Frank Sinatra, The #39 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

"Frank is one of the best singers ever."

"Liquid Gold."

"Frank Sinatra had the smoothest, most soothing, most angelic voice ever."

"A timeless legend."

"Frank takes me far away."

"Pure genius."

"The best advice a music professor once gave me: 'Never fully trust someone who doesn't 'get' Sinatra."

"Magnificent!"

A once-in-a-lifetime performer."

"Unforgettable!"

"The greatest male singing voice ever."

"He's immortal."

"His music is so beautiful."

"Soooo romantic."

"Frank is alive...with his music."

This legend was born in Hoboken, New Jersey on December 12, 1915 and began his career with swing artists such as Tommy Dorsey and Harry James.  Although he began his recording career a full 12 years before the Rock Era began, and his place in music history is near the top when all eras are included, Francis Albert Sinatra still ranks #39 from 1955 to the present.

Sinatra signed a recording deal with Columbia Records in 1943 and released his self-titled debut album in 1946.  Sinatra enjoyed immense success in the '40s, but was less successful in the early 1950's.  

Frank then did a very smart thing--he began performing in Las Vegas, Nevada.  And, Sinatra enjoyed great success on the big screen.  He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the classic From Here to Eternity, was nominated for Best Actor for his role in The Man with the Golden Arm and also starred in movies including Guys and Dolls, High Society and Pal Joey.  High Society was one of the biggest moneymakers of 1956, and Sinatra won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, starring opposite Rita Hayworth in Pal Joey.  These appearances gave Sinatra additional exposure which led to a new recording contract with Capitol Records. 

This series of events led to a comeback for Sinatra beginning with his first Capitol album (In the Wee Small Hours) released in 1955, the year the Rock Era began.  This is credited with being the first "concept album", with its songs fitting into a theme (pain from a lost love), rather than being a collection of songs, as was the case with other albums previously.

 

Sinatra and Ava Gardner had just divorced and Nelson Riddle, who arranged the music and conducted the backing orchestra, says Frank sang the songs on the album with depth and emotion because of his personal problems.  The album rose to #2 and was certified Gold with the title song leading the way. 

 Sinatra covered this 1929 Cole Porter song from the musical Wake Up and Dream and it became one of his best--"What Is This Thing Called Love?"

Sinatra rose to #1 in the U.S. and Australia and #2 in Great Britain with "Learnin' The Blues".

Later in the year, Sinatra released the single "Love And Marriage", first introduced by Sinatra on television on Producer's Showcase.  The song, with lyrics from Sammy Cahn and music by Jimmy Van Heusen, reached #5 and was released the following year on the compilation album This Is Sinatra!, which also went Gold.

Another song on that compilation is "(Love Is) The Tender Trap", from the movie of the same name in which Frank starred in.  Sammy Cahn liked to say that he put more words in Frank Sinatra's mouth than any other songwriter.  This is one of several dozen Cahn songs that Sinatra recorded.  It rose to #7.

 

The comeback continued with the album Songs for Swingin' Lovers! in 1956, another Gold album. Frank first sang this song in 1946 on his weekly radio show.  He recorded "I've Got You Under My Skin" with Riddle's orchestra for the album.  Riddle was a fan of Maurice Ravel and said his arrangement was inspired by the Boléro.

 

Frank remade "Old Devil Moon", originally featured in the 1947 musical Finian's Rainbow.

 

George and Ira Gershwin's "Love Is Here To Stay" was included in the movie The Goldwyn Follies in 1938.  It was the last song George finished before his death in 1937, and Ira wrote the lyrics after his brother's death as a tribute to him.  It became popular when Gene Kelly sang it in the classic An American in Paris.

Sinatra rose to #3 with another Cahn song, "Hey!  Jealous Lover".

Sinatra signed a three-year $3 million contract with ABC for The Frank Sinatra Show.  Dean Martin appeared often, with Sinatra returning the favor with several appearances on The Dean Martin Show.

 

In 1957, Frank released the album Close to You and More.  Frank is accompanied on the title song by the Hollywood String Quartet.

 

Frank scored his sixth consecutive Top 5 album with A Swingin' Affair hot on the heels of Close To You.  

Where Are You? made it seven straight Top 5 albums.  It was the first one recorded without Riddle.  Sinatra loved to add his spin to songs from old movies and musicals--here is the title song.

 

The album also contains a great version of "Autumn Leaves".

This phenomenal interpretive giant of the music business gave us so many memories.  Catch more in Part Two!

