Customer Reviews

Sinatra 80th Live

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Contrary to the 'official' review of this item, all of the tracks here (except the poorly edited Sinatra/Pavoratti duet)were recorded live in 1988. 11 out of 14 of the live tracks are from one live show in Boston in 1988, the other three from the 'Ultimate Event' Tour from 1988. Those three were recorded on December 2 and 3, 1988 at the Fox Theatre in Detroit. This is a marvelous collection of live tracks, with Sinatra in magnificent voice throughout all of the tracks. ANY Sinatra fan will enjoy this wonderful collection. I only hope that the Sinatra family trust will release more of this material in the future!! I would give it 6 stars if I could!!!

Contrary to what some of the other reviews on this page may have you believe, this is a great ablum. Most of the tracks on this ablum actually are from one concert: October 24, 1987 in Dallas, Texas. (Tracks 7, 8, and 12 are from a series of concerts that Sinatra did in Detriot in early December of 1988). Yes, Sinatra's intonation is not what it once was, but his stage-presence is better than ever. And about the duet with Pavarotti: it is so satisfying for me, a Sinatra fan, to see the world's greatest opera star shown up by an almost 80-year-old saloon singer.

I enjoyed the spirit on this one. It brings make a lot of memories from when I saw Frank in Vegas. His voice is pretty good on here but his phrasing and use of drama to enhance the songs are SUPERB. If u never gotta a chance to see the man, this is it.

Even when The Voice was not as strong as before, Frank Sinatra's gift of phrasing and charisma allowed him continued ownership of the concert stage. These performances, from the last 20 years of Sinatra's career, present him singing timeless classics, greatest hits and (then) contemporary songs in band settings with and without string sweetening.

It's an intriguing selection: "For Once In My Life" and "You Are The Sunshine of My Life," associated with Stevie Wonder, were staples of Sinatra's 70s-80s concert tours and are given popping big band treatment. Two from the classic "Only The Lonely"(three, counting "Where Or When" from the same sessions) are exquisite, Sinatra masking the faults in his voice as vulnerability from the songs' protagonists. These versions trump those heard on "Sinatra At The Sands."

NO ONE sang Cole Porter like Sinatra, and "In The Still Of The Night" is given a classy, swinging arrangement. It seemed in the 1970s that no one (but the Carpenters or Sesame Street characters) sang Joe Raposo's songs BUT Sinatra, and his "You Will Be My Music" is somewhat strained. (The better Raposo song to include would've been "There Used to Be A Ballpark.") "Soliloquy," which Sinatra describes as "one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written," retains its dramatic power despite lesser orchestral power behind it.

Frank Sinatra does due diligence here, also, singing three of his most popular hits with just a little irony (introducing the writers of "Strangers In The Night" by saying "I don't know who the hell these guys are," and calling "New York, New York," "the anthem," before delivering a happily growling version of it.) His closing studio duet with Luciano Pavarotti, "My Way," is worth no more than novelty, decreasing an otherwise interesting, if inessential, Sinatra concert document.

80's in concert is a good collection of songs performed live by Sinata, but there should have been a few more to make the cd more marketable. 14 songs is ok but 18-19 like some of his other live cd's would have been nice. It also would have been nice for them to state in the artwork where/when the recordings took place. There is a great rendition of 'Soliloquy' which is hard to find on any other of his live cd's. Overall, still a must for all serious Sinatra fans.

Peter J. Miller
Traverse City, MI
peterjoemiller@gmail.com

Still sounded real good at this age!Great alblum, and lots of fun, dont makem like this Jersey guy anymore!!About distributor, who I never recieved alblum who deals with amazon LAMPGUY3 bad business Bad relation to customer!!!

This was recorded mid 1980's, except for 1994/3 pavaroti song, this is not sinatra's last live album, certainly not his 1995 birthday concert album, last time he had one, songs ok but nothing special, out of prime!

This cd is great, very underrated however its zips into a frenzy for Frank, He is very powerful on this live recording which was in Dalls in 1987 I do believe. This is a great cd, I love it and the amazing thing is you can find it used cheap.
You canot go wrong purchasing any Sinatra cd;s but this one is a great insight into hearing the legend live and in concert.

This 15 song live recording was originally relesed in 1995 in celebration of Frank's 80th birthday, and while it does at times feel like a missed opportunity (one would think that such a landmark would warrant a two cd set or a boxed set of live performances), the overall result is a solid and highly entertaining live collection of Frank's later years.

