If there's one thing the career of Frank Sinatra has shown, it's that great taste is indeed timeless. In the post-Beatles Sixties, it had begun to look like Sinatra's star was falling. The revitalized world of rock music knocked Sinatra's style of popular song squarely out of the box in terms of public interest. The level of Sinatra's artistry, however, never diminished during this period, and it wasn't long before he made his commercial comeback with STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT.
Powered by the monster hit that was the title song, this album conveyed the image of a successful artist feeling his oats, as they say. With soulmate Nelson Riddle grasping the conductor's baton, Sinatra turned in a bouncy, invigorating set of tunes that smacked of a newfound maturity but sacrificed none of his youthful verve. The bold, swinging "Summer Wind" remains a testament to Sinatra's interpretive powers and infectious enthusiasm for a well-written song.
