Sinatra Family News

Celebrating The Golden Anniversary Of The Rat Pack

HOLLYWOOD, CA (September 27, 2010) – Iconic entertainers Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.—the Rat Pack, a sheer force of nature on stage and film that defined suave masculine brio in the early 1960s.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of this legendary act, Reprise Records and Capitol/EMI will release two essential collections: The Very Best Of The Rat Pack (Reprise) on November 9, and Christmas With The Rat Pack (EMI/Capitol) on October 5, available at all retail outlets (CD and digital), including www.sinatra.com.

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.”

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.

Christmas With The Rat Pack, a 16-track collection of festive holiday classics begins with Dean Martin’s “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,” followed by Frank Sinatra’s take on “Mistletoe And Holly,” and Sammy Davis Jr.’s “Christmas Time All Over The World.” Other songs featured in the collection include Martin’s “Silver Bells,” “White Christmas,” “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “Winter Wonderland,” Sinatra’s “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear,” and “The First Noel,” and Davis’ “Jingle Bells” and “The Christmas Song,” among others.

THE VERY BEST OF THE RAT PACK
Track Listing

01. Come Fly With Me – Frank Sinatra
02. Ain’t That A Kick In The Head – Dean Martin
03. Too Close For Comfort – Sammy Davis Jr.
04. I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra
05. Who’s Got The Action? – Dean Martin
06. A Lot Of Livin’ To Do – Sammy Davis Jr.
07. Ring-A-Ding Ding – Frank Sinatra
08. Eee-O Eleven – Sammy Davis Jr.
09. Luck Be A Lady – Frank Sinatra
10. Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu) – Dean Martin
11. Birth Of The Blues – Sammy Davis Jr.
12. Witchcraft – Frank Sinatra
13. You’re Nobody ’Til Somebody Loves You – Dean Martin
14. I Get A Kick Out Of You – Frank Sinatra
15. Sam’s Song – Dean Martin & Sammy Davis Jr.
16. I’m Gonna Live Until I Die – Frank Sinatra (Alternate Version)
17. Everybody Loves Somebody – Dean Martin
18. Me And My Shadow – Frank Sinatra & Sammy Davis Jr.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE RAT PACK
Track Listing

01. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Dean Martin
02. Mistletoe And Holly – Frank Sinatra`
03. Christmas Time All Over The World – Sammy Davis Jr.
04. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – Frank Sinatra
05. Silver Bells – Dean Martin
06. The Christmas Waltz – Frank Sinatra
07. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Dean Martin
08. Jingle Bells – Sammy Davis, Jr.
09. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Frank Sinatra
10. Peace On Earth / Silent Night – Dean Martin
11. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear – Frank Sinatra
12. Winter Wonderland – Dean Martin
13. The Christmas Song – Sammy Davis Jr.
14. The First Noel – Frank Sinatra
15. White Christmas – Dean Martin
16. I'll Be Home For Christmas (If Only In My Dreams) – Frank Sinatra


For more information about THE VERY BEST OF THE RAT PACK, please contact Lellie Capwell at Sacks & Co. at 818-384-1180 / lellie.capwell@sacksco.com or Jason Elzy in Reprise’s Media Relations Department at 818-238-6220 / Jason.Elzy@rhino.com.

For more information about CHRISTMAS WITH THE RAT PACK, please contact Candice Dorsey at EMI Music North America at (323) 871-5755 / Candice.Dorsey@emicap.com or Jennifer Ballantyne at EMI North America at (323) 871-5494 / Jennifer.ballantyne@emicap.com

Posted by: Nancy | Sep 27, 2010 5:58 PM | Comments(3)

Playing Favorites 2010

Now playing on Siriusly Sinatra
SIRIUS channel 75
Mondays at 6 pm ET
Rebroadcasts: Thursdays 9 am ET & Saturdays Noon ET
Each week, a guest celebrity host plays their favorite music from Frank Sinatra and other artists who celebrate the Great American Songbook, sharing with you what it is that makes these songs so special.

Herb Alpert & Lani Hall

Vic Damone

Robert Wagner

Lou Christie

Andy Williams

Posted by: Nancy | Sep 10, 2010 9:37 PM | Comments(3)

September Of My Years Review

Frank Sinatra: September of My Years
A reflective Sinatra records his last perfect solo album

Order Album Here

Frank Sinatra was hitting yet another career peak as the British Invasion stormed the popular music charts in the mid-60s. But such was his artistic force that the mid-60s saw the Chairman’s continued success on both the album and singles charts, successfully battling the storm unleashed by the Beatles and their compatriots. In 1965, with his 50th birthday looming, Sinatra took stock at mid-life and recorded thirteen songs with arranger Gordon Jenkins. Their choices delicately balanced a nostalgic look at the successesl of youth, poignant thoughts on the limitations brought on by age, and optimistic visions of what time was still left to live. Sinatra had never before sounded this personally vulnerable, and the realization of his own mortality comes across like a genuine first thought.

