Search - :: At Villa Venice, Chicago, Live 1962, Vol. 2

Ain't this a kick in the head!

Matt Campbell | 09/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sometimes I wish I didn't have a tendency of entering into a situation in the middle of it. I walk into movies late, miss the first part of conversations, and tune into good songs on the radio just after the good part has already played. That's the way I feel with "At Villa Venice... Vol. 2," because I know there's more good stuff on Volume 1. Thank goodness, though, the stuff on Vol. 2 is GOLD! Imagine if you will the club on the outskirts of Chicago, owned by "the family," and featuring the headlining trio of Sinatra, Martin, and Davis. You miss their individual musical sets on stage, but get there in time for the Clan's comedy act, involving liquor, double entendre, current events, and even race. Each performer adds to the equation, creating a masterpiece of 80-proof humor. The songs they do sing are either played for riotous laughs or off-the-cuff entertainment. It is a great and gritty guilty pleasure that you'll keep at the top of your stack of CDs. By the time this disk ends, you have to shake off the feeling that you were there, in their time, having THE time of your life."

This CD captures the essence of the Rat Pack at its peak.

Matt Campbell | 10/09/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Transport yourself back to the swinging 60's when Sinatra was king of the world holding court with his able ministers of hip, Dean and Sammy. The comedy is a bit dated and not exactly politically correct, but the music and the energy effusing from the trio make up for that. The quality of the recording is first rate for technology and time. A must for the Rat Pack afficienado."