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Rating: 
Summary: CHARMING SINATRA & LOVELY CONCERT
Review: Extraordinary ! Even if you are a Grace Kelly fan, you should buy this DVD to see her beauty and grace. As for Sinatra, though his sound is no more strong, he is at his peak in humor. He is very funny and seems very happy throughout the concert. His singing is not flawless but he is OLD Blue Eyes now and it is still thrilling to hear a mature Sinatra in this DVD. He is charming. Really charming ! He sings many classics such as "You Make Me Feel So Young", "The Lady Is A Tramp" and "One For My Baby". One For My Baby ! What a song ! He is not only singing this song, he is also acting ! There are some relatively newer songs such as "I Will Drink The Wine" which he dedicates to Dean Martin. All in all, very entertaining live concert. I am sure you will enjoy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Live and exciting Sinatra concert
Review: Great entry from circa Sinatra's "retirement" period. He is in great form, the band kicks, and the selections (for the most part) are perfect. While most of the selections are superb, two stick out in my mind...a heartbreaking and bleak version of Didn't We, and an awesomely powerful "I Have Dreamed". On both, Sinatra taps into his neverending well of emotion and appears to drain every drop. Keep in mind that this concert is from a man approaching 60, and while his voice is no longer effortless, these songs are stunning examples of his artistry. For those fans expecting the effortless ease of the 1950's and early '60's Sinatra, this concert is the completely different Sinatra of the 1970's, when high notes had to be approached differently and worked for. It is a man working, technically and emotionally, at his craft...and it is awesome. His voice is filled with style, phrasings filled with tender emotion and wisdom, high notes held with both power and complete with gruff nerve endings as well. Heartfelt pain and pleasure in perfect unison and artistic realization. God, don't get me started....! On a lesser note, while the DVD does the best it could, I believe the original recording at times was fair at best, as some sound problems occur here and there...such as an overloaded microphone on some high notes which caused brief distortion. However, it is a LIVE recording and let yourself ignore it and further create the prescense of the concer hall. It is an unfortunate, but albeit minor problem.
Rating:
Summary: When is about Sinatra, forget all the flops!
Review: I became a Sinatra fan since I heard "My Way" being very young. Since then I learned to appreciate his way of phrasing, as unique in the musiccal world. As time passed and the voice faded gradually, he compensated that with a more dramatic, full of feeling manner of saying every word.
As a paradox, one of the more interesting things about this video, at least for me, was the story that HRH Grace Kelly told at the beginning, that shows what kind of human being Sinatra was. You can also find stories like this in the book that his daughter wrote some 3 or 4 years ago.
So, if you are a Sinatra fan, don`t miss this video.
Rating:
Summary: That means go baby!
Review: In 1994, before leaving for school, I caught the last fifteen minutes of this 1971 TV special and was really amazed of what I had heard. The memory was then tucked away until recently when I bought this DVD.This might not be Sinatra at his best, but he opens with his standard trademarks (with the exception of George Harrison's "Something," sings some sad tunes, tries out some unusual or new songs, and finishes off with both an timeless and modern trademark of his. His first six numbers were his trademark songs, plus the Beatles "Something." It was all good, with "I Got You Under My Skin" being his weakest of the night when he almost messes up the timing. He does mess up lines of a few songs, but as a first time listener, I really didn't notice it that much and the guy quickly jokes out of it. Not perfect, but I've seen worse from other performers. The second half of his show was called "Songs for Losers" and the only one I really enjoyed of those three was "One for my Baby." "Didn't We" was okay, but I couldn't stand "I Get Along Without You Very Well" at all. The final half of the show has Sinatra doing a new number called "I'll Drink The Wine." Since I didn't have time to just transcribe the "true meaning" of the song, I just enjoyed it for the tune. It was a very good tune. The song "I Have Dreamed" only brought back memories of me as a teenager turning on A&E in 1994 and seeing Sinatra singing this. The ending is pretty cool. Then Sinatra does "My Kind of Town" and finishes off with a cool version of "My Way." It isn't perfect, but Sinatra doesn't joke his way out of this song, as he had done with the others. Instead he makes some great covers that a first time listener would accept as the true lyrics. For example, "make it clear" actually sounds better than "say it clear" and "I grew tall, through it all" just sounded so cool to me. Like it was meant to be sung that way. Another performer had the same way about him when he changed the words to "I stood tall, when I went bald." This might not be Sinatra at his best, but if you can accept a guy that has a great talent, that goofs off a little bit, then this should be part of your collection, even if you are a first time Sinatra-fan.
