Happy Birthday, Frank

Few people could, or could ever hope to, croon like Ole Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra.

To paraphrase The Big Lebowski, he was definitely a man for his time and place, so much does he idealize and typify gentlemen of a certain era. He was the penultimate Guy's Guy, while also managing to be the penultimate Ladies' Man. Those suits, those moves, those drinks, those women...Sinatra, one could argue, had it all and then some during his lifetime.

Personally, I like him best during those wild and crazy Rat Pack years. When Vegas was a glamourous, sizzling hot place to be for reasons other than the weather. When showgirls were classy (ish) and you had to wear a suit to dinner. So raise a martini to one of the finest voices that ever did sing, Mister Frank Sinatra.

mp3: The Christmas Waltz (Frank Sinatra from The Frank Sinatra Christmas Collection) (song from the excellent A Free Man)

The Greatest Sugar Free Chicago Mix You Ever Will Hear

We try to stick to all things music here at LET, but we do have other interests, too. You may recall my mentioning my hockey fanaticism just a few weeks back. While i'm a Washington Caps fan (and season ticket holder) by location (with highly inappropriate feelings for AO and Backs; what can you do?), i am, of course, a Chicago Blackhawks fan by birth and by blood (which hopefully explains the equal bromance felt for Johnny Toews, shitty playoff beard or not). With yesterday's sweep of the perennially snakebit San Jose Sharks, the 'Hawks are on their way to their first Stanley Cup appearance since 1992, but we don't really need to go into that one right now.

As a tip of the hat to a job well done, i've put together a Chicago mix that clearly doesn't have "Sweet Home Chicago" in it. i've got to have something to post when they win the whole thing, right?*

As such, here's The Greatest Sugar Free Chicago Mix You Ever Will Hear.

mp3: Chicago (Coleman Hawkins from An Introduction to Coleman Hawkins)

mp3: Chicago (Frank Sinatra from The Capitol Collectors Series)

mp3: Chicago (Ladyslipper from Time, Not the Weather)

mp3: Chicago (Sufjan Stevens from Illinoise)

mp3: Chicago People (Sam Prekop from Who's Your New Professor?)

mp3: Chicago Style (Bing Crosby and Bob Hope from Bing Crosby: Duets With Friends)

mp3: I Used to Work in Chicago (Eddie Vedder from Signature Live)

mp3: "It's 106 miles to Chicago..." (Dan Akroyd from The Blues Brothers)

mp3: Perth Bongs, Chicago Bud (feat. Gzutek) (Alex Ludovico from The Reawakening Mixtape)

mp3: Train to Chicago (Drink Me from Sleep)

mp3: Train to Chicago (Mike Doughty covering Drink Me from Smofe + Smang: Live In Minneapolis)

mp3: She Was in Chicago (John Lee Hooker from She Was in Chicago)

mp3: On the South Side of Chicago (Walter Wanderley from Hammond Bossa From Brasil)

mp3: Chicago Wind (Adrian Younge from Black Dynamite Soundtrack)

mp3: Chicago (Django Reinhardt from Djangologie)

mp3: Take Me Back to Chicago (Chicago from Chicago XI)

And for the 'Hawks enlightened:

mp3: Here Come the 'Hawks (The Dick Marx Orchestra and Choir from the Blackhawks multimedia page)

mp3: Chelsea Dagger (The Fratellis from Costello Music)

*That's right, i'm trash talking, bitch. And you know what elese? Your mother dresses you funny. What about it?

It's Covered--It's Only A Paper Moon

I swear to Dolemite, there was something else I was planning on writing about today, but for the life of me, I can't remember what it was. Probably had something to do with ninja bears, so I'm truly sorry for your collective loss, but sometimes, things happen.

As such, it's time for another fan fave, It's Covered. Today, we're going to tackle "It's Only a Paper Moon."

Way back in 1933, the team of Harold Arlen (writer) and E. Y. Harburg and Billy Rose (lyrics) penned the little ditty. Originally, it was intended for a soon-to-fail Broadway show by the name of The Great Magoo. While I'm not personally familiar with that one, I'm guessing it was the lack of a little blind dude that made the show sink. The tune didn't become famous, however, until it began to be covered by a series of popular artists, including Buddy Rich, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Even today, love for the song seemingly hasn't diminished, as it's a regular for Fiona Apple. Speaking of which, we not only have a version for you with Fiona and her sister, Maude Maggart, but a second with Fiona, her longtime musical companion Jon Brion and John C. Reilly. Yes, THAT John Freaking C. Reilly! Gawd, I love indie musicians.

I'd be remiss if I didn't point out it also was a titular episode of Deep Space Nine, too. Much love to my geek peeps, yo.

Plus, the Muppets took a shot at it, too. Or, at least, tried to.

Class dismissed.

mp3: It's Only a Paper Moon (Miles Davis)

mp3: It's Only a Paper Moon (Buddy Rich)

mp3: It's Only a Paper Moon (Ella Fitzgerald)

mp3: It's Only a Paper Moon (Frank Sinatra)

mp3: It's Only a Paper Moon (Nat King Cole)

mp3: It's Only a Paper Moon (Maude Maggart and Fiona Apple)

mp3: It's Only a Paper Moon (Jon Brion, Fiona Apple and John C. Reilly)