Frank Sinatra

★★★★ Reprise Rarities Volume 5

FRANK SINATRA ENTERPRISES/UME. DL

Sinatra’s mostly-1960s duets with fellow pop giants.

When Frank Sinatra founded the Reprise label in 1960, it provided freedom for him and pals to have a party in the studio – albeit one with rigorous musical standards. This final volume in a digitalonly series collects The Chairman Of The Board performing with a who’s-who of pre-rock vocal stars. Naturally the Rat Pack – Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin – are here. The lyrics are sometimes featherfluff, but the guys are all in top form and having a blast. We Open In Venice is a showcase for these three kings of popular music to clown around as a “strolling troupe” traversing Italy. Other tracks feature Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney and Keely Smith. The set ends as Dad coos two sunshine pop songs with daughter Nancy and duets with future funkster Nikka Costa, who’s just nine. Michael Simmons