Customer Reviews

Frank Sinatra - A Man and His Music [VHS]

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is the first and possibly the best in a line of Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music series. Watching this DVD one has to think what a groundbreaking innovator that Sinatra was. With both his music and his acting, he pushed the limit and this disc is no exception. Granted, this is from the 60's, off television, but that does not take away form how spectacular he is. Sinatra is in exceptional voice, arguably the best era of his music. He has just enough age in his voice that you can hear the heartbreak when he sings a ballad but he still can belt out the classics like Witchcraft, Come Fly With Me, and You Make Me Feel So Young. With the Nelson Riddle / Gordon Jenkins arrangements and orchestras, accompanying him, he is an unmatchable performer. I own all of the discs in this series and I would rank this, Volume II, and + Ella + Jobim all equal. This is the way that Sinatra liked it. From the very beginning, when he walks into the soundstage, sits down, and belts out I've Got You Under My Skin, to the very ending of Put Your Dreams Away (which he ended all of these special with) it's nothing but perfect. If you consider yourself a fan of Frank Sinatra then you MUST own this disc.

This DVD rates 5 stars on the exceptionally quality of Sinatra's performance and the historical value of preserving this masterful career highlight. One might have hoped, though, that some more attention could have been made to restoring some fading of the print. The sets remain beautiful but a bit muted. The sound, though mono, is terrific. Another quibble : although Sinatra fans will be familiar with all the details, there could have been more to the packaging, such as original recording and air dates, some text that puts this program into the context of Sinatra's career, anything. All one gets is a list of song titles. This performer deserves better.

This is the first television special and in many ways it it unequalled (although I haven't seen them all yet). Sinatra is in great form, his voice powerful and playful. He appears to be having a great time and it is well communicated. The opening with "Under My Skin" is exhilirating and goes down in Television history as "one of those moments". By all means...order this DVD if you haven't seen it. Also, check out A Man and His Music +Ella +Jobim; it is just as wonderful!

At first you think you're watching a film noir. A sleek black car slides through the mean streets, shot from above to a menacing jazz accompaniment. A man gets out; the shot is obscure - is he going to assassinate someone? Collect his gal? He enters an empty, blindingly white building, and begins singing 'I've got you under my skin', pointing forcefully at the audience.

My point is, although this is a TV show, with much cosy banter in front of a friendly audience, Sinatra is restlessly pushing back boundaries in the most audacious ways, from the bizarre sets (the most prominent being a curious (self-revealing?) insect/crucifix hybrid), daring medleys (especially the brilliant, but rather distubing journey through his career framed by 'It was a good year'), and the astonishing singing, as we watch Sinatra frequently having to grapple with the most excitingly jarring backing ever misnamed 'easy' - my dog was startled by a particularly off-kilter bass rumble.

There are more reassuring pleasures too - 'Nancy' is tremendously moving, and 'My kind of town' is the kind of singalong that has you flailing out of your seat. And it's great to actually see those music maestros Riddle and Jenkins take a bow. Fantastic stuff.

If you fast forward to the final 15 minutes of this incredible video you can be forgiven. For upon arrival you will view what is perhaps the greatest 15 minute medley of swing/jazz singing ever recorded for the venerable tube. Frank with precision backing from Nelson Riddle and the boys, nails every selection with a zest and confidence that can only be described as breathtaking and one of the great moments in music. Highlights: "I've Got the World on a String" in which Frank soars and where you just know he is singing about his own life at the time. "You Make Feel So Young" in which Frank belts it out like he's 20, not 50. The overall feel of this set is of a masterpiece which is why one watches it over and over again seeking out the nuance and little pleasures hidden throughout. I do not mean to give short shrift to the ballad section which opens the tape but the swing set contains classic must-have renditions for the jazz/swing fan. And yes, the very opening of the tape is as startling as you have heard. The Man, heels clicking, takes a brisk walk thru a shadowy studio up to a waiting stool and mike and goes accapella with his most famous line: "I've got you Under my Skin'. Then the music kicks in and you are grabbing the rewind button to see this oh so special moment again. It all ends with Frank singing you away with the ballad; "Put Your Dreams Away." I understand this song was played at his funeral service. Here it ends a fabulous set where Frank stakes his claim to musical immortality. He will not be denied and neither should you.

He parks his car and directly goes into the studio. And the rest is the history. History of entertainment, history of joy, history of talent. Simply put, history of Frank Sinatra Music. The performance of Frank Sinatra is just great ! No need to any other word to rate his performance. Although the picture quality is not satisfactory, the rendition of the artist balances this defect. Buy this DVD and go fly with Frank. And don't tell your mama !

