Product Description
Frank Sinatra - Ol' Blue Eyes is the biography of Frank Sinatra, an iconic American singer and Academy Award-winning actor. Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became a solo artist with great success in the early to mid-1940s, being the idol of the "bobby soxers." Although his professional career had stalled by the 1950s, it was reborn in 1954 after he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Sinatra signed with Capitol Records and released several critically lauded albums (such as In the Wee Small Hours, Songs for Swingin' Lovers, Come Fly with Me, Only the Lonely and Nice 'n' Easy). He left Capitol to found his own record label, Reprise Records (finding success with albums such as Ring-A-Ding-Ding, Sinatra at the Sands and Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim), toured internationally, and fraternized with the Rat Pack and President John F. Kennedy in the early 1960s. Frank Sinatra - Ol' Blue Eyes is highly recommended for those interested in reading more about this celebrated entertainer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Disappointing-Poorly written
I am a BIG Sinatra fan.This book is so short that it barely can qualify as a biography.It is a running record of Mr. Sinatra's career.There are a couple of personal facts, but just that!Skip this short book and spend your money on something more substantial.You deserve better! ... Read more

Product Description

An odyssey of celebrity, extravagance, and genius, Mr. S provides the deepest understanding yet of one of our greatest entertainers

As the right hand of Frank Sinatra from 1953 to 1968, George Jacobs arguably had one of the coolest jobs in the world at the time when Sinatra was the undisputed master of the entertainment universe. Jacobs rose from his humble beginnings in New Orleans to join Sinatra in the mansions of Beverly Hills, the penthouses of Manhattan, the palaces of Europe, the pinnacles of world power. George Jacobs saw it all, did it all.

Sinatra took Jacobs with him on the ride of the century, from blacklist Hollywood to gangland Chicago to an emerging Vegas to Camelot, not to mention dolce vita Rome and swinging London. As a member of Sinatra's inner circle, Jacobs drank with Ava Gardner, danced with Marilyn Monroe, massaged John F. Kennedy, golfed with Sam Giancana, and played jazz with the Prince of Monaco while his boss secretly pursued Princess Grace. He also partied with Mia Farrow, but that one cost him his job of a lifetime.

Through the ring-a-ding-ding and the stars, royals, politicians, moguls, and mobsters emerged a warm and intimate relationship that reveals a complex Sinatra: vulnerable and arrogant, charismatic and violent, loving and disdainful, confident and painfully self-conscious. Jacobs is no sycophant, but rather a sharp-eyed observer of the highs and lows of his boss's turbulent life. And Mr. S is perhaps the most complete, honest, and intimate portrait of Sinatra ever written.

It is an unforgettable trip, and George Jacobs provides a front-and-center seat at the life of an American icon.

Customer Reviews (44)

WOW!What and insight to Sinatra!!
A very interesting book.I never put it down.Gives much inside information, that someone close to Frank would only know.Also, gives great tidbits about other stars.Some pretty shocking!! Great if you are a Sinatra fan or just love the older stars like myself: Marilyn, the Kennedy's, etc.I'm a big Marilyn fan and found it very interesting to learn that George (the author) verified that himself, Jeanne Carmen and Marilyn DID indeed live in the apartments on Doheny Drive!Interesting if you're an MM fan!Didn't really like every thing he had to say, but very interesting just the same.

Best book on Sinatra
As Sinatra's trusted right-hand man, George Jacobs messed up twice: once with Mia and again in writing this tell-all book.Yet, us readers are handed a gold mine of inside stories of what it was like to be within arms length of Mr. S's personal life.George should hope Jilly and Frank are in a good mood when they meet yonder in the Big Casino for he will have some explaining to do -- but that's his problem.

Got to get it
This book is a definite must have for any Sinatra or Rat Pack fan.Also for people who are fans of actors or actresses in that era, has a lot of gossip and info that has never ever been revealed before.Highly reccommended.

A Very Good Book.
I found this book a very good read. It was funny, sad, and just a tad bit dirty. Mr. Jacobs does a great job of painting the scene and life of the Ring-A-Ding-Ding era and the man who helped defined it all.

Nothing really groundbreaking about Mr.S, but it does give fun & interesting insight. This is a great read if you want something light and fun to read about the great Mr. S, then this is the book!

Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra
George Jacobs was "there" as Sinatra's Valet and tells the inside stories but with deep respect. This aint Kitty Kelly. He obviously loved the man even after he was fired from the gig. His kind of honesty is rare and his access to the very center of the Sinatra fears, vulnerabilities and victories is unparralleled.

I learned more Real Stuff about Frank in this quick reading book than in any of the other Great Volumes preceeding it. ... Read more

Product Description

A startling, compelling, yet affectionate portrait of an American entertainment legend by his youngest daughter, who for the first time writes about the man, his life, the accusations, and about the many people who surrounded him -- wives, friends, lovers, users, and sycophants -- from his Hoboken childhood through the notorious "Rat Pack," and beyond.

