Search - Rat Pack :: The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection: Live & Swingin (CD & DVD)

CD/DVD a Great Bargin

R. Angeloni | Northern California, USA | 11/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Live and Swingin', The Ulitimate Rat Pack Collection," brings you back to another time in America. I am too young to have seen the Rat Pack live, but this CD/DVD combination provides the next best thing.
Disc one is an audio-only CD with performances of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis Jr. at a Chicago nightclub in 1962. Disc two, which was actually broadcasted about two years ago on cable's TV Land, shows a 1965 St. Louis performance by the same trio, with a very young Johnny Carson MCing. If you like the Rat Pack mythology and all that it stands for, then this collection is perfect. Thankfully, through all the clowning, there are some very good performances here, both on the CD and DVD, from Sinatra, Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. The comedy segments are also enjoyable, you can clearly see, at least at this point in their careers, that the three really enjoyed working with each other.
For about the price of a new CD, you get a CD and DVD. A great deal. Highly recommended."

Finest Audio & Video Recording of the Rat Pack in Concert

Mack_T_Knife | USA | 07/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD(1) and CD(1) set is an outstanding value for the money. The DVD is the most precious because it captures a televised charity benefit where the main 3 Rat Pack members (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.) do an updated version of their old Vegas Sands Hotel act. Titled the "Frank Sinatra Spectacular."



The show is in black and white, but since it was recorded by a major television network for the purposes of making a documentary on Sinatra, the camerawork and sound are quite good. Again, it is easily the highest quality video and sound recording of essentially the same act they did for years in Vegas and at the Villa Venice in Chicago for Sam Giancana.



(Incidentally--The charity that this show was meant to raise cash for was a halfway house for ex-cons in St. Louis called Dismas House.)



There are a few twists that make this show unique from the shows the Rat Pack did at the Sands in Las Vegas. A very young Johnny Carson (just a few years into his gig replacing Jack Paar as host of the Tonight Show) is filling in on short notice for Joey Bishop as Master of Ceremonies. A bit nervous but good natured about the gang's shennanigans, he fills in ably.



Peter Lawford, by this time falling out of favor with Sinatra, is not even mentioned, much less seen --in the show.



A rather young Quincy Jones (referred to as "Q") conducts the orchestra.



Sammy Davis clearly steals the show. Typically, in the Vegas and Chicago nightclub acts, Frank and Dean playfully interrupt Sammy throughout his act whether he is singing, dancing or attempting to do impressions. Here, they actually allow him to do his full act with virtually no interuption. What a treat. Sammy demonstrates a number of popular dance steps, does some marvelous, passionate singing numbers, and also sings Be-Bom accapella solely with a bongo accompianing him. He also gets through most of his celebrity impersonations (he impersonates various stars like Nat King Cole, Marlon Brando, Billy Eckstein etc. singing parts of "One for My Baby") without interuption until the very end. What a remarable talent Davis was.



Although the DVD contains just the show and no "extras," it is obviously well-produced and well-mastered for sound.



The CD that accompanies the DVD is a different show. I believe it is a show from one of the nights at the Villa Venice in Chicago. The show is remarkably similar to the show from "The Summit In Concert" (it may even be the same) CD. For the money, this set provides you with not only the sounds of the legendary Rat Pack in Concert, but also the sights. The DVD is a rare treat indeed not found elsewhere.

"

Outstanding DVD

Donald Chewms | chewms5@hotmail.com | 12/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I initially bought this, I was looking forward to listening to the CD for a long car ride I had ahead of me, and figured the DVD would be a nice little bonus that I would watch at some point.As it turns out, the DVD is absolutely amazing and well worth the price alone. Not that the CD isn't great too, but it was watching the live performance that really moved me. Dean Martin is just a riot to watch, and it is impossible not to be in awe of the undeniable charisma of Sinatra when he performs. He just has a confidence you don't see too often. But the one that really stood out for me was Sammy Davis, Jr. I have been a Sinatra fan for as long as I can remember, but never gave much credit or attention to Davis. Boy, was that a mistake! The man is so versatile and musically gifted, and quite a comic performer in his own right (his impression of fellow Rat Packer Dean Martin is priceless). The highlight of the DVD for me was Sammy's vocals accompanied by only drums. Truly amazing!For any true Rat Pack fan or anybody that is remotely interested in them, you will surely not be let down by this CD/DVD package. Do not hesitate to buy this immediately!"