Many have questioned why this "film" hasn't been remastered. The simple reason is it was shot on videotape, not film. This special, and the ones that followed, were taped at NBC Studios in Burbank(when Frank leaves his car at the beginning of the show, that's the Tonight Show studio on his right!), along with "The Dean Martin Show", "Rowan & Martin's Laugh In", "The Hollywood Squares", and many more. Everything shot at the Burbank complex, up until just a decade or so ago, was done on videotape, not film. Unfortunately even broadcast quality videotape deteriorates over time. My guess is that this special probably wasn't preserved on digital disc, until sometime in the 1980's. If you look at the DVD's of the Dean Martin Show, or "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson", you'll see that some of those master tapes have deteriorated as well. It's a shame, but those were the cost cutting limitations that NBC offered at the time. Also note that this special was shot on three different nights(hence the canned laughter at Sinatra's jokes). The first installment was November 8th, 1965. Sinatra returned at two different days that week to finish off the performance (it took at least a day to tear down and rebuild each of those elaborate sets). It was broadcast on Thanksgiving night of '65. I have read that Frank was suffering from a severe cold the night he taped the "I've Got You Under My Skin" segment, and was very cranky to the directors, producers and everyone else in the studio that night. Despite it all, he turned out a top notch performance, and I for one, am glad we have it, considering what NBC did to the first decade of Johnny Carson's material!

"AMan And His Music" was the first of several television specials Frank Sinatra did between 1965 and 1982. Running 50 minutes, this special has Frank in top form. It delivers what the title promises - no gimmicks, no comedy routines, no special guests. Just Frank, his music and his audience.

The show starts off with a rousing rendition of "I've Got You Under My Skin", which sets the mood for the evening quite well. Frank then leads us on a musical journey through his long and happy career. Among, the highlights, "I Get A Kick Out Of You" exudes style and flair, "Nancy" is tender and graceful, and "My Kind Of Town" is a wild good time.

We cut to some lovely autumn scenery, as Frank performs a medley of hits from all different stages of his career built around "It Was A Very Good Year". Featuring haunting renditions of" Young At Heart", "The Girl Next Door" and "Last Night When We Were Young", this is Frank at his finest. He is connected and lost in the music, but at the same time focused and hitting all the right emotions.

After the nice but forgettable "This All I Ask", Frank gets back into his upbeatr mode and does a fantastic runthrough of his biggest hits - "Come Fly With Me", "The Lady Is A Tramp", "I've Got The World On A String", "Witchcraft" and "You Make Me Feel So Young", all performed brilliantly. The show closes with a grogeous rendition of "Put Your Dreams Away", which was Frank's signature tune until "My Way" came out four years later.

Overall, this is a fantastic special. My only complaint is that the sound and picture quality could have been greatly improved. Other than that, I highly recommend this dvd.

This is the begining of the Sinatra's Reprise video collection. It is a great dvd! The songs on here are great: Come fly with Me, I've Got You Under My Skin and more. Also, the medley is a welcome part on the early dvd's.

The sound quality could be better. However, I assume the sound is consistent to the way in which it was originally aired. I'd prefer to get the original product vs. an overdone Hollywood reproduction.

This is Frank at his best! I own them all and this is one of the best. For a true fan this is a must. I also suggest Frank with Ella and Carlos Jobim.

A great program from 42 years ago this very month, broadcast on November 24, 1965. If you are a Sinatra fan you should grab it while it is in print.

A technical note of importance here concerning the FS: Man & His Music Part I [1965] DVD versus the FS: Man & His Music, Part II [1966] DVD:

The DVD transfer for FSMM/Part I was done on a 1:1 timing basis from the videotape. I mean that the pacing on the Part I DVD is not artificially sped-up from the original as I have been so troubled to discover is the case with the FSMM/Part II DVD. I am relieved I purchased two copies of the Part II videotape ten years ago and still have them.

I consider the "Part II" program itself the slightly better of these two superbly excellent shows for Sinatra fans but the shameful and egregious speed-up during the transfer process on Frank Sinatra - A Man and His Music Part II - With Special Guest Nancy Sinatra is an inexcusable and contemptuous affront to this incomparable historical video/musical document. It must be undone and corrected in some later release. Please, Nancy, get this corrected, re-done, re-made for posterity!

My scoring of the two programs using the selected best of the performances (in my opinion) on each:

FS: MAN & HIS MUSIC PART I

I've Got You Under My Skin - 3

Medley:
It Was A Very Good Year - [wrapper]
Young At Heart - 3
The Girl Next Door - 2
Last Night When We Were Young - 2
This Is All I Ask - 3

Witchcraft - 3
Put Your Dreams Away - 3

[MY SCORE = 19]

FS: MAN & HIS MUSIC PART II (see DVD caveat above)

Fly Me To The Moon - 3
Moonlight In Vermont - 3
You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You - 2

Medley:
Just One Of Those Things - [wrapper]
My Heart Stood Still - 2
But Beautiful - 3
When Your Lover Is Gone - 3

Luck Be A Lady - 3
That's Life - 3

[MY SCORE = 22]