Depending on who you ask, the iconic group of performers known as the Rat Pack could be comprised of any number of characters. But at its core, when most think about the group, three names almost always come to mind: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.
Here below, we wanted to explore three tracks from that trio that have stood the test of time. Three songs that are famous both for their craft and performance and who performed them. Indeed, these are three songs from the Rat Pack that will last forever.
[RELATED: “A Song That I Cannot Stand”: The Frank Sinatra Classic That Sinatra Hated With a Passion]
“Come Fly with Me” by Frank Sinatra from Come Fly with Me (1958)
Not to be confused with the 1990s Michael Jordan VHS tape of the same name, this 1958 song by Frank Sinatra likely did more for air travel than a thousand newspaper advertisements. With his smooth, dashing voice, Sinatra sang about flying to faraway places, luxury, and the promise of something new. Pleasant weather, exotic booze, and music from far off lands—that’s what you get when you get in a jet with The Voice. Sings Sinatra on the offering,
Come fly with me, let’s fly, let’s fly away
If you can use some exotic booze, there’s a bar in far Bombay
Come on and fly with me, let’s fly, let’s fly away
Come fly with me, let’s float down to Peru
In llama land, there’s a one man band
And he’ll toot his flute for you
Come on fly with me, let’s take off in the blue
“Mambo Italiano” by Dean Martin from Dean Martin: The Capitol Recordings, Vol. 5 (1955)
Originally released in 1954 by singer Rosemary Clooney (aunt to George), Italian-American singer Dean Martin covered it a year later and gave it his sense of swing. In his way, it’s both a song of exoticism and homespun charm. It bridges his own background and cultures and in this way rings very authentic as he sings it in a Las Vegas lounge to cocktail-drinking fans eager to hear Martin’s satin voice. Indeed, on the track, he sings,
Hey, mambo, mambo italiano
Hey, mambo, mambo italiano
Oh, oh, oh, you mixed up Siciliano
Hello, che si dice, you getta happy in the pizza
When you mambo italiano
“The Candy Man” by Sammy Davis Jr. from Sammy Davis Jr. Now (1972)
This song, which came originally from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, later became Sammy Davis Jr.’s only No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It has also become one of the tracks most associated with the singer, even earning him a Grammy nomination, despite thinking it was dreck when he first recorded it. Singing with smooth appeal about confections, Davis Jr. is suave and yet also herky-jerky, almost like he’s performing with a slight sugar rush. He embodied the lyrics in this way and as a natural-born stage performer, he made the song his even more than the actor from the children’s movie. He sings,
Who can take a sunrise (who can take a sunrise)
Sprinkle it with dew (sprinkle it with dew)
Cover it with chocolate and a miracle or two?
The Candy Man (the Candy Man)
Oh, the Candy Man can (the Candy Man can)
The Candy Man can ’cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good (makes the world taste good)
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Local News
