One of Cole Porter's best. This version is from 1944.
I am surprised Begin the Beguine has not been featured by Mark, Bob, Pundette or for that matter, myself. Granted as great is this song and music is, it is not a song that Frank completely "owned" by recording the definitive take (although I think the recorded radio version above is very well done). The song facts link above notes Harry James heard a 24 year old Sinatra singing this song in a New Jersey roadhouse and invited him to join up with him. James' explanation, "liked Frank's way of talking a lyric."
This version below is very fine too.
This version below is very fine too.
This one of the recordings arranged by Alex Stordahl around 1945.
Mark Steyn has On Stage with Sinatra: A conversation with Vincent Falcone, Jr, Mark has Campbell, Connolly and Wood's Try A Little Tenderness at #90, Malneck and Mercer's Goody Goody at #89, Sony Bono's Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) at #88. Where are you working next week? Mark's Movie Audio Special is Cole Porter's High Society. Here is a post Mark did on Artie Shaw that mentions the Beguine and talks about Sinatra and Porter in his I Concentrate On You post. Mark's obituary for Artie Shaw.
Ann Miller, Cole Porter and Kathryn Grayson
Pundette has Billy May arranged, Kern and Hammerstein's The Song Is You at #6, Billy May swinging Johnny Mercer's Day In and Day Out at #7, and Riddle's arrangement of Cole Porter's I Get A Kick Out Of You at #8.
Rule 5 and FMJRA
Bob Belvedere is counting down Sinatra albums with Jenkin's Wonderfully Depressing No One Cares at #2. Bob also recently featured the I Remember Tommy album.
Cole Porter watching Kiss Me Kate in 3d
I had the Frank and Dinah Shore, 12 Days of Sinatra, Peggy Lee and friends, and Rosemary Clooney and Sinatra.
Don’t forget to also keep checking out
Pundette’s Sinatra 100 countdown,
Ms Evi’s Sinatra Celebration,
Dispatches from the Camp of the Saints Sinatra,
& Mark Steyn’s Sinatra Songs Of The Century.
It’s a swingin’ world.
Grace and Frank
Louis and Grace
Louis and Cole
Don’t forget to also keep checking out
Pundette’s Sinatra 100 countdown,
Ms Evi’s Sinatra Celebration,
Dispatches from the Camp of the Saints Sinatra,
& Mark Steyn’s Sinatra Songs Of The Century.
It’s a swingin’ world.
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