Sinatra

This book was a delight from beginning to end, packed with useful biographical information. It also contains dozens of sidebars on every one of Frank's albums as well as supplementary sidebars giving historical context to Sinatra's life and work in the form of other artists, historical events, and his various arrangers and labels. The book is packed with photos, memorabilia, track lists--in fact, everything you need to know about the life and work of Sinatra. I think that this book, combined with Will Friedwald's 'The Song is You' are the two best books on Sinatra, and as a dedicated Frankophile, I've read many. Also evident in the book is the author's love of Sinatra and his music. The book is like a virtual Sinatra museum, one you can open and enjoy over and over at your convenience. Five stars.

This is an amazing book that lets you see Mr. Sinatra through the early days of his childhood, to what would become the ultimate legend...I was never into this kind of music but after listening to the wonderfully composed scores of music and lyrics, you cant help but become an avid fan of his. Through the good and the bad you see something everyone should strive for, the high expectation for ones self in whatever they do as he did and beautifully executed with class....I've discovered Frank Sinatra and I am definately Flying to the moon!!

To me, as someone who lived thru this era and read many books on Sinatra, none has captured the essence of the man and the times he lived in as Richard Havers has done. All aspects of Sinatra's life are discussed; the music, the movies, the concerts and shows, his friends and his loves, good and bad, in a fair, unbiased, nonjudgmental manner This is a big book that contains a lot of information and pictures that you will not find anywhere else. It can be read by casually leafing through the pages and enjoying the sidebars and photos, or it can be read carefully from beginning to end to reveal the real Sinatra. If you take the latter approach you will not only better understand what made Sinatra tick, you will also better understand the times he lived in.

I have many books about Sinatra and this is one of the best. Richard Havers put together a wonderful read. The book combines his music and life very well in a chronological format. There are some great pictures and sidebars about other events music and otherwise associated with the time frame you are currently reading.The research put into this gem is amazing.If you are a fan of Sinatra get this book. You won t be able to put it down!

Sinatra's life, in context of the 20th Century. A cornucopia of visual, literal and musical data to strum the strings of your heart. A wondrous trip down memory lane, side by side with our dynamite leader, Ole Blue Eyes himself. I am 70 years old and I feel I get to relive my life as I read this terrific book. Where did they get all the ticket stubs and programs; stuff I have never seen before? If you lived in the 20th Century and you loved it, you must have this book. You'll never finish reading it. There's that much to see. I am writing this review before I'm even halfway through and I've already cried and laughed and been astonished by the memories it evokes. And the dust jacket, in silver, black and white, with the sparkling blue eyes, makes you feel like a screaming bobby soxer all over again. Oh yes, I remember it well.