Who thinks Frank Sinatra knew how to sing a song?

[Faygo Kid]

In this era of "American Idol," and Michael Bolton, et al, I rather think knowing how to sing a song - not merely boasting your pipes - is what I look for. Frank knew how to sing a song. So did Ella, Doris Day, John Lennon, Mama Cass, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Bing, Louis Armstrong. . . Your choices, here? But, remember - can't take it away from Frank (Those fingers in my hair. That sly come hither stare. That strips my conscious bare, it's Witchcraft)

[Dookus]

1. He was one of the best

at interpretation. a genius.

[wryter2000]

2. Ray Charles

His America the Beautiful is one of the finest songs ever recorded.

[Faygo Kid]

9. Thanks. You are right. I apologize to Ray Charles, and here's why. . .

I was a camp counselor for Armenian kids, every summer, 1970-1973. And every summmer I played Ray Charles for them before bed. (On an old turntable, obviously. They loved it.). I left him off, and I apologize. But I can still hear, as I laid in my bed as such a youngster, "When your sweetheart, sends a letter, of goodbye. It's no secret, you'll feel better, if you Cry. . ." Thanks for the heads up, my friend.

[Flaxbee]

39. Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray RAY!

I saw him perform live at the Greek Theater in LA about 8 years ago, and after about two songs I was blubbering and didn't stop the entire concert, much to the embarassment of my date. Even his funny, raunchy songs got to me because he's got such a soulful voice and that man can sing. Ray Charles in LA, and BBKing at The Blue Note in NYC are the best two concerts I've ever seen. BB's known more for guitar, but he's got a great voice and hearing him sing "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone" live is just beyond description.

Now, classical, Jose Carreras is (was) the best tenor, IMHO... he couldn't belt like Pavoratti, but I don't like the pipes-blasting anyway, Jose's voice was so subtle and lovely. Sigh.

[wryter2000]

3. I all fairness

It isn't the musicians' fault. Music has become conglomerated. Marketed out of existence.

[wryter2000]

4. Oh, and

Willie Nelson. Not a beautiful voice by any means, but he can put a song across.

"Funny a woman
Can come on so wild and so free
Then insist I don't watch her undress
Or watch her watch me"

Frank never wrote lyrics like those

[latebloomer]

5. I LOOOOVE Frank!

There was no one like him, before or since. His voice, his phrasing, his seduction, his subtlety, his choice of material, his quarter-to-three melancholy, his debonair persona.

They don't make em like that anymore.

[Kool Kitty]

40. Nothing I can add to what latebloomer says-

he was all that and more. Love, love, love Frank!! :loveya:

[Blue-Jay]

6. I do!

I love Sinatra. Go buy the CD where he sings with the Basie Orchestra, if you don't agree. It'll make a believer out of you.

I still like Tony Bennett better, though.

[latebloomer]

8. Tony is wonderful too

And he seems like a kind, lovely person.

But Frank was the King.

[Blue-Jay]

12. I've seen Tony live, and he IS wonderful.

It's rare to see a performer of such fame interact with the crowd like Bennett does. He's even good about taking requests, including songs that he's not "known" for. Props to his band as well. Those guys are some of the best in the world. (even considering that they're constantly rotating members)

[VelmaD]

38. Best. Album. Ever.

That live album of Sinatra at The Sands with the Basie Orchestra is tighter than most studio albums. Total fucking magic. :-)

[Lady Freedom]

7. Especially love songs!

[Faygo Kid]

23. Yes, I saw him too - and have the CD. My god, is Timberlake our fate?

I love Tony. I loved Dean. I will always love Frank. Isn't there someone out there who knows how to sing a song? My God, even Fred Astaire in the 30s knew how to sing a song - and like Louis Armstrong, he didn't have a great voice. Please give me a great song, and a voice that knows how to sing it. Is that too much to ask?

[loftycity]

26. Love Fred Astaire ..one stylin guy there. Frank's wording is great

[Faygo Kid]

27. You are so right. Fred introduced Cole Porter to the nation.

Another one who knew how to sing a song, and he didn't even have a great voice! But, my God, he knew how to sing them, and introduced the finest songs in the American songbook ("Night and Day" - maybe the greatest song ever). Thanks for your input; and for reminding me of the greatness of Fred.

[girl gone mad]

31. Harry Connick, Jr.

is still alive and isn't half bad, in my humble opinion. Though, I think he mostly does covers.

[PAMod]

10. Boasting your pipes is ok as long as you learned how to sing first.

And yes, Sinatra was a virtuoso. Someone once said he could sing a semi-colon.

Also, American Idol has its place, but there's nothing like an entertainer who has "paid his dues" (or her dues as the case may be.)

[Wickerman]

11. I'll take emotion and style over technical prowess any day

from singer to guitar player. YMMV, but I like to feel what the performer was feeling, not know that he went to Berkeley School of Music.

err, in other words, yeah, Frank could bend a tune.

[sendero]

35. Amen...

... for vocalists and musicians it matters a lot less whether you have a 5 octave range or can bang out 1/32 notes on a guitar with perfection.... none of those things are *music*.