Complete with many never before seen photographs taken directly from family albums, and placing special emphasis on his later years and his marriage to Barbara Marx Sinatra, Tina's personal exploration of this difficult final period in her father's career will solidify our image of Sinatra as a great performer and reinforce him as something even greater: as a father, and as man.Amazon.com Review
For Sinatra fans, 2000 was a very good year. First came the discography Put Your Dreams Away; then, the newsy exposé of the Chairman's FBI dossier, The Sinatra Files; and now, his life story as seen by his younger daughter Tina. Besides inside family stuff, Tina knows about Frank's life from having produced the CBS miniseries about him. The most publicized item in the book concerns Frank's kind words with the Mafia on behalf of JFK's campaign. But, beware the common belief that the Mafia stole the election for JFK--this is dubious--and don't miss out on all of the more interesting stories in the book. There's irony: JFK personally persuaded United Artists to make Sinatra's best film, that classic of Presidential-assassination conspiracy, The Manchurian Candidate. There's squalor: Before the Mafia helped him through his career slump, Frank walked past an Eddie Fisher movie marquee and promptly attempted suicide. There's poignance: "I'm not home much, but I'm a pretty damned good father," Frank unconvincingly claimed. Nancy Barbato Sinatra--the mother of Tina, Nancy, and Frank Jr.--comes off as saintly. Ava Gardner was nice to the kids, but a comparably neurotic brawler with Frank. Mia Farrow, Tina's schoolmate, was delightful, inclined to intense relationships with father figures (Salvador Dalì, Yul Brynner), eccentric, and not as frail and malleable as she looked and Frank probably hoped: "She was just as career-driven as Ava, and probably more independent," writes Tina. "Mia was more of a day person, while the only dawns my father saw were on the back end of a hard day's night." Barbara Marx Sinatra, according to embittered Tina, made Frank's last 12 years a living hell. (Barbara has declined to comment on Tina's charges.)

In straightforward prose that's studded with interesting facts (did you know Frank would tip $200 if you parked his car?) and 86 photos, Tina Sinatra paints a lively portrait of her inconsolably lonely pop-star pop. And she did it her way. Deal with it. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (63)

very happy
the book was in great condition and i was happy with the purchase
thank you

Best book I have read this year.
If you like Sinatra, read this book. It is honest and informative. I found it hard to put down. She loves him and tells his story. I rank it the most interesting book that I have read this year.A +++++

A Touching Sinatra Memoir
I had read this book quite a few years ago and liked it a lot. Knowing my dad is a big Sinatra fan, I thought he would enjoy a copy for Father's Day. He really enjoyed it. Here is a touching but warts and all memoir of a father who wasn't always around, at least in person, by a loving daughter. Quite a bit of 'insider' information on Frank Sinatra and some great pictures that I hadn't seen before. Very interesting to note that in Tina's opinion, the love of Frank's life was not Ava, but Tina's mother. I also wasn't aware of how controlling Barbara Sinatra was in the last years of Frank's life - what a shame. Overall a great read, just wish it had been a longer book!

Painful memoir of a father
This book was a quick and easy read that sweeps past the professional details and gets at the story from the point of view of Frank Sinatra's immediate family.Tina Sinatra gives a loving account of the private man, presented as a bundle of conflicts - a man who loved both the pretty motherly wife and the sultry movie stars, who dearly loved his children but often from a great distance.The tomcat in need of a home-cooked meal, who relished family holidays.

Tina reveals the agony of the visits from Frank, with the buildup preceding those visits to the inevitable let-down when the time came to leave.She details the genesis of her adult relationship with her father, a relationship which became very close and loving.

One suspects that the purpose of this book was go get to what was REALLY bugging Tina Sinatra...enter, Barbara Marx.The last half of this memoir is devoted to the tense ups and downs of the relationship between the Sinatra children and Frank's controlling, grabby wife.The saga of Barbara's greed begins with her making a sweep of the valuables of the recently deceased Sinatra grandmother, and it goes downhill from there. The reader truly gets a sense of the isolation and helplessness that the increasingly feeble Frank must have felt as he was bullied time and again to amend his will, prenup, and his wife's considerable allowance.

Did Tina air a little too much laundry here?Maybe so, but this reader got the sense that this memoir, written within two years of Frank's passing, comes from a place of deep grief and sorrow for not only the loss but for the last painful years of Frank's life, a life possibly shortened by the antics of the manipulative Barbara.

I can relate to this memoir as I watch my own once happy-go-lucky father subjected to endless conflict and pain at the hands of his miserable and unstable wife - even following his heart attack last year.I watch as his fire goes out, spark by spark.And judging by some of the reviews on here, I am not alone.It is my hope that Tina found some much-needed peace since writing this book.

So saddened...
I recently learned of this book by Tina Sinatra about her late father.When I read it, I felt very sad.I have been a fan of Frank Sinatra for well over 50 years.My father used to sing Sinatra songs to me and I will never forget it.Tina has used her father, the "Chairman of the Board," a very private man, to try to fix herself.

As for her comments about Barbara Sinatra:Tina had favorable comments regarding her other two stepmothers, Ava and Mia.During those years, not only was Tina young and impressionable, but she did not have to go through the death of her father with those women.Having lost both of my parents, I know the experience can be horrible; and many times people look for someone to blame.I believe Tina is taking out her grief on Barbara.When a loved one dies, it is not a glorious scene as in a scripted movie.Frank Sinatra loved Barbara; she was his choice.His kids couldn't take it.They look back fondly on the ones who didn't stay with him.Barbara "stuck with him" (as the other two did not) for over two decades, even with three very spoiled stepchildren. She was there for him in his twilight.

Frank Sinatra worked a lifetime to create a persona, and he become a beloved American institution.Tina, in her selfish quest, has attempted to smudge his reputation and negate his life's work.Frank Sinatra will always be an icon to me and to many millions of fans.I would recommend this book to no one. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you're a karaoke singer or preparing for an audition, the Pro Vocal series is for you! The book contains the lyrics, melody and chord symbols for eight hit songs. The CD contains demos for listening and separate backing tracks so you can sing along. The CD is playable on any CD player, and also enhanced so PC and Mac users can adjust the recording to any pitch without changing the tempo! Perfect for home rehearsal, parties, auditions, corporate events, and gigs without a backup band. This volume includes 8 super Sinatra hits: All the Way * The Birth of the Blues * I've Got the World on a String * I've Got You Under My Skin * The Lady Is a Tramp * Theme from "New York, New York" * Time After Time * Witchcraft. Watch for more volumes coming soon! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

