Frankie Laine's passing was the talk around San Diego today. He made his 
home here for almost 40 years.  Although he was best known for the cowboy 
novelty tunes ("Mule Train,  "Rawhide"), his early recordings on Mercury as 
a jazz/blues hipster were great. His impact on pop singers/rock and rollers 
was considerable. Laine's influence is clearly heard on Elvis's ballad 
("Loving You") and  gospel (the King covered Frankie's "I Believe") 
performances. Laine's first hit, "That's My Desire," was later recorded by 
Dion & the Belmonts and the Hollies. In 1963, Jack Nitzsche and Terry 
Melcher joined forces with Frankie on "Don't Make my Baby Blue," a Barry 
Mann--Cynthia Weil composition that was later recorded by the Move on their 
SHAZAM! album. If you enjoy melodramatic pop in the Gene Pitney--Roy Orbison 
tradition, by all means seek this track out.

In 1974,  I went to see a sneak preview of Blazing Saddles. I recall two 
things from the evening: one was making a beehive for the head from laughing 
so hard. The second was hearing the film's theme. Within the first 10 
seconds I knew it was Frankie Laine singing!  Very Cool!!

Instead of sitting up in his mansion couunting his bread (he sold over 100 
million records), Frankie was very much beloved in the music community. When 
the schools started to put the axe to arts programs, Frankie put on concerts 
and fundraisers around town so that kids could have instruments and lessons. 
He still continued to record and tour until the end.

Bear Family has a huge (aren't they all?) box set on the man. But unless 
Uncle Bill didn't leave you his fortune, the Frankie Laine--Mercury Years CD 
will suffice.

Steve

NP:  Frankie Laine: Hell Bent For Leather (he autographed the cover!)