Friday, Jan. 28, 2000 | 9:45 a.m.
Joe Delaney's column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or [email protected]
Paul Anka's lyrics to an original French melody, "My Way," have been credited with spurring Frank Sinatra's successful return to show business at the start of the 1970s. ... "My Way" was a mega-hit, a million-record seller, and became a Sinatra signature song.
The real reason for his return was the re-writing of many of Sinatra's classic song arrangements down to a lower key, making the top notes accessible.
Most popular songs are written to be sung. ... Some start as instrumentals with lyrics added later. ... All build to a climax with top notes for dramatic effect, usually in the last eight bars. ... By lowering the original key, those top notes are easier to reach as a performer grows older.
All of Sinatra's top arrangers were still alive in the 1970s and it was no problem for Don Costa, Gordon Jenkins, Billy May, Nelson Riddle, et al, to write in a lower key and still keep the original feeling.
Another example
Nancy Sinatra's voice did not have much of a range. ... When she played the Las Vegas Hilton, then the International, in 1969, several of her songs were really out of her range. ... Among her backup singers was a studio legend, Clydie King, who had an astonishing range plus the ability to sound like any singer she chose to duplicate. ... On those Sinatra songs when the arrangement was building to the big moment, Nancy would be standing close to the backup singers.
It was Clydie who sang the top notes while Nancy sang harmony. ... It sounded wonderful and the audience never knew this was happening.
In the case of Sinatra Sr., many critics, not realizing that the classic arrangements had been re-written, wrote that "Old Blue Eyes" sounded gravelly on his low notes but was as good as ever in his middle register and in going for those big endings.
Summing up Sinatra
Re-writing those arrangements gave Sinatra another two decades of performing plus another hit single in "New York, New York" plus a platinum album in the 1990s with "Duets" and a gold album with "Duets II."
Sinatra is the only recording artist to have chart-topping records and albums for seven successive decades.
Sinatra once told me that he felt he was a better singer when he began losing his voice because he was able to make better use of what he still had and focus more on the story of the song.
He never failed to credit the composers, arrangers and musicians in his introductions.
Harry James, a musical giant, played the best trumpet of his career when his teeth went bad, limiting his range and his dexterity. ... Diminishing skills and an artist who is aware can result in more heartfelt performances and a longer performing life.
More examples
George Burns, who won an Academy Award for his performance in "The Sunshine Boys," had several country and western recording hits and played to full houses in the Caesars Palace Circus Maximus between the ages of 80 and 100. ... Few people are aware that Burns' role in "The Sunshine Boys" was originally intended for Jack Benny. ... Benny was ailing and suggested his friend could play the part.
Tom Jones, approaching 60, is as current, active and virile as when he first played Las Vegas more than 30 years ago. ... Would you want a better example of older being better than Sean Connery at 69?
Wayne Newton, beginning a long run at the Stardust, will be 58 on April 3. ... In the past 53 years he has spent more time onstage performing than any performer in this century. ... Our critique of his opening night performance appears on the opposite page.
Friday addenda
On my 52nd birthday, entering the Sahara Hotel to do my nightly radio program, a lady stopped me. ... She wished me a happy birthday and added that, at age 52, with the life expectancy then at 65, I had lived 80 percent of my allotted time. ... She continued that she was telling me this as a reminder to make the most of whatever time I had left and, even more important, to enjoy it fully. ... I remember her fondly 26 years later.
Enjoy the Super Bowl. ... May it be a close, exciting encounter and whichever team wins, it won't really matter because the Delaneys are sitting this one out. ... Go, Tennessee. ... See you next Friday.
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