The Rat Pack - Live At The Villa Venice (1962/2003) [DVD-A] {24-192 & 16-44}

"…This album provides some 22 songs interspersed with comedy monologue with some of the songs broken up by funny interjections especially during Sammy Davis Jr's set. But they all got their jabs in on each other providing a balanced ribbing that indicated a comfortable love between this group of fellas, the kind that only close friends can initiate and get away with.

Each singer gets their top billing, singing a collection of songs and heavily packed medleys. Dean Martin sings his set in his signature and highly recognizeable voice including a satisfying turn on Tony Bennett's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". The Martin show is turned over to Frank Sinatra who belts out 6 songs before turning it over to Sammy Davis Jr, who's first song, "What Kind of Fool Am I?" gets spectacular delivery thus showcasing Sammy Davis Jr's fine voice. His "She's Funny That Way" gets pelted out of the gate with vocal hilarity provided by Martin and Sinatra.

The sets become amplified when the guys combine to offer up unique renditions of songs that will never hold as true to the mystique or persona of The Rat Pack as these moments reveal. Frank and Dean combine to sing several medleys. Everyone get together to create a brand of magic that are found only on this disc. Admittedly, some fans might be irritated by the continual interruption of some songs so that true fans might be the only tolerant audience however, this rare recording offers a look into not only the personalities of the fellas but also their ability to mix fun with work, a trait that was inherent with Dean Martin and who was probably the impetus that spurred the contagious comedy.

But don't let the comedy throw you off of a good time. It's all done in respect of the music that these guys can produce and that line of sight is never lost. There's even a "hidden" or "unannounced" track that is found at the end of "Birth of the Blues (Reprise)"…"

Release date: October 28, 2003

Recorded at the Villa Venice nightclub, Chicago, IL, Nov 26 - Dec 2, 1962.

Tracklist:
01 Fanfare & Introduction
02 Dean Martin - Medley: Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes/When You're Smiling/The Lady Is A Tramp
03 Dean Martin - My Kind Of Girl
04 Dean Martin - I Left My Heart In San Francisco
05 Dean Martin - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
06 Dean Martin - Medley: Volare/On An Evening In Roma
07 Frank Sinatra - Goody Goody
08 Frank Sinatra - Chicago
09 Frank Sinatra - When Your Lover Has Gone
10 Frank Sinatra - Monologue
11 Frank Sinatra - Please Be Kind
12 Frank Sinatra - Angel Eyes
13 Frank Sinatra - You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You
14 Sammy Davis, Jr. - What Kind Of Fool Am I
15 Sammy Davis, Jr. - Out Of This World
16 Sammy Davis, Jr. - She's Funny That Way
17 Sammy Davis, Jr. - Hey There
18 Frank & Dean - Comedy
19 Frank & Dean - Medley 1
20 Frank & Dean - Medley 2
21 Frank, Dean & Sammy - Impressions
22 Frank, Dean & Sammy - Birth Of The Blues
23 Frank, Dean & Sammy - Danny Thomas Introduction
24 Frank - Nancy (With The Laughing Face)
25 Frank & Sammy - Me And My Shadow
26 Dean & Sammy - Sam's Song
27 Frank, Dean & Sammy - Birth Of The Blues (reprise)
28 Frank, Dean & Sammy - One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) (Hidden Track)


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files marked -16bit => 24-192 converted to 16bit-44.1kHz (CD-compatible)
files marked -tiff => complete scans (tiff)
files marked img -> full ISO image

iZotope RX used for conversion to 16/44

complete artwork 600dpi (jpg) is included in both 24/192 and 16/44 files, tiff artwork is available for additional waste of bandwith




Updated: 5.4.2011. (ISO image added)