In The Wee Small Hours

Of course this belongs on this list, there is no doubt about that. Sinatra was one of the most influential people in musical history after all. That being said, it hasn't aged the best. A full 50-minute album of songs about heartbreak? It starts to get pretty annoying after the third song of him singing about a girl leaving him. My brother in Christ, chill. I'm sure this would sound better at a cocktail party in the 50s. I don't think Frank anticipated people listening to this album through headphones, in front of their computer, working and drinking hot cocoa.

All of Frank’s music feels like Christmas, even if it’s not remotely related.

In The Sad Boi Hours

I am conditioned to see Sinatra and think oh it’s a classic this will be good. But it’s kinda not. His voice is nice but the album is a drag. 2.5

A masterful album about heartbreak. I am always a fan of the old ones just because of the feel of the recordings. They kind of scratch an invisible itch of mine, and I've been a fan of this 50's popular music since fallout sparked my interest for it. It's such an enjoyable album from start to finish, not necessarily particularly genius og creative, I am just in love with the feeling it portrays.

Frank. We get it. He's handsome with a lovely, smooth voice for a guy in the 50s. This album is sixteen songs and 50 minutes of him crooning about heartbreak and rejection over barely-there lounge music. Insert Jennifer Lawrence "ok" gif here. But worse than that it's just the same song over and over and over again. Three or four of them were more than enough for me. Sixteen is ridiculous.

Beautiful album. Perfect for an evening in, full of that longing emotion after losing in love and the maturity and class to move with it. The album is neither invasive nor demanding but far from being mere background music to become wholly ignored. Franks velvet voice alone makes this easy to listen to but the accompanying instruments does nothing more than make him shine.

Frank Sinatra hot take: His music hasn't aged well. Out of all of the legends that I have listened to on this list, Sinatra has been the least impressive to me. Sure, he sings on key, he has an intimate way of delivering music, he tells stories, he has a sense of the epic and he helped pioneer the concept album. He has a very nice voice. By todays standards though, he doesn't do any of these particularly well. He's no wordsmith, his stories are pretty shallow, he doesn't have great vocal range and his delivery seems more self indulgent than anything. I have been told by elders that he was the Jimi Hendrix of the microphone, but when I listen to Hendrix, he still rocks my socks off and people can point to exactly what he did that was innovative for the time. I just don't get that from Sinatra. All of that said, I don't hate his music. It's fine. It's alright. It has a calm, chill vibe that works great for some easy listening. But other musicians do that better too.

Wow, two classics in a row. Our second from Frank Sinatra, and it's a legendary album. This is cited as one of the first ever concept albums in pop music; some people try give that award to the Beach Boys for Pet Sounds, but Frankie beat them. A whole album of sad boy hours at that. I love how defeated and wistful this whole thing is. Sinatra's not bitter. He's just accepting heartbreak and rejection as the inevitable price of love. Compare this to other artists from the '50s, like the Everly Brothers. Those guys wrote songs like incels and they tried to make their boohoos danceable. But compared to Ol' Blue Eyes, they're just kids. They don't know pain yet. Frank knows the pain like an old friend, and he doesn't resent it. Next to the rest of the pop landscape in the '50s, Sinatra seems like quite the pioneer. And how about this line from Wikipedia: "Based largely on Sinatra's reputation, this album helped change the 'tough guy' image, allowing for a larger range of acceptable emotional responses from men, which might previously have been perceived as for wimps." But even if you remove the high-brow analysis, this is just a fantastic collection of songs for late night loners. The title track has been in my DNA all my life, and there are so many gems on here to continue exploring. As someone who loves sad music, I have to give the man his due. Screw it, back to back 5 star albums. Frankie, you've earned it. Favorite tracks: In the Wee Small Hours, Can't We Be Friends, What Is This Thing Called Love, Glad to Be Unhappy, Mood Indigo, This Love of Mine. Album art: Exceptional. Perfect. I'm embarrassed to say I'm more familiar with the greatest hits covers, but this is just the ultimate encapsulation of what the music is. The slow-burning cigarette, the hazy twilight city street, even distant look in Frank's eyes - how is it even possible to capture that in a painting?? We can't see what he's looking at, but we can TELL he's looking past, looking through whatever's in front of him. Man, this is just too good. 5/5

