the title track came about by happenstance. composers bob hilliard and david mann were in new york city to visit a publisher. they spotted sinatra and riddle and decided to show them their new composition "in the wee small hours of the morning." sinatra liked the song and wanted to use it immediately. sinatra recorded "it never entered my mind" in 1947 for columbia. it was part of the rodgers and hart broadway show "higher and higher". ironically, this song, which was a long-time resident in sinatra's repertoire, was cut from the film version, sinatra's cinematic debut.