The Rat Pack - The Rat Pack Live at the Sands

"If you wanna hear me sing serious, buy an album," Dean Martin says early in this 70-minute disc, underlining his point by deliberately mangling the last word's pronunciation. Issued to catch the wave of Steven Soderbergh's remake of the Pack's romp, Ocean's 11, Live at the Sands is the second official issue of a Martin/Frank Sinatra/Sammy Davis Jr. show. This September 1963 date, though, is nimbler and funnier than the previous year's set preserved on The Summit in Concert. Some of the same jokes are told, but this Vegas jaunt adds at least one new running gag (Dino's brief rendition of "It's My Party"), and Sammy also gets a few racially tinged zingers off in return for those of his partners. Oh, and lest we forget, there's good music. Martin actually plays it straight on two Guys and Dolls duets with Sinatra, who also turns in a half-dozen strong performances on his own. Plenty of mystique is present, but Sands captures the trio hard at work as well. --Rickey Wright Amazon.com

The "Rat Pack Live at the Sands" was fabulous!

It was just like being there! Dean, Frank, and Sammy entertained, just as I had remembered. It was great having them back again. The songs, conversation, and humor were more than I had hoped for. I miss them all so much, but can enjoy them over and over again with this CD. August 28, 2008

Rat Pack ZENITH

Two months before Dallas 1963, four months before the Beatles/Ed Sullivan 1964, the 1950's were about to end! Dean, Frank & Sammy the top three individual entertainers in the World come together for this superb live recording @ The Sands in Vegas. This is a 1st class effort all the way.
IMO the KEY to the packs icon status is Dean Martin, while Frank maybe the greatest singer & Sammy the greatest entertainer,Dino has the greatest personality. Buy this CD you will love it! August 6, 2008

ABSOLUTELY GREAT !!!

I simply loved this CD. Just like having Dean, Sammy and Frank in my own living room.

A must have for any Rat Pack fan. July 25, 2008

Excellent!!!

There are lots of ways to perceive this recording. One of those possible views is "Excellent." And it truly is.
If one is a fan of Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, it belongs it your collection. Beyond that, this recording must be taken in context of the period. One famous casino mogul opined: " Every swinger, every hipster, every doo-wa-diddy guy on the planet crowded into this small town, taking up all the rooms, trying to get a seat at the Rat Pack. The atmosphere in the room.... was electric. The announcer came on stage and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Sands Copa Room." And without another word out came Frank Sinatra... Dean Martin.. Sammy Davis, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop... With no introduction. There is no parallel to it today." It was the "Woodstock of the Cocktail Generation." They were probably drunk. Irreverent. Slinging taunts and insults at each other. Dean Martin, at the top of his voice. Sinatra's voice, sexy, cocky, with swagger. They were clearly the Kings. They did what they wanted, whenever they wanted, with whomever they wanted, and answered to no one. They were screwing around on stage, drinking, singing, cutting up, and making a ton of money doing it. That's what they did. It was shtick, and it was cool. I've listened to this recording dozens of times and continue to be fascinated with it.
June 27, 2008

Greatest Performance Ever

Many years ago I was fortunate enough to have seen the Rat Pack in Las Vegas several times. This CD brought back memories of the greatest entertainers ever to walk on a Sin City stage. Absolutely SUPER-SENSATIONAL, MEGA-MARVELOUS and TERRIFYINGLY-TERRIFIC. June 5, 2008

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