36. Frank Sinatra, ‘Sinatra at the Sands’ (1963)

Before he became Mr. New York, Frank Sinatra's signature town was Las Vegas, and Sinatra at the Sands captures him at his ring-a-ding-ding peak — complete with an adoring casino crowd and an epic "Tea Break" monologue where the chairman cracks harsh on his Rat Pack subordinates. Sands might be the ultimate period piece for those who prefer Johnny Mercer's songbook to Jagger-Richards', with Quincy Jones conducting Count Basie's Orchestra and the 50-year-old crooner still at the height of his warm-yet-threatening vocal powers. The music is sensational, including definitive versions of signatures like "Fly Me to the Moon" and "I've Got You Under My Skin." And for an added bonus, there's the introduction — "The Sands is proud to present a wonderful new show…" — by William Conrad, the well-traveled character who also narrated Rocky and Bullwinkle. David Menconi