The majority of these recordings come from gigs done around 1987-88. It's well known that at this point Frank was not in good shape. His voice was reduced to a croaky whisper, his health was detoriating, and his memory was in tatters to the point where he'd forget the words to entire songs, even with the aid of cue cards and teleprompters. But Frank still trudged on despite threse obstacles, and took advantage of his remaining skills, such as his interpretive skills and his energy and charisma as a performer and his relationship with his audience. The shows from which the performances were culled from thankfully have Frank in fine form. His voice, while a mere 3/4th's of what once was, resonates with power, and he remaind focused and on the money, never flubbing a line or slurring a syllable on one song.

This album is, in somewhat of a good way, hardly a "Greatest Hits Live" compilation. You won't find "My Kind Of Town", "Luck Be A Lady", "The Lady Is A Tramp", "Witchcraft", "I've Got You Under My Skin" or most of Sinatra's biggest hits here. Aside from the obligatory "New York, New York", the only instantly recognizable Sinatra hit featured is "Strangers In The Night".

The album is also, as a whole, a mostly mellow affair. There are very few swingers, and the ones that are featured still manage to convet a certain level of reflection and poignancy, all the while maintaing their fun vibe.

The show opens with a marvelous, evergreen rendition of Stevie Wonder's classic "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life". "This from me you", Frank says to his audience, reminding us all of the deep, personal Frank developed with his fans through his music.

Next comes a thundering rendition of "What Now My Love". This song was a highlight of Frank's live shows during his later years, and this version shows why. Frank nails the song, conveying the perfect amount of anguish and heartache the song details. His ability to properly interpret a song is on full display on this number. As it is on a next a number, a touching performance of Rogers & Hart's tender love song, "My Heart Stood Still". This passionate recollection of seeing true love for the first time is simply magnificent, and Frank's newly acquired, weather beaten, world-weary, and reflective sound of voice makes the song all the more endearing.

Frank dusts off an unexpected gem in the form of "What's New", a forgotten gem from one of his wonderful ballad collections done at Capitol, arranged by the genius Nelson Riddle. This sad but beautiful song is grwat to hear once more.

We then dive straight into one of the performances few uptempo numbers, "For Once In My Life". This song is generally associated with Stevie Wonder, but Frank sings with such passion and energy he makes it his own.

Frank then pulls off the unthinkable, as he manages to make Bread's early 1970s' MOR schlock hit "If" listenable with a very tender and caressing performance. Next comes a blazing revival of the old Cole Porter masterpiece "In The Still Of The Night". Frank really cuts loose on this wailer of a love song, and the band is ace on this number as well.

We are then treated to the album's undisputed highlight, an epic 11 minute rendition of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic "Soliloquy" from their show "Carousel". Frank may be 72 years old at this point and had already fathered three grown kids, but he is still completely belieavable as he assumes the roll of a man greatly anticipates and at the same time dreads the birth of his first child. This emotional roller coaster of a song will send shivers down your spine with each word Frank sings. He tugs at thea heartstrings with this one, and snaps them.

After that masterpiece of a performance, Frank treats us to a triumphant "Maybe This Time" from "Cabaret". This optimistic tale of a man finding true love after searching so long is a thrill, and Frank has a ball singing it, as he does with the next number.

"This applies to us", he explains to his audience. "Love you, Frankie", an elderly audience member shouts, prompting to simply respond, "Love you, too", before delving into a sparkling version of "Where Or When". This version is almost too good to be true, so masterful and full of life that you have to hear it to believe how good it is.

Things cool off with a bit with a beauitful performance of Joe Raposo's haunting "You Will Be My Music". This is followed by one of Frank's biggest hits and most enduring tunes. "Oh, you know this one", he shouts over the intro, before launching into a moving version of "Strangers In The Night". Great to hear this one live.

Next comes a haunting, almost heartbreaking rendition of "Angel Eyes". Frank's older voice once again works perfectly this song. The raw, world weariness makes the song drip with pain. You can easily fill a couple of shotglasses with tears listening to this.

Finally, there's the big finish, as Frank sings what he calls "The National Anthem", and launches into the most boisterous, lively, and just plain best version of "New York, New York" you can ever help to hear. You can hear the room bursting with excitement as Frank gives this one all he's got. A truly spellbinding performance.

Of course, the album closes with a low point, a corny but over well done redo of "My Way" with Lucianno Pavarotti. A nice little filler for maybe one of the "Dyets" albums, but it feels a bit incongruous with the rest of the album. Still, it works well enough.

This sis an excellent collection of Frank in his later years that is great for Frank's fans to add to their rack. Go out and get it as soon as possible.

In spite of all the others reviewing here, i really love this Live Album of The Voice. Certain i am the first to admit his voice doesn't have that strength anymore. But in stead of that it's warmer then ever before and he really make u feel he IS the lyrics here. And i don't know a live recording of Sinatra where the band is in better shape. My favorites on this album are If, You Will Be My Music and the fantastic What Now My Love. Buy this if you are a real Frank Sinatra Fan !