I grew up with this song when I used to hear it mostly performed by Tony Bennett and later Bobby Darin until I discovered another version!  

But it was not until I was a teenager, rediscovering one of Mr. Sinatra's finest albums, the autumnal SEPTEMBER OF MY YEARS (Reprise 1965), that I understod just how beautiful a song ONCE UPON A TIME really was. Mr. Sinatra's version was like hearing it for the first time for me although the themes from the album - the passage of time defined by autumns past, memories of life, and lost love - was more than wasted on me at the time. Still, the beauty of this song (and others on that album) haunted me from the very first time I took the time to really LISTEN, not just to the beautiful melody, but the words.

I can't tell you how many times I've caught myself humming that song or just replaying it over and over again in my head since I was 18 years old.

But hearing this version of that song by Percy Faith today, two months before I turn 50, has convinced me that even without words it's not only more haunting and memorable than I remember it, but this version is a brilliant example of what stations like WPAT once called "beautiful music." 

Oddly enough one of my favorite classic Doo Wop songs is also called ONCE UPON A TIME (not the same song) recorded in 1960 by Johnny Wyatt!

Thanks Chip!

Well said, Anthony. It's gratifying to know that there are folks out there like yourself that have an abiding appreciation for this fine music. I don't like being the age that I am, but if I wasn't, I wouldn't have the memories of all this great, great music. These kids today have really been cheated. By the way, an early Happy 50th!

I think our mutual appreciation of good music from the likes of Percy Faith and Frank Sinatra is a product of our time and the respect we forged from having it so accessible growing up.

I think we were probably taught at a young age (by our parents) how important beautiful music can be in all our lives if we take the time to stop and listen to it. We were also lucky enough to have some remarkable radio stations (for me it was WNEW and WPAT) that offered this kind of music whether we were in our bedroom, our living room, at the beach, in a department store, doctors office, or simply riding in the car.

Hell, today, you can 't even find music on talk show infested AM radio, while FM is filled with "music" stations that seem to cater exclusively to the rap, hip-hop, and dance music crowds as the so-called adult lite stations all seem to share the same monotonous top 50 playlist of songs - especially during the holidays. But you are right...being the age we are has indeed provided us with priceless memories of some truly great music, hasn't it? Thanks...You helped my make turning 50 in January not seem so bad!