In the Blue of Evening

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In the Blue of Evening is a song written by Al D'Artega and Tom Adair. Frank Sinatra sang it with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. It was recorded in June 1942 and released in 1943 as a double A-side with “It’s Always You” to celebrate Dorsey’s band joining Victor’s Red Seal label (catalog #27947). The song reached number one on the Billboard charts and also hit number ten on the Harlem Hit Parade.

Sinatra later re-recorded the song with Sy Oliver for his 1961 album I Remember Tommy, a tribute to Dorsey, but that version wasn’t released until a 1993 reissue. The 1961 recording used a 12-piece band and a Dorsey-like style, while the other songs on the album used a 20-piece band. James Decker played the opening trombone solo, replacing Dorsey.

Contemporary critics praised the track. Janice Rhea called it a thrilling, romantic song and highlighted the trombone solo as superb, recommending it as top summer music. A Mason City Globe-Gazette review said the song epitomized Frank Sinatra for his fans and praised Dorsey’s lush trombone tone that could “bring the house down.”