Detroit City Swings

This week I've written about both Motown and Sinatra.  

Well wouldn't you know it, there is a cool cd that combines the two.  MOTOWN CELEBRATES SINATRA is a compilation of Motown artists covering tunes associated with Ol' Blue Eyes.

It's not on itunes, but you can order it here from amazon.com.

Not all of the songs on the cd are "amazing," but overall it is a cool cd.  Love Marvin Gaye's soulful cover of ONE FOR MY BABY.  This track is actually on itunes.  Check it out.  Great stuff.

My favorite track is Gladys Knight and the Pips going to town on JUST IN TIME.  This song has been on other compilations as well (no itunes though.)  Their version has a great groove to it and then suddenly kicks into overdrive.  This may be my favorite version of the song besides Blossom Dearie's (and there are a LOT of versions!)

You can hear samples of the whole album here.

Leader of the Pack

Got free tickets to see a Rat Pack Tribute show tonight from a friend who couldn't use them.  (Thank you SO much Jen!) 

It was WONDERFUL!  You can read more about the show here.  Our seats were in the mezzanine which was great.  I really felt as if we were at a real Rat Pack concert.  All 3 guys were great, but Stephen Triffitt as Sinatra was especially brilliant.  I got a little emotional during MY WAY.

Sinatra has always been one of my heroes.  I need to devote a future post to just him and what he means to me.  There are a lot of my favs that I haven't really written about (Ella, Steve and Eydie, etc...)  I need to start doing that.  The problem has been "Where do I start?"  Well, in this post let's focus on Sinatra's collaborations.

Here's a great clip of Frank and Sammy singing ME AND MY SHADOW.

Here's Frank and Dino...

This is a lovely clip of Frank and Peggy Lee.  I get goosebumps every time I see this.  This shows perfectly why I love the "Great American Songbook" and the vocalists who sang it.  The chemistry in this number is absolutely beautiful.  The first time I saw this I felt as if I were hearing the song for the first time.  It feels very raw and fresh.  Love how they screw the words up at the end.

All three of these clips are on a wonderful dvd called SINATRA: THE CLASSIC DUETS.  It features duets performed on The Frank Sinatra Show.  Collaborations include Ella, Lena, Bing, Dinah Shore, Ethel Merman, and Elvis Presley!!

Also available is a fabulous Rat Pack cd/dvd called LIVE AND SWINGIN' - THE ULTIMATE RAT PACK COLLECTION. This perfectly captures the chemistry of Frank, Dino, and Sammy!

Both are HIGHLY highly recommended.

*Rat Pack art at the top done by artist Tim Rogerson.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Each year Garrison Keillor and friends do a PRETTY GOOD JOKE SHOW on NPR's Prairie Home Companion.  You can hear past shows online or purchase cd collections and books of the jokes as well.

Here is my FAVORITE knock knock joke I heard on his show.

-Knock knock

Who's there?

Sam and Janet

Sam and Janet who?

Sam and Janet Evening... 

and the wonderful followup

-Knock knock

Who's there?

Itzhak

Itzhak who?

Itzhak to you, New York... New York!

Also... in related news....

This could quite possibly be your next favorite website...

CLICK HERE!!