I really don't think it is fair to judge Frank Sinatra by today's standards. We aren't listening in the right medium. He was played on black and white tvs on a 12 inch screen on grandma's tv. With earbuds and cars being the most common place to hear music, it just isn't doing him justice. He is a good singer, I'll give him that and he would influence lounge for generations. That's basically where he stops being good though. All these songs sound exactly the same - I have no idea which one was the "hit." The lyrics have aged very terribly. This guy sounds like a whiny "nice guy." I'll be waiting for you when he's done with you? I'm not like the other guys? I think this was romantic back in the day, but he definitely treats women as one dimensional in his songs. They are objects - they don't do anything and their opinion matters little. It is hard to judge this by the original standards, so I'm not going to try. 2.5 stars rounded down.

Perhaps Sinatra’s finest album. Perfectly chosen songs to reflect that melancholy, down tempo, heartbreak mood - legend has it Frank recorded in front of a life size cardboard cut out of Ava Gardner - sung with the lightest of touches by the greatest interpreter of popular music, framed perfectly by exquisite Nelson Riddle arrangements. What’s striking is the musical choices - Can’t We Be Friends is simply backed by the beautiful guitar solos of George van Eps and little more than piano, drums and bass, creating a quiet, jazz cafe mood; whilst others, such as the opening track, are backed by a full orchestra which swells and soars - but throughout, Sinatra’s vocals stand out as the focal point, constantly capturing the emotion of the moment, making the listener truly believe the heartache. Sinatra’s artistry is captured beautifully on one of the greatest works of art of the twentieth century.

Sounds like a musical soundtrack where I'm missing something by not experiencing the songs in the context of the film (which doesn't exist). Maybe someone should make a musical built around these songs? This album made me hungry for drums. The whole thing comes across as a sort of musical appetizer to me - it's got a nice flavor but doesn't leave me feeling full. I respect this and all but as the thing drags on, on a personal level I must admit I simply don't enjoy it (at least an albums worth of it). I honestly find ambient music more exciting than this. Great album cover though.

A window into an age I only know because my parent's were kids then. It was a fun listen.

I love this record, Nelson Riddle's arrangements are perfect.

I have this album and am a fan of its vibe, which opens up after dark: Sinatra’s choices around material and delivery for this purpose are exceptional. I love the formality of his phrasing, and the secret comfort in the lovelorn morose, a bearable sadness that softens by proximity the harder, crueler tragedies of life, a salve for existential dread. First time in a while I wish I had a whisky to hand. Deep in a Dream is the best song about smoking.

These are gorgeous wistful tunes matched perfectly to the moody cover art. The production really spotlights Sinatra's voice and delivers nostalgia straight to the heart. The thing I don't understand is why a guy like that didn't have better luck with the dames.

J'ai écouté le doyen des albums du générateur en même temps que je dégustais un très bon petit-déjeuner constitué de tartines grillées au spéculos, d'un jus d'orange et d'un café. Ce mélange alimentairo-sonore m'a permis de faire le plein d'énergie pour attaquer la journée de la meilleure des manières.

So my thoughts on Frank Sinatra’s “In The Wee Small Hours” are much more straight-forward than most… - There is no doubt that Frank was an excellent vocalist – not much variation in his style, but very appealing – and what he does, he does really well… - The instrumental arrangements from the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s were what they were – and at least these arrangements didn’t come across as over-produced – like so many of that era… - The quality of the audio in this recording was pretty sold for being 70 years old (i.e. as of 2024)… - Close to 50-minutes of heartbreak and despair is pretty hard to take – even if it is well-done… Not sure if that’s what he was going for (i.e. I’m gonna put out an entire album of all sad, melancholy songs…), but not sure it was the best decision, as there was absolutely no diversity in sound on this album whatsoever… At times, I thought my music app TIDAL was experiencing a glitch, as I could have sworn 4 or 5 times, that I was hearing the same song being repeated… In the end, it’s always unfair to apply today’s standards to yesterday’s music – so I will appreciate it for what it was, and I’m willing to bet that compared to other releases from 1954 – this one would stand up quite well… Solid 3 for me…

<Bernie_Sanders_meme.jpeg> I am once again asking you to listen to “What Time Does the Next Miracle Leave?” from Frank Sinatra’s 1979 record, Trilogy, wherein he sings about how “Uranus is Heaven”. The song is 10+ minutes long, but if you skip to the 8:30 mark, you’ll hear what you need to hear.

