Masquerading as the Rat Pack

When Ava Gardner said they looked like a bunch of rats, it stuck. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford formed the renowned Rat Pack. After the actor (Lawford) and the comedian (Bishop) left the group, it became a trio of singers. The three swingers/crooners had solo careers, but performed as the Rat Pack when they were free from the demands of their own careers.\nOn Eee-O-11, songs from solo recordings of Sinatra, Martin and Davis plus two duets are crammed together. The artists weren't acting as the Rat Pack when these recordings were made. Because of this, the title Best of the Rat Pack is inaccurate and misleading.\nSongs like "Mr. Sucess" and "The Tender Trap" by Sinatra should be replaced with songs that defined his career such as "The Lady is a Tramp" and "I've Got You Under My Skin." The two duets, "Sam's Song" and "Me and My Shadow," seem to be included more for novelty than substance -- they're entertaining, but they're not songs that should be included in an album that is limited to so few tracks. \nBecause the album isn't live, it lacks the emotion and interplay between the three singers onstage, which was a big part of their performance and one reason they were so popular in the eyes of their audience.\nFor someone seeking a Rat Pack album, a live album such as Live at the Sands is the best choice, and a jumbled solos album such as Eee-O-11 should be avoided.\nThis album was designed for the casual listener, but even a casual fan would be better advised to buy good compilation of each artist's work rather than this album. It isn't possible for four or five songs of each of these artists to do their repertoires justice.\nFinding a compilation with a solid track listing can be difficult for someone unfamiliar with the bulk of the artists' work. Sinatra Reprise: The Very Good Years, the Capitol Collector's Series: Dean Martin and At the Coconut Grove (Davis) are great introductions to each artist's music for the casual fan. \nRating: 4