Originally Posted by Bob

Unfortunately, "Pennies From Heaven" was the Nelson Riddle track, even though Botti went to great length to describe the Neal Hefti/Count Basie version.

I'm sorry to always be complaining, but...

Here we have a guy who did a bang up job of hosting an hourlong Sinatra program. And this week they even put his picture up on the website before the show started. He follows up a song with "the great Count Basie orchestra as the backdrop" and goes on to describe at length "the drums and the way they swing and the way the Basie band interacts with Frank...", etc., etc., and... Sirius played the wrong track!

C'mon, Sirius! This is THE Sinatra channel. Why can't you get it right the first time?

[SinatraFan]

That was a big mistake, it made Chris Botti look bad. However, I did enjoy the 1956 version.

Show #11 — John Turturro: Nov. 12–17, 2007

1. The House I Live In (That's America To Me) (1974: Live, with FS narratives)
2. Ol' Man River (1962: Live in Paris)
3. That's Life
4. I'll Be Around (1955)
5. How Deep Is The Ocean? (1960)
6. I'm a Fool To Want You (1957)
7. I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)
8. I've Got You Under My Skin (1956)
9. Peggy Lee – Black Coffee
10. Sammy Davis, Jr. – Something's Gotta Give
11. Witchcraft (1963)
12. It Never Entered My Mind (1955)
13. My Funny Valentine
14. That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)
15. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)

Actor John Turturro started off his show with two live numbers: "The House I Live In" (from The Main Event) and "Ol' Man River" (from Live In Paris).

Unfortunately, the latter was NOT a version from the 1940s as introduced. Another case of Sirius selecting a wrong track. (Or perhaps they were restricted from playing two Columbia sides, since "That Lucky Old Sun" was played later?)

Nice song selection nonetheless, throughout the program.

[SinatraFan]

It was a good show today. It's always nice to have some live songs once in awhile.

Show #12 — Aida Turturro: Nov. 19–24, 2007

1. But Not For Me
2. [ Wave ]
3. Summer Wind
4. [ Try A Little Tenderness (1960) ]
5. Peggy Lee – Fever
6. It Was A Very Good Year
7. [ The Birth Of The Blues ]
8. Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)
9. All The Way (1957)
10. [ Strangers In The Night ]
11. Ella Fitzgerald – My Funny Valentine
12. [ East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon) (1961) ]
13. Dean Martin – Everybody Loves Somebody
14. [ I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter (1954) ]
15. (Theme From) New York, New York
16. [ Ring-A-Ding Ding ]
17. [ Come Fly With Me (Live 1966) ]

[ Songs enclosed in brackets are from the first show. These were not introduced or referenced by Aida Turturro. ]

Compliments to Aida Turturro (aka Janice Soprano) for her diabetes awareness plug!

By the way, the thumbnail photos of the Turturro cousins in my posts for the last two weeks were my own invention, obtained from Internet sources. Sirius had been supplying these on their web page for several weeks, but I guess they're getting lazy again about promoting the show.

[Added:] It seems someone was asleep at the switch halfway through the program. There was about 30 seconds of silence, followed by some unidentifiable music, and part of Aida Turturro's commentary was cut off.

[Mark Blackburn]

As I type this some lady with a lovely voice is introducing -- one-song-after-another -- the sort of compilation CD of favorites, that I've prepared over the year for friends. I can't get over her selections! They're all my favorites!

Aida who alluded to the 'Sopranos' (TV show? I'm aware of but have yet to see, believe it or not!) and how she "danced" with one of the characters on that show to "Summer Wind" (the Johnny Mercer classic written for Frank) which was the third favorite song of Aida's played minutes ago.

It blew me away that she opened with just about my favorite, late-in-life performance by Frank with Billy May -- an exquisite string arrangement loaded with lots of "Nelson-ish" touches -- of the Gershwins' BUT NOT FOR ME. The arrangement includes a lovely rubato, (solo piano accompaniment) 'bridge' -- a re-statement of the opening 'verse' actually: " . . . it's all bananas!" Billy May's finest hour!

And that was just the opener! Aida followed that with "WAVE" -- my personal favorite (always wondered if it was Frank's too?) from the recordings with A.C. Jobim (arranged by Brazilian pop pianist legend Eumir Deodato). Wow!

Followed by "Summer Wind" and then -- just to break my heart, 'cause I went to sleep last night seeing my Mom, wiping her hands on her apron and singing to me -- at age 2 -- singing me to sleep with "Try a Little Tenderness." And there's Frank's sublime retire-the-trophy rendition -- Aida's fourth selection.

Well . . . I see Bob in Boston's provided (above) the song listing so no need to add my own "blow by blow" account of what looks to be a simply wonderful show.

At this moment, she's playing one of my favorite love songs, period: One of the very best written for Frank by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, "All the Way."

"When somebody needs you, it's no good unless she needs you ALL the way . . . through the good or lean years and through all the in-between years, come-what-may. Who knows, where the road will lead us? Only a fool would say . . . but if you'll let me love you, it's for sure I'm going to love you . . . ALL the way!"

[Mark Blackburn]

Oh wow! As I type this . . . Ella's rendition of one of the two best songs written by my favorite composer Dick Rodgers with Larry Hart (their other best-ever would be "My Romance") -- "My Funny Valentine" . . . from Ella's "Rodgers & Hart Songbook" -- arranged by Nelson.