Donna Summer, The #40 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Three

 

(Continued from Part Two)

 Summer released the album On the Radio:  Greatest Hits Volumes I & II, which included two new songs.  "On The Radio" became another huge hit at #5, selling over one million copies.  Donna was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards.

Donna won American Music Awards for Favorite Female Pop/Rock Artist, Favorite Female Soul/R&B Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Single (for "Bad Girls") and starred in The Donna Summer Special on ABC.

However, Donna felt Casablanca had released her duet with Streisand too early while "Dim All The Lights" was still climbing.  Summer, who wrote the latter, felt the move cost her a #1 song as a songwriter.  Donna and Casablanca also disagreed on her musical direction, with Summer wanting to branch out and try new styles while the label wanted her to continue to record Disco music exclusively.  After a court battle that gave Donna publishing rights, she signed with Geffen Records in 1980.

"Sunset People" is about night life on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

  

We want to play you this great ballad from Donna, another of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*--"On My Honor".

   Summer released the album The Wanderer in 1981, with the title song hitting #3.  

 Donna earned Grammy nominations for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for "Cold Love". 

 

She also earned a Grammy for Best Inspirational Performance for "I Believe In Jesus".

From 1976-82, Summer scored 12 Top 10 hits, more than anyone else in the world. 

Summer began work on another double album, but when label owner David Geffen didn't like what he heard, he scrapped the idea.  It was later released in 1996 as I'm a Rainbow.

 Geffen brought in highly-regarded producer Quincy Jones for Donna's self-titled album.  "Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)" earned a spot in the Top 10 and was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards.  Donna was also nominated for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for "Protection".  

 Donna pulled another great song from the album--"The Woman In Me".

Summer still owed an album to Casablanca, which was now owned by Polygram, so Donna released the album She Works Hard for the Money.  The title song landed at #3 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and the video scored MTV Music Video Awards for Best Female Video and Best Choreography.  The album went Gold. 

Summer also scored American Music Award nominations for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist.

Donna starred in the HBO concert production of A Hot Summers Night. 

On January 19, 1985, Summer sang at the Inaugural Gala the day before the second inauguration of U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

 

In 1986, Summer released the album All Systems Go.  Another planned project was scrapped by Geffen, so Donna left the label and released the album Another Place and Time in Europe on Warner Brothers, her European label since 1982.  After the single "This Time I Know It's For Real" became a Top 10 smash throughout Europe, Donna signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records in the U.S.

In 1990, Summer released the compilation album The Best of Donna Summer.  The following year, Donna released the album Mistaken Identity.

In 1993, Donna released The Donna Summer Anthology, which contained her work with Casablanca, Geffen and Atlantic Records.  Donna signed a new deal with Mercury/Polygram and released the album Christmas Spirit in 1994.

Summer's album Cats Without Claws was her first to fall short of Gold status in the U.S.  Nevertheless, Summer won a Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance for the song "Forgive Me".

Donna released her compilation album Endless Summer:  Donna Summer's Greatest Hits.  It contained the new song "Melody Of Love", which lit up dance floors and became a #1 Dance hit.

 

In 1998, Donna earned Best Dance Recording at the Grammy Awards for "Carry On", a remixed version of a song first recorded in 1992.

Donna released her autobiography Ordinary Girl:  The Journey in 2003.  In 2008, Summer released her first original studio album in 17 years, Crayons, on Burgundy Records.  She scored three #1 Dance songs from the album.

 

In 2010, Donna released the single "To Paris With Love", another #1 Dance song.  

Summer was diagnosed with lung cancer, which she believed was the result of breathing in toxic fumes and dust after the 9/11 terrorist murders in 2001.  She died on May 17, 2012 at the age of 63 at her home in Naples, Florida.

Although Donna was nominated several times for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while she lived, she was not elected until 2013, a year after she died.  Isn't that always how it is?

Donna racked up 32 career hits, 14 of which made the Top 10 and four went up to #1.  She has sold over 100 million albums.

Summer won five Grammy Awards from 17 nominations and six American Music Awards out of 12 nominations.  She was also nominated for an MTV Video Music Award.  

Donna Summer, The #40 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Two

 

(Continued from Part One)

Donna recorded the double album Once Upon a Time, which told the story of a woman going from rags to riches, roughly based on her own life.  Although she didn't score a huge hit from the album, she should have.  Her release "I Love You" was largely neglected at the time, although for millions of her fans today, they consider the song one of her career best.  It is thus one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*, included here with "Rumour Has It". 

 

The title song also stands out.

