Sinatra: Those Old Blue Eyes reflect a love affair at SPAC

by C. Robie Booth, The Knickerbocker News, August 26, 1975

It was a super show by a super showman.

Frank Sinatra’s long-awaited appearance at Saratoga Performing Arts Center could have disappointed no one except his bankers last night.

Crowds anticipated to run as high as 35,000 did not materialize. Two sources at SPAC varied from 7,500 to 11,000 in quoting attendance. Our guess would be about 10,000.

The audience was with the chairman of the board every minute. He rewarded them in kind. In one hour and 25 minutes of solid toil and talent, there was not a dead moment. And there were no unkind words for anyone except the German press, which, he said, had “way overblown the Berlin thing. We never even got there.”

Frank is in his cello years, with the voice sometimes pleading toward the bass. He can still sing as well as anyone in the business, be it jazz, show or popular. But the voice was often raspy, especially noticeable on “Angel Eyes,” which nonetheless hit you right between the eyes.

The audience stood asthough on signal to greet him. He swung into “Where or When,” hitting a pretty fair tone on the high closing.

In a fresh white suit and with his half-dancing movements, he looked 20 years his junior in “Let me Try Again,” “My Kind of Town” and a Don Costa arrangement of “But Beautiful.”

Sinatra’s commentary was crisp and sometimes provoking. “Jimmy Webb is one of the greatest composers we have,” introduced a sometimes raspy “Didn’t We Girl.” “The equally talented George Harrison of the Beatles wrote probably the greatest love song of the last 50 years in ‘Something.'” Musically, it could possible be; lyrically, never. His version was not as powerful as Shirley Bassey’s, but it was an emotional grabber with all of the nuances maximized.

“Nice ‘n’ Easy” was bouncing ripples of magic that were slightly interrupted by the beginning of rain.

People started calling for “My Way.” “I’m tired of this song,” Sinatra said. “I’m doing it under protest.” It bogged down a bit and Frank tried to accelerate the orchestra with counterclockwise circling of his arm. The standing applause for the number was deafening.

“I love you,” shouted a voice sounding like that of a middle-aged woman.

“I love you, too,” Blue Eyes replied sincerely. “I love all of you.”

Two of his newer tunes, a Nelson Riddle arrangement of “I Believe I’m Gonna Love You” (Western) and a Don Costa-arranged “Please Don’t Ask Me Now” (country) were very well received.

Fine jazz guitarist Al Viola gave Frank solo accompaniment on “I Concentrate on You.” He followed with “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “Nancy,” which he called his favorite song and pointed out that Phil Silvers wrote the lyrics to Jimmy Van Heusen’s music. Van Heusen was in the audience—he is summering at Brant Lake—and was given an ovation.

Sinatra called Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns” “the best marriage of words and music I’ve heard.” It was electric. He finished with a rousing “The Lady Is a Tramp,” “That Rainy Day” and “Put Your Dreams Away.” He was given a huge, standing and warm ovation and he stood on stage for quite a few minutes to wave to well-wishers and acknowledge cheers.

The 40 minutes of the program before intermission featured a funny show by Pat Henry and a dance routine by The Little Steps, four sons of the original Step Brothers. The new generation is Robert, Fritz, Barney and Tommy. They are a lively, fancy-stepping troupe of whom more will be heard.

Sinatra’s personal security force was said to be formidable. One report said they even kept SPAC’s own stagehands away from the stage. There were no incidents of violence, according to Park Police.

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