"There is no remedy for love but to love more"--Henry David Thoreau

A great,thoughtful gift fo someone you love. Packaged as a gift,we first get an Introduction written by Frank Sinatra,then all the lyrics of the song on one page,by Dorothy Fields,then the words of the song spread over 20 pages with tender photographs. Also scattered throughout the book are many quotations about love by Sophocles,David Viscott,Frederic Chopin,Robert Burns,John Keats,Publilius Syrus,Antiphanes,George Sand,W.H.Auden,E.B.White,Christopher Marlowe,Albert Einstein,H.L.Mencken,Victor Hugo,Mark Twain,Fyodor Dostoyevsky,Hermann Hesse,Sarah Bernhardt,Robert Frost,Lao Tzu,Kahlil Gibran,William Shakespeare,Elizabeth Bowen,Frank Sinatra and finally Henry David Thoreau.
A CD is also included with Sinatra singing the song.
There is even a page at the front of the book to write who you are seding it to and,and even more importantly;why.

A much greater token of affection than a card,especially accompanying a bocquet of flowers,a gift or anything else. What a surprise if it is received when least expected. ... Read more

Product Description
From poverty to power, Hoboken to Hollywood, this story is the embodiment of the American Dream. For over 50 years Frank Sinatra was at the epicenter of American life - on the radio, in the movie theaters, on TV, and in newspapers and magazines. Includes over 800 photographs, some rare and unseen, capture each moment of the legend's seven-decade career. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Coffee Table Book
Hey Everyone.

Its a good book. Its a COFFEE TABLE type book though.
Maybe I should have been more thorough in looking for a definitive Sinatra biography.

Its great, just letting everyone know its not feasible to take around with you to restaurants or other places to read.

Great book, just be aware its not small enough for logical mobility.

Long live the Chairman of the Board!

Eddie

A Disappointing Biography
Unlike the other reviewers of Richard Havers' "Frank Sinatra," I ended the book feeling very disappointed. This is a coffee-table book, not a serious biography. The writing style is dry and the rigid adherence to "just the facts" fails to generate a three-dimensional portrait of its subject. Havers gives us a huge number of "facts" about Sinatra's life and associates but resolutely refuses to provide us with any framework for making sense of the often contradictory material. And for too many of the key people in Sinatra's life, Havers provides us with only the sketchiest information. For example, we learn nothing about Jilly Rizzo, an important, close friend in the later decades of Sinatra's life and are unable to even guess why these two men would have become and stayed friends. As another example, Sinatra's last wife, Barbara Marx Sinatra, merits less than a half dozen mentions, and he was married to her for almost 25 years! We get absolutely no sense of who she was as a person or why Sinatra was attracted to (and stayed with) her, or what she was doing while Sinatra was relentlessly touring and performing. In addition, a "where are they now" page at the end, regarding his family and associates, would have given some sense of completion.

There are serious technical issues with this book as well. The editing is poor and in the final third, seems to be entirely absent, as the author is allowed to lapse into sloppy and repetitive writing. Internal chronology of the text is often confusing and we lose a grasp of when exactly events are happening. Textual formatting is very poor, with no line breaks within paragraphs even if the text suddenly moves to a completely different subject. There is no bibliography. There are no footnotes, so that we are completely in the dark as to the source of any of Havers' information. There is no timeline or chronology of Sinatra's life and career. There are references in the text to books by others about Sinatra and his films and music archive, but no full citations of those books are given anywhere.

The one strength of the book is its pictures and graphic material. Most of the pictures are interesting and reasonably related to the text. All the side-bar material is excellent - the Billboard charts, the album and film blurbs, and the brief biographies of Sinatra's musical peers and members of his team. But even here, there are serious technical problems: the photo credits are crammed into tiny type on the very last page of the book, while there are no credits attached to the photographs themselves (not even the identifying acronyms used in the back page); and the photo captions are never dated and often not placed in the text so as to be in proximity to the events or people they refer to.

Perhaps Havers wished to avoid the excesses displayed by such biographers as Kitty Kelley and felt that a purely factual presentation would be more "fair" to his subject. But unfortunately his approach gives us a flat picture of Mr. Sinatra; all events and "facts" are given equal weight so that it's difficult to judge the true importance of any of them; and the rare flashes of personality that he allow create odd jolts of color that end up unbalancing the portrait as a whole. I will have to look elsewhere for a better biography of Frank Sinatra.

The Best Sinatra Photo History
This book was a delight from beginning to end, packed with useful biographical information. It also contains dozens of sidebars on every one of Frank's albums as well as supplementary sidebars giving historical context to Sinatra's life and work in the form of other artists, historical events, and his various arrangers and labels. The book is packed with photos, memorabilia, track lists--in fact, everything you need to know about the life and work of Sinatra. I think that this book, combined with Will Friedwald's 'The Song is You' are the two best books on Sinatra, and as a dedicated Frankophile, I've read many. Also evident in the book is the author's love of Sinatra and his music. The book is like a virtual Sinatra museum, one you can open and enjoy over and over at your convenience.
Five stars.

Amazing
This is an amazing book that lets you see Mr. Sinatra through the early days of his childhood, to what would become the ultimate legend...I was never into this kind of music but after listening to the wonderfully composed scores of music and lyrics, you cant help but become an avid fan of his.Through the good and the bad you see something everyone should strive for, the high expectation for ones self in whatever they do as he did and beautifully executed with class....I've discovered Frank Sinatra and I am definately Flying to the moon!!