I find myself liking his voice more in this. A lot of sad sack songs and I'm not in the mood for this. Musically it is all on point, tho feels a little redundant. Should have cut it down to like 3 tracks

I was hopeful that we'd get another Bowie before another Blue eyes. What I generally do in the wee small hours is snooze. Yeah, snooze fest time.

Frank Sinatra's crooning tones can't be surpassed. In the Wee Small Hours takes you through a journey of the end of a relationship, which mirrored Sinatra's personal life at the time with his separation from his second wife Ava Gardner. It's hard not to hear the emotion in his voice throughout, however this really has brought my mood way down for the day. Would have been 1 star if not for his dulcet tone and emotion throughout the album. Best: Dancing on the Ceiling Worst: Deep in a Dream

Fuck Sinatra.

Love Frank. He was the soundtrack of a generation and somehow the little man's story was bigger than the music. Wee Small Hours - Sweet tune, and actually heart wrenching. Musically, very minimal. Mood Indigo - Very slow start to an album. Based on the album art and the first two songs, we have a moody record for sure. The moment of jaunty piano is so starkly different. Makes you want more. Lost love is the story so far. Is Mood Indigo Depression? Glad to be Unhappy - Wow, really pouring on the isolated man who lost his dame motif. This is one sleepy album. The ironic title is clever...but I don't think he's glad to be unhappy based on the lyrics. Unless this is like Shakespeare's sonnet where he says being in love is boring and sad, but I am in love and I love being that kind of sad? I Get Along Without You Very Well - Damn! Who is this album about? Ava Gardner? She messed him up! Deep in a Dream - Now we get the reflective idealized love song. It's funny that this came after that Black Keys album - which also was full of songs about looking for love or reflecting on the result of lost love. I See Your Face Before Me - Feels like Deep in a Dream Part II, but awake. Can't We Be Friends - Not a bad track. A clever turn on the same self-loathing style of previous songs. I'm not worthy of anyone, despair. This is one mopey album. When Your Lover Has Gone - Now this is getting ridiculous. Who listened to this album?

The first time I heard it I was in Active Training for the reserves and I had checked out a library CD copy to listen to on down time (along with a hand full of other titles) but it was right before lights out and I just relaxing in my bunk listening to this on headphones and it spoke to me deep. I felt every ache and heartbreak on the tracks. His voice so warm and emotional. It was like listening to a buddy pour his heart out. It was an instant favorite of mine since. This may not be an all purpose banger, but, man, in the right senerio, you can truly understand this album and this album understands you. (10)★★★★★

Just exquisite. Perfect heartbreak album. One of the greatest voices of all time. The first album on the 1001 list chronologically speaking and arguably not bettered until 1989 when The Blue Nile recorded Hats.

In the Wee Small Hours Proof, if proof be need be, that wallowing in heartbreak and unrequited love is old as songwriting and recorded music. But then when you've loved and lost as much as Frank has then, you know what lifes about. His voice really is great, of course it is, but he has such control of tone and feel, it is quite mesmeric. People always talk about his phrasing, but, and I’m going to sound like an old person here, his enunciation is superb, you can hear every letter and syllable, every pause and every note. Many crooners (and Buble is one of the worst at this), just affect a lazy slur in an approximation of laid back cool, but Frank doesn't do that at all, his voice and his interpretation of he melody has such clarity and precision. Musically this is so deftly arranged and it sounds great for 1955, the horns punctuate rather than pierce and the strings for the most part avoid the schmalz and melodrama you might expect. I also like that it frequently feels as though its about to interpolate Jingle Bells (like at the end of Its Cold Outside), giving it a slight Christmassy air. It definitely feels like a autumn into winter album, in the darker evenings with the log burner going. Overall I really liked this - I thought it would be good but I’m surprised how good it is. I inadvertently saw that you both gave it 4. That feels about right, but I also think it deserves a spot on the podium. So in a blatant bit of score manipulation I’ll give it 5. ⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️ Playlist submission: Mood Indigo

