January 25, 2007

"Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week)"

For Sinatra fans, this is a really great segment from a PBS special of a few years back called American in the '40s. First is an interview with a woman who discusses what it was like to see Sinatra on stage back when he was "The Voice." I believe the filmmakers may actually have captured a hot flash, on film.

The amusing interview with her is followed by archival footage of Frankie (on top of the world, ma!) performing "Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week)." Frank is actually performing with Harry James, and not Tommy Dorsey, as is implied in the preceding interview.

Big band leader Harry James

In 1939, James "discovered" Sinatra, who at the time was working as a singing waiter at the Rustic Cabin in New Jersey. James hired him on the spot to be his big band's singer.


Bing takes it all in stride.

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