Sinatra by Richard Havers
To me, as someone who lived thru this era and read many books on Sinatra,
none has captured the essence of the man and the times he lived in as
Richard Havers has done. All aspects of Sinatra's life are discussed; the music,
the movies, the concerts and shows, his friends and his loves, good and bad,
in a fair, unbiased, nonjudgmental manner

This is a big book that contains a lot of information and pictures that you
will not find anywhere else. It can be read by casually leafing through the
pages and enjoying the sidebars and photos, or it can be read carefully from
beginning to end to reveal the real Sinatra. If you take the latter approach
you will not only better understand what made Sinatra tick, you will also
better understand the times he lived in.
... Read more

Product Description
40 swingin' Sinatra classic tunes arranged in their original keys. Includes: Come Fly with Me * I've Got You Under My Skin * It Was a Very Good Year * My Way * Night and Day * Summer Wind * The Way You Look Tonight * You Make Me Feel So Young * and more. Includes biography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Very Best
Hal Leonard did the job right when they assembled this book, The Very Best of Frank Sinatra.The collection contains forty of Frank's standards in the keys in which he performed them scored for piano and vocal.Scoring these songs in the keys in which Frank performed them is particularly helpful when using his recordings as a source.The piano accompaniment is also written in such away as to make arranging easy.Both hands feature characteristics of the original arrangements which help in writing the bass line or in scoring brass and sax riffs.Great book!

Excellent Transcription of 40 Sinatra Songs
The book contains 40 songs as sung on recordings by Sinatra.The piano part is a transcription of the orchestra, which can make a non-jazz player sound pretty good, if they read music well. ... Read more

Product Description
Shaped by Prohibition, the Depression and World War II, Sinatra became the spokesman of urban loneliness. In this tribute, the author draws upon intimate conversations over the course of many year, examining his art and his legend. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Why Does Sinatra Matter?
I'm obviously in the minority here.I purchased this book upon the recommendation of an acquaintance.I enjoyed this book.I, in turn, would recommend this book.However, I still can't grasp why, in the vast scheme of things, Sinatra matters that much or the iconic image bestowed upon him by his fans or the media. I'm sure he was a philanthropist and did much good behind the scenes, but he could also be a crude bully if he didn't get his way.True, he was a great singer, but so are many others. I own many of his LPs and CDs and listen to them from time to time.I've read other biographies of Sinatra and the Rat Pack and this one is definitely up there, due mainly to the gifted writing abilities of Pete Hamill, who can make any subject interesting.Example: in touching upon Sinatra's acting abilities, Mr. Hamill writes:"He (Sinatra) made some good movies after the comeback...he also made some appalling, self-indulgent junk.But he simply didn't take acting seriously enough to become a great actor.Too often he settled for the first, most superficial take, avoiding the effort that would force him to stretch his talent, acting as if he were double parked." "Acting as if he were double parked."See what I mean?

Eh
Written in a very tangential fashion.Not the best book on Sinatra out there.

Why this book is so good
This is a terrific little book. Probably one reason for it is that Hamill had prepared to write another book a full biography. He in preparation had time talking to Sinatra and learn about his life first- hand. A sense of this is given in the opening pages of the book in which Hamil in effect describes what it was like to sit with Sinatra and friends in a saloon in the wee small hours of the morning , drinking and talking. The book gives a real feeling then of what it must have been like to have been in Sinatra's company. But the virtues of the book go beyond this. I grew up in a world in which Italian- Americans played a prominent part. This book explains their story to me in a way I had never heard it before. The insults and abuses they suffered in the new country were a major part of life in the New World. This goes to explain one of Sinatra's well- known virtues, his defense of others against bigotry and prejudice. This is not a part of this book but it is central to the life- story of Sammy Davis Jr. who Sinatra befriended and helped in many ways. The book also tells the story of Sinatra's parents the withdrawn ex- prize- fighter father and the extrovert politically active saloon- owning extrovert mother Dolly. It explains Sinatra's family loyalty and other personal qualities. But its heart is its focus on Sinatra as singer, of a man who at his work was a master , a true professional, a creator in the best sense of the term. Sinatra dreamed from an early age to be a singer. He modeled himself on the enormously popular Bing Crosby. But Sinatra always had something very distinctive about him. So much of his music is about loneliness, about romance and its various moods. Sinatra was in a sense discovered and truly helped by the generous Harry James. But he left for the more professional big-time of Tommy Dorsey. Hamil tells the story of Sinatra's enormous popularity during the Second World War when a whole generation of young women, the bobby- soxers screamed out for him. He describes the post- War fall and then the great comeback afterwards both through the movies with his role as Maggio in 'From Here to Eternity' and in the singing, in part through the arrangements of Nelson Riddle. Hamill ends the book abruptly without going into the successful years, the marriages to Mia Farrow and Barbara Marx.
His real focus is on the Music and the special connection it has with the overall American story. He sees Sinatra has having represented the first really big- city voice in American music. He too details his role as one of those Italians along with Fiorello LaGuardia and Joltin Joe who made Italians fully integrated and accepted in the broader American culture. The magic of the music however is the heart of the story. Hamill is clearly a great fan and some of the best passages of the book explain Sinatra's technical innovations in singing.
This book was a real pleasure, a breeze to read. It is a tribute not only to its subject but to its author.

Sinatra Matters
A paean to the greatest male vocalist of the 20th Century, a bit too sycophantic and saccarine during the first part, but hang on, the latter half becomes good interesting history without fluff.A bit too thick on assigning his almost lifelong narcissistic psychopathy to childhood influences and immigrant roots and not enough detailing of what happened during the Ava years.In the end I was grateful that someone had written this kind of eulogy for those of us who still swoon at his sound, and who have aged beyond our jealousy that the girls didn't scream for us like they did for him.

