• Beatles' 5 Best Years at The Grammys: Battles with Frank Sinatra and A Surprising Peak Point

    The Beatles were kind of a big deal, as their countless hits and no. 1 singles can attest to, but their shelf wasn't nearly as full of Grammys as you might think. The group "only" managed to snag nine of the most vaunted awards in music across its entire career (compared to 27 for Allison Krauss). April 13 marks the 50th anniversary of the first Grammy ceremony where the band won a trophy and Music Times is marking the occasion by counting down the five years in which the greatest band in popular music history managed to land a win, going from "fewest wins" to most (ties will be broken by taking the "winning percentage" based on nominations).

  • 'Sinatra: All or Nothing at All,' HBO's Alex Gibney-Directed Documentary Frames Late Icon's Life Through Lens Of His 1971 Retirement Concert [RED CARPET PREMIERE]

    Alex Gibney follows up his fascinating Scientology documentary, Going Clear, with another project for HBO, Sinatra: All or Nothing At All. Mstarz News (our sister site) was live on the red carpet last night for the film's premiere in New York City. They had the chance to speak with Gibney as well as one of the film's executive producers Frank Marshall, journalist Lawrence O'Donnell, and Frank Sinatra's daughter Tina.

  • 7 Great Frank Sinatra Covers from Bob Dylan, Lady Gaga, Aretha Franklin, Sex Pistols and More

    A source indicated today that Bob Dylan might be considering a second album of Frank Sinatra to accompany this year's Shadows In The Night. Sinatra was himself a master of the cover, often taking popular songs and immortalizing them with his own iconic voice, so it's sensible that plenty of others would cover Old Blue Eyes in turn. Music Times chose a brief set of our favorite tributes to one of the greatest vocalists of all time.

  • Daniel Lanois Says Bob Dylan May Release a Second Volume of 'Shadows in the Night'

    Bob Dylan may have some leftover Frank Sinatra covers from his "Shadows in the Night" recording sessions. Producer Daniel Lanois, who worked on previous Dylan albums, heard the folk legend's most recent LP prior to its release and he was also treated to some bonus tracks that didn't appear on the album. In an interview with the Vancouver Sun, Lanois revealed that those extra songs might be compiled for a second "Shadows in the Night" release.

  • Junk Mail: 'FIfty Shades of Grey' Soundtrack Featuring Beyoncé, Sia, Ellie Goulding, The Weeknd & More

    It's our first soundtrack for Junk Mail, and is there any better initiation than Fifty Shades of Grey? I feel like a critical virgin, just waiting for the goddess within to blossom with some major musical whippings. And even though Christian Grey may come at Anastasia Steele hard in this book/movie, the music is really tender and loving. There's also a definite sonic theme. Oh, and Beyonce. The FIfty Shades of Grey OST has Bey.

  • [REVIEW] Bob Dylan Takes on Frank Sinatra's 'Stay with Me' with Some Elderly Swagger and Grace [LISTEN]

    At first, the concept seemed questionable: Folk legend Bob Dylan recording an entire album of Frank Sinatra covers. Then the lead single "Full Moon and Empty Arms" surfaced, causing some naysayers to second guess their initial judgments. Dylan has followed the tune with "Stay with Me," another sublime cut from the upcoming "Shadows in the Night" LP.Dylan is apparently not just a Sinatra fan — he is also an admirer of the 1963 film "The Cardinal." "Stay with Me" is a pleading love song used as the theme for the movie. Now, we are dealing with two different voices at different points in their careers — Sinatra would have been 49 whereas Dylan is now 73.

  • Jazz Legend Buddy DeFranco Dead at 91: Clarinetist Played with Count Basie, Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra

    Buddy DeFranco, one of the world's greatest jazz clarinetists, died Wednesday, Dec. 24. He leaves behind a musical legacy that lasted more than 70 years, playing in bands led by Tommy Dorsey and Count Basie in addition to performing with Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra. DeFranco was 91.The musician got his start in the late 1930s, bouncing around from band to band, NPR noted. He hooked up with Dorsey in 1944. DeFranco played with the band for four years before he decided to break out of swing music, opting instead for bebop, a difficult genre for a clarinetist to shine in. He toured with Basie to finish out the 1940s.DeFranco formed his own band in the '50s before joining Holiday for a European jaunt. As rock 'n' roll started gaining momentum, the musician did work for TV and film until he landed a gig fronting the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1966. He continued to play well into his 80s. According to "The Washington Post," DeFranco played on more than 160 albums.

  • Best Original Holiday Songs That Fit an Artist's Style Perfectly: Mariah Carey, Joni Mitchell, Queen and More [LISTEN]

    I wonder if when Irving Berlin finished writing "White Christmas" he knew he had created a timeless classic. Holiday music has become its own little business, with artists often taking time out of their recording schedule to put together an album of covers and originals. It has become a bloated industry — every pop star and washed-up rock band has a holiday record. Sometimes they are really just mailing it in for a payday. Other times, though, they create something special. Mariah Carey, Tom Petty and Queen all have original Christmas tunes that fit right into their musical styles.You have to give props to those artists who dare to pen a Christmas tune. It is easy to just put a signature spin on something like "Blue Christmas" or "The Christmas Song." Those are already accepted by throngs of holiday shoppers who hear them every year. But what about Billy Squier thumping on "Christmas Is the Time to Say 'I Love You'"? Or Joni Mitchell's heartbreaking anthem "River"? You certainly hear those ones less than Frank Sinatra singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" while you are driving to work in December.These tunes are significantly younger than most holiday standards, so perhaps one day they will be thought of as classics. Until then, we will just call them good songs.

  • 10 Best Cover Songs Of 2014: Lorde, Sam Smith, Miley Cyrus, And More [LISTEN]

    Because cover songs don't garner nearly as much traction on the radio or the charts as they once did, artists these days treat them more like fun little experiments, where they can try out things they normally wouldn't on one of their albums or original singles. This has resulted in plenty of inventive and fascinating covers, especially this past year. Here are the year's 10 best cover songs (in no particular order).
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