Few albums are essential, timeless creations that elicit an emotional response with song after song. This is one such album. Sinatra was insistent on keeping things informal, sounding unrehearsed, instructing Miller to work in a seemingly off-the cuff manner. Perfection was not their main aim. The sessions were all about emotion, as Sinatra was really drafting an aural love letter to Ava Gardner who, though still married to him, had become unobtainable, drifting further from his life each passing day. The first Sinatra album to chart in the USA, In The Wee Small Hours reached the No.2 spot and remained in the best-selling listings for 33 weeks.