The swagger of Sinatra’s recent swing albums gave way in this set to the sort of melancholy he’d explored with Jenkins on 1957’s brilliant Where Are You? and 1959’s No One Cares. Though Nelson Riddle is usually hailed as Sinatra’s most sympathetic arranger, Jenkins’ charts, both in 1957 and in 1965, winningly back Sinatra with lush string charts that frame the singer exquisitely. In the thirty years since Sinatra broke into music as a boy singer, he’d proved himself America’s greatest interpretive vocalist, and now, in the approach to his golden years, he firmly established himself as the elder statesman of pop music. He’d record some good albums throughout the rest of the 1960s, but never again would he make such an arresting, innovative and deeply personal artistic statement.

The songs he picked for this album don’t fight the notion of aging, but neither do they succumb to its frailties. The title track, recorded five weeks after the rest of the album, opens the set with the stark realization of passing years, but “How Old Am I” opts to see the changes of age as maturity rather than weaknesses, and exults the power of love to keep one vital. Sinatra and Jenkins gathered “top of your game songs” and performed them with a presence and knowingness that was, particularly among Sinatra’s rich catalog of stellar recordings, astounding. Sinatra’s empty nest – his three children were grown and he was currently single – is heard in Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn’s “It Gets Lonely Early,” but even here the lyric is both happily nostalgic and optimistically forward looking.

Sinatra was no stranger to thematic albums, but never before, and never after, would the theme connect so closely to his circumstance or the emotion spring from so deep in his heart. Recorded in only three sessions spread over eight days, September of My Years won the 1966 Grammy award for album of the year, and Sinatra won an individual Grammy for best male vocal performance for “It Was a Very Good Year.” Jenkins won for his brilliant arrangement of the same song, and Stan Cornyn (who returns to this reissue with new liner notes) won a Grammy for his original album notes (which themselves are reproduced in the booklet). Concord’s 2010 reissue adds two bonus tracks to the original baker’s dozen: a 1984 live recording of “This is All I Ask” and an alternate version of “How Old Am I?” released as a single. With or without the bonuses, this is one of a half-dozen essentials in any Sinatra fan’s collection.

Review by Hyperbolium
[©2010 hyperbolium dot com]

Posted by: Nancy | Sep 9, 2010 9:51 AM | Comments(5)

Patsy's Dinner

LOS ANGELES—(September 7, 2010)—On September 30, one of Frank Sinatra’s favorite restaurants, Patsy’s Italian Restaurant in New York, and Sinatra Family Estates will host a special evening of good food, wine and Sinatra. Featuring wines from Sinatra Family Estates, the evening will be attended by Nancy Sinatra and Amanda Erlinger, Sinatra’s granddaughter.

Family-owned since 1944, Patsy’s Italian Restaurant will prepare a four-course menu of refined Italian dishes for a seated dinner, where guests will enjoy Sinatra Family Estates’ debut vintage, the 2007 “Come Fly With Me,” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as the soon-to-be-released 2008 “Nothing But The Best,” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and a preview of the 2008 Sangiovese blend, “La Voce.” The four-course menu will kick off with Patsy’s Stuffed Artichokes, Fusilli Pasta with Tomato Basil sauce, followed by a combination plate of beef braciole, pork sausage, and Patsy’s famous veal meatballs. Patsy’s will serve up a delicious dessert consisting of Sfogliatella pastries, cannoli and biscotti. Seating is limited. For reservations, please call (212) 247-3491 or visit www.patsys.com.

Having sold-out since its fall 2009 debut, the 2007 “Come Fly With Me,” has received high praise for its “beautiful notes.” A fitting tribute to an American icon and one of the most recognizable and admired artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, “Come Fly With Me” is “full-bodied, opulent, and seriously-endowed” (Wine Advocate). In addition, the wine received accolades as one of the top scoring Napa Valley Cabernets of the 2007 vintage.

Sinatra Family Estates 2008 “Nothing But The Best” vintage blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Produced from 5-acre Calistoga vineyard, the deep purple vintage is very rich and offers a smokey oak nose.

The newest vintage, the 2008 “La Voce” is a super Tuscan-style blend of Sangiovese and Colorino, two local grape varietals, produced from 3-hectare vineyard located in the hills of Fiesole, Italy, the wine is silky and smooth with elegant tannins. For more information on Sinatra Family Estates, please visit, www.sinatrafamilyestates.com/thewine.php

Sinatra Family Estates is exclusively represented and distributed by Empire Merchants, LLC, New York, a member of the Charmer Sunbelt Group.

Privately held, Sinatra Family Estates is a collaboration between the family of legendary Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra Enterprises, and partner Danielle Price (Executive Director of Wine for Wynn Resorts and owner of Coup de Foudre Winery) and John Schwartz (owner of Amuse Bouche Winery, Napa Valley).

For further information, please contact Lellie Capwell at Sacks & Co. (for Frank Sinatra Enterprises) at (818) 384-1180 / Lellie@sacksco.com

Posted by: Nancy | Sep 7, 2010 9:47 AM | Comments(9)