Frank Sinatra: In Concert at the Royal Festival Hall (1970 TV Special) User Reviews

Sinatra at or near his best

[Tashtago · 9/10 · 9 November 2007]

Old Blue Eyes at the peak or perhaps on the descending side of the peak but nevertheless in great form. The orchestra lacks the punch and hard swing of the Count Basie or Nelson Riddle Orchestras but that doesn't prevent Frank from turning in some top notch performances. Particularly good are several chestnuts: "Pennies from Heaven", "Lady is a Tramp", and "I've got you under my skin" he falters slightly on George Harrison's "Something" but admits that he hasn't "learned" the song yet. Praise of the highest order from one musical titan to another. Things pick up again during the slow set with a tremendous performance art rendition of "One for My Baby"; but the triumph here is Sinatra's towering interpretation of Hoagie Charmichal's "I get along without you very well" so devastating that the director cuts to a shot of a man in the crowd wiping tears from his eyes as the song closes. For Sinatra fans and TRUE music fans this is a gem that must be seen.

Sinatra by command

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 23 January 2016]

Albert Hall is a place where royalty visits, it was named after Crown Prince Albert husband of Queen Victoria and it's some Hollywood who is also real royalty who begins the show. Her serene highness Princess Grace, former Kelly of Monaco who gets to introduce her former co-star from High Society Frank Sinatra who does a medley of his top tunes.

One thing I've noticed about Sinatra concerts, he mixes new and old, I wish he would do some more songs identified with his career. I never hear All The Way or Young At Heart in any of the tapes of concerts. Never saw a live one, I would have to sell a kidney to have afforded a ticket.

Vocal highlight is his version Rodgers&Hammerstein's I Have Dreamed from The King And I. Curiously enough Sinatra recorded this for an album The Concert Sinatra at the beginning of the Sixties. It remains the best version of the song ever done.

That alone is reason enough to check out this concert.