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Frank Sinatra — That's Life
Album: Sinatra Reprise
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 779









Released: 1966
Length: 3:05
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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That's life (that's life), that's what all the people say
You're ridin' high in April, shot down in May
But I know I'm gonna change that tune
When I'm back on top, back on top in June

I said that's life (that's life), and as funny as it may seem
Some people get their kicks stompin' on a dream
But I don't let it, let it get me down
'cause this fine old world, it keeps spinnin' around

I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king
I've been up and down and over and out and I know one thing
Each time I find myself flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life (that's life), I tell you I can't deny it
I thought of quitting, baby, but my heart just ain't gonna buy it
And if I didn't think it was worth one single try
I'd jump right on a big bird and then I'd fly

I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king
I've been up and down and over and out and I know one thing
Each time I find myself layin' flat on my face
I just pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life (that's life), that's life and I can't deny it
Many times I thought of cuttin' out but my heart won't buy it
But if there's nothin' shakin' come this here July
I'm gonna roll myself up in a big ball and die

My, my!
Comments (160)add comment
GREAT TUNE!!  I was 11yrs old when this came out. NYC Top 40/ Top10 AM radio stations used to play it a lot. 1966 was a good year for me. Brings back fond memories.  Thanx RP!   
Posted 6 months ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 Edweirdo wrote:


Orchestrations embarrassing, you say?  You do realise this is the incomparable Nelson Riddle?



I Agree! Very True!  ...his comment was very embarrassing!  ...although he is probably incapable of being aware of that!!!   
Posted 9 months ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:

the Sinatra reprise years; a nadir for "ole blue eyes" . this is the crap recorded when he was way over the hill. the voice was gone, the hair was gone, the orchestrations embarassing. this stuff brings to mind joe piscopo more than it does the great frank sinatra. bad choice bill.




WRONG!  GREAT TUNE!  Thanx RP!   
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 Edweirdo wrote:


Orchestrations embarrassing, you say?  You do realise this is the incomparable Nelson Riddle?



I just finished "Joker" starring Jochim Phoenix ... timely.
Posted 2 years ago by cosmicjoe    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:

the Sinatra reprise years; a nadir for "ole blue eyes" . this is the crap recorded when he was way over the hill. the voice was gone, the hair was gone, the orchestrations embarassing. this stuff brings to mind joe piscopo more than it does the great frank sinatra. bad choice bill.



Orchestrations embarrassing, you say?  You do realise this is the incomparable Nelson Riddle?
Posted 2 years ago by Edweirdo    [ Reply ]
If there's nothing shaking this here July...

