Written by: Bob Gaudio and Jake Holmes
Released: 1969
Album: Watertown
When I got hooked: 2003
The thing that got me hooked: The lyrics and orchestral arrangements
«Watertown» is one of the most underrated albums of any artist ever. This hauntingly beautiful concept album is one of my top 5 albums of all time.
The album tells the story of a divorce and the narrator (Sinatra) is writing letters to his ex-wife. «For A While» is the third track on the album, and by then the narrator’s wife has left him and he’s trying to cope with it. Friends try to get him out of the house («when you have some time to spend, drop around and meet a friend»), but he’s not ready yet («they forget that I’m not over you for a while»). The lyrics takes on a deeper meaning when you know that Sinatra was at that time divorcing Mia Farrow.
Is it a positive album? No, it’s quite depressing. Is it a breathtaking album? Without a doubt! Do yourself a favour and check it out.
«Watertown» was nevertheless a flop. It fell between two chairs; on one hand you had Sinatra’s ring-a-ding-ding fans who thought it was too poppy, while on the other hand the pop and rock audience of the late 60’s dismissed it because it was too soft. Frank Sinatra was so dissapointed with the album sales and reception that he cancelled his plans of a televised «Watertown» concert and none of the original album’s 10 tracks were performed live. (The bonus track on the CD, «Lady Day», was performed live several times by Sinatra.)
Nina Simone didn’t care that it was a flop and recorded «For A While» on one of her albums. The video underneath is a live recording from Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London in 1985. Appearantly Simone didn’t have the best of times when she sang this. Not that I know this for a fact, but in the performance she says: «This song is dedicated to my lover who has gone from me» and it looks like she’s about the cry. Nevertheless, talk about making a song her own! Wow…
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