Ten albums by Sinatra and a few associated memories. Part One

Before I move on to the albums I must mention an EP from that earlier period  that had, and still has, a special memory for me.

I've Got a Crush on You. I'd met Marlene, my future wife only a couple of weeks before she was due to go on holiday to the Isle of Man with some friends from work. Whilst there, she bought me this EP, knowing already that I was a big Sinatra fan, and the title did my ego a power of good. The first line of the second part of the verse rather deflated that same ego - It's not that you're attractive...

However, I digress, let's get down to business!

1. Songs For Young Lovers (a combination of two 10" albums - Songs For Young Lovers and Swing Easy. Capitol 1953/4 arr. Nelson Riddle. The direction he was heading during the latter days at Colditz - sorry Columbia - came to fruition when he began the collaboration with Riddle.

2. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning.  Capitol 1955 arr. Nelson Riddle. Many of us, of a certain age, either found love listening to it on the sofa (or the floor) after his or her parents had retired to do what they'd mastered and what we were just learning. We often returned to the album later - for solace when things, as things invariably did when one was young, went wrong. I bought the 12" compilation after I'd wore out the 10" originals - twice over! Nobody, not even Frank himself, ever topped this for sheer heartbreak and he didn't need a hotel either!

Lance