I’ve been meaning to ask this question for awhile. Lounge and easy-listening encompasses quite a lot, from jazz and classic pop to elevator music and “beautiful music”. And, like a good Frigidaire washer, they don’t make ‘em like this anymore. To me most modern “soft jazz” music is just so much musical pablum, mostly done on synthesizers, while the best of the old stuff has a wonderful level of craftsmanship and style. Some artists I like are:
Percy Faith - a giant in this genre. Yeah, he did his share of commercial crap, but he also did a mammoth amount of music and much of it is well respected and truly beautiful. I really love his arrangements of sixties pop standards like “Sunny” or “Spinning Wheel”, plus concept albums like those he did of Japanese music.
Henry Mancini - the King of Swank. What more needs to be said about the composer of the “Pink Panther Theme”, “Baby Elephant Walk” and ‘Shot in the Dark”? Like Faith, he also did great cover versions . . . . including “House of the Rising Sun”. Really!
Nelson Riddle - as capable of doing classic jazz as he was easy listening, and backing up any singer.
Bert Kaempfert - another great name, who died too young (in 1980) but left lots of great music.
Jackie Gleason - his comedy was great, but to my taste his music was even better. He didn’t read music, but was rich enough to hire guys who did and could interpret what he wanted. Gleason did my favorite version ever of “Taste of Honey” - what a treat.
Paul Mauriat - maybe not in the same rank as those above, but who can argue with his rendition of “Love is Blue”, plus many others. FWIW, he didn’t write “Love is Blue”, Andre Popp did, but it will always remain Mauriat’s song in my mind.
I’ll stop here but there are many, many more greats. I know others on this board have favorites too (do I hear Bundtboy in the kitchen with a little Lenny Dee cranked up on his console Zenith?). It would be interesting to hear what others think!
Percy Faith - a giant in this genre. Yeah, he did his share of commercial crap, but he also did a mammoth amount of music and much of it is well respected and truly beautiful. I really love his arrangements of sixties pop standards like “Sunny” or “Spinning Wheel”, plus concept albums like those he did of Japanese music.
Henry Mancini - the King of Swank. What more needs to be said about the composer of the “Pink Panther Theme”, “Baby Elephant Walk” and ‘Shot in the Dark”? Like Faith, he also did great cover versions . . . . including “House of the Rising Sun”. Really!
Nelson Riddle - as capable of doing classic jazz as he was easy listening, and backing up any singer.
Bert Kaempfert - another great name, who died too young (in 1980) but left lots of great music.
Jackie Gleason - his comedy was great, but to my taste his music was even better. He didn’t read music, but was rich enough to hire guys who did and could interpret what he wanted. Gleason did my favorite version ever of “Taste of Honey” - what a treat.
Paul Mauriat - maybe not in the same rank as those above, but who can argue with his rendition of “Love is Blue”, plus many others. FWIW, he didn’t write “Love is Blue”, Andre Popp did, but it will always remain Mauriat’s song in my mind.
I’ll stop here but there are many, many more greats. I know others on this board have favorites too (do I hear Bundtboy in the kitchen with a little Lenny Dee cranked up on his console Zenith?). It would be interesting to hear what others think!
