despite considerable influence in getting him a part in "from here to eternity", gardner left sinatra two months after the release of the film, divorcing in 1957. she said, "we don't have the ability to live together like any normal married couple." it is assumed that this album's grouping of "love gone bad" songs, and sinatra's poignant renderings, were a direct result of sinatra's failing relationship with gardner, to the point that these are called "ava songs".