I'll be getting evicted from my Brooklyn apartment, served papers this here July.  I won't be rolling up into a big ball.  Except of the fire to fight in court.  Fuck them.  
Posted 3 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
My rating is only 5
Posted 5 years ago by Tomasni    [ Reply ]
 ThePoose wrote:
Reminds of this 1960s fact: the reason why the Beatles' Strawberry Fields Forever missed out on attaining No. 1 on the British hit parade was that this spot was occupied at the time by Please Release Me by Englebert Humperdinck.
Imagine.
 Whatever Humpy was singing, it had more music than Strawberry Fields Forever.  I grew up with the Beatles, and that song was a mulligan along with a few others from that album: SPLHCB.  That song was repetitive and so syrupy we wanted to .. well the album got frisbee'd pretty fast.  There were plenty of other bands from which to choose.  All excellent. What the Beatles were putting out at the time? Not so much.
Posted 7 years ago by ciarataylor    [ Reply ]
Good version but I'll take James Brown's.
Posted 8 years ago by phlattop    [ Reply ]
You can not help but love this station. Hurray for Bill.
Posted 16 years ago by superfido    [ Reply ]
the Sinatra reprise years; a nadir for \"ole blue eyes\" . this is the crap recorded when he was way over the hill. the voice was gone, the hair was gone, the orchestrations embarassing. this stuff brings to mind joe piscopo more than it does the great frank sinatra. bad choice bill.
Posted 16 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
halfgazo wrote:
No this was the crap that made Beatles sound better than they were.
Reminds of this 1960s fact: the reason why the Beatles' Strawberry Fields Forever missed out on attaining No. 1 on the British hit parade was that this spot was occupied at the time by Please Release Me by Englebert Humperdinck. Imagine.
Posted 16 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
sherf wrote:
In the late 70's I went to a Frank show at the Universal Ampitheatre, and there was a whole row of spiked-out punkers in front of us who were there early and into the show from start to finish. It was quite a spectacle. actually. Outside of Hendrix, Frank is the only performer I've seen who has the entire hall in his control for the full performance. From the back row of the orchestra to the back row of the hall, the place was HIS.
Sinatra was swinging all the drunks they were singing we kissed on a corner and danced through the night Shane McGowan
Posted 16 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]
redtex wrote:
You young whipper-snappers have no respect! Why I oughtta...ahh, never mind, if you don't get Frank, you won't understand.
Yes, I'm afraid you are correct there, personally speaking, this is an electic station, we can expect anything and Frank Sinatra held the world in the palm of his hand in his day, there is no doubt about that, it's history and I am part of that history, so thank you Radio Paradise for balancing so well the songs you play here!
Posted 16 years ago by Diamond_Dog    [ Reply ]
bigB_3 wrote:
At least the DLR Cover has some spunk! This is old & busted.
You young whipper-snappers have no respect! Why I oughtta...ahh, never mind, if you don't get Frank, you won't understand.
Posted 16 years ago by redtex    [ Reply ]
Jersey boy makes good. It don't get no better.
Posted 16 years ago by E_A_D_G    [ Reply ]
Hinkamp wrote:
cool.. a David Lee Roth cover.
At least the DLR Cover has some spunk! This is old & busted.
Posted 16 years ago by bigB_3    [ Reply ]
Hated it.
Posted 17 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
there are better versions of this classic, this seems remade and not for the better.
Posted 17 years ago by michaelc    [ Reply ]
Anything the "chairman of the board" does is classic.
Posted 17 years ago by kaviksdad    [ Reply ]
In the late 70's I went to a Frank show at the Universal Ampitheatre, and there was a whole row of spiked-out punkers in front of us who were there early and into the show from start to finish. It was quite a spectacle. actually. Outside of Hendrix, Frank is the only performer I've seen who has the entire hall in his control for the full performance. From the back row of the orchestra to the back row of the hall, the place was HIS.
