Mobster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel may have laid the physical cornerstones of Las Vegas, but it was Francis Albert Sinatra who gave Sin City its swinging musical soul. Spanning a quarter century, this four-CD-plus-bonus-DVD collection of previously unreleased recordings captures spirited Sinatra shows at the Sands, Caesar's, and Golden Nugget--performances that initially underscore the salutary effect the desert playground had on the singer's muse, then warmly chronicle the autumn years of a triumphant career. A pair of '60s gigs at the Sands (of which Sinatra was part owner) capture an artist still building on his musical legacy in the midst of rock's rising fortunes. The 1961 show turns on the riches of his Capitol years, a musically straightforward set that balances the singer's interpretations of reflective material like "Moonlight in Vermont" and "In the Still of the Night" with upbeat, typically playful renditions of such Sinatra signatures as "Young at Heart," "The Lady Is a Tramp," and "Witchcraft."
But it's the '66 performance that may be the most intriguing for Sinatraphiles: A live workout with Count Basie and his orchestra that eschews the singer's mid-decade comeback hits--and even material from the recent Sinatra-Basie collaboration--in favor of a sassy set that's less summit meeting than swinging soirée, a freewheeling highlight reel from his back catalog that finds singer and band engaging each other with playful, often dizzy abandon. The anthology's '82 and '87 sets from Caesar's and the Golden Nugget, respectively, aren't nearly as musically challenging, showcasing a vocalist and still-boisterous crowd-pleaser who might have stopped breaking musical ground, yet never ceased reveling in the glories--and laughs--he could still bring to the moment. Rat Pack partner in crime Dean Martin stops by Caesar's for some good-natured razzing, while daughter Nancy guests on the set's lovably ditzy take on "Somethin' Stupid." The bonus DVD captures another unreleased rarity, an entire May 1978 Caesar's gig taped by CBS during a period when the singer had largely retreated from the spotlight. While his voice sometimes betrays the ravages of time on these later performances, Sinatra's mercurial humor and indomitable spirit simply spirit won't be denied. --Jerry McCulley
Product Description
A 4CD/1DVD boxed set of unforgettable live performances, all previously unreleased!! Disc 1 - Recorded at the Sands, Las Vegas, NV November 1961; Disc 2 - Recorded at the Sands, Las Vegas, NV January-February 1966; Disc 3 - Recorded at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV March 1982; Disc 4 - Recorded at the Golden Nugget, Las Vegas, NV April 1987; DVD - Recorded at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV May 1978
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