I wanted to
celebrate my addiction to travel, so "Come Fly With Me" by Frank
Sinatra seemed the obvious choice.
Frank Sinatra
blazed the trail for the Beatles, from the teenage hysteria of the Bobbysockers
to the mature recording artist. "Sgt Pepper" is often cited as the
first concept album, but Sinatra was releasing themed albums like "In the
Wee Small Hours" and "Songs for Swinging Lovers" 15 years
earlier.
One of the most
enduring is the "Come Fly with Me" album, provided a phonographic
trip around the world, taking in New York, Chicago, Paris, London, Brazil and
Mandalay, at a time when travel was more exclusive.
The title
track is an intoxicating tribute to the golden age of air travel, when it was an
aspirational luxury, the preserve of very
wealthy. Glamorous people on magnificent planes jetting to exotic locations.
So the stylish and raffish Sinatra was the natural to perform it.
Composed by
Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics from Sammy Cahn, specifically for Sinatra (like "High Hopes" and "Love And Marriage"),
it was recorded in one December 1957 session. Arranger Billy May guided the big
band, with the emphasis on the great brass sound, while Sinatra swung, carefree
and effortlessly.
A beautiful
and beguiling love song, inviting a loved one for a special trip together. An
adventurous itinerary could included India ("If you can use some exotic
booze / There's a bar in far Bombay"), Peru ("llamaland") and Acapulco Bay. However the attraction is
not just the destinations, but the flight itself. A different era when flight
was exciting and mysterious ("air is rarefied"). He is not
inviting her for trip on Ryanair or Easyjet !
Such an appealing
song and notion, "Come Fly With Me" was very popular with the public, recorded by many, a fixture in his concerts,
and even lent its name to a 1963 film.
We may not be
able to travel from some time, but Sinatra can help us remember past glories.
Hear Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmQq6yLe2ww
Hear Next -
The essential Sinatra albums are from the 1950s, but a newcomer may
prefer one of the many compilations.
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