OMMA Catalogue Number

OMMA-0072

Artist

Harry James and His Orchestra (featuring Frank Sinatra)

Title

From the Bottom of My Heart / My Melancholy Mood

Release Details

Issued in 1939 by Brunswick Records as a 10-inch, 78 rpm shellac single (catalogue number 8443). Produced and pressed in the United States for standard commercial distribution.

Edition & Variant Identification

Commercial first issue of the release as originally circulated on Brunswick 8443.

Matrix & Pressing Data

Matrix and runout inscriptions are not provided in the source record.

Physical Description

A 10-inch, 78 rpm shellac single with glossy sheen and few signs of play, corresponding to catalogue number 8443. The present copy is housed in a period company sleeve. A small numbered sticker is affixed to the B-side label, otherwise labels are very clean with no writing and little apparent use.

Factory-Origin Characteristics

No factory-origin anomalies are noted on the present copy.

Condition Report

The shellac surfaces are in NM condition, exhibiting little wear and remarkable sheen for its age. The B-side label bears a small ownership sticker, while the A-side label remains clean. The period company sleeve is in Very Good condition, showing routine age toning and signs of handling.

Provenance

Acquired from Discogs seller JazzRecordsRevival on 1 December 2025; subsequently entered into the Origins of Modern Music Archive.

Photomatching & Verification

No photomatching documentation is supplied for this item.

Market Context & Historical Notes

Recorded in New York City on 13 July 1939, From the Bottom of My Heart backed with My Melancholy Mood is widely recognized as the first commercial recording featuring Frank Sinatra, then newly engaged as vocalist with Harry James’s orchestra. Issued as Brunswick 8443, the disc reflects the bandleader-centric branding of the pre-war big-band era, with Sinatra credited only as “vocal chorus.” Contemporary documentation indicates that the record sold modestly, likely no more than several thousand copies, and went out of print quickly. Within the Archive’s curatorial framework, the release marks the earliest canonical appearance of one of the twentieth century’s most influential singers.

Canonical Status in OMMA

This release is recognized by the Origins of Modern Music Archive as Frank Sinatra’s canonical debut.

References and Source Documentation

Acquisition record: Discogs seller JazzRecordRevival, transaction dated 1 December 2025.