My absolutely favorite Frank Sinatra album. I normally find his blustery tough guy persona off putting and borderline unpleasant, but the vulnerability and resigned heartbreak on this album is more human, easier to relate to. He is exploring his 'mature voice', and he clearly deeply inhabits and understands the material. The arrangements by Nelson Riddle are understated and superb, much simpler than his usual thing, and completely in service to the songs. Song choice is wonderful. There are some tracks here where I might have other versions I prefer (Mood Indigo by Nina Simone, or I Get Along Without You Very Well by Chet Baker for example), but the construction and tone of the album as a whole are just *mwah* chef's kiss. It's not just technique; it's the honesty and (rare) emotional openness that is stunning here. It's hard the think of a time that Sinatra was so connected to his material. Tom Waits said this is favourite album (and he lifted the whole image and vibe to build his early career out of it). Every home should have a copy. Five stars

Don't understand the hype

https://64.media.tumblr.com/a153fe93c6821a07c0a05fcbf5c7b9d2/tumblr_nnc4ulHubf1u81ir6o3_250.gifv

i feel u gang

Smooth and moody, I liked this a lot more than the swing/bop stuff later. Emo Frank rules. From this, I guess we can blame ol' bluey for "Trapped In The Closet", although perhaps "Diamond Dogs" evens the score?

I liked this more than I expected. Does everyone reach an age where suddenly music like this appeals? I'm less likely to put something on the turntable that's harder, faster, louder than maybe even 5 years ago and listen to something softer, slower, quieter. That might just be an after work/evening thing; it's different during the working hours with headphones. Also I have a theory that all art, whether it be music, painting, architecture, whatever, reaches an artistic peak and then descends to its lowest common denominator over time. Craftmanship and beauty become far to expensive, quick and cheap trumps all. You can't fail to listen to the orchestral arrangements in this and think "Well that's really lovely".

Mood music to the highest caliber. Wistful, melancholy. Makes me want to smoke a cigarette under an awning in the rain, glass of whiskey-on-the-rocks conveniently in the other hand as a compliment. Sinatra has a very powerful voice, you can tell when he hits those big notes, and when he brings it down to an almost stare-out-the-window-dreaming whisper. I appreciated when the band behind him broke into some jazzy numbers to break up the big band music. Favorite tracks: "Can't We Be Friends?", "This Love of Mine"

Killer voice, no doubt, but....yawn

More Frank? Not so soon. I'm a little Franked out. "In the wee small hours of the morning While the whole wide world was having a snooze Frankie crooned on in a smooth baritone About ciggies, the moon, love and booze"

Good. Not dazzling or particularly thematic, but some real nice songs, and Sinatra's voice is lovely.

He's a really good crooner. Did this album is pretty much exactly what you'd expected to sound like. It doesn't really do anything for me, but it doesn't offend me either.

Afternoon nap music, wasn’t really feeling the vibe.

I know music has changed so much since this album was recorded but it’s the first time I’ve not been able to finish the album. Simply unlistenable.

A collection of funeral dirges

I fucking hate Frank Sinatra.

To crooney..... just too damn crooney. Shave half an hour off and I might have enjoyed it.

LOVE IT!

Imagine, if you will, an empty city street, bathed in the cool blue glow of the moon. The street is slightly wet (it'd been raining not too long ago), reflecting the moon's own light back at it. The smell of damp concrete lingers in the air. The street is silent, without sound — that is, except, for a solitary man in a trenchcoat, slowly shuffling up the sidewalk. He's been out walking for a while, who knows how long. Everyone else has long gone to sleep hours ago. Except for him. He hopes every step he takes will get his mind further and further off of her ... but to no avail. He comes to lean against a lamppost. He takes a drag of his cigarette and blows it out into the cool night sky. If only memories could be blown away like that... That, if you'll forgive some poetic license, is the sound of this album. In short: one of the earliest "feels bad, man" albums ever made. 50 minutes of hoping you could still hold her ... but it's far too late for that now. And all you're left with are the memories and thoughts. But, OK, I'll talk straight and direct and reach a hand to the other side of the aisle. You could very easily find this album to be, mm, maybe a **little** one note? I mean, jeez, like I said: this thing is around 50 minutes. That's maybe a bit of a long time to wallow in misery and self-pity. Like, jeez, at some point you've just got to get over this girl, right? Then the next song starts and, oh, boy, here he goes again! For me, though, this thematic repetition doesn't matter for a very simple reason: the mood. If my scene description at the top didn't indicate that, the album projects such a strong, honestly beautiful sort of melancholic mood that I really don't mind spending so much time in it. The arrangements are all just wonderfully, and Sinatra ... y'know, I don't know how often I think of Ol' Blue Eyes as an incredible singer, but over this sort of material, oh, boy, he couldn't be any better. I wouldn't want anyone else singing this stuff. It lends an air of class and, honestly, further emotion. I could totally picture myself wandering the streets and contemplating love and life with Sinatra's voice serenading me. It's all that, and, well ... I remember one time being in a chat with a friend who'd been staying with his girlfriend. He was leaving to go home that day, and he was telling us about how ... empty it was making him feel. Like there was a hole in his heart; he missed her so much already. And as he was telling the chat about this, I happened to be playing this album at the same time. Pure coincidence, I swear; it'd already been playing by the time he started. And although this album is more about heartbreak and your lover leaving you ... the way this music enhanced the atmosphere and the mood of what my friend was saying, I'll never forget it. It'll probably always be what I think of when I think of this album. And how could I have any real negative thoughts when **this** is what this album reminds me of? Again, I get it. If you're not in the right headspace for this album, you'll be bound to get sick of it awful fast. I don't blame anyone who can't put up with all 50 minutes of this. But if you are feeling those kind of feelings where you can wander down the street, trying to forget him, her, them, or whoever ... I can't think of any better music to do it. The man pushes himself off the streetlamp and continues on his way. One step after another, maybe he'll eventually forget about her. Or at least not feel so bad when he thinks about her. Maybe...