   

"Fairy Tale High" was another huge Disco hit.

  

 The reprise of the title is very sweet.

 

In 1978, Donna starred in the movie Thank God It's Friday and recorded "Last Dance" for the soundtrack album.  Although Donna had experienced success previously, "Last Dance" represented her breakthrough, a #3 smash in the summer.  Both the single and album went Gold and the song earned an American Music Award for Favorite Disco Single.

Donna won a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance on "Last Dance", while songwriter Paul Jabara earned Golden Globe and Academy Awards for Best Original Song.

 Summer released the single "MacArthur Park" from her album Live and More.  She scored a #1 song of three weeks in the United States and another Gold record.

Live and More rose to #1 on the Album chart, making Donna the first female artist to own both the #1 single and the #1 album at the same time.  The album sold over two million copies in the U.S. alone.  Summer won an American Music Award for Favorite Disco Album and she was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "MacArthur Park" at the Grammy Awards.

 "Heaven Knows", another studio single from the album, also went Gold and reached #4 in the United States.

Donna received another American Music Award for Favorite Disco Female Artist and she was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist.

Donna performed at the Music for UNICEF Concert, televised around the world.  For her next album, Moroder recruited Harold Faltermeyer after working with him on the "Midnight Express" Soundtrack.  Faltermeyer co-wrote several songs, played keyboards and arranged the album.

 

In 1979, Summer released the double album Bad Girls and lead single "Hot Stuff".  Donna achieved the #1 single and album simultaneously once again.  "Hot Stuff" presided at #1 for three weeks to finish the year as one of The Top 10 songs.  It sold over two million copies and earned Summer a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

"Bad Girls" also went Platinum and peaked at #1 for five weeks.  

Bad Girls has sold over three million copies and was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards.

 

"Dim All The Lights" achieved a third Gold single from the album.  Though it didn't add to her total of #1 songs, it is one of The Top #2 Songs of the Rock Era*.

Summer won American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist and she earned a trophy for Favorite Pop/Rock Single (for "Bad Girls"), with the album nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Album.  She was also nominated for Grammy Awards for Album of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best Disco Recording.  Donna performed eight sold-out concerts at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

 Donna continued her hot streak with the duet "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)", recorded with Barbra Streisand.  The Platinum single gave Summer four #1 hits in a calendar year, something no other female artist had ever achieved.  Summer had chalked up six Top 5 hits in that period, one of just three artists in the Rock Era (the Beatles and Drake are the other two) to achieve that monumental feat.  The compilation album gave Donna her third straight #1 album.

More from Donna Summer in Part Three!

Donna Summer, the #40 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

"She had a voice that few could come close to in quality."

"Amazing woman, incredible voice."

"She changed the history of music."

'She was perfection."

"Amazing, just amazing.  So much talent."

"She was an unforgettable artist."

"She was one of the best singers ever."

"I get teary eyed listening to her and realizing how great she was."

"She was an absolutely amazing woman with an outstanding voice, love every tune!! Irreplaceable queen of disco will live forever in our hearts."

"She was a truly great singer and had a gift of making you feel every song she sang."

"Ms. Donna had the pipes to sing opera, gospel, blues, rock ' roll, any genre of music; she was just gifted! "

"There are divas and then there is Donna Summer."

"I marvel at the pipes of this Goddess!"

"An absolute joy to the ears."

"Her music will be around 100 years from now."






They called her the Disco Queen, but she was so much more than that.  It didn't take long for people to discover that she also had an incredible voice, and she was one of the best entertainers of the Rock Era.

LaDonna Gaines was born December 31, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts.  She got her start in church choir at the age of eight.  Gaines continued her love at music at Jeremiah E. Burke High School, performing in several musicals there.  Just weeks before her graduation ceremony, however, she moved to New York City to join the band Crow (not the one which had the hit "Evil Woman (Don't Play Your Games With Me)").

When Crow broke up son after, LaDonna tried out for the musical Hair and agreed to perform in the Munich, Germany production of the show.  Gaines stayed in Germany for three other musicals, the German version of The Me Nobody Knows, Godspell and Show Boat.  

After three years, Gaines moved to Vienna, Austria, joined the Vienna Volksoper and toured with a vocal group called Family Tree.  In 1968, she released her first single under the name Donna Gaines on Polydor Records, the German version of "Aquarius" from Hair.  Gaines recorded two other singles on different labels before marrying actor Helmuth Sommer in 1973.

