An Album/Song A Week: Frank Sinatra - In The Wee Small Hours

  Released in 1955, In The Wee Small Hours is the ultimate late night album.  Hearing it, and reinforced by the album cover, conjures up late night walks in a big city and lonely nights all alone with your favorite vinyl album spinning on a turntable.  All ballads, Sinatra's vocals on these songs are just starting to reach a maturity that would peak by the end of the 50's.  With his best arranger, Nelson Riddle, this is a concept album that remains my favorite Sinatra album.  Besides the title track, classics abound like "Glad to Be Unhappy", "I Get Along Without You Very Well", "Mood Indigo".  

  Sinatra came close to matching this album's theme with 1958's downbeat Only The Lonely.  And would continue on into the 60's recording ballads only releases.  But I'll always prefer this one.  The best late night album ever.