Rating: 
Summary: The beginning of the decline
Review: Recorded in November, 1970, about a year after the self-titled SINATRA (1969), this was not an NBC special, but probably a BBC special. The decline in one year's time is apparent. Noticeable weakening of vocal powers, he looks lifeless, on the opener, "You Make Me Feel So Young", he swipes at the high note instead of holding. He pulls it off because of who he is, but make no mistake: the long nights, booze and smokes caught up for good at this point. Go back to the previous shows and it is painfully obvious.
Rating:
Summary: A Solid Center - Spoiled at the Edges
Review: This DVD, 'Frank Sinatra at the Royal Festival Hall', is one of a series of live Sintra performances transferred to DVD. This concert has some strong highlights, but is tarnished around the edges with some disagreeable sequences. To start with the strong points: Some of these songs are performed very well, such as 'Sometimes', 'The Lady is a Tramp', 'One for My Lady', and to a lesser extent... 'My Way'. 'One for My Lady' is without question the best part of this performance, with Frank 'play-acting' the song wonderfully (But we can see in his eyes that he means what he says. Unlike other legendary superstars, Frank still has the blues- and it makes his 'songs for losers' very moving). Sinatra is backed by a large, Music Hall-style band, which play together are very well, and once in a while specific instruments will take the fore, and at these moments the music is the most enjoyable. The pianist and the drummer are the band standouts (besides Frankie, that is). But there are two things about this DVD that I find distasteful... Princess Grace of Monaco introduces the show, and quiet Frankly, she is very presumtuous in assuming that we all want to hear about her 'lifestyles of the rich and famous' stories. She goes to great lengths to note that she has put out a gold record, gone on safari in Africa, starred in a 'High Society', and has shared oh so precious moments with Sinatra. (Notice that after she indicates that she starred in 'High Society', she pauses, waiting for the audience to applaud- which, of course, they do). Some people, such as I, are more concerned about music and the artist who has put out this CD (Sinatra), instead of listening to some woman of the high-elite expostulate her pampered and easy lifestyle. The second problem with this CD is the song 'I'll Drink the Wine'. If this song was from a soundtrack, such as 'Napoleon I', or, 'Manifest Destiny in the Old West', it might have made more sense. But as it stands, the song is just plain arrogant. Check out these lyrics... "..." Ah, arrogant imperialism has never sounded so manly. But tell me, what would a Native American, or perhaps a Palestinian, think of this song? Frankie- this is no longer ancient Rome. Being a tough dominator is no longer as 'august' as it once was. This song is laughable, but very tragic at the same time. Someone offers a good wish- a bunlde of flowers or, perhaps, a dinner of Thanksgiving, and such a gesture is trown back at the giver, then the giver's land is taken out from under them. Boy, the plutocratic/domineer doctrine has never been so clearly sung. Anyway, except for that song and the conceited Princess, this DVD is great!
