Frank Sinatra’s 1955 Classic ‘In the Wee Small Hours’ to Be Reissued on Vinyl for Its 70th Anniversary: His ‘Melancholy Masterpiece’ 

Frank Sinatra’s classical 1955 Capitol Records medium In the Wee Small Hours volition beryllium reissued successful Blue Note’s Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Series connected Nov. 14, marking the album’s 70th anniversary. The album, which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame successful 1984, has been called Sinatra’s “melancholy masterpiece.” One of the archetypal conception albums, it was an evident inspiration for specified consequent moody collections arsenic Linda Ronstadt’s What’s New, a astonishment deed successful 1983.

Produced by Voyle Gilmore, and featuring arrangements by Nelson Riddle, In the Wee Small Hours was Sinatra’s 3rd workplace medium for Capitol Records, following Songs for Young Lovers (which was inducted into the National Recording Registry successful 2002), and Swing Easy!, both from 1954.

Sinatra conceived of In the Wee Small Hours arsenic a full-length album, alternatively than a postulation of singles. It was issued arsenic 2 10-inch LP discs, but besides arsenic one 12-inch record LP, 1 of the archetypal successful the popular field. The occurrence of the medium helped popularize the 12-inch LP successful fashionable music. The 10-inch format soon fell into obsolescence.

The LP reached No. 2 connected a Billboard chart that predated the accomplishment the pursuing outpouring of the Billboard 200.  The medium reinforced Sinatra’s vocation resurgence pursuing his signing to Capitol Records successful 1953 and his Oscar triumph successful March 1954 for his supporting relation successful From Here to Eternity, that year’s champion representation winner.

Produced for merchandise by Joe Harley, the caller Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was mastered by Kevin Gray from the archetypal analog maestro tapes, pressed connected 180g vinyl astatine Record Technology Inc. (RTI), and comes packaged successful a deluxe gatefold tip-on overgarment featuring league photos by William Claxton and Ken Veeder, arsenic good arsenic an effort by Rita Kirwan.

Sinatra would successfully proceed signaling conception albums with specified consequent releases as Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! (1956), Where Are You? (1957), Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely (1958) and No One Cares (1959).

Sinatra, wide acknowledged arsenic the GOAT of accepted popular singers, was the archetypal creator to triumph the Grammy for medium of the twelvemonth 3 times. He was conscionable the 2nd creator (following Bing Crosby) to person a Grammy beingness accomplishment award. He received that accolade successful 1965, the twelvemonth helium turned 50. He received the Kennedy Center Honors successful 1983. He died successful 1998 astatine property 82.

Here’s the afloat way listing for In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning:

Side 1

1. “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning” (Dave Mann-Bob Hilliard)

2. “Mood Indigo” (Duke Ellington-Irving Mills-Barney Bigard)

3. “Glad to Be Unhappy” (Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart)

4. “I Get Along Without You Very Well” (Hoagy Carmichael)

5. “Deep successful a Dream” (Jimmy Van Heusen-Eddie DeLange)

6. “I See Your Fac...