Frank Sinatra | In The Wee Small Hours (1955)

Label: Capitol

Producer: Voyle Gilmore

Art Direction: Tommy Steele

Running Time: 50:25

Now, of course I was familiar with Frank Sinatra. How could you not? But I was used to the cool, smooth Sinatra. The Rat Pack Sinatra. This is not THAT Frank Sinatra.

By the early 1950s, Sinatra had become something of a washed-up has-been. After being dropped by his previous record labels and a failed attempt at entering the then-new medium of television, his future in entertainment became doubtful. However, upon his signing to Capitol Records, Sinatra set out to reinvent himself. By working with renowned composer Nelson Riddle, Sinatra released In The Wee Small Hours in 1955. Regarded as one of the first "concept albums", In The Wee Small Hours is an album that focuses on sadness, heartbreak, and loss.

This album was pretty depressing, although not unenjoyable to listen to. While some of the songs do tend to blend together, this is fitting given the depressive mood that the album is attempting to portray. Anyone who has ever found themselves in a "funk" knows that everything can sort of blend together into one depressing situation.  I couldn't help but picture Sinatra sitting in a small, empty bar with a gin and tonic, confessing his sadness to anyone that would listen. This is a man that has suffered heartbreak (he had recently been separated from his then-wife Ava Gardner), and is laying it all out there as a kind of cathartic healing.

I would think that this album would be best listened to alone, at night, with a stiff drink and a cigarette. If you have ever been down-and-out, or at least felt that way, then you were absolutely be able to relate to this album.

RATING: 4 out of 5

NOTABLE TRACKS:

In The Wee Small Hours

I'll Be Around

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Albums Remaining: 1000