That's being followed right now by Frank's best-ever recording (from the "I Remember Tommy" album) of "EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST THE MOON." (the reception here in the frozen north just was interrupted again, inexplicably -- a minute of silence, and Aida's just come back on, mid-way through her introduction to Dean Martin's "theme song," EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY.

Just after a previous interruption (silence for perhaps 30 seconds) Aida had words of advice for those of us who have friends with diabetes. More about that in a moment. (My wife Irene says, "I'm expecting a call!" We're one of those "single phone line" families!) Back with a transcription of Aida's touching thoughts concerning a disease she herself is now battling.

[Mark Blackburn]

“Just before I play Frank singing “It Was a Very Good Year,” I’d just like to say that I’ve HAD a good year – I am dealing with diabetes and managing my disease.

“I want to spread the word, to people with diabetes to take care of your diabetes: see your doctor, and find a treatment plan that is right for you.

“In this day-and-age, there’s a lot of things to help us manage this disease – and, diet and exercise is key!

“Also . . . don’t go into denial – like I did for a while. Take charge! Talk to your doctor about possibly taking insulin if that’s what you need. . . . I travel around with my ‘pen’ – ‘cause that makes it easier for me to administer my insulin. And I live a healthy life!

“It’s also important to have a rapport with your doctors, to find out the route for you. But again, diet and exercise is key! Maybe that’s how YOU will be able to manage it. But whatever you need to do it, is FINE!

“Also if you have a hard time when you go to your doctor – or find that you get a little lost in the conversation -- go to the website aidastory.com and print out a list of questions that you can ask your doctor . . . and find a way to take care of this disease.

“It’s a disease that takes a lot of work . . . but living with managed blood sugars, you can live a long and healthy life. So with all of that, let’s have another good year.

[Coincidentally, at this very moment, 12:04 Frozen Prairie Time ---that’s the song being 'randomly' played on Siriusly Sinatra! After AidaTurturro ended her "favorites" show with a live version (At the Sands) of "Come Fly With Me." Perfect!

Show #13 — Annie Ross: Nov. 26–Dec. 1, 2007

1. Come Fly With Me
2. Glad To Be Unhappy
3. I Get Along Without You Very Well
4. [ Tony Bennett – Christmas Medley ]
5. I See Your Face Before Me
6. I'll Be Seeing You
7. [ Sinatra Family – The Twelve Days Of Christmas ]
8. Last Night When We Were Young
9. Violets For Your Furs
10. It Was A Very Good Year
11. [ Ray Charles & Betty Carter – Baby, It's Cold Outside ]
12. Get Me To The Church On Time
13. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
14. The Street Of Dreams (with Tommy Dorsey & Pied Pipers)
15. One For My Baby

[ Songs enclosed in brackets were inserted by Sirius. These were not introduced or referenced by Annie Ross. ]

Very nice show by a wonderful lady of jazz. I'm surprised they didn't play one of her own songs (or with Lambert, Hendricks & Ross).

[SinatraFan]

Terrific show today from Annie Ross... one of the best I've heard. She had some nice stories and picked a great lineup of songs... it was nice to hear The 12 Days Of Christmas and Get Me To The Church On Time.

Sirius did make a mistake on the opening song Come Fly With Me... Annie Ross introduced the live version from Sinatra At The Sands with Count Basie but Sirius played the Reprise studio recording.

Allen: I noticed the mistake also, but I'm going to stop commenting on same (as of this post ). It should be obvious by now that the people at Sirius who assemble the tracks are not Sinatra experts, so I guess such mistakes are understandable. (I'm glad they got the Tommy Dorsey/Pied Pipers track correct, though, since Ms. Ross put a lot into her intro for that one.)

[SinatraFan]

Originally Posted by Bob

(I'm glad they got the Tommy Dorsey/Pied Pipers track correct, though, since Ms. Ross put a lot into her intro for that one.)

During Annie's introduction I thought to myself... I really hope they play the right version. I'm also glad they got it right.

Show #14 — Dec. 3–8, 2007

Anthony Gourdine and Clarence Collins
of Little Anthony & The Imperials

1. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
2. [ The Gal That Got Away / It Never Entered My Mind (live in Vegas) ]
3. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)
4. It Was A Very Good Year
5. Goin' Out Of My Head
6. [ All I Need Is The Girl ]
7. Witchcraft
8. Strangers In The Night
9. [ Style ]
10. Summer Wind
11. Young At Heart

[ Songs enclosed in brackets were not introduced or referenced by Little Anthony or Clarence Collins. ]

Somehow I just knew we'd hear Frank's "Goin' Out Of My Head"—a 1964 hit for Little Anthony & The Imperials, five years before FS covered it.

[Nancy]

Sirius has announced a holiday program for the two weeks including Christmas Eve/Day.

UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS


Playing Favorites: Pat Boone
Mon 12/17 6:00 pm ET

Singer Pat Boone plays his favorite holiday recordings by Frank, Perry Como and others.

Rebroadcast: Thurs., Dec. 20th @ 3 pm ET; Sat., Dec. 23rd @ 12 pm ET; Mon., Dec. 24th @ 12 pm & 6 pm ET, Dec. 25th @ 10 am & 11 pm ET.

[SinatraFan]

It will be interesting to hear Pat Boone's song selections.