "underwater" sounding artifacts. I *think* the internet connection streams at a higher rate than the actual radio broadcast, but I haven't heard what rate the radio was streamed at in a while. I *think* it was once 96 kbps - it might still be.

I may get the internet version. When I do, it'll be because of Nancy's show...

[Nancy]

Why not try the 3-days and cancel if you don't like it?

Note: The 3-day online trial (7-day for AAA members with promo code) is free with no commitment. It cancels itself.

Originally Posted by Gonzalo Duque

Do you have any idea what the quality is on the actual signal coming down from the satellite ?

Gonzo: Here's a link to a good review I found:

Almost everything you ever wanted to know about Sirius satellite radio

We're getting off-topic for Nancy's show, so I won't quote it here, but read what he says near the end about sound quality and compression.