Posted 17 years ago by sherf    [ Reply ]
Hinkamp wrote:
cool.. a David Lee Roth cover.
Excellent!
Posted 17 years ago by stevo_b    [ Reply ]
If this doesn't make you swagger, I don't know what will. Followed by Teen Spirit! Thanks be to God as my grandfather used to say
Posted 17 years ago by siandbeth    [ Reply ]
dionysius wrote:
Aw, get over it. That's life. Even late, approaching-self-parody Frank is better than most everything else anyone else has ever sung. The Sixties weren't all about the Beatles and LSD. Great as they are.
Well said.
Posted 17 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
Zep wrote:
35 Years Ago Zep: Dad, what is this garbage? Dad: One of the best, son, someday you will like Sinatra, you'll see. Today Son: Dad, what is this garbage? Zep: Frank Sinatra son, one of the best.
35 Years Ago Matts: Dad, what is this garbage? Dad: One of the best, son, someday you will like Sinatra, you'll see. Today Son: Dad, what is this garbage? Matts: Frank Sinatra son, the crap your grandfather used to like
Posted 17 years ago by Matts    [ Reply ]
halfgazo wrote:
No this was the crap that made Beatles sound better than they were.
LOL! what a great summary of changing trends in the American music scene back in the day. Rock n' roll took over because the youth didnt care for the big band Decca stuff of their elders.
Posted 17 years ago by celadonstone    [ Reply ]
Not my fave Frank tune, but still gets my toe tappin'
Posted 17 years ago by dixiedeb    [ Reply ]
I love this tune by Frank - in the chorus, he seems to be actually singing, not just declaiming like he does in a lot of his other stuff. (For just that reason, I generally prefer Tony Bennett...) 8
Posted 17 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
cool.. a David Lee Roth cover.
Posted 17 years ago by Hinkamp    [ Reply ]
How does this song only have a 6.8? Sinatra wasn't always gold, but this is one of his best.
Posted 17 years ago by Smoove_D    [ Reply ]
While Frank Sinatra sings "Stormy Weather," the flies and spiders get along together... Cobwebs fall on an old skippin' record....
Posted 17 years ago by queenjill    [ Reply ]
2 artists in a row from the "Sopranos" soundtrack. First Cake,now Frank
Posted 17 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
35 Years Ago Zep: Dad, what is this garbage? Dad: One of the best, son, someday you will like Sinatra, you'll see. Today Son: Dad, what is this garbage? Zep: Frank Sinatra son, one of the best.
Posted 17 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
Wow. Ol' Blue Eyes between Cake and Cracker. Only on RP. Not my kind of music but I love the variety. And the man had pipes.
Posted 17 years ago by jblue    [ Reply ]
It's Frank's world, we just get to live in it.
Posted 17 years ago by KermitDfrog    [ Reply ]
Turgid!
Posted 17 years ago by kazuma    [ Reply ]
so nice. i'm a sucker for blue eyes.
Posted 17 years ago by enidualc    [ Reply ]
dionysius wrote:
The Sixties weren't all about the Beatles and LSD. Great as they are.
No this was the crap that made Beatles sound better than they were.
Posted 17 years ago by halfgazo    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by renlat    [ Reply ]
Too "oldie" to be player here.
Posted 17 years ago by bigB_3    [ Reply ]
Shesdifferent wrote:
Agreed!
Idiot.
Posted 17 years ago by Ibis99    [ Reply ]
Ha, first thought this was a Doors song, hearing the initial organ notes as the song opened.
Posted 17 years ago by black321    [ Reply ]
Aw, get over it. That's life. Even late, approaching-self-parody Frank is better than most everything else anyone else has ever sung. The Sixties weren't all about the Beatles and LSD. Great as they are.
Posted 17 years ago by dionysius    [ Reply ]
Chairman of the Board in da house
Posted 17 years ago by fuh2    [ Reply ]
hippiechick wrote:
Again
Agreed!
Posted 17 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
not one of the best songs of his repertoire...... why this one?
Posted 17 years ago by exciter76    [ Reply ]
I've heard a number of musicians praise Frank Sinatra highly. Neil Peart, who really loves his songs, comes to mind. I can't see it myself, but maybe that's just a personal problem.