Applauds for Sinatra and Hamill
Another masterpiece by Hamill.This work reveals the humanity of Sinatra.It is short, but oh soooooo good!If you are interested in Sinatra, read this book.It is sophisicated and loaded with the nuances of the man who did it his way, faults, bruises, and all. ... Read more

Product Description
Fresh and objective-and not obsessed with mafia allegations--it is a book about Sinatra the good guy as well as the bad.From his himble beginnings in working class Hoboken, to his start in the business singing with Harry and James and Tommy Dorsey. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the hardest tasks this editor had to do was picka contents for this innovative folio. Frank Sinatra recorded,performed and introduced many songs that went on to become standards. When compiling this list of songs we wanted to use only those titles that were closely associated with this legendary artist. John Brimhall has done an outstanding job of arranging these great songs for players at the Easy Piano level. Titles are: All the Way * The Best Is Yet to Come * Come Rain or Come Shine * The House I Live In * I Get a Kick OUt of You * I've Got a Crush on You * I've Got You Under My Skin * It Was a Very Good Year * The Lady Is a Tramp * My Kind of Town (Chicago Is) * My Way * Night and Day * Theme from New York, New York * Ol' Man River * One for My Baby * Strangers in the Night * Witchcraft * Young at Heart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Big disappointment...
Although this book contains a number of Frank Sinatra's great pieces, they are the original compositions that are sometimes very different from Frank Sinatra's versions that you are probably looking for. ... Read more

Product Description
Frank Sinatra's work has crossed decades and generations. From the early song hits right up to his recent death, the Chairman of the Board reinterpreted classics to make them his own. His acting career was equally successful, Jewell looks at the fascination of Sinatra, including his four marriages, his close association with the fabled Rat Pack, and his political allegiances from Jack and Bobby up to Ron and Nancy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Interesting
This is an interesting way to spend some idle time.The reader learns some new things about this famous singer/actor's life.At times it is poignant.

Come up for AIR
Derek Jewell's style of writing may be appealing to some, but to me he leaves much to be desired.
Pros:
-Almost no detail was overlooked
-1/4 of the book is an index
-useful for book reports
-well arranged
Cons:
-Written in a breathy style where there is no good place to stop
-hard to concentrate on, hard to keep reading
-facts were boring
-could have used more opinions or quotes
-hard to pick out information for projects
-small print

AMERICA'S SINGER OF THE CENTURY
FRANK SINATRA was one of the greatest entertainer of the previous century.While he made many movies, it's the singer thatwill be remembered best.The skinny guy who caused riots at the PARAMOUNT theater had a legendary career spanning more than fifty years.The story of his ascension is well documented;it's interesting to hear of the way his three arrangers each worked with him in a different way in his great CAPITOL days ,who with the new compact editions will remain big sellers for many years to come.While DEREK JEWELL talks about the controversy always associated with FRANK, he manages to keep in perspective the important facts and let aside the gossip which can get unpleasant ,since we all know FRANK was not an angel.It might not be the best book about him (there are so many available now),but it does the job accurately.Anyway,the legacy of THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD are the records.We are now fortunate us music lovers to choose in the collection what we like best about him ,and there are many treasures. ... Read more

Product Description
100 more favorites performed by the Chairman of the Board, with no duplication from the first volume! Songs include: All Alone * Almost like Being in Love * Blue Skies * Cheek to Cheek * Fly Me to the Moon * I Won't Dance * Let's Face the Music and Dance * Makin' Whoopee * My Blue Heaven * Pennies from Heaven * Somethin' Stupid * This Love of Mine * Where or When * You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You * and many more! ... Read more

Product Description
This essential box set contains the FRANK SINATRA SONGBOOK and dual album-matching folio DUETS I & II for a total of 120 songs, every one a Sinatra classic. The set contains dozens of photos of the Chairman of the Board and his friends, two bios, a filmography, a discography, and so much more. ... Read more

Product Description
Sinatra's conductor reveals what it's like to work for legendary singersFrankly - Just Between Us, is an entertaining and insightful behind-the-scenes look at the world of playing piano and conducting for Frank Sinatra and other contemporary music legends. This book chronicles the illustrious career of Vincent Falcone from his days at Syracuse University and tuning pianos and performing casual dates in Las Vegas, to playing piano and conducting for music icon Sinatra during the apex of his career. Falcone also played for such music greats as Andy Williams, Jack Jones, Sammy Davis Jr., Jerry Lewis, the McGuire Sisters, Tony Bennett, Connie Francis, Paul Anka, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, and many others. Frankly contains many great stories about playing and conducting for some larger-than-life music personalities of the '70s, '80s and today, and the highs and lows of playing for this caliber of entertainment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

FRANKLY A WONDERFUL BOOK
Frankly - Just Between Us is a fantastic book.I read the whole thing in two days.I could barely put it down.It's one of the best insights into not only Vincent Falcone, but also one of the best insights into Frank Sinatra.Vincent Falcone made a long, tough journey to become not only one of the finest and most respected musicians and conductors in the music business, but he also became one of Frank's most trusted friends, employees, confidantes and advisors.Vincent became like a son to him.They shared a very special bond, but there were some down times as well.Through everything, though, I believe they really did love each other like a father and son.This is a wonderful book that is a must-have for any Frank Sinatra fan.

Thank you, Vincent
Great book, Vincent. As a former Syracusan, and the daughter of your first music teacher, Jane Notarthomas, I was thoroughly touched to read how she was one of the influences in your life. She was always so very proud of you. Thanks for sharing the memories and giving us an inside look at Frank.
Rita Schiano,"Jane's daughter" and author of "Painting the Invisible Man."

Great New Sinatra book
This book is a great read for Sinatra fans.Lots of little tidbits you probably have never read before and I speak as a reader and owner of just about every book ever written on him.Highly recommended.

