Customer Reviews

On The Radio: The Lucky Strike Shows 1949-1950

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

 

 

I have a huge Sinatra collection. HUGE. I recently purchased this cd and I am beyond happy with it! These are rare recordings of Frank's radio show performances and he is in FINE form. The voice is strong, vibrant and tremendously smooth. His breath control is beyond comparison. His interjections are witty, cute and full of Sinatraisms. This is Francis the way we want to remember him. You must have this cd. This is the best thing that has come out in a long time.

As the back cover and liner notes tell us, Sinatra was running himself ragged when he was appearing on these shows, cutting records and performing live nightly at local clubs. Well, it only goes to show how polished he was in the pre-Capitol years. His breath control and enunciation are impeccable -- "I Only Have Eyes For You" is a particular standout. There are some true rarities here, such as "Every Time I Meet You," "It Isn't Fair," "A Man Wrote a Song," and several others that you won't hear anywhere else. The orchestrations are well-developed and complement Sinatra's voice quite nicely. The audio quality is surprisingly sharp. This one's a great find, and a real keeper, especially for long-time Sinatra fans. Although the 18 selections time out to only a little over 40 minutes, the price and quality makes this one an exceptional value.

I discovered this by accident and I'm happy I did. This features nothing but the Lucky Strike radio shows. Filled with songs Frank NEVER recorded in the studio. It was a thrill to hear Frank sing the Don Cornell song, It Isn't Fair. The arrangements on here are similar to his studio versions, but there is a Body and Soul that is similar to the studio version, but is different enough to make you excited to hear a live version of this classic song by Frank. The orchestration is unique enough to make you feel excited to hear those different inflections and make you glad that so much of Frank's legacy was recorded. Great notes and excellent remastering. Considering that these are all radio transcriptions of RARE performances, no Sinatra collector should be without this cd.

As Frank Sinatra mentions on this series of songs in front of a live audience, some people like turkey hash, some like eggs and some like an egg on top of their hash.

Some enjoy the presence Frank Sinatra had in his Vegas and other live performances. Some find his studio recordings (with no dialogue) more to their taste. This CD gives both groups insight into how Sinatra honed the skills that made him a master of performance in both venues. I was surprised that this collection of songs from his 1949-50 radio broadcasts would have more than adequate fidelity. He shows a great deal of comfort in front of a studio audience and you get to hear how he establishes rapport with them.

The songs are mostly quite short, but for those who enjoy Sinatra you will get a double treat of his voice and style already well on the way to mastery. Finally, some of these songs were never or rarely recorded by him again. Very satisfying.

My Grandparents love the CD. Great price, too. Also bought an inexpensive CD player. It was the perfect gift for them.