Frank Sinatra, The #39 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Three

 

(Continued from Part Two)

In 1961, Sinatra released the album Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!!

The songwriting team of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart were on contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1933.  They were asked to write songs for Hollywood Party, a movie that was to star many of the studios top performers.  

Rodgers recalled:  "One of our ideas was to include a scene in which Jean Harlow is shown as an innocent young girl saying—or rather singing—her prayers." 

 

After MGM released the movie, Jack Robbins, head of the studio's publishing company, felt the song was suited for commercial release but wanted more romantic lyrics and a punchier title.  Hart was reluctant at first to write more lyrics but was finally persuaded.  "Blue Moon" is that song.

  

Later in the year, Sinatra released the album Come Swing With Me!, which includes his version of "Sentimental Journey".

 

It always leaves you in a good mood..."On The Sunny Side Of The Street"!

 Sinatra then began his own label, Reprise Records, which continued his hot streak.  In 1961, he released the album Ring-a-Ding Ding!, which rose to #4.  Cahn and Van Heusen wrote the title song especially for Sinatra.

 "Pocketful Of Miracles" is from the movie of the same name.  Frank was originally slated to be in the movie but walked out because he didn't like the script.  Glenn Ford accepted the part opposite Bette Davis.

 

"Let's Fall In Love" is from the movie of the same name.  Sinatra covered it for the Ring-a-Ding Ding! album, with Johnny Mandel arranging and conducting.

 

"A Foggy Day" is another Gershwin tune, first introduced by Fred Astaire in the 1937 movie A Damsel in Distress.

 

Sinatra pulled another hit from the album with "Let's Face The Music And Dance".  The song was written by Irving Berlin in 1936 for a famous dance scene with stars Fred Astaire and GInger Rogers in the movie Follow the Fleet.

Sinatra released the album I Remember Tommy, a tribute to Tommy Dorsey.  

 

Frank collaborated with Don Costa, who arranged the album Sinatra and Strings in 1962.  Costa's arrangement of "Yesterdays" is fantastic.

 "Misty" was written as an instrumental by Erroll Garner in 1954.  Johnny Burke later added lyrics.  It was another gem from Sinatra's album and later made popular by Johnny Mathis.

 "Come Rain Or Come Shine" was written for the musical St. Louis Woman in 1946.  Margaret Whiting had the biggest hit with it at #17.

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