The earliest album on the list, and one of the most emotional as well. Sinatra's vocals combined with the elegant orchestra work come together to make a heartbroken yet lovely set of tracks. Solid 5 Stars.

I’m at a 5. 25 minutes into the album, with my brain feeling sad because of the vivid imagery in the lyricism, the lovely sombering tone to the orchestration, and Frank’s voice crooning a deep sense of woe right into my ears, I stood up and looked out of a window, standing in a little doorway with the lights on behind me, but in front of me, a pitch black darkness, save for this one little light I see out of my neighbor’s window. “What Is This Thing Called Love?” was playing, and I just stood there, hearing the song, without a single line in front of me, yet understanding every word & feeling it all the same. The light went out right as the song ended. You can’t feel anything more potent than that. That cover art of Sinatra, cigar in hand, on a moody blue street in the rain, contemplating how something so potent as love can work both ways… that’s the mood of the album. You have to find a way to get into that headspace & that mood to truly appreciate this for what it is. Granted, maybe you don’t have to be as cinematic or as immersive as I managed to find myself in, but I’ll be damned if it didn’t do wonders. I can’t go track by track here, since the album is decently one-note in that sense, but my goodness, you have to just feel those tracks for 50 minutes, somehow, someway. It is a sobering mood, and for 1955, I’m just stunned at how well that sense of heartbreak & loneliness is captured so, so well. It’s been 70 years since this came out, it’s the oldest album on the list, and yet it might be one of the finest “sad” albums I’ve ever heard. You do have to hear this before you die, and I’m so very glad it’s here. Frank Sinatra, you did damn good with this one. It’s a very easy 5 for my tastes, if not a bit higher.

just delightful

This is Gold

I loved it. Perhaps I jumped the gun on the ol' 5er but it's a great album. So funny to imagine Franky struggling with the huzz. Bro gets friendzoned halfway through the album. That being said, a beautiful collection of songs about love.

OMG just after the first song I am hooked

Fantastic album to start the list (chronologically), beautiful and moving

Fabulous album !

Great album!

Beautiful, poetic...sobbing, crying, throwing up. 10/10 FRANKY BABY

magnificently melancholic

Til å være et menneske som like Frank Sinatra så godt som æ gjør høre æ overraskanes sjelden på han. Det burde æ bli bedre på å gjøre nokka med.

