Frank Sinatra “In the Wee Small Hours (Part 4)” EP

According to the version I see on Discogs, this is called In the Wee Small Hours (Part 4)—and probably had a cover—the 7-inch version of the long playing 12-inch album, a great one, arguably Sinatra’s finest (with 16 songs!) —as well as one of the best album covers. The 7-inch 45 RPM “album” was likely four 7-inch 45s, I’d guess—but this is what I have (1/4 of the album)—a four song 45, with the songs “Can’t We Be Friends,” “When Your Lover Has Gone,” “What Is This Thing Called Love,” and “Last Night When We Were Young.” All slow, smoky ballads, recorded with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra—four of the saddest, most beautiful songs Sinatra ever recorded. What if this was the only Sinatra record someone had? Ha, funny thought—but I’m sure not so farfetched—and if it was the case, it would be something. A person, just on the basis of this little disk, could elevate Sinatra to mythical proportions. You could even go so far as to say that outside of this little record, he starts to get watered down—but I’d never say that. Anyway, this 45 is on this old, dark green (evergreen? myrtle? hunter green? British racing green?) Capitol label—haven’t see that one a lot—it’s old, from 1955, which amazingly makes it like 70 years old—a long time for sleeveless, coverless, vinyl device to go bouncing around—but it plays perfectly—scratchy, sure, but sounding like old radio at three in the morning, when you’re desperate for sleep and as lonely as the record sounds.

11.8.24