Goody Goody! | The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection: Live & Swingin (CD & DVD)

Platinum, Baby! | The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection: Live & Swingin (CD & DVD) | Rat Pack

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	• The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection: Live & Swingin (CD & DVD) Rat Pack Reprise Records, 2003 average customer review:based on 41 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Fantastic Rat Pack Combo!

This is an excellent purchase! You not only get a great cd, but also a wonderful dvd. I was hesitant at first to purchase this when it came out: due to the low budget, and bad sounding stuff out on the market.

However, the sound quality is good, so don't hesitate to pick this up! The dvd alone is worth the price. It's nice to see the crew in action and to see the late great Johnny C. as well!!

Goody Goody!

One show on Cd, and the other on DVD. One from Chicago and one from St. Louis. Very entertaining. Those guys were fabulous.

Platinum, Baby!

Nobody was more thrilled than I was in the 1990's when the Rat Pack suddenly became very cool again, even after their styles had gone out of fashion and they were frequently parodied on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.
Whether it was new interest in their swingin', carefree and very politically-incorrect antics or folks reading critically-acclaimed books like Nick Tosches' DINO or even a new generation discovering their ultra-lounge sound, it was a genuine kick to see people diggin' that Vegas scene.

The HBO film, THE RAT PACK, did a good job of structuring the backstory of the Guys, but you really have to see the DVD of this collection to really appreciate the raw talents of Frank, Dean and Sammy.
Ring-a-ding, baby, let's cook and swing!

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It's Here

This is it. If you love the Rat Pack for more than just their music, this is the collection for you. My wife an I have it playing everytime we entertain, just to liven up the mood. It's a great CD with great performances and the DVD is hysterical. It's about time they came out with something that gives the people what they want. Buy it, watch it, listen to it, love it. You will not be disappointed.

Finest Audio & Video Recording of the Rat Pack in Concert

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.

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