Just between us - an interesting read if your a Sinatra fan
It is a pleasure to read a book about Frank Sinatra by an intimate who is not seeking to make money on the strength of the name. These are the memories of an obviously talented musician who happened to be propelled from the lounges of the Las Vegas casinos to travelling and working with and for the finest popular singer of the 20th century. No great revelations here but then no muckraking either. Mt Falcone went on to work with most of the other remaining artists in this field of music and his story was worth telling and worth reading.

Music and Mr. Falcone
This book by Vincent Falcone is not just about his association withFrank Sinatra.It's about a guy who's passion for music and the mastery of his craft bring him to the top of the heap, that is, becoming the musical conductor for "The Chairman of the Board". I enjoyed this book because it's the story of a humble man who followed his dream but always kept his feet firmly planted on the ground. I came away admiring Mr. Falcone's determination. His stories about Mr. S were insightful, entertaining and poignant. I particularly enjoyed his stories about the bandmembers. This book was an easy read-direct and full of inside information, such as Mr. S's backstage requirements. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

THE GOOD CAUSE COOKBOOK
I meant to purchase this years ago, but somehow never got around to it. The recipes are just so-so, but the real deal here is that most of the proceeds benefit abused children. Frank and Barbara did--and are still doing--remarkably good work for the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, CA. The main highlight for me is knowing I contributed to an extremely worthwhile cause, realizing this purchase will benefit some severly disturbed kids. On a brighter note, the color/b&w photos in the center of the book are an absolute delight. I had never seen most of these pictures, depicting Frank and Barbara in
some very relaxed settings. Mr. Sinatra has been a big part of my life since 1949 through his incredible recordings and concert performances. Nobody--at least no other singer--was able to grab me like Sinatra did. Its been said a gazillion times, but no one has EVER been able to speak to me through song like Mr. S did. If you're like me and 'missed the boat' when this book first came out, now's the time to pick up a copy. You can still find copies available on AMAZON.COM. Happy reading!!

Frank Sinatra - Celebrity Cookbook
I was somewhat disappointd with this book.

I expected all the recipes to be Frank's own homemade recipes.I didn't realize that the book was composed of recipes from various celebrities.

The recipes are okay, but, hey, it is about Frank and his friends - can't go too wrong with that.

GREAT COOKBOOK
I LOVE THIS COOKBOOK.IT HAS ALOT OF NICE EASY RECIPES, AND I DISPLAY IT IN MY KITCHEN BECAUSE I WANT FRANK TO ALWAYS BE A PART OF MY LIFE.HE HAS SANG HIS WAY INTO MY HEART AND SOUL AND HE FEELS LIKE A FRIEND.I LOVE THIS COOKBOOK. MAY HE REST IN PEACE UNTIL WE GET TO HEAR HIM SING IN HEAVEN AGAIN.

FANTASTIC!
I LOVE this book.It is great fun to see the Sinatras' and other celebrities' favorite dishes, especially the little explanatory anecdotes that precede many of them.

I have only tried one recipe so far (PatBoone's Grammy's Chili Mac) -- but that, alone, was well worth the entireprice of the book. (After tasting it, I readily understand why Clark Gableloved it so much.)

Right now, I'm ordering three copies to send as gifts. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

A New Look at Old Blue Eyes
Stan Pugliese's book is outstanding. It outlines the way Italian American culture was shaped and influenced by Frank Sinatra by putting together a series of scholarly articles dealing with the history, politics, identity, and representation of Sinatra's life.It is an entirely new perspective on an old story. The book was written in order to cast a scholarly light on some hazy issues that have been overlooked in the past. All of the articles are written by collegiate historians (all of whom have impressive working bibliographies).

This is an excellent source for anyone interested in researching Sinatra because it is written with a modern perspective (c. 1994).This is not intended to be a biography, and reading it with a background knowledge of Sinatra is helpful.This book is only really meant to be geared toward historians or scholars that are familiar with Sinatra's life.

The book is extremely well-written and well-researched, and I would recommend it to anyone who is familiar with Sinatra and his life (which also means being familiar with the context of his life).For researching purposes, the book was extremely helpful.

The best of both worlds: Frank Sinatra & Italy
This book wasn't actually for me, it was for my father-in-law, who is 100% Italian, and probablly Frank Sinatra's biggest fan! So for Christmas I was on a mission to bring his 2 favorite things together...Although I didn't read the book, he was very excited about the book, and has told us that he enjoyed it very much :o) ... Read more

Product Description
Charting the high profile rise and fall of this infamous performer.This audio book spans his friendships with Dean Martin, The Kennedys, and alleged links to The Mafia.The story surrounding his shattered marriages to Nancy, Ava Gardner, Mia Farrow, and the kidnapping of his son Frank Jr.The astronomic success of his film performances and subsequent Oscar award.The conception of Reprise Records and collaborations with star`s Duke Ellington and Count Basie.The appearance of the muck raking biographies, and of course his uncomprimising anthem `My Way`. The story of a musical legend. ... Read more

Product Description
An American Icon Under Government Surveillance

When Frank Sinatra died in 1998, he was one of the most chronicled celebrities ever, but the most unusual record of his life came to light only posthumously: a 1,275-page dossier recording decades of FBI surveillance stemming from J. Edgar Hoover's belief that Sinatra had mob or Communist ties. This shadow biography, with information never before presented in book form, details:
Hoover's search through Sinatra's past to see if he got a bogus medical deferment from military service, ultimately yielding the simple fact that Sinatra really had suffered a perforated eardrum as a youthThe FBI's previously unreported cooperation with journalists looking for dirt on Sinatra, including one who had recently been punched out by the singerNumerous instances of the star's carousing and intemperate behavior -- including a detailed report alleging that he rampaged through a Las Vegas hotel after he and his wife Mia Farrow lost small fortunes gamblingThe mob's attempts to curry favor with John F. Kennedy through Sinatra -- and its anger when Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy turned up the heat.
This fascinating record of governmental scrutiny will captivate every Sinatra fan, as well as anyone who wants to understand the second half of the American century -- the Cold War, popular culture, the cult of celebrity, Camelot, and the FBI's mania for investigating American citizens -- all personified by the most dominant entertainer of the era.