Posted 17 years ago by AlienRelic    [ Reply ]
I can never hear this Sinatra song without thinking of Joe Piscopo doing his SNL impression of him. It was perfect!
Posted 17 years ago by Gregorama    [ Reply ]
hippiechick wrote:
Again
Posted 17 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
My family played this song at my grandfather's funeral. He loved it and it was a fitting tribute to him.
Posted 17 years ago by Tireux_De_Roche    [ Reply ]
when he was a kid he was the biggest f-ing bad ass, party loving, revolutiionary cool dude in the land...to bad rock&roll did not exist when the made his stand. He would have been Jim Morrison's competition.
Posted 17 years ago by slowhand    [ Reply ]
One of Frank's best.
Posted 17 years ago by Stefen    [ Reply ]
Come on guys... lets get a lot more groovier then this... Now I have to go to my second favorite web station...
Posted 17 years ago by jts11    [ Reply ]
Say goodnight, Frank. What an odd choice for web play when there are catalogues (pre-1965, at least) of better selections from the Chairman.
Posted 17 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
What a song for earthlings!
Posted 17 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
daveesh wrote:
"when you've loved and lost like frank has, you know what life is all about..."
Thanks for the Spinal Tap reference! Bobbie Fleckman!
Posted 17 years ago by allisonscola    [ Reply ]
It's about time RP plays something with personality. There have been far too many generic tracks being played lately.
Posted 17 years ago by siloco    [ Reply ]
am wrote:
As a teen, I thought he was such a poser. As an adult, I've tried to develop an appreciation for ole Blue Eyes. It's not happening. :headshake: There is something disingenuous about him. He makes my tummy turn.
Yeah, I could never see what my parents, especially my mom, saw in him. Blech. Gimme Dean Martin anyday!
Posted 17 years ago by liser    [ Reply ]
I'm dissappointed by the end of this song: "I'm going to curl up and die" ? That just counters the entire rest of the lyric.
Posted 17 years ago by allisonscola    [ Reply ]
Hell yeah!
Posted 17 years ago by BGGA    [ Reply ]
GregX59 wrote:
How much better would this be if it was Ray Charles singing it? Sinatra had good feeling and phrasing, but there were better singers.
Yeah, but Sinatra was never supposed to be a great singer. He was a great performer . Loved him for that - he had few equals.
Posted 17 years ago by cattgirl813    [ Reply ]
"when you've loved and lost like frank has, you know what life is all about..."
Posted 17 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
am wrote:
As a teen, I thought he was such a poser. As an adult, I've tried to develop an appreciation for ole Blue Eyes. It's not happening. :headshake: There is something disingenuous about him. He makes my tummy turn.
What he/she said.
Posted 17 years ago by RobRyan    [ Reply ]
Not my fav Frank song, but I still dig the dood's moosic overall. Check out the album with Frank, Count Basie and Basie's orchestra (Sinatra - Basie) Most excellent. The horns and Frank really hit it. If you don't like that, then, OK, ol Frank isn't for you. Please spare us the pukey-faces. You can do better than that. Tisk!
Posted 18 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
byrd wrote:
Whenever I hear this song, I can't help but hear David Lee Roth singing it. Ahhh... Eat 'em and Smile... brings me back to 6th grade.
And then there was the parody of I'm Just a Gigalo, "I'm just a Big Ego". It's works on so many different levels
Posted 18 years ago by Coppertop    [ Reply ]
this one's fun to sing
Posted 18 years ago by PattonFever    [ Reply ]
How much better would this be if it was Ray Charles singing it? Sinatra had good feeling and phrasing, but there were better singers.
Posted 18 years ago by GregX59    [ Reply ]
Need to follow it with Deano.
Posted 18 years ago by Austin2Florida    [ Reply ]
Deceased, but still the Chairman of the Board.
Posted 18 years ago by Ubaldo    [ Reply ]
a nice surprise hearing this
Posted 18 years ago by shampa1n    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
Overrated..but tolerable...after all, it's RP!
Posted 18 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
