Recorded - April 11, 1966
Released - May 1966
#1 for week of July 2, 1966.
For the second time in music history, we have a singer associated with the "Rat Pack" era replacing The Beatles at the top of the charts. Frank Sinatra needs no introduction as his voice and catalog are widely known and loved. Sinatra's career managed to survive multiple pop culture fads and styles. Despite Sinatra's legacy, it wouldn't be until 1966 that he would have a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100. That #1 single was the title track to his 1966 album, Strangers In The Night, co-written by one time chart topper Bert Kaempfert.
I was a bit surprised to read up on how much Sinatra hated this song. In fact, he hated it to the point where he'd use several expletives when describing it, and even complained to his audience about having to sing it on stage. I'm truly surprised as if "Strangers In The Night" is Frank Sinatra's idea of a bad song, then he must be the greatest singer of all time.
It may be the spring of 1966, a season that saw the birth of such progressive albums as Revolver, and The Velvet Underground & Nico. Yet here is proof that traditional pop recorded during that same time period could still sound great and timeless. All of the hallmarks of Sinatra's sound are present: A string and brass arrangement, piano, and of course, Ol' Blue eyes' irreplaceable voice. Accept no substitutes.
Fun fact, that rather brief wordless jazz soloing that Sinatra does during the fadeout, with its "Doobie-doobie-doo" vocal line, would later inspire the name of a certain talking dog and his mystery solving friends three years later. Jinkies!
There would be a number of other classic Sinatra songs recorded during the decade. These include "Summer Wind", from the Strangers In The Night album, and "My Way", released in 1969. Even though it has been 15 years since his passing, the music, sound, and legacy of Frank Sinatra lives on.
Final Verdict - A classic Frank Sinatra ballad that still sounds fresh and enjoyable to this very day.
Coming Up Next - "Hanky Panky" by Tommy James And The Shondells.
Until Next Time - I'm Dr. Rock and I reviewed this song myyyyyyy waaaayyy -
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