From the Trade Paperback edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A little surprised
I found this book interesting. Of course, I had heard stories about this for years but did not realize how extensive the investigations had been. Even with some of the names blacked out it was a good read.

A dull read of dull documents with little background given
The rare cover photo and sexy title are the best things about this book. It is a VERY dull read. There is nothing shocking here for any serious fans that would actually buy this book. To Summarize: No, there is no evidence that the mafia influenced Frank getting his breakthrough role in "From Here to Eternity," no, there is no evidence that Frank was a member of the communist party, yes, there is some evidence that Frank had some casual contact with members of organized crime (as has EVERY major Hollywood star), yes, Frank and Kennedy partied together. This book is more of an indictment of Hoover's heavy-handedness as head of the FBI. They just kept digging and digging on Frank, but really found virtually nothing. The biggest things they had on him was that he was arrested when he was 22 for having an affair with a married woman, that he initally told the draft board that he was in perfect health and later pointed out that he had a perforated eardrum (verified as true) and a neurosis about being in crowds (unlikely, but unverified as true or false), and that he fibbed about whether Chicago organized crime figure Sam Giancanna was at a show that Sinatra was also at in Atlantic City. BIG DEAL! The lack of dirt here proves what I always suspected, that Frank Sinatra was merely a vicitm of b.s. tabloids and a paranoid Cold-War government. The "Sinatra Files" reveal that Frank was actually a very stand-up guy and great American citizen.

For Sinatraphiles only
This book is based on a very interesting premise, Frank Sinatra's FBI files. Unfortunately, it is difficult to convert all the information kept on Sinatra into a readable book. Thus, this book is not one you will sit down with on a Sunday afternoon and read. Its really more of a "browser" book. If you are looking for specific information (Frank's mob connections, relationship with JFK, etc.) then it is an excellent resource. Its by no means a biography.

I feel that the book is for serious Sinatraphiles like myself. If you have just a passing interest in Sinatra, I'd recommend a biography or something along the lines of "The Way You Wear Your Hat" by Bill Zehme. However, if you've devoured book after book on Sinatra and still want more, this will be a valuable addition to your library.

Frank Sinatra: America's Most 'Wanted'
Who else but Frank Sinatra could be accused of being a communist and a mafioso at the same time?

"The Sinatra Files," edited by Tom and Phil Kuntz, is a treasure trove for those of us who are fascinated bythe fact the FBI kept Sinatra under surveillance for almost five decades,but who were reluctant to sift through the 1275 pages of raw data availableon the net since late 1998.

"The Sinatra Files" neatly collectsthe FBI data into an extremely readible text beginning in the 40's with anerroneous report that Sinatra paid $40,000 for his 4-F draft status,through the early 80's when he was successful in efforts to get his NevadaGaming license renewed.

Does "The Sinatra Files" revealanything new?

Sort of.

Sinatra told the draft board in addition to apunctured eardrum, he also had a fear of crowds and elevators....

In theearly 50's when rumors spread through the FBI's halowed halls that Sinatrahad Communist affiliations, Frank offered to go undercover to weed outsubversives in Hollywood (Frank Sinatra as Herbert Philbrick?Give us abreak!)

"The Sinatra Files" is worth reading not only forSinatraphiles who are fascinated with the famous "dark side" ofAmerica's finest popular singer, but with the Cold War hysteria thatgripped the nation for three decades. ... Read more

Product Description
A massive collection of 40 of Frank's finest, including: All the Way * Come Fly with Me * High Hopes * I Get a Kick Out of You * I've Got You Under My Skin * The Lady Is a Tramp * Love and Marriage * My Kind of Town (Chicago Is) * My Way * Nancy (With the Laughing Face) * New York, New York * Night and Day * Witchcraft * Young at Heart * and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Frank's Known and Little Known Best
This songbook contains most of Frank's best, both known and little known.The used copy was in good condition as advertised.

Good selection, weak arrangements
Warning: In general, these are not the arrangements you hear on Sinatra records, at least the ones from the Capitol era.Usually they are not even close - different keys, less instrumentation, etc.For that reason, Ifound it to be an almost worthless compilation.Why not provide thearrangements people know and love? ... Read more

Product Description
Synopsis

Frank Sinatra was the king of showbiz and the voice of his century. The new Rough Guide covers his life, his music, his influences and those influenced by him. Features include: Anecdotes behind 50 essential Sinatra performances; The movies: the hits and the misses; Frank facts: the trivia and the jokes; Album-by-album coverage and the stories behind his greatest songs. The guide is an essential fan's companion of the singing waiter from New Jersey who became the most famous entertainer of all time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

5 for the info, 0 for the author
This book is for Sinatra fans. It has a wealth of information on the singers friends, life, and has everything the man has done in this entertainment world. The only problem I have is with the reviews about his music. The writer gives too much criticism about the cds and I dont think there is more then a few that the author like as a complete album. I enjoy Sinatra and have mostly everything the guy has recorded (Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Colombia, Captial, Reprise)and I know he has a few crappy songs out there. This guy just disects everything and it gets annoying to read after a few albums.