Rating:
Summary: Premium Sinatra
Review: This is a recording of the second show in the presence of HRH Princess Margaret at London's Royal Festival Hall. Preceding Mr Sinatra's appearance was Bob Hope. These two giants of American entertainment and culture were to have been introduced by Sir Noel Coward who was taken ill and died shortly after the performances. At short notice, HSH the late Princess Grace of Monaco graciously substituted as compere for the evening billed as "Night of Nights." The (charity) event was in aid of the National Association For The Prevention of Cruelty to Children to whom the proceeds and Television fees were paid; HSH Princess Grace and Messrs Hope and Sinatra meeting all of their own costs and in Mr Sinatra's case those of his musicians. It is especially notable for Mr Sinatra's performance of the rare Lenny Hayton arrangement of George Harrison's "Something" and of course the beautiful Nelson Riddle arrangement of "I Get Along Without You Very Well" which is performed incomparably and last but not least, the rare Gordon Jenkins arrangement of "One For My Baby." "I Will Drink The Wine" written by the son of accomplished Anglo-Canadian singer Marion Ryan was a new Sinatra "pop single" and like present day "pop" pales by comparison with that of Rogers & Hart, Cole Porter etc. It is notable merely that it reflects the post "flower power / love child" influences which had such a dibilitating effect upon Western civilised countries. Accompanied by accomplished jazz musicians and LSO string section, Sinatra is in fine "Basie" form and brings a "looseness/improvisation" and humour to his readings which sets them apart from those in the recording studio. In his 50's the voice may not have been as sweet as it was in his 20's but the depth of his readings of the ballads make these performances far superior. The key change in "I have Dreamed" proved, if proof were needed that "retirement" the following year should never have been a consideration. In a word this concert is "incomparable."
Rating: 
Summary: Too many miles on the clock
Review: This was a concert for charity, something Sinatra did a lot of in his later years. From the start it is obvious that he is coasting. There are periods when he concentrates on what he is doing, but most of the time he is too busy Being Sinatra, winking at pals in the audience like Grace Kelly and Tony Bennett, making all the same worn gestures (pointing at the audience, rolling his hand forwards, raising his shoulder). Early on in "The Lady is a Tramp" he seems to forget a line but just shrugs it off and in "You Make Me Feel So Young" he sings "spring to be sprung" instead of "fling to be flung", which he corrects second time around, not that it matters much. The Rat Pack cool pose that worked so well in the 50s sits badly on a aging man. Little things give the lie to this pose: his terrible hairpiece, the fact that each time he tries to lean on the piano his arm slips. It brings to mind the notorious "Welcome Home Elvis" tv show he recorded in the 50s, during which he sang a skit of "You Make Me Feel So Young" with daughter Nancy. Frank's part was "You Make Me Feel So Old", and he would have done better to sing that during this London concert. Having said that, if you are a Sinatra fan then this is a fun DVD to own. It's good to see him singing My Way, the tape is in colour and he is not yet at the stage where he struggles for breath and goes purple on high notes. Grace Kelly is far too mannered in her introduction and her "amusing" story about Christmas in Africa with Frank and Ava Gardner goes down like a brick with the audience (an astoundingly poor choice of story since that was the pre-From Here to Eternity time when Frank's career had hit its lowest point and Ava was constantly humiliating him). Interesting to compare this tired performance to video recordings from the 50s or 60s when his powers were strong and he didn't need those irritating gestures because his voice and his eyes were compelling and hypnotic. The Man and His Music DVDs are a better buy than this one, but I am glad that I have this one in my collection.
Rating:
Summary: Sinatra at his best despite some silly songs
Review: Ths concert is one of Sinatras best for the time it was done. He was at the height of his power and popularity in Europe. The only thing I found wrong with it was the song , and the introduction of the song, " I will drink the wine ". I could not understand why a man with such an impeccable repertoire could record such a ridiculous song. His delivery of" I get along without you very well " was wonderful. He had the hall at his feet and you could hear the proverbial pin drop. Even though he fluffed the lyrics slightly he turned that beautiful song into the poem that it is.
The concert was spontaneous bright and classic Sinatra. I watch it very often,
Rating:
Summary: "Sinatra." Nothing more to say.
Review: While this isn't the best Sinatra concert around, it's still very, very good. Frnakie mostly croons his standard playlist, which is a good thing, but I also enjoyed his rendition of what he called the greatest love song ever written -- "Something". Also, his tribute to Dino Martin was sincere and a pretty darn good song. On top of that, he's introduced by Princess Grace, the classiest and loveiest woman in Hollywood history (you can't get a better intro than that.) All in all, this wasn't Sinatra at his peak, both in voice and appearance. But considering what he's singing and how he's singing, this is still an essential DVD for any Sinatra fan or fan of popular music.
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