The couple moved back to Munich, where Donna met producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte while singing backing vocals for Three Dog Night.  In 1974, Donna signed a recording contract with the pair's Oasis Records, which led to a deal with Groovy Records.  

 

She released her first album, Lady of the Night, but her name was misspelled as Donna Summer.  The album was popular in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and Belgium, and Donna decided to accept the misspelling for her stage name.  The title song gets us started.

 

In 1975, Donna worked on a song "Love To Love You", which she showed to Moroder.  Georgio helped her finish it for release and, desiring an American audience, sent a copy to Neil Bogart, president of Casablanca Records.  Bogart signed Donna to a recording contract, but changed the name of the song to "Love To Love You Baby" prior to the single being released.

The single catapulted to #2, went Gold, and helped the album also sell one million copies.

 

It will come as a surprise to later fans of Donna, but this album is one of her career best.  Summer bemoans of broken promises on "Full Of Emptiness".

"Need-A-Man Blues" is another solid track on the album.

 Although she got more attention for her erotic single, Donna's evocative "Whispering Waves" is an early indicator of the tremendous depth of her talent and voice.

"Pandora's Box" features an original rhythm by drummer Martin Harrison and Donna's mid-range vocals.

Donna released the album A Love Trilogy, followed by the album Four Seasons of Love.

In 1977, Donna released the album I Remember Yesterday, which led to her second big hit with the pulsating "I Feel Love", a Top 10 smash in the fall.  

Summer turned a second song into Gold and was nominated for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist at the American Music Awards.

Donna had broken through, and superstardom was just around the corner.  Join us for Part Two, exclusively on Inside The Rock Era!

The Temptations, The #41 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Three

 

(Continued from Part Two)

 

Later in the year, the group released the album The Temptations Christmas Card, which featured a great version of "White Christmas".

Paul Williams became the next casualty of fame and fortune.  He too didn't deal with stress well and became depressed, worsened by Williams succumbing to alcoholism.  Williams also suffered from sickle-cell disease, and had to travel with oxygen tanks, which made touring even more difficult.  The Temps also gave us a great version of "Silent Night".

Richard Street, former member of the Distants, came on board to replace Paul on tours.  Meanwhile, Kendricks had always preferred the ballads the group used to sing and wasn't comfortable with psychedelic soul.  Kendricks and Ruffin had been good friends, and both felt Motown was cheating them out of money.  

Kendricks suggested that the Temptations refuse to do any further work for Motown until Gordy allowed accountants to go over all of the group's finances with the label.  The other members disagreed with this approach, and following an argument after another Copacabana gig in November of 1970, Kendricks left.  


Prior to this incident, the Temptations recorded the album Sky's the Limit.  Kendricks and Paul Williams shared lead vocals on "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)", which became their third #1 hit.

 "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)" (#8 R&B, #18 Popular) also went Gold.

Kendricks began a solo career and enjoyed a 1974 hit with "Keep On Truckin'".  The Temps first hired Ricky Owens, but when he didn't work out, they became a quartet.   

 

Late in the year, the Temptations released their compilation album Greatest Hits, Volume 2, which contained the single  "Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)", #2 on the R&B chart and #3 overall.

Following a doctor's advice, Paul Williams quit the group shortly after and Street officially replaced him in the lineup.  

Williams continued to assist the group as a choreographer and recorded two songs for a solo release.  But on August 17, 1973, Paul died from a gunshot wound at the age of 34.  The Wayne Country coroner ruled his death a suicide.  

 

"It's Summer" was his final recording with the group.

 

The group hired Damon Harris in 1971 to once again become a quintet.  The next year, they recorded a 12-minute song "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" for their 1972 album All Directions.  An edited version cut to seven minutes became one of the longest hit singles in history.  The Temptations rode the song to #1 and won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, while Whitfield and arranger and conductor Paul Riser shared a Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental version and Whitfield and Strong won another Grammy for Best R&B Song.

 

The title song from their album Masterpiece in 1973 reached #1 on the R&B chart and #7 on the Popular chart.  The Temptations won an American Music Award for Favorite R&B Vocal Group.

 

Here's "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" with Street singing lead.

Whitfield ended his association with Strong and began writing songs for the group by himself.  Later in the year, the Temptations released the album 1990.

Turning the success of "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" into a formula, Whitfield wrote songs with elaborate instrumental parts rather than utilize the vocal strengths of the group.  Not only did the Temptations not like this, but they also didn't like that single and album sales were falling, and after complaining to Gordy, they were able to get Whitfield reassigned.