As I read on, I have a problem with Chris Ingham. His book is probably the ultimate Sinatra book with all this information. It seems though that after the 60's, Ingham has nothing good to say about Sinatra. I got mad reading the book because I can not find any good words about Sinatra after the 60's

A SUPERB SINATRA BOOK!!
I certainly agree with the reviewer, C. Hanlon "frankie-machine." I've
followed Mr. Sinatra's stellar career since 1949 and this little book
gives the reader tremendous insight into the greatest singer/entertainer
of the twentieth century! The music section will provide the collector
with a checklist of 99% of Sinatra's commercially released studio
recordings. The author, Chris Ingham, has done a very good job of
providing us a glimpse of 'Ol Blue Eyes and his tremendous body of work!
The songs, the films, the style! It's all here! Buy this little gem!

Handy Sinatra Encyclopedia PACKED With Info!!!
The Rough Guide to Frank Sinatra is a small book that manages to be over 400 pages long, and is packed with loads of information on Frank Sinatra.Each album and film is reviewed, and from a fresh and interesting perspective, by British writer, Chris Ingham.And that's not even a third of the book!There are also all sorts of great pictures, interesting chapters, tidbits of info, and I highly recommend this book to both novice and expert Sinatra lovers!!It is a fun, informative read, small enough to take with you everywhere you go, yet bursting with info! ... Read more

Product Description
Nobody has been as big a hit to as many people for as long as Frank Sinatra, and Sinatra 101 lets his legions of fans in on the stories behind the 101 greatest recordings Sinatra ever made. "New York, New York," "Summer Wind," and "Fly Me to the Moon,"--for these and 98 others, the book prvodes anecdotes and notes about the recording session, the song itself, and its relation to Sinatra's career as a whole. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

the title tells the story
This is indeed "Sinatra 101," as in a basic introduction to some of Sinatra's best work, but it does not live up to the back cover hype, which proclaims it "...essential for anyone who wants to know more about the legend's greatest recordings." The book has uneven thumbnail sketches of the 101 best recordings of Sinatra (the choice of 101 songs out of 1,414 of Sinatra's recordings is, of course, a matter of taste) as chosen by a blue ribbon panel, including among others: Billy May, Sinatra's long-time pianist Bill Miller, Sinatra's long-time guitarist Al Viola, and Jonathan Schwartz.

I don't really have much in the way of a quibble with the choices; rather, I found the way the book was written to be disappointing. Some entries had fascinating insights while others contained little more than a track listing, composer and lyricist attributions, recording dates and the name of the album--in other words, things that could be found on the liner notes. In short, the entries were very uneven in their quality. And for some inexplicable reason, the Rodgers and Hart classic "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" is simply referred to as "Bewitched." Why? You tell me.

The table of contents divides the songs into the label on which they appeared: RCA/Columbia/Capitol/Reprise, and appear in order of the date on which they were recorded. This is fine, but why not an index with songs listed alphabetically by title?

The book does contain some fascinating trivia, but not much that isn't found elsewhere, especially if you have the required texts by Friedwald and Granata. Essential to your Sinatra collection? Only if you are a completist. Not a bad book, not a good book. Worth owning if you can find it for a low price. I have seen some vendors ask upwards of $100 dollars for it; it's worth maybe a tenth of that.

Quick Look at your favorite songs
Even if you don't consider yourself a major Sinatra fan, you have heard many of these songs & there have to be mroe than a few that you love. This neat book will give you a little glimpse into the history of these recordings - year recorded & with what band, CDs it appeared on & a capsule summary. Most interesting to me is where the song first appeared - show tune, earlier film & who recorded it.Because of the way Frank later took that song & made it his own, it is hard to belive it had a prior life! An enjoyable companion piece worth owning.

Enjoyable and useful if somewhat light.
While this slight volume can't hold a candle to something like Will Friedwald's comprehensive analysis of Sinatra's recorded career, it's quick and handy.Moreover, while the authors' selections will inevitably produce disagreements, their choices are unlikely to provoke incredulity (no "My Way," or recommendations from the "Duets" albums).And when there are multiple versions of the same tune, which is more often than not the case, the authors give helpful rankings of the best choices.But just to give you an idea of how necessarily inadequate a collection limited to 101 recordings is, Sinatra's absolutely sublime, definitive Reprise recording of "I Hadn't Anyone Til You" is not mentioned.Still, I find myself making more use of this book than any other about Old Blue.

The Master of his Craft
The music of Frank Sinatra is timeless and though the title contains the words "the 101 Best Recordings", you may find that it is just a starting point and find your own 101 favorites. You have over 1000 songs to choose from so your picks are bound to be different than the authors.The book lays out 101 excellent songs, gives information to listeners (date recorded, album it can be found on, arranger, etc.) and tells the background of the song and sometimes an anecdote about when it was recorded. The book is not only for longtime fans of Sinatra's work (though they will be more familiar with all the names, etc.). If your Sinatra cd collection extends to one cd of his greatest hits, then this book can help you figure out where to go next. The stories and anecdotes may not mean much but you can figure out if you want to explore Frank's Columbia, Capitol, or Reprise years. For the experienced Sinatra listener, the book is excellent for starting debate with fellow Sinatra fans or perhaps rediscovering a gem you've forgotten or never really listened to before.Obviously, it is not a biography so don't expect stories about Frank the man, just Frank the singer.My only complaint is that I wish they gave more detail to the songs. I realize they had 101 songs to review, but I wanted more background about the recording session and Frank's opinions and views of the songs. However, there are other books for that.

Essential Sinatra
How do you pick the 101 greatest Sinatra recordings? The authors certainly came up with arguably the definitive list,and presented it in a most enjoyable read.Another reviewer wished there was a CD boxed set toaccompany the book. I did the next best thing. I have an extensive Sinatracollection and I happen to have all the 101 songs(the correct versions). Ibought some high quality cassettes and simply went through my CDs and tapesand put together the audio to the book..three 90 minute and one 60 minutetape covered the 101 songs.Needless to say, it was a labor of love puttingthese songs in order and is fascinating to read the descriptions andhistory of the songs as they are playing. ... Read more