TS: Frank Sinatra's "In the Wee Small Hours" or "Sings For Only the Lonely"

Just for the title track, Only The Lonely. Wee Small Hours comes across as more of a genre exercise IMO.

Voted "Only The Lonely". It may be because it is in stereo though.

Should add, here, that I'm firmly in the SfOtL camp.

Six massive classics:

1) Title track, Johnny B is right, is among Sammy Cahn's best.
2) For a celebrated classic, "Angel Eyes" boasts some seriously dissonant melodic figures to go with the "'Scuse me/While I/Disappear" ending that, if memory serves, Sinatra retired with in his last performance of the 1970's.
3) "What's New" -- if only for the great line: "Probably I'm boring you."
4) The lesser-known (but personal favorite) "It's a Lonesome Old Town" which is as desolate and bleak as anything by Joy Division. Unbelievably demented trombone solo to boot.
5. "Willow Weep For Me" -- aching, aching, aching.
6. "One For My Baby (And One More For the Road)" -- almost unnecessary to discuss. Nighthawks in song.

Don't get me wrong -- In the Wee Small Hours is very good. But this record will convert anyone who still manages to believe Sinatra is Vegas schlock.

I have neither, but would definitely like to hear his version of "Willow Weep For Me."

You absolutely should.

FWIW, I didn't "get" Sinatra until the week he died. But in addition to reading approximately 3,287 pieces on him and buying SfOtL, I saw two pieces on TV that sealed it for me:

1) A video of him recording "It Was A Very Good Year" on 60 Minutes, I believe, which should put to rest any of the "Frank wasn't a musician" blather in other ILM threads -- his technique and attention to phrasing was utterly without peer, and,

2) Some variety show he hosted during the late 50's/early 60's singing "One For My Baby" with the full on empty barroom set. For some reason--and as awful and cheesy as it could've and should've been, with an actor playing bartender "Joe," etc.--the performance and set piece was just letter-perfect, with such a grace and ease. From the opening piano on, that song creates a space that is as flush with ambiance and atmosphere as any in popular music.

Incidentally, if you're in an awful relationship yet STILL depressed that your partner isn't in town (you know who you are), I recommend "It's a Lonesome Old Town." Heartily.

I started to pay him a little attention when I read the Ruy Castro Bossa Nova book.

A video of him recording "It Was A Very Good Year" on 60 Minutes, I believe, which should put to rest any of the "Frank wasn't a musician" blather in other ILM threads -- his technique and attention to phrasing was utterly without peer

He really was. I need to post a YouTube clip recorded in the mid sixties. He's giving instructions to an orchestra conducter, and he knew EXACTLY what he wanted.

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Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Anybody else read that '80s fanzine from Ohio I think that used to rave about Joy Division and Frank Sinatra? Reading that, plus my mother having once been president of the Frank Sinatra fanclub in Hoboken, all helped me "get" Sinatra.

The Offense was the early '80s zine edited by Tim aka TKA...

The Johnny Carson PBS special makes me want to revive this.

Slight nod goes to Only the Lonely, depending on my mood, but these are his two best albums and both are essential. No One Cares also in this vein and quite worthy.

sings for only the lonely is SO AWESOME

I love the ballad albums so much

Peak western civilization