It’s fascinating to learn about Sinatra’s distaste for My Way. I can still recall watching on television in 1974 a portion of his concert at Madison Square Garden. He concluded the event by saying that he was now going to sing the national anthem, but that nobody had to stand up. He then proceeded with a rousing rendition of My Way.
That's a good joke! The thing is he did HAVE to sing it, because the fans loved it. But oy vey! I can see how he would get really really really sick of it.
I found O. C.'s version very compelling as a song. But for the Sinatra version, they were going for a tour de force, and the rounded up every genius they could find to do it. Nobody but Frank Sinatra could have sung it that way. To be honest, I didn't like "Little Green Apples" very much. I found it schmarmy, and I knew that Smith was a better singer than that song deserved. But that was his biggest hit, so there you go. His original version of "That's Life" just didn't get any air time, and in those days that was what sold records.
I would note also that there's a difference between sounding dated and sounding timeless. Everything is by definition dated. But not everything is a masterpiece in its genre. Those are the timeless pieces.
Frank put "That's Life" on the map, for sure. I like O.C.'s version a lot, but it went nowhere. To paraphrase "Hey Jude," Frank (and a team of geniuses) took a good song and made it better.
Yes, I also disliked "My Way," and I've never been any too fond of Paul Anka, either. Frank made a bundle out of the song, but it really didn't represent his attitude, after all. I had an appeal for people who idolized him for all the wrong reasons. I trust his daughters to tell it like it really was. I will definitely look to see if I can find the clip you mentioned. Ah, we lost that elegance, didn't we?
I thought that the message of the song was good to ponder, too. As I have been telling our son, who after so much preparation is the organist at our chapel (he could have done so much, absent the autism) the rule with musical performances is "keep a-going." Or as they used to say, "The show must go on." That's life, in a nutshell!
I did like O.C.'s version quite a lot, and I played it for Tony, and he also liked it. We had there two different takes on a very good song. O.C.'s version didn't even get to the charts, however. And it was nice to see what was done for a good song in the hands of such a cloud of musical geniuses.
That was delightful. Love these stories. Sinatra was of my parents generation and he never quite captivated me but I'm pleased to hear that he didn't like "My Way". That says a lot about him. Loved hearing his version of That's Life and how it came to be.
Thanks for revealing more about Sinatra than I ever knew helping me appreciate him more.
Bob, I've said from time to time here that Sinatra was my mother's favorite of the crooners, and she loved them all. She was really of the early rock n' roll generation (16 in 1950), but she was the youngest girl in a family of 13 children. Her older siblings were adults during late 30's and through the war years. So SHE grew up with their music, and as a result of that, so did I. I used to tell people (and it was true!) that as a teenager I was a "closet Sinatra fan." My mother didn't know that I was spinning her records when no one was home, along with the popular music I loved -- in the early 70's, and there was a lot of good music then. But boy! Sinatra really can grow on you. I am doing Sometimes a Song as a memorial to my mother, who filled our house with really fine music when I was growing up.
Love that context, Debra. I'm one of seven, the 2nd of 4 boys and then 3 girls. My older brother and I were Irish twins born in 1951 (January and December). The next boy was born on my birthday in '52. Does that make us Irish triplets? Always loved the dynamics of big families. Music wasn't a big part of our upbringing - but I have very fond memories of my Mom waking us up for school singing "O Solo mio".
The older I get though the more I appreciate music. And your stories are so informative and fun to read.
Irish triplets, haha! Imagine your mother with the three of you, boom, boom, boom! Though she was the youngest girl, my mother had four younger brothers, and the last two were twins. And I can imagine your mother waking you to "O Solo Mio." <3 Music was such a big part of everyone's life in those days. I, too, enjoy hunting down the stories behind the songs, and sharing them. What I usually find are far too many stories TO tell. I'm glad to have a way to share those now!
It’s fascinating to learn about Sinatra’s distaste for My Way. I can still recall watching on television in 1974 a portion of his concert at Madison Square Garden. He concluded the event by saying that he was now going to sing the national anthem, but that nobody had to stand up. He then proceeded with a rousing rendition of My Way.
That's a good joke! The thing is he did HAVE to sing it, because the fans loved it. But oy vey! I can see how he would get really really really sick of it.
