FRANK SINATRA — The Main Event (review)

FRANK SINATRA — The Main Event album cover

Live album · 1974 · Vocal Jazz

4.5/5 · 2012-01-01
Matt

"Live from New York, the city of whose landmarks are familar all over the world, centre for shipping, transportation, communication, finance, fashion and above all entertainment" excerpt from Howard Cossell's introduction to "The Main Event" with Frank Sinatra in concert at Madison Square Garden on October the 13th back in 1974. Produced by Don Costa with the swinging arrangements and conducting by Bill Miller with a myriad of classics and a few new ones thrown in from Frank for this big occasion which was the actual end of his U.S tour culimanting at Madison Square Garden with celebrities as common as rabbits in the audience of 20,000 and not only that this was televised right across the country also. Frank had retired back in 1970 but he was back by 73 and recorded and released "Ole Blue Eyes Is Back" and then set off on his American tour with quite a few current hits under his belt with one getting on the song list being his most famous which must have been quite a surprise as it was late in his career but "My Way" does get to finish the gig off. Two other contempary songs for the time included being Stevie Wonder's, "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" and Jim Croce's, "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" with swinging results. Bit of banter also included for song introductions by Frank Sinatra and one other note the recording has one great clear sound and with what I can gather there are no over-dubs so things are kept nice and fresh with the very odd small imperfection noticed when one listens hard and close enough but that is what is so wonderful about Live and spontaneous material bringing a true character to the music whatever is being created.

Howard Cossell's big introduction with the Orchestra adding swing right behind him over a medley of "It Was A Good Year", "All The Way" and "My Kind of Town" is the album commencement to where Frank Sinatra or "The Chairman Of The Board" makes his appearance and swings straight into his classic number "The Lady Is A Tramp" with the orchestra boucing along beautifully behind him with of course a glorious finish from Frank and from a Rodgers and Hart composition he goes straight for a Cole Porter song that Frank also has made his own "I Get A Kick Out Of You" and who else could sing this any better and I love that kick from the orchestra right in the right places with Frank's vocals just before he sings kick in the chorus. There are two Paul Anka songs covered with the most famous for Frank being last but here we get Frank doing "Let Me Try Again" which is the first ballad in the concert and Frank gives it his treatment with a great result. "Autumn In New York" is about as standard as a standard can get which would have been chosen due to the concerts location but no matter he could sing this anywhere and get a tumultous reaction from the audience. Cole Porter is back with another classic "I've Got You Under My Skin" and the following number many would think a little unFrank but "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" swings and he gets away with it without a hitch by adding all the swing and bouce to the song. "I have never felt so much love in my life" is the first thing Frank says to the audience for this song's introduction "Angel Eyes" and an interesting note in his intro is how he mentions there are not many saloon singers left just him, Drunky Dean and Tony Bennett and it is a ballad of course. Stevie Wonder's "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" is another great Chairman of the board take and "The House I Live In" is originally from a short musical with Frank showing patrotism. "My Kind Of Town" is second last and the album closer which Frank introduces as the national anthem being of course "My Way" which is the other Paul Anka tune included and there will never be another version done of this song that will ever eclipse what Frank Sinatra recorded and made his concert regular.

Heaps of banter between the songs with even a reference to Australia in a light hearted fashion with a reference from Frank stating that instead of "Ole Blue Eyes" he is more known as "Ole Big Mouth" down here but he still always toured here. Nine times I believe and he was always a hit as this album was when it was released back in 1974. Great stuff and a real concert feel with great versions of all the songs having a mix of ballads, standards and most of all what I love the most about Frank Sinatra's music is the Swing.