Music is passion, emotion, conveyance of a feeling. Being technically proficient can help but it will not make a performer compelling.

[izzie]

13. Sure he could but I still like Ray Charles.

:toast: To all the great singers

[MrSlayer]

14. Frank was a great entertainer and a lousy singer.

No singer worth his salt would stretch consonants, Frank does it all over the place. Comparing him to Marvin Gaye is an insult, Marvin knew how to sing properly. Not saying "The Chairman" was bad just technically unsound.

[Faygo Kid]

18. Frank Sinatra + Nelson Riddle = Paradise. Life worth living.

Couldn't disagree with you more, my good friend. Frank and Nelson, the 1950's. That was music. "American Idol?" Well, enjoy it if you must. Also a great Mozart, Vivaldi, Duke Ellington, Stones, Buddy Miles fan here, too, if you must know.

[seventhson]

15. Funny Thing : The only time I was ever mentioned in a National Magazine

It was in Esquire.

It was in an article about Frank Sinatra some time before he died.

"Old Blue Eyes and the Indians"

I was working with William Kunstler at the time on Indian civil rights.

But it is a bit of irony. I was never crazy about Frank's singing.But I thought he was a great actor.

And now I love his voice.

[Whitacre D_WI]

16. Hell yes.

But Richard Hell sang "All the Way" much better.

[Faygo Kid]

20. When somebody loves you. It's no good unless he loves you.

All the Way. Man. Let's all listen to Frank, or anyone else you love to sing that song. I am sorry; the man could Sing. I will add Karen Carpenter to this list, as well.

[woofless]

17. I do

as well as Nat King Cole who was my grandma's favorite.

[Kat45]

19. Oh, yeah--I love Frank.

He had such a way with a song.

[trof]

21. I DO Frank.

Given the right number of drinks, when the moon is right, and the humidity is above 89%, I do a pretty fair Sinatra.

[Faygo Kid]

25. And your song of choice would be....?

Boy, that's a tough one. OK, the humidity is high. The women are gorgeous. You are there, with a hat tilted over your head at the right angle. The summer wind is blowing, but only lightly. And your Frank song of choice is . . .?

[trof]

28. Night and Day, then

I've Got you...Under my Skin.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

22. is this even open to dispute?

your premise borders on blasphemy

[Faygo Kid]

24. Let's remind everyone, my good friend

You are so right. And tonight, on the 40th anniversary of the Beatles appearance on Ed (Oh yes, I remember it well), I thank you for remembering Frank. When you and I are gone, he will still be here. Thanks for the post, and the pic.

[Dirk39]

29. In the wee small hours....

is one of the best albums ever recorded.
Hello from Germany,
Dirk

[tishaLA]

30. There are two voices:

Frank and Ella. Everyone else comes after them.

Yes, Frank and Ella are both indebted to Pops for making conversational singing the norm (and, in Ella's case, for mainstreaming scat), but those two were the voices of the century, IMHO. We younger folk tend to think of Frank as a drunken old "chairman of the board" with a toupee, but his recordings in the 50s with Riddle, Jenkins, and May (whom, I have to say, I prefer as an arranger over Riddle) revolutionized the LP format.

Ella is, as Ellington said, beyond category. Whether in her early years as the "girl singer" for Chick Webb, as an innovator of bop singing (listen to her late 40s recordings with Bird, Dizzy, and her husband, Ray Brown), as a voluptuous woman with a litte girl voice singing her songbooks or in the swingingest concerts with her quartet, or as a mature, frail woman who still amazed with her Joe Pass duets, Ella was the symbol of excellence in American singing. It is deserved that the Society of Singers named their award "The Ella" and it was first presented to its namesake.

The second recipient? Frank.

I also have an abiding admiration for Sassy, Joe Williams, Carmen McRae, Dinah Washington, Peggy Lee, Betty Carter, late Rosemary Clooney, and Pops. I would humbly exclude Doris Day from any consideration in this category.

Edit: Spelling and clarity.

[beanball]

32. The great singer of yesterday

may I submit my list.? 1.Ole blue eyes the king. 2.Johnny Mathis 3.Nat" King " Cole. 44 Tony Bennett. 5.Marvin Gaye. 6. Nancy Wilson. 7.Barbra. 8.Ray Charles. 9. Sarah Vaughn. 10.Peggy Lee. I rest my case.Can anyone out there top my top ten.?

[beanball]

33. Mr.Bennett

you're #4 not #44,

[smirkymonkey]

36. I'll Try..

In no particular order:

Ella Fitzgerald
Frank Sinatra
Tony Bennett
Billie Holiday
Sarah Vaughn
Dinah Washington
Johnny Mathis
Anita O'Day
Nina Simone
Nat King Cole

European Greats of Yesterday: Edith Piaf & Lotte Lenya

[mitchum]

34. A first class artist and a first class jerk

Weird how that happens sometimes

[AlGore-08.com]

37. Sinatra is more than his voice - - he's a cultural phenomenon

Like Elvis, like the Beatles, he's more than his art - - he is a moment in American cultural history. He is our idea of who men were supposed to be in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Ring-a-ding-ding, Jack!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

41. Peggy Lee

Understated elegance...