Customer Reviews

AT THE VILLA VENICE CHICAGO VOL.2

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sometimes I wish I didn't have a tendency of entering into a situation in the middle of it. I walk into movies late, miss the first part of conversations, and tune into good songs on the radio just after the good part has already played. That's the way I feel with "At Villa Venice... Vol. 2," because I know there's more good stuff on Volume 1. Thank goodness, though, the stuff on Vol. 2 is GOLD! Imagine if you will the club on the outskirts of Chicago, owned by "the family," and featuring the headlining trio of Sinatra, Martin, and Davis. You miss their individual musical sets on stage, but get there in time for the Clan's comedy act, involving liquor, double entendre, current events, and even race. Each performer adds to the equation, creating a masterpiece of 80-proof humor. The songs they do sing are either played for riotous laughs or off-the-cuff entertainment. It is a great and gritty guilty pleasure that you'll keep at the top of your stack of CDs. By the time this disk ends, you have to shake off the feeling that you were there, in their time, having THE time of your life.

Transport yourself back to the swinging 60's when Sinatra was king of the world holding court with his able ministers of hip, Dean and Sammy. The comedy is a bit dated and not exactly politically correct, but the music and the energy effusing from the trio make up for that. The quality of the recording is first rate for technology and time. A must for the Rat Pack afficienado.

There will never be another trio like Sinatra, Martin and Davis again - this CD freezes in time that special aura the Rat Pack had around them. They were "free" in their music, thoughts, words and actions and boy did they have "fun" - "great fun" and this CD allows all of us to close our eyes and relive those wild swingin times all over again. And for a brief moment, you forget they are no longer with us in life ....

Given the fact that this cd is becoming impossible to find, I was thrilled when I was finally able to purchase it. I think that on the eighth day God created Sinatra. I inserted it and listened and listened. Same ole routine, same ole racial jokes, same ole drunk jokes. At the end, a lady requests that Frank sing "Nancy". This is the only real song on this whole cd. If you want it because it is rare, have at it. If you want it because it captures an era that will never be again, have at it. If you are looking for any new gems from any of the Rat Pack, they are not on this cd.