clasic

Having never actually listened to Sinatra or the other crooners, I guess this is my chance. I only really appreciated the album on my second listen. The first listen, everything just kinda blended together. Second listen everything came together. Pull up the lyrics and digest what he's saying as even if they kinda sound similar, the nuances of each song are just perfect. I wasn't ready for this so early in the morning. This is a concept album mostly about loneliness and losing/lacking love. I think this type of music really hits different for expressing this feeling as it just seems to stop you in your tracks. He doesn't say much in the songs, but what he does say is incredibly impactful and perfectly encapsulates the emotion and there's nothing else to say. Everyone that's gone through it gets it. I like the little jazz sprinklings that you can hear in the album. In sections of Mood Indigo, it just sprinkles lightly in the background, just teasing you, in stark contrast to the absolute despair of the lyrics. I Get Along Without You Very Well is so comical. The whole song about him saying how great he's doing without her, except he's constantly thinking about her and reminded of her. Deep in a Dream is genius. A quick snapshot of him smoking in bed, falling asleep and dreaming of the girl he lost, startling himself awake and just being like......damn....... it perfectly follows up I Get Along Without You Very Well because even when we convinces ourselves we're doing great, there are these moments where memories just force it upon us to reflect and it almost starts the cycle over again. Can't We be Friends? Classic Friendzone. Love the jazzy vibe of this song and again, absolutely relatable. Timeless. These songs are just so relatable for anyone that has gone through a breakup and Frank did a fantastic job of covering so many nuances of what we go through. One particular note is that he doesn't seem to particularly disdain or hate the women who broke his heart, he's just heartbroken. At least the album ends on a hopeful note as I'll Never Be the Same and This Love of Mine are both decidedly hopeful. I learned after the fact that Frank didn't write this stuff, which is a same. But everyone that worked on it did a phenomenal job.

The title track is a favorite of mine. The whole album was great to listen to today. I was having a stressful day, but somehow this helped me calm down a bit. Beautiful voice, beautiful songs.

What an amazing album

This albums contains only ballads. For some songs, I am used to different versions, so I am a bit biased. And also I don't think you can turn every song into a ballad ... Sometimes it's not reflecting the character of the song. But anyway, his voice and style are 5 stars without doubts.

Nice

All you emo kids thought you knew sadness. Frankie wears sorrow like it's his favorite overcoat, and sings all about it. This is, by far, the bluest blues album I have ever heard. "Mood Indigo"? "Can't We Be Friends?" "I'll Be Around"? Come on. Emo kids are writing haiku about rain and Frankie pulls this tearjerker of an album off with grace and panache. The sighs between the lyrics punctuate the sadness over lost love and longing like nothing else. My Rating: 5 tears

This is definitely music to be sad to. Of course, we all have reason to be sad sometimes, and who better to accompany you when such a time arises than the great crooner himself?

Sinatra is one of those artists I always come back to. I own this one on green vinyl actually. This album is aptly titled, because when I listen, I envision Rear Window-esque voyeuristic vignettes, looking in on streetscapes and into the abodes of others in the 1950s when we weren't glued to screens. I picture the world settling down into the night and am lulled to sleep, or in this case, the lonely ones heading home from a night out. There is something so soothing about this sound; it was the soundtrack to most of my late night study sessions back at uni. I just zone out and drift away when I listen to this; love it!

PERFECT!!!!!

Great album, needed for today

A really good album, I liked I Get Along Without You Very Well, Deep In A Dream and What Is This Thing Called Love the most.

Who are the great artists of American solitude? Edward Hopper, there's no question, Raymond Carver, the poet Weldon Kees, Bob Rafelson, director and co-writer of Five Easy Pieces. One would have to add Frank Sinatra to that list, who, w/ this record, and Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely, prompts some of the most profound explorations of that special brand of American loneliness: 'I can't win, but here I am / More than glad to be unhappy'; 'What's in store? Should I phone once more? / No, it's best that I stick to my tune'; 'That I'd awaken w/ the sun / And order orange juice for one.' I can't recall anything quite as intimate or as heartbreaking as Sinatra's vocals here recorded, an absolutely familiar, attentive isolation.

So cool.

Great, soothing. Would listen to again

Yes

Pretty chill

I am very excited to have a Sinatra album! This is strictly a love album outlining the woes of heartbreak and emotions that come with having and losing love. Sinatra’s voice is like butter, like it doesn’t get much better. This album felt like a Disney soundtrack with all the emotions poured into the orchestral background. All of it comes together perfectly to form an absolutely classic compilation of songs.

It felt like magic

Aivan loistavaa tunnelmointia. Oon aina pitänyt Sinatran soundista ja Quincy Jonesin sovitukset kappaleissa on tietenkin mielettömiä.

Classic, very good, typa album Id listen on repeat alone

Cigar and scotch music. Seriously though, a great album by one of the all time greats.

What a way to start off the book. Wow, this album is just so good. Sinatra's huge comeback, with this concept album on loneliness and lost loves, a real gut punch record in the right mindset. Sinatra's voice is pure gold and he always has perfect delivery and timing

Sad Sinatra is still Sinatra.