Remember the scene in the limo from This is Spinal Tap? This limey feels the same as the band. < Pushes button to raise the privacy screen between the chauffeur and the band >
Posted 18 years ago by Paul_in_Australia    [ Reply ]
Like him or not, you gotta admit the guy had talent by the ton
Posted 18 years ago by algrif    [ Reply ]
This song was in a show I worked on for a few months last year. It's so much better when it's sung with a little more emotion and the tempo picked up just a bit. A guaranteed crowd pleaser every time. When Sinatra sings it, it's just hard to listen to.
Posted 18 years ago by czar    [ Reply ]
woozurdaddy wrote:
Zappa and then Sinatra. Gotta love RP.
Sic transit Zappa sic transit Sinatra.
Posted 18 years ago by Govi    [ Reply ]
Whenever I hear this song, I can't help but hear David Lee Roth singing it. Ahhh... Eat 'em and Smile... brings me back to 6th grade.
Posted 18 years ago by byrd    [ Reply ]
woozurdaddy wrote:
Zappa and then Sinatra. Gotta love RP.
Indeed, even out here in December! ;)
Posted 18 years ago by bobrk    [ Reply ]
classic
Posted 18 years ago by Wisecrowe    [ Reply ]
Oh God, please make it stop. I've worked in an Italian restaurant for two and a half years and this is one of the songs that plays once every two hours. Frank Sinatra may have his merits, but he just reminds me of yuppies slurping down spaghetti.
Posted 18 years ago by Johnny_Truant    [ Reply ]
thewiseking wrote:
Check out his early material...
I'll give this a try. Thanks for the advise!
Posted 18 years ago by am    [ Reply ]
am wrote:
As a teen, I thought he was such a poser. As an adult, I've tried to develop an appreciation for ole Blue Eyes. It's not happening. :headshake: There is something disingenuous about him. He makes my tummy turn.
Check out his early material as a crooner, from the 40s. sweet and melodic, but before he had a real signature style. then, check out his early to mid 1950s stuff, ex, nice and easy, etc.. more mature, sad, world weary, and sophisticated. avoid the 60s through 80s crap. over the hill. the voice is gone. this stuff was geared towards the tour buses of blue haired old ladies and paulie walnut types.
Posted 18 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
As a teen, I thought he was such a poser. As an adult, I've tried to develop an appreciation for ole Blue Eyes. It's not happening. :headshake: There is something disingenuous about him. He makes my tummy turn.
Posted 18 years ago by am    [ Reply ]
frankie as a bloated, toupeed, joke. obnoxious. strictly for "social athletic" clubs and bad italian restaurants. at this point in his career ole blue eyes should have hung it up.
Posted 18 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
After so, so many listens, I'm just now appreciating that scintillating electric organ.
Posted 18 years ago by lester    [ Reply ]
I'm in a mixed marriage. I'm a Frank fan, and the Wife is a Judy Garland fan. I'm of the opinion that all Judy's songs are about her, that you can't listen to a Judy Garland performance without relating the song to something that happened in her life. When I hear a Frank song (especially the early stuff, not like this bombastic number), it's all about the song. Just me.
Posted 18 years ago by nufftin    [ Reply ]
Ol' Blue Eyes followed by Toad the Wet Sprocket. That's life on RP.
Posted 18 years ago by buddy213    [ Reply ]
Bill, It's so nice how you know how to add variety to our life! Way to go! D'Jac :nodhead:
Posted 18 years ago by DJac    [ Reply ]
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who never cared for Ol' Blue Eyes. Just because he never have had a voice less doesn't mean he didn't need them. He doesn't know what to do with his diphthongs. However, I just read somewhere one of his ex's said he was hung like a yak. On second thought, maybe he did know what to do with his dip...er, never mind.
Posted 18 years ago by chieromancer    [ Reply ]
w00t! Gotta love Frank!
Posted 18 years ago by ankhara99    [ Reply ]
Ol' Blue Eyes followed by Toad the Wet Sprocket. That's life on RP. Love it.
Posted 18 years ago by brighthue    [ Reply ]
Thank you.
Posted 18 years ago by lester    [ Reply ]
Yes.
Posted 18 years ago by Opus_two    [ Reply ]
