By RUSSELL BAILLIE
(Herald rating: * * * * )
To stop further grave-spinning by the men who gave us the definitive versions of the songs that Robbie Williams insults on Swing When You're Winning, here's a second after the compilation Eee-011; the Best of the Rat Pack blast of the genuine
article.
Recorded in the lounge of the Las Vegas casino in 1963, this captures the trio with their ring-a-ding-ding shtick in full effect. Which means it's a better, if rather quaint comedy album than a musical one.
Coming on first, Martin proved he didn't need Jerry Lee Lewis to be funny as long as the on-stage bar was open. Sinatra's set ups the musical ante before his double act with Martin, and then Davis enters to do impressions of the other two while the pair make him the butt of jokes that are borderline racist.
And behind the crowd's laughter, applause and clinking drinks you can almost pick out the sound of well-dressed local Italian businessmen counting all that money .
An amusing time-capsule of American showbiz.
Label: Capitol
