In the Wee Small Hours

Sinatra recorded the album in the smaller Studio C at KHJ in Hollywood, with Nelson Riddle arranging and conducting. It first appeared as a 10-inch double LP, before the 12-inch format. It is said to have been inspired by the end of his relationship with Ava Gardner, and it is sometimes called the Ava album.

Sinatra stopped one session after a few notes because his voice did not sound right, and the rescheduled take was judged perfect. Last Night When We Were Young reportedly took about thirty takes and What Is This Thing Called Love? took 21. He reportedly broke down in tears after the master take of When Your Lover Has Gone. He reportedly told Riddle he wanted the songs to sound unrehearsed.

Reception

It peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 during an 18-week chart run, his highest-charting album since Songs by Sinatra in 1947, and it re-entered the chart in August 1962. The RIAA certified it Gold and the BPI Silver. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it one of Sinatra's most jazz-oriented performances. Tom Waits called it the first concept album. Rolling Stone placed it at number 100 in 2003, 101 in 2012 and 282 in 2020 and 2023 on its list of the 500 greatest albums.