I grew up on a steady diet of Frank Sinatra, courtesy of my parents, two of his biggest fans.
His voice, and so many of his songs, instantly teleport me back in time 25 years. Some songs — specifically anything on his Sinatra Sings For Only the Lonely album — trigger my memory so powerfully that I can literally smell my mother’s cooking and feel the coziness of our North Miami home when I hear them.
I wonder sometimes what music my daughters will look back on with that sort of fondness. Will it be the Neko Case album I play for them in the car every morning on the way to school (at their request)? Or some artist I’ve yet to discover? Or an older artist that will find his/her way to yet another generation? Maybe even Sinatra himself, though I’m ashamed to admit I don’t play his albums as much as I should.
Only the Lonely is probably my favorite Sinatra album — I’m a huge fan of the torch stuff. In the Wee Small Hours is another great record in that vein. But I discovered the Sinatra swing era much more recently, and that’s the stuff I find myself turning to when I’m in the mood to hear Ol’ Blue Eyes these days.
‘Fly Me to the Moon,’ particularly this recording of it, has got to be one of the greatest songs ever put on record. It so captures a mood and an energy that I can’t help but smile and feel right about the world when I hear it.
Meet Me In Montauk 
Agreed. This is one of my favorite recordings of all time. We “entertained’ the kids with Watertown on the way to Canada. They were fascinated but not completely hooked:-) This one has the ability to capture fans of any age. I would like to think that Neko Case will be remembered fondly but that the artists who will truly remain with them are the ones who are timeless – Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, Carly Simon, Carole King – these are the artists I remember from those days – and those songs (played on reel to reel!) should be as familiar to our children as they were to us.
Thank you for including Frank Sinatra and one of our favorite songs on your blog! We also love the torch songs, and Dad’s favorite album is Only the Lonely too. This song is used so often in movies, I think of that great scene in “Catch me if you can” when they are walking through the airpport as an example. I’m so glad it’s a part of your fond memories of home when you were younger, and I’m sure your daughters will have their own wonderful memories linking music to their childhoods.
One of my all time favorites and a true classic. I grew up on the same diet of Sinatra courtesy of my mom. You may not know that your father used to torture my mom over her Sinatra collection when they were kids (he’d do the horrible things little brothers do to their sister’s prized possessions… you can imagine). 🙂 Ah, brotherly love.
Anyway, this is a great selection and a wonderful way to begin the week, so, thanks.
Oh we know, we know. He bragged many a time about the various ways he defaced her posters 🙂 Ah, brotherly love, indeed. it takes so many glorious forms, doesn’t it, Clay? 😉
I didn’t grow up on Sinatra. While my dad was certainly a fan, particularly of Strangers in the Night (which I can still hear him singing), he didn’t play music often enough for me to digest a steady diet of Sinatra. When dad would play music, it was more from the Glenn Miller Band, Duke Ellington big band sound. As my personal musical tastes evolved, I gravitated far more to the singer/songwriter (the Billy Joel, the Elton John, etc) and, I admit, I developed a bit of bias against those who didn’t write their own music. So, for years, I dismissed artists like Sinatra, Streisand, etc. Then I met Amy and, through her (and her family) was re-introduced to Sinatra. In our dating years, I would kick, scream and whine when Sinatra or Streisand was “forced” upon me. And I must admit that at certain holiday functions, it was hard for me to refrain from bolting out the door screaming whenever Sinatra’s version of Jingle Bells came on.:) But, alas, I have mellowed with old age and, over the years, I have come to appreciate some of Sinatra’s classics. This song was one of the early ones to win me over, along with Come Fly with Me and Luck be a Lady, Yet, for every song like those, there is the schmaltz of New York, New York, My Way, and those dreaded J-I-N-G-L-E bells that keep me from ever claiming to be a true Sinatra fan (sorry Cliftons)
😛 You gotta embrace the shmaltz. Embrace it. Especially when it comes from an artist who is capable of the restraint Sinatra demonstrates 90% of the time. When he has some fun with Jingle Bells, he has earned the right to do that. So just allow youreself to enjoy it 😉
Never!
So sad, Dana.
I love those J-I-N-G-L-E bells – DONG! Those holiday J-I-N-G-L-E bells – DONG. Those happy J-I-N-G-L-E, B-E-double L -S. I love those J-I-N-G-L-E bells – all the way!
For me, that’s one of the songs that I have to hear in order to really feel like it’s Christmas. 🙂
I couldn’t agree more!
Unfortunately, it’s one of the songs that I have to hear each year as well. It’s like nails on a chalkboard to me. 🙂
Jingle all the waaaaaay!!
I too love those j i n g l e bells all the way, and Dana I hope one day you will too!