Built around a light-hearted travel theme, Come Fly With Me was Frank Sinatra's first project with arranger Billy May, and it lands as a breezy change of pace from the somber Where Are You.
From the opening swinging notes of Come Fly With Me, written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen at Sinatra's request, it’s clear this set is all about fun. Across the album, Sinatra and May circle the globe in song, taking on standards like Moonlight in Vermont and April in Paris, alongside more playful turns such as Isle of Capri and On the Road to Mandalay.
May's bold, brassy arrangements give the whole record a playful, carefree, nearly sarcastic edge, but the affection for the material never slips. What makes Come Fly With Me such a rewarding listen is the way it moves so easily between boisterous swing and romantic balladry, picking up plenty of different moods and textures along the way.
There may be bigger landmarks in Sinatra's catalogue, but few are quite this enjoyable. Come Fly With Me is a seriously fun record.
