Frank Sinatra

In The Wee Small Hours (+ Songs For Young Lovers) Frank Sinatra Remastered edition

By 1955, Sinatra's ubiquitous presence as an entertainer had completely abolished all memories of his struggles in the early '50s. He began the year by touring Australia for the first time, accompanied by his 14-year-old daughter Nancy. He arrived in Sydney on January 17, 1955 and opened at the West Melbourne Stadium two days later. Singer Anne McCormack and comedian Frank D'Amour filled out the bill. Less than a week after returning from Australia, Sinatra would be back in Capitol's KHJ Studios to begin recording one of his most treasured albums, In the Wee Small Hours. Richard Havers wrote about the making of the album in his 2004 biography, Sinatra: "Frank had been back from Australia for only a day or so before he flew to New York City to appear at the Manhattan Center for the 20th-anniversary tribute to Tommy Dorsey. Frank naturally reprised 'I'll Never Smile Again' and 'Oh Look at Me Now'. Five days later, on 8 February, Frank was in the studio for his first session of the year, but there would be 20 more at which he recorded over 50 songs. This first session was under the direction of Bill Miller rather than Nelson. It was a quintet with Bill on piano, along with Paul Smith's celeste, George Van Epps on guitar, Phil Stephens on bass, and Alvin 'Al' Stoller on drums. They did four songs, all arranged by Nelson, which would be included in what many people consider to be Frank's finest hour - In the Wee Small Hours.