Come Fly With Me (1958)

“Come Fly With Me” by Jimmy Van Heusen (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyrics), 1958.

This song, released on Capitol Records in 1958, was written specifically for Frank Sinatra and has, of course, become synonymous with Ol’ Blue Eyes. Van Heusen and Cahn were also responsible for writing other Sinatra hits, such as “All the Way,” “High Hopes,” and “Call Me Irresponsible.” In fact, Sinatra recorded 85 songs penned for him by Van Heusen.

They say “write what you know” and it appears that Van Heusen (real name Edward Chester Babcock) was a keen pilot. He moonlighted as a test pilot in World War II although he had to keep that secret from his Hollywood employers—for insurance reasons!

“Come Fly With Me” was included on the album of the same name which was Frank’s attempt at a concept album, perhaps even the first ever concept album. He wanted to transport his listeners on a journey around the world, stopping off at the “Isle of Capri,” perhaps reached by “The Road to Mandalay” and even taking in “April in Paris.” Whilst Sinatra was reputed to hate the cover art, he loved the album and the tracks became staples of his live shows for many years. “Come Fly With Me” never disappeared from his repertoire.

Jazz Magazine said: “The best albums are those in which the sum of each part forms a whole that tells a story, and ‘Come Fly with Me’ is arguably one of the finest examples of this.”

It has been covered by almost everyone including Michael Buble, Barry Manilow, Robbie Williams and…the greatest of them all…Pinkie and Perky. Count Basie has also covered it, as it does lend itself to a big band setting.

It has also become something of a movie soundtrack standard featuring in a whole host of films, from Raging Bull, Air America, and Catch Me If You Can.

It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004.