 |
| Re-releases commemorate Frank Sinatra's 100th birthday |
On December 12, 2015, Frank Sinatra would have been 100 years old. He was always protean and strong, a sound and vision of the smart American male who had, in the words of author Gay Talese, "survived as a national phenomenon, one of the few pre-war products to withstand the test of time, "even in an age when the very young seem to be taking over, protesting and picketing and demanding change." Sinatra is the music of America's 20th Century, its swing, sway and romance. Though it's grand to celebrate his catalog of music and film at any time, marking 100 years just seems appropriate.
While TCM – Turner Classic Movies – runs day-long marathons of Sinatra films every Wednesday until December's end, you can always check out the recently-released Sinatra: All Or Nothing At All DVD/BluRay package that documents his 1971 retirement concert in Los Angeles (a retirement that didn't last long, as he toured and sang publicly until he was 80).
For uber-fans of Frank, there is a $1,500 book of photos, Sinatra, compiled by Amanda Erlinger and Robin Morgan that features museum quality snapshots, a signed certificate of authenticity by Nancy Sinatra, Frank Sinatra Jr. and Tina Sinatra, and an exclusive unpublished signed print of a photograph of Frank Sinatra taken by Nancy Sinatra Sr.
For those who can't spend a grand but like to read, Sinatra: The Chairman by author James Kaplan will do nicely. Musically too, the recent-release field is rich, as Capitol Records, his home throughout the 1950s and early 60s, drops Ultimate Sinatra a 4 CD Centennial Collection box set. Columbia too, his first label, just put out the 4 CD A Voice on Air (1935-1955), a box featuring radio broadcasts and rehearsals from his first on-air performance in 1935 singing "S-H-I-N-E" with the Hoboken Four, to his last weekly radio series, The Frank Sinatra Show.
Anyone looking to complete their Sinatra souvenir collection can head to the newly-opened SINATRA 100 shop and peruse its selection of art prints, t-shirts and more. Or, visit Sid Mark, the nationally syndicated broadcaster, and listen to one of his glorious Sinatra radio programs. Ring-a-ding ding.
Photos courtesy of UMe
Posted on Sunday, December 13, 2015
