“That’s Life” easily ranks among Frank Sinatra’s most iconic songs. “Ol’ Blue Eyes” released his version of the song as a single in November 1966, which gave the song international fame. “That’s Life” was originally written by songwriter Dean Kay in 1962 with lyrical contributions from song plugger Kelly Gordon. In this article, we will dive into the story, meaning, and legacy behind “That’s Life”.
The Origin Behind the Song
The story of “That’s Life” started with musician Dean Kay in 1962. Prior to 1962, Kay was building a career as an entertainer with his partner Hank Jones, but being drafted abruptly ended that dream. During Christmas leave from the army – whilst visiting his parents – Kay wrote “That’s Life” on the piano.
“As I played, I started thinking about what I was going to do to rebuild my career,” Dean Kay wrote on his website. “And words and music started to flow. 20 minutes later most of the song had been born.”
Dean Kay stated he wrote “That’s Life” as a ‘personal memo’. The lyrics reflect on the ups and downs of life, with an emphasis on showcasing resilience to navigate through life’s challenges.
After being discharged from the army, Kay ventured into the Los Angeles music scene. There he met Kelly Gordon, a song plugger at Four Star Television Music. Gordon proposed some adjustments to the lyrics of the song, earning him a songwriting credit. Thereafter, they started looking for people to record the song
Frank Sinatra Discovering the Song
“That’s Life” was first released by Jazz singer Marion Montgomery in 1963. Thereafter, O. C. Smith released his version of the song. Sinatra reportedly heard Smith’s version on the radio while driving around in his car. After hearing the song, Sinatra called his daughter Nancy and instructed her to find the publisher of the song because he wanted to cover it.
It’s logical to believe Sinatra heavily resonated with the resilient message of the song. Having faced career setbacks in the 1950s, Sinatra – like no other – understood the cyclical nature of success and failure and the importance of showcasing resilience.
Nancy’s call reached Kelly Gordon, who in turn informed Kay about Sinatra’s desire to record the song. “I didn’t believe it,” Kay reflected.
Frank “One-Take” Sinatra
Sinatra, known for his preference for live recordings, opted to record the song with an orchestra in a studio setting. The recording process included two takes. Sinatra, known for being a “one-taker”, ended the first take with a casual “Oh yeah.” When asked to perform it again with a bit more bite, he grudgingly agreed, resulting in the memorable second take that featured the iconic “My, My” at the end.
According to Dean Kay, who was present during the recording of the song, Sinatra walked in and out of the studio in a matter of 20 minutes.
“There is no denying that Frank Sinatra – in just 20 minutes – changed the course of my life from that moment on,” Kay reflected on his website. “I will be forever grateful.”
The Legacy of “That’s Life”
Frank Sinatra released his version of “That’s Life” in November 1966. The song became a massive success, reaching the top 5 on the US and Canadian Charts, and topping the US Easy Listening chart for three weeks. The song also gained popularity in popular culture and was included in movies like A Bronx Tale and Joker.
Sinatra’s version gave “That’s Life” international fame. After his version of the song was released, dozens of other artists decided to cover the song, including Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Willie Nelson. But none came close to the success of Frank Sinatra’s iconic version of the song.
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