Recorded - February 1, 1967
Released - March 1967
#1 for weeks of April 15, 22, 29 & May 6, 1967.
It was still the first half of 1967. Sgt. Pepper wasn't released yet, The Monterrey Pop Festival was barely in its planing stages, and much of America didn't even know what a "Hippie" was. It's only fitting then that one of the final #1 chart toppers, before the counterculture fully set in to pop culture, is the antithesis of that movement. Then again, this is Frank Sinatra we're talking about, and this is a case where sticking to what you know best pays off, and gives you a #1 single.
"Somethin' Stupid" was written by folk singer C. Carson Parks. His brother Van Dyke Parks is best known for being Brian Wilson's lyrical collaborator on The Beach Boys' SMiLE project. Sinatra heard C. Parks' version of "Something Stupid" and loved it so much that he immediately arranged a recording session. Because the song is a duet, he chose his daughter and fellow chart topper Nancy to sing with him.
In today's society, a father/daughter duet, where they were singing about how much they loved each other, would never fly. However, this was Frank Sinatra, a respected singer, innocently singing with his daughter. So think of "Somethin' Stupid" like Frank did, as a family oriented and produced number.
Musically, the arrangement is certainly geared more towards easy-listening pop. The most prominent instrument is a spanish-sounding acoustic guitar. The inevitable string section acts more as a fitting backdrop than the star attraction. The only time the strings become the most prominent is in the solo section.
Vocally, this is one of Frank and Nancy's more gentle performances. I'd even go as far as saying that the close harmony is reminiscent of The Everly Brothers. While I'll personally always prefer the songs of the Everlys to "Somethin' Stupid", I certainly think that Frank and Nancy do a good job here.
Frank Sinatra would continue to have a few more 1960's hits, most notably 1969's "My Way". As for Nancy, she collaborated with Lee Hazelwood and had a minor hit with Lee's "Some Velvet Morning", a song that fuses Western with Psychedelic pop. It's the closest you'll get to a psychedelic record featuring a Sinatra on vocals.
Final Verdict - "Somethin' Stupid" may not be the type of song I'd normally gravitate towards. Regardless, it is a very fine traditional pop ballad that has a timeless quality to it. If harmonious vocals are your cup of tea, you should certainly give this song a listen.
Coming Up Next - "The Happening" by The Supremes.
Until Next Time - I'm Dr. Rock, and I'm always trying to find some clever lines to leave you with at the end of each blog entry -
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