I really like the arrangement on the Smith version! The accompaniment on the Sinatra song feels more dated, dare I say. Thanks for sharing both.
I found O. C.'s version very compelling as a song. But for the Sinatra version, they were going for a tour de force, and the rounded up every genius they could find to do it. Nobody but Frank Sinatra could have sung it that way. To be honest, I didn't like "Little Green Apples" very much. I found it schmarmy, and I knew that Smith was a better singer than that song deserved. But that was his biggest hit, so there you go. His original version of "That's Life" just didn't get any air time, and in those days that was what sold records.
I would note also that there's a difference between sounding dated and sounding timeless. Everything is by definition dated. But not everything is a masterpiece in its genre. Those are the timeless pieces.
Many like My Way. I am glad to learn that Frank didn't. Van Morrison with Georgie Fame also has a nice cover of That’s Life.
Frank put "That's Life" on the map, for sure. I like O.C.'s version a lot, but it went nowhere. To paraphrase "Hey Jude," Frank (and a team of geniuses) took a good song and made it better.
Oh Debra:, this was such a lovely read.
I could never listen to My Way. I found it narcissistic and regrettable. To find that Frank also disliked it was just fun.
To extend the pleasure, see Gregory Peck dancing with Deborah Kerr to this tune. Pure elegance.
Yes, I also disliked "My Way," and I've never been any too fond of Paul Anka, either. Frank made a bundle out of the song, but it really didn't represent his attitude, after all. I had an appeal for people who idolized him for all the wrong reasons. I trust his daughters to tell it like it really was. I will definitely look to see if I can find the clip you mentioned. Ah, we lost that elegance, didn't we?
Sinatra is perfect for this Spring Saturday! Thank you!
I thought that the message of the song was good to ponder, too. As I have been telling our son, who after so much preparation is the organist at our chapel (he could have done so much, absent the autism) the rule with musical performances is "keep a-going." Or as they used to say, "The show must go on." That's life, in a nutshell!
I actually like the original a little better than Sinatra’s…but both are good. And that last line of yours is gold—he did That’s Life his way!
I did like O.C.'s version quite a lot, and I played it for Tony, and he also liked it. We had there two different takes on a very good song. O.C.'s version didn't even get to the charts, however. And it was nice to see what was done for a good song in the hands of such a cloud of musical geniuses.
Debra,
That was delightful. Love these stories. Sinatra was of my parents generation and he never quite captivated me but I'm pleased to hear that he didn't like "My Way". That says a lot about him. Loved hearing his version of That's Life and how it came to be.
Thanks for revealing more about Sinatra than I ever knew helping me appreciate him more.
Bob
Bob, I've said from time to time here that Sinatra was my mother's favorite of the crooners, and she loved them all. She was really of the early rock n' roll generation (16 in 1950), but she was the youngest girl in a family of 13 children. Her older siblings were adults during late 30's and through the war years. So SHE grew up with their music, and as a result of that, so did I. I used to tell people (and it was true!) that as a teenager I was a "closet Sinatra fan." My mother didn't know that I was spinning her records when no one was home, along with the popular music I loved -- in the early 70's, and there was a lot of good music then. But boy! Sinatra really can grow on you. I am doing Sometimes a Song as a memorial to my mother, who filled our house with really fine music when I was growing up.
Love that context, Debra. I'm one of seven, the 2nd of 4 boys and then 3 girls. My older brother and I were Irish twins born in 1951 (January and December). The next boy was born on my birthday in '52. Does that make us Irish triplets? Always loved the dynamics of big families. Music wasn't a big part of our upbringing - but I have very fond memories of my Mom waking us up for school singing "O Solo mio".
The older I get though the more I appreciate music. And your stories are so informative and fun to read.
Irish triplets, haha! Imagine your mother with the three of you, boom, boom, boom! Though she was the youngest girl, my mother had four younger brothers, and the last two were twins. And I can imagine your mother waking you to "O Solo Mio." <3 Music was such a big part of everyone's life in those days. I, too, enjoy hunting down the stories behind the songs, and sharing them. What I usually find are far too many stories TO tell. I'm glad to have a way to share those now!