Album: Black Hours (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This downbeat but lighthearted piano number is the opening track of Black Hours, the debut solo studio album by Hamilton Leithauser. The former lead singer of The Walkmen, wrote the tune with the band's former guitarist and keyboardist Paul Maroon, following the break-up of their group in late 2013. "I wanted to try and sound as heavy as I could, but it started getting funny," Leithauser told Radio.com.
  • Leithauser took inspiration for Black Hours from Frank Sinatra, particularly his 1955 album In the Wee Small Hours. However, he admitted 'Ol Blue Eyes' could have benefited from having a better sense of humor. "I really did think he was very schmaltzy and cheesy for so many years. And I still do on some level," Leithauser said. "Now, I look at him with a little bit of a sense of humor, but I don't think he had a sense of humor."

    He continued, "I don't want to be as serious as maybe he was when he made [In The Wee Small Hours], but I love the sound of it. I can get into the schmaltziness of it now."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

Black Sabbath

Black SabbathFact or Fiction

Dwarfs on stage with an oversize Stonehenge set? Dabbling in Satanism? Find out which Spinal Tap-moments were true for Black Sabbath.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.