It ain't Rock n' Roll... but, That's Life, and I can't deny it... I like it!
Posted 19 years ago by jadewahoo    [ Reply ]
This is not Frank singing this song. Or is it?
Posted 19 years ago by fuh2    [ Reply ]
aharamanx wrote:
This does belong here, yes.....yes, it does.
Well said.
Posted 19 years ago by ee_    [ Reply ]
mig7 wrote:
Great actor? Great talent? Please, he was just a thug who bought and bullied himself a career.
Well said... But was he a friend of YOURS, or a friend of OURS?
Posted 19 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
indypaul wrote:
I don't know. Is that anything like sacrilege? If so, then yes.
oh, pshaw. there's nothing wrong with not liking Sinatra. one should ideally acknowledge his talent, but one need not like his music.
Posted 19 years ago by keemun    [ Reply ]
FRANKIE
Posted 19 years ago by crowhog2000    [ Reply ]
thermion7 wrote:
I never liked Sinatra. Is that sacrelidge?
I don't know. Is that anything like sacrilege? If so, then yes.
Posted 19 years ago by indypaul    [ Reply ]
Fahgetabouttitt! :nodhead:
Posted 19 years ago by Patrick    [ Reply ]
I never liked Sinatra. Is that sacrelidge?
Posted 19 years ago by thermion7    [ Reply ]
i like joe piscopo much better At least piscopo was entertaining
Posted 19 years ago by Daveinbawlmer    [ Reply ]
Posted 19 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]
Great actor? Great talent? Please, he was just a thug who bought and bullied himself a career.
Posted 19 years ago by mig7    [ Reply ]
hippie wrote:
Well maybe I can talk Justin Timberlake into doing a cover of Frank's songs for you.
I'm not a huge fan of Frank Sinatra or Justin Timberlake, and yet...I think that idea is not half bad.
Posted 19 years ago by MaxEmerika    [ Reply ]
YEEAAHHH!
Posted 19 years ago by rockasaurus    [ Reply ]
Frank can be so much better - sounds like he was just going thru the motions
Posted 19 years ago by michaelc    [ Reply ]
It's Franks world - we only live in it
Posted 19 years ago by Mairy    [ Reply ]
mangum wrote:
not a big chairman fan but love the organ in the background
The organ sounds like Booker T. Jones to me. Frank sounds like he came in for a 7 A.M. recording session after a night of nursing some Canadian Club.
Posted 19 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
What a great post. dmax wrote:
Naw. This is what the older guys made the younger guys to. Heh. My favorite Sinatra: Old Man River. He takes the low note on "You get a little drunk and you lands in jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiillllllllllll" and then drops it even lower and then glides up. And when he tells you that he gets weary and sick of tryin, you kinda believe it - just for a minute.
Posted 19 years ago by GolfRomeo    [ Reply ]
I agree with those who have rightly said this is NOT one of Sinatra's best. He had talent, it's just so inconsistent among his many recordings - and on some (like this one) it's nonexistent... sounds like he can't even carry a tune. In contrast, check out "Summer Wind" - a favorite of mine that showcases his ability when he was willing to put some effort into it. Smooth and beautiful... unlike "That's Life."
Posted 19 years ago by skindy    [ Reply ]
lumpy wrote:
I agree frank is a great voice, however he has absoulutley nothing on Tony Bennet and Nat King Cole.
Vinnie, take Mr. Lumpy out back and, you know, teach him some respect
Posted 19 years ago by snarf    [ Reply ]
This swings Baby!
Posted 20 years ago by Freebish    [ Reply ]
This is a pleasant suprise. I like hearing Ol' Blue Eyes once in a while but, I prefer the recordings he made with Count Basie (not that Nelson Riddle was a slouch, mind you). I still prefer a good Cab over martinis.
Posted 20 years ago by brighthue    [ Reply ]
A better actor than singer. I'd prefer Tony Bennett or Dean Martin.
Posted 20 years ago by drH    [ Reply ]
oh myyyyy, Frankie Baby.... Thanks, Bill :goodvibes.gif:
Posted 20 years ago by zipper    [ Reply ]
Frank kicks ass..
Posted 20 years ago by AbqPablo    [ Reply ]
not a big frank fan, but this is great. Perhaps only Frank could pull this off...
Posted 20 years ago by gilmorecairns    [ Reply ]
Woke me up...
Posted 20 years ago by spacetramp    [ Reply ]