The ‘Rat Pack’ Recordings
The ‘Rat Pack’ legend was forged in February 1960 during the filming of Ocean’s 11 in Las Vegas. After filming during the day, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop performed a nightclub act at the Sands Hotel each evening in an extravaganza they referred to as ‘The Summit’. Click here for more about Sammy and the ‘Rat Pack’.
While various members of the circle would occasionally team up for movies in subsequent years, it was Sinatra, Martin and Davis’s regular performances on stage together through the early 1960s that would cement these three in showbiz consciousness. See below for notable releases of ‘Rat Pack’ material.
August 1962 – Atlantic City
Recording made at the 500 Club in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Only made available as a souvenir from the Sinatrama Room at the Latimer Café in Philadelphia.
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1962 | Souvenir From Sinatrama Room – Collector’s Item 25th August 1962 |
October 1962 – Reprise Records
Two duets were recorded in-studio for release on a Reprise 45rpm single, one between Frank and Sammy, and one between Dean and Sammy. These two songs became part of the trio’s live repertoire. The single peaked at #46 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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1962 | Me And My Shadow / Sam’s Song 22nd October 1962 |
November 1962 – Chicago
Recording made at the Villa Venice nightclub in Chicago, Illinois. Reprise Records recorded material from around 15 shows across 7 days, but never released an LP from the material. There have been several releases, most mixing content from different nights.
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1993 | At Villa Venice, Chicago (Vols. 1 and 2) 26th November 1962 |
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1999 | The Summit: In Concert Edited performances from 26th Nov to 2nd Dec |
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2003 | Live And Swingin’ – The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection Edited performances from 26th Nov to 2nd Dec |
September 1963 – Las Vegas
Back where it all started, at the Copa Room of The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Reprise Records again recorded material which wasn’t released. Bootleg copies of different nights’ material exist.
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2001 | The Rat Pack: Live At The Sands 7th September 1963 |
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2001 | Ratpack: From Vegas To St. Louis Partially from 6th September 1963 |
June 1965 – St. Louis
Held at the Kiel Opera House in St. Louis, Missouri, this was a live benefit telecast to support Dismas House of St. Louis, a halfway house for ex-convicts. The footage, thought to be lost, was uncovered in 1997 and officially released in 2003. Emceed by Johnny Carson.
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2001 | Ratpack: From Vegas To St. Louis 20th June 1965 (audio CD only) |
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2003 | Live And Swinging’ – The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection 20th June 1965 (DVD video) |
March 1988 – Minneapolis
Frank, Dean and Sammy did six shows together as part of their ‘Together Again’ tour, at which point Dean dropped out. Frank and Sammy continued as a pair for a further 12 shows. This recording is from the Metro Center Arena in Bloomington, Minnesota.
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1990 | Sinatra And Sammy: North Country Concert 22nd March 1988 |
Official Compilations
There are a million ‘Rat Pack’ compilation albums in existence. Most are poor quality and utilise easily licensable material rather than try to present an accurate picture of Sinatra, Martin and Davis’s recordings of the time. The following are official releases and hence contain music actually recorded around the time the trio were regularly collaborating with each other.
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2001 | Eee-O Eleven: The Best Of The Rat Pack |
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2002 | Christmas With The Rat Pack |
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2004 | The Rat Pack: Boys’ Night Out |
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2011 | The Very Best Of The Rat Pack |