Prime Frank.

A legend. Enough said.

I've written on here before of my dad's love of Frank Sinatra. However, it's me that loves this particular record.

9.5/10 Totally underestimated album by Sinatra. Am definitely telling people about this one

"In the Wee Small Hours" is the ninth studio album by Frank Sinatra. The album is categorized in the vocal jazz and traditional pop genres. It has a set of "love gone bad" songs, a result of Sinatra's failing relationship with Eva Gardner and has themes of introspection, melancholy, lost love, failed relationships, depression and night life. The album was cited as one of the first concept albums and, also, was released as a 12"record LP which would popularize that format in popular music. It was both a critical and commercial success hitting #2 on the US charts. Piano and gentle strings begin the album opener "In the Wee Small Hours of the morning." Sinatra comes in with with an emotional, deep voice. It's in the wee small hours that you miss her the most. This is the only song not from "The Great American Songbook." Horns, playful strings and piano are the instruments of choice in the Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington and Irving Mills' song "Indigo." You haven't been blue until you've reached indigo. "I See Your Face Before" has a lovely horn and string intro. There's a spiraling piano. "Could not my love hurt you in knowing that I want you so." A flute is the primary instrument in Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love?" Sinatra ponders love and the fool it's made him. Two notable songs that use a sparse piano arrangement are "I'll Be Around" and "Dancing on the Ceiling." The first song sets the tone of melancholy and continues throughout the 18 songs. Sinatra's vocals are emotional and downtrodden as Sinatra himself coined the term his "Eva Album." The music tends to be sparse and subdued. There is no one that I've heard better than Francis Albert Sinatra of how and when to sing and when not to sing; he lets the music express and enhance the mood and plays off it. Once you hear his version of these songs from "The Great American Songbook," I doubt you'll want to hear any else's. This is a classic in every sense.

Fucking limeys. You know, it’s just that people like this…you know…they get all they want so they really don’t understand, you know…about a life-like Frank’s. I mean, when you’ve loved and lost the way Frank has, then you, uh, you know what life’s about.

A beautiful record full of classic blue eyed heartbreak and pining, unrequited love. It’s hard to find fault with someone as influential and legendary as Frank Sinatra. Not the most well known songs of his, but it’s still an excellent album. I couldn’t imagine ranking anything he’s done any less than 5*.

Like Christmas!

While I prefer "Songs for Swinging Lovers", this album, Sinatra's first with Nelson Riddle arranging, is arguably more consistent in that it holds that melancholy mood throughout. It reinvigorated Sinatra's career and, as one of the first records released on the new 12" vinyl format, allegedly kicked off the album era. Not as much fun as some of the later recordings, it is an album to wallow in, late at night, perhaps with a whisky in hand.

So schön kann Jazz sein. Zarte melancholische kleine Meisterwerke erfreuen meine Ohren. Bisher hatte ich nur Best of... Alben vom Maestro in Solo oder Duets. Jetzt habe ich mir innerhalb von wenigen Wochen 5 seiner Original Alben erworben und höre Sinatra nochmal neu. Und bin begeistert.

love this album

This is one of the first concept albums if you will: A man singing in loneliness about a broken heart. One of Sinatra's best album with lush arrangements.

This might be one of the best albums ever. It's so delightful. I predict I'll be listening to this for many, many years.

Well, I loved this. I don't really have any notes to share. I loved every song, loved the emotion, loved the instrumentation. A true treat.

They say not to judge a book by its cover, but you can judge this album by its art and understand exactly what it is. "In The Wee Small Hours" is a reflection on love and heartbreak, beautifully rendered in melancholy piano and Sinatra's soothing tones. It's the musical equivalent of curling up in front of a warm fire on a cold rainy night. The album as a whole is comfortably blue, each track blurring into the next - it perhaps works best for background listening, but a few tracks stand out; my favorite on this listen being "Mood Indigo." Overall, this album is a wonderful package.

Fantastic voice and swagger! Great songs! 5 stars

Day299 - an album for the broken hearted and melancholy. i’m neither and i loved it

Hab doch alles gehört, mega entschleunigend. Voll geil

I’ve always liked Sinatra. And while I’m not well versed in the vast recording history that is the Sinatraverse, I can put this album on and let it play on repeat all day long.