But most of the magic was gone.  The group tried several producers and even tried producing their own records, but the albums House Party in 1975 and Wings of Love and The Temptations Do the Temptations in 1976 did not generate attention.  

Jeffrey Bowen stepped in and wrote the material for the Temptations album A Song for You, which won an American Music Award for Favorite R&B Album.  During this time, Harris was fired from the group and was replaced by Glenn Leonard.

Bowen's writing utilized Edwards on lead vocals, but when sales went nowhere, he was fired and Louis Price took his place.  The Temptations decided to shop their talents around and signed with Atlantic Records.  But none of this mattered.  The albums Hear To Tempt You in 1977 and Bare Back didn't do any better than the previous few albums.  In 1980, the Temps were back with Motown.

Price left the group for the Drifters, and Edwards returned to the Temptations.  The group released the album Power.  The group still couldn't come close to their earlier success, and in 1982, Motown planned a reunion of the classic lineup in 1982.

Kendricks and Ruffin both agreed, and the Temptations released the album Reunion.  

The Temptations, which now included Ruffin, Kendricks, Otis Williams, Franklin, Edwards, Street and Leonard, went on tour, but Ruffin was still having drug problems and internal disputes caused Ruffin and Kendricks to again leave.

The Temps released the album Surface Thrills in 1983.  Afterwards, Leonard was fired, replaced by Ron Tyson, who had written several songs for the group while they were with Atlantic.

The group released the album Back to Basics with Tyson on lead later in the year.  Edwards, who had missed rehearsals for the album, was again fired and Ollie Woodson joined.  

 

"Lady Soul" hit #4 on the R&B chart, though it stalled at #47 overall.

Woodson didn't last long either, and he was fired in 1987 for tardiness.  Edwards was accepted back for a third time, and the Temptations released the album Together Again.  

In a soap opera reminiscent of the on-again, off-again hiring of Billy Martin as manager of baseball's New York Yankees, Edward was fired for a third time and Woodson rejoined.  

The group scored 15 Top 10 hits on the R&B chart in the years following "Masterpiece", but success was contained there as they were unable to reach the mass audience that they once did on a regular basis.  They did manage to continue to record several late-career songs that are worthy, as you will hear.

In 1989, the Temps were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with the classic members of the group present. 

In 1991, however, they combined with Rod Stewart for the #10 hit "The Motown Song".

Predictably, Ruffin died from cocaine at the age of 50 on June 1, 1991.  Kendricks battled lung cancer before dying on October 5, 1992.  Franklin's health was going downhill as well, and he died on February 23, 1995 after suffering a brain seizure.  

 

They continued to record and tour with various lineups, releasing the album For Lovers Only. The album included a cover of the Cole Porter song "Nite & Day", remixed for the 2002 movie What Women Want. 

 

The album also included this nice cover--"Some Enchanted Evening", the Rogers and Hammerstein tune from the classic 1949 movie South Pacific.

In 1994, the group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  

In 1998, the Temptations, which now featured Otis, Tyson, Theo Peoples, Harry McGilberry and Terry Weeks, performed at halftime of Super Bowl XXXII.  Later in the year, they released the album Phoenix Rising, their first album to sell one million copies in over 20 years.

 

From that album, here's "This Is My Promise".

The Temptations, one of the greatest singing groups in history, were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.  Ray Davis, formerly the bassist for Parliament-Funkadelic, joined the group only to die on July 5, 2005 after also getting lung cancer.  In 2000, they released the album Ear-Resistible, which won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance. 

Continuing to shift their lineup, the Temptations recorded their final Motown album, Legacy, in 2004, before transferring to an affiliated label, New Door Records.  The group released the album Reflections in 2006 and Back to Front, an album of covers, in 2007.  Former member Ollie Woodson died of leukemia on May 30, 2010.

In 2010, the Temptations released the album Still Here.

In 2013, they received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.  Harris died on February 28, 2013 of prostate cancer, and Street died of pulmonary embolism nine days later while writing the book Ball of Confusion:  My Life as a Temptin Temptation.  Co-author Gary Flanigan finished the book for release in 2014.  

The Temptations have won four Grammy Awards.  Three of their biggest--"My Girl", "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" and "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" are featured in the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll exhibit in the Hall of Fame.

The Temps amassed 53 career hits in one of the most competitive times of the Rock Era.  Sixteen of those reached the Top 10 and four went all the way to #1.

The group won five Grammy Awards and two American Music Awards in their career.  "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" and "My Girl" are both in the Grammy Hall of Fame.